January 2019 – Page 3 – Jellybeans in the City

My own customized notebook: thanks to the IFEX Paper Bar

For a paper addict like me, getting a notebook that just fits my purpose for it is like stumbling into a gold mine.

In terms of aesthetics, I lean towards minimalism: I prefer plains instead of prints, or single color designs instead or multiples ones.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that I can have notebooks made according to these specifications!

Where is this possible you may ask?

At your nearest IFEX Paper Bar!

IFEX stands for International Fine Paper Exchange, a Filipino company which is primarily engaged in the marketing and distribution of specialty papers, premium paper for school and office supplies, as well as art materials.

Its fine paper products came into play when I went to the Art Bar of the National Bookstore branch along Panay Avenue to have my customized notebooks made.

I’ve just gotten a Starbucks travel organizer for this year and I’ve been worrying about what to do when I use up its notebook filler. I’ve been scouring bookstores looking appropriately sized notebooks but couldn’t find any.

That is, until I realized I could just have them made!

Getting your own customized notebooks at the Paper Bar is just so easy!

Step 1: Choose a notebook size.

Available sizes are: A4 (210 x 295 mm), A5 (148 x 210 mm) and A6 (105 x 148 mm).

I chose the smallest size, A6, as this is the one that would best fit my travel organizer. I ordered two notebooks so that I have another spare.

Step 2: Choose a notebook cover.

IFEX has a wide range of card stocks of various colors that you can choose for your notebook cover.

I opted for two shades green (one at Php12 and the other at Php15) as these go with the cover of my travel organizer.

Step 3: Choose your inserts.

Depending on your purpose for your notebook, you can choose from among the high-quality paper inserts that IFEX carries. These include plain, ruled, dotted, grid, black, calligraphic, sketching and watercolor.

I prefer my notebooks to not have lines (so I can draw diagrams or doodle if need be) so I opted for plain (Php65) and dotted (Php85) inserts.

Step 4: Choose your breakers (optional).

If you will use a single notebook for multiple purposes, you can opt to insert breakers from the available cardstocks. This will help make your notebook more organized.

Step 5: Choose your notebook spine.

To bind your notebook, choose a spine that complements your notebook’s color scheme. The double-loop metallic spines available in black or silver make durable binders for your notebook.

Step 6: Personalize it (optional)!

Your name or any text can be hot-stamped to your notebook cover for Php60. Choose from gold, silver, green, blue or embossed letters in either serif or san serif fonts. You can also pick the font size: from 16mm (up to 8 characters), 9mm (up to 14 characters) and 5.5mm (up to 16 characters).

I opted to have my blog URL embossed on my notebooks in gold letters, consistent with the color theme of my travel organizer.

Total spent on the two notebooks is Php267 which amounts to Php133.50 for each of the A6-sized notebooks.

Here’s an A5-sized notebook I had made months ago.

For my next notebook orders, I might combine dotted, ruled and plain inserts with cardstock breaks in one thick book which can serve as a planner, sketchpad and notebook all in one.

A customized notebook from the IFEX Paper Bar is a great buy or even a wonderful gift for paper addicts like me! (I even gifted one to a friend for her birthday.)

IFEX Paper Bars are located inside National Bookstore branches in SM Megamall, Glorietta 1, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and in the Art Bar inside the National Bookstore branch along Panay Avenue in Quezon City.

For more details about IFEX, visit its website at www.ifex.com.ph.

Product Review: Sweet Scents from Perfume Dessert

Fresh from a happy lunch adventure at the vegetarian resto just below it, a friend and I came upon a store selling perfumes.

Most of its inventory consist of imported brands but what caught our attention were the unusually packaged scents whose display takes pride of place along one of the store’s walls.

Named Perfume Dessert, each variant is inspired by a luscious sweet confection. And you know for a known sweet tooth such as myself, that fact is enough to catch my interest.

Each 30ml crimped spray bottle which prevents leaks and scent diffusion is encased in a colorful cardboard tube, making the perfume quite handy and secure when inside one’s purse. This distinctive packaging also makes Dessert Perfume variants pretty and unusual gifts for the fashionistas who love scents.

Perfume Dessert is an eu de parfum brand that originated from London, UK. This version of perfumes has a lower concentration of fragrant essential oils than parfum, but higher than in eu de toilette. When applied, Perfume Dessert’s scent can last for four to eight hours.

I got three bottles of Perfume Dessert (I bought one while I received two as product samples). I usually choose the scent that suits my mood at the start of the day and I take it with me to the office or on my errands (which just shows how handy they are!).

