#best wedding photographer in Philippines

[itsraineyday]

Elopement Stage 1: Reality/Budget Wedding

These are the wedding theme inspirations I have pinned through the years to plan my dream wedding. This helps me to curate my own collections of ideas on virtual boards. So it's easy for me to gather and organise various pieces I like, helping me to refine and define my wedding theme over time.

But being an Australian migrant originally from the Philippines, it's undeniable that settling in a new country often means having fewer family members and relatives around. This situation is further pronounced when accompanied by a migrant partner with no family members in the same country.

While I once envisioned a grand wedding with lush green-orangey aesthetics, a sizeable guest list of 60+, beautiful card invitations, favourite photographers and videographers, and meticulously arranged flowers, reality has set in.

As one matures and considers their life status, priorities, and responsibilities, the dream wedding takes on a new perspective. Despite the initial desire for a lavish celebration, practical considerations, convenience, and a desire to minimise stress become more important.

In preparing for my wedding now, the belief that "it's only once in a lifetime, let's make the best out of it" seems less relevant. Instead, I find myself more willing to compromise for the sake of comfort and to avoid unnecessary stress and expenses. While the notion of an extravagant celebration is exciting and makes you feel VIP, the realisation dawns that a wedding is not merely a spectacle for entertainment or the satisfaction of hundreds of guests.

It is about the union of two individuals, the bride and groom, surrounded by their essential loved ones—family and close friends. Though the guest list may be small, the significance of these relationships truly matters.

Going back to the true essence of a wedding as a sacred event, not just a celebration or a gathering with abundant food and people, we have opted for an elopement. In this context, elopement allows up to 30 chosen guests to witness the ceremony in an intimate setting, emphasising the privacy we both desire.

How to Elope in Australia?

The main requirement for eloping in Australia is to hire an authorised marriage celebrant to conduct your wedding and take care of the essential legal documentation. Besides that, everything is flexible, allowing you to add your personal touches to make this day, weekend, or week unique. 

The good thing is Eloping has no strict rules, so you can customise your celebration as per your preferences, including deciding when to exchange the "I do" vows. However, to make your marriage official, you must address three legal aspects. 

To legally elope in Australia,

You must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) at least one month before your wedding date,

Provide the necessary identification as requested by your celebrant and

Attend your wedding ceremony, where you'll repeat the necessary vows and sign the marriage register.

We have yet to do all of these - we aim to do the wedding around September to mid-October, as these are the best seasons (Spring) in Australia to have it.

2. Presently, I am considering two options, both located far from the bustling city: Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba, NSW and Chapel Hill Retreat. Both venues offer generous packages that align well with our budget constraints. I have already sent an email to them inquiring about their services. In the meantime, these are their offers that really captured my eye.

A. Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba NSW - Everlasting Daisies Wedding Package

What I love - All inclusive elopement packages are available from $8,000 including a celebration for up to 25 guests with: - Celebrant - Photography - Wedding Singer - Flowers - Gourmet grazing table & drinks - Limited mid-week & weekend dates - Accommodation available

What I take consider - The venue is a 5-hour journey, and it's strongly advised that guests stay overnight. While accommodations are provided for 14 guests, with 25 guests attending, some may need to return home the same day, and others may need to check into a nearby hotel for the night.

B. Chapel Hill Retreat

What I love is that Chapel Hill Retreat in Berambing is the top wedding reception venue in the region, offering a stunning setting amidst lush greenery and picturesque views. It takes 1.5 hours journey and Ideal for Sydneysiders seeking a country wedding or an elopement. It is also very flexible, having accommodation that can cater to more than 25 guests.

What I need to consider is that I have to find my own celebrant, photographer, and live music, which adds up to the cost, whereas, in Tilba Tilba, NSW that already includes in $8,000AUD.

Below are the Elopement Packages they have. I like the Elopement Two Package, but I'm curious how much that would be. They still need to post the prices of each package, and I am keen to know so I can determine how much of the budget we should have ready in case.

...Planning my dream wedding has evolved from a vision of grandeur to a more practical and meaningful approach. My current location and support system available have influenced my decision to opt for a smaller, more intimate elopement.

The journey has just begun!!! and with inquiries sent and considerations in progress, I eagerly anticipate the next steps in planning this practical yet memorable wedding. As the details unfold, this is just the initial phase in a journey that bounds to reach its destination and the significant moments and choices that will shape the beginning of our lifelong journey together.

[iifa-multimedia]

Internet birdes-to-be are a developing phenomenon that touches various lives, especially those in spots connected to the internet. Often , they are utilized as a way of social exchange, whereby the girl looking for her husband is the “purchaser, ” as well as the man trying to find his star of the event the “seller. ” The most common types of snail mail order birdes-to-be are Asian women coming from Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and other countries in Southeast Asia; Latino women coming from Central and South America; and European young women who have been qualified to escape poverty, abuse, and destitution. These kinds of women often have a degree or possibly a college education and have careers, but they are likewise looking for take pleasure in and marital life (Minervini & McAndrew, june 2006; Starr & Adams, 2016). Exactly what Internet Brides to be? A mail-order bride is a woman who has listed himself in a record for sale http://atifco.ro/uncategorized/a-guide-to-aspects-for-foreign-brides/ to guys who are curious about marriage. They are generally between twenty-five and more than 30 years of age, have no children, have not been hitched before, and they are seeking an important relationship or marriage. In some cases, these women are right from countries that need them to visit their husband’s country of origin before they will marry. This is often done by matrimony brokers who all are paid out a fee by groom and bride. They are sometimes trafficked and exploited by the international matrimony broker or pimps who run them. They can also be a victim of statutory rape and forced relationships. Most women who all join a mail buy bride web page are looking for a long-term relationship or marital life, and this is the central reason why they sign up. They wish to find a real partner that will love and support all of them and will help them grow in their particular lives. A good deliver order woman website should certainly offer a premium of background. You should be capable to get women with an impressive stock portfolio, and you should become able to search through their photographs. You should be able to meet the ladies of your dreams with this platform, and you simply shouldn’t have to pay exorbitant rates for their products and services. Crucial be able to talk with them in a terminology you know. This will be significant for intercontinental dating. If you have a great communication using your mail-order star of the wedding, then she will be more vulnerable to trust both you and become your spouse. There are countless mail order bride websites that you can select from, but you ought to be careful to decide on a reliable and trusted one. Guarantee the website is protected and offers professional expertise. It is also essential to find a website that has a numerous registered users. Another thing to consider is the price of a mail buy bride program. The best ones are usually very economical and offer a range of features, such as on-line chat, email, and online video.

[monmallblog]

Why Go for Instax Film to Capture Your Memories?

These days, most of the people use their smartphones to capture and retailer their memories. Nevertheless, there's one thing particular about getting a physical print of a cherished moment that digital photos just can't replicate. That is certainly exactly where Fujifilm's Instax film comes in. Here are a few factors why you must contemplate making use of Instax film to capture your memories.

Instant gratification

The immediate gratification of Instax is difficult to beat. As opposed to digital images, you do not have to wait to determine the final result. After you snap a image, the film right away develops right just before your eyes. This adds an element of excitement and anticipation towards the method of taking photos and makes it a enjoyable activity to share with friends and family.

Exclusive aesthetic

One more cause to choose Instax is its unique aesthetic. Instax prints possess a distinct vintage feel that is difficult to replicate digitally. The prints are small, but the colors are bold and vibrant, creating a nostalgic effect that is certainly reminiscent of older film cameras. Plus, the modest size in the prints tends to make them best for sharing with loved ones or displaying inside a scrapbook.

Assists socialize very easily

Additionally, Instax film could be a wonderful icebreaker in social conditions. Pulling out an instant camera and snapping a few photographs could be a fun strategy to break the ice and encourage people to unwind and have enjoyable. It truly is a great activity for parties, weddings, along with other social gatherings. Plus, the Instax film price is inexpensive.

Assists generate meaningful photos

When you rely on smartphones to capture images, you happen to be often distracted by notifications and the temptation to verify social media. But with an instant camera, you happen to be forced to become within the moment and concentrate on the folks and experiences around you. Also, as every single photo fees income (although Instax film price Philippines is very low) and takes up physical space, you're far more probably to feel cautiously about what you need to photograph. This could cause much more intentional and meaningful photographs that really capture the essence of a moment.

All round, Instax film offers a unique and exciting way to capture and preserve valuable moments. Its instant gratification, distinctive aesthetic, and capacity to encourage intentional and meaningful pictures make it a great choice for any person planning to capture their memories in a tangible way.

