June 2013 Midnight Musings: June 2013

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June 28, 2013

What to do when you're alone and bored

Are you tired of being in your house? Are you itching to go out, but the scorching heat of the sun just won't let you? Can't find things to do at home? Are you ALONE and BORED? Okay, enough for sounding like a tv commercial! Haha!

For weeks, I've been a stay-at-home person since our freaking OJT hasn't started yet. Pfft. Do I sound like I'm bored already? I hope not. :) Well I just stay here, and do nothing but sit in front of the laptop. Hey, the internet can be boring too, you know. So yesterday, I decided to leave it for a while and do something crazy! Haha! Not only did I enjoy my company, I was also able to exercise! I realized I had 'the moves' and a future as a rocker! Haha! Talk about being productive.

One bored kitty right there!

So let me tell you, 'boring' is just a state of mind. If we think it, it will happen. Being at home alone isn't as boring as you think it is! There are actually a lot of things you can do without going outside the house! Trust me! Try one from the list and let's see if you ever get bored again. :)

Give your wardrobe a new life. Turn your closet over, look for a few unfitting or old clothes and remake it! Are you not using your favorite white shirt because it's stained? Dye it! Are your legs longer than your jeans are? Turn 'em into shorts! The possibilities are endless!

Make a new dance move! Play a song of your choice (loud songs are recommended) and sing and dance to it! Let your inner singer-dancer-self emerge! :) Just make sure to close your windows and curtains to make sure nobody's watching!

Make yourself up. A classic! This is very useful especially when a certain event is near! You might just discover that you've got that make-up skill, and you save money from getting yourself made up at the salon!

Stalk your crush on Facebook! It's one of the best ways to kill 'boredom' since you're looking at your source of happiness and giddiness. Admit it! :)

Eat! This might be the only exception to the rule on not going out of the house. :D If you have money with you, go ahead! Splurge on food and eat until you can eat no more! Lol.

Learn a new craft! Learn to sew, crochet, cook, draw, write etcetera! You never know, you might be good at something else other than the usual things that you do! :) My Mom is always encouraging me to learn how to sew. So I guess when I'm bored and alone and at home, I should probably really try.

Read a book! Sounds boring to ya? Why not read it out loud in British or Australian accent? :) I'm positive you'll have a good laugh afterwards! This has got to be one of my fave pastimes!

How about you? How do you beat boredom? :)

Do you have any lists you want to share? LINK UP WITH ME! Just grab the codes below and put it at the end of your post! :) Tell me when you've posted. I'd love to read your lists!

More List of Seven posts here!

June 24, 2013

Takeover Tuesday (on a Monday!): Meet Kate!

Man, it was a tiring Monday everyone! We had rearranged my Aunt's house for a change! Though I didn't really do much, I felt tired and sleepy. Perhaps because of sleeping late this past month. My sleeping habits have changed drastically and I can't sleep unless it's midnight. But don't mind me, I'm okay. :)

Today I am very excited for I have my very first guest on my blog! I never thought that more than a couple of bloggers would send in their answers within the hour I sent the email! :) I really appreciate it guys! And it's been a pleasure being able to exchange messages with you all! :)

Now everyone, meet wonderful Mom Kate! I became acquainted with her through the Five Among Friends started by our good friend Taby. Now, I'll let Kate (I keep typing Katie! lol) take over and you guys have fun getting to know a bit about her! Come in Kate, over...

***

Hello I'm Kate! I blog at www.justpirouetteandcarryon.blogspot.co.uk I have two small children both girls, Biscuit and Wiggles. Gold star for services to planet population to us then?! They are my pride and joy, I could squeeze them till their heads popped off, but I don't. I really don't, honestly.

