creed love

My darling beau is sooooo cute!

Last Saturday, we were in Rustan's Makati and found ourselves in the middle of the perfume section. We did our usual duck-and-avoid stance to get away from the various perfume salespeople waving their spray bottles in our faces.

However, in the midst of our duck-and-avoid dance, we noticed a new area in the perfume section-- the House of Creed. One of Creed's salesmen was too quick for us and held out a sample for Dennis to sniff.

Now, my darling beau ain't the fancy type of guy who has to use a certain branded perfume or have certain branded clothing and shoes... He's the if-it-works-and-is-priced-reasonably-then-maybe-I'll-buy-it type of guy. Which is why I was surprised when he actually took the sample and paused. He handed it to me as if to tell me to smell it....

And hey hey hey, it smells quite good!

Milismie Imperial is what caught my darling beau's and my attention. It has that nice, fresh, clean scent with refreshing marine and musk notes. Presented in a special “Antique Gold” glass bottle and with the added plus that it's unisex, my darling beau was actually tempted!



The price was a LOT to ask though, even if it's parfum... So, my darling beau graciously put it back on the display and calmly told the salesman he'll think about it.

...still, it's a feat bigger than the average perfume salesman has ever achieved with my boyfriend! Mr Creed Salesman should be proud of himself. Hehehe :)

shopping abstinence

Given my recent splurges, I've decided to take a shopping abstinence, a.k.a. a purchase ban.. on clothes, shoes, bags, accessories... anything fashion-related that I have NO need whatsoever for.

And this time, I'll stick to the real definition of "need." Not the self-justifying kind that wraps "want" under the guise of "need", especially when presented with a "good buy" (which for the time being is erased from my vocabulary)

Lord help me and give me strength!

:p

Wish me luck! Happy weekend!

HP7!!!!!

Bought the final book of the Harry Potter series last Saturday and was so excited I had to sit down in the coffee shop inside Powerbooks Greenbelt so I can immediately start reading HP7. Good thing my darling beau was also a book lover and didn't mind grabbing a book from one of Powerbooks' shelves and sharing a mug of coffee with me as I devoured the first twelve chapters of HP7 in one sitting.

Finally, by the next evening, I've finished the last chapter and read the epilogue of this wildly anticipated book and.... WOW! I loved loved loved loved it! Don't want to ruin it for anyone else out there who's still reading the book, but all I can say is JK Rowling definitely did not disappoint. And all those malicious people out there that released those false "reviews" and "spoilers" can go stuff themselves. None of their predictions turned out to be true. So, fellow fans out there, don't worry, your reading pleasure as you go through HP7 is intact :-) Happy reading!

london, baby!

I loved London!

Ok, let's start from the awful beginning. When I arrived in Heathrow (all by myself, I may add), I was so tired that instead of figuring out the cheapest way to get to the hotel, I opted for a chauffeured service instead. Had I stopped and gave it a moment's thought, I would've figured out that the hotel is only a subway stop away. Anyway, the service driver is now 32 pounds richer because of me. What a rip-off. Shit.

Anyway, after that, I met up with my colleague Gayle and we spent the next two days feverishly working to make the show as successful as possible. Given there's only two of us when usually we'd have at least a 5-person team, we divided tasks between the two of us to be able to cover as much ground as possible. Still a little jetlagged, I navigated the streets of Hounslow all the way to Central London all by myself. At first, I got a little lost... Ok, a lot lost. I remember calling Dennis all upset, swearing off London and telling him about how exhausted and hopelessly lost I was. After he calmed me down, I decided to save time and just shamelessly ask bystanders for directions. At the end of the day, I accomplished all my tasks, with a little time to spare to explore a bit of central London. All thanks to the London Underground-- the highly efficient underground transport system without whom I wouldn't have survived and in whose debt I will forever remain.




The show then took up the next 2 days of our trip, with each day ending with the two of us shlumped on the bed, unable to move and hopelessly hungry and thirsty. Because a bottle of mineral water costs 2.50 pounds in London, we reluctantly shared 1 bottle over the two days. Result of which is two very thirsty and very cranky girls.

We then had two days (well, 1.5 technically since the second day is when we fly out) all to ourselves. We then decided to make those two days count like anything. So, we went all around town, went to all the sites. I loved loved loved loved Central London! The architectural sites are just too beautiful to take in all at once.



We went to all the must-sees and ate hearty Chinese meals at Chinatown (hehe, sorry, you can take the girl outta China but...) On our last night, we watched the musical Mamma Mia, with Epy Quizon and Dong our friendly Pinoy tour guide. Mamma Mia ROCKED! I loved it! Couldn't stop singing the songs with Gayle all the way back to our hotel..

The final day we were in London was spent feverishly going through all the shopping sites naman. As I said before, it was right timing that we were in London (or bad timing, depending on your perspective) because the whole of Central London was on sale! It's their annual July sale! We went to Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Piccadilly Circus. We also made some time to pass by Oxford Street, where I went to Selfridges and Topshop while Gayle went off to look for her dad's and brother's pasalubongs.

Loved London! Can't wait to go back :-)

... where I don't feel like going back to right now is WORK. THE OFFICE. Hay, how I wish I can just travel for a living :-p

This weekend has a lot of good things in store, though. ---
1. HP7 book is finally out tomorrow! Can't wait to crack it open and start reading.
2. Darling Beau and I are celebrating his birthday tomorrow night, since I was in London on his birthday.
3. My cousin and her hubby are visiting from Canada. Will get to spend some time with them before they leave for Japan.

That's it! Happy weekend, folks!

going home!

I'm now back at the Emirates lounge in the Dubai airport, waiting for my flight to Manila to board. How was my trip, you ask? I don't want to get into the work part of it right now as I'm trying real hard to forget it (hehehehe), but the personal part of the trip was, contrary to my expectation, FABULOUS!!

I not only had enough time to see some of the best sites in London (i.e. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, etc)., I also happened to be in London right when the entire place is having one big massive sale! London shopping, which is otherwise totally unattainable (with the astonishing P92 to 1 pound exchange rate we have), suddenly became affordable! I even found myself at Harrod's yesterday! Beautiful stroke of luck!

Riding the Underground all around town, taking the bus, taking in all the beautiful sites, going around and doing a bit of shopping = one hella fun London trip! Loved it! :-)

If only I won't have to go back to work right away....

Hehehe..

That's it for now! Let you know more when I get back!

en route to london

Here I am at the Emirates Business Class Lounge at the Dubai International Airport, enduring the 4 and a half hour wait for my connecting flight from DXB to Heathrow International. As is obvious, I'm in en route to London today, given the fact that my VISA was hastily approved and delivered yesterday morning. Sucks, really, as I was actually looking forward to NOT going. Didn't want to miss my darling beau's 28th birthday on Tuesday, and didn't want to endure two 20+ hour flights just to be in the UK for a grand total of 4.5 days. Arg. Adding to my misery is my cheap-ass 6131 phone breaking down on me a few hours before my scheduled departure last night. I dropped it in my haste to get to the bank before it closed, and since dropping and spilling its battery and guts out, my stupid phone refuses to turn back on. All the contacts that I need are in there! Arg again.

Oh well. Might as well try to hold my chin up and enjoy this trip as much as I can. What else can I do anyway? I'm already here...

Hay... Will blog again when I return next Thursday. See you guys!

UK

I should be excited to be sent to London for work, really. But the combination of PMS, the stress of having so much work to do, the pressure of proving myself to upper management, and the overall fatigue I still haven't gotten over since my last trip, just takes out the excitement about the entire thing.

Add the fact that I'll only be there for 4 nights, with 3 out of those four filled with back-to-back work, plus the fact that our per diems rarely cover the cost of 2 meals a day, I'm finding it quite hard to look forward to this UK trip. If only it was at least for a week, and I'm allowed to extend, and I have enough money to actually go around town (oh, and take out the high-alert status now of the entire country due to those terrorist attempts), I'd be more than raring to go board my Emirates flight on Thursday.

But at this point, the way I see it, this trip will do nothing more than add to my lack-of-sleep quotient + cause me jet-lag to death + bloat my monthly budget + let me come home to even more work waiting for me.

Sounds like tons of fun, eh????

a spa treat and a celebration

My darling beau treated me to a spa day, after hearing my complaints day in and day out of sore calves and an aching back. One of the pitfalls of going on long vacations is that you usually abuse your body with the lack of sleep and lots of walking, and you end up with a really bruised, acutely aching body when you return.

So, anyway, given my rants about this, my darling beau decided to rescue me and take me to a luxurious pampering session at Suriya Spa. Aaaaaah.... Every stroke of the masseuse was heavenly! I loved loved loved loved it!

After spa-ing, the question then was... what now? Since I've sworn off shopping for the next few months and since we've already seen Transformers last night and a second viewing today was a little challenging to do given the hordes of people that reserved tickets online and were lined up at the theater, we decided to have a really long dinner instead, to celebrate my recent promotion. We headed off to Chef Laudico's at the Fort, where we ended up staying for about three hours.. relishing every bite and talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company all night long...

I loved Chef Laudico's! The adobo with foie gras and the prawns with the laing tempura were oh-so-tasty! Loved them soooo much! Dennis' eyes kept rolling upward with every bite of the foie gras, hee hee. The ubod spring roll with the vinegar sorbet was also very good-- totally worth the price! The ambience tonight was also perfect, because there were very few diners. The waiters were also at their most attentive and the place was so conducive to intimate talks and the occasional loud guffaws of laughter that usually accompany any conversation held by myself and my beau ;)

All in all, 'twas a simple day. Yet, in so many ways, 'twas also the most perfect of days. :)

reunited!

