De-Stressing

Ways on How To Deal with the Burdens of Life
Key on how to handle stress:

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

I posted the enumerated items below on this very blog 6 (27 July 2005) years ago. Before I have posted side comments on how I feel on each item and I can’t help but smile because I sounded so immature, you can click here to reminisce. This time I am posting it again without any side & snide comments. The other part of me is very happy, I am blessed and loved but the half part of me is sad for things I cannot comprehend. Don’t take it the wrong way, this has nothing to do with my upcoming wedding, it’ll be the highlight of my adult life, to be one with my “the one”. What I’m feeling is something that adults can’t and will not be able to understand and resolve, it is the pains of growing up. Read on, think, ponder but don’t dwell on it too much. Unload your burdens, let’s stay honest and keep the love alive. Happy Thursday folks!

1. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
5. Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.
6. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. [anne: hear hear]
7. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
8. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
9. Never buy a car you can't push.
10. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
11. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
12. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
13. The second mouse gets the cheese.
14. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
15. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
16. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
17. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
18. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
19. We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to live in the same box.
20. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
21. Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

11.11.11

38 more days and we still don’t have the dresses. Not that I am nervous because I have complete faith in my cousin Ate Daisy, I love her to death :) (okay I admit I’m a little stressed out) it’s just that I wanted to finalize all the details, dresses included so that I can relax. I just hope that the dresses of the bridesmaids will arrive next week for the first fitting.

The shoes? Well my supplier (will divulge the name soon after the delivery so as not to compromise the quality of the shoes) is again asking for more time. Well I am a good client, I can bend backward even sideways if you want but enough is enough. I cannot take any more extensions. Nov 19 I’ll go marching to the shop and will get all the shoes. All 10 pairs of them!

I am writing this while waiting for my bus ride to Bicol. W’s maternal grandmother passed away. And to show my love and support I’ll visit the family this weekend. It is sad for our family as well because my Lolo Roming died too, a day after W’s Mama Alice joined the Lord. Death in both our families a month before our wedding. Sad but life goes on.

Today is 11.11.11, a great day to get married as advised by numerologist. I was wondering earlier today why W & didn’t consider this date to tie the knot. I guess because this date is not that special to us. But to those getting married today, CONGRATULATIONS!

They said this date is like a door, it is open for opportunities and ready for closure. We all have a secret wish, pray hard for it today. We all have baggage, release yourself from the straps.

Boys & girls, it’s Friday (I can hear myself saying this line to the tune of Rebecca Black’s song hehehe) have fun, enjoy, keep safe and make a wish!

I Miss You

I really do.

I miss blabbing and musing about all things under the sun.

You see I am getting hitched in less than 80 days so my time is pretty devoted to preparations. We started early and I thought by this time I'll be chillaxing, watching my favorite tv shows but boy I am so wrong. Although everything is under control and I have never been a bridezilla yet, just thinking about things that still needs to be done stresses me. Maybe I really need to start practicing the mantra " let go and let God".

My birthday month was pretty awesome, I just want to share it with you because you know I always have birthday jitters every year - the price for growing old. But it was different this year, because of my busy schedule I didn't have the time to mope and think about how old and senseless the new year of my life would be. Well that's typical drama queen me but this year was really fun. People Tells me all the time that this is the last birthday I'll celebrate being single.

My sister and my nephew Johann travelled all the way from Bicol to spend a few days here. My best friend travelled a few thousand miles (yep from Singapore) to spend my birthday week with me. My closest friends and dear loved ones were all here. My Panget was here too and gave me the thing that I really wanted (he bought me the SLR cam I wanted which surprised me because he said we'll buy it next year).

I am so blessed, last night I was able to contemplate upon realizing it's the last quarter of the year already. 2012 is already waving at me. 2011 has been so far nice to me. He stayed true to his part of the bargain. Before this year started I asked that he be friendlier and nicer to me unlike the other years and he did, 2011 was really my year. I know it was not perfect, I had a lot of silent angst about my career and work life but God is good I'll be blessed because I know I have worked hard everyday for the company. Money is tight but the drought too shall pass. I am thankful that my parents are fine, their health are not perfect but okay. I am blessed, I believe and I have it in my heart because God is with me.

So there I updated you, I really miss talking to you but be assured that you are never forgotten. I am hoping to write more next year. I intend to travel more and try new exciting things next year so you an I will have a lot of stories to discuss. Please don't be sad okay, I am just here. Bear with me for the time being and let me enjoy my being a princess soon.

I gotta go now my blog, will write more soon. I really miss you and don't go anywhere okay. I'll write more soon.

Love,
Anne

Far from Normal

So I've been reading a lot (again) lately...dry spells over hehehe.