My Husband, Mr Husband, is the best boy I've ever met, he is amazeballs, but he would not be impressed with me for using that word to describe him. He rarely annoys me, except when he wants to watch an excessive amount of football or cuddle when I have jobs to do... cooker tops do not clean themselves! Together we live in my childhood home joined on to my parents and older brother, separated by "the door." We alternate between driving each other nuts and getting on really rather well. Built in babysitters are the bees knees! We live in a small village in the Uk that is wonderful, but often completely bonkers. My blog is about our lives! I often speak first and think later. I'm sometimes amusing, sometimes outrageous and sometimes a little bit quiet for no particular reason. Buy me a cocktail and we'll be friends for life...or just come and visit my blog and say hi, that would be really good too!

How did you come up with your current blog name?

I am the proud owner of a pretty little blog called Just Pirouette and Carry On... I chose my blog's name because it's from a song that always resonated with me, I think because the sentiment pretty much sums up my approach to life! Don't let little things get you down, be graceful, be beautiful and get on with it!

When you started blogging, what came in to your mind?

To answer this question I'm going to set the scene a little...it's the day after New Year's Day, it's first thing in the morning and I'm in bed. Nothing unusual there then! It's a strange sort of day because all the festive frivolity is very definitely over, Mr Husband has gone back to work after a lovely, but hectic week off. I have one child in the other room covered from head to foot in chicken pox that frankly RUINED my plans for a big New Year's Eve party, (poxy flippin pox). And another child who's six months old and - gasp - actually asleep! None of the blogs I usually loved to read had new posts so I decided that this would be the perfect PERFECT time to play a little game of beat the clock. If I could set up an entire blog before those little tinkers woke up and started demanding milk and Cheerios to spread around my kitchen then it was meant to be! And whaddaya know, I'd managed a whole blog and here I am!!! Nice to know I threw myself into this with consideration, forethought and planning hey?!

Who inspired you to blog?

Other bloggers!! I wanted in!! Also my girls, I have a really rubbish memory so I wanted to look back on their little lives in years to come and say "Hey! Look what we did!!"

Do you ever blog in your PJ’s?

All the time!! That's completely normal right?!

What's your biggest pet peeve?

Excessive negativity. It really annoys me people seem incapable of looking around them and counting the blessings that they have. I want to shake them and say "Hey! Look at all this! You have it, enjoy it, don't whinge about tiny things, there are people out there with real problems!"

What are 5 items you never leave home without?

My phone, a hairbrush, a spare nappy, my keys and some bribery sweeties for the girls!!

What is your most favorite electronic gadget?

I love my iPhone, my whole life is stored on here! When I think about how much technology has progressed, even in my lifetime it blows my mind!!

So Keep Calm and visit Kate's blog! :)

June 22, 2013

Five Among Friends 2.0

Hello there you guys! Last week, I have been invited by a good friend Taby of The Closet Intellectual to Five Among Friends. It was indeed a fun way to make new friends and also, because of this, my blog traffic increased! How cool is that? :) Now, it just doesn't end there. Jay of Crafty Spices decided it would be fun if each of the participants become host for the week! And this week, Jay is in charge. :)

Check out the other participants in the links below! Want to join? Just comment on any of the participant's post and we'll be adding you! :)

1. What is your favorite thing about blogging.

We all know how blogging is a creative and emotional outlet - and that's what I love about it. Through blogging, we can share our world with beautiful and kind strangers who eventually become our friends, and people who share the same interest. Through it, we discover a whole new world. We learn about places, people, customs, traditions and a lot more! :)

2. What do you dislike about blogging.

I don't know, really. :) But to be honest, I guess that'll be thinking about what to post? I mean, I'm happy that I'm a personal blogger but sometimes my life gets uninteresting and I run out of topics. And I also dislike seeing my blog without something new for my readers. So I guess that's about it. :D

3. What is you favorite thing to do with your little one(s).

I cannot relate to this question since I don't have a kid ('cause I'm only 20!) So it'll just be 'little ones=my aunt's dachshunds'. Okay? :) One thing I absolutely love doing with the dogs is rubbing their stomachs - newfound love? :D You know they like it too when they start rolling on their backs and stare at you with their cute puppy eyes. Awww! :)

4. If you could move anywhere in the world (Money not being a question) where would it be, and why?

Did you know that I love answering these kind of questions? Hahaha! I'd totally love to move down under - Australia! Well it seems peaceful in that part of the world and photos of Australia has always captured my heart in some way or another. I could live in my dream house beside the beach and enjoy the scenery (and the sunrise and sunset!) every single day and I'd never get bored of it. It has also great locations and subjects for photos!