Reunited with my darling luggage, FINALLY!!!! Yeah!!!

I was so excited to get them, I really didn't mind the hassle of going to the airport, going through security, and picking them up at the Interline Baggage room, which is just a big empty warehouse where delayed, damaged and unclaimed luggage is stored.

As soon as I got home, I eagerly opened both bags and sighed a HUGE sigh of relief to see that everything is on tip-top shape. I thought it would be anti-climactic to go through the spoils of my trip 1.5-weeks upon arrival, but seeing all the stuff in there quickly reminded me of my sweet vacation... and then all my annoyance at United Airlines disappeared into thin air...

:-)

YAY!

to the god of lost luggages...

Please send my two luggages back to me. I've invested so much in the goods lying therein, and I would really really appreciate it if you can send them to my delivery address.

PLEASE! It's been a week already!!!

7 random things about moi...

Tagged by Kaye :-)

1) I have very slow reflexes. Whether it's catching things in time or dodging things that flying in my direction, my limbs somehow suffer from an invariable lag from the time my brain sends signals for them to move. I don't know why, but I've always been like this. It may be why I make for a very lousy driver.

2) I rarely have a hard time sleeping. There are some people who experience the namamahay syndrome, but I'm definitely not one of them. I can sleep easily in new places, like hotel rooms, and I have no problems sleeping in moving vehicles and airplanes.

3) I tap my fingers on the table when I'm thinking of something to type.

4) I took piano and voice lessons as a kid.... to no avail....

5) I don't know how to play chess.

6) I have a certain procedure when getting ready in the morning. Any disruption or change in the order in which I do my "brush teeth, wash face, step into shower, get dressed, put on contacts, put on moisturizer, put on shoes, get bag together, and dry hair" routine causes me to get confused, leave things out/behind and get in a really really foul mood.

7) I rarely oversleep. And I hardly need an alarm. If I tell myself the night before that I need to wake up by a certain time, almost always, my own body clock wakes me up in time.

I'm tagging... everyone who hasn't done this yet :-)

trip recap!

OK, I really think I'm getting old. I never used to get jetlag before. EVER. No matter what time zone difference I go through, I always hit the ground running on local time. It's always been this easy (snaps fingers) for me to adapt to my new location. My dad had always said I'm lucky to have this kind of system.

But, alas, I think age has gotten the better of me. Not only did I suffer from slight jetlag when I arrived in Canada two weeks ago, I am also undergoing enormous jetlag now that I'm back home. Why else will I be blogging at freakin' 5 o'clock in the morning?! Anyhow, since I'm up anyway, I figure I'll just make a recap of the US/Canada trip that was:

1. Canada-
I was just in Vancouver and Toronto three years ago, and not much has really changed. So, when I was in Vancouver, Lianne and I decided to go to Whistler, which is about 3 hours away from Vancouver, since I've already seen most of Vancouver already anyway. And, my uncle and aunt took us to Seattle too, which is about three hours from Richmond, BC, since I've also seen Richmond the last time I was there. So pretty much, I was only in Vancouver to sleep and eat. Hehehehe. Oh, speaking of eating, since we have so many relatives there and my parents have so many friends, we ate BIG lunches and dinners the whole 4 days we were there. I'm scared to even look at the scale now... It was so nice to catch up with Li, though, and see how her new life is, post-accident, and meet her boyfriend. I'm just soooo enormously proud of her, for being so strong, for being such a great sister and a great daughter. I don't know if I can handle the same situation with as much strength, as much faith and as much humor as she does. I love her :-)

As for Toronto, when I arrived, preparations for my cousin's wedding were in full swing. Since it's fairly uncommon to have a wedding planner in Toronto, the maid of honor and I took on majority of the tasks, with the best man and my other cousins taking up the rest. In spite of that, I still managed to sneak in a few hours of shopping (woohoo! More on that later) here and there.

The wedding went so well! Save for a few bloopers, the program went smoothly. Oh, and save for my mom's injured toe too, which is a really long story to tell. Suffice it to say that her big toe is gonna be MIA for a while.

Met some new friends too in Toronto while I was there, as well as reacquainted myself with relatives I rarely keep in touch with. :-) Twas really nice.

2. Boston-
So, after the wedding, my parents and I parted ways as they went off to NJ while I went to Boston to visit my friend Karen, who's taking her MBA at Harvard. She toured me around her campus, showed me the main hangout places, and basically gave me a little orientation of her life there as a Harvardian (don't know if they call themselves that but that's what I call them, hehehe). Harvard is a beautiful campus and looks like a really tough institution to enter and to go through, but, as nice as it is, I doubt MBA is for me. I considered it before, and I think this trip has definitely led me to the conclusion that further studies just isn't my cup of tea. Just looking at her pile of readings makes me wanna puke. Hahaha!

Oh,and I got to meet her German boyfriend too, as well as some of his friends. A good mix of people from various nationalities and backgrounds. I guess that's one of the good parts of MBA school, should one decide to go that route. You get a vast network of people from a vast array of industries, nationalities, skill sets and personalities. You draw wisdom not just from the academics but from your social life as well. And in most instances, people can teach you way better than any book or reading ever can.

Also got to meet up with an old college friend of mine, Gen, and her boyfriend Reagan. They took me around downtown Boston, my favorite of which is Newbury Street! It's such a quaint little street at the surface, but when you look closely, it's full of little cafes, interesting restaurants and a peppering of vintage stores, ultra-designer couture shops and little boutiques of clothes, makeup, home accessories and shoes! Loved it!

Karen and I also went outlet shopping on my last day in Boston. Haha, such a quintessential US-trip activity-- outlet shopping. Our original plan was to go to the mega huge outlet in NY but, since Boston was such a small town, I already toured it in 1 day and knowing how NYC is such a big big place that outlet shopping there would be a waste of time, we decided to hie off to Wrentham Premium Outlets on my final day in Boston. Spent more than I should have yet again, but had tons of fun anyway.

3. NYC-
Definitely one of the best cities in the world! No other place is ever so full of life, so full of activity and so full of different things and people, it's like the whole planet condensed into a little place called Manhattan. Granted, things were very expensive (at least 200% more than Manila prices) but hey, the experience is worth it! Our hotel, firstly, did not disappoint. The bed was so comfy, we slept like babies on both nights we were there. The service was also good so I don't regret paying $200/night.

We also went on a foodfest while we were there. Iron Chef aficionados would be familiar with Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and Chef Nobu's, well, Nobu Restaurant. Karen and I looooved both dining experiences! Iron Chefs do live up to the hype after all :p After that, we took the Sex and the City tour, which is my favorite tour to take, as it takes you to all the sights of Manhattan yet with that special SATC flavor added to it all.

We also went shopping (any of you surprised at this point?!) all around Soho, 5th avenue and Lower Manhattan. Again, spent more than I should've, but really, I got two pairs of Tod's shoes for about $200 each-- if that's not a bargain, I don't know what is. Though, speaking of shoes, I do admit I may have gone just a tad overboard with the shoe shopping, coz my shoe-purchase summary totals to 10! Can you believe it?! I bought 10 pairs over a 14-day period. Waah! Ouch goes my credit card bill.

Of course, no NYC experience is complete without catching a Broadway musical. We watched Avenue Q on our last night in NYC and it was FANTASTIC! No exaggeration here. I can so understand why they won that Tony award. It's definitely as they describe it-- Sesame Street for adults. But the play is so full of insights about 20-somethings (so people such as ourselves can definitely relate!), their struggles on jump-starting their life, their doubts on the right and wrong turns to take, their initial forays into true love and the struggles with money and how to have enough of it. I loved it so much I bought the CD. The music is just so phenomenal! I wish they'd stage it here in Manila...

Oh, and got to see my cousin Ann too, who just got married. Loved seeing her again, catching up and sharing good good food together :-)

4. Home sweet home-
Just when the trip wrapped up and I thought I'd be on a smooth way back home, it turns out fate had different plans for me. To start this last part of my story, I'd have to first explain my route to Manila. From NYC, I'm supposed to take a NYC-Chicago flight at 3pm, arriving in Chicago at 4:30pm, in time to take a 5:10 Chicago-SFO flight, which arrives in SFO at 8pm, in time for my 10:30pm PAL flight back to Manila. Granted, the timelines are kinda tight, but my travel agent assured me over and over again that she's had millions of clients take this route without a hitch, and United Airlines (for all the domestic trips mentioned above) also reassured me that the route is safe to take, I took their word/s for it.

So, I boarded the NYC-Chicago flight at 2:50pm. I breathed a sigh of relief, maybe I was overworried for no reason. It's early! And I was so tired from my 14-day trip that I fell asleep as soon as I took my seat. Two hours later, I woke up from my nap. I thought to myself, hey, this looks way too familiar...

Wait...

WE HAVEN'T FREAKIN' LEFT YET!

It's 5pm already!

OH MY FUCK!

After finding out that the reason we haven't moved an inch is because of bad weather at Chicago, I resorted to the last option I had at the time-- PRAYER. I told the Lord that my fate is in His hands, and if He means for me to arrive in Manila at the originally-planned time and date, He'll figure out a way to get me there. Divine intervention, please come! And please hurry!

