Fab After Forty

I saw my friend Nachi the other night and forced him to install a drawing app on his phone because (1) he draws 10x better than I do, and (2) I wanted someone to sketcht with. 

Yup. SKETCHTING. It’s a thing. Or at least I’m trying to make it one. You know how I mentioned the other day how Instagram was making me want to just draw all the time and never blog again? 

Yeah well, it’s kind of carrying over into my text and instant messaging as well. I’ve been using the Sketchbook Mobile X app on Sammy (my Samsung Galaxy S4) to just DRAW my text and IM messages instead of typing them out.

So Sketch + Texting = SKETCHTING. It’s a thing. 

Problem was, I didn’t really have anyone to sketcht with. I tried it with Gem on Facebook Messenger, and here’s what happened. 

Notice how she just went all “Ha ha (whatever)” then jumped straight back into business mode? And then belatedly sent me a scarily massive emoticon to try and make up for it??

Not an ideal sketcht-mate, my friend Gem. 

At least she was better than my sister, who I sent this sketcht to via Whatsapp right when I was about to go get Botox:

She didn’t even respond. :( Though to be fair, she lives in another time zone and has 4 young kids. 

Now Nachi, on the other hand, was a natural. Here’s how our first attempt at FB sketch messaging went:

There was more, but you see what I mean, right? SKETCHTING. It’s a thing. Not-so-instant messaging, but so much more entertaining than the regular kind. :)

So yeah .. SKETCHTING. Just another reason I love Sammy the S4 so much. (I could never sketcht on Blecchy the Blecch-berry.) Try it! All you need is:

1.  A drawing app. I’ve tried a few, but I like the the Sketchbook Mobile X app best. It’s free, it’s easy to use, and it’s available on any Android or Apple phone. It’s great on the S4 though because the screen is pretty big, so I don’t really need to zoom in or anything. 

2. A good mobile data plan (so you can sketcht on the go). I use Globe Powersurf, which is like P499 a month for 1GB of data, and it serves my sketchting purposes pretty well.

3. Some imagination, and a sense of humor. Talent is optional. :)

Have fun!  And hey, if you wanna sketcht with me, I’m game.

Shoot me a sketcht message on Twitter or Facebook, and I swear I’ll sketcht you back. Well, at least once, and not necessarily right away. :D I’ll post all the best ones on FB or in a future post. :)

Happy sketchting!

I’m over on Rappler again today, with a follow-up to that other article on 10 Ways We Sabotage Our Own Success.

Go check it out:  6 Ways to Squash Self-Doubt. 

Here are a few drawings from the piece — which you probably won’t understand unless you read it…

So go and read it. :D

Enjoy! 

So I haven’t had much time to blog this weekend because I’ve been really busy with all sorts of stuff… Okay fine, I’ve mostly been hooked on the Fabstagram...

…and it’s kind of ruining blogging with words for me. 

I’ve also been checking out the voting counts on the Tatt Awards website way more often than is probably good for me.

Oh, and every 3 hours or so looking in the mirror and wondering if the Botox has made my eyebrows unnaturally high.

But I couldn’t let the day pass without greeting all you dads out there a very  Happy Father’s Day, because dads are awesome…

…and reminding all of you who still have your dads around to give them an extra big hug, because I really miss mine. 

Have a lovely Father’s day, everyone! Be back soon. :)

So remember that secret I was dying over last week?

Well this was it. My blog’s a finalist for “Blogger Phenom of the Year” in the 2013 Tatt Awards!

I can’t even begin to describe how thrilled I was when I found out, especially since I didn’t know I was even in the running.

So SQUEE!

It was a little excruciating to have to keep it to myself, because as I already mentioned in my other post, I’m really not so good with the secrets. So I had to just content myself with secret happy award thoughts and practicing a possible acceptance speech.

But hey, I did it. (Well, okay, kind of. I told a few people — but only like 5. Okay FINE - maybe 12. ish). But anyway, they finally announced the finalists last night (until then I had no idea who the others were) — and here they (I mean, we) are.

Of course when I saw this, the first thing that came into my head was this.

I know, I know. Sabotaging my own success. But COME ON!! These other blogs are beyond awesome! I even wrote a post about Pepper.ph once. 

So fine, maybe I should also start practicing my “gracious loser” smile.

Yeah, it needs some work. Maybe the Botox will help, when it kicks in.

And here’s another thing. I’m really embarrassed about asking people to vote for me. I can barely ask people to like my Facebook page, much less start self-campaigning for an award.

So um… yeah…good luck to me. 

I know people say this all the time and we’re always “Haha! Yeah, RIGHT…” about it, but it really is an honor to be considered at all — and for me that’s already a win. So thank you, Tatt Awards. I really am thrilled beyond belief.

And if you do by any chance want to vote, you can do so at the Tatt Awards website, every hour of every day until June 20. 

Umm.. you know… only if you want… 

Have a great day, everyone! :)

I really don’t know why I’m not more embarrassed about admitting this, but I went and had Botox for the first time today. I’d been thinking about doing it for a while, but I was always too terrified to go through with it. 

Because really, to go up to a doctor and pay him to give you a bunch of poison injections in the head just seems.. oh I don’t know… A LITTLE INSANE.

Also, I didn’t want to disappoint Teenage Chinie, who had such great plans of aging with grace and just accepting wrinkles as badges of an expressive character and a life well-lived. 

Sorry, teenage me. I caved. If it helps, I didn’t JUST do it for vanity. The thing that really convinced me to go for it was that my doctor cousin Martin also told me that Botox was a good cure for migraines. 

Note: Based on this article I read though, I think you need a different set of Botox injections when you use it as a migraine cure. BUT WHATEVS. The excuse worked for me. So if I do get a migraine in the future, I’ll just tell Martin he’s full of it.

Oh wait, I probably won’t be able to make that face now that I’m all Botoxed up…

So anyway, a friend of mine (who refuses to be named - haha) was dead set on getting it, so I decided to tag along when she went to see our dermatologist friend Frank for a consultation.

The consultation’s pretty simple, and takes like five minutes. You just make faces so he can check your wrinkle sitch. 

And from there the doctor will tell you if you’re a candidate, and more or less how much Botox he’ll need to stick into you to iron those wrinkles out. Easy peasy.

So we set an appointment for the deed itself, and we were all “Whee! We’re gonna look younger!” 

.. in spite of objections from our husbands, who were all “ROAR!! WHY YOU NEED THAT CRAZY STUFF?!?” because guys just never get it…

..and my mom, who was concerned that I would no longer be able to smile. Like I was planning to paralyze my ENTIRE FACE or something. 

The procedure is a little more stressful than the consult, of course, but really not as bad as I thought. It’s actually more painful to WATCH than it is to actually have it yourself — as I discovered when my Anonymous Friend opted to go first.

So if you’re Botox-curious and planning to try it at some point, here’s how it goes. (I actually took some notes on my phone while my friend was getting her Botox — and of course they’re drawings, because if I took photos of her she’d probably inject a shizload of Botox STRAIGHT INTO MY HEART.)

Here are my actual notes (which I made on this sketching app I use on Sammy the S4, because I didn’t have my trusty iPad and Paper app with me.)

So yup as you’d probably expect, Frank takes a bunch of pictures from all angles first, to be able to compare your wrinkly self to your smooth Botoxed self later. Then he marks all the injection spots, and then his assistant tries to give you brain freeze with a bag of ice. 

And then the shots begin, with the deepest ones first (in the furrow between your eyebrows).

Oh yeah.. the bleeding. This is the part that I mentioned was painful to watch, because I didn’t really expect the injections to bleed. I’m not sure if this is because they were in the face or because ALL injections bleed. I wouldn’t know because I try to make it a point to never watch when I’m being injected, EVER.

So yeah they do bleed, but not a lot. Just like… single drops. But it turns out I bleed more than most.

Okay you know I’m exaggerating again, right? Frank really did say that - and rather tersely ask his assistant for more cotton - but I didn’t bleed THAT much. 

Pain-wise, it’s totally manageable. My Anonymous Friend said that the forehead and crow’s feet areas hurt for her, so I was all “Frank, I might slug you if it hurts. Just warning.” and he offered to tie me up… 

…which I declined but appreciated because really, you don’t want to be slugging someone who happens to have a needle in your face.

But to be honest I didn’t even feel a thing when he did the shots between my brows, and just felt a little sting in all the other parts. And not even like an ant-bite sting — less than that. It’s SO okay. Not even worth a curse word.

Frank said that after the procedure (which is like, less than 30 minutes all in), the injection points might swell slightly and the crow’s feet area might bruise, so I was all set to cover up with bangs and shades, but pfft. Hardly even noticeable.  As is usually the case, reality was so much less exciting than my imagination.

Results aren’t instant (It’s been 10 hours, and I can still frown); the full effect takes about two weeks. So I guess we’ll see how I look then. But I’m really glad I finally did it, at the very least just to conquer another fear. I actually wish I’d started 10 years ago, because it would’ve actually prevented some of the wrinkles I already have now. 

Oh well, live and learn. Anyway, if you’re interested in finding out more, just ask your friendly neighborhood dermatologist, or if you’re a Southerner, go see my fabulous friend Frank*.

Okay, off I go to check the mirror again. Cheers!

*Dr. Francis Michael Marcelino (Asian Hospital): 0915-903-6151

I got a new reader request in the comments of my blog the other day, and I thought that today would be a pretty fitting day to answer it, because it’s Independence Day!

And I kind of wanted to free her. Because I remember being caught in the same trap when I was her age. Here’s the question:

I really do remember being in the same boat in my late twenties, having complicated pseudo-relationships and thinking that I was never going to find the right guy.

And when you’re in that “trap” everyone who tells you to be patient, and that “he’ll come when you’re not looking” is just annoying. 

I did eventually meet my hubby-to-be right before I hit 30, during a New Year’s party at the turn of the millennium. You’d think that would’ve been some sort of epic event, but no, I actually thought he was kind of an A-hole.

He was cute though, so I figured he’d be okay to keep around for eye candy purposes. ;)

We started hanging around with each other, but I still never really thought it would amount to anything. In fact, when my friends Anna and Suzette told me that they thought he liked me, I pretty much said that getting together with him was never going to be on my agenda.

Yeah, whatevs. Famous last words. I think we all know where this is going.

Three years later…

And to this day Suzette never lets me forget it.

So anyway… NO, I’m not going to be one of those annoying people telling you that “the One” is just around the corner. (Because as I already mentioned before, I don’t even really believe in “The One.”)

What I WILL tell you is this: While you’re waiting, embrace your freedom.

I’m not saying that when you meet someone you’ll be trading in singlehood for slavery or anything like that. But it is true that there are some things you just really won’t be able to do anymore once you’ve settled down.  SO DO THEM NOW. 

I consider myself pretty lucky that I married late, because I really did get to do a lot of things then that are maybe not impossible, but more difficult (or not advisable) now. And I wonder… how much more would I have done if I hadn’t been moping around feeling sorry for myself because I hadn’t yet found Mr. Right?

Think about it. This is a wonderful time in your life. It’s so full of possibilities. Don’t waste them. Go. Be happy. Be FREE. 

Hope this helps. :)

Happy Freedom Day!

Posters c/o Huffington Post

I think I’m finally over my crazy New Adult novel phase, because really — there’s only so much sex and stress a reader can take.

And I wasn’t really in the mood to read any of the books I’m reviewing for Netgalley, so I opted for The Avery Shaw Experiment - a light, easy teen-romance-type read - thinking I could just put it down and fall asleep whenever I wanted. 

Okay, SO NOT THE CASE. It was just too adorable.

Here’s the blurb from Amazon.

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically. 

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Hee! So kilig. I was like this until 2am.

Also, like this, because her characters are pretty hilarious.

I know, I know, I’m WAY too old for this type of teen romance shiz, but I don’t care. After reading The Avery Shaw Experiment, I’m totally grabbing all of Kelly Oram’s other books. 

(Photo c/o http://glitterintheairamm.blogspot.com)

So yeah, if you’re looking for a light, funny, squee-filled read, go check Kelly Oram out. Or whatever, get your daughter to check her out, if your tastes are little more mature than mine. :) 

What are YOU reading right now? Let me know!

Happy reading!

p.s. I actually already read Serial Hottie. In fact that’s how I discovered Kelly Oram in the first place. My friend Ledz had given it a 2-star rating, and since we never like the same books, I was all “AHA!!”

And true enough, I did. :)  Enjoy!

When I set up the Fabstagram last week, I said I wanted it to be a happy, feel-good-type space, so I really have no idea why I posted this yesterday.  

