Day 19 - Lee's day

Oh-ghost be gone now. What a nice day to wake up to the smell of coffee courtesy by Cutie dear. I can only wish I can sleep a little longer but I have to get up because Daryl's picking me up so we can fetch her little sister at the airport. Hello weekend, and still with my blue blanket around me and a half-filled cup of coffee, I managed to make this entry for the last day of August (at least before August is gone.)

Celebrating...

Our baby Lee's 7th birthday. It was a happy day with her classmates, friends, lola's and family where everyone gathered to wish her a happy birthday. I can remember being emotional..it's just that she's growing up quickly or is it me growing old already? We had her Hello Kitty party arranged already saving my sister from all the planning. My ate Fritz wanted a simple birthday treat so instead of throwing out some party which we are too willing to give being our first pamangkin we had an intimate party with all her favorite people and her favorite character.

with Ate Vaney

And the party continues..

After her Hello Kitty themed party which I can say everybody had a good time. We arranged another BBQ, hotdog, cake's & sweets party at home for neighbors and Lee's playmates who didn't make it at her venue. We also had on-spot games and her Ninang Ces surprised her with some really gorgeous cake. 

Hello Kitty Castle Cake courtesy of Ninang Ces =)

I bet she'll always remember her milestone year being 7th!

That's me & my equally gorgeous ate.. :)

Much love,

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 18-Comfort Foods

Foods are like music, it feeds my stomach, literally.We are Pinoys with taste buds that enjoys kwek-kwek, balut, mani, sweet corn, dumplings and all sorts of street foods to pasta and chicken, adobo, curry, lechon and many more. What I learned from my friends Marky and Berty is that no amount of stress, problems, or even a bad day can't be straighten out over some hot, satisfying good meal. I remember most of our heart-to-heart talk involves food and well, some iced cold beer to top it. So those days, like today, I turn to my comfort food.  

My comfort foods to live by

Chicken pork adobo  
That tangy, sweet sauce over hot rice. No diet day na naman.

One of the rare times I would like to eat this, esp. the  kinilaw version and it's even better if  paired with soda. Makes me think I'm home!


Paksiw or pinamalhan. 
Simple local staple simmered in vinegar and soy sauce best with tomatoes and some chillies. Usually paired with sinangag and coffee. Mamita would cook me this whenever we're home.  

Maaga pa ba, sya kasi Lechon (pun with Late yun)
So nice and naughty cholesterol but can't help it, pair with soda? Perfect. 

Happiness,

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 17- Crush and Burn

Talking about crushes..I could honestly name a lot ha!  Don't you just admire one's eyes, hair, nails, teeth, how they look when dressed up etc. Nothing serious of that kind, I like people with admirable physical features, duh like I am human. But I am the kind with short-interest-span or whatever you call it because I get bored so easily, I might change my list quite fast anytime soon. hahaha! But for now here's my pick! 

Crushes be like..

Dear Ken shin, I can't wait until September for the 2nd part of Kyoto Inferno.


Just J for Jericho, my high school crush. I cannot. 

Doo min-joo ssi. *Sigh. I really have penchant for smart looking guy in suit.
I was an LMH fan but after that MLFAS I have my eyes on you.

Such a sweet, adorable face.

I can't get away from Crown Prince Lee Yeong played by Park Bo Gum :)
His eyes, and smile, and not to mention his perfect smile, Bo Gum, saranghaeeee..

Crushing everyday,
itsmelory (^.^)

Day 16-Family Affair

The love of a family is life's greatest blessings. I am so grateful beyond words for my incredibly-sometimes-annoying but lovable family. Since most of us have jobs to keep away from our dear parents, it's only during holidays that we can get together and well, have photos together. My folks are not used to picture2x thing, not even used to showing emotions, but we know they love and care for us. Here are few photos we managed to snap which are my really favorites! 

Happiness,

itsmelory(^.^)

Day 15-Bag essentials

My sister used to tease me I should have a bayong for a bag. Bayong is a large bag made of woven sack. Pano naman kasi I used to complain my bag's already damaged after 3 months. Admittedly, I m such an OC-type I can practically bring everything in a bag. Not so long ago, I learned the hard way- victimized by some pickpocketer and gone are my precious cards and my vintage and favorite wallet ahuhu. 

