Julia Angelica

Hi, it's been a while.. A lot has happened since the last time I opened my website. I easily got a job after I graduated culinary school but it was also taken away from me in a snap because of Covid. I remember I was at my second week of training when the government decided to put our country into a hard lockdown. I was very fortunate that it didn't really hit our family hard mentally and financially. In God’s grace..

Tiktok, plants, online shopping, and exercising made me sane throughout the whole 2020.. but I still felt like a prisoner living inside a 50sqm condo apartment for the first 6 months of the lockdown. I then decided to rent a house (which I can potentially buy in the future) outside of metro manila. It was one of the best decision I made last year because I’m literally paying the same rent for a bigger space, and I can finally live with my huskies- Ive had Fox (my first husky) since 2015 and we’d been apart for almost two years! I thank God everyday that I can finally give my baby boy what I promised him a long time ago.

10 years.

It has been 10 years since I started blogging.

It has been 10 years switch on different kinds of social media but one thing I realise so far, is that I’ll never let go of writing, painting and photography. To be honest, I didn’t improve a lot. It’s still the same me who made a lot of social media accounts. Same me who wanted to connect with the rest of the world.

Time is passing by so fast and a lot of things has change around me. I became unmotivated to paint, and my love of books outgrew me while my love for old movies is growing like a wildfire. Finished my studies and I’m now pursuing my FA dream this year! but I’m not pressuring myself lol. Anyway, this 2020 I promise to devote some of my time in writing. Something, I used to do five years ago and I really want to revive this old part of me.

I think the best thing about my schedule is that it gives me more time to focus on things that also matters to me dearly. One of them is this. 😊

I remember when I was in grade school, my teacher told me that I was too rough with my colouring and crayons. Since then, I only use poster paint and watercolor which payed off because I won few competitions that time. Felt really disappointed when I didn’t continue my craft when I entered high school - Promised to regain myself when I enrolled in Benilde and studied fashion. (Didn’t finish it btw cause fashion isn’t really for me. No regrets!)

So here’s a photo set of my life lately these past months.

Started using a planner again for this year. Having a planner really helped me a lot since 2018 started.

Finished reading The Last Time We Say Goodbye. 

I still love coffee. It kept me sane since I can remember.

Museum and travel dates with my constant. :P

Finally had the time to take care of my big dogs. Whenever I have free days I always make sure they are well taken care of.

Been traveling a lot since 2015. I love leaving the city from time to time. It sucks that I still don’t have any plans for this year because I’m starting culinary school this February. It means that I cant have any vacation for 8 months or more because I have to focus in school, so I can get a good internship after. 

“I think that slopes are meant to be slippery. I don't know why. I don't even know who invented the stupid notion of them. I don't even know why it matters. Who cares? Who cares about a scarred girl who can't seem to be by herself? Who cares about a scarred girl who mops floors and ferries drugs for her boyfriend? The scarred girl should care. But she doesn't know how and once you let the Makers Mark in, once you let anything like that in, like kissing, or sex, alcohol, drugs, anything that fills up time and makes you feel better, even if it's just for a little while, well, you're going to be a goner. And sometimes, once, maybe twice, she starts to say that she's thinking of taking a class with this lady artist, and stops, because a little mouse taps her brain and heart and whispers, 'But then you won't get to spend so much time with Riley,' and the words, they turn to stone again, fat in her throat, and she can feel little bits of herself disappearing in the large thing of Riley and me and and and ... The slippery slope, it will never, ever end.” 

It’s almost two days since I finished Girl In Pieces. The story was well written than I expected. I actually wanted more. I was about to make a review about it but I’m not really good at writing reviews, and I don’t want to spoil anyone who wants to read it. So here I am currently laying in my bed, writing my insights. To be honest, the story of Charlie (protagonist in GIP) is kind of depressing. It will trigger a lot of feelings for some people who has situations just like hers. What happened in the book, is still happening in real life; Suicide, depression, addiction, getting lost, not knowing where to start and a lot more. I can relate to her so much even though her experiences didn’t happen to me. 

