Happy Christmas ALL!

Back in my hometown in Bicol called Nabua, there's this small village (barangay) called Topas Proper. It is here where I grew up and had fond memories of Christmas celebrations.

Almost two decades decades later.

My 5-year old niece Venus prepared few gifts for cousins that she happily distributed to and eager to respond with her "You're welcome" after recipient says "Thank You". And chatting away with cousins with her mixed language of Rinconada, Tagalog and English. By the way, cousins are same too so they together surely get along well.

I'm here in Dubai doing my usual work while talking to my mom what she's bought from the nearby grocery store to cook for noche buena. This kind of conversation makes me miss home. The slow life, everything simple.

Our Dubai noche buena comprises of home delivery KFC chicken bucket, ham and apple sprinkled with cinnamon, spaghetti and Filipino style fruit salad.

What I was up to lately...

How to tie the perfect bow on a gift, every time! by Dana of MADE Everyday ( I used her technique and it really works! ) I'm just ecstatic I found her youtube video in time for Christmas!

Also, been thinking to remake her DIY Lantern

I confess I stalk Il Divo online, and been repeteadly playing their youtube video singing Si Tu Me Amas

This arm workout from Dyan Castillejo

Lost. I just can't pick any other word. Feeling lost in nowhere doing Bachata routine while listening to Huey Dunbar's Yo Si Me Enamore. His music soothes my soul.

And lastly, though I signed up Twitter back in 2012, it's only lately that I get around of actually using it. And to be honest, I find it user friendly and I have immediately made new friends, yay!

There you go my friends, I wish you all the happy spirit of Christmas and togetherness!

I am naturally fascinated by good photography. And I have seen a lot of photos out there. I personally like Itsoura's style because it matches what I envision the output to be.

I worked with Josephus, the man behind the camera. I just carried on with my business while he was taking snaps. Sunshine was kind enough to let me use her lipstick in dark red shade to give that sultry look.


Overall, it was a fun experience. I love the output!

If you ever need a photographer while in Dubai, I'd recommend to give Itsoura a try.

Photos were taken at Dubai Creek Park in Deira.

Wearing:
Dress: c/o my sister Vanessa
Earrings: on sale at Centrepoint
Lipstick: Chanel c/o Sunshine
Watch: old Swatch that I own for 3 years now
Shoes: Paprika, on sale at Centrepoint (2-inch heels, nude)

On another note, I've been planning to take leave from work and travel to Jaipur, India for three weeks. I have all the intention to take a short-term course and I'll see how it goes for me. However, I haven't checked places to visit yet when free.

One thing that is of definite interest for me is the Chand Baori, it is a stepwell near Jaipur. It looks like a beautiful landmark.

Have anyone of you been to Jaipur yet? Can you recommend places to go?

Thanks a lot for stopping by!

I mean my immunity system has gotten down and now I have a bad case of flu.

Cause: Less hours of sleep, non-stop working, and not been going to the gym for couple of weeks now. Long enough before I notice it has taken toll on my health.

Rest for now. Should be back soon.

And so we must eat dinner.



This is a nice family photo of us.


And then, we had birthday lunch at work. Kabsa style.

Indian tradition must be carried out. Somebody has to feed me cake first :)


People that I work with, especially those I work with for the last six years, have kindly written me sweet messages on this card. Ahhh, I feel overwhelmed with love!



And just because they know me well, a frustrated pole dancer, this has to be a cake made for me.


I am blessed to be surrounded with good friends and most I consider family. Thank you everybody. You all made me feel so good! I love you all.

Currently, work is draining my brain energy.

However, this is life. And we must ride the waves. Knowing that this is only another passing phase. I am so much looking forward for a relaxing day at the beach, and a staycation in a nice hotel. To recharge my energy.

Hopefully soon I will be able to have some free time to paint gouache during sunrise at the beach. You know, at Jumeirah Open Beach.

And so here's the famous Mizu Volcanic Sushi
Excuse our photography please... no one brought a proper camera so we used iphones and that blackberry there too.

Nica kindly took a candid photo of me trying to pick my food with chopsticks. I'm in fact trying to be an expert using chopsticks to eat, tryyyyinnng....
We had a hard time finishing all the food we ordered but tried our best and we won, over sushi, seriously? Oh my goodness, the food was so yummy and heavy to the tummies and well presented too. Eating in between loud conversation and laughter = fantastic girlies date night over sushi.

Photo by Maria Nica Evangelista

Well, as it was getting late and we were the last customers to leave the place, we better be going and everyone has to go to work the following day! Have fun you guys!

And guess what!? After five weeks I finally placed an order of this print on basic combed cotton fabric for two yards and will be having it shipped to my New York ShopandShip mail forwarder. Shipping is USD 3.00 to New York while the fabric itself is USD 17.50 x 2, plus I also ordered a swatch book (a sample pack of all types of fabrics that Spoonflower offers) for USD 1.00. That's a total of USD 39.00 for this order which translates to AED 156.00, not bad at all.

So it says my order will be shipped around 3rd of September.

Meanwhile, I'll sit and wait while dreaming of making a skirt with this lovely print.

