It's a day after Valentine's. How was the aftermath for you? Mine's just plain simple and will be told in this (hopefully) short post.
While I spent most of my mornings at home, I had blocked the afternoon for personal agendas including the 2:45 pm showing of Fifty Shades of Grey at Robinsons Place Metro East -- alone. Okay, just for the record (and I'll be on the defensive side this time), I decided to watch the film to find out if Sam Taylor-Johnson gave justice to EL James's novel. And save for some parts, most of the content of the book was followed in the film. I watched alone and most of the audience were well, couples. So kapag maraming ipapanganak na baby sa November 2015, alam na kung bakit.
Just a reminder though to those planning to watch, cinemas are seriously implementing their policies as the movie is rated R18. In my case I came there with my office ID just in case I would be asked, which was actually the first query before I got my tickets so I offer the same advice. Keeping your ID handy won't hurt.
After the movie and a short trip to the mall, off I went to SM Taytay to meet up with a friend, Lee Miyaki. She's the brain behind the Wattpad novel Sir, You're Hot which was first Wattpad story turned book that I have read last year. We spent three hours chatting about her book, the inspiration behind it, as well as its sequel. Not to mention answering a lot of questions she had for me -- over our Java chip and strawberries and cream.
Of course, because I am a big fan of books, I did not let the opportunity pass to have the copy of my book signed by her. She was kind of shy but still, she did not just sign it, she scribbled on the page.
In the end, I may not be among those who celebrated a couples holiday in a cheesy way with flowers and teddy bears but I still had a blast celebrating Valentine's Day this year.
Borrowing the lines from Shakespeare and letting these photos describe how this week has been.
Monday
Remember this little panda that I mentioned in this
post? I sent it out during lunch time. Too bad, the panda was unable to go. The gift itself was somewhat fragile so the guy from LBC suggested that I place the thing in a box instead.
Tuesday
After what has been a week, I got to try the "phenomenon" folks in my office had been getting crazy about -- J.Co Donuts & Coffee has opened its branch three minutes away from my office.
 |
| Photo: Google |
Wednesday
I reported to work with just four hours of sleep. I found myself exchanging messages with a friend in the early hours of the morning just hours before I officially wake up to get ready for work. But The good part of it was I was still able to finish the workday and get 8.5 hours of sleep that night; it's been a long time since I had it.
Thursday
I was given this voucher for Zalora from Chuck's Deli while I was just passing by on the way to the mall during lunch. I'm thinking of giving this to someone else because I don't really shop online. The other green stub for a free double drink upsize at Starbuckswas given to me by my officemate, Mommy P's son after learning that I helped her in collecting stickers for her 2013 Starbucks planner. Sometimes, it pays to be helpful -- unexpectedly.
Friday
After what has been a busy day at work, I arrived to see this parcel on my bed. This was the prize I won for joining the Rekindle the Joy Christmas promo of Starbucks Philippines -- and I was expecting this gift to arrive in three weeks. So it came as a surprise that this came just a week after they notified me that I won.
It's cute that the week began with a parcel from me and ended with another parcel -- for me.
It's a rainy Friday night and it's good for cuddling in bed with someone or with a pillow. I'm starting to get dizzy now so I'll be hitting the sheets.
Have a great weekend everyone. :-)
Today, for the second time, I ordered tall iced tea to go with my sandwich for my Monday fix. While I hoped for the usual brown, brewed tea, this was what was served for me for the second time.
I really don't know yet what this drink is really composed of as I keep on forgetting to ask the barista. It tastes quite sour and fruity, and sometimes, I describe it weird.
Funny but just this afternoon as I was relishing the remaining hours of my workday, I found myself staring at this and eventually taking this picture. Actually, it reminded me of this type of champagne -- Bollinger!
A line from an old song goes, "the heat is on". And I know you will agree with me when I say that the weather these days had been so crazy. I hold office at one of the country's budding business district and my schedule converted me from a former night owl in the advertising industry to a day person. And since the ungodly hot weather strikes most in the morning and mid afternoon, going out of the building to grab a cup of iced joe or even fast food bites is such a harsh activity lately. If there could be modern-day vampires (aside from Edward Cullen of course), then you can count me in.
Like other people, I try to do some alternative to lessen the agony of this season. Take it from these photos:
While I was lucky to be given a day off for Australian Anzac Day last Wednesday, I took the chance to pay my favorite hairdresser a visit. It has been months since I had my haircut and while my hair had grown slower since I went for a bob cut four years ago, it has been long enough to cover my nape and just makes me more uncomfortable especially in the afternoons when the temperature shoots the highest.
I also sport wearing summer dresses and cotton sleeveless tops whenever I am just at home. The summer dress I am wearing on that photo was from SM. I think I got that for PhP 199 (about $5) and it's one of my favorite items in my closet lately.
The other thing that people do these days to feel at ease with the weather is going to malls. We're too far from Antartica or even the North Pole, so the most accessible place similar to their temperature are our shopping malls. Given that I had a bit of a tough week at work, I decided to give myself a treat this afternoon and ordered a Spam with cheese and egg sandwich and a tall iced tea from Starbucks. While the sandwich was originally a breakfast item, it was sufficient fill me. Their iced tea is not like the usual teas out there. They use real (as in brewed) tea and it's evident with the taste and the dark color. Now with regards to the price, I'd say I got my money's worth with what I had.
What about you? Any tips that you can share on how you ward off the summer heat?
I remember riding the cab to Ortigas -- SM Megamall to be exact. I was meeting someone for the first time in two years. Yes, I dated a colleague who I used to have a crush on. After three weeks, we decided that on this date, we shall meet. He picked me up at my happy place, another bookstore while I was jittery holding the book
To Kill a Mockingbird. A book where, he later on confessed, his name was derived.
That day was the hardest for me -- in terms of telling my mom where am I going, the reason behind and the person I'll meet. But it was the best moment I ever had considering that I used to tag this person as "someone special".
It was a usual talk over coffee. Who would think that before we knew it, it was getting late, but we still managed to continue talking over dinner that night. But before you think more thoughts, the story never went far, for much of our beliefs are far and different (at least as I see it). The talks over coffee might not have led us to those sparks, butterflies and sleepless nights but I don't regret it. For me, I'd like to see it as an experience that's part of being an adult. That at a certain point, I met and was with someone who knows how to honor my choices, great and engaging at conversations and who knows how to make me cry -- out of laughter.
.jpg)
