HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I have a lot to be thankful for, for 2010. Not because it was all rosy and wonderful but because it was a year of revelations and new beginnings, real beginnings.

When I got married in 2009, I felt like being thrown out into the wilderness with just Paolo to hold onto. My whole family moved away for good right after I got married, I was left in the country and practically took charge of everything learning along the way while simultaneously shimmying in the new wedded bliss.
This year, 2010, I finally steadied myself from all the roulette of 2009. It was then when all the dust had settled, I was able to finally assess my situation, my path, where I wanted to go…or rather where circumstances are telling me to go and where fate is leading me.

2010 was one of my most memorable years, in terms of personal growth. It was a series of extremes—extreme ups and really low down moments. I like to believe I am evolving to become a better team player but at the same time becoming more independent than ever. It is a paradox, but learning to be a part of a team, you learn more about your strengths and what you can contribute. Being a perfectionist and a control freak, I used to be so frustrated about these little differences…now I am slowly realizing they are like little pieces of a puzzle, different yet they fit together, they complete each others’ parts.

I never felt so much freedom and power in my life than in this past year. Suddenly, I was making big decisions. It was both liberating and yet terrifying to know that all the decisions I make now, every step affects not only me but both of us as a couple and our family in the future; No one else to take the blame or worse, to live through the consequences but us. This ironically taught me to be more cautious yet to take bigger risks as well.
I have always been excited about new years, but this time, for the first time, my retrospection about the past year makes me sad in a nostalgic way. I am very grateful, it was a good year, indeed. Not only because it brought so much blessings but also lessons…and a stronger backbone.

This coming year, my theme is all about family and quality, every aspect of it. =)
I still want to do more, see more, accomplish more and to continuously amp my game. I feel like I still need to learn a lot of things and I will always feel that way. That feeling I guess, will always make me look forward, make me more hopeful and excited for the future.

To a blessed 2011!!!

Another fruit in my basket. =)

IPHONE 4 is ♥♥♥
So far, so good. =)

Guesting at TV 5

Yesterday, we went off to a tv guesting on TV 5. We were off to a Christmas event and I got a call from the segment producer. It was on a short notice and they asked me to make two short segments called gaps. The first one was just an interview and the second one was teaching how to make simple earrings. The call time was early but I didn't have to wait too long for my spiel.



TV 5 is very aggressive these days and they are forging on to become a major competitor. All their shows are reformatted! And somehow, I felt a real close vibe with the people inside. It was fun! I love the "Kapatid" network, they are very accommodating and nice.
Cheers to more blessings for the next year for both TV 5 and Charmed Life by Ysa Yason!

My Christmas...

Christmas for this year was sooo different from how I am used to. I missed the boisterous laughters, the noise, impromptu variety shows with my cousins, going to Church at 7.30 pm to save a seat for a 9pm mass. I miss my family. But as they always say, we create new traditions and cherish the old ones. I love how my Christmas went. Aside from the fact that I loooove my gifts, I got to be with family but still spent a nice one with the hubby, just the two of us.

Pao and I decided to just spend Christmas at Sofitel and enjoy our exclusive Christmas as much as possible.


This year was still about family but since its just me and Paolo, its a quiet, quiet one. We also spent Christmas earlier with my Yason family. went to mass at John's and I must say I love Opus Dei services. It's what Catholic mass is supposed to be: Very Solemn and Very Traditional from the Latin songs to the prayers, very beautiful. It is a privilege to attend one.



I missed Christmases at my auntie Erlie's. I love how her house looks during the holidays and it was something I have always looked forward to when I was little. Good thing she's home from Illinois and we got to spent Christmas day with my Perez relatives.



Christmas day morning is just me and the hubby, toasting to a great year and planning for the next year ahead. I love how our relationship is morphing more and more to a partnership, the way it is supposed to be. Something that I am really thankful for. It's not just solely about lovey-doveys anymore. We now know more who should do what, who is stronger in each task, we are evolving with each other and we are really looking forward for the next year.




And to cap it all off, a nice fireworks display by our balcony. I live a blessed life and I couldn't be more thankful. =)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

SANTA came after all...

I've been really good this year!

I soooo love the married life.

Me and my husband made a pact before we got married that we will do our best not to evolve into an old, boring married pair. We will hold on fiercely to the last shreds of our (imagined) coolness.

It's close to midnight and my husband is in the kitchen cooking up something so we can just chill out all night long watching movies and our fave shows.

Ironically, this makes me feel like such an adult. =)

This afternoon Pao and I went to the mall to do some Christmas shopping for ourselves. We were excited talking about things we were planning to buy...but ended up buying a kitchen showcase instead. Of ALL things.

I've been dreaming about a cool, sleek Electric Oven for sometime already and I told him this is what I wanted to buy for Christmas. I fantasized for quite a long time about baking a Whole Paprika Chicken ala Nigella Lawson. I am determined next year to make that a reality.

We ended up with a spanking new oven, a new set of knives, Paolo's Metal Grill Pan for his steaks, a set of teflon wares and a sleek new osterizer to match the Oven.

