My Thoughts Exactly

Payday Picks

2011-04-24T20:18:00.005+08:00

Who doesn't love paydays? As a worker, one of the things that we all look forward to is payday. Be it weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly, it's a date that's always marked on the calendar.

Since I'm off to the supermarket on payday, I am going to share with you a short list of things I'd love to put on my grocery cart.

Clockwise from top left: Keebler Soft Batch Chocolate chip cookies; Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates in Labuyo (Dark chocolate with chili); Selecta Hershey's Collection Ice Cream - Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; and Royce’ Nama Chocolate: Champagne

And if I have extra cash to spare, maybe these too:

This cute striped pair from Forever 21

And, (I really wish there's enough cash left) a good massage at Shui Hilot Healing Spa.

Photo Credits: Toucandy, Buhay BahayBahayan, Click The City, Everything In Budget, Polyvore, Team Manila Lifestyle

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T01:42:00.002+08:00

The Holy Week has passed and it's time to celebrate! Here's a picture I took when we went out of town last Tuesday. Everytime I look at this picture, it reminds me of God's greatness, of being so blessed to have been given a beautiful world to live in.

Sorry for the mist, it was raining the whole time and our camera got wet.

Anyway, Happy Easter, and belated Happy Earth Day!

Holy Week

2011-04-22T18:22:00.005+08:00

April 17th marked the start of the 2011 Holy Week. Here in the Philippines, there are many different traditions and beliefs connected to commemorate this Sacred week, and one of them is the "penitensya"

One region that is famous in this annual ritual is Central Luzon. If you’re a Kapampangan, or closely related to one, you have surely heard of the word “Salibatbat”. Salibatbat refers to flagellants, or people who roam around villages while whipping their backs during Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. They stop at every Church or Pabasa site, where they pray, crawl, or walk on their knees while being hit with banana stems or an instrument called “panabad”. Some believe that their sins will be forgiven by doing these acts.

I got the chance of taking these pictures of the flagellants when we visited my sister’s family in Concepcion, Tarlac 2 years ago.

Today, April 22nd, is Good Friday. Most are out of town. For Christians, it is a time to reflect, a time for sacrifice. Or just a time to relax and enjoy the silence.

Sunday Mornings

2011-04-17T03:03:00.008+08:00

In some parts of the globe, it's still a Saturday. Where I am writing from, we are 8 to 12 hours ahead of US Time. I just got home from Saturday's work and I'm curled up on the couch watching National Geographic. Years ago, Saturday nights only mean one thing - staying up late. And Sunday Mornings are only described in one word - Lazy.

Nowadays, it is totally different. While most people get together to celebrate the weekend, I work. For more than a year now, sleeping in on Sundays would mean skipping a meal and heading to work hungry. Not that I don't get my share of lazy days, I do. Thursday is my sleep-in day. But there's really something different about Sundays. People are more festive, kids are outside playing, and yet the mood is quiet, more serene.

Hopefully, when the new schedule is announced next month, I get a Sunday off. I miss Lazy Sunday Mornings.

Photo Credits: Holiday Inn; Desktop Nexus

Total Makeover, and a Blast from the Past

2011-04-16T22:25:00.007+08:00

Hi there! Can you believe it? You are looking at my blog's new layout! I spent a good amount of my day on it but I am not even halfway through! These add-ons and widgets are driving me nuts!

I also read everything I have posted over the years and I have noticed that: (1) I was so whiny and melodramatic, (2) everything was poorly written, and (3) there were lots of dead links. So, as a fresh start, I have removed all previous posts, except 3.

Hopefully, this will get me back on track. More changes to come, wish me luck!

Photo Credits: Watermark Plumbing

Very happy, but a bit hungry

2009-03-09T15:12:00.003+08:00

I am a very happy person this week. I have had one of the best weeks in my life. Carefree, enjoyable, almost perfect.

March 7th marked a very important milestone in my life. No, I didn't get engaged. Nor did I get a raise or promotion. I bought a house. Not just a start up house like what I have been planning on, but a house very close to what I can call a dream house. Not a beach house with a long boardwalk, but it almost feels like it.

However, this week, I still feel a bit incomplete. Not majorly empty. Just hungry. Thoughts of food and food tripping is killing me now. A dinner in Tomas Morato will do.

SPICY GARLIC CHICKEN from Flavors of China

CARROT CAKE from Chocolate Kiss

Photo Credits: The Daily Green; Rasa Malaysia