5. What is the most embarrassing thing ~~one of your kids has~~ you have done in public.

I actually have done a lot of embarrassing things in public. Hahah! That's actually a lot that I can't quite remember. XD But I guess the most memorable embarrassing moment would be an instance during Prom which you can see here! :)

VIEW OTHER FIVE AMONG FRIENDS POST HERE!

First Month in Manila

Maybe you're wondering why I'm celebrating this. Hahah. I don't even have a boyfriend, okay. This is in celebration of my first month here in Manila! Wow, I can't even believe it's been a month since I got here. I haven't been paying too much attention to time lately, but oh my it has passed so quickly! The hours seemed like minutes especially when you're on the internet.

As for our OJT, I hate to say this but it hasn't started yet. The manager says it'll start on July. I can't believe I have to wait for a month for this. Sometimes, I think to myself: What if I had applied in Iloilo instead of here? I should already have my duty hours done by the end of the month. I wouldn't have been far from my family. I wouldn't have spent too much money and I would still be with my friends. But as a saying goes, great things come to those who wait. True. And besides, there's nothing else I can do but wait.

So, aside from cleaning dog pee and poop, cleaning the house, watching tv, blogging, sleeping, eating and walking around the house, here's the rest of what I've been up to during the month.

It's Been a Wild Week

A rather short update on my whereabouts during the last 2 weeks of May.

A Recap + Dogs

Features the highlights of May and a couple of photos of dogs! Yup, you figured. :)

Life Lately

Musings about my first 16 days here, missing my family and school plus a couple of notebook photos. Hihi.

Update!
The Wedding at Zambales

Our journey of not less than five hours to see my cousin and attend her much awaited church wedding.

Cousin Camwhore

Another great time spent with my cousins during James' birthday.

The Lazy Lifestyle

A post about my first three weeks here in Manila, their lifestyle in here, and some crazy ideas to earn some money while I'm 'jobless'.

Worldless Wednesday

Nothing but a couple of photos of my aunt's wee babbies. You'll be screaming 'cute' when you see 'em. :D

Mr. Chef's Chicken Breast Recipe

My take on my cousin's yummy chicken breast recipe!

Currently, I'm working face to face with my cousin on the laptop with the TV on. It looks like it's about to rain and I feel hungry. Okay, I gotta fry some kikiam right now.

June 21, 2013

My First Liebster Award

Sweet nibblets guys! :) When I opened my e-mail this morning, I had a big surprise! I was like...

Whoa!? Oh my gosh! Yaaaaaayyyy!!

I received an email from pretty Dylan at DreamBrite nominating me for the Liebster Award! Yippie-yay! Thank you Dylan! It really means a lot! :D And oh how cute are those babies?

The rules!

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to her blog.
Answer the 11 questions from the nominator and list 11 random facts about yourself.
Nominate 11 new bloggers (nominees should be other blogs with less than 200 followers who you feel deserve to be noticed).
Create 11 questions for your nominees, and link them in your post.
Let them know you've nominated them for the award.
Copy and Paste the award on your blog! You can find the award here.

11 Questions For Me

1. What are you currently reading/the last book you read?
Oh I haven't read a book since May. :( The last one I read was True Blue by Luanne Rice. It has a wonderful plot and it feels like I can relate to it. Lol. It's my first Luanne Rice novel and I instantly fell in love! You should definitely read it!

2. Who is your celeb girl crush?
In Hollywood, that would be Anne Hathaway! I've always adored her ever since I saw her in Ella Enchanted. She's educated, charming, a good actress and what more can she ask for? :) In Philippine showbiz, I simply adore Erich Gonzales. She had humble beginnings and she has improved a lot. Right now, she's very successful and she definitely knows how to manage her private and celeb life!

