5 favorites + 5 goals = cheers 2010, helloooo 2011!

5 favorite things about 2010:
1.  my first (of hopefully many) trip to the philippines!
2.  my first 1/2 marathon
3.  enrolling back into school for my second bachelors
4.  eating less meat & being much more conscience about where my food comes from
5.  writing more letters to out-of-touch friends

5 goals for 2011:
1.  HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE!!  i need money for books, for a 2012 trip to the philippines & for savings.  any wedding that pops up, i will work it.  unless it conflicts w/goal #3
2.  complete another 1/2 marathon
3.  get straight A's
4.  pack my lunch more often
5.  ride my bike more =)

my brain is already hurting from school.  registering for classes has always been a pain and having no priority again is like a welcome-back-beeyatch-slap in the face b/c i have very low priority.  however, in the words of spongebob: I'M READY, I'M READY, I'M READY!  haha, you know it's time to get back to school when you're quoting spongebob.  i'm coming with a half renewed attitude towards school and half "i know myself better than that".  i always feel very motivated and ready to learn in the beginning of each semester but am always burnt out by the end.  i'm hoping this time around it really will be different.  i will need lots of coffee for this..

a pilipina american in the philippines.

with the year anniversary of my trip to the philippines quickly approaching, i thought i'd remember and reflect .  the first week, i hated it.  i ddin't understand why anyone would go there to vacation.  and not because it wasn't beautiful but because it was gorgeous...

but it was so heart breaking to see babies, kids, families living in shanty shitty living conditions.  i honestly thought i was prepared for what i was going to see, especially being from the bay area where homelessness, hunger, and poverty is unfortunately not a strange concept.  i was an asian american minor for gods sake!  i know what colonization and a corrupt government means to the philippines.  but rivers filled with garbage, so much so that you couldnt see the water underneath was very strange and impossible not to stare at while you drive by.  i was on the beach of boracay (the biggest tourist destination in the philippines) crying to my dad asking why anyone would come here for pleasure.  he told me that he hoped i understood now why his father, my grandfather, worked so hard to get out.  i did.  the warmth of family members who might as well have been strangers was unbelievable and i had to hold back tears saying goodbye to them at the airport.  its no secret that i've been a hater of the united states but i am so thankful to have grown up here and all it's opportunity.  but it's definitely a must to visit the country/countries of your parents, grandparents, ancestors & gain a little perspective, especially as americans.

lately, and by lately i mean this whole year, i've felt my life is at a standstill.  i have all these big plans set up in my head of getting a full time job or going back to school for a second bachelors.  i've applied to what feels like at least 50 jobs.  even though i love living at home, i really want to move on and move out or at least feel like i'm saving enough money to make that move.  at points like this where i'm neither applying to jobs nor classes, i feel like i'm at this standstill of not moving anywhere.  perseverance has not been on my side b/c getting no call backs or getting rejection letters in the MAIL is never fun.  i hate to admit that i just want my life to pick itself up and move forward with no effort on my part at all at these moments.  and although im grateful for a job, a roof over my head & my first bach.. ... ...even grateful girls need a future!

my first 1/2 marathon!!!

my 1/2 marathon experience!

pre-race, we didn't sleep well that night.. kept waking each other to check the time!

the views + on-course support was amaziiing. wish i brought my camera, my dad showed up on his bike & snapped this one =)

at first i was 30% concerned about falling behind on training & 70% excited BUT kept reminding myself that it's a blessing to even be able to walk let alone participate in a 13.1 mile event!!   i wouldn't have been able to pull through without chris making me crack up especially in the last 2 miserable, painful, rainy, can't-feel-my-hands and my hair is soaking miles.  he stuck by me through most of the race & crossed the finish line with me even after all his training and it being his bday, whatta keeper.  i am very proud of myself though & would love to do it all over again next year. i will stick with training though b/c these post-race aches are no joke, lol.   

