Potted or Pottered?

OH YES, TONIGHT!

Excited na koooooo!!!! #giddyasakid 
See you there, Potter fans!

Combating Defensiveness

Last night was somehow a heartbreakingaching night. It just seemed we did not see eye-to-eye. I was dismissive, he was agit and exasperated. Night was capped in tears but with goodnights, sorrys and I love yous. 

I woke up today remembering a daily devotional book that has not been touched for quite some time. Mabasa nga. And yes, the reading for the day was apt with the circumstances. Hay, Lord, kakaloka ka tumiming. Here is the summarized version of it.



AUGUST 29: COMBATING DEFENSIVENESS

Defensiveness stops the flow of communication in a relationship. Defensiveness indicates that your self-esteem has been attacked. The person who made a cutting comment is not the enemy. Rather, the message he/she spoke is. Focus on the right enemy and you can turn your negative feelings into positive actions.

Lord God, when I feel defensive, please help me to consider the message objectively. If it is true, let me be willing to take steps to make a positive change. If it is not true, help me not to respond angrily but to trust that you will give me the right words to say. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

From Gary Chapman's The One Year Love Language Minute Devotional


And yes, despite the occasional defensiveness, I still love you with all my heart.


Photo was taken from http://rosiemolinary.com/.

Reason, Season and Lifetime

Relate, sooooobrang relate.

Sorry for just being a reason or a season to you. When we started what we had, we both wished we were in it for a lifetime, but I guess it's not God's plan for both of us. 

We were there for the reasons each of us need to be. And as was said, the season eventually ended. 

Thank you. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

Self-processing: Forgiveness Is Freedom

I am just processing myself. Aloud. Please indulge.

Turbulent times for me. Much confusion, stress, hurt, disappointment, heartache and hopelessness. But I know things will get better. Eventually. In HIS time. (Hopefully soon though, Lord.)

In this very moment that I feel such a kontrabida in (mostly) everyone's eyes, here is what God wanted me to know...

ALTHOUGH FORGIVENESS IS VERY HARD, IT IS NECESSARY.

Holding onto anger and old hurts hardens your heart and hurts only you. Ask for help in letting go of the anger. Ask to see the situation through the eyes of compassion. Allow yourself to feel the lightness of forgiveness.

I'm thinking sino ba dapat kong patawarin.

Then it hit me.

Dapat kong UNANG patawarin ang sarili ko. I have to forgive myself first to be able to forgive others. I cannot give what I do not have. Forgiveness to self translates to forgiveness to others. God is right in saying mahirap magpatawad. Lalo na yung sa tingin natin hindi deserving ng kapatawaran.

I feel that. I feel I don't deserve forgiveness. Heck, I feel I don't even deserve forgiveness from myself. Then God sends me this. Naman talaga, Lord!

Di ko pa rin alam. Inner battle. Internal conflict. But I know I'll emerge victorious. Whatever I will decide, it has been thought through. No shooting down. Please.

To all the people I have hurt, especially those whom I have hurt DEEPLY, I am sorry. Huli na siguro or baka wala nang effect, but still, I AM TRULY SORRY. I hope you find it in your hearts, no matter how small the flicker of compassion for me is, to forgive me.

To myself, I forgive you. Wag ka lang madalas na gaga or tanga baka madala akong patawarin ka. Pero di naman kita kaya tiisin, eventually mapapatawad din kita. Ulit. And remember dear self, I love you very much.

To the people who have hurt me, I free you. I forgive you. Sincerely.

PS. Sa mga nakibasa at nakabasa nitong self-processing ko, please pray for me. Please.

(Freedom photo by Amit Richard) 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Bathing to the Rhythm

Oh yes yes yes! We're talking bathing! Hahaha!


Last January 2, I just thought of lugging my iPod and speakers inside the shower room and bathing to the music, see how relaxing that'll  be and hell yeah, I wanna do it again! Everyday! If I have time that is! Hahahaha!


Have you tried this? Ahhhhmaaaazing talaga!!!!


Going back, since there was no relaxing, soothing playlist on my iPod, I had to result to Genius. I made a Genius playlist with Love Moves In Mysterious Ways, and this is what I got...


I shampooed to Love Moves In Mysterious Ways by Julia Fordham.
I hair-conditioned to Beauty and Madness by Fra Lippo Lippi.
I soaped to Freestyle's Before I Let You Go.
I shower-creamed to EBTG's I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love.
I washed my face to A Little Bit by MYMP.
And I rinsed and towelled to Ewan by Imago and Ulan by Rivermaya.


Ah-ma-zing talaga! I massaged my scalp, soaped, rinse, towelled and tapped my feet to the beat! I was even humming and turning!!! Hahahaha!


