An early birthday treat last Spring presented itself when a friend of mine had the chance to go to Seattle for a conference. Thrilled with the thought that I'd get to see one of my friends again, we made plans to go tour the city that started the Starbucks' craze. And with it being only a couple of hours away from Vancouver, it made it oh-so-convenient for us to rendezvous. How fortunately convenient it is that I only had to take one bus to get there, right?

Now let me tell you a story. Months before that, I'd imagine myself listening to Owl City's Hello Seattle and will actually be really on my way to that city. Imagine my joy when the prospect of that coming true was revealed! So, armed with a chock-full of pasalubongs in my suitcase and Hello Seattle on repeat on my ancient iPod, I made my way to my first solo flight ever! The joy of going by myself with a suitcase on hand to a city 200 kilometers south of where I live was truly exciting, I could've been smiling all the way! I don't have any idea what will happen once I get there, I don't know the city and the people, but I didn't care! I just ignored the fear and went on - let the city itself be my guide! Plus, exploring the unknown with a friend by my side just made it more appealing.

I stop writing now and just let you see the adventure Brimen and I had in Seattle, Washington! :)

The Space Needle

Tickets. Of course, we have to go to the Space Needle!

On our way to Pike's Place Market

Having Caramel Macchiato at the first Starbucks

A hearty meal. Nomnomnom

At some sports bar for dinner

Brim and Me. The cheesecakes here are to die for!

With Brim's firends

Spring! I'm blending in. Haha!

While shopping/window shopping. Haha!

Next birthday stop? Vegas, please! :)

Change Is In Order

Soooo, I finally did it. After three years, I say goodbye to the old layout and the old header. I'd loved them before, and they served me well in making my blog a bit presentable. But it's time they go.

Plus, the header I had doesn't get to me now. I'll be forever thankful to my friend who did that though. ☺ It is just funny to look at it now, I feel like it represents me as a geisha. Woman for hire, anyone? Haha! I honestly don't know why I chose that picture, must be those spur-of-the-moment decisions. Or maybe because it appeared to be the perfect representation of someone oriental. But really, it looks like it could pass off as Victoria Court's logo. Lol! But though I wanted to change it entirely, I couldn't stay away from purple! Plus, I fell in love with the background. It's perfect since I'm blogging from a country where maple leaves are so abundant, it has become part of their flag. Canadian Oriental Sanctuary - not bad, eh? ☺

Seriously speaking, err, writing, I need this change. You know when you're heartbroken you tend to change something in your life? For girls, it's mostly hairstyle, right? Yes, this is that kind of change. I'm not heartbroken, though. This one's a happy change.

I was just really happy today that I was inspired to blog and I thought I could use a change in design. That way I'd be motivated to write more. The urge to pour my thoughts out in writing was too exciting, I could've skipped while walking to the bus stop while I was thinking about it. And while on my way home, on the bus, all I did was jot down ideas swirling in my head I'm afraid I won't be able to organize if I didn't do it right then and there. I actually wished I had with me my trusty Blues' Clues-like notepad. There is just such joy in holding a pen and writing down your ideas, right? It was one of my most enjoyable journey home. I actually didn't mind the cold winds Fall has brought with it, and I can even daresay I enjoyed it.

The craving to get down to doing what I'm learning to be passionate about just filled me so much I went straight to my room and worked on this blog as soon as I got home. I thank God for giving me inspiring thoughts like that, that has made my now passion-filled heart excited. I do hope this isn't just a one-time thing, though. But I'm doing alright, I think. See, I'm already in my second post for the day. Who would've thought, right? ☺

Hey God, you have exciting things planned out for me, right? I can feel it and I thank you so much in advance for all the blessings that have yet to come. I am forever yours. ♥

How I Fight Sadness

First of all - No, I am not sad right now. I just thought of sharing what I do when the dreaded sad-bug bites me so hard I'm left to the point of depression for a while.

I don't have a solid formula on how I lift myself up from the misery of the situation. All I know is that I sulk for a bit to get it over and done with, then I stop and decide that my sadness has got to stop. It's not as easy as a snap, of course. It takes a lot of convincing myself that it has to stop.

Of course, that doesn't always solve the problem. So the next thing is distraction, a big one. I watch rom-com movies, anime, read books, talk to someone, look at funny stuff (LOLcats, anyone?) - anything to get my mind of it. It is not running away from the problem at hand. I just know that if my mind and heart are calm, if not think of a solution, I could at least cheer myself up.


I believe in the power of positive thinking. So it is so important that I always have something positive to turn to, to hold onto at any given time. This is one the positive thoughts I make sure I remember. Trusting your hopes materializes them into reality - that's what you need to know. Or it could be the simplest thing like ice cream or a cup of coffee (both are like a big hug for me) or the biggest part of my life, God. I turn to Him and pray, read His Word or my fave bible verses. I pray and pray and read and read until I feel I'm overdosed with hope and trust in Him. That's when things really start to look up.

Actually, that should also say,

Trust in God, not your fears!

Nothing Much To Say

I'm a girl. I'm not saying anything. I'll just be waiting.

One more thing, I like fish.

Just A Few Life Updates

I suddenly have the urge to blog, and so here I am.

Life's been going "fab" the past few weeks despite having yet again disappointed on some things in life. But I won't dwell on that, I have a lot to look forward to! But before that, here are the highlights of my life the past couple of months.

