Home Makeover: Dining Area

Because A was quickly moving into toddlerhood, I decided to re-do the house. But I still wanted it to look like a grownups' home, not a nursery school. I guess the key was to provide as much space as possible (no mean feat in our small home), and have fewer breakables (bye-bye, vases) and sharp edges to run into (bye-bye, coffee table).

Since the first time I did the house, my style has evolved. I'm still into a mix of stuff, but I've started to let go of the beach-y elements (probably because everyone's just doing tropical modern now, the way everyone did Mediterranean in the 90s). I still like the idea of elegance mixed with comfort, but now I'm more attracted to classic shapes and subdued colors with a vibrant pop here and there. I like things more soft and feminine, but not over-the-top girly. 

I started with a peg, but it turned out to be more my old style, and eventually I moved away from it, retaining only the color scheme and the airiness. I finally decided on a look (because it just makes furniture and decor decisions easier): modern romantic.

I'm nearly done with the first floor (yeah, all two major areas of it), and I think the part that best showcases this look is the dining area.

This was taken in December (obviously), but haven't taken a new photo as it just looks much cozier and dreamier with the tree in the background! I've always thought that the house looks best at Christmas. 

I absolutely adore our new dining area! Sigh. (I wish I could put a before photo, but I just realized I don't have any old photos on hand--was never able to get the ones shot by Real Living when they featured our house.) The changes:

• The accent wall was repainted from green to gray, custom-mixed by our house painter (leave a comment if you need his number!) because my budget didn't allow for store-customized paint. This worked out though, because it took us about four tries to get the shade just right. The rest of the white walls were retouched, and I had those horrid brown fake baseboards painted over.
• The wood dining table was custom-made by one of the stalls in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I like it, but a couple of weeks after delivery, it started splitting down the middle. Still waiting for the furniture maker to send someone over to fix it.
• As much as I would like to say that those babies are real, they're actually repro Louis Ghost chairs. Got 'em on sale, 50% off at Victoria Mondiale! I went over my budget for dining chairs, but how could I possibly resist?
• I kept going through online stores (Pottery Barn, West Elm, Urban Outfitters) for lighting options, then came across a gorgeous capiz chandelier in the World Market website. Guess where it was made? I figured I could find the same thing for a fraction of the price at Ils de Tuls (ilalim ng tulay, Quiapo). So under the bridge I went and found that beaut. I'm sure they overcharged me, as I'm normally too embarrassed to haggle, but it was still a good price. I'm planning to get smaller ones for the first-floor bathroom and the master bedroom--or I could just make them.

Still so much to do (and spend on)! But I'm loving where this is going. I can't help but smile every time I go downstairs in the morning and see the first floor all airy and bathed in sunshine. And after a long day at work, I am just excited to walk through our front door. Sure, redecorating seems like a completely unnecessary expense, but I can't put a price on the happiness and relaxation I get from feeling like I've really come home.

Linen Love

For Christmas, I gave my friends cute pillowcases in different prints. They were so cute that I had to get a couple for myself.

Don't you think the damask print looks so purty with the lavender linens and chocolate brown Roman shades? I also have a nifty new trick: Monday is now Fresh Sheets Day. So I can hate Monday for many reasons, but at least I know I'll have crisp, clean sheets when I go to bed that night!

As Ready As We'll Ever Be

I was getting stressed out trying to figure out the nursery situation. There was so much stuff in the guest room that we needed to get rid of--the bed, the computer desk, the clutter that had accumulated over three years. And then I realized: We don't need a nursery just yet. Who needs the added stress? Besides, the little monster will be staying in our room anyway, at least for a few months.

So I just decluttered, had our trusty helper do a major cleanup (cleaning screens, laundering curtains), and then set up a space for monster in our bedroom. Our Pack n Play isn't coming til next month, so I borrowed a lovely bassinet from Frances, then I got a chest of drawers (a steal at less than P6,000! That's about $140) for all the baby clothes and receiving blankets and towels. Our hospital bags are all packed. And H got me a super comfy chair for nursing as a Christmas gift--we haven't set it up yet though. All I need now is a diaper caddy.

