Let There Be Light

This is what I want above my dining table.  I saw this on the web and I'm not sure of if I can find one in Manila. Sigh. 

Decorating Ideas from Blogs

I've recently stumbled upon the blog Decorno in search of decorating ideas for the house.  The writer is very opinionated which I like.  She presents very interesting ideas.  She loves white rooms and antiques and writes witty entries.  Sadly, she stopped blogging in April 2010. Sigh. Intersting read though.

Payless Manila is a Bit Shoeless

I hurried to the Payless flagship store at Festival Mall, Alabang just before closing time.  I was looking for silver heels to match my teal jumpsuit for a wedding.  I know a jumpsuit may not exactly be appropriate for a wedding but I styled it a bit to fit the occasion.  So the heels were critical.  To my dismay, Payless didn't have much choices for formal wear.  Most of the styles were for casual wear- flats, sneakers, etc.  Plus the styles available in my size were so few.  I remember seeing more choices back in the US.  Oh well, too much hype and PR.

People are People to the rescue.  They were on sale and had the silver bejewelled heels I was looking for.  I bought them for a steal for P600.  The store was on sale. Goody!  These shoes will definitely be a keeper.

A Belated 37th (Oops, 38th) Birthday Lunch

You must already know what happened during the day of my birthday.  I desperately needed a break during the weekend so Sittie and I went all the way to UP to have lunch at the Persian restaurant Khas.  To my surprise and disbelief, Sittie has never eaten here the entire time she was studying at UP.  To think that it's walking distance from our college.  The first time she set foot at Khas was quite recently so she was really psyched to eat here.  For my part, well, it brings back memories of my graduate years.

As you enter Khas, you'd think nothing has changed.  But I was wrong.  The floor is already tiled and the tables and chairs are more comfortable.  There was a definite upgrade to the place.  What surprised me was the addition of Korean dishes to the menu.

I really don't know why I ordered the ox brain because when it comes to ordering food I'm usually a creature of habit.  Back in the day, I would usually order the keema (ground beef with spices) because it's a complete meal already.  You know how it is when you're a student, you try to get the most bang out of your buck.  Today was different though.  I went with the seafood stir-fry while Sittie ordered the sizzling chicken.  The food didn't impress me that much (note to self- next time order the keema) but the sizzling chicken was ok especially if you consider the prices of the dishes here.  Food costs approximately P80 to P200 a dish.  Not bad at all.  Portions are good for 2 people, if you ask me.  But if you're really famished, you can well finish the entire dish all by yourself.

Overall, it was an enjoyable meal.  The perfect way to end a stressful work week.

Re-evaluating My Friends' List

If there's something I really dislike, it would be people who are sly.  I had first hand experience on my birthday. Well, goodbye to you.  You shall be kept at a distance.  And I thought you were a real friend.  At least I found out sooner than later.

The Manila Staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "CATS"

I was able to get 2 tickets to the dress rehearsal of CATS courtesy of my friend Sittie.  It's really good to have friends who are "well-connected".  If I were to purchase those tickets, it would cost me P7000 each.  The show opened with the director explaining what a dress rehearsal is.  He added that there may be some choreography- lifts and stunts- that may not be seen in the show to avoid injuring cast members.  Actually, looking back, it really didn't seem like it. The entire cast seemed to be giving it their all to please the Filipino audience.

I have to be honest.  I am not a fan of this musicale.  If it were not for the discounted tickets, I wouldn't have watched it at all.  Never mind if all the Manilenans and who's -who are watching.  I do laud the actors because they gave it their all.  Bravo to them.  But I didn't find the storyline interesting as the others I've seen.  The stage and costumes were amazing though and so was the choreography.

If you have loads of money to spend go try to catch it.

Belated Birthday Plans

Two days ago was my birthday.  Unfortunately something terribly wrong happened to one of my projects based in Cambodia.  Around 2500 documents were missing and no one knows how that happened.  It started on the eve of my birthday.  I had no recourse but to get help from my home office.   I was burning the skype lines with my boss and coordinating with our systems department to get back-up tapes of the database.  On the day of my birthday, the 28th, I was feeling nauseous the entire day and by the time the afternoon came, my eyes were puffy because of stress.  Upon checking the back-up files, I had to restore approximately 4000 plus documents and not 2500.  The entire process took me the entire day plus I've had to check with my team mate just to make sure I was doing the right thing.  Never thought this would happen to me but it did.  Things happen unexpectedly.  They catch us by surprise and we just have to deal with it- birthday or no birthday.

So for a belated birthday "celebration", this is what I have planned for the weekend:
1.  Go walking around UP (my alma mater),
2.  have lunch at Persian/Indian restaurant in campus,
3.  dessert at Bannapple along Katipunan and
4. go to The Spa at the Fort.

Can't wait for a quieter weekend.  Hope your weekends are going to be relaxing as well!

Cheers!

