12 Commandments

Funny but this was sent to me by someone who has been soo stressed about work and other things and totally didn't have time at all for other things. I just hope now  that he realizes everything already. What's important to his life. I also hope that when people say they will change, they will really change. But honestly, it's not something that I expect anymore. I have come to realize that change cannot be overnight and I have grown skeptical of people who say they will change. It's really either - I can accept you or not. That's the question I have to answer.

Stressed out Friday

Yes, I have to admit that I am stressed. Very, very stressed. Soo many things to do. Soo little time to do it. I have soo many things up for the next couple of weeks that sometimes, I find it impossible to breathe. Well, that's OVER exaggerating it. But it just feels that way. Like for instance, this morning. I feel so dizzy, like I want to sleep. Whenever I look at something, it's all blurry. I feel like I want to vomit. Yes, stress is really very, very bad for me. MUST. GET. OUT.

So, here's something to make YOU and ME laugh. 

 

The White Party

When we started the Fashion Fridays for our team, I remembered we already had the White Party theme. It was actually inspired by Gossip Girl that time. Wow. That was probably 2 years ago already. Now, we again had the White Party theme. This time, it's real. It's really for a party - the 23rd birthday of one of our teammates. She specifically requested that theme because she likes the color white. And much to her delight, almost everyone came in white. :)

Listen more that you speak

Definitely one of the most important lessons that I have learned but sometimes don't really practice that much. Do you sometimes feel that your mind functions soo fast that you sometimes stop listening to what the other person is saying and you're already thinking of a come back? Well that happens to me most of the time and I guess its one of those things that I truly practice. I should learn how to listen and then process and then answer without that lull moment when I'm thinking. Haha.

Well, anyway, today has been catch up day for me again. I worked from home. Was able to catch up on some of the things that I had to do which is really good. Tomorrow, I will be swamped with meetings so I might not be able to work that much. But that's okay since I was able to do stuff already today. I'm still quite tired after the sportsfest last Saturday. My body is still aching but at least my throat feels a lot better. I'm looking forward to going to work tomorrow. This will definitely be another busy week again for me.

Friday Lunch Out

It feels soo good to be out of training. For the past 2 weeks, I've been couped up in a room listening to the phone and looking at my laptop. It feels like I just got out of prison. Haha. So here if you check out the pictures, I look so happy.

Group picture

FSS Spotsfest

Yesterday, we had the FSS Sportsfest at the Celebrity Sports Club. Going back here brought a LOT of memories to me although they're not as vivid anymore. There was one summer - the summer after my first year in college when I would be there every single Sunday to practice cotillion for the debut of my friend Raquel. I actually wish those times. Those really carefree times. I also miss Raquel. I haven't seen her for years and she's now in the States with my other really good friend Luchi. I wonder if the day will come when I'm going to see them again.

The green team. This was my team during the Sportsfest. It was actually pretty tiring because there were not a lot of people for our team so most of us had to play every single game. For instance me, the only game that I did not play in was basketball. Haha.

Funny Friday

I got these stuff from my email inbox and I'd like to share this with you...

I never got the whole two-timing thing. Honestly. I know of some people who do this and who have been victims of two-timing but I really don't understand what they get out of that. Well, some people are not really cheating but then there's actually such a thing as emotional cheating. Tsk. Folks!

Good Morning Everyone!

Honestly, it's a truly Happy Day for me today. There are just soo many things that I am thankful for:

1.) Last night was the awarding of Influential Blogger by Ms. Janette Toral at the Le Bistro Vert in Makati. Although my blog, Manila Shopaholic didn't really make it to the Top 10. It's okay because I still won in the raffle. Actually, I won 2 times. First, I won $100 dollars and then I won slippers with "I <3 you" written on it. Check out the pictures below:

My lucky $100! :)

The Rule of Truth

 

Hmm... The Truth. Have you ever wondered why there are some people who have a really difficult time to tell the truth or better yet - to tell the ENTIRE truth or story. Well, it's not always because they would want to get ahead of you but sometimes they just do it for you to feel sorry for them. That is, they are trying to capture you by using your emotions against you and for them. BAD. Honestly, it's a really sleazy thing to do and guess what? The truth always comes out.

Never fails. The truth HAS and ALWAYS WILL prevail. So for those people who are trying to use emotions against other people... PLEASE. Stop doing it. It will save you and the other person a lot of hurt and a lot of stress. Just take things as it is. If that's it, that's just it. There's always a reason for everything and the reason will always be GOOD. Seriously, it's just all about trust and having faith. Keeping the faith. ;)

Hustle. Act. Move.