vegas

a much needed mini vacation (who doesn't feel like they need a vaca?!) to vegas to celebrate chris' 26th coming up & to visit my bfffff kelley.  chris + kelley are my two truest, bestest friends.  along with family, they are always on my "today i am grateful for" list =)

i miss my kelley!

belagio buffet + the club night!

holler at some jello shots, a winning giants game & being in vegas!!

although i enjoy vegas, i would've enjoyed it more if it hit the 80s! sheesh, it was cold @ the pool!  we spent way too much time in the casino---too much smoke.  however, it wasn't my birthday trip so i kept my complaints minimal.  my birthday vegas trip = more partying!!

oh you dmv.

so the dmv rejected my check back in JUNE for some reason.  dmv, june is my birthday month ok?  i KNOW i had at least $31 in the bank in june. so now they would like their money with a fee slapped on it.  and anyone who knows the dmv, knows they'd rather be at the dentist than arguing with the dmv after waiting a million years so you know what?  i'm just gonna pay you---you ugly bill!  

*sigh.  now that that's taken care of, i'd like to remind myself of how much worse it could be.  anyone who's been to a third world country should really check themselves.  my visit was to the philippines.. was no joke.  a year is coming up on that trip so i'll probably do a lil post on that.  i'm thinking of making this blogspot my permanent home on the internet.  =)

here we go!

its getting into october & i feel like this is when my creativity comes back from hibernation.  these next 3 months are filled w/exciting events & i only start to make stuff to give them away.. the other 9 months, i just love to get lost in creative blogs, magazines & books.

events to come:
halloween, thanksgiving, CHRISTMAS.  chris/kelley/cait/my mom's birthdays.  our anniversary!
gotta start NOW!

last year i pumped out 3 scrapbooks, these are just their covers =)

cait's 10th bday

auntie christines birthday

danielles birthday (the inside was lots of fun)

weekend off?!

no wonder everyone loves fridays & hates mondays... the weekend! 

chris likes to show off his braces-grill & i like to hide my non-retainer wearing ass teeth.. 

BUT HALLELUJAH for a weekend off together!!  

sunday stroll in golden gate park =)

le sigh kinda monday

you would think living at home still, making a bit more over minimum wage at two jobs and having a boyfriend 30 miles away is reason enough to be looking for a full time job 24/7 but it's so exhausting and disheartening not hearing anything back from jobs.

on a lighter note, at least i can save some money b/c after trying on thigh high boots.. they are definitely not for my tiny frame.

FREE SATURDAY?!

i have not had a saturday off in SO long.  if i have, it's working a wedding which is not really a day off.  tomorrow i plan to make the VERY best of the whole day as i will probably not get this lovely privilege again.

>early morning workout
>lovely morning breakfast/lunch
>shower
>SHOPPING (oh em gee i'm so excited for this)
>end of the day w/coffee or happy hr =)
>snuggle time w/a movie

i'm so extra excited, i know it really shouldn't matter what day of the week it is since i do this on other days off i have w/chris but since it's a SATURDAY, it feel extra special <3

the holidays are comin!

when i close my eyes and think of christmas, lots of images come to mind..
...warm plaid flannel pajamas
...a nicely decorated house
...crazy packed mall parking lots
...wrapping paper covering the floor so you can't even see the ground
...the red starbucks cup and the rainy skies that fill the glass windows view
...the jo jos at trader joes (yum!)
...lots of familiar faces: family + friends

this year, i'd like to add the faces of strangers in need.  too many of those images are from more of the materialistic side of christmas but that's not what it's really about even though sometimes that what it feels like.  either way, i can't wait for all the things that come around christmas time!

Seasoned Blogger, New Blog

Tired of Tumblr b/c my post gets lost amongst pictures and randomness.. I'm selfish, I want my posts all to myself!  I just can't get enough internet distractions apparently.

Today has been sucha drag, after a couple days off from exercise, I need to get back into it to feel motivated to do things the rest of the day!  Well hopefully I'll stick w/this blog for at least a year?  We'll see!