Ang Disyembre Ko ay Masaya ☺

Since I wasn't able to post anything last month, I'm posting anything that is of significance that happened last December last year.

Last month was crazy- good kind of crazy. Of course, I procrastinated and instead of starting production, design conception and everything else by June, I started moving my arse October. Although I think I was more prepared for the bazaar this year.

Ze Annual Bazaar

I only joined one bazaar this year and it's the one I have joined on an annual basis for 4-5 years now. It's super far from where I live but since I've had good experience with this one so I keep coming back to sell every year. There's another bazaar I joined twice last 2013 and it was relatively not worth it since I didn't ROI. I say relatively because I got one big client out of it and also several repeat customers.

Anyway, this bazaar was different since my usual accomplices weren't available. Left with no other choices, I brought Dorota along which turned out also a blessing in disguise. She actually leveled up this year and I was able to leave her in the booth. V also helped me for one day and I swear that girl can sell anything. It was a good year for me and I hope that every year will be much better than the last. The only thing I disliked this year was the lack of private transportation this year. Dorota and I had to take public transport for two days and it wasn't such a pretty experience. Hey at least I didn't get lost and that's another route I can add to my list of commutable destinations.

Orders, Orders and More Orders

Which is why I love love love Christmas and 2014 was much better than the past years. What's better this year last 2014 was friends and high school batchmates also ordered from me ☺ When strangers order from me, I get all giddy but when people I actually know do- I feel giddier! 

What's different from last year was last 2013 I had a work place I can make a mess out of and no one will mind since I have it all to myself. But since the NS was evicted and we had to transfer it to my then-work space, I had to transform the library to my new work space/laboratory which also extended to my room ☺ so the entire second floor was practically chaotic during the holidays.

the new work space

inside my room

and this is my bed which you can barely see

 Nagmistulang obstacle course and sahig ng kwarto ko.  Bottles, gallons, paper and plastic were everywhere! I'm so grateful to my parents and sister especially who tolerated my mess the entire time. Grateful also to my Dorota who helped me with everything and also tolerated my grumpiness and impatience. I really feel blessed. Thank You ☺

Boys & Birthdays

My nephews (and AD na rin) had a joint birthday celebration last December 14. It was held at AD's new home.

cloudy with a chance of chicken wings ☺

I was practically useless that day as I just came from a delivery plus I haven't rested yet. I was the designated photographer but I sort of didn't do my job. I got hungry. Plus I felt so fugly and fat and I didn't want to go around showcasing my fugliness. So I just ate my feelings. 

{source}

The boys enjoyed their party and they absolutely enjoyed opening their presents. And oh, also playing with the big bubbles bubbles maker AD bought in the States. 

Almorzando Con Amigos

Christmas would be incomplete without lunch with my IC friends. Although this year there were only four of us present. Lunch at Benny's, Joj's treat.

Baboy con baboy con baboy. Actually, I think I just committed cannibalism haha. Everything we ordered had crunchy chicharon-ish pork in it. After lunch, C treated everyone to vino, tapas and dark chocolate truffles. YUM ☺

wow I feel so cultured haha

The perks of having big-time friends Haha! 

I always have fun with my IC friends and even if I think I didn't really retain much from my Spanish classes- all 28 levels- I got to keep the friends I made along the way. Now, what to do next?

Love is lovelier on the 25th year

Kuya B and Ate A's silver wedding anniversary. Made the giveaways for their special event ♥

and here I am with my smart casual attire LOL

Good food ♥ I loved that dish with straw mushrooms! 

Time flies, no? I don't know if it's just me or if time really goes by eerily fast when you're old. It's another year- 2015! Chinese astrology and feng shui say Dogs have good luck this year- I hope it's true. I believe it's true. My main goal this year- New York City! Totoo na ito ☺

Happy 2015!

Wow it's been a while, my dear blog. The last post was last November when I was panicking big time about my then-imminent annual bazaar. Turns out the bazaar was just the start of the holiday chaos which was actually a good thing and I am not complaining. Still I haven't had my holiday bazaar/order system down pat. I think I'm still not much of a risk-taker so I basically still make everything on a made-to-order basis. Promise talaga next bazaar I'm going to prepare earlier. Anyway... let's start our 2014: Year in Review post.

first things first.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I would like to be able to tell you that in the past year I...

