IF YOU WANT WAR, I'LL GIVE YOU WAR. NOT.

[because I am not stooping down to your level. I am better than that]

I think I might have posted anything about my employee woes a bazillion light years ago. I stopped venting about them here when I decided this is a platform mainly for things that make me happy but sometimes, also a venue to vent the occasional and inevitable and worth telling bad experiences and/or misadventures. I thought my shop and employee woes are too frequent to write here and it's actually been awhile since we've had major drama. That was when Jenetalia went on "leave."

Leave my arse. I had a hunch that this was not due to personal reasons as she had claimed and I was right- she worked for another spa. I knew she was only playing it safe. If her new spa does well, she'll stay there and won't come back. But if it doesn't, she'll haul her sorry ass back to me-which was what happened. But you see, the one-month leave became five months and I think I don't want to be treated like a doormat. I treated them well and never, ever, not even once, threw an expletive at them even if very much deserved it and this is what I get? Ingrates. Well, actually, I was thinking of still getting her but not now. In other words, she has to wait for my signal as to when she can come to work. Business was a little slow after the holidays and I don't think I can afford to keep four nail techs everyday. Anyway, what really made me blow my top was when she told this employee who only works on weekends that she'll take her place and that she has spoken to me about it already. HOGWASH. And that was when I decided that I am not letting her sorry ass into my shop again. Yes, maybe you are good at that skill you do but you have the worst case of attitude problem. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. You are not indispensable. No one is indispensable. How dare she threaten me that if I don't take her back she'll work for the other spa. Which she did. And after a week under her new employer, she sends me a text message asking me to take her back. She should have thought about her action first, no? I am no Taylor Swift fan but I am going to quote her on this- we are never ever getting back together. Good riddance.

But guess what- she is now contacting our customers- her customers daw. They are the shop's customers, by the way. I guess I can't please everybody and all customers who still want her, I can't do anything about. Time and again I say that I believe in karma.

You hear that, Jenetalia and your new employer?

What goes around comes around, people.

2013 BOOK CHALLENGE 11/35: A VERY ACCIDENTAL LOVE STORY

Already done with my eleventh book and it's only February. I'm totally hitting my book quota this year. Many thanks to my handy dandy Kindle... I couldn't have done it without you.

In keeping with our February/Valentine theme, I read A Very Accidental Love Story by Claudia Carroll. Wasn't really crazy about the book, if I were to judge it by its blurb; however, at the time I was picking my fourth read for Feb that is in accordance with my theme, I discovered that there were not many books that had love in its title in my library. So, I was stuck with the said title.

Reading the book was a struggle. I found it a little slow most especially during the first few chapters of the book. I was resisting the urge to jump paragraphs to make things faster for me. If I were not doing Bantay Bata duties for my sister, reading this would have taken me more than four days.

It was a cute story, alright, it's just I found it a little dragging. She would always go on and on about her work which, even if is integral to the story, was redundant. Okay, I get the point that Eloise doesn't have a life but why must we go back to her sodding office life repeatedly. And as per it's blurb, I really thought Helen has a more essential part in this story more than being Lily's babysitter while Eloise hunted down the father of her daughter.

The real story (and the interesting bit) started when Eloise finally met Jake who is the father of her baby who she had via artificial insemination. By rule, Eloise cannot know who the donor is but because she just happens to be the Post's Madame Editrix, she has ways of finding out things. When she finally gets to know Jake, she finds out he's not a hardened criminal she initially thought he was; albeit a very good-looking, tall bloke who has Mensa-level intelligence. How convenient. I would love to know how the story would go if the 'William Goldsmith' who fathered her child was that black guy from the projects, but highly unlikely as Lily is blonde and "definitely Irish."

But of course, I enjoyed it still. A little slow but then I got to the more interesting parts. I'm, after all, a big sucker for love stories. Though it may take a while before I pick up another book by the author.

2013 BOOK CHALLENGE 10/35: FLAT-OUT LOVE

Honestly, I didn't expect much from the book. Picked up the book relying on Goodreads' rating system. The inclusion of the word dysfunction almost made me not read because at this point in my life, I need happy, feel-good books. However, my February theme is to read only books with the word love in the title. I'm glad I did, or else this book would have been pushed further back  of the queue.

Flat-Out Love was a certified page-turner. It kept me eyes glued to my Kindle for want to find out right away what's all this mystery event that changed everything in the Watkins household. Well, it's not really surprising for one family to be dysfunctional because I think every family has its own dysfunctions. But when Julie came into the Watkins' life, she made healing happen.

