Ukay treasure

Check out what I found at the ukay ukay store along Kalaw Avenue:

Got it for only P288! The latch is a bit loose but I love it anyway. It’s my favorite shade of yellow.

And the lining is really pretty.

Hehe I feel like such a girl!

My office desk

What do we have here? There’s Nivea hand cream for when my hands dry up when we turn on the aircondition. Toilet paper for my bladder. My starbucks planner. Mina’s camera charger because I had to borrow her camera for Carlos Celdran’s tour. Plenty of post-its. Plenty of colored pens. Paper paper paper.

And as we do not have blinds, posters of Wolfgang and Twilight.

The point of this post?

Nothing. I just need a breather. Hehe.

Is it really just mercury retrograde?

Or is it my katangahan na??

Last night I went to a party Tita A threw for soon-to-be-married Pinky & Derek. I had a lot of fun bonding with everyone again. I kinda feel like I’ve been away from civilization ever since I started working in old Intramuros. It was Z’s birthday as well so we left a bit early to hang out before he drove me home. A little after midnight, he got a text from Pinky saying I left my cellphones at the party. Waaaaaaah.Thank goodness Trish brought it home with her because we live near each other. I went to her place before going to work.

My ghad. What is it with communication these days???

Then again, I can’t go all out bashing mood because I have to admit, there has been a bit of good luck involved. It was good fortune that I left my phone at my friends’ party instead of leaving it at the press party before the second party. That would’ve been a nightmare. And it was good luck that I didn’t even go through traffic going to Tita A’s place. And I got lucky today because the driver was there to take me to Tricia’s house then the office.

So yeah, stupid things happened. But a lot of good things happened to offset it as well. So I should just shut up and go to work. Haha!

Before I begin today’s tasks…

I don’t know, I feel I should be talking about something here first. It feels like I haven’t properly blogged in ages!

Last weekend was spent working. We had our editorial planning for the entire publishing group at Holiday Inn in Clark, Pampanga and it wasn’t really as boring as I’d expected. I went there dreading the time it will eat away from my supposedly long weekend but I ended up surprised. I finally feel that I am in good company. I got to bond with the other editors and our editorial director and I ended up having fun. We have a pool of really creative people and it’s no wonder every magazine published here has a distinct flavor of its own. There is clearly creative freedom here and I love it. I can’t wait to see our own title published!

It has come to the exciting part. Photo shoots, press junkets (I’m on the other side of the fence now!), editing thoroughly researched articles…It’s been a challenge but it has been really fun. I’ve been stressed (and whining endlessly about it) the past week and it had to take Z (again) to tell me that I ought to stop with the complaining because, hello, this is me living my dream. It isn’t as glamorous as I had expected but it’s still my dream nonetheless. Writing for a living. And I didn’t have to start at the bottom of the barrel because I had the great fortune to meet my managing editor during my last magazine stint (the one that failed to launch hehe) and she saw my potential and the moment she got called in to do this new one, she pulled me in with her.

I feel blessed. I don’t really have much to complain about. I have two mentors whom I respect and look up to. I know I’ll learn a lot from them and I can’t wait to finally see all our efforts in print.

Plenty of things to be excited about:

• It’s Z’s birthday tomorrow. I still have no idea what to get him. He’s under the impression I already got him something. Ack.
• Pinky and Derek’s wedding. Can’t wait to do shopping for what to wear. Haha
• 4K worth of gift certificates from my friend M and J’s clothing store. Check out Una Rosa in Shangri-La, Megamall, Greenhills, etc etc. Business is booming!
• This weekend. Finally, after two weeks straight of working on weekends we get a whole weekend off! Yey!

So there. Back to work!

Bebe Gandanghari

I am so outdated! I only knew about Rustom Padilla’s new identity now. Yikes! Hehehe he looks so much like a woman now. I used to have a crush on him back when he and Carmina were still married. LOL. Change IS constant. He’s like the biggest testament to that. Heehee.