So, finally, at 5:15, the flight took off. I arrived in Chicago at about 6:15pm. As soon as I deplaned, I saw on the board that there's a 6:30pm flight to SFO, after which the next flight leaves at 8:45pm-- way too late to make my PAL flight. I had no choice but to make it to the 6:30!

So I ran all the way to gate 62, coming from gate 69. Note that Chicago O' Hare airport is HUGE, and my physical fitness isn't very.. well, fit. So, panting, I asked oh-so-nicely the gate attendant if I could possibly switch my 5pm boarding pass to the 6:30. The blondie stared at me blankly and said, "For all rebookings, please go to Customer service over at Gate 52."

WHAT!!! So, I ran like I've never ran before, to Gate 52.

When I got there, hooray for United Airlines, their Customer service counter is unattended. But, there was a bunch of machines labeled E-ticketing and Online Rebooking. After I punched in my reference number, the system replied to me that they've rebooked me already.... to the 8:45pm flight!

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

So I ran back (at this point, I was so hingal, I could barely breathe!) to gate 62. The blondie was just closing the gate's door, with about 4 other people from the same delayed flight as me right in front of me pleading with her to let them take the flight. Blondie kept shaking her head and saying "Sorry" in the way people say sorry when they don't really give a rat's ass about your problem.

I had about 2 seconds to weigh my options...

I pushed my way past all the other 4 people and grabbed Blondie's arm. Almost tearfully, I said, "You don't understand. I have to take this flight. I have an international flight to Manila from SFO. I have to make this flight. I have to go home. I have to go home. I have to go home.." In hindsight, the way I said "I have to go home" sounded like a little child's plea, which may have been why Blondie looked at me suspiciously and asked, "how old are you, young lady?" I decided I had no time for niceties, because the freakin' plane was about to leave. So I said, "please please please....." and tugged at her arm like no stranger has ever tugged another stranger's arm. At this point too, I've started to really tear up. Desperation and the hingal just got the better of me.

Which proved to be the cincher to the deal! She took my boarding pass from me, punched some stuff into her screen, printed me out a new one, and said "ok, stop crying, you can board now." I hugged her in sheer relief and screamed THANK YOU so fast, it sounded like THYOU! The guard opened the gate for me to go through, and alas, I was on well my way home.

At least that's what I thought.

As is quite obvious at this point in the story, my poor little two pieces of luggage were still stranded in the Chicago airport. When I landed in SFO at 9:15pm, I went to the Customer service counter to ask about the whereabouts of my precious little cargo. They told me it's still in Chicago and what they can do is ship it to me. They'll let me know in two days if they can ship it all the way to Manila or just to Hong Kong. I had little time to shake Ms. Customer Service by her shoulders and ask WHY OH WHY will I have to hike over to HK because their flight was delayed?!?! My PAL plane was gonna board in 30 minutes, and I was still over at the domestic terminal. I have to take the train to the international terminal, find PAL's counter in the huge airport and make it to the boarding gate, all in 30 minutes! So, again, lots of running happened and I finally got to board. My luggage issue just had to sorted out when I get home.

You may be glad to know now though that, per my discussion with United when I landed yesterday, my luggage will arrive here, hopefully, by tomorrow. At least that's what United said. I just have to trust them for now and pray my dear two little babies get here by tomorrow.

So that was my trip. Full of new and old faces, new and old places, new adventures, lots of shopping, and a nightmarish plane trip back home. But I made it! Home sweet home :-)

office politics strikes again!

Some things never change. This company would really benefit tenfold if office politics is brought down a couple of notches.. not allowing it to affect business functions and disrupt organizational stability. My gosh. Can't believe this is happening... again!

....

Maybe sometimes all you need is to relieve yourself of your everyday distractions and the pull of the old and dry routine to discover things about yourself that are difficult to admit.. things in your life that are less than perfect and the way you feel towards those imperfections. Truly, stepping back is the best way to see what's going on and to judge what lies ahead.. to know what you can live with, live without, and what (or whom) you wish you can change.

This vacation, thus far, has been full of little reunions with friends, little touristy jaunts and little shopping trips, but hands down the best gift this vacation has given to me is a reflection of what's really going on in my system and the opportunity to address those things little by little when I get back to my real life.

my hotel booking and a new thing to buy :)

Finally booked an NYC hotel today, yay! Hello, New York Helmsley Hotel! I'm really really crossing my fingers that all the traveler reviews were right and that you'll be worth the $270/night rate that you're charging my poor ailing credit card :(

Speaking of money, I have discovered another new thing I want to get! Waaah! Can't talk about it though. I agreed with my girls. :P hehehe.. But I should really buy my macbook first.

Waaah! At least... Bonus month ang June for us!

getting ready to leave

I'm so excited to go on my 16-day trip starting this Friday, though of course I'll miss Dennis. He and I had a huge huge huge dinner last night as a little going-away thing, it being the last night we'll probably see each other before I leave. He'll be very busy kasi today and tomorrow. Oh, and Dennis got me seasons 1-7 of Gilmore Girls, and I love him oh-so-much for it! I'm such a fan, little do people around me know. Spent a good couple of hours last night watching some eps.

Anyhoot, back to our dinner, it was great!!! Granted, I ate more than I should've, but I just couldn't help it. The food at Conrad's was oh-so-good! I want to go back there when I come back on the 16th :p Hehehehehe..

I still don't have a hotel for my NYC stay, haha! It's just so hard to get a good deal yet still requiring the basics -- i.e. private bath (I don't think I'll ever be ready share a bathroom with strangers!), working elevator (no shlepping of baggages up the stairs please) and good nice beds (have a bad back and I'm super terrified of bed bugs). All these plus a good location just equals a whole lotta dollars. My dad keeps telling me not to "goof around" with my hotel choices, because he feels it's the one thing you shouldn't scrimp on. You get what you pay for, he always cautions me. So don't come complaining to me if you get robbed or get bed bug bites.

Huhuhu. But I have such limited funds! Waaah! Any suggestions, friends?

I pre-packed na my baggage last night. Pre-packed means I've gotten out the clothes I think I want to bring, subject to alterations tonight and tomorrow night. I've also gathered together my toiletries and shoes, as well as the gifts I'll be bringing for my friends and family there. I've also packed Li's magazine (YES!). So excited!

Can't wait to leave! I soooo want to go on vacation! :)

a hit!

I guested in Mr H's work and society class last Saturday. Though I must say my guesting was quite a hit (per Mr H, no other speaker ever got applauded that many times in the middle of her session), it was further validated by the reaction papers he forwarded me today. It was so flattering and incredibly heartwarming to see that the students benefited from the pieces of advice I gave and the stories I told of my experiences in college and in my professional career.

It also felt good to see how far I've gone since those early days. That's one of the perks of going back to school and giving those talks.

Oh, and Saturday also made me reminisce the past and get amused by all those reminders of the classic anxiousness and uncertainly that befall IMC incoming seniors a few weeks before the first sem starts. The worrying about the sleepless nights, the "legendary" upper class people and the shadows they cast, the stress over how to balance the work load, wanting to pass each class, and wanting even more to get to the 5th...

:)

Oh, the good ol' days...

politics shmolitics and the "easy" life

One of the unavoidable aspects of being in a very politically aware and socially conscious family and being the girlfriend of a lawyer is that you can't help but find yourself immersed in discussions about politics, politics and politics almost all the time. Not only do you hear about the latest in all developments about the recent elections, you also inevitably get yourself involved in heated discussions and debates without intending to. Hay. Most of the time, I like it. But there's such a thing as info and discussion overload.

Anyway, was whining earlier this evening to my darling beau how seemingly stress-free some people's lives are. I want the "easy" life, I told him. I want to spend my days leisurely, not have to have items on a to-do list somewhere and not have to chase after deadlines and follow unattainable budgets. Imagine leading totally free days, where the agenda of the day is to just be, without people calling your phone, emailing you urgent messages, etc.

Be careful what you wish for, my darling beau said. I never struck him as the homemaker kind of person. And this wasn't meant as an insult, he said. It just means that he's always seen me as a career-oriented type of person, who'll get bored with staying idle and who'll probably go nuts if she goes without intellectual stimulation for a few days.. or hours, even. You don't have to stay in corporate life forever, he said. You can always shift to something less stressful.. or perhaps, the more accurate way to put it, he said, is a life that's more under your control and less subject to another person's whims. After some amount of debate, I conceded. He's right. But still... The "easy" life still sounds like a good life to lead. In theory. :P

the pains of beauty

If only men knew how much pain women go through just to maintain and/or enhance their physical appearance, they'll surely have more appreciation for us. Not only do we have to endure the pricks, pins and discomfort that usually goes with beauty treatments, we also have to go through the hassle of remembering to schedule appointments, arranging transportation to get to the appointments, waiting at treatment rooms, agonizing over how to accomodate usual side effects of redness or sometimes even mild irritation.. I can go on and on...

Oh, and let's not forget the biggest pain of all... the pain that the wallet tries its best to tolerate and survive.

Hay, the pains of beauty... the lengths we have to go to...

something i remember..

As we were traversing the Emirates Mall in Dubai almost a month ago, Mommy J and I were talking about our respective significant others. In standard J fashion, she pointed out to me what a gem Attorney truly is and that I should always remain thankful to have him, regardless of what I think he can and cannot provide for me. It's very rare to find a guy who'd literally give you everything he had, whether it be the last spoonful of rice on his plate or the very last bill in his wallet. And she told me not to worry about money, because the most important thing I should remember is that it matters not how much he'll ever have. What matters is that he'll give me his everything. As little or as huge as those resources may ever become, the fact that "isusubo nalang niya, ibibigay pa niya sayo" is something I must always cherish. Not all girls are as lucky, she said. Not even those who actually end up with millionaires.

