My brother's wedding, some advice and hopes on moving-forward

Some updates of late:

It was my brother's wedding last Saturday. Boy was it an emotional day for me! I cried twice during the ceremony and again during the reception when I gave my speech as matron-of-honor. I couldn't help it - I kept getting overwhelmed by the fact that my baby brother was getting married, and that things are not going to be the same. Granted, they will change for the better, but still, I guess nostalgia is really a huge-assed tearjerker.

The wedding was beautiful! I can't sing enough praises about my new sister-in-law, who was really a master organizer. Every little detail was accounted for and thought about, and she made sure that suppliers really made her dream a reality, all within reason, of course. She's such a joy to watch and to observe, and I really give it to her because I think most of the wedding was prepared by her and not my brother (really, it's brides in charge of the wedding for the most part :p)

It was also a day marked with lots of "are you pregnant yet?" questions. Of course, I expected these and hence was able to take them in stride. I think Atty didn't though (I guess coz boys don't really think of that consciously) and hence was getting agitated whenever a well-meaning (or otherwise, as he would sometimes insist) relative or friend would touch my belly and ask if there's "laman". Sometimes, just to make light of the situation, I say, "oo, may taba". Hehe.

We also got very good advice from the sister (and brother-in-law) of the bride, whom incidentally are also good friends of ours. The BIL of the bride is actually Dennis' good friend from law school. They talked about their journey to parenthood and gave us lots of insights to chew on. Really helpful perspectives, especially coming from a couple who struggled for 7 years before finally conceiving. She's due on Friday. So excited for her!

It's also been a really grueling past couple of days at work for me. These few days were also marked with lots of realizations, on top of lots of stress. My boss is currently on maternity leave and as a result, I am filling in for her as OIC and am getting lots of upper-management exposure. Some people would term this time as a good opportunity for me career-wise. Generally, I would agree. However, with what I've seen these days of what upper management is really like, I think I've most much of my innocence in terms of shedding any romantic ideas I may have had before about our bosses.  And I am now even more hopeful and anxious regarding the next path that I can take, given what I have seen and how I feel about those things. Sorry for not getting into much detail, but just be content in knowing that I am very disillusioned. And I've always said that career movements always have 2 components: a push and a pull. There is a force that is pushing you away from your current capacity and there is another force that will pull you toward it. Simply put, you often have a reason to leave and a reason to join. I'm hoping that the latter can be crystalized soon, as the former is definitely in the bag after what I went through these past 3 days.

Please!!!

That's it. July is about to be done, then it'll be August soon, and then... the BER months will be here! Time flies! 2012, I have high hopes for you! Please bring me everything I wish for!!!! :)

Oh, wait, one more update. This year, for Atty's birthday, since our trip was really ultra cheap (less than 2k for our tickets and free hotel accomodations), he decided to further celebrate by doing a life-changing good deed for someone. So we decided that it will be a child, and the life-changing help will be in the form of sponsoring his/her operation to take out a cleft lip. This led us to Operation Smile, to whom we donated 15k for the full sponsorship of 1 cleft operation. We're expecting the full report tomorrow or Friday, and I can't wait to see it and see the face of the little kid whose life has been improved vastly through our donation. It feels really good to bestow a gift as life-enhancing as this, to a child who does not have the financial means to have this corrective surgery. I also cannot think of a better way to thank God for having brought Atty into my life. Without him, I really cannot imagine how life would be like.

:)

Mini break :)

We went to Cebu last weekend to celebrate Dennis' birthday. While it was probably the shortest (and nearest to Manila) break that we had, it was good enough and it came at the right time. Dennis was having a really long, stressful week before we went, and the trip became the best chance for him to recuperate without the physical stress of travel. He was so relaxed during our trip, and even if some clients still insisted on calling and texting while we were there, I could see that he was still detached from work.
It was a good break made up of good food, lots of downtime, and a precious visit to the temple where we got the best answer EVER! Will share this in the coming months when it does come true :)

Happy birthday to my Atty! :)

13 days to go...

til my brother's wedding!

Excited! :D

Teaching SY2012

Last Saturday was the first day of my teaching stint for SY2012-2013. This is a particularly huge class - I have 43 students!!! That would be challenging in terms of cramming in all of them to do the presentations and output in class within 3 hours, and challenging (on a more basic level) to remember names and faces. Oh well. I can do this!!!!!! (I hope!)


