10 Ways to Wake Up Beautiful

1. Get an Early Start
Make a habit of washing your face a few hours before bed. If you wait until you're tired, you're more likely to blow it off -- allowing "toxins and dirt to stay on there all night," says dermatologist Laurie Polis of N.Y.C. Another consequence? You miss the best time to treat your skin. "At night there's more blood flow to the skin's surface, and there's nothing else on your face to interfere with absorption," Polis says.

Try: Neutrogena Deep Clean Relaxing nightly cleanser, $7

2. Sleep on Your Back
Note to Audrey Hepburn fans: Lying on your stomach is bad for "beauty sleep." The average head weighs 7 to 8 pounds -- a lot of pressure to be putting on your face every night. In fact, many dermatologists say they can tell what side of the face people sleep on by the number of wrinkles there.

3. Get a Lift
Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows, or put the headrest area of your bed on 2- to 4-inch pieces of wood. Gravity helps lymph and blood flow so fluid won't accumulate, Polis says.

4. Save Money, Not Wrinkles
At night you don't need to worry about eye treatments smearing your makeup, so slather on the richest formula you can. Polis swears by Aquaphor: "It conditions lashes and hydrates the delicate eye skin really well."

Try: Aquaphor Healing ointment, $9

5. Sneak a Glow
Mix a drop of self-tanner into your night cream or use a cream that contains a bit of tan-producing DHA.

Try: Clarins Radiance-Plus self-tanning cream, $52

6. Avoid Carb Face
To wake with defined cheekbones, eat a high-protein, low-sugar dinner (try salmon and asparagus, a natural diuretic). Skip the rice, pasta and potatoes. "When our diet's high in glycemic carbohydrates, our features take on a soft, doughy appearance," says Connecticut dermatologist Nicholas Perricone.

7. Wrap It Up
To minimize A.M. frizz, sleep on a satin pillowcase or put your hair in a silk scarf. "Those fabrics are much softer than cotton, so there's less friction," says Harry Josh, a John Frieda stylist.

8. Find Your Inner Ballerina
Pile hair into a twist on the top of your head (use a scrunchie to avoid crimping). "In the morning you'll have major volume and beautiful waves," Josh says.

9. Turn on the Hair Conditioning
Sleep with a moisturizing treatment in damp hair overnight. We like Philip B. Katira Hair Masque, but any rich conditioner will do. Rinse in the morning.

Try: Philip B. Katira Hair Masque, $40

10. Pop a Rooster Pill
Trust us, we were skeptical. But after swallowing two Wake Up on Time pills at 11 P.M., we found it much easier to get out of bed seven hours later. Created by a sleep-deprived single mother, the pills contain an energizing blend of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12 and guarana-seed extract. It's formulated with a coating that releases ingredients into your bloodstream toward the end of your last sleep cycle, so you wake up feeling clear-headed, not fuzzy.

Try: Wake Up On Time, $30/40 tablets

I Am Me. Sometimes A Princess. Sometimes A B***h!

Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself--your strengths and your limitations--in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.

- Judith M. Bardwick

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.

- Joseph Addison, The Spectator, March 17, 1911

There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere.

- Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us: power over our sleep, our appetites, our blood pressure, our health and our happiness. Our enemies would dance with joy if only they knew how they were worrying us, lacerating us, and getting even with us! Our hate is not hurting them at al, but our hate is turning our days and nights into a hellish turmoil.

- Dale Carnegie

I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them.

- George Bush

Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your won. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

- Christian D. Larsen, Creed for Optimists

Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?
- Jane Austen

Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure.
- Gary Ryan Blair, Mind Munchies : A Delicious Assortment of Brain Snacks!

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Frank Herbert

Final Exams, Compensatory Time Off, Moving Out

I just had my final class in MIS last night and boy the debate was awesome. LOL! It got pretty heated up but it all ended well. I belong to the group who thinks it is not fair for telcos to market their value added services to the poor. The affirmative group cited 3 points (choice, fun and easy communications). The negative group, which I belong thinks that 1) by not doing proper education and information drive these big companies promote a futile hope to the lower income bracket (CDE) that they can win in one of these get-rick-quick schemes if they so decide to avail of such value added services, 2) such promotions foster a crooked priority setting, fun first before basic necessities, 3) it banks on the weakness of the Filipino people, the loyalty and high following for the celebrities. The discussion was fruitful, thoughts were aired, tension was apparent. We ended with a statement that it is not fair for telcos to market such value added services because they prowl and abuse the weakness of the poor, to gamble everything they have to create a ready escape from poverty, after all businesses are in existence for profit and this profiteering scheme is but one of the abuses that is present in the society today. As the team captain, I sure do think we totally rocked it...