And believe you me, she repeated, that quality of his is the one thing you'll miss the most if things ever go bad.

Tonight, I think back to that conversation, as Attorney proves yet again just how much of himself he's willing to give up or give to me. And only me. In this whole wide world.

All girls should truly be just as lucky.

anniversary weekend and a really long break

OK, so I just had a 5-day break. Super sarap! Let me recap what happened.

Friday - We were supposed to kick off our anniversary a day earlier, but unfortunately, Dennis had to work on some super urgent election thing, so, since I had already gotten my leave approved, I figured, why waste it? I just went to the mall and got my hair cut and done. I also did a little bit of shopping (hehehe) on the side.

Saturday - Attorney had a daylong seminar at Manila Hotel on vote canvassing (or something like that.. It's so hard to keep up with all the election stuff) so I spend the day with my mom. Dennis picked me up at around 6:30 to go to Lolo Dad's, where we had the hugest meal ever known to man. I finally got to try the famous foie gras, which was HEAVENLY. As in! Totally worth all the hype! Except that you know how expensive it is, so you tend to take the smallest bites possible, and every bite reminds you of how fatty and totally unhealthy it is, but since you're in culinary heaven, all thoughts on dieting are out the window. (wasn't that the longest sentence?!)

We also had super good wine to accompany the food binge we were on, and super good coffee to cap off the meal. I love love love love it! Thumbs up all the way! I love Lolo Dad's! Apart from the symbolism of the place, I just love the food, love the service, love the ambience, love everything! 'Til next time, Lolo Dad's!

Happy 2nd year!


Sunday - After Buddhist mass, we watched Perfect Stranger in Shangri-la, after passing by Tektite for him to do a wee bit of work for the.. you guessed it, the big E. I kinda liked the movie, despite what the reviews wrote. And take note, I'm not a big fan of Mademoiselle Berry.

We then had another sumptious meal over at Cookbook Kitchen, where we had the softest fish in the universe and his super good chicken with the sausage and the ham thing. Loved it! I also loved the fact that we had dinner there this weekend, because it's also one of the most memorable restaurants in our life together as a couple. :)

Monday - Took this day off specifically to rest. Did a lot of napping and finished the 7th season of Gilmore Girls. Total coach-potato day.

Tuesday (today) - Had a buffet lunch at Red Kimono (P485 lang per person!) then headed over to Greenbelt 3 to have our usual foot massage over at Simple Pleasures (also highly recommended by this couple). We then caught the latest Spidey movie with Kaye, Rap, Anna and Ian (we missed Guia and Martin) and had dinner at Bubba Gump, where it was about 25% food and 75% talk. Hehehe. Had tons of fun! Hoorah for May 1 holidays!

So there went my 5-day mini vacation :) As you can notice, it's filled with only one thing= FOOD. Suffice it to say that no dieting was accomplished :P I loved it though. It was a good anniversary weekend (plus, I got a stunning new gold watch from my darling beau!) and a great chance to rest, lay back and have fun :)

palmolive circle of 10

Right before I left for Dubai, my darling beau entered me into the Palmolive Search for the Shining Circle of 10. We were in Glorietta, walking towards Zara, when an exhibition girl approached me, inviting me to join the contest. I instinctively shook my head to say no, but Dennis said "yes!" with so much enthusiasm, the girl immediately called her other colleagues to usher me into the audition area. I was frozen in disbelief! Dennis kept saying, "Look at all these other girls who made the effort to get made up and fix their hair, and forcing themselves onto this contest. E, you, you were approached, invited even, to enter! Au naturelle pa! No makeup! Normal looking hair! You have to try it out!" He then proceeded to introduce himself to the Palmolive booth people as my "agent" and my "lawyer" and filling out my application form for me. Next thing I know, a photographer was taking my photo and asking me to flip my hair. Someone then took my VTR and asked me to sign a form.

I then saw what the prize was... P100,000 in cash! Suddenly, I was more into this thing than I was when we started the process. Hahahaha! Who cared about the modelling contract? I want the cold hard cash! Hahaha!

So tadaa, introducing Candidate # 59--


I then flew off to the United Arab Emirates the next day, not thinking anymore about that silly little audition. After all, it's only something we did for the sheer fun of it.

Then fast forward to tonight, when I got home, my mom handed me a letter she received via messenger this morning. It's a letter from Palmolive's ad agency, Y&R, saying I'm qualified for the screening audition and interview. I was like, what?! No way! Hahahaha!

Dennis is beside himself with excitement, insisting I should go check it out. I said, no, I can't do that. It's nahihiya. Besides, I said, I'm okay na with the fact that at least they ended up considering me, instead of rejecting me flat-out, and that my beau is my biggest fan ever! Enough to peddle me to multinational companies holding talent searches. Hehehe.

He's still convinced I'm throwing away the chance of a lifetime. Hay.. Even if I'd love to win 100k in cash, I would never subject myself to that kind of process. Hehe. But Dennis still insists. I'm really something special and I'm not maximizing it daw. Hehe. He's so cute noh!

That's it for my little kuwento. Aliw e! :p

milestones

This year is turning out to be one of the most jam-packed ever. My upcoming 2-week vacation to Canada and Boston has been booked (*though I have yet to get myself a Canadian visa, but hey that should be easy and only a matter of time) and if all goes well, I might be going to NY for a few days too! Yahooo! And work will be taking me to London in July! Yahoooooo! First time ever in London! And all for free! Lord, please make sure it pushes through!!!!

Trips trips trips. I love 'em trips. This year definitely takes the cake in terms of places visited. A milestone has been hit! A record has been broken!

Oh, and this Saturday marks the second anniversary for me and my darling beau. Don't know what he has planned but I'm definitely looking forward to it. Another milestone! Thank God I finally found him a suitable gift. I hope he likes it. :-)

Life has been good to me. Thank you, Lord.

dubai summary

I'm baaaaaack from Dubai!

Hmm.. I'll start first with the work part of my kuwento. Our show went very well. Almost perfect, actually, except for the weak performance of Zsa Zsa. Other than that, it was definitely a huge improvement from the Doha leg. The place was packed and the audience seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

One thing I have to say about Dubai is that it's so f*cking HOT! Yes, even hotter than in Manila. I didn't think it was possible, but I guess if there's one place hotter than Manila, it would be the desert. Stepping out of the hotel feels like you've gone into the inside of a microwave. You can feel the sun painfully on your skin, even if you haven't stepped out under the sunlight just yet. It's sooooo hot, I kept thanking God for airconditioning.

As hot as it gets during the day, it gets just as chilly at night. That's where Dubai differs from Manila. Evenings are actually windy and get quite cold especially when you stay out til the wee hours.

What else.. We went to the famed 7-star hotel, Burj al Arab and took some breathtaking pictures. My favorite, though, was Madinat Jumeirah, which is this beautiful hotel and souk complex with its own little beach that just makes you relax simply by looking at it.

Dubai is also the shopping mecca of the Middle East. Brands from all over the world flock onto this little city-state and you can find everything and anything you desire! Spent half of my precious per diem on H&M, but who cares, I found cheap, good loot! Oh, and jewelry is also relatively cheaper, especially yellow gold.

Lastly, if you're in the market for high-end luxury items, you'd be glad to know that these things come pretty cheap in Dubai, primarily because the government does NOT charge taxes-- at all. So they don't need to pay those customs fees and transport charges, not to mention the goods sales tariffs. Hehehe.. Proof of this is that my boss Jane purchased 3 LV bags and an IWC watch for her hubby. All in one afternoon. Hahaha!

So far, Dubai is definitely the place to go if you need to visit the Middle East. You just have to be careful of the leering eyes of Arabian men, their tendency of taking advantage of tourists (by jacking up the prices like you wouldn't believe) and the sweltering heat. Aside from that, go ahead and visit Dubai! You'll like it :)

dubai, here i come!

Okay, after some flight booking problems, I'm finally off to Dubai, UAE tomorrow, along with the rest of the SMART team. Up to now, I still can't believe we were this close (holding up two fingers super close together) to getting upgraded to business class! Arg! But, alas, we lost the chance and have to now survive economy on an OFW plane headed for the Middle East. Can you already tell from my tone just how much I'm gonna be loving this trip?!

Anyhoot, we're gonna be there for exactly 7 days, which means hooray because of the per diem but fucker because it's so damn long and it's gonna be one tiring trip. At least God heard my prayers and allowed me to get my period last night (okay, this is already over-sharing but hey, I really prayed for this) because the last thing I want is to cramp up while in Arabic soil.

Hay... Dubai, here I come, ready or not... I'll blog again when I return. Pray all goes well! :-P

to-buy list

Should I strike it rich tomorrow and win the lottery, I'll treat myself to the following wish-list of beautiful beautiful items:

1. Tri-colored gold stackable rings with pave diamonds: Estimated cost $725


2. LV Mini Lin bag: Estimated cost $675


3. Apple Macbook: Estimated cost $1,500


4. Omega Iris Constellation watch: Estimated cost $6,300


Why can't I have more feasible, more realistic wants, like a pair of standard-issue Adidas rubber shoes?! My gohd! Kawawa naman si Dennis... hehehehe....

musings and thoughts while in sing...

OK, the trip did comprise mostly of food, shopping, food, going out with friends, and food. However, the trip, just like any holiday where your brain is not pressured to perform at tiptop shape, gave my mind enough breathing space to make some realizations.