I never thought I would reach the stage when I would want this baby to come out already. I thought, the longer he stayed in there, the better. But yesterday, after struggling to strap on my sandals and feeling this little one constantly (and painfully) pushing against my ribs, I decided I was ready. So, little monster, any time you're ready. Mommy and Daddy are waiting. 

Closet Cleanup Tips

I had grand plans of having a garage sale this month. I have sooo much stuff to get rid of, and I got excited by the idea of organizing a cute little garage sale, based on a story that appeared in Real Living a few years ago. It was going to be really organized: I was going to group like items together in a pretty way, and not just haphazardly. I was going to hang all dresses and blazers on a clothes rack (which I already had). I was going to have piles of neatly folded shirts and jeans. I was going to have a table with books I wanted to let go of. I was going to have a section just for shoes, and another just for bags. I was going to have stickers on all the merchandise, indicating price, and I would just stick the tags of sold items onto a notebook for easier tallying. I was deciding between wearing a fanny pack (haha) and keeping a cash box. I was going to have tons of P5 and P10 coins for change. I was going to use all the paper bags I had lying around for purchased items. I even found someone to help me on the day of, because I felt that the sale had to be manned by two people at all times.

 

And then I remembered I was pregnant and just didn't need the added stress in my life!

 

I realized that our street isn't really heavy on the foot traffic, and I wasn't quite sure where I could post ads around the village. And it's been so frickin' HOT (in November!!!) that I couldn't imagine sitting outside all day. So I just gave all the stuff to my mom for her church group's own rummage sales. While it would have been nice to make a little bit of extra money, my main objective, really, was to get rid of clutter!

 

I've already tossed quite a few things, and I'm not even done yet: over a dozen pairs of shoes, over 20 bags, and lots and lots of dresses, pants, skirts, tops, and shawls. The process is pretty overwhelming, but it feels so good to have unloaded all that stuff. I think a lot of people are daunted by the idea of a closet cleanup, so allow me to tap into my Good Housekeeping side and offer a few tips:

1. You don't have to do it all in one go. I divided my closet cleanup into phases, staggered over different days. I can't imagine spending an entire day pulling out stuff, trying them on, and deciding whether to keep or toss--that's just exhausting. So I set aside one to two hours over a few weekends to do the deed. Phase 1 was my dress closet (which is technically half my husband's closet. We are currently under negotiations regarding closet space...). Phase 2 was when I started on my dressing room--I weeded through all my pants and stuff on hangers, like long-sleeved tops and blazers. Phase 3 was folded items, so all my shirts and shorts. Phase 4 was bags and my shawl drawer--I never realized I had so many bags. I love opening my closet now and seeing all the space cleared! I have two more phases to go--my miscellaneous drawer (socks, tights, other random items) plus jewelry drawer, and some big bags full of stuff under my vanity. After that, I can finally move on to the guest room (a.k.a. our tambakan!).
2. Know your style (and your lifestyle). I'm more of a classic dresser so I got rid of trendy items like harem pants. And I'm a grownup with minimal chances of going camping, so I said goodbye to a pair of cargo shorts. I got rid of a few jerseys, but I know I'll be going back to disc next year, so I had to keep a whole lot of them.
3. Be brutal. I tried to be as brutal as possible, letting go of items that I had been hanging on to for one reason or another (none of which involved wearability). So, au revoir to stuff that I was keeping for sentimental reasons (e.g., "But it was a gift!"--keep the sentiment, not the item if you're really not going to use it), adios to the things I bought from ukay a few years ago ("But it was such a steal!"--well, it's looking a little ratty now), so long to bags I've had since before I got married but which I haven't used in years. I'm still on the fence about a top that served as my costume at my first ever CADs concert though. I know I'm never going to use it, but in this case, the sentimental value is great. It might just go into my "seasonal wear" pile (thick sweaters and scarves at the back of my closet).
4. Do it regularly. Keeping clutter at bay shouldn't be a once-a-year event. The enemy of being organized is "mamaya na" ("I'll leave it for later"). Whenever possible, decide on the fate of specific items right then and there--what do I do with all this mail? I bought a new dress--which one should I toss to make room for it? I got all these beauty products that I can't use--what to do with them? (That last one is a perpetual problem at the office--there are days when my cube is just overrun with stuff, so I do "Free Stuff" day every few weeks.)

