New wallet! <3

<3

MD

So, it's the second year in a row that I got my period on Mothers' Day. Last year was pretty rough on me, but this year, there's been an improvement in how I received this, well, unwelcome visitor. I guess what's different now is that I am letting time & fate do their jobs. 

But still hoping and praying that I get the one promotion I've been praying for and the one completely and utterly out of my hands. 

Happy mothers' day to all moms out there. Hopefully, it's in my fate to join your ranks by next year. 

Bye for now

Bye for now to this super-convenient setup I have with my condo and my office. Bye for now to the hours of my life saved by just being 3 minutes away from my work. Bye for now to the peace of mind from being able to go home anytime I need to, whether my maid has a health emergency (one time she had a severe allergic reaction to tuna) or if I need to go home an d rest because I don't feel well. Bye for now to eating lunch at home, leisurely watching tv or catching a short nap before heading off to work. Bye for now to not minding OT work because I am just a stone's throw away from my condo (and my waiting husband).

I know it may seem like a small thing but I really do love this setup I've had for over 2 years now. It makes everyday just a sliver better. I need to say a proper good ye to this super convenient setup and start acclimatizing again to riding a vehicle to and from the office :p

Trips for balance year!

Apart from the annual Co Family trip to China every September, we have the following trips lined up for 2013 :

1. Siem Reap in July for Dennis' birthday
2. Bangkok in October with FILC and husbands

Yay!!!!

I'm in Chuvaness!

Haha! This really cracked me up. I was in Grace Park the other day, with a good friend of mine, and upon sitting, I already noticed the party in front of us, composed of Chuvaness, her husband and their really loud friends. I didn't really mind them anymore afterward though I noticed they seem to be in celebration mode.

Then 2 days later, voila! I'm famous. Haha!

My YMMA acceptance speech

Click here!

More changes a-coming....

So, apparently, the grand plan does not end at me changing bosses, which happened a bit under 2 months ago. This plan of epic genius-levels also involve me changing companies, along with my boss. This new change is still quite new and I'm not yet done processing how I feel about it, but with divine help, I am able to chart a course for myself and be entirely, utterly, 100% sure of where I want to go (and where I don't want to stay). I am so so so so so thankful for having this "tip" and being guided and protected and blessed by Buddha. Thank you, thank you. I acknowledge that not everyone has the same opportunity and not everyone will have their choice followed, and for this I am deeply grateful.

I also cannot help but concede, life really isn't about OUR plans. This is a tall order for me, because I am such a planner and a meticulous planner at that. I like to be prepared and I prefer to ready myself before making big leaps and changes in my life. But now I understand and accept that not everything can be controlled at my level. We may make our overall plans and direct our lives a certain way, but that has a limitation. It ends at the same spot where divine plans start. And I am in complete awe of this plan that Buddha has for me, to enable the course of my life to go in my favor and to protect me.

There are still many uncertainties, and the details have yet to be filled up and accounted for. But for now, what matters most is I am at peace with my decision and there's no turning back.

My YMMA Interview Video

Click here.

Time for a deadline?

They say a goal without timelines is just a dream. Recently, I've begun to wonder if we should start setting a deadline for... nature to run its course and set a point when we start going back to embracing the wonders of sciece.

It's a treacherous path to traverse. On one hand, you don't want to "run out of time" and feel that you should get your ass moving to be able to achieve this dream (or goal) that you have. On the other, you also think maybe some things aren't meant to be rushed and are not meant to be decided upon by anyone else but God.

What to do... What to do...

Alabang staycation

We checked into B Hotel in Alabang yesterday and are staying until tomorrow. So far so good! We realized that this may just be the best staycation spot for us because:
- The hotel we found had a reasonable set of room rates, but more importantly,
- Alabang is near enough to Makati yet far enough to make us feel that we actually went somewhere. This is important to instill a "we're on vacay" mindset.
- Alabang is not a usual destination for us. We probably only come by once or twice in a year. It's not only against Dennis' principles to pay so much in toll and other fees just to go to a city within Metro Manila's jurisdiction but also because there's not much to come for here that you can't get in Makati.
- Alabang is deserted during vacations such as Holy Week. Residents are either just at home or are out of town.
- I do love the wide, palm tree-lined streets and the fresh air. And the urban planning within the what I call "nice Alabang" is good and makes it easy to navigate.
- All the major facilities are available and a quality hospital is nearby in case you need to rush to the ER. We did today. Long story.
- There are some good eats to be had! A major selling point.
- Most importantly.... The vibe is so chill -- perfect for staycations. And the service crew are so nice and friendly. Thumbs up! Such a great place to spend this long break in. It has really recharged us, reset our brains and taken all our stress away. We do feel as refreshed as if we went away for a vacay. But less tired and less poor than if we went abroad.

