Because Yes, It's Christmas!

bad, bad posture

attended plantation bay's christmas tree lighting party last night. except that we were unable to join the christmas tree lighting because we were stuck in traffic. i didn't know where all those vehicles came from last night, i swear. it's the christmas season traffic, i know! the party was in full swing when we arrived so to the buffet tables we trooped immediately.

halfway through dinner, our account executive L approached our table for some chicka-chicka. then she got my business card because there's a raffle and they're giving away overnight stays. you see, i've never been lucky in these kinds of things. while there are those who never leave raffle events empty-handed, i belong to the unfortunate ones who never win anything. not even minor prizes. but i just gave L my card, it's one silly card anyway. the raffle started and they started calling out winners for overnight stays. i crossed my fingers and whispered, "i wish i'd win an overnight stay too so i can give it to my parents when they're here next week." but of course, after i uttered it, i let it go. then i resumed my tete-a-tete with one of our GMs who attended the party. suddenly, the GM stopped talking and i just heard my name being called out. turned out i won something! but since i was so busy talking, i didn't know what i won exactly! hahahaha. on the way to the stage, i was thinking, perhaps i got a really great prize (like an overnight stay in their posh-est room because usually, they save the best for last? hahaha). but no, it wasn't an overnight stay but it's this grand, super special spa package! whee! never underestimate the power of a whispered wish. :)

i couldn't give the spa package for my mother because she'd be bored by herself. and i couldn't very well afford it if we'll go together. so instead, i'll do this and i'll just treat her to lunch. hahaha.

all in all, it was a fun saturday night. more happy things coming up! :)

Throwing Last Names Around, Eh?

i had never been the type to use my last name to get ahead. oh sure, there were those times when i had to mention my father's or mother's and even my grandfather's name somewhere so i could get the things i need immediately. patience is not my strongest virtue so i sometimes had to resort to namedropping. hahaha. and yes, our last name is a ticket. but my world is bigger than our hometown so i always knew that the revered last name in our hometown, is nothing when i get somewhere else. also, i believe that using your last name to take advantage, to get ahead, and most especially trick or threaten people is so cheap, so low. so...kindergarten.

whatever i had achieved now, i am proud to say, is not through my parents' name. i got where i am now through my hardwork. no namedropping just so i can pass a subject, no mentioning of last names just so i can attend a function. i am where i am now because of my own name, through being alveel or kaith, for that matter. and soon i know, i wouldn't be just alveel. i'd be raf's and andi's mom. either raf, the very intelligent boy in school or raf, the bully. and andi, the prettiest little girl in class. because before, when my nanay would visit our school, she was known as alveel's nanay. now in the office, i am the president's EA, the maldita EA, the maarte but buotan EA and well yes, ppip's wife.

so unless you're a Zobel, Madrigal or Lopez, don't go throwing your last name around. nobody wants it, especially when it stinks.

Lami, Masarap, Namets!

thank you to ifoundme, i've discovered this entry to the cinemalaya festival. the film is titled, Namets, derived from the ilonggo term, namit/namet which means "tasty" or "delicious." the film features famous ilonggo personalities Christian Vasquez, Peque Gallaga, Dwight Gaston and Monsour del Rosario. Angel Jacob, the female lead star, is the only non-ilonggo cast, i think.

the movie is entirely in hiligaynon so be ready to read subtitles. hahaha. it is also shot entirely in negros occidental so you'll see the beauty of our place. this will be shown in manila, i'm not sure about cebu though. so if you're in manila or if you have the chance to watch this film, go! enjoy the film, scenery, and most of all, the sumptuous ilonggo food that i'm always proud of.

Check the movie's site here.

movie poster from the official website

When Do You Draw the Line?

they say, when you love, you love with all your heart - unconditionally and willing to give everything up. but what happens when that love renders you blind, deaf and mute? when that love makes you a numb, unfeeling zombie? when that love rips your life apart? do you still love? or do you finally tell yourself to let go?

love is a mad, unpredictable thing. yes, love with all your heart. but know when to walk away. because true, pure love, with all its hurts and pains and sacrifices, shouldn't make one lifeless. it shouldn't make you blind. it shouldn't scare you. it shouldn't make you into this mad, raging person. it shouldn't kill one's senses.

true, pure love, with all its hurts and pains and sacrifices, still make you happy. it makes you giddy. it makes you fall in love over and over again, despite the countless terrible fights. it makes you strong. it makes you become a better person.

love can be cruel. but only if you let it.