Cheers!

My showbiz commentary aside, I’ve never felt more drained. We’ve had photo shoots, product pullouts, interviews and a ton of writing to finish and it has been a blur. I think I’ve lost track of things. I’m even working until Sunday because we’re heading to Pampanga for our editorial planning.

I suddenly miss bumming…

I can’t wait until NEXT Friday. Waaaah. :’(

I’m excited…

…to see my new MSI Wind later! Z helped me restore my Dell Inspiron to top selling condition and helped me sell it the day after. Then he got me the new MSI wind laptop (10″ screen yay!) and had his friend R install all the software I would need. 2GB RAM. 160GB memory. With bluetooth, memory card reader, built in Webcam and mic, and I don’t know what else! Hehehe eyelavet. 

So did I! hehehe :)

And I just read Cel’s post about the Uterus Fairy. Hmmm. Come to think of it, it’s nearing THAT time of the month!

Moving towards a new attitude

Here’s the deal. I’ve been an emotional nutcase lately and I’m sick of it. I think the time is right for a change of attitude. Ever since Tita passed away last November (actually even as early as the months leading to it), I’ve been so comfortable being sad. Sadness has become my comfort zone. And that is just, well, it’s just sad. Don’t you think? hehe

So I think it’s time I throw away sadness, that old hag, and get myself an attitude makeover. I miss the me I was before November. I miss being comfortable with a lot of people. I miss being happy all the friggin time. Lately, it’s just the opposite! I can turn on the blues button at the blink of an eye. I think it’s time I get out of this rut I created for myself.

I had a good conversation with my managing editor last night after our shoot. She told me to just practice switching. I mean, you can only be lonely so long as you allow yourself to be that way. And I guess I’ve been choosing to be lonely the past few weeks. So today I’m choosing to be in a happy space. A more grateful space. And I’ve decided I’m practicing that every day by blogging about whatever made me smile every single day.

Yes I know it might seem a tad cheesy for some of us but, as I’ve realized only recently, being a scrooge is tiring. And I don’t want to end a day feeling tired. Not just physically tired but REALLY TIRED. So there. I am back being the happy grateful bitch that I am!

Speaking of things I am grateful for, I might as well start with a list before I go off to work:

I am grateful for the fact that my job is no longer just a job. It’s something I truly enjoy and it gives me the flexibility and freedom I need to keep the creative flow running. It has also given me plenty of opportunity to go around exploring, which is something I truly value. And I believe I am surrounded by real bullshit-free talent and I hope that will also rub off on me. Haha!

I am grateful for my family and friends and boyfriend for putting up with my crappy blues the past few months.
I know I’ve pulled you guys down with me at one point or another and I sincerely apologize but I want you to know I’ve never felt more blessed knowing that you all are just there to humor me every time I turn into my darker whinier brattier self.

I am grateful for jacket weather, coffee, yoga, colored pens, post-its, my starbucks planner, mobile phones, etc etc etc. The list goes on.

Point is, I just have to really focus on these things more so I’ll stop with all the bluesy blues. Enough with the drama. That was last year. This year is all about happiness.

Mercury Retrograde

Maybe astrology has its merits contrary to what the status quo is saying.

I have this habit of checking out my monthly horoscope and I came across this:

Although Jupiter will be in your sign this month, you won’t be able to instantly move forward with new plans for one reason: Mercury will go retrograde.

Mercury will be retrograde from January 11 to February 1, so you will need to be patient while you firm up your plans as best you can without making an actual commitment. Mercury will retrograde in Aquarius, so you may feel this retrograde more than most, because you ARE an Aquarian. You may be frustrated with this situation, which is due to last three weeks, for Mercury retrograde forces us to look back to revisit, redesign, reevaluate, reassess, rethink, and repair both things and relationships.

You should not sign contracts during a Mercury retrograde period. You should also not buy any anything expensive, and especially not any electronic things, for if you do during retrograde Mercury, they will not deliver the pleasure you might anticipate.

