NEW YEAR'S EVE <3

                                         Jan. 1, 2010 - and just barely 2 1/2 months


                            Jan. 1, 2011 - 10lbs. lighter and the rock of Gibraltar on my finger




Jan. 1, 2012...

The ensemble and look is prepared (thank you Youtube for all those makeup and hair tutorials and to Ruth for tonight's bold dress. I'll try not have a nip-slip whilst wearing it, hahaha! =)


2011 was a year of many dreams fulfilled.

Daydreams and fantasies are never as vivid as you conjure them up in your head. They're never as detailed, as concise, as real. There isn't any room for in-betweens when it comes fantasies. None of the trials and the troubles. None of the color painted by sorrow and grief and anger and forgiveness and "I'm sorries" and "I love yous." So when the day[s] finally came... when I'd have a home of my own... a job that fulfills me creatively and where I've earned the true respect of colleagues, a husband who is such a wonderful person and provider... a daughter who's growing more and more beautiful and brilliant by the day... and family and friends, both old and new, who show me why I'm NOT missing out on not having a Facebook (hehe), I can honestly say... that my dreams, my childhood's faiths and desires, my very fantasies... don't hold a candle to the realities that happened in 2011.

So with that (because I have to go to the salon in a bit)... I bid 2011 a heartfelt farewell. Thank you for being one very good year.

Oh 2012, you know I'm comin' for ya. Here's to wedding plans, re-tiled bathrooms, and a successful online show (and more free alkie =).

But just in case the Mayans got it right and next year really is our final year on earth...

This is how it's gonna be:

Limited Edition Love

Two men after my own heart: Miguel and Michael

*sigh*

Now you know what I'll be doing this holiday break...

Drinking beer and emoting to Motown.

Merry Christmas to me!!! *giggles with glee*

                            Can't wait to pop these in my awesome freezer til it hits below zero.

                                              Oh Hello World! And Hello 2012!



....


Thank you to ADBM and to MCA Music Inc. for the lovely gifts and to all the other PR companies and clients who've sent gifts my way. It feels so nice to see Christmas time happening on my desk when I get in in the morning. I realize that all the work I put in the past year paid off. And that makes me feel real good. =)

For our 3rd year anniversary, I plan to surprise my husband with a wedding.

As of 10:10pm... it's official.

My husband and I will be getting married... again.

                                                         This was part one.



[Non-refundable] reservation. PAID.
Details. FAXED & EMAILED.
Date. SET.

*whew*

Sh*t has to go down now.

.....

On a more romantic note....

Originally, we had decided on getting married on October 26, 2012 - one day after what would be our 3rd year anniversary... because it was a Friday... and we wanted to party... guiltlessly. I even signed that date up on Bridalbook.ph the moment we became engaged. Had the countdown going and errrthang. I was ready to have me a crazy "Last Friday Night" type of Friday night for a wedding.

But wouldn't you know. As we were blocking off the date, we learn that the 26th of October in 2012... is a holiday. (Eid al-Adha)

So we'll be getting married [again] on our 3rd year anniversary after all.

.....

On another note...

I know some people are still a bit surprised with the "quickness" of our plans. People who've been in their relationships for much longer. Much "steadier" couples who choose to take their time, enjoy themselves, do what they gotta do. (Cuz god help you if you can actually enjoy anything anymore once you're married. *scratches head*)

Now I don't know if it's awestruck amazement or just sheer cynicism...

But for all of my years of experience and "wisdom" on the matter... I find that all I can say (to those who find the speedy turn of events overwhelming), simply but profoundly,

"When you know, you know... babe." (Yes, I say that with term of endearment included because I want to appear all-knowing and almost condescending like "bow down before my wisdom, peasant" hahaha)

Whatever.

Date's set. Sh*t non-refundable.

Before I became his boss...

Play Tuesdays at Attica where I made a rare cameo appearance and lo and behold, I see my cousin/UPCAT tutorials classmate, Tibbz... Gadgets Magazine's latest editorial addition and newest face in the tech scene. =)

Dang, I look pretty cute with short hair. =P

#2011regrets

Though my poor heart still aches at missing my chance at copping one (or two even had I not been a lazy ass)...

                        You are worth more than all the iPhone 4s's in the whole wide world.

Of course...