Ramblings of A Homesick Heart

i did it, i did it! i'm done with everything that needs to be done today, including the script! but it has definitely been a toxic day, with all the urgent stuff that have to be done asap. everything is top priority and even my two bosses have been paying too many visits to my desk in the afternoon alone. but in the end, i am happy to finally heave a sigh of relief.

my sister buzzed me earlier, telling me about this new boylet of hers. since i'm done with most of my work, i indulged her and spent a good part of my late afternoon chatting with her. she broke up with her boyfriend of two years and so-so months i think quite a month ago. while my other sister, i just learned through multiply's email alert, broke up with her boyfriend as well. the boyfriend that i didn't even know exist if not for friendster.

i am glad my sisters come to my for relationship issues. it's not all the time but they're pretty open with me than with my mother. that's why my mother also comes to me when she has problems with my sisters because she knows that i know some things that she doesn't know. can you imagine the number of texts i receive whenever they are arguing? that's being a big sister for you.

i take my big sister responsibility seriously. despite being too tired and overwhelmed at times. when i was younger, i'd hate it when everytime we'd quarrel, my mother would always tell me that as the manang, i should be the one to exercise more patience and be more tolerant of them, younger evil versions of myself. hahaha.

i'm not the perfect role model, i must admit. and i exerted the effort to make them understand that while having raf brought so much joy to our parents, it would be better and it would make our parents happier if they wouldn't follow my footsteps. hahaha. i've been lucky enough that when i had raf, both ppip and i are working already and that ppip is a responsible person who never even for a moment hesitated to take care of us. that at least was a consolation to my parents. but even so, having a family at a very young age is difficult, i always tell them.

i told sister A that she should just enjoy her single blessedness for now. i survived the first 18 years of my life without a boyfriend. and she was allowed to have a boyfriend at 16! while having a boyfriend is fun, it has its disadvantages as well. manang's advice is for her to concentrate on her studies first, what with graduation fast approaching as well as the board exams. and when through God's grace she tackles everything successfully, she should enjoy the fruits of her labor. she should go out, have fun, travel, buy everything she wants! i don't want them to miss out on something. i want them to experience life without a dog on a leash in their hands. hahaha. the other sister is a different story. although i know that with constant reminders, she would be okay.

while my sister and i were chatting, the boylet added me up. hmm..interesting. he knows who to woo first. hahaha. i was in a good mood so i talked to him as well. all my sisters' former boyfriends try to get to my good side. i am known as the maldita and hard-to-please ate. and when their charms don't work on me, they play with raf. hahaha.

it's hard being away from my family while they sort of depend on me for pretty much a lot of things. our youngest sister even texts or emails me for fashion advices. hahaha. there are times when i wish we're just in bacolod so everything's just an hour away. i get worried about my sisters. and at the same time, i want to experience how it is to be with them - to share an apartment with them, to go and have coffee with them when we're all tired and just want to have a good time. i wonder how it feels to have them here in cebu, texting them when i want to go shopping or asking them what time they'd go home so we can go together. it would be fun, super, i am sure.

i am just being senti, forgive me. the week has been terribly tiring and it would definitely help to have a mother, or at least, a sister, to go home to. but then, this is the life i chose. i'm just glad we'll be home for the new year and i'll have a week to be with them, to live the hacienda life again. hahaha. good night everyone. :)

Drats!

i need to write something and i only have two days (yes, two amazingly short days) to finish it. and work's piling up and the weekend's kinda full that i'm not sure if i'll have the strength (and dedication) to come up with a decent script even if they'd extend the deadline. inspiration, where are you when i need you the most??

deym writer's block. and i'm not even a writer. sheesh.

ps: the only consolation though is that i got something for my event already. mheme, thanks again for the time and patience. hahaha.

Tita Love

see how raf loves his "mommy inay" more? he couldn't even be bothered to pose decently when tita ahah tells him to. hahaha.

reading ate ai's posts about clark reminds me so much of my own doting titas, and my sisters being such great second mothers to my raf and andi who are enjoying negros for several months now.

i was the first grandchild born and raised here in negros while the technically first apo of the consolacions was in manila. being the first and only baby in the household has such great perks, as some of you may know and experience. my aunts and uncles who were then still in school (my father's the eldest in a brood of seven) never came home without toys, chocolates and cookies as pasalubongs. they taught me tricks, songs, and dances and officially made me their main entertainment source. i was also of course, the target of all teasing and utos, which made me vow to have my sister suffer the same fate. hahaha.

i feel blessed to be loved and adored by both my mother and father's brothers and sisters. i think it's because i was this charming little rat who knew how to tweak their horns. i knew exactly what to say at the right place and time so they'd give me what i want. that's a talent i have mastered over the years. look at my husband. *grins*

until now, i am still their spoiled niece who makes sure i spend just a day bonding with them whenever i'm home. i text them so we can make chicka. my OC-ness, shopaholic tendencies and quirkiness still amuses them to no end and if my mother has bought me some clothes and bags or shoes, they'd goad me into modeling the stuff for them. talk about my entertainment value. hahaha.

i am proud at how my own sisters are becoming such adoring titas to my children. ah ah is the stricter tita while wewe is the kunsintidora type. raf loves tita wewe more while andi seems to like tita ah ah. which is really weird because it was ah ah who took care of raf for such a long time. but well, since she's a disciplinarian, the little boy of course, naughty as he is, would go for the tita who'd give in to his whims. hahaha.

and although i am not yet in a hurry to become an official tita myself (gawd, my sisters aren't allowed to get married or be mothers yet! i say so! haha), i just can imagine me taking my nieces and nephews to shopping sprees and eat outs and i'd be their favorite tita in the whole wide world. :)

From Their Kitchen to Yours

do you like what you see? if yes, then visit Kusina Habana and discover that there's more than the traditional "catered party" experience. they do "customized" catering which is very ideal if you are into themed and extraordinary events and activities. they also create couture cakes and an assortment of pastries to please your sweet tooth.

go to their site now and fulfill your gastronomic fantasies.