[snowonthebeachmp3]

April 2016

Apr 1st - Taylor's first Apple Music ad, in which she falls off a treadmill, is released. (x) Her partnership with Apple comes several months after Taylor wrote an open letter in June 2015 calling out the company for not paying royalties for music streamed during their three-month free trial. In response, Apple immediately reversed their policy and announced they would pay artists during the free trial. (x)

Taylor visits Disneyland in Anaheim with Lily Aldridge and her three-year-old daughter. (x)

Apr 2nd - Taylor presents an award to Ruby Rose at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills. (x)

Apr 3rd - Taylor attends the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards in LA. She walks the red carpet separately from Calvin, but they sit together during the ceremony (both are nominated for awards). (x) In her acceptance speech for Best Tour, she says, 'I had the most amazing person to come home to when the spotlight and the crowds were all gone, so I want to thank my boyfriend Adam for that.' (x)

Apr 4th - Taylor says goodbye to the 1989 era, as she tweets, 'What an unbelievable run we’ve had with 1989. I’m so grateful for all of these memories & all of you.' (x) She also likes several tumblr posts from fans saying goodbye to the 1989 era and thanking her for it. (x)

Taylor is seen out in LA getting lunch at Wockano with Kennedy Rayé. (x) (x)

Apr 5th - Taylor goes out for dinner with Lily Aldridge and Behati Prinsloo to Gracias Madre in LA. (x)

Apr 6th - Taylor goes out for dinner with Calvin to Giorgio Baldi restaurant in Santa Monica. (x)

Apr 7th - Taylor is seen shopping at the Saint Laurent store in LA. (x)

Apr 8th - Renovations are underway on Taylor's new mansion in LA, which she bought for $25m in autumn 2015 and which previously belonged to the family of Old Hollywood film producer Samuel Goldwyn. (x)

Apr 9th - Kanye talks about Famous when he plays it live for the first time at a concert in the Philippines, saying that the 2009 VMAs incident ultimately led to the song's creation. He referred to the 2009 VMAs as 'the beginning of the end of my life' and said of Famous, 'This is the song that broke the writer's block for me, because it was something I wanted to say so bad.' (x)

Apr 11th - Taylor joins Lily Aldridge and Rosie Huntington-Whitely at Nobu restaurant in Malibu. They are apparently attending a surprise birthday party for another VS model, Alessandra Ambrosio. (x)

Apr 13th - Taylor and Lily attend Alessandra Ambrosio's 35th birthday party at The Nice Guy in LA. Camilla Belle is also there (lmaooo). (x)

Apr 14th - The May issue of Vogue is published. Taylor is on the cover with bleach-blonde hair. (x)

Britany and Ben seem to be visiting her as Taylor tweets a photo of them and Meredith in her LA house. (x)

Apr 15th - Taylor debuts Bleachella on her Instagram and Easter eggs the cover art for This Is What You Came For. (x) She is already at Coachella, as this photo is taken by the pool of the house she is staying at.

Apr 16th - Taylor is at Coachella along with Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Martha Hunt, the Haim sisters, Serayah, Kennedy Rayé, Austin, Britany and her husband Ben. (x)

In the afternoon she flies to San Antonio to attend the wedding of her backup singer Eliotte, before returning to Coachella for the evening. (x) (The time difference means she would only have lost about an hour flying back from Texas so it's not quite as impossible as it sounds.)

In the evening Taylor and Kennedy Rayé go to Neon Carnival, the invite-only unofficial afterparty. Karlie is also photographed there, although she and Taylor are not photographed together that night. (x)

Apr 17th - Taylor is in the crowd during Calvin's DJ set on the closing night of Coachella's first weekend, along with Lorde, Todrick, the Haim sisters, Martha, Serayah, Camila Cabello and Karlie. (x) (x)

Apr 19th - Taylor's 73 Questions interview with Vogue is released (filmed back in February).

Apr 23rd - Gigi Hadid spends part of her 21st birthday on a private plane with Taylor and Calvin, en route to the second and final weekend of Coachella (Sat 23rd and Sun 24th). A day or two later, Gigi and Calvin post several pictures from her birthday showing Gigi and Taylor on the plane with a birthday cake, and Gigi third wheeling Tayvin at Coachella. (x)

Taylor was not papped anywhere between the first and second weekends of Coachella, but she probably spent the week in LA, since Gigi had a birthday celebration with her family in Malibu before she, Taylor and Calvin departed for Coachella together. (x)

Apr 28th - Calvin releases a preview of This Is What You Came For, ahead of the song’s release at midnight. (x)

Taylor and Lily Aldridge go for lunch in LA. (x) Later that day Taylor is seen shopping with Kelsea Ballerini. (x)

That evening, Taylor, Lily and the Haim sisters go for dinner at Il Piccolino, before heading to Gigi's birthday party at The Nice Guy. (x)

Apr 30th - Calvin is asked about the possibility of working with Taylor while on the radio promoting TIWYCF, and says he 'can't see it happening'. (x) At this point nobody knows that Nils Sjöberg, his cowriter on the song, is a pseudonym for Taylor.

Taylor is seen in New York heading to a pre-Met Gala dinner. She is a co-chair for the 2016 event. (x)

She also goes out to Martha Hunt’s birthday party at Up & Down Club and takes selfies with Todrick Hall and Jamie Bennett. (x)

Throughout April - Joe Alwyn is in LA doing reshoots for Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (screenshot taken from the LinkedIn profile of a production assistant).

(Additional article which briefly mentions the Billy Lynn reshoots in LA that spring. Ang Lee borrowed a military consultant from the film Thank You For Your Service, which began filming in February 2016.)

It is speculated that this is when Taylor and Joe met for the first time. The lyrics to Taylor's reputation track Gorgeous describe her reaction to meeting someone with blue eyes and a different accent ('got drunk and made fun of the way you talk') around the intersection of Sunset and Vine in LA. Interestingly, there was even a gastropub called The Bowery nearby on Sunset Boulevard, until it shut in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is likely that they were introduced through mutual friends. Taylor spent a lot of her time in LA that spring with Lily Aldridge, Lily is married to Caleb Followill, and Caleb is good friends with Garrett Hedlund, one of Joe's Billy Lynn costars.

In the lyrics to Dress, Taylor sings, 'Flashback when you met me, your buzzcut and my hair bleached.' Joe had a buzzcut for filming Billy Lynn. This lyric also suggests they met sometime after the 15th, since that's when Taylor got her hair bleached. There are no sightings of Taylor from the 18th until the 23rd, and from the 25th until the 28th, so she could have been doing anything around LA.

Intro // February // March // April // May // June // July // August // September // October // November

[dreamescapeswriting]

Surprise Date Night ~ KSJ [Request]

↬↬↬Word Count: 1.5K

↬↬↬Genre: Fluffy

↬↬↬Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Filipino!Reader

↬↬↬A/N: The original request was for a reaction post but I couldn’t figure a way around it without it all being the same so I hope that this is okay for you my love!!  [I lost the screenshot - I’d lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on but it was ‘’BTS Reaction - Their S/O is Filipino.” 

Jin was awake that morning, he'd heard your alarm going off and decided to get up with you but you hadn't heard him and went straight into the bathroom. He was going to go and cuddle you from behind but he heard you crying on the phone to someone and he frowned to himself, he had no idea you were upset over anything and wanted to know what was wrong. Raising his hand up to the door he went to knock when he heard a broken sob,

"I can't tell him, he'll think I don't want to be here. I love it but I miss you all so much." His hand lowered as he realised the time, you were probably talking to your parents back home in the Philippines since they were an hour behind you.

"I'm sorry, I'll call you later. Love you." You hung up and he heard the shower running so he grabbed his phone trying to plan something nice for you. He had no idea you'd been missing home so much or he would have done something before now. Last month you had a family wedding that you couldn't go to because you couldn't get the time off work and neither could Jin and now he felt awful.

When you'd first moved to Korea to be with Jin - your boyfriend  - you'd planned on going home at least three times a month just to spend time with your family. You had a large family and being without them felt strange to you but after the first couple of months of living in Korea, you and Jin were finding it harder and harder to get away and go home to the Philippines.

"You're up early." You said as you came out of the bathroom rubbing a towel on your hair to dry it,

"Yeah, me and the boys are doing some extra work today." He walked over to you and gave you a loving kiss, you smiled against his lips and he walked away telling you how much he loved you as he left.

"Bye! Love you too!" You called out, once the front door was shut you sighed and laid down on the bed staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't that you didn't love living in Korea because you did, living with your boyfriend the one you loved every day was the best but nothing could compare to being at home with your family.

"You're sure she has no idea about this?" Namjoon asked as they worked around the small lounge in the BigHit building they'd pushed the sofa back against the wall and replaced the giant photo of Jimin on the wall with a giant photo of you and Jin instead.

"I still don't like that I've been replaced," Jimin mumbled as he and Taehyung laid a table cloth over the table they'd brought in, they were in charge of laying the table while Namjoon and Jin were in charge of cleaning up and ordering the boys around. Yoongi and Jungkook were decorating the rest of the room with photographs of you and your family that your mother had sent Jin and Hoseok was waiting for you outside the building. You'd finished work early and Jin's plan was going great, he was inviting you over for dinner - which normally would mean take out in the studio with the rest of the boys but tonight was different. He'd spent all morning cooking traditional Filipino meals with a dessert, he wanted to make sure tonight was perfect for you. It wasn't the best solution for you feeling homesick but it was something to do until he could surprise you with the second half of the night.