Now, I keep my things to a minimum...plus it would do good on the bag itself. You wouldn't want your favorite bag gone too soon after 3 months right? So here's what's inside my tote. My can't-leave-the-house-without-essentials. 

Small liquid blusher and a lip tint

Powder is a must for some retouch especially during meeting. 

My lifeline of course!  

Music keeps me company when I'm bored like when in traffic you know..

Home keys of course!

Wallet with minimum cards. Take note: important or needed cards only.

My blue purse where I keep coins and some cards also.

Okay, I keep this for emergency purposes.

Finally, some day spritz and hand sanitizer, not shown here is some hand wipes as well but I make sure I have something in handy. I'm quite happy I managed to slash my stash, before I have a big bag for retouching, imagine a bag within a bag. How about you? Whats in your bag?

Happiness, 

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 14-TV Favorites

I'm not much of a  TV fan, gone are the days of Sponge bob, or Inuyasha on a fine morning or perhaps Naruto, Ghost fighter, Flame of Recca in the afternoon. I miss those careless times as kids!  Weekdays nowadays could get worst...I'm lucky if I could catch Best of Wan on AFC, or State of the Nation by Jessica Soho. Weekend is no better, a Saturday morning minus training or weekend check-up meeting is an instant vacation for me and there's so much I can do with my spare time..movie, stroll,drive, book, blog. Simple things I'm grateful for. 

Here's a pick of  TV shows I enjoy watching (pag may time)! 

Best Wan at Asian Food Channel

Since I haven't seen a TV for the last 3 months, I'm not sure if it's still on the same slot but I used to watch it (replays) between 8- 9PM Wednesday. I love the simple dishes Chef Wan prepares.The ingredients can be found locally eerrr but haven't tried cooking his dishes yet!

The Big Bang Theory

Four super geeky friends plus some street smart gorgeous woman-Penny. I used to watch replays from Dowel's downloaded videos. I watched twice on Jack TV Thursday 8:30PM. I think they're on 10th Season already! Keep it coming Sheldon!

KMJS mo na yan!

Oh yes. Love local di ba? I enjoy watching it too on a Sunday evening. The topics are always apt and informative right. 

Happy weekend and happy watching,

itsmelory(^.^)

Day 13-Summer and Music

My family loves music, I grew up to Beatles songs, The Platters (Momsie's who's favorite piece is Twilight time), Andy Williams, Cascades, and many more. My sister Edz would join various singing competitions and Pops would be her singing coach. I would sit and observe around during her practice session. Well, so you can figure out I am not as talented as her, but it's not so bad though. I used to join chorale singing during elementary and high school days din naman! Our favorite past time aside from TV was tape recording on my sister's most prized radio she received from Mamita. Now reminds me that we are the last batch to use the old mix tape with rewind, fast forward and record button! We adore that small radio and the collection of recorded tapes we keep.

Summer days and music day

I love naptime especially to my Popsie's Piano Collection or Earl Klugh's Jamaican Farewell on the background. I'd sleep in the first 2 songs. This guitar rhythm practically reminds me of some slow summer afternoon, lying in the hammock at the beach watching the sunset. The lady can dream on...and that particular band or song we associate with the happenings in our life? The Corrs, Moffats and A1 reminds me of my high school life! Dashboard Confessionals and Coldplay are so college to me. We all have that particular tema ng buhay at every phase of our life.

Sunday being a family day is one take-me-back day with some 80's music or some Karaoke party with Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck.  Please don't tell me I am too old for my tastes, just so you know I also have various new and latest songs on my playlist like that of Katy Perry, Coldplay, John Legend, Boyce Avenue, Selena Gomez, Beyonce, I like them a lot. I love the tunes and upbeat music. I like listening to acoustics as well.

Now for that particular band I love-I have wide tastes you know but it can't be more than The Beatles.. it's my any-day-band, just like an old pair of tsinelas.. so comfortable and feels so "home". Never gets old to me. 

