Monday, October 08, 2007

episode 502: I've been punk'd!

Thought(s) of the Day: I know that an update to my blog has been long overdue. But I've been putting it off because I was a bit busy with some...one for a couple of weeks. The only way I could summarize that experience is this ... Imagine being lifted up so high just to be thrown back to the hard ground. Yes, I've just barely picked myself up from that big fall and here comes someone who was sensitive enough to know when I'm crying even if I didn't show it and therefore he was there to comfort me. To me, that's how it all started. Asked him if he knows what he's getting himself into because I was asking myself the same thing. I decided to take the risk with him. Then things just happened too fast and in the end ... I got burned. Even though he denies this, but he's just not over his ex with whom he was with for 5 months. He cares more about what his ex would feel if she finds out that he now has someone else. He doesn't care about what I would feel. Come to think about it, what would the 2 weeks we had together compare with the 5 months that they had. I didn't even have a fighting chance. And to think that he thinks the ex still didn't have the chance to fight for what they had within that 5 months. Hah! So he might think that I am tougher and emotionally more stable than the ex. That's probably why he chose to hurt me instead of her because he thinks I can deal with it better. Damn right, I am made of tougher stuff and I can deal with this better ... but then so what? That doesn't mean that I feel less pain or that the pain is less intense for me. I bleed just the same as the next person beside me. Tough or not, we all bleed just the same. How could somebody whom I thought was so sensitive be so insensitive in the end? He said somebody has got to give and since I gave him the "time to think" that he needs, I just gave way. So I was punished for my ability/effort to understand him when he asked for time to think. I've been punk'd! Didn't know how long he planned to make me wait for an answer. But I got impatient and asked him for an answer after 1.5 weeks of keeping my silence. Told him honestly that my pride told me not to take him back even if he wants to be back with me coz he's clearly not over the ex. Even though he insists that he is and there's no going back to her ... the fact that he needed time to think means he isn't sure and he has already chosen her over me. How can I say that he has chosen her over me? Because I asked him what if I said no when he asked me for time to think? He said he'll ask for it again. Clearly, I didn't have any choice at all in the first place. He said that he believes that we could have worked things out if we decided to. With his ex he says there's no chance of working it out. That makes it a lot more painful for me. For him to choose to let go of what we could have for something he knows he can't have with the ex. Call me dumb and stupid, but I don't think he had any intention to hurt me. But then the result is the same ... I was hurt. Why do I have to pay for the mistakes of others? She hurts him, he hurts me because he's still hurting. Why did he have to drag me into their mess? How stupid was I to let him? He says that in the end, he looses the both of us anyway. Sounding so helpless. So I told him to quit acting so helpless. Because whatever mess he's in right now is all because of himself. Quit acting as if everything that happened was all out of his control. He had the power to choose and he made the choice. So he has to take accountability for his own actions and choices. How can you explain this: He says the ex couldn't fight for him. He thinks I can. But he still chose to stay hung up with the ex. Don't get me wrong. He's a good man. Just not good enough for/with me. I still wish for his happiness. I'm working hard to get over this and be back to as normal as can be again. I don't know if it's possible, but I still hope that one day soon ... I could be in talking terms with him again. Coz you see, we're co-workers. It just takes too much energy for me to ignore somebody that you don't have any choice but to see every working day. Yes, I am still hurting. But I'm trying to pick myself up again. I wonder, how many more times do I have to stumble and fall in this lifetime? I'm sure not looking forward to any more of that. Right now, I just want to crawl back under that ever so familiar blanket of numbness again.

Kewl Website: http://www.hillmanwonders.com/ - There's a new official list of the top wonders of the world and you can find it here at the Hillman Wonders site. If you're an avid traveller, then you better check this site out for you to get an idea of where you should go next. Print the list and see how many of those places you've already been to. I bet most if not all of the places listed on the site are also on the 1001 Places to See Before You Die book. The site also offers tips and insights to each of those places on the list. It tells you why each of those places made it to the list. Why they're special. It also has travel guides to some of those places. So start packing!

Fab Finds: Daim Chocolate and Ikea's Daim Cake - Yvee (my friend in Singapore) introduced me to Daim. It's hard caramel candy covered in dutch milk chocolate. I can't find Daim here. It's a product of Denmark and the only place I know that has it is Ikea. You can get the Daim chocolates from the sweets section of Ikea while you can have a slice of the Daim cake from the Ikea "cafeteria". Yum! Love at first taste is what it was. I bought 2 bags of Daim when I was at Ikea. I was livin' la vida choco for a while. If you set foot on Singapore, be sure to swing buy Ikea. I bet you my bottom dollar that you won't be leaving Ikea with just the Daim chocolates. There's a lot more at Ikea that you'll love and can't help but buy.

Anthem of the Day: Nina - Someday. "Someday, you're gonna realize. One day, you'll see this through my eyes. By then I won't even be there. I'll be happy somewhere. Even if I cared." I know I have featured this song as my anthem of the day before but this song just expresses what I feel right now. To think that he likes this song too. He said that his song for me is Howie Day's "Collide". Well, this is for him then. Perhaps it's his song to the ex too.

Today, I'm thankful for ... whatever it is that's inside me that enables me to still wake up in the morning and get through the day coping with the pain. One morning, I'll wake up and the pain will just be gone ... hopefully.

posted by Reesh @ 1:36 PM 2 comments

Monday, July 23, 2007

episode 501: I am alone ... but I will not be lonely.

Thought(s) of the Day: Almost 2 months after the break-up, I'm now as single as can be. I'm back to where I was a little more than 2 years ago before I met Steve. Yes, I do miss the daily calls we had in the mornings. I miss the "feeling" of belonging to someone and having someone to call mine. So much love to give but nobody to give it to. Sounds so pathetic, right? But like what I said in my previous blog entry, enough with the pity-party. I am alone ... but I will (and have to) get to the point when I can say that "Yes, I am alone ... but not lonely." I have to learn how to be single and be contendedly happy again. It is a lot harder to do that now that I know how it is to be a part of a couple. Before Steve, I didn't know what I was missing by being single and therefore it was easier to be naively content. But as hard as it is, that doesn't mean it can't be done. Loneliness has nothing to do with being physically alone or not having anybody to call yours. And it has everything to do with having no one in your heart ... now that's loneliness. You can be surounded by thousands of people or you might have a lot of "partners" that you can or cannot call as yours, but you can still feel as lonely as an orphan. I will just have to find new ways to celebrate the joys and challenges of living life single again. And learn all the wisdom and have all the laughter that comes along with it. For that, I'm making this episode as the beginning of a new "season".

