I keep recalling the other day when someone from work commented how shocked she was to see me in jeans. I stare at her bewildered. "But I ALWAYS wear jeans!" I say to myself (and to her, haphazardly). Then I pause, look back, and realize that my sense of style has changed over the past few months. I sound so shallow talking about my shift in fashion sense. All I'm really saying is, I wonder if anything else has changed. I think I can honestly say that I'm not the same person I was just a couple of months ago. My lifestyle has changed, my sense of reason has evolved, even if the whining ceases to go away.

Sometimes I feel like my standards of living keep getting higher and higher and I feel that everything around me and everything I do has to work up to that. I know what I want, what I deserve and what is reasonable. It's just the matter of attaining it and being satisfied with "the now" that has me at a loss.

I know everyone goes through that phase where nothing is ever enough. I've had one too many of those already. I sometimes (or rather frequently) question my sense of purpose. What am I really supposed to be doing? What do I want? I have a great job with fantastic future ahead of me, if and when I choose to continue along that path. But looking back, this isn't what I imagined I would ever do. This isn't what I wanted. So why am I doing it? Is it simply a means to get me the luxuries that I so desire? Maybe so. But nonetheless, this isn't how I would like to live my life everyday. I was doing something at work yesterday when someone stopped to ask me why I was doing it (designing) when I could have someone else do it when it's not my job. I gave her some lame reason I can no longer remember, but I knew why. Because I enjoyed it. I love being creative. Making extraordinary things out of something as boring as a silly little policy manual (who would ever want to read that anyway?)

When you really think of it, it all boils down to whether or not I have the balls to do what it is that I really want to do. I envy people who pursue their dreams even if they can't afford it. I have never been spontaneous. I find comfort in being safe. Never the risk-taker, that's how I've always been. I keep thinking that when it comes to your life, especially if it involves the lives of others, it doesn't pay to gamble.

In four years, I will be 30. I can't help but feel like I'm rushing myself to be fully accomplished by then. I can imagine looking back then, smiling at how juvenile I sound now. I keep hearing the phrase "Quarter life crisis," and I really, really hate that. It's such a poor reason to give justice to your depression. Just because you're of a certain age, does not give you the reason to be all whiny, which ironically sounds like what I'm doing right now. If I'm annoying you, you can stop reading.

Maybe it's all in my head.
Maybe it's just that time of the month.

or maybe I'm right.

What was my point again?

I am surrounded by such great people. I wish there was a way I can repay all of you for your existence.

More to come! See the rest of them here. I had a lot of fun! We have to do this again!

Theme: TV Show Character
By the way, NO ONE knew who people were coming in as. It was all a surprise! I thought mine was the wittiest until I saw Dex's!!

The night's WINNER! DEX as Pong Pagong!

I hate Videoke but if we're singing these, I am so there. I had so much fun belting out "You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record)" I sang it three times! Such great fun!

...and all this as 2am!

I'm referring to myself.

I have always been a Starbucks drinker. One thing I've been telling people about my promotion is that all it really did was provide me the funds for me to be able to to afford my coffee drink everyday.

I've tried others of course. I found Seattle's Best's drinks to be so-so and Coffee Bean's Iced Blended to be too sweet. However, I've always loved the consistency of CBTL's Iced Blended coffee. It's blended so smooth but not too much to make it a puree. I hate how a few sips into my Starbucks frapp and a chunk of ice gets stuck in my straw. For a time, I wished there was a drink that had the taste of starbucks but with the consistency of coffee bean's.

I found it...and who better to turn me to the dark side but Jamila Nedjadi?

Enter, BONA Coffee. Short for Bohemian Nation.

I've only known of this place's existence recently when I had my haircut. The small cafe is located right next to my salon. My first impression was "blaaah!" They had a brochure in their salon that said their drinks contained a mere fraction of the calories of a Starbucks drink. Not the health buff, I was not swayed. I was never the type to count calories or limit my carb intake. BRING ON THE WHOLE MILK! A machiatto sucks without it.

Fast forward to last week. Jammi has been going on and on about it. Apparently, she is a regular. Ara and I finally decide to give it a try after our Sonya's trip. We go in, choose our drink, we are served, I pick it up and take a sip...



DEAR LAWD.

Ara, who has just taken a sip off her own drink looks at me. I try hers.

HOMAYGAHD.

I was sold.




Friday Night, 11:30pm. Bea texts me, "Andito kami sa Bona, P*t@ng!n@!!! Ang Sarap!!"

Saturday morning, Jammi is to pick me up for work. I had to ask, "Can we pass by BONA on the way?" *small smile* Jammi chuckles, "I TOLD YOU!"

