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!

Missing the happy tree friends

May I just say...

...na sa stressful moments in the office, nakaka-miss ang old, happy friends from here.

Nakaka-miss ang maingay at nakakatawang si Cookie. Super nice and grounded girl. Pahingi ng kotse!

Nakaka-miss si Madz na minsan magulo kausap. Di niya kasi alam kung sinong April ba talaga ang kausap niya. Pero solidong kaibigan. If you need someone in the inner circle who can keep your deepest, darkest secrets - siya na 'yon.

Nakaka-miss si party boy Douglas. My former yosi-mate (good thing I quit already) and clubbing buddy.

And I so miss Tanie and Alain.

Si Tanie a.k.a. Tonya in my book, I still talk to every now and then. She lightens up my tiring day sa mga fantabulous chica niya about her career and karir.

Ang Alain - missing in action. Busy sa love life!

They added colors to the already wonderful hues of the office. Although I'm proud and happy of what they have become in terms of their careers, I miss talking to both of them.

Very honest to the bones - that's who they are. But very caring as well.

Sadness. Na-sad naman ako.

Susugurin ko na lang one of these days si Tonya in KL.

Sigh.

Loooooooong to-do list

It’s been like this for 4 weeks already. Ever since we all got back from the long holiday break, it’s been literally breathless in the office. Everything is just really frantic and all projects wanted to launch, uhm… yesterday?

Nakakapagod.

I was talking to Jay the other day and I actually told him, nakakapagod talaga to be over-productive, if there is such a thing.

Luckily, no matter how stressful things get, I don’t feel as drained since I’m seeing and getting the desired results.

Sobrang hirap lang talaga.

Well, thank God for the long to-do list. Buti nga meron pang to-do list, eh.

There were a lot of lay-offs everywhere, what with the economic milieu. I heard that some of the benched PMs in BPOs have been given the pink slips already.

Oh well.

Keep the to-dos coming in, yeah?

Kung Hei Fat Choi

R. and I spent Chinese New Year together for the first time.

For those in the know, the official status is what is at the present moment. For those still wondering, mahirap talagang ipaliwanag. Even I can’t explain so don’t ask me anymore since I can’t and won’t say anything concrete.

We attended Angie and Erwin’s wedding together last Sunday. I saw the naughty smirk on JT’s face when he saw us together holding hands.

JT and I had this bet that’s supposed to end in February. Unfortunately, I think I already lost it.

I told R. about it and his only reaction was, “Anong gusto mo, manalo ka o matalo ka sa pustahan?”

This is one of those very rare moments that it is so much better to lose the bet.

And win someone. =)

After the wedding reception, he and I went to Martinis to wind down. We went outside to watch Mandarin Oriental’s fireworks display.

AWESOME, to say the least.

It doesn’t really matter how the night was spent.

Masaya lang na magkasama kami.

Masaya ako na kasama ko siya.

Kung hanggang kailan until the next melodramatic episode, hindi ko rin alam.

Or should I even be anticipating the next one when it’s so much better to just take things as they come?

Sabi nga ni Yoj, before, they were telling me to end it. Pero mahirap talagang tuldukan ang isang bagay na alam mong hindi pa tapos.

Lalo na kung siya.

What’s going to happen after this, bahala na si Batman.

Bahala na siguro kami.

We’re just both so glad that the year of the rat is finally OVER.

Let’s hope this year gets better. A hell lot better.

Happy Chinese New Year, friends!