I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

You know, it is terrifying how time flies eerily fast. I don't know if that feeling comes as one ages or maybe it's just me. Parang kailan lang kakasimula pa lang ng February, yet here we are just two sleeps away from a brand new month. Scary.

So here's my update of what I've been up to this February and you'll see that my life consists mainly of food, worrying, books and oh, food.

So first things first- I finally took the commercial space. I am renting it for the nail spa. Fight kung fight. I think I can do this and you know what they say- the first step is BELIEVING YOU CAN. Oh yes I am going to think this positive all the way and of course, santong dasalan. All-out-effort. So help me God.

Now, on to the other stuff. Work-life balance, y'know.

Lola X was here for Chinese New Year. I think they had a long weekend vacation for CNY in Singapore so she had time to come home. In fernez ha, I already saw Lola X twice and it's only the second month of the year. We headed to Binondo the 18th of February, day before Chinese New Year.

And since we are creatures of habit, we ate at Wai Ying AGAIN.

Pero, in fair, instead of our default order of lemon chicken and pork siomai, we ordered soy chicken and shrimp chong fan. Staple na ang hakaw, non-negotiable na siya. Soy chicken was muy delicioso también but I swear they must have used MSG galore because I got dizzy after the meal. And since we do not use MSG at home, I think mas may effect sa akin.

Thursday, Feb 20, I had a scheduled meeting with a prospective client which was at 11 am. As usual, I was late. Re-scheduled meeting at 1pm so we had lunch first at SM North Edsa. We ate at Brickfire, a steak and chops restaurant, and here's what we ordered.

nasobrahan sa pagka-well done pero masarap pa din
and at P140, sulit ☺

first time to eat medium rare and i loved it ♥

And Feb 21 was A and my Valentine tradition. For three years, pre-BF era, A and I would usually go out before Valentine's day- eat out, watch a movie (usually a cheesy Tagalog rom-com) and coffee. However, this year was different. This year A was with BF so our tradition was held after Valentines although I think it was indecisiveness which led to breaking the tradition of a pre-Valentine celeb.

We had lunch at the Mega Food Hall. I had the grilled pork liempo with paella-jambalaya. It was okay although I should've opted for the marinara paella.

umm.. parang regular kanin lang naman siya with flavor

Dessert after lunch and yes, gluttony is my favorite sin.

Tried Tuan Tuan for the first time and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to like it. Primarily because I am not a fan of teas and bread and anything that is overpriced. Still overpriced, in my opinion, but I enjoyed it though. Galit ako sa pera ngayon. Haha.

Movie afterwards. We wanted to watch Fifty Shades of Grey but alas, they didn't have it in Megamall. We watched The Last Five Years and I loved it. Again, no expectations and I really thought that this was a romcom. It was a heavy subject matter and that ending was frustrating. I complained it was open-ended to which A pointed out that I like. And I do. At this point in my life lang, I want feel-good anything.

I loved the movie. As in super. When I got home, I spent my entire waking hours watching You Tube videos of The Last Five Years and then some more the entire Sunday. I do have an addictive personality. So A and I analyzed the movie. We thought it was sad and that it the fall-out was more of Cathy's doing. Even at the start she was already this negative ball of energy who wouldn't share in Jamie's successes. I mean she's allowed to sulk but as a wife, she should be happy for Jamie as well. Jamie feels as if he can't be truly happy for what he has accomplished for fear that it might be as if he's rubbing salt into Cathy's injury. But of course, Jamie's not without fault. He did cheat on Cathy and I absolutely get why Cathy got mad when Jamie wouldn't spend her birthday with her in Ohio and chose to go back to NY for a party. I think Jamie still could've rescued her; he just chose not to. She's a brick and he's drowning slowly, to borrow the lyrics from a Ben Folds Five song.

So after all my energy was drained after feeling all that emotion, we needed to eat again. Haha. I was craving for takoyaki.

But of course we didn't have just takoyaki. We also had bulgogi nachos and I had strawberry black tea. Bochog.

Sunday. Inihaw na baboy for lunch, mi favorito ☺ But the highlight of my day was...

