My boyfriend is not the romantic type. He's not the typical rom-com or chick lit hero who's big on grand gestures to display love and affection, and I have to admit it sometimes creates conflict between us because I'm all about the cheese. What he is, though, is he's very supportive of my hobbies and interests. In the less than three years we've been together we've managed to grow crystals, carve stamps, create a kaleidoscope, make resin jewelry, go to two of my dream concerts, bake, visit a couple of my dream museums, explore a country, visit more than a dozen toy and comic book conventions, travel more than a hundred miles to follow my favorite local comic book artist, and set up my own Tamiya. Now, he's the number one supporter of my doll collection. I'd take that over a dozen roses any day.

For our 29th month together, he took me to Color Me Mine in Hobbes & Landes BGC.

I have wanted to try Color Me Mine since I read an article about it in Candy magazine when I was in high school. I actually thought they closed down already so seeing these ceramics at Hobbes & Landes was a pleasant surprise.

J gave me free rein, and I chose a celestial mug.


You can choose any colors you want from their wide selection:

... and I selected colors to create a palette inspired by The Little Prince.


J custom-paints toys himself so he knows his way around brushes.


After less than an hour, we were done!



If you're going there to paint your own, I suggest not holding back with the paints and just layer as much as possible as the ceramic absorbs the paint.

We left my mug with the Color Me Mine staff to glaze and were advised it will be ready in two to three weeks.

Last week, they sent me a message to say my mug was ready, and we got to claim it over the weekend after watching Coco. (Easily my most favorite Disney-Pixar movie! Oh how I ugly-cried while watching it.)


I'm in love with my mug!





JK for Jeremiah-Kristel, the same initials as the ones in my Istorya necklace.

I love my mug, and even though I can see now how we could've painted it better, it doesn't really matter to me because its flaws add to its charm.

My boyfriend gave me the sun, moon, and stars and my coffee tastes so much better now. ♡ 

Everyone who has known me for several years now know how skinny I was. In 2011, I even wrote this blog post: The skinny on being skinny. I struggled with being underweight the first 30 years of my life and had to field a lot of comments about how thin I was, how I should eat more, how maybe my hair absorbs all the nutrients, how maybe I have multiple parasites, et cetera.

Fast forward to today, metabolism and meds (for my myomas) caught up with me and I "finally" tipped the scale to more than 100lbs. With the weight-gain came a lot of comments about how much weight I have gained, how I should eat less, how I look like I'm pregnant, et cetera. I try to take all these comments in stride and make jokes out of them, but to be honest it can get pretty hurtful, and sometimes these comments do get under my skin.

Last week, to help my myomas, my OB put me on keto diet (high fat, moderate proteins, very low to nil sugar and carbs) and even though I found it difficult to cut carbs and quit sugar at first because I LOVE rice and desserts, I soldiered on through the support of my boyfriend, his Mom, and my Mom. Today, I went back to my OB and found out I lost 4 lbs in six days --- without exercise!

I was put on keto not necessarily to lose weight but to help my myomas, but I feel much stronger and experience less cravings now, thanks to this diet. I was advised not to keep doing it, though, and to introduce carbs again to my diet but to make sure I do it moderately. Discipline is key.


So, yeah, I look like this now and I probably won't get my college body back, and I'm okay with that. I mean, I love putting on tube dresses and having proper support, y'know?

Regarding the comments about my weight, I'm happy that you don't have anything else to worry about. Good for you. :)

I feel like I just wrote my first post for 2017 and now, [just] 62 posts later, it's already December.

Wow.

As per a tradition I started years ago, here's my Christmas wish list in case Santa's feeling generous. Also known as a cheat sheet for my boyfriend, heh. (^_−)☆ It's not much, and as compared to my previous wish lists they're filled with more toys than usual. Nevertheless these are the things that will bring me joy and delight come Christmas day.

• Camera. I'm happy with the quality of my phones (I use an iPhone 6S and a Huawei P9) but a camera will be so much better.
• Dollhouse and miniatures. I've always been fascinated with dollhouses and I'd like to take a stab at making my own miniatures. Instagram is a treasure trove of inspiration! Check out Lavender Belle and be amazed. The only challenge here is the space to display it in.
• BECCA X Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette. I've wanted this palette ever since I saw it and the glowing (glowing, get it? heh) reviews further cemented my need to have it. However I made it a point to reduce my makeup purchase this year (I am currently succeeding because I haven't bought any lipsticks yet since this year started!) so I am putting this on my wish list. But who knows, I might just go ahead and allow myself this little indulgence.
  
• Teenage Fashion Model Barbie. The Teenage Fashion Model Barbie is an iconic Barbie doll in the sense that it is the very first Barbie doll ever produced and sold, and any doll collector should have one.
• #TheBarbieLook™ Barbie® Doll – City Chic Style. I have no other justifications on why I want this doll except that I really, really, really like her face and hair and the way she has a journal and a pencil (that fit in her bag!) as accessories. Ugh. (Wish granted December 3, 2017!)
  
• Sewing machine. Since I'm collecting dolls, I would also like to try making clothes for them. I [virtually] met a lot of very talented people on the Facebook groups I belong to like Wawie who makes her own Barbie clothes and dioramas. I also bought clothes from her and the quality is very nice! It would be really cool if I can also learn how to make my own. (Wish granted December 13, 2017!)

It's been a fortnight since I shared my doll collection with you, and, well, a lot has happened since then.

