Last Friday after work Dane and I went to SM Fairview to get a gift for our Secret Santa for our team's Christmas party. The mall was packed! There were so many people rushing to get gifts for their family, friends and godchildren :D Anyway, I got what I wanted to get, so we went back to my apartment.
On normal days, I would just have lounged at the apartment, maybe watch a DVD or read a book, and then go to sleep since I have work the next day. But that night was HSBC's Center Stage night and I really wanted to go! Good thing my flatmate Asther is at the apartment as well so she went with Dane and me back to the office to watch and support our former housemate Ruther. :)
Center Stage is a talent search and Ruther was part of the singing contest. We met with Mich at the office, and we agreed to just watch Ruther's performance and then go home already (because of the inconvenience of work the next day) but we ended up watching the full show anyway because he was the last to perform :D
There he is, owning the stage!
He is a very, very good singer and was part of a theater group in his hometown, Bulacan. My favorite is when he sings Ewan McGregor's part in his and Nicole Kidman's Come What May from the movie Moulin Rouge! For that night though, his piece was Take Me Out of the Dark by Filipino singer Gary Valenciano, and guess what, HE WON! I am so proud of him! :)
After the contest, Dane was supposed to drop us off to Philcoa so Asther, Mich and I can just take a cab home but we were still full of adrenaline from Ruther's winning that we did not want to go home just yet. They were confident because it was their rest day the next day and it is only me who had to go to work, but I said, screw work and just went with the flow :D
So, where did the night take us?
To McDonald's, where we feasted on french fries and sundaes layered with hot fudge and Oreos. Yum!
Asther and Mich
Dane and Krissy
Dane doesn't want to have his photo taken...
... but I can be sssneaky!
Dane drove the three of us back to the apartment since Mich decided to just stay for the night and then hear the morning Mass with Ar at 4am. I asked them to wake me up before they leave (which should be at about 3:45am) so that my mind would already be awake by 4am. Guess what, I woke up at 4:30am and they were still sleeping! XD
Singing, winning, sundae-ing, and driving past 10pm. I daresay it was an awesome last Friday before Christmas. :)
Noticed anything new around here lately? This post is way overdue XD I got too caught up in the holiday rush! No one's complaining though, because I love Christmas and it's my favorite season of the year! :D
Anyway, look up to see what my BEST guy friend Jerome did for my blog! Yep, a new banner! Do you like it? I know I do!
I have been badgering him for one for so long to no avail, so imagine my surprise when he e-mailed me this banner last Thursday. It took him only a day since he is not too busy at the office :) He said the girl is a caricature of me. It's too cute how she also has glasses, dimples, pink lips, and is even holding a pen for good measure. Sexy too, don't you think? And that pink kissmark on her left shoulder is just too adorable :D
Jerome is now working as a web designer for Union Bank. He has been drawing and sketching since we were young (he drew all the Yuyu Hakusho characters for me when we were in high school) so I am happy that he landed a job he loves. He is also an ace badminton player and has won several tournaments already. And, get this, he and his twin brother Jonas are endorsers of Babolat. Do I sound like a very proud stagemom? LOL!
Thanks Jer! You really are the awesome-st! :)
For his other works, please visit his Deviant Art account ;)
Eight days before Christmas! Wow, can you believe that? The days are a-zooming and I am not yet completely done with my Christmas shopping! Every year around this time I complain and swear I will start doing my Christmas shopping early next year so I won't be beaten by the holiday rush, but I guess I never learn :D My social calendar is full with plans to see friends and relatives and I looove it :)
It's a time when people's pockets are looser; perfect time for giving and sharing as the spirit of the season leaves us feeling warm and fuzzy all over. I am a pink and fabulous girl who loves receiving gifts as much as I love giving them, and this blog post is dedicated to just that, a list of stuff I would love to get not just this Christmas but for the coming year. So yeah, it's my Wish List: 2010 Edition. If friends and family won't give them to me I am sure I will still get them, thanks to my willpower when wanting anything. As Paulo Coelho very wisely said on my favorite book of his The Alchemist, "When you really want something, the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." So hey universe, I know I am just a little speck as compared to your vastness, grandeur and ineffability, but I would greatly appreciate it if you conspire with your, umm, conspirators in getting me these this coming year (I love that the universe sounds so badass when you think of him/ her conspiring with others :D):
- LASIK. Or the next best thing - contact lens.