Jaime called me at 6:30 telling me he had available tickets to watch the show live but I had to be there by 7:30. And I haven't taken a bath yet. Pero umabot. We were there 8pm. The show started 9pm. Grabe one hour ang hintay but that was fun ☺ I hope by some twist of good fate (mine), there'll be available tickets for tomorrow's finals.

Monday was Divi day again with ze cousin. Original plan was visit Ama Jo with Lola X. But since my cousin was in for the weekend and she had the Monday off, I asked if she wanted to go to divi with me. I really really really wanted to have lunch at Wai Ying but because I've been having these headaches after eating scrumptious Chinese food, we opted to eat at Sincerity. Chinese food pa rin pero hindi ako nahilo. Good ☺

I liked the rice. Yung chicken, which is their specialty, so-so lang.

Visited Ama Jo after. Saw picture of the myomas removed from her uterus. Let's just say I'm not eating chicharong bulaklak anytime soon or.... ever.

So that's it pansit. More to follow ☺

90%

 Because I need further coaxing...

 

I am a little embarrassed that I am making decisions based on my horoscope. I just need a sign, a push to make me do this. I'm scared. Pero ang pera nga naman ay kinikita. And in times, like this--

Hay ang cheesy man but I will do this. I can do this. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. And here's another motivation I found yesterday

WAAAAAAAHHHH!! The uncertainty of it all is killing me. Please please please pray for me.

2015 Reading Challenge: Me Before You

via Goodreads

Just a few hours away from Valentine's Day and I am here stuck at home silently crying from what I just read. Wow. That was one depressing yet beautiful story. It's been quite a while since I last read something like it.

Funny that I almost didn't read this book because I thought it was too dismal for me and my mood nowadays which is a little unstable, so to speak. Hah. But I reckon I needed a little deviation from my usual YA reads. (Yes, reckon talaga. In keeping with the book's English vibe). A love story still because it's the month of loooove after all ☺

I loved it. I loved the story. I loved all the characters- no exception. I loved Lou and even though I see her as somewhat a manic-pixie-dream-girl-ish type (characters I am not really very fond of), I have endeared myself to her. Even if life didn't offer her much, she didn't act the part of a victim. Well, she did stay in that teeny tiny space because her sister and nephew needed more space and I don't see that as Lou being a pushover. Just goes to show that she's very considerate. Will, on the other hand, was someone who, at first, wasn't very likable but maybe because he really was being a difficult person. Frustration can do that to a person; what more to Will who had access to everything and anything given his wealth and good looks (well, good looks can get you far in life).

All the time, while I was reading the book- I kept on waiting where the love story would kick in. It wasn't until almost the end of the book that it was spelled for us. At first I thought Will has just grown fond of Louisa because I think it is possible for a person to be fond of another without romantic feelings attached. Ditto in Lou's case. Just like Will and Nathan's relationship. But towards the end, we witness how their feelings have subtly evolved into something beautiful.

To cut the long story short, Will's this quadriplegic guy who wants to die via assisted suicide. He promised his parents six months. This is where Louisa steps in- she was hired by the family as Will's carer- they needed someone bubbly and optimistic, someone who could change Will's mind. I wanted Will to change his mind but at the same I was thinking that he wouldn't because that would be so predictable and too fairy tale-ish.

At the end, I wasn't exactly ugly crying- it was actually more subdued than when I was crying over Eleanor & Park- but man, that was some heavy stuff.

Kawawang Louisa. She just took the job because at that time she just wanted to have a job and this job paid lots of moolah but she ends up brokenhearted. I mean, how do you get over that? Now I understand why Mrs. Traynor always wears that pinched expression on her face. I mean, how can you let someone you love do that to himself. In the end, as Will said, it was still his decision to make.

There was nothing left for me to do. Do you know how hard it is to say nothing?
When every atom of you strains to do the opposite? 

I do think it was selfish of Will to subject his loved ones to such an ordeal. But then again it was also selfish of Mrs. Traynor, Louisa and the others to also impose on Will when he clearly doesn't want to go on. Tama si Louisa for being angry, for asking Will that if he really loves her, 'isn't she enough?' for him to want to keep on living?

And finally, my head pressed into the pillow, I cried, because my lifesuddenly seemed so much darker and more complicated than I could ever haveimagined, and I wished I could go back, back to when my biggest worry was whether Frank and I had ordered in enough Chelsea buns.

