My Engagement Ring, Stuck to a Cup

A proposal? Not!

This is a very clever item, best given as a gift to a woman. It's a porcelain cup that's got a ring attached to it. Put in an oversized box, the cup is concealed so that the receiver of the present will initially think that you are giving a ring. It can leave the person quite nervous, but it can also lead to a good laugh afterwards.

This is called the Two Karat Cup, designed by Yusuke Fujinuma. The cup itself is made out of white porcelain, and the handle-slash-ring is a gold or platinum glaze with a Swarovski crystal embedded in it. The packaging adds to its charm- a jewelry box where the cup is placed.


Using this cup can give other people the impression that you just might be engaged. It might also serve as a reminder that you really aren't (Haha!). Anyhow, it's a very delightful and practical item to have- adorning you with a big diamond ring while you drink your latte.

Giant Earphone Speakers

This is for the music geeks. Designed like the iPod earphones, but without having to plug them into your ears. These buds are five hundred times your regular earphones. Yes, they are speakers, and a pretty funky one at that. When you think it's time to replace those old boring computer speakers, how about having one of these instead? It produces clear high quality sounds. These are also very handy and hassle-free if you need a portable speaker. It can be connected to your PC or even to your MP3 player. Even though they look like earphones, don't make the mistake of putting them too near your ears!

Band-Aid Rings for the Broken Hearts

Got a heartache? It's time to heal with an 18 karat gold bandage.

This unusual creation was made by a jewelry designer named Alyssa Dee Krauss. For those who just got divorced, this is the perfect ring to replace what's on that ring finger. It isn't just for the broken hearted, but it can also be a declaration of support for victims and survivors of a tragedy. Bandages for the heart is a symbol of healing. With all the meanings you can associate with it, one can always purchase it just for it's style and uniqueness.
Each ring is either made from stainless steel, sterling silver, or a solid 18 karat gold. On the other side of the bandage, there's a drop of deep, red garnet stone (supposed to look like a boo-boo when worn). Besides band-aid rings, there are also band-aid pins. When bought, each piece is wrapped in a white gauze tied with a red string.

It's not something you'd commonly see people wear, but it'd be cool to see a wedding where they tie the knot with this ring!

Jell-O City

Feast your eyes with the city of San Francisco, made completely out of Jell-O. This isn't really an invention, but another cool and nifty form of art.



If you think Jell-O aquariums, animals and other shapes are already quite attractive, then you haven't seen this. The Jell-O sculptures are created by an artist named Liz Hickok. According to her, she makes "the landscapes by constructing scale models of architectural elements," which she then utilizes to form her molds. "I then cast the building in Jell-O," Hickok says.

She also paints the backdrops to add natural elements such as mountains, trees, or the hues of the sunset. After doing so, she lights the scenes from behind or underneath the Jell-O. This then creates a dramatically colorful effect. Because the Jell-O sculptures can't hold long and quickly deteriorates, she makes sure to take a photograph or video copy of it.

This is just one of Hickok's works from her Molds and Models series.

Shoe Wheel

The ultimate shoe storage.

The Shoe Wheel was innovated by Rakku Designs. I first learned about this awesome furniture from Reader's Digest. It is movable storage unit that can hold up to thirty pairs of shoes. It's got expandable pockets where one inserts the footwear, and it adjusts to the type of shoes so they fit snugly into place. Like any other wheel, it can be rotated. This is very convenient because aside from being organized, one can see his or her shoe collection in one look. No longer will you have the trouble of thinking about what kinds of shoes you have, or the trouble of opening your shoeboxes just to see for yourself. Because you can turn the wheel, you don't have to bend down to pick up a shoe- let your shoes come to you.

There are other varieties for this wheel. There's the Shoe Pod, which is another form of the Shoe Wheel. This time, it's cut in half and meant for the big footed men (but not limited to this). And then there's Rakiddo for kids- it's a mini version of the shoe wheel. This variety of products come in different appealing colors: silver, black, white, pink, and blue.

When I found an online shop selling the Shoe Wheel in the Philippines, I instantly got excited. I wanted to get one so bad, but I had second thoughts with my longing. First, I inquired on the price and found out that the seller was selling it for about 2000 pesos more than the original price stated in the official site. While I already considered the shipping costs, it was still pretty expensive. Next, it's actually space consuming. It' a big wheel: 29 inches high, 28 inches in length and 12 inches in width. Third, it doesn't protect one's shoe collection from dust. Lastly, while it offers convenience, the storage size is still pretty limited. This isn't very suited for the avid shoe collector, but if you have a few good pairs, might as well show them off!

