ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

I know I should have made this post weeks ago since Christmas is just few hours away but might as well still post this as note on what I would love to receive or save and spend on.

1. Lumix GF1

I'm tired of bringing a heavy dSLR camera whenever I go to places. I want a handy one, nonetheless, with good features and dSLRish output. ~I'll have you before the year ends! hah!~ 

I'm still accommodating model suggestions! What do you have in mind? ;-) Or if you happen to have GF1, would you really recommend it? 

2. Nokia E72
I just want a new phone and I'm good with this.

3. Fly
I'm not saying where but I'm hoping I'll be able to join them! *crossing my fingers; Lord make this prayer come true*

Anyhoo, just a rundown of places I want to visit in 2011 alongside the petitioned trip (keeping my list attainable):
DOMESTIC: Batanes, Sagada, and Palawan
INT'L: Vietnam, Israel, and I want to go back to Singapore to shop!

This photo suits the plead well! hee!

4. Child-like happiness of sort

I know it's cliché but I need supply of unending steadfast joy!

5. I want Zanessa back! *STILL Affected muccch* 
I still wish they end up together! mahaha!

Despite the wishful post, I'm thankful for every blessing Daddy God has given me and my family. We all should, yes! Looking forward to series of Christmas celebrations which will start tomorrow! 

MERRY CHRISMUKKAH, everyone!!

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HAIL Knockoffs

I make it a point to visit one shoe store in Cubao Expo every time I pay a short visit. They have cheap yet nice ladies' shoes. Some even have Landmark tag prices which they sell for more than half the price. It is where I found the perfect PVC flats.

I told myself a year ago that I will not buy jelly shoes EVERRR. You know those salable jelly shoes you see everywhere? Those, in particular. But then, I found a cute PVC-made flats with a tiny peep toe hole and a bow over the toes. They are the cutest in the planet! I'm thinking they are Vivienne Westwood melissa Ultragirl shoes x Lovefoxxx Numa knock-offs, though. But being a yuppie who just finished college and just started working four months ago without more-than-enough savings, I can settle on forgivable knockoffs.

 REALLY CUTEEE at really affordable price!

 Lovefoxxx Numa x Melissa Ultragirl = rendition of mine

The Lovefoxxx Numa gave me the willies. Most people will surely be initially scared when they see your shoes with two rats on each pair! hah!

This is a collaboration between melissa and Lovefoxxx, the lead singer from the cult Brasilian band CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy). In line with Lovefoxxx's love of the animal kingdom it features a mouse on the front of the shoe. The mouse is not detachable and is in a different spot on the left and right shoe. ABOUT Directly lifted from HERE

There are A LOT, A LOT melissa shoes to love. Here are a few favorites I would personally want to wear:

 

J Maskrey Vinyl

 or a simple Vinyl

I really am not a fan of winged SB-like shoes but this VW Wing (very Japanese/Harajuku) wedges is the bomb! My problem with this one will probably be its fit on my feet.

VW Zen Girl

I'd wear this everyday! 

VW Mary-Jane. I won't choose yellow, though.

This is the style that started it all for the melissa + Vivienne Westwood collaboration

Just a little somethin' somethin' about the brand, melissa shoes are made from eco-friendly and recyclable mono materials and has been leading an ecological  fashion revolution for almost 30 years. The brand collaborates with top designers namely Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Edson Matsuo, Gaetano Pesce, Zaha Hadid, Karim Rashid, Campana Brothers, Isabela Capeto, Lovefoxxx, Judy Blame, and J Maskrey. 

Ipanema/Shoe Salon also carries few melissa shoes. No collaborations pieces yet, though.

MORE about melissa HERE.

Images from google.com

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LECHON PIZZA x DOUBLE DOWN

Weeks ago, KFC came out with Double Down and now, Pizza Hut tempts us with a Pinoy classic. It seems like a season for fast food ingenuity! I wonder, what else is there to try!

I told some of my friends about this days ago --that Pizza Hut is having (just came out November 23) Lechon Pizza. It wasn't that appealing for them, though. I, on my behalf, badly want to try it!

Just to relay information in relation to previous post, KFC released appreciation statement ads for the great response they are getting for Double Down stating (to quote a few) that 'demand is way beyond expectations' and that 'they will do their best to make Double Down readily available to all'. I guess their statement explains why I had to visit three KFCs and six KFCs in my friend's case just so we could get our hands on Double Down. Insane, KFC! INSANE! 

Hm... Howboutchu, Lechon Pizza? At what rate will your market perfomance be?

Pizza Hut Lechon Pizza Price and Holiday Feast Promo

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WHAT'S THE MEATHEAP!