When Julie developed this huge crush on Finn, the absentee brother traveling around the world, I always knew at the back of my head that she's really meant for Matt. Matt and Julie would always get into silly little banters and don't they always start that way? But when Julie admitted to Finn that she's falling for him, he reciprocated by saying he feels the same. No big deal. That is until that kiss between Julie and Matt. What's with siblings falling for the same person, ya? I really don't get that. Seriously, it's a little icky. So anyway, this was a dilemma for Julie. She likes Finn but what would she do about that kiss with Matt? Awkward. Finn and Matt are both adorable in their own ways and choosing between the two is quite a dilemma and even more than that since they're brothers.

I loved the book and this little twist at the end which I have been suspecting all along. I've always been second-guessing movie and book endings and I reckon I'm getting better at it. It may not be right on target this time but I was so close to hitting it already.

LOVE IS LAGABLAB NG PEBRERO

The love month is almost done. Yep, this is one of those time-flies-so-fast posts. Time is just so doggone quick that it is almost imperative to express disbelief at how each day whizzes by. Siguro nga ganoon talaga 'pag tumatanda ka na. Anyway, this is round-up the little events that took place the past few weeks.

♥ Being AD's official photographer, was up early to "cover" a wedding in Antipolo. This was the first wedding we did where the preparations took place in the bride's house. I always wonder why does the bride have to check in at a hotel and incur additional expenses when she can do so in the comfort of her own home, but now I know why. Haha. Anyway, I wasn't able to take any pictures. I dropped my bag and the camera hit the floor. When I tried to take a picture of the bride and her dress, my camera wouldn't click. The camera's okay. It was the lens that was broken. Buti na lang.

i ♥ road trips.
picture taken by my phone's cam, btw.

♥ Nanny duties. My nephews come over almost everyday so they can play outside on the streets and not stay holed up in their room all day. I enjoy my time with my nephews although sometimes those two could get very, very exhausting. They're really adorable but sometimes it's too much that it's bordering on pestering me by taking whatever they can with their hands and playing with it- scissors, staplers, paper cutters! But at the end of the day, their pestering will always be adorable to me.

♥ Valentine's tradition with A. It didn't start out as a tradition. Just noticed that we met up the exact same day for two consecutive years and did the same things- eat and watch cheesy Tagalog movie. So I thought, why not make it a tradition. Too bad because I was really craving for some pork tonkatsu, but it was a Wednesday so merienda was just a cheese pizza at Sbarro. Our mandatory cheesy Pinoy flick was Coco Martin & Julia Montes' A Moment in Time. In fair, it was okay. I didn't expect it to be good but maybe that's why I was not disappointed was because I didn't expect much of it. Coco's P&F deficiency was actually consistent with his character, but the lisp was a bit distracting.

♥ The box arrived! Not-so-new magazines and my nail polish stash. I loooove my nail polish stash- Sally Hansen and Essie bottles aplenty. Sometimes I get possessive of my nail polish and I get a case of separation anxiety when it's time to deliver them the the nail spa. I am resisting the urge to open and sample each and every color. Aaaargh.

♥ Christmas gift for the parents arrived. It was super late Christmas gift for the 'rents but I guess the wait was well worth it. They loved it and I'm happy they did. It was a photobook of their Palawan travel last year. It was less expensive than what I used to give them for the past few years but my parents always liked those gifts we made ourselves. So even if technically I only did the layout for this, it still counts as "handmade" and made with love :) They're going on a Bohol trip this March and I know what I've giving them next Christmas! Haha.

♥ Met up with Ice yesteday. Last time we saw each other was a year ago and it's just high time that we do a follow up. After a Sbarro meal (again! but had baked ziti this time), we watched a Bruce Willis movie- A Good Day to Die Hard. The first Die Hard movie I've seen ever. My only memory of Die Hard was that computer game with the same name that needs about 4 floppy disks so you could play it. I never got to finish the game successfully. And oh, she forgot to bring the nail polish so we're meeting up again next week.

That's it for now. The month's not yet over so I reckon more of my life's little events to follow. Summer soon!

2013 BOOK CHALLENGE 9/35: LOVE AT FIRST CLICK

Hayley, the school paper's official photographer, has been crushing on Flynn who is on the school's football team. Hayley happens to have a twin sister, Breeze, who is her total opposite, happens to look better than her and was dating Jared, the football team's star player. Jared broke up with Breeze to focus on his game. Flynn has been injured during one of the matches therefore, cannot play and can just watch from the sidelines. During one football game, Flynn and Breeze quickly became an item.