"Hoseok? I thought Jin was meeting me." You pulled your bag over your shoulder as you walked over to Hobi who was smiling at you, he'd never been good at hiding things but he was doing his best right now.

"He's just a little busy so I'll walk you up, how was work?" He questioned as you both walked into the building together. You sighed thinking about your day, it was only half a day but it had been one of the longest days of your life.

"Awful, I swear if I have to hear one more Karen complain to me that her coffee has been made wrong I might jam and spoon in my ear." You laughed along with what you were saying, you loved your job but somedays it did just do your head in.

"I'm glad we don't have to deal with that." You smiled as you stepped into the elevator together he was being unusually quiet for Hoseok and it made you think that something was going on instantly. Then when you got off on the fourth floor instead of the sixth you knew something was happening,

"Right this way Ma'am." Yoongi said as he stood in front of the lounge door in a suit and tie, you smiled at him and walked through the door. The lights were all off and the room was lit up by candles, there was a table in the middle of the room covered in a white table cloth with two plates sitting opposite one another.

"Jin?" You questioned watching as he came in from another door holding a bouquet of your favourite flowers, you started tearing up when he walked over to you and pulled you into a hug taking your bag from your shoulder and setting it down on the sofa.

"What's all this for? Did I forget our anniversary?!" You panicked thinking the worst but he started laughing and shaking his head at you.

"Can't I do something nice for you?" You relaxed and he sat you down at the table pouring you a drink before sitting across from you.

"How was work?"

"Stressful, how was work for you?" You asked not wanting to get into your day and ruin the evening,

"This was my day." The door opened and Jimin walked in with Namjoon both of them dressed in black waistcoats and white shirts carrying a tray each.

"The first course," Namjoon said placing the tray down in front of you and removing the lid from the trays to reveal Seasame pork appetizers sitting there waiting. You breathed in the familiar scent and smiled, it smelt like home. Whenever your mother knew you were having a rough time she would make this as well as your favourite meal.

"You did this?" You questioned looking away from the meal to Jin who was starting to eat,

"I did, eat up. I have another surprise once we've finished eating." You held hands from across the table while finishing the appetizers.

"You didn't have to do all this." You were both laying on the sofa in the lounge, he was laying behind you drawing patterns into your arm and kissing your shoulder. You were both stuffed from all the food you'd eaten and you felt like you were going to slip into a food coma at any moment.

"I did, and the night isn't over. Wait here," He kissed your cheek and got out from behind you going over to the table again and taking something out from under his placemat.

"What's this?" You questioned as he handed you the envelope with nothing written on the front, he nodded for you to open it so you peeled it open and to reveal two plane tickets inside.

"They're one way?" You questioned looking at the tickets that had your hometown written across them for next weekend,

"We're going to spend as much time as you want there, I've already spoken to your boss and he's fine with this...Not that I gave him a choice." Silent tears rolled down your cheeks as you thought about going home to your family, spending time with everyone.

"I heard you on the phone this morning, why didn't you just tell me?" His hand was on your cheek wiping away tears from your face as you looked away from the tickets to his face.

"I didn't want you to think I don't love it here because I do, I adore it here but I just-"

"Miss your family, you could have told me." You sighed and nodding knowing that you should have gone to him first and it was silly for you not to.

"I promise next time I'll go to you if I feel homesick." You kissed him softly on the lips and then once more, putting the tickets down on the coffee table and kissing him more passionately this time.

"I love you." You whispered bringing him back onto the sofa next to you and sitting on his lap, he ran his hands through your hair and smiled against your lips.

"I love you too." He mumbled holding you closer to him and never wanting this to end but he knew that he would have to start cleaning up before someone walked into the room.

"Let me clean up and we'll head home." He kissed you once more before moving you from his lap and getting up to clean everything up. You followed behind him wanting to help him after everything he'd done for you tonight. 

Tagline: 

@writingdreamsnottragedies​ @snowy-meowl​ @lynnthevirgo​ @jooniesdarlingdimples​ @lyoongx​ @fan-ati--c​ @mitzwinchester​ @callingmyangel​ @rjsmochii​ @btsiguess-kpop​ @kneel-begyourpardon​ @taestannie​

[catholicartistsnyc]

Meet Vancouver-based Photographer Colleen Umali

COLLEEN UMALI is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based wedding and portrait photographer.  [website | instagram]

Colleen shared with the Catholic Artist Connection about her work as a wedding photographer and how to thrive spiritually during a pandemic. Read our full interview below! 

Where are you from originally, and what brought you to your current city?

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines but when I was 7 years old, my parents felt the call to move to Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver is home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist? Do you call yourself a Catholic artist? 

In the past, I’ve never thought of myself as a Catholic artist. I just saw myself as another kid on the Internet with a passion for photography while being unashamedly Catholic. I try to be as authentic as I can on social media and sometimes post reflections on God’s goodness.

Photographing weddings has always been my dream. I would do it occasionally for family and friends when they asked, but never seriously considered turning it into a business. But the Lord in His goodness knew these desires of my heart, and in the midst of a global pandemic, He turned this dream into a reality. I began to receive clients out of nowhere. One bride hired me specifically because she saw I had experience in photographing Catholic weddings. This was a huge moment of realization that unintentionally, all the weddings I photographed in the past were all Catholic weddings. 

Today, I do see myself as a Catholic artist. Sure, elopement photos on a mountaintop are beautiful, but I’m not here to show off pretty pictures. My purpose behind launching a wedding photography business (on top of a full time career) is to honor the Lord through the sanctity of marriage. It is so beautiful to witness how He works in people’s lives to bring them together, and I find so much joy in helping couples tell this story. I love getting to know the couples I work with, and there is nothing better than having deep conversations with them about God’s goodness.

Where in Vancouver do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

I love my church, St. Matthew’s Parish, because the community is so vibrant and filled with many young people striving to follow the Lord. The youth group’s monthly Adoration nights are always so beautiful. I also serve as a leader for University Christian Outreach (UCO) here in the Vancouver chapter. During the pandemic, we couldn’t meet in person with the university students so we began to hold worship nights over Zoom. At one event, students from other chapters joined us. Despite time differences, we were able to worship with students from Israel, LA, Calgary and Michigan! I also find spiritual fulfillment from regularly meeting up (over Zoom) with like-minded women for book studies, Bible studies and heartfelt, Christ centered conversations. 

What is your daily spiritual practice?

No matter how busy I am, I try to start every day in prayer. I find that when I offer up my day to Jesus, the stresses become a little less stressful. I like to read the daily Mass readings and the reflections from Blessed is She. My women’s group is currently doing the Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Study so I try to read a few chapters a day. I also like to have a mini praise and worship session alone in my car on my drives to work. I’m currently loving Maverick City Music!

How do you financially support yourself as an artist?

I have a full time job doing kidney research for a large Vancouver biotech. I love my career and the opportunity to make a difference through science. Wedding photography is my passion and I don’t see it as a means of steady income but as a creative outlet. I love meeting people and telling their unique stories. I am still doing my best to put myself and my business out there in a competitive market with wedding photographers on every corner. But in keeping photography as a passion, I’m able to do what I love without the pressure of having to earn enough to make ends meet.

What are your top 3 pieces of advice for Catholic artists post-graduation?

1. Surround yourself with people who support, motivate and push you to become the best version of yourself! I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for my best friend saying “you’re launching your website tonight. No excuses.”

2. Believe in yourself! You are worthy and you are good enough. God gave you these talents for a reason. Use them to glorify Him.

3. Let God do the rest. Whether your art remains a passion or becomes a source of income — follow where He leads. Follow His will for your life and you’ll never be disappointed.

(C) Colleen Umali 

[thisispurpleyam]

Surreptitious Candor part 1

A beautiful lounge singer and Napoleon Solo cross paths during U.N.C.L.E.’s mission in New York. 

Napoleon Solo x WOC oc 

There isn’t enough Solo centered fics out there so... 

Thank you to @matriarchcomputer for hearing out my idea and to @littlefreya for encouraging me to post it. 

The idea came to me as I was listening to NIKI’s songs “Lowkey” and “Dancing With The Devil.” Do check em out if you can!

(Part 2 is right here)

Playlist

*****

“It’s your lucky day, Solo,” Waverly announced to the team as he walked into the headquarters’ conference room. “We’re going to New York.”

“Nice of you to let me go back home every once in a while,” Napoleon quipped and leisurely took a sip of his liquor. 

“U.N.C.L.E.’s next assignment involves The Fernsbys,” Waverly informed the group as he set a dossier on the table. 

“The jewelry company?” Illya questioned, reaching for the folder and sifting through the documents. 

“The very one, Mr. Kuryakin.”

“So their business is a front?” Gaby asked. 

“Oh no, it’s real. They make jewelry of very high quality. What they do with the money they make, now that’s a different story.” The British commander elaborated, “We have reason to believe they’re manufacturing a new drug intended for biological warfare. It causes people to have heightened abilities- enhanced sight, speed, hearing, strength, and smell. However, the side effects include intense aggression, increased appetite, hypervigilance, and sleeplessness. And they’ve resorted to using human test subjects to perfect the drug.” 

