dreadful conversations

Me:  Ahhhh my feet are killing me.  I walked 45mins today around Gh area and I had to stop because they hurt already.

Senior friends:  stop walking!  You might cause more damage

Me:  Really??? I thought I should exercise more bec I attribute the pain to lack of exercise

Senior friends:  Not really.  Think of yourself like a cart with broken wheels.  The more you push it the more damage you are inflicting to the wheels.

*the hard reality is -they know better & I am not getting any younger.  Got to know when to stop, girl.

question: is it okay to wear sporty outfits even if one is not "sporty"?

answer: define life yourself, color your world but make it right.

random thoughts

My thoughts on you will always hold a feeling of  grateful memory.  Your grand entrance to our lives seem like a consecrated mission from heaven to save us from some kind of irreparable estrangement of souls.                                                  

What if there was life before this life? I am certain we have met. Or why do I harbour feelings of nostalgia the day I saw you? Our affiliation connects us to the present, the time lapse is a leap from one dimension to another, nevertheless, one distinct emotion remains in this spirit. I concur that our circumstance obliges gratitude. I know I remember the tune but not the lyrics.               

happiness

FAST   FORWARD   to      2 0 1 3

My life was going down the hill until I seized the moment, and turned my CAN'TS into CANS.   

This year my personal life has reached many milestones that are enriching and which I can describe as life-changing.  The first major change was the wedding of my daughter.  To make the long story short, the news didn't go well with me and I had to struggle with my emotions not wanting to become a MOB (mother of the bride).  Boy, did I throw a fit worst than what you see in the movies!  But like in fairytales, it was a happy ending for everyone ...and we all live happily ever after.

The brocade gown that didn't make it (center) was by Jun Escario

                                   

the pantsuit I wore at the church was patterned after this iconic Givenchy ensemble

The gown I wore to the wedding reception was made by my ever fav designer VANESSA ANG

up close, the bead work and the gown I chose from a magazine (right) from which we patterned it (left)
just added a cape for personal touch (below)

And the addition of a grandson!  You know the feeling?  When emotions seem to have gone to pit level low, a happy incident like the birth of your first grandson, can make one euphoric?  The birth of my grandson brought so much joy to the family.  The little man is so loved.  The whole family just gives and gives love the whole house is just filled with love and there's no way not to feel this special blessing.

co-dependency of family can't survive without each other

My soaps went online.  It's been more than a year since I started making soaps but it's only been 4-5months since I sold it online.  You know the feeling when you make something out of nothing and you sell it and people buy it and they actually like it?  ...And then they tell you how much they love what you do and how their skin problems just vanished because of your soaps and how happy they are?  I'm happier than happy.  I'm blissed out!

   

T O D A Y

Today I spent the whole morning in bed, well my youngest daughter's bed, (I actually moved, okay??) and we both listened to songs of Maroon 5, Kanye West, Phantom of the Opera, Jack Johnson, Arctic Monkeys, Frank Sinatra (getting worst, i know!) and one song from the Manchester Orchestra. My singing made the bad weather worst but I was unstoppable.  And the rain didn't stop, too!

Dear Friend

I am truly blessed that our friendship is formed upon gratitude or some warmer feeling -I'm not sure haha. What is obvious though is that time has brought us a more balanced perspective and judgement of each other.  Thank you for making me feel comfortable to be myself when with you.  I hope you feel safe to let your hair down when you're with me, also.

Isn't it amazing how we met and were brought together in a marvelous way?  It may not be the most natural way but through mutual effort and acceptance, well, we have found a friend in each other, haven't we?

On your birthday, let me remind you of what a wonderful person you are.  A devoted wife, a caring daughter, and above all, a loving and protective mother.  To me, you are a friend in a not so perfect way but that's what makes it real.

Hoping that the friendship we forge will never be broken.  CHEERS!


much love,
Phina
august 2010

HK Vindicated

What happens when 3 middle aged (aging sounds more descriptive as it is a continous process) women who have been friends from the first day of college, when they were all barely 18, until the day their tubes were all ligated and their husbands' bellies reached beyond the numbers on the tape measure, travel together after 30 yrs of knowing each other?  Well, A LOT.  HA HA

We ended up loving each other more, accepting each other's complicated personalities and embracing our differences with more understanding and patience. But most of all, we validated our deep rooted friendship and proved to ourselves that memories may fade with our poor memory recall but feelings last and will stay with us forever.  If Alzheimer's make us forget, we still have our hearts to remind us.

Taking a picture of yourself using the iphone is not as easy as it looks. Whew! 

no lounge food.  we went to HK via Cebu Pac
but the food was great! Well sort of...

only because motherhood is a lifetime commitment 

and being motherly is considered as a natural instinct

for women therefore its value is under-rated

moral lesson: don't be a "plain" housewife

instead live and be a DOMESTICATED GODDESS

strike a pose mga lola ha ha ha

the revenge of my wedge slides which almost killed me on day 2

good friends both fabulous but different expressions

I was choosing between the glitter shoes and the nude shoes below.

