Project FEETrail [August 2012]: Flip-flops, Flats and Most Significant Change

"Based from Rick Davies and Jess Dart’s Monitoring and Evaluation Technique that we took up in class, what can you say is the Most Significant Change that happened to you?" One of my panel adviser and a well-respected professor in Development Management asked. 

I nearly choked. There is no way that I am going to let my voice crack. There is no way that I am going to allow what happened to me two years ago.

July 2010 – I was asked in class my opinion about “Quitting your job takes a lot of guts”. I had just recently resigned and moved back home and slowly realizing what Quarter-life crisis is when that question was thrown at me and I was caught off guard. In front of the whole class and I didn’t have any friends back then.

I nearly choked. My voice cracked and my professor got alarmed she must have thought I will start to cry. I was heartbroken when I left the city. Yes, I did quit the job that I am literally dragging my self into but at the same time, my applications to a different industry, the one that I really wanted ever since, was taking it’s sweet time in getting back to me. Then there was Graduate School who welcomed me with open arms.

So I moved back to UPLB. Two months after I was enrolled, the job called and wanted me to go back to the city for an interview. I can remember my self sitting in front of White Hat Frozen Yogurt stand in Alabang Town Center with my parents infront of me. I had to make a decision right then and there.

If I go to the interview and get qualified, I will leave Graduate School Pronto.

If I don’t, I will just have to patiently wait for life to unfold it’s purpose how it managed to pull me into moving me back home.

I am never comfortable with uncertainties and I always have this default fear of the future. But somehow, at that moment, I just went with my gut feel.

“I’m sorry but I will have to pass because I enrolled my self full time in UP Graduate School.”

“Okay, we will just have to put you in our reserved list just in case you decide to re-apply in the future.”

“Thank you very much, sir”

I hung up the phone and told my parents: “This whole graduate school better be worth it.”

And you know what? It was.

Because if I went for the job, I wouldn’t have the chance to met such good people, discover my self, get a better understanding, learn to forgive, be patient and be accepting. I did learn to be objective even if things will not go for my favor, learn to see things from different lenses. I felt my brain literally expanded. That’s why I always say I owe so much to Development Communication, not just because of the actual classes, but it’s the people and experience that I met when I decided to take up the degree.

And if I took that job, then I wouldn’t have the chance to spend the remaining last 2 years of my father’s life with him.

So just to give a simple and short answer what was the Most Significant Change that happened in my life? I learned to live my realities and faced my fears. I honestly learned and felt and appreciate what it feels like to be grounded.   (Of course, that’s not the answer that I gave to my professor, but it’s something along those lines.) 

I got a pedicure 3 days before my final graduate school presentation because I am all set to take my Oral Graduate Comprehensive Exam and propose my MS Thesis to my committee, in my peep-toe, nude-colored, high heeled wedge shoes that will definitely, psychologically level up my confidence that I badly  needed for that day.

I've always believed in the power of stilettos and high heeled shoes and I am actually proud that I can run in them. It gives women such power that when they strut, they can take anything the world can throw at them. But as I was headed out to the door at 6 in the morning, I changed my mind and wore my cheap ballet flats instead. 

I just feel that it made me feel closer to the ground.

P.S.

Sorry I just couldn't help but post this tweet from my friend. I passed the exam on the day of his 26th Birthday! :)

Thank you Frankie J.! 

Quick Review: The Spice Jar Food Hub

When my friend Franco tweeted me about a Mexican place that he discovered that he wanted me to try and blog about, I did not think twice about giving it a go. 

Two things:

1. We're always up to try a new restaurant/dining area around UPLB

2. It's the perfect time to test my new camera that I bought earlier this week (story about that in the coming posts).

The owner told me that they've been around since January of this year and we've never really noticed it until Franco suggested that we try it out.

The design at the counter

Dining Area

That's my friend Franco (in black) who endorsed the place for me to blog about.

