Christmas Wishlist 2011

I try my best to get into the spirit of Christmas: helping decorate the family Christmas tree, playing Christmas carols during lazy Sundays at home...hmmm. That's it. Ok, so maybe that's not my best effort. But the problem is...

I cannot see past December 15, 2011.

The Mind Museum pre-launch party is TOMORROW NIGHT, and everything at work has been CRAZY. The past few weeks have been horribly hectic, it's not even funny. I always complain about December (it's the most wonderful time of the year, sure, but it's also the most stressful), but this year's December is extra-special & extra-stressful because of this event which I have been waiting for, for 15 long months.

The culmination of 15 months' worth of hard work is finally here! It's make or break time!

It has been chaos inside the site for the past week, with all workers scrambling to finish their tasks, in order to make the place presentable for tomorrow's event. Fumes, dust, and the smell of panic is hovering in the air, and I think it has caused temporary blindness to anything beyond December 15. Mind you, there are other major events / tasks beyond the 15th that I *should* be preparing for / organizing (Cost Report, AGSB Christmas party, Datem Christmas party, TMM Christmas party,  Christmas shopping, the house, etc.), but my heart is just not set on doing them...not until tomorrow is over.

The stress of December is bearing down upon me, so I need some relief, even for 5 minutes. So what better way to cope with the pressure than to distract myself by making a Christmas wishlist? I did a similar list a year ago. Funny thing about that list is, some of those items are only coming into fruition now, at the end of the year. Talk about last minute.

1. Exercise clothes - I've been an exercise-addict lately, and if only I had 5 sets of exercise clothes, I would be out running everyday. Medyo kuripot ako, so I don't like the idea of buying expensive things if I'll just sweat in them anyway. But if family/friends will give exercise clothes as gifts, why not, diba? Hehe. So, aside from the pictures I've posted below, I would also like black, white or gray ankle socks, and sports bras. :D

Nike training tank top (for my Pilates class). Medium.

 Nike Legend tight fit capris or slim fit pants (for Pilates / running)

Purple / black running shorts & running tank top (to match my new purple running shoes, see picture below). Mabuti nang purple AND black, so I can mix and match. I do not want to look like an eggplant...or worse, like Grimace. :))

(special thanks to my mama for buying these shoes for me in HK)

2. Make-up - You can't escape aging, but you sure can cover it up with make-up. :)) I'm a Benefit junkie, and unfortunately for me, Benefit isn't commercially available here in the Philippines (it soon will be, though! They're opening a store in Greenbelt 5, soon! Yayyyy). So if anyone out there is coming from the U.S. or Singapore, here are my favorite Benefit items: "That Gal" brightening face primer (it's the best! From dull to glowing, in seconds!), Dallas bronzing pressed powder (I use this as blush, though), Erase Paste concealer (shade no. 3); Oh, I'm out of black mascara too.

3. Books - I've been so busy lately, that I still haven't waded through my stack of new books at home (uh oh, there goes my 2011 New Year's resolution). But I still would want to receive books for Christmas. New books = ♥. My favorite authors: Nick Bantock, Sophie Kinsella, Philippa Gregory, Cecilia Ahern and Paolo Coehlo. I would also like the following books, please (hehe, my choices are polar opposites, I know):

4. Accessories for my gadgets - screen protector for my MacBook Pro 15", a new keyboard protector (those with air-holes sana), new iPod earphones.


5. Early / successful completion of the house I designed - I know being busy isn't an excuse, but I've been way behind in the awarding of suppliers for the house. I still need to finalize the tiles, the wood flooring, the railing, and the lighting fixtures. :/ Oh, and the paint! :((( Ugh, I'm having palpitations just thinking about this. Double-stress! I still have so much to do!!! This is the sort of wish that I can't rely on anybody else to give me. So I guess I'll just wish that I will still be alive come December 16, so that I can work on the house pronto. :))

 Construction on-going

6. To be Champion in this year's Datem Christmas party presentation - Yep, I wished for this last year and it came true. This year, I STILL WANT TO WIN. Defending Champions, baby! Losing is not an option! (haha, sorry, competitive talaga) 

 The Mind Museum project team -- Champions! :)

7. Enough money for my 2012 travels. ♥ I really should start saving up. I have my plane tickets to all of my destinations already...I just need the pocket money so I can make the most of my trips! Yeaaaah, I can't wait! :)



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Uh oh. This list is supposed to help me relax, but I can feel the butterflies again. I've procrastinated long enough...it's time to get back to work. I know there are other stuff that I want included here...I just can't think of them at the moment. Haha.

