SHOPPING? NOT! (NOT WORTH IT)

I have planned my day and right after radio work I was supposed to do my grocery shopping. Since it was timely that it was the SNR sale I decided to go there.

It was a short trip to the Bonifacio Global City branch. I was also thrilled that I didn't have to park because that is the problem when they have their sale.

As soon as I got there I wasn't surprised that there were no more shopping carts. It was like that last year. I was sure to find one inside.

Little did I know that what was waiting for me inside was beyond my expectations. Sure, SNR sale always gets full. You expect your "Titas" and her "amigas" hoarding all the chicken, towels, Spam, Dove soap. You will see an occasional "Dad" or "Husband" grabbing some wine and spirits off the rack.

What I did not expect is "go in and never move" kind of a situation. It would be packed before but you could still manage to get around and buy something. We were literally sardines in a can. Thank goodness no one farted while I was in there. Paranoid me decided to get out of there. It took me a while but thank goodness I got out.

I just hope that SNR can create a better system. Limit the number of people going in because that place today was an accident waiting to happen (fire? stampede? earthquake? Ring a bell).

Here are some photos I took from my phone while I was trying to squeeze my way out.

























- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

BEHIND THE SCENES - SNEAK PEEK!! =)

Just last week I had an interesting experience. I always wondered what it would be like shot by famous photographer Mark Nicdao. I now know 1st hand why he is a great photographer. I can sleep soundly at night now.

I remember last December tweeting the famed photographer saying something like this: 

My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I said a photo shoot with @Marknicdao. He smiled.. I'm serious! 

Mark Nicdao humbly replied to my tweet saying: 

@angelicopter899 you have great taste! 

I do actually! Hahaha! Grab a copy of his coffee table book and check out his works on photographing celebrities and models. He does not disappoint. It's called VANTAGE and it is in leading bookstores (if there's still stock).

Here are some photos from our shoot for which I cannot disclose right now. You will soon find out. Very excited! Thanks for the whole team! You know who you are! 

I got to eat AFTER the whole shoot. It was all worth it! =) 

SPRING-SUMMER I LOVE YOU!!!

I love bright colors! I think you can tell from my blog. Whenever spring/summer arrives I am excited to see what the fashion industry has in store for its consumers. 

Chanel is really a classic brand and I love everything about it. I can't afford their items.Oh gosh it makes my heart melt when I get close to soft leather. I have a few pieces of their things but I wish I could have more. Yes, I am a girl that way! But I know better... So I love their collection from afar! 

I have a Sales Attendant from the US that email me their latest delivery. I am happy to be part of her mailing list 'coz she doesn't share their items to everyone. People go crazy finding certain pieces. For Chanel's spring/summer collection I cannot imagine what the Purse Forum looks like right now. Here is what's on my wish list: 

THE NEW ARIEL AND MAVERICK???

My friend showed me this video over a month ago and I thought it was funny. Perhaps you are more familiar with it and have seen it a thousand times. Nevertheless, it is still worth sharing. 

The two guys you will see on the video remind me of Ariel and Maverick's tandem. Rex Kantatero and Pakito Jones, their on-air names, are radio DJs on 93.9 iFM. They have a morning radio show called the Kamote Club. Have not yet listened to them (hello?? Im part of a morning radio show you all love). I just think this is funny. Who knows, they might earn a spot on TV. 

INSPIRED BY ICELAND - TAKE ME TO THE PHILIPPINES

I came across this really fun video on Facebook. It was a link shared by a friend of mine. I normally do not pay attention to links posted on Facebook but for some reason I decided to "click" on this one. It is a promotional video for Iceland's tourism. It is light, fun, beautiful, happy, and full of energy. I guess that is the message they want to get across. No tag lines such as "Pilipinas, kay ganda." 

Philippines Department of Tourism do we have a new video to promote our country? Im trying to search for one over the internet and I can't seem to find an updated one. This is what I found though! With a little tweak and more visuals this might be a nice promotional video (if it isn't yet). 