View from the outside

 The food:

The best seller: Ginger Garlic Chicken - P60

Potato Balls - P45

Chili Bombs - P40

Beef and Bean Burrito - P125

Soft Chicken Taco - P85 

Quick Review:

• Reasonably priced (Iced Tea as low as Php10.00)
• Try their best seller: The ginger garlic chicken - I'm not much into garlic chicken but I really liked it and will order it again next time I visit.
• Not much of a burrito fan but I liked the Beef and Bean burrito. 
• Unfortunately there's no air-conditioning.
• Service is prompt.

Would I visit again? Yes.

Just a few steps from the entrance of F.O. Santos coming from Grove street, the Spice Jar Food Hub is located on the left side of the street. 

Why I wouldn't mind wearing a funny dress for The Bride

Few days ago, my closest friends told me that they're finally getting hitched! I am beyond excited because I've been such a fan. And because it's not my story to tell, no proposal story will be told in this blog...until probably, further notice and permission from the couple.

Anyway, immediately, minutes after learning that I was the first one (apart from family) that they shared the good news with, I was not able to help my self but tweet that people I love are getting married this year.

And, in a classic Kea fashion, the planning, the non-stop texting that went on for days including googling of wedding pegs were even in the middle of the day! I am that excited. Then one night, over dinner, I was telling a friend about my pegs for this wedding and the concept that I'm cooking, she asked if I am "The Maid of Honor".

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To be honest, I have not even thought of becoming part of the entourage because I am more into the wedding behind-the-scenes ( The make up, preparation, pre-nup shoots and wedding photography, wedding blogging, scouting for receptions, wedding pegs and ideas etc.) That's why this movie is one of my favorites:

I can still remember how Jennifer Lopez walks confidently along the aisle with a blazer on and the blazer opens up to be a bridal tool kit with all the essentials to fix all kinds of bridal/wedding emergency.

What makes me really happy is I get to help out to plan my favorite couple's wedding!

You have no idea how many bridemaid-zilla stories that I've heard. Bridesmaid even more demanding than the bride, bridesmaids fighting over the color and style of their dresses, and bridesmaid arguing with other bridesmaids about the style of their dresses, shoes and even the transportation that they're going to use. Bridesmaids stressing out about their boyfriends not being able to make it, bridesmaids being single, bridesmaids demanding this and that and I could go on.

These bridesmaids were such a nightmare that they keep forgetting that the wedding is not about them. It's about the bride!

I am going to be one of the bridesmaids this year and I don't really care/demand that I get to have a designer/awesome dress (of course it's nice to have one too!). My request is just for the dress to fit comfortably and have a few things on so that I would at least look presentable. I do not insist on getting my own design, color, accessories or whatever.

So to all stressful bridesmaids out there: Trust the bride. I have not yet met a bitchy bride who intentionally wanted for all her bridesmaids to look ugly just so she can stand out. With this age of cyberspace vanity, everyone gets very conscious about how everything will look like and be perceived from the outside. They wouldn't want to have an ugly entourage either and you will have to respect their taste because the wedding is about them and not you.

It's the bride's day and what the bride wants, the bride must get.  :)

Instant flawless hair bun

Remember this post about the instant side swept bangs?

My sister saw has a knack for noticing these kind of hair things:

Tadaaaaa!!!

Instant Hair Bun!

Review: FX Curls Up Fixative Gel

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It's my first time to try a "fixative gel" for culs/permed hair. I've been using curl defining mousse since I got my hair permed last September.

Price: Php 299.00
Purchase Place: Landmark Trinoma

It was my first time to try using a gel. I guess I should have known the really major difference about working with the curls with the gel vs. mousse.

I followed the instructions and scrunched my hair with the gel on it while still damp, though it maintained my big curls, my curl strands were a little stiff and loose. It's really a styling gel. I definitely preferred the mousse version of this.

Last night I was walking at Landmark Makati when I saw another gel type of it's kind. The sales lady told me that the other one gives a soft result compared to this one. I did not tell her that I am actually using the one that I am inquiring about, so kudos to the sales lady who honestly told me that which product makes the curls stiff.

Will I purchase again?

Probably, but not anytime soon. I prefer it compared to Monea Curl Defining Milk lotion (that I will not buy again!)