>> Got involved with Kids Camp - babysat and payed with two cute and adorable little kids, Quinn and Sidonie. They were really behaved and sweet the entire time!

Night Market Night Life

My Friday nights and Saturday nights have become quite of a ho-hum now since I've moved to BC but that's not to say I'm not enjoying it. Granted, I was not much of a party-animal back home, I rarely go to bars (and I mean that in the most literal sense), but of course I can always look forward to sudden events to take place come weekends. A group of friends from work who have nothing planned would suddenly come up with something exciting at the last minute and we'd be up for it. And then I'd find myself having dinner at a somewhat fancy place, heading out to Starbucks for some much-needed late-night chillaxin,' watching some romantic-comedy flicks, heading over to our fave hang out spot Central BBQ Boys to have a few drinks, and having the night of my life talking about nonsensical stuff to the most sensible of things with my friends. Yes, life is good that way in Pinas. ☺

Weekend nights now may not be like that anymore but it sure has brought a whole new meaning to bonding. I'm in a whole different high when I'm surrounded with friends, that's for sure, but these nights now mean one thing - bonding with the family, and for that I am most grateful for. I thank God that we came here together. I may have been stripped off of my friends from home but it's nice to know I can always come home to a family. I have dinner with them while laughing our heads off to Two And A Half Men, Friends, and According To Jim, while fighting over ice cream. Haha! But seriously, that's really how we spend our week nights here! Come Friday night and we'll double up in size as my aunt and her family would come over to dine, chat and whatnot. A typical Friday night would see the dads drinking beer, the boys playing Xbox or on the laptop, and us girls (or my mom and aunts) facebooking and chatting about their earlier school years and me joining in and laughing at their conversations. These nights I really treasure, it's when our apartment truly becomes a home of a happy family.

Now Summer is nearing and living in Richmond has made me come to know about two things about Summer. First, it's synonymous with outdoors and barbecues (and I really thought that was just in the movies!). Second, night market. We have already listed our places to go to this Summer, the first of which was the Cultus Lake (and we intend to go back there on a hotter day), and many more to go of course! But last weekend, we didn't have anything outdoor planned and so we decided to head out to the Night Market which opened up two weeks earlier. It's basically like Greenhills in Pinas except this is situated in a big space outside, and most vendors are Chinese, there are no Indians. Hehe! Not all the stalls were occupied but the place is already packed! And we got a neat treat of an entertainment as the designated performers that day were Filipinos. Wanting to introduce the Philippines, they sang Filipino songs and grooved to the traditional dances such as the Tinikling. And I tell you, those girls and guys sure know how to move their feet! They really wowed the audience when they danced Tinikling to the fastest beat their feet could muster up. Of course, it ended with a great applause from the audience. (Too bad I wasn't able to capture photos of that, I myself was too amazed! I cannot dance that even to save my life! Haha!)

Speaking of pictures, here are some of them I captured using my BB phone. See, I was to shy to take out my shocking-screaming-pink of a digital camera and take photos like I'm some tourist when I live here! Lol! And forgive the poor editing of the pics, I'm quite amazed with lomo pics and their vintage effect that I tried to copy it off to my pics. ☺

Stalls of some 'festival games'

My cousin enjoying a ride on the plane

People looking around

Time to eat Chinese, what else? ;)

My food

Happy Birthday, Dearest Bestest Friend! :)

As classmates, seatmates we started and then it grew from there.

I remember being annoyed at the seating arrangement back when I was in 5th grade cause I was seated beside a girl I didn't know. Of course at that young age, you'd always want to be around your friends, right? So there I was, sad that I wasn't around my friends and then you just introduced yourself and began talking to me. You were such a chatterbox! Lol!

I remember we didn't really get along that well (though not in a bad way) 'cause it seemed to be your ultimate pleasure to annoy the hell outta me, knowing I wasn't such a sport. But thank God you persisted with your teasing or I would've remained such a spoil sport. I am able to laugh at myself now, thanks to that.

I remember you showing a picture of Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho, which ignited the anime addiction in me. And now, old-but-young-looking as we are, we still giggle over mangas and animes that 10-year-olds enjoy! Haha!

I remember that imaginative boyfriend of yours, Denvin or Denver, was it? You really had me fooled, you idiot! Hahaha! Being that naive and gullible girl that I was (naive, not anymore, gullible, sadly yes haha), I believed you and kinda longed to have a love of my life back then. At an early age! Hahaha! You silly girl!

I remember our major dramatic confrontation over our friendship - LOL! That's all. Hahah! And then another one, which ended quite well as it established a solid foundation on our friendship.

I remember still fighting over silly things when we were in our senior year. Both feeling guilty afterward, we'd end up apologizing and renewing our bond.

We've been through a lot huh? The list could go on and on but since our friendship still continues, this story would never end. And I hope to God it will not! I don't say this as much as I should but I love you, Grasha!

We're 700 miles apart now and I miss you everyday. Thank God for the internet and messenger, if not, we might as well be strangers by now. Let's talk soon, until then,

Happy Birthday, Bru! Wishing you all the best in life and praying to God for everything that you need. Remember, God loves you and He is there, and so am I. Just call on us anytime. I love you, I miss you, Happy Birthday! ♥