♥ finally lost weight
♥ finished my 2014 Reading Challenge- 50 books!
♥ had finally applied for a US visa
♥ was more hands on with the NS business
♥ put myself out there (if you know what I mean, **wink wink** )

Instead, I have to tell you that in the past year...

♥ actually GAINED MORE WEIGHT! FML. I'm so fat I can't even. Saw my pictures and gaaahd I look like a frakkin' blob! It is actually cause for alarm. I need to do something about it STAT.
♥ I was 20 books short of my goal. Well, I was a little "well-rounded" this year and divided my free time among reading, watching TV series and watching movies. Hihi ☺ Plus, the second half of the year was pretty busy.
♥ umm... well I did finish answering the online application and only lacked the picture. Does that count? I guess not.
♥ Honestly, tinatamad na ako with the NS business. After we were "evicted" from the original location, business has been slow and medyo nakakawalang gana but I think it can still be salvaged. I just need to get it in order again (permits, etc).
♥ I absolutely have no idea how to 'put myself out there.' I'm no extrovert and I'm not one to start a conversation. Sa aspetong 'to, bahala na si Batman.

However, in the past year I also...

♥ finally enrolled in a driving school, got my non-pro driving license and learned how to drive, beeeches!!! FINALLY. I still can't drive without supervision because I'm duwag like dut. But little by little does the trick ☺ Hopefully by next the bazaar, I can drive myself to where I need to go. 

♥ had my summer vacation at the beach- Boracay! But to be honest (again), I'm not a beach person. I like cities. After my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary in Roxas, the family headed to Boracay. Hindi ko na-enjoy masyado. Dapat talaga this year matuloy na ang New York City expedition.

♥ incorporated my scents business- huzzah! As I was advised to do so by my BFF to do so plus I was sort of forced by circumstances. But anyway, it has been done and I think this sort of pushes me to put in extra effort and make more moolah. Wish me luck ♣

♥ was quite disappointed due to the end some of my TV series and was even more disappointed with the sudden cancellation of Suburgatory. Pampalubag-loob ko na lang na I got the ending I wanted. And oh I think the fact that I finished watching all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls within a month is worth mentioning ;)

♥ did something very grown-up which is get a life plan- I P'YOLO-d. Well, if it wasn't for my cousin I wouldn't have done this but I think investing in something like this is also wise. 

In the next year, I am hoping to...

♥ be able to drive by myself, without adult professional supervision 

♥ really lose weight 

♥ and in relation that, quit drinking Coke and 3-in-1 coffee for real

♥ apply for a US visa and go to the US- NYC, baby! It's time ☺ Hahahahaha!

♥ find love and hopefully not in a hopeless place LOL!

♥ sleep early☺ 

♥ be more social 

♥ enjoy the fruits of my labor- saving up is good but I think I should let myself enjoy once in a while

So that's it, pansit! Hopefully I can tick off more than one item on my resolution list and I hope it's the NYC and the losing weight part. Cheers to the new year! 

This Will Be Quick

Only seven days away and I am PANICKING already. In times like this, do not cross nor annoy me. I could be very, very sungit and violent. I frickin' hate myself for AGAIN waiting for the last minute to do things. Yesterday's message from God app gave me this-

How apt. Yes, everything is catastrophic right now but I will let myself go to that place of calmness next, next week- December 1, to be exact.

So that's it. Wish me luck!

Aaaaaaah!!! Update!

Will be my bazaar in two weeks time and I'm not yet ready. Umm... yes, story of my life. Year in, year out I've always been doing things the last minute kahit isa lang bazaar sinasalihan ko. I really think I should come up with a system. Damn momentum! Well you see, I consider myself as an "artist" and rely too much on waiting for the feel to get the momentum going. Et voila...

image

That's why I need a working space where I can just leave all my kalat after a day's work because setting up everything up again the next day breaks momentum. When I wake up, I want to see all my unfinished work and get back right to it pronto. Frakkit. I need to move it, move it.