I am on compensatory time off for two days because I went to work on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I hate it when time goes by too fast when I am just here in my room doing nothing and it so damn slow when I have things to do at work. LOL! Anyway, I am enjoying the rest and I am taking a nap again before I move my stuff to my new place. I still have two more CTOs for working on Black Saturday and the 27th. I am now thinking if I will join the Calaguas trip on the 22nd this month.

This afternoon, I will be moving out most of my stuff to my new place. I am more than excited to be in a nicer place, in a much more secure spot (the fire escape is just beside my window). I can't wait to pimp my room really. I have started on the garden already and I plan to add more flowering plants. Maybe a visit to Salcedo Park on Saturday would be a good plan so I can buy some more plants. Well, anyway, I got to make this move as soon as possible so I better get going now... Ta ta...

Spending Time Alone

My Penguin and I talked last night and he informed me that he will be home alone for about a week because his family are on their spring break to Austria. I know he said he's used to it and maybe he would appreciate it if I share a thing or two about enjoying some time alone with this article I am posting which I have read in a Yahoo Healthy Living article written by Brett Blumenthal. I am sure he can manage being alone pouring some time watching CSI replays and new movies and soccer games with his friend while eating his favorite sandwich with chocolat paste in between and downing gallons of Evian all day. Hehe!

NOTE: Being alone isn't a statement about your relationships. Spending time alone is also extremely beneficial to our mental health and happiness. Here is why:

1. Self Discovery: Spending time alone gives you the ability to discover things about yourself and to get a real understanding of who you are. We have grown to appreciate the art of getting to know others, but in reality, it is even more important to get to know ourselves, our preferences, our likes and dislikes without other people's influences.

2. Higher Sense of Independence and Increased Self-Esteem: Being alone and getting comfortable with being alone gives you a higher sense of independence. Relying on yourself to make choices and decisions increases your self confidence, which then permeates other aspects of your life, including the times you are in the presence of others.

3. No Need to Compromise: Often, we compromise when we are in the presence of others. We usually work with one another to reach agreement on everything, from what we will have for dinner to what TV show to watch. Spending time alone allows you to indulge yourself with the things you want to do and the things you love, without any negotiation.

4. Rejuvenation for Your Soul: Getting away from others allows you to decompress and relax. It gives you a break from the have tos and allows you to focus on the want tos. It lets you address your own needs as opposed to everyone elses and gives you the opportunity to rejuvenate and push the 'restart' button.

5. A Fresh Perspective: Time alone gives you the opportunity to clear your mind and to weed through a lot of thoughts. This allows you to get to the heart of what YOU really think as opposed to being told or influenced by others and their opinions. It gives you time to reflect on what is important in your life and how you feel about every day situations that need to be addressed.

6. Higher Appreciation for Those You Love: Giving yourself the ability to be alone allows you to have a greater appreciation for the time you spend with others. If you never have time for yourself, you'll wish you did. It is important to find some balance in this; but once you do, you'll enjoy your relationships even more.

Enjoy your time being alone My Penguin. When you get tired being alone, you know what to do... You are thought of always and don't forget to snap some more pictures of spring flowers for me. I have a S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E for you by the way. I am 200% sure that you will be stoked to know what it is.

Poetry Basket 1: A Stranger's Touch

It was a dark and cold night
You ache for some warmth to get you through
Time seem to stand still, immobile
The morning uncertain, obscure.
It was yet one of those nights
When you seem to be lost in a space that's cruel
You are vulnerable, you gave in
To the snares of a yesterday you are running from.
You gave in, you let a stranger touch you
A touch you know is warm but feels so intensely cold
You are like the moth that got burned when it inched closer to the lamp
The fire has consumed you but you still feel empty inside.
It was a reunion of souls bound to nowhere
You know you have to let go
You know you can't continue being sucked by the abyss
But a strangers touch can be just as inviting
As well as it is deceiving, isolating even crippling
You are moving around in circles
You can't seem to let go of the guilt.
You search for answers, you question yourself
Be silent, be still, listen to what your heart says
This time you owe your flesh forgiveness
For I have already forgiven you
Long before the stranger's touch has burned you.

