Chuva I'm Grateful For: 2018 Q1

I'm back after a two-month hiatus. The usual- been busy with life and Korean dramas and Gardenscapes. This is my quarterly gratitude list (at least I'll try to make one every quarter), entonces...

(1) I'm still ever so grateful for all the orders we've been getting. I never really thought I'd get into this line of business and it was all some kind of serendipity, actually. If not for the nail spa, I wouldn't have actually discovered this "career." And if not for not having the money to buy my friends gifts during that Christmas, I wouldn't have "explored" other options and made lip balms for them. See, everything works out in the end. Not that this is the end for me. It's just the beginning and things are looking up. Think positive lang, mga besh!

(2) Finding a skincare regimen that is working for me FOR REALZZZZ. Take note, hindi lang dalawa, hindi lang tatlo kundi apat (APAT!!) ang letter Z ko!! I'm that ecstatic for finally FINALLY finding something that's hiyang. Hindi siya cheap but definitely worth it. I've always said that my skin needs alcohol. Well, at that time I just haven't found the right products. I'm still sort of  doing the kagillions-step skincare regimen, that is if I'm not too lazy to do all or most of the steps.

Those are my skin savers! Most especially Thayers Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Toner ♥ Also loving The Ordinary's Niacinamide and Realix Labs's Advanced Peptide Serum (slobong from AB). Well at first nakakatamad talaga, most especially on days when you're super tired and sleepy and just want to crash on your bed. Sanayan lang. I think I just need to find a good pressed powder so I won't need to put on foundation before I leave the house. 

I can't bloody believe that I have almost-empties: Cosrx's Salicylic Acid Facial Wash and Cosrx's Galactomyces Alcohol-Free Toner. I think I've never finished a bottle of any product I use on my face ever kasi nga hindi naman sila masyado okay sa skin ko. So it's really surprising that I stuck to a regimen,,. and that there are products that really work wonders. Next on my to-try list: Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop, TIA'M My Signature Red C Serum, The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and also their Alpha Arbutin serum. 

(3) The little girl is staying with us. 

Ze yaya left one month ago, hence ze baby has been staying with us for one month already. She brings so much joy to our household kahit mej masungit siya. Haha! Sabi nga ni daddy, ang sound ng tawa niya is music to our ears. OHA! Minsan lang magsabi ng ganyan tatay ko. May aagaw na sa trono ko sa pagiging peborit. LOL. 

Since her parental units haven't found any luck in finding a replacement yet, the old yaya is allegedly coming back. Que horror. I hope when she does come back, the little girl's parental units will, this time around, impose on her what's good for the kid and not just for their convenience (yung tipong kiber nila sa anak nila basta andun sila sa basketbolan o kung saan mang ganap na). 

(4) The construction (or renovation) of the house is almost done. Unting kembot na lang mga besh!!! And my lungga is now connected to the second floor (where my room is) which means mas mabilis nang kunin ang anik anik which also means burning less calories. Patay. And now I have a nook where I can put my boxes of stock bottles in! I love my parents!! Kahit sabihin pa ni Mommy na paparentahan niya sa akin yung extension... HINDI SIYA MAGWAWAGI!! BWAHAHAHA!!! 

(5) I have another "assistant." It's a luxury for me, actually. My original sidekick (O.S.) and I can do everything as of the moment but since said O.S. has been very emotera recently (uuwi na lang daw siya sa probinsya, pagod na siya (at 22 years old!!!) eklavu) and I want to be ready if ever matuloy na chumever na siya. Well I just hope the new girl will actually stay for a long time. I have grand plans for this business. Already paid for 2 bazaars for Christmas season 2018. I pray for more good bazaar opportunities to come :D

So there, those were the stuff I'm grateful for this 1st Quarter of 2018 which flew by ever so quickly. I have SO MUCH MORE to be thankful for I'm sure but these were the ones at the top of my head. 

Ang Mga Ganap at Hanash: Q1 2017

I wanted to post more often than I did the past few months but I was able to post just once last month. Lately, my posts per month numbers to three, tops. The most I've posted was May last year and that was only six posts. I really want to keep this online journal updated because it reminds me of stuff that have happened a kagillion light years ago, how I was feeling this time three years ago. I find keeping this journal easier than a written one- though I also try to keep one. I like the idea of being able to post pictures and embed videos and songs.

Anyway, since the first quarter of 2017 is done (that was fast, no?) here's my Gratitude List for the first three months of the year.

Big orders! 

Sabi nga ni Mareng Oprah, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Got two big orders just this Q1 and I'm ever so grateful to God and to my lucky stars (and crystals)! Well, one big account didn't reorder last year (what a bummer), but I have this new shizz so it's all good. Hopefully, may dumagdag. I need these accounts during off-peak months which is 75% of the time. And worth mentioning also are the not-so-big but keeps-me-afloat orders. These are the 30 to 50 pieces for birthdays, baptisms, etc.

Another pop-up!

