BUDAPEST

While the fiancè is enjoying his mini adventure with the whale sharks and the clear blue waters of Cebu, I am in my room, on my bed surrounded by a pen, a notebook, file folder, a wedding magazine and a worksheet as I spend my Sunday with wedding preps. 

So, this is my attempt of making him feel guilty. 

Hahahaha. I kid, I kid! 

That guy deserves a break. He has been working real hard, too hard and if the whale sharks would makes him happy and keep his blues away, then so be it. Hehe

As for me, I will have to settle with George Ezra and his music for now. Especially, THIS ONE that is on repeat for I don't know many times. Haha. 

I know, it's cheesy, mushy, corny but hey, that's me on a very good day! Hehe. 

Well, its a song our situation can somehow relate too. The long distance love affair and the sacrifices we have to make and things we are willing to give up to close the distance. 

Sigh with me here LDR lovers! Sigghhhhh! 

HAJI LANE

Charming, quirky, unique, hipster, cute, chill and fun. 

Now, before you all think I'm describing myself, I am not but I can still be close naman no! Sus! Hahahaha.

I am talking about my favorite lane on earth, Haji Lane. Ever since I discovered this place during a lost on purpose trip here in Singapore in 2012, I never stopped gushing about how, yes, charming, quirky, unique, hipster, cute, chill and fun this place is. For reals, for reals people, its charm never gets old or boring. 

It may be a small, hidden lane tucked in the heart of Arab Street, but it is certainly a feast for the eyes and a total breather from the views of the concrete jungle. 

I yet have to spend more time to really explore this tiny wonder, to be charmed as ever in its uber lovely shops and boutiques, to devour the food choices it has to offer and of course to take more pictures and create lasting memories, hihi. 

But for now, let this photo diary be more than enough to showcase you the cuteness that Haji Lane .. 

TAHHHHHDAHHHHH .. 

THIS IS A STORY ..

Here is a teaser for something special and personal for 2016. (insert my kilig face here, hihi) 

Credit goes to our exclusive indie film maker who made this out of boredom.. Draft or sample it may be, but still nice no? hehe. 

Here's a 1:09 minute labor of looooove! :)

THE TEASER

SUNDAY, INSPIRED

I don’t seem to have a lot of free time lately. I dunno why, I too am confused! Its scaring me that my time management skills are getting baaaad. Hahaha. 

I do seem to be pre-occupied with a million and one things I guess. But, again, I always have been, at least my mind is. Though, I actually feel that it is more hyper now than ever with 20% of thoughts on work, home, family, the fiance, how’s, why’s, what’s and uhm, 80% wedding stuff, haha!

Today, I actually took the time to get out from the comfort of my bed and the soft sheets to the nearest Starbucks, because apparently my bed, the bedroom and even our cozy living room have been too comfortable for me to work in, too inviting that when I see them, all I want to do is .. well, nothing. Hahahaha

PLAIN, SIMPLE, UNCOMPLICATED

I am no expert in dating and relationships. I have had my own struggles maintaining and sustaining one. I had a penchant for drama in my past relationship life and my scripts were what rom-coms and cheesy stories are made of. 

I was 28 when I met Lt. Z. I was half way past the drama life. I was happy and content chillin' in my little independent world. Then there he was and I realized how my perspective on relationships have dramatically changed! It could probably be due to a little maturity or just my hormones cooperating, but I truly felt at ease and secured in what we had. 

BALI .. A YEAR LATER

So, last week, I celebrated my "BALI SOLIVAGANNIVERSARY!" 

Yes, yes I am coining a new word again! I googled, no one has used it yet. You can try and your top search will be this post! haha! But let me know otherwise please! eeek! 

Going back to the celebration, can I get a cheers! clap! hooray! confetti! YAAAAY! :)

TO MY MONDEE (A Eulogy)

The eulogy I never got to say. I drafted this while I was on my flight home to see her last Thursday, with the intention of reading it when it was my turn to say a "few words" during her wake ..

I had that chance but my very mixed emotions and tears came rolling down even before I can read out the first line ..

I don't have a few words to say. I have a lot and she prolly stopped me coz it was going to be lenghty. haha .. plus, she knows that I say things better in writing, hehe.

So, this one's for you mondee .. 

DEUCExCHAPS TAKE SG

So while on her pre-college vacation, my sister flew over and stayed with me for 2 weeks. We prepared her itinerary which upon her request should include: Universal Studios, Museums, Haji Lane, Marina Bay Sands -- these and a lot more of getting lost, which means there were going to be loads of pictures to be taken.

And there were over a thousand, really, hahaha. 

In my 3 years here in Singapore, this is the first time anyone in my family is staying with me for a long vacation. I was looking forward to her arrival to share with her a glimpse of my life and showcase the best of Singapore that I know. 

LAST WEEKS MOOD IN A PLAYLIST

If I had to sing to describe my mood and vibe for the past week, my playlist would be .. uhm, very moody. 

Lately, I've been extra cheesy with momentary bouts of grumpiness. 

Oh, Poor Lt. Z for absorbing all this mood change on such very short notice, haha! One minute, im in tune with him, next minute I'm totally out, strident and just completely disharmonic. Ah, hormones and the wonders they do. Hahaha. Good thing, his patience can stand all the brouhaha caused by my raging estrogen .. or else, eeeeek! 

MY MAMA, THE BAD-ASS ..

I have always admired my mom and her physical strength. Apart from my fondest memories of her as a mom, I also remember her climbing to the roof of our house to clean the gutters, going up the ladder to install the Christmas lights on our fence, carrying and hauling her heavy pots during her gardening or going out during Signal No. 4 to make sure that our area is typhoon-proof. I grew up with the notion of how a D-I-Y mom she is, checking below the sink for leaking pipes or doing minor carpentry work in our house. As far as I know, she has always been this kind of strong. 