If there's one thing that I am scared of right now its about... Haha... never mind. It's a weird thought. It's more of what would someone think if you did something soo out of the blue Would it seem like you were forcing yourself to be something that you're not or would it be, WALA LANG. It's just something that you did and something that doesn't mean anything. Does everything that we have to do mean something? Or can we really do some things without meaning anything?

I know that everything should happen for a reason and there is meaning behind everything but how far should our thoughts be into digging for that meaning or finding out what something means. Sometimes, I think we might just go crazy because of overloaded thinking. Yup, there's actually such a thing called "thinking too much". Sometimes, we just have to take things as they are. Take things at face value. I actually don't know where this came from.

Is it just a girl thing? But I honestly know a lot of boys who also think way too much. I could name a few but I'd rather not name names because they might kill me. There are guys who talk about one thing again and again. No matter how many times you meet them at different occasions, they talk about the same thing again and again. And no matter how much you stop them from talking about it, it always comes back to that topic. Hmm.. What's the cure for this? Does any body know?

You get from life what you give it

Hmmm. Well, I better give something really good to life to get something really great from it, right? Right now, there's something bugging me. What if you already gave soo much of yourself before and got so little? And what if the second time around, you still want to give but you KNOW that you shouldn't give anymore? Hmm.. quite difficult right? Well, it's confusing actually but right now, since I'm practicing The Secret, I'm trying to be a really positive. :)

If God says that we get what we sow, well then I'm just going to say more and more LOVE everywhere to get LOVE, PEACE and HAPPINESS all year round. Hehe.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

There's something that I am thankful for today. First of all, I'm thankful that it's a HOLIDAY. YAY! I got to sleep in again. a whole 8 hours of sleep. Then, I got to hear mass and pray for someone. I'm asking you to pray for this friend of mine who might have something up with his health. His going to Japan tomorrow to have some treatments. I hope that when he comes back, he's all fine and dandy already.

Also, I got to go to the Negro Trade Fair. FOOD galore. Ate soo much that even hours after, I still feel FULL. I love Negros food. Inasal. Laing. Pudpod. YUM! Also, I was able to buy my childhood favorite. DULCE GATAS. Double YUM. Thing I got for myself. Well, I got to buy a black long necklace that I've been looking for. YAY! But seriously, I can't do any more shopping this month especially with the mix up that happened in my paycheck. BUT, I'm trying not to think about that anymore.

I guess that's all for tonight folks. I'm going to sleep because tomorrow is a BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY. :)

What do I really want?

Well, honestly, if you ask me right now if I already know what I want, I will tell you point blank... I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WANT. But, I know what I have to do. I really have to finish everything that I have up for work. I think that I should really start focusing. Soo many things are up for work:
1.) There's the PPR season coming up.
2.) There's the certification as well.
3.) There are my day-to-day tasks.

I, honestly, sometimes do not know what to do anymore. How to do these things. How to cope. How to fit everything. But somehow, I think I will manage. Let me rephrase that. I HAVE TO MANAGE.

Okay, I will stop right there and stop being negative.

POSITIVE. POSITIVE. POSITIVE. That's what The Secret is all about, right?

How was today?

Well, today was tiring but it ended with a BANG. I saw some of really good friends from work today. HP Circa 2006. That seems soo long ago. If you really think about it, I would be a "graduating" student already. Not that I am implying anything. Hehe.

Soo fun to be with friends. A lot are still the same. A lot have changed. But we are still friends.

Going back to what I really want.. Hmmm... Can I be a housewife? (haha...) What do you think? Suits me? :P

Make Plans.

That's the advice that I got for today. Hmm.. Well, it's hard for me since I ALWAYS make plans. The only thing with me is that it never happens. Actually, thinking about it, I think the reason why things never happen is that I always depend on other people. Like for instance, if I want to go on a vacation. I wait for other people to invite me to go on a vacation and then I have it. Or sometimes, I plan and then other people can't go so there goes my vacation. But what do I really want right now? Honestly? A VACATION. Hands down to that. Where? I don't know. With whom? Friends? When? Oh my. In November? PLEASE GOD. I really want a vacation on November.