3. Is an animal cracker a cookie or a cracker?
I guess it's a cracker since it says animal cracker, right? Lol.

4. Do you have a list of names you want to name your future children? If yes, name one boy and one girl. (:
I do! Believe it or not, I have a list of names saved in my phone! Hahaha. I loved making up baby names when was in high school! I have a couple of names listed per gender, and my favorites are Jane Nathanie and Christian Louis. :)

5. What is your favorite Pixar movie?
Uhm can I list three? Thanks! That would be Brave, Up and Finding Nemo!

6. Something you have already crossed off your bucketlist.
So far, nothing has been crossed off. If I had listed 'Go to five places in one week' then that would certainly be it. :)

7. What is your worst habit?
Perhaps staying in front of the computer for a whole day? Or eating too much?

8. Where did you get your blog layout?
I'm glad to tell you that I made my blog layout. :) I've changed it many times before I came up with this. It maybe simple but I love it and I'm proud I made it! And speaking of layouts, I'm also planning to open up a design shop sooner or later (ooh, too many plans).

9. What is the worst job you have ever had?
I'm still on my way to getting a job.

10. How many pillows do you sleep with?
Mostly, I sleep with two pillows but now I feel like I'm getting used to only one. Sometimes, when I get scared at night (yep, I still do), I sleep with not less than four pillows and make something like a barricade out of it - that'll keep me safe. :))

11 Facts You Might or Might Not Know About Me

I tend to get drawn to smart boys.
Make-ups are not really my thing.
I still like my high school crush.
I'm a Pisces.
Lately, I realized I like dogs.
I can write with both left and right hands.
I can write backwards with both left and right hands too!
I have a divided chin. :)
I love chocolate and peanut butter.
I'm starting to love coffee.
I want to have my own design shop too.

11 Questions For You!

What is your favorite pastime?
Do you believe in love at first sight?
How long have you been blogging? What encouraged you to continue doing it?
Skirt or jeans?
If you had a million dollars, how would you spend it?
Who is your favorite character in your favorite movie? Why?
What gift would you like to receive on your birthday?
Chocolate or strawberry?
Who is your favorite person in the world?
What is your ideal man? :D
What is your favorite season?

11 Nominees!

CONGRATULATIONS DARLINGS! :)

June 20, 2013

Mr. Chef's Chicken Breast Recipe

Ahoy, mi hearties! How are you doing? It's a sunny afternoon in here! Anyway, I was searching the refrigerator for something to eat this morning and I found this chicken breast! A few days ago, we had it for dinner and I saw how my cousin a.k.a. Mr. Chef made it. So, I thought I'd try it and share it to you! :) This is a rather hilarious recipe and I'm bad at tutorials but I hope it works. Hahah.

I honestly don't know what the recipe is called. Haha. Anyway, here's what you're going to need.

Chicken Breast
Flour
Ground basil leaves
Salt
Egg/s
Oil for frying

Prepare two plates and a bowl.
Prepare the dips or coating or whatever they call it. :) The measurements are up to you really.

Dip #1 - mix flour with the right amount of ground basil leaves and salt to taste.
Dip #2 - beat the egg until nice and smooth.
Dip #3 - spread flour onto another plate for the final coating.

Dip the chicken breasts onto each of the dips consecutively making sure that it is evenly coated. Tap excess coating.
And here comes the last step...

Deep fry until it's golden brown. And voila!

We didn't have ketchup so I just ate it as is. And believe it or not, it still tasted good! Hahah!

It's really easy, right? Go ahead and try it! :)

June 19, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Dachshunds

June 18, 2013

The Fashion House

THE FASHION HOUSE

This is it guys! Well, it's not really 'it' at the moment but it's starting to become like it. :) I have mentioned in my previous post how I decided to come up with this shop. I've always wanted to have something like a small business to earn for my savings and it's finally coming true! So, I present to you The Fashion House! It's your one-stop shop for clothing, accessories and more for you and your family! Check us on facebook!

I have also prepared something for my very first set of customers!