What was supposed to be a holiday thing is now a permanent thing (at least for now) and even after the holidays, I'm glad that the stocks are moving naman. Well, they still didn't give my my sales since December 5 but I know they're going to remit those soon. Sana lang. Haha. And aside from the temporary going permanent, I joined another pop-up near UST. Actually, the gig's a little iffy since it is not in a matao na lugar. I hope okay naman. My hopes are up!!!

I now have a niece!

After four boys, I now have a niece. I call her ahjumma since she reminds me of an elderly Korean woman. She's only four months but looks like she's seven months old. She's BIG. And cute in her own ahjumma-ish way :P I can't wait until she's more interactive ☺ Cos right now she's just doing a lot of sleeping and milk-drinking. Occasionally, she laughs at my dance numbers (feeling ko lang) and she's a huge fan of my singing (her favorite is my rendition of A Whole New World). And have I mentioned that she sleeps with me (on my bed!!!) almost everyday. On weekends when her parents decide that they actually want to do some parenting, they take her home with them. On other days, they just meet and greet their baby. On some days, we feel they forgot they have a third child. Ha. But I ♥ ahjumma especially now that she sleeps through the night and no longer feeds every two hours!

Beauty & the Beast and Brit Brit

Finally got to watch the live action Beauty and the Beast movie and it was nice ☺ Of course nothing beats the original- mas type ko pa rin si animation Belle. Got to watch the movie twice and both times it was for free. Yay ☺ And FINALLY Britney is coming to Manila! AC AD and I are watching but we got general admission tickets only. GAAAHD WHO CARES IT'S BRITNEY, BITCH! Haha! But you know me, I'm a cheapskate when it comes to concerts. I might have actually said somewhere on this blog that I'd spend for Britney's concert but you see, it's hard to let go of hard-earned moolah. GA tickets cost 2625 (plus 100 if you buy it online) and next tickets are at 5K each. If Brit Brit's gonna dance like she did back in the early 2000s, I probably might but I've seen her recent videos and it's more like swaying her arms and walking back and forth than actual dancing. But still... BRITNEY! YAY ☺☺☺

So those are the main hanash lately but I'm sure there are more I just can't think of them right now (and I'm so itching to watch the latest Riverdale episodes- which reminds me, I have to blog about).

Aside from watching five Korean dramas during Q1, I'm also currently watching Strong Woman Do Bong-soon and Radiant Office, both ongoing dramas. Hopefully both dramas finish strong. They're still ongoing so I can't write about them yet. I mentioned Riverdale awhile back and here's my opinion about the show- I'm not crazy about it. I almost regretted watching the first episode because it ruined the whole Riverdale gang for me. That was just wrong, people. I feel they could've used different characters for this series. Plus, Archie's face is annoying. Mukha kaya siyang vampire. I decided to continue watching because I've read about the Betty-Jughead plotline and I thought I'd give it another try. Um, okay lang naman. Let's see if I get hooked but seriously, this is too angsty and messed up for my liking. Ayoko na ng mga mala-Pretty Little Liars na drama. Paikot-ikot na walang katuturan.

Naks. So may katuturan ang iZombie no? Well, yeah, whatever floats your boat.

I miss daddy. He's been in the province since January and since he needs to tend to stuff, he's still there and might be home next month pa. My assistant/masseuse/#1 fan went home to the province and will be there for, more or less, two weeks. Let's try going back to how life was before I had helpers in my business- I have to do everything myself  **hyperventilating as I'm typing this**

So toodles as I have to wake up early tomorrow- you know, grown up stuff needs to be done.

GV GV Lang

Hola! It's me, trying to update this blog as often as I can ☺ Done with the first week of July and I have to say it was pretty eventful and I was productive. I'm so proud of myself, nyahaha!

Last Saturday was our cousin's church wedding and we all had to don red outfits. Well, buti na lang Mommy bought me a red dress to wear (because I refuse to shell out moolah to buy something I wouldn't wear often- I'd rather buy that blouse in Uniqlo I've been eyeing and waiting to go on sale!), or else I would've worn the fuchsia dress we have. Everyone was game so everyone wore red (except the male members of the entourage who wore barongs) and I would've stood out like a sore thumb. Pero may naka-black pala. I guess she was not informed. Hehe.

Crystal shopping last Sunday with AC.

Bought a Himalayan salt lamp for the nail spa
+ an Amazonite bracelet

Now I have lotsa crystals ❤️ I have rose quartz I bought from a stall in Galle (doubting its effectiveness, actually), tiger eye, fire agate and jade bracelets, Amazonite and Aventurine stones- all from AC. Bought myself an Amazonite bracelet. Pikit-mata kong inabot ang bayad ko. Haha. And guess what? I just got myself an Ultimate Protection Bracelet and Citrine bracelets. Gaaahd this is so addicting. Last na 'to for the year, okay?

Also got to try three new restaurants just this month ☺

Reunion dinner with A and with M who's back from London. We ate at Wholesome Table in Estancia Mall. Yummy food. Gaaahd, that cheese! Although I have to say it wasn't really filling. I had to eat pa pansit when I got home.

