LC-A+ Test roll

Okay, so I've learned from experience that its important to have a test roll for every new analogue camera you buy so that you would be familiarized with its settings and other basic stuffs. When I had my La Sardina for the first time, I was too careful to use it and I felt like every roll is fragile thus I have to only use it in special occasions. Not to mention the fact that I haven't found a decent processing lab for my films. That time, I was really very cautious. I was just a newbie in the Lomography world plus there was no one I know back home that uses lomo cameras like me. I was used to my DSLR all the time plus I started liking this hobby when I was in Korea so yeah, you can tell how it is. :)

Anyways, now that I've been a bit more knowledgeable about lomography than I was months back, - though I'm still learning everyday; and after reading the book and manuals that came with my camera, I loaded film and gave it a test roll! For a couple of days I took shots around the house, and our neighborhood. During the day, at night, I used multiple exposures and the different ISO settings (one of the things my La Sardina doesn't have) which I was really excited to try. Here are some of of my favorite shots from the bunch:

flowers are one of my favorite subjects. :)

I was very happy about the results, and I was glad I did the test roll 'cause I'm a little more familiar using it now and I wouldn't have to worry whether I did set it up right or not. Although, you would never be really sure of the outcome of your roll. As the Golden Rule nos.8 and 9 of Lomography says, You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film - afterwards either. :)





Lomography Golden Rule no. 6 - Don't think.










The rest of the shots can be found in this album from my Lomohome. Feel free to check it out. :)


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Hello, LC-A+

Just when I thought I completely lost my money order, err I mean it got lost and didn't reach the Lomography Store, this box just welcomed me in the counter yesterday morning. Seriously, I already emailed the store to inquire regarding my order and all but now its finally here. I was really very happy I actually screamed for joy in front of my uncle while he was having breakfast. :"> I immediately opened it up, and voila! my newest baby, my own LC-A+ is finally here!

I also bought this SideKick Lte Bag and a CN400 film to add in my film stock. :) This film is my to-go film for  Luna (my La Sardina). Also, my friend told me it works well for almost any Lomo camera. I think I overdid the buying with the bag 'cause its big and kinda heavy for me but I know it would be useful so it doesn't matter. Hehe

For all those who doesn't know about this camera, I can say that its one of the most coveted lomo cameras in the lomography world. I can't speak for everyone but for me it is. It has been my dream to own one and I'm just beyond happy! So if you want to know more about the specs, you can click this site. :)

happy me xx

Oh before I forget, I should start thinking of a name for it. I have this weird habit to name my cameras you know. I don't know, I think its fun. I'm not the only one who does that am I? :) Anyways, maybe that could wait. Now I just can't wait to use it! :)

Or, perhaps, you can help me name it? :)

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The return of the comeback + Oatmeal 30

Yaluh!!!! I'm backkkkk! Well, kinda. Haha. I know I've been MIA for quite some time now, specifically for almost whole of May but now, I guess I'm gonna be back to the blogging world again! Yay! :)

Its not that I've been busy with anything or what but the last weeks I've been sorta not in the mood to blog - not to mention the fact that I don't have something major to blog on so yeah. But a few days ago, I went through my 365 bucket-list saved in one of the ancient folders in my computer and I saw that I've written Eat oatmeal using different toppings and forms for a month. Realizing that I have been eating oatmeal for almost everyday ever since I was in Korea, I felt that its about time to finally accomplish this (eat it for one complete month and track it down). Soooo, this now, gave me a reason to go back to blooging! What more could I use for tracking it down but to post it in a blog right? In that way, I could also practice my food photography skills, and at the same time fulfill my dream to post a recipe in my blog. :") This made me excited! If only you could feel how bored I am right now, doing this mini-project could at least make me occupied for one month. :)

So, I'm officially gonna start tomorrow, and I will post maybe every week about it (pictures and recipes and stuff) or whatever I decide upon so you just wait on it, kay? ;)
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Blissful and blessed

I really am impressed how fast things happen in Korea. It was just 7 days ago when I literally applied for a US Visa and now, here it is delivered in our dormitory.

