Christmas gifts for my family

Last tuesday, i bought my family some Christmas presents.. i bought a nice pink shirt from jam, and a blue one for jell.. i bought a coffee maker for my dad coz he's been complaining about the one at here at home. for mommy, i bought two earrings.. one from nine west and the other one is from anne klein! hope they liked it!

asking forgiveness...

my dad and i had a misunderstanding last Tuesday. i know i was wrong this time. i shouldn't have done it. i wont elaborate anymore about what happened. i cannot ask forgiveness from him or apologize, because of my pride. how i wish i could tell him how sorry i was...

tHeRe's n0 pLace liKe hOme... =(

this will be my first christmas here in chicago.. it definitely will be a white christmas for me, coz in a few days time, i know it will be snowing na.. actually it had started snowing during the first week of december, but then, flurries lang..

i know it is wrong to say this, but i still can't feel the spirit of Christmas.. maybe because Christmas in the Philippines is no comparison to any other in the world... i really miss waking up early for simbang gabi, the puto bungbong, and everything else.. i also miss my friends back home... here i go again... senti na naman... =( i really want to go home na...

even though i know that there are more opportunities for me here in the states, i'm still not convinced to stay here for good... i'll just save for my future then probably go home na...

i know there are a lot of Filipinos who really want to go here in the US... i know that i should be grateful coz i was fortunate enough to be staying here with my family, but then, i'm not happy... i'm not saying that i don't want to be with my family, pero sana nandun na lang kami s Phils.. sad ang buhay dito e... do you know that i don't have enough friends here?!?!? yeah! it's true... unlike back home, dami kong friends... dami ko nakakausap, share stories with, share my problems and happiness with... do you know what a typical day for me here is? well, i wake up at 6:30 am, eat breakfast, take a shower, prepare for work and leave at 7:30 hoping to catch the bus.. then transfer naman sa red line train.. then when i get off at Lake station, i have to transfer to green line train naman and get off at Ashland station, where my workplace is located.. then i work from 9 am-3 pm.. then from 5:45-9 pm, i go to school.. after that, i go home na.. i arrive at aroung 9:30-10 pm sa bahay, eat dinner, iron my clothes for the next day, check my mail, then sleep na... so boring huh??? kaya nga gustong gusto ko na umuwi e...

i really really wanna go home na... but i feel so helpless, coz i know my family wants me to stay here with them....

there really is no place like home...i'll never stay here for good... one day, i know, i'll be leaving this place and go back to place where i truly belong...

neVeR agaIn!!!

last thursday, some friends and i watched a movie.. we won some tickets again for a special screening. the movie was Barbarian Invasions. i swear it wasn't a good movie! i even slept inside the theater coz it bored me to death! The movie was even in French, and there were English translations that we had to read. GRR!!!

cHriStmAs sHoPpiNg...

Wednesday was a very tiring day for me. After work, I went to Michigan avenue for some Christmas shopping. I bought some gifts for Ate Mary Grace, Ritzel, Sir Patrick and Kuya Rommel.

My first stop was at Water Tower Place. I think I spent 3 hours trying to look for gifts for them. I also tried to look for a new jeans and shirt.

I bought a colorful diary for Ritzel at Limited too.. It was on sale. The regular price was for $29 but then I got it for only 9.99.. (",) For Ate Mary Grace, I bought a photo book from pottery barn coz i know she loves pictures! For Kuya Rommel, I bought a pouch bag from Perry Ellis, and for Sir Patrick, a tie from DKNY. (",)

I was supposed to buy a pair of pants from EXPRESS, coz their pants were less $20 off, but then I changed my mind because of the long queue in the counter. I also applied for an Express card which would give me an extra 15% of for every purchase. I think it was a blessing in disguise that i didn't buy the pair of pants from Express! Coz i saw a nice form fitting pants from Levi's!! and it was also on sale!!! I also got a nice red shirt from Guess.

I'll be buying stuff for my family next week... Hmm.. I'm still clueless to what i'll be giving them this year...

For my dad, i think i'm gonna give him a nice long-sleeved polo.. For my mom, probably something from Body Shop and for my sisters, some nice new tops. (",)

sOme inSpiRatioNaL quOtes for thE daY...



"Never have false hope for granted wishes, but always have true faith in answered prayers."

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.."

"The grand essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love and something to hope for."

"A smile is a light shining in the window of the soul, letting the heart know that it's finally come home."

"Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you only have one life to live and one chance to do all the things you want to do."

Things i want to buy for myself:

i strolled along michigan avenue yesterday and i saw some cute stuff which i really wanted to buy...

1) a pair of sneakers from Guess.

2) a new pair of pants from Guess or Gap

3) a nice vintage skirt from Gap

4) a cute shirt from Guess

Mona Lisa Smile...

We had a great time watching the movie... I recommend this one.. let me share with you the synopsis of the movie...

Academy Award®-winner Julia Roberts heads an all-star cast featuring Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Marcia Gay Harden in Mona Lisa Smile, an uplifting and poignant drama about one woman's desire to enrich the lives of her students.