I was lucky enough to find time to read once again, lubricate my brain a little since it has been filled with snippets of rust. And because I started reading again I don't know if it has something to do with my off then on again case of insomnia (reason why I fancy calling myself a sleepwalker). Reading is supposed to make you doze off but it is doing the reverse for me. This is the reason why I was able to finish a hardbound book with 400+ pages in 2 days. I know I have a 7 hours record of reading the HP Deathly Hallows non-stop but anything else read less than 3 days is a record too.

So the ghost month is over... we're supposed to be proactive again with our preps, I've been doing a lot of DIYs again after pressing pause for 2 months. We have 4 months ++ more but time flies the next thing we'll know we have barely a month to go.

Am I excited? Yes ofcourse :) who wouldn't? But I am containing myself just giggling inside.

Anyway I need to run, it's Saturday meaning errand & prep day. I just want to update everyone (as if there are readers to this blog) that this blog is still breathing.

Happy weekend boys & girls!

Real Life Story

I am a movieholic, I love watching movies, old & new ones, mainstream or art films. I used to do reviews, I don’t know why I don’t do any of it anymore. Everybody’s busy I know, I am and have always been but I always have the time before to go watch the latest and give it my two cents.

Was it because movies are now available for downloads after a week or so that it was shown in theatres (thanks to torrents)? Or was it because movie tickets now costs a fortune? Or was it because I don’t have a movie buddy to go with? Or was it because there are just no more worth watching flicks anymore? Yes maybe to AB&C but never to D.

I was watching Something Borrowed last night on my very dependable iPod, not for Kate Hudson but because I really like Ginnifer Goodwin and that if I would associate myself to a movie actress I would love her to be in my circle. The roles she play – always an underdog – is something that I (as a viewer) feel for, something that all of us, at one point in our lives can relate to. I like how you would continually guess how the movie would end. Guess #1 is that she would end up with Jon Krasinski, that’s always the case in feel good movies, while you have your eye on someone who doesn’t like you the way you like him or her there will always be this other person who loves you the way you love the other and at the end of the day the happy ending is that you deserved to be the first choice so you’ll end up and you’ll realize that this person you do not adore at the beginning is your one true love (I may have confused you more but I know you get the drift, don’t you?). But I was wrong. Guess #2 is that the best friend Darcy (Kate H.) would be the best friend you wanted, she’ll let you have the guy. She’s selfish at the beginning but would truly be a “friend” in the end and you’ll live happily ever after with the guy (whom you love from the very start but you’re too afraid to let your feelings known that he ends up being the fiancé’ of your best friend). I won’t be writing how the movie ends it is best you watch it if you’re interested.

Why am I babbling about this movie? It is because this movie made me realize that my life lacks the story that is worth telling over and over again. I am blessed not to have encounter too many failures that would give me the chance to retell my story on how I rose from below. I do not have an interesting rag to riches, princess from pauper story. I have never been a damsel in distress, I have never been anybody’s meantime girl nor did I been a “one who got away” character. I have the most boring story. I wake up I do the day’s work and then I rest at night. I sound like I am complaining, I guess I am – a little but I am thankful for the things and people I have in my life right now. There are just times when you want to feel colourful and hyper from the events of the day. And because when the lights are out, my eyes are just closed, my mind adrift that after a couple of hours I have to open them up and resume with the routine that is MY LIFE.

Am I ranting? I’m not. Do I have a point? I don’t. So what do I want? Nothing. That’s it – I want nothing at least I believe I want nothing.

PS: I do not own the photo :)

Fashion Faceoff

Both by talented designers both worn by remarkable women, both look great :)

I really love them both in their gowns but I'm not gonna wear one that looks like this.

I heart this pic...

by Alizza Mistades, I soooo love this shot :)

Flora 101

I had my own fair share of receiving bouquet of flowers not just because it was Valentines, sometimes during ‘saries (yes month & anniv, etc.) I have even received a humongous bouquet one New Year’s Day several years ago. I am a flower fan although I always have this projection that I’m not a person really fond of flowers especially during my younger years because 1. I don’t know how to explain to my parents that this guy gave it to me, 2. I don’t want to be teased by my friends and classmates and 3. I don’t know how to drive nor have a car to drive. It always embarrasses me to commute holding one big bunch of bouquet because people would often stare at me. I love spring flowers – daisies, mums, gerberas. Roses? Not too much. But I always have a thing for baby’s breath, asters, lily of the valley and the likes. I know all about stargazers and hydrangeas too. Well we know all about the Gumamelas (Hibiscus if you want to be sosyal) since it’s the main ingredients of our bubbles, the Santan flowers (raise your hand those who would sip the stems of the small flowers because they tasted sweet?). My mother loves the Boungavilleas, with their thorny stems and flimsy petals, she used to collect different shades of this type in our garden back in our hometown. We know the Yellow Bells (Campanilla), Calachuchi (oh we feared it’s smell when we were younger, reminds us of funerals), the orchids – we love them during graduations and our Moms and Aunts collects them, placing coconut husks, eggshells, attaching the plants to dead trees, watering it with beer or their special human urine concoction – oh yes! My Mama and some aunt are orchid freaks when I was young.