I went to THREE KFCs yesterday just to try Double Down since it was sold out in the first two KFCs we've been to. Just sense the longing I had! I guess the commercial and the concept of Double Down itself is new, fresh, and something that one would want to try despite the seeming repulsion for some, attractive nuisance for some or the excitement for the meatheap for some. Whatever the initial take people might have on it, there's this curiosity to give it a try. No wonder it's selling well on its first few weeks!

Prior, I had a heavy Burger King meal so I quite didn't enjoy my Double Down. I left a bite or two in fact since it was satiating. Think about it, slices of bacon and two kinds of cheese sandwiched in two filleted original recipe chicken bedding in oil. And lettuce, too. heh. 

The existence of bacon is merely flimsy! I had to remove slices of it and eat it separately but then it was saturated with chicken oil and spices, hence, tasted like chicken. It felt like I was purely munching on solid chicken fillet. Parts of it were too salty even. I thought of ordering rice just to make the remaining bites bearable since I really ended up just wanting to finish it but, as said, I failed! I have to give it one more try with an empty stomach, I guess, but that's about it for it is the most greasy and most sodium-filled fastfood meal I ever had!  

Double Down google image

I felt like I needed to search for Double Down's nutritional info:

 info from KFC. We don't have Grilled Double Down here, though.

Upon searching for nutritional facts, I saw this PDF file on KFC's Nutrional Guide more here. Yikes on sodium! This is quite interesting --to know which part of chicken to order of lesser calorie / lesser evil next time!

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I MISS STRESS FREE DAYS: Hongkong and Macau

I was watching TV at my parents room a while ago when all of a sudden dad commented that I do teenybopperish mien for photos slash like those he sees in one Taiwanese reality TV show. I wondered where he was coming from. Little did I know that he was looking at our photos. I took glance and saw my then-zit-free face!

Celine in Before Sunset said that memories are of wonderful things if you don't have to deal with the past. My simple dilemma of having zits makes me sulk inside. I used to really write posts that might help one solve acne problems, yea. But nothing apparently works for me now since I'm drowning from job-related stress and sleep deprivation. 

Current occurrences in my life make me miss school days and bum days. I miss those times when I can say yes to every spur of the moment invites. I miss sleeping in the afternoon. I miss cutting classes just so I can spend time with friends and just because I don't feel like attending, oops and to take nap. I miss deciding for myself alone not worrying that my decision might affect others' work and performance. Accompanied by all of which is zit-free years which I am indignant about.

I wouldn't say I wanted to rush graduation to earn on my own, for my own, in fact I literally didn't. I wouldn't say either that I didn't want to work. I had relatively great internship experience and thought that working isn't that bad and hard after all. So, the thought somewhat made me feel all grown-up and that I am somehow equipped. On one end, I didn't expect that the real thing would be this hard and would entail you to work beyond limits yet  is still self-deprecating! Then again, there's this reality that at one point you have to bid goodbye to your comfort zone and delusions.

Don't get me wrong, I don't loathe my job. Not yet. I am thankful for this position. It makes me do things I never thought I could do. I delve on tasks really deep. I never stop till I finish even if I have to work 15 hours straight and be at work early. On top of it all, it reminds me to put my trust in God alone for it is not by my might but by His grace alone. But why ramble, you ask. Because dang, I wouldn't want to see another zit anymore! I slept the entire afternoon to recharge --thank God for the long weekend!

After all the seeming ramblings and musings, let me share with you guys some photos that my dad were looking at and share a story or two.

My 'rents don't really see our uploaded photos. It is just recently that dad savors looking at them on his iPad since he asked for photo transfer. Have I told you, iPad is not that bad! There were mixed response during the first release of iPad, but most people didn't like it. But it is actually pretty nice and really handy! It is truly the best way to see photos, e-mails, and the web. It's user-friendly which is perfect for totally non-techy individuals like my dad. You cannot multi-task in iPad, though. :| Or you may now? I have yet to check. It slipped my mind to validate this when I used it since, as far as I know, fall-released iPads are capable of multi-tasking already. 

Going back/About the photos, I loved Hongkong even if mom believes otherwise. Ma told us that there is no way that we are going back since people there are/were rude --were rude as for me. Filipinos were looked down upon the first time we went there years years ago. We were stereotyped as OFWs. The treatment, thus, followed and showed.

We still went back in 2009 and people weren't that rude anymore. I just don't know now after what had happened.

Despite the impudence we already attached with Hong Kong, it is one country I can go back to several times mainly because of shopping and its weather. LV and other designer shops/bags sell like pancakes! It was as if I was in a department store. Everyone really asks for stocks and goes out with a paper bag. HK boutiques (top of mind shopping paradise: Granville Road) also offer great items and have the nicest pieces. Accordingly, almost everyone is carrying a designer bag and are really well-dressed.

