i am woman, hear me rawr!

Last week I gave my students an assignment entitled: Soundtrack ng Buhay Ko.

The task was to list songs that would be the soundtrack to their lives. I told them they were free to pick any song they wanted and there were no limits as to how to do it, except for the fact that it should be up to 18 songs only because that’s how long an audio cd would be.

I told them during the discussion that the reason this assignment came about is because one day, while stuck in traffic, I found myself listening to the songs in a CD I had burnt and realized that the messages of those songs reflected my current state. And so if I had seven songs to encapsulate my life at the moment, these are my songs:

1. There’s a Place For Us by Carrie Underwood (theme song from the movie Narnia)
2. Moonriver from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Andrea Ross version )
3. Reflection from the movie Mulan
4. God Blessed the Broken Road by Rascall Flatts
5. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Katharine McPhee version
6. Live Like You’re Dying also by Lenka
7. Breathe by Anna Nalick

What would your songs be?

Bookmark It

A few months ago, I got in touch with a fellow blogger who offers good quality but affordable and relatively cheap printing for calling cards, tarpaulins, and other similar products. It’s perfect because I’m set to get a new set of calling cards soon. I have several layouts in mind, but I feel too vain going with the design I like. Suffice it to say the card bears my favorite photo (errr…which is of myself haha!) and that’s about it. But I feel I should make it more “professional” so I’m still on designing mode.

Speaking of which…I seriously need a designer to tweak my blogs. It’s so sad that it’s so impersonal…no personal branding, no personalized logo, etcetera etcetera. Any volunteers? I’d love you forever

Bookmark It

Oh dear Lord what have I done….

After saying I WILL NOT GIVE IN and buy yet another expensive gadget to play with, yesterday I found myself in the mall and it wasn’t long before my every trusty handy dandy credit card popped out of my wallet and found it’s way to the card swiper. Before I knew it, I had just toinked myself with another impulsive purchase.

Meet my iPad, Piper (errrr…corny much but yes, Piper…pronounced as pee-per…kasi isa siyang bonggang bonggang soshaling pad piper ba. teeeheeeheee. yes, rationalizing works ).

Okay, the cognitive part of my brain is screaming “Why oh why, Ria” but…sometimes, we just do things that don’t make sense, right? Haha. Before I left the mall, I also made sure that I had a few basic essentials to keep Piper brand-spankin’ new and beautiful. First off I got a screen protector, which I realize is very important especially now that I have long nails. Errr…and let’s not forget how Bubba once accidentally scratched my camera’s LCD, right? I also went to get a one of those cases for it.

I really wanted a sleeve like one of these padded colorful bags/sleeves to match Apple’s case.

However,  I couldn’t find one that I liked and I was too tired to go to Rustan’s or Bratpack to check so I ended up with a lovely red faux leather case from the tiangge area of ATC. What I like about Apple’s sleeve is that it is not only so super cute, but it also has that extra padding that would protect my laptop. The one I got is kinda hard and padded, too, so I went with it.  Plus I love the color haha. But the one’s I really want are the neoprene kind. I actually wanted this whole set from Hellolulu because it has a thicker and more protective material, but like I said, I was too tired to go far and to look around to get one like this one:

They also have other products such as camera bags and travel accessories that will surely protect gadgets and luggage when in transit. I like that they’re lightweight,  compact and quite stylish I must say! Add to that, it sure is a more environmentally friendly alternative to my typical collection of ziplock bags for traveling hehe. Lookit!

cute black and pink DSLR bag for Nikki

mutli pouches for chargers, plugs and all other "abubot"

gotta love the two in one shopping/tote bags

Besides Rustan’s and Bratpack, Hellolulu bags and accessories can be purchased at The Travel Club, Crossings / The Ramp, Duty Free – Fiesta Mall, Fashion Rack – Naia 3, Islands & More, Fullybooked and Le Grand Boutique – Naia 3. Do feel free to post comments or questions about Hellolulu here and I’ll try to help you out with the answers

I’m sooo happy with my new toy even if my credit card hates me right about now teeeheeeeheeee

Bookmark It

The noblest thing a human being can experience is acceptance of the mystery. - Paulo Coelho

I had set off for 2011 with a lot of positive hopes and aspirations. After all, 2010 ended on a good note, despite it being somewhat of a rocky start. However, barely two weeks in to the new year, I got “toinked” (err…toinked meaning stumbling on something unexpected or slipping down a path I wouldn’t normally wish on anyone) really badly. So much so that it threw me off for a good week. Literally.

I hate how these things happen. Being the type of person I am, I thrive on certainty…on routine…regularity. Things that are random and unexpected throw me in a loop and make it so difficult for m. As I’ve said so many times in the past, change was (and often times still is) never really something I dealt with easily. I like structure…I like knowing…I like being sure.

However every time I think I’ve gotten things down pat, some force comes and toinks me. Read the rest of this entry »

Bookmark It

Every once in a while I find myself thinking about the direction of my life and what it is I want to do. Yes…this is me getting bored again with the daily grind. It’s funny, though, because I am one who thrives in familiarity. I honestly do not like change very much, but every once in a while, there’s something in me that stirs up this feeling of antsy-ness. Often times it’s a crisis of sorts…be it in my health, in my job, or personal life.