First up is: I've finally abandoned my considerations about taking an MBA, whether domestically or abroad. I really appreciated the fact that I was there (in Sing) purely and thoroughly due to my earning capacity. Granted, my folks still shoulder a chunk of my living expenses, i.e. electricity, water and gas. But at least I can honestly say I no longer rely on them to buy my own toiletries, to buy my little indulgences and to support my basic needs of food, clothing and leisure. I'd terribly miss earning my own money and every little measure of independence that goes along with it, should I decide to resign and go study again.

Don't get me wrong though. I am 100% thankful for all my blessings, including and probably the biggest of which is my parents and their ingrained generosity to support anything character-enhancing. They'd support my MBA plans in a flash should I bring up the topic. However, I realized that, not only do I feel I don't need it, I'd actually be happier carrying on with the career I've started... and hopefully excelling in it.

Next up: I actually fell in love with Singapore all over again during this trip. Sure, I visited Singapore again last year for work, but this time was different because I was there on vacation and I had 5 whole days of reacquainting myself with the country I spent a year in when I was 10. I remembered all the reasons why I loved Singapore, and I realized I really wouldn't mind living there in the future. Granted, the details are still a little fussy for me (including how Attorney can move to Sing and resume his law career there) but it's comforting to know that I have another option should Manila start being claustrophobic for me or should I bump onto a glass ceiling in my job here. It's nice to feel that I have a plan B-- a nicer, cleaner, more law-abiding Plan B. A place where the system works and where the laws actually make society better and where life is free of the complications of politics, illiteracy and poverty. It's not a perfect place, I know, but it sure is an easier home to live in. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Singapore is probably the only first-world country with as single-digit income tax rate (only 9%!!!) and a country where the government actually pays you to have children and to let them be educated.

One of the reasons why I've never considered going abroad for work is because of my family and of Dennis. I'm very much a family person and my love for Attorney is definitely no real secret. That's where the beauty of Singapore's location comes into play. Not only is it a stone's throw away from Manila, there are so many budget airlines now offering super low fares and there are so many international call/text rates (regretfully offered by our competition) to enable you to stay connected with Manila. :-) It's really a global village we have! (I said this also in Singapore and I sounded just as loony as I do saying it here now. Hahahaha!)

Anyway, it's nice to be back. It's nice to get treated to a foot massage by my darling beau and it's nice to have dinner with my family again. Truly missed them all, even if I was only gone for 5 days :-)

singapore!!

Just got back from a 5-day, 4-night trip to Singapore. How was it? It's the one trip that spelled FOOD FOOD FOOD! I can't believe how much I ate, but even if it may mean packing on 5-10 pounds due to the sheer volume of food I consumed, I do not regret a single spoonful or chopsticks-full that ever grazed my lips because... EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!

I had all my favorites-- laksa, hainanese chicken, mee goreng, bahkutteh, satay chicken, satay lamb and satay pork. I also had all my favorite drinks from Singapore-- sugarcane juice (oh la la!), 100 plus (better than Gatorade and better than water!), and iced lemon tea (makes Nestea taste like sewerage). I also had my fave Ben and Jerry's at their shop in Suntec! WINNER!

1. Food food food!


2. My one true love, aka laksa


3. Ben & Jerry's!


I also made a new discovery! STINGRAY! Sounds icky, I know, but don't knock it til you've tried it. This fish is the BEST ever and it's sooooo soft! I love it!


Other highlights of the trip is our visit to the toy museum where Van, Eps and I marveled over the vintage toys. My favorite pa rin is Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Barbie and Popeye :P We also met up with Cia and Baby Kirby, who's just the cutest little smiling baby :) We also saw and stayed in Casa de Ranza, which was beautiful and had the most luscious sheets ever created.

Oh, and I must share this winning photo--


I LOVE SINGAPORE!

And I loooove my friends! CHEERS!

A NatCon, an E.K. trip and a stunt show

What a tiring week it has been. Friday was the National Convention for Sales & Marketing at Clark, which lasted the entire day and practically took up all my energy to wake up at 5am to get to Clark at 7:30. Good thing for Starbucks and Super Petron.

Saturday saw me and Dennis head over to Sta Rosa for our Enchanted Kingdom trip with Guia, Martin, Kaye and Rap. Granted, it was a little hot and after a while, I felt so sticky, I itched to go home and shower. But, it was fun overall, and we even got to watch fireworks in the evening. We headed over to Westgate after for some drinks, and then finally headed home. 'Twas an exhausting day, compounded by the fact that I lacked sleep from the day before, but it was so much fun. We missed Anna though. Sayang she and Ian couldn't join us.

Today (Sunday), after our usual temple trip, Dennis joined my family and I as we headed over to the crematorium to visit my grandpa's resting place, as today marks his 16th yr death anniversary. It was so cute watching Dennis make my lola alalay the whole time. And hey, at least she didn't grill him this time around on the "future." :P hehehehe..

Afterwards, we watched the stunt show of Russ Swift over at the World Trade Center, where my family has a booth selling Eibach springs (for those who aren't familiar with cars, these are premium-quality springs you install into your car to make it more stable). I must say, what a show! For a measly P30, it was quality entertainment, with Russ playing up the crowd and showing all his best tricks. I loved it!

What a great weekend. Even if it was a little tiring, it's the good kind of tired. So I'm happy :)

I can't wait for the next week to start. Aside from Monday and Tuesday where I still need to show up at the office, Wednesday through Sunday should be hell lotta fun, as I will be in Singapore, visiting Baby Bay and Cia's family :) I can't wait! Sana Wednesday na!

be my lady

Last night, at his firm's anniversary dinner, my beau belted out a beautiful rendition of Be My Lady and dedicated it to moi! Such a nice surprise... and I later on found out that he had actually intended to go up to me and kneel down for added effect, but sadly the mic's cord wasn't long enough for him to do that.

Nevertheless, isn't that so adorable?! To know that someone loves you is one thing, but to see him demonstrate such love in front of a bunch of guy friends and colleagues is definitely taking it to another level. :-)

pursuit of the cheapest gas station in town

Dennis and I have a project where we track the gas prices of different gas stations in the areas we frequent, to find out which gas station or branch offers the lowest prices. In other words, we've embarked on a quest for the cheapest fuel around :P

Contrary to popular belief, gas prices are not created equal. This means that the pump rates for diesel at the Shell Rizal Avenue branch are not the same as those that Shell NAIA Road is charging. In fact, thus far, Shell Maya (the one near SMART) is the most expensive that I've seen so far. :)

Isn't this so interesting? I don't know if it's just the nerd in me or the dork in him that relishes this quest, but I really find it all so intriguing. The discrepancies we've unearthed so far range from the inconsequential 0.01 difference to the rather significant P1.20 disparity. C'mon, even if your total gas budget may not budge (meaning you still spend the same amount every month), at least you'll get the most bang for your hard-earned buck if you gas up at the cheapest station versus, say, Shell Maya. :P

So the quest goes on. I'll update this when we've covered significant ground, so everyone benefits from our "research." :P

gifts for men

Why are gifts for boys so gaddamn expensive?! Not only are there limited choices, at least compared to women's stuff, they're also bound to break anyone's budget! Hay..

I'm searching for gifts for Dennis for our 2nd year anniversary and for his birthday. From the looks of it, I have to really save up for these two presents. Hay buhay... Girls are so much easier to buy for, I swear!

young market master

Congratulations to my boss, Ms Jane Basas, for being awarded Young Market Master for 2007, for International Marketing category. The awards ceremony tonight is proof of your marketing prowess, your charm and wit, and the generosity of heart which makes you the perfect teammate and the perfect boss. You knocked 'em dead tonight, mamcy! :-)

foodfest

If there's one thing common between Dennis and me, it's our love for food. More than anything, we enjoy discovering new restaurants together, savoring familiar, everyday dishes together and re-discovering old culinary loves together. We lazed around all afternoon on Saturday at Serendra, dropping by my friend Loraine's new store, walked around and talked about everything under the sun, then topped off the day with a hearty, 2-hour meal at Conti's. Complete with my ultra-favorite Mango Bravo cake! Yum! My beau even took home a boxfull of their classic empanadas for family breakfast the next day. :-)

As for today, we had a hearty, tummy-slapping brunch at the temple with moi's family, followed by an afternoon of walking around in Greenhills armed with good ol' hotdog sandwiches and matching Coffee Bean drinks. Pigs, you say? Guilty as charged... The only consolation for the calorie buffet this weekend was all the walking we did. Hehehehe :-)

Quiet weekend, but I loved every minute of it. How can I not-- I don't think I went through a single hour without food in my tummy :-P

weekend update and more...

Watched 300 twice over the past weekend... That's how much I loooooved the movie! And that's considering I actually didn't feel like watching it at first, writing it off initially as one of those testosterone-filled, tiring-to-watch macho movies. But after much persuasion, I watched it with Dennis on Saturday night, only to watch it again with him and my brothers the following day. What can I say? Those abs are worth watching over and over and over again.

Funny how I've heard so many guys use lines from the movie like "What is your profession?" and "For I am kind and generous.." Hehehehehe.

