Empowered

I might have done the craziest thing ever. I actually told someone I like him. It has been roughly 5 years since I've done something like this. It went horrible since I was expecting he would like me back. Turns out, he liked someone else. Anyway, he's in the past and I've buried the experience a long time now.

Well, I've wanted to tell him for as long as I can't remember but hadn't had the courage to do so until now. Read an article on Thought Catalog a few weeks back and thought I can do it so I did. I never thought I could tell him directly since I'm a coward when it comes to these things so I'm really proud of myself. After I told him my heart out, I've come to realize that I have just been trapped in the thought of having feelings for this certain person. These past few days, I've been really happy but there's something that has been pulling me from being genuinely happy. I thought that it would be just okay if I had teeny-tiny emotional baggage from him. Turns out, it can't work that way. It's either I have full affection or have nothing at all. I can't be the girl who just keeps on hanging there and waiting. I'm the girl who always has to do something about it and not care about what the outcome may be, although I tend to overthink most of the time. Well who doesn't?

It's overwhelming how this situation would empower me. I never thought that it would be possible but it is and I have never been this happy in my life. Finally, something that I thought would affect me negatively so much, has affected me otherwise. As of this moment, I have no "what ifs" anymore.

On Being Alone. . .

I haven't been this emotional for quite some time and it feels weird. I don't know if it's me or it's just my hormones acting up. Actually, I'm not really alone given that I'm around my family all the time and I was just talking to the best friend earlier via Skype and it was fun. You know the feeling when you think you're alone though you're not? Plus my playlist has not been of any help...

Just the thought of being alone is scary. I have been afraid of it for the past 18 years. Come to think of it, who wants to be? I guess this is the reason why I write. I write 'cause though I feel I'm alone, there's something that tells me that I'm not. I'm still hoping that there's someone out there who really gets what I write. May that be the sensible posts or not -- well mostly not.

I'm totally clueless on what this post really mean. I just wanted to let go of this heavy feeling. And if I'm lucky enough, I find someone who feels the same thing or dealt with the same thing and got over it. To anyone reading this and have the same complication, you can always talk to me. *virtual hug*

love,

Blog Interview: Raleene Cabrera of www.raleene.com

1) What made you start a blog?

I started one in blogspot since I felt that not a lot of people had access to my multiply blog before. I also wanted to launch it again with better photos and content for my relatives and friends to read. I couldn't talk and keep a lot of people updated with my life online when I moved out for college. I also wanted people to view my photographs outside of Flickr. I bought my own domain and thought it would be a lot easier to direct them to one main site with all my info, links, etc.

2) When you first started blogging, what kind of readers were you expecting?

I didn't think anyone else (apart from my family and close friends, online friends) would read it since I didn't plan to advertise it. I wasn't as active on twitter since not a lot of people from the Philippines had one back then (2008) so I couldn't really spread the word about it. I didn't anticipate for my readers to increase in number, but I guess my friends forwarded my link or something. I wrote about my life, whereabouts, family... just because I thought only my friends would be able to read it. As soon as I noticed that random people were viewing and commenting, I felt like I had to write about things other people could relate to instead of writing things that were deemed too personal.

3) What is your strategy with your blog in general?

Post nice photos and write well. I never try to please anyone else but myself. I write for myself since I often look back on posts when I'm down, just to remind myself of how blessed I was to enjoy a lot of things. It's more of a public diary now than a photography/design blog. I also make sure to only blog/advertise things that I believe in.

4) Was it easy telling people how you feel through your page?

I still write what I feel, but I never really share too much. I've never been too emotional so that's never a problem for me. People can go through my blog without having to read through my posts, really. That's why I make sure that the photos can speak for themselves as well. I feel like the text is just something I add minutes before I publish something. I don't want my blog to be too overwhelming.

5) Any advice you would like to give the people who are thinking of starting a blog?

Do it for yourself and don't try to please people too much. It will feel like work once you establish your blog and gain more readership, so you should be prepared for that. Blogging's not as easy as it looks! Anyone can just start a blog, but it takes a lot to maintain one.

6) Name some of the bloggers you look up to and why?

Luxirare- her blog is so unique and her posts are always amazing! Very consistent and artistic in terms of photos and text without trying too hard.

Danielle Gonzalez (http://trustme-itsparadise.blogspot.com/)- Free-spirited without going overboard. I wish I could live a life like hers- 50% in the island, 50% in the city. And she's stylish, too!

Hannah Bacalla (http://blog.hannahbacalla.com/)- I've always been a fan of her photographs. (ever since I was in high school, I think) She can make anyone look like a model, even without the equipment.

Olivia (http://www.fashionsalade.com/lusttforlife/)- The first girl I've ever liked on lookbook... I don't follow a lot of fashion blogs, really. I just find her cute and again, I like her photos!

BJ (http://blog.bjpascual.com/)- he doesn't post much, but I like his photos and i like following the lives of some photographers. I got to know BJ just before he pursued photography so I guess I find it so cool and inspiring whenever I see that he's doing bigger projects every time he posts updates.

Vito Selma- he's not much of a blogger but he keeps us updated on twitter & Facebook. I look up to Vito since I'm an aspiring designer, too. I want to be able to work and travel the world like him in the future! His photos are always awesome.

Cybele Haaven (http://cybelehaaven.blogspot.com/)- because I wanna go to Europe someday and be able to produce pretty photos like her

Maddie Goldbeck (http://www.sillyinnocentgirl.blogspot.com/)- Because I wish I was as daring (in terms of clothes + hair) as her when I was younger!

I blog-hop each month and my faves list can change a lot. I get hooked to blogs with great photos. They don't have to be super glamorous and focused on fashion... I also like sites that look raw and unpretentious. :)

7) One word that best describes your blog?

