Yesterday, I lost one of my best friends to cancer. I would like to dedicate my love for this book (and our love for Friends) to him.
I’ll love you forever
I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be
Rest well, Mark. Wherever you are, there’s no shortage of Friends reruns that you can always watch. Love you forever.
Sunnies Specs in Reagan Bronze
I used to wear the Alister prior, but in less than 6 months my grade shot up and wearing plastic lenses suddenly became so heavy. I tried their metal collection and was pleasantly surprised at how I loved the fit of the Reagan. What I like about Sunnies Specs is that it’s stylish but inexpensive.
Kehlani’s Distraction
Been obsessed with this song recently.
Terrace House Aloha State
Terrace House Aloha State is a Japanese reality show centered around human beings who live and interact with each other for a certain amount of time. This time, it’s set in North America so relationships and way of life are more Westernized as opposed to the original series. Everything is based among the famous Japanese simplicity of interior design and cinematography. Impatiently patiently waiting for Part 2 to come out on this side of Netflix!
Riverdale
I can’t really say I love Riverdale yet, but the fact that I keep watching it every week is an indication of my interest. I kind of gave up on American hour-long TV shows for a good year or more now. I think I may even love the characters more than I love the storyline, and the aesthetic is pretty great even though I don’t feel like it totally matches the supposed tone of the ensemble. I guess I was really just spoiled by the comics growing up. Let’s see how long I can keep up with it!
New MacBook Pro
It’s a work machine, and I’m so happy because I didn’t have to shell out a couple of thousand bucks for it. I finally got to replace my 2011 MBP and this time it’s 15″ and retina! Work asked me to choose if I wanted the 2016 ones but I opted for the previous line before that. I can’t live a life of dongles, not into that yet. Suddenly with retina the world is so clear.
What’s a typical Sunday like:
I quite love my Sundays. It’s usually church by mid-morning with Mom and Jana, then off to lunch. Groceries or shopping in the afternoon, then chill at coffee shops before heading back home to cap off the weekend!
Name three things that are physically close to you:
My laptop, my phone, my flavor of the moment. I have this thing where if I like something I have to sleep with it, except clothes (sometimes!) and shoes. So like if I bought a new planner or a new pen or new makeup, then there’s a huge probability that it’s beside me when I sleep.
The drink you always order at Starbucks:
Apple Berry Juice Freeze, but they recently officially took it off the list. I’ve been ordering it off-menu for a good two years. Sigh! Other than that it’s Iced Soy Green Tea Latte Venti, but with 2 scoops of green tea, 3 pumps mocha, and 3 pumps vanilla. Yes, I’m one of those annoying people with a customized order sounding like an asshole when talking to a barista (I try to be as nice as possible, though!). Sorry not sorry because I’m getting my money’s worth.
Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
Definitely. COKE FOR LIFE. I always said I better end up with a Pepsi-loving guy so that we didn’t have to fight for soda.
Your go-to karaoke song:
This is a tough question because I hoard the karaoke database. But on the top of my head it would be classics like Carole King’s It’s Too Late, Faith Hill’s There You’ll Be and Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain! Then there’s Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You or any Adele song if the database is recent.
What you do to relax:
Play SimCity BuildIt on the iPad. I’ve been playing this almost daily for 3 years and counting!
Something you have to do before sleeping:
Read something so I can fall asleep. Whether an article from my phone or a book on my Kindle.
Top 5 favorite memories from 2016:
1. Watched Matilda on Broadway in NYC
2. Niagara Falls
3. Spending my birthday in Jakarta
4. Boracay trip
5. Both my Manila trips where I spent time with Rob & Mark
A current fashion trend that you think you won’t be able to pull off:
Silk pajamas! I wish I can rock them without looking like I’m off to bed!
Current or recent obsession:
Terrace House Aloha State and I wish Part 2 gets released already.
Usually when January ends I would be like, “That was fast!” and wonder how the month flew by just like that. It’s quite different this time. Last month was pretty damn eventful that it would be a waste not to write about it and look back on all the events that took place. This might be a long one!
Birthdays
My childhood best friend Hazel celebrated her 30th with a bang. 3 decades is a feat and should be celebrated just like she did it. We’ve been friends for 23 years and I’ve missed her birthdays because I would always be out of the country for Christmas but I’m glad I was here this time, and for her 30th at that!
Jana also celebrated her 17th birthday at home with about 30 of her friends. The older my sister grows the older it makes me but honestly, it just feels like the generation gap between us gets smaller. She was such a baby to me before, but now I can even start taking her out with my friends.
Professional Milestone
It is with a bit of sadness that I say I am no longer a digital nomad. The upside is, it’s a step up the ladder in my professional journey. New industry, new challenges, new people, and a new office.. but still at the core of my “expertise” which is marketing. Excited to see what this journey brings me. It feels a bit full circle, from studying most of my life in an international school, now here I am working in one. Talk about giving back.
This week was pretty full in terms of life, and what a better way to end it than recalling all the happy things that took place!
1. La La Land. I watched it with my girlfriends on Wednesday and I absolutely fell in love with everything. Do I need to elaborate? I don’t think so.
2. Wednesday night dinner with the girls. The good side to adulting is when you get to catch up with friends after work and you’re all coming from different jobs, and just sit and chat and update each other with what’s been happening. It somehow felt like an episode of SATC or something too because there were 4 of us. Heh.
3. Coffee shop afternoons. When my sister has her midterms, I always drag her out to coffee shops after school so that she can sit and study instead of falling asleep at home. It also gave me a chance to fully live the “digital nomad” life for the last week since before starting my new job.
4. Bittersweet (last) week at work. This is a happy thing because I left on a good note, which I always try to maintain every time I leave a job to go start a new one. My colleagues even made me a special presentation with their notes and heartfelt personal messages! This is something I absolutely love and appreciate, when you know a person has taken the time to write to you. I cried and was thankful to have had such a great time at this company, that they allowed me to experience the digital nomad life for a good 2 years.
5. New dumb (but strong) phone. My friend got me a new Samsung Keystone 3 in white and I absolutely love it!!! I think I have quite a collection of dumb phones that I collect over the years then give away to anyone who wants it, namely my dad who’s also into them. Don’t think I’ll be giving away this one though. It was quite a challenge to find.
6. Catching up with cousins. A cousin from Melbourne and his 16 friends (YUP!) took a Cebu detour after attending a wedding in Bohol before heading to Palawan. I got to catch up with him and meet his friends last night after not seeing each other for about 2 years. It was a good time spent with relatives I don’t get to see often.
7. Seeing the love of my life. Not really. To cut a long story short, there’s this guy I’ve been “in love” with since 2005 and I don’t think he has any idea who I am. I see him around Cebu because we’re almost in the same circles and last Wednesday I saw him again. It was a good start to my year. I can’t believe I’ve had a crush on him for 12 years now. Crazy.
8. Late Christmas gifts. A special someone (not presently anymore) delivered a gift to me last Tuesday, a Burberry Brit Rhythm. The smell wasn’t really what I was used to but I’ve come to really love it and use it everyday. I got a new Lokai bracelet from my Tita in New York, and a girlfriend gave me a coin purse which has my name embossed on it. I love personalized gifts, it gives it so much more meaning.
9. A chill Friday night. After being out every night of the week this week, I am here in my cold room just writing this blog post and having the most relaxing night. While everyone is partying it up at Lifedance, I’m going to be just here under my duvet and watch my YouTube videos.
10. La La Land Soundtrack. This list started with the movie, and now ending with the music. It’s been on repeat since I finished watching the movie. Enjoy below.