I have worn eyeglasses since I was in second grade (eight years old). Can you believe that? I am my high school batch's geekest. There is only another one from my Elementary class who wore eyeglasses that time, and he's not wearing them now anymore x_x
wearing glasses
without glasses
I would like to play with eyeshadow and other whatnots, even try those fancy contact lens just for fun but I cannot see without my trusted pink eyeglasses. I wanted to try graded contact lens for the longest time, but they're so expensive (because of the added cost due to my astigmatism. Thank you, genes.) and I'm afraid I'd just lose them. Besides, I am squeamish about putting strange foreign objects on my eyes. Eek. But this coming year, I am going to conquer my fear. Please pray that I might have the courage. :D
- A point-and-shoot digital camera. Plus points if it's in pink. (Wish granted on February 4, 2010)
Casio Exilim Z150 (front)
Casio Exilim Z150 (back)
Our Casio Exilim I-forgot-what-the-exact-model-is conked out on us this year, and I was forced to blog using photos taken by my phone Alister's 2mp lens. Alister takes decent photos but I want clearer ones. I can't wait to lug around a pink camera. Or a white one, so she can go well with my white netbook Lady Fabrize.
- A new phone. Plus points if it's in pink.
Ah, the pink phone conspiracy. I have had two pink phones before and you really cannot deny their cuteness factor. Or come to think of it. a white phone will also do, so she can also go well with Lady Fabrize. Yes, I am a lady who likes matchy-matchy stuff.
This Samsung Star looks gooood
I love Alister (who houses my Globe SIM) and my other-phone-who-doesn't-have-a-name (who houses my Sun SIM) but I have had him for a year now. Plus, him not being wifi-enabled makes him look ancient. Sorry Alister. But I will still keep you and won't ditch you even when I get a new one. Because I love you like that and you have served me well. :)
- A digital perm.
Yes, the dilemma I posted here has been solved. I have decided I really want a digiperm.
I want loose curls
Now if only I have the cash already I will have this treatment right now, but with the status of my finances right now, I guess I would have to wait for a bit more. x_x I wish I can have it before HSBC's Holiday Party! x_x
- An external hard drive
Because you can almost hear my personal computer's internal hard drive weep with the weight he carries. I'd like to get an external hard drive so I can back up my files, plus have room for other stuff I'd like to download thanks to the wonderful world wide web. Plus points if it looks girly. :)
- A credit card
I know it would signal the end of a debt-free life as I know it. But I would very much like to have a credit card just so I can have a Paypal account and finally order stuff from etsy sites I want to buy stuff from! x_x I know I don't really need them... But you can't justify wants so I won't even try. :)
- Nail art pens and Konad stamps
I may not know how to draw to save my life and I can't even doodle, but I know talent when I see it. And this, you can't deny there is some potential in here folks.
Strawberry nails!
Watermelon nails! (Sorry the "seeds" of the niddle finger are bigger than those of the rest.)
I made these manually (using just the brush included with the nail polish). I also designed some hearts before on my nails, and flowers on my friend/ officemate Sasha's, too bad I don't have photos of them. Just think how many other designs I can make with nail art pens. :D
- A chain-link bag
A Chanel sounds great, but unattainable at the moment.
via Google Image Search
There's just something sexy and ultra-feminine about it. I like!
- DVDs of my favorite movies
I love collectiing original DVDs of my favorite movies and I already have quite an impressive collection. But why, oh why, does my top favorite have to be so elusive?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Have you seen this? If not, I would highly recommend it. Sigh. Beautiful, beautiful film. Just. Beautiful. I have searched high and low for a copy of it but video stores here are already out of copies. I have the original VCD and my bestfriend Jerome has already downloaded a copy of it for me but I still want the original DVD, with the features, commentary and all. So far the only store I saw this in stock is Amazon.com. And that, my friends, is the reason why I NEED a credit card.
