Alone but not Lonely.

More often, we tend to forget to “recharge” ourselves, we think that we should have somebody in our side, to spend time with and have fun with, not realizing the fact that sometimes the best fellow that we need is our own COMPANY.

Just this weekend, I was able to have a day off from my usual routine ( skype-ing with my fiance, working, parenting, skype-ing again, working, parenting and finally skype-ing). I have been doing this so called “me-time”  for a long time now and up to this moment, it never fails to amaze me.  So for this day off thing, I brought 3 people ( yah I know, 3 is a crowd) … I , myself and me.

been waiting for this since last year

 Me as Moviegoer

    I love watching movies alone. Action, sci-fi, chick-flick, I started doing this  since ummm…… I cannot actually remember.  as long as I want to watch it, I will make it happen. So to start with my off, I went and see Mirror Mirror, I have seen its trailer mid 2011, from then on, I promised myself that I must see it ( I must see it because its Julia Roberts, hehe). And so I did

I as a Grubgirl

What is a movie without a fab meal. Usually, when we are with somebody , we try to  compromise of what we really like to eat. Like if I am with my daughter, she will go ga-ga with popcorn and candies and me ending with all these bogchis. But today is different, I went to my favorite food buddy– NYFD!! My own cajun chicken pasta , club 21 butty plus ranch and cheese dips for the chips, hayz! Life is good , specially with grubby eats

My ticket and my meal.. all set for my "me-time"

My Tea + My Book = Myself

And finally, real time for myself.  I know a lot of people will agree that “reading time is a solemn time”. In the mid of too much telenovelas in TVs , head-aching politics in news, frustrating bashers in the net… a hardbound book effortlessly provide some escape and peace from all of these.  I decided to buy Hunger Games because of the movie and  before I watch it ( which who knows when!) , I love to see first what it feels like.. directly underneath a writer’s mind to help me feed my thoughts of useful imagination.

But just like a movie with a good meal, what is reading without a comfort drink?  Serenitea may not be a cuppa for everybody but for me it is  my own Royal Milk tea 75% sweet with pearls, got so fascinated with it a couple of years ago and I never stopped giving myself a boost of it since then.

I hunger for the book.. but obviously, I was so bone-dry that I almost finish my tea before I point and shoot (ooops, sorry!)

Yes! Within that day , I was alone but not a thing I felt lonely. With awesome company I have, ( thanks to me, I and myself) who will get bored?  And as I headed home,  I knew deep within I was fully recharged, ready to explore and do the things I usually do with anybody-who…

Got so busy in BC!

Its been 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days since I arrived Manila from Vancouver, yet until now, I feel that I left something back there…

We arrived an hour early in Vancouver December 23, 2011. My little girl was holding my camera and started pointing and shooting anything and everything inside the airport. Airport was small, every corner has its own function, a lot of totems as decor scattered around the area, including this one:

Danny (my daughter) immediately took a picture of this, I guess she thought that the people reflected on it were kids like her.

Since we arrived early, of course, my fiancee was between “on time” because she arrived on time to our original flight schedule but “late” because we were there earlier ( haha!). Hayy…. it was winter pa naman and 10-hour flight was no joke, all of us were tired, so to pacify the “emo”-mood because of the waiting-thing of our sundo, Tita E bought everybody a hot chocolate…my first meeting with TIM HORTON’S:

First meeting with Tim Horton's @ the YVR airport. Actually, it was not an ideal one since I asked only for a napkin, only to find out that our Tita E already bought us some drinks. See? It was a good decision not to buy..hahaha

My baby, my tim horton's together for the first time ( I was frowning because I kept controlling my coffee so it wont spill in our jackets)

Came December 24 and it was time for our Christmas Eve Mass. We went all the way to Richmond to visit relatives as well as to spend some time with Christ

church was simple and small, seats were full of bibles and songs copy sheets. Mass there was very solemn and systematic. Thank God! Danny was awake after her long hours of jet-lag sleep

Boxing DAY!!! We all been waiting for this SALE event..specially this little one:

Danny took seriously in building her own bear...Ooops .. her own chipette

As part of building your own bear, a child must put a heart in it and must wish and pray for the good relationship with their bears. Danny had been thinking and practicing her wish piece hours before and so when it was time for her to do that:

approximately 5 minutes prayer for chipette's heart. It was Boxing day right? So imagine the looooong line that Danny created.. Hayz...