"couture cakes" pic taken from kusinahabana.blogspot.com

I Am Married to Him...

...and to him only. as much as he is married to me, and to me only.

we're taking our time, spending every possible minute together, before we become "parents" again and not merely "husband and wife" or "lovers." it's amazing how when we go to the mall, we don't only look for shoes and clothes and gadgets, but we check out furniture (like this really nice double-deck which we think would perfectly fit the kids' room) and other stuff for the house. sometimes though, we just cringe at how expensive household stuff are. but at least, we can now allocate bonuses and incoming extra money for these useful things, and not just buy "expensive pants yet not buy a shoerack." duh. hehehe.

this weekend is reserved for plantation bay's christmas tree lighting ceremony, as well as twilight. *swoon* it's a three-day weekend as well so yay for rest and endless laag. last weekend was spent at the outpost with two more couples, chin*wett and kiss*cyrus and i am hoping we can do it again because it's so much fun listening to the husbands' tirades and complaints. hahaha.

while marriage can be quite complicated at times, it feels good to have that somebody beside you when the rest of the world turns its back on you.

please don't mind the huge-ness of my face. at least, gwapa ko. hahaha.

Like A Veeeergin

last night, my neighbors were singing songs of praise and worship while i was ym-ing and multiply-ing.  i didn't mind, i even sang along with them.  those are songs i have loved and sang with great fervor because i was part of the church choir in highschool.  that's a trivia! :)  

now, at 12:51PM, while writing my post below, somebody was belting out "like a virgin," only that virgin comes out as veeeergin.  can you imagine how she sounds like??  LOL.  now, it's MLTR for you. "though you've traveled suuu far, boy, i'm sorey you are, twenty payb menets toooo leyttttt."  our singer just started on celine dion's "all by myself."  it's gonna be a long afternoon if i won't fall asleep. *grins*

now, our subdivision is definitely brimming with talents.  i won't be surprised if one day, talent agents would come a'flocking, looking for the banda that entertains (and annoys, i tell ya) their neighbors every weekend.  i hope these agents would arrive before the police though.  hahaha.  

oh, what a lovely way to spend my saturday.  musikahan na! 

"Thank You" Isn't Really That Difficult to Say or Pronounce, Is It?

our parents, as well as our titos and titas, would always remind us to say "please" and "thank you" whenever we would "forget" to include it in our sentences.  even in the simplest task of asking for a certain dish during mealtimes, pleases and thank yous are a must.  

i ride a taxi to and from work.  and during late night trips, it is already expected for the taxi driver to ask for a "pakapin" especially that minglanilla is indeed quite far and they usually don't have passengers on the way back to the city.  i don't have any problem with that, it's perfectly understandable, although i only give as much as P30.00.  for me, P30.00 is a small amount considering that i go home as late as 11 or 12 mn and my safety's the main concern.  just the fact that i arrived home in one piece is more than my "extra" fare can cover.

i get a little irritated though if despite the extra i give (i mean, i do believe P30.00 is very generous), drivers fail to say "thank you."  maybe it's just me but i would appreciate a little gratitude because i say a very sincere "thank you" to them before i get off.  there was even one time when i gave a P50.00 tip because it was already 2am and i was quite scared, to say the least.  i mean, it's 2am and there's always the threat of crazy, insane drivers, holduppers and who-knows-what other dangers.   the driver didn't even acknowledge it.  then just the other day, i only gave P20.00 (that's on top of the P10.00 required taxi fee) yet the driver thanked me profusely.  i can sense his relief and gratefulness because at least, dili sya alkansi.  it makes me happy that it's a win-win situation for both of us.  

oh, i am not saying that for every little thing i do for others, i am expecting a thank you or an exhilarating gratitude litany.  no.  when i do others a favor, i do it wholeheartedly and without expectations of being thanked or acknowledged or whatever.  although it would be really, really nice to hear even just a simple "thanks."  i know i'm blabbering and might be incoherent but you get my drift.  

i guess, this must how He feels when He showers me so much with blessings, yet i can't even utter a plain prayer of thanks.  and i even have the nerve to complain and whine at times.  and He has given me more than P50.00 or P100 million worth of things to be grateful for.  mas baga pa kog nawong sa mga taxi drivers.  hehe.  

for:

my and my family's excellent health condition

my beautiful and smart kids

my husband, for who and what he is, and is not

for my generous and loving parents, and for the values they instilled in us

for my sisters' unconditional love

for my wonderful friends who love me despite me being me (haha!)

for the not-so wonderful people out there who make me strong and more grateful for being not them

for my fans who make me feel appreciated (haha!)

for my bosses who don't make me feel overworked and underpaid

for my helper who takes care of us and the house

for the gift of life.  and for the ability to write, freedom to choose and more than average EQ to sympathize, empathize and feel. 

and for the 1 trillion and one things that make life always sweet, sometimes sad yet complete.