The next couple of months are going to be really quite hectic for me in terms of work. Soo many things to do, soo many things to accomplish. I will just go on with the thought that I was taught back in college by my dear friend Moby Dick... "Don't think. Just do." That's the mantra that I will be living for the next couple of months. But seriously, the problem with me is that I can't focus right now on work. I have soo many things on my mind and it's all scattered up there. I have to organize it first. But tomorrow, I will really start to FOCUS on WORK ALONE. Yeah, like I always say. I hope this will really be it already. Hehe.

What else is up?

Well, I'm currently reading soo many things:

• I am reading Eat, Pray, Love. Hopefully I finish it before the movie will be shown. I actually got inspired by the first section of the book about the mantra beads. It says there that the mantra beads are composed of 108 beads. 108 being perfectly divisible by 3. 3 being the most stable and balanced number as seen is soo many things - pyramids, the Holy Trinity, etc. 108 when the digits are added is equal to 9 which is also perfectly divisble by 3 as well. She actually divided her book into 3 parts = EAT, PRAY, LOVE. 3 different destinations. As for me, I'm still thinking of dividing this blog into 3 things as well. Definitely not EAT because I will forever be on a DIET (or trying to be). PRAY could be one and LOVE could be one part as well. Well, so what can we exchange EAT for? Can it be WORK since I plan to focus on that for next couple of months. Hmmm... still something to think about.
• The second thing that I am reading is The Secret Daily Teachings. To which it says that I should write down 100 things that I am thankful or grateful for each day... So here goes nothing...

100 Things that I am thankful for today:

1. Thank you for making me be able to go to the mall today to have my dad's watch fixed. Although, it was a little expensive at least it's going to be fixed.
2. Thank you for making me be able to spend some time with my friend KD today. Eat and go lunch but still at least a break from the office world.
3. Thank you for bringing me to this committee or group that I am more or less more familiar with. Now let the work begin.
4. Thanks for the 1st interview that I did. Soo happy.
5. Thanks for the 2nd interview that I did. An experience.
6. Thanks for more time that I have to work.
7. Thanks for a safe trip home.
8. Thanks for time to myself.
9. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to give a talk on Saturday and to share the little experience that I have.
10. Thanks for downtime to write.

Soo much for 100. Well, maybe tomorrow!

Things to do tomorrow:

1. Call my US Mailbox. I totally forgot! Busy, busy day!

Til next time! :)

You were made for greatness

Dear Kinney,

You are called to greatness. Every act you do is creating your glorious future. When you really think about it, there's no such thing as an ordinary day!

Live with joy,
God

P.S. Isn't life grand, Kinney? Laugh more often

**********
It's really such a sad day. Truly a "Ghost Day". I'm not sure if you guys are familiar with this concept that is being followed in Feng Shui. This whole month, August 8 - September (according to the Feng Shui Calendar), is the ghost month. It is during this time that spirits are said to be released from wherever they are and they roam the world and play tricks on people thus getting their spirits. Of course, I can't really say that it's true but then best to still be careful in whatever you do.


The middle of this month, is said to be the most inauspicious day. And will you look at that. What happened to this:

"Hostage crisis ends, at least four people confirmed dead"

and aside from that. I heard that there was also a bomb threat at the UA&P. Although that news is still not on the internet yet. Thank God. So guys out there, please do be careful for the rest of the month. I wouldn't want anything bad happening to any of you guys out there.

What's my take on this?

Well first of all, I really don't blame any one except the person who did the hostage. First of all, he did something wrong (extortion) and he was put in his place because of that. Secondly, he tried to correct a wrong with another wrong (the hostage) which is a total no-no. I don't blame the police or media for everything. Maybe there was something wrong with how they handled the situation but it's not entirely their fault.

I believe that everyone was made for greatness. So, it's really up to the person to make or break himself and his life. So to all of you guys out there who are thinking of doing something bad or wrong, think again. Is that really the path that you would want to take? There's always another way. A better way of doing things. Sometimes though the right way might seem hard but in the long run, it would prove to be WAY better than choosing the shortcut.

Thank You, God!

I have never really been the POSITIVE kind of person but seriously, I'm really trying to be one. It's one hell of a struggle for me since I guess I always find the "bad" things first and focus on them. Although, I really am trying to find the finer things in life and trying to appreciate it more. One of the ways that they say that would lead you to "positivism" is by being thankful for everything that you receive so that you focus on that instead of focusing on the negatives.