Exhibit A: Operetta Phantom

I finally got a Monster High Picture Day Operetta Doll thanks to kindhearted individuals I met through a Facebook group I belong to. They got me the Picture Day set and two fashion packs for very cheap prices from the Kids' Craze Warehouse Sale, and I'm so thrilled because I've been wanting this exact doll for a while now, mainly because she looks so fierce and her outfits are very on point.

She's so pretty and I love her hair and the details on the doll especially her scar and jazzed-up masks.

Exhibits B and C: Way Too Wonderland Madeline Hatter and Bunny Blanc

Now I'm quite content with my Ever After High collection ♥

Way Too Wonderland Madeline Hatter was my dream doll but I couldn't find it in my heart to get her because it's too fracking expensive! I got her and her Wonderlandian friend Bunny Blanc for less than half the price at the Kids' Craze Warehouse Sale, yay! Madeline Hatter is my favorite Ever After High character and this line is just too pretty and ostentatious and wonderful so adding her to my collection is a huge deal for me!

Exhibits D and E: Barbie Fashionista Doll 69 Blue Beauty - Tall and Barbie Fashionista Doll 18 Va-Va-Violet

Love me my vibrant-haired beauties

I've been eyeing these dolls since August but I never get around to getting them because even though I liked their faces and outfits, I didn't like that their bodies are not articulated. Knowing that stocks will run out soon, I went ahead and bit the bullet. No regrets.

Also in my wish list are the Barbie Fashionista Doll 67 Cactus Cutie – Tall, Barbie Fashionista Doll 60 Patchwork Denim – Original, Barbie Fashionistas 34 B-Fabulous Doll & Fashions - Original, Barbie Fashionistas Doll 19 Ruby Red Floral - Original, Barbie Fashionistas Doll 48 Daisy Pop - Curvy, Barbie Fashionistas Doll 76 Lavender Kiss - Curvy, and Barbie Fashionistas Doll 54 Tutu Cool - Petite.

Exhibit F: Barbie Made to Move Doll - Purple Top

J and I searched high and low for this and when we finally found her last Sunday we didn't let her go. It was a tough choice between her and the Barbie Made to Move Doll - Blue Top that he got me as a gift, and now I'm so happy I have them both! I just love her Asian features and I can't wait to dress her up! Now I'm looking for the Barbie Made to Move Doll - Coral Top so please hit me up if you find her!

Aaand that's it for now! I hope you're enjoying my dollireum with me (hehe, here I am lowkey asking you to follow the Instagram account I made for my dolls) ♥

Francine's thought bubble: It's not going to stop anytime soon, is it?

Me: *gasps* *pretends to be shocked* You should be happy you're getting more sisters, Francine!

Aaand I should go eat dinner now. Until my next Dollireum update! ;)

I'm not due for a new phone anytime soon but if you are and you have extra moolah to spare, then head to City of Dreams this coming Thursday night because Beyond the Box is holding a midnight launch for the latest and best iPhone yet!

The iPhone X is almost here, and you can get it first from the country’s foremost Apple Premium Reseller when the clock strikes 12 on December 1!


Marking its official commercial release in the Philippines, the revolutionary iPhone X will be available for purchase during a special midnight launch on December 1 at Beyond the Box in City of Dreams Manila.

Experience the iPhone X’s outstanding technology in a live iOS 11 tutorial during the event. Lucky customers who are among the first buyers of this swanky device get a free Beyond the Box Essentials Kit as well.

Meanwhile, BPI cardholders at the midnight launch get special 12/24-month installment rates for the highly coveted iPhone X.

The line for the launch starts at 9 PM on November 30 with slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Stocks are limited so make sure you go there early! RSVP here if you're coming!

For more information including pricing, please visit Beyond the Box's website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

One of my favorite books growing up was my Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (yes, the book title said Dwarfs and not Dwarves) storybook not necessarily because of the story but because it had paintings as accompanying illustrations in every page. I consider this book as one of my most prized possessions as a kid because I just loved looking at those illustrations. I'm so sad I lost it during the big fire that razed through our neighborhood back in 2001 because I don't think I'll be able to find another copy anywhere.

A quick Google search let me know that the book I had is a vintage Ladybird Book with the first edition dating back to 1969. I was stoked to see scanned photos of the paintings online!

Snow White discovers the dwarves' cottage after the Huntsman lets her escape

The Evil Stepmother disguises and offers Snow White an apple that she takes reluctantly

The Prince wakes Snow White up from her slumber

That was an unexpected walk down memory lane. I remembered it all over again because Ballet Manila is doing their own rendition of Snow White!


The idea of creating her own version of Snow White came to Ballet Manila’s CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde right after her full choreographic debut last year. Due to the success of Cinderella, what was once regarded simply as “The Next One” has now become a second full-fledged masterpiece from the Prima Ballerina herself—and it’s finally making its world premiere in the 22nd performance season, Flights of Fantasy. Apparently, last year’s full choreography work in Cinderella was just the warm up.

With the help of Ballet Master Osias Barroso, the dancers’ personalities, music arranged by Von de Guzman, costumes by Michael Miguel and set designs by Mio Infante, and of course, the company’s mastery of the Vaganova technique, Snow White promises to be a magical and fantastic show—all in all, a truly Ballet Manila production.


With Snow White, Lisa guarantees that each member of the audience will get their fill of pure magic, romance, and fantasy. The audience can only expect the highest quality of dancing as well from the country’s youngest yet strongest ballet company.

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s Snow White will make its world premiere on November 25, 2017 at 6:00PM at the Aliw Theater. There will be three other shows: November 26, (3:00PM), December 2 (6:00PM), and December 3 (3:00PM).

To learn more about Ballet Manila and their upcoming activities, you may visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.