For those who can't make it, you can grab Twibbons for your profile here. I have done so with mine, as you can see.
For more details, please visit the website at http://www.noh8campaign.com/
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
NO H8 - Let's Make It Count
If you're in the Los Angeles area or if you're planning to drop by sometime next month, there will be an open photo shoot for the NO H8 campaign on January 21, 2011.
For those who can't make it, you can grab Twibbons for your profile here. I have done so with mine, as you can see.
For more details, please visit the website at http://www.noh8campaign.com/
For those who can't make it, you can grab Twibbons for your profile here. I have done so with mine, as you can see.
For more details, please visit the website at http://www.noh8campaign.com/
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Black Friday Madness
I know I haven't blogged in months and being that numerous events have passed, I just had to make the time to write this entry. There's so much to tell!
I'm one of those Black Friday fiends who lines up for hours and hours just to get a deal. This was my schedule that night:
10:00 pm - Lined up at Walmart in Woodland Hills
I was in line for an hour and met a few people while I was at it. That night was so chilly that I could see my breath every time I spoke. By the time we got in, I honestly didn't know what to get since I don't shop at Walmart. It was my brother-in-law's suggestion. I got there and saw printers on palettes on sale for $19.99 each. I got two! One for myself and another for my mom.
As soon as I got the printers, I lined up and my trip only took 20 minutes. Despite that, the line wasn't moving so I wondered what the hold up was about. Guess what? Electronics are on sale at midnight! We had to wait until the clock hit 12:01 before we got to check out.
Next stop, Westfield Topanga Mall
12:30 am - We hit Macy's
The store was jam packed! I barely had any wiggle room in there and a lot of the racks were practically empty. I took advantage of the 50% off outerwear sale. I would have gotten two but the black one I saw had such a tacky floral lining reminiscent of the 60's flower power era. Great steals, horrible shopping experience!
I lined up at the shoe section since I bought some bedroom slippers for myself. The ladies in front of me did the same. That one transaction alone took 30 minutes and I was already in line for an hour. My in-laws and I befriended the lady behind us and she along with everyone else was agitated.
Note to Macy's: I know that majority of the cashiers at the sale were seasonal employees. It was evident. The cashier at my line didn't know what she was doing. Poor girl was so apologetic and frenzied that she had to abandon her post and look for a senior employee. She was gone for a good ten minutes when a more experienced employee came to her rescue. I was relieved - boy, was I wrong! The cashier looks at me and goes, "I don't have the code for that. Shoes only. Line up somewhere else."
I was sooo mad that I just wanted to jet out of there so I just turned around and said, "SHOES ONLY!!!". I left her with an angry queue of turkey filled, sleep deprived sale hungry goers. I lined up at yet another section and waited for 45 minutes. This time, the service was better and the cashier was not curt like the previous one.
We initially went to Target to line up at Starbucks but I wanted to pry and see if the jacket I wanted was on sale since I've been eyeing it for 2 weeks now. My in law's were in line for Starbucks and it was about 12 yards long, I kid you not. I was a tad antsy so I went upstairs to look for the jacket and I found it. 30% off! I went straight to the cashier with a big grin on my face - even better because there was no line at all. Original price: $44.00 so when she told me that my total was $48.00, I was in shock.
Me: Uhm... Are you sure that's the price? The reason I purchased this jacket is because it's 30% off.
Cashier: It says 30% off?
Me: Yes, I got it off the rack and it has a huge sign on the wall which said 30% off.
*cashier then enters 30% off on the computer and smiles at me.*
Cashier: That will be $33.00. Cash or card?
Lesson learned. Sometimes, you just have to be persistent. :)
This jacket may just be my new favorite! <3
The mall opens at 4:00 am and since it was minutes away, a throng of people were crowding inside Target. Some teenagers even sitting on the floor. There was an instance where this guy bypassed security and bolted in the mall. His run was short lived. He didn't get far. The security guard caught him in a jiffy. As soon as the mall opened, there was utter chaos. It was a stampede in the making. If I wasn't so alert, I would have mistaken that for an episode of Nat Geo - In the Wild.
Other stops in the mall: Steve Madden, Cathy Jean, PacSun, Hot Topic and... Love Story!
