Happy Birthday Laiza Girl!!!

Hey hey! It's my dear friend Laiza's birthday! I'll be having mine, too in a few days. I'm now in my late twenties so I guess I'm in a position to share some wisdom. One thing I've really learned in this wonderful life is to keep few real friends. They don't just keep you sane. They make life extra amazing even on rough times! And another thing I know is that Laiza is one of those true, worth-keeping friends. Since it's her birthday, allow me to honor her by sharing five things about her.

1. She has itchy soles. Maybe that's the reason she can't sleep without rubbing her feet against a mosquito net. Haha! But I don't mean that literally. What I'm really telling is that, she loves to travel. This is no surprise to the people around her. She does not live a day without talking about her past destinations or the places she yet to see. When she got her MIT - Master in Information Technology from ADMU, she also got herself another MIT - Master in TRAVEL. She's been travelling (a lot) since then and she's doing it for the rest of her life. Get to know about her travels here. I also love to travel but I love it more because of her.

2. She does not own a credit card. Thank goodness because if she does, she'll be swiping bikinis all day long! Her number one guilty pleasure is what I've just mentioned. She spends her leisure time window shopping for bikinis online. Sometimes, I can hear her giggling and wowing while surfing the web. I assume she sees Hugh Jackman's abs but nay. Nothing can make her eyes so wide but a photo of a dazzling bikini. But even if she does own a credit card, which she claims will be impossible because she does not trust herself with it, I know she will be responsible. 

3. She takes jobs left and right. Having a job on the side is something that is discreetly discouraged at where we work so I hope no administrator can read this. Hehe. But having two or three jobs in which she's evaluated as excellent is something that should be admired. I mean we all have a job and some really work at it hard but we also have other passions which should also be given time. I'm a witness to how Laiza puts her main job always the first priority while doing some other little stuff. She works crazy not just for herself but also to give some extra pleasures to her family, which makes her family proud of and grateful for her.

4. She eats plain sundae. She likes sundae better without chocolate or strawberry syrup. Paksiw will make her the happiest. Take her to a barbecue station and you will say the world is unfair. How does she keep her waistline after eating so much rice? She adores mangoes with bagoong. She can eat it all day. She does not care how her face is distorted. Behind the maarte image is a cowgirl. She is actually just plain and simple accessorized by her other interesting characteristics.

5. She is so honest. Laiza can talk all day all night about everything under the sun! When I say everything, I mean e-v-e-r-y-thing. She's a friend I can't help but be honest with because she reveals so much of herself.  She is so confident of herself that she's not afraid to be vulnerable at some appropriate times. We all have these dark little secrets which we can share only to one person. She is that kind of person. I trust her with my most kept secrets. :)

But most of all, I trust her with a most treasured friendship. Happy birthday to you Laiza girl! May God bless you with another meaningful year of travels, adventures, and love/s! :)

Happy Easter!

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Holy Week 2013

John 3:16,17 

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 

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Onajin Massage Relaxation Zone

I have always been frugal. Before I purchase a thing, I look at the price tag first. If it is way over my budget, I just cry myself at night. Letting go's are never easy as they say. Letting go of something I really want, say shoes, which I know would be unreasonable to get hurts as much as letting go of a company you've served for so long. Ok, the company thing maybe harder but hey, the shoes. I mean, c'mmon ladies! I need people on my side. You know what I am talking about. :)

Well, there are also days when I spend for something unplanned but I am now over impulsive buying. I am not yet very money-smart but I am miles better than I was in my early twenties. I guess that's the beauty of getting wiser each year. You know your priorities and you know how to allocate your hard-earned moolah. It is nice to have some splurges once in a while especially if it promotes the well-being of oneself.

One thing I have learned to love is having a massage. It is great to be pampered after a hard day at work and I deeply believe that this kind of treat is something I owe to myself.

I was heading to a spa along Aparente Street, Gensan when I came across Onajin Massage Relaxation Zone along the way. Since I liked trying out something new, I got in. And was immediately surprised by a 20% discount for my first visit. I loved discounts! :) They wanted me to try their signature massage originally worth P350. I just paid the discounted price of P280. How's that for an hour and a half of delightful experience?

The staff were very friendly and accommodating. And my masseuse was excellent! It was the first time that I allowed a massage for my feet because my nerves could not stand the tickles. I did not know how she did it but I enjoyed the foot massage. The best part of the Onajin Massage was the long repetition on my lower back. That was my favorite part. 

