The looloo rendezvoos #3

It is confirmed: being surrounded by nice and friendly people gives you a dose of good vibes. :)

That's like stating the obvious, isn't it? But you'll be surprised how rare this happens in today's world; there always seem to be "negatrons" lurking around the premises. But at looloo's 3rd Rendezvoos, it was all smiles and positive energy; no bad vibes allowed here!

I was very happy to receive a Rendezvoos invite from Peanut, one of the looloo crew. I was also a bit torn. I had a scheduled event on the morning of the Rendezvoos, all the way in La Mesa Eco Park! I wasn't sure if the event will finish on time, or if I will be able to drive all the way from the North to the semi-South in time for the Rendezvoos meet-up! But I wouldn't miss this for world (I mean, how often do you receive invites for free nail spas?), so I told Peanut that I will be there "by hook or by crook." Haha.

Thankfully, I arrived, albeit a lot haggard and a bit late. They weren't at the meet-up place anymore by the time I got there. :( Peanut was so nice to come back for me and another looloo rendezvooer, Marc C. (I'm glad I'm not the only one who was late! Haha!), to accompany us to the location of our nail sparty: Coco Luca! It's a "hidden" nail and waxing salon just off of Burgos Circle.

The reception area

By the time we got to the place, Odell R, Alecs R, Jodi N, and Tracy M. were already getting their finger/toe nails clipped, buffed and polished. It was a very small place, only enough to fit 7 to 9 customers at the same time, but it didn't look cramped since there was natural light coming through the windows, and they had light colored walls with bright colored furniture and upholstery. :) The place was channeling "tropical spa" with its theme, which is very fitting to their name which means "Coconut" and "Light."

Looloo-ers getting pampered!

Didn't take too long before someone started working on my nails. The package comes with a manicure, pedicure and footspa, and a free hand and foot massage, too! Ahhh. :)

My tired feet needed some R&R

You have a lot of nail polish to choose from...

Gucci nail polish! Sounds and looks expensive!

Since it was a nail sparty, we had the place all to ourselves! They served food and drinks, too: mini tacos (what were they called? Taclitos? Taclings?), iced tea, and assorted candy.

Read my detailed review here. :)

The spa services aside, what I really, truly enjoyed was the company. It was weird how I could talk so easily with a group of strangers! I usually hate small talk, and I don't really like mingling at business lunches or seminars (I'm an introvert that way), but the conversation at the Rendezvoos didn't feel like forced small talk at all. We talked about everything under the sun: from unique food finds, disastrous restaurant experiences, magazine features (hi Tracy M.), scuba diving (hi Marc C.), movies (hi Jodi N.), our old age as compared to one (hi Alecs R.), and our collective hate for anything green and leafy (hi everyone except Marc C! Haha!).



The Rendezvooers (L-R: me, Tracy, Alecs, Jodi and Marc)
Photo grabbed from @loolooapp (instagram)

 

It also helped that Odell and Peanut were such charming and interesting people. They asked us thought-provoking questions  such as "How did you first discover looloo?" and "Would you rather go to a place with good food but bad service, or good service and so-so food?" Haha! (My answer, by the way, is the latter) We also shared with them valuable suggestions for the looloo app, such as new badges (i.e. the Suggestor Badge and the Club Badge); and "badge levels" (for those who have visited more than 5 coffee shops, for example); and "badge gift certificates or prizes" in collaboration with some establishments. Other suggestions were: editable star ratings, a personal message feature, and editable recommendations for the inflooence score (this is especially for those with sucky inflooence scores, like me! Haha!)! Odell and Peanut promised to take note of these ideas and discuss them with the whole team. :) I hope that some of them make it to the next looloo app upgrade! :D

 



Meet Peanut, the most adorable person on looloo! (haha, ang galing, Tracy & I had the same assessment!)
 

The whole gang with the looloo crew, Peanut and Odell!
(photo grabbed from Peanut's instagram)

All-in-all, it was a very enjoyable afternoon. The conversation was so interesting that we continued our chikahan at the nearby Toast Box (sans Alecs, who had to go back to school! Boo!).