I will be formally opening my shop on July 10, so if you're from the Philippines, don't miss this opportunity! :) You may check the items now and check back on July for the discounted items! Details are yet to come. :)

THE FASHION HOUSE FAQ

1. What's with the name?
I really don't know! Hahaha. It sort of just hit me, but maybe because I'm selling fashion apparel and accessories!

2. What products do you sell?
Th current items in my shop are dresses, bags, wallets, watches, necklaces and kawaii stuff. Other merchandise are still to be uploaded. :)

3. Do you ship worldwide?
Currently, I do not have an account to accept payments from other countries. Perhaps sooner or later. I am only currently catering customers from the Philippines.

If you have queries, visit The Fashion House on facebook or tweet me at @littolstar. I'm looking forward to serving you! :)

June 17, 2013

Update: The Lazy Lifestyle

1) A probability of rain. 2) I plucked my eyebrows...or not. 3) Afternoon snack! 4) Spent about half the day on the internet. 5) I don't usually color my nails, but when I do...I color it red. :)

It's been three weeks since I've been living with my Aunt. Also, it'll be my first month here in Manila this coming 22nd. For the past three weeks, I've been to several places but I spent most of it in here. It's been three weeks since I've expected my OJT to start. So far, I still have no updates with regards to it. Goodness, I am itching to start already! Oh please...pleaseee....

***

Lately, I haven't been paying too much attention with time - whereas when school is here, I check my watch just about every minute. My meals are not on time. I never skip breakfast but somehow I did for the last three weeks. It's new for me but I sort of got used to it. That was fast. I had soup for lunch too. In here, they rarely eat meals on time and they seldom eat breakfast (a complete rice meal). Also, I do not follow the sleeping requirement of 7-9 hours a day, I spend way too much time on the internet and the television, I eat non-stop and I think I'm getting fat. I feel like a jobless person! XD And I tell you what, it's not good. Not good at all. Watching TV and surfing the internet have become somewhat boring and bad for the eyes okay.

Last night, I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about things and stuff. One of them is the uncertainty of how long I'll be staying here, but one thing is for sure - I'll have the whole first semester for myself. That would mean like 2-3 months of freedom from schoolwork. So last night, I have come up with possible ideas that could earn me some money while school hasn't started yet. Here are some of my brilliant ideas. :)

Be a reseller of clothes, shoes, etc.
Sell my books and clothes.
Find an online job.
Accept typing jobs.
Make wedding invites, souvenirs, etc.
Get into airline ticketing business.
Make custom headers and buttons.
Loading business.

Hahah! Crazy. I didn't know what time I slept but today, I woke up at around seven and immediately opened my laptop. I searched for reseller shops and voila! I found this one-stop fashion shop and spent the whole morning setting up my 'online shop'. It's not done yet but I'll probably get there. :) I'll be posting it here when it's done! Watch out for it! :) Now that's something that'll keep me busy for the rest of the semester.

Right now, I'm seated here at the sofa, enjoying the Wi-Fi while watching Stuart Little with my cousin. There's thunder and lightning outside and the rain has just stopped. I miss home already. I think I'm just going to sleep this over.

June 15, 2013

Tips for a Beautiful Life

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. & while you walk, SMILE. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. When you wake up in the morning, Pray to ask God’s guidance for your purpose, today.

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, broccoli, and almonds.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Forgive them for everything!

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

17. Help the needy, Be generous! Be a ‘Giver’ not a ‘Taker’

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. Time heals everything.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed, Pray to God and be thankful for what you have accomplished today!

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. Share this to everyone to help them lead a happier life!