I've been shopping at Love Story for a couple of months now and I love how they have the three main things I consider when I shop:
- It matches my budget
- The clothes fit me in the right places
- Their line coincides with my taste
The only downside is that they only have one branch so far and it's all the way in Westfield Topanga. That's a bummer since I moved to Glendale. Other than that, this is my go-to store.
I bought a leather jacket, a little sweat shirt and a cute little dress.
There were so many other dresses I wanted to buy but I was on a tight budget this year. Besides, I plan on frequenting the store so that just gives me more to come back for. It's kind of like the chase that us girls look for.
This top was $14.99 and it's so cumfy. It goes with the shorts I got from Macy's. ----->
This year was a great shopping experience for me. Despite the throbbing feet I got from all the walking and perpetual migraine, I had a wonderful experience. All these great shopping finds only totaled to a wee bit over $300.00. I will definitely start saving early for next year's trip. I may never leave the mall. I'll walk in as if I'm on a mission and leave like the walking dead. ha-ha! How was everyone elses' Black Friday?
I'm one of those Black Friday fiends who lines up for hours and hours just to get a deal. This was my schedule that night:
10:00 pm - Lined up at Walmart in Woodland Hills
I was in line for an hour and met a few people while I was at it. That night was so chilly that I could see my breath every time I spoke. By the time we got in, I honestly didn't know what to get since I don't shop at Walmart. It was my brother-in-law's suggestion. I got there and saw printers on palettes on sale for $19.99 each. I got two! One for myself and another for my mom.
As soon as I got the printers, I lined up and my trip only took 20 minutes. Despite that, the line wasn't moving so I wondered what the hold up was about. Guess what? Electronics are on sale at midnight! We had to wait until the clock hit 12:01 before we got to check out.
Next stop, Westfield Topanga Mall
12:30 am - We hit Macy's
The store was jam packed! I barely had any wiggle room in there and a lot of the racks were practically empty. I took advantage of the 50% off outerwear sale. I would have gotten two but the black one I saw had such a tacky floral lining reminiscent of the 60's flower power era. Great steals, horrible shopping experience!
I lined up at the shoe section since I bought some bedroom slippers for myself. The ladies in front of me did the same. That one transaction alone took 30 minutes and I was already in line for an hour. My in-laws and I befriended the lady behind us and she along with everyone else was agitated.
Note to Macy's: I know that majority of the cashiers at the sale were seasonal employees. It was evident. The cashier at my line didn't know what she was doing. Poor girl was so apologetic and frenzied that she had to abandon her post and look for a senior employee. She was gone for a good ten minutes when a more experienced employee came to her rescue. I was relieved - boy, was I wrong! The cashier looks at me and goes, "I don't have the code for that. Shoes only. Line up somewhere else."
I was sooo mad that I just wanted to jet out of there so I just turned around and said, "SHOES ONLY!!!". I left her with an angry queue of turkey filled, sleep deprived sale hungry goers. I lined up at yet another section and waited for 45 minutes. This time, the service was better and the cashier was not curt like the previous one.
I love my fluffies but these are extremely cumfy. 50% off the original price of $24.00!
On sale for $9.99 from $28.99!
Bling bling on my shorts!
My first pair of denim jeans - I never wear them out.
Too shy. :)
Trench coat was $89.00, on sale for $29.99
The dress was $32.50, on sale for $24.99
This bracelet was $10.00 off so I got it for $26.00
3:00 am - TargetWe initially went to Target to line up at Starbucks but I wanted to pry and see if the jacket I wanted was on sale since I've been eyeing it for 2 weeks now. My in law's were in line for Starbucks and it was about 12 yards long, I kid you not. I was a tad antsy so I went upstairs to look for the jacket and I found it. 30% off! I went straight to the cashier with a big grin on my face - even better because there was no line at all. Original price: $44.00 so when she told me that my total was $48.00, I was in shock.
Me: Uhm... Are you sure that's the price? The reason I purchased this jacket is because it's 30% off.Cashier: It says 30% off?
Me: Yes, I got it off the rack and it has a huge sign on the wall which said 30% off.
*cashier then enters 30% off on the computer and smiles at me.*
Cashier: That will be $33.00. Cash or card?