So for now, here are the things that I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful for the happy game night that KD, Jerry and I had last Thursday. Even though I lost and even though we weren't able to sleep, I still had fun and I think that we could do it again.
2. I am thankful for the offsite. At least we got one day off from work and we were able to focus on the bonding that we have as a team.
3. Thankful for the offsite night. We were really able to bring everyone together. Definitely a success if you ask me.
4. Thankful for a safe trip back home. Even if the bus stopped because of something smoking in the engine of the bus, we were able to get home safe and sound.
5. Thankful as well for the dinner night with my family. Yes, the service was bad and I was tired but good food is something we should always be thankful for.
6. Thankful for the nice and relaxing coffee after dinner. Got to sit down and laugh a lot. Even if I missed my bed, it was still okay.
7. Thank you for taking us home safe and sound Saturday night. Even if we left really late, we were still safe.
8. Thank you for a wonderful Sunday and yummy Good Burger. Yummy and hot. Yummy dessert. Frozen banana pie. OMG. To die for.
9. Thank you for giving me the time to blog. I have a LOT to catch up with.
10. Thank you for giving me time to sleep at least I got to catch up on that.
11. Thank you for no traffic! First time I have ever been to Podium that there was no traffic for some weird reason.
12. Thank you for making me be able to buy the stuff that I wanted to buy at St. Francis Square.
13. Thank you for Java Chip frap. YUMMY!
14. Thank you for safe trip to the store and to Makati. It's not something that we do all the time but thank you for keeping us safe.
15. Thank you for the package from Vaseline! :) Cute umbrella.

I know that these are just little things but thank you. These things really made me happy this weekend.

A New Creation

A new day? A new beginning? Possibly. Or maybe just a blast from the past. Something really weird happened to me today. I'm not sure though what triggered it. It could be possibly a realization after something really life-threatening or life-changing. But should we just wait for moments like these to happen in our lives before we start to think about things and ponder upon them? Or should we keep on thinking and assessing things and then lose the time to take action.

BALANCE. That's probably the key. In everything, there should be balance. Work-life balance. Good and bad. Too much of some thing is not good. On the other hand, too little, isn't good as well. So we should always strive to find the point where everything in our life is balanced. I'm no expert in this subject matter - believe me. I've been striving to find the balance in my life but I never really got around to finding it. Well, I'm constantly looking for it. Hopefully, I find it soon.

Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Image from here.

If you look hard enough, or from another person's vantage point, you might discover the extraordinary in your seemingly ordinary life.

— from Already There

This day started out sad but then after a chat with someone I became happy again. Although I haven't really talked to that person for a long time, it's nice to know that things are still somewhat the same. Well, not really, but we're still okay. I hope that one day we will really be okay. As in really be okay. I'm not sure how this will end but I'm pretty sure that God has already a plan. I don't know what it is though. I'm hoping that it will be great. 

I guess I just have to accept that there are just some things that I can't really see as of right now. Just like what my friend told me, God won't reveal everything to you in just one GO. It has to be one at a time or else we will also be overwhelmed by what He has in store for us. All we have to do right now is just trust and try to see the good in everything. And maybe, a surprise will be shown to us one way or the other. I just wish I see it. Sometimes, I'm too blinded by what's wrong to see what's right. :S

Mom's Birthday Today

Image from here.

Yup, it's my mom's birthday today and in line with tradition, I took the day off so that I could spend the day with her. We heard mass at the Eastwood Chapel and then had lunch at Cookbook Kitchen at Eastwood (YUM!). It's my first time there. I have actually been wanting to eat there for the longest time. Since it was first featured in the magazines and also on the internet. Their first branch was in Mandaluyong but I never really came around to try it out there.

I guess for my mom's birthday, I just wish that she would be HAPPY. I know that happiness is a decision but then sometimes, there are just some things that will make you happy and I hope that everything that she thinks would make her happy would come her way. ;)

As for the letter of God to me today...

Dear Kinney,



Champions run toward their fears.  And you, Kinney, are a champion.

Trust me,
God

P.S. When it's not an emergency, Kinney, don't make decisions based on fear.  Always make decisions based on love.

I got this from the GodWhispers club. Look for it on Google. It's under Bo Sanchez's blog. I read a post of Bo Sanchez today.  It was all about being a champion and being all out. It says there that those people who are champions are those people who give their all in whatever they do. It got me thinking. There were times in the past that I gave my all and I didn't really feel good about it after. Either one, I was too stressed out after that I got sick or two, I didn't really get back more. In fact, I got even less. I don't know though how to reconcile both ideas to what I experience. Although, I'm not questioning what Bo Sanchez said. I'm just questioning those things that are happening or that has happened to me.