Anti-Theft Mouldy Lunch Bag

Tired of having your office-mates, schoolmates and friends stealing and eating up your packed lunch? Try putting it in a moldy plastic bag.

Actually, it's a plastic bag with mold printed directly on it. When you put your sandwich in it, lunch-thieves would see mold-covered food, but in reality, it's as fresh as can be.

There are a few problems with this product, though. For one, somebody might mistake it for actually being moldy and throw it away. Second, it's a pretty short term solution. Unless you eat your food secretly, people around will start to notice that it is fake when you pull out your sandwich from it and begin munching. Third, if you look at it long enough, you might ruin your appetite as well. You must always keep in mind that they are two different and separate things.


This is a pretty clever disguise. Just to make sure though, better to check your sandwich in case it really is moldy!

The Art of Our Times

Decades and centuries ago, people have invented things that have widely changed the way we live today. From televisions to cellphone and telephones, they have, in a way, created a lifestyle for us. Although there have already been so many developments over the years, there is still enough room left for creativity today.

One of my favorite reads is Reader's Digest. It's a small magazine packed with all the interesting stories, information, jokes, and cool facts all over the world. This is also where I get to read about innovations that never fail to make me smile. So for this week, I'll be writing about the most interesting creations I have read about. These inventions may not be as big and life changing as what inventors in the past have devised, but they are nonetheless practical. If not for that reason, well, at the least they are fun.

The Essential Black Pen

This is the most essential black item you will ever need in your life. At one point, you will have to use this no matter how much you try to avoid it (if you are). You may be a teacher, a student, a driver, the boss, an employee, a doctor, a technician, and the list goes on. It's an important tool for all genders of all ages (except babies), because a black pen makes your world go around.

Why, you ask? First, you will need this to fill up forms that can lead to your successful life. A lot of tedious tasks demand that information be written in black ink. You'll have to set aside your colorful pens for other purposes. Being the case, there are unexpected writing tasks that suddenly appear in front of you. Be it a form to fill or a pop quiz, it's a black pen with black ink that will answer your problems.

It doesn't matter what kind of pen you have. Whether it's a ballpoint pen, a sign pen or a feather used as a pen, it's important to keep one handy.

The Basic Black Tee

Are there not days when you just don't feel like dressing up, or when you feel you have nothing good to wear despite all the clothes in your closet? The problem may lie not with what you have, but what you lack in your wardrobe.

You may have a variety of clothes to wear in different styles and colors, but do you have your basic plain tops? This is one of the things you need to have if you are conscious about repeating your outfits. Most helpful will be a basic white or black tee.

Colorful blouses and prints in different styles are usually noticeable to the eye, and people either give you compliments or criticisms about your outfit. This gives you the hassle of having to time when you will be wearing it again or how often to wear it. Another hassle is thinking about what to wear. If you don't want to go through all that trouble, buy a basic black tee. It can be matched with almost anything- from accessories to other articles of clothing. Wear it with a skirt, pants, colorful accessories, a scarf, pumps, flats and anything else you have in mind.

Having a basic black tee not only leaves you with less trouble, but it exercises one's creativity. It's a challenging and exciting task to do-how to make a plain and simple piece of clothing give you the look you want. You may also want a plain tank top or tunic; they're just as useful as any plain top. Remember that you can still look your best even with the simple.

Black Dress

For the girls out there, this is an essential in every wardrobe. I'm sure you've got Audrey Hepburn in your mind right now.

As Sparkles stated in her blog, the little black dress is a fashion staple and you can never go wrong with it. It's a dress that can offer you elegance and sophistication. Get the style you want, from classy and sophisticated to a hip look. It’s all in the way you accessorize. You can bring this simple black dress to life with the right accessories and make-up. To get that classy look, use pearls, gloves and black pumps. If you want to add more fun and color, suit yourself. A black dress will never betray you. This dress, like all other fashion staples, is good for day or night. You may find black dresses having different cuts, lengths or details. Rest assured, it will never go out of style.

The Black Bag

This is for the ladies who have a need to accessorize- and a need to have something to carry her things. This is the basic black bag.

Just like any other fashion item, this goes with almost anything you wear. If you think plain is boring, well a black bag gives you more variety than you think. From the style down to the material of the bag, there are numerous designs to choose from. It's important to invest in a good bag that can last the times. Take into special consideration the material it is made from. Some materials easily chip off.

Just like black pumps, you might not want to make that much effort in finding a good black bag. It takes more concentration to find one that you like, especially since some may look pretty similar. Because it's not something you'd look often for when shopping, set aside some time to look for a quality black bag that will last seasons and time.