Just tonight, Bea, Paul and I take Niki with us. She takes one sip of her Choco Mint Iced Blended. No exxageration, she screams, "OH MY GOD!!! Dito nalang tayo lagi pwede?"

Wait, there's more! THEY HAVE FREE WI-FI!

SOLD!

burying the starbucks tumblers

The people at Starbucks BF may not see me again for a while.

I've prolonged blogging about this for too long that everything I wanted to say about it is gone.

Jammi and Pia planned this trip and the rest of us just tagged along. Ara had to sleep over my house for two nights since she lived all the way out in Katipunan.

This week was a major food fest. I had dinner our every night since Tuesday. Jammi, Ara and I smelled like sisig from eating in Gourmet on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Wednesday's lunch was, of course, spent gorging on Sonya's buffet of salad and pasta. Thursday night I had dinner at Teriyaki Japanese Grill with Paul, Bea, Niki and Kate (Lim). Friday night was dinner at Bangus in Festi with Niki, Matthew and Jammi.

Looking back, it feels like a looong week has just passed.

My complete Sonya's Garden photos can be viewed here.

Canon Digital Rebel XT
28-105mm USM II

I officially have my own desk. Yuck!

My Macbook is now an official workstation.

A lot has transpired over the last 36 hours or so.
Prepare for a VERY LONG post.

Soon as I get my photos done and the work thing has settled, I shall share today's experience.

Clue? Food + Laughs + Sonya's Garden + a LOT MORE!

Make-up and photos by me!

I was having a blah day and I did promise her I'd take her photo to change her Facebook profile pic. Taking portraits has always been a great way for me to unwind and get my balance back. I've been spending way too much time looking at sales numbers and I needed to start shooting again. The rest of them can be viewed here but you need to be my contact to see them because I took some "sensitive" material. If you don't have a multiply account, then it's really time to get one. You're missing out on seeing my awesome photos!!! Hahaha!

I have been wanting an original pair of this for YEARS! They just cost so damn much!







I just saw the guided tour on apple.com and I am drooooooling. Steve Jobs seriously knows how to turn me on.





Yes, yes. I already have an iPod and it's still good as new. But that doesn't stop me from wanting the new 160gb model!!!








I want a trip to Phuket. 'Nuff said.







Spa membership for the duration of my Manila stay! Ok, that's asking too much. A month's membership will keep me happy. :)




There's a lot more I want but these are the ones I REALLY REALLY WANT!!!

La Pinay from Café Breton (Php 130+)
crepe+mangoes+vanilla ice cream+chocolate syrup

I'm not going to lie. It was not the mind-altering experience I expected given all the hype. In their defense, Niki and I felt we ordered the wrong thing. We got the California Crunch and the American Dream. We got the first one hoping it would at least be half as good as the crunch rolls from the now defunct Crazy Roll in MOA. The latter was because it was supposedly deep-fried and had cream cheese. It wasn't amazing. But this will definitely not stop me from coming back. I've read through their menu and saw a lot of other promising rolls that tweaked my interest.

Till the next round.

My exhaustion has caught up with me. When I got home last night, I was supposed to have dinner and head back out to hang with sila Bea to watch Heroes as Paul's house. Long story short, I passed out and was not able to get up and leave. I woke up at 12noon today. Lunch was tuyo and I wanted something fancier for my day-off so I showered, got dressed and went to Conti's where I had a mango royale salad and pancit molo. Then I decided to try out my second foot spa center today, this place called Sawasdee Siam on President's Ave. across Shakey's. They have the most uncomplicated spa menu I have ever seen. Mainly because they only offer two services: Thai Body Massage (P450) and Thai Foot Spa (P250). That was it. No packages, no special ek-ek, no body scrubs, nada. I was loving it already. I was surprised how big it was inside since it had a very small entrance. You wouldn't realize that the area would stretch to a larger back area. Here, they provide you with single-seating lounge chairs lined up against a wall facing a landscaped garden through a floor to ceiling glass window. Each chair is separated by curtain panels so you can enjoy your privacy without having to worry about other customers looking at you if in case you fall asleep. Which, by the way, seems to happen a lot. The woman beside me was snoring so loudly. Thanks God I had my iPod and a book.

So how was it? Well, if you're looking a place that would scrub your tootsies leaving them so soft and supple like a baby's bonbon, then this is NOT the place for you. The lady hardly scrubbed my foot at all. Plus she used a scrub that seemed so worn down that it can't at all be called a foot scrubber. However, if you enjoy having foot massages and consider them the main event of any foot therapy session, then I highly recommend this place. I understood why she rushed through the scrubbing phase, it was because she took FOREVER massaging my feet. It was awesome! I almost fell asleep if not for the loud snoring beside me. It was just like the place JA and Owee took me to a couple of months back that cost P600!! Of course, the ambiance and look of the place all rolled into the price but if you want the service for less than half the price, then go to this place.

