It's Probably Ashley: June 2017

I must confess: As someone who has trouble remembering what she had for breakfast, immortalizing my happy moments is quite important to me. Taking pictures is one of the fastest and most convenient ways for me to tuck away that lasting memory into a digital copy I can look back on at any time, so I shamelessly whip out my phone whenever I can.

And out of all the things I take pictures of, food is my most favorite subject. Just take a peek at my Instagram for Exhibit A.

There's something so gratifying about taking really good foodfies (I can't believe you had to look that term up) and it makes the eating experience so much more enjoyable knowing you've preserved that work of art in an online gallery for everyone else to see.

The problem is, sometimes what we see with our eyes don't translate well through the camera lens so we end up with horrible and off-putting photos that look like they belong in a place where the sun doesn't shine - you can forget about your #foodgasm and say goodbye to your #feedgoals!

So today I'm going to share some of the things I do to take foodfies worth sharing. I do hope you learn a thing or two from this post!

Use Natural Light

This is THE most important part of taking photos - without light, you have no image. You don't have to spend a single cent on good lighting; it's always best to use the light that's naturally available and accessible when taking your photos.

When you use natural light, your food won't be tinged in any weird hue and harsh shadows (unless that is your intention). Natural light will actually help make your food and setting more appetizing by enhancing its color.

Keep in mind the direction of the light and what it emphasizes in your shots, where the light hits and where it casts shadows. Considering all these elements will help put a story together in your photo and make your foodfie more interesting!

It's always best to use soft and diffused natural light when taking photos of food.

Choose Your Background Wisely

The background is just as important as the food itself, and I pay close attention to it as much as I can. A busy background could ruin the shot and take away the attention from the food.

The background should complement the subject and blend well with the overall theme.

You can play with contrasts and complementing colors, and even be a bit experimental with it! Just remember that there should be harmony between the background and the subject.

Color is Important

We eat with our eyes and if it's not obvious enough, color has such a huge impact on your overall composition, especially in food photography.

Color can greatly affect the feel of the image as a whole, and can be used to stir the viewer's emotions. Under-saturated photos will most likely make the food in your shot unappetizing and unappealing!

Similar with the background, you can also play with the color combinations that work best with the theme of your photo.

Get the Best Angle

Perspective is everything in photography no matter what the subject is, and food is no exception. Choosing the best angle will either make or break your shot!

I find that shooting from above is the best choice, simply because I think it simulates you looking at the food as if it were on a table in front of you. It also makes it easy for you to set up your composition, and is less likely to generate harsh shadows that will otherwise ruin the shot.

That being said I'm also fond of taking close-up pictures of food if there are tiny details I want to emphasize.

Bring the Right Tool for the Job

You're only as good as the gear you bring, but some cameras are no doubt better than others. You can't always bring a DSLR with you - it's wayyy too heavy and impractical! The best option by far is a camera phone - the Oppo #SelifieExpert series, to be exact!

And which OPPO #SelfieExpert smartphone is the best for foodies and is great for taking photos with their yummy meals? What better phone to take with you than the Oppo F3! Why?

Guys, IT HAS A 13MP REAR CAMERA. #shook

I've always, always found it difficult to shoot photos indoors because there's never enough light but with the Oppo F3 you won't ever have to worry about that! You can set the aperture to up to f/2.2 which means you can still take crisp, clear photos in low light. Amazing!

But what if it's that's not enough? Don't panic - the Oppo F3 has an Expert Mode.

That means you can use it like you would operate a DLSR, minus the extra weight! With these settings you can manually adjust and play around with the parameters to produce amazing shots that require little to no editing. For a lazy person like me, that counts as a plus!

Got unsteady hands? Feeling a little shaky because you're hungry but you haven't taken that perfect shot of your food yet? The Oppo F3's got your back with its Anti-shake 2.0 feature.

It's absolutely perfect because won't ever need a tripod to hold your phone steady as you take the perfect foodfie.

Worried about not getting all of the details in your shot? This wonder-phone even has an Ultra-HD feature, which lets you shoot in the highest definition possible.

Guaranteed to capture even the smallest salt granule on your fries, lol.

