It's a date!

Post-Christmas and Pre-New Year Date with the Girlfriends at Pancake House! Gotta love 'em! :) :) :)

*Thank you to Julie for the photos!

Potluck Christmas

After one month of not seeing them, I finally got the chance to catch up with my Abakom peeps again! And it was a long, memorable and fun catch-up night indeed. J

Of course I was late. Of course! But this time it was not intentional. I mean, I knew I would be late, but I didn’t know I would be that late. Jusz and I arrived at the party three hours after it began. We already missed out on a lot of happy moments! Too bad. L But hey, we still made it, so that’s still something worth celebrating. J Haha!

This thing that we started doing since last year is now surely an annual happening that every one of us looks forward to. It’s not just a time of giving and receiving; it’s also a time for celebrating everything that we have done together in the last 12 months of our lives – the trips, the adventures, the gatherings. Now that we look back at all the things we, my college dear loves and I, have been through together, we realize that this year has been pretty awesome and eventful. There have been birthday celebrations, baptisms, outings, and meetings among the other smaller but just as memorable things in between. J  

There’s one thing that I realized that night. Actually it was not that night; it was something that struck me a long time ago, but that night just reaffirmed that realization to me. We can be having our separate lives now. Everyone has his/her own things to contend with. But while all these life flashes are happening, we will still not turn our back on each other, not on what we have built.

This friendship is here to stay.

*Big thanks to Jerome, Camille and Kreng for the photos!

The Bieb

Because:

• I think this is worth sharing;
• My sugar love Antoniette did this;
• This is my way of showing her how much this means to me;
• Just looking at it makes me so happy;
• I’m mababaw like this. BWAHA! J;
• What the hell, this is Justin Bieber hugging me for Chrissakes! (Hahaha!),

I am posting this beautiful and priceless sketch.

The funniest thing about this drawing is the impression it makes that while Justin so happily and tightly hugs me, I am just making that face as though I am annoyed by what he’s doing. AS IF. HAHAHAHA! I wonder whether Ago did that on purpose or what. Haha! Thank you, sugar!

#sorrynotsorry #yesiloveBieber #nohate #dontjudge #hahaha

Passed!

Hello, December!!!

Let’s kick off this month with some good news and a little bit of oversharing. J

This may sound a little conceited and self-centered of me, but I just really wanna share how happy I am when I passed the Civil Service Exam. Hallelujah! Haha! It’s no big deal really; it’s no Bar or Board but to me it means a lot, gives me a sense of accomplishment. I was just really convinced (and I have already wholeheartedly accepted) that there was no way in hell I was gonna pass it that I was super shell-shocked and psyched when I heard the awesome news. My day couldn’t have gone any better, that’s for sure. Thank you, Lord!!! J Arf!

I didn’t even have any plans of telling my friends about it ‘cos it’s really nothing. I didn’t want people to think it was some big deal when it’s really not. But now that they already know, I might as well broadcast it here, so I can channel my happiness better. I passed! I passed! I freaking passed! Hahaha!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Joson for her effort in this artwork. Clap, clap! Haha! ILY!

What it means to and for me, I am not yet sure, but I’m having a good feeling about life ahead. I shall wait and see. J

P.S.

Totally unrelated but I just really have to say this because I’m so stoked, it’s almost Christmas, and I’m freaking out in excitement! Let the Christmas partiessss commence! Yeehaa! Haha!

You already know what's coming. Christmas-related posts! Yipee!

SNAPSHOTS: Baby Miesha’s Christening

The first baby in the high school barkada officially entered the Christian world last Sunday. Welcome, Baby Miesha! J

Love!

As you should know, this cute and yummy baby is the offspring of our close friend Josan and her lovey, Jeff. Haha! They are so lucky to have been blessed with such a wonderful gift. Likewise, Baby Miesha is also fortunate to have such supportive and loving parents. What makes all of them even luckier in this lifetime you ask? US! The ever supportive and kunsintidor friends/godparents/aunts and uncles to ever exist. No one dare rain on our parade. Joke! Haha! Gaaaah, it’s raining compliments in this post. Haha!