Kewl Website: http://tv-links.co.uk/ - you will love this site if you have a fast internet broadband connection because it's "better than a remote control". You can watch Shows, Cartoons, Documentaries, Animes, Movies and Music Videos online for free! You can find the popular shows like 24, FRIENDS, Queer as Folk (interesting!), One Tree Hill, The O.C., Ugly Betty, etc. You can also find some of the latest movies there too. Pretty mint! But you just have to have patience coz it might take time to buffer. Yup, buffer ... not download. They only provide links for you to view the videos while online. This prevents the media lawyers from breathing down their necks.

Fab Finds: T House @ Tagaytay - For me, it's by far the best boutique hotel (or B&B) that you can check yourself into without burning a hole in your pocket. It's located at 3195 Calamba Road, Tagaytay City. This place just formally opened last June 2007. Its architectural and interior designs are earthy, minimalist and modern. The place has 15 rooms to accomodate people who wants calm, comfort and tranquility. There are 3 types of rooms which are differentiated by the vibrant yet cozy color combinations used on the beddings and throw pillows: Fire, Water and Earth. The rooms costs from P3,450 net (enough space for 2-4 pax) to P5,750 net (enough space for 4-6 pax). These rates comes with breakfast for two. Some rooms have bathtubs while some have sunlit bathrooms. Upon check-in, they hand you cold towels and serve you lemongrass iced tea in champagne flutes to freshen you up. And before going to bed, they serve you hot tarragon tea to ensure a good night's sleep. Their restaurant serves healthy and appetizing foods. You can make a reservation for a four-course lunch or dinner for P550 net. You'll have 2 choices of soup, salad, an entree and dessert. I love their Rich Chocolate Ganache pancakes (P200++) and April's Mint (P80++) shake that I had for breakfast. The pancakes are fluffy and huge, marbled with chocolate cream, dotted with walnuts, swirled with more chocolate and maple syrups and topped with slivers of crispy bacons. Now let me guess how they make their April's Mint shake. Blend ice, dalandan soda and fresh mint leaves together and tada ... April's Mint! Their Tribecca in Truffle Oil crepes are good too. T House also offers spa services (opens from 10AM to 11PM) ranging from standard massages (P500++/hr) to manipeds (P400++) to aromatherapies (P800++) with a wide range of aroma oils to choose from. And the last but not least, their staffs are very courteous and accommodating. Obviously, I enjoyed my stay at T House. I just hope that they won't hike up their prices as they gain popularity. For more info, check out their website ... http://www.thousetagaytay.com/.

Anthem of the Day: Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Through This. "I gotta get through this. I gotta get through this. I gotta make it, gotta make it, gotta make it through. Said I'm gonna get through this. Im gonna get through this. I gotta take my, take my mind off you. Give me just a second and I'll be all right. Surely one more moment couldn't break my heart. Give me 'til tomorrow then I'll be okay. Just another day and then I'll hold you tight." A very upbeat song to help me get through all that I have to get over with. It's a very good workout song too. BTW, Daniel is the brother of the Aussie singer Natasha Bedingfield.

Mood: Hopeful, at last.

Today, I'm thankful for ... having people that I have good memories with who I keep in my heart which keeps me from getting really lonely.

posted by Reesh @ 2:46 PM 3 comments

Thursday, July 05, 2007

episode 415: The Audacity of Hope.

Thought(s) of the Day: Today is supposed to be my 2nd anniversary with Steve. 4th of July in the US and 5th of July here in this part of the world. Too bad things didn't work out for us. But enough with the pity party. Time to stand back up and look forward to hopefully better days. Hoping has never been harder for me to do than it is now. But then there's the "audacity of hope". I like that phrase a lot. I heard it from the US Senator Barack Obama who wrote a book with the same title. It's more of a political document. But when he was on Oprah, he said he first heard the phrase from his minister who was talking about how people dare to hope even if it seem that there's not going to be any being in the situations they're in. So, I'm going to do the same thing now. And dare to hope that one day ... all will be better. Oh yeah, FYI. There's quite a buzz going around saying Obama might be well-positioned to enter a future US presidential race. If he wins against Hillary Clinton (who's suspected to be running), he's going to be the first African-American president of the US. Though he's actually only half African-American since his mom is caucasian. And I think that's going to be a plus for him during the election.

Kewl Website: http://upl.codeq.info/ - I always have to make a list of things that I should bring every time I'm going on a trip. But I still end up forgetting to include one thing or the other on the list. And since each trip is different, the list changes. Thank God somebody thought of making an applet that "generates a custom packing list for any journey" - the Universal Packing List. Key in when you'll be taking the trip, find out what the temperature is going to be at your destination during those dates, type of accommodation, mode of transportation, size of your bag, planned activities and etc. Then the applet will generate a custom packing list for you based on those parameters. You can either print the list out or send a copy to your email. This surely makes life easier for me. No more scrambling while packing. There will however be some things on the list that you might think unnecessary so you can just skip them.

Fab Finds: Penshoppe Mini-brush set - Small and compact, it fits perfectly into any makeup pouch for brushing up while on-the-go. It contains a lipstick Brush, blush brush, sponge tip applicator, eye shadow brush and eye liner brush. Since it comes in transluscent color, even those OCs with color coordinated makeup kits will be happy with it. It only costs P89.00 and you can ofcourse get it at any Penshoppe branches which you can usually find at the leading malls.

Anthem of the Day: Avril Lavigne - When You're Gone. "When you're gone, the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone, the face I came to know is missing too. When you're gone, all the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it OK. I miss you." Our skater girl has grown up now. This song just shows that she's now more in touch with her romantic side. Very different from her previous teen rebel type album.