Anyway, just wanted to add that I discovered something a bit peculiar last Saturday. I don't know if it's because this is my 4th batch and I'm gaining a bit of reputation, but I gathered some feedback (both through directly asking and indirectly sourcing) and discovered the ff:


1. The kids are intimidated by me. I officially have a rep for being a tough teacher.


2. The kids think I'm some kind of marketing genius. Apparently, there is a story circulating that to-date, I hold the highest IMC GPA record. I have NO idea if this is true. I only know that I topped my batch in terms of GPA when we found out we made it to the 5th year. Apart from that, who knows?! I actually kinda don’t appreciate this sort of thing going around, especially if the story came from the school itself. I have a feeling it did, because.. really, how else!? I really wish this wasn’t going around.


3. The kids are all happy to have "gotten" me or my class.


4. All my previous batches feel like experts after finishing my class. Last year's class even regard some of their current 4th-year classes as easy, after going through me. This is my fave feedback and makes my heart swell with joy :) The third one is quite cool too. It's really good for self-esteem to find that kids hope to land in my class. But feedback 1 and 2 are really quite strange for me. I already explained why I don’t like feedback 2. But as for feedback 1, I'm now examining myself if I do exude any "terror" or "tough teacher" vibe. All this time, I felt I was a fun teacher. Hindi ba?! Haha!!


This class will be a big challenge for my teaching skills, I know it. But I'm also excited. Last Saturday, I caught some of the usual expressions of comprehension I normally look for when I lecture. And I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels whenever I see that I'm getting through to a student, or that I've imparted something they've never thought of before. It's value-adding and life-enriching, and I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity. Because of that gratitude, all my future students can be rest assured I'll keep trying to improve my teaching so that I can always be a better teacher than the previous year's.

Life's work

My brain (and body) have been so overworked this whole week. Even if there was a holiday on Tuesday, I still feel so overstretched and overworked, having worked on strat documents befitting executives several notches and levels above me. I'm still happy about it though, tired muscles and brain cells and all... Because I got validation that I am : (1) f*cking good at my job ; (2) enjoying my job immensely. With all the crap that goes with it, with the compromises and agreements that the marketing purist in me resists, I really do love my work. And this is the kind of work I've always been meant to do. There's such a sense of accomplishment, of validation and of identity in discovering that where you are professionally is where you are really meant to be in. There's also that special spring in step and special bundle-of-excited-nerves feeling after presenting a deck successfully. There's that sense of pride in having applied what you learned and practiced what you love. In the end, practice is repetition and doing what you love repeatedly can only bring you repeat joy. This is indeed my life's work. No matter how much I may whine sometimes about being a fulltime wife (and even a fulltime mom in the future), I know in my heart of hearts that my happiness will not lie there. There is a big part of me that relishes engaging in marketing work, and I fear that compromising that part, even if it is for personal quests like family, will ultimately lead to a boring, unfulfilled life.

And for that, I'm grateful that this week happened. It feels good to know that my spot under the sun is where I really belong. :)

Take note:

There are multiple ways to make a dream a reality:)

sad day

Yesterday was one sad sad sad day.

All I want to remember of it is my husband comforting me, hugging me and singing to me so I'll feel better. I just want to remember his steady arms holding me firmly as I cried, letting me lower my guard and let all my frustrations and disappointment out. I want to remember his loving words devoid of any judgment or impatience, full only of understanding and love. I only want to retain the memory of him telling me he is 100% with me on this journey and that the way he feels about me will not change regardless of the outcome of this quest. He offered me options, leaving it to me to choose which next step to take - to forge ahead or to take a breather and a step-back. There was no pressure, no questions and no demands. There was only love.

That's all I want to retain of that day. Nothing else.

Next chapter coming up...

Less than 6 months to go until I turn 30. Some people told me there's no difference compared to the 20s, whereas others warned me that skincare will now take more effort (coz beauty upkeep comes at a higher level of commitment when you go past the 30 mark). Let me share some thoughts I have about this chapter-turning event, at least some musings I've had since I started thinking of how to celebrate this milestone.

1. It is not the same as the 20s.

- I mean, let's be practical. When I was in my 20s, at least the early 20s, I didn't know what the real world was like. I didn't have a clue as to what being a full-fledged adult was like. True, I was never what people would label as irresponsible or, gasp, wild, but still, that kind of innocence is something that is (or should be) a thing of the past when you've hit 30. If you still have it, I would tend to judge you for that. A lack of life experience over 10 years is not something to be proud of. I believe I know myself better now, and that I have a stronger handle on who I am, what I stand for, what I believe in, what I want out of life and what I need to do to get there. I also think I have less dependence on my peers and have more self-mastery.