Onto other news, I seriously need to start saving more money. I have a 5-day Singapore trip coming up, then followed by a 2-week Canada and US vacation in June. Add to that some work trips in between and hopefully (please Lord!) a Bangkok trip with FILC towards the end of the year. For some weird reason, my dad is giving me a hard time on getting permission to go. He insists the security situation in Bangkok isn't safe.. i.e. it's still under martial law and can be bombed any day now. Grrr... I'm not very sure if he's just saying that to make me suffer or he actually believes it.. Hay... It's so annoying! Grrr.... Oh well.. Granted, it's still so far away, but if we want to get the good rates, we have to act fast. Oh, and let's not forget that Cebu Pac is also another issue of his. "I don't trust Gokongwei planes.", as if Big John is actually the pilot running the plane. And as if being a "Gokongwei" plane actually has any bearing. I don't see the difference between that and a "Tan plane." Tan for Lucio Tan (i.e. PAL). Grrrr.... Again, I don't know if he's just deliberately making it hard for me.

Though beats me why he'd do that.

Haaaayyy...

In other news, back to work again this week. We're still waiting for our Dubai visas to come through so we can finally fly already and get ready for the event on the 22nd. I can't believe it's taking this long! I'm a little psyched to see Dubai, actually, even if people keep saying Bahrain is better. I want to see at least the 7-star hotel and find out if it's really worth the hype.

One good thing about these work trips to the Middle East is I get to visit places I otherwise probably would never see in my lifetime. I don't see myself paying good money to visit places like Bahrain, Doha, Dubai....

Then again.. if only the work trips start going the direction of Greece, Italy, Paris, Frankfurt, London.. that totally wouldn't hurt! :-p

Ok, one thing at a time, Gladys Jane.. Let's keep our fingers crossed for Bangkok first. Those damn terrorists better stay away from that country until I get my dad's sweet yes. They can totally ruin this for me. Grrrr....

i want shoes!!!

Been wanting to buy sporty flats for ages now. But I know I should stay away from shopping, because I have yet to finish saving up for trips I'm taking on April and June. But.. it's just so hard to stay away.. huhuhu...

These are my choices so far--

1. Old Navy striped skimmers

2. Keds celestial skimmers

One is more expensive than the other, but both out of my working budget for now :(

Just saw this feature on the Today Show this morning about women and finances.. about how women spend money so differently from men.

All I can say is: There's a certain maintenance cost to looking good. And you get what you pay for. So don't worry about the spending. Just focus on ways to earn more.

Hahahahaha, what a load of self-justifying C_AP!

kidnapped heroes

Just finished watching this series called KIDNAPPED, which is a story about a wealthy family whose son gets kidnapped for a period of 12 days. An investigative team is assigned to find him, headed by an ex-FBI operative played by Jeremy Sisto (of former CLUELESS fame).


Needless to say, I LOVED IT! Heard that this series was produced by NBC last year and they instructed the writers to wrap up the story in 13 episodes, to make the series more "intense" and avoid being "dragging". But, for some reason, only five episodes were aired and the show was suddenly cancelled. Good for me (and every other fan of this show), the entire set of 13 episodes was recently released in DVD. Watch it, folks. You'll be glad you did :)

I'm now onto my next series, HEROES, which is still an ongoing show (a hit show, if I may add) in the States, also by NBC, about a group of ordinary people discovering they had extraordinary powers. At first I thought this was just a rip-off of the XMen, but hey, surprise of all surprises, it's actually really good! I'm just on my first two episodes so far, and I LOVE IT!

giddy giggly mushy...

I just can't help it-- I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM!

at least i can say i've been to qatar....

So I finally survived Qatar. At 5am yesterday, our team arrived safely back in Manila after a horrendously long, horrendously tiring adventure at Doha.

Did I enjoy it, you ask? Well, let me give a short recap:

1. Apparently, tall white long-haired girls with chinita eyes are a rare sight in Doha. Everyone, and I mean everyone, kept staring at me as though I'm from outer space. Also, the guys there seem to be in severe drought for living, breathing women. I've hereby reached my quota for the "I love you, miss!" and the "Hey there, whats your name?" pick-up lines. I've also had it up to here on the oogling eyes and the huge smiles from random strangers. I swear, Qataris put the Pinoy kanto boys here to shame. They look like little angels in comparison.

2. The aroma of the place-- oh my Lord! I finally understood where the smell comes from. Apart from the fact that they do not change clothes nor shower for at least 4 days, they also use some horrific type of perfume that seems to be half-part sweat and half-part vinegar. Eeew.

3. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that we almost died in an almost-stampede at our hugely-attended event. I swear, ang squatter, kahit bihisan mo at dalhin mo sa abroad, squatter pa rin! I am not normally a swearing type of person, but on this trip, I learned that injecting "punyeta" and "fucker" in every other sentence somehow gets my message across the mob better. Oh, and we should definitely add "life insurance" as part of our must-haves in our next trip.

4. Not only did I miss pork like hell, the food is crazy expensive and crazy bland! And there's nowhere else safe to eat but Dairy Queen.

Hay... Those were the main highlights. I think my memory is voluntarily purging the other gruesome details as I get acclimatized back to life in Manila. I just tried to make myself feel better by buying myself 2 pairs of shoes in Zara on our last day there. Might as well get something for all the trouble. :-p

Oh well... at the very least, at least I can say I've been to Qatar. Few people in my social circle can say the same :-p

Then again, few people in my world will get assigned to go to United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia before the mid-year ends. FUCK FUCK FUCK.

But hey, let's focus on the bright side. Every trip to the Middle East will make me appreciate home more. I'M F*CKING CRAZY IN LOVE WITH MANILA RIGHT NOW!

doha, here i come...

Tomorrow, I'm set to leave for Doha, Qatar, as part of our brand's world tour 2007- Middle East leg. Alas, as opposed to my splendid Hawaii trip last year, f*ck of all f*cks, this year's budget would only allow for an economy-class ticket for me.

Lest you think me a spoiled rich kid whining about riding with the masses, you must first understand that Arabian airlines' economy-seats look more like chairs off PhilTranCo buses than Singapore Airlines-esque plush lush cushioned seats. What stands between your cheek and your seatmate's cheek is probably about 1 to 1.5 inches. The back rests do not recline and there's very minimal legroom. Also, since this is what one terms as "an OFW flight" (Doha being a prime destination of Filipino workers), it's bound to be a noise-filled flight too. Add to that the fact that Arabs elicit an illogical fear in me, and the flight duration is 10.5 hours! Non-stop!

And the "aroma", I can just imagine...

LORD HELP ME, PLEASE!

On the upside, my darling beau is treating me to an early Valentine's date at Paseo Uno this evening. Sort of a send-off slash Valentine's treat slash consuelo de bobo for the dreadful trip up ahead. Love love love love him!

More updates when I get back. Pray that I'll survive!

my mom's voice

As much as I may hate it sometimes, my mother's is the voice is in my head. No one else in this whole world can bother me as much as her, I'm sorry to say. Though, admittedly, this fact also swings the other way (in that praises somehow ring nicer when they come from her), she can have this annoying choke-hold on me like no other being ever created. It's so frustrating sometimes, especially when she nags me and tries to make 'predictions' about me and my life.

I know she's just looking out for me, and she just wants the best for me. But sometimes, I just wish she'd stop the doomsday monologue and just be supportive. I just wish she'd stop picking on what he doesn't have and focus on the fact that he makes me so happy and that he's the one person who can make me feel like I'm the center of the universe. That's just not something you throw away.

Her little nuggets of irritation (she fancies her method to be 'tough love' when really, it's just 'tough'-- tough to the ears) just keep going on and on about how terrible it would be if I didn't get the life she got from my dad or will get from a "much more deserving" man. Aarrrgh, Lord knows no one can push my buttons better than my mother. She knows just where to hit. How can she not-- I think she programmed me herself!

Inspite of all this, though, I just can't muster enough courage to tell her off. To tell her that, no matter how scary those "hardships" she describes I'll have to suffer through may be, nothing scares me more than not having him in my life.

There, I've said it. Though not to the one person who needs to hear it most. She'll think me foolish for saying that-- naive, really-- but it's the truth. Losing him scares me shitless. And that fear is the only thing now drowning out my mother's voice. I never thought I'd see the day where something will have as much endurance.

foot caught in the door

Hahaha, saw this online just now and found it so cute. It's a rubber stiletto shoe meant to be used as a door stopper. What a cute gift! And it's only $10!

paycheck bummer

One of the few perks of working where I work is the number of months you're paid. Now, there's no guarantee of that anymore. What a bummer.

But then again, this is where the famous line of Attorney Chan comes in. When you join a company with the primary reason of you liking the job and not because they happened to be the highest bidder for your services, then the increase or decrease of the number of months you're paid doesn't hurt your motivations as much. It's like the cherry on top of your cake was taken away. As long as you really like the cake in the first place and even though you will still miss the cherry, it's not the end of the world.

So there. It's not the end of my world, granted. Because I really like this job. But I am sooooooo gonna miss that f*cking cherry.

cheesy entry about my folks...

Had a long family meeting last night, where we discussed a broad range of topics-- from why my brother shouldn't quit his job and handle the family business, to what my youngest brother should do after graduation, to what I'm doing now and what I wanna be doing in a few years time. Throughout the discussion, whose mood went from serious to light to funny then back to serious, I caught a glimpse of the inner motivations of parents and was awestruck by a huge "consumer insight" about my folks.

Truly, parents only want the best for this children, and "best" here often means getting opportunities they themselves didn't get when they were younger... And, more importantly, turning out even better, even bigger (not literally, I hope, esp in the case of my brother Kendrick, haha!) than them.