Hayley may be a bit disappointed that her gorgeous sister snagged the object of her crush and that said object doesn't know her even if she's in his face most of time time taking his pictures. But maybe that's because her face is behind the camera. But after hanging out with Flynn every time he waits for Breeze to get ready during date nights, Hayley's  little crush is turning into a full-fledged one. She discovers that there is much more than the vapid jock she thought Flynn was.

Now, about the book.

It was a cute romance story but still Flynn used to date her sister. Technically, Hayley has dibs on Flynn but her sister still dated him. Okay, it's forgivable because Flynn only fake-dated Breeze. Although, doesn't that make things worse because he made a fool out of Breeze? But if it's okay with Breeze who seems to be the vapid one, then I guess Hayley and Flynn can go on with their relationship. This kind of love affair will only be okay in fiction and in movies and will always be scandalous in real life.

But I loved it. I live for giddiness, y'all, and Love at First Click has just that. It may feel that this jocks-falling- for- 'ordinary'- girls may be one of those stereotype YA book themes but romances like it gets me every time.

2013 BOOK CHALLENGE 8/35: THIS IS A LOVE STORY

I judge a book by its cover. Literally.

I remember the day when I first saw this book on the shelves of Powerbooks. It was in Greenbelt- that 2-storey Powerbooks branch right at the cusp of Landmark and Greenbelt 3. My sister and I were going to have lunch together and I was killing time while waiting for her to go on break. From afar, I see this tiffany-blue-colored book cover and when I came closer, there pretty little birds too so it was basically love at first sight. I immediately flipped the book over to read the blurb (so that's what it's called) ...

This is a love story. 

Boy meets girl and girl falls for boy- that much is true.But when Sienna meets Nick it's not the way it happens in love stories. It's because of a squirrel on water skis...She sees Nick's dangerous brown eyes and thinks, don't fall into them.Who will be there to catch Sienna when she falls? She is so fragile. She has so many secrets, and he is not that serious.Funny and sad, this is the story of two people designed never to come together in the great love affair they crave more than anything else.

and I was smitten. But I wouldn't let impulsivity get the best of me and my budget, it is after all P315. Sorry I'm a cheapskate and I wouldn't want to spend P315 on a bad book, so I would have to do some research work like read book reviews and check its rating on Goodreads before I buy it. After a few months when I finally decided that I would buy it, it was out of stock EVERYWHERE. As in, in all bookstores. Then a few more months later, I passed by Powerbooks in Megamall and saw this beautiful book on the window display and I knew I just had to get it already and to my luck, they were on sale! I had it with me since August 2012 but got to reading it only this February 2013. Now that I am retelling my love affair with this book, it seems to parallel the story of Nick and Sienna.

Sienna first saw Nick in one of her daily commutes to work. She saw him and thought he was cute (according to the blurb, Sienna was falling in love with Nick right at that moment she saw his eyes but I think it's just a crush. Kakakita mo lang, love agad-agad? Yes that's me channeling Vice Ganda :P) but before she could make pa-cute further, he was gone. Pero sabi nga mapagbiro si Fate, Nick was actually working in the same company that Sienna is working in. Their closeness began during that Florida convention they were both assigned to and for five years, for five frickin' years, they were torturing themselves.

You see, Sienna likes Nick. And Nick likes Sienna. But both of them think that the other doesn't think of them in that way. So as not to hurt what they had going on for them, which was their friendship, either of them didn't dare come clean about their feelings for one another. I swear I could have died of frustration from reading this book. This was even more frustrating than The Time Traveler's Wife. It was so damn frustrating because you know they love and pine for the other SO MUCH,  as in so much, it hurts. As in gusto ko silang saktan dahil ang dense nilang parehas.

What I liked about the book is it was told both from Nick's & Sienna's point of view. One scene or event happening from their respective points of view and both of them are pining for the other so badly right at that same moment but neither of them would dare to make a move. So frustrating. As I've said, they were too afraid to lose what she/he already has with the other.

And you know what else I loved about this book? Quotable quotes galore. Saksak-puso quotes, to be exact. And I, being a quote-whore, of course took note of my favorites:

Being this close to him was so torturous I could have cried, but at the same time I was happy. It was bittersweet. (S)

This was it. It was pulse-racing, heart-wrenching, dizzying love. The kind that touches every one of your nerve endings and renders you almost insane. The kind I could not give into easily because it already hurt like hell before lift-off.

