Twilight Phase

I'm on a twilight phase right now. I'm doing a second reading of the novel because i couldn't get edward and bella out of my mind these days. ah

It's Raining!

I couldn't believe  that it rained with thunder and lightning thursday afternoon. i gave up on rain since the end of february knowing that the rainy season ended here on southern california. the minute Black Apple and I stepped inside the AMC theatre the rain poured hard, movies were delayed because of the power failure.

To think that I just posted last sunday how hot it was during the weekend.

Today, I woke up with rain showers and a cooler temperatures. I greeted Black Apple with a very nice "good morning, isn't it a great day?" Of course she wanted sunshine, where as I wanted grey skies and cold.

Weather huh, well, what can we do about it? 

Inspiration Board

Here's a not so finished inspiration board.

I went to Walmart yesterday to pick up some stuff when my restless feet dragged me to school supplies aisle. and there it was! so i grab one before i change my mind and prolong my envy with the inspiration boards at Flickr.

Now where to hang it?

InSpIrAtIoN BoArD

I've been toying around an idea of making an inspiration board for quite some time now. inspired of course by flickr group "Inspiration Boards". gosh those people are really creative in making those boards/walls. i have an inspiration notebook for home decorating, but it will be nice to put it up on wall and look at it whenever i want to and putting my endless notes and to-do lists to myself. my first board hold my family pictures so i don't want to use it for my inspiration board, but it doesn't mean that they (my family don't inspire me. i definitely want a cork board and not a magnetic one. i like the texture of cork, smooth but with rough edges. I'm debating whether i would put some fabric on top of it and exposing some cork or use my scrapbook paper that i never use. decisions, decisions. how it was never easy?

98 degrees

okay it's not the boy band. that was yesterday's temperature. 98 degrees and it's only the middle of May. what more in summer? where can I seek refuge by then? I am literally melting. it's so sunny it's blinding me. 

ways to keep cool:

stay away from the sun between 9 am to 4 pm. yeah right, I'm in L.A. where can you hide from the sun?

stay hydrated and drink 8-10 glasses of fluids. now, where's that cocktails for dummies of mine?

apply sunblock with at least 30 spf and reapply every 2 hours if you decide to stay longer outdoors.

wear a wide brim hat to protect your face.

or do what i do during summer, sleep the whole day and do stuff at nights.

happy summer!

welcome tsugumi!

according to ipod death clock my 40 gb ipod classic has 59 minutes and it's gone. but i really liked it because of the storage capacity. i have all my songs in it. but i guess i have to move on and give it a rest. i decided to buy the ipod touch simply because it's so versatile and has a lot of applications i need. i really don't need an iphone right now because my motorola is good and i'm still loving it. after four years of my ipod classic i am giving it a break for a while until i can get a replacement battery so i can still streamline music in my house.

welcome tsugumi, my ipod touch

100

•  get an energy audit
• donate used computers
• use cloth napkins
• switch to energy-saving bulbs
• hang dry your clothes
• make your next outfit vintage
• ride the bus
• pay your bills online
• say no to plastic bags
• plant some bamboo
• unplug appliances when off
• taste test a local wine
• say bye to your leaf blower
• rediscover your library
• switch off your computer
• plant a garden
• buy rechargeable batteries
• satrt a compost heap
• put back unused napkins
• bring your coffee cup
• learn to love weeds
• read about green weddings
• carpool
• keep tires inflated
• support local farmers
• use both sides of paper
• turn heating down 1 degree
• return old cellphones
• drive smart-plan your trips
• wrap water heater in blanket
• install low-flow showerheads
• wash clothes in warm or cold water
• lights off when you exit a room
• use a lunch box, not a paper bag
• give cloth diapers a chance
• pick up litter and recycle it
• take shorter showers
• choose green E-products
• buy the largest size practical
• tune up your car's engine
• donate used books
• seal drafts around windows
• leave your car at home for a day
• don't idle your car more than 10 seconds
• think before your print
• look for energy star appliances
• unload your car of excess weight
• don't buy veggies in trays
• choose an energy efficient vehicle
• fix leaking faucets
• wipe spills with reusable towels
• install low-flow toilets
• make your iwn "buy nothing" day
• reuse jars and containers
• clean windows with old newspapers
• build with slavaged wood
• share magazines
• wrap presents in old calendar pages
• make rags from old t-shirts
• send e-birthday cards
• buy spices in bulk
• capture rain water for garden
• return unused sugar packets
• drive the speed limit
• make note pads from used paper
• don't accept plastic utensils
• take a  break from TV
• give a donation instead of a present
• buy a bike- use it
• buy organic cotton
• when buying clothes, say no to tissue wrap
• start a green team at work
• don't boil more than teacup's worth
• read about carbon credits
• appoint an office lights monitor
• use your legs, not the elevator
• stop chasing the latest
• invigorate your green passion, spend time with nature
• start a toy-swap with friends
• ease up on meat products
• buy items for durability
• buy seasonal produce
• take bubble wrap back to packaging stores
• upgrade your furnace
• snip six-pack rings
• use a low phosphate detergent
• avoid chemical flea collars
• choose sustainable flooring
• offer art schools your trash
• use a bucket not a hose
• learn how to mend your socks
• eliminate impulse buying
• take extra hangers to dry cleaners
• teach kids thriftiness
• don't sign for mailing lists
• slow down - consume less
• fertilize with grass clippings
• consider using a solar cooker
• eat simply, choose whole grains

Thing I should have known...

start 401K.  I did start it a year later but i was not "aggressive enough". Two years later I've changed into aggresive and increased my contributions.

 

start a savings account in ING. which I did three years later since I started working. Then I have sub accounts which i use for my car expenses and things I wanted to buy but I don't want to use a credit card and pay interest.

 

start an emergency fund. most financial advisors say that a person should need a 6 month worths of emergency fund. i don't have it. but i am slowly starting one.

 

do at least one overtime in every pay period and saved it.

 

pay my car in 2-3 years instead of 5 years and then save the car money for its maintenance and/or downpayment for a new/used car in the future.

 

borrowed books and videos in the library instead of buying and/or renting.

 

checking out the thrift stores, salvation army and goodwill stores before buying anything for my home.

 

making a store comparison prices notebook/spreadsheets and checking out store flyers before doing groceries.

 

clipping out coupons for things/food that i love to use and eat.

 

making a budget and sticking to it. 

 

always carry a calculator and learning how to use it effectively.

 

 

I am Loving...

my imac

 

orange shuffle

 

bose in-ear headphones

 

itunes

 

ipod nano

just a meme

blue, gray, brown, red, orange and yellow are my favorite colors.

 

i don't care about purple, lilac, lavender or pink.

 

i still love listening to lovenotes

 

 i cannot sleep with the lights on.

 

tulips and roses are my favorite flowers.

 

 it's hard for me to fall asleep especially if i'm not tired

 

but it's harder for me to wake up once i fall asleep.

 

i can read harry potter series over and over and over again.

I am loving...

my north face messenger bag

a swedish body massage

my wii

marimekko fabrics

my nikon D40x