I'm hoping to be done with all phases of my cleanup in two weeks. Got any tips of your own? Let me know!

Our House

Before I promote my magazine, allow me to promote my former magazine.

Real Living is celebrating its ninth anniversary this July, and it's full of RL-inspired spaces...including our house! Grab a copy to see where I live. Haha. There aren't a lot of detail shots, and my dresser could have been less messy (sigh). But it was finally presentable enough to be photographed!

I would have wanted my heirloom mirror to be photographed, and the bed in the guest room, and the baskets where I keep all our toiletries (and all the free beauty products I get), and my shoes, and our bookshelf, and a detail of the junk on my dresser (including a vase of ostrich and peacock feathers that I plucked out of my bridal bouquet, and a tiara that's been passed around my barkada--the bride-to-be wears it during bridal showers), but I had to remember that I was the interview subject this time around, and not a member of the crew. Har. Maybe all these details can be shot next time, after I've completely redone the house!

P.S. I also wrote one of the features in this issue.:)

Fifty Shades of Gray

I am so, so tempted to redo our house, or at least, our second floor. I'm getting tired of our mocha walls. I want something serene, and a tad more grown up. The color I'm loving now...

Photos from here, here, and here

I haven't quite decided on the exact shade I want. But then repainting also means changing our curtains, buying new sheets, and reupholstering our khaki lounger (or changing it completely). I also want a headboard to replace our painted one. Maybe I can make one.

Hmm must look for a way to fund this unforeseen and completely unnecessary expense.

Keeping House

And my housekeeping tip of the day is brought to you by my maid-less existence: When cleaning the microwave, check the "ceiling." I thought I had gotten my microwave to sparkling, lemon-y fresh levels (using a damp microfiber cloth, an eco-friendly surface spray, and a dollop of some heavy-duty surface cleaner for tough spots)--until I bent down and looked up to see the remaining MoMA-worthy spaghetti sauce splatters.

We normally have a maid come over once a week, but she's been on vacation for the past three weeks. (Buti pa siya.) So I had to come up with a manageable system--given my full-time job and packed weekends--that would keep the house from falling into total disarray while the trusty help is on her extended leave. My solution: housework as my morning workout.

To keep things from getting too overwhelming, I try to do one or two little things a day, right after breakfast. Day 1, for example, is for sweeping and mopping; day 2 for cleaning the kitchen counter and organizing; day 3 for setting aside our freshly laundered clothes; day 4 for cleaning the microwave. (Making the bed and washing the dishes are givens.) Vacuuming is for free time during the weekend.

Save for vacuuming, I do enjoy most of it. I like scrubbing away stains and seeing a pristine surface after I'm done with it. I like walking on our shiny floors. I like the smell of clean. Still, I think I'm going to like it even more when our helper comes back! She is AWESOME at her job (and, more importantly, she's incredibly trustworthy), and I love her to bits.

Before and After: Old Chair

Finally, another item checked off my to-do list! I had been meaning to have this old chair repainted and reupholstered with fabric that I got from Real Living's style editor, Gwyn.

This chair is part of an antique-y desk set that I got from my mom's house. The matching desk has been turned into a vanity. You can see a hint of it in this post. And the chair?

So cute!<3

I'd been wanting to have this done for a really long time, but when I asked around for quotes, the prices I got were pretty steep (as in I could buy a nice, new chair for the same amount)). I finally thought of asking interior designer Grace Moslares, who took care of repainting and rewiring our house before we moved in. She gave me such a good price. If you're looking for a pro for your home projects, email her at magarainteriors@yahoo.com.

Hmm I should have had the desk repainted too...

Penitensya

Today was supposed to be Big Cleanup Day. Since we don't have a maid, we were supposed to spend this day cleaning the house, top to bottom. I decided to start with the dressing room, particularly my vanity. This was halfway through the cleanup, when I had removed a lot of the drawer's contents, thrown a few things out, and was still deciding what to do with the rest...

Good grief. I had to keep telling myself that it was going to get worse before it got better.