In 1953, a time when women's roles were rigidly defined, novice art history professor Katherine Watson (Roberts) begins teaching at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, which despite its academic reputation is an environment where success is measured by how well the students marry. Encouraging these women to strive for a more enlightened future, Watson challenges the administration and inspires her students to look beyond the image of what is, and consider the possibilities of what could be.

I really loved it...!

After watching the movie, we went to PJ Clarkes along Illinois Street. It was just a few steps away from the theater. We ordered the mini cheese burgers w/c was recommended by my friend's boyfriend.. We also ordered their baby back ribs and calamari! yummy!!! =)

Things to be thankful for, for the past few days...

1) I'll be having piano lessons soon!!! I really love music.. can't live without it..

2) I have some extra money which i will be spending to buy some gifts for family and friends.

3) Had a great time watching Mona Lisa Smile with friends.

4) My boss treated us to Mc Donald's.. (hey! it's the thought that counts!! (",) )

5) I wasn't late for work yesterday and also this morning! (I hope for the rest of the week too... )

6) Final exams week is over. ( Yahoo!)

uPdaTe...

it's been quite a while since i last wrote here. i was so preoccuppied with so many things. i haven't even organized my stuff yet! the room i share with my sisters is so messy! i swear! everything's topsy turvy. it's because we really have no time to arrange our things. my drawer is such a mess! i mean, i just put everything there! one of these days i'll fix everything i promise!
i'll just post an update of what happened these past few days...

Saturday: Jell and I had to wake up early coz we went to St. Henry to practice for the presentation on Sunday, December 21. There will be a simbang gabi in our parish church and i think there will be a program after the mass. We also had to clean the house coz Celean and her friend came over. We had yummy cheese pizza for merienda.. =)

Sunday: Jam and I were late for the mass. We weren't able to join the choir. Father Dominick saw us enter the church late.. Guess what?!?!? I'm really so excited! I finally asked Phuong ( pronounced as Fong.. he's vietnamese) to teach me how to play the piano.. yahoo!!! Phoung plays the piano for the 9:30 mass.. I've had piano lessons when i was young but i forgot all about it na! i was in grade two then! I remember the piece i loved to play was "Let me Call You Sweet Heart." =) My teacher was an old lady who lives just a few houses away from ours. She was so masungit and very strict! I remember she would make "pitik" on my fingers pag nagkamali ako... Jackie came over. I think Jell was helping her on her assignment. TQ came over too. He brought some cinnamon buns! yummm!!! Mom prepared dinner for Jell, Jackie, TQ and me! We were all starving! Mommy had to cook more rice pa kc it wasn't enough for us! =) I also tried to review for my Math exams..

christmas is just around the corner...

just a few more days, christmas na.. i hear christmas songs playing on the radio.. everytime i hear the songs i'LL be home for christmas and have yourself a merry little christmas, i just feel so sad.. it makes me feel like going back home.. :(
it's so cold na talaga.. tonight its 12F.. i had to wear my thermals, a sweater, a heavy jacket, a scarf and a bonnet.. observation ko lang, kahit yun water s canal, nagffreeze sa sobrang lamig! =)
this afternoon after work i went to nordstrom along michigan avenue.. it was my first time to go there.. i just strolled around.. when ate grace texted me that she's in the office, naglakad na lang ako papunta doon.. exercise na rin.. =)
nag-ikot kami ni daddy downtown.. guess what?!?!? apat na kami manonood ng Mona Lisa Smile on monday!!! yehey!! the more the merrier..
i read nga pala in a magazine that andrew firestone and jen schefft (from The has gone separate ways.. :( how sad naman.. kc nasundan ko un mga episodes nila together e.. i really like jen.. she seems so nice kc.. maybe they weren't meant to be.. sad but true...

things to be thankful for this day...

1) the bus and train came on time.. which means i wasn't late..

2) i bought some christmas cards..

3) went to one of my fave stores, The Body Shop and bought African Spa Bath Salt Scrub.. ( i recommend it! it's really nice kc you can use it specially pag dry yung skin mo.. para maalis yung mga dead skin cells.. your skin becomes silky smooth after using it.. mabango pa! ako pa e meticolosa ko pagdating s skin.. specially s arms, hands, legs and foot.. =) )

4) found one of my long lost friends.. si AJ! thanks s friendster

5) had a yummy shawarma for dinner.. i discovered a new resto malapit d2 s house.. sarap ng shawarma! mmmm!! sira na naman diet ko..