Eto ang book na talagang "all the feels." If ever they make this into a movie, I think I wouldn't want to watch it. Masakit sa puso. But man, that was beautiful. Five stars.

P.S. Wait lang. I need a pick-me-upper. Sinimulan to ng If I Die video ng mga shortlisted volunteers who want to go to Mars. Sinundan ng Gravity kanina. I feel sad. I need to watch The DUFF already!!!

25% Pa

I really need to post something about what I do in real life (baka kasi wala, haha) and not just about books and TV series. Of course, I can still laugh right now but deep inside I am a mess. Not emotionally. This is not about existential crisis per se but sometimes it leads to that. So anyway here's what's eating me.

Remember the nail spa? Remember how we were evicted from our original location? And remember how we relocated it in our house extension? Well to cut the long story short, the business isn't doing very good. There were days when we'd only have one client. We recover our operating expenses from our weekend sales which isn't really that much but you see, rent is free and electricity charges are lower compared when we were in the plaza. But I know it's not enough. Even one of my employees stopped coming to work and I'm still mad about that because she didn't stick with me "through thick and thin." But we must always remember that things happen for a reason. Baka nga good riddance na din.

So anyway. My sisters and I are thinking of renting this space along the main street and this space just happens to cost 15K monthly. Hindi kinakaya ng puso ko. As in. Imagine- from 0 rent to 15K monthly. It's a big leap and I'm not sure yet if I can do this- but I wouldn't know until I try, right? I'm 75% decided on relocating to the new spot. I even already withdrew the one month deposit and two months advance on rent. But gaaahd, so much money!!! I can't part with it yet.

Before I was 75% certain, my sister and I talked to my sister's friend's friend who owns a nail spa franchise. Hers is located in a mall so medyo hindi same circumstances but still we were able to get a gist of how the industry works, what are the industry norms and practices, if nail techs are really pasaway, etc. So medyo na-enlighten naman kami and medyo na-inspire and somewhat a little motivated to make this business work. I was actually thisclose to quitting it and concentrating on the scents business pero weder-weder pa rin yun so I think I'll have to make this nail spa biz work. And if I am going to shell out 15K monthly on rent pa lang- I better make it work, by hook or by crook!

I'm praying for it. I'm asking God to give me a sign whether or not to pursue this. When I woke up today, I asked God to give me a definite one, something that will not be misconstrued. And I turned to Pinterest for an answer (HA!) and this is what I got

so I thought to myself, "hmmm, this could be the sign I was asking for," but then thought that it wasn't clear enough. But what got me was the caption which read:

HELLO POSSIBILITIES; JUST BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO FOR IT

so maybe this is it, the sign I've been asking for ☺

Sabi ng mga mentors ko (kahit once pa lang kami nagkita at nagkausap, I will refer to them as my mentors, haha), at first hindi ka makakatulog talaga sa kakaisip at kung hindi ka na talaga makatulog, mag-sleeping pills ka na lang. Oh my. 

So I'm doing this- I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and letting my dreams scare me

source

I refuse to believe this before. I thought, why would I want to put myself in an uncomfortable spot? I don't know what made me want to raise the stakes. And oh, my horoscope din pala helped me decide for the relocation. Ngayon ko na maaapply ang naituro sakin ni Subido: "Higher risk, higher return." 

Please pray for me.  

2015 Reading Challenge: Isla and the Happily Ever After

sa right naman nang maiba
via Goodreads

The last book of the romance trilogy by Stephanie Perkins. I was expecting something more from this book because of the good reviews but I should've known better than to let my expectations spoil a good book. But don't get me wrong ha. I did enojy it and I actually like Isla (better than Lola). It's just I think things moved too fast. Yes, this is Lola Prude talking, ay, writing pala.

Okay. Given that Isla has liked Josh ever since their Freshman year so that makes it a total of four long years, I still think it's just too fast when everything happens within one month. And these, people, are seventeen-year-olds. Masyado pa silang baby, IMHO. And this actually reminds me not to let my future daughters read YA books- masyadong mapusok- and I don't want to give them any ideas. Haha.