But first, a quick update. Will try make this quick. Try being the operative word.

Well the box already arrived. After four months. Been waiting for my scissors for four months and they're here now with me.

one of the scissors came with this warning at the back of the package
kalurks.

Whoopdeedoo! I'm such a hoarder but finding a good pair of non-stick scissors here isn't easy. These two beautiful pairs are joining this family~

I love scissors! Better yet, I looooove office supplies. I really want a big paper shredder not the ones you can buy from CD-R King but they're so pricey. So the new non-stick scissors arrived just in time for the cutting ceremony aka cutting 3,150 pieces of labels.

They look konti here in the picture but believe me, it was A LOT. I find cutting labels therapeutic but cutting that much and with a deadline- STRESS DRILON. But got that over and done with and now I'm focusing on production which reminds me I have no labels yet. I'm going to finish all production stuff this week so next week's dedicated to more label-cutting and sticking. I love my life ♥

Now back to the box. Most of the contents were stuff for the boys' birthday party on December but of course, the box opening ceremony isn't complete without pasalubong for moi ;)

the shirt was the only legit slobong for me.
the wristlet and the notebook, nadaan sa brasuhan
harharhar

and I got dibs on this makeup palette huzzah!
I ♥ bare minerals

After Undas, went divi-tripping with my cousin who apparently was also celebrating her birthday on the very same day; hence, free lunch!

hakao ang mahal ko 

Mega-walkathon while lugging a bazillion ton of "protective sheet" (which was the wrong style so I had to go back to Divi the very next day).

Exhausting but fun. And super duper busog. 

As mentioned earlier, went back the very next day to have my purchase exchanged then meet up with Ama Jo who just got back from London. She texted me earlier that day and asked my complete address. She wanted something shipped to my house. Told her I was Divi-bound that day, too, so if she's still in Divi and can spare an hour for me, maybe we can just meet up for a quick coffee. Jo met my Dorota. Haha. That was also the day I succumbed (again) to the annual expensive coffee marathon aka the Starbucks Christmas Tradition. I got a swanky pajama set ☺ They're soooo comfy, I think I'm in love ☺

Went to Mayon/Dapitan last Saturday. Had to pick up something in the area so AC, AD and I went to Dapitan to look for cute finds. Alas, went home with only this in tow

six pieces for P35. not bad.

When did everything in Dapitan become so expensive? As in. Seriously. Seryoso. En serio. Wooden picket fence boxes are being sold for P300! I got mine for only P129, if I remember correctly. The same style as this, are only P179-ish in Landmark. Anak ng tipaklong, mag-Landmark na lang kayo. Or Daiso. Look what I bought in Daiso~

Only P88 each. I'll go to Daiso or any Japan surplus chuva for stuff like these. They're cheaper, maybe not sturdier, but a whole lot cheaper. 

I'm already on Season 5 in my Gilmore Girls catch-up/marathon. It's so hard to not like Rory. Sure, she broke up Dean's marriage but it's still hard to get mad at her. I agreed with her when she reasoned out to her mother that Dean is "her Dean," which I found an acceptable reason to commit adultery. Moral of the story: do not marry young, kids. So I'm over the moon that Dean + Rory is a thing again but according to IMDB, Dean will only be in Gilmore Girls until this season and I think Rory will be dumping him again in favor of Logan. Or I could be wrong. But that's my wild guess. I hope it won't be Dean cheating on Rory this time because Dean, in my eyes, could do no wrong. And cheating on Lindsay with Rory isn't wrong because he is Rory's Dean. Gahd. Excuses. And oh, I'm also happy for Lorelai and Luke. Finally. But of course we know that we're still two seasons away (or around 50 episodes) from the finale-finale and a lot could still happen. 

But I'm mourning for Dean's exit from the show in advance. 

Now back to barracks for me. Will continue my job as a liquid soap churning machine. Toodles xoxo

2014 Book Challenge: Love and Other Foreign Words

Almost 20 days, that's how long it took me to finish this book. Ergo, I am 11 books behind my target.