Basta, hay naku, TRY IT!!!!!


This was my longest and best bath ever! Will definitely do this again and again and again!


Anuba, ang giddy ko na dito! TRY NYO NA! =D

Starting The Year Right

I got two greeeeeat books this holiday season. They look very promising, PROMISE! *haha* 


1. THE SHACK by Wm. Paul Young

Thank you to my YDWTL-42 anak, Joon, for this inspirational book. I've been hearing raves about this book. Thank you. As part of the Missy Project, I also gave a copy to Nii (Edison). 


2. THE ONE-YEAR LOVE LANGUAGE MINUTE DEVOTIONAL by Gary Chapman (signature series)

Nii, thank you for this wonderful year-round book. As I have said, everyday, all my life. 

These books I believe are good omens on how 2012 will be! 

... Great! 

... Inspiring! 

And definitely, God-led!

HAPPY 2012 TO ALL OF YOU!

CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR!

Together We Are Strong

Leo, Crisi and Chris, kaya natin to. 

Always remember, together we are strong. With Kuya we are stronger.

Basta kayo, mahal ko!

 

==============================================================

Join Yuppie Days With The Lord Batch 42

November 25-27, 2011

Xavier School, Greenhills West, 

San Juan City, Metro Manila, 

Philippines

My First BF

Bestfriend that is. =)


I was part of a barkada of eight. Twas Carcar, Marvin, Michael, Popoy, JP, Kaloy, Jacq and me. Funny thing was they were either siblings or cousins. Ako lang ang hindi kamag-anak. I didn't feel out-of-place. Never.


Jacq was my first bestfriend. Kahit madalas kami mag-away, magsabunutan (yes, you read that right!), I love her so dearly. I will confide secrets to her. I will rush eating my meals just to play with her the soonest. I will pretend to have my siesta and get up with jolt and excitement once the clock strikes 3pm just to rush out the door for much-hungered-for playtime with her. I pulverize anyone who bullies her. I threaten anybody who attempts to pick a fight with her. 


And I swear she'd do the same for me. Cross my heart and hope to die. =)


It's nostalgic to remember, all thanks to a note in Facebook that I answered recently. It's one of those notes where you get tagged, change the answers to the numerous questions and then tag friends (again). It had a section on firsts.  



My Firsts


The note asked to tag 20 random (I think) people. I chose to tag those I've mentioned in the note and some others. A few days after, Jacq messaged me,


Jacq's Message


Aaaaaawwwwww.... we're each other's first bestfriends. <3


Jacq, I hope we have time to bond soon. It's been far too long that we haven't kept in touch. Ingat ka palagi. I still love love love you. And yes, I will still pulverize those who will dare hurt you. Pwede pa natin tawagin yung barkada and yung mga kuya ko for resbak. Hahaha! =)

A Cup , A Cup, A Cup, A Cup, A Cup!

Actually, cupSSSS! I want theeeeeeese!!!!!! =)

Cookie Monster Cup

Marauder's Cup

Aweeeesoooooome huh???? =)


Can someone be so kind? Please? 0=)

For Nii: Lost Without It

Last night, Edison and I watched Fast 5. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! As in!!!!


But all awesomeness was gone when Nii lost his cellphone our our way home, pickpocketed by this lady who we thought was just rushing to overtake us in walking. =(


Nii and I was able to cry on this already. First time kong umiyak over a lost phone. =( (It was my first time to cry over a lost phone) There are still some bits of sadness, disappointment and frustration in me but I know faith will heal them in no time.


It was just tragic to see Edison so sad, so miserable after losing the phone. You were such a heartbreaking sight last night, Nii.  No one is to blame. We just have to learn the hard way, I guess.  


Nii, even if it seems tough and impossible to see the silver lining in this situation, even if all seem bleak and cold, know that I have the following to be thankful for:


Let me be thankful first, because it was pickpocketed and it was not forcefully taken from you. Second, you lost it without witnessing and was freed from dealing with more frightening emotions if ever you saw it being taken away from you. Third, although it was special and sentimental, it was not much especially your life. Fourth, because it was the phone that was lost, not you, nor me, nor your family, nor your friends, nor your faith. And last, because despite this misfortune, we still can see a flicker of light in this dark hour.


Keep the faith, Nii. Jess has his reasons.Ü


Mapapalitan din naman natin yan. Mas maganda pa. Smile ka na ha? =*


I have a similar post to this one when I lost my camera. Read it here.

Dark Day

I feel so dark today. Maybe because of the looming frustration and disappointment from yesterday. Maybe not. I don't know. I'm just not my cheery self today. Weird. Oh well.