Source: Facebook

***

Today was memorable! I had the chance to walk my aunt's dachshunds all over the village! As we were walking by, a few people had their compliments on how cute the dogs are! Of course they're cute and they walk like sexy blondes! :) Hahaha! Afterwhich, they were breathing like crazy! Right now I'm currently watching The Voice of the Philippines blind auditions. Isn't it amazing how many singing talents we have in our country? Astounding! How was your weekend? :)

Five Among Friends

A few days ago, I received an email from Taby of The Closet Intellectual inviting everyone to a game called Five Among Friends. Well it seems a fun way to get friends and for people to discover my blog, so I didn't have any second thoughts in joining. And here I am right now, answering the five questions that come with it. :)

1. What is the most embarrassing song(s) on your iPod/mp3 player?

Unfortunately I neither have an iPod nor an mp3 so it'll just have to be my phone. :) Most of the songs on my playlist belong to the not-too-loud-and-not-too-sweet genre. :D A few songs I'm embarrassed to play in public (or even when I'm alone) are cheesy songs such as All this Time by Six Part Invention, Half Crazy by Freestyle and Fixing a Broken Heart by Christian Bautista. I don't know why I listen to these songs anyway. Hahah. But sometimes when I feel like being all emo and such, I play 'em anyway. :)

2. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

I guess that was yesterday. While I was eating dinner with my aunt and cousin, my aunt shared this story while she was on a bus ride home. According to her, there was this passenger from Davao sitting right next to her. A bit later, he (the passenger) asked the driver whether he could drop him before the tunnel. (This is the part where you're supposed to laugh.) Hahaha. Who lives at a tunnel?! We all laughed till our stomachs ached! I mean, it's like asking the driver to drop you in the middle of a bridge! XD

3. What is your perfect Sunday afternoon?

A perfect Sunday afternoon would be just chilling out with my family at home while watching a pinoy comedy movie a having a good laugh. Or maybe an afternoon at the beach with plenty of food. Or simply being at home, staring at the greenery around me, smelling the fresh air and savoring the peace and quiet.

4. You just won the bazillion dollar jackpot! What's the first thing you run out to buy?

To be honest, I'd immediately purchase the things needed for the construction of my dream house! Hahaha. A bazillion dollars would be more than enough for it! I'd also buy a property like a condo unit or two...or maybe more. That'll make a lot of money! And of course, I'd also plan a family outing abroad! Ah that sounds really exciting ~~but I can only wish~~ and I will do my very best to make all this happen. :)

5. What is the craziest thing on your bucket list?

Looking at my bucketlist, I guess there's isn't a crazy idea written on it. But perhaps writing a feature for Living Asia? Hehehe. It seems crazy, I mean I'm not a feature writer and I've never written anything that's Living-Asia-worthy but it is worth the try, right? Who knows, I might just land a job in there someday. Hopefully. :)

VIEW OTHER FIVE AMONG FRIENDS POST HERE!

June 14, 2013

Cousin Camwhore!

June 12th is the Philippines' 115th Independence Day and my cousin's 12th birthday! :) We weren't really planning on going because of the probability of rain, but we went anyway. Besides I miss my cousins. Though we've only seen each other for the second time just this summer (the first time was ten years ago) we became close that fast. They're very playful and funny and I like that.

We boarded the Van bound for Cavite and waited for almost an hour for it to fill. I must say that the wait was longer than the travel. We were on the road for more or less thirty minutes. A bit later after we arrived at our stop, my Uncle, Aunt and the celebrant went to fetch us. While nearing their house, I noticed plenty of children and some teenagers on the streets getting soaked in the rain. At that moment, I wanted to bathe in the rain too! I haven't done that in so long. :/

It was a small celebration between the family. We had lumpia, roasted chicken and meat, a crab dish, sotanghon, the cake my Aunt brought and several other recipes. We also grabbed the chance to camwhore since we don't always see each other. :)

We spent the rest of the afternoon singing karaoke, tickling each other, taking pictures and of course, eating! There were plenty of food left so we get to take home some of it. :) We went home at almost eight in the evening since it was raining hard since the afternoon. There ya have it. Another fun day with my cousins! :)

The Wedding at Zambales

This Sunday, 9th of June, we packed our bags and went northbound to Zambales for my cousin's wedding. It wasn't really all planned out but we decided to go anyway. Besides, we were also up for an adventure! The Victory Liner bus bound for Iba Zambales at the Pasay Terminal leaves every five hours or so. We arrived an hour earlier so we had time to relax before the five-hour ride.