Combine all of these features together and you've got the most powerful weapon available to take the best foodfies and be the envy of all your Instagram followers! ;)

It even comes with an internal storage of 64GB with 4GB of RAM so you never have to run out of space when taking countless shots at every angle, and you don't have to sacrifice your phone performance either. If that's still not enough for you, the Oppo F3 also has a dedicated slot for your micro SD card, expandable up to 128GB. And if you're on a major food crawl, this phone WILL last you all day with its 3200mAh battery life.

If you'd like to learn more about the wonder that is the Oppo F3, visit their official website here.

Or if you're feeling lazy, here's a quick look at its other specs:

IDK about you, but I'm sold, lol. All of these features, all wrapped up in a pretty package that comes in either champagne gold or rose gold. I think I know what I want for Christmas!

Got any more tips for taking the best foodfies? Tell me how you're rocking the foodstagram game! Leave a comment down below and I'll see you next time!

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For the first time since I started working, I'm home on a Sunday. We're officially at the end of Ramadan for the year and everyone is celebrating Eid al-Fitr, and that means no offices for the First and Second day of Eid for most employees from private and government sectors. So far, so good, I'd say.

Since it's quite rare for all three of us to be home at the same time, we've all decided to head out later in the afternoon to get some sushi (finally!!). I may or may not post some pictures in my Instagram, but I'll definitely be posting Stories, at least.

reading random Wikipedia articles. I've put Maybe Someday aside in favor of more interesting reads, like the average color of the Universe, the Loneliest Whale (which, compared to Maybe Someday, is ACTUALLY sad), and the Stendhal Syndrome. YA and romance novels rarely ever manage to hold my attention so bear with me as I struggle to finish what I've started and probably post my thoughts on Twitter (if and) when I finally finish it.

listening to Top5s videos while I write this post, and also Emman's groans of frustration as he tries to finish Kingdom Hearts 2.8 on his PS4. I think he's on the last boss but I'm not really sure. I gave Kingdom Hearts 1 a shot back when I was in high school but I never got to finish it because school work, lol.

watching some old episodes of Archer with Jed. I really love this series and its humor - one of the many things my boyfriend and I bonded through. Going back to older episodes is never boring with this series. We actually didn't realize that we've already reached the end of Season 8 until we looked up the episode list online. So now we're back to the lull of waiting for the new season to come, with the earlier seasons to stave us off until it gets released.

thinking if I should get an even shorter haircut. I finally had my hair chopped off two days ago after months of convincing myself that I could still rehabilitate my hair, but I eventually had to admit that there's no coming back from all the perming, bleaching, and coloring I've done with it. There's no glorious ressurection, no raising it back from the dead; I've throttled the life out of my hair and I have no regrets.

smelling the adobo that my flatmates are cooking in the kitchen. That's the thing about living in a small space, everything travels fast - especially the whiffs of whatever people are cooking, whether we liked it or not.

wishing perpetually for cooler weather, lol. I'm so turnt for winter, I can't even.

hoping the malls aren't as cramped today. I actually would like to stretch my legs and walk around, for once.

wearing an oversized shirt and some shorts. I'm as low-maintenance as it gets. I'll be switching to my usual pants-shirt-boots combo later when we head out for dinner, tho.

loving the Nivea Men Aftershave Balm in Sensitive, which I use as a primer. I've seen this all over the internet since last year and I'm sure you're aware of this product as well. I've been meaning to get it ever since I saw the reviews but since it wasn't available in the Philippines my only choice at the time was to purchase it online. I put it off until I got here in Dubai, where I saw that it's a common item on the personal care shelves so of course I had to get one for myself! I really like how it keeps my make up in place, it's not at all heavy on the skin, and it's dirt cheap!

wanting to finally satisfy my salmon sashimi craving, lol. I can't wait to pig out on plates and plates of sushi and sashimi later!

needing a new purse, probably. And also I think I need to revamp my blog theme again, but the daunting task of fiddling with the CSS is not at all appealing.

feeling pretty chipper and positive lately. I do miss traveling though, and I know it's going to be a while before Jed and I can get back on track with our travel list but I'm very optimistic that we'll get to that quite soon.

Eid Mubarak, everyone!

• The Sunday Currently was originally created by Sidda Thornton •

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They told you to follow your heart and so you did exactly that. So when your friends start telling you to prepare for the storm you knit your brows and ask them what it meant.

You think you hit the storm when you start dating him. It was a slow spin at first, the same way the wind waltzes in a gentle haze as he takes you out for coffee every other afternoon and holds your hand as you walk, picking up speed as you count the roses he sends you, before it hits a crescendo, mirroring that tempest in your heart as his kisses sweep you off your feet and into the gray sky.

