Books
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I received a package from National Bookstore. At first I thought it was a Christmas gift or a token because I interviewed the owner Mrs Socorro Ramos in my old show Proudly Filipina back in late 2007. She founded National Bookstore over 65 years ago. She told me amazing stories about how they started their business before the war. Humble beginnings. She calls herself a "super tindera." It is now the biggest bookstore and school/office supplies store in the Philippines.
with Mrs Socorro Ramos, founder of National Bookstore.
The gift wasn't because of the Mrs Ramos interview. They sent me a couple of books and a thank you note for the blog entry I posted about Domino The Book of Decorating. National Book Store got that book quite early and the price was even cheaper than in North America. It was definitely a good find.
Gifts from National Bookstore
I was amazed that the people behind National Bookstore knew exactly what type of books to give me. These two books could have come from my best friend. Thank you NBS!!!
Lately I've been editing my bookshelf in my closet -- it only contains books that I frequently refer back to for inspiration or instructions. I've put away my collection of art history books and kept them downstairs. The novels I've finished reading have been put away or passed on to others. I hardly read novels now. There is just no time left - after taking care of the kids, being online, and designing jewelry. So I just buy reference books. My books on decor are in another room, my office-slash-guest room.
Here's what's on my shelf right now:
Pretty books about jewellery. Self explanatory.
Hodge podge
Neal Oshima: Philippinas. Photography book
Katherine Graham: Personal History. Inspiring. I like reading about powerful and intelligent women.
TOYM Awardees: Sketches. As the subhead says, stories of inspiration... from TOYM awardees. Very special. Gift from one of the awardees.
Natural Superwoman My sister Pauline gave this to me ten years ago. Each chapter is about how to live your life in an organic, natural way. It has recipes on organic home cleaners etc. Great reference book.
Dana Thomas: Deluxe It's all about the myth and demystification of luxury goods. Everyone in retail should read this.
Xiaolan Zhao: Reflections of the Moon on Water Got this when I was so into Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM. I believe in eastern medicine and this book gave me "scientific" information to back up the claims. I stay away from pain killers and prescribed drugs as much as I can -- except if its bacterial and we need antibiotics. But there are lots of information and recipes in this book to help prevent illness. An interesting chapter on how to conceive... for those who want to have a baby.
Diana Vreeland: D.V. In her own words. Sometimes the phrases sound like Maurice Archache's column. But she lived a fascinating life during a fascinating time.
Jerry Oppenheimer: Front Row Anna Wintour:. I didn't finish this book. Very catty and full of chismis. But I'm indifferent about Anna Wintour, so I don't even know why I bought this book.
Style books, mostly got them as gifts. With my fat cow-bank
Kate Spade's series: Occasions, Manners and Style. Got them as a gift
Antonia Fraser: Marie Antoinette and The Six Wives of Henry VIII - I've been into historical royal scandals
Nina Garcia: Black Book and One Hundred. Great illustrations by Ruben Toledo. Got them as a gift
Lee Radziwill: Happy Times. Again, a gift. Pretty black and white photos laid out like a scrapbook.
Instyle: What Should I Wear and Secrets of Style. I got them many years ago.
Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential. Sex and behind the scenes of the restaurant industry. Great read.
Richard Florida: The Rise of the Creative Class. How the creative economy shapes the way cities are evolving. Fascinating. Very current and relevant information. I'm part of the team working to set up Creative Cebu - as the media nexus - and this book gives a good (albeit, dreamy because it's relatively advanced/about urban planning and we're not there yet) foundation.
Quite a contrast from the type of books my husband reads.
As much as I'd like to continue reading historical accounts and political/analytical books, I just don't have the time and energy that I used to. In university, I took a Specialist in Art History and a Major in Urban Studies. I did most of my readings then. But the real world kicked in. So now, as I multi-task and juggle my creative endeavours, raising my kids, managing the house and running to go to shoots, I just ask Patrick to tell me stories about the books he's reading. He is after all, an internationally-awarded story-teller.
Am I the only mother out there who doesn't have time to read major books anymore?
.
.