Because it’s a bit of a wrist-slasher, that quote. SO not feel-good. In ANY way whatsoever. Every time I read it, I’m like this:

The thing is, even though this isn’t actually my case (I married “the book”) it really resonated with me because I kind of remember feeling like that more than once in my lifetime. Not necessarily just about luuurrve interests, but about friends too.

It always sucks to realize that you’re not as important to someone as you thought you were — or to feel that you’re not as valued as you want to be. Or to know that no matter how much you deserve it, some people will just never love you back.

I think it’s probably one of the most horrible disappointments we experience in life.

So I was all mopey for a while, drawing it…

Because seriously — WTF was up with that quote, Tom McNeal???  Who are you, the MAYOR OF THE PIT OF DESPAIR???

And then I saw this while “exploring” Instagram, and it totally made me LOL.

That’s the thing, see. No matter how much life or people might let you down, YOU GET OVER IT. You survive. You really do. One day, you just wake up and realize it doesn’t hurt anymore. And you move on. 

So chin up, chums. Whatever crap you might be going through right now… “This too shall pass.”

Have a wonderful week. :)

I’ve been sitting on a really awesome secret the past couple of days, and I have to say, it’s killing me that I can’t tell anyone. Seriously. 

Now before you all start jumping to conclusions… NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT. I don’t know why everyone always assumes that whenever I say I have awesome secret news. 

Oh wait, hang on, I think I DO know why…

Sigh. Anyway…

So yup I have a secret, and I can’t really talk about it for a while, so like I said…

Because I’m really not so good with the secrets. Just ask my sister Bambi, with whom I’ve played this scene countless times.

Or ask my friend Dino. Ages ago, he spent a long car ride telling me how much he liked my BFF Gem. And naturally, I promised that his secret was safe with me.

Yeah, not so much. Here’s what happened like 5 seconds after I got out of the car. 

HEY. Don’t judge me. I happened to know that she liked him too. A LOT. And they’re married now, so I like to think that my blabbermouthiness had a little bit to do with that. You’re welcome, Dino and Gem. 

Or just ask my hubby. He’ll tell you.

I spent like half the morning trying to think of ONE secret that I successfully kept to myself, and I’m rather ashamed to admit this, but I got nothin’.

I should probably have this sign made for frequent future use.

But hey, in my defense, when the secret is a serious one, I only tell ONE super-trustworthy other person, and I leave out the details. I can be discreet, in my own way. But I just ALWAYS HAVE TO TELL at least one other person. 

How about you?  

I was wondering if this was normal, or if I just suffer from some rare, out-of-control form of verbal diarrhea, so I did a little research and AHA! Guess what I found out?? Apparently, it’s a woman thing. 

A study commissioned by British skincare company Simple showed that women can only keep secrets for about 32 minutes. 

“This poll clearly shows that women really struggle to keep secrets,” said Simple Spokesman told the Daily Mail. 

“Spilling the beans in just 32 minutes is very fast work, but with modern technology someone’s juicy secret can be spread to huge amount of people all over the world in a very short space of time.”

I totally believe that. Except in my case, it’s more like 10 minutes.

But still — apparently I’m not alone. And hey, don’t even think that men are exempt from this. Most of the guys I know are even more gossipy than their wives.

So why is it so hard to keep a secret? There are several reasons, not the least among which is that all people are just curious by nature, and we tend to be fascinated by the unknown — especially when it involves the sordid lives of others.

I think some of it is tied up with ego too. Secrets are exclusive, and therefore sexy. It makes us feel super cool to be in the know, and even cooler when we can show others that we’re part of the elite “I know a secret” crowd.

You’ll notice this on Facebook, for example, when someone posts something cryptic and everyone’s all “Why? Wassup? What’s wrong?” — and there’s always at least one person who’s like “I KNOW!“ 

And you’re like…

But 2 seconds later, you’re all…

It’s normal, I think. But another study suggests we spill secrets simply because NOT doing so can really feel like a heavy physical burden. 

Researchers from Tufts University found that people who know of another’s deep secret … were more likely to perceive certain tasks as more arduous.

For one part of the study, participants were asked to remember a secret they were told — some were asked to remember a “meaningful secret,” while others were just asked to remember a “small personal secret,” Everyday Health reported. Then, they were asked to estimate things, including how steep a hill was and how far a distance was.

The people with the meaningful secrets “estimated hills to be steeper [and] perceived distances to be farther,” researchers wrote in the study. - Huffington Post

I can believe that too.  Of course. (Hello…Were you not paying attention when I said I was DYING??)

So yeah, this explains a lot, and kind of makes me feel better. But it also challenges me to try and rise above. I’d like to be able to think of myself as someone that can be trusted 100%, so I really want to work on that and try a little harder.

Unfortunately this means that none of you will be finding out what it is that’s making me turn cartwheels in my head. 

Yeah, I know, I suck.

(Told you I’d need that sign)

But don’t worry, I can probably tell you by sometime next week. :)  In the meantime, just try and think of something else. I know I will. 

Cheers! :)

Okay, so don’t laugh at me or anything, but I just started using Instagram. I know, I know, kinda late to the party. 

In my defense, I’ve actually had an Instagram account for ages, but its primary purpose was really just to stalk Chris Hemsworth.

Anyway I was never really into it, because everyone seems to post their Instagram pics on Facebook or Twitter anyway, right? So I really didn’t see the need to follow them on Instagram as well. And we all know I’m pretty camera-shy, so it’s not as if I was going to post any of those selfies so many Instagrammers seem to be so fond of. 

So anyway ever since I got Sammy the S4 I started stalking following a few more people and I kind of felt like a loser for having zero pics on my own account. So fine. I started putting stuff up today. 

I won’t be posting any selfies anytime soon, but I will share all the random doodles, reminders and illustrated quotes I sometimes come up with and post on my Facebook page (but not on my Tumblr.) Like this one from yesterday:

And this one from a few weeks ago:

Basically I just want it to be a happy space people can browse through for a quick fab, funny or feel-good fix. So here we go!

Introducing… THE FABSTAGRAM!

Feel free to follow, if you like.  :)

Oh, and if you know of any interesting accounts I should be stalking now that I’m an (ahem) Instagrammer, let me know in the comments. :D Thanks! 

Okay, I’m pretty much over the whole Game of Thrones trauma thing, but I’m having a heck of a week at work, so I have to extend my blog break a bit. Because seriously, folks… I got nothin’.

So in the meantime, you might want to check out another blog that I’ve been stalking lately, called Tender Nuggets.

We all know what this means, of course. NEW IMAGINARY BFF.

Kristin, the girl who writes it, is like the female version of Adam from Books of Adam (another blog I’ve written about before) and get this… they’re actually best friends or something. They even have these amazingly creative non-text text conversations. I’m so jealous. 

So yeah I kind of agonize over that all the time now, and in the meantime, cool Kristin’s over in New York, being all…

Anyway…

Go check out her blog, because it’s hilarious and her illustrations just kill me. Here’s a sample from her post Essentially the Odyssey.

And don’t even think about missing the one about the poop in the pool. Because OMGLOL.

She a fab one, my new BFF.  Enjoy  :) 

Be back soon!

All illustrations that are obviously not mine are Kristin’s. Obviously.

Oh and thanks Joe Tanjuan for the rec!

I don’t think I’ll be able to blog much today, because I’m still getting over what happened on Game of Thrones. Seriously, half an hour after it ended the hubby and I were still like this. 

Thing is, I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen because first of all, Twitter pretty much exploded yesterday with all sorts of GoT-related grief.

Also, my friend Mark (who’s read all the books) had already spoiled it for me months ago when we were talking about GoT and George R.R. Martin on Twitter sometime last year…

Of course I was all…

.. so he tried to take it back.

But BAH! Too late. The damage was done. (Mark’s drawing is by Mark, btw)

So yeah, I thought I was all ready for what was going to happen, but no, I was still shell-shocked. Because it wasn’t just Robb, and omg it was bloody and brutal and just awful. 

Really, WTH, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN?!?  You’re mean.

So sigh. I guess I’ll be back tomorrow, after I’ve had some time to grieve. 

Later, peeps. And my sympathies to the Starks. 

GRRM pic c/o got-verticals.tumblr.com

It’s Rappler day again today, so I’m over there, talking about how we’re often our own worst frenemies.  

Go have a look! > 10 Ways We Sabotage Our Own Success

The article includes 10 warped ways of thinking that make us miserable, like…

Overgeneralizing

Disqualifying the Positive

Mental Filtering

…as well as a neat technique to turn your inner critic into a coach instead. 

Hope you find it helpful. Have a great week! :)

I got a question from one of my email subscribers yesterday and I asked her if I could turn it into a reader request post, because it reminded me of a rather terrifying story I’d buried deep into the recesses of my cowardly memory. Here’s the question:

I can see how some people might find this annoying, but to be honest, I really don’t have this problem. I actually find imitation rather flattering. Well, except for this one time, when it turned out to be TERRIFYING.

Back when I was a teen, my mom hired a household helper named Alma, who seemed pretty normal in the beginning. And then I don’t know exactly what happened (we suspect it was some sort of heartbreak over a phone pal), but all of a sudden she started acting pretty weird. And for some reason her weirdness was fixated on ME.  And I knew this because she started dressing EXACTLY like me…

This was a little off-putting, sure, but hey — no biggie. And then she started doing other weird stuff. Like giving us messages from “the Lord” like he lived inside her head and she was, I don’t know, MOSES or something. There were other things, but like I said, my cowardly brain repressed most of them. So just trust me when I say she grew a little scarier every day.

My mild fear quickly turned into ABJECT TERROR one night when I got home late from a party and checked the phone messages, to find that she had written some long rambling “I’m your Number One fan” type notes to me on the phone message pad. And as I was reading them in silent horror - in semi-darkness, I might add - she just SUDDENLY APPEARED at the top of the stairs behind me, like some sort of supernatural psycho killer…

I’ll be honest. Alma was pretty tiny, and hardly an imposing figure, but to my terrified teenage brain, at that very moment, she kind of looked like this:

So I kind of yelled at her (okay, maybe shrieked or bleated would be a better word here) - something stupid and ineffectual like “OMG GO BACK TO SLEEP!!” — and then I SPRINTED to my room like a cheetah on steroids and hid under the covers.

AND THEN THE KNOCKING AND WAILING BEGAN.

OMGWTF, MAN?!? Luckily my parents were light sleepers, so they went and sorted THAT out while  I… I don’t know… probably peed in my pants or something. (Repressed memories and all that.)

So anyway in case you’re wondering, she really was batshit cray-cray, and ended up in the mental hospital after a few days of terrorizing me and my siblings — and at one point even engaging in a super-not-sexy wrestling match with my mother. But this is a very extreme case which really has nothing to do with the question, so let me get back on point now.  

Anyway, the Alma incident aside, I really don’t mind copycats at all because I think that imitation in any form is a pretty great compliment. Also, because I’m something of a shameless copycat myself, and my friends and I are those annoying types who like to do and have all the same stuff.  

Just ask my BFF Gem, whom I can always count on to go do recon on a bazaar first, so I can arrive later and just buy everything she bought. 

I also make her try all sorts of hairstyles and treatments first, and if I like them, then I copy. I have no originality — and very little energy — when it comes to these things 

My other BFF Angie and I are the same. Even worse, actually. We wore the exact same dresses to Senior prom (except mine was white and hers was black). OMG. I know, even I’m a little bothered by that now, looking back. And this disturbing behavior has carried over well into adulthood. We no longer wear the same clothes, but we do have matching iPad cases, and almost identical wedding rings.

Gosh, we’re such weirdos. Why did I not realize this earlier?? 

In our defense, even though my friends and I might have or wear some of the same things, we all have very distinct looks and styles and personalities — so most of the time people really don’t even notice.  

And I think that’s the thing I’d like to get across to my email buddy. People may copy you all they like, but they will never BE anything like you. So don’t sweat it. :)  

Just take the imitation for what it is - a compliment, and an affirmation of your own awesome style - and rest assured that you are, and always will be, UNIQUE in the eyes of everyone that counts. Because there’s so much more to you than just the clothes you wear and the way you style your hair. 

Hope this helps. Cheers!

I had to dig up an old post I wrote about trying to understand that people’s issues are important to them, even if they might seem silly to you — because for some reason, my immediate reaction to every “problem” I came across online today was this:

I’m not really sure why I was feeling so intolerant and tough-lovey. It’s possible I was just extra testy due to hormones, or the gloomy weather, or my mountain of work. Or maybe fundraising for a friend with Stage 4 cancer has put things in a different perspective for me. Whatever the case, I was just “GAH! WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE WHINING TODAY??”

Here’s a sneak peek at what was going through my head as I browsed through an assortment of angsty blogs and status updates:

Someone you love doesn’t love you back? Awww… 

Suck it up, sissy. Happens to everyone. You’ll get over it. 

