Porma

I showed this picture to my husband because he hasn't seen me with this. I was in Manila when I wore this.

He smiled and said: Porma, ah! :)

I hope it was a compliment. Hahaha!

Business option

I am still flying high after a successful trip here in Manila. I know we were lucky but I also can't help but wonder if we would be successful if we make real estate a business.

And if I decide to make a go of it, I'd be the third addition to my college classmates who are into real estate. Both of them are in the US and one is in Wilmington NC real estate.

My brother gave me some pointers. Real estate business doesn't necessarily need a lot of money as capital. At least, that's one concern out for me already.

The question is, in these hard and trying times, is real estate a good business?

Sweet reading

I had the most pleasant and relaxing afternoon yesterday. It started with lunch with an old friend.

It was pretty amazing how we covered the last four years of our life in just two hours of lunch. We laughed, cried and laughed again. The other customers must have thought we were crazy!! Hahaha!! But we didn't care.

After a very satisfying lunch, food and gossip wise, I went to have a Thai foot massage.

This was the best part of the afternoon. While somebody was kneading and pressing points on my feet, I was reading the fourth book of the Twilight series on my laptop with a coffee on my left hand. Ahhh...it was bliss.

At only two hundred ten pesos, it was a steal. Massage and coffee in one!

I am planing to go back there later so I can finish the last book :)

New phone

Gone were the days when I want the latest phone around. Maybe I am getting older..hahaha! Or simply because my priority have changed. I am more into bags now. Hahaha, just kidding.

Last week, I was about to meet an agent and later on a friend at Megamall. When I was there, my phone (hubby's old O2) conked out. I haven't set up a place for my two meetings so I needed to charge my phone.

I went to the electronics section (the cyberzone) in Mega frantically looking for a charger. But there was no O2 charger available.

So what choice did I have? I needed to have a working phone.

After debating it within myself and limiting my choices, I settled for a Samsung L700. I bought it for P8,000.

Not bad, right? I mean, I needed to replace my phone anyway. I was planning to buy a new phone at the end of my two-week trip here in Manila. The O2 was already dying. I had a hard time sending text messages with it. And the O2 is a bit big.

So now, I have a new phone sooner than planned. It's not expensive but not cheap looking either. I actually love it. It's slim and I can send text messages faster now.

I don't need a fancy phone. All I want for my phone is to call and text. :)

Feeling like a teenager again

I maybe be busy here in Manila but I still find time to continue reading the Twilight Series. I am on the last and fourth book and I couldn't wait to finish it off. I know the ending will be a happy one. Or at least that's what I heard :)

Of the three books I read so far, I love the first book the most. It's just so unbelievably romantic and I am a sucker for things like these. But I am not too fond of the third book - Eclipse. I guess I am not a fan of a love triangle. I like Jacob but I feel he's not enough for Bella.

I also have just finished watching the movie. Some people didn't like it but I did. Although I have to admit, the book is way better than the movie. I guess because while reading the book I have already imagined the whole story in mind.

Here is my favorite scene from the movie. I captured it from my laptop while watching the DVD. All of which are taken during the "meadow scene". Hayy...kilig ako!!! Hahahaha!!





I guess I have become a fan of the movie version too. I am looking forward to the next installment! :)

My life in bullets

~ If there's one thing I am looking forward to this week is this coming weekend. I hope I will be able to have a really relaxing time.

~ My family and I will be staying overnight in a resort somewhere in Cavite.

~ I hope they have an excellent Spa. I need to de-stress.

~ I have been "bitten" and smitten by Twilight. Too late, I know :)

~ I am currently reading the third book and my interest is diminishing. The first book was truly sensational. I feel like I was a high school student all over again. I was super kilig.

~ I am planning to watch at least one movie while I am here with some girlfriends. Hmm..I wonder if Shopaholic is still running?

Turbulence

I was so happy when our plane landed safely at NAIA this afternoon!

Today's flight from KL to Manila, was my worst flight ever. I was so dizzy half the flight. The turbulence was just too much.

It was raining when we arrived at KL airport but when we took off it was already clear so I didn't expect we'd have a shaky flight.

I had to ask one of the flight crew if the weather was really bad. And he said it was! The TV on the plane which was hanging was also shaking. Not that I was watching anything on. I just thought they could use a solid tv mount. Haha!!!

I was so glad that my son slept most of the flight. Otherwise he'd be shouting "mommy, I'm dizzy" for almost an hour. =)

Show off

I came across a funny yet very true quote. I forgot to take note who said it and I don't remember the exact words used, so I'll just paraphrase it.

"So many people spend money they don't earn, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't know."

I find it funny because I can somehow relate. There's a big part of me who wants to show off constantly. And I want to show off to people who really don't matter to me. It's kind of sad. But I know I am not the only one.

So what is it with impressing other people? Is that innate? Or is that a sign of insecurity?

I sometimes find myself thinking about these things when I am stuck and cannot do what I am supposed to do, as is the case right now.