This blog is too long na.. but I have not figured out yet the thing I left in Vancouver. Anyway, some of the days, my baby, Danny and I continued what we do back in PH, but this time not in Rockwell but in Metro Town. Metro Town is the nearest mall in High Gate ( this is where my baby got her comfy condo unit) We were able to watch movies like Chipmunks 2 and Sherlock Holmes, but our well-loved power of 3 activity will always be a visit to the BOOKSTORE:

My babies did their bonding time ( where was I? ummm..shopping?)

Maybe I left something back there in one of our chilling days? At dinner we usually go to Japanese, Chinese, Korean or just plainly fast food. Vancouver was such a great place for eating, it was like QC that is full of restos, except that streets were not that noisy or at least the street was not that busy. On a freezing cold night, the fam decided to have seafoods, it would take few steps from the car to be in the restaurant, so I decided to take a picture of a precious moment:

Streets in Burnaby maybe full of lights and restos but it maintains its cozy ambiance that is why it is so lovely to have a walk even at night.

Days passed and my baby and I were able to grab our own “date” at Downtown. Clubbing was not the term if you mean night life, its “pubbing”, primarily because clubs were very seldom, but pubs??? OMG! you name it bebe..its n downtown

Cheers to us!!!!

There were so many things happened back there in BC and everyday was a busy day for all of us. This visit may not be solely dedicated for me or for my baby or for us as a couple ( unlike what we planned) but nevertheless, it was fun seeing the family all happy and contented with this trip.

Till now, I am still wondering and aching, what was this thing I left back there in that big city? I need to find it out..this time? all by my self.

2 Books, 2 Stories… One (Full) Point.

” Can we practice ballet now Mama?”

Music to my ears

It has been 6 years since I gave birth and as of this moment I still enjoy rearing my daughter so much. Aside from being her tutor/ teacher academically, her doctor and nurse whenever she is sick , her fashion designer, party organizer and the most exciting function of me now.. being her own ballet teacher.

I started dancing ballet when I was 8 years old, it was a tough journey since my co-age students were on the apprentice stage already, a real pressure cooker situation at that time, right?. So now that I am a mother, I want to avoid that scenario for my little girl.

2 Books

Recently, I bought her a book of ballet with a DVD on it.

My daughter’s 1st book of ballet

I, too, got my first book of ballet, I decided to buy it voluntarily, from my school allowance since I was really determined to catch up with the kids around, I had this thought that not only  I must learn how to perform ballet steps but I needed to be keen on its technicalities as well.

My 1st ballet book

The difference of these 2 ballet books ( aside from the copyright years, harhar) is that, during my year, illustrations were only shown through sketches, pencils, drawings ( though artistically done), unlike ballet books nowadays, actual visual of a ballerina’s execution, matching it up with DVDs and I must say it is far helpful than sketches.

2 STORIES

I was 15 years old ,nearly a month or two away from my High School graduation, while inside the car I told my mom casually that after high school I wanted to go to Australia and continue my ballet lessons. I guess it was my fault because she also replied to me casually ” NO. Ballet is not a career, its only a hobby” It was an expected reaction from my mom, since she values education so much, so all of us as her grown up children ended up professors, a doctor and lawyers. NO BALLERINA. … only me.

Just the other night, while waiting inside our car, my daughter suddenly mouthed ” Mama, I want to be a dancer” a deja vu? It can be. But this time, its different, just like the 2 ballet books we had… I just told my daughter that time ” Sure, whatever dance you like to dance baby…”

One (Full) POINT!

Currently, I’m teaching my daughter simple ballet techniques based on her body and muscle development, we also practice a lot for her upcoming 7th birthday party. I love her determination, her outstanding concentration ( though always asking for a water break) and submission to the class,  I felt that with enough focus and guidance, I can help her ( hopefully) in fulfilling her wish … to dance.

my daughter doing warm up exercises during class

Ballet books may vary from time to time, just like my ballet stories and my daughter’s. Now that I am a mom, I treat it as a completely whole new ball game for my little one, hence it cannot be denied that FULL point was taken….our passion for dancing.

my last dance on stage @ 28yo

Venetian Hotel’s MALO CLINIC SPA

Macao. The wanna-be-SIN CITY of Asia. Just recently my partner and I went there to watch a show ( actually shows), it was not part of the plan to have a massage, but on the last day of our stay, we decided to have one.