“It’s like Unit 731 all over again,” Napoleon mused, setting his drink down as he examined a photograph of Amalia and Bernard Fernsby.

“Bernard Fernsby was a former GI stationed in Germany. There, he became a neo-Nazi sympathizer. He’s been under our radar for a while, but enough proof to make a move on him has been hard to come by until now,” Waverly disclosed. “He was then stationed in the Philippines where he met and wed his young wife, Amalia. She hasn’t done anything worthy of suspicion, but don’t underestimate her,” he warned, “she is as intelligent and ambitious as she is beautiful. Together, they turned the Fernsby family business of three generations into the empire it is today.” 

“Jewelry and beauty. Sounds like the perfect combination for Cowboy,” Illya flippantly joked.

“You do flatter me, Peril,” Napoleon grinned in amusement. 

“Teller and Kuryakin, you two will pose as a married couple looking to invest in their sales,” Waverly instructed. “And Solo, you’ll be working undercover as the married couple’s driver.”

Gaby failed to hide her snicker which earned a glare from Napoleon. 

 “I am aware of your… penchant for lovely women and expensive jewelry, Solo. Can’t have you getting too distracted on the job,” their commander explained. “But worry not, you’ll have plenty of time for your escapades in the evenings- so long as you don’t draw much attention to yourself.” 

 “Good luck with that,” Gaby teased. 

“If there are no questions, that will be all. Pack wisely and efficiently. The plane leaves in,” Waverly pauses to check his watch, “three hours. Safe travels.” 

*****

It was 8 pm when the trio landed in New York and 10:15 pm when they arrived at their hotel. Napoleon was thanking his lucky stars it was too late for the “married couple” to be working, which left him with some coveted free time. He reckoned the night was too young for his suit to go to waste. 

The debonair American agent stepped out of the elevator and headed for the hotel doors. He had every intention of exploring the city until he heard a silky voice delivering a melody. His curiosity got the best of him as the voice beckoned, pulling him closer to the source. He wound up in the hotel lounge where he saw a woman dressed in a sophisticated gown crooning tantalizingly on stage. Her sultry tone serenaded him, and he knew he found the only entertainment he needed for the evening. He helped himself to a seat, with a drink from the open bar in his hand, and let himself be drawn to the songstress. 

Napoleon observed that the chanteuse was tiny, even shorter than the mechanic, and couldn’t have been taller than five feet. Her stage presence, however, was as big as her resonant voice. He felt bad that he was the only audience member, aside from an old couple, the bartender, and a few waiters, who were able to witness her captivating performance. He figured the sparse crowd was because it was a Wednesday evening, but it was still a shame not more people could have appreciated the show. The singer’s set finished after a few minutes, and he hardly noticed how much time had passed. 

She slowly descended the stage’s steps and headed straight for the striking gentleman in the suave suit. Her gut told her, the moment he walked into the lounge and entered her line of vision, that he wasn’t a safe person to associate with. There was something about his smug expression and bold stride that screamed danger, yet there she was, willfully approaching him. But then again, she wasn’t known to have much prudence or caution. 

She leaned against his table and said, “Everyone else has gone. Why’d you stay?”

Napoleon scanned the area and confirmed the dame’s words. The old couple had retired for the night, leaving him the only audience member to revel in her presence. Upon a closer look, he noticed her eyes were narrow and upturned, suggesting a foreign background. “It would be awfully rude of me to see a beauty and not get acquainted with her, don’t you think?”

“Well, there is an open bar, and I have a few minutes to spare. What do you say?” she proposed. 

He rose from his seat and offered her his arm, flashing her his most charming smile. “How could I ever refuse?”

“Does the gentleman have a name?” she asked him as she took a sip from her drink, examining him through her lashes. 

Napoleon contemplated on what alias to give her for a second. He had a plethora to choose from, given the amount of years he’s been conning for a living. He didn’t have a specific one for the current mission, however, as he was supposed to be a low profile driver who could enjoy anonymity. Deducing the harmlessness of the singer, he settled with, “Napoleon.”

“Hmm,” she shook her head, “that’s a mouthful. How about... Leon?” 

“You can call me whatever you like,” he told her as he absently swirled his drink. “Have you been singing here for a long time?”

“Yup. I just hit my fifth year, actually.” 

“Oh wow,” he exclaimed in honest surprise. “I’m assuming you must get more audiences than earlier.”

She hummed in agreement. “Sometimes, on weekends and holidays, it gets so full that I stay longer than my setlist because of people’s requests.”

“Say I ask you to spend longer than a few minutes with me. Is that a request you can fulfill?” 

She chuckled and complimented him, “Smooth, but I can’t. I work graveyard shifts at the diner, unfortunately.” 

“That is unfortunate. Do they not pay you enough here?” he asked, genuinely wanting to know the answer. 

“They do, but as you can tell from my attire, I like to indulge.”

“Pity.” He dramatically told her with a sly glint in his eyes, “I could have really indulged you in a most enthralling evening.” 

“You and your way with words,” she tittered as she got up from her seat. “Tell you what. If you’re still here in three days, maybe we could go for a ride.”

“I do like the sound of that. Will you at least let me know your name?”

“Eula,” she replied. “And don’t be afraid to swing by the diner and tip graciously,” she added with a wink, turning around and making her way out of the building. 

Napoleon smiled to himself as he replayed the memory of Eula walking out of the double doors, taking mental note of the way her dress hugged her figure. He gulped down the remainder of his drink and pulled out a thin intricate silver bracelet from his coat pocket. “Hope she doesn’t miss this much.” 

[frannyfeltera]

[MADELEINE MADDEN, CIS WOMAN, SHE/HER] who’s that? oh it’s FRANCESCA FELTERA. i hear they’re TWENTY ONE and are known as THE FACETIOUS around NEW YORK CITY. they’re also a BARTENDER & STAND-UP COMEDIAN at CALLBACKS. they’re known to be GENEROUS & UNDERSTANDING and SHORT-TEMPERED & IRRESPONSIBLE. some people say they remind them of LAUGHING UNTIL YOUR STOMACH ACHES, PICKING FLOWERS TO WEAR IN YOUR HAIR, LATE NIGHTS WATCHING 90’S CARTOONS & CAMPFIRE STORIES. only one way to find out!

BASICS

Full Name: Francesca Amelia Feltera

Nickname: Franny, Fran

Birthday: 6th of October

Age: Twenty One

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Hometown: Sydney, Australia

Residing: New York City.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Occupation / Activities: Bartender & comedian

LIKES/DISLIKES

LIKES: camping, dancing in the rain, australian pop music, netflix comedy specials, knee-high socks, long walks, iced coffee, sleeping on airplanes, dark humor, picking flowers with friends, campfire stories. 

DISLIKES: trying shoelaces, mosquito bites, people who try to start fights, clubbing, slow songs, talk-back radio, old people, taking passport photos.

TL;DR BIO

Born in Sydney, Australia and spending the majority of her childhood traveling around the world with her photographer parents, Francesca considers herself an expert on all corners of the globe. Now in her twenties and with a regular gig on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Callbacks and working at the bar the other day of the week, Francesca is attempting to get her comedy career off the ground. A girl can only perform at the open mics all around NYC for so long until she gets a Netflix special, right? When she’s not performing, Francesca is out in the world attempting to live life to the fullest. Weather it be picking flowers or going to every thrift store she can find, Franny is doing her best to ensure every day is lived like it’s her last.

FULL BIO.

Franny is the youngest of three children, all of which spent their childhood travelling around the world with their parents who worked as photographers for destination weddings. It was an eventful childhood, punctuated with Christmas’ spent back in Sydney for the boiling hot summers before jetting off to some other corner of the world, but Francesca never complained. She enjoyed the hectic life and the homeschooling and spending time with her siblings in touristy giftshops.

While the rest of the kids her age where spending their high school years going to prom and getting into petty drama, Franny was in the Philippines, attempting to use her English-to-Tagalog dictionary in order to order lunch. Missing out on the iconic teenage moments didn’t really have the same effect on Francesca that it did on her siblings, while they would fill that void with day drinking and clubbing, Franny filled it with late nights watching old school cartoons with her parents and inserting those dated pop culture references into her day-to-day speech. Once her family finally decided to find a place to settle down due to her parents opening a New York branch of their photographer studio ( the demand for headshot photographers in NYC was booming ), Franny spent the majority of her free-time attending comedy nights at local bars with the help of a fake ID she had picked up overseas. Her love for making people laugh was no secret around the house, nor was it a secret that she had an issue with taking serious issues well, but she had never attempted any sort of comedy before. That was until she decided to down some liquid courage one night at get up on stage during an Open Mic Night. While it was hardly a perfect gig, it did get Francesca started on a regular gig at Callbacks.

