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Friday’s 10 Happy Things, v3

Published by Justine

10HT

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.

Ditz Revolution

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.

Friday’s 10 Happy Things, v2

Published by Justine

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1. Fun day Monday! Last Monday was a holiday for us so a few friends and I took an impromptu drive to the South of Cebu where we literally chased (5 levels!) waterfalls, and ended the day with a dip in the beach waiting for the sun to set on the horizon right before our eyes. Despite the long drive, it was such a great day for all of us.

2. Being a year older. I had a very extended birthday weekend that stretched from Last Thursday to Monday. I thought nothing could ever top last years’ birthday festivities that stretched up to 10 days, but this year comes close and up to par. I’m always thankful.

3. Signed books! Working in a book publishing company comes with perks, and I received not 1, but 3 signed books from well known authors. I was greeted with a UPS box when I got back to the office with signed hardback books by Jojo Moyes, Gayle Forman, and Lisa Jackson.

4. Accidental make-up ban. Ever since I got back from Singapore I have not bought a single cosmetic. I ran out of my favorite tinted moisturizer and my best friend surprised me by buying one for my birthday!

5. Pay day Friday. Need I say more?

6. A very productive yet tiring work week. I complain about brain drain a lot from working 2 jobs.. but at the end of the day/week I am glad to be doing things that I actually like.

7. Excitement for my boyfriend’s arrival. Auuugghhhh.

8. My mom’s non-serious lab results. She’s been complaining about pain in her hips for a few weeks now and she finally had it checked yesterday. There goes my freaking out again. Having history of breast cancer, these tests are always so nerve wracking for the both of us. Results came out with no sign of cancer (THANK GOD) but she has to take maintenance meds for her kidney stones.

9. Sims Freeplay. After a long day of work, this gives me back the mental balance I need.

10. Yesterday’s yoga class. It gets so grueling at times especially in the middle of practice, but I am ALWAYS so glad I do it at the end.

Ditz Revolution

#TBT Birthday Edition

Published by Justine

Edit: All blog posts from 2005-2009 have been archived.

Today, I am officially 27. My birthday hasn’t fallen on a Thursday since the year 2009 and even then, I don’t think #ThrowbackThursday was a thing yet. I’ve been blogging for more than a decade now, and an idea came to me last night to look back on all my past birthday entries that I decided to just document it all in one post. This is more for me than anyone else, a chance to look back on the person I’ve come to be, the changes that have happened in my life and whatever the past 10 years did to me.

2006 – Seventeen

The year I moved back to Cebu alone to start college. Little did I know it was about to become one of the craziest years of my life.

2006

My 18th birthday, and the time I was most active in the blogosphere and made the most friends online.

2007 – Nineteen & Birthdayphiles

Nineteen was a shameless post on comment baiting people to greet me on birthday, while Birthdayphiles talked about that one crazy birthday party.

2008

For some reason I didn’t have an entry in any of my blogging sites (maybe I did, but probably deleted, idk I had all sorts of blog sites then that I purged), but I found that photo on Facebook. This was during the time my mom was going through chemo but she made sure I still had a party.

2009 – 21

I was super active on Tumblr this year. I wanted to find more birthday posts but it’s just too much hassle going through Tumblr archives. I realized that I really am over that phase.

2010 – Double Two in Two Days

One of my favorite pre-birthday posts. Around the time I started writing about how turning older definitely freaks me out.

2011 – On Feelings & When I Turned Twenty Three

On Feelings talked about trying to get over someone. It doesn’t really talk about my birthday in a detailed aspect, but it was a pretty pivotal time in my life. When I Turned Twenty Three was an overdue post on my birthday celebration with close friends back in Jakarta.

2012 – Sleep Deprived & Blog That Talk

The year when I finally moved back to Cebu indefinitely! On a side note, can’t believe it’s been 3 years now. Wow. My mom came to visit that month and there I was again unable to sleep because of pre-birthday jitters. Always happens. Blog That Talk is a summary of events that transpired during my birthday.

2013 – Quarter Life

Quarter Life was a short questionnaire that was lazily posted just to have something up on my birthday. It makes me look back on past interests.

2014 – A Year Older & Twenty Six

A Year Older is another one of those entries about me stressing out over my upcoming birthday. Twenty Six, on the other hand, was written 2 months after my birthday and possibly one of my most favorite blog posts. Every time I read it I still feel that heavy tug on my heart.

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There you go. Damn, I’ve been blogging for a pretty long time. 10 more minutes left until my birthday is over in this part of the world and once again, just like ever year, I learn that age is just a number.

Last Day of 26

Published by Justine

I didn’t really want to start the entry on this note but I just need to say that I have been so tired the whole day yesterday. I slept at 4am the previous day to finish work, then woke up at 9 to start work, then off to my next job at 3, in between those, calls with my boyfriend for some good pep talk about how I can deal with life, then zumba/bellydancing class at night, a birthday dinner, then more work, then more boyfriend phone calls. By the end of the night (or start of the day), this resulted in me tweeting:

Obviously these are all happy “tireds” because how can I not be thankful that I’m living this life? I needed to write this entry to be reminded and be grateful for everything I have. There are things that are obviously not perfect but the most important thing is I am breathing, eating, working, and all my senses are in tact.

Despite being so tired I can’t even sleep yet. The next time I’m heading to sleep I’m already a year older, whew. 27 is a bit of a pressure because you’re still in your 20s, but it’s the last age to be officially called “mid-20s” and most of all, it’s near the big 3-0. The questions start pouring in, like, “What have you accomplished in life,” or “What have you done to make your 20s worthwhile,” or “How do you intend to spend the rest of your formative years as a true blue adult?” It all gets jarring at some point because all I want to say is, “I’M HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING MY LIFE THANKYOUVERYMUCH FOR THE CONCERN!” That’s consideration.

My mom got married at 27, a lot of rock stars died at 27, a friend told me he reached a milestone at 27 and if you know me well, you know how much I stress about age just before my birthday, it’s ridiculous and has been going on since I turned 15. So I figured why not let myself rant this once and move on.

Nothing else to say, except.. bring it on!