a girl just can’t have enough of them

Last week, I finished tallying my expenses for January and after much computation (and recomputation!), I gave myself a pat on the back. 

Despite a couple of Panahon De Peligro episodes, I was (more or less) able to stick to my budget AND help out a little in the household expenses.  So to reward myself for being a good girl (hehe), I bought a couple of nice, cheap shoes from this tiangge in Glorietta. 

And if I’m able to stick to my budget for Feb, I’ll be buying myself a couple of bikinis next 

january in a nutshell

It’s been a busy busy month for The Penny Lane.  But it’s been a superbly fun one too!  Here’s a wrap up of the events that launched a fantabulous year for me

A SEMI-REUNION WITH BORA ‘06 GURLIES

January 5, 2008.

Bora Gurlies.  (L-R) Dhez, Ces, Djong, and Koryn. 

Finally, finally.  I can’t believe it took us two years after that fantastic Bora vacation last 2006 to get together.  It wasn’t actually a full-fledged reunion coz we were missing two gurlies that night (Joei and Pat, don’t go a-missing next time!).  Nevertheless, it was good to do some catching up with each other.

"Yayaman ako!" I think, is our collective mantra for 2008. If conversation topics are a testament to how old you are, then ours would say that we’ve pretty much matured over time :p

It’s funny how priorities change so fast. I mean, there was a time when Djong and I would go gaga over planning our summer just to make sure we wouldn’t miss our then "Holy Weeks at Bora" tradition. But now it’s all about seeing all the rest of the Philippines and exploring the world. But of course, with our "Travelling the World" dreams comes our financial woes and the reality of how much it would really take for us to actually travel the world.  Yes, yes, I know.  I slipped.  I wasn’t able to resist the charms of Bora hence my trip to its shores this Holy Week.  But I still haven’t forgotten "Visit new local destinations" goal that’s why I’m taking a sidetrip to Dumaguete.  Smart, right?  Hihi.

So to sum it up, our conversations revolved around how to get rich so we can become jet setters :p

After dinner, Dhez hopped off to another get-together while Djong, Ces, and I consumed a pitcher of dark beer in Grappa’s. It was fun reminiscing about college and about how boys can sometimes be so immature! (Calling Pao…if you’re reading this, yes, we talked about you :p Haha, kidding! Alabyu!) Again, we were reminded of how much things have changed over the years (it’s been five years since we graduated from college!). And we all agree the only thing that stayed the same was our gorgeous looks…hehehe… :p

Theme for the night:  floral and pretty.  And a touch of HUMBLENESS too! Hahaha.

REGGAE HIGH FOR ‘08

January 18. 2008.

Having fun yet?

The Sexy Nomad and I decided to celebrate the good fortune 2008 is ushering in our lives by having our first Brownman Revival gig for the year.  Beer, reggae music, and a whole lot of dancing….FUN! (more…)

STRAWBERRIES!

 After much kicking and screaming, Miranda finally admits that she loves me and brings me some strawberries from Baguio (well, as fresh as they can be after a seven-hour drive!). 

Anyhoo, before devouring them I did a little photo op

THIZ IZ EEET!!!

SEVEN weeks to go…DELUBYO naaaaa! Hehehe.

shameless plug

Transit is a free weekly news magazine for students and young professionals which come out every Wednesday.  It features just about anything that keeps the young reader up-to-date with what’s current in our society and around the world.

Knowing my lust for travel and my constant itch to take photos, my friend, Janus, who’s one of the magazine’s editors commissioned me to write a couple of travel articles.  I’ve got two articles and some photos published last year and this month.  You might wanna check them out on their online website here and here. 

They’re not Pulitzer material but hey, they’re good enough to check for travel tips

The stories I write during my daily grind get aired on national television every night but there’s nothing like a byline to make you feel a wee bit proud.

Doing two of the things I love–travelling and photography–and earning while I’m at it.  Cool, eh?

my inner "landi"

Summer lovin’.  Photo taken during my last trip to Bora way back in 2006.