- There are also responsibilities now, which the 20's didn't really include. Granted, I got married when I was 27 and started a bank loan then. But in terms of being fully responsible for my life, I think there's a marked difference between my 20-something self with my current, on-the-brink-of-30 self. I'm definitely what you would call more "boring" when it comes to spontaneous spending. Of course, there's always going to be the retail therapy sessions here and there (I am still a girl, you know), but there's someone else in my life now to consider when it comes to who I answer to. I am no longer just beholden to myself.

2. It's okay that it's over, because I think I used my time well. Good things come to an end, rightfully so.

- The 20s had its run and fun, and it was a good ride overall. I was able to achieve most of the dreams that I started out with, and I think my 30-year-old self will more or less be in the place that my 20-year-old self hoped it would. For example, I'm glad to have gotten married at 27, having found the love of my life 5 years prior. I'm glad to have a stable home and a good-sized bank account to fall back on. I'm also proud to be able to say I love the career I've set up for myself and that I'm in a good place professionally. I've been able to generate and earn the respect of my colleagues, some so much older than me. I've also seen enough of the world to want to see more of it. I've kept my promises and learned my lessons each time I fell.

- I'm also proud to be a "full person" when I turn 30 in 6 months. I mean this in the following ways:

- I'm proud of the person I've become when I met my husband and took the matrimonial plunge. I am glad to be able to say that I do not depend on him for anything apart from just loving me. I can pay for my own bills and can speak for my own mind. I can stand up for and by myself; I stand by my husband because I choose to, not because I need to.

- Same goes for my parents. I'm so happy that we have such a good relationship and I am viewed by them as an adult worthy of being consulted. You do not understand how big of an honor this is until you meet and get to know my parents, who have one of the highest expectations ever created. I am proud of myself for having earned their respect and admiration. I have their love by virtue of being their child, but being viewed as an equal with my own valid opinions and decisions is purely discretionary on their part. Hence, I treasure this in a way that's different compared to having their love.

- I'm proud of the sister I've become - someone that my brothers seek out for advice and depend on for support. Again, I have their love as a birthright. But the rest is purely a gift from them and a testament to the sister I've become.

- I'm at peace with the person I've become, and I think at the end of the day, that's what matters. I can look at myself in the mirror and can sleep well at night, knowing that I've been as authentic to myself as possible. There's no price in the world that can pay for that.

3. It's only the beginning!

- While 30, to be honest, really sounds like a big number to me, I think the best is yet to come and this is only the beginning. Just thinking of how the next 2/3rds of my life (assuming my life expectancy is in the range of the 80s-90s) is enough to get me excited! So much to do, so much to see, so much to go to and so much love to give and receive!

- I read somewhere that the 20s is when you try to figure out what you want to do with your career. Your 30s is when you get the needed skills and exposure to equip you to achieve the career apex you want. Your 40s is about wealth generation. This is when you'll be at your most productive. Your 50s is when you try to wind down and see what else you want to involve yourself in apart from moneymaking. Your 60s to 70s is when you enjoy the fruits of your labor, hoping to have as minimal regrets as possible. So yes, the 30s is just the beginning of my career! Looking forward to better opportunities.

- Obviously, as this blog has said over and over, I want my 30s to be marked with the births of my children. :) This would be the biggest gift ever.

I'm still thinking of how to celebrate this upcoming decade, but maybe as opposed to just celebrating it as a milestone birthday, I'll also think of it as an opening salvo to the next chapter of my life. I've done well so far, in my humble opinion, and I'm so grateful. Now I can't wait to see how the next part unveils :)

Tiny confession

Can I just make a small confession?

A big part of why I strongly believe we will eventually get pregnant and have a baby is because of my husband. This loving, patient and caring person MUST become a father. The child that would have the honor of calling him father would be the luckiest baby ever born.

That's all. Happy Friday!

Karma

Part and parcel of our religion is the concept of Karma - the belief that the universe is composed of energy - always equal and opposite of each other - and what you give off will be what you will receive, in a boomerang fashion that may not involve this current lifetime but the next. Makakarma ka din, (excuse my French) tang-inang scamera ka. You may think that what you got is so big and so valuable that it's worth the repurcussions, but karma doesn't work that way. You'll get what you truly deserve, in this life or in the afterlife - whether you get it directly or your descendants do.