THANK YOU.  and i will try my very best not to forget.  because You deserve more than just my steadfast love, faithfulness,  and endless gratitude.

Because Life Is Beautiful

Depress-Depressan

thank you for making me feel bad. i truuuuly appreciate it. ingrata.

Mid-Week Forays to the Island

just got back from mactan, not to attend the fiesta. but to visit two places - abaca and microtel inn and suites.

had a very sumptuous lunch at abaca where we were warmly entertained by their manager, glenn. we had their mushroom soup, then flat bread pizza, pasta and roast beef sandwich for the main course and mint, cheese and chocolate sorbet for dessert. it was heaven! i was so full by the time we're done it was so tempting to take a nap in one of their feels-like-paradise villas. hahaha. oh yes, abaca doesn't only serve really yummy food but they do have 6 suites and 3 villas that are perfect for honeymoon or weekend getaways. all furniture and fixtures are antiques and 80% are actually locally made. plus, when you stay in a villa, you'll have your own personal butler who can accompany or drive you to the city (if you're a tourist) and tour you around. isn't that neat?

we also got to meet abaca's owner and chef, jason, who actually has a big chance of being a hollywood actor. yeah, he's that cute. and the fact that he really whips up these super delish dishes definitely makes him a superstar!

when lunch was over, glenn was nice enough to bring us to the newly-opened microtel inn and suites where their GM, rose, and account executive, sheng, showed us the rest of this new and bursting-with-life hotel. oh by the way, microtel's restaurant is managed by abaca thus the good relationship between the neighbors. they're just really next to each other. i actually saw magtv's feature on this new spot to watch out for in mactan last sunday, thus my interest.

and it didn't disappoint. microtel does have a very "alive" and vibrant lobby, thanks to all Kenneth Cobonpue furniture and the amazing view of the beachfront. that's what i like most about it, its beachfront and infinity pool. yes, it's a little small but it's okay for family weekend get-togethers. they have three room categories - superior, premium and the suite. the rooms have that trendy, colorful feel as well and they do have a "theme" for every floor. can you say retro? hehe. microtel is your typical bed and breakfast place, only they can offer so much more.
i can't wait to spend a day or two in these heaven-on-earth spots. please visit their websites to know what i am really talking about. and no, this is not a paid ad. hahaha.

One of Those Exciting Lists

well, since i am not allowed to buy anything until december 31, 2008, i think i have a pretty good chance of holding reigns to my self control for the better part of next year. but despite not being able to splurge and go on a shopping spree, i still would want to post my wishlist because you know, i have a very generous and loving husband as well as parents who tend to spoil me a lot. hehe. and even perhaps if i won't have these items very soon, i would still be happy to buy them when i am financially stable already next year. :)

BOOKS!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling (for release December 2008)
Deerskin by Robin McKinley

Purple Flats
Pink Flats
Belle de Jour Planner from Powerbooks
Dainty tumbler (clear tumbler with green/light blue specks) from Starbucks
White, girly blouses
Pink bag
Green bag
Gladiator sandals custom-made in Carcar
Mineral Make Up

i am currently making my christmas list for my family and friends as well. if there's one thing that excites me during christmas, it's buying stuff for my loved ones. so everyone, it would be really nice if you can post your wishlists too! hahaha.

Nosebleed

as some of you may know, i work for an american company. so, i have american bosses. all three of them. and yes, i speak english for 10 to 12 hours everyday, except for lunch if i can help it. now, speaking english for almost three-fourths of my waking hours isn't as easy as say, writing a blog because first and foremost, it is not my primary language. ilonggo is. it's not even my secondary language. tagalog and cebuano are. so as the title implies, i get the usual nosebleed especially when my boss asks me to describe bihon guisado, ensaymada or brazo de mercedes. or even char!

by the way, i am an executive assistant. or secretary. fine, i don't have issues with my title. but no, i don't make coffee. except when my boss is too stressed or too cooped up with emails that i try to be nice and bring him his morning fix. and no, i am not at the receiving end of any flying object from my boss' office because frankly, he doesn't get really, outrageously mad. at me anyway. and not that i know of too. hahaha. but what i do though is buy them chocolates and coke zeroes so they'd be happy everyday. and attend various functions and events when they cannot. or simply attend because yeah, i am an EA. hehehe.

