hero

I think whoever asks you to swap soup bowls when you accidentally put (a lot of) soy sauce into your hot and sour soup instead of balsamic vinegar is God sent.

what's up?

I admit that just maybe this is too reminiscent of the nineties, however it is something that had some back (come people may ask "did it ever go?") that I could not shake off no matter how much I tried.

I honestly think it had been a year ago when I told my friend whilst shopping that I wanted one but felt that it is too young for me and that I'd probably end up wearing it twice then forget about it.

It was not until last week that it became unbearable--even my subconscious was screaming DOCS. And thanks to a friend's encouragement (read: rochness), vivid dreams and a few items from my closet, I took the plunge. I can't help but smile whenever I remember what shoes I'm wearing. It's like I've outwit everyone wearing heels under their maxis :)

nothing's gonna stop us now

I had always, ALWAYS wanted one of these since I got my sewing machine a few years ago. There were a lot of factors to consider before getting one though. Really.

(Come to think of it, I had once upon a time made a bet to secure one. Needless to say, I lost.)

It was not merely the model availability, the size and the price but also my size, my room's size and layout, among other things.

Yesterday though, all the stars had aligned and allowed me to get one!

cory and ninoy

I bought two iamcory items. Iamcory is a line that features the late ex-president Cory Aquino's paintings printed on merchandise such as clothes and bags. The proceeds go to the Cory Aquino / Ninoy Aquino Foundation.

I got a shirt and a dress--both of which I love so much! Admittedly, I got them for the design rather than the social relevance--I know that sounds shallow. But, it means that these items are really nice! Seriously nice!

With my limited closet space, I am quite picky when buying clothes, I somewhat need to feel that one item is special before I purchase. And that is exactly how I feel about these items.

I would probably post a photo of the dress and post that too. I honestly can't help but be excited about these new additions to my wardrobe :)

weigh in

During a recent trip, I somewhat ending buying a lot of stuff to bring back home and I needed to weigh my stuff as airlines ask for ridiculously high rates for excess baggage. While I usually just use the normal scale weighing my luggage (I would weigh myself first then weigh myself carrying the luggage--obviously, the difference is what I am after.

My dad sometimes gets obsessive about things . Such as this and thus, insisted that this time I use something more accurate.

I was given this to weigh my stuff with! It felt really funny weighing stuff here. I felt like a kid playing tinda tindahan or shop pretend. My sister was laughing when I told her about it, she said it would be something people did when they sell second hand stuff to the salvation army equivalent, ukay.

back to work

I came back to work after a ten day vacation and was faced with more than 500 unread emails. Great.

That is not the clincher.

Today was the day they told me that I was chosen to be at the company video and print ad--materials to be used in a giant activity that is to happen next week. We shot today too! Whatever happened to briefing or email.

Did I mention that I have had some treatments done while on vacation, so I have markings on my back and face? Chances are, in the published print/video, I would look like a giraffe with freckles.

Happy Halloween!

canonigo

When I was a kid, we used to go to this restaurant called Ciudad Fernandina and every time we go there I would have fried ice cream for dessert.

Except on one occasion wherein they did not have fried ice cream, so I was forced to get a canonigo.

Until now, I can still remember how much I loved it. I never took it again because even as a kid I had been a creature of habit. Maybe.

Once upon a time, I tasted a bit at L'Opera, but it wasn't quite the same.

A couple of days ago, while having coffee with a good friend, I noticed that the cafe offered canonigo (you won't believe how so very few places offer it!) and so I thought it was time to give it another shot. It didn't even come close.

Canonigo at Ciudad--the one that got away.

spotted

I had been so curious about this cupping method since I first read about it.

The therapist would spend 45 minutes to an hour alternating massage and pulling your muscles with suction cups all over your back and you can literally feel the tension on your back melting away with every rub, press and pull.

After the session, I felt young again. As in no back pain!

Of course the hassle is that your back looks ridiculous afterwards, but that is a very small price to pay for the relief and wellness that you get out of it. I promise that it is well worth the trouble--even if you spend a day at the beach where obviously, your back is exposed for the world to see.

I would have booked another session with the therapist if only you can do this as often as you like. Apparently, the body can only take one session every four weeks.

last stretch

It had been a few years since I last came home, obviously I have not seen a lot of good friends for a long time. Too long.

The past few days had been a blast. Admittedly, I am quite tired from endless activities sun up to sun down, sometimes sun up to sun up even. I may need a vacation to rest from this vacation!

I however feel overwhelmed. Happy. It's true what they say about good friends. Even if you don't see each other for a long time, when you do, you just fall into the same place where you left off--close.

I have three more days, let's hope my multivitamins is as good as it promises. I need the energy.

knees and thighs

The evils' birthday bash was...wicked!

It is now Tuesday--three days after but I am still recovering, the thought of that night however, makes me smile. That was a fun night.

I am not sure what it is exactly about those two girls, but somehow when we all hang out, tummies and cheeks hurt from too much laughing, throats hurt from too much talking and well, knees and thighs hurt from...from just too much.

I wonder what will happen next birthday.

pet SHOP boys

When you read about shopaholics, most often they shop like crazy because they try to fill a void... I had been buying stuff lately, for my room, to replace worn out shoes, to revamp my wardrobe and I couldn't help but think AM I TRYING TO FILL A VOID?

Denial is always the first stage. So it would be quite fast for me to say that I don't have a problem.

This leads me to another question though, what qualifies a person as a shopaholic? For all I know, I may be one. Or had turned into one.

They say that like alcoholism, it isn't always obvious.