Your boss/client is being an A-hole? Work a little tough today?

Suck it up, sissy. Be happy you have a job at all. 

Not happy with the way you look? 

Suck it up, shaggy sissy (a.k.a. me)…  AT LEAST YOU HAVE HAIR. And all other body parts working and accounted for. That already makes you luckier than others. 

Seriously. I was on a bit of a roll. Pretty sure it was PMS, now that I think about it. So I did re-read my teenage memo to my adult self, to try and get this heckling beast within to calm the frakking hell down.

So okay fine. I remember, teenage me.  I understand that problems are problems, no matter how big or small. And when you’re going through a problem of your own, it doesn’t always help make you feel better to think that others have bigger problems (even if it’s true, and it probably should).  

But having said that, I still feel this bears repeating: Enough with the whining already. Because whatever it is that’s bothering us, believe me … moping and whining won’t change it. What will change it is action, or a change of attitude.

So suck it up. Do something. At the very least, learn a lesson. Take something from the experience, and use it to emerge a better, wiser, tougher person. Don’t let your problems win.  

That is all. 

Have a glorious, victorious day, my friends. :)

I had a bit of a bag-gasm this morning when my friend Chary sent me the pics from the shoot for our Battle for the Bags auction next month.

I mean, COME ON! How could I not?? They’re just so fabulous.  

(You can see more on Flickr or on the BFTB Facebook page).

So anyway, yup, plans for the fundraiser are rolling along beautifully, and I was all “Woohoo! Let’s go!” until Chary asked me to design the tickets. Umm, I’m not so good with the graphic design. So I tried to weasel out of it by claiming printed tickets were passé. Because they really kind of are. 

Of course I now had to actually FIND a service that would allow me to make and sell etickets, so I asked my good buddy Google, and AHA! I found the best site EVER - Ticketbud. 

OMGILOVEIT. And it’s pretty easy to use, even if you’re an Internet n00b.

I would have liked to be able to customize the event page more, but hey — simple is beautiful. And also, we’re using the service for FREE because Ticketbud doesn’t charge for events benefiting cancer charities. (You just need to send a waiver request, which they answer pretty quickly.) They don’t charge for free events either. AWESOME.

So yeah basically you can just set up your page and all the types of tickets you want to sell for the event, as well as a Paypal account for payments, and you’re good to go! When people buy tickets, they get their tickets by email afterwards, and tickets have QR codes which you can just scan on the day itself using the Ticketbud app on your iPhone or Android phone. 

Pretty cool, huh?  If you’re hosting an event anytime soon, go check it out.  And if you’d like to see a sample event page, check out the one of Battle for the Bags. You can even test the ticket purchase feature by ordering a free “Pay at the event” ticket. (Yes, even if you don’t actually go. But I hope you will.)

Enjoy! And cheers, Ticketbud! You rock.  

Sooo — some shocking news. I started exercising again yesterday. Oh, stop LOL-ing. This is not a one-time thing. I’m serious. Because it turns out Sammy (my Samsung S4) has another superpower that I didn’t mention in my earlier post: FAT-SHAMING.

And it’s not just that built-in calorie counter either. The bigger bitch is that Walking Mate app, which counts how many steps you take in a day. When I first set it up, Sammy told me that I should walk 10,000 steps a day, and I was totally cool with that…

Until I realized that my regular step count on a normal day didn’t even come close. 

And every day that stupid step count just sits there on my Home screen, MOCKING ME with my measly 300 steps or whatever. So GAH! Off to the treadmill.

And as much as I may resent Sammy for all that extra sweat, I’m actually glad, because I really do spend too much time on my ass — and I think we all know by now that too much sitting can kill you. (If you don’t, check out the full version of the infographic below over at Mashable.)

Scary stuff. So I really do want to move around more and NOT DIE, even if I’ve figured out a sneaky way to trick Sammy into thinking I’ve taken more steps than I actually have…

I’m the worst, I swear…  Plus it turns out that too much sitting can kill you EVEN IF YOU EXERCISE, so GAH. Enough of that. 

Apparently you need to interrupt your sitting as often as you can during the day — and ideally not to go out for a smoke or mosey over to the fridge for a snack. 

Guilty.

So FINE.  I’m doing some other things to interrupt my sitting time (and hopefully hit Sammy’s 10k step challenge for real, without resorting to trickery). If you’d like to not die from sitting too, here are 3 simple suggestions I got from Huffpo. 

1. Use a standing desk.

I’ve been eyeing all sorts of gorgeous standing desks on the Internet, but in the end I decided to just keep things simple and devise my own. Making a makeshift standing desk is easy:

Easy peasy. Of course, if you want to be a little more nerdy about it, you might find this standing-desk guide from Wired useful.

Bear in mind though that prolonged standing isn’t good for you either, so try to sit 50% of the day and stand 50% of the day. Apparently that’s the ideal ratio. 

2. Talk to people face-to-face instead of via email or instant message. 

I started this a couple of weeks ago, and I actually like doing it. I’m just not sure if my staff feels the same way. 

Probably not. Heh! Well, just wait ‘til I introduce the next suggestion..

3. Hold standing meetings.

I actually think this is brilliant because most meetings take so much longer than they actually have to. If people don’t have any chairs to lounge around in, they’ll try to get the meeting over with faster, and they won’t be able to sleep either. I love it.  

So there you go. There are lots of other ways to interrupt your sitting without making your office mates hate you, of course, so be creative. Point is, get off your butt and move around. OFTEN. It could save your life. 

Good luck! :)

I’m really behind on my book reviews for Netgalley, so I decided that yesterday would be totally dedicated to reading. Because Saturday is “Cycle of Sloth” day after all. 

That plan was a bit of a bust, though, because for some reason I just couldn’t tear myself away from the Internet. I spent a good part of the morning wondering WTH is up with Amanda Bynes. 

Seriously, she used to be so adorable. I want someone to fix her. 

And then from there I just kind of went a little crazy online shopping. Because American holiday sales are like CRACK, and I’m a sucker for promos and coupon codes.

This was just the beginning of the spree. One link led to another, and soon I was not only shopping-crazed, but also delusional. I’m pretty sure I’ll kick myself when some of those deliveries arrive.

Anyhoo, I eventually got to my Kindle by late afternoon to finish The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa - which I actually started about a month ago. 

I don’t know why the hell it took me so long to read it, but some new NA novels got in the way — and when you’re on New Adult novel mode, it’s a little difficult to get into the groove for YA Vampire-Dystopia. 

So don’t let the fact that it took me a month to finish this book put you off.  It’s not Julie, it’s me.  I actually really liked this sequel to The Immortal Rules. In fact I liked it even better than the first book. Well, except for that MOFO of a cliffhanger ending. 

Seriously, you’re evil, Julie Kagawa. 

Anyway, you can read the synopsis on Amazon or whatever, but basically the story is about Allie the reluctant teenage vamp, who has to find her sire Kanin (LOL.You have to be Filipino to find this name funny.) — because the batshit-crazy vamp who took him prisoner has the cure to a deadly disease that’s killing both vamps and humans.

So she goes off on this quest, joined by her sarcastic and slightly evil vamp brother Jackal (also sired by Kanin, and hands down the most amusing character in the story) and her human love interest Zeke. 

Now I won’t tell you what happens, of course, but I will tell you why I Iiked the book so much. 

It doesn’t romanticize vampires, like other vamp books do. 

As entertaining as paranormal romance can sometimes be, I can never really be fully on board because I’m always like “WTH?  He’s a thousand years old! You’re a teenager! Plus he’s dead! Eeew!”

In Julie’s Blood of Eden series, vamps are monsters, and everyone knows it. It’s a problem — as it should be, you crazy Twilight-lovers.

All throughout the book, Allie has to struggle to control her inner demon, and I like how the book shows that this can be done when you’re with the right people, and that it’s the human qualities - and not the supernatural powers or badass fighting skills - that make the characters strong and admirable.  

Because if you really think about it, we all have inner demons. They might not involve wanting to rip people’s throats and drink their blood, but they can make monsters out of us nevertheless. For some people, the demon is fear. For others, pride or anger or envy. For some, an addiction to online shopping…

Whatevs. We all have a beast within. And it’s good to be reminded once in a while that it doesn’t have to consume us. Given the right motivation, and the willingness and determination to fight it, we can overcome whatever makes us less than human.

So thanks, Julie Kagawa. Now hurry up and finish the next book in the series, or I may have to kill you. :)

I seriously considered bailing on the launch of the new Globe postpaid plan last night because I’d made a big mistake earlier in the day. HUGE. I cheated on my hairdresser and got a much-needed haircut somewhere else just because it was closer to my office, and I was in a hurry.

OMG. Big mistake. It’s like Tinette (my friend and hair guru) cursed me from afar for my infidelity or something, because OMG.

Given that I now look rather disturbingly like an emo Korean male telenovela star, I not only considered bailing on the launch; I actually toyed with the idea of going on “bad hair day” leave from work for the next two weeks or so. 

But GAH, I promised my friends Tina and Dale that I’d go, plus I’d already made plans to meet with my other friend Chary about the Battle for the Bags AFTER the Globe launch, so I’d be flaking on TWO commitments. And it felt rather shallow and irresponsible to call everything off even if I was sporting a ‘do that seemed (to me, at least) to be just a few strands short of a shaggy mullet. 

So yeah, I went anyway. Sometimes I’m just so frakking responsible I could just shoot myself.  (And now if you don’t mind, I’ll just continue the rest of the drawings with my usual hair because drawing this new ‘do over and over again is making me feel a little violent.)

Anyway I’m pretty glad I went because since I have two phones now (yup, still have the old one aside from my magical new S4), I’d gotten a prepaid sim for the other, and it turns out I’m really not that great with the whole prepaid thing. 

I mean I’ve obviously learned how to load prepaid credits since the tweet above (in many different ways, thanks to helpful officemates and Twitter peeps), but the whole concept of having to reload credits at all is a bit of a bother to me. Especially since I tend to be terribly remiss about things like that. 

So this new “Best EVER” postpaid Superplan that Globe was launching sounded pretty promising. Plus free food. And LOOT BAGS.

Note to self: Attend more launches.

So yeah, I was pretty glad I showed up despite the dastardly ‘do.  And no, not just because of the freebie-fest. The new postpaid Superplan itself really was pretty super. In fact, I’m not just ditching my prepaid sim for it, I’m planning to switch my existing postpaid plan over to this one too. Because it’s awesome! Really flexible. And I’m pretty sure it’ll save me some money… that I may just use to buy MORE eclairs. Because yum. 

Anyway, with Globe’s new Best Ever My Superplan (kind of a mouthful, huh?) you receive DOUBLE the value of whatever plan you get, so you can squeeze more out of your subscription. You can then use all this extra value to play around with perks and get the stuff that really suits you (including new gadgets).

Wait. I can probably explain this better by drawing it. So here goes.

Say for example — me and the hubby. We’re totally different in the way we use our our phones.

Note: I’m not even kidding about him calling the entire Internet “that website.” Although to be fair he only did it once. Mostly because I never let him forget it. :D

Unlimited mobile internet is like the Number 1 priority for ME, but it’s useless for him because he’s really not a web-type guy. His only online activity consists of email, poker and watching Youtube videos of product reviews. And he prefers to do all that on a laptop, not a phone. 

So say we got the same “Best Ever My Superplan”… we could totally customize our plans in different ways, to suit our specific phone activity.

These are the actual plans I plotted out for us last night after the launch, btw. And also btw, it really would’ve helped if I had listened more at the launch and found out beforehand that I could’ve done it much faster (without any laborious math) on the Globe website. BAH.

Note to self: Listen better when I attend launches. 

So yeah, if you’re interested in checking it out, learn from my mistakes, save yourself the strain, and just play around with the Superplan-builder on the Globe website. Here’s what it looks like.

And if you don’t like the combination you come up with, you can actually change things around every month. You can also choose the subscription period you want — 6 months, 12 months, 24 months etc. Like I said, all very flexible. Go check it out. 

So there you go! I love it when a good plan comes together.  I only wish I’d been this meticulous and organized about planning my trip to the hairdresser. :-|

Lesson of the day? “Failure to plan is a plan for for failure.”  Just ask my hair. :D

Always plan ahead, peeps. Have a great weekend!

Don’t you just hate it when someone invents something you wish you’d thought of yourself? Happens to me all the time. And for some reason, it always involves some sort of kitchen utensil or other food-related tool. 

Hmmm. I wonder why. 

Anyway it happened to me AGAIN just a while ago when I was reading about this new type of eco-friendly edible spoon created by Triangle Tree.