Her lips touched the back of my neck ever so slightly and it set my heart on fire. I didn't sleep a wink. It felt like all my birthdays had come at once.

"Er, Si, I didn't even know you were here," I bullshitted, even though I felt sure she must be able to hear the broken shards of my heart tinkling onto the floor. 

And here is my favorite~

Thank God for peripheral vision.

Because it's so relatable. Ha ha.

I loooooooved it so much. This has got to be one of my favorite books for, like, ever. Right there with Shanghai Baby, The Time Traveler's Wife, the Jessica Darling series and The Prisoner of Azkaban. Maybe it helped that I stopped myself from making expectations from this book. The love story sounded tragic. It's so funny that I was thinking that this story would never end right (ie. they end up together) but at the same time, I was hoping that they would. During the last few pages, I was so convinced that the blurb would be true to its word and never let them be together and have an ending like One Day.

But just like my love story with this book, Nick & Sienna's love story was worth the wait.

A Tribute to Emily Owens MD

Sometimes we wish we should not have met some people, gone to some places or in my case, started watching some TV series. Emo much? Ha. But you see, I used to have this mentality that I should not want anything too much because I always end up not getting what I want or I get to enjoy it only for a wee bit and then it's taken away from me. I sort of outgrew that mentality and am into Positivity now but when it comes to my favorite TV series, the ones I'm very very passionate about always get canceled. Why?

The first series I was heavily obsessed with was Chuck. I loved Chuck. I loved Sarah. I loved Casey. And Ellie & Capt. Awesome. I loved Buy More and even the morons that came with it. It was unconditional love and even if sort of got repetitive, it was a good show. Fortunately it lasted five seasons but technically, it was more like 3½ because it's two full and 3 half seasons. I used to be obsessed with Gossip Girl, too, but it got too incredible and too promiscuous but still, unconditional love y'all! And now my latest love- Emily Owens, MD. It was a verrry recent discovery because I started watching it just two weeks ago.

I first caught it on a local cable channel, by force. My sister got dibs on the remote control so I had to watch whatever she's watching. If it were up to me, I would have been watching History Channel or the Crime & Investigation Channel. My sister doesn't really watch Emily Owens, it just so happened that at that moment we got into the episode too much that we end up finishing the show. I'd say it was serendipity ♥

Initially, I was superduper thankful cos I thought, "whoopdeedoo, there are already 11 episodes out which means I don't have to wait too long for the new ones. The waiting time would be cut short from watching all these fabulous episodes I've yet to watch," and because I get a little obsessive about my favorite things, I ended up googling everything about it and that's when I found out that the show has been canceled.

What a bummer.

Star-crossed lovers. That's me and Chuck. Me and Emily Owens, MD. We love each other (technically, it is one-sided but since I'm a big fan, I'm assuming the series personality as a whole loves me) but we can't be together. Our love was short-lived, but as they say, better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. They died a tragic death while I'm left here on Earth mourning their demise.

So what really got me into this series is the promise of a love triangle and secret crushes. I craaaave stories of secret crushes! And of course, the obvious- Will (Justin Hartley).

The gist is Emily Owens is an intern at the Jeffersonian Denver Memorial Hospital, together with her med-school crush and close friend, Will Collins, and her high school nemesis, Cassandra Kopelson. Emily was sort of a geek in high school and she hated Cassandra for tormenting her back then and calling her "Pits," which she still called her up until now that they're full-grown adults and doctors, at that.

Emily has been crushing on Will for, like, ever and because of a voice call Will sent her one drunken night, she thought may be Will was also into her. So to set things straight, she confessed to him. Only, he doesn't feel the same which leaves Emily hurt and rejected. And to add insult to injury, it is Cassandra that Will has been eyeing. After Emily's embarrassing confession, she and Will remained close friends which is a reason behind Cassandra's insecurity.

Maybe Cassandra sensed what we all knew right from the very start- that Will was also into Emily, he was just not aware of it at the time.

he was always, as in ALWAYS, there for her and that was even after she professed love for him

okay, this was when he woke up & smiled when saw emily sleeping on the next bed & again, this was after emily's confession. there's hope that not all cute men are asshats. 

but man, you're such a tease. you know the girl has been pining for you.

All the while Emily's focus was on Will (and his abs), Micah was clearly attracted to her. Emily's not exactly pretty but she's really cute. She sort of grows on you. So anyway, Micah may have been dating Dr. Hamata during the first few episodes but we can already sense a little flirtation going on between Emily and him. Even if I am predominantly on #TeamWill, when Micah finally decided to make the moves on Emily, I was on giddiness heaven. Seriously, the way he would look at her- ugh, will make every girl melt.