They don't want their children to exactly follow in their footsteps, but instead leverage on what they've started and be an even bigger success, to be an even happier, even more fulfilled persons. It's all about bridging the potential with the actual-- armed with the opportunities and the facilities that they've made available to us, they want to ensure we fill out our absolute potential and be the best version of ourselves we can be.

I just think it was so endearing, and as I mentioned in an earlier entry, I'm grateful to see that my parents have taken a shift in their treatment of us kids-- from mere children who know nothing of the world to young adults who are capable to making decisions but prefer to make them in conjunction with (or under consultation with) our parents. I think last night, they were even more grateful to see the premium we place on what they think or recommend. They've seen more than one example of their friends' children totally bypassing mom and dad and going ahead and making life-altering decisions without their knowledge nor consent. I think, above all, they were happy that we were good kids. No matter how else we turn out (professionally, socially, intellectually, etc), being good kids is definitely a good start.

OK. Enough tooting the Co horn. Just want to say that-- I love my folks and I love my family! :)

birthday bash ala kaye

So Kaye had her little birthday bash yesterday (and delayed celebration na rin of her and Rap's engagement), where we all stuffed ourselves silly (especially with the dessert spread) at Circles. Needless to say, the food was glorious. I had loads of the one item I eat most at buffets (barring the dessert stuff)-- salmon sashimi! And the dessert was heavenly, I can't stress that enough. Thanks, Kaye! :)

After the 3-hour dinner (see, nasulit talaga!), we headed over to M Cafe, for a supposedly 1-round of drinks... which eventually turned into a 5-rounder between Dennis and Ian, and a two-rounder between Rap and Martin. Thanks to the open bar, courtesy of Hennessy.

Let me just say how cute it was to see my beau and Ian talk about political story after political story, sharing their own experiences, talking about "raids at ___clubs"- nonstop while smoking their 895-peso Dunhill cigars. Hahahaha! 'Twas such a riot-- watching them smoke with one hand and carry the cognac on the other. They looked so ancient :p

But in fairness, they both looked the part of a successful lawyer and a successful banker.

The above is truly remarkable, because my beau isn't the type to warm up to people after the 2nd or 3rd meeting. It usually takes longer, and usually requires that the other party stay consistently interested in whatever he has to share. Well, except for me (malamang he had to be the one interested first, kundi walang mangyayari samin! Hahaha!), this is how most of his friendships and relationships have come to form. So, kudos to Ian! :)

and Happy Birthday to Kaye! Wishing you nothing but everything happy and everything good as you embark on a spanking-new part of your life with Rap :)

questions questions....

Need to de-stress. Lifted this off Julette's blog---

FIRSTS

1st time you tried smoking:
college. right outside mia's house. gopal was the B.I.

1st alcoholic drink you had:
beer

1st time you entered a bar:
i think 4th year high school

1st award you received:
best in conduct in grade 1 (hahahaha!)

1st hero:
Ken (as in Barbie and Ken)

1st time you were sent to the principal:
high school

1st college entrance exam you took:
U.P. Diliman

1st teacher in college:
Father Soria

1st job:
Banker

1st goal you achieved:
Being independent (living abroad)

1st crush:
Brad Pitt

1st person na binigyan mo ng flowers?
I think my lola

1st date:
in Pizza Hut somewhere near my school :)

1st friend:
Lianne Siy

1st kiss:
@ 16, hehehe.

1st movie you watched with a friend:
.....err... Apparently, it wasn't that memorable a movie

1st fight with a friend:
Eileen Lim. Forgot about what :P

1st gift you received from a friend:
stuffed toy

1st gift you gave to a friend:
stuffed toy (guess it was the thing back then huh)

1st record you bought:
lea salonga! hahahaha!

1st song you sang infront of many
a Chinese song about a cat and a mouse, back when I was young and impressionable... a.k.a. uto-uto. hahaha!

1st musical instrument you learned to
piano

1st concert you watched:
don't remember

1st celebrity you saw in person
don't remember

1st TV show you really liked:
i think it was batibot! :P

1st book you bought:
nancy drew

1st sport you played:
taguan yata :P

1st sleepover:
high school

1st terrible fight:
my bro. over what, i don't remember

1st prank:
don't remember :P

1st inaanak:
N/A

1st time you spent the night alone
in Singapore when I studied there at age 10

1st bestfriend:
Lianne

1st wedding you attended:
don't remember

1st person who greeted you on your last birthday:
Dennis :)

1st friend in friendster:
I think Lianne :)

1st time you got lost:
don't remember

1st cellphone:
6100

1st cellphone ringtone:
just a beep.

1st collection:
stuffed toys

1st club you joined:
the student council

1st time you felt proud of yourself:
when I lived alone in singapore

1st time you saw a ghost:
N/A thank God!

1st rollercoaster ride:
Star City

1st school you attended:
Uno High School

1st friend you had when you entered college:
Gen Ongchi

1st ambition:
To be a cashier. Kaching-kaching!

SECOND BRAINLESS SURVEY

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what did you think?
A new pimple. Great.

2. How much cash do you have on you?
P2,000

3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"?
Chest

4. Favorite planet?
Ours

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
Someone from work.

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?
The Nokia tune, hehehe.

7. What shirt are you wearing?
A Forever21 top I got for $15

8. Do you "label" yourself?
No

9. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing now?
Tiangge flats.

10. Bright or Dark Room?
Bright

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
Julette was bored :P

12. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Talking to Dennis.

13. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
"I love you!" yiheeeee...

14. Where is your nearest 7-11?
Outside my village

15. What's a saying(s) that you say a lot?
Lately, for some reason, it's "O.A.!"

16. Who told you they loved you last?
Dennis

17. Last furry thing you touched?
N/A

18. How many days of school did you miss this week?
N/A

19. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
Too many

20. Favorite age you have been so far?
My age now

21. Your worst enemy?
No one :)

22. What is your current desktop picture:
None

23. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"I love you too" yiheeeee.....

24. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?
Show me the money, baby!!!

25. Do you like someone?
I love someone :P

26. The last song you listened to?
Anong meron ang taong happy.... nyarks!

27. Carmen Electra or Pam Anderson?
Carmen Electra, hello!!

foolish thoughts

I think my obsession with JL's telenovelas are coming back to bite me in the ass. I know this blog entry will probably make me sound like the biggest closet jologs that ever lived (closet pa rin nga ba?!) but I don't care. I just found tonight's episode of MSKM so fit for my current situation. I think sacrifice is overrated yet underrated at the same time. Overrated because sometimes you just have to be practical and know what your limits are, and accept that there are just some things you cannot do and there are just some fairy tales that do not end happily.... yet it's also underrated because there are times you just have to forego what's superficial to be able to have and keep what really matters. See, all these foolish ideas being fed to my brain by that darn soap I just can't help but follow every night.

.....

Damn... The above is probably the most loser-ish paragraph I've ever written in my life.

Anyhoot..... you know what the say, when the going gets the tough, the tough goes shopping. However, since I just got my credit card statement the other day and am still feeling the remnants of swipe trauma, all I can do for now is window shop. Ain't these nice?

In other news, my friend Giselle and I are currently exploring starting up a travel agency business. She's willing to resign to manage it fulltime while I'm willing to cut back on some free time (whatever little I have) to do the sales and marketing work. We're still in the know-more-about-it phase, but I think it's looking quite good. At least we have the location down pat. We have an accountant and a lawyer (guess who?!) on board. We just need to sort out more details. Hopefully, this is the ticket to... something. Something substantial. Something solid. Something to hold on to. Lord, please!

.....

So many random, foolish ideas flooding my brain tonight. Might be a better idea to just go to sleep now.

positivity

Really, I'm trying my best to stay positive and still believe that things will take a turn for the better.

Really, that's the only way to deal with this entire thing. As hard-up as things may be, the truth is I love him too much to consider any other option. So what else is there to think about?!

...

So now, I'm just going to keep looking at the bright side until it blinds me.

i can feel a funk looming near...

Here I go again. Just a few days ago, I made the resolve to be more appreciative of what he can give and less frustrated at what he cannot. I made the promise to myself to focus more on the good parts of this relationship rather than mull over the less fortunate sides of his circumstances. I vowed to always remind myself that, despite everything, what I have is a good good good thing.

But what can I do, tao lang... Recent developments cannot help but call back that damn sense of disillusion I felt in the latter part of last year.. that nagging worry about how things will pan out for us in the future. I'm starting to again feel despair and intense sadness wash over me, as I think about what's been deprived of him and how utterly unfair it all seems to be.

I also cannot be so hypocritical as to allege that no part of this is selfish in nature, because, really, if you drill down to the heart of it, all these doom-saying voices in my head stem from my fear about our future... about my future with him... About THE dream becoming more and more challenging to attain. About the possibility flipping ominously onto the realm of impossibility... a.k.a. the ugly place where all dreams go to die...

The picture in my head may very well just remain that-- a picture. Nothing more. Reality may just be that cold splash of water telling me to wake up and live a life so different from what I had hoped for.

Nothing has ever sounded more depressing.

I can sooooo feel a funk looming near. Here I go again.

finally!!

Finally, her dream came true! K is engaged :)

it's that time of our lives...

So many people are getting engaged! Latest in the roster are my cousin Ann and my dear dear friend Kaye. Still can't believe Kaye is engaged (si Ann I can believe, she is, after all, 30 years old already and has been with Kenny for 11 years now) Grabe... it is indeed that time of our lives...

