Smorgasbord of thoughts – this week’s recap

1. Madonna and Louis Vuitton

This cannot get any better. My goddess Madonna for the Louis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2009 campaign --- totally rocking my world right now!

As Marc claimed over last week’s dinner, I only want to go to Paris to visit the Louis Vuitton
store in Champs-Elysees… para magtirik ng kandila at sumamba sa tapat ng tindahan! Hahaha! Wow. Madonna. Louis Vuitton.

Still can’t believe it.

2. Recessionista mode

This second item on the blog is the complete antithesis of the first one. At this point where the economy is down and the temperament of the stock market is completely unpredictable, it’s not very wise to spend so much money on luxury.

Yes, I have been on save mode since Christmas. I didn’t buy myself any high-ticket item because I prefer to stay as liquid as possible. In fact, I sold all the extra bottles of perfume I have just stocked in my closet. They’re unopened and unused – some were gifts and some I bought for myself. I still have Guerlain and Hugo Boss perfumes that I have been trying to use up. What better way to get more moolah than sell the extras, right?

I will be doing my first spring cleaning for the year – so I’m letting go of barely used clothes and even some of my books. More moolah for travel and surf lessons!

3. Saving

I like saving money. Everyone should make a habit of it. I come from a middle class family so I know when and how to splurge. I also know when and how to scrimp when needed.

There was a time when I felt that I deserved to buy a lot of things to reward myself. Sometimes, when you are deprived of material things at some point in your life, you have a tendency to do this. I did. I’m just glad I got over it soon.

Just like everybody else, I got burned by credit card mess, too but repeating the same mistake is utterly stupid.

I also learned that a lot of people can make all kinds of excuses not to save money – family responsibilities, paying off debts, etc.

But sometimes, all it takes is a little penny-pinching here and there. Either you make all the excuses in the world available or just admit that there’s something wrong with your financial management. I’m probably just lucky. Nauntog ako kaagad and I had good financial advisers.

Thanks to R. Malay ko sa stock market, mutual funds and other investments dati ano. Although I had some inkling about investments, I really didn’t know much about the timings and which investments to choose. I’m just glad he taught me. Salamat sa free advice for me and the friendships.

4. Dish when you can only accept dishing

I was reminded about this just a few days ago. Sometimes, people just dish but when it’s their turn to listen to dishing, they can’t take it.

Minsan, it’s important to listen to people – especially friends who really care for us. They’re only after our well-being.

We all have our blindspots and what better way to open our eyes but to listen to what our real friends think about us.

Ang kaso – more often than not, we don’t want to listen. Or we make a lot of excuses for ourselves. Worse, we get pissed off at friends who just want us to do better.

Minsan, hirit tayo ng hirit. Ayaw naman mahiritan.

Simple lang – kung matigas ulo, bahala ka.

And if you can’t take the dishing the next time it’s your turn to listen – then just shut the hell up!

5. Waiting…waiting…waiting…

May hinihintay pa rin ako. Something BIG. In most days, I have learned to be patient. In some, I’m just really so itching to get what I want.

Pero ganon talaga, eh. Although patience is not my innate virtue, I am learning. Thank God, I’m seeing signs of fruition.

Lagpak kasi ako sa marshmallow test, eh. I can’t take suspense.

Salamat ulit kay R. at kay Ariel --- they are appeasing me. Thanks to their patience – they are relentless in always reminding me to just wait it out because my turn will come. And thanks to their good examples.

Kung hindi --- lukring na lukring na ko kakahintay dito.

But all is good. I’ve got all that I need for now.

Nay. Good is an understatement.

Things have been great and I have nothing but gratefulness in my heart.

Happy weekend, friends!