On top of that, I was surprised of how long they gave me! Oye, oye, oyeeeee! *dancing to the tune of Moves Like Jagger* I was only expecting for 6 months and a single entry but voila! For a second I thought I was dreaming or something! HAHAHA :"> :)

So yess, Im'ma pack my bags soon 'cause someone's going to Americaaa!~

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365 days later

Exactly a year ago, I attended my college graduation where I got my college diploma and my RLE pin symbolizing that I am finally a BSN graduate. I can still remember how happy I was that my days of being a student have come to an end. All those case studies and case presentations, hospital duties, the NCPs and drug studies and a whole lot more that usually consumed most of my 4 years in college, were finally over. Man, college days were sure difficult no matter what degree you want to attain but getting a BSN Degree? It’s like finding a fine, fine needle in a haystack. So I’m very, very much thankful that I was able to get mine. ;)

19 March, 2011 - College Graduation Day






18 March, 2011 - College Pinning Day

Now, thinking of those days can still make me sentimental. Even though I experienced a lot of hardships during those years, and there were a lot times I wish I had taken another degree, I was still glad that I didn’t. Cause today, I’m 100% sure that I took the right path. With all the things I’ve went through after the day I graduated, I realized what I really wanted in life. I don’t mind taking vital signs and measuring I&Os of patients all day, or standing in a very long OR case and handing over surgical instruments to the surgeon (and even cleaning them afterwards), or figuring out a scrawled doctors order, or just talking to an ill patient who has no guardian at all. Maybe for others, that’s something lame or hard or whatever they wanna call it but for me, it’ what I wanna do. It’s what I’m made to do because it’s what my heart tells me to do. So that’s what I’m gonna do. I may have it completely figured out in an odd way but at least I got it all understood now. We all have dreams, and the only way to achieve our dreams is to act upon it. ;)

I hope you too, are acting upon your dreams now. As for me, you can wish me luck! xx

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Home

Be strong now, because things will get better.
Something good is coming your way;)

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Woke up at the wrong side of the bed

2 days until Valentines Day and I wasn’t getting sentimental at all until today. I was really surprised with myself because I haven’t actually associated this topic of being “single” with any feeling of sadness or resentment. I mean, it’s no big deal for me. And I’m fine and happy with it. However, I woke earlier than my normal waking time pondering that it has been too long since I last celebrated Valentines Day with someone. And I have to admit, I kinda miss it already. Surprises, being surprised, love letters and other mushy stuffs. I used to make them before when I was in highschool. Haha! But for the past years, I have been regarding this day if not one of the usual days of the year, well as a day to celebrate it with my friends or family over dinner and a movie or something. I love the fact that I have other platonic relationships to celebrate for on this day but at one point, it makes me wonder, what could it this day be if I am in a real relationship with someone?

I could only say that it would totally be definitely a different story. ;) ♡

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Birthday Wishlist '12

While everyone regards February as the Love Season or Love Month, for me, its something else… its my birthday month! Yay! My birthday is one of my favorite celebrations every year. I mean, who doesn't love their birthdays? You get to feel special rather extra special that day, you get to splurge on yourself, and if you're lucky enough, you get to have presents and random surprises! ☺ Now I know, material things become less significant as we age because we give importance to a deeper value of being able to reach another year. I myself for the past years have realized that and I make it to a point to thank God for all the blessings, material or not, that He has given to me. On the other hand, I can't avoid the idea of wanting material things for myself from time to time. I think everyone else feels the same in a way right? And I think its just normal. Besides its my birthday; its that one particular day I can push a little bit on the asking after all. Hihi ☺

(L-R) Best of Me by N.Sparks, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by R. Riggs, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by S.Chbosky, Sputnik Sweetheart&1Q84 by H.Murakami, and Before Ever After by S.Sotto

Good reads! I have a long list of it but these are currently the ones I wanna read. After finishing the Night Circus, I got interested in genres other than romance and also works of other author aside from Nicolas Sparks and Paulo Coelho. But of course, Sparks' works would always be in my list. :)

Fujifilm Velvia 100F and Lomography Redscale Negative

35mm films! Now that I'm planning to use Luna more often, I'm gonna be needing a lot of films, which is kind of expensive if I'm gonna buy from the Lomography store alone. So I also wanna use expired films and those from Kodak and Fujifilm too. I think it would create nice photos as well.