In other news, my other friend with a name starting with K had not-so-good-yet-not-so-bad news. The long and short of it is that he will propose this weekend. Finally. I just really really wish it finally happens for her and that all this heartache will have a happy ending after all. Hay. Spent two hours this afternoon with her, dissecting everything that happened, replaying it all in our heads and figuring out how she ended up here. To me, relationships are not easy, but they're not supposed to be this hard either. And hers is so gaddamn hard. I can't believe how much work it's taking, and I can't believe that it's her who's doing all the work... carrying all that burden, all that thinking and analyzing, all that wishing and waiting.

And for him to even have the gall to say she's speeding things up?! Hello, if after 7 years it's still too fast, ewan ko na!! My gahd! He's pushing 40!

I sure hope when my time comes, it won't be as complicated as this. Tsk tsk...

So many weddings, woohoo! I love weddings! I have three to attend this year.. so far.. Hehe.. Time to plan what to wear :)

welcome, 2007!

Preamble:

One of the benefits of having a blog is, much like a diary, you get to flip through the past year (or past months) and get a glimpse of the person you used to be, the circumstances that surrounded you then, and the thoughts & feelings you had for the most important and the most mundane aspects of life. I am thankful to have this online journal because it helps me look back at 2006 and see just how good life and God have been to me.

Some highlights:

1. On Work: Finally got a good foothold on my new job, got settled on the new environment, the new culture and the new job scope. Enjoyed my newly increased salary and got pleasantly surprised by my boss when she promoted me upon regularization. Sarap ma-promote! :P Went to a couple of trips abroad courtesy of Smart, too, and I loved loved loved it! Oh, and towards the end of the year, my good friend Guia joined me at Smart.. quite literally, as she really joined me in my cubicle. Hehehe. It's all good though. In a place like Smart, you need as many friends as you can have around you. :)

2. On Family Life: Super thankful that everyone in my family was healthy this year, especially my lola. Though she sometimes has bad bouts of high blood pressure and of recurring palpitations, 2006 was a pretty healthy year for us. I must also say that this year saw my parents change their treatment of us from mere kiddos who know nothing about the world to young adults who may not know everything but can be useful in their own ways. I know it's been a big jump, especially for my dad, to shift perspectives on our contribution in this household, and I'm immensely grateful. Our voices are still not equal theirs in this house, but I'm cool with that. That's how it's supposed to be anyway. :P

3. On Love: Still madly and crazily in love with my darling beau, who continues to make me laugh and make me feel like the most special person on earth. He continues to love me with love so powerful it makes me feel like I can do anything and be anything. He continues to believe in me with a faith so strong that I prefer seeing myself through his eyes. He continues to really be my partner in facing and conquering life, and I'm so thankful to have him next to me as 2006 ends and the new year opens. Great love, great life :)

4. On Friends: Gonna bring all my key friendships with me into 2007, no falloffs :) I love love love FILC, and I love love love my Citi-gals. Even if Baby Bay had to move back to Sing, the wonders of technology keep us connected and updated. It's like she never left :) I love love love digdipper and my Uno barkada. As for my best friend, a big tragedy has befallen her brother this year. Thankfully, despite the odds, he continues to persevere in the tough road to recovery. I continue to pray for her and her bro everyday, and try to keep as much touch as possible, especially when she finds herself in moments of weakness or in puddles of self-pity. I love you, Li, keep faith!

5. On Money: Well, same as last year, I still spent more than I should have :P Hehe.. I doubt I have the willpower to change that sometime soon, but I'm still glad because 2006 saw me start to diversify in my choice of savings instruments. Mustered up enough courage to play with the stock market and started to read up more about other financial tools. One thing I really appreciated about my first job in Citibank is that it oriented me about financial jargon, helped me shrug off any last traces of fear regarding banking products and instruments, and enabled me to at least try them out. Hopefully, 2007 will find me at a better place financially. Please. Especially after my first taste of Christmas bonus at Smart (oh, it really makes me love my job tenfold, hundredfold, thousandfold). My financial goal for '07 is better financial management. That means less clothes and shoes and bags.

Conclusion:

Really, 2006 has been a pretty good year, full of blessings and full of love. So I won't bother God na by asking for more. If 2007 turns out as good as 2006, I'll be very happy already. Thank you again, dear Lord, for 2006.

*Oh, guess what, on another note, finally got that Family Computer console and spent the entire afternoon playing Ice Climber, Bomber Man, Adventure Island and Balloon Fight. XBOX 360 definitely cannot hold a candle to this classic invention. I love it!

sad news to open the new year

Still can't believe it. A friend of mine lost his mom and two younger brothers when their house burned down last night. He was in Boracay at the time and his dad was at their store in Alabang when it happened. The fire reportedly started when their Christmas tree caught fire. His mom and two brothers were trapped in the second floor.

What tragic news indeed, especially at this time of the year. My deepest condolences to you and your dad, Hans :(

a little holiday glitch

Of course, my perfect holiday just had to have a little icky blemish on its pretty little face. Was forced to come in to the office on the 27th and 29th (yes, today) to implement a rate reduction that the Senate/Malacanang just felt like imposing on the telcos right smack in the middle of the holiday break, and to make sure our ad comes out nicely and correctly in time for the 1st. I hate it when these things come up, and the call of duty is just way too strong for you to ignore. The responsible side of me (or was it just the OC side of me?) just couldn't bear to give instructions and directions from the comfort of my home. Also, due to the Taiwan earthquake, the internet service at home was down, so I couldn't really work from home either. Hassle, man, hassle!

I'll end this day with a pampering massage, using the GC I won in the Christmas party. Was planning to get it this morning, followed by a pedicure and manicure at Nail Spa. But work just had to railroad my beautiful plans. Oh well. I'll settle for the massage nalang. At least it's something :P After that, maybe my beau can get off work early and we can have a nice dinner date to cap off this day.

Happy New Year, everybody!

beautiful christmas 2006

Had a rockin' rockin' Christmas!

Besides the fact that I ate and drank way too much (hehehe), I loved loved loved this Christmas holiday. All my gifts rocked, especially the best one of them all-- My darling beau gave me this beautiful pair of hoop earrings--



I love it, I love it, I love it! :)

I loved that Dennis got to spend part of it with me and my family. I loved the grand reunion we had with my dad's side of the family-- the games, the food, the "raffle", the dance, everything! My darling beau was the star of charades, it was so cute! Hahaha! Oh, and he managed to out-win everybody in the mahjong game. My Uncle Robert lost P600! Hahahaha!

We must have taken thousands of pics that day. I love it, I love it, I love it!

Merry Christmas, all! :)

tada... bonus!

One thing all Smart employees look forward to is the annual company Christmas party. No matter what the theme may be, what group presentation your team has to come up with, what caterer they got, etc etc, only one thing really matters-- the bonus. It's an unspoken yet very-much-felt fact that people attend the party only to hear how many months of additional pay they'll get to spend on their families this Christmas.

So, the mighty boss, fondly referred to by his initials MVP, went onstage tonight and announced that this year, they're keeping the employees' total takehome pay to 21 months. Yahoo!!! It's my first full-year of service with Smart, and that means I finally finally get to experience how it feels to have your bank account go ka-ching-ching on Christmas day :-)

I love SMART! :-)

weekend recap

This weekend was special because I didn't really do anything special. Haha, that may sound strange, but let me explain.

This weekend was all about me and Dennis, just hanging out together, just having fun, just "being." Friday night was spent at a good ol' Chinese restaurant where we stuffed ourselves silly with noodles, dimsum and more dimsum! I've been craving noodles all week, and it felt so good to finally get my wish!

We spent Saturday morning lounging around and having a lazy breakfast at home, then we headed off to the mall where we did some Christmas shopping (or just shopping, period). After walking around so much, we finally decided to eat at another good ol' Chinese place where we again had (guess what) hot, comforting bowls of noodles, a platter of dimsum and my favorite raddish cakes. Chinese food, back-to-back, now that's what I call fine dining! :P

After going to the temple on Sunday morning with my family, Dennis went with me to get my nails done (what did I tell you, nothing spectacular or news-worthy about this weekend, really...) He also graciously drove me to Karl Edwards, where I got some last-minute trinkets for people at the office, and then we headed back to my house for a gift-wrapping session. There's something strangely therapeutic about wrapping gifts. Something about transforming a plain, white box into a beautifully-shelled and beribboned package feels calming and... well, fulfilling. Knotting that final bow or sticking that final giftag just feels like a solid accomplishment. I love it!

We then had dinner here at the house, where we had... tadaaa... more Chinese food. Hahahaha! This weekend reminded me again of how much I loooove my beau, how well we mesh together and just how incredibly incredibly incredibly lucky I am to have him in my life.

Really, nothing earth-shattering happened to me this weekend. The crazily intoxicating gift came last year pa when attorney introduced himself into my life. Hopefully, he'll stick around forever and ever.

:)

god bless budget airlines

Thanks to Jetstar for offering round-trip tickets to Singapore for only 7k pesos! Managed to book peak-season flights (Holy Week dates!!!) dirt-cheap, and since we'll be staying over at Baby Bay's pad, we'll also save on hotel accommodations! More money for shopping, food and going-out!! YEBAH!

Singapore, here we come! (next year, that is.. :-)

buddha bowl

Isn't this cool, a ceramic bowl with the little nook which lets you rest the entire bowl on the palm of your hand... Ideal for lounging on the couch or for walking around aimlessly while eating. No more spillage! This would be perfect for my dad, who always manages to somehow tip over bowls while eating or let food drip onto his shirt.