After the kiss, these two were acting all cute which was not oblivious to Dr. Will Collins. Guess Will's ego was badly bruised when Emily told him she's finally over him. You always want what you don't have and Emily has always loved him and now that she's finally moved on, he wants her back. If I were Emily, this is really a tough decision to make. Ugh. They always come in twos, don't they?

I was actually surprised that there were more people on #TeamMicah than on #TeamWill. I thought good looks and abs win over nice... apparently, nice wins this time. But you see, Will is not not nice. He is very nice. He just happens to be very good-looking and buffed at the same time. And smart, by the way. It is not his fault he [thinks] he doesn't feel that way about Emily. I do not think that it was a douche-y move on his part what happened during the last episode. He just realized he likes Emily for real. But I guess we'll never know for sure, huh? Sucks.

You know what else sucks balls- Dr. Gina Bandari on vacation on the show's very last episode. WTF? Dr. Bandari's my favorite character, [well, after Emily and Will] and not being on the series' final episode is just wrong. She's my favorite lady boss. I like her better than Jessica Pearson. Fine, she is scary and cold but I feel it is just a front. Give the lady a break, after all she's busy saving lives and I totally get why she wants to keep some distance from her patients. Getting heavily involved meant making one very vulnerable.

Gina Bandari sounds a lot like Cherie Gil. I can just imagine her saying, "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat." Ha. Necar Zadegan, the actress who plays Dr. Bandari, is the same age as me. Shock me, right? She looks older than her age but she's very pretty. I looove the eyebrows. I want her eyebrows- so easy to shape. Omigosh, she's my lady boss inspiration. Haha.

I guess everyone who's into this series knows how this ended so technically I am not spoiling it for others. This happens~

emily, meet abs ;)

What?!? Emily has been pining for this sweet, handsome, nice and smart boy forever and this opportunity comes... of course, she should take it! See what's the all the fuss about and if she likes it, she gets to keep it. Hehe. As I've mentioned, a lot were disappointed that she got on the Will train, most especially that it really seemed she and Micah were getting somewhere. I've been on Twitterverse since this afternoon and according to the show's creator, Emily was always gonna sleep with Will on the 13th, but on the 22nd she will with Micah. But we will never get to 22. FRAKKIT.

I hope another network picks up this series SOON because that wasn't an ending. I want an ending. And this series very much deserves a full season, at the very least. For crying out loud, 90210 has five frickin' seasons. Five! And they're just a bunch of horny, sexually-active, promiscuous teenagers and we already have Gossip Girl for that. I'm so disappointed. If a second season was really not viable, they should have at least done all 24 episodes for the first. At least give it a decent farewell. So to CW, I'm thinking of a phrase that begins with an 'F' and ends with an 'F.' Would you like to buy a vowel? [credits to Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang] 

I'm really really disappointed and I can't let go just yet. This was too awesome to stop now. I guess they should have started sleeping around with each other, hopping from one nurse or doctor to another to make this show rate. Sucks.

PS. Mamie Gummer (Emily) is Meryl Streep's daughter. IKR??!? Could one be starstruck from knowing a fact? Okay. Nevermind.

"I want to be someone's first choice."

--Emily Owens

2013 BOOK CHALLENGE 7/35: CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG

Because I enjoyed Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and I do enjoy Chelsea Lately when I catch it on TV, so I added her books to my to-read list.

When I was younger, I didn't really get American humor. I remember watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall and thinking 'this is not funny and why did this movie #1?' At that moment, I finally made peace that I do not get American humor and will never get American Dad and Saturday Night Live (just like how I thought Conan O' Brien's annoying and not funny). So much to my amazement when one day I was watching a re-run of SNL on cable and I was laughing. That changed it for me and I've learned to appreciate and enjoy American humor. Maybe it's from watching too much US TV series...

So yes I like Chelsea Handler even if I do find her a little crass. She is crass, yet funny still. So about the book- I found it a little boring. Maybe I was expecting much about it and being my expectations are usually exorbitant, it somehow fell short of my expectations. I like being delighted & surprised which only happens when there are no expectations.

So anyway, assuming this is really Chelsea in real life, I wonder how does she get away with being a smart mouth? I mean, she's mean and she gets away with it. Goodness, they even think about euthanizing their own father which  may be only okay because they're his kids but when other people do it, I'm sure they'd get mad. Though I feel Ted's super nice. I was sort of rooting for them and before I googled them to find out how Ted looks like and if they're still together, I'm hoping they still are. Sadly, they're not. I really liked Ted.

