things you can give up to save our planet

earth is a living being that nourishes, protects, and provides life.  no earth, no mankind.  here are simple things you can easily give up to save our dying planet.

incandescent bulb.  i put it first on the list because it is the easiest and requires no major lifestyle change.  choose cfls or led lights because they are the most efficient and cost-effective options in the market today.  do a quick google search to help you decide which is better for your needs.

cable and tv set.  boob tubes are like junk food for the brain.  it is filled with senseless advertisements which program your brain to choose a particular brand and create a disposable mentality.  besides, you can get your entertainment fix somewhere else for minimal carbon footprint such as at your nearest public library or second-hand bookstores.  please get a hobby that doesn't require a screen.

smart phone.  sure, it is considered a necessity in our fast-paced society, but did you know that smart phones are made to last for less than 5 years only?  this unfortunate truth contributes to tons of e-waste each year and poisons many of our landfills.  although i put my basic phone on a hiatus, i am forever grateful for it.  life still goes on.

washing machine.  doing your laundry by hands is not as difficult as you may think.  i wrote my experience about it here.

excesses.  do you have a huge stockpile or multiples of the same thing?  the more we accumulate stuff, the more we think we have less.  i used to be a hoarder not long ago, but thankfully, i was able to downsize my belongings to only the essentials.  more is not always more.

brand new stuff.  not everyone is willing to buy used goods because there is a stigma attached to it.  many consumers are programmed to think that brand new is always better.  so, to all my fellow thrifters and vintage lovers, let us continue to make a difference while having fun doing it.

there are things that i'm still working on such as my dependence on bottled water and fast food.  with the right mindset, however, i know i could completely eliminate these useless junk in my life forever.  we'll see...

shops to inspire: intiearth

photo credit: remodelista
original post appeared here
shop: http://www.remodelista.com/shop/?retailer=Intiearth

remove water stain on granite with virgin coconut oil

this may sound counter-intuitive since common knowledge suggests that any type of oil can cause stain on granite countertop.  the trick is to apply the littlest amount of virgin coconut oil as possible and to wipe any excess immediately.  i didn't use photo editor for this post to show you guys the real result.

water stain on granite.  i tried isopropyl alcohol, vinegar (please use with caution), baking soda with dish detergent poultice, and other chemical-based granite cleaners on the market with no luck.

i used giga virgin coconut oil, but you could also use whatever brand you have at hand.

rub in circular motion with lint-free cotton towel.

wait for a few minutes, and then buff to shine with the same towel.  do not add any more virgin coconut oil.

done!  use it also to shine your faucet and other silver kitchenware!

how to be a conscious decorator

our modern disposable culture made it easy for us to decorate our dwellings even with a single click of a mouse.  if you want to create a space filled with good karma, however, you must put time and effort on making it beautiful.  here are a few ways on how to be a conscious decorator.

authenticity.  the best compliment i received was when relatives from abroad commented that they knew instantly it was me who decorated the house.  you cannot just copy a picture you've seen in a magazine, blog, or social media because it will look too staged and pretentious.  be inspired, but put your own unique mark on it.  personality is what makes your home design timeless.

be realistic.  as much as i love an all-white scandinavian look, it is simply not practical in our dust-filled subdivision.  i tried glossy white paint before and promised myself not to do it ever again.  it took me just a few weeks to start repainting again.

slow decorating.  homes are like human beings that evolve.  decorating takes time, requires thoughtful accumulation of furnishings, and a lot of trial and error.  take it slowly and enjoy the process.

edit, edit, edit.  we all have random collections, of course, and it can look a bit chaotic when they suddenly go out of control.  weed out your possessions to only those which truly speak to your heart.  as they say, a cluttered space is a cluttered mind.

if you can change it, change it.  if you cannot, accept it.  there were dozens of imperfections which i would certainly be glad to change in our house.  next to nothing natural light, diminutive shower room, lack of bedroom and privacy, noisy environment, mismatched floor tiles, and so on.  while i was able to change some of them, limited fund and common sense finally stopped me.  i used to get easily irritated and stressed out because of this, but as time goes by, i simply learned to accept it.

paint.  paint is a decorating tool with major value for the money.  if you are on a tight budget, then just paint a single accent wall or ceiling or wooden trims.  upcycling old furniture with paint is also another smart decorating move.  use the power of color to create visual tricks in your space.

environmental sustainability.  buy locally-sourced construction materials when you are renovating a part of your house.  they have far better quality and more inexpensive as compared to those made outside our country.  you could also use salvaged architectural details from demolished old houses to add rustic charm to your project.  nothing is greener than reusing old and well-loved pieces.

personality traits.  do you like a room full of people?  or, do people drain your energy? we must not compromise our personality traits because we are the one who will suffer in the end.  we can offer ourselves more and function much, much better if our environment is conducive to our mental well-being.  if you love to socialize, then have a bar cart filled with alcoholic beverages and snacks ready.  an open layout where plenty of people could gather and talk for hours would be perfect for you.  however, if you are an introvert like me, let your friends know when you are willing and capable to accept visitors.  a quality earplug is also a must if you are highly sensitive to noise.