The second new eats haven I've tried was The Brgr Project with AC after we went crystal shopping. These were what we ordered:

No photo of the buffalo wings. Yummeh food ☺ AC found it expensive- our bill was almost 700. But we ordered a lot so I guess sakto lang. Plus, I remember paying almost the same amount in Sweet Ecstasy for fewer items. Also, I got a little overwhelmed when ordering our burger. Andaming choices at palabok. We settled for the classic cheeseburger.

Eats haven #3 was also located along Maginhawa street- Caution Hot! AC and I noticed the long line outside the shop when we went crystal shopping a few days before. It was AD who suggested we eat lunch (at 3pm!!!) there. And... ahlavet! Eh wala naman ata akong hindi nagustuhan haha

AC and I split a bowl of beef asam laksa. We also had pork dumplings and Oolong Milk Tea. It was bliss, I tell you ☺ I actually preferred AD's order of pork classic broth but the laksa was scrumptious as well. I'll definitely be back.

Had an Alabang trip with V last Friday to deliver a rush order. It was fun at first, but then I had this debilitating headache. I was asleep almost the entire time on our way home. Nagising na lang ako malapit na sa bahay, we were along Floodway actually when V said in a surprised manner, 'Ay nahulog!' We saw a man who got up from the pavement with blood running down the sides of his mouth. Akala ko naka-motor eh wala ako nakitang motor. The man fell from a moving jeep. I doubt he's drunk cos I guess an intoxicated person can't get up that fast from the floor. I just wish he's in good condition, walang broken bones whatsoever.

I made another delivery yesterday ☺ I scheduled the said delivery in Glorietta because my IC friends and I were supposed to have brunch in Benny's. Eh na-postpone. So I just went supplies shopping. Eh di productive ☺Which reminds me to remind J if I should ship her order tomorrow.

I feel so blessed and I'm ever so grateful! Kung payat lang sana ako, perfect life na! Haha :P Anyhoo, here's my latest...

GRATITUDE LIST:

• Crystals Alongside prayers, I am also harnessing the power of the crystals to make the odds more favorable. Happy to have found a trustworthy supplier of effective crystals. 
• Holidays Cos I got to spend time with my sisters and my nephews, albeit short- quality naman. Quezon Memorial Circle with C and the 2 boys came here last Monday. 
• Eats Haven New discoveries to make my bilbil happier 
• Orders It really is fulfilling when people I don't know tell me they love my products ☺ One customer told me my soy candles are at par with the ones she bought in Rockwell and another customer said she looooves my peppermint alcosprays. 
• Being accepted in that bazaar Well, every year I pray I get in (I'm around 95% sure they'll accept me, but of course there's still this nagging feeling na, 'what if hindi?' 
• And joining four bazaars this year ☺ Mejo mahal cos I have to pay in advance the space rental. I just pray that I can recover these costs and I hope and pray even with a lot of competition sa tabi-tabi, I still get to sell a lot of my stuff. Sana ako pa rin ang favorite nila.

So life is good right now, maybe except for the nail spa who's not doing too good these days. May dark forces at work daw, but I hope the salt lamp will do it's work. It's supposed to be anti-evil, for protection and can cleanse the energy of a space. Also, someone advised I should light incense sticks in every corner. Gagawin ko yan. Hindi ako susuko. 

Cheers to the first ten days on July! Hoping for a more productive and for more lucrative days ahead of us ☺ 

Gratitude List

source

Again, I have soooooo much to be grateful for. Some things may not be going my way but generally, life has been good.

♦ THE ORDERS JUST KEEP ON COMING This year has been really, really good to me and I hope it stays that way ☺ I know I have to take care of my customers and ensure the quality of my products so they'll keep on coming back and also refer me and my services to their friends, acquaintances, countrymen... hehehe. I computed last month's sales and it was almost equal to my sister's bank officer salary but I don't have transportation expenses and food is on the house, literally. I know it's still not enough, that I have still have to augment my income if I want true financial freedom, but for now, I'm happy with what I do for a living.

♦ NEW EATS I love to eat! Obvious ba? Although people still get surprised that I don't eat that much. However, I've always loved trying out new places to eat most especially if there's cheese involved.

McDonald's BBQ burger. Lasa nga namang bbq, nagkulang lang sa presentation. I loved the cheese dip for the fries though.

OMG this Korean restaurant AC took us to- FTW. Lakas maka-millennial ng acronyms.

plain fried chicken and bbq chicken (ata)

snow cheese chicken ♥

and my favorite- kimchi omelette ganern

I wanna go baaaaack!!! Nabitin ako. Now I'm super craving for Korean food.

Another new burger place along Congressional road I tried with V.

these fries are to die for

but this burger, not so much. hahaha
we expected more cheese. 

Sabi nga ni V, buti na lang we ordered the bacon cheese fries which was the redeeming factor in our Cheddar Burst experience. The burger was okay although we were expecting a cheesier burger, hehehe. Well if you named your burger place Cheddar Burst eh dapat lang naguumapaw sa keso ang burger niyo. Verdict: tinikman ka ngunit kulang.

