Cherry Blossoms and Mermaids

After getting my first tattoo almost 3 years ago, I knew I would get another one. The only problem was the design I would choose for my second tattoo.

There are a lot of beautiful tattoos out there but most of them are very common. I wanted a tattoo to have meaning and at the same time be unique.

My first tattoo was a branch of Cherry Blossoms on my right foot. I've never grown tired of my tattoo. I really love the design and where it is placed on my body. Although this tattoo is due for a retouch.

Cherry Blossoms meaning in Japanese Culture - transience of life; represent life in that life is something of great beauty yet it is very quick and passing and in the end is full of suffering also; the true way of a Samurai - to live their life to the fullest.

Sometimes I think I'd find the right tattoo but then think twice about it. I've considered dragonflies, tigers and daffodils, infinity signs and mermaids. Out of all the designs I've considered, I've been attracted the most to Mermaids. I like how enchanting and mysterious their depictions are in tattoos.

So, I've decided on getting a mermaid tattoo. I searched the web for sample tattoos but couldn't find anything I liked. Finally, I searched drawings and sketches of mermaids in hopes to find a unique and enchanting design. Which I did. Below is the design I want.

I have yet to decide whether to have it colored or to keep it as is. I'm going to have my tattoo done together with my husband and my sister in November. I'm so excited. It will be the second time for my husband and I, the third time for my sister. Hopefully, it'll be her last too!

Follow Your Passion

I've been part of the corporate world for 10 years. I've been quite lucky with the companies I've worked for in the past. I can say that I am a seasoned HR Practitioner with experience in various branches of Human Resources. 

Recently, I've done a 90 degree turn in my career and shifted to a more IT driven practice. Although the focus of my work still involved working with HR practitioners, I am now at the other end of the stick. I am a Business Consultant providing implementation consultancy to customers who purchase our HR software. The work is definitely challenging for a newbie like me but the pay is good. Our team is highly results oriented. The company sincerely strives to give the best to its employees. 

I can honestly say that I cannot ask for more. This is as good as it gets. I like my life the way it is. I can't find anything to complain about. But the question is, would I settle for just 'like'? Although life is good, I feel that it can still be better. I like where I am now but I am not passionate about it. I feel as though something is still missing. 

I envy people who wake up each day looking forward to what lies ahead. People who love what they do and are passionate about it. That's what I'm looking for, that passion to drive me to do the very best I can every single day.

Would I feel much better if I returned to HR? I feel that I would be much much happier doing something else. But not back to HR, definitely not. 

This feeling has been bugging me for quite sometime. I've had this nagging feeling that won't go away. I've always had flashes of these feelings come up from time to time but I try to push them away. But now, I think I have to accept it. 

After working as an employee for 10 years, I feel that this is not enough for me. If I transfer from company to company, this nagging feeling would still be there. I realized that I don't want to be an employee anymore. 

I want to go into business.

There I've said it. I've finally accepted what has been deep inside me for the longest time. Now I know where to go, but how do I get there? 

The answer is, baby steps. I'm going to keep my day job to ensure that I have a steady cash flow. But I will begin with a little capital first and set up an online shop. 

I've actually already purchased my first batch of items to sell. I'm going to be selling Braided Cables at a low price. These are sellling online for about Php500. In Greenhills, you can buy them at Php300. But I'm selling them for only Php150!!!! 

I've also been brain storming about my shop's name. I've chosen the name 'Bonne Affaire" (pronounced as Bun Afer), which means "Good Bargain" in French. My store's concept would be to sell popular and quality items at a cheaper price. My business goal would be "To be the affordable alternative". 

I've also commissioned my husband to come up with a logo for my shop too!  

I'm going to begin with selling online then at the end of the year, I will join bazaars with my cousin [so at least we get to split the rent]. Hopefully, as I earn more, I get to buy more items to sell. I already have other items in the pipeline that I would want to include in my store. 

This is it! I'm feeling really excited about it. Hopefully this project turns into a success! 

Just as my blog theme says, Life the life you Love! 

Look who's back for good!!

After almost 3 years of living in Boracay, my sister is back home!

We're a complete family again! This would be the first time we would have both Jai and Monik living in the same house. Good times are definitely here! 

So happy to have my sister back! The same old little sister but a better and more confident version! Welcome back Monik! Mwah!

The Missing Piece

We're originally 7 in the group. Unfortunately, our 7th kabarkada (close friend) is based in New York. We only get to see her if either we take a vacation in NYC (like I did in 2007) or if she comes home to the Philippines for a vacation.

I think our 20th year Anniversary is a good year because this time, Gia is home!!! So its definitely a must for the group to meet up once again! Gia we missed you!!

Here's Gia's son Sebastian, who is also my Godson, enjoying the merry go round.

Gia's only gonna be here for 2 weeks, so we only have limited time with her. Next week, we're going to have another photoshoot, this time with Gia! Finally, a complete picture! I'm excited about this and can't wait to post about our photoshoot soon!

Celebrating 20 years of friendship

I believe that in life we don't really need so many friends. As you grow old and mature, you discover who your true friends are. These are people that have stood the test of time, people who have the same values as you and who you can always trust.