So instead of writing about perennials and such, I have become contemplative. Hmmm...Can you relate to the quote above?

Strike anywhere Sunday

This is what I wore yesterday. Lose shirt, anticipating the BIG dinner. LOL! But we walked around for 30 minutes before going home. I hope I burned the calories =)

Fun memories

Thanks to Facebook, we're having fun reminiscing our high school life.

Although during my high school years I didn't think it was that fun. I was always eager to move on to college because college students seemed so cool to me. What I didn't expect was writing tons and tons of college and university articles. What a downer! Hahaha

Anyway, my high school classmates and I are busy exchanging notes and going down the memory lane.

When you are in high school, you think your teachers know everything and you follow without question everything the teacher says, right?

Well, we had a dance number during the Christmas eve at our local church. We, the dancers were asked to wear black tights with black shirt. Then, I thought it was cool.

Only to find out years later that we were wearing possibly the most hideous outfits ever! Hahaha!

We're having a blast remembering everything what happened that night. Precious memories indeed!!!

What this girl wants

I never thought I'd be an accessories-kind-of girl. But taste, just like everything else, changes too.

When I am inside a mall, I am drawn to the accessories area more than the clothes and shoes. But you will never find me in a makeup and perfume area. I am just not into them.

My latest acquisition (I make it sound like investments, hahaha!) are bangles and necklaces. You will always see me with either a bangle or a necklace, sometimes with both.

My bangles are all fancy. And mostly they are in gold, brown and black color.

My necklaces however varies from original....

to fancy, cute or fun pieces...

and to the chunky and big ones.

I am having fun collecting all of them. It seems I can never have enough necklaces, especially the fancy and cute pieces.

They're also essential to my "losyang no more" project. According to the fashion magazines: "accessorize, accessorize!!!" LOL

Mundane stuff

My weighing scale has been broken. EJ, as usual, thought it was part of his toy collection so he played with it. I didn't expect he'd throw it.

I don't think it can be fixed anymore, so I am thinking of buying a new one. The digital scales are quite expensive though, I think around RM250+. But I need to have a weighing scale at home. It's my reality check.

~~~

I'll be flying to Manila next week to settle some important stuff. Oh how I wish I could make it a vacation and avail of extended stay hotels. But EJ will be with me and I am sure it can get stressful especially that I don't have a "yaya" with me.

I am actually anxious. It's going to be my first time to fly without hubby. And it's also going to be our first time to be away from each other for that long (two weeks).

I hope I'll survive.

Rules I Live By

I have been reading The Rules of Wealth by Richard Templar for the past weeks now. Of course I couldn't finish it in one sitting.

There's always something to interrupt me; internet, my son, my husband, American Idol on TV, my exercises, cooking, going out, etc.

In a nutshell, it's not really my priority to finish this book immediately. But it's okay. I am enjoying reading it.

It's a book about following the rules of wealth, the rules the wealthy knows and follows.

I saw this book in a bookstore in the Philippines and I was naturally curious so I bought the book. So far, it's been an easy and fun reading.

Here are the rules he mentioned which I like and I think I can practice in real life:

Rule 1 - "Anybody can make money - it isn't selective and discriminatory." This first rule will immediately give hope or inspire anybody reading the book. And I was! Who doesn't want to be rich, right?

Rule 3 - "Set your objectives." If you don't know how much wealth you want then you should start setting your objectives. Would you like to have P5M? 10M? 100M? You set your goal!

Rule 16 - "Know how the wealthy think." I guess I should network and befriend people who are wealthy. LOL

Rule 17 - "Don't envy what others have." This is easy to say but I know at some point I will be envious of what others have. I guess I will just channel that envy into a positive outcome.

Rule 27 - "Start saving young." Save, save, save!!!

Rule 32 - "Small economies won't make you wealthy but they will make you miserable." I totally love this. According to the author, depriving oneself of little luxuries like a cappuccino a day will not make one rich or wealthy. It will only make you miserable. But make sure you can totally afford those little luxuries and you're not using your plastic money. Of course it doesn't hurt to avail of promotional products around. After all, the best things in life are free!!

Rule 36 - "Spend less than you earn." I think this is the golden rule into becoming financially free. If you spend less that what you're earning that means you've got yourself a savings. And savings mean extra cash for investment or for business.

I've only read up to the 40th Rule. And the above rules are the ones that really stick to my mind and have the biggest impact.

And starting from now on, this will become the rules that I will live by.

Going to the party

And so we attended a kiddie lunch party yesterday. It was fun!

Here's what I wore to the party - my new LBD (little black dress). I would have worn my heels but I would look overdressed so I opted for a sandals. I wanted to wear something gold but since I only have this brown ones, that's what I used.

I was right. If I have worn my heels I would have been overdressed =)

Sorry if the photo above is a little grainy and a bit dark. The lights outside our apartment were flickering, almost ready to bust. Maybe it's time they buy some discount lighting fixtures to replace the old ones.

And I also don't know how to post process my photo.