And yes…I have faced that these past few days.

It got me to thinking about exploring new possibilities and options, especially since March is quickly approaching, and as I’ve said not too long ago, it would mark the end of my preschool teaching career. So…what now? So many things have happened in the past three weeks that have made me suddenly feel like I’m flailing, but even so, I remain hopeful, partly because I know there’s more room for growth now. One of the things I so want to do in the next few months is finally take up yoga. I also want to enroll in French classes. One more thing, however, that I am contemplating is going back to school, as a student this time and not just a teacher. Granted my MS thesis is still a dark cloud hanging over me, I realized that maybe one reason that’s happening is because that’s not really for me. Maybe it I finally gave in to my heart’s desire, which is creative writing, or perhaps explored getting an it degree especially now that this whole blogging thing and social media networking thing is something I have learned to enjoy, it would be different…for now, however, what I have learned to do is that I need to take the first step to making that change but that I shouldn’t rush carelessly into it nor should I overthink it. Let’s see what happens, shall we?

Bookmark It

One of my goals for this year is to change my vocabulary.

I think I tend to say things certain things too much, even if it is untrue…like saying yes when I actually want to say no, asking are you sure or when instead of being comfortable with let’s see, and most importantly, saying I NEED rather than I WANT. Okay, who really needs a new phone right? Or that cutie red Asus notebook? And more so…another pair of Nine West shoes or that blouse from Forever 21?  Right right right??

So for 2011, I will practice expanding my vocabulary to include words that are more appropriate to what it is I actually need (or want for that matter) to say, when it has to be said.

So help me God. TYVM.

Bookmark It

Yes, I know I’m jumping on the bandwagon here, and that I don’t really know much about the Zodiac and stuff but all day I’ve read nothing except this whole new Zodiac sign thing. If it were true, then now I become a Pisces. Hmmm….let’s see…

According to this website, as an Aries, these are supposedly my positive characteristics:

Not surprisingly, then, if you are an Aries, you are a natural leader. Your energy and enthusiasm are boundless, as is your physical courage. Pioneers are rampant in this category, as are politicians. You care little about the past, preferring to seek new avenues into the future, so you will always throw yourself head and body into new projects, which makes you an ideal leader in business and community. You rarely allow yourself to be found in a subservient role, such as a secretary or laborer. Instead, you will go out of your way to head your own business, even if it’s a small one.

You are also known for your directness. Issues are generally black and white to you, and once you decide on something, you stick to it, proclaiming the strength of your position in no uncertain terms. This straight-to-the-point approach can be quite effective in situations like strategy meetings, where much time is lost in idle discussion, but an Arian’s bluntness can often be upsetting to others, or even offensive. Tact and diplomacy are not in your nature, so smoothing over someone’s hurt feelings is awkward for you.

Pisces on the other hand:

Joie de vivre. Joy of life. You are the most free-spirited sign of all, and the most aware of experiencing all that life has to offer, right here right now. Those two fish in your hieroglyph are the only truly happy symbols in the zodiac, and so you too are naturally carefree and playful.

Your imagination is the most fertile of all the zodiac signs as well. The rest of us rely on you to dazzle us with your flights of fancy, either with words or visuals. There are more poets in your sign than in any other. You’re the artists of the zodiac, and the list of famous Piscean creators proves it.

You also have an immense sense of sympathy for others. If someone near you is in pain, you feel it just as intensely. You simply have to lend your help and understanding because your world is not right until you help cure it. For this, you are prized as a friend.

As the twelfth sign of the zodiac, you are considered to be on the highest spiritual plane, and so you are naturally more intuitive than all other signs, perhaps even psychic. You’re on a quest for spiritual peace in your mind it’s the ultimate calling of mankind, and you’ll probably spend your life trying to attain it. You certainly have the best chance of finding it.

Okay….maybe…pwede nga haha. Oh but as a psychologist, I’d like to think that one is my animus and the other is my anima As Jung puts it, it’s my shadow I love how the two have polar opposites….structure versus free spirit, peaceful versus dominant…interesting

I just wanna say, however…isn’t it so…um…ominous that the new sign is the 13th sign???

wala lang, random thoughts. ktnxbai.

Bookmark It

For the past five months or so, I have been working on what I call “Project Prettify Me”. I talk about it a lot in my other blog, Fat Girl No More, but every now and then, I do mention bits and pieces of it here. I’ve been enjoying the whole project, I must say, even though at times I kinda get lazy and overwhelmed by it. But even when that happens, I try my best to still keep at it because I know it’s making a big difference with regards to how I feel about myself. I’ve traded in my flats and flip flops for heels and stilettos, I’ve given up my baggy pants and frumpy shirts, and I’ve learned to not always wear my standard pearls or diamond stud earrings but to also put on a pair of dangling earrings or hoops every now and then.  Please do keep tabs on my project….and errr….I’ve kinda started posting a whole lot of headshots. Comments would be greatly appreciated Mwah!!!!

Bookmark It