I know a lot about flowers right? WRONG.

I have never been so flower dumb in my entire life.

I was amazed that there is this a whole new world of flower education. I met (well we’re just emailing, I haven’t met him personally – yet) this one amazing guy who knows all about flowers. Well he’s a master in that field, it’s his business to know it alright but man, when I was asked what flowers to I have in mind I was speechless. All I know is that I love colors, I love small petals, I hate gigantic flowers and I hate spiky and too much green in one flower arrangement.

I started googling all about the flowers I have heard and learned from the master and you can click each flowers to have an idea of what they look like. I have just learned all about Statice, Agaphantus, Snapdragon, Alstromeria, Eryngium, Peonies, etc.

It’s crazy! I was overwhelmed with too much information to absorb and all details of what they looks like so I could remember. More about flowers to be posted on the wedsite soon.

So gentlemen, very timely for the Vday, KNOW YOUR FLOWERS. Enough of the roses (Oh well unless they’re American long stemmed or Ecuadorian). Try a little research and impress the ladies.

The Year of the Rabbit

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

As we prepare for the Chinese New Year, it won’t hurt to follow a few Chinese traditions that could bring prosperity, good luck and happiness to us and to our families. It worked for our Chinese brothers and sisters so why don’t we try it and see for ourselves. Here are some tips that you can try at home:

ON FEB. 2, fill your dining table with fruits, particularly pineapple, pomelo, orange, apple, banana, grapes and dragon fruit, to attract money, harmony and prosperity. And, who doesn’t want that? Five means harvest and luck in Chinese.

Don’t forget to put two pieces of ang pao on the table so you can have better luck in the Year of the Metal Rabbit. Add more candies like macapuno on table because they mean “home sweet home.”

It would be auspicious also to have watermelon and lotus seeds on the table which signify money and luck, respectively, in Chinese.

Have your rice bin filled up during the Chinese New Year and place on top more lucky stuff like Chinese lettuce, Chinese celery, spring onions, carrots with leaves and lotus root. The lotus root implies harmonious relationship between husband and wife.

Add kiat kiat or mini ponkans on top of the rice bin overnight with P168 inside the rice bin. Don’t use coins. Use paper notes. Then, place one piece of ang pao on top of them all. (And how can we produce an exact P168 without using coins? The answer varies, you can add old P2 bills or write a check hehehe – Anne)

It is also advised to wear new underwear (hehe) and a new pair of slippers. Then you take a bath to remove all the bad luck of 2010. Even if you’re lucky in 2010 you still need to do it for the Year of the Rabbit. Use the new items you purchased :)

It is also advised that families go to Makati because Makati is the Philippine’s business district and because money is concentrated in that area.

The Year of the Metal Rabbit is generally a better year than the Tiger (last year). It promises a romantic year for everybody. Business will bloom, specifically in trading, mining (gold), real estate, hotel business.

Lucky colors of the Metal Rabbit, white, sky blue, gold, red, peach, silver, green, orange, pink and violet.

Love life in general is good for everyone except those under the rat sign (those under the rat signs, don’t feel sad… these are just guide – Anne).

Lucky signs this year: Rabbit, Horse, Goat, Dragon, Rat and Ox.

These advises were from the renowned Hong Kong-based geomancer Joseph Chau, feng shui consultant of Mandarin Oriental, Manila.

So there you go boys and girls, all the best this New Year. I bet all my single friends (whom majority are born on the year of the Goat, will be happy this year for it was advised in almost all sites that romance will blossom for all single ladies born with our sign, a few lucky ones will even get married this year (huwahaha!). Take care and happy year of the Rabbit!!!

Kodak Moment

It’s confirmed, our very own wedding photographer was also the photographer of O & K in their engagement session and on their actual wedding yesterday in Batangas J.

Yes I’m back after days of snoozing from the blogosphere. Here’s my entry for the year, MY HAPPY NEW YEAR, a chismax about our photographer. Well it made me really giddy cos I’m in the middle of doing my own preparation as well. I really love NU, his shots are really bright, sunny, happy, cheerful (I know the adjectives are almost the same). Whenever I look at his photos - I smile, that’s how happy he can make me through his art. I wish I could look oh so pretty also when it’s my turn to be on his spotlight for my own Kodak moment. This is how happy W made me when we made the decision of booking NU.

After this week my wediste and this blog will be back in the game. I’ll be posting new entries after we booked the other important stuff this weekend. I cannot wait to have our excel file updated as well. W has been going on and on about the budget (hehehe I’ve been giving him balloon versions of the budget, been buffering it A LOT so that he raise it haha!).

I really love Thursdays. It’s almost the weekend! Yey!