6) had a nice long bubble bath! sobra nakakarelax tlaga! =)

7) nkapag download me ng christmas songs.. =)

what a very busy week!!!!

this week has been so exhausting... i had lots of work to do in the office coz my boss is on vacation... finalizing my portfolio last monday and tuesday.. i slept in the wee hours of the morning.. i even slept in the train.. doing my final paper for humanities, which was about macbeth...
last sunday we went to tita mely's condo... actually, dapat nung thanksgiving kme nandun e.. but then, she was sick so we had to cancel it.. so nung sunday lang natuloy...
daming food! yummm!!! we had crabs... (my favorite.. though im allergic to seafoods..), kare-kare (my favorite din.. but then, i can't eat too much bagoong kc im allergic din to that..), broiled fish, biko (courtesy of tita goding... she makes the best biko i swear!), ube-macapuno cake, refrigerator cake (courtesy of my mom... ), and ginatang mongo... =)
i love tita mely's condo.. it was so cozy... and ang ganda ng view! you can see Lake Michigan sa window sa receiving area... someday... magkakaroon din ako ng condo.. hehehehe!!! hopefully.. =)

guess what?? ate mary grace and i will watch the special screening of Monalisa smile.. (Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, Kirsten Dunst)... nanalo ulit sha dun s contest sa Chicago Sun Times.. shempre i helped her.. hehe!! yun last movie na napanood nmen was Under the Tuscan Sun.. (Diane Lane) special screening din.. =)
i'll be posting again soon.. after finals next week.. or maybe tomorrow.. =) i just can't stop myself from using the computer.. =)

Things to be thankful for today...

1) i woke up just in time... i had to go to the office much earlier coz the sister of my boss left a voice mail.. askin me to come to the office at 8:30 am..

2) the bus and trains were on time..

3) ma'm gigi was extra nice to me... she even bought me some tacos.. =) yummy!

4) had sushi and tofu miso soup for merienda.. yummm!!

5) i wasn't late for school...

6) had a chat with some friends back home... (kriz quiogue and lenzzy) =)

learn to appreciate what you have in life....

everytime im on my way to truman college, i always see this man along the sidewalk... begging for alms... kumakanta lang sha dun.. probably he's jobless... i don't mean to brag alright but whenever i pass by him, i give him some coins from my pocket... kawawa nman kc sha e... hindi naman sha nanggugulo.... kung marami lang akong pera... kanina, pagdaan ko nandun ulit sha.. he's singing "jingle bells" paulit-ulit lang un... magmula b4 ako pumasok ng school hanggang dismissal nandun parin sha.. kakaawa tlaga... it really breaks my heart...
i just hope that those who are well-off in life would learn to appreciate what they have in life.. kc not all people are as fortunate as them...

whattaday!!!

I just came home from school.. im so exhausted.. i submitted my portfolio for english.. i slept at 2 am this morning because of that project.. i have a terrible head-ache right now.. probably because of the weather right now.. it's starting to snow.. flurries pa lang sha..
kanina i was so mad kse sobrang in a hurry na ko then si daddy sobrang nagmamadali na... ngayon ko lang naaappreciate how hard it is to be working and studying at the same time.. i have learned to appreciate working students. mahirap pala pagsabayin ang studies chaka work. but i chose to do this e. konting tiis lang.. i know someday i willl reap the rewards of my hardwork. i really have lots of plans in life.. i have so many dreams and goals that i hope will one day be fulfilled...

I am not a writer by profession.. Writing helps me express my inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is an outlet for me to share my opinions and ideas about the things around me. I am never fond of writing formal essays. I am more inclined in writing informal ones such as writing everyday in my journal, wherein I just blurt out whatever I want to say. Writing also helps me become more imaginative. It makes me feel better. I write when I am depressed. I also write when I am overjoyed. Writing captures the exact mood I am in. I bear my heart and soul when I write.

oVertiMe.. i've been buiLding my cAstle of love..
just for two.. thouGh yoU nvEr knew You wEre my reAson...
i'Ve gOne mucH too far, for you noW to saY
tHaT i'vE gOt tO tHroW mY caStLe aWay

oVeRdReaMs, i HavE pIckEd out a PerfeCt cOme TruE
thOugH yOu neVer kNew iT wAs oF yOu i'Ve bEEn dreAminG
tHe sAnDman Has cOme fRom tOo faR awaY
fOr yOu to sAy cOme bAck sOme Other dAy

aNd thOugh yoU don't bElieVe tHat tHey do
tHey dO cOme tRue, fOr did mY dReaMs
cOme trUe wheN i LooKed at yOu
aNd mayBe toO if yOu wOuld beLieVe
yOu tOO miGht be oVerjoyEd, oVer LoVed, OveR me...

oVer hEarTs, i HaVe paInfuLLy tUrnEd eVerY stOne
juSt to fInd, i haD foUnd wHat i'Ve seArchEd to dIscOver
i'Ve cOme MucH tOo fAr fOr me nOw to fInd
tHe loVe that i'Ve sOughT caN neVer be miNe

aNd thOugh yoU don't bElieVe tHat tHey do
tHey dO cOme tRue, fOr did mY dReaMs
cOme trUe wheN i LooKed at yOu
aNd mayBe toO if yOu wOuld beLieVe
yOu tOO miGht be oVerjoyEd, oVer LoVed, OveR me...

aNd thOugh tHe oddS say imProBabLe
wHat dO tHey kNoW, fOr iN rOmance
aLL tRue LoVe nEedS is a cHance
aNd maYbe wItH a chAnce yOu wiLL find
yOu too i Like oVerjoyed, oVerLoVed, OveR you..
OvEr yOu...



This is my favorite song.. The very reason for my blog's song...