You don't have to spend beyond your means to be one. People who spend unreasonable time shopping or those who constantly think of things they want to buy (but don't actually purchase) are also guilty as charged. (Which means that having access to internet encourages this disorder!)

As I want to evaluate my state, I would consciously monitor my actions. I would note down how many times I think of something I want to buy (with the exception of essentials like toiletries and food--make up not included!), non-essentials that I buy and time I spend shopping for the next six weeks.

I feel it is not the best time as I am traveling the next week and three different groups of friends and family are coming over to visit during this period, but I quite feel that I have to do this now.

get to know more about me

As part of my extra curricular activities in the workplace, I had joined the global eLife team which aims to encourage the use of technology to ease daily pains of the employees.

In line with the team's kick off, we had to fill out some questions to be posted in the office intranet.

As this is for people in the workplace, I tried to keep it as somewhat-casual-and-personal-but-doesn't-reveal-much as plausible.

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I WAS BORN IN... (I keep coming back to) Manila.

DURING THE NEW YEAR'S EVE OF 1999, I WAS...celebrating my last new year as a teenager.

THE WORSE PROJECT I HAD EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN...was the one that required us to dissect a (live at the beginning) frog for fourth grade science class. Never again!.

IF I COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT MYSELF IT WOULD BE...to increase my tolerance to noise.

AS FAR AS FUTURE PLANS GO, MINE IS... to be more healthy.

I HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF...reading fairy tales to my grandkids.

Make 3 statements and make sure that there are 2 truths and one lie about you.

1. All the women in my family have "Maria" (equivalent) in their names

2. My favorite era is the 80's

3. I love colorful clothes

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Can you spot the lie?

a-TRACK-tion

I had always been mindful of where my money goes to. I would have various ways to keeping track of my expenses. Only now, I realise that all of the solutions that I used were wrong--let us say, not ideal.

While each gave a detailed breakdown, none really gave me the view that I needed.

It was only until a friend told me I saved X amount this month that I realised, what I should be watching. Not the trends, rather the figures.

I am not sure if my spending will change with this new tracking method, but I do know what I would be better at answering the question how did you do in a specific period?--Ahhh, that is the question.

Juliet, Naked

I haven't read Nick Hornby in a long time. I'm glad I picked up one of his books two weeks back.

He had never once felt itchy, in the way that two connecting pieces of a jigsaw never felt itchy, as far as one could tell. If one were to imagine, for the sake of argument, that jigsaw pieces had thoughts and feelings, then it was possible to imagine them saying to themselves, I'm going to stay here. Where else would I go?. And if another jigsaw pieces came along, offering its tabs and blanks enticingly in an attempt to lure one of the pieces away, it would be easy to resist temptation. Look, the object of the seducer's admiration would say You're a bit of a telephone box, and I'm the face of Mary, Queen of Scots. We just won't look right together. And that would be that.

one that (swim)suits me

In line with a beach trip that had just been booked, I started to go through my beachwear stash. As I love going to the beach, I have a trolley filled with various beach outfits. As I went through them though, I realised that a good majority of them no longer represented the current me.

My heart broke a little, not because I choose to dress my age, but because there remain to be some pieces that I absolutely love. Still. Always.

I'm not throwing away everything. Instead, I had put aside some pieces that just won't make it, so I could give them away. Everything else would stay with me. I could definitely find different ways to put things together so they'd be wearable today.

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There was one glaring realisation though...

I needed a new "main" swimsuit.

I spent a significant part of the afternoon going around the mall (and complaining that my body ached from the yoga class I attended this morning) looking at swimwear and just when I was ready to give up, I found the next one!

It might not seem like a big deal, but trust me on this one. Holy grail.

It wasn't exactly like the one I pictured in my head (I'm particular that way), but it fit like a dream and is very consistent with what I was looking for.

The price tag pinched a little though :( I didn't realise that grown up swimwear went in a different price range from the already seemingly overpriced popular surfer brands that I usually get.

I am quite happy with the purchase :) I think this would last me a very long time and would stand witness to countless wonderful holidays.

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I think my woman-instead-of-girl swimwear choice had somewhat surprised the young sales person attending to me. When I was paying she asked my how old I was and after I told her, she said Oh, I see... you look young for your age.

Amen.

up the wall

I don't really watch a lot of tv. In fact sometimes weeks would go by without me turning it on. In line with this, I think I have the smallest and oldest tv in the country which was fine for me--until we moved homes and the layout of my new room did not allow me to put the tv in any logical place.

With this, I was forced to get a lcd (LED was out of the question--as if I had to point that out) tv that I could mount on the wall.

I was lucky enough that a friend was selling her almost new (although too big for me, to be honest) tv at a reasonable price, so I did not have to spend more.

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I've had the tv for a month and have only used it twice. Once to watch anywhere but here in HBO and the other after it had been set up, so I can check if it worked.

The thing is that every time I go to my room and see it, I feel guilty that I never use it. It is as if it is screaming for attention. Turn me on.

It's weird that way.

Today I gave in and turned it on and what luck! There was a F1 cover, so I was able to utilise it--for two full hours.

who is the fairest of them all?

A certain trendy make up brand releases limited products every few weeks. While I like this brand, I never really purposely go to the store because I just have to have a certain limited edition item.

Until yesterday.

In this case admittedly, it was more the packaging than the product that drew me. Needless to say, it is not like they produce horrible products--contrary to that in fact.

To my disappointment, the mirror didn't talk. LOL. Maybe it just didn't want to answer my question.I also got a couple of lipsticks, one called heartless and the other sinister.I hope the brand doesn't come up with more villain endorsed products because then, I'd be in trouble.