Clars, Ami, and I are going gaga over planning this crazy Holy Week trip we cooked up during The  Buntis’s baby shower.  Ami and I were originally planning to spend the week in Bacolod with a little side trip to Dumaguete and Apo Island when we suddenly felt the sinful shores of Bora beckoning us.  So we thought, why not go to Bacolod, segue to Dumaguete (with The Mister and The Sister, of course), and make Bora our final pit stop?  And Clars was more than glad to join in on our exploits.

We don’t have time for a sit-down planning session what with our busy schedules and all (oh, us career women! :p ) so we just resorted to harried phone calls and text messages.

One particular exchange went like this:

KORYN:  "clars, wen ang flyt back mo to manila? and via?’

CLARS:  "monday morning na. wala na availble eh. via caticlan. myt crash sa place ng kuya of a friend. haha bahala na."

KORYN:  "uy, omigod! baka til monday a rin ako! hehe kasi wala na rin akong nakuhang availble flyt ng sun.  di ko rin lam san magse-stay kc til sun lang tayo nakabuk and bka sbrang mahal kun tyo lang!"

CLARS:  "cge, basta sama2 ba tyo.  bhala na whre tyo stay sunday nyt! hahaha. yahoo!!! ang saya saya! gudluck stin!"

KORYN:  "BORA and BOYS here we come!"

Another one went like this:

KORYN:  "clars! sat kc alis ni ami, so in effect, 3 na lang tyo magsheshare ng rum. mdadagdagan ng 300 per head and pay ntin for sat night. gus2 mo bang magdowngrade tyo ng rum para cheaper?"

CLARS:  "ok na cguro if we stay in d same rum, anyway 300 lng nman ang diff.  hassle pa kc pag nagmuv tayo ng stuff. it will take time and efort din & bka pag intayin pa tyo or watevr. sayang yung ‘exposure and flirting’ tym ntin hahaha."

KORYN:  "i agree! there’ll b so many men waiting for us!"

CLARS:  "yeah, kawawa nman to keep them waiting diba. hahaha crazy!"

‘Yun ‘yun eh!  Hahaha. My god, it’s been too long since I got excited over boys! Does this mean, I’m back in the game?  Hahaha!

Seriously, eversince The Accident, I haven’t felt this elated at the prospect of "mingling" with men.  I mean, the goal really is to have fun (with or without boys) but you know, what’s Bora without a little flirting here and there? :p  Oh, you know what I mean!  Hehehe.

What a way to get keyed up for the summer!

it means "no worries!"

This is why I love my job.  I get to meet interesting people, go to new places, and watch Disney On Ice for free!  Hihihihi.

Seeing Mickey, Miney, Donald, and Daisy romp around the skating rink and hearing Ariel sing "Part of Your World" brought me back to somewhere warm and fuzzy.

Rhina, my officemate, and I both agree–they don’t make cartoons like they used to.  I mean, yes, I’m guilty of spending tv time tuned to Disney Channel cartoons like Totally Spies or Kimpossible (hey, I watch newscasts five days a week so sue me if I want to indulge in no-brainer toons once in a while! :p ) but while I enjoy following the adventures of high school girls cum kick-ass spies, it doesn’t bring me to, as Aladdin and Jasmine put it, "A Whole New World."  Maybe because cartoons nowadays are so "modernized" and set in an environment we’re all familiar with–the school, office, the mall, and the like.

I miss flying off to Neverland and swimming "Under The Sea."  I miss joining Pumbaa and Timone in the Circle of Life as they sing Hakuna Matata!

And speaking of Hakuna Matata, not only did watching Disney On Ice bring back happy childhood memories, it also reminded me of one of the most effective key to a happy life….The Problem-Free Philosophy!

Hakuna Matata!

What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain’t no passing craze

 It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It’s our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!

When he was a young warthog
When I was a young warthog
He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal
He could clear the savannah after ev’ry meal
I’m a sensitive soul though I seem thick-skinned

And it hurt that my friends never stood downwind

And, oh, the shame
Thought-a changin’ my name
And I got downhearted
Ev’rytime that I…
Hey, not in front of the Kids
Oh, sorry.
Hakuna Matata!
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain’t no passing craze

It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It’s our problem-free philosophy

Hakuna Matata!

