I should sleep now

The weekend is over once more, and here I am , still up and enjoying my online world. I've been hooked with Facebook lately, I even update my status using my I phone. It keeps me occupied when Im at home, and it keeps me updated too with my friends back in Manila. This is actually getting to be a bad habit, You know, staying in front of the laptop doing nothing while munching in some junk foods. I told myself that I should really try those weightloss supplements i've seen online. I am counting days for my vacation, and that's also the number of days left for me to lose weight .

I really gotta sleep now everyone. May we all have a great week ahead.

missin

I miss the summer in Manila.

I miss the beach.

Im not sure if I will be home again by summer of May. I might save up for the lil princess' birthday for next year. But who says we cant enjoy the beach by that time? Knowing my family, we will surely hit off Boracay or Bohol for the sun exposure. Then maybe HK too? Lets see if we have all the budget for that.

Photos at Puenta Fuego during my latest vacation.

What I've Learned about Friendship...

1.I've learned that there are many good friends around, but true best friends are hard to come by.
2.I've learned that sometimes you love a best friend more than a boyfriend.
3.I've learned that a best friend is more important than a boyfriend.
4.I've learned that you can do something or nothing with a best friend and still have the best time.
5.I've learned that a true friendship has many memories, both good and bad, but all important.
6.I've learned that sometimes the most used part of a best friend is the shoulder you cry on, and the shoulder you are willing to lend.
7.I've learned that when a best friend is happy, you find yourself happy too, even when it has nothing to do with you.
8.I've learned that a best friend's family soon feels like your own.
9.I've learned that the only one who truly understands is a true friend.
10.I've learned that nothing ever sounds stupid, funny, or unbelievable to a best friend, and you never feel stupid saying whatever it is.
11.I've learned that sometimes it feels like a best friend is the only one who will ever care about you and think you are beautiful in your own way.
12.I've learned that you always have that something extra to give to a best friend in need, and can count on that in return.
13.I've learned that your heart is forever touched by a true friend, no matter how things end up.
14.I've learned that when your heart has been broken, a best friend is the best band-aid for it.
15.I've learned that a best friend will call you in the middle of the night to talk without thinking, and it's OK.
16.I've learned that in many cases, a hug and a kind word from a best friend is the only thing that helps get you through the day.
17.I've learned that a best friend would stick up for you no matter what the consequences are.
18.I've learned that best friends can sing at the top of their lungs and not worry about singing the wrong words or being out of tune.
19.I've learned that best friends stay up all night and on the phone for hours talking without even realizing it.
20.I've learned that a best friend can tell the difference between a silly crush, and more than that.
21.I've learned that sometimes a best friend is all you have.
22.I've learned that sometimes you wonder how she knew, but then you realize that's just how close you are.
23.I've learned that when you are true best friends, everyone else knows it.
24.I've learned that, most importantly of all, best friends will always be best friends, no matter what is happening in their lives, where they are, or what they are doing. A best friend is irreplaceable. This is the most important thing I could have ever been taught by a best friend.

Get to Know Me

You've Been Bit By the Shopping Bug!

You're constantly adding to your wardrobe - and it shows However, you can show some restraint. You love good deals. Your love of the clearance rack has paid off... You probably have only maxed out card or two, if at all!

Do You Shop More Than Most Women?

You're Part Diva

You know that a girl's gotta work it to get her way in the world. And while you aren't about to throw a tantrum at every turn... You do amp up the drama when you know you need it. You mix charm, honesty, and kindness to get ahead.

Are You a Diva?

Your Makeup Look Is

Pale Lips with Big Eyes A little classic, a little retro - you look fantastic in this high fashion look.

What's Your Signature Makeup Look?

You Are a Normal Girl

You are 60% Good and 40% Bad Sure you've pulled some bad girl stunts in your past. But these days, you're (mostly) a good girl.

Are You a Good Girl or a Bad Girl?