This overgrown Frito has been lovingly sculpted out of corn and other all-natural ingredients into a stubby, bottom heavy spoon for all your dining needs. But not all spoonable foods are made alike, and the environmentally conscious minds behind the Eco-Spoon have taken this into account by offering two presumably crunchy varieties: plain and sweet & spicy. - Gizmodo

Of course I was all “HOW FRAKKING AWESOME ARE SPOONS MADE OF CORN CHIPS OR WHATEVER??” I wanted to throw away all my spoons and just use THOSE!

But then it didn’t take long for the hubby to laughingly predict what would probably happen if we made the big spoon-switch.

And sigh. He’s probably right. So yeah, forget that. 

I had pretty much the same experience when I discovered this awesome thing called the KNORK, which as its name implies, is a cool double-agent utensil that’s part-knife, part fork.

 Yuuup, wanted that too. With a PASSION. Because it just sounded so convenient, you know? Who wouldn’t want to enjoy easy one-handed eating? And I was all set to order a whole bunch until (AGAIN) my husband pointed out that it probably wasn’t the best thing to be eating with if you were, by chance, a klutz. 

I can totally see that happening (my lip’s already hurting just thinking about it) so yeah, forget that too. I think I’ll just stick to my good old reliable, boringly inedible silverware.

Stupid spoilsport hubby. And stupid sexy utensils I can’t use. BAH.

What’s on YOUR cool tool wishlist these days? Share, share! I need to set my sights on other things. :)

Hope your day was happy! Cheers!

I got an unexpected Reader Request yesterday from an old friend of mine in Spain. I haven’t seen him since like.. wow, 40 pounds ago or something, so it was really nice to find out that he reads my blog pretty regularly. 

Here’s what he wrote. (I’m hiding his identity because he may cross the oceans to kill me when he finds out I posted his RR verbatim - LOL)

Anyway I wanted to tell him that there was a simple solution to that, which I try to encourage my husband and all other men to apply to any “How do I stop arguing with my woman?” dilemma… 

Pffft. So simple. :P

But hmmm… For some reason that never seems to fly. Sigh. I suppose I’ll have to be a little more creative. So here goes, mi amigo… 

There are a few things about this particular situation that I should probably tackle before actually attempting to give you any tips.

First of all, you’re Spanish. Now I hate to make generalizations, but based on my personal experience, I think it’s safe to say that y’all are a little more feisty and hot-blooded than the average Earth-dweller.

This is why I crack up every time my friend Miguel (also Spanish - well, mostly) wears this T-shirt, and why I happily accepted his request to draw him wearing it so he could use it as an avatar.

So maybe that could be part of the problem. But okay fine, probably not. Just had to put it out there for consideration. :D 

I suspect the bigger issue is that you and your FWB (friend with benefits) aren’t really in the same place, and don’t seem to want the same things from this relationship.

As I mentioned in a previous post, relationships are challenging enough, even when you do want the same things. Even in the happiest relationships, disagreements, fights and misunderstandings are bound to pop up every so often. 

(Note: This is particularly true when both parties are shameless KNOW-IT-ALLS) 

When you don’t want the same things, that just makes everything so much harder. So I think this, more than anything, is probably the root of your problems, and might be the reason you argue so much.

But hey, I could be wrong. So in case I am, here are a few tried and tested anti-arguing tips that you might find helpful.

1. Recognize that men and women simply don’t think the same way.

You don’t have to understand HOW you’re different, you just need to constantly remind yourself that you are. So don’t go into a discussion with the expectation that at the end of it, you will see eye to eye. That’s ideal, but not always doable. The quicker you learn that, the better off you’ll be. Make an effort to find out where the other person is coming from, but if you just really can’t grasp the concepts, learn to agree to disagree. 

2. Remember that sometimes it’s better to be kind/gracious than it is to be right.

Honestly, I wish I could tattoo that onto people’s foreheads or something. I find that more arguments are created and extended far beyond their expected life span JUST because we won’t quit until the other person backs down and admits to being wrong.

Well, NEWSFLASH: NO ONE ENTERS AN ARGUMENT THINKING THAT THEY’RE WRONG. So good luck with that. 

In some instances, being proven right matters. In many cases, it really doesn’t. Admit it. So just let it go already. And if it turns out that you ARE right, don’t gloat. Don’t trade in long-term harmony and good will for a short-term victory. 

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff. As I mentioned in another post, sometimes you just need to let things slide. Not everything is worth fighting about. You don’t need to accept every single invitation to war. ;) 

Ask yourself: Will this even matter a month from now? Or even next week?  If it won’t, for Heaven’s sake just say “You have a point, dear.” then walk away and go get some ice cream or something. Don’t engage.  Save your energy for the stuff that matters. 

My friend Ernie, back in college, once gave me an excellent piece of relationship advice: “Sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war.”  And it’s something that stayed with me forever and actually saw me through a lot of difficult situations. 

But now that I think about it, it occurs to me that maybe we could go one step further and stop thinking about relationships in terms of war in the first place. Because if you really think about it, there really shouldn’t be any winners or losers if you’re on the same team. 

Right?  :)

Hope this helps! Cheers and Buena Suerte!

I’m on Rappler again today, with a follow-up to my blog on the 10 Traits of a Toxic Friend. 

It’s called Mend or End? How to deal with a Toxic Friend, and has a 3-step confrontation plan (c/o of Oprah) as well as this nugget of wisdom from Tiny Buddha:

Go check it out! Hope you find it helpful. :)

Have a great day, everyone!

One of my closest friends is an Amazon named Angie, and I swear she’s one of the toughest women I know. One of my favorite stories to tell about her is the time she stepped out of a bar and saw some guy trying to beat up her brother — and she just ended that bit of silliness by WHACKING HIM ON THE HEAD with her handbag. 

OMG I’m LOL-ing again. Hahahaha! She kills me.

Anyway, any woman will tell you that a handbag can be a pretty good weapon when push comes to shove. (Geez man, mine weighs at least 10 pounds. How about yours?)

Just the other day though, while we were brainstorming for fundraising ideas to help a friend with cancer, my friend Chary came up with a brilliant idea that effectively made bags even more powerful than we ever thought they could be. She called it The Battle for the Bags.

I’m posting info and our appeal (written by Chary) below, and if you’re based in Manila and can help in any way, please do. Even just passing on the info would be a big help. Thanks so much in advance!

In an effort to help raise funds for Rhea Ferro, a childhood friend who is battling stage 4 breast cancer, my friends and I will soon be hosting the BATTLE FOR THE BAGS - a small auction of pre-owned designer or name brand bags that are in good condition.

We’d like to appeal for your help in two ways:

1. Please donate a bag.

You know the bag that you received for Christmas that is nice but just isn’t your type? Or perhaps that bright orange clutch that you bought on impulse before you realized you didn’t have anything that matches? We are not brand snobs – anything cute and in good condition (e.g. no stains, no tears, working hardware, genuine!) is welcome. More is more!

2. Attend the auction!

When we have about 30-50 pieces, we will post them online to give potential bidders a preview of the collection. Then we will have a small tea party where we will display the pieces and allow guests to fondle and “try” them on and silently but stealthily bid for their picks.

If you have a Birkin or three to donate (half-meant joke), please just message us Facebook, or post a comment below and we’ll be in touch.

In this world where we are encouraged to recycle, this donation could give your old bag better mileage and would be a big help to our friend.

Please spread the word!

Thanks again, and have a great day!!

The hubs and I got a couple of new Samsung phones the other day, and I think we’ve been spending a little too much time playing around with them. 

I’d been meaning to break up with my Blackberry for some time, because I was getting a little tired of all the app-envy I was experiencing. I was just hanging on to it because I really hate texting on a touchscreen.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a bigger screen (and therefore a bigger keypad) than the iPhone though, so I figured that if I was going the take the touchscreen texting challenge, then I’d be better off with it. Umm, yeah, not so much.

Thank god for predictive text. Just sayin.

Anyway once I had that little problem sorted out, I had an absolute blast discovering all these new things I could do with my S4. Honestly, I have to tell you… it’s the most awesome phone I’ve ever owned. Because it’s like I have SUPERPOWERS now!

Seriously. Just call me Professor X now or something, because I can do all sorts of things on my phone without even touching it!

Like take a quick glance at my notifications or preview stuff just by pointing my finger…

.. and answer a call even when my hands are sticky or otherwise occupied…

.. and even make whatever I’m reading on the web scroll down, either with hand gestures — OR MY MIND.  (Okay fine, my eyes.)

And, as I discovered when playing with it at the office, because it’s got this whole “Yes, Professor X, you may control me with your mind/eyes” thing going on, it works pretty darn well for stealth entertainment too.

AMAZING, I tell you. 

Of course now that I’m getting used to it, it makes every other gadget I own feel like a bit of a letdown.

To be honest though, I’m still learning how to use it up to now. I’m kind of a Samsung/Android virgin, and so a little slow on the uptake. And the S4 has so many other features (aside from the ones that give me telepathic powers) that I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface yet.  So I guess I’ll be back to gush again at some point once I’ve mastered my new phone a bit more. 

In the meantime, check it out in the video below:

And if you’re thinking about getting one, you can actually get one with a Globe plan for as low as P1,599 per month for 24 months. (This plan includes unlimited LTE surfing plus free calls and texts, so pretty champ.) You can also get it free with other postpaid plans. Check them all out here.  

Cheers! :)

I got another reader request the other day, so since I’m feeling horribly headachey, I thought I’d answer it instead of attempting the longer post I had planned.

Here’s the question:

And here’s the answer. :)

Hehe. I’m sure other bloggers can probably relate. Social media feedback is addictive, after all. I’m pretty lucky though because this doesn’t really happen very often. I usually get at least a few likes or whatever with every new blog post.. And for as long as I don’t try to compare myself with someone like Chuvaness, I’m cool with that. :)

It used to bum me out a bit in the beginning, but then I realized over time that the number of likes/RTs/comments/shares you get for a post isn’t necessarily a good gauge of how many people actually read it.

I’m always surprised when I’m at a party or something and someone tells me that they read my blog, because I still tend to sometimes assume that the only people who read it are those who react.

Not true, apparently. If you’d like a more accurate picture of your readership, check your blog stats on Google Analytics or something similar.  What you find might actually blow your mind. :)

And whenever I’m feeling sorry for myself because no one comments on a post, I always make myself feel better by re-reading this lovely note I once received on my Facebook page:

Awww. I lurve him.

It’s the personal messages like these that I get in my Tumblr inbox, or by email or on Facebook or Twitter or in person, face to face, that I really value, over the quick one-click likes or RTs or reblogs. 

Having said all that though, the reactions (or lack thereof) that you do get on social media really shouldn’t be ignored, because they give you a pretty good picture of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to content. If you blog for business, that’s important. (If you blog for fun and for the sheer joy of just blabbing away like me, then maybe not so much. But still helpful.)

At the end of the day I think that regardless of feedback — good or bad, online or offline, plentiful or nonexistent — every blogger should JUST KEEP BLOGGING ANYWAY. Because self-expression — whether anyone’s listening or not — is good for the mind and soul. And writing’s kind of like a muscle. You need to keep exercising it, and the more you do it, the better you get. 

The thing I personally find most valuable about blogging is that it forces me to take time out to think and reflect on things, so I end up learning more about myself and the world around me with every post I write. That’s fab. 

So yup, while my knee-jerk reaction to a zero-feedback post might be “Aw, bummer..”  my longer-term reaction is always the same: Keep right on blogging anyway. Because more than anything else, I blog for me. 

When people do read and react, then that just makes an already awesome experience even better. So thanks, whoever’s reading this. I lurve you too. :)

Have a fab weekend, everyone! 

So yesterday was kind of AWESOME, because I got home to find a big box full of Frabelle food items waiting for me.

Here’s a pic. And mind you, that was just the top layer.

Good lord it was like a Christmas miracle. Except in May. And specially tailored for chubby pork-lovers.

In case you were wondering, though, it wasn’t in fact a miracle. It didn’t come out of the blue. I’m not THAT lucky. This was actually the result of a terribly shameful moochfest (henceforth referred to as “The Hunger Games”) that my friend Anna and I have been competing and conspiring in for over 20 years.

First of all, let me tell you a little about Anna. (If you’re a regular reader, you may remember her as the one who ate the McChicken of the hungry Muslim girl during Ramadan). I think we all know by now how much I can eat, right? Well, she makes me look like an amateur. With anorexia. You can’t really tell from looking at her, but my girl Anna could probably out-eat a teenage boy — and maybe his 5 brothers.

Anyway, sometime last year I happened to mention to Anna (over a hearty meal, I’m sure) that I switched from Purefoods to Frabelle ham, because I liked how it tasted better —- especially in my frittatas. The sweetness of Frabelle Honey Ham is a little different - more delicate, sort of - from that of Purefoods sweet ham, and combined with eggs and asparagus and cheese.. yum… Okay, I digress. On with the story…

So anyway, when I told Anna about my new Frabelle ham fetish, here’s what I discovered.

