me want...

Last year, I made a Christmas wishlist and got most of the stuff that I wished for. Not everything came to me as a gift though, there are things I had to purchase myself. 

I did not get the oven toaster, and in as much as I planned to buy it myself, I kind of lost interest (i hope just temporarily) in being a master chef.

I bought the juicer, and used it for probably a maximum of 7 times. I went back to using my old trusty blender. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with the ginger, not a huge fan of ginger but once it is juiced together with apples, carrots and a bunch of spinach, I had fun sipping it. Unfortunately cleaning the juicer is a huge task.

I got a huge bottle of Nenuco, journals and pen, pens,pens!!!

This year, I am again making a list... and checking it twice. The following are the things I would love to have for 2014. After all, I have this nagging feeling that I have been very behaved this year and is probably on santa's "nice" list.



Belle De Jour Power Planner

I have always been fascinated with journals... I call them organizers. But don't get your hopes too high, I may not be able to fill this up very nicely. But I will try to. Although I have already received a nifty little weekly organizer complete with the daintiest post-its and a little envelope that I presume will be for cash.. or receipts from my favorite couple elaine and emer ( yeah I know it is not yet Christmas and I shouldn't be opening gifts yet... I have low EQ... sue me.) I would really love to get this one. If I don't get a it as gift, I will not go out for coffee for 2 weeks and buy it myself from this site : http://belledejourpowerplanner.com


Handkerchiefs

Yes for real. I want handkerchiefs. But I hope whoever gives me handkerchiefs would not feel bad if I lose them. It is a very popular gift item but I have not received any. I sneeze a lot, and in my desire to do away with disposable napkins and do my share in helping the environment. I will start to use handkerchiefs in 2014.

Wristwatch

I can't remember the last time I wore a wristwatch. I used to be addicted to watches, I lost count of how many Swatch watches I owned and eventually lost. I wear them to sleep, even as I take my shower. They say using the mobile phone to tell time is now a thing of the past,so I guess it is time for me to get a watch. The one above may be too fancy for my pay scale, as I always say, "act your wage" maybe what I can save up for and buy is nothing close to the one above. Maybe this one will do:

Bicycle

A simple one. Maybe something I can buy from a Japan Surplus shop. Just so I can use something for short errands within the subdivision. Not too familiar with bike specifications, but one thing I know, I won't be joining any triathlon event nor do I plan to bring my bike to the nearest offroad trail. I just want a bike, two wheels, a pedal and a handle bar. 

Gym apparel

The bitter truth is I am obese, and losing these bulges is starting to be really frustrating. I have done everything from starving myself and taking nothing but lemonade for 5 days, Brazilian Coffee that keeps me up all night, appetite depressants, juicing, meal replacements... but I have never really paid much attention to spending time burning calories. As early as now I have already purchased vouchers for gym sessions. And now I need to make sure I have the right apparel to motivate me.


Pen pen pens!

There is never too much pens for me! 

Just a few stuff that I would aim to get in 2014... aside from World Peace. Looking forward to a prosperous, stress-free and kilig-filled year ahead! I CLAIM IT!!!

Granting a "TINY" wish

Not sure if any of you remembers, but I did post about being a ninang (sponsor) to one of the students of Mapedya Elementary School. Over the weekend, the group who spearheaded the project successfully delivered the gifts that they were able to gather over the past few weeks. 

All these pinky-girly stuff:

has been so thoughtfully delivered by the group TREK to this little girl:

Yup! That's Tiny Joy... With her little umbrella sticking out of the huge bag that TREK provided.The pig tails gave me a huge sense of relief, she is girly enough to appreciate the pink overload. And that very shy and almost reluctant smile is enough for me to feel blessed to be able to share. 

And this little note made me go awwwww:

On another note, I work in the airline industry and this video literally sent shivers down my spine and got me crying happy tears :

So just like little Tiny Joy and the lucky passengers of West Jet who got what they were wishing for because they were honest enough to say what they want, if anybody asks me what I want... I will definitely say what I want... A White Christmas Suzuki Swift ... and of course World Peace! 

of little sacrifices and granting wishes

I have been reading www.kellyaustria.com and learned that she and her group visited Mapedya Elementary School in Nueva Ecija to see if the place is in need of aid and also to deliver a water hose and a solar panel. It was during this trip that they were able to collect the Christmas wishes of the kids enrolled in the said school. You can read the full story of their visit to Mapedya here. 