Holiday Spirit at Work

*** with Benita, Connie and Lily after a crazy Friday at work***

I cannot forget this Friday, it was such a crazy and busy one that at the end of the day when we decided to take pictures, I felt that we look so stressed out! I do have some more pictures on this link. Christmas is so fun around work since everyone is so much into the Holiday spirit, and I know that its always around this time of the year that I gain a lot of weight since goodies are just everywhere.. From homemade cookies, to cakes and brownies, candy canes and boxes of See's Candies! The bank orders boxes and boxes for each branch and then we get some from our customers too.. See's Candies have become such a tradition like how big Christmas Tree and the old toy train are for the bank. So here's some more pics:



I have a lot more pictures to upload but its Survivor China season finale.. So I'll just post some more later!!! Hahaha

Where's my Money..

I just cannot believe this... Payday was last Friday and I'm pretty excited since I felt like I've been running short on cash since my shopping spree last month. So I checked my account balance and started to budget my money. I have been pretty much independent since I got a job. I pay my own bills, my share of the rent, I buy things I wanted from my own money. So from what I have last friday I have to take out a couple of bucks for some expenses.. And I was so surprised!! After writing checks for my phone bill, two credit cards (yeah, I know not a good thing!), and of course I have to send money back home.. All that's left on my account is roughly around $200!!! What!!!!! What in the hell just happened?! Where is my money??! And I am saying that was left on my account, not just from my pay. And I've got to say, I do get paid a pretty substantial amount.. Ugh! I was so furious! I have been thinking of at least buying something for myself as a Christmas gift, something a little bit expensive, but I think that will have to wait. (Although I did get a new pair of Michael Kors shoes on sale!) Does that mean that in a span of 2-3 days my money's already gone?!

So what I did after realizing how I have been spending my money, I dig up a couple of past month;s bank statements and to my amazement.. I was right! Definitely! I have been spending as much as I am earning... My debits match up my credits, sometimes even more! So being an accountancy graduate, I'll say that its just always break-even, which is not good! I have to make so changes or else I'll wind up broke!

Here's the plan I've come up with:

1. For my next pay this month, I will only spend for bills I have to pay.
2. I'll ask my sister that we need to stop browsing at online stores!! Please!
3. I will TRY not to shop and just save money from January to March! Let me just clarify this one, maybe I'll just take cash with me.
4. In connection with number 3, every Friday I will lock up all my plastics ( my debit and credit cards) inside my safe deposit box at the bank! Great idea!! Hahaha
5. I have to tell my sister that if she wanted something for Joaquin, she has to tell mom because I AM NOT BUYING!!! Nah, maybe one shirt at a time!

This has to work, I have to save money since I am planning to go back to Manila next May for my vacation.. And oh no, I am not going back broke! This is a major challenge for me! I probably have to strap myself to the couch on weekends, just so that I won't hit the malls. I guess its time for me to save..

Been a While

I know! It feels like forever since my last post. I have so busy at work this week. My supervisor is on vacation, leaving us a little bit shorthanded at work. I had to do a couple of reports for the last month and ugh I hate those! This is really a stressful week and I've been meaning to posts stuff that has been happening lately. I will this weekend! Here's some things that I will be posting:

** Bank's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting- happened last monday!

** Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - it was on last night!! definitely a must-see! especially because of the Spice Girls first performance in years!!! Woohoo!!

** I need help on my Christmas Party outfit! - the dinner's next wednesday.. duh?!

** My Christmas Wishlist - just in case somebody wanted to buy me one!

I just hope I'll be able to survive the rest of the week without going crazy!

Another Day..Another Morning

Sunday.. Another gloomy day, good thing the rain already stop since its been pouring all night. So, I'm thinking what can I do today.. Maybe today I can finally hit the malls and do a little shopping, if its not gonna rain anymore. Oh boy, I really did have a bad Saturday, that it did put me in a bad mood the whole day.

But I did woke up a nice morning, mom was able to left something for breakfast (and for lunch too!) before she left for work. The weather is not that bad, though there is still a bit of fog but no news of rain for today. I surely hope this day will turn out better than yesterday. But hey, I think that part is all up to me! Have a wonderful day!