Cheer Up My Brokenhearted Friends

A few of my friends have broken up with their partners who they now consider as their ex-partners.  This not a great time for you and sometimes it feels like a roller coaster ride.  Sadness hits you when you least expect it.  I'd like to share a verse which I held on to when I was going through a rough time in my life. 

Psalms 34:18 - The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

So to all those whose hearts have been broken and going through a very tough time right now, remember that God knows what you're going through and He hears your cries.  So cry out to Him and seek comfort and refuge from the Lord.  I used to say this verse over and over again just to remind me that I am not alone and that there is an Eternal God who is my Father who will never leave me even during the bad times.

I Like the LV Insolite Wallet PM Fleuri

I am really not into designer stuff but when I saw the Insolite Wallet PM Fleuri two nights ago I wished that someone with a golden heart would buy it for me.  At $325 USD, I would have to think hard if I should part with that amount.  It's the fleuri design inside the wallet that caught my eye, giving it a softer, more feminine appeal but with the classic LV monogram outside.  It's like something old with a twist.  I love the twist.  The fleuri design comes in three colors- vert, rose and violet.  Will check out the LV store at Greenbelt 5 in Makati.  If only I didn't have to buy furniture for the house, I probably wouldn't have to think twice.  A girl can dream, can't she.  *Wink*

Manila Shoe Lovers- Say Hello to Payless

As if Forever 21 wasn't enough, Manila will be home to another well known US brand, Payless.  This is indeed a joyous moment.  Maybe not for the local shoe manufacturers because they have to deal with more competition.  But consumers are clearly the winners here.  The world is indeed getting "smaller" and  there are more choices for every price point you have in mind.

I Am Officially Underweight!

During the Memorial for my mom last Saturday, July 17, 2010, my Tita Edna who is a pediatrician asked me what my weight was.  "Ninety-two, Tita," I replied.  She told me that I was underweight.  Ok, what she actually said was that I was malnourished and that I needed to be at least 100 lbs. I can't tell you how much I've tried.  I don't go on diets and I eat 3 meals a day, even more.  But small portions.  She said I should take multi-vitamins and milk.  Admittedly, I don't take these on a daily basis.  I will try and hopefully when Tita Edna sees me again, I should be at least 95 lbs.

The Sting of Death

I'll be going to a wake later.  My friend's dad passed away due to cardiac arrest.  It's sad when parents die or pass on to the next life.  Whatever you want to call it, the feeling of sadness is the same.  In truth, I've never known loneliness as I did when my mom passed away.  I've never known an emptiness so deep.  So when my single firends talk about being lonely because they don't have a partner, a loved one, a honey, I just shrug my shoulders and in my mind say, "That's nothing.  It can't be compared to how I felt, feel and continue feeling with my mom's passing."  It can't even be compared to any break-up I've experienced.  That kind of sadness fades and you move on.  But this one, it lingers.  At least for me.

My First MSO show!

Went out with my girlfriends Bel and Sittie last Saturday.  Bel got free tickets for the Manila Symphony Orchestra.  Guest conductor for the show was a cousin of Bel's former officemate.  Entitled "Forces of Nature", the performance included five symphonies.  I am honestly not a fan of classical music and not familiar with even the most well known pieces. But I surely enjoyed myself and would have paid for the ticket.  I was overwhelmed with the depth of talent of our Filipino musicians.  They are trulyworld-class artists!  Bravo!

Forever 21 Invades Manila!

It's high time! Welcome to Manila.  For those who have shopped at Forever 21 abroad, you know how happy this makes us, right?  Took a sneak peak at Forever 21 last Thursday.  I only had 15 minutes to spare before meeting up with my friends.  We were all going to a wake.  I had to put some pizzaz to my outfit which I bought at Argylle Center in Hongkong.  So this is what I was able to buy for P800+

So happy that they're here.  My heart would skip a beat when I would visit their stores in Singapore and Jakarta.  Plus it's always a pain to convert when you shop abroad.  But since they're only at Megamall A for now, I am so sure that I'll be frequenting Megamall from now on.  Well, unless they put up a shop down south.  I guess that's too much wishfull thinking for now.

Hello World!

I am thirty something and SINGLE :-)  Hey it's ok.  Note the happy face!  I am happy where I am- at this particular phase.  Sometimes it's hard for people to believe it but if you see me, you'll be able to tell. Honestly, I am not envious of my friends who have kids because at this moment I still see more benefits of not having my own.  I'm not saying I'll never have them but right now, there's too much going on for ME.  Not just career-wise but on the home front (new house, dad and brother) as well.  Not to mention the fact that having a family of your own-husband and kids- can somehow stifle your mobility whether it's by personal choice or by virtue of circumstances.  So here I am enjoying the "single-life" and not being whiny about it at all.  I wasn't like this a few years ago. I  actually remember whining about my single status to one of my colleagues from the US.  His exact words were, "Age is just a number.  You can get married anytime you want". That opened my eyes.  It's probably our culture that puts too much pressure on us and REQUIRES females to be married with children at a certain age.  So while I am what I am, I'm going to enjoy the ride.