Love and music,

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 7-Something blue

Getting married is one the farthest thing in my brilliant mind right now. I don't want to talk about it, and even surprised that I will be talking about it now. So yeah, guess I don't have a choice no? Point one, I am a traditional type of person so I'd probably go through this "medieval ritual" when I want to settle down SOON! Like far away soon! 
You see, even the idea of just getting married is so riveting! Getting through the preparations and so on, being an O.C. that I am, I mean everyone wants to make it beautiful and "perfect" right?   

If you ask me..

I might say NO (just kidding), but its definitely all blue dear, right now. Lots of blue or everything blue, so elegant and royalty-like. Do you know that even the Ten Commandments was originally written on blue sapphire stone? I don't know who  said that (hahah), but yeah I think I've read it somewhere. So that makes blue...divine. Perhaps with hues of mint green, its cool and pretty to look at! 

Like how?

Garden wedding and beach wedding is nice, but I'd go for an indoor wedding! I love the open air but won't risk the humid on the beach, plus the weather might not cooperate so perhaps an indoor wedding is the best option! Timing is around December, I don't know. it's the best time everyone's on vacation, and the happiest time of the year. Practical right?

Entourage..

Hmm, yes, I love pretty soft dresses. I would love my whole girls on it.  

Wedding gown in mind?

Well, my mind gives me a blank answer, like really.  Tbh, I want  a fashionable but comfortable dress I could walk around on. I mean I've seen in a lot of weddings the bride always had a hard time walking esp. during reception, I want to be walking, and dancing, and moving around without trouble! 

Planning your own wedding can be very stressful. I know because I've seen my sisters and cousins on and about it. From gowns down to reception to tiny details of favors. It came to me as exciting and fun, and stressful but well I'm in no rush!

Love, 

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 6 - Shanshan Memoirs

During one of our random conversations Daryl & Cutie suggested we should at least have a pet! I was like, what like a fish maybe?  The idea of having a pet to take care, cuddle, feed, pick up poo, even barge into your own privacy is a big responsibility, and I don't know yet if I'm ready to become another pet owner. Sometimes I get too attached, which could be a good or a bad thing. 

Shanshan

Flashback 2000, we own a pet dog named Shan-shan. She is golden brown half chihuahua half AsPin. Evenso,we love her! Cutie (my younger sis and frustrated Vet) would make her drink milk,  bathe her, even brush her teeth! She was one spoiled aspin hehe. During daytime, Papsi would tie her since she gets too excited, and would ran out of the house, but then we let her play around with us during the evenings. We loved it when she would let us touch her belly with her dopey eyes almost in slumber on our small porch every evening. Sometimes Shan-shan would sulk when we can't play with her! She would not eat and would sit in one corner with this blank expression. We became too attached enough to make sense of her look and mere tail wagging when she is sad. 

I have countless memories of talking to Shan-shan; when I was mad, when I got some scolding after coming home late, when I feel sad and alone. I even talked to her about my crush! I don't know...maybe I was expecting Shan-shan to answer me back. I know Shan-shan will always be there to listen to me (if she is really listening). She just lay there looking back at me with her big brown and deep eyes. 

I missed our house pet very much because a year ago, she got really sick. We brought her to some local vet unfortunately she chose to rest completely. I was so heartbroken when I heard it from my younger sister, but maybe...she has given us enough of happy memories already! Shan-shan will always be our first love pet dog! 

Now looking back, I'm not sure if I want another pet dog.

But well, who could say NO to this fur thing? So adorable puppy.

Pet-owner soon.

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 4 - Photographs and memories

Hello ladies and gents, have you read about our group RAINY? If you are curious how I met this gorgeous ladies and how our craziness and quirkiness brought us together, please check my blog about us.

Much love,

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 3 - Fave shops

I realized I never really had any particular favorite store. I'm so random I think every bargain store I have been becomes my favorite store! hehehe. Since my work occupies a lot of me, I think one store I frequented apart from that 7/11 outside my office building is the grocery store just a stone's away from our place..that makes me a what? boring. Since I am a thrifty gal that I am (only whenever I feel like), I would always go to this shops, and lucky me, I manage to find a good grab! (Disclamer: Photos grabbed from Google.)