I think what’s wrong with some of us is that we see and give are worth from (and to) other people- and when that person, the one who’s holding your worth is gone, you suddenly feel lost. You became damage. Then you’ll meet someone again. A friend, a boyfriend, etc. and repeat the same thing over again until you haven’t realise it became a cycle and you’re already empty. So you fill those emptiness in different ways. Some of it are good, most of them are bad. Who cares right? As long as you’re filling the hole that you, yourself dug so hard.

Today I spent my hours finding the right book to overcome my dilemma; I think I’m suffering from a writer’s block. I got a lot of suggestions on what to write but my main problem is executing the topics I want to write. One of my problems is that I never really touched or read any book since I can remember. The last book I read is Let It Snow and that was three years ago. I felt all the feels when I finished it, lol. I remember reading a book for the whole day and write or blog every night. It seemed that I got my inspiration and motivation from the novels I read before- or maybe I just had a lot of time in my hands. 

So after staring at my laptop the whole night yesterday, I decided to buy new books to ignite something inside me, that has been sleeping for a very long time. I went to fullybooked today with my sister to buy some novels. I’ll be honest, I am not a fan of prose and poetry. It took me a long time to choose what I really want because first of all, books are freaking expensive. I missed so many good books, I couldn't catch up. Anyways, here are my firsts this year! Hoping I can finish these before my class on February starts. 

Girl In Pieces - A novel written by Kathleen Glaslow. The short summary in the back of the cover attracted me to this book. I instantly checked the ratings on my phone when I saw this on the shelves! 

The Last Time We Say Goodbye - written by Cynthia Hand. I was actually about to buy John Green’s new book, Turtles All The Way Down but I saw this sitting on the most top shelves of the best seller section. It made me suddenly curious about its story. My gut told me to buy it, so I did.. I’ll read this after Girl in Pieces. 

“Think of a new day and think of a new purpose. Think of a new reason out of the reasons of yesterday. Think of the distinctive step that is worth taking to continue the footprints of yesterday. Each day comes with its own ideas. Each day comes with its own troubles. Each day comes with its own possibles and impossibles. What makes each day good or bad is not just our thoughts but, the steps we take which is influenced by our thoughts to obtain what is good or bad. Think of a new day; think of a distinctive footprint”  ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

I used to write spontaneously. I used to not care, and just write what I feel in an instant. I honestly cannot believe that writing this would be a little bit harder for me. Maybe I became more aware, and became more careful when it comes to sharing something personal about my life. I’m on the verge of losing my touch- but this is something I don’t want to lose. I wasted so much time already.  

Starting this year with a “What’s in my bag” blog update! It has been a three year long hiatus for me and I’m glad to announce that I am finally back. I finally had the courage to write again and share something worthy about my life. I think my biggest regret for the three years that I was gone is, deleting my old blog. Anyways, if you want me to share or post any content that you like, just message me.

One fact about me, is that I’m obsessed with bags and shoes. It doesn't have to be branded or fancy as long as I love the design, I will surely, impulsively buy it. The bag that I’m currently using now is from Mango, that I borrowed from my mother last December. I kept asking her to lend me the bag since I can remember, but she was still using the bag until she got bored and finally decided to give it to me.. LOL

So WHAT'S INSIDE MY BAG?

Key - for my condo unit. 

Perfume - I used to love using cologne when I was in high school, but my lifestyle has changed and my taste got a little bit fancier.. I don’t buy my own. I mostly get it from my parents because my mom love her perfumes.

Starbucks Planner - Owning a planner is also one of the things I haven’t had since I stopped blogging. This year my sister gave me a Starbucks planner and I feel more organise than ever. 

Wallet - IDs, money and cards!!

Makeup Bag - Bought my hologram makeup in H&M last year. Here are my favourites:

 Estee Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Mascara 

MAC lipstick in the shade half ‘n half 

MAC studio fix foundation powder

Tropicana Lip tint, Cherry Dew