Black Pencil Eyeliner

A black eyeliner is a very powerful tool. Without any other make-up materials, you can instantly add life to your eyes.

This is a very good make-up item to make your eyes "pop"(not literally). It can emphasize the shape of your eye and make a dramatic look. Even without the gray hues of eyeshadow often used, one can create a smoky eye effect. How does it work? It's all in the art of smudging.

I think a pencil eyeliner is a lot better than the liquid alternative. There is more control in drawing and in the depth of the color using a pencil. With liquid, it's more like painting. Another advantage of having a black eyeliner is that you can smudge it to make a dramatic effect. With almost any shade of eyeshadow, it is possible to create such effect; and even without any eyeshadow, amazingly it is still possible.

This is a very important basic make up tool. It doesn't take much effort to line one's eyelids, but it is important to have enough control. Remember also to choose an eyeliner that glides smoothly; there are certain eyeliners that actually draw like a real pencil. Keep in mind: make-up should make a good investment, and a black eyeliner is a must.

Black Pumps

Turn eighteen and you better have yourself a good pair, 'coz you're gonna be needing it more often than you think. Any woman who cares about dressing up will need this.

So, what are pumps?
Pumps are a woman's essential black shoes. It is a plain and simple closed shoe with a fairly high heel. Pumps are usually made with materials such as leather, patent, or even a mix of both. It can be as pointy as an elf's shoe or as rounded as mary janes.

Why you need it?
Well first of all, let me tell you what made me realize I needed a pair. I never thought I'd need one until signs were telling me that it's time to buy my own pair of pumps. First, it's a problem for me when there's a need to wear corporate attire. Although other neutral colors may be used, most of my clothes would match better with black heels. Second, certain outfits call for plain shoes- plain black shoes. I got different colors with different styles, but black pumps were out of the question. It's something I took for granted and didn't make enough effort for in finding a pair.

So going back, it is important to have a pair of black pumps because they are the most matchable shoes you can every shoes you can ever have. Whether it's a business, casual, formal, or party attire, you can never go wrong with black pumps.

The Essential Black

Black- it is the color of carbon; of elegance and sophistication. It can mean so many things, but among all the reasons, it is first and foremost an essential for every person, whether it be a fashion need or for something of practical use.

It's a color not appreciated as much as others. It neither reflects nor emits light. But let me tell you why black is a wonderful color. First, it can bring out the colors of other colors. Despite its darkness, it brings out the life of different hues. Put black on the side of a yellow and see the yellow shine brighter like the sun. Second, it creates form. It is like the outline of all matter in the world. Without it, everything seems flat. Black is important. Black is essential.

For the next six entries, I will be writing about the most important black must-haves, mostly for girls. But watch out for the 6th item...I'm sure everyone needed it (and will need it) at one point!

Spend a Day with a Stranger

I got the idea from the movie Before Sunrise By Richard Linklater. The film has only two characters engaging in a conversation all throughout. Describing it this way might make it seem boring to you, but it's the content of their conversation that makes the movie very interesting. The main characters, Jesse and Celine, have their first encounter with each other on a train. They go down in Vienna and spend a whole day together. They meet again after nine years (in real time, the movie really was made 9 years after) in the movie Before Sunset-my favorite movie- where they again talk about interesting matters. Although they are not lovers, it is the most romantic movie I have ever seen.

The situation portrayed in the movie is quite ideal. In our world today, it's not easy to just decide to hang out with someone you just met- what more, spend a whole day with that person. There's risk and excitement in it, and I think it would be fun to do this. Perhaps I should not have put this in my list, because it's quite odd to try finding a stranger to spend a whole day with. It would be unnatural to force a perfect moment like this. It's not easy to find a person who has interesting thoughts, but I'd definitely give this a try when I get the opportunity. Just like in the movie, it came at a time when they both didn't expect it, and it turned out to be wonderful.

Stand on the Border

Isn't it cool to be in two places at once? Not in a fictional sense, of course. I'm sure you've seen this in movies, when people stand on the border state line. You may think that this isn't really an extraordinary thing to do, but then I've never done it, and I plan on doing it.

Things like these make life a bit more interesting. It may not be much of a challenge to stand on something, but the effort to get there just to stand on the border is something I'd think about. Here in the Philippines, there are apparently no states; we have cities, though. I remember when I was younger, my grandmother and my mom would tell me to watch out for the sign where the border between Quezon City and Manila can be seen. One second I'm in QC; the next, I am in Manila. It's actually pretty cool, because you don't normally look out for borders when going around the Metro. The thing is, I'm not going to make an effort to stand on the border of these two cities. It's lined with cars and people. I'll just look silly standing there.