I choose the Fruit Tart scent when I feel sweet and feminine. It’s great for dinners out with Hubby.

French Macaron‘s more floral scent suits me for afternoons spent outdoors with the kids.

The sweet vanilla scent of Cake Pops, on the other hand, gets me in the mood to face another busy day at the office.

At only Php250 per 30ml bottle, Dessert Perfume definitely fits the working mom’s budget.

(Methinks it would be so easy to get Hubby to buy me some more bottles, yeah? I’ll probably test this theory when my bottles are used up so wish me luck!)

Check out these sweet scents at these retail outlets:

54 Payna Street, Veterans Village, QC (Tel: +63 2 7516355 or +63 977 0855658)
2nd Floor POS1, Tomas Morato, South Triangle, QC (Tel: +63 2 7516355)

For more information on Perfume Dessert, visit its Facebook Page.

What you can do with Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s 2019 Giving Journal

With approach of each new year is the resolution to be more efficient and organized. This is why year-round planners abound in bookstores and paper supply stores at the onset of the holiday season.

Lately, brands have launched their own custom planners, giving their loyal customers a way to experience their brands throughout the year, while contributing to their #organizationgoals.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the coffeehouse founded by Herb Hyman in Southern California in 1963, has a slightly different perspective.

With The 2019 Giving Journal, CBTL brings the spotlight towards generosity. It highlights the Real LIFE Foundation, CBTL’s beneficiary since 2011 which receives support for its endeavors to provide educational assistance to the less fortunate.

I was given a copy of The 2019 Giving Journal by a friend but as I already have another planner, and in keeping with CBTL’s aim to be generous this year (and with my friend’s blessing, of course!), I am giving this journal away.

For the recipient of this journal, here’s what you can do with it:

Plan your year (of course!). The journal has pages where you can set your monthly goals (whether in your finances, reading, relationships or health), as well as the monthly overview and weekly notes that let you break down your tasks and celebrate your accomplishments.

Look back on how you can do and be better. At the end of each month, the journal encourages you to reflect and resolve on how you can further improve.

Treat your friends to a good ole’ cuppa. In keeping with the theme of generosity, why not invite a friend to a coffee date that’s on you? That’s easy to do with the Buy 1 Take 1 coupons for coffee drinks and other upgrades and freebies included in the planner.

Appreciate the creativity of Filipino artists. The journal features the works of twelve Filipino artists, many of whom were CBTL customers themselves who showcased their talents through CBTL’s initiatives such as Brew Your Best Year and #CoffeeBeanOceanArt contest or by volunteering in the company’s events.

This is a great planner to have around, either to look forward to the coming months or to document what goes on throughout your year.

So the next question is: How do you get this copy of The 2019 Giving Journal?

Simple: just join my Instagram giveaway coming soon. Look out for it at instagram.com/beingjellybeans.

Check out my review of my coffee experiences in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branches:

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix

Have you ever found that while you possess so much stuff that you hardly have enough room for all of them, you still find yourself wanting to acquire more? Have you ever thought that getting a new outfit, accessory or gadget will make all the difference?

Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, espouses gratitude for the things you already have and letting go of those that no longer “spark joy.” Jumping off from the Japanese word tokimeku (“throb, flutter, palpitate”), Kondo advises homeowners to clean in one fell swoop: keep only what brings you joy, discard all other items, and assign a proper place for everything.

For so many of us, there may be a lot of things that hold us back from letting go items that we don’t really need. We could be holding on to them on the assumption that we might need them again in the future, we feel that our possessions are tied in to our identity or we associate them with happy memories from our past.

To help homeowners sort through their emotions, as well as their stuff, Kondo has introduced the KonMari Method. It encourages tidying up by category – beginning with clothes, then books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items – instead of location.

In her new Netflix series dropped on New Year’s Day, Kondo visits cluttered homes in the US and advises homeowners on tidying up using the Konmari Method. Among my takeaways from the episodes are:

Greet your space. Before proceeding with tidying up, Kondo takes the time to quietly “introduce” herself to the home. At the same time, she encourages the homeowners to envision their ideal home or ponder their intention for the space. For me, this exercise helps in getting me in the proper and thankful frame of mind, feeling a sense of gratitude for the home for the shelter and protection it provides for my family, and in strengthening a resolution to take better care of it.

When discarding items, thank them for their service. With each item to be sorted, Kondo advises holding them for a while and asking oneself if they “spark joy.” If they do, decide to keep them; if not, discard them. However, rather than just dumping these items in a bin, Kondo encourages homeowners to thank them for their service, for whatever joy they contributed to their lives. I find that with this action, I feel gratitude for the items I say goodbye to and hope that they provide happiness to others, rather than guilt for accumulating so much stuff.