I hate it when evil people hurt the ones I love. Makakarma ka din, bitch.

2nd recourse

Injectible meds start tomorrow. Here's to hoping they work!

Bangkok trip :)

We're back from Bangkok! 5 days of intense heat, lots of walking and lots of eating! I'm happy to report that even if my husband is totally averse to hot weather anywhere, he had fun in Bangkok :) Yay!

Some highlights:

1. We went on a temple hop around Bangkok, and I finally got to see the Emerald Buddha (a misnomer because the Buddha statue inside is actually made of jade. People then didn't have a sophisticated understanding of stones and anything green was just called an emerald). I love love love the Emerald Buddha. It simply took my breath away. Photo-taking wasn't allowed inside. You can only take shots through an open pillar in front of the temple, but even then your camera will only be able to capture the Buddha in a golden sort of light, not in its jade glory. I loved it, as I said, not only because it's so majestic and beautiful, but more because I felt such a sense of peace and an unexplained happiness when I was sitting inside the temple and just gazing at it. I read about it before the trip and had been wanting to see it more than any other sight in Bangkok, and I'm so happy we did!

2. We also got to see the Grand Palace - where the king used to hold office and where he still maintains private quarters. It's the size of 2 football fields!

3. On our way back, we found ourselves in the middle of a royal-family procession (well, they were really just going back to the palace from someplace else). Good thing we had a guide too, because otherwise, we wouldn't have known that we were supposed to stop walking and just stand in attention. I also wouldn't have known that I wasn't supposed to keep holding up my umbrella, as it can be misconstrued as a weapon! I would've been arrested :p Hehehe. It was cool to witness that whole thing. Thai royal police keep close surveillance of the street and they stop traffic to make sure the road is completely cleared. The convoy that was used to "transport" the royals was also done really impressively - makes me think that Pinoys have it all wrong and un-professional. Hehe.

4. We also went to Ayutthaya and saw the ruined temples. The last one was my fave (I'll post pics on FB) and I loooooooved the lunch we had overlooking the river. Such a peaceful place. I love how Thai people were able to preserve as much of their historical sites as possible, and the way that they revere their king is so admirable! I made the mistake of asking our guide "so what does your king do?" He looked a bit shocked that I would even dare wonder about such a thing and said "he devotes his entire life to the people!" Hay. If only we would exude even just 10% of that admiration towards our leaders.

5. Oh and the shopping! Dennis had a lot of fun shopping and if you can believe, he outshopped me about 2:1. Intense! Well, we also found a Kinokuniya there, which is Dennis' happy place, so that also meant a lot of shopping for him. But apart from books, I was so proud of him to have braved Chatuchak Market with me and even happily went about bargaining with the vendors. He also went to MBK with me and waited patiently as I went to my favorite outlet to buy.... underwear! Secret tip: Go to BKK and buy bras and panties at MBK. It's the cheapest Wacoal stuff I've ever found anywhere in the world. They have a wide selection and you can fit the bras too! Winner! :)

6. I gained weight, as I shared so generously over Twitter. Haha! I blame it on the Thai food that needs substantial amount of rice, due to the heat they pack, and the Thai iced tea that I so so so so love! I also discovered a traditional Thai appetizer that's oh-so-yummy! I heart tamarind sauce!!! :)

7. Thai massage - thumbs up! I fell asleep about 3/4s of the time. Haha!

It was a good 5-day trip. We got to do a little bit of everything and the hotel we stayed at was really good value! The room was comfortable and the hotel was a short 3-minute walk to the BTS. And the price! Our room was about 2,600 pesos per night only, WITH breakfast! As they say, "saan ka pa?" :p

Oh and last tidbit: I was wondering why the locals were looking at me in a fascinated sort of way, until our guide told me it's because I resemble a Thai celebrity who does soap operas. Haha!

Loooooved Bangkok thoroughly! Such a relief too, because my previous trips were for work and were mostly confined to meetings. I would love to go back :)

Sawadika!