big gold watch

Sperry Topsiders

and last but not the least, the PBCo. minis box of 6 made it to my wishlist this year! Hehez :-) Being the peanut butter junkie that I am, I would love to try PBCo.'s (Green tea, sesame, dark chocolate, sun-dried, chili, and crunchy) flavored peanut butter. ♡
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Your wish is my command

After finishing 2 movies which is exhausting to the eyes I must say, I've decided to try making Japchae already. I realized my brothers will be getting home soon and usually they have merienda so I thought of making it for them. However, when I went to the pantry, I don't have some of the fresh ingredients like spinach, and mushrooms. It wouldn't be delicious and complete without them so I just decided to make it some other time. But I'm in the mood for making Korean food! Then I remembered my brother asking me to make Kimbap for him if I have time so I checked if I have enough ingredients, and started making them.

I usually put tuna but I swapped it with ham instead because we still have lots of ham from the holidays. :| Its better than putting it to waste right? =)) I also didn't put egg because one of my sibs doesn't like it in. In general, I followed the recipe from Maanchi's website here

With all the ingredients that I have, I was able to make 3 rolls. :) Does it look edible to you? :))

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Of buffets and rainy days

As what my dad promised, we went back to Bag of Beans to try their brunch buffet. Our family is a big fan of buffets. We prefer it over the usual ordering stuff because we have different food preferences and we often disagree with each other's wants so to avoid that, we go to buffets. We love trying buffets in restaurants and in hotels too. My personal favorites are Sofitel's Spiral and Marriott's Marriott Cafe. But we only go out whenever my dad is here, we seldom do when he's not around. :)

Anyways, this day is not really a good time to go out because of the heavy, non-stop rain. I can't barely see the view in Tagaytay because its covered with fog! It really looked scary. :| Plus the wind is strong and cold. So, we were expecting there wouldn't be a lot of customers because of the weather but I guess were not the only ones who wants to eat there at that time. The place is actually full and it took us 10-15 minutes to get seated. Normally, you could call in to place a reservation earlier but my mom said the line was busy so she wasn't able to reserve for us.

After getting all settled, its time to eat! They have ample food choices for both lunch and breakfast. I immediately looked for pancakes but they were not available. That made me a bit sad because I was really hoping to eat at a pancake buffet. :( Well at least they have bread (they have about 4 kinds), and I must say its good. They're soft and dense and its best paired with their blueberry or strawberry jam. The salad is just the ordinary salad, lettuce with carrots, corn kernels, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper and olive slices which I think many people don't like (the olive slices container is still full compared to others, Hehez) except me so I got a spoonful of it. Haha! If you must know, I don't eat mayo and anything with mayo so I opted to put the yogurt-like dressing in my salad.

For my next plate, I asked the chef to make me a Pesto Pasta. I have been craving for pasta since I arrived and I was happy that they have pasta station there. My sister got the same as mine while my brother got Putanesca.

In terms of food, I think its just okay, nothing special. Except the coffee and their pies which tastes very good. If you're a caffeine junkie, you would love it because the coffee is strong with the right amount of taste and the aroma smells good. Other than that, I guess its just the idea of "breakfast & lunch buffet" in a place like Tagaytay + the hopes of eating pancakes that got me thrilled. Also, I think its really important to have a reservation to avoid waiting too long.

If you would like to visit Bag of Beans, their contact details and address are posted below. I suggest you try their coffee and pies especially their Apple Pie. ;)

After that, we had few stopovers before going to Paseo. My brother has been asking my parents to go there to check the Nike outlet for the nth time already so we just dropped by since its on the way anyways. I haven't really been there so I don't know whats it is to see but I was lucky enough to spot a Korean grocery in on of the areas there. I've been wanting to go to a Korean grocery to buy ingredients since one of my goals while I'm on vacation is to learn making a Korean dish. I have already tried making Kimbap when I was still in college (thanks to my roommate Nenjy's influence) but I think now is different because I can already compare it to the taste of the real Korean dishes which I eat in Korea. Does that make any sense? :D

On my list, I'm thinking of making Japchae and Jjajjangmyun. Those were my favorites and easy to make so I can't wait to start cooking! ;) Wait for my future posts, to find out how they went. :)

Bag of Beans, Restaurant and Bakery
115 Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez
Crossing West, Tagaytay City

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