lately though, i've been noticing that even at home, i am beginning to speak english more frequently, therefore getting teased by the husband. well, honestly, i would've wanted english to be more the more prominent language at home mainly because of the kids. so they wouldn't have difficulty holding conversations, especially when they go to school already. but no, i wouldn't want them sounding so arrogant and coño. gawd, no! hahaha.

i guess it doesn't hurt to be a little proficient in something other than your native language. it's cool because my boss (the main one) teaches me some local slang/terms/idioms that you don't learn in school. he is very good in explaining things and situations because i can't help but be curious sometimes about their customs and traditions and culture. it's different to be hearing it straight from a "native" than just seeing it on tv or reading about it on the internet.

oh well, nosebleed or not, i love this job. and since i am quite okay with english already, i am thinking of trying to learn a new language which should be fun and useful. mandarin or niponggo or french or ilocano perhaps? :)

It's A Deal!

so, i made a bet with friends Y and G. or rather, they made a bet with me. because they couldn't believe that i wouldn't buy anything for myself this christmas! hahaha. if they win, i have to treat them to a dinner buffet at marco polo. but if i win, i can choose wherever they would treat me for dinner.

this is gonna be fun! i do intend to prove to them that i actually have self control when it comes to shopping. and what's so funny is that for the longest time before and after i gave birth to raf, i didn't buy anything for myself! it was my mother who bought stuff for me because we were too poor to buy a pair of shoes or a bag. and it went on for a year. so i surely wouldn't have any trouble keeping tabs on the things i have to let go for a month right? hahaha.
and secondly, as i mentioned in my post yesterday, budget is really tough for the next months so even if i'd want something, i wouldn't have the moolah to buy it because really, andi is drinking so much milk! hehehe. they are so confident because in the past months, i accumulated so much shoes and books and clothes that they think i am this obsessed shopaholic who'd die of heartbreak if i can't buy that purple flats. i am proud to say that yes, i am a shopaholic but i know what i must buy first before anything else. i also splurge when i am rich, not when i am cash strapped. that's why i didn't go to ayala's mallwide sale. i know when to spoil myself, and i also know when to stop the urge.

however, the bet doesn't cover the things i'll buy for ppip, the kids, and my friends.

so now i am already thinking which resto they can take me to when december 31 rolls around and all i have are actually just gifts from family and friends.

Of Budgets, Lost Mirrors and Kaith Sashes

Budget Blues
i've always dreaded doing budgets - may it be personal or business. although i am quite good at it. i never miss anything out and i often end up saving on something. the thing with budgets though is that almost always somebody wants and has to slash it. and you have to re-do it and scrimp and save every single centavo.

i did our househould budget for the remaining months of 2008 and for the first quarter of 2009 and boy, was i slumped. we have to do major belt-tightening until april, especially that we'll have andi by january and raf would start school by june. therefore, i super seriously resolve not to buy anything for me for christmas. this is the least i can do. and i'd tell my husband also not to give me anything fancy or expensive because my mind can't help but whir and spurt figures as to how much we could have saved if he didn't get me this particular item. hahaha.

i know this will be real challenge but i'd rather have more food on the table and a comfortable and renovated house than splurge on some "wants" this christmas. anyway, my parents will be here by december so maybe they can spend on some of my wishlist items. hahaha. if not, i'd stop the urge to sulk. i mean, just the fact that andi's with them and they're more than willing to shell out some amount when her monthly allowance isn't enough is already a great help.

so now, tell me, who wants to be in my shoes?

Mirror, Mirror, Where Are You?
i change pressed powder brands every month but it's only between maybelline, clean and clear, neutrogena, and the body shop. i am quite lucky that my face isn't that choosy and sensitive that i can try any new product in the market and be not afraid of waking up with horrible skin the next day. although i'd know after a day or two if this particular powder is great for my face or not.

a friend recommended the new pond's pressed powder and always-itching-to-try-new-stuff me immediately bought a compact last week. well, the color and texture is perfect and it has a really nice smell so i thought i hit jackpot the first time i used it. although when i saw its price, i was kinda turned off because it is quite expensive considering that it's just a local brand. okay, it's only P200 but clean and clear is only P100+. and maybelline is P199. yes, i am a spendthrift like that. hahaha.

it has always been my ritual before i leave for lunch to retouch. working on emails and phone calls has a way of leaving my skin oily and blech. hahaha. now when i opened my new pond's powder earlier, i was flabbergasted to find out that it doesn't have a mirror! my gawd, i can't believe it! a pressed powder without a mirror! and at P207! maybe i am overreacting but hello, even a cheap fanbo at P80 has a mirror! ahm, please don't mind the exclamation points. i was that surprised actually. hehehe.

so now i couldn't think of having a compact without a mirror. or getting a teeny weeny mirror and holding it up while i powder my nose. it's just...wrong.