♦ FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS Because I'm cooped up inside the house almost 24/7, seven days a week- gala with my family is always welcome. One Sunday we had lunch with Manang C who was home for a two week vacation from Switzerland (taray). April 17 we had lunch with another cousin from Canada who's been assigned here for two years for work. Last week  was mommy's side of the family's reunion and although it wasn't really that fun, I had fun with mommy, ate, nephews and cousin in our after-party coffee session.

Puede ko na rin masali and lakwatsa and movie dates namin ni ate. I used to do this before with AB before she moved to New York. Buti na lang nakahanap kami ng middle ground ni AC kasi she doesn't like superhero or apocalyptic or zombie movies. So we watch Tagalog romcoms or comedies. Our latest watch was Echorsis which was a super fun movie and tomorrow is our schedule to watch Jadine's This Time.

♦ ANOTHER NIECE/NEPHEW ON THE WAY Ze sister is pregnant again. A baby is always a blessing. Sana lang matauhan na asawa niya na love only will not keep them alive. He was to find a away to financially support his family. We cannot live on freebies alone.

That said, thank You ☺ I hope You bless us more.

2015: Half Of The Year Comes To A Close

I haven't done a gratitude list post for quite some time now and I think it's high time I write one. I have SOOOO MUCH to be thankful for and when things are shitty or not going my way, I just have to come back and read my lists and be reminded that I just have to choose to see the good.

♣ Gratitude List ♣

1. Finally getting my i-craft plotter cutter and Epson X200 printer ☺ Remember the Cameo Silhouette I was originally pining for? Well, turns out there's a better product out there and it's now MINE! The original cost of the package I was able to whittle a few thousands off due to my sleuthing and research skills. Ho Ho Ho! And Christmas came early because daddy (and mommy) subsidized my purchase, HOORAY!

Inisip ko na lang na bumili ako ng iPhone or ng Samsung S6. Actually, my purchase is much better because it's income-generating. Diba? Now I have a printer/scanner, a cutter plotter, laminating machine and a heat press (na namana ko kay AD) ☺ Ang saya.

Look what I can do with my "gadgets"

Ang bongga, diba?

2. My supplier has finally stocks of my order. After three months, my supplier called to inform me they now have my order. Yippee ☺ I'm trying to start preparing for my Christmas bazaars early so I can accommodate more orders during the season.

3. AC buying me new sneakers. Wala sa plano pero dahil sale siya and it's in my favorite color (and she offered!)- GORA!

Still waiting for the perfect moment to debut my cute mint with neon orange sneaks ☺

4. Bullet Journaling. Not really obsessed with daily planners but I really wanted one where I can plan my day better and be more productive. I noticed that I tend to forget things easily which leads to unaccomplished tasks. I came across an article on Facebook about bullet journaling and the rest, as they say, is history.

A gave me a planner last Christmas but each day has sooo little space and you know, I still prefer my cheap, small notebook I bought in Landmark. The good thing about bullet journaling is any notebook will do and it's freestyle. The video just gives you an idea of how to do it but you're free to do pretty much what you want to do with it. So far, I'm loving it and I do think it's helping me productivity-wise. So I guess the search for the perfect planner has ended. From now on, it's bullet journaling for me ☺

For now, that's pretty much it. I'm sure there were more stuff I'm grateful for, I just forget what they were.

Umm.. another thing, I am ending this post on a sad note. A friend died last June 23. She was just 33 years old. She left behind her parents, a brother, a husband and a three-year-old baby girl. It was all so quick- she had an operation to remove a tumor in her brain last week of March, had a stroke while during recovery just one week after her operation and was in coma for almost three months. I pray that she's in a better place right now and I also pray for her loved ones she left behind. We may not be that close but I am thankful that she was part of my life. May you rest in peace, Lora.

Let me bore you

Officially welcoming the month of March even if this is actually my fourth post for the month ☺ It's already the third month of the year and it's almost May. Come June, I need to apply again for my annual bazaar thing then it's production time for Christmas season again. Kabilis naman ng panahon.

Anyway, twas not the end of reunions and scheduled catching-up to do. After delivery last Tuesday (Gratitude List Item #1: Another bulk order. Yipee), V and I went to Mega to meet with Manang M. It's been awhile since I've had these talks with Manang. We used to talk about life often but that has been put to a halt these days because, you know, life...

We had lunch at Linguini Fini and since it's my first time eating there- here's the mandatory food shot

clockwise: complimentary foccacia bread with balsamic vinegar & olive oil dip; papardelle nose
to tail bolo; manila caprese and lardo roasted half chicken

Oh yes, gluttony is STILL my favorite sin. In fair naman sa akin, I lost 10 pounds (and still need to lose twenty more). Linguini Fini is love, my friends, but it is a hazard to the wallet. Haha. But I guess it was worth it. It didn't feel like I was ripped off my money and that papardelle one was heaven ☺ Liked the chicken as well, although first love ko pa rin Amici's pollo arrostito. Keri lang ako sa pizza- I'll have Friuli's margherita over this pizza any time. Did a little strolling then coffee afterwards then back to barracks for me.