Mood: Sober. Calm. Still numb ... but hopeful.

Today, I'm thankful for ... the friends who kept me company during the turmoil. Ira, Grace, Joyce, Cris and Tiny. And to those who called or sent messages to show they cared.

posted by Reesh @ 11:09 AM 0 comments

Monday, June 25, 2007

episode 414: The Aftermath.

Thought(s) of the Day: It has been 3 weeks since Steve and I decided to give up the fight. My fault really. I just don't have to spine to stand up and fight for him against my family. Yes, I am such a coward. It could've been our 2nd year anniversary together next week if things happened differently. Am I over him? Have I moved on? Sadly, no. I still feel guilty and sorry for hurting Steve's feelings. And for making him feel that I have just been dragging him along just to hurt him in the end. I think I can deal with a break-up better if I'm the one who's been broken up with and getting hurt instead of the one who broke up with somebody and therefore hurting that person. What does it take to make me move on? Maybe when I find out that Steve has moved on along fine and has found somebody who can take good care of him the way I wish I could've if we're still together. He's a good man, so he deserves a good woman. A woman who can fight with teeth and nails for him.

Kewl Website: http://www.freakyourmind.com/ - Are you familiar with Chriss Angel's Mindfreak show on cable's A&E TV? Criss Angel is a world renowned mystifier and provocateur. To a lot of people, he's very unlike other magicians or illusionists. Definitely a couple of levels above David Copperfield. He's more on the level or maybe even higher than David Blane. Now, let him show you 3 easy steps to freak your friends out. Try it on yourself first so you can appreciate how freaked out your friends would be when you send them the link. It would be best if you can be there with your "victims" when they view the link. The expressions on their faces would be priceless.

Fab Finds: Mexicali's Veggie Burrito - As with most (if not all) depressed females out there, the top food that I craved for is carbs. And the bext carbo-loaded food that I've been myself with is Mexicali's Veggie Burrito (MVB). I've always liked MVB even before my heartbreak. I usually have my fill of it during the weekends when I go malling. So I guess it's only natural that it's one of the things that I hang on to for comfort while I'm in this emotional rollercoaster. MVB is made of mexican rice (which I think is flavoured with tumeric powder hence the yellow color), mashed refried beans, lettuce, salsa, cheese (which I think is cheddar), sour cream, grilled zucchini, button mushrooms and bell peppers wrapped in soft flour tortillas. It's served with nachos and fresh salsa made of tomatoes, white onions, celery and a dash of salt. And you should never eat a burito without Mexicali's aoli (garlic cream sauce), my favorite. Aside from veggie burrito, they also have other assortments like BBQ chicken, BBQ pork, ground beef, roast pork, grilled steak or grilled shrimp. A regular burrito costs P115.00 (w/o VAT and SC) which already comes with the fresh salsa and nachos. You'll find them at Glorietta, RCBC Plaza, Bel-Air, Mall of Asia, Greenhills Promenade, Megamall, SM North EDSA and TriNoMa.

Anthem of the Day: Enrique Inglesias - Do You Know What It Feels Like. "Do you know what it feels like loving someone that's in a rush to throw you away. Do you know what it feels like to be the last one to know the lock on the door has changed. If birds flying south is a sign of changes. At least you can predict this every year. Love, you never know the minute it ends suddenly. I can't get it to speak."

Mood: So tired. Still depressed and numb. Been trying to get over it but failed.

Today, I'm thankful for ... the fact that this heartache hasn't killed me yet. And that my eyes hasn't fallen off their sockets from over-crying. And that it looks like Steve is doing better now after the rough initial 2 weeks. I believe he's doing better than I am now. Which is good.

posted by Reesh @ 1:06 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

episode 413: The Ice Queen Returns.

Thought(s) of the Day: Let me ask you, which would you choose ... the family that raised and loved you for 27 years or the guy that you're in love with for the past 2 years? Can you choose who you fall in love with? How can you not love the guy who has been nothing but sweet, kind, patient and understanding? On the other hand, how can you ignore your father's tearful plea begging you not to make what he thinks is a big mistake? How can you choose in the first place? Will you be able to live with the decision you'll be making? Can you tell me why I can't have both? Since I can't have both, I have to put the Ice Queen's mask back on again. Just don't want to feel anything anymore. I just want the blessed numbness again.
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Kewl Website: http://www.business-opportunities.biz/projects/how-much-is-your-blog-worth - Key in your blog's URL and find out how much it's worth in US dollar terms. It uses a scoring system based on what elements you have on your blog. As if you need any more convincing to try it out, right? You'd do it for mere curiosity anyway. Mine is worth a measely $564.54 only.
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Fab Finds: Beauty Formulas' Instant Foot Cooler - "Hear the Fizz, Feel the Tingle." For a person who has dry feet but likes to wear flip-flops like me, this stuff is just fantabulous. It kindda has a moisturizing effect on my usually tired feet. And I just love the fresh citrus scent and the cool menthol feel which stays on for quite a long time after you first spray it on. It's very invigorating. It's made in UK by a company that specializes in foot care, skin care and oral hygiene. I got mine from Watson's SM Makati. It costs P143.00 only and a bottle lasts for 2 weeks of daily use.
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Anthem of the Day: Joy Enriquez - How Can I Not Love You. "Can not touch. Can not hold. Can not be together. Can not love. Can not kiss. Can not have each other. Must be strong, and we must let go. Can not say what our hearts must know. How can I not love you. What do I tell my heart. When do I not want you here in my arms. How does one walks away from all of the memories. How do I not miss you when you are gone. Can not dream. Can not share sweet and tender moments. Can not feel how we feel. Must pretend it's over. Must be brave, and we must go on. Must not say, what we've known all along."
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Mood: Tired. Pissed. Frustrated. Hopeless. Depressed. Numb.
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Today, I'm thankful for ... nothing. Yup, for the first time in sooooo many years. Nothing.

posted by Reesh @ 12:59 PM 4 comments

Monday, May 21, 2007

episode 412: Time to Set Sail.