Solemn ambiance. Your choice of oil. I chose lavander. Plus a hot cup of tea at the end of the session. This is one spa I recommend to my friends.

Visit their facebook page here.

Location: 2/F HopeWell Point Building, Aparente Street, 9500 General Santos City

28 Before 28 (3)

I find the skies or the clouds very interesting the past week. I have captured a jellyfish-like cloud which make me the happiest. It's the nearest shape to a real thing. Others still look like cotton candies, which of course are always adorable. You want to jump and grab them. 

My niece, Caela, by the way wants to reach the clouds. So we explain how it is not possible. Sometimes, it sucks to break a child's heart. She wants the clouds and as an aunt I want to give it to her but I can't. It is painful to see her disappointed when told that she can't have it. But I am sure she has already gotten over the idea - the magnificent thing of being a child.

So.... It's just a week before my birthday! Yipee!!! :)

Where To Buy Books Online?

Lend me your ears (or eyes) bookworms. You will thank me for this. :) I have found a cheap bookstore online!!! How's that for a tip, huh? Ok, so it is the BetterWorldBooks.com. Check out their website and you will find tons of discounted books of foreign authors. I am so giddy about this because now, I can have the books I want at their cheapest value. Well, among other bookstores I have checked out.

This is a foreign store so expect the delivery to be such a long wait. My first book arrived a month after my order. The second book, nearly 2 months. But who am I to complain? Here's another thing to celebrate, their worldwide shipping is free! Ok, I wanna collapse right now. Hihi! Boy, was I amazed!

Books from Better World Books

Wait, there's more. What I love most about buying books from Better World Books is, I help in their mission to fund literacy in other parts of the world.

"Every book purchased from Better World Books 

contributes to individual literacy throughout the world 

and the potential for a better life."

Side notes:

1. A bookstore is one of my happy places. I find BookSale in KCC very helpful with my budget. I wish there are more bookstores like it in Gensan. Some of my favorites are children's books for my niece Caela and back issues of magazines. I am crazy about magazines but I rarely (as in like maybe twice or thrice in my lifetime) buy them on their time of release. I just find it impractical because tips and facts do not get old. And I am not also the type who wants to know the latest trends in fashion and showbiz so the back issues are just perfect for me. Topping my list  are Good Housekeeping and Marie Claire.

2. Books by Filipino authors are found in National Bookstore. Where else? It's the best bookstore in town! :)

Happy reading, fabulous you! Oh, by the way, where do you buy your books? Would you mind to give me other ideas?

Hello Summer!!!

I am not really a fan of the sun but I am a total fan of summer! Can you hear the beach calling?!? :) I grabbed some images from the web to put into my summer vision board! Hey SUMMER, here I come!

What are you up to this summer? I am pretty sure you'll hit the beach anytime soon, ey? :) Let's all have fun in the sun, guys. Or fun in the shade will do, too. :)

Why I Blog

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I started blogging on March 2010. Thus, Happy Anniversary! :) I started with nothing in mind but to keep myself sane. I needed to do something new. I needed another outlet to express myself because maybe I got tired of talking to myself. Haha. Yeah, I had this habit of talking to myself especially when facing a mirror. I got rid of big mirrors in my room so I could only do small talking. :) 

Anyway, when I feel I need some growth, I find something new to do. Then I discovered blogging. Ever since, I was already drawn to lifestyle and personal blogs so I decided to be on that genre. Ok, I was not very knowledgeable about blogging. The first embarrassing moment I had in blogosphere was taking a photo from a blog because I was excited to share the information that he posted. I did this without giving credit to the author. Oopss! My bad! The author left me a message stating very gently that I had to give a link to his site. So that was my first lesson. 

And I guess that is just the only lesson I have had. Maybe I don't really know what the whole blogging thing means. What I only know is that this here is my happy place! You also have that, ayt? A garden maybe or a bookstore, a park, a coffee shop and the list goes on. Mine is this blog. So why do I love having this blog? Here are my top three reasons. Just 3 so please read along :)

1. I like to tell stories. I really like telling stories. This is my way of updating my friends of where life is bringing me to, of what days I am having, of what things I am being giddy about. Back in grade school, I was really talkative. I was always in the noisy list to the point that I could not buy myself a snack because I had to pay my penalty. Haha! Don't get me wrong here. I am really a very attentive student but on a supposedly quiet moment, I can't help but talk. So you may notice that sometimes, all I do is blab. :)

2. I want to share information. As much as I love talking about myself, this blog is not just about me. I do not want it to be just about me. As much as possible, I want to leave something to my readers. (Ang feeler ko. Parang ang dami talaga. Haha...) Maybe it's the teacher in me. I want to impart something and this is my teensy way to make the world a better place. Hehe. But seriously, I am striving to make this blog as informative as possible. 