Okay, so here's another reason why I go out often these days- market research, y'all. Because I fell in love with a nail spa's sloughing lotion, I have become obsessed with finding a sloughing lotion in Watsons, the grocery, EVERYWHERE(!!!) and I just get these weird looks when I tell them what I'm looking for. Finally found two brands online and bought them just in time for AB to bring them home (Gratitude List Item #2: Sloughing Lotion ♥). I actually made my own and while it worked (it worked!!!), I'd have to rub the product extra-hard to slough off the dead skin and I need something that can be removed with minimal effort. That said, I'm so excited for my sloughing lotions to arrive ☺

Wednesday was another unplanned lakwatsa as I had to deliver samples again in Makati. Wasn't able to see AD, just left the samples with reception. Originally, I was going to wait for her to get off work and hitch a ride going home but AC called and asked me to come with V and family, mommy and her to CCP to watch the Jilin Art Troupe. With regard to the Jilin Art performance, isa lang masasabi ko: GMA Supershow!

Anyway, my highlight for Wednesday was watching the latest Daniel Padilla movie with Kathryn Bernardo- Crazy Beautiful You. Wasn't too crazy about that title but hey, it's not a song title so keri-keri na. AC has seen it already and although she said it was 'maganda,' I still didn't expect much from it cos as they say,

the key to contentment is lowered expectations

Despite the title, I loved the movie. Oo, loved talaga. I remember watching She's Dating the Gangster, expecting it to suck, then being surprised and delighted with the movie. I am not a fan of the pairing but I have to say, their chemistry is undeniable. So with this movie, I was still skeptical of the story kasi nga chaka ng title but again, I was surprised and delighted. Hindi sayang ang P230 ko. Hindi sumama loob ko na sana hinintay ko na lang ang movie pass ko. Also, I will admit this only here in this blog so I think walang ibang makakaalam- guilty pleasure ko si Daniel Padilla. Haha. I don't have a crush on the boy; natutuwa lang ako sa kanya.

And oh here's an update of my room decluttering project:

December 2014

March 2015

Well, nothing much has changed but there's now actually space for me to sleep in. Removed my Teen Vogue mags from the shelf but I am not ready to part with them yet. And oh, our walls are now light gray in color. A lot of fixing up, organizing and filing to do which I always put off for another day.

I still have a lot to do but I'm sort of delaying everything because I'm trying to enjoy whatever's left of my "free days." When we transfer location and there's more at stake, I need to be there most of the time which means less time to invest in "recreation therapy."

And on that note, I need to end this now and what better way than to end it with this:

source: somewhere in Google

I will tell myself this every time.

Cos It's Just Another Rainy Day

It's raining hard since 3am this morning and once again our area is flooded as in Ondoy proportions. Thank God that until now we have electricity. Hopefully the rain stops pouring soon so water outside would start subsiding and not enter the house. Kaloka kaya maglinis.

I've been meaning to do two book reviews pero eto muna- my gratitude list ♥

♥ Having dinuguan thrice in 2 weeks! And that happens very very rarely. As I've mentioned before, dinuguan is our version of lechon. We only have it on special occasions like birthdays and Christmas and sometimes pag nakakapaglambing kay daddy at napapagbigyan but now that I'm HUGE (Read: Fat), hindi na effective ang "beautiful eyes." So imagine my delight and surprise when we had dinuguan two more times. Heaven.

♥ Two more orders. This time of the year, usually, I'm busy preparing for the bazaar and the Christmas season and not a lot of personalization/party orders. So I was pretty ecstatic when two bulk orders were made. In fair mas may activity ako this year and I promise to make next year even more happening. Thank You!

♥ .And this.

This made my day yesterday. In fair, may bunga naman pala ng aking Eastwood escapades last year. If I had more than enough funds, I would have joined the bazaar organizers last summer pero dahil hindi mahaba ang pisi ko, I have to choose what bazaars to join wisely. Anyway, it always feels good to receive messages like this one. I'm always skeptical pa naman of what I do. Laging may self-doubt. But this kind of messages give me affirmation I need.

♥ Finally finishing two more books (however, I am still 7 books behind). Thank God for audio books which allowed me to finish a book while doing something else- hitting two birds with one stone, in other words.

♥ Divisoria finds! Went to Divi last Tuesday to do some "shopping." Feels na feels ko na ang Christmas sa Divisoria because they're already selling Xmas decors and lights and all Christmas-y stuff over there. So that plus I finally bought a plastic sealer and paper lanterns. Plastic sealers and paper lanterns make me happy. So happy.

I always forget the other things when it's time to write them down. But whatever they are, I am thankful for them. I pray God will shower me with more blessings.

32 and Counting...