Oh wow. FAY. Now let me tell you about our friend Fay. She’s like 500 pounds of awesome in a maybe 80-pound body. Tiny but terrific. And quite possibly the most generous soul I know. She was pretty much the reason Anna and I never starved in High School, even though we were bottomless pits, had no money and finished all our (and everyone else’s) lunch food at recess.

She’s a feeder, our friend Fay. So I figured that if I mentioned that I was a Frabelle fan - and looked suitably hungry - she’d hook me up with some free ham.

Anyway, I hadn’t seen her in a while, so it wasn’t like I was going to CALL HER OUT OF THE BLUE AND HINT FOR HAM, right? I’m not THAT shameless.

But because Anna gets out a lot more than I do, she saw Fay first. And immediately proceeded to BETRAY ME BY STEALING MY MOOCH MOVE!

The HELL?? I was the original Frabelle fan! She was just being gaya-gaya! (That’s “a copycat” to you non-Filipino speakers) And she STOLE MY FREE FOOD!

So anyway, I was a tad miffed about that, but I forgave Anna eventually. And when I got together with all my high school pals to plan our Woodrose Homecoming this year, I reconnected with Fay again. 

And fyi, this Anna kept nudging me to try the “I love Frabelle” move - LIKE SHE INVENTED IT OR SOMETHING. The nerve. I resisted, because what, like now I was gonna be the copycat?? Please.

But I eventually caved, and true to her generous soul, Fay delivered. And BOY did she deliver!  I honestly thought I was going to get a few packs of ham. Dude. I have enough stuff to open a store. Maybe for half a day. But still. 

There was stuff in the box I didn’t even know Frabelle carried - like tocino, longganiza, etc. Who knew??  

So anyway Anna may have stolen my move - and the cooler of Cream Dory that rightfully should’ve been mine - but I think I won this particular battle of the Hunger Games. Because BACON. And all the other porkalicious products. 

So thanks Fay, from the bottom of my ham-and-bacon-lovin’ heart.

And better luck in the next battle of the Hunger Games, Anna. May the food be ever in your flavor. ;)

My social media feeds were blowing up this morning with reactions to results of the elections, so after reading the first bunch of rants I decided to stay off for most of the day.

Some of the concerns were legitimate, some not so much. Some were just really off. 

Honestly. I’m far from a Nancy Binay fan, but enough with the skin color jokes already. 

While it’s sometimes tempting to join in all the “ROARR! WTH??” nega-talk, I’d really rather expend the little energy I have on something else. As my friend Hans says:

I agree. I mean, fine — if you’re not happy, then vent if you must. We’re allowed. Venting is therapeutic. For my part I just sighed and drew something, as I usually do.

But recognize that there’s a limit. If you’re thinking “Just STFU and mind your own beeswax, Sally Sunshine!!” then fine. Get off this blog and rant away to your heart’s delight. But as I get older I realize that there’s really only so much negativity I can take — in myself and in the people around me. Because negativity kills. Okay, I’m being a little dramatic, but it does affect us physically.

Don’t believe me? Try out this experiment I read about on Oprah:

It’s pretty fascinating. You’re always weaker when you’re thinking negative thoughts.  And guess what? According to that article, even if it’s the PUSHER who’s thinking negative thoughts and not you, it’s still a strength-sapper.

So yeah, that’s one reason to nix the negativity:

1. Negativity is contagious. 

Even if we don’t care about the ill effects of negativity on our own health, then we should at least consider how it affects the people around us. The sad part is that the people who are usually affected most are the ones closest to us, who love us the most. You have to admit, that kind of sucks. 

I know that no one ever really consciously plans to be a negative person. It’s not like it’s anyone’s childhood dream or anything.

It just happens. But I think if we’re more aware of the effects it has on us and on the people around us, we might make a better effort to try and nip the negativity in the bud. 

I also read about some new findings this morning that gave me even more reasons to make an effort to turn my frowns upside-down. Check these out:

2. Laughter lessens physical pain. 

That’s right. Don’t just smile in the face of adversity. LAUGH! I think I’ve already firmly established in several posts that I think laughter is the best thing ever, but it turns out that it’s even more powerful than I thought.  

A study conducted at Oxford University showed that people who laughed before being subjected to all sorts of torture (okay exagg, just various painful situations) actually felt less pain than those who didn’t. 

The interesting part is that the more people they laughed with, the less pain they felt. (Note: I know this is a really interesting theory and all, but I really don’t recommend that you try it at home.)

If negativity weakens you and the people around you, then laughter does the opposite. Pretty cool, huh? YOU ROCK, LAUGHTER. 

3. Kindness helps kick heart disease. 

Another new study shows that “every positive interaction we have with people acts as a miniature health tune-up.” The research had to do with people who practiced compassionate meditation, and showed how being kind (even just in your thoughts) was all sorts of awesome for lowering the risk of heart disease.

The explanation’s kind of science-y, and I’m a little pressed for time, so you can go read more about it here. But the bottom line is….

Being a good friend, and being compassionate toward others, may be one of the best ways to improve your own health. - Healthland.time.com

So there you go. Something to think about today, and in the days to come.  

Shit happens. That’s a given. What’s NOT a given is how you let it affect your life. This may be easier said than done, because you may not always have a choice in the matter, but when you do —- Choose happiness. Choose kindness. Choose laughter.

Even if all that doesn’t actually make you live longer, it’ll at least make the time you have so much more pleasant. 

Stay positive, peeps. :)

No, it’s not what you think. (Whatever it is you’re thinking). I just had way too much to drink last night, so any cheery early-morning Mother’s Day activities would probably not have gone down too well. 

Anyway… the reason I’m feeling so crappy this morning is that my good buddy Gelo is turning 40 this month (Welcome to the club!) so his wife Kat threw him a surprise 80s party last night.

Now an 80s-themed party would normally be totally okay with me, except that the costume Kat planned to stick Gelo into once he got there was MY usual 80’s Boy George costume! So gah, I was forced to be extra creative.

And I don’t know what the hell got into me, but I ended up drinking like I actually was back in the 80s (i.e. - like an idiot teenager).

Idiot. 

And now I remember - again - why I quit drinking when I got old enough to know better. Groan. It’s not even just that it’ll probably take me 2 days to feel normal again. It’s also the stuff I remember doing and saying.

OMG. My mouth was like a MACHINE GUN — with bullets made of inappropriate comments…   

… and questions…

The minute my husband realized I was not my usual stone-cold-sober self, he naturally grew rather concerned and kept trying to steal my drinks and switch them with water.

But it was TOO LATE. 

Oh well. I had a blast. But I really am paying for it now. So I am pretty glad I don’t really need to do any Mother’s Day things today. And my own mom’s out of town, so I guess we’ll celebrate when she gets back.

In the meantime, she gets this drawing:

… and my undying love, of course. :)

To my Mom, and to all the other Moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day! 

I was in kind of a foul mood this morning, because my husband was in the car with me, being the worst backseat driver EVER. 

Seriously. It’s a good thing there wasn’t much traffic and my office isn’t very far away. A few more minutes, and I would’ve just pushed him out onto the highway.

I really can’t blame him for being extra paranoid when I’m at the wheel, though, because I did get into an accident a couple of years ago and I kind of wrecked the car.

Also, my ankle. 

It was maybe a week before my dad died, and I was on my way to visit him in the hospital. And since it was a lazy Sunday morning, everyone was going slow and traffic was pretty light, so when I got a text from my sister Bambi I was all, “Hey a text from Bambi!” And I looked down for a second.

Next scene? CRASH!!!

… right into a utility vehicle that had suddenly stopped in front of me. And I swear it was made of some sort of supernatural steel or something, because I wasn’t even going that fast, but when I hit it, the front of my car was a disaster zone and it didn’t even have a dent.

Ok fine, it may have been more than one second. But less than five.

Anyway I was really lucky that nothing really serious happened (though if the car had a voice, it may have disagreed). No matter how small they may be though, accidents are always a big hassle — and so I and the driver of Supervan had to wait for the cops and then head over to the nearest police station and file a report…

Which had to be written in Filipino. And while I can get by ok SPEAKING in Filipino, my writing skills are barely on par with those of a kindergarten kid. So for a brief moment I considered just copying off my victim…

But as you can probably guess, that idea was kind of a bust. So whatevs. My report may have read like a Filipino version of “See Spot Run…” but it’s not like I could FAIL or anything, so never mind.

That wasn’t even the most embarrassing thing about my brief visit to the police station. THAT would be when the cops asked where I was off to that morning, drivin’ so recklessly, and I told them I was on the way to the hospital to visit my dad… And I suddenly BURST INTO TEARS. And used the hem of my dress to wipe them because I didn’t have any tissue.

OMG. So embarrassing. But then my mini-meltdown worked to my advantage because everyone felt sorry for me, so the whole “let’s get this accident business sorted out” process went much more smoothly than it would have otherwise.

The cops didn’t even give me a ticket anymore, and they even escorted me back to my messed-up, headlight-free but surprisingly still- functioning car. It was around that time, I think, that the adrenaline wore off and I realized that my foot hurt like hell and was starting to swell to the size of a balloon.

But the WORST part of the experience was breaking the news to the hubby, who I deliberately hadn’t called from the po-po station because I wanted to postpone the epic freakout which would’ve just made an already stressful situation even worse.

And so yeah, that happened when I got home.

Good times.

So yeah, I guess I really can’t blame him for gritting his teeth or whatever every time I get behind the wheel. But honestly, if I ever get into an accident again, it WON’T be because I’m texting while driving. I’ve quit that forever. Because when I think of all the things that could’ve happened to me, and all the things that actually HAVE happened to others, it scares me to death.

It’s such a stupid thing to do. Believe me, there’s no message so important that it can’t wait until you’ve stopped the car.

So be smart. Be safe. NEVER TEXT AND DRIVE. 

(You can see the rest of this infographic over at Mashable.)

Have a safe and stress-free day, everyone. ;)

I can’t seem to stop thinking about this line I heard in Game of Thrones last night.

I love it. I kind of want to make it my new catchphrase. In fact I’m even tempted to CREATE a little chaos just so I can use it.

I don’t really mean it in the way that Petyr Baelish did though, because his full quote goes like this. 

Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some are given a chance to climb, they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.

Yeah, I don’t really think that only the ladder is real and the climb is all there is. 

But I DO think that chaos isn’t the awful thing most people make it out to be. Chaos can actually be a good thing. 

Don’t get me wrong. Order is great, and control and predictability are the safeguards of society and all that. But I think everyone could use a little chaos in their lives. Here’s why:

1. Chaos reveals who we really are. 

In a perfectly ordered world where chaos didn’t exist, we would never be able to tell how capable (or incapable) we are of handling difficult - or even dire - situations. Our true selves emerge in times of difficulty, in a way they never would otherwise.

2. Chaos gives birth to creativity.  

Any creative person will tell you this. You are never more creative than when you are unsettled. 

Creativity needs chaos to thrive. If you really think about it, creativity is really all about seeking solutions… trying to make sense of what doesn’t… creating beauty and order where there is none, and so on. Where no problems exist, when everything is perfect, creativity is unnecessary.  

3. Chaos make us clamor for change. 

You know how people say that the opposite of love isn’t hatred, it’s indifference? Totally true. Not caring is the worst thing ever. And that’s why chaos is good. It forces us to care. It wakes us up, shakes us into awareness, shows us we have limits and makes us finally say “That’s enough!”  and (hopefully) take action. 

So see? Chaos may not be a good thing in itself, but it does lead to all sorts of good things. And that’s what I mean when I use my new catchphrase. It isn’t a pit. 

Chaos is a ladder. :) 

If my last post on Rappler about the 10 types of lousy listeners made you feel like a heel, then you may want to check out my follow-up post today on 5 ways to be a better listener. 

To be honest, none of the shiz I mention in the post is easy, really — well at least not for me — because THIS:

But it’s worth the effort, I think. As I mention at the end of the post, 

Listening is a gift. And by “gift” I don’t just mean a special skill or talent. It really is a GIFT that you give to other people. When you take time to really listen to what they’re saying, when you make an effort to understand them, what you’re saying is that THEY MATTER, and that their issues are important. And because everyone needs to know and feel that, it’s one of the best gifts you can ever give. - Me, on Rappler

Okay, quoting myself is kind of weird. :)  

Just go read it on Rappler already.  Hope it helps. Good luck!

My Sunday Sadness Syndrome started early today, because I just remembered that I’m on full-day-work-at-the-office mode now, and I’m still bummed out about that. And for some terribly unfair and irrational reason, I’m taking my misery out (just mentally, mind you) on all the kids I see playing on the streets and enjoying their summer.