Favorite shops, and more

 Landmark Bazaar

As you can probably tell I'm a normal girl, and I enjoy being fashionable. The only downside of being too fashionable is finding a good store to get all things fancy and beautiful at an affordable cost. Good thing about Landmark bazaar, they have various goods for all walks of life which are really affordable. Since it's not all the time I can visit Divi, this bazaar is a good substitute!  I like Landmark Makati because other malls like Greenbelt/SM is accessible through it, and if you're in luck you might find the perfect bargain along other boutiques inside it. Only, that sometimes, it's too crowded!

Shapes| Kamiseta| BAYO

I like soft, cotton fabric that is comfy to the skin, that's why I really like this brand. They have pretty and mostly affordable selections.  I have a couple of nice tops, and dresses from this shop mostly from marked down sales! They have an ongoing sale right now so let's go sago! 

Adam & Criselda's

I always like the feeling and smelling fresh, that's why I like perfumes! My favorite scents includes Happy Clinique, Elizabeth Arden Green tea, Burberry weekend. My go-to shop for this stuff is located Alphaland Building, Makati City. They have wide selections of nice spritz, and affordable! Keep smelling fresh! 

See you in one of the shops,

itsmelory (^.^)

Day 2-Ramen, men!

What's something nice about being in an official business is the business after the official business. Crazy right? Yes,  that's food business I'm talking about. Simply because I have a nice boss who likes nice foods, and today is no different. I'm glad I won't get the karinderia lunch fix today. That-oily, fatty, not quite healthy ulam which you don't have any choice at all because the next food stall is two blocks away- and fast food is just boring right? Say yes.  

Ukokei ramon ron

Morning meeting with Japanese partners ended well. Good job. So Jon-san was too generous to splurge a bit for some ramen. Wait, not just any ramen, but Ukokei ron. My 3rd time so far in this restaurant,  but I would never get tired of it, even Nagatomo-san enjoyed the satisfying and hearty  Ukkokei Ramen Ron. 

The Good

This time, I ordered Higawari lunch set consisting of Ukkokei Shoyu Ramen "soy based" (own choice) mini donbouri, salad, kobachi and some free cold house tea. A complete set of meal. I think this is a good choice. The place is not too fancy, but a homey-Japanese feel. That's all I needed. 

The not so good

Although per bowl serving is good for 2 persons, sharing and taking out is not allowed! Well, honestly, I can't normally finish single bowl-I think it's just quite too much for me. I would suggest they have at least half servings for Ramen. Apart from no own restroom in this branch, all seemed whowkay. (But since I'm a regular, they allowed me to take home the remaining ramen.)

Yeah, men

So, all good things happen in one day, a good meeting, good opportunities ahead of us, and Nagatomo-san was happy to get some home food, and we are glad he liked it here. At the end of the day, all I could think of was my stomach, ramenful , ramen yeah men!

Love, 
itsmelory (^.^)

Note to self:  Next time, come in hungry to finish the bowl completely! No pressure. 

Day 1-Work, just like that

Today's a busy day but thankfully a quiet one. I spent the entire afternoon doing my manager's assignment (joke) and checking updates due for Mancom's discussion. Hey we, women knows how to do 2 things at once. Versatile as that. Beats me.

What work looks like

Such a breeze! The usual BBC news habit which I have subscribed since I'm 10 minutes early for work. It's a relief to read that Israel-Gaza have agreed a ceasefire yet again, but quite horrified that Iraq is at war now and the US sending air strikes, Robin Williams, the Robin Williams was confirmed a suicide, the Ebola virus spread. Everything in the news is just terrible. 
I'm grateful that we are here but at the same it's so horrible to realize that other part of the world is experiencing such ordeals. My day went on just like my other days would be. Monitoring my teams' IT, signing orders, signing requests, and oh I remembered our President dropped by my room asking about the presentation due on Friday. Okay, so is it time to panic?! I mapped out my priorities for the day: sending updates to our Japanese partner, finalizing proposal to another, too busy to notice that its past lunchtime-not until my boylet texted me. So I missed lunch (again) I hope I don't get stomach troubles for this! I love it when I'm busy and feeling productive like this. Keep it coming. 

but what's with the puffy eyes?! 


Please please brain, cooperate.

Work just like that,
itsmelory (^.^)