Yikes my birthday is only nine days away. I honestly have no idea what I want for my birthday. Well, I am sure what I want is a colored laser printer but I'm also 100% sure no one's going to buy that for me- not even my mommy. I actually have a wish list but I am not very sure if I want them for real.

 ♥ My Birthday 2014 Wish List ♥

{photo credit}

1. Wax Seal Kit with my initial "V" or "J" - I think I've wanted this since I found out about its existence but I keep forgetting that I want one until I go to Scribe and see it on their shelves. They're much cheaper now than six years ago (I think) but I still don't buy it because I do not know where I am going to use it. Although now I think I can use it for packaging purposes.

2. Clarisonic Mia- This is another "gadget" I want and because it's pretty pricey- $100- I am very, very wary. If estimated price is 5K, unti na lang dagdag ko I can buy a laser printer already. So you see my dilemma?

3. 1TB External Hard Drive - This one I've been planning on buying very, very soon because my laptop's free space is only at 45%. If mommy gives me birthday money, this is what I'm going to get. Tee hee.

4. Martha Stewart Large Circle Cutter and all their punchers- but alas, it is very expensive. Maybe if I'm getting lots of orders I can "invest" in punchers for, you know, packaging purposes☺ Nakakatulo-laway talaga pag tumitingin ako sa Amazon nito. Talagang history repeats itself. I was into scrapbooking ten years ago. Now I still want scrapbooking gadgets but not exactly for scrapbooking purposes. I want to have a craft room and am slowly building my crafting inventory.

5. I still want Clinique Acne Solutions but not sure in what shade. AC and I already used up AB's pamana Neutrogena funda and I am in dire need of a new one which will not give me breakouts. I tried AB's Clinique Acne Solutions funda once (I just need to try it once to know if a make-up product is agreeable to my skin- quick reflexes yata ito) and I knew right then we were meant to be together. Maybe next time I feel pangit and splurging on a "beauty" product would be justifiable.

6. A new pair of sneakers- not exactly Converse. Keds or Tretorn will do. But I kinda like these mint-colored sneakers. For the longest time I wanted a new pair of Birkenstock Madrid but I don't like showing my feet and toes to the world as of now. They're pretty fugly as of the moment so I'm shielding them from bashers of ugly feet.

7. A Fraxel Laser Treatment- because aside from having fugly feet, I also have fugly skin.

8. Daddy's Dinuguan ☺


Ayan, my wish list for this year's birthday. And oh, I also want good health for my birthday. My health card already matured last August 10 so I had to pay when I had my FBS, SGPT and creatinine taken. Sana lahat normal. And and and... I really want to get a hair cut NOW. Yep, medyo damaged ang self-esteem ko ngayon eh, so pardon the pity party. Anyway, to battle the demons, here's my gratitude list:

♥ The brow pomade I ordered from Anastasia which I thought got lost in transit has been found! Hallelujah! And I really do mean it- Thank God talaga. Then I guess it wasn't $35 down the drain. Yipee ☺ My sister's former landlady told her my brow pomade is with her. Yay! Yun lang kailan ko kaya makukuha. But patience is a virtue and I have pa my Anastasia brow grooming set from AB. So yuuuh, that's good news.

♥ New orders. Yay! That feeling I get when I check my email without any expectations and then I see that email ordering my stuff- and a repeat order at that- and I feel so so good. Being a one-man production team, what I do requires a lot of effort and attention to details from beginning to end but I love doing all that work. I hope I can be given more opportunities to work on new orders. And also, I'm happy that this time I'm not rushing. Both orders are ready for delivery tomorrow. Good job to me.

♥ Fast internet connection. I don't need LTE. Happy na ako sa 3mbps internet speed. No need to buy DVDs to watch my Korean series. I just have to visit my favorite video streaming sites et voila, I have access to my Kdramas- updated and with good subtitles. Just finished Marriage Without Dating and I loved it. Hindi ko man masyado gusto ang mga bida, the storyline is enough to make me stick with it 'til the end. Currently watching High School King and It's Okay, That's Love. Not as funny as MWD pero puede na. I'm thinking of watching Fated to Love You which I was hesitant to watch again as I already saw the Taiwanese version (which I loved, by the way). I'm so distracted. Oh noes.

♥ Lower electricity bill. Guess one of the perks of transferring place of business is paying lower utility bills. Sales is lower but I am quite shocked that I am only a few thousands away from hitting last year's sales figures which means bigger income for me. Hopefully come September sales will pick up. 

♥ Friends coming home. I love it when friends come home from where they came from. Haha. I miss my friends. The only friend I used to have regular meet-ups with just recently had a boyfriend and I guess she's spending more time with the boyfriend or maybe she's just busy career-wise, let's give her the benefit of the doubt na lang. So I'm just happy that my friends are coming home and meeting up with me. Next on the list is Ycel. I'm so excited!