Neutral (number four), came up with an idea of purified drinking water refilling station that will sell competitively in the local market. Almost similar to Dubai where people not fond of drinking water straight from tap, people in Philippines need more access to safe drinking water that will not break the bank. Mineral, purified, and distilled water are just so expensive if you buy them from supermarkets and pharmacies. I haven't done a complete survey yet of water refilling stations in Naga City, Bicol but I personally believe we can have a slice of the market share since there are new residential communities in the city being developed.

In Manila, according to a friend, a 5-gallon water bottle is being sold at 15 pesos to beat the competition as there are water refilling stations everywhere and yet it runs with good profit. No doubt then since Metro Manila is densely populated.

Back to my siblings, number five is working full time at a local branch of SM retail store. Number six is completing her degree in Food Service Management next March 2015, and collectively we decide for her to run the water store along with Gorgeous. She'll be 20 years old. God bless her.

I am lucky enough to be surrounded with awesome people. Last night over chai at Cha Cha Chai, I got some helpful tips from new acquaintances I met at Wealth Academy class. She has apparently availed assistance from Philippine government during her business registration before moving to Dubai and she really saved some money for otherwise fees to be paid. I recall my own journey back in 2005 with my ex-fiancé while doing the paperwork of our Belgian Waffle franchise in LCC Mall Legazpi City. The same money could have been used to fund our business operation.

I also recently received some useful advice from my former entrepreneurship mentor in forming our most dreamed corporation with my younger siblings.

Meantime, I am working on the business plan, but we are really gonna go ahead with it no matter what. We don't have a name yet that will be attached prior to wordings "Mineral Water Refilling Station". I will be seeking input of the global netizens who will be kind enough to help us think. Then whoever we pick who came up with the name that appeals us most, we'll try to arrange for something to be shipped to you wherever you are as our way of extending our humble thanks for you being the most awesome business name guru.

Please write your suggestions on the comments section below :)

The first half of 2014 has been a rocky road experience. I decided to write my reflections since I feel a lot of things have happened that turned my world upside down especially before 2013 left and the arrival of 2014 that had me in a bittersweet state. Some experiences were good, some not really. I have experienced things and some self discovery I never thought of (they were in fact really nice) and at the same time there are life hurdles that I have had to face head on.

I want to do a little recollection and random things about me. And, since this is my blog and I will write whatever I feel like writing so embrace it :)

Ramadan came and gone and so was my social Iftars then the Eid holidays. Germany won the FIFA World Cup 2014.
I have visited Al Khawali Restaurant for the first time for an Iftar dinner with my Egyptian friend and he became my second teacher how to smoke shisha properly.
Random things:

1. Car arrest. My car has put me into lots of trouble lately mainly due to my fault but I am not giving up on her because I intend to drive it to the ground till every piece is broken and beyond repair.

To those close to me personally know that my little car that I call Pinkie went on "vacation" at Dubai Police شرطة for 8 weeks and I had to arrange a rental car so I could manage to go and about my daily routine and to continue my just about nomadic lifestyle. My work is literally 80 kilometers away from home and it's not in downtown Dubai so having to arrange my own transportation is essential. I know I have been a not-so responsible car owner, lesson learned. Now moving on, BIIGGGGGGGGGG thanks to friends from the one who helped me get a cheap rental car through another friend who works at car rental company down to another long-time friend of mine who was with me till late when I picked up my car and roaming around the city to find an open car washing. I didn't want to be fined again for a fresh out of Police yard car being too dirty when I use it to work the next day eh?

So this is my daily drive, back and forth.
2. Apartment. Prior to completing a year at my rental apartment's tenancy contract, it got me really thinking either to keep my two-bedroom apartment or move to a one bedroom? My brother can move to his company-provided accommodation in effect I will pay less money for my rent. Yes, it will sort of help increase my personal cash flow. But I really like the thought of family environment for my siblings instead of being all by ourselves in a foreign country. Talk about being the eldest of six siblings here. Plus, since he likes the living room so much that he doesn't like staying in his room, I made it my home office / sewing / creativity room, which he doesn't mind. So we both still have our own space.

Finally, decided to keep my apartment and negotiated with my landlord to allow me pay same rate as previous year's. She did let me on a condition of two cheques instead of four, which I was happy to find ways. She's happy, I'm happy.

2. Eid holidays. I made up my mind to have a grand Eid celebration. That means away from my usual routine. So, I stayed back at the comfort of my own home as oppose to going here, there and everywhere. Initially thought of inviting friends over to help me sew but I decided to be quite and chill instead to recuperate from my usual busy life. That was luxury already, ayeee!

3. I fell in love! Love is good. But it was over. Somehow, it made me feel human again after three years of my previous relationship that ended in a broken engagement. And with all oddity, I fell in love to someone who professed his extreme likeness on me two and a half years ago. Told him then that I needed time and that we are two different species. I couldn't comprehend it but I did fell in love on him. I haven't had that feeling towards him previously and without advance notice it struck me like a lightning bolt. Before I know it, I have adored him so much already. It was over though after a couple of months we realized we better off as friends again. Cool enough.

4. Dying plants at my balcony. I lost a couple of my potted plants due to heat, that was really sad.

I will be back!