So, it did not surprise me that she wanted to climb Mt. Pulag. 

MY (NOT SO) BAD WEEK AFTER ALL

It is the last week of JUNE! Already!? That was FAAAASSSSST! .. and all I remember this week is ..  IM TIRED!

Yes, it was one of those weeks. Dragging, exhausting, overwhelming! Yes, it was one of those weeks when I woke up late for work, not just once but twice (and darn it beacuse it was appraisal week! Boo ME!). Yes, it was one of those weeks where my mind just wandered aimlessly and my body just well, followed the (whatever) flow of the day. Yes it was one of those weeks where mornings where glum, the food was blahhhh, the weather was uhmmmm and our curtains can't stay in place. Yes, it was one of those weeks where I just felt really really really tired from Monday to Saturday.

AND THEN .. I AM GETTING MARRIED

ALL YOU WEDDING JUNKIES OUT THERE! RAISE YOUR HANDS!

ME! ME! ME! I! I! I! MEEEEEEE! :)

Haha. Sorry for being so hyper, its just that everything wedding-ish makes me swoooon. Same day edits, save the dates and engagement photos may be the cheesiet, mushiest, cringe-worthy things ever, but hey, I love mushy, cheesy and cringe-y, the good kind! haha!

THE D's TAKE MT. PULAG

OHANA TIME! 

Being away from my family, it breaks my heart to be missing out most of the special occasions, out of town trips or even just the ordinary days together. So every chance I get to be with them, I grab! So, when my mama said she wanted to climb Mt. Pulag, I took a leave from work, made adjustments to previous plans and schedules, booked a ticket and went home. 

MAY DAYS! MAY DAYS!

Oh, May May ... May! Just the thought of you and what you have in store for me this season makes me kilig all over! 

But first, I had to move on from the mini heartbreak the #MAYPAC fight caused yesterday, but whatever, Manny Pacquiao still won everyone's hearts! He still did make us one and proud. Plus, he had Jimmy Kimmel as his Bieber too, so yes, he wins TKO! :p) 

Anyway, MAY 2015 kickstarts 3 special milestone in my life and as early as now I am already claiming, loving and living the good vibes .. 

thatlittlegirl EATS | &MADE BURGER

I am a burger monster .. just as I am a cake, pizza, bread, ice cream, rice, lechon etc etc etc monster, hehe .. 

However, burgers are special creations and I tend to very choosy about them. I do go for the all time fast food favourites once in a while, errr, most of the time but if I want a really really really realllllyyyyyyy good burger and if I have the chance, my pick would have to be those deliciously crafted, fresh off the grill , ones. Truth is, I'm trying to slay away from fast food burgers for pa-healthy reasons, hihi, so all the more that my burger times have become sacred. Well, they need not be gourmet, expensive or prepared by a chef as it can be as simple as bun-patty-bun but as long as it blows my mind then im solved! 

And by a really really realllllyyyyyy good burger, I meant: 

thatlittlegirl EATS | PAUL BOULANGERIE

Lizeth (my clinic supervisor by day and all around buddy in between and after work) and I made this pact (yes, pact talaga!) 2 years ago to explore Singapore's coffee shops / food wonderland at one shop per month. 

Annnnnnnd, we've finished 8 so far in our #kapekapehunt series. Hehe 

Looking back from since we made this pact, bakit 8 lang eh parang kain naman kami ng kain lagi? hahaha! (Which we concluded could either be because of 2 reasons: 1) super busy kami that month or 2) nagtitipid kami ... mostly the latter, I guess. hahaha ..) 

AN (EX) SINGLE GIRL'S (UNSOLICITED and INFORMAL) GUIDE TO THE SINGLE LIFE

SAD, BAD, UGLY AND PATHETIC. 

I had a conversation one night with a friend where she shared how some people make it seem like being still single in your late 20's is SAD, BAD, UGLY and PATHETIC. 

Really? OUCH ha! 

Well, they got it all wrong .. 

IT.IS.NOT!

And I say this because I know what and how it feels like. I have been single and experienced the wrath of it enough in my late 20's to know what it means to be single and _______(fill in the blanks with whatever adjective you can think off). 

WHY I HEART SG (and MARCH 22) ..

Today .. 

22 March 2015 .. 

Today, this year, marks my official 3rd year as an OFW here in Singapore. A place I call my 2nd home, a land that shaped my late 20's, a city that transformed me to be the better version of myself, a setting that ignited my independence, pushed my maturity to a higher level, challenged by emotions, my will and my sanity. 

I remember 2 years ago, I took the  BIGGEST RISK  of my mid-20's life and with everyone's prayers and super patience, that risk I took paid off with this REWARD.

WHY I DISLIKED FEBRUARY (Past tense) ...

I hate February! 

Ooops! hate is a strong word, let me rephrase that .. 

I dislike February! Its mushy, everyone seems to be too mushy and im too bitter to be mushy! haha .. 

Until February 2015 came and sssssiiiiigh, I had all the reasons to be mushy and in love this month .. let me enumerate thy ways .. 

My February kick off was .. an argument with the fiancé. Kidding! that was just me and his hormones. hahahaha ..

24 MINUTES WITH PAPA

I suddenly woke up early this morning from my Benadryl slumber. I checked the time, it was 5:19 AM. I checked my phone, nothing .. and Im still too sleepy to do anything anyway so I just went back to sleep and right when I dozed off I had the most beautiful, most meaningful  dream in the history of my dreams .. 

I was somewhere I can't recognize .. 

I was standing doing I dont what when I heard a voice behind me say, "Rai, where's my hug?"