We bought those instead of new clothes, new shoes or even a new bag (!) just like other normal young couples out on a holiday shopping. We came home all giddy and excited with our new loot.

So much for being a cool couple. Say hello to the old Yasons. ;P

CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES.

I got into a conversation with my mom about work.

I then thought about my last stint in the corporate world. I used to be really high-strung and emotional. I got affected with people having a problem with me or anything that had to do with me. Then I married my very laid-back and patient husband who has a job that has an average of two years turnover (that means people resign after two years) because of the stress and pressure and I learned so much from him. It’s always a wonder for me that Pao never gets on a serious tiff in the office even if he handles such gigantic responsibility. I'm working on learning that.

I thought about my old job in this I.T. Company, I got in because I was highly recommended by a friend and a past co-officer in PJMA back in our College days. Consequently, this friend became our boss in the department which was a major issue back then because he was young and was relatively new with new ideas.
Just like in any organization, those who rock the boat, who challenge the old system, are the first ones thrown out and fed to the sharks.

I got in on the wrong foot from the start because people didn’t really like this guy who recommended me. I guess by association and preconceived notion, it was an uphill for me from then to prove myself. It was a great first job, I loved my work and my responsibilities. Being a UP Orcom graduate, I lived for Client presentations. I loved coming up with new ways, sometimes more elaborate and even dramatic ways to present. I remember feeling so at ease with my work, how I was so trained for that line of job in my four years in college. I never had problems with my clients. But as much as I loved my job I remember being so stressed over the office politics and what people thought.

Being the snooty brat that I was back then, I kept asking myself why I was putting myself in that situation when I didn’t really need that job. Maybe it was an excuse for feeling so out of my zone for the first time in my life. I realized you can never win when you are up against people’s prejudice.

Now, looking back, all I can think of is goodness, how young I was. If only I knew then, what I know now, I would have made an effort to eschew myself from so much unnecessary dramas. Truth of the matter is: any organization will always be high school, no matter how many times you remind yourselves that you are adults.

There will always be people who will like you and will hate you no matter what. It’s the way of the world. I personally believe the only way you can know for sure if you should be concerned is through the quality of relationships you have with these people.

Are these people who hate you, your family or close friends? If yes, then something must be seriously wrong with you and a personality change is in order. But really, if these people who hate you are barely part of your world, people who you rarely talk with and only see through facebook, or pass by at work or through office meetings, or people you are required to work with …then it really shouldn’t matter.
Just deliver the goods the best way you can. What they think about you is really none of your business. Everything after all, is open for interpretation. As I always say, sometimes reality is relative. It depends on what angle you are looking at it.

Now, I rarely deal with these kinds of people in my line of work, one thing I love most about my business. Sure, I do get the occasional irate clients---this happens with Corporate accounts and bulk orders—no surprise there. But I learned not to take things personally, not to believe everything and just keep things light. I have learned to detach myself and my emotions and just do what I gotta do. I should be more sensitive now since my line of work is very personal, these are my own designs but ironically, I am more detached with the emotional aspect. Something that I worked on (and still working on) for the last few years.

I argue and compromise, I negotiate and disagree, I give in and stand my ground. But at the end of the day, it’s done and over with---I am back to MY world and those who I want to include in it.

Count your blessings and pay it forward

Saturday afternoon.



I'm loving my wedge sandals. I'm a bag girl and I don't care too much about shoes so I get attached with really nice and comfy ones that I wear to the ground. It's been a while since I last wore heels because of so much running around. I bought this months ago but just wore them this afternoon, after rediscovering this pair in my closet. I felt giddy with my "new" pair. They are really comfy. I walked on them the whole day and that included grocery shopping. Plus I think they are sweet.



I’ve been really happy the past few days for all the blessing that have been coming my way. I’m at a point where I like to stop once in a while, take a step back and wonder are these things really happening and just bask in these natural highs. I know everything can be better, but for now everything’s just lovely. I feel that the past month went full-steam ahead I had little time to process everything in. It was a series of activities, good surprises and new beginnings.
I am still processing everything and pondering my next step but the journey at this moment is lovely, just lovely.

I still miss my family, I still have a lot of things to do, to accomplish…but I think the better part of it all is knowing I’m on the right track. A life map has always been important to me ever since high school and I felt for a long while; I was pushing forward but not really knowing where I was going. Now I really feel I am in the right environment. I am doing what I love. And I am happy. For now, that is more than enough.

My funny (bag) crush

I saw this first at Chuvaness.

I find the Banane Taipei bags really cute and funny.

Hermes is Hermes, but I think I'm still young to appreciate it enough to really wish for one. Maybe when I'm older (and richer).


It's a parody of the iconic bag, cute and really humorous yet stylish in its own right. I want one!!! ♥
It's worth at least PhP4,000 and for a Canvass bag, That's a bit too much. Though I think this one is a must-have for bag hags and bag collectors just because.
I imagine it's the class clown to a group of serious overachievers in a bag hag's closet.


I want one in Midnight Magenta,just because it's the loudest color and I think is the least serious one. ;)

I just want to share this beautiful story my sister Hazel told me.