I just have so much stuff, and even though I've trained myself not to be a pack rat, there are still remnants from my pack-rat past. I found love letters I wrote more than 10 years ago, an invitation to a party in college, negatives, old P10 and P5 bills, three boxes of bandaids (whut?), high school grad pics, and many other random things. I threw out a lot of old makeup, trying not to think it was sayang because, really, who would want to use orange-colored lipstick that's been in my drawer for three years? I'm not even sure it was orange when I first dumped it in there.

The most difficult part about cleaning up is finding paper, because rather than making an immediate decision to keep, toss, or give it away, I actually have to read the damn thing before deciding. But despite all the dust and sweat and the sometimes weird trip down memory lane, I got through it. Two hours and two bags of trash later...

Ahhh

What a relief! It's still not as pretty as I would want it to be--I intend to streamline the jewelry I have on my dresser so that I could just keep one jewlery box, then put all those ostrich and peacock feathers in a slim vase. (Those I cannot let go of--they were part of my bridal bouquet, and I painstakingly dismantled it so that I could keep the feathers.) But for now, it's functional, pretty uncluttered and, above all, clean!!!

Of course, I had neither the time nor the energy to clean up everything else, but it's a great start. I've decided to break down the house projects over the next few days so I won't end up feeling overwhelmed. Tomorrow is general sweeping-vacuuming-mopping day. And I'm hoping that a chair that I had reupholstered and repainted will be delivered. Check back soon for a before and after (and some other home projects I've got lined up)!

Dreamy Home: SoCal Cool

If ever there was a local house that would be perfect for Architectural Digest, this would be it.

Located in Negros, this house is built in a style that's evocative of Arizona or Mexico--so unlike anything else in the Philippines, where Mediterranean and Tropical Moderne styles are king. So I had to ask the owner what inspired him to come up with this design. He replied that he had studied in Southern California and the landscape there--dry, with lots of red and brown--was very similar to the Negros property in the summer. He just took off from there.

The furniture is ever-evolving, since the owner is a furniture designer. He and his wife are such gracious hosts--this is a couple (and a house) that is used to entertaining. Well, yeah, if I lived there, I'd have people over all the time.

And I haven't even shown you the best part yet.

It is one of the most amazing houses I've ever seen, and after years of shooting beautiful homes all over the country for Real Living, that's saying something! I never thought I would be attracted to this style (for years, I adored Arthur Casas' Iporanga project), but this house kind of altered my idea of a dream home.

I had to restrain myself from going into complete RL mode and asking a million questions about the house. I think the only other thing I asked him was how he found this dreamy place, a cliff overlooking sea and mountains. "I just chanced upon the property," he replied.

If only we could all be so lucky.

A Sneak Peek into Our Home

Our house was used as a backdrop for GH's main fashion story for June (yup, June! For us, in the magazine world, summer is over!). Since everyone will probably be staring at the gorgeous model when the issue comes out, allow me to give you glimpses of it sans pretty girl.

Our sofa normally stands in the middle of the first floor, defining the edge of the living area and effectively separating it from our dining area. But for the shoot, we pushed it against the wall under the stairs, because I wanted to give the beautiful antique mirror from my family home its 15 minutes of fame.

I once thought of spray-painting this mirror, but my husband convinced me not to. He likes the aged feel of it, and it looks like it's got more character. I'm glad he talked me out of another DIY project.

At the top of the stairs is that wall I painted with stripes. We have since added a set of frames, hung by my husband. Photos: the two of us in Indian attire at my BFF's wedding; at our wedding; in Ilocos; during one of my first tournaments; in Bohol; and in Bali, bungee jumping!

That chandelier still makes me smile. And I still stop and look at the pics sometimes.

We shot one layout in the dressing room. It's actually meant to be a small bedroom, but since there's just two of us in a three-bedroom place, and not enough closet space in the master bedroom, I kind of commandeered the room.

My sister-in-law got me that print from Etsy. It's by this talented artist.

That mirror is something I got from a department store. It had a wood laminate frame, but one weekend I decided to get busy...