500 Days of Summer
I am absolutely in love with this movie. I have seen it seven times already but I never fail to cry at my favorite scenes. Read my review here! The DVD comes out on December 22. This is attainable! :D
So, that's all for now. Wow, that's a pretty short list as compared to some wish lists I have done in the past. I guess I will update this post from time to time, and will update you on the status of my "attaining" these as the universe conspires with his/ her conspirators. Will post a link on the top link bar. :)
So, *coughcoughwinkwinkhinthintnudgenudge* Happy 8 Days Before Christmas, everyone! ♥♥
So I told you about a misfortune Dane and I had when we went to Cartimar last week so he can get a dog, right? Well, maybe misfortune is a very strong word. Let me tell you now what happened (because I love telling other people's stories as much as I love telling my own :D)
We left his car at SM San Lazaro and just took the train because the traffic at Doroteo Jose and Carriedo was painfully slow and we might be stuck for hours. We reached Cartimar, a place known as pet-heaven (because of the rows and rows of stores selling all kinds of pets and stuff needed to take care of one) at about 4:30PM. We scoured the stores looking for a dog for him, specifically a guard dog but did not get much luck as the stores were only selling cute toy dogs. We roamed the place for about three times but saw only one store selling a Rottweiler so beautiful she can really beg you to take her home already. He needed more time to think about it though, so we went around the other stores some more and ate dinner since it was already 7PM. We went back just before the store's closing hours and by then he was already convinced by the salesman to get the dog. He was short of about 1,000php though, so we went to an ATM first while the salesmen were preparing the papers and grooming the Rottweiler. On our way back, the salesman went to us and told that as they were preparing the documents, their boss (the store owner) called and said the dog was already reserved for another person. Sheesh. We left Cartimar with heavy hearts and went back to SM San Lazaro to get his car. He said it was okay but I know he also felt sad.
And how can you not get sad when you missed out on this beauty:
playfully biting the salesman's hand
very regal in her stance
Imagine my surprise when Dane told me he was able to get her after all! He went back there on Friday to see if he will have better luck when he was told he can already buy the dog! Now, he wants to call her Xena but his nieces and nephews call her Isay :D
Everyone, meet Xena/ Isay! :D
She is a three- (or five? Sorry I can't remember X[) month old pure-bred Rottweiler. She is really a thing of beauty :) Dane said she is a big eater and acts very sweet when carried :)
So yeah, it's a happy ending after all. :)
Today was a fairly good day for ice cream, so during lunchtime Dane and I went to Mini Stop in Technohub for a quick sugar fix.
I'm sorry for the lame photo XD
That is my Hershey's Dark Chocolate and Vanilla sundae cone (which is very, very delish I tell you) with the fountains of Technohub as unwilling backdrop
And a real value of money for only 15php per cone. Sweeeet :)
One of the things I love about my job is how I can get away with wearing stuff like this that would be too casual for others:
One of the things I love about my job is how I can get away with wearing stuff like this that would be too casual for others:
That's me feeling pleased with my ice cream cone and pretty pink dress :D
Imagine wearing that to a corporate office XD
And that's him, feeling pleased with his ice cream cone and the shirt I gave him :D
It's payday today! So yay I can finally finish my Christmas shopping tomorrow! And it's my rest day so I'll be holed up here in my parents' home for the next two days. I arrived here to two surprises, apparently.
A postcard from Nashe^ and my Johnson's Body Care Lotion gift package!
Thank you so much Nashe^! I will be posting your postcard AND Christmas card on Wednesday! :)
My Johnson's Body Care Lotion gift package
I have Mia to thank for the heads-up regarding Johnson's Body Care Lotion gift package. She blogged about it a couple of weeks ago and provided the link. I actually have the full-sized Naturally White and Melt Away Stress already and I love them! I also have a mini bottle-sized Melt Away Stress and just refill it from the full-sized bottle every time I go on sleepovers (because it literally melts away the stress of a long day). But still, a free is a free is a free, right?
It contains four mini-bottles of 24-Hour Lasting Moisure and two mini-bottles of Melt Away Stress
I will give a couple to friends, and some will be very handy during sleepovers :D Want your own Body Care Lotion gift package from London? Click here :) And want a Christmas cheer from me? Click here :)
Remember when I told you here that I might be able to share with you guys stuff I have written from years back? Well, that time has come :D
I was at my parents’ house on my rest day when I decided to go through my old stuff and, you know, walk down memory lane for a bit. I was looking through the pile of notebooks and journals I have collected from the last eight years (our house burned down on 2001 so I started my collection from scratch again) when I saw this yellow notebook.
An old notebook, as in really OLD
This is actually an ordinary notebook that I have personalized by removing the spring binding and sewing the pages together, and then covering it with yellow paper (because yellow used to be my favorite color. I even had yellow_sunshine19@yahoo.com as my email address. I know, right?) and plastic. I also wrote my name on a cut-out sheet of fancy stationery which I glued on the front cover and even put a Tweety sticker for good measure (because in my highschool days, nothing says Kristel like a Tweety insignia lol).