Niki! Punta naman tayo dito!

I didn't realize shopping for someone else could also be a lot of fun. I accompanied Jammi on a shopping spree today. It was like an episode of Look for Less. The budget was P1,000 and we had to get her a whole new outfit. We went a bit over budget but she went home very much pleased with her loot.

Get Laud Purple Top: P480
Belt from Tubby: P239
Black Wedges from SM: P399
Earrings from Muslim lady in festi: P40
Jeweled Necklace from Muslim lady: P150
Total: P1,308

We went over budget but I couldn't resist completing her outfit with make-up so I scored her a mahogany shimmer eyeshadow pencil from Careline (P60) and a Nichido lipgloss in Berry Vanilla (P100). I couldn't stand her having that whole wardrobe without the make-up to match it. She was on her way to meet Matthew's mom after that so I gave her a free make-over using the testers in SM Dept. Store. Score!

She just texted me saying how excited she was that she was going to wear it tomorrow for work and again for our Sonya's Garden trip next Wednesday. I'm so excited! We're going to take garden vanity pictures of each other. Ara and Pia will also be joining us. I can't wait!

He'd giggle every time the camera made the snapping sound. So cute.

He's such a stress reliever. When he went back home last tuesday, me and tin were playing tug of war with his pillow. It smelled like him, mmmmmm....

In the car driving to work with my iPod on shuffle. Just when I get thoughts of how my life is ultimately filled with confusion and bereavement, Coldplay's "Warning Sign" begins playing and it starts to rain.

I'm being mocked by some higher power.

My day started off earlier than I would prefer, only ironically, I was the one who set up the meeting to start at 9am at the Fort branch. I conducted my 2nd manager's meeting without the boss quickly and painlessly. Niki and I bought Krispy Kreme donuts for ourselves and some for the ATC kids. We dropped off some people at Rockwell then headed back south for ATC's staff meeting. The meeting went off without a hitch then we were off to the much awaited part of our day, THE SPA! We couldn't contain our excitement, we kept giggling walking to the Spa. This is the first time I went here with someone. The last few times was boring, sitting in the sauna and jacuzzi alone. At least this time, I had Niki to share funny glances with every time a naked old woman would walk past or (egad!) join us in the water. We went through THREE rounds of contrast baths after which we enjoyed an hour of swedish massage. I can't remember having this much fun in the spa. Those hot and cold dips were the sh!t. Niki and I are contemplating getting a month trial membership. Unlimited use of those bath amenities, specially when we work in the same mall will be awesome.

And of course, what better way to end a great spa treatment but with a nice great serving of Italliani's Sicilian Chicken Salad! We also shared a pumpkin soup and extra helping of foccacia dipped in the Olive Oil-balsamic vinegar-parmesan cheese concoction.

We dropped by Paul's house for a bit to hang with sila Bea then I dropped Niki home. What made this day even more magical is that when I got home and opened my mac, I had NO EMAILS FROM THE BOSS. That, alone, was an absolute miracle! I was almost afraid to check my mail and was prepared to close the mac regardless of more added to dos.

This non day off was waaay better than yesterday's actual day off!

I mean complaining.

Well I'm not really complaining. I'm only stating facts.

I am sooo tired. So exhausted from work. I've been doing overtime the past couple of weeks and I am beat. What's worse is, this isn't even the peak season yet. I have been having a migraine since Friday. I love my job, I do. I love the taking pictures part and the meeting cute kids part, and bonding with my team part. But this thing I'm doing, Managing, it is mighty, mighty exhausting! If only it didn't pay me well, I probably won't do it at all.

Pagod na pagod na ako. Gusto ko ng mamahinga pero ang dami kong kelangang gawin. Ang dami ko pang hindi natatapos na kelangang tapos na kahapon pa! Naiiyak na ako.

I used to be so good with deadlines. Everything that needed to get done would always be done on time. But now, it seems like I'm so behind with my work! Am I so bad with managing time that this is happening? I've been having almost 12 hour workdays the past several weeks and I'm no where near done! Ano ba!!!

Sometimes, I think about just dropping everything and leaving altogether. Where? I don't know. I just don't want to deal with anything anymore.

Right now, I just want this headache to go away.

Everybody had a black nose and whiskers except for me.
Why? Coz that's how I roll...

Thanks to Jammi for making the cat ears for everyone.More...