Thought(s) of the Day: "20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain. I sure hope he's right. Since I've decided to throw off my bowlines to go brave the currents, he better be right.
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Kewl Website: http://www.chow.com - CHOW.com. Food. Drink. Fun. Let's see, what have I learned from this site? I learned the easier and faster way to dice onions. I also learned how to cut a chicken into eigth serving pieces. I also learned how to open a wine without breaking the cork just like a sommelier. How to set up a buffet. How to seat your dinner guests to make sure that conversation flows smoothly. All these are in their How-To video section. And aaaah ... the countless recipes. Yum!
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Fab Finds: Elianto Eyeshadow Palletes - Found the perfect shade of eyeshadow but it comes in a set with a other colors that aren't going to work for you. Do you still buy the set or not? Does this dilemma sound familiar? Don't you just wish that you can just choose the eyeshadow colors that suits you and have it assembled into a set instead? Well, your wish is Elianto's command. You can choose eyeshadow colors by 4, 6, 10, 20 and 30 and have it assembled into a compact pallete case. Ain't that mint?! Some of their eyeshadow colors cost P99.00 each, while the other more recent (metallics, etc.) colors cost P119.00 each. The case that holds 4 colors costs P120.00. I just got the "by 4" set since I'm just starting to learn how to put on makeup. By the way, Elianto is a Malaysian brand using Korean technology. Aside from make-ups, they also have nailcare, bodycare and skincare products. I guess they're the more economical version of the korean brand The Face Shop. There are Elianto branches in Robinsons Department Store and 3rd Flr. of The Block SM City North Ave. I'm sure they have other branches but these 2 are the only ones that I know of.
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Anthem of the Day: Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry. "I hope you know, I hope you know that this has nothing to do with you. It's personal, myself and I. We got some straightening out to do. And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket. But I've gotta get a move on with my life. It's time to be a big girl now. And big girls don't cry." Yes, that's a song by the Fergalicious herself. I think this is by far her best song. Even though the sound is more acoustic than R&B, it's still as catchy as her other songs. This song's lyrics is more meaningful than her other songs. Pretty un-fergie-like but good.
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Mood: Worried and nervous. Dad's coming over to see me this weekend. I know that lately, he and mom have been in constant fear of me making a very "wrong" decision that will take me down the "wrong" path. I wonder what he'll do to try to make me change my mind. He's pretty good on debates and persuation. Will he succeed? It remains to be seen.
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Today, I'm thankful for ... the option I have to pay somebody to clean my house for me since I'm such a slob and the laziest person on this part of the universe.

posted by Reesh @ 2:13 PM 0 comments

Thursday, May 03, 2007

episode 411: Wisdom from Spider-man's Aunt May.

Thought(s) of the Day: Spider-man Peter Parker's Aunt May plays a strong role in providing moral support to Peter. On the latest Spider-man movie series "Spider-man 3", Aunt May gave Peter a couple of advices. According to her, a man has to be understanding and put his wife before himself. Self-sacrifice makes you marriage material. But the same thing should apply to a woman too. Both man and woman has to put the other before himself or herself. And a person can only sacrifice himself if he really loves and cares for the one he's sacrificing for. And that's obviously a lot easier said than done. Another thing that Aunt May said is that you become what is in your heart. True. You can't suppress whatever negative is in you forever. It'll inevitably come up to the surface. So as hard as it may be, we must try our darnest best to purge all the negatives out of our system. Again, easier said than done but it must be done. And about hurting someone or doing something wrong to somebody, Aunt May said that "You start by doing the hardest thing -- you forgive yourself." But it comes naturally to man to love himself more than others. That's why it's such a big challenge for a man to love somebody else more than himself. It really couldn't be that hard to forgive himself. Besides, our responsibility is not to forgive ourselves, but to seek forgiveness and try to make right what we have done wrong. It may not be the pop-psychology way, but it is God's way. The best part of the Spider-man 3 movie is when Peter Parker danced the John Travolta's Grease moves. Love it!
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Kewl Website: http://www.brandstrategy.co.za - Time to get that hamster inside your skull to start working. Check their Brain Teasers out (under the Fun! tab). They're pretty mint! Love the River Crossing game. Let me know how long it took you to solve it. When you think your hamster needs a little break, then try out their Free Games.
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Fab Finds: Metallic flip-flops from Follow Your Heart - It's summer and it's flip-flop season. I don't know about you but I don't think that the sandy beaches are worthy of my Ipanema flip-flop. In my opinion, only the concrete pavements and tiled floors of the urban jungle is worthy. So I had to buy cheaper flip-flops for my beach trips which comes in flowery pastel colors. There are times that I wish I can find cheap ones in metallics just like my Ipanema. Well, the other day was my lucky day. While just wandering around the mall like all mall-rats do, I spotted these metallic flip-flops on one of the glass display shelves of the Follow Your Heart stall. It comes in olive green, chocolate brown and dark orange. I tried them on thinking that it must be worth around P200.00 a pair. But lo and behold, it only costs P70.00! I thought I heard wrong, thinking that the saleslady must have said P170.00. But nope, it's P70.00 alright. Pretty good deal huh? It looks pretty sturdy though I still have to put it through the ultimate "lakwatsa" test. But come on, P70.00 for a pair of metallic flip-flops like these is darn great deal! The Follow Your Heart stall on the Ground Flr. of Glorietta (right across Designer Blooms). They have branches at Market! Market! and Tiendesitas.
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Anthem of the Day: Bo Bice - The Real Thing. "Tell me what we got, tell me it's a lot, tell me it's the real thing. Tell me not to change and always be the same, tell me that's a good thing. It's a good thing. Tell me not to lie, tell me not to wait. Tell me that you want the same things as me. Tell me that it's fate, driving me insane. Tell me it's the real thing. That keeps me hangin on."
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Mood: Sullen. Still worried about how my parents will take the news.
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Today, I'm thankful for ... the kind of single carefree life I have now which I soon will have to let go to make room for another new chapter of my life.

posted by Reesh @ 10:41 AM 0 comments

Monday, April 30, 2007

episode 410: April showers WILL bring May flowers.