Have a look at what the kids of Mapedya want for Christmas:

and this one wish simply broke my heart:

Payong (an umbrella). That's it. Nothing fancy. So I checked their facebook page and learned that they are looking for generous hearts to be ninongs and ninangs (sponsors) to grant the wishes of the kids of Mapedya. I volunteered to be the ninang of Tiny Joy. 

And that same day I committed to being her ninang, off I went to shop for the things on the list. Hope this brings great joy to a little girl named Tiny Joy. 

pink pink and more pink! I hope she is as girly as her name!

I skipped a venti frap and got myself the pink bag. I did not take a taxi on my way home and was able to buy the umbrella and the dress. I will not have my "spa day" this weekend because I spent the money meant for my 1 hour swedish massage to buy the slippers, shoes and school stuff. 

These kids don't want much. What they would want to have are the basic things they can use daily. Footwear, umbrellas and raincoats to protect them as they walk for 4 hours to get to school. Paper, pens, ruler and a bag to keep their stuff.

I am pretty sure some of you still have a few umbrella corporate give-aways from previous years that are just gathering dust. I will be more than glad to pick them up. Or hopefully some will be more willing to skip the nail art, the usual "2bottles" during fridays or the milk tea and instead buy a raincoat or an umbrella. 

"you have never really lived until you've done something for somebody who can never repay you".

my Christmas Wishlist

Should the 2012 Mayan Calendar Doomsday (December 21, 2012) be wrong; these are the stuff that I wish kind-hearted Santa would give me for Christmas:

I would love to think that I am a pretty decent cook, after all, the stuff I cook that I share with my staff are always a hit, either they do taste good or 20% of our company's population have dysfunctional tastebuds. Lately, as inspired by yellowcab's twice baked potato halves, I have been baking...well potato halves. But I have plans to bake a pie sometime soon too. But the thought of pre-heating the oven scares the chef-wannabe in me. The few times I used our oven, I had to ask my mom to pre-heat it. My cousin asked me to bake some potatoes for her and asked me to do it in their kitchen. Instead of using their conventional oven, I got to use a simpler electric one with the same results. So this one will probably make me want to spend more kitchen-time. And yes it might be true that I get inspired to cook when I am inlove,this time around, it would be really nice if I really am love -struck, but truth is, I am just carb-struck!

I read somewhere that if a Virgo does not find time to lose weight, weight will find them.. and I concur. That is why I am always trying to be active in sports and to eat healthy, at least include fruits in my diet. But I really can not finish a whole apple, or chew on a cucumber. If I have a juicer, I could just swallow it and try to keep it down by pinching my nose. you know these healthy stuff are not always a tasty treat. 

Bath and Body works' white citrus and Nenuco colognes. I used to be a fan of heavy perfumes, but lately, these sweet-smelling stuff has caught my fancy. 

My penmanship used to be very very very bad. But since it has dramatically improved and I now write more legibly, I have come to be a bit particular about my writing instruments. Back in college, I used to collect pens and I have come to love pens by Pilot and Zebra. Working with schedules and plottings, I find these 4 in 1 pens with fine points (.5) heaven sent. 

Call me a wimpy kid, but in this electronic age of tablets and iPADs , I still do keep a traditional diary. The Starbucks diary has always been very appealing, but the kuripot side of me wins over my desire to get that diary. 1st I am not a die-hard coffee fan. Sure they may be times I crave for caffeine, but a 3-in-1 coffee mix can fix that craving.And 2nd, I do not have plenty of time to drop by Starbucks. Back when I was in Macau, I always dropped by a shop in Taipa near Wa Bao that sells school and office supplies. I brought home a couple of these dainty planners that I bought from that shop. It's been 5 years, I have used all of them. 

Keeping my fingers crossed that I am on Santa's "nice" list!