Happier in 2017

"2017 will be a year for myself, for the betterment, brightness and bravery."

- From my first post of 2017. 

And it happened. 

Inuna ko talaga sarili ko. I learned to cook, to put make up and skincare among few others important aspects that helped me reach this goal.

Though, I thought and shared for others and community, I thought of myself FIRST. 

Here are the highlights (that I remembered):

1. FAMILY 

- Blessed to went home to PH twice this year - May and December. 

- With several FB chat groups, I am always updated with the latest happenings of my family especially with the adorable Baby Nate, our biggest blessing of this year ;)

2. CAREER

- Come to think of it, it is always challenging when it comes to the boss but as for the work, it is tolerable.

- Salary didn't increase, hopefully, on the next year, I will have what I deserve.

3. RELATIONSHIPS

- As for my lovelife, it became better compared last year's challenges. Hoping and praying for the best.

- Always in touch with friends in PH online and always had bonding time when I come home. 

4. COMMUNITY

- The ministry I'm handling is stable and I know it will level up more. Hope for more members and new pasabog pa :) for the Lord!

- Happy to have a Light Group who I can trust and listen to, learn from also :)

- Started to really tithe which is challenging but this is the right thing. I should give back to the Lord.

5. TRAVEL

- I have this mantra that for a year, I have to go to a place for the first time. So blessed to visit 2 new countries - Japan & Taiwan. So happy with all the memories!

Overall, there are downs, but more ups.

I have read one of the predictions for me is I will spend more money this year which really happened. 

No regrets as it resulted to more happiness. 

I realized that I shopped and dined a lot this year = less savings and more "taba" / fats HAHAHA

My wishlist for the next year is:

- more travels

- more savings & investments

- sexier and more confidently beautiful me!

More love and life to come! 

I can do this. I am bound for abundance and greatness.

Thank You Lord for my life! Mwa!

The "Taiwan"-derers

Heyy, yes! I am home this Christmas and I got to bond my sisters when we had a trip to TAIWAN :)

We booked our flights months before. Thankfully, there's no visa anymore so it was a smooth trip. 

Until our Cebu Pac flight was delayed for 6 hours!! And it was midnight! Our scheduled day tour was cancelled (but not refunded) since we will land late and the meet up is too early. 

And as they say, everything happens for a reason. We adjusted our planned itinerary (proud to do it myself!). 

It was a memorable trip. Day 1, December 21 was more on the city tour & shopping. We visited Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Modern Toilet Resto, Ximending & Shilin Night Market ;)

Here are some snaps:

I ate a lot and it was an experience. Lahat masarap especially the milk tea!

Day 2 was a blast! It's my favorite when we went to Shilin & Jiufen Old Streets. This was supposedly our day tour but we did it ourselves and kayang-kaya! Just have to be aware of the time for the train schedules.

Super fun to experience the Sky Lantern.

 

We had an opportunity to write down our wishes & hearts' desires. Each color has meaning. We chose 4 color lantern: health, money, luck & romance :)

Super fun and it was the highlight of the day! I also tried the best milk tea I had the entire trip! 

The day ended when we experienced different foods in Raohe Night Market. My favorite was that special corn! Gosh! 

Last but not the least, Day 3 was an adventure day. We went to one of the tallest bldgs in the world Taipei 101, to Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola.

I saw a real panda!!

Definitely a different experience when we rode the Gondola. Mejo natakot lang ako because it was long and we were so high. Puro mountains. 

So many photos. So many memories. 

Those photos were just super few. Can't wait to make my Taiwan Photobook. 

Thank You Lord for this amazing trip. I will definitely go back and recommend my friends to visit Taiwan. Xiexie :)

Eat aways!

OMG. For the last few weeks, what I did is to dine outside!

Oh yes. I recently seldom cook, which basically is frying. I don't know, I have this phase when I am so tired I don't want to cook anymore. 

That's why, more takeaways, movie dates and dine outs! It means getting fatter and magastos!!

