What's your Christmas tradition?

One of mine has become eating lasagna like I haven't all-year-round.

Not food photography-worthy

P.S. May you be surrounded by laughter and God's love this Christmas. I wish you all a very Merry-gayang Pasko! ☺

So, I'm alive! (Also: guilty pleasures post)

(Yes, I am still existing!) The world would end, a friend told me last night while we were having coffee, at 11 AM (London time), and when he looked at his phone's clock, London time was already around 30 minutes past 11 AM (London time.) The world didn't end. 

There is more to life.

The Mayans-predicted Apocalypse just became a good excuse to dress-up (I wore my new fave blazer to work and a striped t-shirt a former supervisor gave me-- and pants, of course), and to party-- in the office, we had a superhero-movie screening doomsday binge (we chomped junk food-- guilty!) /snacking party. 

What bade farewell though is my still-fave (judge me, now) Gossip Girl. Spoiler Alert: Gossip Girl is Dan Humphrey! I will miss/get nightmare of(guess which of which applies) Nate's handsomeness (and mascara-ed lashes), Chuck's DOM voice, Dan's annoying post-high school hair styles, Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks (I love the first name, I will name my IVF, or adopted, baby either that or Georgiana), Serena's golden girl-worthy wardrobe, Blake Lively's scoff-and-roll-eyes -worthy Serena acting, Blair's witty punchlines, etc. Because the show has become a part my kidult-formative years. Seriously, judge me now! But that's why there is this thing we call guilty pleasure, right? 

I must say this: thank you, "greatest show of our time."

Xoxo

Wish List December Holidaze 2012

We all have our wants and needs and what-have-we. In my quite many failed blogs, I used to make wish lists but they do not come true -- heck! And yet I feel like it's obligatory to still make one; I do like list-making.

With 13 days to go till Christmas Day, I have randomly come up with 13 bullets of wants/wishes. Here they are:

1. My to-be-actually-tech-savvy list is here.

The traditional ones:

2. An analog note-taking device would always be appreciated.

3. Books!

• If you love witty women (like I do platonically). Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) - Mindy Kaling

• To gain insights from the depths of the heart of the U.S. Vogue. Grace: A Memoir - Grace Coddington (Creative Director, Vogue U.S.)

• Relive the teenage dreams and be nostalgic, or just be the kids-at-heart that we are with Rookie Yearbook One - Edited by Tavi Gevinson

• For the fashion fan with an interest in stylish imagery, Vogue: The Editor's eye is a coffee-table book must-have. It's full of fashion history!

If only my ~trust fund~ or what remains in it can foot the books bill. All above are available in leading book stores, i.e. National BookStore.

Other books I won't mind getting:

Phaidon's The Art Book: The New Edition to compliment my newfound interest in art history.

Ivy Style, Alexander McQueen (The Life and The Legacy), Empress pf Fashion: The Life of Diana Vreeland, Stylists, the list goes on..

I know, I know, Nanay Socorro Ramos would be a lovely godmother to have.

4.  Okay.. National BookStore gift certificates.

For my worldly sense and sensibilities: 5. Monocle subscription. Because tt's majhalajay!

6. An H&M store in the Philippines. Please, Mr. Henry Sy or Don Jaime Zobel!

7.Some pieces in Opening Ceremony's Yoko Ono: Fashions for Men are haunting me.

Especially the trousers!

8. This should be more of a goal: find a more meaningful -- and better-paying -- job. My year 1 in insurance-financial services is fast approaching and I'm not 100% sure yet if I'd extend my work.

9. Success for all of my endeavors. For those of my kapamilyas as well.

10. A good watch: one oversized from Swatch, please.

11. Nothing beats getting handwritten letters from friends and family.

12. Looking forward to having some great food and bottles of good/bad alcohol on that special day.

13. Noche Buena groceries for our weaving community nanays.


Hear me out, Santa -- and generous citizens of the world!

My gratitude in advance!

All I (or you might) Want For Christmas Is From Samsung

(Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. How I wish it is, though!)

From the Oh-it's-nice-and-affordable props (I had heard from a friend) that the Galaxy Young caused to the Ooh-it's-functionally-cool-and-rad accolades that the Galaxy Note stirred (I instantly desired to have one upon seeing the ad on CNN), the Samsung Galaxy line-up has been all enticing.

I'm not tech-obsessed but if I were to get just one practical thing this Yuletide season, off the top of my anxious mind would have to be a Samsung mobile product.

1. Galaxy Camera.

This is the shizzle!: the Galaxy Camera is a "smartphone, tablet and a digicam." It's like my buddy 'instant' coffee, 3-in-1 -- 3 functions for the price of 1 (retails @ Php 23,000 ++).

Makes me drool! Perfect for my want need to upgrade my reliable Samsung compact camera.

2. Galaxy Note 10.1

Something for the tech-savvy and -sleek with the need to boost productivity as well as creativity.. the Samsung tablet with the S-pen technology, among other cool features.

Would be nice. So nice.

3. Galaxy Note II

The improved 'phablet' with S-pen is a game-changing of doing things (i.e. communicating and letting us be creative with every stroke.)

I really need the revolutionary S-pen in my life!

Hmmm, I'm partial to the Note 2. But as I've said, to have only one of the three would be just as pleasant, if not extra pleasant, than not getting any at all.

Getting one, if not two or all, would practically make a gadget newbie (and lover)'s Christmas become Merry, Smart.

From my tumblr

"Staying positive"

Pablo’s onslaught and Pacquiao’s defeat are sad, if not devastating; yet, at the risk of seeming like I don’t care — no, practically I care —, everything happens for some reason.

On the other hand, one thing to feel good in general about is our economic growth.

Life, for the rest of us, must go on

(tumblr.)

Mr. Kengkoy in good company with Manila-based compassionate friends

Our Team Leader's friends from Manila partnered with Mr. Kengkoy Backpacks to bring joy to the kids of the community-- a kilometer short to the 6-km Mayon danger zone in Daraga, Albay -- where our dear nanays live.

Helping hands: one group (where I belonged to) did the cooking [burning wood (wood-fired stove) for cooking, included -- we're cowboys and cowgirls / boy and girl scouts!] and the other group did the merry-making with youngsters.

Saw this one happy kiddo as I entered the outreach area

Future Goodwill Ambassadors to the U.N. :)

The loot!

Bonus: a trip to Cagsawa Ruins! Haven't been there since high school.

Majestic Mayon

Me with M.K. volunteer, Abby

Snacking en route to Pili/Naga

Unang tikim: Sinanpablo/San Pablo variety

Daraga's famous Malunggay Pandesal by Emong

P.S. Finally!: My own Kengkoy shirt