That, my friends, is what happens when your husband goes surfing for a couple of days and you decide to stay home to keep your freckles from being coaxed out by the sun! I so wanted to do a how-to post, but since I can't find my Blackberry cable, I can't download the photos from my BB.:( It's just pretty gift wrapper cut into little segments and stuck onto the frame using a mixture of glue and water. (Tips: Use a paintbrush to evenly apply the glue on the wrapper. Get dried-up glue off of glass using nail polish remover.)

I've seriously been thinking about buying an industrial-style shelf from Handyman.I spotted one at Preview creative director Vince Uy's cube and I wanted one for myself! This shoot gave me a chance to give it a test run. (Hullo, pullout!)

The white urn was supposed to be on that stack of books on the bottom shelf, but the photog wanted something to break the line of the top of the shelf, so...

Verdict: I am definitely buying! It's perfect for our guest room/study (we might need a longer one, though, to accommodate the books we have here). Handyman has it in other colors; I'm most likely getting it in white. Oh, that gold chair from Dimensione (love) is normally in the living room. What we have in the guest room is an antique-y-looking carved chair with upholstery that has seen better days. I intend to have it refurbished just as soon as my designer friend's sched allows. (I've already got the fabric for it! Will post a before and after once it's done!)

And finally, the master bedroom.

That normally isn't what my side table looks like. On a non-shoot day, I have a small lamp from Ikea (this lovely lamp was given to me by Regalong Pambahay and will find a place in the guest room), a stack of books, eye cream, phones, etc.

In true OC can't-sleep-in-an-unmade-bed fashion, this bed was perfectly made up for the shoot, but photog Sara Black wanted a more casual, rumpled look. I do think it's quite lovely! Makeup artist Omar (who did my makeup on my wedding day!) joked that I put a lot of effort into painting the headboard--but unlike the striped wall in the hallway, this was done by the pros!

So that concludes the grand tour! Just a few more touches here and there--a ginormous plant in the living area (still iffy about this since tiny Spike the Cactus is dying in my care :s), frames in the dressing room, stuff to make an interesting coffee tabletop tableau... Getting closer to the day when our house could appear in Real Living and be a star on its own!

Buy or Rent?

Do you want to own a house one day? At what cost?

My husband and I always thought that "investing" in a house was the smart thing to do. Until a few months ago when I talked to M, who had been thinking about the merits of renting vs. buying. M's a smart guy. He's done the math. Paying for rent doesn't quite add up to the hefty amount it takes to pay for a mortgage. "Unless I could pay off, like, 50 percent up front, I don't think it makes sense for me to buy," he said. And apparently, this guy agrees with him.

It seems to make sense. I know homeowners (or, more accurately, would-be owners) who pay about six times what we're paying on rent every month, and just the thought of all that money makes me dizzy. (And I've also seen the amount of stress it puts on them, on top of earning money to send kids to school, put food on the table, etc. etc.) I know a couple who pays about four hundred grand a month for their brand-spankin' new home. I can't even imagine all the hustlin' I would have to do to come up with that much moolah month after month.

What I can imagine is what I could do with the money that goes into hypothetical amortization payments: I could invest. I could travel with my husband (at P400,000 a month, we could go to Europe all the frickin' time!). I could buy stuff I would normally have second thoughts about buying because I've got over a hundred Gs to pay each month. I could be liquid. And then I won't have to worry about fire or earthquakes or whataver 2012-esque disasters damaging my house because, well, it's not really my house.

Some will argue that having a home gives you very important stuff like peace of mind and a sense of ownership. I get it, I totally get it. I do want to buy a house,* but only when I'm good and ready, financially. For now, I'd rather have the peace of mind that comes with being liquid. I'd rather have the freedom to travel because my money's not tied down to a house. I won't get land with the relatively small amount I'm funneling towards rent each month, but I still get a very decent roof over my head. So, until the day when we can comfortably afford to buy a house--meaning we can pay off a significant amount upfront and not have to stress over the monthly payments and still have a good life all around--we'll willingly, happily rent.

I may be totally misguided, of course. Do you think buying is so much better than renting? Share your thoughts!:)


*As opposed to a condo.

Pillow Talk (and a Bedroom Sneak Peek)

Was going through our linen closet and was pleasantly surprised to find a set of charming pillowcases that I had forgotten about...