I made this when I was in second year high school; I was fourteen years old that time. And no I did not have a boyfriend, but I seriously believed I was madly, head-over-heels, the-world-has-stopped-turning, desperately in love with a guy I have had a crush on since I was in grade four (ten years old). I even cried when I learned the next year that he has transferred to another region and will not study in our school anymore. It is kinda pathetic when I look back on it now, but forgive my young heart back then for thinking he was the greatest love of my life.
But that’s beside the point. The point is this yellow notebook contains valuable memories of my teenage years. I have written lots of songs on it that I have liked since I was young, songs that have just been released then, and songs that I have considered as included in the OST of my life. It includes songs such as Stay (by Lisa Loeb), Turn the Clock Around (by Mandy Moore), Sukiyaki (by 4PM), Lost in Space (by Lighthouse Family) and Until the Time is Through (by 5ive). Not only that, it contains poems I have written in high school. I admit I am not the best poet, but that time, I thought I was the best there ever was since I was the only one amongst my classmates who can write a string of words which rhyme at the end of each line :D And mind you, these songs and poems are not written directly on the paper. I wrote them first on fancy papers and stationery, cut them out, and then paste them to the pages. I thought it was the most artistic thing to do at the time. Now that I look back though, I can only smile at how naïve – but cute lol - I sounded :D
This is a copy of the song With a Smile by Eraserheads
Would you want to read one of the poems I have written? I guess you don’t have a choice anyway because I am presenting it to you now haha! This one I wrote on June 2, 2002 (I can’t believe it has already been that long). I just took a pen and paper, and then the words just flowed through me. I cannot explain it, it was almost like the pen has a mind of its own. I miss that feeling, the feeling of transforming thoughts to ink. I do that now as well, the only difference is that instead of ink, my thoughts become transformed to pixels :D
Back to the poem, I want to share this to you guys. Tell me what you think about it, and then tell me whether you have or you know someone who has already experienced it before. Keep in mind though that it is neither Neruda nor Keats. This bunch of lines attempting to rhyme was written by my fourteen-year old self, so please be kind :D
I never realized it would be over too fast
I always thought our love would last
It seemed we turned our backs from the past
Now it felt as if we’re worlds apart.
It all started one fine morning
I woke up suddenly losing the feeling
When I saw him, there is a nagging
Telling me he also felt nothing.
I know he felt the same way too
So I called to say we’re through
It is time to call it quits
But our memories will be for keeps.
The line was busy
Suddenly I felt guilty
So I put the phone down
But then it rang.
I picked it up on the second ring
Asking the other person, “Who’s calling?”
A deep voice answered, “Hey, ‘tis me,
We loved each other, but now we have to be free.”
I said, “Okay fine, I loved you too,
But you have to find the better one for you.”
I know we were breaking up
But surprise, surprise, I felt no pain inside.
And so it happened
We promised we’d be friends
But promises, in time, were bent
Our friendship also ended.
It’s because of a girl he met
Upon her, his gaze was always set
She prohibited him from seeing me
Fine with me, so long as he’s happy.
So we went with our own lives
Absorbing the sights and the sounds
Until I was haunted with sleepless nights
Can’t truly forget him, try as I might.
I realized I love him still
But he doesn’t know what I feel
We’re through, these feelings I must kill
But I can’t seem to find the will.
Until one morning, I saw him by my door
He is waiting with presents from the store
If only he knew how he made my heart soar
That day, a new love was born.
He said, “For a while, I’ve been blind
But I can’t seem to get you off my mind
I realized I’m not really strong
I needed your love all along.”
We found ourselves in a tight embrace
No need for words, I touched his face
I thought of all the times we’ve missed
Guess what, this story ends with a kiss.
Whoah, that was long! I hope I did not bore you. Oh, want proof I wrote that? Here’s the yellowed page:
So there, what about you, got any similar stories to share? Or any embarrassing stories to share about your first loves and puppy loves? Please do tell me about them! There is comfort in knowing I am not alone :D
PS: I just cannot think where my fourteen year old-self got the idea for this poem x_x
PPS: I am still rounding up people who might want a Christmas cheer from me! Click here!
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