Next, Macau is much like the Philippines yet just a small country. It's just that there are lots of casino and it's a country with two systems. We bought and tasted Portugese egg tarts which taste really like Lord Stow's only cheaper since it originated there. We also bought beef jerky and I forgot other else.

Above all these y'know what, I was glad to know that dad can travel again now! YESSSS!  

zit free

 Hong Kong

 We stayed at BP Int'l

 oops, unseductive bra strap

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SEE YOU IN SEVEN WEEKS, CEBU!!

The last time I was in Cebu and Bohol was in April 2002 so everything's somewhat a blur already. There are a few things I won't forget, though. It was in the middle of Cebu's ocean where I tasted the freshest, REALEST and extremely appetizing scallops cooked in butter and garlic. It was simply the best, most succulent scallop dish I had in my life! Secondly, BBQ in Larsians stalls costs for only 2 pesos then. It's amazing to note that I've enjoyed late 90s and early 20s when everything seems really cheap.

I don't mind going back to places I've been to because there is almost always something new to travel around. More so, three to six days is not enough to explore the place. With this valued in mind, Vea and I will be in Cebu seven weeks from now. We haven't really planned anything yet not even where we'll lodge. Hence, I wonder how we'll spend this sojourn which is basically why I am writing an entry: to get suggestions from you guys and HELP us plan our itinerary! :)

Three things are on our list, though:

(1) To eat  a lot of Lechon Cebu! Where can we go for the best Lechon Cebu and food, in general? Dang! I'm salivating since yesterday!

(2) Try Edge Coaster in Crown Regency which is tilted 30-55 degrees thirty-eight floors above ground level. It was Vea-the-brave's idea, obviously. So help me God. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this!

(3) Go to Bohol on our second day.

I wonder if Ethnic Ventures is still in Cebu. They have the nicest beaded accessories which are for export even!

I am praying for a calm weather, not to even drizzle for Christ's sake. I remember the time when we weren't able to hop one island in Davao brought about by huge tidal waves and restless wind and rain. This trip better be great accompanied by nice breezy weather. I am crossing my fingers too that I won't have a single deliverable for work by early to mid-December!

Come what may, see you in December, Cebu City!

Sky Walk and Edge Coaster. Rates and Schedules HERE

You're going to my stomach soon!!

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Hunger Games Trilogy!!

I joined Saab Magalona's giveaway because (1) I love giveaways slash freebies; (2) I heard and read good reviews about Hunger Games and; (3) I simply had to try my luck to get the books for free. Blessedly, among 216 valid tweet entries, I won!

I have yet to read them, though. I just got the books last weekend and been really really busy at work. If you have already finished reading all three or any, I want to know, how did you find or feel about 'em? :)

As to provide references if you have no idea about Hunger Games books, you might want to check out what say Saab HERE and what say Regina Belmonte HERE. 

 Hardbound, baby!

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A PACKAGE ARRIVED FROM BELLE YORK

Years ago, I finally cringed over online shopping. I'm beginning to have a few favorites as of the moment, though. Belle York is one.

BELLE YORK's Gaga 3/4 top with detachable ribbon gold chain brooch: These past few months, I fancy bows. I put the blame on fave people I follow on tumblr!

that bow brooch it is!

 

LET ME: There's just this urge to get the camera at times and take a photo before I leave. To be precise, Sunday last week was the 'ONE' concert/thanksgiving but since I don't have a photog, don't have a tripod for that matter, I do mirror shots which I used to somehow detest, hee. The second photo was taken by my friend. One of those rare times that I have someone to haul!

Beyond doubt, God has been really good! Just to give you an idea who I saw and who extended their regards:

 Gary Valenciano, I'm a fan!

Hello Jericho! I used to be a fan during Pangako Sa'yo days and Tin-Echo days! eck! ;-)

Rachelle, whom I met in Shang one Wednesday since she's Jayanne's best bud!

HELLO GAAAAAB VALENCIANO! <3

Overall, it was a fun-filled event! The new place is modern yet magnetically unperturbed and HUGE! 

BELLE YORK's Polka-dot laced back shirt:

PONDERED ON: I wanted to get this high-waisted charcoal gray ripped jeggings. I am unsure of what size to get, though. Being the wise buyer that I am (lulz), I didn't get it to refrain from petty unwise shopping decisions. If only I could fit it!    

I have that Light Suede Studded Gaga Blazer too! Haven't worn it yet, though.

Visit BELLE YORK

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