MY "AHA" MOMENT

About a few days ago I blogged about a woman who asked for advice regarding her marriage (click here). Her husband cheated on her and she wanted to know if her decision was the right one. It took me a while to reply to her because I wanted to collect my thoughts before I try to give her my two cents. I posted her email to see what the people thought about the situation. Most of the comments were expected.  Most people told her to leave her husband. 

After sending Lulu (let's "name" her so that I can stop using pronouns) my reply I go on with my usual daily routine. When I am not busy I am lucky to catch the Oprah show on cable. That night's episode was about Gayle and why she stayed with her husband, Ted Haggard (evangelical pastor who cheated on his wife). She wrote a book and told us her story.

For Oprah it was an "aha" moment. What Oprah said struck me. She came into her show with no judgements or whatsoever regarding Gayle's decision to stay with her husband. After reading Gayle's book, Why I Stayed, Oprah said that she realized that Gayle has great love for Ted. Most empowered women are not familiar with this. When you are capable of living and making it on your own you're mind set is just that. But there is a greater force out there. It sounds so cliche but it is real, and it exists. 

There are marriages that work and become greater even after a great problem like infidelity because of love and the willingness to keep their love alive. This gave me goosebumps and made me think of Lulu. She loves her husband so much and I support her decision to work on her marriage. I am also glad that her husband is very willing to work on it with her. To keep you updated on Lulu's journey I posted her latest email below.

From: 

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:14:25 -0800 (PST)

To: <angelicopter899@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: your thoughts

Hi!

Thank you!!!!!!I really appreciate it that you took the time to reply back. It took me a while because I was thinking about what you said.

Their relationship was based on lust/sex--- not even intercourse but just oral sex. I am basing this on the fact that, aside from him saying so...he dropped the girl immediately. He told her that I found out and that he wanted to work on our marriage and apologized for hurting her. Erased all her contact information on his cell (althought I still have a record of all her numbers, fb account, multiply etc), email etc. He claimed this and I checked. I still keep checking. He was also unfriended on FB. He doesn't know I have access to his email and FB. I pretend that I have no idea how his cellphone works but I check regularly whenever he leaves his phone lying around.  He saw her a couple of times but they didn't acknowledge each other and all these instances were immediately reported to me via text. 

I keep telling him I am concerned about the extent of your relationship. He said that he would say I love you and I miss you so that he could sleep with the girl. We have been great friends but we both realized that we had communication problems these past few years...assuming certain things and not talking about it.  We had sex issues that we are so far addressing.....since making love has improved significantly..and I hope that we can improve some more....

We are more open now to each other about our feelings regardless of whether the other will be offended or hurt.We have talked about more things about what we want and how we can help one another. He says that the fact that he immediately ended their relationship because he loves me and in fear of losing me was a testament to the fact that she was not important.

Good things to hear, right? Yes but I remain more vigilant. Although he has deleted or burned all evidences of that relationship....I have kept my own findings. I was made a fool the first time but maybe not as easily this time.  He suggested counselling for both of us to process what happened and he is determined to make this work.  I told him...you will have to majorly make this up to me ( he knows that nothing financial will make this up to me) - he will have to show me how important I am and technically court me again....earn my trust and prove how much you love me.

Although I have my bouts of wanting to kick his ass, I have seen and felt he is trying to make it up to me. I will give him that chance not only because I love him but because I don't want our children to suffer because of it - at least I did everything that I could to make it work. I have stopped being insecure about myself, how I see myself and my "abilities" in bed. He knows that I do not feel so insecure because I realized that I am so much better that her, I am a better person, a better mother (diba, she would leave her young kids (10 & below) at night to meet up with him?) and I can be a better wife and partner (she is separted). If he doesn't see that, then sorry for him. He does not deserve me. I told him that I will work on our relationship but if I see anything that shows you are not 200% committed, I will walk away.

In the meantime, I will keep my "findings" and start building up my "hidden wealth" - I have asked full disclosure on all funds, accounts and even passwords. He doesn't know that I check because I told him I will check when he is with me. I will keep all these things until I feel that he is worthy to be trusted again.