So... Love and Other Foreign Words, how did I find you? It was boring. I've read, like, a bunch of similar stories of a boy and a girl being just friends but the other has more-than-a-friend feelings towards the other and while some were more interesting than the others, there were some which are pretty blah. And this book belongs to the blah category.

Umpisa pa lang, I pretty much knew how this would end and I wasn't wrong. Yun lang, I hope they included more "moments" between Josie and Stu. Should I deduce from the fact that Stu can't keep a girlfriend and has never said 'I love you' to any of them that he is in love with his best friend? Umm, that could be the case but it could also be that he's really just a jerk. And Josie... Josie who couldn't keep one because no one's at par with her superiority.

Now that we're on the topic of Josie (OMG, if Josie were a real person, she'd love that we're talking about her), I think she's one annoying stuck-up brat. She thinks she's all high and mighty just because she has superior IQ. She frowns upon her friends and schoolmates who speak "ohmig*d." Ikaw na, Josie, ikaw na ang may perfect command of the English grammar at vocabulary. She also tried to sabotage her sister Kate's wedding which is cute if she's eight but she's almost sixteen and she's not amusing anymore. Good thing she realized that the reason why she hated Geoff so much was because he's too similar to her- because as a reader, I can see that, that's she annoyed with him but she doesn't realize (yet) that they're both know-it-all snobs. And oh, Josie thinks she's very, very intelligent but not like the other nerds who aren't cool cos she's cool as shizz, y'all!

I'm not a regular nerd. I'm a cool nerd.

There's nothing wrong with being smart but Josie qualified it a bazillion times in the book that's she's not the typical smart girl, even college football guy thinks she's the bomb.

whatevs, Josie

So finally Josie and Stu got their shit together during Kate's wedding. They kissed and that was it. Yaaaawn.

Gave it two stars. I was going to give it three stars but Josie's attitude was such a turn off so minus one star for all the sass talk.

I was saving up Rainbow Rowell's Landline after crazy production season but I need a good book to read. I hope Rowell doesn't disappoint.

Hart of Dixie News

News about Hart of Dixie came out just yesterday and I am not happy. Why? Two thing. One, season 4 doesn't come out 'til early 2015 and 2, looks like it'll be their last season as well. Wait, there's another one- season 4 only has ten episodes. So I'm actually unhappy about three things regarding Hart of Dixie. My sources say so here and here.

This has been a sad, sad year for me and my favorite TV series. First to go was HIMYM, followed by Suburgatory and now, Hart of Dixie. Not to mention a few years back that Chuck and Gossip Girl suffered the same fate. But why so abrupt?

This is so not my year. 2015, please please please be superduper good to me ☺

Before I Get Back to Work

Now that I've gotten that kalechehan off my chest, let's move on to why life is good ☺

Well, thank God that these two things that have been haunting me for close to six years already, I've finally dealt with and yes, these two things were also the source of my tirade. Ngayon isa na lang multo ko. CHANGE TOPIC!!!!

So after last Tuesday's urgent errands, picked up my order from Shang then walked all the way to Megamall where I was meeting my friend who had something to give me from her travel abroad. We were scheduled to meet at 5:30 pm. I arrived in Mega 3:30pm, so what to do with two hours to kill? let me count the ways:

1. I had one Happy Lemon GC left so as soon as I stepped foot inside Megamall, I dragged my ass and my five-kilo-baggage all the way to Happy Lemon. Ordered my usual- Coffee with Rock Salt & Cheese. Facebook-ed. Twitter-ed. And Instagrammed. Used up all my lives in Farm Heroes Saga and Candy Crush. And I still had an hour to kill- it's only 4:30
2. Tempted to watch Gone Girl instead of going around the mall. Checked movie schedule. Alanganin na to watch a movie. 4:35 pa lang.
3. So I went inside Forever 21 to see if there's something in there that would tickle my fancy since I'm in the mood to spend on myself because after spending so much on other people, I FRAKKIN DESERVE TO SPLURGE ON MYSELF. But there was nothing worth splurging on so I left empty-handed. 4:45 pa lang.
4. Went inside SM Department Store to see if the polka-dotted blouse I've been eyeing was still available. Sadly, it's not there anymore. Hindi talaga kami meant to be. Gallivanted around the health & beauty section and dropped by Makeup Factory to inquire re: mineral make up. Napasubo sa "makeover." It's almost 6pm and the makeover's not yet done. J called a little past 6. 