Happiness Is...

Happiness is...

...finding a friend
...learning something new
...looking at a flower open its buds
...watching Grey's Anatomy latest season ahead of everybody
...getting a new pair of stilettos
...making my room spic and span
...organizing my stuff
...a bar of deep dark chocolate
...listening to Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend and James Morrison
...wearing red from head to toe
...a cup of peppermint mocha
...finding star-shaped push pins
...filling out my organizer
...buying a knock-out skirt
...paying all my bills on time
...saving room for somebody special
...moving on
...answered prayers
...making a list about happiness

I AM JUST SO HAPPY!

Putting a Price on Social Connections

This is a Businessweek Online article that I thought would be interesting to share with y'all written by Stephen Baker.

(Editor's note: This is the first in a series, Value of Virtual Friends, exploring the ways our lives are affected -- financially and otherwise -- by the multiplicity of online social and professional contacts.)

Messaging with the boss much? Maybe you ought to be. Workers who have strong communication ties with their managers tend to bring in more money than those who steer clear of the boss, according to a new analysis of social networks in the workplace by IBM (NYSE:IBM - News) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The research, released this week, even assigns a dollar value to e-mail interaction with an employee's managers. Among the group studied, several thousand consultants at IBM, those with strong links to a manager produced an average of $588 of revenue per month over the norm.

The results represent an early attempt to understand the value of the broadening variety of personal connections afforded by the Web. Users of social media rack up LinkedIn contacts, Facebook friends, and Twitter followers by the hundreds, if not thousands. But figuring out how big a difference all those contacts make in a person's life, financial or otherwise, is a far murkier matter.

That's why leading tech companies, including IBM, Microsoft (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News), and Yahoo! (NasdaqGS:YHOO - News), are hiring economists, anthropologists, and other social scientists to map and classify new types of friendships -- and put a value on them.

Researchers at IBM Research and MIT's Sloan School of Management found that the average e-mail contact was worth $948 in revenue. To unearth that and other data, they used mathematical formulas to analyze the e-mail traffic, address books, and buddy lists of 2,600 IBM consultants over the course of a year. (Their identities were shielded from researchers, who viewed them only as encrypted numbers, known as hash codes.) They compared the communication patterns with performance, as measured by billable hours.

Happy 28th Anniversary!!!

Happy 28th Anniversary to the best mommy and daddy in the face of the Earth. April 25, 1981 my mom and dad walked down the aisle and made vows to each other. From that day until today, they are still together, happily living together. Sure, they had quarrels and fights but as strong as their bond was they were able to weather the storms and come out of the rains unscathed. I could only wish my married life would be as happy as what they have, even just half of it would do actually.

My mom and dad makes decisions together when it involves the family. My mom is the treasurer and she's the one taking care of budgeting household expenses as well. They were able to send me and my sister to decent schools because of the exemplary way of managing our family's finances. My mom has been nominated as outstanding teacher many times over and holds a doctorate degree and my dad is living his life as a veterinarian. They will always be the best mom and dad for me and my sister.

They were wed in a lavish ceremony. All the wedding details present. Red, pink and white were the colors for that day. And they managed to keep a copy of their wedding invite which has these lines inscribe in the front page: "Husband and wife, we vow to love each other endlessly, to respect and trust one another faithfully and to cherish in the fruits of whatever fate may lay before us, not only til death to us part for our vows meant to last til life after death..." The wedding pictures were frozen evidence of how joyous and happy that day was. The wedding party lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

Fast forward to today, they are still each other's friend, lover, bestfriend, adviser, ego-booster. I am looking forward to seeing them grow old together for their share of forever. Cheers to more years of togetherness.

PLDT Customer Service SUCKS!

WARNING: This blog entry may not be mild. You have been warned.