Thought(s) of the Day: April showers WILL bring May flowers. I'm relieved. Now, I just have to focus on getting myself ready for the new journey ahead. And to pray that my parents will understand and that God will ease their fears in my behalf. How can I get them to understand that even if I fall, I will stand back up again. I really really wish they can be there to help me stand up again.
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Kewl Website: http://www.kayak.com - "Life's a trip," according to Kayak.com. Kayak is a travel search engine. It searches hundreds of travel sites from all over the world, provide the information to you in an easy-to-use display and send you directly to the source to make your purchase. It also helps you find the flight, hotel, cruise, or rental car you want. After all, what good are 1000 options when you can't find the flight you want? Once you make your choice, it links to the travel sites to make your purchase. Kayak allows you to choose which site to purchase from– through an online travel agency or consolidator such as Orbitz or Airfare.com. Unlike online travel agencies, Kayak is not a store. Online travel agencies are retailers that can only sell you the products on their shelves. Kayak is not limited to the size of a stockroom. In fact, since it doesn't sell anything, it doesn't even have a stockroom. Rather, it searches for travel goods across the Web and provide details on hundreds of options. Since Kayak doesn't sell anything, there's no hidden agenda or biased displays. And, Kayak is free to use. I know what you're thinking, that it's too good to be true. How the heck do they make profit? Well, Kayak makes money when travelers click on our advertisements and when they click on the results from travel suppliers like airlines, hotels and rental car companies. The bottom line for consumers, however, is that it's not trying to sell you anything which allows it to provide objective, comprehensive travel information to use as you want. Then, you select the travel products you want to buy and you decide where to buy them. Ain't that mint?!! I've used it to look for the cheapest flight available. You can easily compare the different prices and schedules of a multitude of airlines on Kayak. More and more of us Pinoys are more travel-savvy these days. So go ahead, look for an affordable trip to take. The world is our oyster!
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Fab Finds: Bud Keybag by Q-max Innovations - This is a better and smarter alternative to the regular keychain. With this cute keybag, you can tuck your keys into the bud which will prevent the sharp edges of the keys from tearing the linings of your bags, your pant/jean pockets or even your flesh. With this keybag, it's now safe to throw your keys into your bag without having to worry about the keys scratching and ruining the surfaces of your mobilephone, mp3 player, makeup case, etc. Plus, it also minimizes (if not eliminate) the rattling sound that keys normally make that reminds people of jail guards or cows. It's durable coz it's made of silicone instead of just ordinary rubber or plastic. To clean, all you need is a damp cloth to wipe it with. I got mine from Fully Booked @ P199.00 only. It comes in red, green and light brown.
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Anthem of the Day: P. Diddy f. Keisha Cole - Last Night. This song kindda describes the "to call or not to call" dilemma that me and Steve went through for the last 2 weeks. It is a love song. But since this is a product of P. Diddy, it's of the R&B kind. It has a very very catchy beat and melody. A friend of mine (B2) might even describe it as "danceable". I still have LSS (Last Song Syndrome) with this song.
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Mood: Feeling a lot better than last week. The only thing left that's bugging me is how to make my parents understand that my decision won't bring about the end of the world.
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Today, I'm thankful for ... the guidance from God for all the decisions that I've made. I'm not a devout catholic. But He has never failed me so far.

posted by Reesh @ 6:17 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

episode 409: Giving Up the Fight?

Thought(s) of the Day: "I can't seperate the winners from the losers anymore and I think I should be giving up the fight," by Kris Kristofferson. That's a quote that my Steve used on his blog entry about what's happening to us right now. But hopefully, April showers bring May flowers.
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Kewl Website: http://www.toptipsforgirls.com - "Top Tips For Girls, the ever-expanding bible of genuine advice. Find answers to all your questions, and leave something handy behind when you go." Every woman has a reserve of helpful, clever tips that she's worked out for herself or has picked up from other women to make life easier. Well it's time for us to share them with the rest of the sisterhood around the world. "It's like being in the bathroom at a party with millions of women, all of whom want to give you advice." The thing that I like about this site is that there's no need to plough through seemingly endless and mostly irrelevant chat threads for the part that actually gives you the answer to your question. In this site, all tips are short and to the point. So go ahead and visit the site but don't just take advices, leave some handy ones behind too.
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Fab Finds: Azaya Spa and The Lotus - We know that most of the good spas charges around P700-P1,500 for 1 blissful hour of full-body massage. That's kindda steep for average income earners. Well thanks to the ever reliable outcome of business competition, a lot of "budget spas" are conceived that offers more affordable services. I know of 2 pocket-friendly spas here in Makati. Azaya Spa's 1 hour Swedish or Shiatsu Massage costs P500 only. The place itself has a good zen-like ambiance. They have a massage room that you have to share with their other clients. But they also have 2 couple's room (1 with just a shower and toilet while the other has a shower and bath tub that fits 2). If you plan to go there with a friend, then request for them to let you use the couple's room for you to have more privacy. They won't charge extra. Their letting you use them depends on the rooms' availability ofcourse because they have to prioritize their Body Scrub and Body Wrap clients for these rooms. Azaya Spa is located at Crowne Tower, 107 H.V. dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Tel#: 8136654. They're open from Monday to Friday @ 3PM to 11PM and on Saturday and Sunday @ 1PM to 11PM. The Lotus' 1 hour Royal Thai, Traditional Thai and Wat Po Thai massage costs P300 only. While their Shiatsu, Swedish and Oriental (combination of Shiatsu and Swedish) costs P350. Their Body Scrubs and Wraps costs P700. I have only visited their H.V. dela Costa branch which has Thai interior design. Me and my friends like it when they're burning pepermint oil because it's so soothing and really does calms your nerves and makes you want to doze off. The only downside at this place is that if you want to take a shower before the massage, you'll have to shell out P100 extra for that. What they do for you instead is to soak your feet for 10 minutes before the massage in a wooden basin of warm water with smooth stones lining the bottom of the basin. Hey, you want to pay less, then accept the no-free-shower setback. You get what you pay for. The service and the ambiance of the place is good enough for the price you'll be paying. The Lotus has a couple of branches in Makati. Click on the picture above to see the addresses. Tel# for H.V. dela Costa branch is 8930759. Oh yeah, they're open til 2AM. So we nocturnals dwelling in Makati can now have a good late night massage to help us catch some precious snooze.