It's the alcohol's fault. *smacks forehead*

Reminder for 2012:

***Will not miss a single tech event I'm invited to no matter how small or seemingly insignificant and hassling. Even if it's held at that gosh-forsaken Resorts World and I have to miss a lot of other parties and deprive people of my awesome presence. Lucrative work opportunites will have to take precedent over random drinking sessions. (Sorry Waffle, it's nothing personal.)

I've never had a reason to dislike drinking... even when I was super drunk and I was super hurting... until now. (But I know I won't dislike it for too long. Just need to learn to prioritize better.)

....

But on a side note...

One of my more active (and smarter) colleagues copped himself one... and though my envy had turned more into a bitter nonchalance after a few minutes of self-loathing, I was touched to hear that he would be giving it to his sister who is with child. I think that's real sweet. And in a way... God gives those who deserve it... or need it most. Of course, my boss got one too. She was the one who told me of my misfortune... and almost completely ruined my day. Then again, I guess she needs one more than I do. Besides... I'm not really want of anything anyway... except for a parking slot at my condo. Maybe our bldg can give away free parking slots.

I'm the best sour-graper ever.


....

Oh and if ever I'm coming off like some tasteless and tacky materialistic b*tch with this what with the Sendong victims (and all the other victims of this world and the ones much closer to home, the ones you see just outside your car when you're stuck in traffic but ignore) ---- I'm sorry. I'm human and I'm petty. And I'm not afraid to own up to it.

Go out and inspire people, people!

Join the GOOD BLOG AWARDS and be rewarded for giving the people something GOOD. (Because that's the way it should be. =)

Don't worry, it's open to all amateurs with a written, photo, or video blog so don't get all apprehensive and think your stuff isn't "good enough." Hell, I'd join my nonsensical sh*t if I could... but I can't cuz Gadgets is sponsoring it. =)

Deadline of Submissions is December 31. =P

While the husband's away...

The wife will play (whilst waiting patiently for her beloved to return *ahem*)...

DIY Louboutin

Been checking out wedding shoes and found these lovelies:

                                     Christian Louboutin Pigalle Blue Glitter Pumps


Of course, they're not exactly cheap and so I decided to do something I haven't done in the longest time...

I got up from my desk, walked to National Bookstore, and bought me some blue and black glitter... and a paint brush.

When I got home, I decided to ArtZooka the shit out of a pair of pumps Pao bought me.

And this is what a little arts and crafts time can do:



I plan to rock them real soon, perhaps at some tame Christmas party where I don't get too drunk lest I scratch up my shoes til all the glitter comes off. Then again, I suppose I should put them to the test.

Maybe next week. I need to detox. And I miss Zumba and my Reeboks.

Why I love... Psyche's protective nature

As a parent, you're never quite sure what advice to give your kids when people treat them badly or say mean things to them. Sure there's the whole "just ignore em, be the bigger, more understanding bit" or "just punch em in the face"... alas... I am a mother who believes in the power of discourse... and just really good comebacks.

....

Her cousins called her disgusting once... for eating something, I'm not sure. They're not the nicest of kids either. So I told her, anyone who says nasty things about her to comeback by simply saying, "Well you have an ugly personality."

AND SNAP.

Like literally, she should snap her fingers and her head and just dust her shoulders off cuz people who talk shit... ARE SHIT. and only shit talkers have a very dirty "inside." Then again, what do I know, I'm a shit-talker too, not gonna deny it, but at least... I get the last word and what I say is TRUTH.

However...

Despite my love for intelligent discourse... my daughter seems to have another type of comeback in mind albeit a more gruesome and violent one.

Ain't nothing like the power of self-defense, y'all. =P

The Boyfriend Shirt - a short story

What you can do with your husband's super over-sized polo.

                                                           Turn it into a dress.

                                              Look nothing like one of the boys.

                                             But be just as naughty as the rest of em.

                          And turn into a happy little party animal... blazed out of her wits.


                                                        
                                                             --The End--





[Team Manila always throws a --painfully-- memorable Christmas party full of FUNNY *SS SHIT. Love love my husband... hands down... the BEST person to... uhm... skyrocket with.]

Why I love... my interns.

A lot of them are just pains in the *ss who you end up helping more than they help you. Sometimes, it almost seems like you take em in just to baby-sit them until their 150hours are up. But then there are a few who you end up "baby-ing" and nurturing... so that when they leave, you know happiness and success will follow them.