Though our suite in Venetian Hotel was nice and lovely, we still cant get away from the fact that every travel is a tiring one. Inside the room, we found a brochure that named ” MALO Clinic Spa” ..hmmm sounds like Belo and there we booked ourselves for the following day.

Malo Clinic is located on the 5th floor at Grand Canal inside Venetian. At first we find it hard to locate since there are different wings in the hotel, finally we were able to see it, Good Heavens! tell me how cant we see it?

We thought that its just a side advertisement of the clinic, but we were wrong....

Lobby Area for guest's bookings

While taking this picture, I wished I had a fish-eyed lens to show you the whole lobby (enough of my frustrations), anyway this is just about 1/4 of the place. Malo Clinic occupies 84,000 square-feet of the floor. Imagine?? 84k?? why do they need such huge place? It also promises WORLD CLASS FACILITY and SERVICES.. at this point in time? We were really excited!

Felt so lucky that we were entertained by a Filipina receptionist, Toni ( I hate the customer service of some locals, they cant speak English or if they can, they are too annoying). Toni was too kind to give us a discount (yipee!). Lowest massage service they provide is worth HKD 800 and it can go up to HKD 980. We chose a 55 minutes combination of our massage, Whole Body and Tension Zone.

As we walked toward our lockers ( I guess the local tour guide get confused because we asked for a couple’s room yet she directed us in common facility area, but it was okay for me and my partner since we really want to explore the place) we got even more amazed about the size, architectural styles and big doors that will lead to different sides of the clinic, Sayang! I was forbidden to take some shots inside

Nothing unusual in the common facility room, it was like " oh yeah! the
usual"- reaction. I was just glad that we were the only ones inside the room because I cannot imagine if there are more than 7 people in front of the mirror, sharing 4 hair blow dryers ( hahaha!)

Jacuzzi area

I was just happy to witness the jacuzzi floor. The archi- set up type of this room was good, all the conveniences of a client could ask for has been given.For one, it was not noisy ( no sounds of machines behind the walls) , 2. it does not have any wet floors and 3. ventilation was average, not too hot neither not sooooo hot you know kind of stuff that we usually see in common facility jacuzzi areas. Generally, it was nice.

Thereafter, we were redirected in our own room, Another Narnia-like-door that once opened VOILA! you are in another side of the clinic.

My baby checking out our room

Another 2 beds in white sheets! The only difference was that these beds have its own heater.. impressive right?

So when Alice Pieszecki uttered the words in Lword series ” Cold in the streets, Hot in the sheets”.. on this bed, one will really get HOT under these sheets

I knew it! We have our own shower room, powder room and bath room inside our couple's room. The only thing that we can share is the jacuzzi.

Our 25 minutes Tension Zone Massage was great, it indeed detected our stressed muscles and back aches,it was eased by more likely of Thai-massage style,  combining it with a great Shiatsu whole body massage, was almost heaven!

Malo a person. He is the owner of this clinic. We were informed by our Filipina therapists that Dr. Malo is a dentist by profession, he came up with this biz few years ago. Therapists in Malo came from different Asian countries, like Ph, Indonesia and China. But according to her, Filipino therapists were mostly  requested by clients (naks!) Its not shocking anymore if Filipinos were always requested, like for us, our 2 therapists were so professional, competent and accommodating (they were too good that my partner wants to give them a HKD 100each as gratuity, of course.. I objected )

Another spectacular spa experience for me and my partner but what is important that at the end of the day.. our body was at rest.

We were ready to go home

Anvaya Cove Experience

Spa had been a monthly routine for me and my partner( next to our weekly movie night out).  And since its a routine, we always look forward to it not only physically but psychologically too.