Anthem of the Day: The Braxtons - I'd Still Say Yes.

Mood: Depressed and scared of the possible outcomes of the big decision I have made. I'm sad that I've hurt somebody I love and care.

Today, I'm thankful for ... the supports, advices and scolding from Grasya, Ira, Joyce and yes ... even Tiny too.

posted by Reesh @ 4:37 PM 1 comments

Friday, March 30, 2007

episode 408: My Last Philippine Summer.

Thought(s) of the Day: Summer is finally here! Time to head for the beach for some R and R. This is going to be my one last summer under the scorching Philippine sun. Am sure gonna miss it. Sigh ...

Kewl Website: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ - For world travellers or for those who have loved ones living in other timezones, this site is God-sent! If you're like me, my brain hurts whenever I have to do math in my mind just to know what time it is somewhere else. I just wish that cellphone manufacturers can include a light version of this as part of their cellphone software package. This site shows you the current time and date in all the capitals of the world without having to input anything. It's a no brainer. Hey, I just like anything that lets me conserve my brain cells since I don't have much left. If the Green Peace organization aims to conserve energy resources, I'm the founder of the Green Minds organization which aims to conserve brain cells and spread green jokes. Hehehe!

Fab Finds: Mirror Mints by Little i - See and be seen with this smart flip-top tin filled with premium sugar-free mints made in Canada. Suitable for every fashion situation from the office to the party. Slip easily into a handbag or jeans pocket. These mints satisfy that craving for chocolate without all the calories. Open the lid to reveal a handy little mirror perfect for lip gloss, teeth and makeup checks. This three-in-one accessory lets you pop a sugar-free mint and sneak a peek without anyone suspecting. In seconds flat, you're home free with fresh breath and a sexy smile. Also available in fresh pepermint and tropical citrus flavors. I got my gourmet chocolate mints from Watsons at Mall of Asia for P99. Cheap and chic - just my kind of thing!
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Anthem of the Day: Cruel Summer by Ace of Base.

Mood: I'm in a bitchy and beachy mood! So I better get myself to the beach real soon or I might bite somebody's head off!

Today, I'm thankful for ... the US Consul for keeping the visa interview short and for approving my visa request. And I'm also thankful to God for telling him to do so. Hehe! Whew! So I guess God's also telling me to go and be "losyang" but happy too.

posted by Reesh @ 12:12 PM 0 comments

Monday, February 12, 2007

episode 407: Here comes the Fire Pig! No, not lechon!

Thought(s) of the Day: I am an Earth Goat. Yes, a meeeheeeh. My Fire Pig forecast for this year says that it's the year for me to focus on those things that matter most in life, family, beauty, our wonderful planet. It's a great year to create a family or enrich the one you have. It is a good year to go back to the basics, taking steps to establish solid ground for your family and your career. If you've read my previous entries, you'll know that I sure hope the part with the family and career is really so! About the "beauty" part of the forecast, I am trying to learn how to take better care of my health and "beauty". I'm even trying to learn how to enhance it with artificial beautification with makeups. As for the "wonderful planet" part, I do support green peas. I mean, green peace. But I guess I do have to do better than that. I'll have to work on that too.

Kewl Website: http://www.firepig.com/ - It's the official site for the chinese lunar year of the Fire Pig! For those of you who wants to take a look at the forecast for the year 2007, just enter your birthday and email address. The site will send your free forecast to your email in a few seconds. Give it a try, you've got nothing to loose. Come on, admit it! You're as curious as a cat. You don't have to believe every word of it. Just take it as a guide or precaution for the rest of the year. Kong Xi Fa Tsai everyone!

Fab Finds: Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana - Clean, crisp, light, flowery, powdery ... heavenly. No matter how much you spray on, it'll stay light and pleasant. The scent composition consists of granny smith apples, bluebells, white rose and jasmine. There also are traces of amber, musk and cedar wood. Don't let the content scare you. Like I said, it's very light and powdery. To me, this might as well become my favorite and staple scent. It's gonna be what Cool Waters for Women by Davidoff is for other women because of its clean and uncomplicated scent. Since there are just too many people wearing Cool Waters, Light Blue will be such a refreshing wiff. I just got a 5mL vial from the Scents per Cent stall at Robinsons Galleria to try wearing it all day and to find out how long the scent will last and whether or not it'll go sour as the day comes to an end. It passed the test with flying colors! Love it! It costs P38/mL at the Scents per Cent stall. Yes, they sell real branded perfumes by the mL. You can get some for yourself by the mL too if you're the kind who wears a perfume depending on your mood. Or you just simply can't afford to buy a full bottle. Go ahead, take advantage of what Scents per Cent is offering. Obviously, you're not the only one who would prefer to buy perfumes by the mL. Otherwise the Scents per Cent stalls would have already lost its business and closed down a long time ago.
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UPDATE 03.30.2007 - I bought a 300mL bottle of D&G Light Blue at the Lucky Plaza on Singapore's Orchard Road for just 38SGD (approximately P1.208.40).
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Anthem of the Day: Lee Ryan - When I Think of You. Yes, from the Light Blue scent to the former member of the boy-band Blue. "You're my past, my future. My all, my everything. My six in the morning when the clock rings, and I open up my eyes to a new day. My laughs, my frowns. My ups, my downs. It's a feeling that you get when you know that something's true. When I think of love I think of you." Love the song. Love the rhythm and melody. Love it!

Mood: I feel recharged from the sleep I had this weekend. We'll see how far along the week this will last.

Today, I'm thankful for ... my family and my career. I know, I've been thankful for them before. But I can't help but be sincerely thankful for them again and again.

posted by Reesh @ 1:16 PM 0 comments

Friday, February 09, 2007

episode 406: Very V'day!