Lesson learned. Sometimes, you just have to be persistent. :)
This jacket may just be my new favorite! <3
The mall opens at 4:00 am and since it was minutes away, a throng of people were crowding inside Target. Some teenagers even sitting on the floor. There was an instance where this guy bypassed security and bolted in the mall. His run was short lived. He didn't get far. The security guard caught him in a jiffy. As soon as the mall opened, there was utter chaos. It was a stampede in the making. If I wasn't so alert, I would have mistaken that for an episode of Nat Geo - In the Wild.
I've been shopping at Love Story for a couple of months now and I love how they have the three main things I consider when I shop:
- It matches my budget
- The clothes fit me in the right places
- Their line coincides with my taste
The only downside is that they only have one branch so far and it's all the way in Westfield Topanga. That's a bummer since I moved to Glendale. Other than that, this is my go-to store.
I bought a leather jacket, a little sweat shirt and a cute little dress.
There were so many other dresses I wanted to buy but I was on a tight budget this year. Besides, I plan on frequenting the store so that just gives me more to come back for. It's kind of like the chase that us girls look for.This top was $14.99 and it's so cumfy. It goes with the shorts I got from Macy's. ----->
This year was a great shopping experience for me. Despite the throbbing feet I got from all the walking and perpetual migraine, I had a wonderful experience. All these great shopping finds only totaled to a wee bit over $300.00. I will definitely start saving early for next year's trip. I may never leave the mall. I'll walk in as if I'm on a mission and leave like the walking dead. ha-ha! How was everyone elses' Black Friday?
Saturday, July 16, 2011
I Popped My Disneyland Cherry!
It seems so surreal that in July of last year, I was in the other side of the world with my family. I'm now situated in Los Angeles with my husband. Since I got here in August of last year, I have been pondering over visiting Disneyland but since I found discounted tickets, I seized the opportunity to visit the happiest place on earth.
Disneyland is a must! I went to every other town except for Toon Town which will be top priority for my next visit. Being with a group of people, you tend to stall by discussing which ride to go on until it's a unanimous decision. I'm glad that I went with my husband since he made sure the day was all about me which I found so sweet of him. I was skipping all over the place and dragging him from one ride to another with a big grin on my face. As much as I enjoyed myself at the park, Disneyland is a place I would visit once in a blue moon. Visiting my Disney friends once a year will overfeed my nostalgia. I'm going to give myself some time to miss the happiest place on earth.
Next on the agenda is Halloween so will it be Knott's Scary Farm or Universal?
My husband and I left the house at 7:15 am and arrived in Anaheim at 8:00 so to avoid further expenses in the park, we went to iHop and had a quick breakfast. Boy, I didn't expect to pay $27.00 for breakfast! I think iHop is overpriced for what they serve.
Anyway, I purchased our parking ticket the day before so the entry to the parking lot was quick. There was quite a wait at the bus line and the driver was killing my excitement by going 5 miles an hour. Okay, I'm exaggerating but you know what I mean. *snickers*
MY OOTD:
Shades - Versace
Headbands - H&M
Top - H&M
Khaki bottoms: H&M
Here are some photos of my trip:
Splash Mountain
We didn't want to purchase the photo so we grabbed our camera
and took a picture of the screen. lol!
We didn't go on this but I thought it was worth a snapshot.
Autopia reminds me why I don't have a license.
This is across Autopia - video games and everything techie!
This one was visually stimulating.
I enjoyed the boat ride. The piranha part was a ball!
$12.70 for the roast beef sandwich.
It's a tad steep but it was tasty. :)
My husband was playing with the tiger on the Kinect.
Happy!!! :)
Cannonball! :O
Space Mountain, I think?
It's A Small World was rather fun.
Yeehaw!
The tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room!
A huge iPad
The Haunted Mansion
The canoes were fun up until the kids in front of me
wet me so much that my underwear was drenched. :/
Pirates of the Caribbean
beignets
My sequined Minnie ears were overpriced at $28.00.
This sucker bought them anyway. :)
Disneyland is a must! I went to every other town except for Toon Town which will be top priority for my next visit. Being with a group of people, you tend to stall by discussing which ride to go on until it's a unanimous decision. I'm glad that I went with my husband since he made sure the day was all about me which I found so sweet of him. I was skipping all over the place and dragging him from one ride to another with a big grin on my face. As much as I enjoyed myself at the park, Disneyland is a place I would visit once in a blue moon. Visiting my Disney friends once a year will overfeed my nostalgia. I'm going to give myself some time to miss the happiest place on earth.