Anyway, going back... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I hope that you did have a great day. I hope that you will have a great year ahead of your. I wish you HAPPINESS and LOVE. I wish that everything that you pray for will come to you. I hope that God will always be with you and that He will shower you with soo much blessings. I know that I'm not the "I love you"-saying daughter but then... I love you. I hope that you feel it. ;)

The Desire to be Special

I am subscribed to Minute Meditations from the American Catholic Org. If you're one of those people who want to read snippets of inspirational words, you'd probably want to sign up to the Minute Meditations newsletter. My minute meditation for today is...

The Desire to be Special

Everybody thinks they want to be special, but when someone finds out how special he or she really is, often he or she quickly discovers a great desire to be like everybody else.

— from Already There

I thought about this today and found out that it's really true. We always want to stand out in a crowd hence we dress differently or act differently or look differently but then when people start talking about how different we are, we succumbed and try to hide behind the shadows of other people out there. Hmm... It's actually unexplainable. Maybe we just want to be special to one person or to a few people but we don't really want A WHOLE LOT of people to take notice of us.

Just like me. I really want to be different. I know I have my own sense of fashion. Different way of thinking but there are times when I just don't really do it. Why? Probably because I'm afraid that people would think I'm weird or that I'm a bit off. I just want to be status quo. Just floating and going with the flow. I actually admire those people who are brave enough to stand up for what they want and what they believe in. They don't really care what other people will say. They're just happy that they are themselves.

But who are we really? Do we really know ourselves? Do we really know what we are all about? Take for instance my friend Marie. I actually do admire her. She's taking the plunge and is giving up everything in her "comfort zone" right now and will be pursuing something that she really wants to do. Yes, she's scared but at least she's brave enough to step out of what is comfortable for her. I envy her and the people who can actually do this. But seriously now, I do not know what I want. :S

Technorati Claim in Progress and being Measured Up

Image from here.

I am actually writing this post because I need to "claim" my blog in Technorati. I'm following this guide about how to start up a website and it says there that I should add my blog to Technorati. Actually, I already have a blog in Technorati, that is, Manila Shopaholic, but then this personal blog of mine is something that I would want to start.

So, first of all, what is Technorati Authority? Well according to their website, Technorati Authority measures a site's standing & influence in the blogosphoere.

How do they calculate “Authority”?

Authority is calculated on a site's linking behavior. I think that means how many other sites link to you. Hmm. Link building. I've always heard this before but honestly, I'm still quite confused about what all of these means.

How does topical Technorati Authority Work?

It measures a blog's influence within its subject category.

What is a blogosphere?

And going back to basics. Blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections – it's a web after all. This is from Wikipedia.

My Opinion:

I'm really not sure if you can measure's one authority categorically but then I guess everything should have tangible metrics. That's what I learned when I started working. It's actually frustrating but I learned that everything should be quantifiable. You can't just say... I did well. It was great. You have to quantify it and you have to present data for things. I guess that's probably one of the reasons why I hate ratings. (I hope no one from work reads this). Hehe.

I don't like the feeling of being measured up. Sized up. Whatever you call it. I don't like the feeling of not being good enough. Because honestly, I think everyone is good enough. Maybe in their own little way. REMEMBER: God made us exactly who we are because we have our own strengths and we can't be strong in ALL aspects of life, right? And I don't think God works that way. I don't think he will ask us to quantify our life. Like how many percentage of people we have helped or how many people we have wronged.

Hmm, or does He? It's something to think about. But then, I would like to think of God as a forgiving God. I don't think He would be that harsh to us.

Code: 2YEAWNH22GAX

About Me

Image from Inspirational Quotes about life. Click here.

I've had a lot of blogs since I started learning about blogs. I've had Livejournal, Xanga, Blogspot, Wordpress, etc. But now, I'd like to have something that would document my life, my thoughts, my experiences from now on (August 13, 2010). I guess I just needed something like this so that I can document how great and how blessed I am with the life that I have right now.

I am not sure but there are times when I feel like my life isn't all that great but when I take a look around me, I realize that I should be happy and feel lucky with the life that God has given me. I want to record everything so that every time, I can look back and see how great things were and are and will always be.

I hope that you can join me in discovering the little and BIG blessings that we all have in our life. I'm pretty sure that you have some things to share with me too. So, don't hesitate to drop me a note and share with me a thing or two.