$$$

I would just like to document that all Christmas bonuses are in, and this is the first time I was able to get this much money. It's saddening at first because I'm already 29 years old, it this was just the highest I got.

But of course, I can either look at it as half empty or half full.

So I chose the latter, given that this is already a very very big blessing for me (and my family).



39 days til Christmas and let me be the first one to greet you a Merry Merry Christmas!! :)

My Real Passion

My real passion is not in any way related to stat, marketing research, FMCG, advertising, marketing, nor consumer insights. In other words, my real passion is not what I currently do.

I love arts and crafts. May it be in the form of graphic design, scrapbooking, cartooning, paper folding, paper tearing, doing souvenirs, gift wrapping -- i am passionate about them all. However, passion for me only means being intensely emotional about it.. and not actually doing something to achieve it.

Not doing it because of financial reasons, time management challenges, and just being hurdled by so many factors around me.

But i won't stop having this passion.

Even if it means continuing to work my a** off in a company not aligned with my personal objectives so that I can earn enough money for this hobby.
Even if it means sacrificing a little bit of my time for this.

I need a plan.

bad day @ work

digging for depth
is not enough
to make sense

go out, flash it
make everything easy
get what you want

just wait
sense will come truly
and everything will fit

Married Life: Aint that Bad

My husband Christian may think I dont appreciate what he does, but I really do. And oo na, I must admit, I am the luckier one in this married life =) wehehe what a mushy monday mownin.

Top 10 everyday things I love about my husband
1. He wakes me up sooooooooo early every single day (5am!). I am not a morning person so I'm pissed off everytime he does this. But I only realize the benefits when I'm already in the office, no traffic, enjoying my coffee and all the free time in the morning. :)

2. He makes my breakfast. Even to the simplest little thing, like putting milk on my cereals! :)

3. He brings me to the office, which is more or less 40kms from home. (not to mention that he also fetches me at night).

4. He doesn't bring home work so that he can spend quality time with me and Bianca (ouch!)

5. He doesn't make plans with friends on weekends, so that he can just stay home and do some Dad stuff.

6. He totally supports my arts and crafts passion, he trains me how to enhance my photos and artwork in photoshop.(btw, he's a graphics designer)

7. He cleans the house on weekends! Hallelujah, and hindi uubra ang walis-walis, dapat vacuum cleaner. may pagka OC ang lolo mo.

8. He gives my dad car accessories, kahit walang occasion. He frequently brings my mom food pasalubongs, without her asking :)

9. He buys me whatever food I'm craving for! (mukha ba kong preggy?) Kahit Squidballs pa or Chippy

10. He always makes me laugh, even if I'm losing my temper because of stress at work . :) To the extent of helping me with my Consumer Insights work, conceptualizing new product ideas for Kraft, i.e. Tang Twister, Tang to Tang, etc.. hehe corny but I find it funny.
O, parang pwde na to pang Father's day.. I just want to thank him and let him know these little things REALLY COUNT. :)

p.s. Kaya to all my friends who are getting married soon (grabe, ang dami na ninyo!), married life is aint that bad. :)

Back to the Gym

I was in denial.
But now I am slowly accepting that I'm fat, after the gym instructer told me that 2 pounds more I will be classified as obese (without him computing for my bmi!).

Anyway, that's a motiviation alright, rather than an insult. Last Friday I visited our gym in the office and it aint that bad. I just tried some cardio for 30 mins but my boss started calling my cel. Left immediately for a meeting but this week, i'm planning to do this religiously and seriously (read: no work right after gym).

When I was pacing on the treadmill, college gym memories came flashing in.. more bad than good. Among the bad would be the 'new gym friends' I met (wonder if they're still alive), the Smoking habit after workout, enemies that I gained, and bad bad bad experiences.

But there were good memories though.. The pounds I lost (hey, I looked good back then!), the discipline I had, and life's learnings which I learned the hard and hurting way. =)

Objective in a month's time: I should lose 3 kilos the minimum. I am really pushing myself hard to do this, despite the tons of work and bianca and titan to think of. I really need to do this for me, and not for anybody else.

Weird

I have a happy life, the best family, such loving friends, one great God, but it feels like everything is happening so fast around me I can't breathe.