Seriously, whatever happened to summer jobs? Are they not a thing anymore? Because when I was a kid, I always had some sort of summer job. And I can’t remember now if that was by choice or something my mom suckered me into. 

OMG wait. Maybe she felt the same way!

Anyway, whatevs. I think I mentioned in a previous post that I used to man the phones at the family beach resort’s reservations office (Mom’s doing, of course) … which kind of scarred me for life.

But I remember one summer of selling encyclopedias too. And now that I think about it as an adult, I realize that it was a terribly smart but manipulative move on the part of the encyclopedia people, getting kids to sell to their relatives and the parents of their friends.

Users! OMG!

I also had a brief summer stint working at Lufthansa, calling and following up on RSVPs to some fancy event. Which I really don’t remember much about, except that the one time the big boss called me into his office to find out how I was doing, I was suddenly struck by DIABOLICAL DESERT THROAT. 

SO embarrassing.

In spite of all that, I’m actually pretty glad for the experience. While I’m normally of the opinion that kids should just enjoy life and stay kids for as long as they can (that is, when I’m not being all bitter and Sunday Sadness-y), there’s something to be said for learning at an early age about the reality of work and the satisfaction of earning your own money.

In my case, I think it made me more responsible about spending, and more thoughtful about asking for things from my parents. You tend to understand the value of money more when you’ve worked hard to earn it yourself. It made me appreciate my parents more for sure (that is, when I wasn’t resenting them for making me work).

And back then, as well as today, working made me appreciate how awesome it is when time comes to just rest and PLAY. 

Hmmm.  I miss you so much, Saturday...  So okay, with that in mind, I think I’ll go try and enjoy what little of the weekend I have left. :)

Did you have a summer job as a kid? What are your thoughts on child labor.. err… I mean, kids having summer jobs? Share in the comments!

Happy weekend, folks! 

Today is the first day of my new Yahoo-style “Sorry, you can’t work from home anymore” work schedule. Bah. Kind of a bummer, really. 

I used to work from home in the mornings and then at the office in the afternoons, and that was kind of perfect, but oh well, things change, and you just have to roll with them, I guess. 

Anyway it seems that the word “CHANGE” is chasing me around today, for some reason. Maybe because I kind of hate it right now. But seriously, everything I read on the Internet this morning had to do with changing the world in some way.

Okay fine, just 2 things really, but they were enough. I got the hint, world. 

The first was this new Cat@lyst initiative by Globe Tattoo, which I found pretty cool. Remember the other day when I was talking about that guy on Ustream who would do anything you said?  

Anyway it turns out that he was doing it for this Catalyst project, which is all about helping the youth change the Philippines. 

Cat@lyst is a T@ttoo branded initiative that seeks to harness creativity, energy and technology to create change and empower the youth to make a difference in society. In collaboration with Globe Bridging Communities, and the Global Shapers Manila, the CSR initiative will involve a youth challenge that will award cash grants, mentorship, and ICT support to see through the ideation, distillation and incubation of technology-based innovations useful to catalyze change in local communities.  - Catalyst.com.ph

I love this idea. Because we like to whine and rant a lot, we Filipinos, about things that need to change in our country. But very few people have the means to bring about the change we want to see. So well, here’s a start.

Unfortunately I’m too old to join (BAH) but go check it out, younguns, and “be the change you want to see…” and all that.  

The second thing I read was this article on Business Insider about 50 women who are changing the world. It’s an interesting list, go check it out. It includes a lot of the usual suspects, like Melinda Gates, Michelle Obama, etc, but also:

My BFF Jennifer Lawrence (YAY!)

Sarah Blakely, the inventor of Spanx… 

And an anonymous SPY!

How cool is that?? 

Anyway I thought the list was missing a couple of women, so I thought I’d add them on. 

#51. ME!

Quit laughing, because (if you’re a woman) I think YOU should be Number 52. Because really… who’s to say that we’re NOT changing the world, even if the rest of the world might not know it? 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in life is to think that you’re too small and insignificant to make a difference. Because it’s simply not true! When I was a teacher, I always used to say if that just ONE person made better decisions because of something I said, then my work would be done. I guess the same goes for my blog, now, and even just my little everyday interactions.

We’re all changing the world in one way or another, in big ways or small. We just don’t know it. And we have no idea how far-reaching our influence can be.

Let’s say you teach just ONE girl something that she remembers forever. That lesson can spread in ways you never even imagined.. to her friends.. to her kids, then their  kids…then their grandkids, their grandkids’ friends… and so on.

The possibilities are endless. (And rather terrifying, if you’re teaching people BAD stuff.)

So think about it. We all have major superpowers. Let’s use those powers for good, and let’s go change the world.

(Thanks Laubauzz for this pic)

Have a life-changing day, everyone! :)

I had to do a 12-hour fast starting last night to prep for an executive checkup today, and as you can probably guess, it wasn’t a whole lot of fun. Here’s a quick recap:

Seriously, I was ready to rip someone’s head off by the time I got to the hospital this morning. And surprisingly, it wasn’t even because I was hungry or thirsty…or even that I looked ridiculous and rather bulgy in a t-shirt and jogging pants…

It was because I hadn’t had any coffee. 

Couldn’t care less about eating. I just needed me some joe, STAT. Because apparently I love coffee more than food. Huh. Who knew? 

And this became increasingly clear to me as the checkup began, and I discovered to my dismay that although I could eat and have some water after my blood test and ultrasound, I wouldn’t be able to have even a sip of coffee until after all my tests were done. This is when I discovered the first stage of caffeine withdrawal:

1. Denial

This stage doesn’t last very long. It almost immediately morphs into the next stage, which lasts a little longer. 

2. Depression

No kidding. I was bored silly and restless as hell, and I couldn’t even concentrate on playing Candy Crush. I was just too sad.

And then as the morning progressed, so did my withdrawal… into stages 3 and 4, which occurred simultaneously around the time that I discovered that the treadmill stress test should be classified as an extreme sport. 

Stages 3&4: Rage and Pain

Honestly, I’m not sure if it was the coffee deprivation or because they were making me brisk-walk at what was practically a 90-degree angle (WHO DOES THAT??? Who did they think I was? SPIDERMAN??), but I was all sorts of angry. And my head was killing me.

Luckily (and FINALLY) after the treadmill test from HELL, I was free to reunite with my one true love, and I ran off to the nearest coffee shop and downed a tall iced coffee like a frat boy chugging a beer. 

And then as the coffee began working its magic, I suddenly felt the final stage…

5. Regret 

Honestly, the people at Makati Med were really nice. Man, I feel bad now. I should bring them some cupcakes or something when I go back for my results. Or COFFEE. 

And there you have it. And though I’m exaggerating a little bit about the 5 stages of withdrawal, bear in mind that caffeine withdrawal really is a thing. And it does have some pretty awful side effects.

Miss that cup of “Joe” or can of cola and don’t be surprised if you start feeling funny… Some people complain of “headache, fatigue, sleepiness, inability to focus and concentrate.” Others report experiencing flu- like symptoms, irritability, depression and anxiety after skipping as little as one cup of coffee a day. - CNN

According to Michael Kuhar, chief of the division of neuroscience at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, caffeine blocks receptors in the brain that can dilate blood vessels causing headaches. “Withdrawal symptoms can start from 12 to 20 hours after your last cup of coffee and peak about two days later and can last about as long as a week,” Kuhar added.   

So watch out! If you do plan to ever quit caffeine some day, do it gradually. And please don’t expect me to join you. :)

So I’m not sure if you caught this yesterday, but all afternoon there was this guy on Ustream who was willing to do anything you asked him to do (well, ALMOST anything). All you had to do was make a request in the Ustream comments, or on Twitter using the hashtag #catalyst.

It was kind of hilarious. And of course, being the closet/reformed manipulator that I am…

I took full and rather shameless advantage. 

Man, that was entertaining. And I have to admit I was pretty bummed out when it was over.  

I really want more. And BAH, no one wants to oblige. 

Bummer, man. So anyway, I was thinking, how great would it be if there was one day when you could tell anyone to do ANYTHING and they’d just do it, no questions asked? 

Of course my inner Puppetmaster got all excited and greedy at the thought of this for a while…

..but like I said, I’ve reformed, so let’s stick with one day. :)

What would you ask people for if you knew they wouldn’t say NO? 

NOTE: Try and resist the ridiculous. I’m telling you this because honestly, the first thing that came to MY mind was this… 

(Hehe. Guilty. Hey, just one day, right? No one tell the hubby.)

Seriously — it’s a great question to ask yourself. Because in order to get what you want, you have to KNOW what you want. And a lot of the time, we don’t have what we want simply because we’re afraid to ask. 

Admittedly, rejection is a scary thing. But you know what’s even worse? REGRET. 

So think about what you want from the people around you, and maybe for once, instead of agonizing or whining or hinting, just ASK. Directly. It can’t hurt. “Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all’ and all that.  And you know what? You might actually be surprised at the outcome. :)  So just do it!

Cheers, people! Go forth and be awesome. 

Okay, I’m alive again. Geez, man. You know you’re really getting old when it takes you two full days to recover from a fun Saturday night…

So anyway, I may have recovered from the weekend but I am FAR from relaxed, because I can’t stop thinking about this executive checkup I have to take on Thursday.

GAH! I hate going to the doctor and finding out things I was perfectly happy not knowing!! Plus I’m going to take that crazy treadmill stress test for the first time ever. And I’m pretty sure I’ll fail. 

So yeah, that stress test is actually CAUSING me stress. So is the stool test btw. Because packin’ up some poo to take to the hospital is never fun. 

So I repeat… GAH! So stressful. 

Luckily I bookmarked this article on Yahoo about the best de-stressing methods a while back, so I decided to see if they can maybe help me chill the heck out. There are 10 in the article, but here are the five I’m planning to test today:

1. Peel and eat an orange.

Of course I chose this first. It involves food. 

Why It’s Supposed to Work: Peeling releases a satisfying scent and triggers you to anticipate the refreshment of the fruit, says Coral Arvon, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health and Wellness at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Aventura, FL. Once you eat it, your blood vessels relax and blood pressure lowers, adds Nieca Goldberg, MD, Medical Director of the Joan H. Tisch NYU Langone Center for Women’s Health in New York City. 

2. Hug Your Body

Why It’s Supposed to Work: As soon as you wake up, this movement can release tension in your lower back, says Ehrman. While you’re sitting at work, lift your knees up until your feet are on the seat and tuck your chin in while breathing slowly; the exercise will increase oxygen and blood flow throughout your body. 

3. Stretch your arms to the sky, and 4. Turn towards the sun.

Why Stretching is Supposed to Work: If your job requires you to sit all day, standing up, stretching your arms and spreading your fingers toward the ceiling can fill your body with mood-boosting endorphins, making you feel happy and free, says Dr. Arvon. To get the most out of this de-stressor, Jane Ehrman, a behavioral health specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, suggests taking a full breath as you reach up and slowly exhaling as you bring your arms down. 

Why the Sun is Supposed to Work: “There’s something incredibly restorative about sunshine and the warmth of it on our skin,” says Ehrman. That’s because sun exposure decreases melatonin-the sleep hormone-and increases serotonin, which promotes feelings of happiness, explains Dr. Arvon. The color yellow also has been shown to be uplifting. 

Hmmm. Good stuff, but since we’re in the middle of a scorching summer, you may want to pick the right hours to do this, and proceed with caution… 

5. Sing a favorite song.

(Again, you may want to pick the right time and place for this.)

Why It’s Supposed to Work: Whether you’re belting out a tune in the car or the shower, singing tames tension in your face, neck and shoulders, says Ehrman. Dr. Arvon adds that singing boosts endorphin production while lowering the heart rate. Karaoke fan? Singing with gal pals doubles the mood-boosting power. 

Pretty cool, huh? You can check out the 5 other stress-busters here. 

And so I’m off to put these to the test.  Have a stress-free day, everyone! 

I’m off to Subic for the weekend, because my cousins Tina and Uey are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary there. 

(They actually used this drawing for their invitation. :))

So… sorry, no blogging this weekend. I’ll be busy. And quite possibly drunk. Heehee! 

Anyway, while I’m gone I’ll also be reading some new advance-copy books I got from Netgalley, that I’m kind of excited about because they’re by authors I really like. Hee! Netgalley really is the best website ever.

Here’s what I’ll be reading this weekend (if I am sober enough to concentrate): 

1. The Eternity Cure - out on April 30

The Eternity Cure is the sequel to The Immortal Rules, so if you haven’t read that yet, go ahead and get it first. To be honest, I like Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey Series better, but this vampire-dystopian series (IKR? Sounds really off :)) is pretty good too. Julie Kagawa is a gem.