I called PLDT a week before the Holy Week inquiring about transferring my line to the new apartment I am moving to by the end of the month. I was informed that they need AT LEAST three days to check if there is still an available line in my new area. And so I waited. After more than one week and no feedback was given to me. I was left wondering whether there is still a spare line or I am stuck with surrendering the phone line and switch to another DSL provider. I decided to call again and they said they are still in the process of checking whether there is still a slot left. Whatever happened to at least three days??? I was beyond pissed. I requested for a manager and what do you expect "my supervisor is currently engaged in a call now". It has always been like that. I think they were trained to give that response whenever there is a request for escalation. And so I waited, waited for nothing...the call got disconnected. I was too pissed to callback again.

After another week of waiting, I called again only to hear multiple 'all circuits are busy now". I then requested immediately to speak to a manager as soon as I got to the department I need to reach. I told the front line customer service representative that I have nothing against her and I just need to talk to a manager for action once and for all. This is the third week of the phone line transfer saga. Of course I got the same reply "my supervisor is engaged in a call now". I remained calm and I said I am willing to wait no matter how long it would take. I waited for maybe some precious fifteen minutes. The rep got back to me and said a manager will call me back. And so we ended the conversation. After about an hour or two, I got a call from someone who claims to be a manager and told me that they will act on checking the area for free connection lines. I told him, I have been to the apartment already and the previous owner had a phone line. He said, they would check. Dang it! What will they check? Didn't I just say I saw a PLDT phone and a PLDT phone socket by the wall? So the call ended with me being unhappy still.

After a couple of days, fast forward today, I called again, only to be told that I need to secure a notarized copy of my lease agreement form for the apartment because the previous owner was blacklisted. And you might have guessed it, that threw me off again. Why would I be held responsible for someone else's name being blacklisted? Why would I have to show the burden of proof now? And one more thing, after giving the the lease agreement, they said I have to wait for two to three weeks for reconnection. Two-three weeks??? You must be kidding me. If I don't surrender my phone line, they said my bill will continue. WTF?? I am just simply requesting for them to transfer my line. I have been paying my bills and this is what they call service? I am so looking for a new ISP. I don't care if they blacklist me too.

I am a very unhappy, disgruntled customer...

Other complaints here:

PLDT vs BayanTel Customer Service

PLDT Customer Service

PLDT MyDSL Service

PLDT Swearing Incident

PLDT Woes

And the nightmares continue...

Thinking Thursday: Carrot vs Orange

I am starting a regular section (I hope I could live up to it) in my blog every Thursdays. I am still deciding on what to do on other days of the week. So, every Thursday, I will be posting a question that might be of interest to you and/or that you may have an answer about. There's no right or wrong answer so please feel free to leave a comment in the comment box.

Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?

Earth Day 2009

April 22 - the world over is celebrating Earth Day today. After so many years, this is the only year that I am not wearing green. Well, I just lost track of time. Nevertheless, I wore brown, still represents Earth just not the drive and the famous going green thing. Earth day is a rainy day here in the Philippines, a rainy summer day. I am hoping that everyone starts to do his/her share in preserving our living shell until it's too late. Reuse. Reduce. Recycle.

Tearjerkers

When it's almost the "time of the month", I would be always feeling so sappy, so pensive. Here's some of movie lines that caused tears to fall a-plenty.

THE NOTEBOOK:
Noah: So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out.

Allie: What easy way? There is no easy way, no matter what I do, somebody gets hurt.

Noah: Would you stop thinking about what everyone wants? Stop thinking about what I want, what he wants, what your parents want. What do YOU want? What do you WANT?

My Dearest Allie, I couldn't sleep last night because I know that it's over between us. I'm not bitter any more, because I know that what we had was real. And if in some distant place in the future we see each other in our new lives, I'll smile at you with joy and remember how we spent the summer beneath the trees, learning from each other and growing in love. The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever. I love you. I'll be seeing you. Noah

The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something,but i jut wanted to say that all of these nothings have meant more to me than so many somethings -You've Got Mail

You know, that moment when you kiss someone and everything around you becomes hazy. And the only thing in focus is you and that person. And you realize that that person is the only person that you're supposed to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this gift. And you want to laugh and you want to cry because you feel so lucky that you found it and so scared that it will go away all at the same time. ~ Never Been Kissed