It definitely held my curls way better than Monea, but it tends to feel a little stiff. If you don't like working with mousse, (or if your hair type can't work with mousse) this is a good option.

WTF: What's That on your Face?

I watched Ally McBeal series in 1999 and saw one episode where this was shown and I thought this face bra was weird and will never be adopted in real-life, only in that kooky TV series:

The inventor, the Law firm's professional meddler secretary, Elaine Vassal, (played by Jane Krakowski) said it prevents the face from sagging.

Then Year 2012 came the Face-kinis from China:

Photo by Aly Song  (source)

According to Yahoo News, it's the Chinese Solution for their fear of tanning. 

I wonder what's next?

How's your long weekend?

How's your long weekend?

Me?

We went out of town.

Literally.

OUT. OF. FRIGGIN' TOWN.

And there's going to be more of these.

Those 4 days were really jam-packed. My self-conditioning for a major MS Thesis overhaul went to nothing.

Now I am cramming like a maniac with the last few hours of the long weekend before work starts tomorrow. I need to convince myself that I accomplished something. Like revise a page.

Anyway, I hope you all had a good one. :)

Children of the 90s Movies

I'm challenging the power of the internet and my Google-fu if I can retrieve photos or cinema posters of my favorite childhood movies.

These movies, when shown on HBO (which is like 1:10 ratio most of the time) must have my undivided attention. 

But the most special to my memory is this:

Because this is the first ever movie that my late Father took my sister and me to watch at Alabang Town Center. 

And this:

The first movie we saw as a family that started our post-Christmas mall tradition. 

What are your favorite childhood movies? 

Positivity for Health Reasons

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I pretty much lived a dangerous life and phase of early twenties when I had the financial freedom while living independently. Though it was dangerous, I took calculated risks while I was on the edge and I'm proud that after all the things I've been through, none of them has reached the "South Luzon Express Way" borderline. My friend Karen and I used to talk about our days when we were 21, when we both started our careers at the same time (more on that in the coming posts) and we both have agreed that we really did live well during our early twenties. To this day I still wouldn't trade it for anything else.

But, I could have saved a ton of heartache and hundreds of unnecessary drama if only I had incorporated and prioritized health reasons before I indulged and made decisions.

Then, had it been that way I probably would have not really lived at all.

The Bedroom Ritual

I have a bedroom ritual. I must watch FRIENDS re-runs on DVD every night each night. Im so glad my sister lent me her Sony portable DVDplayer (that you can twist and it can even look like a tablet) so I can watch it at night right beside my bedstand.

I sleep side by side with my mom nowadays, so she was annoyed at first  that she’s lying next to me trying to get a good night sleep while I let out a guffaw from time to time.

In the morninng, after taking a shower, open up the DVD player and watch the episodes again while putting on creams, lotions, make up and mousse on my hair (yeah, the girly stuff).

I was just checking updates in my pinterest account when I saw these: 

I'm looking for a site where I can see screencaps from FRIENDS like these because I really like reminiscing their funny punch lines.


FRIENDS relaxes me. It has become officially my vice.  You know how some people must have coffee each morning? I must pop a DVD of friends. I know How I Met Your Mother is the trend now (since Friends ended in 2004 and HIMYM started in 2005) but it’s just not the same.

That home-y feeling in an apartment

I love how spaces feel like home.

Too bad my old apartment that I wrote about before is just a one bedroom pad and I did not get to invite friends as often as I could because I am mostly too tired to entertain. I dream of having an apartment as cozy as this where my friends lives just right next door.

Like Monica Geller's apartment in FRIENDS:

I found this online. Someone made this replica of Monica Geller's apartment.

Isn't this kyoot? 

When I first decided to get a place of my own, my friend from work Chloe, encouraged me and gave me tips into getting an apartment. I cannot forget the first time I stepped into her apartment. It was a small one bedroom unit, but it really feels like home. She even made pasta for me and she was such a  good host. She came with me when I picked out my first plastic portable cabinet because I don't want to invest in wood like she did. We might have just the same 24sqm space but her place feels a lot like home. Mine really did feel like a big bedroom. Bff and I used to just watch reruns of Sex and the City all the time in the living room and order in.