So yep, here are some photos of what went down last Sunday before I start thinking of baloney adjectives to put us up there in the pedestal again. Hahaha. Have fun!

RIJ Girls! Haha!

Happy family!

Isn’t she delicious? Every butt-wrenching ride would be so worth it if she would always be what I’d see at the end of the ride. (I am talking about the unforgettably long and achy trike journey uphill to their beautiful home.) Haha! I can look at her forever. Haha. I have to tell you something, though. When I find kids I really like, I sometimes make them cry ‘cos they’re cute when they cry. Hahaha! And that was the case with Baby Miesha. She ended up weeping every time she got near me. Poor sweetie. Sorry! I’ll make it up to you when we meet again. Haha!

It was a riot, like always. A beautiful kind of riot. J

*Thanks to Joson for the photos!

BARED TO YOU by SYLVIA DAY

(Late post!)

BDSM-themed novels are in full bloom nowadays, and they are something still new to me. Only now am I being introduced to these erotic stories, starting from the Fifty Shades Trilogy. And I must say they are very interesting novels indeed. Haha!

Bared To You is the first of the Crossfire Trilogy. It is one erotic-romantic novel about Eva Tramell and Gideon Cross.

With just one good look at each other, Eva and Gideon already feel the irresistible and affectionate connection between them. Circumstances tell us this love story is going to be anything but uncomplicated, though. They both have pasts that keep haunting them, which, in turn, affect the relationship they are still trying to build. Many times sex is their only way to reassure themselves they are still willing to make whatever it is they have work.

I’m going to try hard not to compare everything about this book with the Fifty Shades Trilogy although there really are so many obvious similarities! There’s just no way you won’t be reminded of the former. Ugh. Haha.

Bared To You is an encouraging book for readers because it is an easy-read. The story has complications, but the book itself is a very simple one. You just got to go with the flow, and everything shall sail smoothly.

I want there to be happily-ever-afters for the fucked-up crowd. Show me the way, Eva honey. Make me believe. – Cary Taylor

I kind of like this novel since it is a fast-paced fiction. A lot of things have already taken place in just a short period of time, and that just about adds excitement to the plot. Maybe this is because the story delves in to detail but not in too much detail. J

Of course there are erotic scenes, many actually, but I consider them to be a vital part of the story. Besides, they are pretty bearable. (No need to safeword Crossfire. Haha.) I can say they are erotic but not way over the top erotic. Or did I just become too used and naïve with all the carnal sensuality after reading the Fifty Shades Trilogy? I don’t know. Haha.

I think the story has no climax. If there is any, maybe it did not stand out as the highest point of the novel. All the story’s complexities seem to be at par with each other, so the turning point is not as convincing and noticeable, which I consider kind of sad. Maybe it’s also the reason why the story as a whole does not have an impact to its readers, or at least to me.

Anonymity was my friend. – Eva Tramell

Fifty Shades of Grey or Bared To You?

Still Fifty Shades, because I do think that it has a more unique and hooking story.

Okay, I failed. I said I wouldn’t compare, but I still did. I just couldn’t help myself. They are so the same! Haha.

But hey, there are still a lot to know in the sequel. I am intrigued with Gideon and what he’s going through. Heck, he was about to rape Eva while sleeping, how’s that? And why’s that? Hmmm, need to read Reflected In You ASAP! J

Don't. Tell me when, then. And before you say never, take a good look at me and tell me if you see a man who's easily deterred. – Gideon Cross

Are you done reading this book? Share your thoughts!

*photo source: http://www.biggie.co.nz/article/win_bared_to

Tagaytay 2013: It’s All About FAITH

While last Monday was all about the barangay election for most Filipinos, it was a totally different scene for us. This national happening was all too quickly overshadowed by the true highlight of our day – Faith’s birthday celebration! Hahaha! (But I voted first before I got into my fun funk. I’m responsible though I don’t look like it, you know. Haha!)