You spend all your time looking for love yet you feel nothing even when its staring you in the face. I will love again but You will spend all your life knowing you turned your back on love and THAT makes you a hypocrite. - Cruel Intentions

This afternoon, I couldn't decide between a turkey burger and a tuna melt, but my life made sense. And now I know exactly what I want, and my life doesn't make any sense. And I was doing fine this afternoon, I was doing great! That was me then. But I don't know, somewhere between the tuna melt and your aunt's tamales...I mean, I was afraid that I had already met the woman of my dreams at the dry cleaners or something and I was just too busy to notice. But now I'm here and I see that that's not true because...it's you. You're the one! You are everything I never knew I always wanted. I'm not even sure what that means exactly, but I think that it has something to do with the rest of my life! - Fools Rush In

When there has been so much love and happiness for someone, it is natural to be reluctant to close such a wonderful chapter in our lives, for moving forward is rarely accomplished without considerable grief and sadness. And while our sorrow may be profound, the clouds will clear, and the sun will shine on us again. And in that warm, bright light we will find ourselves facing a glorious future. A future of exciting challenges and infinite possibilities, in which the horizon will stretch out before us, trimmed in the heavenly glow of the sunrise of our tomorrow. - The Prince & Me

You can erase someone from your mind. Getting them out of your heart is another story. - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love... I love... I love you. And I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. - Pride & Prejudice

WIDLW! LWWA!

Last week was somewhat hectic and all busy because of the uncertainties at work. It was the last week for our site to be directly reporting as a badged site. It's a little bittersweet. Bitter because I have, for the most part, started to love the company, the best company for me so far. The company that took care of my career growth, the company that has the less politics ever as far as I am concerned. Sweet because once again change is again at my door. I love change. It's kind of a breath of fresh air for me. I was supposed to be on vacation and go home and be with my family and attend my sister's oath taking as a Registered Nurse but I decided to not push through with the vacation instead just send the money I'd spend for the plane tickets and all to my mom and she can spend it anyway she wants. Huh! Payback time eh? LOL!

Penguin (Mr. Flowers) has been a little busy too at work. But still we managed to get by and keep in touch as often as we wanted. And yeah, the bed of roses pictorial is already in the bag, we just have to figure out where to put the camera, granting the DSLR camera we are getting comes with a remote control.

I was also supposed to travel with Jonah and Joyce to visit the beach resort we were all enticed to invest in but a little pedicure injury has set me back. I had to stay and just waited for the girls to update me. After seeing the pictures, I wish I went with them. But then again, just thinking of the 8-hour trip makes me say "no" again. Next time we go, we will sure be boarding a plane. And fast forward, 10 years, maybe our own private jet headed to our own resort. Whoa! Wishful thinking much!

So, anyway, I met Raen yesterday and we went to church (Victory-The Fort). The service was ubercool. I have always been amazed at how cool the props are but this Sunday was the coolest. The preacher had a BMW R1150R Rockster as a prop to illustrate his message which centered on IGNITE (igniting your faith and witness as a Christian). You might have guessed, dear readership, that apart from me being awed at the super sleek BMW, Brandon and his Ducati crossed my mind too. I said a little prayer for him. So, if you wanna get awed too, here's a picture:

We then headed to Bonifacio High Street and did some little shopping. I got me a cute Missoni-print swim garb that will be put to use next weekend. Excited! Raen got some bath essentials and a pair of driving shoes. I did curb my urge to buy a pair for me too. Good for me! We had dinner at TGI Fridays and then went home before 9PM. Too early. We were good girls.


It has been a good week overall except that I dozed off on My Penguin again while waiting for him finish his dinner. I woke up early in the morning and got a few messages from him telling me that he had to go to bed too already. I missed it! Well, we had a short talk but what he said to me meant a lot after I asked him why he loves me.

Because you make me feel happy, because you make me smile, because you make me feel warm inside, because I like talking with you, because I like dreaming with you, because you are romantic, because you are beautiful, because you are nice, because you are sensitive, because you are you and no one else is like you.

and I thought that was it but he had to follow through with:

and I left out sweet, caring, emotional, faithful, trusting :), silly, evil, grinning, funny, witty, smart, kind, hypnotizing hair, good cook. Just be as nice as you have always been to me :)

I made avatars of me and Mr. Flowers as well. See for yourself:
My Penguin is a movie buff so I figured a popcorn tub would be a nice addition to his avatar. My avatar is a beach babe. Just can't wait for our Dos Palmas getaway soon enough...