My friend who migrated from Baguio to pursue her doctoral degree currently rents a 2BR, 2 storey apartment. Though there's no couch, no regular living room stuff that you regularly see, her place feels like home. I cannot recall how many times I passed out sleeping on her mat on the floor. It just felt really comfortable.

Home is regardless of furniture and whatever it is that you bring to decorate your pad. I've been to really nice houses but felt so stiff because it gives an aura of a museum.

The feeling of home emanates from the people who lives in it. I hope I can emanate that feeling too. :)

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 11 - Tatay would've been so proud

Last week, I took a day off work to study. Like for real. The Friday morning was spent reading notes, by afternoon of 1pm, I went to Baker Hall to give the stuff for donation for last week's monsoon that I wrote about. Expect no pictures of me donating stuff. Things like that are just not for display.

Anyway, I spent the rest of the Friday trying to relax. God knows I hardly know how to relax nowadays. My Blood Pressure is on borderline from all the stress (seriously) of my upcoming FINAL Oral major examination for graduate school.

I had  a pedicure, read my notes, ordered a club sandwich that I don't know how I was able to eat it alone and concentrated on my checklist. 

Monday, August 13 is the big day. I woke up at 5am and within 6:30 am I am already 5 minutes away from the college building for my 9am Examination.

I can hardly remember the last time I really felt this nervous. The night before the exam, I was sneezing all throughout the day and coughing. I am afraid to get sick because I really want to get this over and done with. I really don't want to go through these jitters once again.

I realized that I really just want to do this once, and even if I crammed the hell out, I really will just put up a big fight. I will not go down without a fight.

By 11am I was told that I passed the UP Graduate School Compre Exam! Forgive my ecstatic state of having the urge to really blog this. I was secretly telling myself that I do not want to be a statistic in failing and that I will only take this exam once. In UPLB Graduate School, you get to have a second chance but if you flunk again this time you're out.

Even if people keep on telling me that I will be just fine and that I will make it ,of course, at the end of the day, it’s still a battle with my self and I don’t want to be too complacent. I want to earn it fair and square.

God knows how much tears I’ve cried over anxiety and fear and how many tea light candles that I lit up because I really want to pass this so bad. Not really for me, but for my Tatay (Dad) who passed away last June 5. On the 39th day since he died, he spoke to me in my dreams telling me to finish my Master’s Degree. He must have felt that it doesn’t matter to me as much as before that’s why I was not really preparing for it even if I enrolled my self this semester.  

The last time I took an eligibility exam, I flunked. I remember calling my mom’s number to vent out that I ended up calling my father’s number. Then, unexpectedly, I broke down, crying uncontrollably over the phone. It was his first time to hear me get upset and cry over an exam (he always thought I am too happy go lucky).  He was the one who told me to pull my self together and I can always take it a hundred times. I did not go through taking the exam again.  This compre exam is the next, if not major exam, that I’ve taken since my thesis defense back in 2003, when I was still in college.

When I finally got it, I was expecting myself to be over the moon. I'm happy I made my parents very happy.  I know tatay must be really proud of me and I know I made him happy,  but it’s just isn’t the same as having the chance to see my father’s face once again when I tell him that I passed my exam on a first try.

Spice Girls Reunion: The London 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony

I was having breakfast this morning while watching the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremonies on cable when the sight of the Spice Girls about to perform made me jump!

I’m a huge Spice Girl fan since highschool! In fact I wroteabout their rumored reunion before. The sight of the 5 girls performing together was just really lovely.

In fact, too lovely that I had unexpected tears welling up in my eyes. So this must be what a huge fan girl feels like! 

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Here they are praticing before the 2012 Olympic Closing ceremony:

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I watched it past 7am and now, seven hours later, it's still Trending on Twitter! :)

This really made my morning! :) 

Of mundane things, gratitude and paying forward

I saw this in our garage yesterday. This is probably one of the nicest bird nest that I've seen. The weave seems sturdy. Luckily our dog did not decided to stamp on it because when I peaked inside, I saw eggs!

