A New Year's Mixtape

So I suddenly felt the urge to make a little mixtape to celebrate the coming of a new year. What better way to welcome it than to shimmy our cute little butts, dance on tables, throw firecrackers at unsuspecting neighbors (not really), and just have fun! These songs are just a mix of what I've been feeling this 2011 and an unapologetic optimism for 2012. This is my personal bipolar soundtrack.

1. Thinking About You - Frank Ocean
2. A New Year's Anxiety - Florence + The Machine
3. Cheers (Drink To That) - Rihanna
4. Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
5. Love On Top - Beyonce
6. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
7. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
8. Happiness - Alexis Jordan
9. Princess of China - Coldplay feat. Rihanna
10. Count Your Blessings - Nas & Damian Marley
11. We Are Young - FUN. feat. Janelle Monae
12. Paris Nights/New York Mornings - Corinne Bailey Rae
13. Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club
14. Celebration - Madonna feat. Akon
15. White Nights - Oh Land
16. 4AM -Kaskade

I leave you with some lovely old school singing from my favorite on-screen couple of all time....

What are you lovelies doing New Year's Eve? :)

30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself

Overall, 2011 is an okay year for me. A lot of shitty stuff may have happened, but hey, a little dramarama always happens in life. You just need to cry a little and then march on. Learn from them and realize that you are actually quite blessed and loved despite all the fuckery.

I've recently come across an article that I think everyone should have a privilege of reading. I'm posting the items that really struck me because I could totally relate to them. Call it my New Year's Resolutions, if you will. :)

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
4. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
5. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
6. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
7. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself!  And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
8. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.
9. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.                                   

• Read on: marcandangel.com

So there it is. Hopefully you guys can learn a thing or two from this post. Here's hoping I'll do better in 2012!!! 

Wish me luck and send me love.. I'll be needing it! :)

Shop For Charity

 

If you're in Cebu right now, I suggest you march your cute little asses off to Starting Point Restobar-Kartzone in Panagdait tomorrow and support these bloggers. It's a great way to help, too. These Cebuano bloggers are selling clothes and hosting a drinking event for a good cause. Charity is something I'm quite passionate about and I wan to help in any way I can. Part of the proceeds from the event will go to relief aids for the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Don't just drink to life, drink for life.

It's Not Her Face The Boys Want To See

A late post, but I just wanted to share my Christmas Eve outfit with everyone. It's always been tradition for me and my family to look our best to celebrate Christmas. I know the pictures are really blurry but it's only because ze brother sucks at taking picsies and I haven't really gotten friendly with the camera settings all that well yet. But I quite like how the pictures turned out. At least you get an idea of what I wore. I must remind myself to take a quick picture of this outfit during daytime where there's actual day light.. haha!

I don't know why I much prefer pictures of me being blurry. I guess I like the vagueness of it all. Or the feeling it gives that not much makes sense. It's dramatic and sometimes creepy. Two words that perfectly describe me! YEEYY!

So while I'm off doing my creepy dance, here's a random picture of my brother taking his pants off in the garden.. VIVA LA NUDITY!!!

Do you wanna be a creepy streaker in the garden, too? I promise I'll take your picture :)

You Desire. I Inspire.

 

There is beauty in everything and everyone. Don't you agree?

Feliz Navidad

I know it's kinda late to be posting this, but hey, it's practically still Christmas in our house. And I just wanted to share how good my mom was with all the decorating. We're so proud of her for having her first cupcake orders! She was slaving away the whole day baking 10 dozens of those yummy little monsters.

This year, we decided to keep our Christmas Eve as simple as possible compared to our last Christmases where we were practically stuffing our mouths with every food in sight until midnight. This time we had nachos with spicy salsa! Muy caliente!!

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas as well. :)

This is the cutest gift ever! Ready to make cookies :)

Does your house look like Disneyland on Christmas, too?

Truckloads of Love

Had two days of ball-busting volunteer work for the repacking of goods and donations for the victims of Typhoon Sendong. It was hard work but a great way to spend the holidays by helping those in need.

It was amazing how truckloads of donations arrived almost every hour to drop off the goods at the Kalayaan Hall in Cebu Normal University. We found ourselves knee-deep in noodles and canned goods! Some soldiers from the Armed Forces of The Philippines were also there to help. Glad I was there to be a part of it, too.

Donate to the Philippine Red Cross through text:

SMS and G-Cash

---

SMS
Text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4143 (Smart)

G-Cash
Text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS to 2882

You can donate the following denominations:
Globe: 5, 25, 100, 300, 500 or 1000
Smart: 10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 or 1000

or click HERE for online donations and their bank deposit accounts.

I'm off to dry my sweaty balls and get some much needed rest.
We're one sleep away until Christmas!

Operation Sendong

By now all of you have heard and seen on the news the devastation that Typhoon Sendong has brought upon our countrymen in Northern Mindanao. The death toll is rising, there are still missing people, and families have lost their homes and all their belongings.

It's unfortunate that this had to happen now especially that it's Christmas. Let this be a chance for us to help in any way we can.We need to lift their spirits up and let them know that they are not alone in this and that help is on it's way.

Yesterday my family and I decided to donate used clothing in one of the major drop-off points for donations to the typhoon victims. (If you're in Cebu and would like to help, click HERE for the nearest local drop-off points)

My grandmother wanted to tag along

Your donations are much appreciated. Be it in clothing, toiletries, canned goods, or in cash. They need all the help they can get.

Went to volunteer for the repacking of donated goods today. Will show pictures in the next post!

Won't you come and help?

House of Balloons

It's been awhile since I've come across a music artist I really like. Let alone love a whole album. But then a few months back I happened to stumble upon The Weeknd.

 

I've never heard of anything quite like it before. It has this weird, sort of lustful vibe that draws you in. It's like a breath of fresh, sexy air. I was surprised that I liked every song in this mixtape considering I'm not a big fan of R&B. And I don't even mind all the cussing. :) It's best to make it your soundtrack if you stay up in the wee hours of morning.

The Weeknd is definitely an artist worth sharing and listening to.

Be cool and listen to The Weeknd with me?

Bright Lights, Bigger City

                                  Everything here is illuminated.

                                    Nothing is how it seems.

                           But maybe it's just how you really see the world.

                                    It's all just one big blur.

                                  Like beautiful vague silhouettes.

                       Or incandescent lights dancing off of each other.

                                       Nothing here is real.

                                            Just strange.