Thank you, looloo for giving me the opportunity to be part of the first nail sparty rendezvoos! Not only did I get a free manicure and foot spa (and some loolooloot, too!), I also met some really interesting people. :) It just goes to show that looloo has become more than an app, it's a community of people who are interested in so many diverse things; a community of people who like discovering places they'll love. ♥

Thanks again, and see you at the (next) looloo eat-up! :)

My awesome new nail color c/o Coco Luca, and my looloo goodie bag!

This is a picture of the loolooloot I got from the previous Tomas Morato promo! Got the same stuff here at the Rendezvoos too! The more the merrier! :)

A Birthday Beyond Expectations

I celebrated my 30th birthday in Melbourne, Australia.

Now doesn't that sound so exciting? It was my birthday gift for myself, and it was also timely that one of my good friends from highschool was getting married there on the same week. I have been planning it since around 4 months back (of course, since I had to apply for a visa and book a ticket), and I was expecting it to be an awesome birthday adventure Down Under. It did not disappoint.

Getting lost in the streets of Melbourne

It was my first time to travel so far by myself (the farthest before that was to Guam, U.S.A.), and I spent most of my 10 days there "getting lost" in the streets of Melbourne, taking solo walking tours and experiencing the city on my own. The day itself was pretty memorable: I spent the day walking around Melbourne, camera and map in tow; it was also the day my iPhone fell into the sewer (on a rainy day!), died for a couple of hours, and was revived miraculously a couple of hours later. That night, my friend Kat gathered some of her friends and family to have a buffet dinner with me at Kitchen Workshop. It was a simple get-together with old and new friends, and a great way to cap off my 30th birthday celebration.

Birthday dinner with new friends 

Of course, there were the little heartwarming moments that made my birthday extra special: a Skype call from my family in Manila at 12 midnight on the dot; and a birthday cake with a humongous candle care of Kat's family, when we got home from our dinner. :)

The biggest birthday cake candle I've seen in mah life

It was an epic event in my life; it was when I truly focused on myself, did things that made me happy, and the time when I looked at life in a more positive way.

I found ♥ in the streets of Melbourne

Every year, I celebrate my birthday very differently from the previous one. Maybe it's because so many things change in a year and my interests also change; maybe it's also because I get restless a lot, and I always want to improve on my life experiences.

Spent my 29th birthday here with these kiddos

My family and friends who helped me with my birthday outreach!

Spent my 30th birthday at Relik with THESE kiddos. LOL.

Every year is special, and every year is always fun. :) This year, though, I decided to just spend my birthday here in Manila. I also didn't want a big party. Big parties entail big funds (which I am trying to spend responsibly for my future haha), intense planning (which I do not have time for because of work), and high expectations (which I cannot afford to have, because I will just be setting myself up for disappointment).

And so, this year, on an insignificantly numbered year (31), I was planning on having a laid-back birthday. No big plans. No big expectations. I was satisfied with just having a simple celebration with friends and family.

However, so much has changed this past year: I've met new friends, gotten even closer to some of them, and drifted apart from some others. 2012 was also the year I met and got to know my boyfriend, Ton, so that's a big and happy change. :) My family and I have also moved to a new house (a house I designed, hurrah!), and I've been reassigned to a new project. All of these factors come into play with what the heavens have got planned for my 31st birthday.

First-off, my boyfriend wasn't going to let my 31st birthday be insignificant, that's for sure. Ton is a show-stopper, and he was not going to let my birthday be another run-of-the-mill inuman. Haha. Secondly, my family missed having to celebrate my 30th birthday with me, and they weren't about to let this one slip past their fingers again. And lastly, my loyal and loving staff from my current project has never celebrated my birthday with me in the past 3 years of working with me (2 years ago I spent my birthday in Baguio for the Panagbenga, then last year I was in Melbourne), so I really didn't know what to expect, spending my birthday at work for the first time. I guess I expected to just work. Haha.