Justice League with Aloria fam

Attibasi Cafe with Gracey

FAB Events Min Meeting @ Papa John/Ti Hortons

Event with Ms. May (forgot the name of the hotel)

Jobee & Coldstone date with Juleh

Creek-Abra Experience with Levs' ML friends

Chowking with Aloria fam 

Dinner @ Cancio's 

Uling & Parilya with Levs & Jas

Tony Romas with my Honey

FAB Amazing Race Christmas Party @ Al Barsha Park

Random date night @ La Mer Beach, tried Treej Cafe

I let the photos do the talking.

Grabe, that's why at the end of the day, I got fat (and broke) haha kiddin' but the fat part is true! 

Nevertheless, it was all great experiences! I had a chance to bond with my loved ones. You know it is important to have families when you are away from your own. I thank the Lord for giving me this chance :) 

More foods, este stories to come! Hihi!

Interesting

I saw this in one of FB posts and it got me very interested to answer. 

Also, it made me realize that there's more to life, outside the horizon.

BUCKET LIST

💍 Been married: ........................ Not yet

👫 Gone on a blind date: ............. No

👶 Had children: ......................... None yet, hopefully soon

👥 Skipped school: ..................... Yes, HS days hhaha

🐌 Been to France : ..................... Not yet, inshallah soon 😍 

🚑 Ridden in an ambulance: ........ Yes, last year

🌇 Been to America: .................... No

🌃 Been to Europe : ..................... No 

🗼 Been to Cape Town: ...............No

🚁 Flown in a helicopter: ............. No

🚢 Been on a cruise: .................... No

☔️ Danced in the rain: .................No haha

🎤 Sung: ...................................Yes omg

☎️prank calls: .............................No

😂 laughed so hard you cried: ......Yes

❄ played in snow: ........................No

🐍 Had a pet: ................................ Yes!

🏂 Been sledding on a big hill: ......No

🎿 Been downhill skiing: ............... No

🌊 Been jet skiing: .......................Yes in Davao

🚩 Ridden on a quad: ....................No

🚌 Travelled on a bus, train & coach: Yes

✈ Jumped out of a plane: ...................No

🎬 Been to an outside movie:...Yes

🐫 Ridden a camel .....................Yes hehe

🐎 Ridden a donkey: .................. No

🎬 Been on TV: ...........................No

📰 Been in the newspaper: .........Yes haha

🏥 Stayed in hospital: ............. Yes :(

💉 Donated blood: ................. No

📌 Had a piercing: ........................Yes

🐾 Had a tattoo: ............................No, just henna tattoo

🚙 Driven over 100 km/h: .....No

🏠 Lived on your own: .............. Yes

📝 Had a speeding ticket: .........No

💊 Broken a bone: ..................No

📍 Had stitches: ...........No

💺 Travelled Alone: ......................Yes. :D

-----

So many "No" which I will do in the coming years, claiming it!

I just want to live life and be happy, always!

Love Group

Questions and answers.

Bible verses and interpretations. 

We had these moments when I have to reflect and give my feedback. It is completely out of my zone, but I did. 

I did it, happily. 

I am thankful to have a light group, group of friends who share life experiences and pray together. I began to be more positive, hopeful and grateful. There is life outside I know my life is. 

I thought my life revolved to a person, but it was not. You all made me realize that I'm worthy, I'm loved and important. How I missed that version of me who I really love myself too much (that's why the name of this blog). 

Yesterday, we had a fellowship. So much fun and food. I haven't laughed that hard. I was honest, sincere with all I've shared. I was REAL when I with all of you. 

Finally, we are all complete. I'm looking forward for more LG sessions this coming new year. 

There was a question, what we are doing 3 years from now that we are happy. That shookt me hhaha. Thank God before yesterday, I had thought about it. Hopefully all our desires will come true. I have to do things that will lead me to these goals and plans. And that will need more patience and pagtitiis. Haha! 

Thank you for always listening and supporting. I love you, ladies!! I'm blessed to have you all in my life! :) 

#2JENNY8

OMG! I am 28 now. Yes, not afraid to tell the world my age. How time flies.

Thank You Lord for everything. Thank You for all blessings. 