For some people, there will always be two ways of looking at my situation - either I am being stupid for giving him another chance or I am a doormat for allowing him to step all over me.....I'd like to think I am just rethinking my strategy. He may be the sole breadwinner but I have as much right to our funds and investments as he does even if technically he earns more that I do....but I do take care of the house....and its conjugal property. So I will make sure I and my children will be protected there - in any event it doesn't work out. However, at the rate things are going....things are good. I will let you know how our first counselling session goes sometime this month....

I hope that you will put off putting anything in your blog...I hope that you won't mind...after I have used up your time.....I hope that when I do get back to you...it will be with happy news and to get tips on make up etc and how to enhance our sex life.....

I really really really really really appreciate your taking the time to read and respond to my emails....I hope that I can get the chance to make it up to you.....

p.s. feel free to tell me frankly what you think.....thanks!


Don't worry, I have asked permission from Lulu to post her email. It might give people their own "aha" moment. We'll never know. Mine is simple! I now know what "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE" really means and what it has in store for me. We use the term so loosely often times. We claim to love our partners unconditionally...but do we really know what it means? Are you ready to get hurt? Are you ready to love unconditionally? 

BALIKBAYAN BOX

Almost all of us have Filipino relatives abroad (at least I think that's a safe assumption to make). One of the best perks of having immediate family abroad is the "Balikbayan Box" that they send. My brother lived in California for a while and I have a ton of cousins, aunts, and uncles in the US until now. My husband, being that he is an American citizen, he has a of family and friends in the US as well.

I do not normally go shopping online because most of the things in the US we now have here (for a higher price most of the time).  But when my husband's family calls and asks if we need anything from there we jump the chance to get bargain deals coz it's time for the Balikbayan box to come out.

Here are some of the stuff we received today:

1) FOR ME

BEAUTY LOOT from SEPHORA

Bathina by Benefit is every girl's must have for glowing skin finish!

I am promoting "Less is More" campaign for women. Don't get used to always wearing make-up. For a light natural coverage use this powder/brush by Bare Minerals. it is SPF 30 and very good for your skin. Very natural and light look! Embrace your real beauty girls!

I know I just said try not to wear make-up as often as you can but sometimes if you're as fair as yours truly you wake up looking like there's no blood flowing on your face. To unlock that pale look A LITTLE BLUSH (only a little girls) should do the trick. I find the NARS Orgasm 4013 perfect for a lot of my friends and myself included.

2) FOR MY HUSBAND

Don't judge but my husband always wanted to wear boots and never found the perfect opportunity to do so. We are going on a trip to Europe so he opted to go the Dr. Martens route. Yes guys, it's back in fashion! Look around you! More and more guys are sporting the Dr. Martens look in an upgraded way.

I do not get it and I don't think I ever will but I really do not eat this. It is not delicious. But John (my husband) loves his Slim Jim! We always expect to have this in the Balikbayan box. 

About 3 years ago I got my husband a Tassimo coffee machine as a gift. Knowing that we do not have the coffee disks here in the Philippines we would always make sure to stock up. His siblings know better by sending him regularly. I love how you can by different brands and kinds of coffee for your Tassimo. Nearest place to get it is in Hong Kong if you guys are intrigued by it. 

3) FOR THE LITTLE MAN

 We just do not have these here and my 19 month old son just can't get enough of these Gerber Graduated Puffs. He learned (or is still learning) to chew by snacking on these bite size cookies. It's choke safe coz it "melts" easily inside his mouth also so I am not so worried if he eats it on his own. 

New toy for my son to play with! Oh my gulay he is so happy! This is a gift from my brother-in-law. You can tell by his reaction that he sure is excited!

The ever sought after Quinny Buzz Stroller Basket! If you own a Buzz and bought it over a year ago you know what I am talking about. My Buzz came with the bag which is helpful but you still need a basket no matter what. I could not find it anywhere here. You have to place a special order (says Mothercare Philippines) and pay extra and all those hassle. Thank goodness for relatives abroad right? I love you all so much!

If I were you and you're thinking of a small business you should be a "personal shopper" and do it via the Balikbayan box method. I'm just thinking aloud. 

Hey, share with me what you received from your Balikbayan box loot or what you want to receive!