Kaith Sashes Over at BoredAndCrafty
a few months ago, i asked yam if she can make me sashes or ribbons that i can use to accessorize my plain dresses. i have several ones that need a little splash of color not only to brighten them up but also to create shape. so she came up with her very own Kaith Sashes!

check these sashes out as well as her other new items over at her online shop: http://boredandcrafty.multiply.com.

Happy November 17th All! :)

On Jologs Mode: John Lloyd Cruz

my husband is so gonna kill me for this.  but you know, he doesn't read my blog anyway.  not unless somebody "squeals" on me.  but anyway, even if he sees this, he won't go on a jealous rampage.  that's just not him.  hahaha.  besides, i married him, not john lloyd anyway.  despite the proposal from somebody who so closely resembles this "a very special love" cutie.  chismis!  hahaha. 

anyway, the reason i am posting this john lloyd-in-pink picture is that i watched "a very special love" on dvd and i can't help but be kilig and  feel giddy all over again.  i've never really liked john lloyd before.  he wasn't cute then and gawd, the nose!  hahaha.  but i just woke up one day finding him really likeable and adorable and absolutely kilig material.  hahaha. geez, i am sounding like a thirteen-year old who just discovered the joys of having a crush.  my children shouldn't be reading this.  hahaha.  

this is what really happens when you're broke and bored to the tips of your so un-rebonded hair.  you recycle old movies, have your husband catch you smiling all by yourself while watching said movie, eat, sleep and then feel guilty for being such a lazy pig, and just vow that you're never gonna overspend again.  even if that means ignoring all new super pretty items from schu.  

i promise, we'll drink and party till we drop next weekend.  ta-ta now!  gossip girl is on next.  happy birthday again our dear mimi. :D

picture taken from jobsdb.com (google search result)

My Soulmate

we share so many things in common (no dream proposals and engagement rings from our husbands, no theme songs, the love for shopping and eating out!, and things i unfortunately cannot mention. haha) that's why we call each other soulmates now. we only met online, some three years back. but if you'd ask me what i'd willingly do for her, honestly, without batting an eyelash, i'd say, "anything. everything."

mimi has been my cheerleader, confidant and lunchmate all these years. and i know, she just understands. i don't have to be anybody but me when i'm around her. i can tell her my most sinister thought and still, she'd laugh at me. it's even amazing how we'd think the same thoughts at the same time. hahaha. so yes, without the ka-churvahan and all, i can say that i love this mimi girl to the ends of the earth.

mims, on your special day, i only wish for you and the kids to feel better and superb. yes, you have that strength in you so just keep going with your head held high. all these will pass and someday we'd talk about these days and we'd laugh and marvel and believe that yes, you can do it. more eat outs, spa sessions, conversations and fun. you have happiness, courage and love but i'd want them overflowing for you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIMI! :)

special thanks to malou for the picture

Kiss-ing Friday Goodbye

spent a good part of my afternoon with K, a very good friend who's also ilongga and andi's godmother. we've always been close, despite not seeing each other so much. i can tell her everything! and lately, we share so much in common aside from being hinawayons and maldita. hahaha.

as always, there's coffee and something to eat on the table and the conversations would center around our children, fashion, our lovelives and some things i shouldn't be writing about here. *evil laugh* we usually have the same dilemmas and rants so we understand each other perfectly.

she tells me, "al, you must really kick ass because even people you don't know hate you."

it's not as if i am proud that people see me as this bitch and all. it's just quite annoying that somebody who i don't even know personally (meaning, it doesn't exist in my world) would have the gall to send me something so horrible. for me, i don't really care how people think of me when they see my maldita face or read my irate posts. maybe a few years ago, i would. but now, nah. what matters to me is how the people i care about think of me. they know me better than anyone else. they know me beyond this blog.

amazingly enough though, i can only count with my two hands (at least, those that i know) those people who can't stand me. my mother has always been happy how strangers would often come up to her to ask about me, as to where i am now and how she must be so proud of me because i am known to be friendly and smart and active in school activities. that was why it was quite a controversy when i got pregnant before getting married because well, they just didn't expect me to be in that situation. and that my dear friends, is the reason why bad things, accusations and insults hardly frazzle me. for every one person who badmouths me, five would defend me. and yes, i have all the bragging rights because i have proof. and well, this is my blog. it's not called kaithuninterrupted for nothing. :D

i am just happy tonight to be able to spend time with K. and somehow, to re-affirm my personality, my kaithy-ness. or rather, my alveel-ness, because that's how she calls me.

ah. it's a friday. and by tomorrow, i'd have my husband to snuggle and cuddle with for two days. who cares if we're broke? ain't life grand? :)

Eureka!

i am a pretty good stalker. i don't stop until i find what (or who) i'm looking for. and tonight, i am successful! woohoo! the information's not much but at least, i am getting there. *smirks*

Halo Halo Supreme

Flip-Floppin
i must admit, it’s only lately that i’ve enjoyed the beauty and comfort of flip flops when going out. for the longest time, i wear flat shoes or sneakers even to the simplest event of going to the mall. and I would always feel overdressed opposed to the husband who wears shorts, shirt and sandals. so these days, when you’d bump into me window shopping, my usual get up would be shorts/mini skirt, baby tee/simple blouse and havs or toeberries on my feet.