I celebrated my birthday with family and friends, both in PH & UAE. So happy and blessed! :) 

And as you can see, my birthday is full of FOOD! Hahaha. I should start eating less and exercise more :)

Capping off my birthday with dinner at TRIBES. Kakatuwa. The staff surprised me tribal music dance, truly an experience!

I am thankful with all the greetings, food, relationships and LOVE. 

Hoping for my heart's desires to come true. Love You, Lord 💋 :)

Dekada

Whew. Almost a month of not updating, so sorry.

I was preoccupied. Hahaha. I just started my gaming phase (I didn't imagine myself playing online but yes, I am playing Mobile Legends now on spare times but not really good at it haha) 

September - the month when I celebrate anniversaries and birthdays of my Mom. 

It was a start of the "holiday" feels. The weather here in Dubai is getting colder. It is becoming "brrr" now, thankfully.

Two long weekends happened. Nothing too much special, just explored some new places here. 

Finally visited the "Unicorn" cafe and it was an experience. 😍

Together with my lovely friends Juleh & Maria, we walked the Dubai Downtown. OMG, walkathon galore! 

So many lovely photos, hopefully I will be able to make "Dubai" Photobook. 🙏🏼

Then, the highlight of the month happened: it is the 10th anniversary with my boyfriend. How time flies.

We had unlimited sushi! I gave him an anniversary card & "10 Tweets Para Kay JLA" which I naturally created that time. Iba talaga pag inspired. He gave me bouquet of flowers. It was a simple yet intimate celebration we had for a long time, honestly haha! 

Ofcourse, my life here is incomplete without some "Chus Dates" which I always look forward. Love you chu!! We can do this!

Visited again the Cat Cafe with the Aloria siblings. What a stress reliever! 

And in betweens, I had my regular LG and recently, I attended a meeting for a special event this October! Thank You Lord for giving me the opportunity to be a major part of it. Hint: the title of the event is the same title of this blog! 😘

Speaking of which, "loving myself" is my mantra ever since but now, not 100% now. Hopefully I will be back again loving myself MORE. And everything else will follow.

It was a great month. I'm excited for the next one. You know it - my birth month.

I'm praying for a smooth and stable October. Give me strength and peace of mind, Lord especially on my relationship and at work.

I can do this. #AJA 

Glorious Legend

It is always a special month of August for me since two of the closest to me are having their birthdays - my sister and my Honey! 

But before that, I love it when I constantly attending my LG every Tuesday. Super blessed! It changes me for the better and I am becoming prayerful. I've realized that I should pray more specific from now on and it is okay to pray and pray. There's nothing wrong with that :) 

Also, I spent time with my sistah! Thankfully, she had a weekend off :) yahoo! We dined, shopped and laughed together hahaha! 

Then, I surprised Honey on his 27th birthday with a cake and special messages. So thankful that almost all that I messaged gave me their responses before the special day, to think it is shortnoticed (2 days before). Happy!

Then, we surprised him with his family. May handa! Very nice. Visited Dubai Zoo since my love is a fan of zoo and had dinner in Dampa. Happy Birthday, Honey and may all your dreams and goals will come true. Hope you will become more responsible and mature na ;) love ya!

Then, lately, I am accompanying him on his business ventures because he is inviting me. So proud of you and keep it up!

One major thing happened also is the re-opening of our online shop: Astrid & Rose! Thank you for our family and friends who supported us! 

Visit us at www.fb.com/astridnrose

www.instagram.com/astridnrose

More to come! 

Ber months, here we go!! 

Spiritual

In the last two weeks, I've observed that most of my highlights were spend with my Spiritual Family. And I'm thankful.

There were several first time experiences for me: 

- Sharing in front of many people regarding my service in community. Proud that I've conquered it

- Dined in one of most sought after Japanese Restaurants in DXB, Bentoya! Super yummy and it was an experience. Will go back for sure!

Then, meeting, random date, women's event and fellowship happened.

I'm always thankful for the amazing people who are always there for me. 

Lord, please give me more strength and endurance to fully understand what's going on with my life.

Lord, please enlighten me. 

i love You 😘

Better Days

God is good.

He provides ways for me to be thankful everyday. 

Lately, I feel spiritual dryness. 

