art – Stiletto Supermom

Bullet journals & Heffalumps

2017 ended with a lot of promise and a lot of planning and like every year previously, I have to start with a new planner. Now I have always had a journal where I would write out random thoughts, short stories, poems, ideas, etc. but I noticed that over time and as I found myself disciplining my thoughts more to tailor towards my goals, I found that my journals were feeling more like a “security blanket”. I was reading back through my writing and it was becoming more random and sadly I was even writing less frequently. I can freely admit this was most likely due to depression from fighting SJS, but I also feel that my writing instruments were getting a little outdated and boring. I came across the one bullet journal video and then before you know it I ended up watching a string of youtube videos for the entire day. I did some research on some different dot paper notebooks, art pens, art markers.. I placed my Amazon order, stalked it and waited impatiently for my new bullet journal adventure to begin.

Yes, I am a gadget girl and I do use my iPhone calendar for appointments, alarms etc. but guys, there just isn’t anything in this world that can ever compare to the power and magic of the pen to paper. I am and always will be a writer they are my favourite tools in the world. Since I’ve been using the bullet journal system, while adding some creative touches of my own, I’ve managed to be a lot more productive and inspired in my artwork as well. I kept my creative energy flowing and decided to move into a new studio with bigger space and amazing lighting.

Since I’ve been doing some much needed redecorating, I decided to include some of my art dolls into my room decor. Now, reborn doll collecting is a fairly new so displaying them is left in actual baby furniture, etc there are no stands for them. So I found a pillow in the shape of an elephant. I was so excited to find it because who doesn’t want a heffalump pillow?!

It’s definitely the right time for big moves!

Action and Progress

You know those corny sayings that seem to clog the internet, you know, the ones where they are supposed to inspire you or uplift you? I read those quotes and I find one common thread between them all and that is the moment I was reading them, I should have been moving on and taking the next step towards my goal. As positive as they are, these are things we should be telling ourselves on a daily basis. I’m a strong believer in self preservation for the sake of the quality of life that you really want.

I was doing research, making appointments, drafting plans… and I stopped myself and smiled. In all my adulthood, 2017 has been the best I have had yet. I used to do things here and there, not out of things I had to do but for things I felt I needed to do. Going with the flow and letting go of this invisible control we all think we have.

Today, I started to notice how all the things I’ve been doing up to this point have come to fruition. I used to get stressed out when I didn’t know what was going to happen after working so hard. Now, I find myself smiling more and knowing that this whole journey was preparing me for something bigger than just what I love to do. I’m on my way to fulfill that mission I gave to myself.

My new addiction… The art of letting go…

Over already?!

It's the Civic Holiday weekend and it feels like the summer months passed by so fast! I blame most of this on the weirdest weather I've seen in years! It would rain so hard it sounded like hail against my windows, thunderstorms at least once a week followed by extreme heat where I could hardly breathe. Although, I'd rather have this weather than the upcoming winter months.

The back-to-school supplies and clothing are in all the stores, I can almost hear my bank account cry for my school shopping days that are just around the corner. It will be an emotional school year for me as my last little pterodactyl will be leaving the nest to go to school. So far, he knows his numbers up to 10 and backwards, but he refuses to sing the alphabet song lol. Thanks to the iPad he does know what the letters are, but he just doesn't like the song. I'm guessing that he thinks the song is dumb, he rolls his eyes every time I ask him to sing it.

Lately, my days are filled with doll orders and event planning. It's a truly exciting time for me. I have found what I love in all aspects of my life from the kids, social life and now my artistry. They often say that when your personal life is good everything else around is chaos. I am living proof that the saying is NOT true. We all need to find the balance in our own lives or things get harder and harder to do. It's like the universe makes some things in our lives difficult in order to accept something better in our lives. "Out with the old, in with the new" has a deeper meaning than we think. This whole year has unraveled many important life choices for me. My family relationships have been stronger now than ever, financial security is finally here, reuniting with my childhood best friend, maintaining deeper relationships with my friends from all over my online world and forming new amazing friendships who have cleared my mind and settled my soul.

Yes, you can have it all, yes abundance is attainable. If you want these things, you have to release everything that you know is holding you back. It will seem so difficult to let go, but it will be worth it and those difficult moments you are experiencing right now, will be in your distant past. Right when you're about to give up hope is when you have to gather up as much strength as you have to get through the rough moments. You will see your end goals, not when YOU want to see it, but when you're ready to accept it.

Stiletto Vlogs 06/03/17 Farmer’s Market

This is one of my favourite things to do in my surroundings. We have a fabulous fresh Farmer’s Market close by and I just love it. Fresh fruits and veggies, meats, baked goods and the sound of vendors yelling out their upcoming sales is like music to my ears. I even had a chance to look through all the furniture that I will be decorating my house with.

I stocked up in meats, bought some amazingly fresh butter and raspberry cream tarts and smoked mackerel. OMG I love this so much, it could be my childhood upbringing when my parents other family friends would get together have potluck dinners, there was always BBQd fish somewhere among the sea of Filipino foods. I decided that I want to share that same kind of traditions with my children.