Lord, it's all up to You now. You know what's best for me! Hehe. How about You, what do You want for Christmas / Your birthday? :)

Roll With Me

Someday you will meet the Big O who will make you realize that you are not a missing piece...and who will make you realize that you are not looking for someone to complete you and take you somewhere.

You are your own piece and you can roll on your own...or roll alongside someone else. :)

Well, what are you waiting for? Roll with me. :)


* * * *


The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

by Shel Silverstein

The missing piece sat alone...
waiting for someone to come along and take it somewhere.

Some fit...
But could not roll.

Others could roll, but did not fit.

One didn't know a thing about fitting.
And another didn't know a thing about anything.

One was too delicate.

One put it on a pedestal...
and left it there.

Some had too many pieces missing.
Some had too many pieces, period.

It learned to hide from the hungry ones.

More came.

Some looked too closely.
Others rolled right by without noticing.

It tried to make itself more attractive...
It didn't help.

It tried being flashy
but that just frightened away the shy ones.

At last, one came along that fit just right.

But all of a sudden...
the missing piece began to grow!
And grow!

"I didn't know you were going to grow."

"I didn't know it either," said the missing piece.

"I'm looking for my missing piece, one that won't increase..."

And then one day, one came along who looked different.

"What do you want of me?" asked the missing piece.

"Nothing."

"What do you need from me?"

"Nothing."

"Who are you?" asked the missing piece.

"I am the Big O," said the Big O.

"I think you are the one I have been waiting for," said the missing piece. "Maybe I am your missing piece."

"But I am not missing a piece," said the Big O. "There is no place you would fit."

"That is too bad," said the missing piece. "I was hoping that perhaps I could roll with you..."

"You cannot roll with me," said the Big O, "but perhaps you can roll by yourself."

"By myself? A missing piece cannot roll by itself."

"Have you ever tried?" asked the Big O.

"But I have sharp corners," said the missing piece. "I am not shaped for rolling."

"Corners wear off," said the Big O, "and shapes change. Anyhow, I must say good-bye. Perhaps we will meet again..."

And away it rolled.

The missing piece was alone again.

For a long time, it just sat there.

Then...
Slowly...
It lifted itself up on one end...

Then lift...pull...flop...
...and flopped over.

It began to move forward...

And soon, it's edges began to wear off...

Liftpullflopliftpullflop...

And its shape began to change...

And then it was bumping instead of flopping...
And then it was bouncing instead of bumping...
And then it was rolling instead of bouncing...
And it didn't know where, and it didn't care.

It was rolling!

(For the narrative + illustrations, click here)

Taking It One Book At A Time

I do not like seeing books go unread...and I usually don't have to worry about THAT, because I read every book I have within days of purchasing / receiving them. Recently, though, I've been so scatter-brained that not only do I have a lot of unREAD books, I also have a lot of unFINISHED books. Que horror! The tragedy! :((

I guess it started during one of the sales at Fully Booked (God, this was more than a year ago already!). Got myself 3 books at 80% off. Finished only 2 of 3. 3rd book is still inside my toilet's magazine bin: unfinished, neglected and forgotten (for the curious, the book, which has been demoted to toilet-status is "The Starter Wife." Haha).

My usual go-to place in any commercial establishment is the bookstore. When I'm waiting for someone, or when I'm just looking around the mall by myself, I automatically get drawn to the place filled with nice-smelling books. :) *sigh* I can get lost inside a book store for HOURS. Unfortunately, whenever I find myself inside this heaven, and whenever I have some cash at hand (or some plastic hehe), I always end up buying a book or two.