WIDLW! LWWA! - What I Did Last Week! Last Week Was Awesome!

The "First" Dinner

And so the final menu is out and I just have to make sure I practice before that one most awaited night... I know I need not fuss about this but the OC in me is way beyond my comprehension. I hope this all come out good and I could pull everything off hassle free plus the many other things that comes with it... Is my excitement that obvious?

Shouldn’t all the big stuff happen when you’re a kid?

Shouldn't all the big stuff happen when you're a kid? When a bruise in the knee seemed like a little scratch and that the pain will go away if mommy kisses it? When a fever can be cured by a new toy that your friend doesn't own yet? When running around naked in the rain is your own little piece of heaven or playing house becomes your ready escape to reality?

How do you explain letting go? Is it the same as parting away with your favorite sweet lip coloring lollipop? Is it as simple as lulling your doll to sleep? Is it as trivial as singing your first ABCs and counting 123s?

How do you explain the battle to keep your heart from freezing over when storms pass through? Can you undergo a bypass operation, buy a new heart and move on?

I'm not sure.

What I do know is that in the midst of all things impossible, my biggest comfort has been gratitude.

Six Days, Three Weeks, 2 Months

My mind has been actively engaged in some deep thinking these past few days and I could not begin to decide whether to put them in writing or not. Well, I guess you know which option won in the end as I am writing this already. Before I go any further, let me just inform everyone that I have updated the About Me, the profile pic as well as the picture header section of this blog.

Six Days: until DISPI forever waves goodbye to its employees and when Teleperformance comes in and lays down its company policies and procedures. Change is not that always easy to embrace but I am positive that everything will be okay. I have posted the benefits that I am currently enjoying with Dell and the only thing that I will be missing on would be the Dell Scholars Program. I might break my bank if I decide to push through with my MBA and so I will try to save for the next terms left and in the meantime so I won't stay idle I will be enrolling in Alliance Francais for a speaking and writing course. I will still be handling the same account, same people and will still be working for the same manager and the same peers. Pretty much, this change will not cause ripples and tides in my life.

Three Weeks: until the third trimester is over. Three more weeks of MIS and Business Law and Ethics discussion. I am stoked because I strongly feel that I am gonna achieve my goals. No late papers, no absence in any class, no failed exams, full class participation (except when I feel the urge to chat and plurk). Well, bottom line is the end is near and again like the challenge I have given myself if I can't be all that good then I need to get all 4 in both courses so I can give myself a Nikon D60. Sweet!

Two Months (plus 3): until I turn 27. I am not getting any younger. I feel old already. When most of my friends have gotten married and started building their own families already, here I am still enjoying my single life. Whatever happened to the high school class prophecy that I will get married right after college? Hahaha! Anyway, I do think only fools rush in so I stay and revel in the fact that I am happy right now and soon when it's the right time no matter how I oppose things will inevitably fall into place.

The 6 Unimportant Things That Make Me Happy

I was tagged by IRIS a few days back and haven't really given it some thought until today because well apparently Little Miss Kessa has been extremely busy with work, school, life and living it one day at a time. This Easter Sunday, aside from making amends to the people I may have wronged in the past and in between packing stuff as I get ready to move to my new place, I have decided to sit down before I get to my busy mode once again.

So here's what IRIS is making me do this time:

1. Mention the person who nominated you. - check
2. List 6 unimportant things that make you happy. - check
3. Tag 6 blogs, state the rules, and notify them with a teeny comment on their blog. - must do

Without further ado, presenting to the world the list of my simple pleasures and sometimes unassuming things that make me oh-so-happy and giddy to say the least:

(NOTE: This list may contain things that are important to everyone else so I beg for y'all not to judge and start pointing dart pins toward me.)

1. At least 2 planners I can use for the whole year - Yes, this little notebook makes me happy. I know I can rely on electronic but I could not possibly retire a paper and pen lifestyle. Not in this lifetime I should say. I could not possibly give everyone an explanation why I love keeping such and why in this world it makes me happy except for one special reason, my hands get all shaky if I don't write anything for an extended period of time. It is by far a very safe place for me to store my appointments as I could not trust myself into backing up my data in my computer, all the more the ones I have in my mobile phones.

