Otherworldly – Page 25

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My Summer Essentials

Published by Justine

Summer may be over here in the Philippines, but it’s practically summer every day so there’s no reason to not write this entry. People look at me weird sometimes when I say I love summer, because I actually do. Sure, the heat and crazy humidity can get really unbearable at times, but there something about a bright day underneath a shining sun that just gets my spirits going.

1. Air-conditioning

I have to put this no. 1 on the list because come on let’s face it, if you have no access to A/C during Philippine summer, then you’re good as toast (literally).

2. A range of cute swimsuits

Summer means lots of planned or even random trips outdoors, which most likely involves the beach, especially if you live in my part of the country (yay, Cebu). It’s always good to prepare 2 or 3 swimsuits that look good on you whatever your body type is so that you feel confident to wear it under the sun. Plus it makes for really good photos!

3. A good book to read

You never know when you’re going to have free time under the sun (or indoors if too hot) so it’s always good to have a book to read for the summer. This summer I read Jojo Moyes’ One Plus One and absolutely fell in love with the story.

4. Sweat-proof makeup

This is extremely important. You wouldn’t want your makeup melting just because it’s too hot, right? This includes a good foundation or in my case a tinted moisturizer with the right amount of SPF, and waterproof eyebrow products. God bless my nonexistent brows!

5. Quality time with friends and family

I saved the best for last. What’s a fun summer without memories with your loved ones? I’m happy to say my summer has been exactly that. It was a very productive and fun summer for me that involved a number of trips to the beach, different islands, overseas, waterfalls, mountains.. and I’m thankful for that!

My iPhone Apps

Published by Justine

It’s about time I talk about my third hand, my iPhone. This entry has been sitting on my drafts for close to about a year now so I finally decided to update it and share my thumb’s best friends. In no particular order, these are the apps I mostly use on a daily basis:

SOCIAL MEDIA

The apps that I use are pretty much self-explanatory: Facebook, TweetBot (best twitter client, hands down), Instagram, Snapchat, Swarm. I have Path but I only go on it sometimes to keep track of my friends back in Jakarta because it’s pretty much the no. 1 social networking app there now. I have Goodreads downloaded when I’m currently reading a book so I can track my progress easily.

More categories below!

The Sunday Currently, v8

Published by Justine

FEELING
All over the place. I’m sure things will fall into place soon but for now, I’m still quite a mess.

LISTENING
To my June Spotify playlist. It’s a mix of songs I still haven’t gotten over and a few new favorites. I’m really into the whole mixture of ambient and general pop.

LOVING
I don’t want to be too honest with this one with the first thing that comes into my head. It’s been a rough few weeks but over the weekend I indulged in retail therapy. I bought a new MAC lipstick in Captive so I’m going to put that on my list. I am also loving Bobbi Brown’s Rum Raisin and MAC Del Rio. I feel like I’m going to purchase one of the two soon.

HOPING
That the next few days, weeks, months will be much kinder to me. The first half of the year was pure bliss and I don’t want the other half to be the complete opposite.

READING
Job postings online. I’ve come to a point where I’m getting restless and actively looking for new opportunities. It may be a phase, or it may be true, but regardless of what it is there really is no harm in trying to expand your professional career.

WRITING
This entry and a whole lot of job application e-mails. Whatever happens, whether I stay or go, the world will have a way of communicating it to me.

WANTING
To get lost without being scared, to take risks without worrying about the outcome. I won’t say anymore that I want to be the old carefree me, but I want to be a better me, someone that’s even more braver despite the things that are thrown at her.

NEEDING
A new dose of motivation. Motivation to be more creative, motivation to feed my mind with fresh things, motivation to feed myself with substantial information that’s beneficial for my self-growth. For the most part I’m doing okay.. but I feel like I’ve been a walking zombie with the “just be” outlook on everything. Oh okay, ahhh, alright, oh, wow. That’s me. After everything that happened the past two weeks I’ve been re-evaluating myself A LOT. Things I need to do, things I need to improve on, and things I need to realize in order to be a better version of the current me. I need to feed myself with new information for self-improvement.

Friday’s 10 Happy Things, v3

Published by Justine

It’s been a crazy, emotional two weeks (I actually believe in the mercury retrograde now) so I made sure to force myself to write this entry to remind myself that everything else isn’t so bad. Still all about myself.

1. Last weekend’s trip to Bohol. My mom turned a year older (fuck you, cancer!) and we decided to celebrate it by packing our bags, tag family along and go to Bohol. Man, I’m glad Bohol is only 2 hours away by fast craft. The resort we stayed in was so beautiful and amazing, and it’s supposed to be the new Bohol luxury resort or something. I really really really needed that weekend for my sanity and some good QT with cousins, and of course, let my best friend see outside Cebu.

2. Drinks and laughs. Last Wednesday I had an unexpected drunken night with friends after such a long time. I laughed so much and I even sang with an acoustic band! My intoxication has sort of taken a backseat this year for reasons involving health and a certain someone, but it was good to let go that night.

3. My last week (in Cebu) with my best friend. This one is quite bittersweet. Noemi officially left for Jakarta today after staying in Cebu for a good 40 days. We were roommates for more than a month and did everything together. I’m gonna miss her so much, but she’ll be here soon and I’ll probably visit Jakarta this year as well. Our yearly visits are always consistent and that’s always something to look forward to.

4. The willingness to improve. There are decisions I made the past week that will hopefully take a turn in self-improvement. Dealing with a lot of inner demons suck, and I’m finally deciding to do something about it.

5. Productive week at “work”. I don’t know if I can say the same with my office job but I (think) totally kicked ass at my remote job this week. On-time deliverables, learned new things, great client-vendor relationships and working with a great team.

6. Catching up with my love-hate best friend. Matt is someone I see every day (weekdays AND weekends), but we take that for granted and don’t communicate like we’re supposed to. The past year I’ve been busy with so many things, and he’s probably 200x busier than I am with all his shenanigans. We sat down for a good 2 hours over dinner on Tuesday and I was met with a much-needed dose of reality that involved me having a good cry on his chest. We’re not perfect friends, but we’re always there for each other.

7. Once again finding out who my real friends are. I’m surrounded by a lot of people, but at this point it makes you realize who really counts. I am glad I have a great support group who will either support my stupid decisions (but be there for me when shit hits the fan) and those people who will give me a good knock on the head when they know I’m doing the wrong thing, in all good intentions.

8. Kremil-S. My hyperacidity has been acting up and this has been my little inexpensive saviour for such episodes!

9. Menstruaaaating. Ever since I started my medical therapy for PCOS my periods have been regular as fuck. YAY and fuck you, PCOS! This also seems to be a recurring theme in my 10 Happy Things.

10. Mom, Papi, Jana. I must have at least done something right in my life to deserve my parents and my sister. Sometimes a pain in the neck, but always my treasures.

Ninety Days to Forever

Published by Justine

It’s so easy to give up on love. If this were me last year, I would definitely have sworn off it (I almost did). It takes up so much of your time, so much of your energy, and so much of your heart. How can that not be tiring?

But you know what’s the craziest thing? I’d do it all over again. After being an emotional recluse when it comes to sharing feelings with another human being for the past decade or so, I’ve finally opened my eyes and got to know what all of it is about. To be loved and most of all, to love.. and that’s something I will always take with me.