I'm wearing an all dark outfit and I have pale makeup on. The only cheery-Reich things I have are my hoops and my floral (yet still dark) flats. I feel argh ?!@#!@ today. I hope I get my much needed uplift soon.

Darkness, you are welcome to visit but please do not stay for too long. *sigh*

I Choose Peace

And God reminded me, "At any moment, you can choose peace. You can choose inner peace, you can choose peace between friends, you can choose peace between enemies, and you can choose peace on the planet."

Swak naman yan, Lord (That's so exacting, Lord)! Aray (Ouch)! Hahahaha!

There are rumblings in my mind and in my heart. Help me. Help me choose peace.

I want to. But I need help. Especially yours.

Take me out of the dark. You know I will always choose peace. Always.

Just Love.

Ang hirap. Sometimes you expect and get disappointed. Sometimes you give but not receive any at all. I know you would say wag ka kasi mag-expect (you should not expect). Can you not? Really? Honestly? Come on! Even at the faintest level, you do expect somehow.  You might also say give and not expect any in return. Same reaction. Can you not? Really? Honestly? Even at the slightest level, you do wait for something, even just a bit, in return.


But after every time I cry because I get disappointed, I always rationalize it with mahal ko eh (I love that person). Lilipas din yan (This shall pass). Aayos din lahat (Everything will be ok).


I'm just trying to vent here. No whatsoever. Only pure venting. Haaaay.


All I know is that whenever I get disappointed or frustrated, I will myself to love. To just love. JUST LOVE.


Everything will fall in place afterwards. **smile**

Got Ashed

Ash Wednesday -- the beginning of Lent. 


Lent na! Ambilis! It will be Good Friday then Easter in no time!


Since Ash Wednesday is a day of obligation, I compelled myself to hear mass and get myself ashed. I did, in school. Buti na lang may mass.


Went to EDSA Shrine after work to hear mass with Nii.  I compelled him to go. Hahaha! He had to go!


Blessed Lenten Season to everyone!

Still thinking of what to abstain from... Any suggestions???

Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis is also called Northern Lights.


This photograph is courtesy of Peter Rosén from National Geographic. 

Northern Light Magic

About the photo: Northern lights sweep above a cabin in Abisko in northern Sweden on January 7. “The entire sky opened up like a beautiful inferno,” photographer Peter Rosén told spaceweather.com. “Red, blue and green like a dancing queen on the sky.”


The solar ejections that cause auroras can also create geomagnetic storms that can affect spacewalking astronauts, Earth-orbiting satellites, and even communications and power systems on the ground.

==================================


Since I watched Brother Bear, it has been my dream to witness the Northern Lights! Haaaaaay, kelan kaya yun? (When will that be?) Sobrang dream-come-true talaga pag nangyari yun! (It would be a dream-come-true!) Still crossing all my fingers and toes for this wish! Will forever be amazed by nature! Will forever be awed by phenomena like this! God, You indeed are great!

Raiponce

Raiponce is French for Rapunzel. Oh yeah, you guessed it right! 
TANGLED! =)


This movie's adorable! =) It's a cartoon! It should be! =)



Movie Poster


I soooooooo love this scene! Edison and I were both quiet. Ninanamnam namin yung eksena! (We were relishing the moment!) Hahahaha!


I was just a little frustrated at the turn of events at the end. Oh well, I just thought she wouldn't, you know, lose that. (Can't disclose much, might be a spoiler for some.) And parang bitin. (Also, the end's a bit hanging.) Or is it just me? Oh! Don't mind me! I generally enjoyed the film! =) And may I add, Rapunzel is soooo Mandy Moore. I think I've watched way too many Mandy movies to recognize her laugh and tone to match every emotion. Kaaaaaaa! Hahaha! 


Tangled is the 4th movie I have watched in 2011. I'm keeping tab of the movies I watched in theaters. Just started this year. Check out 2011 here.


Til my next movie escapade! =) 

My January 2011 Calendar

Here I go again! I hope I can keep this up throughout the year! =)


New planner, new life to organize, new chances to create, new choices to make. Naks, all because of a new BDJ Power Planner! Hahaha!