Now in her early 20′s, Franny is trying get her name out into the comedy world, maybe pick up a spot on SNL or grab a Netflix special, she’s not too picky. Her comedy is for everyone, some people might even say it can border on mean-spirited but that’s not her intent at all, Franny just finds it easier to deal with awkward situations with a poorly timed joke, she blames on all the emotional stunting she missed out on by not going to public school. She’s pretty well rounded and it seems like everyone else her age isn’t...but she’s not going to complain.

[princessvictoriamelita]

Wedding picture of Czar Ferdinand of Bulgaria (1861-1948) and Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma (1870-1899).

Ferdinand and Marie Louise were married at the Villa Pianore, a property of the bride's immensely wealthy father the Duke of Parma, on 20 April 1893. 

Ferdinand's search for a wife had begun in 1890, after it became clear that the political situation in Bulgaria was tenacious so long as its sovereign had no heirs. Ferdinand had been elected as Prince of Bulgaria in July 1887 after the deposition of Prince Alexander of Bulgaria (1857-1893; né Battenberg). British historian Theo Aronson, in his book Crowns in Conflict, recalled the reaction of Ferdinand's cousin Queen Victoria to her kinsman's elevation to the Principality of Bulgaria: "He is totally unfit ... delicate, eccentric and effeminate ... Should be stopped at once." Fortunately, over time, the Queen's opinion of her cousin would improve. Ferdinand persevered, and his mother, Princess Clémentine, was extremely instrumental in advocating on behalf of her son's interests.

In 1890, Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria was twenty-nine: he was fairly good looking, rich, and had impeccable family ties. The first candidate chosen for Ferdinand by his mother was his cousin Archduchess Luisa of Austria-Tuscany (1870-1947; later Crown Princess of Saxony), the daughter of Grand Duke Ferdinando IV of Tuscany (1835-1908) and his second wife Princess Alicia of Bourbon-Parma (1849-1935), who was herself an aunt of Ferdinand's future wife Marie Louise. Needless to say, Ferdinand's wooing in June 1891 of Luisa of Tuscany was not successful, which was probably for the best. Although Luisa's father the grand duke (impoverished as he was) was in favour of the marriage, her mother Grand Duchess Alicia was decidedly not - the grand duchess had no love lost for the Coburgs.

Next on Ferdinand's radar was one of the daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia). Presumably, the object of the prince's "affections" was Princess Marie, the eldest daughter at age sixteen...though which of the daughters was never specified. Ferdinand mused in a letter: "...granddaughter of the Queen of England, granddaughter of the Tsar-liberator and cousin of the German Kaiser! Que voudrait on de plus. That would be a terrible blow for the Russophil part in this country - it would be forced to be loyal to the granddaughter of Alexander II! I see from the Coburg newspapers that the respective parents are already at Coburg. May God give them wisdom, for I am thoroughly sick of this marriage question and long for a result! I do not fear the father: he would agree out of hatred for Russia. But as for the mother? Will she have the good sense to defy her pig-headed and odious brother?" Given the youth of the young ladies involved, it would come as no surprise that no engagement emanated from Ferdinand's daydreams on the subject. His search would have to continue.

Finally, in late 1892, the prince found his princess...after beating around the bush quite a bit. Princess Clémentine had been in contact with Duke Roberto of Parma, who had lost his duchy in 1860, for sometime; Clémentine realised that the duke's daughter Marie Louise might offer the solution to Ferdinand's marital dilemma. Religion was to play a major part in the negotiations for Marie Louise's hand. Although the Bulgarian constitution required that the heir to the throne must be raised in the Orthodox faith, Duke Roberto demanded that this stipulation would have to be cast aside if Ferdinand were to marry Marie Louise: the duke made it clear that all issue of the marriage must be raised as Roman Catholic At the time, Ferdinand agreed, and was able to have his government acquiesce that the heir to the Bulgarian throne did not need to be baptised in the Orthodox church. With this carte blanche from his government, Ferdinand made one last attempt to snag a Catholic princess from a reigning dynasty. He traveled to Munich to briefly engage Princess Clara of Bavaria (1874-1941), but, again, he met with no success, as the Bavarian Prince Regent forbade any of the Wittelsbach princesses from accepting Ferdinand's proposal. And, so, Ferdinand returned to the prospect of Marie Louise. Their engagement was celebrated at the Castle of Schwartzau: it was the first time that either of the pair had laid eyes on the other. Princess Clémentine was rather forward in describing her future daughter-in-law: "[She is] unhappily not very pretty." Thus began the marriage of convenience of Ferdinand and Marie Louise; neither person in love with the other.

Photograph: Getty Images

[bountyofbeads]

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/21/trump-state-visit-cancellation-over-greenland-shocks-danes?CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Twitter&__twitter_impression=true

Donald J. Trump is the world's WORST negotiator. No wonder he has gone BANKRUPT 6Xs.

Greenland highlights Trump’s willingness to offend close US allies

By cancelling his state visit to Denmark, the US president has again showed his thin skin

By Simon Tisdall | Published:07:51 Wed August 21, 2019 | Guardian | Posted August 21, 2019 100:00 AM ET |

Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to cancel his state visit to Denmark after it rejected his unsolicited offer to buy Greenland at a knockdown price took most people by surprise, not least his own ambassador.

“Denmark is ready … Partner, ally, friend”, tweeted Carla Sands, the neophyte US envoy to Copenhagen who was previously an actor and chiropractor. Hours later, it was off.

The embarrassment of Sands, a loyal Trump campaign fundraiser best known until now for her starring role in the 1988 film Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell, elicited scant sympathy from Danes apparently relieved the US president was not coming.

“Hahaha, well maybe your boss should update you about what is going on in his mind. This proves how crazy this administration is,” one Twitter user wrote. Some American respondents apologised for their president’s behaviour.

Greenland’s unsought role in this new Nordic saga, wacky even by Trump’s eccentric standards, has again raised questions about his mental state and a chaotic decision-making process in Washington that often leaves partners and allies out in the cold.

Trump recently secretly ordered military strikes on Iran, then called them off with 10 minutes to go. He caused more Scandinavian amazement and amusement last month when he sent a hostage negotiator to Sweden after the American rapper A$AP Rocky was arrested for common assault.

Anthony Scaramucci, a former communications director for Trump, told the BBC the much-pummelled president was like a punch-drunk boxer still standing in the 12th round with no real idea what he was doing. His handlers should throw in the towel, Scaramucci suggested.

That may be an overly kind explanation. The Greenland episode has also highlighted Trump’s personal rudeness and undiplomatic willingness to offend close US allies. The visit next month was at the invitation of Queen Margrethe II, who, unlike Prince Hamlet, was apparently prepared to tolerate something rotten in the state of Denmark, at least for a couple of days. She will not be amused.

Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, was glacially cool towards the idea of selling Greenland to Trump. She described the US, which maintains a military base in Qaanaaq, also known as Thule, in north-west Greenland, as a valued strategic and Nato partner. But she poured cold water on the purchase, suggesting it smacked of disrespectful neocolonial attitudes.

“Thankfully, the time where you buy and sell other countries and populations is over. Let’s leave it there,” Frederiksen said during a trip to Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. The attempt to buy it was “absurd”. It is this blunt response that seems to have provoked the thin-skinned Trump to put his trip on ice.

The idea of such deals is not new, though dated. An expansionist US, pursing what was once called its “manifest destiny”, often bought or seized territory in the past. In 1803, it paid Napoleon $15m for a huge area of land ranging from what is now Canada to the south-eastern US, a deal known as the Louisiana purchase.

In 1848, the US relieved Mexico of about half its national territory, including most of what is now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. In 1867, it bought Alaska from the Russians. In 1898, it took possession of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico after fighting a war with Spain. The US once harboured designs on Cuba and Panama.

But Greenland residents plainly do not want to follow the US Virgin Islands, sold by Denmark in 1917. They have reportedly dismissed Trump’s offer, calling it patronising and unwelcome. Yet the fact the idea was even raised may serve to reinforce longstanding resentment, mostly directed at Copenhagen, that Greenlanders are treated as second-class citizens.

Political tensions have fuelled calls for independence among residents of the vast, sparsely populated island where about 57,000 people occupy 836,000 sq miles. Despite its largely untapped mineral wealth, which is what is said to most interest Trump, it is heavily dependent on more than £400m in annual subsidies from Denmark.

In common with other Arctic territories, Greenland has a recent history of social problems, including high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide among the indigenous Inuit people. Increased tourism has proved a mixed blessing.

Greenland is also disproportionately affected by the climate crisis and global heating.

According to a CNN report from Kulusuk this week, scientists say 12.5bn tonnes of ice melted on one day this month – the biggest single-day loss ever recorded. That’s no joke – and it is a problem Trump stubbornly refuses to address.

‘A narcissistic fool’: Danes hit out at Trump over cancelled visit

US president faces criticism for calling off Denmark trip after he is told Greenland not for sale

Shaun Walker | Published Wed 21 Aug 2019 08.59 EDT | Guardian | Posted August 21, 2019 9:48 AM ET |

The Danish prime minister has said she is surprised and disappointed that Donald Trump has called off his planned visit to the country over Copenhagen’s refusal to sell Greenland to the US.