I received a package from National Bookstore. At first I thought it was a Christmas gift or a token because I interviewed the owner Mrs Socorro Ramos in my old show Proudly Filipina back in late 2007. She founded National Bookstore over 65 years ago. She told me amazing stories about how they started their business before the war. Humble beginnings. She calls herself a "super tindera." It is now the biggest bookstore and school/office supplies store in the Philippines.
with Mrs Socorro Ramos, founder of National Bookstore.
The gift wasn't because of the Mrs Ramos interview. They sent me a couple of books and a thank you note for the blog entry I posted about Domino The Book of Decorating. National Book Store got that book quite early and the price was even cheaper than in North America. It was definitely a good find.
Gifts from National Bookstore
I was amazed that the people behind National Bookstore knew exactly what type of books to give me. These two books could have come from my best friend. Thank you NBS!!!
Lately I've been editing my bookshelf in my closet -- it only contains books that I frequently refer back to for inspiration or instructions. I've put away my collection of art history books and kept them downstairs. The novels I've finished reading have been put away or passed on to others. I hardly read novels now. There is just no time left - after taking care of the kids, being online, and designing jewelry. So I just buy reference books. My books on decor are in another room, my office-slash-guest room.
Here's what's on my shelf right now:
Pretty books about jewellery. Self explanatory.
Hodge podge
Neal Oshima: Philippinas. Photography book
Katherine Graham: Personal History. Inspiring. I like reading about powerful and intelligent women.
TOYM Awardees: Sketches. As the subhead says, stories of inspiration... from TOYM awardees. Very special. Gift from one of the awardees.
Natural Superwoman My sister Pauline gave this to me ten years ago. Each chapter is about how to live your life in an organic, natural way. It has recipes on organic home cleaners etc. Great reference book.
Dana Thomas: Deluxe It's all about the myth and demystification of luxury goods. Everyone in retail should read this.
Xiaolan Zhao: Reflections of the Moon on Water Got this when I was so into Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM. I believe in eastern medicine and this book gave me "scientific" information to back up the claims. I stay away from pain killers and prescribed drugs as much as I can -- except if its bacterial and we need antibiotics. But there are lots of information and recipes in this book to help prevent illness. An interesting chapter on how to conceive... for those who want to have a baby.
Diana Vreeland: D.V. In her own words. Sometimes the phrases sound like Maurice Archache's column. But she lived a fascinating life during a fascinating time.
Jerry Oppenheimer: Front Row Anna Wintour:. I didn't finish this book. Very catty and full of chismis. But I'm indifferent about Anna Wintour, so I don't even know why I bought this book.
Style books, mostly got them as gifts. With my fat cow-bank
Kate Spade's series: Occasions, Manners and Style. Got them as a gift
Antonia Fraser: Marie Antoinette and The Six Wives of Henry VIII - I've been into historical royal scandals
Nina Garcia: Black Book and One Hundred. Great illustrations by Ruben Toledo. Got them as a gift
Lee Radziwill: Happy Times. Again, a gift. Pretty black and white photos laid out like a scrapbook.
Instyle: What Should I Wear and Secrets of Style. I got them many years ago.
Anthony Bourdain: Kitchen Confidential. Sex and behind the scenes of the restaurant industry. Great read.
Richard Florida: The Rise of the Creative Class. How the creative economy shapes the way cities are evolving. Fascinating. Very current and relevant information. I'm part of the team working to set up Creative Cebu - as the media nexus - and this book gives a good (albeit, dreamy because it's relatively advanced/about urban planning and we're not there yet) foundation.
Quite a contrast from the type of books my husband reads.
As much as I'd like to continue reading historical accounts and political/analytical books, I just don't have the time and energy that I used to. In university, I took a Specialist in Art History and a Major in Urban Studies. I did most of my readings then. But the real world kicked in. So now, as I multi-task and juggle my creative endeavours, raising my kids, managing the house and running to go to shoots, I just ask Patrick to tell me stories about the books he's reading. He is after all, an internationally-awarded story-teller.
Am I the only mother out there who doesn't have time to read major books anymore?
.
.