And you think you know what you’re getting into, as you muffle the voices in your head that sound oddly like your best friends’, telling you to get out while you still can.

So when the real storm hits you’re caught completely unprepared and off-guard and, ironically, almost mockingly, it starts out the same way. It was a slow but steady tempo in your chest as he starts keeping his phone close by, his face causally wary as you occasionally peek at the screen, when he suddenly has to work weekends and no, he can’t make it to dinner tonight, he’s got plans and you don’t have to wait up. And it builds rhythm as your friends keep telling you what they’ve always told you – to stay away because this is going to be messy, but you stay anyway.

The climax hits when he stops answering your calls and ignores your texts and you realize it’s been weeks since you last saw each other and who’s that girl he’s with on Facebook?

You feel the ground tremble as thunder claps and as he dodges your attempts to make it work with his ‘It’s not you; it’s me’ bullshit and he’s ‘just not ready for a commitment yet’. He’ll tell you that you’ve changed, that he’s looking for something else, and how everything just feels too perfect with you. And he just like the storm he leaves you among the wreckage and rubble, nothing more than discarded bits and pieces of what you used to be.

And you blame yourself because ‘How could you be so stupid?’ your friends chime at you over the countless bottles of wine you’ve consumed, the unavoidable end result of your soiree. You couldn’t hear anything else over the thump of the speakers in the club and the empty chatter ringing your ears, and numbly you ask yourself why did you allow yourself to be so stupid?

(You’ve gone through how many bottles already? Was it just your mind playing tricks on you, the same way his words obscured your sense of reason and dampened your better judgment?)

You find yourself thinking up scenarios, the could-haves and the should-haves, wondering what would have happened if things went a different way. Maybe if you had been a little wilder, a little less reserved, or if you had worn less make up. Maybe, maybe, he would have stayed. You could spend forever counting all the maybes because it’s all you have left, while he’s running around with another girl no wiser than you, gearing up to stir another tumult while uncaringly leaving a debris of broken hearts in his wake.

You can be any of these, but whatever you do, don’t ever blame yourself. For inasmuch as it was your choice to ride with the storm, it was his choice to leave you in pieces. Remember that it was his choice to break your heart and waste your trust, that it was his choice to be blind to your worth.

Don’t ever blame yourself for believing in love, for giving the relationship, and him, a chance.

So when you find yourself crossing paths and all you want to do is to avoid eye contact and go the other way, I want you to do the exact opposite. Stand straight, hold your head high and look at him dead in the eye as you walk by. Let him know he didn’t break you completely (and he tried, oh he tried). Let him know that you’re stronger than he or you thought. Let him know that you’re being the bigger person here, because you still have a shot at happiness while he continues his empty existence endlessly chasing skirts.

Don’t ever blame yourself, because they told you to follow your heart and so you did exactly that.

This is an experimental piece I decided to put up. I was thinking of changing writing styles but it proved to be much more challenging than I thought. I'm not sure how to feel about the end result though.

How do you like it?

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Wait, what? A recognition award? Aww shucks! You shouldn't have~! I didn't even get to prepare an acceptance speech!

Loljk - I was just having fun. But I'm seriously quite flattered I got nominated for this award! To me, this is just an incentive to push even harder and improve myself and this blog. ♥

If you're not already familiar with the concept, the Blogger Recognition award is just an "award" given to a blogger by another blogger to appreciate and recognize all the hard word that we all put into publishing new content and keeping our websites fresh and updated. Blogging takes quite a bit of work and this is just a small way of showing our fellow bloggers that we all see the effort they put into their little corners of the internet.

How did I get the award?

I was nominated by World of Nabeeda. I'd like to thank her for checking out my blog and seeing that it's worth nominating! Nabeeda's blog is filled with her life experiences and the lessons that come her way - it's definitely worth checking out! She also has a series called Ramadan Diaries, which details her musings during this holy month of prayer. Go ahead and click on her blog link to check out more of her posts!

How did my blog start?