Rainbow!!!

8) A message to The Purple Centipede?

Speak your mind!

Photo Credits: http://www.raleene.com

Blog Interview: Allie Principe of The Four-Eyed Wonder

1) What made you start a blog?

When I started my blog back in April 2010 on Wordpress, it was more out of boredom than anything else. But I've been writing in journals and creating various blog sites in high school, and I thought it was a good time to revive the idea! I like how you can attach photos, videos and music to blog entries, something you can barely do in a handwritten journal.

2) When you first started blogging, what kind of readers were you expecting? Do you think that everyone should consider this?

I wasn't really expecting any particular type of readers, because I was just trying to recapitulate my everyday events and musings in a blog. But after a while, I decided to gear more towards blogging about fashion, art, design and photography, so I guess I'm hoping to cater to readers who are interested in that.

3) What is your style when it comes to writing?

Honestly, I don't know if I have one! But I guess my writing style can be described as "sometimes light / sometimes serious / most of the time self-depreciating". Hahaha!

4) Was it easy telling people how you feel through your page?

It wasn't that difficult really. I've never been one to keep my feelings tucked away, and one of the main reasons that I started this blog was to be an outlet, of ideas and of feelings. But I tend to keep the very serious (especially negative) feelings away from my blog, and reserve that for my journal.

5) Any advice you would like to give the people who are thinking of starting a blog?

Go for it! It's a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with the rest of the Web world. But blog for the right reasons. Never do it just to gain fame or attention.

6) Where can you see yourself in 10 years?

Having just graduated, this is a pretty tough question. But most definitely, I see myself working for the arts. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. And hopefully, I'm still blogging! :)

7) One word that best describes your blog?

Quirky

Photo Credits: http://alliekabok.blogspot.com

Blog Interview: Tricia Gosingtian of Tricia Will Go Places

1) How did you get into blogging and why?

I've been rather active on the Internet for years now, but mostly as a photographer who would post work on deviantART. Occasionally, I'd blog there, but there was a time in my life when I realized I wanted to separate sharing my life from sharing my work.

Tricia Will Go Places started while I was contributing street snaps for Inquirer 2bu back in college. Some people I shot weren’t able to check the paper out so I decided to upload them on cyberspace. That went on for a short while before I started posting my own outfit posts as well, and the rest is history.

2) What's your strategy with your blog in general?

I'm proud that I produce most, if not all, of the photography in my blog. Since I'm a photographer, more than a blogger, I get rather obsessive-compulsive with photography quality. I also never blog about products or brands that I do not personally believe in.

3) Name some of the bloggers you look up to and why?

Rumi Neely, for the eye candy that is Fashion Toast. Tsubasa Masuwaka (her blog is on ameblo.jp) because I'm such a fan of her modeling and beauty products. Locally, I love Love Chic by Seph Cham and Shai Lagarde because they're incredibly unique and it's rare to see a good couple fashion blog.

4) Can you tell us about some of the people you've met while working on your blog?

Just visit my blog ;) (shameless plugging)

5) If someone was interested in blogging, what would be a few things you would suggest?

Choose the right platform, pick the right blog layout, keep in mind the quality of your content, and be consistent with your brand or identity as a blogger.

6) Where do you see yourself blogging wise in the next 6 months and 5 years down the road?

6 months from now I'll probably still be blogging about more or less the same things. 5 years from now I don't know if I'd still be blogging by then but I hope so! I'll always make time for photography so it'd be a little impossible for me to quit what I started.

7) One word that best describes your blog?

Self-centered.

8) A message to The Purple Centipede?

Thank you so much for contacting me! Keep up the good work. ;)

Photo Credits: http://triciawillgoplaces.tumblr.com

Minute Maid, No Preservatives!

I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe... if I try and test it out myself, I can lose the benefit of the doubt and tell my friends about it.

I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added. So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED! That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse...carcinogens! Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I... really have to get more of this!

So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right? Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means... I can enjoy drinking bottled orange juice without worrying about anything that can cause me or my loved ones harm.

So far anyone who still has a hard time believing that Minute Maid has got no preservatives added - meaning it's THAT natural, it's almost like it's plucked straight from the tree, it's just as Mother Nature wanted your orange juice to be, it's got nothing but the good stuff yes, none of those potentially toxic stuff that can harm your brain, kidneys, heart; cause tumors aargh- the list of preservatives' bad effects just go on!!! Anyway, just to prove a point on just how good Minute Maid Pulpy is 'cause it's got NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED, I'm gonna take the risk and blog about it just so I can prove to everyone that it’s yummy and healthy at the same time.

Feels good to know about the real pulpy deal, right? C’mon show me a smile on the comment box, and you might win yourself a Really Pulpy Deal! (That’s a chance to win a Minute Maid gift pack simply by commenting. Sweet! C'mon you just might be picked as the lucky 'commentor'!)

Love,

The Purple Centipede

Happy New Year!

New Year's not about renewing yourself, it's about improving yourself. 2010 was indeed a year to remember: started my blog, met new friends online, received a lot of blessings thanks to my family and friends. This has been the best holiday season ever.  I will forever be grateful to everyone! 

Got VIP tickets to Justin Bieber's concert! (No photos yet)

Our Noche Buena dinner c/o mum, dad and me!

I can't believe it's been a year already, feels like it has just been days. Long dragging days, I tell you! Hopefully, 2011 would be so much different. I have lots of things to look forward to this year!

1) I hope I get to blog more often. Inspirations please!

2) Justin Bieber's concert in May!!!

3) Reconciling with old friends. (Year 2012 is fast approaching, duh!)

4) Patience is a virtue, man! Yes, I have to achieve that.

5) Positivity, please reign! 

Photos are from my iPod so that explains the bad resolution.