This is probably what drowning feels like.

My bestfriend lost her baby

Mixed emotions actually.

I feel terribly sad because of what happened to her, knowing that she wanted something so bad and when she thought she finally got it, it's as if somebody took it away from her instantly. But I do believe God is a good God. He will give her a baby as soon as she becomes ready. Things happen for a reason only He can understand fully. Some of us do have that capability to understand, and some do not. As for my friend, i do WANT to believe she has a capability of understanding what HE wants for her.

On the other hand, I feel sorry for her because even though she is gifted with a lot of great friends, she still chooses to FOCUS, be influenced greatly, and limit herself on what the fucking OB-gyne says. She's so hell afraid of the fact that she won't have a baby. the doctor is pressuring her to have one already outside marriage. duh.

oh well whatever. I've had long useless discussions with her... useless in the sense that I feel like a wall talking to somebody who's about to leave the room.

But hey, I love my friend. This is one Suportahan ta ka thing. I just wish she will be happy - baby or no baby. I just wish she realizes that God is good enough to give her great family and friends, great boyfriend, and most of all great life.

Surprise Party for Titan

It was my first time to organize a surprise party. And what's nice is that he was really clueless. In my previous surprise attempts he ended up knowing all the details. But yesterday was really fun! He was overwhelmed when he saw everybody cheering for him. We had a Mcdo Kiddie party for him (actually Bianca thought the party was FOR her). Most of his officemates were there and of course, the cruz and gorrospe clans. :)

I also appreciated the help of his officemates, especially doodz (who brought him to Mcdo), Karen and Kathy (who gathered everyone), Mau and Marj (who gave all contact numbers) and most especially Bianca for keeping the secret from her dad. =)

We had games and prizes, spaghetti, chicken, fries, sundaes, and of course the lootbags!

Kuya Roy did a great job hosting the party. And the highlight of the party -->>> picture taking with Ronald Mcdonald!!! =) yey

Titan said it was the most memorable bday party.

Good job, wink wink.

Virus

We just recovered from that virus Titan got from the office. We were all down with a flu and cough. Bianca even lost 4 pounds because of the week-long fever. *Sigh* buti pa siya hehe... kidding aside, it's a relief that we're all okay. I took a 3 day leave (yup after the xmas break), titan stayed at home for the whole week, and Bianca was all grumpy.

Start of something new.. (ala highschool musical)

In every task or in meeting a certain goal, the most difficult thing to do is taking the first step. But I believe that once you've done this, everything will start falling in the right place.

My dream (and probably every working mom's dream) is to be a filthy r-i-c-h full-time mom/wife and spend as much time with the family as possible. No chores, just shopping. No nitty gritty cleaning, just gym. No cooking, just enjoying food by the home chef.

I have a few strategies in mind how to make this happen:
1 - Go in the future and get tomorrow's lotto numbers.
2 - Ask Titan if he can get a sugar mommy which will shoulder all our expenses.
3 - Save as much money while working for this American company, then start that great business idea, and invest.
Among the 3, I think I have no choice but to allow titan to get a hot mommah! heehee...kidding aside, I still believe that my business idea will really make it big in the market. And what's great is that this biz is all about my arts and crafts passion. That it-doesnt-feel-like-work thing.

I finally decided to take the first step towards achieving that goal of mine and start that great business I've always dreamed of. Well, I got myself a DSL/INternet connection. Yeey!! no more dial-ups!! This for me is already a big step. So what's next? :)

Be careful of what you ask for

I've been complaining the whole week last week how the vacation break passed by so quickly, and that I'm still not adjusted to the working environment, that I still miss Bianca, etc.. I was then wishing for a longer time with my family.

Now, for 6 days straight, we stayed at home because of flu. Titan and I already recovered but Bianca is still sick. She also got a major cough problem.

Next time, I'll be careful of what to ask for coz I might just get it.

back to reality and a new New Year's resolution

I really needed that break.

It was really nice to spend that much time with bianca. I realized I'm missing out too much everytime I go to work.:( But a working mom's gotta do what she's supposed to do, right?

So on top of my list would be to go home early every single day for her and spend as much time as possible on weekends.