I must admit the little morsel of detail I left in my About page leaves a lot to be desired, and I can't blame you. I started this blog years(ssss) ago primarily because I wanted to improve on my writing skills, and my Languages professor at the time suggested this as an alternative to writing by hand. Though I got the general gist, I still wasn't sure what to write about so back then my blog posts were about completely random and insignificant things. It wasn't until I was halfway through my college years when some people started contacting me about writing for them and using my blog to advertise, which I happily accepted. Since then I've been to a few events, traveled to a few places and met new people, wrote for a few products and ads, and even got a writing gig for two magazines for a time. Blogging took me places and, while it wasn't on a larger scale like some of our more well-known bloggers/influencers, I'm quite grateful I was able to experience these things and more.

Advice for new bloggers:

I'm not really sure I'm the right person to dish out advice, just because I think I'm not qualified for it. But since you asked me:

Always write about things that matter to you. Ever tried to write about something you're not interested in? Takes too much time and effort, yeah? When you finish your piece, do you feel accomplished, or do you feel relieved that you're finally done? When you write about things that you're actually interested in, not only do the words come naturally to you but you're also painting the tone of the entire article. You may not notice it but your readers will pick up on whether what you're writing about is something you believe in or care about. The way to a reader's heart is to show them what you're passionate about. Writing - and blogging - doesn't have to be a chore.

There's nothing wrong about doing things for the followers but above all, do things for you. Never forget that you're the most important aspect of your blog! Travel if you need clarity, go out with your friends if you need a laugh, take breaks when you need to rest, and don't be afraid to write about what makes you happy.

Since this is all about passing the award on, here are my nominations:

D'Bacon by Duane Bacon - Cosplayer-turned-lifestyle blogger. His posts are unique and refreshing! He's been in the scene longer than I have, and I'm pleased to see how far he's come.
Hear the Magic by Rebecca Cahill - Rebecca is a special needs teacher who hosts an author site. She blogs about writing tips for aspiring authors, her experience on being published, and does book reviews on another blog, The Page Unbound. She's currently hosting a giveaway, so please check out her website if you're interested!
A E S T H E T I C by Angge De Castro - This quirky 16 year-old blogs mostly about her life experiences, but she throws in some reviews here and there. I love her minimalistic theme!
Pau Pursues Passion by Pau Castillo - Exactly what is says on the tin, this blog is all about Pau's pursuit of passion and her adventures in the real world. She has also published her own novel called Between Two Worlds, and is currently up and about chasing one dream after another.
The Nevermind Blog by Manahil and Laiba Shafiq - A beauty, make up, and fashion blog run by two sisters from Pakistan. I love how they incorporate their culture and heritage in their fashion posts and give it a modern and trendy flair, and their make up tips are simple and easy to follow.
Pastel Scales by Patricia - This blog, much like its author, is dreamy and creative. It chronicles the author's life as she travels, takes on beauty reviews, and her journey to rediscovering herself.
Keunggulan Wanita by Halimah Muhiden - I'd consider this a life blog since her posts are a combination of health, lifestyle, beauty, make up, food, and recipes - and even tips on motherhood! Her posts are in Malaysian but trusty Google Translate can help you read her blog.
Emm Travel Adventures by Mohit Anand - Your typical travel-adventure blog, but from the eyes of someone who really wants to immerse themselves with the culture. His photos and narratives of the places he's been to will make you feel like you've been there yourself.
Rachell by Rachell Ho - A beauty and lifestyle blog run by Rachell, who also makes restaurant and product reviews from time to time. I also love how clean and responsive her blog layout is!
Your Veg Recipe by Paritosh and Monica Mehta - The lovechild of a vegetarian foodie couple, Paritosh and Monica regularly post new tasty vegetarian recipes for everyone to enjoy. Their posts are organized by categories to make it easier for their readers to navigate, and they also have a segment called "What's in your fridge?" that helps you figure out what to cook by simply putting in the ingredients you have in your fridge. Isn't that nifty or what?? Definitely a blog I'll be checking back!
KelsieColette.com - A beauty, lifestyle, and inspiration blog run by the website's namesake Kelsie. This blog was born out of Kelsie's desire to empower women, and contains honest and in-depth product reviews, as well as providing useful swatches for women of color, and easy-to-follow make up tips for beginners.
Awaiting Disaster by Elle Evangelista - The personal blog of a published writer and event organizer. This blog offers a window into her mind as she records her musings and daily life.
Belong, Believe, and Become! by Val Papauran - It's notable that Val's motto is "Better late than never", and I think she's taken it to heart quite well! Her blog is mostly about her experiences from moving to another country to join her partner, to solely expressing her thoughts and ideals. She also made posts on her experience in getting a Netherlands Visa, getting TESDA accreditation, and her Civil Interrogation Exam ordeal, which I think is pretty commendable!
Confessions of an Undertaker by Peter - Definitely not a blog you see every day! Peter works as a embalmer and hopes that his blog will shed some light into this dark and mysterious profession. His extensive experience in the funeral industry shows in the blog, from the technicalities of post-mortem photography to anecdotes of his life working with the dead.
IAmDanElson.com - One more travel blogger who hopes to inspire his readers to pack up and see the world. Dan's goal is not just to help others to explore, experience and enjoy more of what life has to offer through long term travel, but to also help you save and make money for travel.