They have a huge price tag difference. But accrdg to my friends one is stunning,

while the other is just so so. 

It was a tough call.  Decisions decisions... 

AHHHHH my aching legs...

Why do they fit so well feel so good yet so uglyyyyy nooooooo to granny slippers!!!

awesome dress but not very photogenic

I like this J-Plus Boutique Hotel located in Causeway Bay just 10 steps away from

Caroline Center and 20 steps away from Lee Gardens.  Service is bad.

But who needs service when you're mostly out of your room?

I like it because it has a kitchenette, a living room, a bay window with bed

and a small bedroom with a queen size bed. 

Accommodations come with continental breakfast, all day free drinks from the lobby, 

tea time at 1-3pm, and cocktails at 5-8pm.  

All free of charge.

what a bargain!

someday I'll be able to prioritize you in my future shopping trips...HK$56k

Fruit arrangement, anyone?

ALAS! My hero to the rescue.
I left my bag with my new shades and my new evening bag inside
at one of the restaurants in IFC mall.
This poor guy had to take the taxi back and retrieved my belongings.
Senior moments talaga.

my hero rented a Benz limousine to bring us to the airport
naawa sa mga lolang sasakay ng Cebu Pac hahaha

I was sitting outside Time Square looking beat up when they saw me

hello Manila!!!!!

ha ha ha Cebu Pac walk of shame ha ha ha

21

by:  A.E. Housman

When I was one-and-twenty

I heard a wise man say,

'Give crowns and pounds and guineas

But not your heart away;

Give pearls away and rubies

But keep your fancy free.'

But I was one-and-twenty,

No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty

I heard him say again,

'The heart out of the bosom

Was never given in vain;

'Tis paid with sighs a plenty

And sold for endless rue.'

And I am two-and-twenty,

And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.

Interpretation:

The theme of the poem "When I was One and Twenty" is given by the “wise man” in two pieces of wisdom, but they are closely related. One is, in effect, “Don’t give your heart away,” that is, don’t fall in love; the second is, “If you do give your heart away, you will suffer.”

The speaker ignored the advice, and now, at twenty-two, has learned its truth. The last line of the poem, with its repetition, suggests that the speaker takes his youthful sorrow very seriously (“And oh ’tis true, ’tis true”), but surely the line strikes one (and is intended to strike) as a trifle maudlin. And, since the poem jingles nicely and almost suggests a nursery rhyme, we can hardly take the grief too seriously. We listen with sympathetic amusement to this tale of disillusionment, but we are pretty confident that the young man in the poem will survive, and probably will live to love another day.


*how true! Isn't young love a bittersweet memory?

Thanks

Sometimes I think God favors me.  
So many random things happen in my favor.  
THANK YOU GOD! 

ilike

HOSS long dress. ilike bec of its understated cut,
muted tone and very light fabric. ilike the way it hides flabs

Who wouldn't fall in love with this elegantly beaded caftan?
Now all I need is an occasion to wear something like this.

To-die-for slides by YSL
none in my size.  bummer!

YSL EASY
It's one of the most versatile bags I have.
I don't care if it's passe, I still like it.

YSL EASY in very light and fluffy parachute fabric
Great for traveling that doubles as a pillow

This YSL bag is loud and crazy. Like me.

Balenciaga crisp white shirt. Nothing less.

THE Hermes dress that my daughter did not want for her bday.
What a brat! I can't believe she turned me down. ilove this!
If only I could fit...

Yes, I love myself and my puppy and my Herve Chapelier tote.
I like the shape, the leopard print and most esp, i love the person who gave it

Crocodile bags!!! I love them all from head to toe. yikes!!!

ilike Miranda Kerr...her smile, her hair, the way she dress,
her oh so cool husband. hehe (not him in this photo)

This is the hairstyle I want.
Whatever happened to my hair????

My Hi5 friends.  Don't we look hot together?
UNTAMED and FIERCE, that's what we are.
Warning: Don't fight with us

 Like I always say...
If there is nothing a little chocolate can't fix.  Let it then be
PATCHI

my sweetest friends, most understanding and my life support group
What more can I ask for

I love our small xmas tree.  When everyone seems to have huge xmas trees
ours is small and over decorated. (we have 4 small trees alternating every xmas)

LOVE LOVE this black gown
i love the opulence and how it looks so grand

see? I had to try it on!

my PRADA runway sunnies and my daughter's Justin Bieber  pull-over.
I love the weirdness of the shades and how it covers half of my entire face when worn
and the Justine Bieber pull-over makes me feel like a trying-very-hard teeny bopper. 

la familia. They're ME.
The nucleus of my life

My mentors my morning group.
A day is not complete without spending time with them

my best friend DADA.  miss you

i like PREPPY.  so luxe and so nerdy yet fashionable
it is for me, a fashion paradox

i like the black birkin with gold hardware

among others....HERMES constance ilike!

ilike the shades, the scarf made into a neck-piece
and ilike the very broad forehead sticking out

ilike jackets and looking dainty in pearl earrings