These were given as a wedding gift, and feature iconic chairs by Le Corbusier (Chaise Longue), Charles Eames (at least, based on the website--I can't for the life of me remember what it's called), Eero Aarnio (Bubble Chair), and Arne Jacobsen (Ant Chair). Since I can't get my hands on any of these chairs just yet, I guess the pillowcases will have to suffice. Too bad they don't have my dream Barcelona Chair (white, please). Um, yeah, I salivate over designer chairs the way other girls drool over designer bags.

These pillowcases look so cute against our purple sheets, mocha walls, and painted headboard! In this photo, there's also a hint of our vintage sidetables--stolen inherited from my mom--IKEA lamps, and retro-looking iPod dock. Will do a house post once I finally get everything in order! I am so raring to get a humongous plant for the living area...but since a cactus (a cactus!) is practically dying in my care, I'm a little worried about how a larger, higher-maintenance plant would do.

My Masterpiece (Or, How to Paint Stripes on a Wall)

I finally painted stripes on one wall of our second floor! I just wanted an accent wall up there because the area seemed too plain.

Originally, I wanted black and white stripes to match the pillows we have on the first floor. But it seemed a little too formal for the second floor, where the bedrooms are. Former Real Living stylist Coni suggested Tiffany blue. At first I was hesitant, but I figured a very light blue would complement the cappuccino-bordering-on-beige-colored bedrooms. My husband, who normally lets me have my way, mentioned that he didn't like the idea of a multi-colored house. So I settled for Ivory, very similar to our existing bedroom color.

To paint your own stripes, you'll need:

• Masking tape (not shown), for making stripes
• A small can of paint (I used Boysen's enamel paint in Ivory)
  
• A roller and paint tray
• A paint brush for little corners and edges
• Something to mix the paint with (e.g., that stick up there)
• Old newspapers--but we didn't have newspapers so I used a beach mat to protect the floor
• A ladder (not shown)
  

The step-by-step for a prepped wall (meaning no paint removal, sanding, and putty-ing needed):

1. Clean wall! You don't want dust and random cobwebs getting stuck under the paint.

2. Protect the floor and surrounding furniture. Cover with newspapers, drop cloths, or (in my case) a beach mat. Cover outlets and light switches with masking tape.

3. Make stripes by taping even sections with masking tape. I used two-inch wide masking tape.

4. Mix paint then pour into paint tray.
5. Dip roller into tray and start painting, using up-and-down strokes.
6. Using paint brush, paint corners and edges not covered by roller.
7. Let dry. Slowly peel off masking tape.
8. Retouch areas as needed.

Ta-dah!

With our dreamy MDF chandelier (must buy energy-saving bulb!)

Sounds simple enough, and it would have been had I not knocked over a can of paint (more on that in a future post)!

It's far from perfect--the original white paint peeled off some parts and I had to retouch, some edges aren't fully Ivory, the last stripe on the right is a tad darker (I had to use a brush since it was too small for a roller)--but I'm still quite proud of my handiwork!

Our MDF Chandelier Is Finally Up!

After sitting under our stairs for months, our super cute MDF chandelier has finally been mounted!

It's one of three home projects we took care of this weekend. We also had our heater fixed, plus I painted stripes on one wall! Yup, I painted 'em myself--pictures soon! And a painting mishap story to go with it. Suffice it to say that I'm glad I did it, but now truly understand why professionals are paid to do this!

A few weeks back, Hamil also successfully put a new doorknob in one bathroom door. So that's four things off our Home Sweet Home bucket list! Got another long weekend coming up, and am hoping to cross out a few more things. Hurray for productivity!

House Arrest

A few years ago, I wrote about my need to write lists when I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed. I like making lists because it makes me feel like I'm in control. (Did I just hear God guffaw?)

Right now, one of the things I'm stressed out about is that our house--despite our having lived there for nearly a year (more, in Hamil's case)--still isn't picture-perfect. See, I had two little goals: to have a wedding pretty enough to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings (check!), and a house cool enough to be featured in Real Living Magazine. That second goal remains unfulfilled. Sigh.