We're spending Holy Week in the following way:

1. Spending Wednesday evening with the Chans for a family dinner

2. Spending Thursday with the Co's

3. Spending Friday to Tuesday in Bangkok! :) Yay! THis is the third of our overseas trips so far this year, and I'm excited! I've been to Bangkok three times before this, but all three times were for work and I only got to go around in a very limited way, i.e. Patpong with male colleagues and MBK/Chatuchak shopping with female colleagues. That's my impression so far of Bangkok. So I'm excited to go there with Atty and experience Thai culture on a 5-day itinerary-less holiday :) OK, maybe not so itinerary-less. I do have a list of things I want to do and I do intend to book a tour when we arrive, but mostly, this trip will be about relaxing, shopping, eating and getting lots of Thai massages :) It's also our celebration of my MBA graduation, so I don't want to cram the trip with lots of things to do. We feel like chilling, so it is chilling that we shall do :) Have a pleasant Holy Week, guys!

MBA! :)

Finally done with my MBA! Can you say huge sigh of relief??! :)

My defense went well overall. The panel said I had very good stage presence and presentation skills (that's thanks to IMC!) which was half the battle. They also gave me advice on how they think my company should "level up" and how I can help it do that. They also gave me feedback, saying they're very proud of how much I've grown and learned and they believe I will "go far" in the corporate world. They encouraged me not to let politics in Smart get the better of me, because I "have much better things to accomplish than to allow myself to be dragged down." Lastly, they claim not to say this to every student, and encouraged me to take the next step and get a Doctorate degree in Business Administration (DBA). I didn't know how to react because part of me was screaming "nooooo!" Haha!

What's funnier is that hours after the defense was done, I was 20% considering actually taking them up on their offer! Can you say NERD?

I'm so thankful it's over and done with. Now I just have to get my graduation clearance in order, pay the fees and just sit back and wait for my diploma. I didn't elect to join the graduation rites anymore, as DLSU's graduation batches are so humungous and I don't feel like sitting for hours just for 2 minutes on-stage :) I already know I earned this degree anyway - really earned it - so I don't need the actual experience of marching, getting a rolled-up, blank piece of paper to make it feel "real" to me. I'm happy with what I've accomplished as it is :)

I dedicate this to my loving parents who are super supportive and was always there to provide the resources I need. Dennis also deserves just as much thanks, especially towards the latter part of this degree quest, when I almost gave up. Thank you, thank you, winds beneath my wings :)

D-Day

is tomorrow!

At 6-8pm tomorrow, I will be defending my Strama paper to a 3-body professor panel, and doing a spot oral exam on marketing - my chosen topic and specialization.

After that, provided all goes well, I will be officially done with my MBA.

Please pray for me!!!

*fingers crossed*

8, 7, 6, 5, 4....

8 days until my thesis defense! I'm starting to feel a bit nervous, after viewing the mock sessions last Saturday. I am starting to see vulnerable points in my deck, and I don't know how to make them better (ok, I'm panicking, I have to calm down!!!)

Please pray for me!

mommy update

Thank God we got the second opinion. Turns out my mom's operation can be postponed, perhaps even until her natural menopause, assuming the myoma doesn't grow extensively anymore. The biopsy revealed that the mass isn't much to worry about for now. It's a huge relief. I know she wasn't yet emotionally and mentally ready for menopause, plus, there's my brother's wedding coming up in 4 months. I know she wants to be able to 100% contribute and be here with him through these last few months of him being under her roof. So I'm really really grateful.

Thank you, SSK.

mama, it's my turn

It's official. My mom will be getting a hysterectomy in early April. She has a myoma in her uterus that doubled in size and, while there's no urgency to get it out from her body, it is the safer alternative, lest it develops into something malignant and present even worse problems. It's now my turn to take care of my mom, and I signed on to be her caretaker and companion pre and post op. I'm happy to, and I feel I'll probably feel less nervous about the entire thing if I'm 100% involved.

I pray for her safe operation and speedy recovery. The doc (coincidentally is also my OB) said that her recovery will take up to 2 months. This gives her enough time to recover and get better before my brother ties the knot in July. Please keep my mom in your prayers. Thank you.

trip highlights

So Feb was a month of trips! I loved loved loved these 2 trips. Some highlights:

1. HONGKONG
- We had a bit of a non-traditional itinerary, since we only spent about one afternoon in the shopping mall (but that didn't stop me from coming home with loot - more on that later). We went up the Peak Tram to reach Victoria Peak and see 360-degree views of HongKong. We also did the Lantau Island tour- which consisted of a white, shark-infested beach, a traditional fishing village with houses on stilts, the Po Lin monastery where we had a veggie lunch (which was surprisingly good!) and a visit to the Giant Buddha. A great sight to behold, even if you're not Buddhist. Obviously, it was more special for us since it's our faith, and I prayed fervently for the one blessing I hope to get this year.