3. I want to spread positive vibes. Since this is my happy place, I also want you to feel happy upon visiting me. In a world with so much negativity, here is a place of refuge. Here, I rejoice for pretty things, little milestones (and big, of course), wonderful relationships, and other amazing things. 

Last month, someone came up to me and said he was reading my blog. I wanted to shake his hand or give him a high five or whatever to show my appreciation. That was the first time I felt so surprised that someone was actually reading my blog. It made my day and my whole blogger being. Please excuse my being sentimental. Just give this to me. After all, it's my anniversary. :) But actually, I don't care if I have three or three thousand readers. I will still write the same things. I will still post the same photos. I will still tell the same stories.

To you who share my happy place with me, thank you so much! :) 

28 Before 28 (2)

I am on the second week in countdown to my 28th birthday! I am taking a photo of the sky each day until my birthday. :) It has always been part of my days even in the past to look at the skies but taking photos is a whole new experience. 

Having some kinda record of the cloud formations makes me extra amazed. How can clouds be so shy early in the morning, be so extravagantly cottony at noon and be beach sand-like in the afternoon? Well, that is not always the case but on most days that is their cycle. Amazing, ey? This habit definitely is taking my birthday blues away.

I am also hoping that I can catch an unusual-looking formation. A heart, maybe or any animal or a letter E. That will be such a surprise! :)

Yummy Gensan: Lemon Chicken at Grab A Crab

Grab A Crab is one of the most popular restaurants in Gensan, if not the most popular. It is also one of the finest. Well, fine dining in its true sense does not exist in Gensan yet (to the best of my knowledge) but I know it will soon be because of a booming restaurant business in the city. Grab A Crab is on top of the list of my to-go restos. The one that I literally daydream about and put on my vision board.

I have let chances pass to dine here because of the impression that the experience may put a hole in my pocket because the place looks so sossy. Maybe it is not the kind of resto for always in nagtitipid mode like me. Haha! But I remember that since I am done with my hardcore saving for months (thank You, Lord), I think I deserve a 'little' splurge. 

I open the menu and before I even look for what to order, my eyes find their way to the numbers. You see, I love numbers but sometimes they scare me. Haha! Then I sigh (a sigh of relief). Oh, this will not hurt so bad! If you are planning to dine here, budget must be around medium high (based on my super low key standard. Hihi.) Nearly half a grand would make a decent meal for one. 

Grab A Crab, as its name suggests, boasts of their crabs. I have heard great compliments about their crab recipes but since I am no crab fan and I am also a trying-hard-no-red-meat-eater (with tenderloin steaks still under negotiation), I tried their lemon chicken and mushrooms.

Now I have full understanding why it is a famous resto. Nothing really compares to great food and excellent service tandem. Be just good at one and you'll fall short. Add a little more homey ambiance and yummy desserts and that makes a delightful dining experience. 

Location: Laurel East Avenue; SM City Gensan; and Robinsons Place Gensan

I Miss The Rain

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I dunno know about you, but I love rainy days more than sunny days. Maybe it has something to do with where I work. The sun is shining there 312 days a year and 78% more than in any part of Gensan. Haha! I just made those numbers up just to give a rough estimate of the weather here. But the rain really seldom visits Gensan. Not that I am complaining. I actually feel blessed that this city is kept safe even with the storm forecasts few times the past months.

Summer is just around the corner. While everybody is taking their floral dresses, sunnies, and shorts out of their closets, here I am missing my beloved rainy days. Those few days when I get the excuse to put on some layers, to have some extra lazy minutes on bed before dragging myself to get up, to sip from a bowl of my mom's oh so delicious macaroni soup, and to sit by the doorstep to admire the beauty of the raindrops. 

Watching the rain is one of my favorite things to do. I am completely amazed of its wonder. Though I am well aware of my science book on the rain formation and water cycle parts, I still cannot help but be in awe.

I discovered that little Caela is fond of the rain, too. One rainy morning, upon waking up, she sat by the doorstep and was quietly watching the rain. After a while, she was extending her arm and sometimes a foot waiting for the rain to "touch" her. 