Out of the series, my favorite still is Anna and the French Kiss and the most swoon-worthy boyfriend is still St. Clair. I think I liked Cricket pero pinakanakakakilig is Etienne. Well, I do think his character is really malandi. And out of all the female leads, my favorite is still Anna; the least, Lola. Isla, umm, Isla's okay. I think I liked her during the first half of the book when she was getting all giddy over Josh to which anyone who has had a crush can relate to.

Josh: So... you were serious? You wouldn't mind if I sketched you?
Isla: Yeah, I'd love that. I love youuuuuuuuu. What should I do?

Ang cute, no? But of course, sweet, "innocent" Isla isn't so innocent after all. Which was a little disappointing to Lola Prude aka me.

We've been only together for a month. How has it only been a month?

I also wonder about that, Isla. How has it only been a month yet in that span of time naisuko mo na sa kanya ang Bataan- sa España pa!

Literally

Three stars. And I thought the "rabbit rabbit" part was hilarious. Yes, I'm weird that way.

New Series Alert! Outlander

FINALLY! A new TV series I can obsess over ☺ 

But this is not the first time I've heard of it. Being part of my high school batchmates' book lovers group, I have been introduced to the title. There's this one girl, Anna, who "ships" the book series and was, sort of, cajoling, with a passion, the others to read the book as well (which reminds me of myself when I recommend that other read Rainbow Rowell's Attachments). Eh I am not a fan of romance novels a lá Judith McNaught and there's something about books that look like this~

which makes me snub them. Haha. I tend to like pretty covers (Yes I judge books by their covers) and if they're boring like that of above, ayoko na. Plus, I don't like period dramas/stories because, umm, I just don't. I find them boring and slow. So I DL'd the first episode- willing to give it a try although at the back of my head I thought it would suck and I wouldn't like it. I fell asleep even before the first episode ended. The next day, I was thisclose to deleting the next two episodes. Well, sayang naman download ko so might as well watch it. And boy, was I glad that I gave it a chance☺

Because now here I am gushing about the series. WAAAAAAAAAH!

Of course, the fact that James looks like this also helped

you deserve an extra large image here in my blog, you, sexy thaaaang ;)

Gaaaahd. Major ahjumma moment. Pero in fernez, mas matanda sa akin si koya ng two years. WHATEVER. But seriously, so far so good and I am loving the story. I don't think I'm going to read the books because I don't want to know what's going to happen next. I want to be surprised and delighted. 

i know how you feel, kermit

And and and I think Jamie and Clare do love each other as early as now even if they claim they're not and that the love developed eventually. Baaaah. Nobody holds hands and stares at each other like THAT 

Like THIS!!!

without being in love. Gaaah, I love you James! Haha. If Clare doesn't want, you can protect me with your badeeeeeh. So, umm, that's just a reference to something that was said on the show and not my own words, mind you. Hahahaha! 

So yeah I'm in love with this series and this is how I felt yesterday after watching all eight episodes in two sittings

I notice I have a penchant for time traveling ek-ek. Well, Time Traveler's Wife lang naman and this one. And oh, both female protagonists are named Clare. Grabe I'm such a genius. Haha. Episode 9, please!!!

2015 Reading Challenge: Never Too Far

I take it all back. I mentioned here- Fallen Too Far post- na hindi masyado ma-issue si Blaire, but now I am taking it back. Sus etong babaeng ito ay isang example ng isang taong madaling kausap.

Anyway, I think everything happened TOO SOON. Personally, I feel they should've explored further her relationship with Cain before she went back to Rosemary Beach again. And I also think that she's not really serious about shutting Rush out of her life cos if she is, why on earth would she go back to where he is? Ang lola mo simpleng malandi din. But seriously, I really wish they prolonged the chase a little bit. I guess, patience is not one of today's kids's virtues. Sige na Blaire, ikaw na ang fertile.

Also one of my reactions while listening to the book- PUEDE BA YUN?!?!?!? As in. Naloka ako. Sa palagay ko hindi pa puedeng maging parents ang dalawang 'to.

Dear Blaire,

I am very disappointed in you.

And Rush. A lot are swooning over Rush Finlay and I don't know why. You see, I am not immune to bad-boy-charms as evidenced by my infatuation over Marcus Flutie but at least Marcus doesn't start every sentence with an expletive.

So umm... it was okay but I think I won't be picking up Book Three anytime soon.