I usually have good instincts when it comes to good books (sadly, this gift does not cross over to other aspects of my life), so whatever book catches my interest -- well, they're usually really good. I don't know what it is about this last batch of books...are they not interesting enough? Did I lose my instinct for choosing good books? Or am I just TOO busy?

The list of "neglected books" just grows longer and longer (yesterday, I went to Fully Booked to buy yet another book, which was highly recommended by a friend). I can't seem to stop buying books...and my friends can't stop giving them to me as gifts! I guess books are naturally attracted to me. Haha.

• The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie
• My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
• Possession by A.S. Byatt
• The Museum at Purgatory by Nick Bantock (gift from Lav)
• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
• A Year In High Heels by Camilla Morton
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Mini-Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
• Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (gift from Diane)
• Kiko Machine 4 & 5 :/

I'm pretty sure that when I rummage through my bedroom, I will find more unread / unfinished books. For now, I guess I should concentrate on the list above. Part of my 150-things-to-do for 2011 (#35) is to read at least 1 book a month. This target is actually an underachievement for me, because I usually finish at least 3 books a month. :/

Oh well. Baby steps! Taking it one book at a time. :)

Oh no. Wait. This means that I won't be able to buy new books for a whole year. This list is going to take me 11 months to finish. :/ That sucks. Have to get a move on.

Eat. Pray. Love...Read a book

Ok, so I haven't actually finished reading "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I still can't fight my way through the first section (partly because I'm busy, partly because the style of writing is not as amusing as I want it to be). I've seen the movie, though (twice), and although it's a bit dragging in some parts, it has intrigued me enough to Google quotable quotes.

So far, this is my favorite, because I feel as if Elizabeth Gilbert took the words right out of my mouth. (And isn't that what makes quotes so poignant? They're the things you know are true, but you can't quite find the right words to express them.)

"I have a history of making decisions very quickly about men. I have always fallen in love fast and without measuring risks. I have a tendency not only to see the best in everyone, but to assume that everyone is emotionally capable of reaching his highest potential. I have fallen in love more times than I care to count with the highest potential of a man, rather than with the man himself, and I have hung on to the relationship for a long time (sometimes far too long) waiting for the man to ascend to his own greatness. Many times in romance I have been a victim of my own optimism."

In my younger, brooding years, I've always considered myself as a pessimist. It seemed more mysterious to say that the glass is "half empty" as opposed to the optimistic "half full." Being a hopeless romantic seemed more intriguing (with its never-ending drama) than being a hopeful romantic. Back then, being "senti" (the 90s version of "emo"), was acceptable (helloooo, we were of the generation where "King and Queen of Hearts" was used in every single prom/ball. It doesn't get more "senti" than that).

As I matured (emotionally, I hope), I came to realize that I'm not as negative as I thought myself to be. It's supposedly a positive trait, optimism (duh), but based on my experiences, it has also become my downfall.

I always have high hopes when it comes to love. I guess "idealistic" is the correct term for that. I have the ideal picture of love (and of the man I will want to love) in my mind. I give them the benefit of the doubt, and I give them 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th chances. I do admit that I *am* very optimistic about people. I do believe in the goodness of all people.

I think the best example of this is my love for Piolo Pascual. *grin*

This is the typical conversation I have with other people regarding Papa P:

Me: Ang guwapo ni Piolo.

Others: Bading kaya yan.

Me: HINDI AH!!! (with matching angry expression and hands raised to strike)

Others: Oo kaya.

Me: Hindi pa kasi niya ako nakikita.

Yup. Basta mahal ko, ipaglalaban ko hanggang sa dulo ng mundo. :))

Some call me naive, innocent, gullible, or whatever... I see it as a limitless supply of hope and faith, and that's where I get my strength.

Yeah, I get screwed over a lot because of my "optimism," but I know as early as now (early?) that I ain't gonna change. Faulty wiring, I guess. :)) At least now that I am aware of this personal truth, I can now control it (somewhat). I can now use this optimism to my advantage.

At least now, I know to look for someone who can carry his own weight; someone who doesn't need (just) my optimism to push him to his greatest potential; someone who actually KNOWS that he is capable of doing great things. I think every person should be aware of his strengths, his capabilities. He should know what he WANTS to achieve.