Dazzit. I can't think of anything more but I bet there's so much more I have to be thankful for. Bye for now because I'm getting my daily massage bugbog. Toodles xoxo

An Attitude of Gratitude

It's been a while since I posted a gratitude list in here which, I think, may have contributed to my "depression." I have been feeling shitty for a while now and I feel I may have gone back to that dreaded quarter-life crisis stage in life (which I thought I have undergone earlier than most of people my age). I have been advocating this happiness-is-a-decision frame of mind but honestly, I think my happiness is directly proportional to my bank account. I should try harder to be happy for real and not make my happiness dependent on material things. So I'm doing this gratitude list con más frecuencia ☺

♥ The ovaries are normal, y'all! After years of dealing with PCOS, I was told yesterday that the ovaries are now normal. I do not know which actually healed my PCOS- the pills or Fr. Carmona's enzyme. But whatever did it, I'm thankful that I'm finally healed. This calls for a celebration ☺
♥ I finally enrolled in driving classes. Today will be my fourth and I am actually enjoying it. I'm not too sure though if I can do it without an instructor by my side and without the CAUTION: STUDENT DRIVER signage at the back of the car. I can't drive at 20mph and with the hazard light on forever. But what the hell, I can do this. Aja!
♥ Trying out new foods. Ha ha! I actually hate it that I am an emotional eater and that food makes me happy and that my happiness is also directly proportional to what I eat, but to be truly I guess I should learn how to stop feeling guilty every time I eat good food.

Project Pie with AD. Cheese is love. True love.

burrito and cheese flautas at Burrito Brothers in Marikina

In relation to trying out new food, I am grateful for a sister who also likes eating (and treating me!) to good food.
♥ Orders. Small orders pa lang but it's a start, right? Eventually, orders will flood my mail and phone. Soon.
♥ New series love and a new series character crush ☺ My sister watches Beauty and the Beast (not the Disney movie, okay) while I don't because I thought it was too mushy and I think I've had it with anything paranormal/superhuman-themed. But guess what, I have been sucked into the Beauty and the Beast vortex. I just started last Friday and I am now in the first season's 17th episode. I am such a sucker for secret loves and love triangles.

Anyway, guess who my character crush is. Clue: not Vincent Keller. This is who

Evan

I luuuuurve Evan Marks. I have the feels for him. Haha. And you know, I feel for him, I actually cried for him. Not that I cried because I "crush" him, but because I feel his pain- loving Catherine secretly. And as of the most recent episode I've watched, JT now knows that Evan is harboring some kind of romantic feels towards Catherine. I am watching this mostly because of him and I am praying and hoping that he doesn't get killed off or cross off to the dark side. But I fear that his love for Catherine will make him do things, that if he can't be with her, the "beast" can't as well. But I like to believe that he will be more determined to catch the beast because he wants to protect her from him and not because he wants to get him out of the way.

but after seeing this, I have a hunch he will cross to the dark side

This series reminds me so much of Chuck.

So there, things I am grateful for. I really should do this more often. To cap off this post, here's a note to myself:

from Pinterest

Now I Can Breathe

Sort of.

But this is a welcome problem. Tee hee. After all, it only comes once a year... as of now ;)

Just finished my bazaar last Sunday and it was a success. Thank God! You know I've been doing this bazaar in SJ for four years already and still I get very nervous about it. I'm just grateful that God has been very good  to me and blessing me so much and my "fans" still love me. Haha. Basta feeling ko talaga ang lakas- lakas ko kay God. Thank You ☺

Still working on orders and I am not complaining.

And now I have given myself a reward. Guess what...

waterproof and smudge-proof! i hope this comes with a brow brush

because i lost the other stencils in the set

I wasn't planning on buying actually but since it's Cyber Monday and they have a promo, kinagat ko naman. I had a $9.50 discount and shipping is free! Huzzah!

what day is it today?

It's...

Kitty Kat's birthday! Heypi birthday Kitty Kat, ang remembrance ng T-party: SG edition.

I'm already 31. 

Ack.

But whatever, I do not feel 31 or 30 or 28 even. 

Peg ko lang si Taylor Swift- I'm feeling twenty-threeeee two....

source: perezhilton

In preparation of official onset of my fourth decade in this world, I got my nails did last Tuesday and a haircut yesterday. I wanted a short 'do but the stylists didn't want to do it. No one wants to cut my hair short. They all like my wavy 'do (parang naka-digital perm daw) and if I cut it short, like above the shoulder, mega-fly away daw ang eksena. Since they (should) know these things better than I do, I went with what they suggested. They also suggested that I use hair product to tame my tresses and since I'm in a gastusera mode yesterday, I gave in.

And oh, I also got myself an eye cream. Dapat labanan ang wrinkles ;) And hopefully, this hair product will do help tame my messy 'do. Sabi ni beki hairstylist, nasa uso naman ang messy na buhok. Hindi niya lang alam na nasa uso nako fifteen years ago pa at isa rin ako sa mga nagsimula ng no-comb revolution. Ano'ng paki niyo sa long hair ko?