3 weekends ago, we decided to postpone our schedule with The Spa @ Serendra , to give way for our family weekend gag at Anvaya Cove. On the road, my partner been hoping that this exclusive resort in Bataan have spa services, I replied positively to secure her and to make her sane during our 2.5H trip.

And there we went..

We always prefer a villa not only for privacy reasons  but as well as to successfully achieve peace and serenity during our quality time together. We are used to detached rooms, own jacuzzi, sauna and real quiet 1 hour massage, but never like this…

PERSONAL SPACE:

TADA!!! 2 beds with plain white sheets.. so whats new?

It was my exact reaction as our therapist led us to our room, so simple, I told myself, nothing extravagant, even masa-Wensha Spa in Roxas Boulevard has it ( sorry, I once liked(?) Wensha, but when it comes to its facilities and customer service? ZERO, Nada!) So anyway, as I explore the room, I discovered this….

Great View!

What a great place we had as our own personal space. For 60 minutes I was attached with nature, easing melodies of beach waves, the humming hungry ( not angry) birds and of course the most important of all the sound of silence.. I felt like Carrie Bradshaw’s lines coming out: “only me and you, just as two” (but actually four, adding our 2 therapists)

From that moment, my feet could not wait to look around and see if it jibed to my expectations as guest

View from our vill

Oooozzzzing Jacuzzi….

An open-jaw view from our jacuzzi made me appreciate more Anvaya Cove. Where in Manila spa centers, can I get this godly scenery? With your whole body soaked in a warm bubbly bath while nature brings its wonder right there in your eyes. Whaattalife, right?

Shower (Powder) Power Room

 Shower Power…

I don’t know with you guys, but personally, shower room is where I do my real “me time”. After all the reddish-skin-open-pores brought about by sauna and the moisture-giving jacuzzi, I strongly believe that my body deserves a feel good shower.

A newfangled shower experience on top of  air breeze coming from the beach,  is what Anavaya’s SHOWER POWER  all about. It may not look so impressive and quite normal at first, but when you start to appreciate the totality , Im telling you, it can make a difference from your usual bathing time.

A mix of aromatherapy and reflexology were the services I got for my massage. The usual smoothing effect of aroma is still there, but mixing it up with systematic pressure on body, muscles and other reflex areas made me so…. Zzzzzzzzz! Yup! for the first time in history, I went to sleep during my massage. ( Or at least the last .5H of it)

Sitback + Relax= Tea Time!!!

Our body was still hanging loose because of the massage, thus we decided to take some time to attend to our mental hygiene. Thanks to our cutee viranda for providing us the best spot to abate our

minds. Beach front view with a little cup of tea ( though I started to miss my ginger tea from Serendra) made us feel more calm after our massage.

a relaxing time at the viranda

In general, our A.C.E ( Anvaya Cove Experience) brought good memories for us as a couple. Though its very impossible to visit Morong, Bataan monthly but we are thankful enough that at least we saw and come across what Anvaya Cove Spa can offer.

****

Hep Hep…I wondered that time, where my daughter would be during our spa? I thought maybe she was bored to death in our room, watching her usual playhouse disney shows..BUT I was wrong!…

Game Lounge inside Anvaya

Couples would not feel guilty to have their QTs ( Quality Time) even when their children are around. Heaven’s gift to us by Anvaya the GAME LOUNGE due to its complete set of entertainment not only for kids but as well for ” kids at heart”

No wonder that my daughter was not  looking for us the entire time because she and her Tita Z, were busy playing wii (Cooking and Baking)

Online gaming available too

Wii and PS3 are always available for playing

Game Lounge also provide our kids the privilege to play theironline games even they are away from home ( This would mean to us as parents, the freedom of our iphone, laptops or IPAD from drained batteries not to mention excessive usage of our data plan, haha!)

In general I enjoyed our trip, my partner enjoyed it too and  so as our baby. What more can we ask for?

*Anvaya Cove is a  family oriented get away venue for Filipino families who likes to unwind locally. (Anvaya, defined in Sanskrit as “family”) Anavaya Cove is located in Morong, Bataan and requires membership to access the place.

Braggers are always online.

From Freud to Jung, to Adler to Murray, we are all fed by different personality theories that explains human behavior for several years. But in this ever changing world of web and broadband, is it still appropriate?