February 25, 2 days before my birthday: I made last minute plans for a small get-together at Relik, during their Akoustika Mondays. Nothing big, just something to relieve Monday stress. :) We used to be regular patrons of Akoustika...as in, EVERY MONDAY NIGHT we would be there to drink, relax and sing. We've been busy lately, though, so we've been absent for quite awhile. I thought a pre-birthday celebration would be a nice time to come back. :)

Thanks to those who were able to come even with the late invitation!

Thanks to the Entourage boys for singing for me! :) "Mr. Brightside" never sounded so good! Haha!

February 26, the day before my birthday: Since we were all up late on a work night, I told Ton that I wanted to relax the following day. We just had a simple dinner at Grams Diner, then proceeded to Bugsy's to make an appearance at his co-worker's birthday inuman.

I was telling Ton that I could not feel that it was my birthday. It was like a normal day/night for me. 31 is a pretty odd number, and after passing the milestone of 30 years, I didn't think that another year would really be more significant. Haha. I guess I was having the birthday blues. After years of trying to avoid that damn thing, it sneaks up on me again.

But that would soon change. As soon as we reached the top of the stairs of Bugsy's, shouts of "Happy Birthday!" and "SURPRISE!" greeted me. My friends from high school, college, MBA, the Entourage, and my family, were there! I was amazed at how Ton got everybody together, even if he just met some of them once. He really has the ability to remember every detail of my life, and every person that I introduce him to. Turns out, he has been planning this for about a month already, and he contacted everybody through Facebook (of course).

SURPRISE! :)

Thank you to everyone who took time from their busy weekday schedule to come and surprise me on my birthday salubong! And for keeping all of this a secret for a whole month! Ang tatag nyo! Nag-tampo pa man din ako sa marami sa inyo dahil di kayo pumunta sa aking impromptu pre-birthday inuman. Haha!

Even my family was there at the party! (sans Laurence. Hmp)

February 27, MY BIRTHDAY!: Having had a blast at the party the previous night, I wasn't really expecting much on my birthday itself. I planned to have some food delivered to the office for a simple salo-salo with my staff; and then dinner with my family at Village Tavern. :) I guess my staff had other plans; after being on "birthday leave" for the past 3 birthdays, they weren't going to let me off the hook so easily on my first birthday at work:

Di pa ako nagsusuklay, may surprise na!

Sweet!

They also tried to distract me by taking me on a site inspection so early in the morning! I had surprises waiting for me at the project site as well:

DATEM workers singing me a happy birthday! :)

Spent around 30-40 minutes walking around the site, clueless about the surprise waiting for me back in the office...

Coming down from the site, I saw all of my site architects, engineers and staff lined-up in front of the office, waiting for me:

They all had a WHITE rose for me! Parang debut lang! Haha!

I honestly thought that that was all there is to it: my staff giving me roses one-by-one, getting a photo taken with each of them, and hearing birthday greetings and wishes from all of them. The biggest surprise was still waiting for me behind the door, though. I looked back towards the office and there was Ton, standing there with the 31st (red) rose. ♥

The look of love and surprise! Haha!

It was the sort of thing that I only saw in the movies. I couldn't believe it: I finally experienced my very own movie moment. It's what I have always hoped for, and it happened! To me! It just goes to show that I really should never underestimate the wonders of life: I thought things couldn't get any better, but life just handed me a big: "Hah! I proved you wrong!" in the form of roses and cake and good, well-meaning friends and family. And of course, in the form of a tall and charming Bisaya named Ton. :)

Daghang kaayong salamat. Gihigugma ta ka!

Very happy birthday girl

It was a very happy birthday indeed, one filled with so many unexpected twists. Last year, I remember blurting out (to no-one in particular): "It will be very hard to top THIS birthday!" Somewhere out there, God said: "Challenge accepted!" and proceeded to draft out a plan: a better birthday for Lesley, 365 days in the making.

I am humbled by all of the blessings I have received this past year. Words cannot describe the gratitude I feel. This birthday has been GREAT beyond expectations! And I know that next year will be even better; that is God's birthday gift to me year after year after year after year. :)

Thank You, 2012!

2012 was definitely a GREAT year for me, mostly because it was a year that I chose to be grateful, open-minded and open-hearted. 