These type of friends are hard to come by. So I am very proud and happy to share with you that I have such friends. I've known them since we were in grade school. Back in the day when our biggest problems we're how to pass all our subjects.

Now, we've all grown into strong women with different hobbies and interests. But one thing remains the same and that is our friendship. We've been friends for 20 years already and to celebrate that milestone in our lives, we decided to go on an out of the country trip!!

The chosen country: Bangkok! Our trip was one year in the making but it was all worth it, definitely a trip to remember! I had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of our 6-day vacation.

Here's a few highlights and snap shots of our week long anniversary celebration:

Of course, we visited the customary temples of Bangkok. We went to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho (The Leaning Buddha)

We also experienced and appreciated anything that was strictly Thai [Tuk Tuks, Ronald McDonald doing the Swa Dee Ka and a Thai photoshoot]

Here's a sneak peak and behind the scenes coverage of our photo shoot. It felt so old school! Just like how we did it when we were in grade school! Laugh trip! We definitely had fun with this one.

Our group loves to eat! A big bulk of our pocket money was spent on eating at different specialty restaurants across Bangkok.

The highlight of the trip for me would definitely be the Dinner Buffet Cruise. Although the food was too spicy for my taste, I totally enjoyed the spectacular view of BKK city!! We went on the Dinner Cruise on the actual night of our anniversary. Yes, we have an exact date!

Last but certainly not the least activity in BKK is SHOPPING! We went to every shopping area in BKK: MBK, Siam Center, Chatuchak, Central World, Indra, Pratunam Market, Platinum Mall, Baiyoke Tower, you name it we've been there!

I hope this isn't our last out of the country trip as a group. It doesn't matter where we go next, as long as we all go together. (I hope next time, Gia can join us too!) In 20 years of friendship you'd think we couldn't get any closer but after this trip, we bonded even more. Cheers ladies! Here's to more years to come! Til the next trip!

A day at the MUD: Make-up Designory Cosmetic Professional School

The night before at Locale Gastrobar in City Golf Compound along Julia Vargas...
Michelle: Shucks, I need a male model for tomorrow's class!
Trish: Why don't you use Matt?
Matt: [shaking his head]. No way!
Trish: How about Jai? [Facing Jai] Baby, do you want to be the model for Michelle's class tomorrow? 
Jai: [All flushed red and drunk] Sure! Why not. 
....and that folks is what you call, "taking advantage of the confusion"! What can I say, I learned from the best!

So on a lazy Sunday afternoon, armed with nothing but Iced Coffees to get us through the day, we drove off to Serendra to watch Jai participate as a model at the MUD Shop's Make-up Designory Cosmetic Professional School. 

Poor baby, didn't know what he got himself into!

I watched in the sidelines as Jai was used as a guinea pig. Hehe!

He helplessly sat there as Michelle did her magic

After 45 minutes in the hot seat, Michelle was finally done. Here's Jai's before and after shots:

The goal was to give Jai a natural, flawless look that didn't give away the fact they he had make up. I must say, he looks good and thinner too! Thanks to the contour make up applied on him that gave the illusion of a smoother and thinner face.

While I was laughing away at my husband's predicament, little did I know that I would be used as a model for the day too!

One of the student's model was a no-show for the day. Since I was already sitting on her chair, the teacher asked me if I might as well fill in for today.

As she started with her make up, she explained to me the different techniques needed to achieve a desired effect. Being a novice on the topic of make up, I enjoyed listening to her and seeing the techniques being done to me at the same time.  I told her about my issue that whenever I would have my make up done, I always end up looking "chinita". I told her that I would like to maintain my almond shaped eyes -- which she was able to do! Nice!

Here's my after photo:

I was supposed to be used as a "Mature Make Up" model. You know, the Mother of the Bride kind. But the student was nice enough to consider my request of a natural, no make up look instead. I have to say, she did a good job!

Here's our couple's photo:

Kudos to these lovely ladies whose passion for make up truly defines being a real artist. Unlike a painter who works with a blank canvas, they work with an existing canvas [human face] which I might say is difficult enough and turn the person into the best version of himself.

Great job and good luck on your finals next week!

It's time for the stork's delivery!

One of the main reasons why Jai and I got married was because we wanted start a family of our own. Unfortunately, before we got married, I acquired Choroiditis -- its the inflammation of the choroids [the area behind the retina of our eyes]. I was treated by huge doses of steroids and methotrexate [immuno drug] for more than a year. Because of the amount of medicine I've been taking, we had to put on hold our plans to have a baby.

Finally on Jai's birthday, my Opthalmologist cleared me of Choroiditis!! He told me that I'm back to normal and there would be no chances of the sickness ever coming back. That was probably the best gift I could give Jai that day.

After that, the logical next step was to consult an OB-GYNE. So I visited our family OB-GYNE [who is the head of the OB-GYNE department at the Medical City] and asked her if it is safe for me to conceive a child? I gave her my medical history and she had me undergo a pap smear and a transvaginal ultrasound just as routine check up. After she received my ultrasound results, she told me what I've been wanting to hear for a long time...."Go and conceive a baby. I will see you in 3-6 months. Don't forget to have intercourse on the 14th, 16th and 18th day after your menstruation"

Aaaaahhhhhh!!! I am so excited! This is cause for celebration!! I can't wait.