28 Before 28 (1)

I am doing a countdown to my 28th birthday! Yipee! I will be turning a year wiser so soon. Well, the yipee part is only half meant because I do not like the part of evaluating my years of existence and fretting because I feel I have not done so much or enough. Whew! Birthday blues... 

I have never felt this anxious about turning a year older. I do not like having birthday blues because as much as I want to wallow over the fact of aging, I want to view  it as a thing to be celebrated and grateful for. As oppose to worrying about what was not done, I should be counting the great things that happened and were done.  And when I feel so grateful, I look at the skies, close my eyes and say a little prayer.

The countdown started on March 6. Since then, I have been taking a photo of the sky everyday at anytime of the day. And here is a collage of the first seven days. May this habit eventually turn my birthday blues to birthday yellows :)

The Five Love Languages

The Love Month has ended three days ago but here I am still talking about luuurve :) This actually is a long overdue post which was supposedly a February entry. It was the month when people get extra intimate with each other. But anyway, I just had to do this because I find this book so interesting since I heard of the five love languages just recently. And after all, love is and should be celebrated all year round. :)

When a beautiful tall white American actress says, "Meboohey Philippines" and invites us, Filipinos, to watch her movie, we'd find a way to go to the cinema because we feel she's talking to us personally. In 1994, when Miss Universe was held in Manila, we heard almost all foreign delegates said, "Mahal ke keyow" and gave us their beauty queen waves, we could not help but me amazed. When a blonde baby boy sings, "Behay Kooboe Kaheet Monti...", however awkward his words are, we still adore him so much we want to pinch that nose. Those people have different languages from us but when they speak our language, we feel that they have taken time to reach out, to communicate in the words that we know best.

Gary Chapman says that love also has its languages and a person can feel other people's love if they speak his love language to him. He wrote the book originally for married couples but I'm glad he has this singles edition. The Five Love Languages according to Gary Chapman are (in no particular order) quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, and touch. Now let me go to the five reasons why I love The Five Languages (Singles Edition) by Gary Chapman:

1. It is something about love. Who does not love something about love? All the world needs love and learning about love besides doing something for love is something that I love :) I do not know if the author is aware of this but his book has 14 chapters and you know, Feb 14 is the Heart's Day. Well, there must be some kinda numerology in there. Haha!

2. It reveals something I have never known before. One of the reasons why we read is to gain information. And this one has definitely tons of things to offer apart from revealing those five languages. Well, I love. I receive love but I have never known that at some point, there are proper ways to love. Every page is insightful. Every paragraph is highlighter-worthy. :)

3. The author is not strictly preachy. Gary Chapman is into counseling, human behavior study, etc. He has all the reasons to impose this and that but he does not do that in his book. He tells a story to state a situation of a relationship in conflict then shares how it was resolved and how the relationship bloomed after. It seemed that all the relationship problems addressed by him were cured through the knowledge of the five languages. In real scenario, in my opinion, however, conflicts arise not only because the other person does not feel loved anymore but of course, that's another issue.

4. The book talks about many kinds of relationships, not just romantic. Love is not just for couples in a romantic relationship. This stage of single adulthood is where we deal with more kinds of relationships than in any stage in our lives. Oopss.. As if I have been to other future stages. Haha! But seriously, I still think that love should be about everything and everyone, not just focused to only one so having insights on how to keep relationships, especially friendships, is something I am pleased with.

5. The book includes a personal assessment tool. There is a love language profile in the end which gave me an idea of what my primary love language and my secondary languages are.

I was actually surprised that my primary love language was quality time. Before I took the test, I guessed it was words of affirmation because I always wanted to be complimented, to have approval, to receive sweet text messages and love letters. Hehe.. It turned out that words of affirmation was just my secondary language. But as I ponder on the ways I want to be loved by the people around me, I now agree with the result of the test. I want my loved ones' focus, undivided presence. :) See, I am not a high maintenance person. I don't desire expensive gifts. If someone who crosses my path says I'm beautiful, that'll make my day. Haha! And if it is my birthday (which by the way is just a month away *cough *cough), your presence will do but of course, a little gift won't hurt because according to the author, 

"Love in any language enhances relationships."

Ok. Ok. He also said that...

"But spoken in one's primary love language 

communicates on an even 

deeper emotional level."

But I still accept gifts! :)

And here is the great news, if you don't have an idea on your primary love language, I found a similar test in the internet. Check it out here. 

P.S. The teapot, teacup, and the bookmark were given to me few years back by someone who speaks my love language so well. :)