My January 2011


01 - Happy New Year, everyone!
02 - Happy Three Kings! Dijai's Starbucks treat.
03 - The Disciples Choir sang at the necrological mass for Jillbert's Mom.
04 - Kiko flooded our inboxes with way too many Good Mornings! Imba!
05 - I tried Frost Bite SM North with Edison
06 - Edison and I watched Ang Tanging Ina (Last Na 'To).
07 - The Disciples Choir sang at the necrological mass for Coun. Alfred Vargas' Dad.
08 - My choirmates and I watched 3: A Choral Celebration at CCP.
09 - Fort Driving Trip -- Manong taught Dad all possible routes form the house to Fort.
10 - I had an interview in the Blue Eagle.
11 - I watched Gulliver's Travels with Edison.
12 - YDWTL Core had a meeting in Conti's Serendra. 
13 - Loaded my Shang Cineplex E-See Card. Finally!
14 - I helped Edison review conversion in McDo Mindanao Avenue.
15 - Leo and I did YDWTL Inventory.
16 - Conducted the Planner Utilization Session.
17 - I helped Edison review Trigo functions.
18 - Edison was late for World Lit class!!! Oh no!
19 - I'm officially addicted to Insaniquarium!
20 - Had a McDonald's dinner with Edison.
21 - HSM. Weeeee! Edison and I watched Green Hornet.
22 - We celebrated Chef Sharwin's victory with a D.I.Y. dinner!
23 - Shawarma and isaw dinner in Lagro.
24 - I had a Teletech Interview.
25 - Makati Bus Bombing! =O
26 - I softly re-opened Beadery.
27 - Major Major Foodtrip: Sbarro, Krispy Kreme, Amici!
28 - Tito Oscar passed away. ='(
29 - Reviewed Rizal with Edison.
30 - Happy birthday, Kuya Ron!
31 - Nii brought me chocolates! Aaawwww!!! Thanks!


With the first month over and done with, I resolve to make 2011 my best year ever! Woot! *\o/*


PLEASE GOD, BE WITH ME.

The World Through Mario's Eyes

Is Super Mario Bros. part of your childhood? He's definitely a big chunk of mine! =D From Family Computer, to Game & Watch, to TV shows, to costume parties, to Super NES, to GameBoy! My childhood definitely is a Mario World! Woot!


Have you ever imagined how Mario sees it? =) I often did! Mine didn't even come close to this! =)



Through Mario's Eyes


Ang sayaaaa!!!! (This is fuuuun!) I hope Wii develops Mario from this perspective! =) This version will surely be as awesome and as addicting as the others!


Go, Mario! Go save Princess Peach Toadstool!


Picture courtesy of Nintendo Tumblr.

Limang Mga Daliri

Read this before from MgaEpal.com, but when I came across this again in Tumblr, natawa pa rin ako nang bonggang-bongga (I still laughed my a** off)!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!



Mga Daliri (The Fingers) -- Name and Occupation


The Hinlalatok and the Hinliit is waaaaaay beyond what I expected them to be! Hinpapakyu. Hinpangulangot ng sosyal. Langya, benta talaga! (Darn, it's hilarious!)


APIR TAYO DYAAAAAN!!!! (Gimme fiiiiive!)

Certified Sweet Tooth

Oh yeah, that's what I am. Self-confessed. Aside from ice cream, chocolates are my weakness. Boo. Hahahaha. Now you know what to bribe me with. =P


Thanks, Nii, for remembering to bring me chocolates last Monday. Can I have more from the stash at home? Pleeeease? Abuso?!?!? Hahaha!



Thanks, Nii! =)


You surprised me with Twix, Nii! =) It's one of my favorites! =D


Speaking of Twix, you wanna know how to make a GIANT TWIX??? Oh yeah!!!!! Whoa! Such big eyes from excitement!!! =)


Ok! Ok! Here, here....


Ingredients:
- 3 packs/800 grams of tea finger biscuits or any biscuit with same texture
- 1 big pack/800 grams of caramel candies or you can make your own caramel (if you know how)
- 2 big packs/2 kgs of milk chocolate (plain) bars
- 1 bar of butter
- optional golden syrup
- 2 cups of milk
- Twix-shaped pan 
- wax paper for your pan


Procedure:
1. Melt 1 kg of chocolate in a pan. Spread it in your Twix-shaped pan, covering all sides.
2. Refrigerate to make it hard.
3. Melt the caramel candies (or make your own caramel). Once melted, make a layer over the refrigerated chocolate.
4. Crush all the biscuits. Mix it with butter to that it will stick together. If the hold is not strong, you can add more butter or golden syrup.
5. Put the biscuit batter on top of the caramel layer.
6. Melt the remaining chocolate. Pour melted chocolate on top of the layer of biscuit, covering it entirely.
7. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
8. Take it out from the pan and serve.


VOILA! You will have something like this!



Oh yum yum yum!!!!


Learned this from Ovablastic and Pimp That Snack. =)


Heaven, di ba (isn't it)?
Go! Run! Make your Giant Twix! Now na!