Mette Frederiksen said the US president’s decision would not affect strategic, military or commercial cooperation between their two countries. She had previously said his Greenland proposal was absurd.

Politicians from across the spectrum were united in their condemnation. “There are already many good reasons to think that the man is a fool, and now he has given another good reason,” Eva Flyvholm, the foreign policy chair for Denmark’s Red-Green Alliance, told Danish media.

The former prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt tweeted: (See Website or Twitter)

Villy Søvndal, a former foreign minister, said the decision “confirms that Donald Trump is a narcissistic fool”.

The US president had been due to visit Denmark in early September but announced on Twitter late on Tuesday night that there was no longer any point in the visit. “Based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time,” Trump wrote. The White House later confirmed the visit had been called off.

Søvndal told the Danish newspaper Berlingske that Trump’s decision showed he was unaware of the basic rules of diplomacy. “If he had been a clown in a circus, you could probably say that there is considerable entertainment value. The problem is that he is the president of the most powerful nation in the world,” he said.

The awkwardness was compounded by the fact that the US ambassador to Denmark had tweeted her excitement about the upcoming visit a few hours before Trump made his announcement. “Denmark is ready for the POTUS visit! Partner, ally, friend,” she wrote.

A spokeswoman for the Danish royal household, which had formally invited Trump, said she was surprised by the cancellation.

Greenland, a vast island bordering the Arctic Ocean that is 85% covered in ice, was a Danish colony until 1953. It gained autonomous territory status in 1979, but the island’s economy depends heavily on Danish subsidies. It has 55,000 inhabitants, many of whom favour full independence from Denmark.

Many in Denmark had initially assumed the story of Trump’s desire to buy the large, sparsely populated island was either meant in jest or as a distraction tactic. Trump even tweeted a photograph of a small Greenland village with a large Trump tower photoshopped in, but he appears to have been serious about the proposal, or at least offended by the firm rebuff it received.

Why might Donald Trump want to buy Greenland?

Greenland harbours some of the largest deposits of rare-earth metals, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, along with uranium and the byproducts of zinc.

US corporations once thought of China as a benign supplier of rare-earth metals for mobile phones, computers and more recently electric cars. And the US government was relaxed when Chinese companies began hoovering up mines across central and southern Africa to secure an even greater dominance of the global market.

But the arrival of Xi Jinping as China’s leader, and his more aggressive foreign policy stance, has spooked many US policymakers. Among Trump’s advisers, the need for greater economic independence has raced up the agenda.

A potential target for the US is Greenland Minerals, an Australian company that has generated a good deal of excitement since it started operating on Greenland’s south-west peninsula in 2007 to develop the Kvanefjeld mine, which is home to many rare-earth metals.

More than 100m tonnes of ore are believed to be sitting below the surface and the project is expected to become one of the largest global producers outside China.

[madmandex-blog]

Dexter Family Newsletter 2019

Dexter Family Newsletter 2019

As I reflect back on our year, I can’t help but think of Charles Dickens and his classic line…..It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…...and how appropriate it might be to summarize our 2019.

It was the age of wisdom…….as in Kelsi completing her first year in grad school at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. If you didn’t know Kelsi and listened to her talk about school, you might think she is barely passing.  If I had a nickel for every time Kelsi told me something like….That final exam did not go well; I did terrible….Only for me to later find out that she got something like a 107 on the test, well then I might have a lot of nickels to jingle in my pocket.  Kelsi is getting all A’s as usual and well on her way to graduating in 2020 with a Masters in Speech Pathology.  She is enjoying her classes and her clinical training, and has a great supervisor who is guiding her to be gainfully employed later in 2020, most likely in a school setting.  Nic is also excelling at Rockhurst and working on his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. What impresses me most about Nic and Kelsi is that they indeed have wisdom in their respective areas of study. In other words, they really seem to know their shit.  Meanwhile, Kaylee Jo is now in her sophomore year in high school where she obsesses about getting good grades, which she always does.  Ava Jae is in 8th grade and doing well.  Don’t tell anyone, but, I consider her my smartest kid.

It was the age of foolishness…….as in Mike spending countless hours managing and competing in a mere 7 fantasy football leagues, or in Mike completing his 42nd Old Chicago World Beer Tour.  Along the way, I earned a leather lettermen jacket which Kelly just today told me that I looked like my Dad when wearing it.  I took that as a compliment and proudly wore it about town where people looked at me in awe, as they often do, but, I digress.  Mike also became a more well-rounded drinker in 2019. You see, I was lucky to get to spend a lot of time with my eldest daughter this summer who not only got me addicted to the Crime Junkies Podcast, but also too good wine.  Credit is also due to the great Tackes family for showing me the redeeming virtues of drinking wine and now even whiskey.  So don’t be surprised to see me knocking back a Red Cab or sipping a bourbon in a cool sophisticated fashion.  If only, I had known about these things years ago…..what might have been, or perhaps not been, like 42 beer tours.  

It was the epoch of belief……..in love and marriage as Kelsi became Mrs. Nic Arnone on August 10th in what turned out be an awesome ceremony and beautiful day for the two of them.  When they were both working on details like what are we having for having for dessert a couple of days before the big day, I was frankly a little worried, but, as it turns out the two of them are master wedding planners.  Everything was great from the venue, to the decorations, to the caterer, to the photographer, and most importantly…..to the bartender, backed by yours truly stocking the bar.  Yes, we had an awesome reception and we were so blessed to have so many of you travel all the way to Kansas City to celebrate with us!  In case you weren’t able to be there, rumor has it that there is video available of Mike’s fantastic wedding toast speech.  Sure, there are critics like Kaylee and Ava who will say, it wasn’t all that, but, most of those at the reception gave me high fives for my performance…at least the ones who were drinking that is. Kelsi is most happy that as a Speech Therapist that I finally learned how to pronounce her new last name.  For those of you who don’t know, you need to emphasize the last “e” in Arnone as it is an Italian name.  After meeting Nic’s family, I finally believe he is indeed Italian, after I had long presumed he was Norwegian or Swedish given his fair skin, blue eyed, blonde hair good looks.  

It was the epoch of incredulity…….and speaking of family heritage, Mike took the Ancestry DNA test in 2019. Upon arrival of the test kit, I was in great disbelief as to how hard it actually is to fill up a one ounce test tube with saliva. Trust me, it was challenging.  As it turns out, I am 59% English, 33% Irish, 3% Swedish, 3% German, and 2% Norwegian, which makes me 110% Awesome, which I didn’t need a DNA test to know. So far, it is incredulous that I have not found any long lost rich relatives who want to connect with me, but, I will keep the hope. Speaking of incredulous, Ava will be in high school next year, while Kaylee will have her Driver’s License in as few as 17 more days!  I for one can’t believe we all survived her driver’s training, which started in local parking lots and proceeded to hairpin turns, around tight corners, at the speed of light. Only A.J. Foyt could have pulled off some of the harrowing driving miracles that I witnessed at times this summer!  But, we all survived, and with no dents in our vehicles!  I joke (sort of); Kaylee is actually a very good driver and was even told that she best driver in her Driver’s Ed class.  So you can feel safe when you see her drive by you in her 2007 BMW, which Drew gave to her as a Christmas present to her shrieking delight.  This is now the 2nd time Drew has given a car to one of his sisters.  I can only hope that he has another one to hand down to Ava in a few years.  The good news for Ava is that Drew has said that his next car will be a Tesla.

Even more incredulous is that a once self-proclaimed liberal, who once carved a pumpkin in the likeness of then candidate Barack Obama is morphing into a conservative right before our very eyes.  Yes, people are in a state of disbelief over these developments.  While he does not yet host a show on Fox News, many have looked in disbelief at Mike as he shares his theories on the likes of capital punishment.  Not to mention, the poor teachers of Dunlap who look to their email boxes in fear that they might receive another long diatribe from Mike on what is wrong with our educational system. Don’t worry, Mike still has a few liberal ideas and is still proud of President Obama.  But, might we see a Trump carved pumpkin on Mike’s doorstep in 2020?  

As a final point on incredulity, I bet you can’t believe how long this newsletter is as I can’t believe you are still reading it.  Don’t worry, more good stuff is coming.