- We also had the most romantic Valentine's dinner ever. We went to Caprice, the French 3-Michelin star restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel in Central. It was the most romantic meal I've ever had - with warm, soft lighting everywhere and a sprawling view of Central Pier and the HongKong harbour. Dennis also went all-out in terms of what we got for the meal - we had pink-grape champagne (which I still crave for until now) and really good merlot wine, to go with our 5-course meal peppered with complimentary dishes from the restaurant. The service was also impeccable- they accompany you everywhere, even walk you to the restroom! Haha! At one point, Dennis was going to pass me his plate of bread (to have me try it with the foie gras terrine appetizer), and the head waiter beat him to it! Imagine that! Dennis was already sitting next to me and was just going to pass me a plate, and the waiter who was standing a few feet from us beat him to the punch and got me my own fresh plate of bread! Lovely lovely dinner - something I definitely want a repeat of in the future :)

- Just when I thought I was a good girl and didn't really shop save for 1 top in H&M, I spotted a Marc Jacobs newly-released, airport-exclusive bag in HKIA, after our Saboten lunch and while we were walking to the gates. It was in the Hillier design that I have always loved, but never thought of buying since the all-leather version it originally came in was far too heavy for my scoliosis-weakened back. But this bag that we saw at the airport was in beautiful, soft nylon and in a luscious color of brown! My loving husband saw my expression when I saw it and ordered me (yes, in a serious, commanding tone) to get it. It was "on him" daw. Yay!

So that recaps our short Valentine's weekend in HK. I love traveling with Dennis, discovering new places with him, eating delicious food and just wandering around the city- something that, if you think about, we don't really get to do in Manila. At least not something we can do without any regard for safety considerations. It's a blessing that we get to go on these trips :)

2. SINGAPORE
- This was Dennis' firm's first lawyer's outing that was set outside the country and included the spouses. Originally, the other partners were thinking of going to HK, but Dennis oh-so-cleverly swayed the discussion towards Singapore, because he knew I wanted to go there to watch Wicked, and what better way to do that than on someone else's tab! Genius! Haha! My husband is the best!

- So anyway, we did watch Wicked on our first night and it was the BEST! It's now my favorite play of all time, among all the other shows I've watched. Such a happy and powerful story about friendship and love. I love love love it! And as usual, my spoiler of a husband bought me the official soundtrack CD and a shirt to commemorate the show. I listen to it every chance I get now :p

- We also went to Universal Studios and to the Fountain of Wealth - a staple in all Singapore trips :)

- We also went to new places like Chijmes and St John's Cathedral. I wanted to show Dennis a more suburban, "old" version of Singapore. And mission accomplished!

- We ate so much too - including Din Tai Fung, our dimsum favorite, which we had also eaten in in HK just 2 weeks prior! :)

- I also showed him to Ikea (his first time, isn't that so cute!) and met up with Ranza and Van for a Singaporean night out 2nd edition :) The first trip Van and I took to Singapore was in 2005, back when we were on a tight budget and could only afford a 10-sqm hotel room, and Ranza slept over pa! Hahaha! Those were the days :P

- And, as if the HK bag wasn't enough, this Singaporean trip also had me coming home with bag loot! My friend Van called me when I was in Kinokuniya with Dennis (the giant bookstore is his happy place in Singapore and in Japan), and told me there was a private sale of designer bags just across the street from Ngee Ann City (where Kinokuniya is). How can I not check it out?! So I went and met up with her and found THE Fendi baguette I love! Yay! On 30% off and I get GST refund back too. So it was a definite buy. :) Happily, my husband liked the bag too and gave a thumbs-up to the purchase :)

OK, promise to self: No more bags for 2012. AT ALL. Enough already :p

So that's pretty much what the trips were about. Such a happy February :)

We have another one coming up - Bangkok for Holy Week. And we'll be on business class too, thanks to my parents who gave these tickets to us as a gift. I am excited for April! :)

next weekend, we'll be in...

Singapore- my favorite city in the world!!

To watch--




Yay!! :)

Will do trip-updates after SG nalang so it's in one go :)