I'm sure there are other borders around which I can stand on. I'd want it to be special in a way, so for now, I'm going to go look for one I like.

Learn How to Swim

Yes, I do NOT know how to swim. I don't blame my parents for not teaching me how to swim; I was also scared before, and well, until now. I didn't really care before whether I knew how to go around the water until I grew up and realized that I am missing a lot from not knowing how.

One of the reasons why I do not know how to swim is because I have a fear of drowning. I learned how to float at one point and to move around a bit, but never in the deep parts or away from a wall. I have a hard time trying to let go even if I know I will still be fine anyway. A lot of people tried teaching me, but it wasn't much use.

Despite my fears, I want to learn how to swim. Everyone tells me it's fun once you know how to, and I can tell that they are right. Not knowing how to swim has its disadvantages. For one, I can't go too far away from the shore whenever we go to the beach. I'm always scared that the waves might push me too hard. Same goes when I am in the pool. These little things push me to believe that I have to learn how to swim. A lot of times already I've hesitated taking swimming lessons because aside from the fear, it's hard to put it into my schedule without being a hassle.

Soon enough though, I will take swimming lessons. I know that I do not have to fear when someone professional finally teaches me how. Aside from the fun that goes with it, knowing how to swim is also for my safety. As the quote goes, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom." This reminds me that overcoming my fears will set me free.

Travel

Most of the travels I have done are within the Philippines. Most of the time, I am with my family. There's actually a lot to see around, and I enjoy the beaches the most. I've grown my love for our countries wonders, but the Philippines is just one of the many places to see in the world.

To travel around the world is another thing I want to do. I know a lot of people have this dream too. Some want to do it for a whole month or even a whole year, but I plan on taking it one at a time. This will give me something to look forward to every now and then.

It's only recent that I felt the passion to travel. We do not really travel abroad, so I didn't really care about the rest of the world when I was younger. Even if I see them on television or read about them, it didn't seem real to me. Now, I realized that I want to go explore other places. This happened when one of my friends told me he got a plane ticket to Europe as a birthday gift. He told me all about his adventures there, and hearing that from someone close to me made me see that I can travel and see for myself as well. Although I felt a bit of jealousy, there was the passion that started to stir.

This was when I also started to appreciate watching Discovery Travel and Living, especially their food shows. Nothing interests me more than food, and I'd love to go around the world not just to see places, but to experience culture and of course, try out different cuisines. It's so thrilling just thinking about all the things I can still explore and all the places I can travel to in my whole lifetime. The best part is, I know it's real and I can go and see the world for myself. This is definitely one thing I will make sure I won't miss doing.

Customized Swing

I'm a tall girl, and I deserve a tall swing.

My favorite plaything in the playground is the swing. Even up to this age, I like swings. It gives me a feeling that I can fly. The only problem is, most swings are too low for me. Whenever I ride one, my feet would hit the ground. I probably have a harder time enjoying it compared to my peers, because I need to stretch my legs out just so I won't have the trouble of hurting myself. Although effective, it gets pretty tiring. I can only hold them up for so long.



One day, I will have a customized swing made for me and my long legs. It would be a swing slightly higher from the ground. It'd be nice to throw myself back and forth without making a conscious effort not to touch the ground. Riding a swing is one of the most fun and carefree things one can do.

See an Aurora Borealis

It's breathtaking to see a sky dusted with infinite stars. Seeing a shooting star for a fraction of a second makes you think twice if you really did see one. Try spotting Mars with its orange glow.

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been enthralled with astronomy. I had this book about the Solar System, and I'd read it over and over. Pluto was still a planet then. Over the years, I would read on anything about it that fascinated me. I moved on from the planets to other wonders, such as black holes, constellations and meteor showers. To me, these things are beautiful mysteries, which look very magnificent from our own planet's sky.

One of things I want to see is an Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights. Although this doesn't have much to do with astronomy, I tend to associate them. It is an atmospheric phenomenon that gives off columns of light in different hues changing rapidly. One can observe this at night, near the polar regions. It has something to do with the interaction of the earth's magnetic fields and solar wind.

What's cool about this is that the lights are all naturally occurring. If you like fireworks and colorful, glowing things, this one you have to see. It's such an amazing event for me, especially since you can't see one when you're near the equator. One day, I'll be preparing myself to head for the north to see this!