Thought(s) of the Day: I have always been one of those people who think Valentine's Day is the corniest and embarrasing day of the year. That was when I was still perpetually single. But now that I'm a half of a couple, my perception has changed. All the cheesiest, most "baduy", most embarrasing things that people do on V'day are acceptable to me now. But I still prefer to go out on a V'day date on any day other than on the day itself to avoid the throngs of lovebirds who will be flocking to all the restos with appropriate mood lighting. And I'd prefer my flowers to be sent to my office or home address instead of being handed to me when I get picked up by my date. Carrying a bouquet of flowers through the duration of a date is just too much hassle and is still too cheesy (though forgivable) in my opinion. Since my valentine (Steve) is on the other side of the world, he sent me white gold necklace with a modern heart-shaped pendant lined with pink semi-precious stones in advance. Love it! Thank you baby! People, V'day is the one day in the whole year when all your cheesinest and "kabaduyan" are forgivable and probably quite appreciated. So go ahead and be a big block of cheese on this day!

Kewl Website: http://www.islandrose.net.ph/ - Valentine's Day is just around the corner. So for you guys who are just too lazy to drop by a flower shop to get a bouquet, this site should save your hide from being skinned by furious loved ones. And for those who are just too far away to hand their loved ones the flowers themselves, this sites slogan is "Keeping relationships alive" ... it might keep your relationship alive too. Island Rose is a Philippine-based online flower shop. Don't worry, you can pay with dollars or peso. A bouquet of long stem deep burgundy variety of roses that have large blooms and long thornless stems costs P1,440. They have other choices of colors but they only sell roses (hence their name). All bouquets are delivered in bud stage beautifully bunched and wrapped in Island Rose packaging with a personalized greeting card. Island Rose delivers from Tuesday to Saturday in Provincial areas and daily in Metro Manila. Take note of their cut-off time for V'day delivery though. Feb. 12, 2007 4PM Philippine Time. They say that the earlier you order, the more you save. So click away and make your loved ones blush and smile!

Fab Finds: Sony Ericsson K800i - Instead of me having to write a full review about this mobilephone, pardon me for being a little lazy by just giving you this link that already does exactly that. http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-devices/review/2006/07/19/Sony-Ericsson-K800i/p1. My opinion as a new owner of this model of mobilephone and a ex-Nokia-faithful, the interface does take a bit of getting used to. The classic frustration of a Nokia-faithful turned Ericsson user is getting a "+" instead of a space while typing an SMS. But all in all, I love this phone. It is afterall the first SE phone to feature the "Cybershot" name.

Anthem of the Day: Gwen Stefani f. Akon - Sweet Escape. Another track from Gwen's new album. Love it's suave finger-snappable tune. Sounds like an updated 80s song.

Mood: Happily wearing my Steve's V'day gift around my neck and also wearing a big grin on my face.

Today, I'm thankful for ... my Steve for being the thoughful and loving person he has always been.

posted by Reesh @ 1:59 PM 3 comments

Friday, February 02, 2007

episode 405: Changing Careers ... aaaargh!

Thought(s) of the Day: If I'm not in the IT industry, where would I be? If I'm not going to do what I've been doing for the past 6 yrs., what will I be doing? Not that I wanted to have a change of career, I just might have no other choice but to find a non-IT job in the near future with the path I'm heading to now. Been thinking of some service-oriented (but non-medical) job. I'm thinking about trying jobs at the other end of the spectrum like cosmetology or culinary. But I don't have enough time left to enrol in a cosmetology or culinary course and be able to finish it before I have to leave. Sigh ... I wonder how other people deal with career changes. It must be a little bit easier for those whose quit their current jobs to pursue their real passion. My situation is different though. I love the job that I have right now. Yes, sometimes it gives me a granddaddy of a headache. But I have grown accustomed and have learned to love what I do. Leaving this job and switching to God knows what kindda job in the future kindda scares me and makes me really worried. But then I have to do it for the sake of my personal life. Career vs. Love? I chose Love. So here goes the new chapter of my life.

Kewl Website: http://www.coffeecup.com/freestuff/ - Free website templates that looks quite professionally done. Free web design softwares that makes life a lot easier with drag and drop functionality. A collection of free fonts. This is a great site for web design novices.

Fab Finds: Really Ripped Abs Body Spray by BOD man collection of Parfums de Coeur - By far, this is the best masculine scent I've ever come acrossed. Or am I just biased because Steve was the one wearing this scent the first time I caught a wiff of it? This is not one of those woody, heavy musk masculine scents. It's light, clean, airy and incredibly sexy. Any man wearing this scent would make women passing by give him a second look. Yes, I swear by it. I bought one bottle for myself to remember my Steve by. So anytime I miss Steve, I can just spray some of the scent on my pillow and wiff my heart to contentment. I've let my girl friends smell it and they all agree that it does smells very sexy. It's available in 8 oz. bottles which costs somewhere between $8 to $12 at Walmart, Walgreens or any drugstores. It smells great and it's very inexpensive.

Anthem of the Day: Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around Comes Around. Another catchy but chill track from JT. A good cool tune to listen to during summer.

Mood: I feel like a zombie. Tired and sleepy and my mind is struggling to keep up with the day's work. Didn't sleep well due to work problems. Was woken up at 4AM by a call from my boss and can't get back to sleep after that. But hey, I've had days that were far worse than this. So ... just got to hang on til the problem gets resolved. I got a feeling that I'm going to be sleeping like a log tonight.

Today, I'm thankful for ... the peace that has prevailed over me and my brother for the past 2 yrs. Like all siblings, we fought for years and years since childhood. But at last, we've reached a stage of adulthood when I guess we both think that fighting is just a waste of time and a big sign of immaturity. So we've chosen the peaceful path of just arguing from time to time instead of the physical kickboxing match we've had for years. I'm sure our parents are more thankful for this than the two of us. They can breathe a long sigh of relief of having not to worry if we're gonna accidentally kill each other during a fight. Hehehe!

posted by Reesh @ 2:05 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

episode 404: Born to Try.

Thought(s) of the Day: I was born to try. Even if I know that there's no guarantee in anything, I still have to go ahead and try. Come to think of it, all of the good things that happened to me are results of me trying. So I guess I'll just have to keep on trying.