i only own two pairs of havaianas, seriously. my first one was bought in brazil (where else?) by my father who then didn’t have an inkling about these much-raved slippers. he got 10 pairs, in different sizes and designs. those that didn’t fit us were given to friends and relatives because really, we three girls are only size 35-36 so I can’t imagine why he even bothered to buy bigger sizes. hehe. my second one, i purchased a few months ago. i needed a cute pair to go well with my brown shorts. i’m usually a fan of toeberries, a local brand which has really pretty designs and very cheap too. they also even have a slim version. haha. but while walking through Rustan’s, i decided to go for havaianas instead because I love their brown and purple combination. this Christmas, i am planning to get another pair because. just because. hahaha. flip flops are so comfortable especially when traveling. and if I really don’t have to dress up for a night out (say, we’d just hang out somewhere), i’d rather wear a casual dress and just flip flops. it feels good to finally allow my feet to breathe and relax. and in fairness, i’ve always been proud of my dainty toes. so dress up on week/workdays, dress down on weekends!

Getting Gossipy
ppip and i have started on season 1 of gossip girl and well, we both love it! i know, know. this is so last century but we just had the time to buy some dvds over at fuente. but i know the book and i've seen the characters through their official website so i'm not really so ignorant about the series. i love blair, even if she's so bitchy. i just find her very, very devilishly pretty in contrast to serena who's prim and simple yet also very gorgeous. what ppip likes i think about GG is the witty banter and conversations. i can't wait to get our dvd remote's replacement so we can continue watching it. i don't like viewing movies or series on the mac because the the screen's too small compared to our television. i want 'em big! hahaha.

Books Galore
i checked my book collection last night and i can't believe that i actually have more or less 20 books to read! honestly, the past months have been a jumble of impulsive shoe, dress and book shopping. but i'm happy to note that out of the so-so number of items i happily pulled out of their beautiful shelves, i only felt guilty for three (only three!) things - two pairs of gladiator sandals and a dress that turned out to be a little big for me. the sandals i gave to my sisters so it's like giving them an early christmas gift while the dress is sitting all by its lonesome here in my office cabinet. dress for sale, then?

my books are eating up our spare room's space so i'm thinking, in case we'd have extra cash after the renovation, i'd have a temporary, yet sturdy, bookshelf made. then we can display all our books in the living room. the one we got in makro is almost falling apart due to the weight of our books. the rest that we can't fit in are on our extra clothes shelf. the room is becoming a library. hahaha. i only have 5 books on my wishlist and i hope i wouldn't find more interesting titles in the coming months because surely, what with raf and andi coming back, i wouldn't know where to stash them anymore, i'm afraid my husband would throw all my stuff away - books, shoes, bags and all! hahaha.

Weekend FoodFest
ever since we had a new helper, we've been cooking authentic ilonggo dishes every weekend. and i am again, much to my chagrin, overeating! we had nilaga, valenciana, bihon (the ilonggo version) and this saturday, we'd have bamboo shoots in coconut milk with shrimp and linugaw (that's binignit for cebu folks) for afternoon snacks. our helper cooks really well and so as reward, i bought her 5 tagalog pocketbooks and approved her cash advance for her daughter's birthday.

it's thursday already and i have one full day of training before i can say, "hurrah for the weekend!"

Love, Your Daughter

i've always felt blessed to have a very close relationship with my mother. yes, we don't agree on some things and there were times when i wasn't so open and honest about certain situations but we have truly established something that not all mothers and daughters have. when i first knew that not all mothers are loving and caring to their children, i got surprised. i always had this notion that when you are a mother, it's innate and natural for you to be "the all" for your offspring.

my mother and my mamang (my nanay's mother) didn't have the best mother-daughter relationship. and i think, that motivated my nanay to exert more effort in expressing her affection for us. her mother wasn't affectionate to them, and so she knew how it can badly break a child's heart. growing up, they weren't that fortunate to have all those material things kids their age long for. so she exerted the effort to find a job so she can provide us our needs and wants. they didn't have the liberty and resources to choose and pursue their dreams. so she and my father gave us that freedom through working hard so we, their daughters, and not them, can achieve and follow our hearts' desires. i sometimes feel bad you know, when i think that she stopped dreaming for herself when they had us. everything now is about us, they rarely think of and for themselves.

i must admit that i am a rebel. well, i listen to her but i don't necessarily obey. there was one time when i got so mad because she wouldn't let me use the other car to drive to a friend's place 20 minutes from our town. i was pissed off because i felt chained. there's another car on the driveway, why can't i use the other one? she reasoned that the car has been having problems so it's not so safe to drive it around. stubborn that i am, i stormed out of her office, went straight home and kidnapped the car. i didn't buy the car problem story because i thought she just didn't want me to go out. halfway through the next town, the car sputtered and died on me. in the middle of the sugarcane fields. i got so scared because my mother was actually saying the truth! and i didn't believe her! it was a good thing my friend was with me so we found a way to rev the car up and get it going until we reach home. we were driving at 30kph because the engine would make that awful coughing sounds when we try to go faster. from then on, i started obeying her more. hehehe.