So anyway, pre-birthday celeb yesterday with AD. She treated me to ramen for lunch yesterday at Santouka. It was okay. Not really a fan of ramen and I think I just reached my saturation point with katsu or maybe I was not feeling well yesterday. Dessert was at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I had ice-blended Moroccan Mint Tea. Loved it. In my 31 years of existence, I found the secret to happiness~

True dat.

I go to Starbucks not for anything else but their mocha frap and when AD said she wants CBTL, I was a little sad because I never really liked any of their coffee. The only beverage I drink from there is caramel macchiato and I don't even like it that much. Just to cut the story short, I was delighted & surprised with their ice-blended Moroccan Mint Tea. Now I have an alternate to Starbucks' mocha frap :)

I really don't have expectations for this year. I didn't even have a countdown. And although birthdays tend to suck when one gets older because there are less gifts (ha!), I still get the best gifts a girl (girl?) could wish for- last year I got a Kindle from AB and this year, Juningning treated me to a Linkin Park concert and AD gave me shorts from Uniqlo and you know that shorts are one of my favorite things right now because they're the only ones that fit #MeanGirlsreference And oh, my nephews gave me Coke and chips for my birthday. That and unlimited singing of 'Happy Birthday.' Ano pa nga ba ang mahihingi ko?

May sagot ako diyan. Daddy's dinuguan and Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza. 

Kidding aside, thank You Lord for another year and I hope for many more awesome years to come. I've had my ups and downs but I could say that I'm happy where I am right now and there's nowhere to go but up. I wish for more projects to come, better health (fatty liver begone!) (and I wanna get off my meds! Metformin and pills are making me super sungit) and many more blessings. I hope I also finally get to go on that New York trip this year, before I turn 32, cos GG's been off TV for almost a year. Time is of the essence, people! But first, gotta get my ass to apply for a visa first. And here's hoping I get one. 

Happy birthday to me ♥

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

just around the corner

Christmas, that is.

I'm finally done with my bazaars but I'm still hoping orders would come in. My last bazaar was a huge success and if there's one thing that I learned through this experience, it's you can never be ready enough even when you think you've got everything covered. I vow to make a checklist of all bazaar to-do's and must-have's so next year I'll be a pro-bazaarista, most especially that I plan to join more.

I'm super grateful to God, of course, and to everyone who patronize my products. It feels soooo good every time someone expresses delight over my products, how much they love my packaging. It feels fulfilling. Really.

I do hope for more orders to come. Thank You ☺

happy thanksgiving, y'all

It's actually Friday now and technically, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Philippines but we still can join in on the fun, ya?

I have a lot to be grateful for and I mean A LOT. This year has just been very good to me so who cares if the world is ending next month. Just kidding. I reckon I've been watching too many doomsday prophecies and Mayan apocalypse theory on History Channel. Anyway, so without further ado~

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. My family. Seriously, I have the best family in the whole wide world. Everything's not perfect and we've had our ups and downs but man, I have the most supportive family. Okay I now get it that my mommy just wants to teach me a lesson or two (actually, more) in business and not just dissing me and my efforts. Everybody has just been so helpful and supportive and I know they're proud of me even if I've achieved only this much. I feel so loved ♥
2. My nephews. They're quite a handful now and super bratty, might I add, but they're ADORABLE. Nothing picks me up from a bad day better than just seeing them, playing with them. Even just the pitter-patter of their small feet on the marble floor brings a smile to my face. Another boy will be added to the brood of nephews soon. Excited ☺
3. Business has been good. The nail spa has been doing better, relative to last year's performance. It still won't support me and my propensity to splurge on notebooks, wrapping papers and expensive scrapbook paper, but it's enough to pay for me language courses and lakwatsas. And my clients, I love them for sticking with me even if our little spa's a little worn out already. I promise to spiffy it up next year- new chairs, new towels, etc.
4. It's been raining projects! Well, it's more of just a drizzle but still, this year has been one project after another. Orders keep on coming and I've been getting positive feedback. Nothing feels more fulfilling than people telling you you have awesome stuff. My favorite bazaar's next week and I can't wait to meet my fans again. #feeling
5. That Singapore trip with my friends. That was really fun. I wish we could do that again someday. In Paris, perhaps? #asa #librelangmangarap #malaymo
6. My friends. They're the best. I really love the fact that my friendships are low maintenance. We don't need to call or text each other everyday and meeting up usually happens less than ten times a year. I love it that they're the same old people that I loved ten twelve, seventeen years ago. Of course, there were others that fell by the wayside but it doesn't hurt to do a little weeding once in a while, right? And on that note, I miss my friends. 
7. My new gadget- the Kindle from AB. I ♥ it to bits. Even if I haven't been using it as often as I want to just yet. You'll have your time, dear Kindle. I'm just too busy now, earning money so I could buy you a pretty case that costs half your price [ridiculous, no]. I've been filling it up with loads of books and honestly, I'm already overwhelmed with all of the books I think I have to read. I'm stepping it up next year, a goal of 50 books. #personalchallenge

Gahd. I swear I have a lot lot more to be thankful for. It's just I'm pressed for time and I really need to move my ass off this chair right now. Again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!