It was the season of light……for Nic and Kelsi who enjoyed an awesome honeymoon trip to Disney and the bright beaches of Ft. Lauderdale.  Kelly and Ava also traveled to sunny Florida, with stops at Disney and the beaches of Tampa-St. Pete, while attending Ava’s Starquest World Dance Finals in Orlando.  Ava and her dance teammates at MLSD continued to shine on the dance floor, while bringing home lots of trophies along the way.  Ava and her DMS POMS teammates also brought home a trophy from the State Finals this year in the Jr. High Division. Ava is again on the DMS POMS team and also spending lots of time at the MLSD dance studio.  We can’t wait to see her compete again in 2020, which will include her first ever solo performance. And, her latest dance project involves trying to teach her Dad how to dance in Tik Tok videos with her!  These will surely go viral. Meanwhile, Ava is still Ava….always energetic, always wanting to do something, always wanting Starbucks, and always, always asking me for something or to do something.  She is my constant season of light.  In fact, I sometimes think of Ava as Carol Anne like from the Poltergeist movie.  You see she has a life force that is hard to match and keeps me smiling, cursing, smiling, yelling smiling and speaking of yelling….. Kelly might occasionally yell at Ava (as she is this very minute!) and/or Kaylee for their continued inability and/or unwillingness to do seemingly simple things like throw a wrapper in the actual garbage can, maintain a room where you can actually see the floor, etc. Kelly is still Kelly, the straw that stirs our drink, the one who tries to keep us in check, and the one we, including our dogs can all rely on.  Kelly continues to work with awesome kids, who happen to have a few special needs, at Dunlap Middle School.  I likely have said this before, but, they, like us, are lucky to have her.  

The season of light was also in full effect for Drew in 2019.  Like most people do, he took a month vacation, this time in sunny South Africa, where he did things like go on a safari, dive into the ocean in a shark cage to see a Great White, see the great water falls of Victoria Falls, hang out in the desert of Namibia, and lounge on the beaches and climb the mountains of Cape Town.  He also spent a month in Manhattan for work. Drew lives in the River North area of Chicago, where we all enjoy visiting him.   Thanksgiving in Chicago was a highlight.  In January, Drew has plans to visit Vietnam for a few weeks and make a stop at Boracay in the Philippines.  Yes, it sucks to be Drew.  He will also have extended work assignments in Boston and Washington, D.C., so stay tuned to his social media pages for amazing photographs and drone videos to document his journeys.

It was the season of darkness…….for both Mike and Kaylee, who unlike the rest of the family did not feel the sand under their toes of the warm sunshine upon their faces.  The longest trip these two took in 2019 was to Rochester, Minnesota, in the midst of winter, to attend Kaylee’s Speedo Sectional Championship Meet.  Despite the cold and snow, we both had fun.  And in the hopes of coming out of the darkness, I admit to the world (and mostly Kelly) that I received a speeding ticket on the way home, while dodging potholes and trying to stay interested while driving the monotonous roadways of the northland.  This has been a secret that only Kaylee and I have shared, with Kaylee often smiling and blurting out a whoo-whoo-police siren like sound anytime she felt it necessary to seek favor with me, while in the presence of my wife. So, Kelly, my beautiful, loving, forgiving wife, now you know and Kaylee, you have nothing to hold over my head any longer, at least for the time being.

It was the spring of hope…….for Kaylee and her commitment to the sport of swimming. She continues to love the sport, and work hard, and has renewed resolve to achieve her goals.  She has a group of great friends on the team and is driven by Jersey Mike, her new coach, who yours truly worked hard to recruit to Peoria, along with the rest of it was the PAWW team.  Kaylee made a tough decision to forgo her high school swim season in favor of making a greater training commitment.  I was proud of her resolve in making this decision and remain proud of her in all aspects of what she does, and who she is, with the great exception of her sense of what a clean room is J.  

It was the winter of despair…….as Kelly and Mike look around their house and dream of home improvements in 2020, while still wondering how we can pay for things like dance classes, swimming, and college.  Kelly and Mike did close out the year by replacing our 20 year old kitchen appliances.  Back to those kids who can’t seem to hit the broad side of a barn with a wrapper, let alone a waste basket, we purchased a fancy new waste can in a last ditch effort to solve the problem. The new stainless steel trash can is our new pride and joy and opens automatically at the wave of the hand.  While enjoying all this new technology, our dryer just went out, so back to Sherman’s we go!  Speaking of technology, Kelly and Mike finished the year with a fun night in Chicago where a true life robot delivered “forgotten toothbrushes” to our room. In addition to home improvements in the New Year, more resolutions for Mike include meditation, yoga, and drinking more wine (but only the good stuff).  I think all three of these can likely be done at the same time.

Yes, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times….Like all families, we had some challenges to deal with, but those were far outweighed by many blessings. I am very lucky to have an awesome wife, four awesome kids and new son-in-law, our two awesome dogs Tahyo and Isla, along with our awesome family and friends.  We have had a wonderful Christmas as a family and look forward to a great 2020! Thank you and Merry New Year to you all!  May God bless you in new ways in the New Year!

P.S. – I consider this a living document in that I will likely be asked to edit for omissions, inaccuracies, offenses to my beloved family members, or over the likely fact that I wrote some of the same exact words last year.

[rvmitraphotography-blog]

Best Wedding Photographer Philippines

RV Mitra is one of the best wedding photographer in Philippines. He loves to capture beautiful and classy wedding pictures with creative style photography. He offers various types of photography services such as engagement, wedding, bridal, candid, etc according to client perspective. 

[hxzellll]

5 non fliction books about Philippines

1. Ghost Soldiers

“On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected U.S. troops slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty rugged miles to rescue 513 POWs languishing in a hellish camp, among them the last survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March. A recent prison massacre by Japanese soldiers elsewhere in the Philippines made the stakes impossibly high and left little time to plan the complex operation. In Ghost Soldiers Hampton Sides vividly re-creates this daring raid, offering a minute-by-minute narration that unfolds alongside intimate portraits of the prisoners and their lives in the camp. Sides shows how the POWs banded together to survive, defying the Japanese authorities even as they endured starvation, tropical diseases, and torture. Harrowing, poignant, and inspiring, Ghost Soldiers is the mesmerizing story of a remarkable mission. It is also a testament to the human spirit, an account of enormous bravery and self-sacrifice amid the most trying conditions” (Amazon.com)

2. All about Philippines

“All About the Philippines takes you on an incredible journey across the colorful island nation of the Philippines with Mary, Jaime, and Ari—three Filipino cousins who look entirely different and yet are the best of friends. You'll visit their homes, their schools, their families, their favorite places, and much more. They'll show you how kids in different parts of the Philippines come from many different ethnic groups and have very various cultures—each with separate traditions, languages, and beliefs—and yet, they are all 100% Filipino! “ (Amazon.com)

3. The Philippines: The visual journey

“The Philippine Archipelago with its 7,100 islands is culturally diverse and unique in Southeast Asia, and renowned for the splendor of its coastal beaches and terraced mountains. Seventy million Filipinos have been nurtured by both tropical environment and unique historical development—through 300 years of Spanish Christianization and 40 years of American modernization—and have emerged as an attractive blend of East and West, soul and style. The island country is perhaps best known for the friendliness of its people and their natural sense of song, dance and hospitality. The archipelago is also called "Pearl of the Orient." With over 150 photographs and a detailed map, Exciting Philippines is an essential book for expats or tourists traveling to the Philippines.” (Amazon.com)

4. Filipino celebrations: a treasury of feasts and festivals.

In the Philippines, people love to celebrate—holidays are filled with music and dancing, sometimes with colorful costumes, and always with great food! Rich with detailed watercolors and cultural flavor, Filipino Celebrations: A Treasury of Feasts and Festivals makes major holidays (like Christmas) and family gatherings (like weddings and birthdays) come alive. From these pages, children will learn the history of each holiday, its cultural influences, the varied ways in which people celebrate in different regions of the Philippines, special customs and food, key words and phrases (in English and Tagalog), and more. Games, songs, and other activities invite young readers to join in the fun. New and familiar holidays take on a special flavor as children learn about the diverse cultures that make up this wonderful island nation. Perfect for Filipino-American families looking to share the unique culture of the Philippines, educators interested in promoting multiculturalism in the classroom, or anyone interested in the country, Filipino Celebrations will encourage children ages five to ten to participate and learn while having fun. Celebrations and festivals include: Mga Kaarawan—Birthdays

Semana Santa—Holy Week

Mga Barrio Fiestas—Town Festivals

Mga Binyag—Baptisms

Araw ng Kalayaan—Independence Day and more!” (Amazon.com)

5. Legends of lower gods

These pre-Spanish gods I have classified under twelve groups:

1. Demons—tall, dark, and ugly creatures that haunt large trees in or near human habitations.

2. Dragons—usually large animal forms such as pythons, crocodiles, and sharks that the folk avoid encountering. But they are often spoken to with awe or reverence and are thought to bring good fortune. Eclipses are thought to be caused by a huge sky dragon—the laho of the Tagalogs and Pampangos—swallowing the sun or moon. The folk believe that thunder is the sound coming out of the folds of the sky dragon's long body.

3. Dwarfs—old men who dwell underground with jars of treasure, entering and leaving their habitat through termite mounds on which they often invisibly sit and give itches and cast dust into the eyes of those who molest them.

4. Elves—short or tall fair-complexioned tree-dwelling legendary beings that try to seduce the men or women they fancy, steal rice and fish from kitchens and fishtraps, and give treasure to those who please them.