carve out a space for your hobby.  it could be a mini-library with comfortable chair, cozy music nook, quiet space for writing, meditation spot, or a kitchen full of your cooking ingredients.  having a "me" space affirms to the universe that you are worth it.

share it.  now that your space is a source of happiness, you must share it with other living things (whether online or offline) to keep the positive energy flowing.  share it with your loved ones, friends, or pet buddies.  if you adore plants so much, by all means, fill your space with lots and lots of it.  lucky you for being gifted with green thumbs.

happy decorating!

ming-ming has a new playmate!

my blog entry today might sound off-topic to my usual all-things-vintage-local-handmade-secondhand posts.  however, it's about my fur baby, and so i felt the need to share it here.  okay, to make it somewhat related, you could see the massive hand carved wooden masks in these pictures.  ming-ming and his new friend thought it was a good idea to turn it into a playground.  cats are pretty imaginative like that.

i still miss my sweet little kuti from time to time though, but it's getting a tad better now.  she will always have a special place in my heart.

shops to inspire: the living cube furniture

i had been decluttering my inspiration folders, and once again, was struck by these awe-inspiring pictures of urban cube by swiss designer till könneker when i saw it.  the urban cube is not just any ordinary multifunctional furniture because it includes an adult-sized lofted bed, closet area, shelving units, drop-down desk, and tons of hidden storage space for the less-appealing stuff.  i especially adored the handcrafted black wood material, clean lines, and minimalist appeal.  the company also sells living wall furniture (wall storage system) with the same brilliant concept.

photo credit: the living cube furniture
website: http://livingcube.furniture/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingCube/

selling: lot of 2 wooden ethnic statues (sold)

wooden ethnic statues from the early 90s.  solid philippine mahogany wood.  100% hand carved. these will look really awesome in your man cave.

30 inches height

51 inches height

pick-up preferred

behind sm molino, bacoor, cavite

3500 pesos (fixed price)

many thanks!

selling: lot of 4 hand carved wooden masks (sold)

wall art wooden masks from the early 90s.  solid philippine mahogany wood.  100% handmade.  you may check the back part for age and condition of wood.  with hairline cracks and missing carabao horn inlays.  still intact and zero dry rot.  perfect for your man cave, outdoor space, or ethnic style decors.

mask 1:
45 inches height
23 inches width
huge and heavy

mask 2:
37 inches height
21 inches width
huge and heavy

wooden mask 3:
36 inches height
19 inches width
huge and heavy

mask 4:
22 inches height
9.5 inches width
small

pickup preferred
behind sm molino, bacoor, cavite
6500 pesos or best offer

many thanks!

hallway makeover (sold)

the yellow walls with heart-shaped chalkboard paint in our hallway before was pretty cute.  for a more cohesive look, however, i decided to paint it a warm and inviting hue of orange.  besides, the yellow paint was quite difficult to maintain because it showed a lot of fingerprints and dirt marks.

i used three ikea hyllis to serve as a display-slash-storage rack for my online merchandise.  ikea hyllis is one of my favorite products from the brand.  it is quite affordable and very easy to put together even without any help.  just a side note though, please attach it to the wall when you have kids to avoid any unnecessary accidents from happening.  there are pre-drilled holes where you can secure the unit to the wall with screws.

these handcrafted woven mat bags are still waiting for their right owner.  if you want them, please email me so i could put them on hold for you.

hello, plants!

here's the customary before shot.

lessons learned from decluttering my bedroom

this is my walk-in closet before i transformed it into a small bedroom.  i simply couldn't remember when or where i wore these much clothes.  one thing's for sure though, buying them at the time made me a little less lonely.  however, the "high" i got from shopping was rather short-lived.  i realized now that accumulation of nonsensical things is just a temporary solution to problems, like a band-aid to a deep wound.

thankfully, i happened upon the book by marie kondo titled, the life-changing magic of tidying up: the japanese art of decluttering and organizing.  it changed my life forever.  all i really needed was a gentle nudge from the goddess of organization.  letting go of sentimental things wasn't so bad after all.

my life became simpler and easier.  i even wore the same black t-shirt and grey jeans for more than a month.  no one cared, no one noticed.  people are too busy looking at their phone nowadays.

more decluttering led to more self-discovery.

my current space gives credence to that old adage, "the state of your room reflects the state of your mind."  it is now filled with carefully selected items that speak to my heart.  i became more mindful about all the things i surround myself with.  nothing too fancy or extravagant, but mostly with history or character.  if only i could furnish my bedroom with all second-hand goods, i certainly would.

please take a moment to look around your house.  what does it say about you?  knowing your authentic self is the beginning of all wisdom.

more bedroom makeover here:
http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/06/diy-650-pesos-closet-to-multi.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/11/new-bed-frame-and-new-bedroom-layout.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/10/bedroom-four-months-post-konmari.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2016/04/no-bed-bedroom.html