Archives for December 2012

December Loot

December 29, 2012

December is the month of big spendings and depleted savings.

December has always been the most stressful month, since in this month, you have to wrap up a year’s worth of work, do some Christmas shopping, and worry about dance rehearsals for your company’s party. So just like any normal girl, I turn to food and shopping when stress becomes a bit too much. Good thing December also means trips to cheap shopping places such as Divisoria and St. Francis’s Square! My two favorite places right because everything’s just cheap and you can haggle to your heart’s content.

So, below are my shopping finds. When I laid it down like that, I realized that I did shop too much. Then I console myself by thinking that all of it would amount to one dress from a signature brand. Then I no longer feel guilty. [Read more…]

A Very Merry Christmas

December 27, 2012

After all the stressful shopping and sleepless nights due to wrapping gifts, Christmas had come and gone, and I can confidently say that it may be the best Christmas I had. But it’s quite hard to say which Christmas is the best, since how do you even rank such thing? Every year, my family seems to be getting smaller since someone’s always moving to Italy. But still, Christmas was amazing for way too many reasons.

Last Christmas, we didn’t get to attend Misa de Gallo so we decided to attend the mass first thing in the morning. But since tons and tons of children (and adults) went to our house to ask for aguinaldo, we couldn’t leave. Christmas morning was spent on giving gifts (and receiving as well!) instead. It was still pretty fun.

When we managed to escape the visitors, my family went straight to Isdaan in Calauan. We’re too late for any mass, anyway, so we might as well fill ourselves with good food. But as expected, Isdaan was packed, and we had to wait for quite a while to be seated. But it was all worth it because the Crispy Pata was excellent omg. We also watched the show and roamed around the place. It’s a pretty popular destination lately, and I can see why. The food’s good and there are tons of attractions, too. I’m glad that we got to bring my grandparents there!

It was almost 4PM when we finished lunch, so yes, we stayed there for quite a long while. Since we’re late for the 4PM and still too early for the 5:30PM mass, my family went to SM to have our yearly family portrait taken. Thus, we’re all wearing red!

And to cap off a perfect day, we went to church. It’s been quite a while since I last attended mass on Christmas day itself, since we used to go to church on Christmas Eve. But it’s a nice change since the church wasn’t crowded and you could really focus. After all, Christmas isn’t just about presents and being with you family. We should never forget who should be the real focus of that day. 🙂 After all, it’s all because of Him that so many good things in life are made possible.

And Christmas won’t be complete without having dinner with the entire clan! It has always been like that. Though families would spend the day apart, we’d all go to one house and close Christmas by having dinner together. We even got to have a video call from our family in Italy. It just occurred to me that half of the family’s over there already. It’s all for the better, but it still feels a bit sad that they’re miles and miles away. But it doesn’t matter, because sometimes, it feels as if nothing changed.

So overall, it was a pretty amazing Christmas. God is an amazing God. He has given me way too many blessings, and I often wonder what I did to deserve them all. But I should probably stop questioning why I’m so blessed and start thinking of ways to turn these blessings into something that could be of use to others as well. And you know what, I actually this has been my best year so far. So many good things have happened, and it’s all up to me to make my 2013 better. I have an amazing family, amazing set of friends, amazing boyfriend, and I really couldn’t ask for more. And it’s all thanks to Him! 🙂

P.S. And for the first time, Alex spent Christmas Eve with us and it was nice. Like really nice. And it’s really one of the reasons why it was such an amazing Christmas. That is all. I hope you guys had a pretty splendid time, too!

Happy holidays!

Banapple Payday Date

December 1, 2012

I’ve been working in Makati for more than two years, but I have to admit that I’ve been unadventurous when it comes to food choices. Though I eat out a lot since I can’t cook at my dorm, I tend to go to the same places everytime. Namely, Jollibee, Chicboy, and World Chicken. This year, I planned to try as many restaurants and fast food joints as possible. I even had a list! Mostly, it’s restaurants that’s quite popular and relatively affordable, but frugal me still deems them quite pricey!

When my officemates learned that I hadn’t eaten at Banapple yet, they promised that we’d go there the next payday. They feel it’s such a loss that I haven’t even tried Banapple yet, Ate Joycy even felt sorry for me. Heh. So last payday, I finally got to eat at Banapple, Ayala Triangle branch.

Steve, Ate Karen, Ayessa, and Ate Marco, my lovely officemates. Yes, Steve, lovely ka. 😀

We arrived at around 11AM and there was already a queue outside! It’s quite surprising since we thought we were early. I guess if you want to be seated immediately, you have to be there before 11. While waiting, we spent some time taking photos and trying to be cute. One thing I should have realized a long time ago is that I probably should not stand next to Ate Karen when taking photos. She’s too tall for me.

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To the Best Parents in the World

December 1, 2012

Every year, my parents also subtly celebrate their wedding anniversary during our fiesta. I actually grew up not knowing that November 30 is also their anniv. But now that I know, I never once forget it.

I know I don’t say it as much as I should, but I love my parents with all my heart. I’m sadly not as affectionate as my father. I’m more like my mother who finds it uncomfortable to be sweet. Nevertheless, I still want to say how much I love my parents and how blessed I am to be their daughter. It was my proudest moment when my mother told me that I have never been a sakit ng ulo. It’s flattering to hear my mother say that I didn’t cause them much problem. Because I know they have enough worries already, I do not want to add to the problem.

My parents taught me a lot about the value of family. And though I’m still learning more about it, I can gladly say that if I’d have a family of my own, I plan to make my parents proud. They have raised me in a way that makes me know that I am more than privileged, but they also make sure that I know how to give more value to people than things. They continue to influence every decision I make but they have gave me enough room to grow and think for myself.

We may be at the opposing ends of many arguments, but my parents will always be a great driving force of every choice I’ll make. I do hope to make their lives a little bit better, because they have made mine quite special.

My parents taught me a lot of things about life and love. I have learned from them that relationships won’t be perfect. You won’t always be thinking along the lines of your partner and there will be misunderstandings. If you’ll get these little mishaps get the better of you two, then you won’t be able to fix the problem. But if you’ll focus on finding ways to mend it up, then no problem or worry can end your relationship. My parents have gone through so much and all I can think of is I want to have a relationship like theirs. Things aren’t always smooth-sailing, but they manage, and they make their marriage stronger brick by brick.

I learn strength from my parents. As a woman, I must be steadfast in any trials and learn to face problems upfront. And of course, my mother never fails to remind me to keep on praying and to trust in the Lord no matter what circumstances I’m in.

I have so much to be thankful for to my parents. I’m pretty sure that I’m still lacking as a daughter but I do hope that in time, I can make them proud. I also hope that I’ll never disappoint them.

Happy anniversary, mommy and daddy. Too bad you can’t have a date every anniversary since you’re always too busy with the fiesta. But I’m pretty sure you find ways to celebrate it together. I love you both. And that’s not enough to express how much you two mean to me.