While waiting, there was this girl sitting behind us, crying. Earlier, I heard her talk to one of VL's crew about her bag that was dropped at the wrong terminal. What was alarming was that an important file was in there - you know that brown envelope that's part of the Visa that you're supposed to open after you arrive at the US? That was what made her cry. She also had her camera in there. Poor girl. I wonder if they found it... I guess this served as an important lesson for me and it applies for you as well: When travelling, always keep your important files inside a bag you carry the most. Keep it near you and always have a photocopy of those files kept at home in case you lose the original.

The first hour of the ride offered a view of the busy streets, high rise buildings, and busy people. Later, it was something I was very familiar of - the trees, landscapes, mountains both left and right, an abundance of greenery. It reminded me of home. I sort of hoped the bus wasn't air conditioned so I could smell the fresh country air I haven't inhaled for weeks. But before we go ahead with the rest of the story, I'd like to give you some helpful travel tips as per experience. :)

Travel light. Bring only what you need. As much as possible, bring only one medium-sized bag for your clothes and a small handbag for your important belongings.
Always do your personal necessities before travelling because it would really be inconvenient if you feel like going (you know what I mean) and you're not even halfway the next stop. And don't forget to bring that tissue just in case.
Pack up some food and water. It can get boring inside a bus so it pays to have something to munch on. ;)
Do not travel on a full stomach. Self-explanatory!
Hug your bag especially when travelling alone because you're not always sure whether you can trust that stranger sitting next to you.

The bus stops for every two hours adding up to two bus stops for the whole ride. After seven hours of travel (including the trip from home to the terminal), we finally arrived at the tricycle terminal. My cousin arrived a bit later to fetch us. I was glad to see my cousins and their families in there. I wished mine was there too. They weren't able to come because the travel can be tiresome if you're not used to it. And besides, Iloilo is waaayyy far!

The bride and groom were so busy with preparations. We were telling them to at least take a rest but they wouldn't. I guess they're really excited! You know, wedding jitters. :) That night, we made puto cheese which is my Aunt's (the bride's mom) specialty. I also played with my seven-month old nephew. Oh how I love to play with babies! :)

***

The bride was up even before the sunrise and so was the groom. It was the 10th of June. The day has come for them to finally be united in church marriage. They were wed by our Mayor three years ago but it really is different when you're wed at a church. About twenty minutes before the wedding started, everyone was ready except for the groom who was still running errands and still not dressed for the occasion! But he was able to catch up. It's hard when you're the couple and you're still the ones doing all the preparations. Based on my observations, I have concluded that it really pays to have a Wedding Planner to save you from all those pre-wedding stress. Hihi ;)

It was a beautiful small wedding with a few family and friends. Having worked in Hong Kong for years, my cousin has quite adapted to their beliefs. She went for red as the motif as this pertains to luck.

The Groom's father.

After the wedding, we went back to their house for the reception. But contrary to the usual which is starting the reception program right after wedding, they instead went inside the house and prayed the rosary. After which is the lunch and the customary dancing while the guests pin bills to the bride and groom's clothing. I have also witnessed this kind of wedding tradition during my Uncle's wedding in Quezon.

The program ended at about two o' clock and minutes later, we found ourselves bidding goodbye to our relatives and riding a tricycle to our ride back home. I had a lot of laughs with them in there and that would be truly unforgettable. I'll be really looking forward to my next visit! :)

***

I was able to capture this on the way home. The remains of Lahar from the Mount Pinatubo explosion and a housing project. :)

June 13, 2013

Update: Cousin's Birthday

Holla! It's past midnight and I don't know why I'm still up. :/ I can still hear the karaoke next door, the TV is still on, and my aunt does her usual night routine which is grooming the dogs. We've arrived hours ago from my cousin's birthday. We kind of stayed late because of the rain. The past few days has been great and I can't wait to share it to you! Now I leave you with a photo we took earlier from my cousin's birthday. :)