5. Ghouls—Aswang that devour corpses and are scared off by bright light and loud noise around the dead.

6. Giants—relatively harmless large human and animal forms that often interact with people.

7. Merfolk—fish-tailed men and women found in rivers, bays, and seas but living in luxurious dwellings to which they take the men or women they capture.

8. Ogres—man-eating large creatures, usually in the shape of ugly humans but in some cases of animals and birds that devour people.

9. Vampires—pretty women aswang with long tubular tongues through which they suck out blood from their human victims, usually their dancing partners in night spots.

10. Viscera Takers—good-looking women aswang with enormously extendible tube tongues through which they suck out the entrails or fetuses of their human victims.

11. Werebeasts—aswang in the form of dogs or other fierce Philippine animals that attack people at night, devour them, and then resume their harmless human form.

12. Witches—men and usually women aswang who have the power to make people severely ill.

The beliefs in these twelve groups of demonological beings have shaped Philippine culture and Philippine behavior because the folk fear and try hard to propitiate them or counteract the harm they do.”( Amazon.com)

[sendgiftphilippines]

Consider These Ideas For Personalized Birthday Gifts To Give Someone

Never certain what to get somebody for their exceptional day? Assuming that finding birthday presents is a steady battle for you, consider customized birthday presents that will surely make your birthday extra important and unique. Peruse online gift shops and you won't run out of smart thoughts for gifts no matter what the event. These are the ideal spots to get great motivation for exceptional birthday presents that will surely make your friends and family grin. Assuming your heart is set on customized birthday presents, read on for incredible motivations whenever somebody's birthday approaches:

Do they cherish wistful stuff? Engraved birthday presents generally make the ideal presents for individuals who love insightful presents. Indeed, even the least difficult birthday token can be made more extraordinary with an engraved message. Because of innovation, you can have most anything engraved this days-going from little knickknacks and adornments to customized photograph casings, glasses and mugs, and even wine bottles.

Pick something they can wear/heft around. The best customized birthday presents are those that the beneficiary can wear and heft around with them. Engraved wrist watches, canine labels, and sleeve buttons are simply among gift things you can browse assuming you need something they can wear routinely. Engraved pens likewise make incredible birthday presents alongside customized minimized mirrors, lighters, cash clasps, and key chains-which are all reasonable things they can use consistently.

Pick something for the home. Customized photograph outlines are very normal gift things. Make yours somewhat more exceptional by etching an individual message or pick a pleasant layout plan that best fits the beneficiary's character. Engraved photograph outlines make marvelous memorial birthday presents particularly when the beneficiary is commending an achievement year or on the other hand to give something that will help them to remember the good times you've had together. You can't get more private than an engraved photograph outline.

You can't turn out badly with a decent container of wine. Why not toast to the festival with a customized wine bottle? Innovation currently permits present shops to etch straightforwardly on wine and whisky bottles, making these beverages the ideal customized birthday presents, alongside matching engraved wine glasses. Customized wine marks likewise make incredible birthday presents assuming that you need an additional extraordinary wine present named after the beneficiary. Customized wine bottles are not just perfect as birthday presents. They additionally make magnificent presents for celebratory events like wedding commemorations, work advancements, graduation, and even Christmas.

For more info:-

birthday gifts Philippines

birthday gifts to Philippines

[pycsmirriam-blog]

Isang Araw na Pagpapasya

Movie Reviewed by Mirriam Dinise V. Foronda       

      Sana Dati is a Philippine romance drama movie that was shown in the 2013 Cinemalaya film festival which is also the final part of Camera Trilogy after Cinema One Originals’ Confessional (2007) and Cinemalaya’s Mangatyanan (2009). Furthermore, the main characters are played by Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino, Benjamin Alves, and TJ Trinidad. The crews of the movie are Mackie Galvez who is the cinematographer, Ericson Navarro is the production's designer, Joey Abacan who is the executive producer, and Jerrold Tarog who is known for being the most talented person in the movie who directed and gives contributions to writing, editing, and scoring. Moreover, the stories of this completed trilogy are not linked to each other but one thing they have in common is the fact that the characters are using cameras in their everyday lives. Sana Dati is also known as the greatest movie during the Cinemalaya 2013 as it gained nominations and awards buzz, one of which is Best Film. 

      It is the story of Andrea Gonzaga who is about to marry a former politician which she does not love and primarily due to the reason she has not truly moved on from her deceased lover. Apparently on her wedding day, a videographer arrives and Andrea doesn’t know that he is her demised lover’s brother. As a part of Andrea and her fiance’s wedding video, the videographer is purposely just asking questions and as the questions become more intense, it gets harder and indistinct to Andrea if she is actually ready to continue with the wedding. But at the end of the movie, she just decided to marry him and said ‘i love you’ wholeheartedly.   

      One great thing about the movie is the way Jerrold Tarog developed the suitable characters. Each has a definite uniqueness and acting style that breathes a new life and an appealing performance. Lovi Poe perfectly delivers her role as Andrea Gonzaga and no words are eventually needed to show how broken and confused she is as she perfectly shows different and mixed emotions throughout the movie. As well as Paulo Avelino, he superbly portrays a mysterious Dennis Cesario that leaves everything in awe. Moreover, I love how laconic his words are that displays how brilliant he is as an actor. Meanwhile, TJ Trinidad truly amazes me of how he perfectly delivers his role as confused and restrained Robert Naval. Frankly stating, I was taken by the emotions he put in every scene in the movie especially the part wherein he never gives up on finding Andrea. Lastly, Benjamin Aves as Andrew Cesario who brilliantly sets his role on fire even though he’s new to me the first time I watch it, he never fails to amaze me as he perfectly shows how in love he is with Andrea by just looking of those eyes and smiles whenever he is with her. Moreover, there are other casts also such as Ria Garcia, Gee Canlas and Nico Antonio who are unforgettable and funny in the movie.

        Moreover, it’s not often that I find a movie as unique and as full of unexpected surprises as Sana Dati. Its simple plot is truly charming and captivating. I enjoyed every detail put in the movie and how it introduces another reality of love that is frankly relatable even though I still have not experienced it but the impact it gives is just magical. Another great thing I like about the movie is the cinematography. The camera work is done so well. It makes me feel like I am part of the movie as I could feel the emotions being expressed by the characters through the help of its great cinematography. I could tell that the movie delivers a beyond more focused camera angles, movements and lighting creating a beautiful video and photographic elements. And so, Sana Dati truly deserved to take home the award for Best in Cinematography. Likewise, the symbolism is profound that it made me think longer about the meaning of it. However, the editing of the flashback and fast forward of the movie got me confused because I was unaware that some scene was a flashback, I had only known it when my classmate told me so my attentiveness of the movie got lost sometimes.  

        Despite the simplicity of the movie, it leaves a valuable lesson that can be applied at all times. This is the initial step in life that is the hardest of all but is a must of accepting that there are really things that can not be - the art of letting go. Furthermore, this initial step just leads us to truth, acceptance, moving forward and starting a new beginning with new people around.   

        Finally, this movie is just one of the few movies that touches not just my heart, but also my soul. It is a beautiful, emotional movie and a wonderful mix of happiness and a heartbreak. Highly Recommended to 15 years of age and above especially to those people who are tired of cliche Filipino romance movies and is longing for a remarkable one. Out of five stars, this movie deserves four.

[amorsoloesque]

Maricris Fabi Carlos Amorsoloesque Photography

Her passion for art started when her father introduced her to sketching and oil painting when she was younger. In 2007, she took basic and advanced photography courses at the FPPF( Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation), finishing at the top of her class and taking a wedding photography workshop with PCCI. In the same year, she went on to win Photo of the Year 2008 with her “Raindrops” entry in the PhotoWorld Cup Network, a tough competition for the best photographers among the Philippines’ camera clubs. More awards affirmed her artistic talent: she was two-time Imahe Club’s Photographer of the Year in 2008-2009. In 2009, she ranked 5th as Photographer of the Year in PhotoWorld Cup; shooting up to 3rd in 2010. She is also a speaker in Photo World Asia 2011. Lately, she won i the international Photo Competition held in South Korea. She beat more than 500 entries from Japan, Korea, Philippines, China, the USA, and Canada to win the 2011 Asia Pacific District Photographic Competition of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). She loves portraiture and landscapes, enjoying and portraying them with available light, Maricris got hooked on photo editing and doing layouts for weddings, and shortly thereafter her passion to create surreal images started. Amorsoloesque is inspired by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, whose art depicts Filipino Culture and way of life amid the backlighted scenic Philippine scapes. Maricris is now doing photography workshops. Lately, she conducted a highly successful “Amorsoloesque” workshop in Singapore and the Middle East ( United Arab Emirates) It was attended by Singaporeans, Indonesians, Malaysians, Indians, Vietnamese as well as Filipino ex-pats. It was a great success as every single attendee learned the Amorsoloesque tips and Techniques. The participant's output was astounding, It piqued everyone's dormant creative mind. And as what Amorsoloesque is all about. It is a learning opportunity. “Amorsoloesque is a learning technique,” says Kris, “the only limit is your imagination.”