There is an ancient Native American story about an old Cherokee who told his grandson about the battle that goes on within us. "My son," he told him, "Inside every one of us dwells two wolves, one evil, one good. The evil one is angry and jealous, full of regret and arrogance, greed and sorrow, guilt and self-pity.
The other is good. He is kind and loving, full of hope and peace, joy and compassion."



The young boy thought about it for a moment. "Which wolf wins?" he asked his grandfather.

The old Cherokee smiled and simply replied, "...the one you feed."

My Name Is Now Officialy A Trade Name. =D

Charmed Life by Ysa Yason is now officially a registered Brand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Alice in Wonderland collection is back! Cameo pictures of Original Storybook illustrations from 1898 Alice in Wonderland edition and Peter Newell's in 1860.

Love, love Alice. ♥

Life of the party=Our Ressy

Ressy was the class clown, the life of the party back in College. The laughter in the room is just much louder whenever she's around. We need to hear that laughter again soon.

Res is the only girl in this world who can hug and kiss Pao in front of me yet I find it really cute and funny. That's her charm I guess, she can get away with so many things with sass and laughter.
She is in so many ways the glue of the OC class by just being friends with everyone. Res has always been the life of the party, and now even though she is still asleep, she's throwing a big one, bringing us all of her OC friends together. ;)

Wake up, Res. We miss your noise already.

Just a thought.

In friendships, there is really a big difference between Concern and Curiosity. The latter lacks sincerity.

And you can assess the quality of that friendship by knowing the distance of these two in your relationship.

Made me smile today ~♥

Charmed Life by Ysa Yason is featured in : Artsy Fartsy Ava

Read it HERE.
I love the write-up and the comments. ♥

Thanks, Ava =)

Also, I love how I always get awesome photos from Ral wearing my bracelets.

FINALLY!!!

All the contracts are signed!
Phew! I'm so excited! Goodbye Holidays, I am off to a busy month ahead!

WATCH OUT for a campaign of a major brand on January. ♥

The story behind the opaque emeralds

If I knew that this piece would create such stir among my best clients, I would have brought with me more. *Sigh.

I saw this piece along Canton road. It's so much pricier than my usual pieces and I debated for a while whether to get it or not. Opaque Emeralds are not as valuable as the polished deep green Emeralds. Just like Diamonds, the cloudier and the more inclusions they have, the less valuable the stones are. But they are pricier than the usual semi-precious stones.
As I was trying my best to haggle with the shopkeeper, I decided it is my birthstone and it is an investment piece. I would try selling it but since it will be more expensive, I didn't count on having any takers.

Now, I realllly regret not getting another strand.
Sometimes, I still get surprised having clients with a really good eye when it comes to crystals and stones. Three of my best clients who are collectors zeroed in on this piece even though I only included it in my New Stones Album without much hoohahs like the way I advertised my Ametrines.

I never get attached with my pieces, I do wear my best stones from time to time but right now, for the first time, I am a bit sad to let go of this piece!
*Sigh.


By the by, I am so happy to announce that Charmed Life by Ysa Yason is now offering the option to set your stones in real Gold plating.

Finally found a bit of some sane time to squeeze in a few thoughts here.

I've never been this busy, busy, busy ever! Even when I was in the Corporate world, it was never this busy.
That's mainly because I don't have the shut down button after work anymore. Sometimes, I wake up at 3 a.m. worrying about deadlines or exorbitant custom tax fees.

I've been running around since Tuesday and I'm not even halfway done. Sadly, we will just be dreaming again about a White Christmas (it snowed for the first time in Chicago yesterday--its officially winter), but this time it is all because of me.
I realized I have been more focused the past months with my designs, creating new stuff and expanding my shop that I neglected the legal aspect of growing a business.

Now, I am just catching up with my papers, permits, taxes and registrations and I've never been so happy to have a licensed accountant and soon-to-be lawyer as my sister-in-law. I am getting a crash course in business and other basic stuff that I must know. Good thing I had the hubby with me the last two days to help me wade through the BIR jungle and when my eyes glazed over the umpteenth form and contracts I had to sign.

My big accounts came in for Christmas and a Corporate account for the first quarter of the year. My two collections are sold out even with my resellers and consignees and tomorrow is signing of a big contract (fingers crossed). I am really tired, but thankful. I am praying with all might that this will prove to be all worth it. When a door closes, God opens a window.

In my case, the door was unceremoniously slammed shut, a big, big window flew open.

Meanwhile, in my other side of the world...

Spent time with my Yason family during our niece Pia's baptism. =)

Missed Thanksgiving (as usual!)

My beautiful family during Thanksgiving.




I'm so thankful for so many things in my life. One of them is having the most wonderful, beautiful family.
:) Happy Holidays everyone!

My thirteen-year-old brother's artwork was chosen to be a part of a State fair exhibit in Illinois.

***I am a proud ate!!! ♥ Good job, Kuya. <3

Our home away from home

Our place for the last 5 nights.




Loved the view from our room. :)