First time I saw eggs and I asked my sisters to go outside and check it out. Too bad, I think the eggs are broken due to the typhoon. There's actually some small spots of blood at the nest, my sister placed it back to the tree, just in case Momma Bird came looking.

Other news: My sister's blog, Aprille Araguas Designs'turned one year old and she made this home made brownie fudge:

She said this was so easy I can make one myself (my-can't-cook-for-shit shelf).

Last Tuesday when the classes/work were suspended, I went to the doctor for a follow up on my check up. I really hate hospitals and I really don't like waiting around waiting for the tests/procedures to be done and I dread waiting for the results, but thank God, everything's fine I just needed a little medication (and need to start losing weight soon, o sha Franco, let's mag ma-Fit na talaga!). I'm really finding so many things each day to be thankful for.

Last night I was watching the news while reviewing for my upcoming exam, I get a little anxious about my exam but then I thought, this is nothing compared to what I am seeing on TV. And if I were in their place, I would really want someone to help me too (maybe more on that in my coming posts) so, I texted friends and encouraged them to donate:

Me (and my loved ones who live nearby) are really lucky to be living in elbi and I keep thinking that if this would happen to our area, I would really be devastated. We would be devastated. Why wait for first-hand experience of flood before realizing that people need to help each other?

So if you're from UPLB and wants to take part in this drive, please donate and help spread the word!

This isn't about our individual selves anymore.

Review: FX Curls Up Curl Reviving Mousse

Since I got my hair permed September 2011, I've always been obsessed on the look out for curl defining/enhancing/reviving hair products. I don't really care if it's in the form of a serum, lotion or mousse, as long as it works fabulously with my curls, I'm on it! I'm not really adventurous when it comes to hair products but I've been having fun trying all these stuff for hair. Perming my hair is the most practical thing that I did regardless of weather and it definitely saved me a lot of hair stress. I don't think I will be going back to my old hair soon.

I remember my first review that I wrote before, then came the Alberton VO5's hair mousse showdown and finally I've tried a curl defining milk lotion , got disappointed, then I went back to using finesse curl defining hair mousse in between of trying other products.

My sister went on a trip to the city and I asked her to just get any curl defining product from the beauty section and this is what she got for me:

Image Source

Product Name: FX Curls Up Curl Reviving Mousse
Availability: LandMark, Trinoma, Quezon City
Price: Php299.00

They have a range of curl defining products that includes a spray and another product that specializes in curls. Maybe I'll pick that up myself when I have the chance to go to the city. I don't really like spending money on something that I do not feel confident about. (That's why it's a good thing that Monea Curl Defining Lotion only costs Php99.00, because otherwise it's going to be such a complete waste).

Now on with the review:

The Pros:

• The Price is affordable.
• Cute Packaging.
• It really does a great job in holding my curls. I think this one can really replace the dependable Finesse Curl Defining Mousse that I always use.

The Cons:

• Not available in regular supermarkets unlike Professional Touch and Finesse.
• Once dispensed, the mousse is not too foamy like the regular mousse. You would think that it's water based. 

Tips on how to work well with this mousse: 

• This works best if you put it on a still wet hair, not overly towel dried. Just squeeze a healthy amount of excess water out of your hair.
• Turn over your hair, apply the mousse and work on your curls by scrunching it upwards to pump up the curls.

Would I buy this again? Absolutely! I just wish this is available at all Watson's Drugstore and Regular Supermarkets like Sm, Robinsons and Pure Gold.

I think I found the one that can replace the Finesse Curl Defining Mousse that's been saving my curls all these  months!

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 10 - Even the cards says it so

Unlike majority of my friends in graduate school, I went to graduate school out of a whim. I used to reason out that it’s probably to cure my quarter-life crisis, take a break from city life, figure out and decide what I want to do in life while getting additional education, nurse a broken heart and so on. Two years later, I finally know why I moved back.

