Rock n' Roll Buddy

I've been trying to get back into the groove of real life, after being away not having to do anything for almost a month.

First of all, work has been good. I finished a lot of my assigned stuff before I even left so right now I'm just finishing off whatever else I didn't get to do pre-vacation. On the first week I was back, my Ateneo girls and I scrambled to pull off a JOINT SURPRISE PARTY for both Patring and Gina, whose birthdays are only weeks apart.

Originally, it was suppose to be the week after I arrived to give us more time BUT I was suddenly assigned to cover an event in Davao, so we had to rush everything on the week I got home.

It was the most stressful day ever! Everything was set. We were going to have it at Fiama on January 18, Friday. I told Gina it was some event or other, and she didn't suspect a thing because she always comes with me anyway. Patring was a bit trickier but I aske dher officemates to tell her there was an event she had to attend for her magazine.

Then all of a sudden at like 4 pm on the day of the party, Patring calls me and says she's tamad to go so she's skipping the event. I kept my composure while talking to her and panicked the minute I put the phone down. I made hella calls and just waited and waited-until finally at around 745 pm, she called me and said she had to go after all.
The birthday girls getting tipsy tipsy tipsy! (This is a still normal picture of Gina. I won't event show the progression from sober to gone)
Vicky and Bea! I missed you both while I was away! Vicky became a co-conspirator with out her realizing it haha!
Some Ateneo friends and my main partner in pulling this whole thing off-Amina with her new short 'do!

Then the next week, I had to fly out to Davao from Thursday-Sunday for a Nivea event at Pearl Farm. I must admit that I was not in the mood to go at first. I had just gotten back and wanted to stay put for awhile. By the end of the trip though, i knew I would have regretted not going. I had so much fun, and even joined in the games-something I normally don't do when I go to these beach events.
The last night before the pool throwing started. Me with Tatum of People Asia (who I stole this photo from) and Pam from Marie Claire
The second night on Malipano island with Pam. I swear we weren't drunk! REALLY.
The Pink Nivea Visage team. We won first place all-around and we were the only team with mostly women. Yay for us!
Some of my favorite people from the trip! Wanggo, Brad and Tatum a.k.a. The Bitches of Eastwick hahaha

My horoscope says I have lots of travel in the cards this year. I hope that's true! Thanks to my Tita Rosanne who is giving me her Mabuhay Miles! Now, I just have to decide where I wanna go!

Life is good. Rock n' Roll!

REALITY CHECK

So...I'm back in the real world-or at least MY real world for now. I spent a month in Sydney with my family and friends and it was the best time I've had in a while.

Last few days were spent:
On a yacht, cruising around Sydney. Fortunately, I didn't get sea sick! And Ananda had so much fun!
At Cronulla Beach with the family-minus my mom who had the sudden urge to clean the house.
At Featherdale-again! We were supposed to go to the aquarium but Ananda kept saying she wanted to feed the kangaroos. Hay.
Melt at King's Cross with Sydney friends. Before that, had dinner with Lisette, Vince, Tim and Mio at the Codfather in Stanmore. Good food, but couldn't finish it!
My last day was spent at Bicenntenial park in Homebush at a picnic for Ala and Nino with friends and family.

Now I'm back in Manila and I'm half happy to be back at work and being productive, but I'm also kinda sad because now I don't know when we'll be a complete family again ;(

2007 year end Survey

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Live in a different country from my whole family. Ay wait. I have na pala. Ok, Live in a different country, with a daughter, without my family!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't like making New Year's resolutions. I forget them or end up not following them.I'd rather see what fits along the way....

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin's girlfriend gave birth to the cutest baby!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope not this year (Thank You God!)

5. What countries did you visit?
I was back and forth Manila-Australia and also went to Guam
With my siblings and Ananda by the Sydney Opera House during one of our Family Field Trips
Guam's Pleasure Island, the strip for luxury goods-with other people from the press :)

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
TIME for myself.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Probably June 3, 2007-because Boogie threw me a surprise birthday party on his birthday!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Managing my time between Metro, TKLV, makeup, Boogie, friends and being Ananda's mom

9. What was your biggest failure?
Again, being an immigrant ;p

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious, but that flu I got while in Dumaguete was pretty horrible

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ananda, of course! She's really turning out to be a little girl!
She likes to dress herself in very Carrie Bradshaw-ish outfits and ask me to take her picture.

13. Whose behaviour appalled you and made you depressed?
Let's not name names hehe. But let me just say, girls will be girls will be girls....

14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel, Ananda's stuff, Gas, Celphone

15 What did you get really, really, really excited about?
This kid loves vintage and going back to editorial work

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Straight Lines by Silverchair

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier, busier but happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? The same. My weight goes up and own but it's usually around a 5 lb difference.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer!
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?


19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate!

20. How will you be welcoming the NEw YEar?
We'll be in Prince Alfred Park in Parramatta with Ananda, my parents and the Moraza's. Don't wanna leave Ananda so not going to the city.
22. Did you fall in love in 2007? Yes, with onions. Never liked them before, now they are in everything I cook.

23. How many one-night stands?
None!

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Miami Ink!, America's next top Model, Grey's Anatomy, Food shows like Jamie Oliver, Anthony Bourdain, Bizarre Foods and Iron Chef!
I love tattoos and I think it's my secret wish that I could be as inked up as these guys.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really. I stopped hating people a long time ago. They piss me off, yes, but I don't hate anymore.

26. What was the best book you read?
The devil and Miss Prim by Paulo Coelho

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Not new artists, but the Common and Alicia Keys cds that came out this year were dope. I've been on an old school trip this year.

28. What did you want and get?
To open my little store, to work in editorial again and write to my heart's content, to be able to travel to and from sydney.

29. What did you want and not get?
To go back to London. I'm planning that for 2008. Also to win the Powerball :)

30. Favorite film of this year?
Pan's Labyrinth (I dunno if it came out this year but I watched it this year), Factory Girl, Notes on a Scandal. I dunno I can't think of any more.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to Opera Bar with Sydney Friends, then Chinatown the next day for lunch with family. Then when I got back to Manila, Boogie threw me a surprise party/joint party because it was his birthday too.
At Opera Bar for my birthday where my brother was ambushed by my friends! Sinuwerte sya! hahaha

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
being able to travel all over the world with Boogie, Ananda and friends
Well, at least I got to go to Dumaguete with Ananda and Boogie and Vicky wa smy roomate at The Tides Launch

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
As usual, a mix of boho-street-comfortable. Boots made a come back, as did heels.

34. What kept you sane?
Ananda-who at the same time also made me insane.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp. Can you blame me?

36. Who is your real-person crush?


37. What political issue stirred you the most?
I try not to pay attention to politics

38. Who did you miss?
My family in sydney. Friends and my lola Alice

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Lisette! Waddup girl! :)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
You can't control how others think, act or feel-but you can work on yourself

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"Get in your car and drive, you never know what you just might find, on this road of life-are you livin' or just along for the ride?"-The Procussions

*****AND LASTLY!!!
1) GOALS/DREAMS FOR THE NEW YEAR:
I wanna get to London somehow, just for holiday, expand This Kid loves Vintage hopefully.

2) PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR ON:
A. LOVE –
Big decisions need to be made

B. CAREER -Big dreams, big decisions!