And that, my friends, was how I spent two hours while waiting for J. We had dinner at Phoa Hoa. Chikahan over beef noodles. And here's my pasalubong

I had three choices- this blue one, a red one and one bluish green. If hadn't known yet that royal blue/ blue-colored things will improve my aura, I would've chosen the iridiscent green-blue one. But now that I'm collecting blue things, I chose this one. I'm trying to pray the rosary every day which reminds me I have to review the mysteries.

I came home fully made-up and mommy liked it. Thank God mommy liked it because she gave me money to buy the foundation- HUZZAH! I was really going to buy the mineral foundation from Makeup Factory because I was feeling sorry for myself at that time but I was going back for it on Friday (Oct 17) because they were going to have a sale and if I were to buy within the first two hours of store hours, I get 20%-ish off the product. So I went back Friday morning and my gulay talagang madness sale siya kahit wala pang midnight- arrived 11 am (pasok pa rin sa 2 hours) and I made V line up already. Got my make up and went back in line. AFTER THREE FRAKKIN' HOURS, we were still in line. Kalorks. And that was all I was buying- two items. Buti sana kung pangregalo ko na sa buong sambayanan sa pasko. Oh well. "Sana gumanda ka jan sa makeup mo, ha," sabi ni V.

dahil kailangan ko talaga ng pambura ng fez

Thanks, Mommy!! ♥ Iba na talaga 'pag type ni mommy ang type ko- may funding! Haha. 

Was back in Megamall Wednesday to meet A. No plans to go to mega but since I think she fixed her schedule in a way that she'll be in BSA office last Wednesday since I asked her if she'll be there as I was then planning to pick up waxes and stuff on Wednesday. Dahil mabait akong friend, nag-effort ako ☺ And to justify my lakwatsa, I had labels printed na rin.

Met with A for late lunch at Pollo Loco. Seryosong tanong- bakit wala masyadong branch ang Pollo Loco? I lurve Pollo Loco. Their chicken is waaaaay better than Chicken joy and Chicken McDo. Hmm.. I wonder if they have delivery? So anyway... after lunch we had dessert at Tim Ho Wan. We had hakao for dessert. Hakao for dessert! And that's not all. Apparently, hakao was our prelude to dessert. This was dessert

I'm in love with their mint chocolate macaroons and their mango panna cotta (and the glass jars the panna cotta comes in). Actually, I think I'm more in love with the glass jars and the panna cotta is my bonus ☺ 

I got sick over the weekend. I was supposed to go to A's parents' 36th wedding anniversary but since I was under the weather, I just stayed at home and rested. Betet, Vicks, Katinko, Fisherman's Friend and Tuseran Forte kept me company. 

At siempre kahit may sakit pa rin but feeling a whole lot better compared to how I was feeling during the weekend, I was back to lakwatsa mode Monday! Jo's back in Manila and she wanted to meet up. Almost all my close friends aren't Manila-based so when they come here in Manila, I try my best to meet up with them. So Monday morning, after paying my taxes (PAKSHET!), I hauled my ass off to the wonderful world of Divisoria. 

As usual I was late for our 10 am "call time." Para maiba naman, we had lunch at Tonkatsu in Lucky Chinatown instead of Wai Ying. 

Tonkatsu is also owned by the same people behind Italianni's. My katsu heart belongs to Yabu and if not for Jo, I would have not tried this other katsu place. This is what I had- 

That is 120 gram rosu with unlimited cabbage, rice and miso soup. The pork cutlets were a little smaller than Yabu's but they're yummy and tender just the same, but Yabu still has better tonkatsu sauce, better-tasting roasted sesame dressing and better fruit choices. Of all the fruits in the market, why did they decide to put corn? Corn! But aside from the sauces and the 'fruit' included in the set, I liked it. Yum yum yum yum, delicioso! 

So there, my food adventures and other kababawan that make my life worthwhile. Haha. Pakshet pa din ang gobyerno.