So going back…

We headed out to Tagaytay City for some fun time, and boy was it crazy awesome. We just squandered time and money the whole day, and it felt really good. I mean, you know, it felt good up until that point before I realized I had no more money left. Still, I have no regrets. YOLO, remember? Haha! Yuh, I know. I know I’m too old for the YOLO moments. I’m no teenager anymore. I should act my age and stuff, but being a teenager’s so much fun I can’t help myself. Hahaha!

Tagaytay was, well, beautiful as always. And it’s already Christmas there! The breeze, the vibe, the sight – everything’s just so Christmassy already, which made me feel all the more excited about the weeks to come. I love it!

The weather went along with us. It didn’t rain, which was more than I could ever ask for. It started out as a fine-weathered day – not too hot and not too cold – but it got really nippy as the night drew closer. The chill went from tolerable and enjoyable to “It's so cold I'm shaking!" Talk about freezing point levels. (OA) Haha! No wonder I have been snorting and sneezing since Monday night. Oh well, it was that particular wintry puff of air that made us go there of all destinations in the first place.

We had lunch at this low-profile and totally underrated bulalohan in Mahogany. It’s one of the bulalohans along a pretty long stretch of cholesterol-mustered goodness in the area’s marketplace. The bulalo was oh so good! So good!!! It was so good I didn’t care how thick and unhealthy the layer of cholesterol around my mouth was so long as my hunger was satisfied and my just then discovered obsession for the sinful dish was overly met. It just didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was the bulalo. Well, that and the surprisingly delish tawilis. It easily became everyone’s fave that day. Never did I imagine tawilis could actually be that delicious. Not many of us are a fan of this dried fish, but we emptied the bowls like tawilis was something we always loved. Cuh-raaazy! I still can’t get over that tawilis. I would not be shocked if I ever dream of it one of these days. Haha!

Aaaah!

Was the food that awesome? Or did everything just taste so good because the lunch was Faith’s treat? Haha! I guess we can all agree the answer’s both. ;)

Then off we went to Sky Ranch, where we actually didn’t try out any ride. Haha! We didn’t feel like riding any, so we didn’t. We just enjoyed the view, savored the cold breeze and chilled a little bit. J

Girlfriends!

Lex? Haha! We miss you, Lex! :D

Happy couple. JOKE. Hahaha!

Quality kilay time!

To cap off our trip, we had coffee and frappe at Bag of Beans, another perfect chill place to go to when in Tagaytay. J 

There we got Faith a little surprise. We gave her a little slice of cake with a candle, and we sang happy birthday to her. I could tell in her reaction that she was touched, really touched. We were happy she was happy. She deserved that and more. J We stayed a little while longer at Bag of Beans because it felt so laid back there.

In general, it was tiring (because we were all just so intense and overflowing with energy) but absolutely worth it if you’re with the right people. One for the books!

What else can I say, some good coffee (and frappe), a vintage-y ambiance and my bestfriends all in one place – THIS. IS. THE. LIFE.

Picture with the family. :)

DEAR. GOD. THANK. YOU. FOR. THIS. LIFE. HAHAHA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRU! Thank you for the treat and all the other things in between the seven years of friendship. You know I love ya, right? Hahaha! Kisses!

Should we start planning for our future roadtrips? ;)

*Thanks to Faith for the photos!

Ipe's first

I have been lying low not posting anything lately, which is sad. But now that I’m back, why don’t we consider this my comeback post. Hahahaha!

Here are a few snapshots of what happened last Sunday during Baby Ipe’s first birthday party. It was a day filled with cuteness, what with two cutie patooties effortlessly using their charm to put a smile on everyone’s face. J

Bored and hungry! Hahaha!

Happy birthday, Baby Clarence and, of course, Baby Stephen!

American Ipe!!!

Asian Clarence! :)

We also got our purple-haired Juwie a cake for her birthday yesterday. Happy birthday, Purits! All the love!

Then there was an awkward encounter with a ghost from our past. Oh well. She’s the past; there’s no need to dwell in the past. The present’s awesome; the future's even more promising. Harhar.

*Photos by: Jerome Satera, Maricris Maligaya, Maricris Medalla Balba 

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