GRATITUDE ENTRY

It's an accurate thing to say that I'm the type of person who gets overwhelmed easily. The holidays and beginning of the year have been nothing short of overwhelming (for my standards) both in a crazy and good way. The first week of the year has been eventful to say at least. Now, I'm thankful  that I got back somehow my literary bearings and a clear mind ready for some catharsis.

I've been meaning to write an obligatory year-end post but decided to write a Gratitude Entry instead. Rather than recounting the events of the year that was, I guess it's more rewarding to list down things I am truly grateful for. I quote:

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” (William Arthur Ward)

Looking back at 2013, I am most grateful for the ties and relationships I've established. 

I'm forever grateful for the people around me. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful that my brother and sister are trying to become the best persons they can be. I am grateful for my Mom who is always our source of self-less love and care. I am grateful my siblings were both home for Christmas and when New Year came, we were all enveloped in a tight bear hug in each other's arms.

And when I say family, I also mean my extended loved ones. I am thankful for my loving aunts and uncles who never cease to be there for us no matter what. I am thankful for their generosity, patience and never-ending understanding.

I am thankful for my friends. 

I can be at my most natural and real self whenever I'm with them and best part, there's no judging. They see right through me and I see right through them. Whenever I need to hear a loving compliment or a constructive criticism, they are always there to say it to me for my own sake. I'm thankful that at most times, I don't have to explain myself and yet they "get" me. I am thankful for their time, listening ears and endless tolerance to my annoying-ness and korny-ness.

I am thankful people still find in their hearts to forgive a lame person like me. Despite my excuses, shortcomings, and even disappointing them, I'm still a recipient of their understanding.

 

I am thankful for all the struggles. If it weren't for it, I wouldn't have a new-found courage. Life truly rewards you through difficulties.

I am thankful for all the little presents I got for Christmas. I don't mean to sound materialistic but it warms the heart to be a recipient of someone else's thoughtfulness.

I am thankful that I am down to my (hopefully) last three months of college. The possibilities will be endless soon and I'm surely anticipating!

I am thankful for optimism. It pedals you to move forward and hope for a better year.

I am thankful for angels. I know they are there and they really look after us.

I am thankful for good books and awesome authors.They make life worth living.

I am grateful I got to buy a new pen, highlighter and colorful file organizers. It's always humbling to find happiness in the little things.

I am thankful I've got this blog, a personal space for me to write and share.

I am grateful that I can be creature capable of consoling and comforting. Nothing matters more in life than being there for someone in times of need.

I am grateful for life and what it has given me.

Most importantly, I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO GOD, the BIG-GUY up there who is responsible and the source for all of these wonderful people and things. His love is truly self-less and boundless. :)

XX

SUBRA!

(A little late post but Christmas Season pa naman!)

The blog title is a long story so I think I have to keep it as our inside friendship joke. Haha. Anyhoo, perhaps all of us could feel nostalgia when we look back on our grade school and even highschool Christmas parties. The excitement of giving gifts and receiving in return and even the thrill of having new clothes. Kasi diba, tuwing birthday lang or Christmas may bagong damit? Haha. When you're already in college, Christmas parties are no longer customary unlike in grade school and highschool. Kaya kanya-kanyang effort and organize. So last December 20, we had our "barkada" Christmas Party and exchanging of gifts at Pahayahay. 

What I really enjoyed most was the exchanging of gifts. Why? Because almost everybody took the effort to surprise their respective Kris Kringle. It involved a bit of acting and white lies para di mabisto. Tapos may GMs pa (in my case, blog post and GM) at parinig ng mga gusto na gift. Hihihi.

As for me, I got - guess what- a BOOK!!! Turned out Kent picked me. Ang saya lang kasi it's a John Green book plus two authors. So natupad talaga yung nasa  book wishlist ko! Haha. 

And as for the outfit post:

(Ph: Kristine Acharon)

The night didn't end there! 

So here's a more detailed account from Pat's blog. :)

HAPPY HOLIDAZE! <3

XX

CHRISTMAS BOOK WISHLIST!

 I'm not sure if Santa trawls over the internet now to have an idea what are on the wishlists of people who are neither naughty or nice this year. But I just feel like sharing to the world (I hope North Pole has an internet connection) what books and coffee table books that catch my fancy and would love to have this Christmas (hehe). I just really want to update my Goodreads more often. :)

1. John Green Box Set

 2. Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange

3. DECORATE by Holly Becker & Joanna Copestick

4. Any book by Haruki Murakami

5. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

And speaking of Christmas, Santa and wishes, here's a video I found at Patty Laurel's blog. 

I got teary eyed sa inggit! Haha. The reactions are priceless. AMAZING.

XX

GIRLS CATCHING FIRE

Some snippets of our "Single Girls Day Out" last Friday. I was with my lovely friends, Pat and Kim. We watched Catching Fire and this particular line in the movie struck me:

Peeta: "See Katniss, the way the whole "friend" thing works is that you have to tell each other the deep stuff." 

It was very striking because the girls and I were really planning to have a heart to heart conversation about some matters. Uhmm, matters of the heart to be specific. We are together almost everyday but some of our conversations just revolve around the obvious and the superficial. So we set aside Friday to really talk and tell each other "the deep stuff". (I have this theory that small talk is literally cheap while real conversations are not. It has to be at a fancy cafe and over frappuccino that costs more than a hundred bucks).

Anyway, we were in a hurry because we watched Catching Fire twice at the cinema. It was that nice. After the movie, they grabbed frappuccino at CBTL. There, we shot Pat her outfit pics for the day (you can check it out in her blog ) and we sat for awhile. But then, there goes our curfew. Bummer. We have to go home. We haven't really talked as planned.

Anyhoo, it was still a happy day spent with the girls.
There's always a next time. :)

XX

DEFINE SEXY

 

 THIS.

My kind of sexy. Haha. How I wish!

I was blog-hopping as usual and found these sexy film photographs of Kryz Uy. Perhaps you've stumbled upon it too if you're also a fan. Jeez, allow me to say: She's smokin HOT! I love the way the photographs are done with class. Sexy and skin-baring but very tasteful. Like hey, Maria Clara can rock a sexy swimsuit too!

I poll my gal pals who among the Philippine top fashion bloggers they admire most, and Kryz Uy is the unanimous decision. Her style is very much relatable. Never over the top but still chic. I couldn't agree more.

Talk about girl-crushing mode.

XX