My Quote For the Day:

"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

words of wisdom

I love reading quotations from books, from cards, and from friends' text messages of course! I guess its because on times when I really nedd to do a lot of thinking or there is something I have in my mind reading quotes enlightens me. So here's some:

(And the last one.. It's my favorite! HeHe!)

Who knew Work is this Hard

Four years ago, I was a happy-go-lucky college girl, living the life in Manila.. Weekend parties and long hours on the phone! Wow I definitely missed that! Then I moved here to California, and the next thing I knew.. THE PARTY IS TOTALLY OVER!! Ugh I hate it! I remember the first thing I had to do was to find a job.. And FYI: I have never worked in my entire life! I did get a part time job though, a week after I got here. Never even got the chance to be a tourist a for a while, I wasn't able to see places since people were very eager for me to work. Although I did learn things on my first job I wouldn't consider it a hard one. Not until a little over two years ago, when I was hired to work as a teller in a bank. I did have my share of mistakes but there were opportunities for improvement and I was blessed that in three months I got the chance to do something different, like wire transfers and foreign exchange and the good part is I'm only a back-up teller! Thank goodness, because sometimes the teller job is not that easy especially if you're dealing with large amounts of cash. Last July I was once again blessed to be offered a new position and this time around I am totally not a teller anymore! And just when I thought the stress was over I am totally wrong..

I still work at the Operations Department, which I think is really stressful, I helped out the tellers and I have my own reports to do. But lately, one of my office mate tends to be so hard on himself, and I have to admit that it is kinda taking a toll on everyone. For whatever reason, I tend to overworked myself (or I guess that's how they see it), I just wanted to get things done, sort of a Filipino thing huh? LoL! But today Oh My! I just wanted to scream, get out and leave! It is hard when you don't know where to put yourself in a situation wherein people are just in a bad mood! It's like walking on eggshells and I just literally don't know what to do and where to go. I wanted to yell at my co-worker to stop the pity party and start working on finding his mistakes because its dragging everyone down. When I'm stressing, rashes will start appearing on my neck, and it will be so red and hot that I have to calm down and relax myself.

So while frustrated on how this guy at work was acting, I was telling myself: Why do I even need to stress myself this much and try to finish everything at the end of the day, when here you have somebody that will just give up if a mistake was made?! When I was in college, I didn't even wanted to work. But here I adapted their culture of being workaholic. I tend to work a lot so that at the end of the day, I will be so tired that when I get home all I wanted to do is sleep..It kinda eases the boredom though!

I just never thought working is this hard, especially for me who works in a totally different environment with a totally crazy work dynamics. I am glad I was able to cope up with it considering I was never exposed to this kind of set-up. And for two years I am still here, working with the same group of people which I consider my second family. I guess I just never imagined that when you're thrown out to the real world, its not all parties and funs.. It's not all fantasy and ideals.. There's differences: cultural, personal, environmental..And other factors that I may not want to like but I am left with no choice but to deal with it! Yeah it does suck! But what eases the stress is knowing that you work with people that will always have your back, and that will help you every step of the way. I just hope that my office mate will get to realize this before we ruin the pleasant work environment we have right now. Believe me, I do love working with this people, we may have one of the most stressful departments since we deal directly with the customers, but what makes the work light is working with the people you like. But on times when I feel like I'm stressing out or working too hard, I probably should stop and re-think: Do I really need to work this hard?

Fake yourself into Happiness..

Hmm.. Sounds pretty catchy.. I opened my Yahoo! homepage and this article really caught my eye! Sometimes its really more on how you say things that will get people to read your article..
I started reading and I find myself saying.. yeah kinda right.. sure things happen to me!!

I went ahead and click the site and started reading more about stuff. The gotogabby.com is just about anything and everything about health and fitness, beauty, nutrition and even clothing..
The article on Yahoo! really does give some good advice.. Here's a line from it that I really like:

"You focus on what is great about yourself, your life, and put a big smile on your face. Don't give in; remind yourself that people only see what we project."