2012 was a year of adventure: travelling around the country and around the WORLD by myself, and also with friends and family. 

2012 was a year of accomplishment: I finished my first major construction project (The Mind Museum); the first house I have ever designed was built, and we moved into it; and I graduated from my MBA! 

2012 was a year of new experiences and new beginnings: I met new friends, explored new hobbies and past-times, and partied the night away; I started a new construction project, handled more responsibility, and new love found me. :)

I will always look back at 2012 with fondness and gratitude. At the same time, I will treat 2013 with the same appreciation, thanking it for the adventure, the accomplishments, the experiences and beginnings that it will surely give me.

Goodbye, 2012! Thank you for all the love! 2013, are you ready to paint the world red with me? :) Let's go! ♥

Why Bad Boys Are Oh-So-Good

There is nothing wrong with being attracted to the proverbial “bad boy.” I say this unapologetically and with conviction (and with a little bit of defensiveness) because I, myself, have a propensity for bad boys. I believe that I’m not the only woman that has this tendency: it has been a known phenomenon in the dating world that most women are attracted to bad boys, just like bees are attracted to some sexy-smelling honey.  The “good boys” or “nice guys,” on the other hand, are crying foul (or are scratching their heads out of confusion. Anyare??), because they cannot understand why girls latch on to the bad boy, cry when the bad boy breaks their heart, then complain about it to all of their friends afterward.

The nice boys are like, “You women say you want a man who is husband-material; someone who can support you financially, emotionally and mentally; someone whom you can bring home to your parents; someone who is mature, sensitive and faithful. A nice guy with all of the qualities above asks you out, you say no. And THEN a bad boy comes along. He ignores you, he doesn’t call you for days, he makes you wait, he flirts with other women, and you can’t seem to get enough of him. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???”

Oh, honey.  It’s not that simple. :)

 

Let me break it down for you:

First of all, if a nice guy asks me out and I say no, I am saying no, not because you are a nice guy. I am saying no, most probably because I am just not that physically attracted to you. Oops. Sorry. :D Maybe you’re shorter than me, or there’s something about your spiky hair that bothers me, or maybe I think your grammar sucks – it all boils down to the initial attraction. It doesn’t matter if you’re good, bad, or evil; if there is no spark, it’s not going to work!

Secondly, the bad boy is not defined by how poorly he treats women; not all “bad boys” are assholes, cheaters, jerks, players, or douche bags. Bad boys get a lot of flak because people instantly assume that they are one or all of the above. The term “bad” doesn’t necessarily pertain to bad behavior. The term “bad” is used to describe (in a good way) the appeal of a person -- the lure is from their attitude, baby! When a bad boy walks into a room, you are instantly pulled in by his strong, irresistible presence (insert dreamy sigh). 

Thirdly, the bad boy is not defined by his appearance. Sure, a scruffy, brooding exterior is added “bad boy points,” but as implied above, the appeal of the bad boy is his confidence: the way he walks into the room like he owns the place; the way he looks at you straight in the eye like he’s unashamed of invading your personal space; the way he expects everything to be a big production, like he deserves nothing less (insert dreamy sigh).

The interesting thing about bad boys is that they are a potent mix of confidence, indifference, mystery, intrigue and most importantly, excitement. (Fernandes, Rachel. “7 Reasons why girls can’t resist bad boys,” The Times of India. 30 June 2011. Web. 19 September 2012. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-30/man-woman/29717657_1_bad-boys-masculinity-traits)

Women love bad boys because we associate these “bad” traits with masculinity: the assertiveness, confidence and independence that the bad boy exudes enforce their manliness.

They say that the #1 draw of a bad boy is the woman’s hope that she will be THE ONE to change him for the better. I beg to disagree with this one. You don’t aim to change a bad boy (why would you want to change traits that contribute to their hotness factor??); the reason why bad boys are so irresistible is that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you realize that he is showing good behavior for you and you alone. He can be a bad boy all he wants for others to see, but with you, he is tender, caring, thoughtful and GOOD. That is not "changing him," that is bringing out his loving nature for your benefit. :)

* * * *

My taste in men has evolved since high school. By “evolved,” I mean that it has changed (in an improved manner) over the years – or so I would like to believe.  I started off being attracted to the “baby face” types (which is probably a normal way to start off, since high school boys SHOULD look young and their faces, stubble-free). Most of my crushes back then had smooth skin (with a little bit of teenage acne here and there), boyish smiles, clean, gentlemen haircuts, and mama’s boy, country club polo shirts. 