So let’s start with specific personality trait in the net… The Bragger – I always believe that no human being is not proud to show of what s/he owned or have done or went , its the moral, social and cultural norm made us express it in different ways. Thus,  social network has become the widest and largest platform to cock-a-doodle-doo about whatever by whoever. Savvy Coach : How People Brag: 5 Sneaky Ways People Brag About Themselves tackled how consciously people behave in “bragging contest”, which led me to question our own cyber behaviors  inside social networks.

So after doing some researches, I come up with my own “Online Bragging Types”

a. The Packers aka Human GPS (Direct Brag )- hmmm… have you ever experienced reading in your social home feed all the whereabouts of the packers? That it is as if , all time anytime  they want the whole world to know where they would be in the next 24H (oops some 20min) ,

Example:” Goodnight PH, good morning UK”  ; ” US of A.. here I come”  ;  ” ang init naman here sa France“; ” .. is on her way to Starbucks Tagaytay. Ang traffic!“

***With all the bells and whistles. I rest my case.

b. Mr and Ms Barney ( Share Brag) – ” Sharing is caring” … principle which my  daughter learned from Barney during her toddler years with him. But here, in adult realistic life, it is the friendliest way to brag . As we grow older (and wiser), we tend to learn how to convert selfish ways to more socially acceptable manner.

Example1:

 

Status:” Thanks to all my relatives who greeted me on my birthday. But most of all thanks for my IPAD honey”

***Aaaaw.. honey is just sharing her gratitude, but take note, the branded gift was declared.

Example2:

Comment: ” Hey, I saw your pics in Boracay. Did you try Regency hotel? Oh i loved it there, though expensive, but I recommend it still because its all worth it”

*** My dear, she is just sharing an important information in your travel.. your accommodation. Isn’t she?

c. Vibra Mode (Humble Brag) – Oh this is my favorite, this type of bragger is too funny in my eyes. They are too shy to brag.. but too obvious that they want to enter the bragging contest, its like the vibration alert set in our phones, you do not hear it, but you feel and know its there.. Nasties!

Example:

Downloaded picture from his new gadget ( no caption)

Thread:

Visitor: Wow! you bought a MAC? Is that yours?

Shy Guy: Yes po, I bought it yesterday, I’m just exploring its features.

Visitor: nice! hope you like it. Enjoy!

Shy Guy: Thanks ate, I am enjoying it though it gave a big hole in my pocket. But

its all worth it.

*** I am rude. This poor guy is harmless, he is not bragging at all, yeah sure, he is just answering the inquiries thrown to him, yeah sure. Usually, vibra mode braggers would use acceptable choices of words as a modesty gesture, this type will use, Sir, madam, ate, kuya, po and opo,  ” to neutralize negative effects of bragging” (Psychology Today; January 2010). Observe the responses, too defensive ( just exploring), second: gave a big hole in my pocket, did somebody ask him that? Nah… he is not bragging. Very impossible, I’m just rude.Geesh.

 

Don’t get me wrong, bragging is not always a negative act. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert type.. it is normal to brag once in a while, its alright to do your “BRAGalog” if you feel like it. Our “online presentation” does not predict our real-life, real-time PERSONA, what this blog aims to pursue is for us to be aware of our social network behaviors and to have a wider understanding on how people act and react to given “electronic” impulses.

So the next time you type something in your fb, tweeter or tumbler accounts, stop and decide first which type you like to portray.. anyway all braggers are ALWAYS online.

Happy bragging. =)

 

 

femmetouch me not.

thanks to my good friend J, for my hearty chocs =)

Whew! Finally,  I found a place to write.

I’m fascinated in public speaking and private writing but online?? aagh…Oh-em-gy. Its giving me butterflies in my tummy as of post time. Oh well, why not give it a shot, right?

I have 6 diaries. One from grade school, 2 from high and ummm.. lets say the remaining were all about “adult life”  so it reached 6. haha! My affair with my diaries are and were awesome, but dont worry, i wont consider femmetouch as MY diary, a lighter side of femme peeps out there will be its priority. Not too dainty but definitely not funky.

Hope I can put justice to this newly found affection.  =)