I hope you enjoy the video of the travel to the Farmer’s Market!

More to come..

Review: Fast and Furious 8

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Most people I hear were buzzing about Fast & Furious 8, some positive and some negative. I’ve heard people say “Oh here we go… another Fast & Furious movie” followed by rolling eyes. However, I’m a huge action movie fan and I was anticipating a great action movie that included “The Rock” and Vin Diesel.

The story starts off with a great racing scene complete with almost hard to believe details, but I didn’t mind. What’s a Fast & Furious movie without racing and cars blowing up all over the place. I have always loved the story line, my favourite being Tokyo Drift. Joined by villainess Charlize Theron, in this movie, it had all the twist and turns of a race track.

The story was that of betrayal and involved a lot of history. I loved that the villain was a woman and the story takes you all the way to the arctic. Many reviews have not been favourable but I happen to love the cheesiness and the unbelievable events that happen. It’s hard to be cynical when I think about Alien, Commando, even the latest great saga of The Game of Thrones.

If you like movies like Mission Impossible and the 007 movies, you will enjoy this movie. For me, it was nonstop action and I was locked onto that screen. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves good ol’ fashion action sprinkled with humour and drama.

I’d love for you to let me know your thoughts after you watch it.

Happy movie watching

Exploring my Canada

It’s weird that over time we all forget to look around and see how lucky we all are to be alive and breathing. Being a Canadian sometimes makes us complacent and numb to what we really have. Our country is rich in resources, kind people and humour. Canadians always get the same old lame jokes on the use of “eh” and “Sorry”; but newsflash… We aren’t really that sorry, eh! It’s funny when other countries have a lot of shit to say about us, yet they have never had the pleasure to visit our country nor really know any of us. We are the constant “joke”, however over the years I have realized one common thing with my fellow Canadians and that is… we really don’t have that much to complain about. Of course, we are not free from crime, violence, etc. but, as I look out my open window and it’s quiet with a few sounds from the neighbourhood kids. I truly appreciate where I am.

I rant about the current government, I won’t go into that in this post lol, but when I stop and think about it we have a lot more say, we have a lot more power than we even know. On that note, my new adventure will include visiting all the towns and cities that surround my little corner of Canada. I will bring you all with me and show you the world through my eyes.

Canada turns 150 years old on July 1st, I will be spending it with my recently reunited childhood best friend and our families. It’s time to celebrate our beautiful Canada and what it has always had to offer! YAY Canada!!

Crazy Spring!

May was the craziest month of 2017, so far. 2 of my sons dislocated their shoulders, I had doctor and physio appointments top that with some rain and you get a beautiful disaster. It seemed that as soon as it was clear blue skies and bright sun, the weather would do a complete switch and it would be pouring rain and humid as hell. It has been a weird time of the year but I am not complaining. I’m too distracted by all the planning I have to do for next year.

The last 3 weeks i’ve been filling doll orders as well as planning for a big event in May of 2018. There’s so much to do and to tell you the truth, it kind of feels like I’m planning a huge elaborate wedding! NO I am NOT getting married lol. I remember when I was part of the Filipino Association as the Treasurer. I had to organize the bills and quotations as well as book the event facility. Mind you, it was a hell of lot easier because I had a large team of 8 people who took over a lot of the mundane work I didn’t have time for. Now, here I am with a team of 4 people trying to organize the whole thing.. from the decorations, entertainment and food.. it’s all me. There are packages to prepare, contests to plan… just as I am writing this I feel my brain throbbing with all the planning I have yet to do. I did manage to lock the date and facility down, but now my creative juices have to start kicking into full swing! I definitely need a bigger team.

As I look at all the upcoming appointments for my sons, follow up appointments for me, etc. The more I see sleepless nights in my horizon. I don’t mind though, with a 4 year old full of energy surrounding me during the day, the only time that works is when all the pterodactyls are snoring away. Does anyone else find more time to focus on detailed things at night? I feel like I’m not alone in this.

They say working from home is way harder than working outside the home, this is so true. It’s not like I can checkout and come back the next day to finish tasks. Every day I wake up and there’s a mountain of things to do; add in the event planning and boom a fulfilled evening is born. I love the quiet of night time working, but there are times where my procrastination takes over for a bit. I’m surprisingly way ahead of deadlines and while on this journey, I have met so many amazing people that have offered a helping hand. The world may be cynical but the balance is surrounding yourself with positive people who are excited to help you succeed. If it wasn’t for all my new found support and newly developing friendships all my preparations and planning wouldn’t be this fun.

Sometimes you get little reminders here and there that you are on the right path, every time I meet a new friend it solidifies that I have the support I need and I am finally on the road to success and true happiness. Summer is going to be fabulous and I can’t wait to share more of my adventures!

I hope you are all having a happy and positive day. I also hope that you choose happiness in whatever you are currently into. Yes you have to work hard, but you also have to play hard.. that’s what happiness is.

Much love