Hakuna…it means no worries
For the rest of your days
It’s our problem-free philosophy

So kids, everytime you feel like life is beginning to suck, just shout… HAKUNA MATATA!

The Million Dollar Popcorn.  That’s Rhina holding her hundred-bucks-apiece popcorn.  OA sa presyo ‘di ba?  It must be the box.

ang bestfriend ko

Limang taon na kaming magksama.

Ilang beses ko na siyang tinangkang talikuran, pero lagi pa rin siyang nandiyan tuwing aking binabalikan.

Siya ang aking ka-gimik, kainuman, karamay sa stress, at kasama 'pag walang magawa.

Sa lungkot.

Sa ligaya.

Sa hirap.

Sa ginhawa. 

Palagi siyang nandoon.

Kaya kahit anong sakit pa ang ibigay niya sa'kin, hindi ko siya maiwan-iwan.

Ang aking bestfriend…

HWEK HWEK HWEK :p

the rainbow after the rain :)

Twenty-Oh-Eight

Photo taken during our New Year's Eve Countdown Episode.   Nakita niyo ba 'kong kumakaway sa tv?  Hehe.

I agree with Djong.  Writing down your goals will give you a better aim at them.  I like keeping mine simple and feasible  

MY 2008 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

SAVE. 

No more post-work food trip.  My God, how they eat up your funds!
Limit night-outs to once a week. Exceptions are once-in-a-lifetime gigs or birthday celebrations during the middle of the week.
No more unnecessary Starbucks / Baang / Figaro coffee binging.  Since when did spending on overpriced coffee become a necessity anyway?  I mean, I make great coffee!
I’ll only eat at pricey restaurants during get-togethers, special occasions, and downer days. On ordinary days, there’s always the cafeteria and the new and improved Loop :p
Aside from my allocated monthly savings, put twenty bucks in my piggy bank everyday.  Hey, that’s a hundred and forty a week!
Finally, finally open up a savings account.

EARN MORE.

Continue to improve my skills.  Para maka-raket!

KEEP FIT. 

Sleep early (or as early as work would allow!).  Go home right after airing.  No more late-night internet-whoring (so it means tonight, or rather this morning, will be my last).
Jog at least thrice a week.
Swim with The Sister every Sunday.
Drink vitamins.  CONSISTENTLY.
Eat healthy.  Less fried meat, more greens and fruits.
Again, no more late-night food binging.

Sorry, I can’t promise to quit on my cigs.  They keep me sane sometimes :p

TRAVEL.

Visit at least three new local destinations this year.  My choices are:

1. Bohol
2. Camiguin
3. Siquijor
4. Pagudpud
5. Cagayan De Oro.
6. Caramoan Peninsula
7. Batanes
8. Carbin Reef in Negros Occidental
9. Apo Island
10. Dumaguete

Push through with my Kota Kinabalu Trip with The Sister and Ami.

OTHERS. 

Treat my family more often.  Simple lunch outs, or weekend out of town trips…masaya na naman sila dun eh!)
Spend more time with my family.  Continue to reserve Sundays and, if possible, Saturdays for them.
Try something new.  Swim with the wail sharks of Donsol.  Or go parasailing.  Or white water rafting.
Take better care of my skin and body.   Foot spas, facials, massages.
Follow schedules.  I mean what’s the use of being an OC if I can’t follow those nitty-gritty details I write down on my organizer?  When I say “8:00am- wake up,” then wake up it is!
Be more diligent in doing my errands.  ‘Nuf said.

This year, I’m also reserving my judgment on other people.  Everybody deserves a clean slate.  Even those who’ve rubbed me wrong last year.  And I’ll try to always see the best in each person first (not unless harap-harapan niya na kong k*palin, ah ibang usapan na ‘yun! Haha).

And like Miranda , I'll give love another try.  Naks!

  Hwatta declaration! :p

This why New Years are so wonderful, you don’t need an explanation to start over.  It's a universal understanding that you just can :)

—–

POST-SCRIPT (As of January 4, 2007)

Treat Miranda to coffee every month.  That is if we see each other that often :p