Kewl Website: http://www.107.peugeot.co.uk/peugeot.swf - Who doesn't want to drive a Peugeot? Still learning how to drive? Don't worry, you can still use the Peugeot. Oh, don't forget to practice car parking too. Yes, still with the Peugeot ... on your PC. Hehehe!

Fab Finds: The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry - Dan Brown did say that this book by Steve Berry was one of his many inspiration for writing his own best-selling book "The Da Vinci Code". As the title suggested, the story of this book revolves around the medieval order of the Templars which was dissolved some 700 years ago and the world thought it no longer exists. The book revives the Order in the 20th century and they are in a quest to find the Great Device which is ... (spoiler up ahead) ... the remains of Jesus the son of Joseph. The Catholic faith is so heavily based on the "account" on the Bible which is that "the Christ died, the Christ has risen and the Christ will come again". But what if Christ just died and has never risen? Dust to dust. What effect would that kind of "fact" have on the Catholic faith? Think about it. For me, it really doesn't matter. Jesus Christ doesn't have to be omnipotent to have my "respect". Even if he really was just a prophet (meaning plain human) who's thoughts and teachings are considered to be radical at his time, he has my respect. His teachings make good sense anyway. So why not learn from him? Confucious and Sun Tzu didn't have to be elevated to the level of gods to have their own followers or "religion". Why can't it be the same for a perfectly human Jesus? But then again, I guess the Catholic Church/Faith won't be as big as it is today if Jesus didn't have the element of omnipotency. Anyway, read the book and find out more about it. This is a best-selling book too. Comparisons to "The Da Vinci Code" can't be avoided though. "The Templar Legacy" is just a bit too dragging since Steve Berry inserted a lot of "by the way" facts to it. Though those facts are quite informative, I can't help but to skip over paragraphs just to get to the next scene. All in all though, this is a good eye-opening read.

Anthem of the Day: Delta Goodrem - Born to Try. "Doing everything that I believe in. Going by the rules that I've been taught. More understanding of what's around me. And protected from the walls of love. All that you see is me. And all I truly believe. That I was born to try. I've learned to love, Be understanding, And believe in life. But you've got to make choices. Be wrong or right. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice the things you like. But I was born to try. No point in talking what you should have been. And regretting the things that went on. Life's full of mistakes, destinies and fate. Remove the clouds look at the bigger picture."

Mood: I feel fresh. Had a new haircut by a Korean hairstylist. I like it!

Today, I'm thankful for ... my parent's trust and faith in me. I hope they won't lose their faith when I do what I've planned to do in a couple of months time. I don't want to break their heart but then I have to do what I have to do.

posted by Reesh @ 5:32 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

episode 403: Makeup my mind!

Thought(s) of the Day: I really need to learn how to put on makeup. I see drag-queens, teenagers and pre-teens putting on their own makeups quite expertly. While I, a woman of the late 20s still doesn't know what makeup colors works for me! What a shame! I don't plan to start putting on makeups everyday. No, No, NO!!! Just on super uber special occassions like when attending a wedding. I always have to go to salons to have my hair and makeup done on these kinds of occassions. The results have always turned out to be quite disappointing. Since I don't have a clue about how I wanted to look like, I just let the gay makeup artist do whatever he wants with my face. I almost always end up looking like a drag queen. Since I don't want to hurt the makeup artist's feelings, I'd just wipe most of the makeup off when I get home. Sigh ... sad, isn't it? I do have friends who knows how to put on makeup. But then I don't have the same face and complexion as theirs. Skin color's not the same too. So they can only suggest but don't really know what will work for me. Does anybody know of a makeup or cosmetology class that doesn't cost too much? Peferably in Makati or somewhere near hear. I found a Basic Makeup class here in Makati but it costs P15,000 without materials! Too expensive! But if I don't have any other choices, ... is it really that important for me to know how to put on makeup? Is there really no way for me to miraculously learn this myself? Should I go ahead and shell out that much money for a makeup class?

Kewl Website: http://www.xmailharddrive.com - Ever wished that you can do something useful with that huge Gmail account of yours other than to wait until your inbox gets full with spams? Finally, a clever way to utilize that 1GB capacity of your gmail account. Turn your gmail account into a portable harddrive for FREE! You can upload and download files, photos, etc to your gmail account and sort them. No need to register or submit any additional infos. Just login using your gmail logins and start uploading files.

Fab Finds: Cherry Blossom by Bath and Body Works - I refrain from buying girly, flowery fragrances because most of them just smells too sweet and too girly for me. But the Cherry Blossom line of Bath and Body Works is one of the rare exceptions. Its label describes it as "Fresh, light and alluring. This fresh scent combines the heady fragrance of spring's first blossoms with soft, delicate musk." If you're a fragrance expert, then these following lines should mean something to you. "Fragrance Top Notes: Dewy Watermelon, Green Lush Accord, Wisteria Petal, Red Plum. Fragrance Mid Notes: Cherry Blossom, Sheer Freesia. Fragrance Base Notes: Musk, Sandalwood, Heliotrope." I like it because it's not too flowery which would have a very heady or too sweet a scent that it makes my sinus and head ache. It's not too musky either which would make my nose crinkle and my eyes cross. This is a perfect well-balanced scent that can be used during summer or during the rainy days. It smells quite classy and sophisticated. Definitely not like a teeny-bopper cologne. I got a travel sized lotion of this scent last 2005 when I was in the US. I liked it, so I asked an officemate to buy me a 236mL bodyspray for me last Christmas. The 236mL bodyspray costs US$10.50 with tax. But it is on sale on the Body and Bath site right now and they're selling it for US$5.00 without tax.

Mood: Still Cranky! I need food! But can't have anymore of them! Darn it!

Anthem of the Day: Nelly Furtado f. Jay Vegas - Say It Right (remix). A nice Head-boppin' song with a dash of raggae.

Today, I'm thankful for ... the Higher Being for letting my grandmother regain her strength and getting well again after having to spend a week in the CCU/hospital.

posted by Reesh @ 4:38 PM 1 comments