Find a proper home for every item you keep. Ideally, the items you choose to hold on to should be kept where they can easily be seen and accessed. For instance, folded clothes should be stored vertically and miscellaneous items should be placed in clear boxes. This helps the homeowner to easily locate the items and keep track of how much stuff they already possess. In my case, since these items spark joy, seeing them and easily accessing them will only accentuate that joy.

Who would have thought that getting rid of, instead of acquiring, stuff could be a joyful activity?

So, how will you start ensuring that all things in your life spark joy?

How about spreading that joy to others? Your pre-loved clothes, footwear and accessories can be donated to Segunda Mana, while old toys can be given to the Philippine Toy Library. Old books, on the other hand, may be donated to the Reading Club 2000.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is now available for streaming on Netflix. If you’re a SKY subscriber, you can subscribe to Netflix and charge it to your SKY bill. More details can be found here.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out some home organizing solutions available on Amazon.com.

Simple Houseware Foldable Cube Storage Bin – 6 Pack

Cardboard Safari Bamboo Organizational Box Set

Utiao Plastic Storage Baskets Organizing in Classroom, Office, Home, 6 Packs(Medium)

Learn more about the KonMari Method with Marie Kondo’s books on Amazon.com.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up (The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up)

Life-Changing Magic: A Journal – Spark Joy Every Day

This post contains affiliate links.

Check out my blog posts about other Netflix shows:

8 Facts you may not know about Game of Thrones

We still have quite some time to wait until the much-anticipated final season of HBO’s juggernaut of a series Game of Thrones hits the TV screens in April.

Based on George R. R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, the TV show chronicles the struggles of nine noble families for power in the land of Westeros, as an ancient enemy rises up to threaten the entire land.

With its far-reaching influence and popularity, not just in entertainment, but in general pop culture, you would think that the show’s fans know all there is to know about their favorite show.

But here are some facts you may not know about Game of Thrones.

1. The show’s creators are referred to as D&D.

When you hear “D&D” in the context of Game of Thrones, this actually refers to the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

2. Peter Dinklage (“Tyrion Lannister”) and Lena Headey (“Cersei Lannister”) are good friends.

They may snipe at and antagonize each other on-screen, but, away from the cameras, actors Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey have been friends for years. In fact, Dinklage was the one that recommended Headey to D&D for Cersei’s role.

3. The show’s cast includes actors from the Harry Potter franchise.

Among prominent cast members who also appeared in the Harry Potter movies are: Natalia Tena (“Osha”) played Nymphadora Tonks, David Bradley (“Walder Frey”) played Argus Filch, Michelle Fairley (“Catelyn Stark”) played Mrs. Granger, Ciaran Hinds (“Mance Rayder”) played Aberforth Dumbledore and Jim Broadbent (“Archmaester Ebrose”) played Horace Slughorn.

4. Four actors also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.

Jack Gleeson (“Joffrey Baratheon”) and Richard Brake (“The Night’s King”) appeared in Batman Begins while Aidan Gillen (“Littlefinger”) and Burn Gorman (“Karl Tanner”) were in The Dark Knight Rises.

5. Two cast members were cast as leads in Marvel’s Iron Fist.

Finn Jones (“Loras Tyrell”) and Jessica Henwick (“Nymeria Sand”) headline the Netflix series Iron Fist as Danny Rand and Colleen Wing, reapectively.

6. Jon Snow and Ygritte ended up together in real life.

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie who played ill-fated lovers Jon Snow and the wildling Ygritte fell on love while filming, got engaged in 2017, and got married in 2018. Harington was even prodded by actress Nicole Kidman about proposing to Leslie while on The Late Late Show with James Corben when she found out that they have moved in together.

7. Two of the female leads have played the same character from the Terminator franchise.

Both Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke (“Danaerys Targaryen”) have played Sarah Connor: Headey in the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Clarke in Terminator Genisys.

8. A prequel series is in the works.

A spinoff starring Naomi Watts is being developed. Set a thousand years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, it will chronicle Westeros’ descent from the Age of Heroes to the Longest Night.

Game of Thrones’ eighth season is set to premiere in April 2019 on HBO, available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD.

If you haven’t watched the series yet or want to review previous episodes, Game of Thrones Seasons 1 to 7, as well as other HBO Original Series are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Check out my posts on other HBO shows:

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