https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh1DQZtHzGR/ Stephanie Garber’s Caraval is the first young adult novel I picked up after many, many years, bypassing the genre for the classics, crime, and other modern fiction. I discovered her work when I saw the limited edition of its sequel, Legendary, at Goldsboro Books’ website (already out of stock). Intrigued, I bought the book for its promise of a spectacular adventure filled with magic, wonder, treachery, and dark secrets. The genre itself has grown exponentially in popularity over the years, so much so that one can expect a new release or debut novel each year. In fact, a quick search on Instagram will reveal several YA-specific book box subscriptions meant to delight reading enthusiasts around the . . .
Diwa Daily turns 1 (and a bunch of other unfortunate events)
I wish it was easy enough to just write about all that's happened over the last few weeks. I could only record recent events by hand on my notebook since it's within reach and didn't require me to log in, give it a title, upload a featured image, etc. But silence doesn't have to last forever, and I think today's a good time to get back up and start turning the cogs on this blog again. Let me start with this: My company was acquired and I'll be terminated in April 30th. And because a flurry of red flags went up when the new company introduced themselves, I've decided not to re-apply at the new company. This crack in my career pretty much threw me and my side-projects overboard: I stopped blogging over at pagerie.co Pagerie sales . . .
What I learned from one whole month of posting to social media
27 days ago, I thought of doing a small personal experiment to find out what it was like to emulate or mimic social media influencers. The idea was a bit fuzzy at that time, but it started when I discovered Facebook had this new feature called "sets." It's similar to Google+ or Pinterest where you'd have a dedicated timeline or newsfeed for any topic you're interested in. I created a set for books and a set for stationery on my Facebook account. https://www.instagram.com/p/BeiM3RggC5H/?taken-by=thebookboy I discovered the #bookstagram community on Instagram around the same time I tinkered with Facebook sets. Charlie Edwards-Freshwater of @bookboy is the first one I discovered, and I fell head-over-heels in love with his book collection! . . .
The Chua-Gonzaga Library Project
The first half of February whizzed by completely because of a hobby I reconnected and fell in love with again. Ever since I received my first Barnes & Noble leather-bound book in the mail, I felt the same throb of passion for rebuilding and collecting rare and beautiful books. It's like meeting with an old but tender flame over the summer. I completely lose my grip once I become so engrossed with something, be it an object or a new hobby. I remember spending hours—days even—on goldfish and fish care when we first set up an aquarium at home. 🐠 I guess I took it from my dad, who's just as passionate about his interests and hobbies. His are along the lines of high-powered motorcycles, drones, and expensive DSLR cameras. It's nice to see . . .
Feeling Amazing with My New Renegade Folk Shoes
https://vimeo.com/100981409 I discovered Renegade Folk on Instagram a long time ago, completely head-over-heels over their limited edition Feeling Good sandals in Marsala. They're simple, sexy, and exactly the kind of sandals I'd wear everyday. The brand itself is admirable as they've grown into one of the most popular local fashion brands in the country. Launched in 2007, Renegade Folk relies on the skills, talents, and creativity of their team of Marikina-based artisans to produce comfortable and stylish footwear. Every pair is made by hand and competitive in the market. Unfortunately, I had a couple of pairs on my shelf at that time and wasn't open to the idea of buying shoes online, so I didn't look into the brand further. . . .
The Power of the Dreams Board
Yesterday, I passed the Nursery class after dropping Noah off at his classroom for the day. The kids formed two lines, with their Chinese teacher demonstrating how to, if I understood their gestures correctly, walk properly within their lines. Their hands at their hips, the taller assistant standing behind her, the Nursery teacher spoke her instructions in smooth and fluent Mandarin. I listened to the unfamiliar words, letting them take me back to an older Chinese-English elementary school where the teachers drilled the same language into the students' heads. It's a lot to ask from a seven-year-old, but I couldn't help wishing I had been more mature when I had that education served to me every afternoon. Linguistically limited I read . . .
2017 Wins: The Full List
I'm still wrestling with the idea that twelve long months have already gone by. So many things happened and changed, so many goals accomplished and failed, it's hard not to wonder what the new year could bring to the table this time. My 2017 ally is my undated Passion Planner and it enabled me to plot my year's goals and put ideas to action. One of its nifty features is the GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED section to the right of the weekly timeline where you'd list down the week's wins. It's a great appreciation exercise where you learn to focus on the good and appreciate what you received or worked for, motivating you to seek out that same positive magic next week. https://www.instagram.com/p/BW8IG_zhGCh/?taken-by=passionplanner I decided to . . .
Dolldalita Dolls are Lovingly Handmade from the Philippines
Before moving to Cagayan de Oro city, I brought a super old Fisher-Price basic telephone and a stuffed Thumper doll that I’ve had since I was a child. Both were for my kids to play with as they settled into their new home. I guess I saved them so I could anchor to cherished memories of my childhood as well. They remind me of the fun and stuffy afternoons inside the makeshift bedroom my parents built for my sisters and I at our now-defunct lights and electrical store. We’d stay upstairs where all the stocks were stored while they managed operations below us. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbHVsjhnB_n/?taken-by=dolldalitadollmaker A Dolldalita doll has that same charm that sweetens a child’s memories of playtime. This adorable and . . .
I want to work at (insert location)
I read that asking a child, or anyone for that matter, what they would like to be growing up is problematic. The question demands that you select and identify with one specific occupation. It leaves no room for changes in decision, interest, or preference. Moreover, if you come from a family that expects you to choose from any of their preferred career choices, the pressure becomes too heavy to bear. These days, I find myself thinking about the less popular variations to the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" I do so mainly because I realize how my personality and interests vary over the years as I introduce myself to new people, places, and cultures. As I see how the world changes and how technology transforms the way . . .
Zenkit Lets You Manage Projects the Way YOU Want To
I've always loved creating and managing projects, but I've yet to find the project management tool that I'd stick with for the rest of my life. Each PM tool I’ve signed up for has their strengths and limitations. And with every one of these tools I had to adjust the way I plan and manage to fit within their limitations. Todoist was fast and simple with ticking things off the list, but managing the work that needs to be done for that task is always messy business on the app. Trello is ideal for all things kanban, but kanban itself doesn’t really feel like I’m completing a project. Like a neverending waterfall of tasks and processes. Asana—well, I just deactivated my account five seconds ago. Mindmeister and its brother . . .
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