One down, eleven to go. In keeping up with my read-one-novel-a-month resolution, I'm already done with my January novel (100 Years of Solitude). Now I'm thinking about my February novel. Given the month, it seems "proper" to read something love-themed. Would anyone recommend The Time Traveler's Wife? The premise is intriguing so I just might pick it up. If you have anything better to suggest, feel very free to do so.

Suggestions that I probably won't take:

- Twilight. I already read it all and I truly, deeply want to shred Bella Swan to bits (and Edward is only as good as the first book).

- Nicholas Sparks. I don't know. I never read a book by him but anything that's a "guaranteed tearjerker" is probably not my cup of tea. But dare me?

- Anything before the 20th century. I'm looking for something more contemporary.


Go go go!

My current sources of inspiration are 90's pop, fashion, and wedding photography--an unlikely mix, but one that blends in strange and wonderful ways in my head.

5. 90's pop: Stars by Simply Red, Bizarre Love Triangle by Frente!, Baby, Now that I've Found You by Alison Krauss, and It's a Beautiful Life by Ace of Base are just some of the new old songs in my playlist. This is the soundtrack of my elementary school days for crying out loud! Some of the songs are just covers but they're versions that I'm familiar with. My actual playlist is a lot more eclectic (read: whacked out) once you see these in combination with standards, 80's, and clubby-tugz-tugz music.

4. Sea of Shoes: This blog is love at first shoe. As much as I love shoes, there is no way in hell that I could afford the likes of Dries van Noten, Alaia, and Givenchy. Also, my feet are extremely picky and complain at the slightest misfit. Come to think of it, living her shoe life is impossible given my lifestyle (running after kids cannot be done in 4-inch platforms) and context (welcome to the third world!). This is all aspirational. Thank you, Jane, for allowing us to feed our shoe fetishes vicariously.

3. Project Runway Season 4: I'd wear Jillian's clothes but Christian Siriano's are a fantasy trip. I'm suddenly reminded of George from Paradise Kiss. Where do you draw the line between costume and haute couture? I have no point of comparison since I haven't seen the other seasons but they say that this is the most talented batch yet.

2. The Sartorialist: When I first saw this site, it was, "Oh okay, he takes pictures of well-dressed people". But more recently, I've been appreciating the pictures not for the fashion but for the photography per se. Anticipation, he says. That is true. There is this split second where a moment can be caught in all its joy and honesty.


But right now, nothing beats...

1. mangoRED: Wedding photography to the next level. This team is fearless. Shoot right under the eye of Typhoon Frank? Check. Convince a bride to ruin a Monique Lhuillier dress? Check. Simply put, they add a fresh and creative spin to (what is ideally) a once-in-a-lifetime event. I've never seen anything like this for a wedding before. Phenomenal.

I was wandering through Tiendesitas and picked up a Snow White storybook for 20php.

Fearless forecast: Most of my salary will go to bookstores. Aside from hunting down highly recommended literature and stocking up on art and teaching materials, windrette and I aim to discover the wonderfully illustrated world of children's books.

As I told another friend this, she told me about Jimmy Liao. I'm still looking for more info, but from the little I've read, he makes illustrated books that appeal to both children and adults. Ever heard of him? Any idea if his books are for sale in the Philippines?


( Click for related personal rambling )