As I grew older (and as I was exposed to more types of men, through university and work), I was inexplicably drawn to the “bad boy” types: not the stereotypical bad boy with motorcycles, facial hair, and dangerous habits (that’s too cliché don’t you think?), but to the bad boy with an overflowing supply of confidence; the bad boy with swagger. Ang hirap i-explain sa English eh, kaya tatagalugin ko nalang: nahilig ako sa lalaki na may dating, yung may konting yabang (insert dreamy sigh. In Tagalog: isingit ang kinikilig na buntong hininga).

* * * *

Now, there is no sure, set formula for a bad boy. I think all women have their own measuring system for this, which is dependent on what is different or unusual for you (what pushes your buttons; what intrigues you; whatever floats your boat ). According to my measuring system, and based on my experience / observations, there are 4 main (exaggerated) types of bad boys:

• The Brooding Artist: If bad boy levels are measured by their supply of mystery and intrigue, then this type of bad boy could be the most recognizable of all. The artist has a lot of angst (and other hidden emotions), which he channels into his craft (music, painting, graphic design, poetry, etc.). The artist doesn’t conform to what is conventionally beautiful or uso; he does what wants, according to his preferences, and he doesn’t give a damn what other people think. Physically, the artists aren’t always nice to look at: they’re a bit unkempt (a trip to the barber shop is considered an unnecessary expense), and often sloppily dressed (fashion is merely a ploy of the corporate world to make more money). But their smoldering, I-don’t-give-a-rat’s-ass stare, their impressive musical and/or drawing skills, and their overall mysterious vibe, gets women clamoring for more.

• The Cocky Frat Boy: This dude has got money, a whole brotherhood to back him up, and a sense of entitlement that causes him to walk into any room like he owns the place (chances are, he probably does). He’s good to his friends, but you wouldn’t want to be his enemy. As the name implies, he’s cocky: overly-assertive and confident, which means, he always gets what he wants. He’s so used to getting what he wants, that when something / someone is in his way, then you had better get ready for some bad boy action. He is well-groomed and preppy-looking (collared shirts and boat shoes), but what sets him apart from the Unassuming Bad Boy (see description below) is that he has a perpetual sneer on his face, and has a habit of staring at / talking to you with his head cocked to one side. In other words (and in Tagalog): mukha talaga siyang mayabang.

• The Unassuming Bad Boy: According to writer CJ de Silva on her article “The 3 Kinds of Guys You Will Meet in Your Life” (http://cjdesilva.com/the-3-kinds-of-guys-you-will-meet-in-your-life/), the most dangerous kind of guy is “The Jerk,” because “he is unaware of how destructive he can be and he looks harmless.” The Unassuming Bad Boy operates on the same premise: on the outside, he looks like a nice guy (wears preppy clothes, has a gentleman’s cut, and has clean nails), and he has good credentials and/or a pristine family background (has a high-paying corporate job, drives a nice car, and treats his mom like a queen). His nice boy exterior, paired with his quiet confidence, attracts him a fair-share of admirers, usually women who declare that they have had it with bad boys, and are now aiming to settle down with a nice, mature guy. The danger here is that though he claims to be a nice guy, once you get to know him, you find out that he has a tendency to be bossy (everybody else is a corporate slave under him), spoiled (thanks to queen mom), and commitment-phobic (he is a bit selfish, I suppose. Not really a useful trait in a woman’s quest to “settle down”).