my mother is not at all kunsintidora. she would give us a good lashing if she needs to. and despite not really explaining why, we understood that it's her way of teaching us, of disciplining us. actions are more important than words for us because really, listening to my mother's tirade and sermon is perhaps the best torture for naughty kids. hahaha.

mother and daughter relationships are quite complicated, if i may say so because women are complicated individuals already. so just how difficult it is to nurture a mini-version of you? hahaha. i am just happy though that through all these years, my nanay has always been supportive and proud of my endeavors. despite others calling me mean and evil and all. yes, she knows everything! hahaha. and she would often scold me that people might think she's also mean because her daughters are. and i would always reply, "well, you can tell all those people that we're adopted." hahaha.

i've been telling her to stop working already because you know, she can just take care of our children and we'd give her a monthly allowance and all. hahaha. and she would always answer that no, she won't live with any of us, not unless for short vacations. she'd want to enjoy her healthy years with my father, touring around the world. hahaha. i am hoping that they'd spend christmas here. but that would mean a full house for us! yet, that also equals to yummy meals everyday and shopping till we drop!

ah, to have a nanay and a confidant and an emergency nanny. what more really, can a girl wish for? ;)

All Work and No Mommy Play

i told my boss before that i don't mind working very hard for 9.6 hours everyday just as long as i can haul my ass out of the office before 7:00pm.  it's not that i hate doing overtime, i don't mind extending long hours on some days, it's just that i'd be happier if i can be home before 8:00 every night.  and even now that the kids are not around, i still try to come home early every single day, except for fridays when i schedule girls night outs with friends.  

i guess i've come to realize that working hard can get you up that corporate ladder but at whose and what expense?  your health? your family?  yes, i so love my job and the people i work with.  but when all else fails, would that company ever sacrifice for me?  would it take risks for me, a mere employee?  

the call center job was fun.  really fun.  i enjoyed every single task i performed (except for the inventory/accounting part which was argh!).  i  managed 16- to 18-hour workdays just so i can give my best in all events and programs.  and then one day, i woke up tired, exhausted and sick of the routine-ness of it all.  the stress and pressure crept up on me silently and suddenly, i found myself suffocated and needing fresh air. immediately.  without further discussions.  i don't want that to happen again.

if there's one thing i learned from my bosses now, it's to work hard on working hours.  arrive early, go home early.  come to the office late, then you go home late.  the more you spend time dilly-dallying around, the less chances you can get all tasks done before 6pm.  my boss comes in very early in the morning and goes home at a reasonable time too.  he just goes out for lunch for an hour or an hour and a half and spends the rest of the time on work, work, work.  but he's not boring at all.  just somebody focused and determined.  weekends are exclusively for the family because as one of our managers say, "i give my full five days to the company.  my restdays are mine and my family's alone. i deserve that."  

so if they can do that, i can too.  i just intend to make (and keep!) 2 or 3 resolutions next year but i'm already starting to focus on one.  which is, to spend as much time with my family as i can.  not only with the kids, but with the husband as well.  my oc-ness kicks in and i am tempted to make a table and plan some things i can do with raf on different days of the week.  and then, there's also andi who need my motherly love.  24 hours can never be enough if i'd want to do all the things i want to do.  there's so much stuff to attend to and yes, the solution is knowing which are top priorities and which are not.  it wouldn't be nice if i am a good employee but not a good mother, right?  i'd want that "best mom" title first from my children before any other recognition. and of course, i don't take centrum.  

oh, i just miss my raf.  that's why.

Welcome, Welcome!

mai texted me yesterday. and her last line read, "change does us good."

so for the 2nd time, i am following mai's advice. setting up this blog kept me occupied the whole saturday, which was good because the husband slept the whole afternoon anyway. and yes, i do believe this change will bring me good as i'm leaving some "ugly" things behind.

welcome to my uh, technically, 6th blog. this is my newest home, and i hope that this time, this will be for good. although in a few weeks, the url may change as somebody is "adopting" me. :)

i am hesitant to leave wordpress, honestly. i have grown so familiar to its interface and dashboard. but with blogspot, i have more freedom when it comes to choosing templates and adding widgets so i guess, this is all for the best. hehehe.

this blog would still bear my "signature" kamalditahan and usual kaithy-isms. but i think, i'd more "careful" now in voicing out my thoughts lest i get into trouble again. hehehe. if i need to rant, i'd be over somewhere more "private."

so, welcome to the all-new kaithuninterrupted.blogspot.com. housewarming is whenever we'd see each other. let's have ice cream and cake. :)