It's time to sleep! :D

June 7, 2013

Update: Life Lately

If I were to count the number of days I've stayed here in Manila, that would be 16. Sure the first five days spent on the road went by so swiftly, and after that everything just seemed to slow down. Isn't it funny how time works? As a quote says, it lengthens the hours when you wait and rushes it when you enjoy the moments. Sitting here in my bed and watching the clouds passing by makes me want to go home. Being hundreds of kilometers away from my family can be unbearable. But I have to bear this since I chose this. I chose to have my training here. I even sometimes wonder why it has to be here when there are a lot of other choices a few hours from home. But it's done and all I have to do is do my best in whatever our supervisor gives us. I know this will be a good training and hopefully it'll be more than good. In days time, I will be trained to guide a tour! How cool is that?

Meanwhile, I guess the semester has already started in school. We have the whole semester dedicated to our Training and we won't be seeing school for months! I have to get used to this. Aahh, I kind of miss the commotion. I miss the loud hallways, late lunches, vacant period gossips, my friends and teachers and my uniform! Awww! And I kind of miss fastfood too. :)

How was your week? :)

June 6, 2013

Gotta Love Pants

So I guess I'm back to blogging frequently...hopefully. :D Some of you may have noticed that the 'List of Seven' logo has been inactive on my sidebar for quite sometime now. With that, I now finally give you my first list of seven!

Who doesn't love pants right? Whether you're thin or extra large, petite or tall, everyone wears them! Here are reasons why pants are my besties. :)

Spring In My Blue Jeans by andokadesbois

They're comfortable! Need I say more? :)
You can wear them at any occasion. From the most formal to the dirtiest (like feeding pigs! lol) of occasions, pants are always there when you need 'em.
They're reusable. Lol! By reusable, I mean you can use it about a couple of times before it gets tossed in the laundry!
They're inexpensive. There are like tons of affordable jeans in the market!
They give shape to your body. If you can't flaunt your figure in mini skirts, flaunt them with skinny jeans!
They come in many colors! If you're tired of your boring blue jeans, there are a lot of other colors to choose from! It has red, orange, yellow, green and all the colors of the rainbow! Just make sure you pair them with a neutral colored shirt. :)
It doesn't go out in style. Seasons and years have passed and jeans are still IN! They are like the staple of the century!

This was inspired by Jenni's List of Ten series. You may also join and link up with me! That would be fun and I'd love to read your lists, too. I'll be looking forward to that! And hey hey, I made a logo in case you want to hop in and join me. :) Just grab the codes and paste it in your blog! See ya!

June 5, 2013

Update: A Recap + Dogs

Duff (black) and Daphne (brown) getting cozy in my cousin's bed.

A belated happy month of June everyone! How was May? :) I admit mine has been pretty good. Let's do a recap!

We were declared Champion at the Wall Painting Contest held as part of our town's Foundation Anniversary and Festival.
I joined the Blog Everyday in May Challenge, but wasn't able to finish the last few weeks of it because of my OJT. Still I'm happy to be part of it! I hear there's another one coming this October or September which is still from Jenni! I'm looking forward to that!
I made friends through Blog Hops and the BBN!
I got a few sponsors for my blog! You can include yourself here too! It's totally free. :)
I get to visit my relatives (aka my mother's siblings and their families) here in Manila! After ten long years, I finally get to see my cousin Christine in person. You can't imagine how far we've gone. Looking at our tracks on a map, the distance we've traveled seemed like more or less traveling around Laguna de Bay!
I had the adventure of my life (traveling alone in Manila for the first time) last Monday when I went to my OJT Office. It might not be such a big deal, but it is to me. I can get used to this. :)
I bathed a dog for the first time (because I don't have a pet at home). :) It was fun! I think I'm starting to get used to dogs, too. Good thing my aunt has this two pretty dachshunds around.

Here I am right now at my aunt's house, enjoying my neighbors WiFi and listening to music. ;) Our training starts on the 16th of June and I have about more than a week to enjoy things, see the rest of the place and maybe discover Manila. Later I'll be going around with my friend who stays nearby. Have a lovely week you guys! :)

Take Me With Ya