So I guess we'll be back! ;)

New keds!

Found these on sale today and couldn't resist. Love them! :)

Mother-and-child

Once I laid eyes on this beauty, it immediately grabbed me and made me fall in love with it. For two days afterward, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Something in the tender way the mom caresses the child... The way the colors depict the warmth of her love.. The way the many layers of cloth wrapped around them make the viewer feel the same comfort... The way you see her skin, so open and available, the same way she will be to her child.. Love love love. So, it was decided, I had to have it.

So tadaaaaa.... Yey! Love love love!!!!

A friend of mine also told me to treat it like a vision board :) Why not?! Let's also pray this will bring magic into our lives and let the vision come to fruition :)

Our home

Our home is now officially ours!!! As of last Friday, that is. We handed over the last cheque to close our mortgage, release the title in our name and officially own our home and very first real property! It's one of the best days of 2013 already!:)

I'm so very proud of us for this achievement. Not only have we finished paying for this home, we've started on our second property and have also gotten a second car. We've dabbled more in stocks and have also (as of yesterday) bought our second piece of art (which I love love love, but will be discussed more in a separate entry). I'm so proud, and I'm even more thankful. Attitude of gratitude, as I like to say, is what I'm all about lately. I can't say thank you enough to Buddha for these blessings and for giving me the world's best husband. I know I complain sometimes and I pine for what (or rather who) I do not have, but deep down, I'm a million times thankful for the life I do have.

Thank you!!!!!!

Domestic Diva

Lately, I've been really into preparing delicious meals for my husband. I know that I'm as corporate as they come, and I really am, but there's really that special flavor of fulfillment when you excel in the homefront and are able to put a satisfied smile on your husband's face after a good meal. Especially now that he's on a diet and I want to encourage him to stay on it, I keep my eye open for recipes that are friendly to his diet's principles but are also yummy to the palate. So far so good! He's loving the dishes and I'm loving the fact that he's loving them! Hurray!

Who is this person I'm turning into? Hahaha!

#achievementsofadomesticdiva

Loved KL!

Our feet are so tired and joints feel sore, but it was a fun trip with the Chans! :)

"Gladys"

Saw this today and found it amusing :p

Here we go...

So I guess my new role starts today. With no prior notice and no warning, my (new) boss just invited me to the ManCom meeting today and I guess that was supposed to be my cue to start this new role.

It's just a bit offfooting, to report to someone so senior.  Half the time I'm just guessing what I should do next, or if a certain question in my head even warrants being spoken out loud to him. Since his rank is so much higher and he is not the type (and shouldn't anymore be) to delve into operational details, I'm left wondering how to figure out the kinks and the details without his explanation.

Hmmm..

Such strange territory.

Guess I'll just have to figure it out as I go along.

Oh and in other news, I got my period on Chinese New Year Eve. As I tweeted, it was such a poetic ending to the Dragon year - the year that was supposed to be "against" my sign. I was counting on it arriving tomorrow, actually, but no no no, as is the tradition between me and my lovely time-of-the-month, "she" just had to show up on such a poignant time. In the past, "she" also never passed on the chance to show up on a big day. When I was younger and in school, she would show her face on exam day or a big day like a student council election when I was running for office, or prom night, or the first day of school. When I started working, it would show up on my first day on the job or during a particularly stressful day. When I started wanting to get pregnant, it showed up on Mothers' Day.. and just recently, at the close of the Dragon Year. Hay. You little period, you. If I didn't know better, I would think you're picking on me. :p

Done deal

Change is upon us.

Time to get kikay-- 31 is around the corner!

Inspired by the Yahoo article, I want to get this from Benefit!!! It'll help me in the quest to stay "31-looking". Hehehe.