Who buys white boots anyway? They dirty easily, they are hard to pull off unless you’re beautiful and model like and have a rockstar attitude and have lots of frilly white or pastel dresses to go with it. Or if the white nubuck leather just really matches your skin tone.

Apparently I am the idiot who bought white boots on a whim. Wore it once in the summer with a dress…  and found it was too hot.

But these are one of the most comfy boots I’ve ever purchased. It was not super cheap but cheap enough to buy on a whim. Hence, the decision for the makeover.

THE DIY PART

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

- pair of white or light colored boots

- dark dye (got mine from ebay, its a canadian brand that has an office in NY)

- sponge brush

- lots of confidence in yourself

STEPS:

1. Do your research. What dye, what process? Zelikovitz Leather and Crafts has an extensive array of leather dye and so far, they sell the most affordable sets.

2. Decide on a color and purchase your dye online. Got mine from Ebay, and it arrived a week or so after ordering.

3. Make time to paint, daytime if possible. Decide on outdoors. we have a tiny closed in apartment but i had a small balcony.

4. Cover your area where you will paint with newspaper or towels. Prepare a place holder for the brush.

5. shake the bottle, mix if the color is stuck at the bottom. * (I actually made a mistake with this because I got so excited to paint, i did the first coat at 7pm after work on a Thursday. The color barely showing as a murky green tinge. It  was pretty much the excess water that gathered on top of the bottle that i used to paint)

6. Paint all areas, like you would any craft. A second coat will solidify the color. Give enough drying time in between coats for a better hold.

So far so good. Gonna do the top and inner parts another time. For now, I’ll let it dry out.

Stay tuned!

1. the host is cute but forgettable. he has no personality whatsoever. where is seacrest? lol
2. simon is still a douche… i might love him less now (bec he is no longer spot on – he disappointed me massively when he chose the two talentless black girls over melanie amaro and the girl with the one-million tattoos.)
3. i like nicole. i think she’s very pretty
4. connie francis has the money notes. too bad half the time her timing lags and goes out of tune
5. there were a bunch of really good and interesting musicians
6. the pacing of the show was just right, kept it very pro
7. i also have a love-hate relationship with LA reid. i applauded him for calling out simon for his talentless black girl picks, but sometimes he just namedrops too damn much. and his nose is in a perennial flare.
8. melanie amaro def deserved the win. the top 3 during this comp was right. i think this show , having so many age groups, got the teens bored that real people voted in. now, people arent voting for cuteness, they are voting talent.
9. i really like josh’s voice, but not to watch (he doesnt even dance!)
10. chris rene is probably gonna be an inspiration… to all rehab junkies out there. seriously, he’s ok but not THAT great. lots of the contestants were like that. They have their money moments, but not on point during the other moments within the song. Only Melanie was spot on, so she really deserved the win.

Glad/Disappointed they didnt show DROP MY PANTS dude. the disgusting one in silver.

Oh and leona lewis… i was rolling my eyes at her whole performance… her shaky voice schtick was NOT GOOD — i cannot count how many other artists are so much better than her and all her vocal affectations are stolen from other artists. (okay, so she was  successful with the very last run, so okay, fine. and she did look good with her green contacts. merry christmas byotch!)

Here’s to AI season 11! lol

top 10 things about sabang, palawan

10. we stayed at daluyon resort which is beautiful
9. super great locals
8. beach front room baby
7. im up at 6am everyday, no time wasted! must be the air (my cough is getting better too)
6. got a massage, better than manila
5. isolated beach with occasional dangerous marine life scare
4. food goooood, pinoy gourmet fusion
3. solar powered/ generator resort (ZCR)
2. underground river, new wonder of the world
1. longest zipline in the phils, woohoo

This year is horrid, but a very big plus is being able to travel and having the time to meet interesting new friends and sharing new ideas.

Spending 3 weeks in the Philippines, and I have a bucket list of things to do while I’m here.

1. Salon visit : haircut, mani-pedi, threading, underarm and bikini wax (these are done in several different places)

2. Massage

3. Dentist

4. Eye doctor (American Eye Center)

5. Get new glasses

6. Shopping for gifts

7. Shop for camping backpacks

8. See saguijo, cubao X and the cool new places

9. See all my friends

10.  Pavlova with the mean girls

11. Palawan!

12. Divisoria

13. Taho

14. Baguio

15. Pampanga with Mama Beth

16. Enroll in UPOU

17. Meet with MTT folks

18. Watch my best friend’s band

19. digitize all old photos, sort

20. digitize all beta VHS and Hi8 tapes

21. get custom presents, custom books done

22. get materials for crafts

23. Barong for Hubs – c/o auntie lou

24. amazing touch moles

25. Get DVDs of Bagets, Hotshots, Ninja Kids

26. Derma

27. Lechon

28. Pay for transcripts

Here we are. In about 2.5 hours i board the PAL flight to Manila, and will be reunited with the motherland once again.

Each time I travel back home (about every two years) , I always look up baggage allowance info, even though I kind of know it. I thought I’d post it here anyway:

checked in baggage:

(2) SUITCASE / BOX not exceeding 50 lbs each

carry on baggage:

(1) Small rolling bag not exceeding 15lbs

(1)  laptop bag or purse. jackets umbrellas are allowed as handcarried items that does not count as baggage.

Most people hate packing, and I decided to share my expertise in saving that precious luggage space:

So without further ado, here is

KITIWITI’S ULTIMATE LIST OF PACKING TIPS:

1. Remove bulky boxes and pack them together in a bag.

2. Space bag bulky items like blankets and yarns.. anything that is, well, bulky. (Sherl, you owe me! LOL)

3. Remove items from boxes when possible. Wrap them separately and place in different crevices.

4. Roll (not lay flat or fold) clothes and place in corners. These will prove useful when the bags go bumpbumpbump on conveyor belts.

5. All jewelry and electronics should go in the big carry-on. DO NOT PLACE THEM in pockets and keep them in your sight at all times. I’ve lost a jewelry case after my cousin helped me pack and put my box in the pocket of my checked in baggage, and a valuable necklace given by my grandma, as well.

***

As for what I am bringing, I have 1 checked-in luggage (a small one unfortunately) and 1 carryon. I packed most of the “padalas” (items my family & friend’s relatives have sent through me) and that’s pretty much all that can fit in my big suitcase. All 45lbs. LOL

I don’t have a second suitcase, but i am planning to ask my grandma, who is flying with me, to bring another small suitcase.

And despite my efforts in packing small and light, it looks like I am going to have to bring two checked bags, one carryon (with my computer/cameras) and one purse. Oh, well, c’est la vie, I really don’t mind bringing stuff for other people (they get even more excited to see me LOL!) . NOw, if only PAL didn’t have such strict rules on baggage allowances…

Happy packing, madder packers!

Kitiwiti