2. Post-It Notes - And you are wondering why I am fervently wishing that I was the one who discovered it. Oh no, I can't possibly be content with just one color in my office drawer. I have neon green, neon pink, blue, red, pale pink, lilac and the fancy Garfield and Mickey Mouse editions. I also have tacked in my cork board in my room. I could not get enough of this fancy discovery. And then again, it reinforces my love for a paper and pen lifestyle. I have it in all sizes, shape and how sticky the underside is. Having all this arranged by size and shape in my drawer makes me happy. Want some sticky happiness?

3. QTips - Well yes that term is patented so some of you may know it as cotton swab, cotton-tip applicator, I call it simply as the cotton buds. If you have been born 80 years ago, you might be calling it as Baby Gay as it is fondly called by its Polish inventor. For me, it is the best make up mistake rescue tool. Hehehe! Do you fancy the name now? But there are a few other uses to it such as but not limited to: Create smoky eyes by smudging color into the lashes, apply lip stain with a cotton swab to avoid staining fingers and get it in all the right places, keep nail polish bottles from sealing shut by swathing the rim in vegetable oil, target mascara-less lashes without messing up the rest, pop pimples safely by gently rolling it over a zit for a scar-free pop and have you tried sneezing after putting on mascara? Your makeup isn’t ruined! Just dab a Q-tip in foundation and roll over the smudges. All hail to that QTip inventor. What makes me even more happier? That is when I use the pink or the blue ones.

4. Nail Care - polish change and foot spa every two weeks and paraffin wax once a month. This does not fall in the needs category so I deem it is unimportant but truth be told I have made it a staple in my life. And every time get a smudge free finish, I am all smiles.

5. Waxing Sessions - After the squinting and the ouches and the terrible amount of pain and the lifts of the wax paper, nothing else matters... (Did I say the hot wax is soothing?) Need I say more?

6. Window Seat - whenever I am getting on a flight, I always make sure that I am seated next to a window. Whenever I get on a bus or car ride, I would be a happy passenger if I am seated next to a window. Being able to see what's outside makes me happy in a weird kind of way. Weird!

So now I need to tag six people. Hmmmmm, this is the hardest bit. I am not sure who to tag much less who would be game enough to do this whole thing I did. I will do the tagging in the next few days...

I'm tagging: Raen, Princess, Jeff, Jenna, Noei, and Odette

Be safe everyone...

Fall Again

"There's a special level of comfort between two matching souls. An unbreakable bond of constant support and closeness. It's when a warm embrace feels so right. Or when two hands fit so snugly. It's a feeling that's hard to define but easy to recognize. And when you find that comfort, you just know you'll never let go."

Of Flowers and Halfwits

I had a conversation with Mr. Flowers the other night and I had to vent a little about how I hated halfwits and dodos at work. I think he felt how stressed I am that he told me to relax and understand that not all people are gifted "up there". I may have been pretty short that night. I was running on only about an hour of sleep because I had been busy with school stuff and the online class itself. It was like every little mistake was an automatic switch for me to get pissed. I knew Mr. Flowers felt and I was thankful that he was patient enough to make me smile and to continuously talk to me in the attempt to keep my mood in check.

I went home still a little feeling negative. I slept early and when I woke up I still had that negative energy near me so I thought I need to cool off. Cool off literally with a tub of ice cream and some Belgian waffle cones. Yum! While eating the sweet treat, Mr. Flowers logged in and we talked and I had to let him go because he was busy in the office too. He had to do a lot of stuff and I didn't want to disturb him. I went to bed hoping to get more hours of sleep this time. I used my pink eye cover with Princess embroidered in it to block the daylight (Yes, I sleep when the sun is up until midnight if I can). I woke up with one too many sweet messages and that kept me smiling. When I got to work, I was "surprised" too see a vase of intricately arranged pink stargazer lilies, white and yellow chrysanthemums, purple stock and deep red roses. It was another beauty waiting to be displayed on my desk.