I know it’s just coincidence but I’ve been feeling “mercurial” lately. And while today is supposedly the start of the retrograde, I think mine started earlier. Started as early as the first week of January. I’ve been going through a lot of things and as much as I would want to talk about it here…well, I would rather not. All I want to say is that I am now allergic to gossip, assumptions, email readers (the ones who read OTHERS’ emails and not their own because apparently the email accounts of other people are more interesting), privacy invaders, and classless self-serving self-righteous hypocrites. So yes, I guess this month (so far) has been all about reevaluating my relationships. And I’ve decided I’m cutting off a few that are no longer good for me. Buh-bye.

So yes, January may not be a good month (at least in some areas) but, if anything, it taught me integrity, it taught me courage under fire, and it let me feel the phrase “all in bad taste” fully. Thank you for the lessons.

Did you guys see the full moon last night? Biggest I’ve seen so far. Lovely!

Z and I went from one party to the next yesterday. Lunch was at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La since it was N’s baby’s 1st birthday party. It was legendary. The theme was African Safari and people were in their safari or animal costumes. There were animal-printed balloons everywhere, a candy corner booth, a fruit shake stand, a huuuuge buffet laden with kiddie food and food for us kids at heart, a magic show, an animal show (Hello TIGER!) and the prizes given away were ipods, kiddie laptops, tons of stuffed toys, etc etc etc. The sky was indeed the limit. I think N probably spent over a million for her son’s 1st party. Makes you wonder how it will be come his WEDDING DAY. The Vatican, I bet. Hehe

After lunch, we went over to P’s house and that was where we spent the rest of the evening. It was P’s lola’s birthday and they served pizza and KFC Chicken. I love it. It was a cool night and we just spent it out on P’s front yard talking about stuff while watching the moon hover above us.

All in all, a lovely Sunday.

Jacket weather, blond moments

I found myself waking up to the sound of the rain on my ceiling. I think it’s the perfect way to start the day. I love rainy days. I love being tucked inside my room, lounging under my warm and toasty sheets while the world outside is dealing with wind and water. Schadenfreude.

Today I got lucky too; I didn’t have to brave the commute because the driver was there to take me to work. So no wet sandals and jeans for me. I am warm and cozy in my funky black jacket. haha.

I had a bout of depression a few days ago. I guess it sprung from panic I was feeling at work AND, okay this is really shallow, but I weighed myself for the first time since Christmas and I did not like the figure that showed up. And that was also the day I had an appointment with a physical trainer and we measured everything in my body that needed measuring and when it boiled down to fat content, I was just discombobulated. I was transported back to times when I would panic I was gaining weight that I would curb that panic by eating everything that was bad for me. I didn’t do that now but I’m bummed about it nonetheless. Sigh.

I should really do something about my mood swings. It’s not funny anymore. I know that we need to go through the blues to make us appreciate happy times more but damn it, I don’t like going through it this OFTEN. More happy times for me please!

Sigh. This is just a phase. Actually, it’s just me. I just need to find that happy switch I can turn on during the lowest and bluest of days. It must be around here somewhere. Hehehe

Of things that make me happy…I am off to ice cream bar later with my officemates. Their frozen yogurt is love. <3

This Sunday, Z and I are attending Nancy’s baby’s first birthday party. The theme is African Safari.

What do you wear to events like that? I wish I have buckets of cash to get rid of all my clothes and buy my own walk in closet—similar to the one Big got made for Carrie. It’ll house plenty of options for themed parties like this one. I’ll have an outfits-I-will-only-wear-once section. An eighties and seventies section. Costumes. Wigs. Accessories. Plenty of shoes. Regular clothes. And all these will be cataloged in a really kikay-looking computer that comes with a “styling” software that’ll allow me to mix and match. Ah, I love having blond moments.

Back to work. Back to work.