All these lovely blogs have put so much effort into writing about what matters to them, and they deserve the recognition! Congratulations!

Here's what you need to do now:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated and provide the link to the post you created.

Thanks again to Nabeeda for nominating me!

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So here we are at the 3rd week of June - we're 3 months and a few weeks into our life in Dubai and I'm happy to report that we're slowly getting our rhythm down pat. There are minor lapses here and there (like forgetting to do the groceries), but overall I'm quite happy we've got a budding system in the works. For someone like me who thrives in having (some sort of semblance of) order and routine in their lives, this is somewhat a big deal.

At the moment I'm looking forward to the end of Ramadan, mostly because I think it's time I come back to my old schedule; I feel like that schedule has the most structure and that I get a lot more accomplished.

And also because of the Eid sales.

reading Maybe Someday, still. I dunno, guys. I've already lost interest halfway through the first page of the book, and I'm now procrastinating on reading it. I really want to finish it but I just find the writing style... awkward? And a little trying hard? I find myself involuntarily rolling my eyes at Sydney's internal monologue. But I'll power through and let you know.

listening to some power ballads while I render the catalogues. It felt appropriate.

watching Gabriel Iglesias's bits on YouTube. This is something Jed and I do while winding down for the day; a few laughs gets you places, especially after a long (hot) day at work.

thinking of moving to Wordpress. Don't get me wrong - Blogger's wonderful with its easy-to-customize-and-personalize layout for one thing, and it's made everything so easy for me when I was starting out. I've stuck with it through my years of (sporadic) blogging, but I kind of feel like the community is dead. Back in the day everyone used to be so active, and you could really feel the presence of the other bloggers. Now there's a tangible dead silence up and about, and I'm not sure for how long it's been around, or if it's permanent. I hope not. What I'd really like is more engagement with other bloggers, and I feel like I won't find it here anytime soon.

smelling the Jasmine incense wafting into our room from downstairs. People here are big on that, and I'm not complaining. I rather like Jasmine.

wishing I'll finally find the time to head to that Japanese Iftar buffet in Burjuman Mall! Jed found this nifty conveyor belt sushi place by the mall and I've been raring to go ever since. (Because yes I'm still pissed that Sakae Sushi closed up their PH branches before I could go back for one last binge. Ugh!)

hoping I could find the time to go shop for new stuff this week. My mother's been pressing me to get an umbrella for myself for weeks now, and I honestly couldn't be bothered. I don't mind the heat, I'm relying on sunblock for now, and I hate going to the store because it's going to be packed for sure. Maaaaybe on Friday? *shrugs*

wearing my cable knit sweater. The A/C's thermostat is whacked, and the office is now uncharacteristically cold. Normally I don't get bothered by really low temperatures (I live for the cold weather) but I need to keep myself warm or I won't be able to even grip the mouse properly.

loving the new fabric conditioner that Emman got for us. You can actually hear me purr whenever I'm putting away our freshly-laundered clothes because I'm so in love with the scent.

wanting a new phone case. Something more heavy-duty, I think. And I'd rather get something that has a built-in stand for my phone so I won't have to get those ring holders. They're pretty bulky and I hate not being able to put my phone in my pocket because of it.

needing some sort of activity to get my heart rate up. Go figure.

feeling pretty chill at the moment. I just finished my tasks for the week and I'm now actively looking for something to keep me busy in the office.

So I'm just about to get my card, which is such a Bad Idea because I'll now be equipped to make online purchases. Giving me a card is like handing me a dangerous weapon and I know how to use it lol.

Lucky I've got Jed to keep me in check - but not before I can do a major haul from one of my favorite online make up stores! Once I receive my items I'll do a make up and skin care loot/haul post. See you then!