2. Tremble - out on May 7

I bought Touch - the first book in this series - on Amazon because it was on sale or something (can’t remember), and I liked it so much more than I expected to. I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story unfolds. Although I wish I could un-see that girl on the cover, because she looks kind of annoying, and the girl in the book sounds so much better.

3. Gameboard of the Gods - out on June 4

I read everything Richelle Mead writes, so this is a no-brainer. This is a standalone, so no need to read anything else first, but if you’ve never read her other books - go grab ‘em. All very enjoyable.

Reviews to follow, either here or on Goodreads. ;)

Okay that’s it, gotta fly. Have a great weekend, everyone!

I was re-reading my post from the other day about How to tell if he’s The One — because yes, I do read my own blog. More often than I should, actually…

I even laugh at the jokes… like I didn’t make them myself or something…

Don’t judge me. ;)

Anyhoo, it occurred to me that the whole “The one you choose should lift you up, not drag you down” thing applies to friendships as well, and not just romantic relationships.

Thing is, I think we tend to be more forgiving and less choosy about friends than we are about potential mates. Which actually makes sense, come to think of it. You can have lots of friends, but only one significant other. I hope.

But our friends are a really big part of our lives nonetheless. Their influence is significant, so it’s a mistake to underestimate their effect on our happiness and self-esteem.

Toxic friendships can destroy you. So we need to choose the people we hang around with well — especially since friends are often harder to break up with than love interests. 

So how do you know if a friend is toxic? Actually, you probably already do, even without anyone having to tell you. Because when you’re with him or her, you’re just EXHAUSTED, and probably more than a little resentful.  

But if you need a description to be sure, here’s a good one from Jenn Berman, PhD:

It’s someone who, after spending time with them, makes you feel bad about yourself instead of good; someone who tends to be critical of you — sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes not so subtle; a friend who drains you emotionally, financially, or mentally. - WebMD

Still not 100% sure? Here’s a checklist of traits to look out for:

Toxic friends are:

1. Negative to the point of being insulting - You know the type, because you roll your eyes or gnash your teeth every time you see their posts on Facebook (if you haven’t hidden or blocked them yet). They’re always complaining, they never see the bright side, and they put you and other people down constantly.

2. Unsupportive - You’re always there for them, but they can’t be counted on to be there for you. They downplay (or even make fun of) your achievements and other things that are important to you. 

3. Envious/jealous/possessive - They’re never truly happy for other people because they want what they have. And if they can’t have something, no one can. 

4. Manipulative - They’re only nice when they need something, and know all the right buttons to push to make you comply - including emotional blackmail. If you can’t give them what they want, you can be sure there’ll be hell to pay in one way or another. 

5. Selfish/Self-centered - If it’s not about them, or if it doesn’t benefit them, they just can’t be bothered. 

6. Immoral - You may like them, but you know you can’t trust them.  They’re dishonest and/or unethical and just generally bad news, and they don’t normally appreciate advice or judgement from people looking to steer them toward a better path. 

7. Insincere - They pretend to like/support/be happy for you when they’re with you, but behind your back it’s a whole other story. Even when they’re “being nice,” there’s always some sort of catty kicker. 

8. Unavailable - They expect you to be available for them whenever they need you, but when you’re the one who needs a friend, they’re too busy to pencil you in. (See #5: Selfish)

9. Inconsiderate - They don’t care that their demands are inconvenient, and when you do make sacrifices to accommodate them, they’re rarely even grateful.

10. A bad influence - They push you to do things you’re uncomfortable with, and egg you on to make bad decisions and poor life choices.

Do you have friends like that? And if you do, should you dump them?  Hmmm. Good question. 

Call me idealistic (or even stupid), but I’ve always believed that “bad people” are never bad simply for the sake of being bad, or to make others miserable. It’s not like it’s something they plan. 

So in many cases, although some friends may be difficult and semi-toxic, I tend to try to understand where they’re coming from, and just TELL them when they’re bugging the hell out of me. That usually works. Because when people are being bad friends, a lot of the time it’s because they’re just clueless, and you allow them to get away with it. 

But when a friendship is so toxic that it’s sucking the life and goodness out of you, I think more drastic measures are necessary. Break it off. Just pull the plug. You don’t need that kind of crazy shiz in your life. 

As my imaginary BFF Karen says:

Think about it. 

Have a good weekend, folks! 

So in case you were wondering how my diet was going, well, hmm. Not so well. And it’s all my husband’s fault, of course. Because as I’ve already mentioned before, he’s PURE EVIL.  

OMG. The worst.  

Anyway luckily I came upon this article in Women’s Health today, which included this infographic showing exactly how much you have to exercise to work off the calories from different types of yummy evil food.

Apparently, a study in Texas showed that just knowing calorie counts doesn’t always stop people from chowing down anyway. (Um, I think I’m proof of this.) But “when menus list how much exercise you’d have to do to work off each food, people order lower-calorie options.”

I totally get that.

So okay… let’s try this dieting thing again, with the help of this handy cheat-deterring chart. 

Wish me luck!  :)

I got another reader request in my Tumblr inbox this morning, and it was a pretty thought-provoking one.

So even though I had something else — that was totally interesting! — planned for the blog today, I decided to abandon it.

Okay, fine, I’m lying. I had nothing. So thanks for the RR, Rach.  

I had to take some time to think about it though, because I didn’t really have an answer right off the top of my head. 

Most people will tell you that you don’t need signs that someone’s The One. You just know. And that’s kind of true. There’s always something there, inside you, that tells you someone is extra-special. If you have to wonder and ask people about it, then you probably don’t really like him all that much. 

But here’s the thing. Barring a couple of “OMG. WHAT WAS I THINKING??” exceptions, I thought everyone I was with was “The One.” Because you tend to do that, when you’re in love. 

Obviously I was wrong all those times, until the last one. So WTH do I know, right? But still, you asked… so here goes. :)

To be totally honest, now that I’ve been around a bit and observed my own and others’ relationships, I don’t really think there’s such a thing as “THE ONE” — at least, not in the way we daydream about it, in that “You were created just for me, to be my other half… You complete me…and blahblahothersappystuffblah” type of way.

In the first place, I’ve already mentioned before that I really don’t buy into that “You complete me” business. Please. Let’s all quit that already. We’re already whole. Secondly, I honestly believe you can be happy and make a good life with more than one person.

Well, not at the same time, of course. 

I mean, think about it. There are like 7 BILLION people in the world. The thought that only ONE is destined for you seems a little ridic. So no, I don’t really believe in The One. I believe in THE ONE YOU CHOOSE. 

You’ll meet many people who could be The One. But it’s you - and not the Universe or God or Cupid or whatever - who decides who that One will be.

I realize this probably won’t be such a popular view among the more romantically inclined…

But that really is what I think. Love isn’t just hearts and magic and flowers and floatiness and “OMGOMGOMG so many feelings!“ 

I think love is a decision. It’s not a “We were destined to be together! And now you are here! Hooray!” type of scenario. It’s more like “Hey, I have options. I could be with someone else or I could be perfectly happy alone. But I choose you. Because you’re awesome. I pick you, even if you sometimes suck. Because even then, my life is still a much better place because you’re in it.”

And it’s a decision you make often, every day… even if (and especially when) the hearts, flowers and OMGOMGOMG floaty feelings appear to have gone on vacation. 

I’m not saying that feelings don’t matter - of course they do! But feelings are such flighty, frivolous creatures. They have this nasty habit of changing on you, sometimes without warning and for no logical reason whatsoever. They’re pretty unreliable, so they’re probably not your best decision-making tool. 

So if you’re looking to choose The One, it really should be based on more than just a person’s ability to make you kilig. Look for things that last, things that will stand the test of time. 

You can find all sorts of “signs that he’s the One” here and here, and some signs that he’s NOT, here. But for me it’s really simple. Don’t look outside for answers, look within.

As I said in a previous post, every relationship is unique. So while people will always have their opinions and advice on the matter, no one can really tell you if someone is the one for you - except YOU.

And you don’t even have to enumerate and analyze all the specific qualities he has, to figure it out. Just ask yourself this: “Who am I when I’m with him?”

If your answers are YES, and you like what you see, then he has my vote. Because when all is said and done, the bottom line is that the one you choose should lift you up, not drag you down. (And that goes both ways, by the way. Don’t go thinking it’s all about you.)

1+1 should = a terrific 2.  If you’re not better, happier people because of your relationship, then what’s the point of having it at all, right?

Hope this helps, and as always, the comments are open to anyone who’d like to pipe in and share their two cents on the topic. 

Cheers, people! Hope today was a good one. 

I haven’t read all the books, but after Dragon Mama Dany was all sorts of awesome in the last GoT episode, I just couldn’t get this fantasy out of my head. Because Joffrey must die. 

THE END. 

Be back tomorrow, hopefully with something a little less bloodthirsty. :)

I’m over on Rappler again today, being all “I’m a bad listener so I’m betting you are too” — with drawings and descriptions of the 10 most common types of lousy listeners.  

Go — find yourself. :)

The embarrassing part is that I’m not even just one type.  Depending on my mood and who I’m (not really) listening to, I think I’m a cross between the Daydreamer and Egocentric - with occasional guest appearances by the Lawyer and the Heckler:

The Daydreamer

You pretend to listen but really tune the other person out. Instead of concentrating on the speaker, you switch your mental remote to a more entertaining program.

The Egocentric

Anything anyone says finds its way back to you, you, you. You take everything people tell you and refer it back to your own experience. You often launch into your related story before they can even finish theirs.

The Lawyer

You don’t listen because you’re too busy planning and preparing your response. You look interested, but your mind is elsewhere because you’re thinking about what to say next.

The Heckler

You disagree with just about everything. No matter what anyone says, you always have to find some loophole, spout a snarky comment or come up with an opposing point of view, just for the sake of argument.

And oops, here’s an 11th type that I forgot to add to Rappler article, but probably should’ve made first on the list. Because this is totally me. And I know this because I did it just a while ago. :D

The Internet/Game Junkie

You pretend to be listening, but you’re actually playing a game. Or, you’re on Facebook or Twitter, scrolling through people’s updates.

SO guilty. I’m the worst. 

How about you?  Go see the other types and find out. :)

So I guess it’s kind of suspicious that right after I mentioned that I was on a diet again, I suddenly disappeared for a bit. 

But no - hehe - that wasn’t the reason I was AWOL. Truth is I was just really busy with work on Friday, and yesterday I got sucked into the cycle of Saturday sloth.

And today I have to write a piece for Rappler, so umm, I really shouldn’t be here.. but I just wanted to yak a bit about this article on Salon.com that caught my eye this morning, entitled Men may not understand women after all.

Because LOL. 

Anyway it turns out that there was this study in Germany that proved that  men are pretty good at reading the eyes of other men, but women? Not so much.

“We found that men actually had twice as many problems in recognizing emotions from female as compared to male eyes,” the researchers report. - Salon.com

Well gee whiz, guys. Guess what? WE ALREADY KNEW THIS. 

So yeah, I’m still laughing.

But at least the research gives men a scientific excuse for their occasional cluelessness, so I guess that’s a relief.

And when you really think about it, this whole “men are from Mars, women are from Venus” thing we have going on does make life a little more interesting. How boring would life and relationships be if we had all the answers, all the time?

Yawn. 

Despite the drama that sometimes ensues, I think I kind of like that there will always be mysteries and misunderstandings between men and women. It forces us to communicate more, try harder, and learn to think outside of ourselves. And that can only be a good thing… because there’s so much more to learn and understand than what we feel and experience on our own.

So FINE. Men may not always understand women (and vice versa) but as long as they don’t leave it at that, I guess we’re cool. :) 

Happy Sunday, everyone!

So I’m back on a diet again (BOO!) which means I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to make myself feel less miserable about my breakup with food. Because really, food, I miss you. 

Anyway I found a few cool articles about different mind games you can play to make yourself eat less, and I figured I’d give them a try. Here are the 5 easiest ones:

1. Use smaller plates. Because of something called the Delboeuf Illusion,you end up serving yourself less, and your brain actually thinks you’re eating more.

This is actually not new information. I’ve known this forever but I never really paid attention to it. We all know it’s true though, right?

Big plates make you eat more. Small plates make you eat less. And small amounts of food served on big plates make you feel sad and slightly murderous… which is why I don’t get why some restaurants do that.  The other day I had lunch for the first time at 22 Prime, an award-winning steak place, and I was totally excited … and then my food came.

To be fair, it was actually a decent-sized portion (and tasty too) — but because it was smack in the rather lonely center of an enormous plate, my inner barbarian was like “ROAR!!! WHY FANCY RESTAURANTS NO GIVE MORE FOOD??? MOAR!!”