And you can only hope that they remember you when you see them around, doing their own thing, becoming little bosses themselves...

And smile when they do. Because at least you know you didn't completely f*ck up these children's futures by making them do stupid, non work-related things like [stalking my ex's ex-girlfriends and harassing them online]... on top of the more serious magazine work stuff too. *smiles innocently*

Today... is a testament of that love (and the whole not completely f*cking them up bit).

My former intern Ninya's blog: http://gogerard.blogspot.com/2011/12/michelle.html


PS. Ninya, I still have you and Chad's picture on my corkboard. *hugs* Oh and... it's not lifestyle editor, it's ASSOCIATE EDITOR. Tell your stupid robot to get it right. Hahahaha!

Why I love... Mika

Because my shopaholic little sister traded her Hong Kong flight to come to Manila tomorrow. (Yes Mika, you deserve my vacation leave for Friday. I'm gonna need the day-off anyway. =)

Why I love... my 9 to 5.

I just came from a meeting today. Like just now. Preparing articles to usher the 2012 issues in. And I realized, just now, that sometimes work can get a little hard. A little boring. A little too tedious. Seems like I’ve been doing this shit for way too long (5years)  and yet… I can never seem to remember what I did or wrote about the month before.  And people can be so annoying. Their laziness. Incompetence. Or whatever other inadequacy you notice and rant the shit out of. Good thing these media events serve alcohol so I can knock back my woes and sorrows... then try to stay sober enough to write about it the next day.

And then everything becomes a problem. Like this annoying little roadblock where you either wanna turn back and take another route or run right thru it without a thought of the damage it’ll cause.

But I also realized, just now, that I guess… those things shouldn’t make you forget HOW FUCKING AWESOME YOU REALLY ARE. Seriously. Like, if you’re good at what you do, don’t let that shit get to you. Don’t let it keep you from playing your A-game. DON’T USE OTHER PEOPLE’S SHORTCOMINGS AS AN EXCUSE TO FAIL. (My daddy taught me that. And that’s probably one of the best pieces of advice he’s ever given my sisters and I growing up --- next to the one about not having to “clean blood splattered on the wall” but I’ll save that piece of wisdom for another time.)

Now I’m not mad or anything. It just sorta dawned on me you know? Being around someone who’s been annoying me lately and having to work with this person and act all civil and what not ---- and I fucking realize how good I am at what I do and how it just comes off so naturally aaaaaand on top of that "down to business type seriousness" I'm also pretty good at making myself and other people laugh. Turning annoyance into one big joke. Or better yet, turning problems into opportunities… to be better. To showcase my skills. To express my ideas, defend them wholly and unabashedly. And to get up out that meeting knowing full well, “YOU RUN THIS SHOW, BITCH.” Now stop whining.

                                      Me and my 2 art directors... and Captain Morgan.

Why I love... series - Pilot

It's the first week of December and I suppose given a lack of drama to blog about, I decided to just fill the spaces with daily entries of "Why I Love" whatever and whoever. Consider it a personal reminder of why God is good and why everyday of living and loving is a blessing (also considering we may only have a year until the end of the world but I don't wanna get into that. =)

So today...

Why I love... my husband. (and I'm gonna have alot of reasons for my husband along with Psyche and the rest of my family and friends and it may get cheesy to a point but I don't care.)

I love my husband because...

He came home from Morocco lastnight and came bearing gifts: Argan beauty oil (not to be confused with "Agora" oil but I got confused anyway and told him to hook me up with some of that "Agora" oil and so he looked for "Agora" oil and people over at Morocco were looking at him like "Whuuuuuuut????")

And what I love love love the most:



Boom. A f*cking Yoga DVD... with a testimonial from Jennifer Aniston (cuz that was the clincher).

That just about saved me 5k a month on yoga. =)

And of course, hotel toiletries and airplane freebies ---- my fave. =)

Barbie and makeup and why daughters are fun.

The best kind of bonding ever...

And in all honesty, aside from all the Kiehl's anti-wrinkle stuff I put on my face... it's Psyche who keeps me young. And I remember how I'm not just her mother. I'm her friend. And real friends play "wedding party/reception barbie with robin thicke playing in the background" and put makeup on... even if they have nowhere to go.