I even skipped attending to the Feast, and went to a bonding. 

God talks to me in every possible way, just like now. 

I realized that I had few meaningful time with my family, friends and colleagues.

Going back from my quick vacation, I had some good and bad days. One of the projects I've been working now is proceeding. (Proud to say I handled it from start until now and it is big deal!)

I had few meetings and lunches. It was Ramadan so we had our yearly Iftar and Eid lunch when it ended. Good times.

As for me and Levs, we went on movie dates lately. We watch 3 movies in 3-4 weeks hahaha! (1) Wonderwoman; (2) Cars 3; and (3) Spiderman: Homecoming

Of all these 3, you would not believe my fave: Cars 3! So much learnings and even after watching, it really made an impact on me. Recommended!

One of great decisions I made this year is joining an LG. I'm not really a fan of having a caring group because I have to open my life book. However, I realize that it is better to share and learn from others. I'm blessed to experience God's presence with these lovely ladies ❤️

Also, I had a mini reunion with my Quesci friends here in Dubai! We recorded a video for the big Quesci reunion in PH and had a lovely dinner @ Buffalo Chicken Wings! Good times 👌🏼

One of the highlights of the year is you, Baby Nate! 

Oh yes, my first ever pamangkin sa kapatid! How cute she is, right? Hopefully, I will "kissy kissy" you next year. I'm happy you are now here in our lives and cannot wait to see you, baby Natey! Mwa!

Ofcourse, life is easier with my family.

So blessed to have you, my Chu! #twinsis Na whenever we are together, we always eat, shop and talk anything under sun. Masaya lang ;)

There are many things going on around me, those I hear, see and read.

Nevertheless, I should focus on myself.

I will have my own time. I should trust in His perfect time. 

I want to go back to my old, grateful self. 

 I need to, this is for me.

Manila Summer

This may be late post, but let me share to you what happened for the rest of my PH trip.

In my every "uwi", I have a schedule of events to spend time with my family and friends. Super OC ko that I have an excel sheet of all the details (super specific) haha! I'm that organized. 

So first things first, I went with my sisters to Feast PICC and experienced it live again with Bro. Bo! Super blessed and amazed talaga of the energy! 

Then had lunch with my Bro & his gf to our fave resto: Bonchon! Hhaha I ate twice in Bonchon in my 2 week stay.

Then after going to Tokyo, the ladies (Mom, me and sistahs) went to Grace Residences and McKinley Hill!

How time flies. The Grand Canal is already built, I know. It's just nostalgic to see something completed when I witnessed how it started. Grabe! It was just an empty space dati, but then now, it bloomed and super inspiring to go there! It was just overwhelming to me because I just went to Tokyo then going to Venice Grand Canal is like going to Italy. 

It was a good moment then it rained. Honestly, I miss the rain (you know no rain in DXB).

Then, the family went for a unique family bonding: Upside Down. Grabe! We exerted effort for the photos! Hopefully, I will be able to print them all hihi!

Our ultimate family bonding happened in Cintai Coritos Garden Resort in Batangas. We were supposed to go to Ilocos, but it was meant for us to just chill ;)

Great views, refreshing scenery, good food and swim, it was picture perfect and awesome experience! Thank You Lord! Grabe super many great photos! 

Ofcouse, Levi and I would not miss going to Intramuros because it is unlikely for us to go home simultaneously. Epic experience when we went to Faustina to eat our favorites: Grilled Porkchop and Sisig. We also went to our Alma Mater, PLM, nakakatuwa ;) simple pleasures!

I would not also miss spending valuable time with my friends: 1. HP friends, 2. HS loves Pikselot and 3. College BFF Nhe & her BF.

Thank you guys for your time. Next time uli! Sayang walang getaways hehehe!

For the finale, I had a #MEtime! Spa time and shopping to cap off my vacation. 

Then family dinner in Tempura (japanese food again hahaha) and had a well deserved Swedish massage in Nuat Thai. :) 

Thank You Lord for a meaningful vacation. 

Hopefully I will be able to print all these memories for future use! You know hehehe! 

Next time uli. Iba pa rin sa Pinas!