Next on the agenda is Halloween so will it be Knott's Scary Farm or Universal?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Life: 360
Moving to a new country is initially thrilling. There's something about being exposed to a new milieu in general. The food, people, customs and way of life in foreign lands seem to have probed me at a young age. I can vividly recall my family's weekly drive to my grandmother's house in another city. The car ride took 30 minutes and extended to an hour or two with heavy traffic. We would recurrently pass by an international airport by the freeway where I would gaze out of the window and smile at the sight of airplanes. My mom told me that even before I could speak, she would point out airplanes to me during long drives and I would respond by being in awe each and every time.
"Wooow, Mommy! It's an AIRPLANE!
A flurry of emotions came over me when I left the Philippines. I went on a shopping spree just like anyone would. I had my send off dinner and spent time with family. To say that it was difficult to walk away from my family at the airport is an understatement. I shed tears knowing that I was willingly giving up the life I had along with a family I have never been away from. No matter how lonely I may have been, I was also relieved that I was finally going to be with my then fiance again after several months of being apart.
Hair raising - I spotted differences between the Philippines and America as soon as I got here. At the airport, I was stepping off the pavement to cross when my husband yanked my shirt and I fell back at full force. The next thing I knew, "whooosh!" a bus grazed the tip of my hair.
Jordan: Nena, jay walking isn't observed over here. Look! Press the button.
Me: Was that a bus!? :O
Stand up and clean up - A few weeks later, I went to Porto's to meet with a childhood friend of mine. I introduced her to Jordan as we noshed on succulent sandwiches. After our lunch, we all stood up and I began walking away as the ladies next to me began staring.
*I looked back at my husband and friend who seemed to be taking long.*
Me: What are you guys doing?
Friend: Here, let me get it.
Jordan: Nena, we clean up after ourselves over here.
Pack it up - If you thought that was embarrassing, that's not the last of it. I went to a restaurant with my husband and after eating, I had a substantial amount of leftovers left. The waitress asked me if I wanted to keep my leftovers so I nodded and thanked her. I lifted my plate and froze when she handed me a box. I gave her a look. My husband quickly took the box and thanked her while I still had a puzzled expression on my face.
Me: What was that about? Wasn't she supposed to take my plate?
Jordan: You have to pack the leftovers yourself, nena.
Lingo 101 - It doesn't end there. I not only surprise people in public but in the comfort of our home as well. Let's talk about vocabulary. One day, I was conversing with my sister-in-law when the menstrual cycle was brought up.
Me: I like those napkins by Whisper but I think they're called Always over here.
SIL: Napkins?
Me: Yeah, the ones you use when you're one the rag, silly...
SIL: Oh! You mean, PADS!
Don't get me wrong. I was raised speaking using English as the main vernacular within our familial and social units. My parents elected a formal manner of speaking in order to gear us towards a fruitful future. It's always an advantage to be well versed in a language other than your own.
Hearty Party - One of the things I have recently been acclimated to is attending parties hosted by an indirect friend. A friend's friend who later on turns out to be a friend of yours after an amazing night of fun!
Introduction -> One liners -> Alcohol consumption -> Inside jokes -> Daylight -> Facebook friend request
Well, it's somewhat in that order. I'm not the type who parties but when I do, I prefer lounges and house parties over clubs since I'm not comfortable with the latter. Call me crazy but I'm done with clubbing at the age of 24. Considering that I've been to a club twice, I feel that it's one too many times. Over here, it's far more frequent than what I was accustomed to. I was undeniably awkward at first but being married to someone sociable made me loosen up and insert myself in conversations.
Taboo or not taboo? Considering that I originated from a conservative and religious country, adjusting to the Land of the Free has been both bewildering and humbling for me. Sex talk isn't seen as offensive since it's more openly accepted. My husband's family like to tease me for being such a prude because of my childish giggles and tomato cheeks at the onset of sexual connotations.