On the other hand before my seemingly-mini main course came, they served these 3 delicious dips first (I loved those) and the bread plates were kind of tiny, and I was like “OMG SO MUCH BREAD! SO MUCH YUMMY BREAD!!” even if I actually had only 1.5 slender pieces in total or something. 

So yeah, small plates are better. 

2. Pick plate colors to contrast with food. 

Again, this is another Delboeuf illusion thing, which I don’t totally understand, but apparently you end up serving yourself less if your food doesn’t blend in with the color of your plate. I’m guessing it’s because with contrasting plates, you see more clearly what a glutton you really are.

3. Use a bigger fork. 

Apparently, there’s a study that shows that if you eat with a bigger fork, you eat less. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I’m willing to try it out.

Note: I think you have to be Filipino to get the joke in this drawing. Sorry, foreigners. And if you’re a Filipino who eats primarily with a spoon, this trick may not even apply. Sorry, Filipinos.

4. Never eat snacks straight from the package. Put them on a plate. 

Sadly, it seems there’s no way to win when it comes to snack packaging. We think that big bags of chips, for example, are evil because we’ll eat more, but it turns out that small packages play evil mind games too.  

Interesting research has shown that we tend not to eat to the bottom of a bag of chips or cookies if the bag appears to be too big—because we know that we’re obviously eating way, way more than a serving size. So we’ll stop ourselves early on. But when the bag is on the smaller side, our brains give us the go-ahead to munch our way through the whole thing. And that may mean eating more than we really want to. - Glamour.com

BAH! Evil.  So yeah, just put everything in small plates. With contrasting colors. And lastly…

5. Cut your food into smaller pieces. 

Again, there’s a study to back this, but it makes sense even without the research, right? Same thing - it’s an optical illusion, and it makes your brain think you’re eating more than you actually are. 

So there you go!  Just goes to show, really, that successful dieting is all in the mind. :)

Have a great day, everyone! :)

I recently started following Karen Salmansohn’s posts on Facebook because she seems really cool and wise and talented, and I feel that she should totally be my friend. (Yeah, yeah I know. There I go again, being all creepy and stalkerish).

Anyway she has a couple of bestselling (Oprah-recommended!) books, plus she comes out with all these fun and inspiring posters - like this one:  

And this one:

… which I lurve. Plus her blog’s really interesting as well, and as I was browsing through it the other day, I came across this post entitled “There are 3 Kinds of Relationships + Only 1 Brings True Happiness.”

Of course I was all “What? What are the 3? And which one’s the happy one? TELL ME, KAREN!!” — like the needy imaginary BFF that I am — and since she obviously couldn’t hear me, I just read the damn post… only to discover that SHE TOO had an imaginary friend, and it was Aristotle!

OMG. We’re so alike. Seriously, it’s like we were meant to be BFFs. 

Anyway, according to Karen’s old (yup, literally old) buddy Ari, there are 3 types of relationships, only one of which brings real happiness.

3 Kinds of Relationships according to Aristotle:

1. Relationships of pleasure

Partners who are about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. You share soulless, passionate sex and playful banter — but they’re about the body or ego. They never soul-nurture you with insight and growth, so they never bring real-deal happiness. 

2. Relationships of utility

Partners you spend time with in hopes of garnering status, power, money and beauty like the rich guy with a trophy girl. Again, this is about body or ego and doesn’t bring true joy. 

3. Relationships of shared virtue

Partners who challenge and inspire you to grow into your highest potential and nurture your soul. A good example is when Jack Nicholson’s character in “As Good As It Gets” says, “You make me want to be a better man.”  - Notsalmon.com

Hmmm. Interesting, if a little simplistic.

I do agree that “relationships of shared virtue” — the kind that make you want to strive to be a better person —  are definitely the way to go, and will certainly make you happier than the other two.

But do I think all romantic relationships fall into these 3 neat little classifications? NAH. Aristotle may have been supersmart, but dude, he’s like a gazillion years old. I don’t think he took into account - as our more modern frenemy Facebook does - that sometimes “It’s complicated.”

I have to admit Ari’s 3 basic relationship types are pretty recognizable though. (Don’t lie… when you saw the explanations, certain couples came to mind, right?)

But when I tried classifying all the other relationships I see around me (Heh. That was fun :)), I realized that it really wasn’t that simple.  

You see relationships that SHOULD work - because they seem to have all the right ingredients - but don’t. There are relationships that you thought would surely end in disaster, but didn’t.

WHUT? How is that possible??

People are complicated creatures on their own. Put two together and add in all the other inescapable external factors that make a relationship what it is, and there’s no way you can fit them into just 3 boxes.

Because the people in them (and the circumstances surrounding them) are unique, each relationship is unique as well… in its flaws and problems, as well as in its solutions, compromises and path to happiness.  

I don’t know that there’s a surefire way to happiness. I don’t think anyone really does, to be honest. But one thing I do know is that if there is one direct route to UNhappiness, it’s to compare your life and relationships to others’… or to some sort of ideal set by society.

So while it may be fun to figure out which basic type your relationship (and your friends’) might fall under, it’s probably a much more helpful exercise to try and figure out what makes your relationship unique and different. Because that’ll probably give you a better clue on how to make it work, and how to make each other happy.

When it comes to our relationships and the happiness they bring us, I think the only classification we need to remember we all fall under is this:

Never stop working at it, and remember, happiness is in the journey. :)

I’ve been writing about Facebook a lot recently, so a friend on Twitter recommended that I check out The Facebook Diet by Gemini Adams. 

Award-winning author and illustrator, Gemini Adams, inspires us to examine the health of our high-tech habits in this entertaining gift book with a tongue-in-cheek look at our love of social media. 

Featuring a series of 50 hilarious cartoons that complete the question, “You Know You’re a Facebook Addict When…?” Adams cleverly illustrates the more idiotic, embarrassing and cringe-worthy behaviors of our social networking excess.  - Amazon

Luckily I was able to score a copy on Netgalley (because Netgalley is the best website EVER) and I finally read it a while ago while scarfing down a really sad diet lunch.

I finished in like 10 minutes — both the sad food AND the book.

I have to say, the book was pretty adorable (the food, not so much). I loved all the “You know you’re a Facebook addict when…” cartoons — even though some were a little too exagg, and others I just really couldn’t relate to. Like all the ones about poking. (Honestly, WHO STILL POKES THESE DAYS? Shame on you. That’s so 2009.) Anyway, here’s a sample cartoon c/o HuffPo. Too cute. ;)

I also have to say, however, that I was a little disappointed when I finished it, because it really didn’t teach me anything new. If you’re looking to find insights and useful suggestions to address Facebook addiction and other related issues (like Facebook envy, etc), this is not the book you want.  You may prefer to just read this article on Psychology Today instead. 

Some of the “unplugging”/Facebook detox suggestions in the book were fine, but some were just plain weird. 

There was also another one about training to be a private detective so you can just stalk people in real life - which was pretty funny, but again… not very helpful.

Now it really bugs me to death when I handle a topic humorously on my blog and then people with no sense of humor start hatin’ on it…

…so I’ll quit with the nega-talk and just say that if you do get this book, bear in mind that it’s meant to amuse, and that’s it. Manage your expectations and just enjoy the illustrations. Because they’re adorable.

I personally think this book would make a great gift for anyone who spends a little too much time on Facebook, and it’s pretty cheap (less than $6 on Amazon for the paperback copy, which comes out on April 25th) — so go for it, and enjoy!

Note: The Kindle version is available now, but I wouldn’t really recommend it.  It displayed okay on my Kindle Touch (no color though) but when I tried to view it in the Kindle app on my iPad so I could view in full color, the formatting was a little weird. 

I got another reader request by email yesterday which I was a bit wary of answering because I really don’t consider myself any sort of expert when it comes to drawing. 

I mean, I really just doodle, and my cartoon faces are pretty much just fleshed-out emoticons with hair… so I imagine that any attempt on my part to offer a tutorial of sorts would garner this type of reaction from experts who know better.

The best I can probably do is try to tell you how I do my thang, and if you’re interested in drawing simple characters with different expressions,  maybe it’ll prove helpful.

So here goes… 

I pretty much just draw on a “trial-error-erase-try again” basis, but the one thing I’ve learned from this method is that the majority of facial expressions can be created simply by combining a certain type of mouth with a certain type of brow. See the examples below.

‘Tis true. Go try it out for yourself and you’ll be surprised at how many expressions you can make just by mixing and matching mouths and brows. 

If you aren’t lazy like me and feel you can do better than just using 2 dots for eyes, you can make even more expressions. Here are some examples from Drawinghowtodraw.com.

Pretty cool huh? But like I said, I’m pretty lazy so I just stick with the two dots for eyes and the mouth-brow-combo facial expression method. Though I do use x-eyes quite a bit, and I’ll often add in some hand gestures as well.

It’s pretty easy - and loads of fun - so go knock yourselves out and make some art today. And if you come up with something you want to share, feel free to post it up on my Facebook page. I promise to applaud. ;) 

Happy Sunday!

I have this really bizarre love-hate relationship with Candy Crush Saga. You’d think I’d be over it by now, given all the stress it’s put me through… but I guess I’m just a sucker for punishment. 

I finally got past Level 100 the other day though (Woohoo!), and as I was desperately trying to navigate my way around those horrifically annoying time bombs that show up at that level, a few things struck me about the blasted game.

It’s a little bit like life, if you really think about it. 

1. In the beginning, it’s all just fun and games…

You’re all “OMG this is so fun and easy, what the heck is everyone yowling about? LOL! There you go candies, BOOM!”

…and then you get schooled.

2. The further you get, the harder it gets — and the more you realize that the obstacles you’re sweating over and growling about right now are really only preparation for the infinitely more difficult shiz that’s coming up later. 

3. Money can make things easier, but it doesn’t necessarily solve all your problems.

4. You’re better off making friends. There’s only so far you can get on your own. Eventually you have to ask for help. The more friends you make, the longer you last, and the easier it gets to move on to the next episode… whatever that might be.

5. If you really want to succeed, you just have to keep trying. You will fail, and then fail again. And again. And then some more. But if you just keep at it, you’ll eventually get to where you want to be. 

Am I right or am I right?? Candy Crush is totally a metaphor for life.  Or maybe I’m just rationalizing my embarrassingly unambitious plans of spending the whole day trying to get to Level 103. 

Whatevs. :)  You all think about it while I get back to my game. 

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

I just discovered Netgalley.com the other day, and I swear I’m in love.

Basically Netgalley is a book site where you can request advance copies of books that are soon to be published, so you can review or recommend  them on your blog, or on social media, or whatever. 

So once you sign up, you can browse through the book catalog (which has a pretty good selection across a wide range of genres btw), pick the ones you like and click the Request button to ask publishers for a free copy.

And then you wait. Kind of like a girl waiting for that next-day call after a great first date. 

(Umm, the publishers will email you, they won’t actually call you on an ancient rotary dial phone, but you know what I mean.)

If you’re approved, then TA-DAAAH! You get an email, and the book magically appears in your Netgalley account and you can either send it to your Kindle, or download the file to read on some other device. 

OMGILOVEIT.

And just a few hours after I made my first bunch of requests, I got my very first book from Penguin Books Australia!

HEE! I was thrilled! Even if I had no idea what a WAG was.

Oh well, I figured I’d find out eventually. Except I really didn’t.

Whatevs. Anyway I wasn’t sure if my ignorance was due to being Filipino or sports-deficient (probably both) so I Googled it (though honestly, I feel I shouldn’t have had to, Ms. Costello) and apparently WAGs are “Wives and Girlfriends” of pro football players. Huh. Who knew. 

Anyhoo — going back to the book. I REALLY wanted to like it and write a rockin’ review, since it was my first and all — plus it was about a football star (which is close enough to a rock star, and we all know rock stars are my weakness).

But NO. I just couldn’t. Here’s the story in a nutshell.

Merise the model sounded more like a naive 16-year old than someone in her twenties, and the story, their issues, and their “love” seemed pretty shallow, to be honest. I hate it when people think they’re in love when they barely know each other. Geez, they spent like a combined total of less than 20 hours together and 3/4 of that was spent bickering and/or misunderstanding each other — and suddenly they’re IN LOVE??

So MEH. With a side order of ho hum. I’m sorry, Penguin. This one’s not for me.

Luckily I got a few more approvals in my inbox today, so WHEE! More books to read and review. Here’s a sneak peek:

Apparently you can only release a review a week max before publication, and a couple of these will come out June & August, so I guess those’ll have to wait.

In the meantime, I’m off to check out and request more books… because NetGalley is the best website EVER, if you’re a rabid book fiend like me. Go check it out. 

Happy Friday, folks! What are you reading this weekend?  Let me know in the comments.