Here are the pictures:

And here's how one corner of my work area looks like:

I have a pretty messed up work area and I clearly violate 5S for having so much personal stuff on it. I have my Coach purse, a can of Danish cookies, some pictures, a vanity case with mirror, a tissue box, charging walkie-talkies, a bottle of Body Shop olive dry oil mist, a Thai chopstick, a pen with bear top, wet tissue, stapler, some post-its and planners, and work-related documents. The other corner has the flowers and some certificates and the center has the Inspiron CPU, two monitors, keyboard and mouse. My desk is screaming for more organization. I guess I will do that before we transition to TP. That will surely form part of my to-do list.

Until next update...

XOXOXOXO,

Kessa

What I Want In A Man

What I Want In A Man, Original List ... (at age 22)
-----------------------------------
1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially Successful
4. A Caring Listener
5. Witty
6. In Good Shape
7. Dresses with Style
8. Appreciates the Finer Things
9. Full of Thoughtful Surprises
10. An Imaginative, Romantic Lover

What I Want In A Man, Revised List ... (at age 32)-----------------------------------
1. Nice Looking - preferably with hair on his head
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner at restaurant
4. Listens more than he talks
5. Laughs at my jokes at appropriate times
6. Can carry in all the groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home cooked meal
9. Remembers Birthdays and Anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week

What I Want In A Man, Revised List ... (at age 42)----------------------------------
1. Not too ugly - bald head OK
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner at McDonalds on occasion
4. Nods head at appropriate times when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers the punchlines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Usually wears shirt that covers stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat lid down
10. Shaves on most weekends

What I Want In A Man, Revised List ... (at age 52)----------------------------------
1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed to appropriate length
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep while I'm emoting
5. Doesn't re-tell same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off couch on Weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV Dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves on some weekends

What I Want In A Man, Revised List ... (at age 62)----------------------------------
1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when awake (LOUDLY when asleep)
5. Doesn't forgets why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers when...

What I Want In A Man, Revised List ... (at age 72)----------------------------------
1. Breathing


***I just thought I'd share this to everyone as I got a good laugh reading...Who knows I may come up with my own list of wants soon...It's gonna be a short list I suppose.

For Once In My Life

Everybody reading my blog could probably have figured out that my relationship with KB has finally taken standstill and has been on an unexpected demise. Maybe some have expected that I will be in a state of depression again or maybe some have expected that I will write angry words to curse him for everything that he has done, for his weakness, for his lies. But I chose to deal with the situation in a much more rational way. I have never confronted him, never questioned him. The picture in his new girl's Myspace profile would be enough to silence me. It is just about what I need to ignore his messages and the promises that he will all make it up to me when his dad recovers from a life threatening ailment. It has been more than a month. I have never cried over him, I cried over the relationship however. Yes, admittedly I was hurt. I felt all there is to it to being cheated on. The pain was immense knowing that he would always tell me that he would never hesitate to leave me if I cheated, and there goes Mr. Too Good To Be True. Now, I wish I could have just let go the first time I caught him redhanded (I will not go into details anymore).

Fast forward to today, I could tell I am once again the happiest. I have met someone all too wonderful and thoughtful and caring and loving and who means what he says (no more lip service, no more empty promises). For once in my life, I have someone who makes my day from sun up to sun down from good mornings to good nights. I have someone who makes endless surprises that involves plurks online, SMS, endless conversations, royal terms of endearment and flowers delivered to my office (and I mean flowes every other day). I am glad March 1 existed, I am glad I wasn't shy enough,I am glad for the adjective assertive just as I am glad I am still alive, living my life. As he is fondly called at work, "Mr. Flowers", thank you for coming to my life on time. You made the transition unbelievably easier.

To celebrate our first month of knowing each other, I got Hera and the orchids.

When a woman gets an orchid...well, she feels like... she's floating on a cloud of infinite possibility.

Well, they're not flowers,they're orchids. They're from her perfect man.

A few flowers never hurt anyone. And yes I got more flowers a few days after he sent the orchids. Mr. Flowers is living his name...

Or where I live? Duh? Google.

Exactly what he did. He Googled my office address because I haven't given him my address and he wants to surprise me. The first time he did send, flowers were sent to both addresses to make sure I get one. Sweet!

Note: Blocked quotes taken from the movie
The Perfect Man

My Name Is Hera