I always say that I owe graduate school so much. And even though I only took it out of a whim ( because majority of the people I know wanted to get the degree to get promoted), I found my self drawn to it.  Right now, I really want to earn it and finish the degree, because I feel that, after the personal turmoils that I’ve encountered this past few months, it’s one of the only thing that I can call my own. It gives me a sense of ownership that as much as I want to get the degree, I also want to stay. I like being a student. I like juggling work and school, I like rushing to school and attend classes, see and meet new friends.  Everything that I did not do while I was still in college I was able to do it in graduate school. I never wanted to be in a school newspaper in college, before I knew it, I was the culture editor of UPLB Perspective last year. I don’t like being one of the class officers because I like having my own life, before I knew it, I am already the secretary of a graduate school association.

Lots of things are happening beyond my control. Being in graduate school taught me how to be patient and how to let go and let things fall right into place. My journey from the time that I got my letter of admission to graduate school two years ago until now is a clear proof of how if you will only let God, he will take care of you because he knows better.

The [REAL] Anna Banana? (A video reply from the PLDT MYDSL Commercial)

Remember the PLDT MyDSL that I blogged about before? Apparently, the REAL Anna Banana came around and dropped a line to my old post with the link to her allegedly video reply to Derek's Anna Banana I love you a bunch song...

I am not sure if this is part of "testing the waters" of some advertising team/agency, but after watching the video here's what I thought:

• This is too staged. Too scripted. Even the word/name ANNA in the background is too strategic. It didn't come natural. Or adorable. 
• Song: The words are eaten up, I did not even understand that the first part of the song is a rap. If that is a rap, then I didn't recognize it.
• I felt exhausted watching this girl sing "I'm not your friend but I'm still hot, hot, hot, hot"
• The lyrics obviously smacked down the little boy Derek Lorenzo Song for the girl who he claims is the most awesome in class. But for someone who doesn't like Derek - it was an effort on "her" part to write a song, in the same melody, perform that gesture/steps with her hand or whatever that is and go around the world wide web promoting the video.
• If this is for publicity, Bad publicity is still publicity.

The positive:

• I personally think the girl in the video is pretty. But I think if I were really to think this is for real life, it seems she's a year older than Derek.
• Cute bedroom. If I was her age I would love to have a room like hers.

Over-all:

• If according to rules in Advertising in the Philippines where you cater to the "still" conservative mindset, I doubt if this will make it, because commercials are supposed to show and promote good values. (Remember the old McDonald's commercial that got sacked? It promoted bribery for it showed the Dad handing out French Fries to the cute little kid in exchange for her to answer questions in her Daddy's favor.)
• I know it's just a video, but it's not just about the video. It's the message that the video delivered. You know when they say if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say it? We'll if you don't have anything nice to say don't film and promote it.
• There's just too much negativity on the internet. Enough said. 

If you've seen this video, what do you think? 

**UPDATE***

Here's the UPDATED Video. It turned out to be the a teaser and it's really the video used in the commerical. But the entire video was not shown in the commercial. Here's the TVC:

Review: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse

I cannot believe I blogged this so late. Because I've been asked a lot about curl defining hair products I've been obsessed with finding which works best without the cost of an arm and a leg.

Last January, my friends and I went on a camping trip and on our way home, we dropped by at Pure Gold/Duty Free in Subic to pick up some chocolates and other kinds of Pasalubong to take home. 

Hair Product: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Defining Mousse
Purchase Place: Pure Gold Subic (yeah, you read it right it's that-far-Pure-Gold-and-Duty-Free Subic)
Price: almost Php200. ( I think I got this for Php 198.00 and I can't believe it either)

What I love about this product:

• The color purple (because it's my favorite color)
• Light weight and slim
• Easily disposes mousse.
• Works well with wet hair and holds the curls til it's dry.
• It's very affordable. In fact, it was so affordable I wanted to get two but my Kuya Stew who was with me when we were shopping made fun of me and my being such a girl.

What I don't like about this product:

• It's not readily available everywhere. If you have a really good product but can't get again, then it's frustrating.

The Over all:

I would really love to get another one, but it's too bad it's not always available. I would definitely recommend this. This product is probably one of the really good purchase-out-of-a-whim that turned out to be really great.

Can anyone tell me where can I get this within Calamba-Alabang-Makati area?