I am optimistic about myself, first and foremost, because *I* am the only one who knows my strengths and weaknesses best. I know what *I* want. I should not settle for anything less.

Hey, Elizabeth Gilbert. Maybe you should take a page from my book. :)

My MegaDay at MegaMall

Hehe. Ang baduy ng title ko. :P

Spent the day at the mall again. :) It was my Tita's birthday, and us cousins went bowling. Whee. It's strange, though. I usually bowl with an 11-lb ball. Today, I couldn't even lift a 10-lb ball. :( I'm too weak. I need to tone my arm muscles. The office bowling tournament is coming up, and I want that trophy!!! Hehehe.

Bowling is fun!

All I Want For Christmas!

I went around the mall by myself afterwards. Hanging out with myself is always fun. :) The downside is that strange people approach me, and try to strike up a conversation. Some random dude came up to me with the most bulok pick-up line ever: "Miss, what school are you from, you look familiar." Nyaaah. In fairness, he thought I was still in college. Hehe. Ano ba, I am not a friendly person! Doesn't the scowl in my face clearly tell you to back off??? Hehe. :) Boo!

I really shouldn't be set loose inside Powerbooks. I saw a lot of books I wanted to buy! Books are my weakness! *sigh* Since there are too many cool stuff in the world, and I don't have enough moolah to buy them all, I have decided to throw my concerns out to the universe through my "All I Want for Christmas" campaign. Thanks to my handy celphone camera (the quality of which, sucks. I should post a picture of a new celphone with my AIWfC stamp), I have documented a couple of stuff that I really want for Christmas (or for my birthday, or for any occasion really).

Universe, it's all up to you!

A book on how to make books. Hehe.

One tough cookie! Shirt by Seventeen, Cinderella

Zac Efron. :) Ang makapagbigay sakin nito for Christmas, superhero ko.
Pag yung Rolling Stone Magazine lang, sidekick. Wehehe. :P

* * * *

Speaking of Zac Efron, I saw the Hairspray promotional poster in the cinema area...Bakit naman mukha ni Zac Efron ang tinakpan diba? Bakit hindi yung kay Nikki Blonski? Hehehe.

Watched A Love Story again today with my Tita and my sister. Tip lang: do not watch a drama movie in Megamall! Hindi ka makakapag-emote. The crowd there is so different, they laugh at all the wrong things, it totally ruins the emo moments. Haha. And it's super annoying how they squeal whenever there are kilig moments on screen. Ano baaahh. :P

So there. My very colorful, eventful day in MegaMall. :)
Next weekend is another long weekend!!! GMA, wag mo babawiin!!! :P

I Need Inspiration

My family and I went to Shangri-La Plaza to watch Rush Hour 3 supposedly. We ended up watching Bourne Ultimatum instead. Random anectode from my mom:

Mama: May kasunod pa raw yan ah.
Everyone else: Huh? Talaga?
Mama: Oo. "Bourne Free."
(Wahahaha. Give her a round of applause everyone.)

No trip to the mall is complete without a couple of trips to NBS/Powerbooks. They had a sale, which was completely useless for me anyway, since I have zero funds nowadays.

Had a couple of star sightings in Powerbooks too: Jessica Zafra (we were looking at the same sale bin! Waha!) in her perpetual black garb, and Julius Babao, who looks smaller in person. Hmmm.

Found this really cute book in the Art/Architecture department: Portfolio of Inspirations.


"Creative people" each have their own page wherein they would disclose what their work processes are, what inspires them, and how they translate their inspirations into their work. It is the coolest book everrrr. Malapit na Christmas guys. This is part of my wishlist. It is available in Powerbooks Shangri-La. Hehehehe. Shameless plugging!

What an artist's inspiration notebook looks like

Quotable quote from an artist

There's this other book called Mute: Just Pictograms. A book of little icons/graphics that speak for themselves. Ang cute ng mga concepts! I'm going to try to figure out how to do these in Photoshop. They're so cool. :)

Why are there so many nice books in the world?
Why are there books sales NOW when I am currently low on funds?? Hay.

Kung hindi lang nakakahiya na magpicture sa Powerbooks, I would have taken a picture of every page in those books. Waha!