P.S. Notice that the book doesn't have 'love' in its title and not in keeping with my February theme, but that's because I started this book last week of January and I only finished it now. My first official Feb-themed book is Jessica Thompson's This Is A Love Story and I've been itching to read this one for the longest time so I need to remind myself- No Expectations!

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

One down, eleven to go. January was okay but not okay-okay although I was a little sulky and emo-ish, which I blame on the weather and the abrupt change of pace. I do love it that I got to rest but rest always came with the guilt that I am not doing something productive.

The start of the year had always brought me employee woes and business slowdowns, but thankfully, this year didn't start off like that. There was a little of that but not too much that would send me into a panic frenzy. There was bad news but I think I'd cross the bridge when I get there. Still there are a lot of things to be grateful for:

♥ Finally getting rest. December was busy and craaaazy (which I love, btw) and very much fulfilling but of course rest is also essential. Without delivery deadlines, I was able to fix my stuff, my side of the room, read books, meet up with friends (which I didn't get to do last December) and catch up on my missed TV series.

ze bed: December 2012
I sleep on the area where the pillows are

ze bed: February 2013
life's little pleasure- sleeping on fresh set of sheets

I just don't know how long it would stay that way. Haha. Seriously, my bed is also my office. And ooh, I used to have blinds in my window but now I also put sheer curtains over the blinds and I love the effect! Parang it has an earthy feel. The sunlight that comes into the room isn't that too harsh and direct anymore.

seriously, does this look like a 30-year-old's room?
can you spot Oprah? hehe

Me love me room. Really really really hope I could keep this up but looking at it now, the clutter is starting again. Must. Resist. Strewing. Everything. On. The. Bed.

♥ Speaking of TV series... I finally got to watch my beloved series and I am not done yet. Still on Bones episodes I missed. Saving GG's final episode last (and I need to do it before Monday because on Monday I am officially ending my lazy arse's vacay). Aside from my mainstay series, added 2 more titles to those I follow religiously- Bunheads and Emily Owens MD. I didn't really give a shit about Emily Owens MD even when I saw it being shown in commercials again and again on ETC because 1) the lead star isn't pretty enough to catch my attention, and 2) I never really got into medical dramas. But one fateful morning, while preparing to go somewhere and the TV's on ETC and Emily Owens was on and my sister has the remote control, I had no choice but to watch what she was watching. Just one episode and I was in love. With Will. Ha. But the sad part is (actually, depressing siya) the show's already canceled. Meaning no second season. Boo.

♥ Free coffee!

Not courtesy of the planner coupons which seriously are getting lamer and lamer every year. All those money spent and calories gained (CALORIES GAINED!!!) and I don't even get a free mocha frap? Upgrades won't cut it. So anyway, AS gave me her Starbucks receipt which gets you a free tall drink after you answer an online survey. Whoopdeedoo ☺ Not absolutely free cos I still paid P15 to make it grande but still...

♥ Playtime with the nephews ☺

FUN ☺
but realizing how too much of a responsibility having kids are,
the more I think I don't want to have my own
sabi ko nga selfish ako. 

I love love love my nephews. But I am not a spoiler. I can't be a spoiler because I'm too kuripot to be one and I want them to grow up responsible and know the value of work. I was raised up like that and I want them to have the same regard for money as we did in this household- you work for your own luho. Seriously, 10-year-old's getting iPhone5s for Christmas is appalling.

♥ I've finally gotten myself a new computer!

She's pretty, no? Ang katas ng kilikili ko. Haha. Sana mas marami pang katasin ang aking kilikili :P But here's the catch- I don't have her yet. Had my sister buy it for me because supposedly it was on sale pero actually I think I still bought it full price. Sana lang makuha yung rebate para kasi $100 din yun no! But still... can't wait to get my hands on it. Aaaaaagh!

So there my gratitude list for January 2013. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of things. I promised myself to keep an old school gratitude journal where I'd write at least three things I'm thankful for everyday, but when you impose on yourself kasi it starts feeling like a chore. Though I think I still have to do it just to remind me how lucky I am.

February 4, 2013- I officially start my "new year." No more staying in bed until 9am- back to 7am call times, haha :P Batas militar tayo dito. Also, to push myself to do kahit at least 20 jumping jacks a day. At least, it's a start.

When you're open to receiving them, 

the possibilities just keep on coming.

-- galing kay Mareng Oprah