Don't get me wrong. I love our house. I relish going home after a long day at work, and know the true meaning of "home sweet home," most especially after a weekend away. It's comfortable, and it is probably above-average in terms of style. (I don't know a lot of people who have gold and black chairs in their living areas.) But, well, I want it to be as near to perfect as it can be. And so, my list of things to do to get our house shoot-worthy:

• Mount Vitor on a birdcage stand. I intended to just have a birdcage for decorative purposes. But Hamil kind of...doesn't get it ("Anong ilalagay mo do'n?").
  
• Clear the junk under the stairs.
• Fix our entryway! I need a console table or a slim shelf. Also "need" a Victoria Ghost. Har.
• Corral our yoga mats and umbrellas into a big, attractive basket or something.
• Come up with an interesting tabletop tableau for the living area.
• Spraypaint a crow lamp that the Space Encounters peeps gave me as a gift. In gold.
  
• Prettify our first-floor bathroom. Possibly add a teeny chandelier.
  
• Create an accent wall on the second floor--I intend to paint black and white stripes on it. And then hang a bunch of photos in identical, sleek black frames.
• Hang our MDF chandelier.
• Get the damn heater fixed.
• Replace the doorknob on the door of the second-floor bathroom.
  
• Clear the dressing room of crap. (I have way too many old bills and receipts crammed into nesting baskets.)
• Hang pretty prints in dressing room.
• Cover frame of full-length mirror with fabric (inspired by London home store Squint). Think this can be done with fabric scraps and a glue gun?
  
• Get a duvet filler. And new beddings while I'm at it!

Sigh. So much to do. Who has the time? I guess I just have to figure out which stuff I can do in a flash, and get those done before tackling the bigger projects. Wish me luck.

Holy Ant Invasion, Batman!

I am seriously stressing out over our ant problem at home! For weeks, I've been noticing trails of ants on the floor, near the stairs, in the kitchen. And please don't think it's a lack of hygiene on our part because we're quite good at cleaning up after ourselves! I've followed a few trails and they all lead to little holes in the wood--in the kitchen cabinet, in the bathroom doorway. So I'm assuming they're nesting somewhere in the bones of our home. AND IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS!!!

Hamil pointed out that we have two kinds of ants. While I'm manic about killing them, no questions asked, he's all about knowing his enemy ("We have red ones, and we have black ones"). I keep attacking them with moist paper towels (die, ants, die!), and they retreat for a bit before coming out later on when that mad, five-foot-one-and-a-half giantess is gone. I've tried wiping their trails with vinegar, I think I've even tried petroleum jelly, and they've worked to some extent. But these home remedies aren't a permanent solution. And I'm not too happy about having a first floor that smells like suka.

Good Housekeeping managing editor Kat theorizes that ants are seeking shelter indoors from the rains--apparently the little critters are everywhere these days. I know Hamil and I have more than enough space for two people, but I do not want to share quarters with a battalion of ants! I'm tired of doing the "good enough" way and am seriously considering calling in the pros. I've got a number already, but if you've had an ant extermination experience, and can recommend a good exterminator, please please leave a comment!

I Won! I Won! Part 3!

OK, not as major as a vacuum cleaner or a ref. But I didn't have one of these things so it was still pretty cool that I won this at a recent HSBC event...

Black tube top and bag from People are People, jeans from Bayo, super cute jacket by Kimono at Karimadon, necklace was my grandmother's. Photo by Hannah Dormido.

A fondue set.:) Time to buy some chocolate, marshmallows, and fruit! Fondue party, anyone?

I Won! I Won!

A couple of years ago, I won a vacuum cleaner at an Electrolux event, but it has strangely, mysteriously disappeared. Today, I was at another Electrolux event and went home with...

...an even more bad-ass vacuum cleaner, the 75 Tornado!

Hamil and I had been meaning to get a vacuum cleaner to give our black shag rug a thorough cleaning. (Our customized couch, upholstered in a textured mocha fabric to keep it from looking all funky and dusty, would benefit from a good vacuuming too!) Today, Electrolux had Trivia Day, and my team emerged victorious. We had to answer three rounds' worth of questions about the brand, appliances in general, and Scandinavia. I was happy that we won, but was ecstatic when I found out what the prize was!

Hurray for free stuff! And a double hurray for free stuff that I actually need!