I respect the culture that is embedded in every fiber of my being. The values that I have come to know have allowed me to embrace who I am as a person. Residing in Los Angeles has been a revelation in disguise. I've been here two months short of a year and I'm already in love with the city and the people. Contrary to what I
formerly believed, America is a suitable society to nurture a child. Sometimes, it's okay to expose them to the ugly truth. Repressing such realities only compels a person to feed their urges. Of course, with freedom comes boundaries wherein both nature and nurture come hand in hand. Crossing the pond answered lingering questions that grazed my mind for years. It's okay to be eccentric. Not being as skinny as most girls is fine too. Having pale white skin isn't always ideal. California girls love to tan after all. Judgement is your prerogative yet being here has helped me see past labels and stigmas. This move has benefited me more than I thought it would. I've blossomed in the past few months more than I have in my adolescent years. It may take me a while to fully acclimate myself to the L.A. lifestyle but I like where I'm at now.
Hair raising - I spotted differences between the Philippines and America as soon as I got here. At the airport, I was stepping off the pavement to cross when my husband yanked my shirt and I fell back at full force. The next thing I knew, "whooosh!" a bus grazed the tip of my hair.
Jordan: Nena, jay walking isn't observed over here. Look! Press the button.
Me: Was that a bus!? :O
Stand up and clean up - A few weeks later, I went to Porto's to meet with a childhood friend of mine. I introduced her to Jordan as we noshed on succulent sandwiches. After our lunch, we all stood up and I began walking away as the ladies next to me began staring.
*I looked back at my husband and friend who seemed to be taking long.*
Me: What are you guys doing?
Friend: Here, let me get it.
Jordan: Nena, we clean up after ourselves over here.
Pack it up - If you thought that was embarrassing, that's not the last of it. I went to a restaurant with my husband and after eating, I had a substantial amount of leftovers left. The waitress asked me if I wanted to keep my leftovers so I nodded and thanked her. I lifted my plate and froze when she handed me a box. I gave her a look. My husband quickly took the box and thanked her while I still had a puzzled expression on my face.
Me: What was that about? Wasn't she supposed to take my plate?
Jordan: You have to pack the leftovers yourself, nena.
Lingo 101 - It doesn't end there. I not only surprise people in public but in the comfort of our home as well. Let's talk about vocabulary. One day, I was conversing with my sister-in-law when the menstrual cycle was brought up.
Me: I like those napkins by Whisper but I think they're called Always over here.
SIL: Napkins?
Me: Yeah, the ones you use when you're one the rag, silly...
SIL: Oh! You mean, PADS!
Don't get me wrong. I was raised speaking using English as the main vernacular within our familial and social units. My parents elected a formal manner of speaking in order to gear us towards a fruitful future. It's always an advantage to be well versed in a language other than your own.
Hearty Party - One of the things I have recently been acclimated to is attending parties hosted by an indirect friend. A friend's friend who later on turns out to be a friend of yours after an amazing night of fun!
Introduction -> One liners -> Alcohol consumption -> Inside jokes -> Daylight -> Facebook friend request
Well, it's somewhat in that order. I'm not the type who parties but when I do, I prefer lounges and house parties over clubs since I'm not comfortable with the latter. Call me crazy but I'm done with clubbing at the age of 24. Considering that I've been to a club twice, I feel that it's one too many times. Over here, it's far more frequent than what I was accustomed to. I was undeniably awkward at first but being married to someone sociable made me loosen up and insert myself in conversations.
Taboo or not taboo? Considering that I originated from a conservative and religious country, adjusting to the Land of the Free has been both bewildering and humbling for me. Sex talk isn't seen as offensive since it's more openly accepted. My husband's family like to tease me for being such a prude because of my childish giggles and tomato cheeks at the onset of sexual connotations.
I respect the culture that is embedded in every fiber of my being. The values that I have come to know have allowed me to embrace who I am as a person. Residing in Los Angeles has been a revelation in disguise. I've been here two months short of a year and I'm already in love with the city and the people. Contrary to what I
formerly believed, America is a suitable society to nurture a child. Sometimes, it's okay to expose them to the ugly truth. Repressing such realities only compels a person to feed their urges. Of course, with freedom comes boundaries wherein both nature and nurture come hand in hand. Crossing the pond answered lingering questions that grazed my mind for years. It's okay to be eccentric. Not being as skinny as most girls is fine too. Having pale white skin isn't always ideal. California girls love to tan after all. Judgement is your prerogative yet being here has helped me see past labels and stigmas. This move has benefited me more than I thought it would. I've blossomed in the past few months more than I have in my adolescent years. It may take me a while to fully acclimate myself to the L.A. lifestyle but I like where I'm at now.
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