• The Smooth Party Boy: He is slick, sexy and dangerous.  He knows how to work the crowd, and most importantly, he knows how to work you.  Because of his sexy moves (dance skills are always a plus) and smooth words (especially when they’re said close to your ear, so that they can be heard over the loud club music), people assume that he is a player. His main draw is that he is good with people. Barely 5 meters into a club and he has already said hello to at least 20 people (which include other partyphiles, bartenders, bouncers, and the DJ). When you’re with a Smooth Party Boy, you feel empowered, you feel desirable, and he makes you feel like you're the most gorgeous girl on the planet (you’re the queen of the club, baby, as long as you’re with him).  He has 2 very important bad boy traits: confidence (off-the-charts!), and excitement (his life is an adventure!). When you’re with a Smooth Party Boy, you had better hold on tight and get ready for the ride of your life!

* * * *

I have encountered many different types of bad boys:  some a combination of the types I mentioned above; others, a mellow, understated version. As I said earlier, there is no sure, set formula for a bad boy…it all really depends on what you consider exciting. :) You may have your own definition of a "bad boy" but ultimately, it all boils down to someone who makes your heart race, makes your palms sweat, and makes you tingly all over. 

So, to the "nice boys" out there, please don’t generalize things and complain that you are being overlooked because you are too nice. You are overlooked because the bad boy’s presence fills up the whole room. You are overlooked because, though we women are looking for men to take care of us, we are also looking for someone to ignite our senses. We are looking for that ever-elusive spark. 

You don’t get sparks from politeness or niceness. You get sparks from romance, intrigue, passion, and vibrant energy. Although you nice boys may be able to offer some of these traits sometimes, you don’t enforce it with enough confidence, and it comes out half-baked.  Don’t second-guess yourselves! We women need real men: men who will show the world who is boss, men who will take charge, men who are fearless, and men who have dreams and who are not afraid to work hard for them. 

Now, that is sexy stuff.

Rosa Rosal

Again, my treemate (Kayan) has given me a piece of valuable insight that hits it spot on:

Kayan to me: "Ang dami mo nang charity work for the emotionally inadequate. You are like Rosa Rosal for the heart."

Rosa Rosal was known for her efforts in promoting blood donation. According to Kayan, *my* specialty is emotional donation. I don't know whether to be flattered or worried.

The Loves of My Life

When I went to South Korea for the whole of April, I lost a couple of loved ones in the process, but I gained 3 lifelong friends. I joined the Group Study Exchange program of Rotary International, expecting a free vocational/educational trip abroad; I *did* get that, but it was an educational trip that taught me life lessons that I did not expect.

My teachers came in the form of 3 ladies, Ina, Sally, and Marianne. My sisters. The loves of my life. :)

Ina: "Miranda." Our resident "mother," the big sister I never had, our voice of reason. Darna! :)

Sally: "Samantha." The defender of the down-trodden (me, usually), the overworked and under-*****, our techie saviour. Fearless.

Marianne: "Charlotte." Demure, the "poser," the most patient one out of all of us (I don't think I've ever seen her angry / pikon). Nasa loob ang kulo (and it can be brought out by Soju).

We all came back from Korea with a changed perspective on life and love. And the best thing about it is...it's still an on-going lesson. I discover more things about myself and others from the increased awareness I acquired because of the trip, and because of these girls.

My Korea trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it changed me forever. I guess it helped that I was sent there with the right kind of team mates, and the right kind of leader (Tito Bob, our gracious and patient team leader who made our Rotary experience hassle-free).

We are all so different now (emotionally, intellectually and physically). If it weren't for these 3 girls, I don't know what kind of person I would be now. I'd still have the same "standard Lesley" traits, I guess, but it will not be reinforced with conviction, passion, and awareness. These girls accompanied me on my trip of self-discovery (still on-going. Does it ever end?), and they are not afraid to point out the harsh truths and the glaring mistakes. They do not hesitate to give due praise, to boost my ego, and to give comfort and reassurance.

They're my biggest fans, the ones I can always depend on (for anything), the ones I cannot imagine being without.

God gave them to me at a very opportune time, and I will be forever grateful for their role and presence in my life. I am not letting go of them, ever. *evil laugh* :)

Looking forward to our "Journey back to Korea" in 2012, girls! :) I love you!

P.S.Why haven't I blogged about our Korea trip yet??? Chapter 1, coming soon. :)