What I Got For Christmas 2014

Calendar check - January 05, 2015! I still have a 2014 food hangover from all the stuff I ate but I'm not complaining. I find myself very lucky to be this blessed. Anyway, today I'm sharing my first ever "What I Got For Christmas" post. I don't think I've ever done one of these before. Before I get started, I just want to clarify that I have ZERO intention of BRAGGING about anything in this post. Most items were gifted by generous family members & friends and the rest are stuff I bought with money I saved up from my sideline job - freelancing as a makeup artist & a baker for Sugar Works! Having said that... Let's get started! My sugar fix - Green Tea KitKat & chocolate bars from my mum & lil sister. Several new tops from my mum. I'll be posting some "outfit-of-the-day" posts soon with these new pieces. I'm particularly fond of that gray checked long sleeved blouse that's barely peeking out. New hankies from mum. The Lord knows I need new ones! A polka dotted fleece blanket from my mum because she knows I love my soft warm blankets as much as I love my bed. Charles & Keith 2-in-1 handbag & cross body bag from my dad. I really like this bag. It's my first "semi adult but still fun" bag that looks really classy. Sandra (Tan) Bag by Tannery from my Ninang Sam. You can get yourself one of these beauties here. This is a great slouchy hobo for those dress down days where I run errands and need a lot of bag space to stuff my things in! It can even fit my 15" macbook pro! Michaela 2-in-1 handbag & cross body bag that I bought for myself. This is what I consider a small bag. It can fit my everyday essentials like my wallet, keys, phones, a pack of tissues and an umbrella. This is what I've been using most of the time. Blue Perllini wallet from my mum. I asked her for a new wallet that's a tri-fold because my old wallet was too big for my liking. I really like this new wallet of mine because it's blue! Apple Blossom bath set from my Ninang Tess. I've yet  to open the seal on them but I'm already using the mini pink bath scrub. Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea Lotus perfume from my mum. A clean and crisp new scent to add to my slow growing collection of perfumes. My lil sister received this last year and I've been hooked to the scent. Glad to finally have one for myself.  Contour kit & Blush palette from Red District. L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation from PrinsesitaCosmetics. Brush Egg from Beauty Cosmetics. Ever Bilena pencil and Goody elastics from local mall. All these items are my gifts to myself.
Revlon Suede Lipstick from my Tita Mei. I've swatched this a couple of time and wore it twice out. I've yet to come up with a review for this baby.

Books from my lil sister. She knows what a huge bookworm I am and I always appreciate getting books. I'm currently reading A Certain Age.

Pandora Essence bracelet from my mum. It has the charms Taurus, Love & Health. I plan on adding 2 more charms on this beautiful bracelet.

Kitchen scale from my dad. As I'm expanding my small business to fondant & gum paste cakes, this beautiful scale will definitely be a constant baking companion!

Decorating wheel/lazy susan & Fondant/Gum Past mold from my sister. Fondant roller from my Ninang Sam. These tools will definitely come in handy on my upcoming baking adventures. That fondant roller is just screaming "USE ME!"

Own print mittens & apron from my sister. She knows me too well. I'm a sucker for cutesy stuff and this definitely is cute. It's useful too! This will definitely keep me from staining my clothes and bring myself as I handle baking pans in the oven!

Last but not the least.. The biggest gift I got last Christmas was this beauty. A brand new iPhone 6 plus in silver. Needless to say, I'm in love. I'm still tinkering around with it but I'm very grateful to have it.
That's about it for my list. How about you guys? What did you get for Christmas? *smiles*

view post

Thank You : Year End Edition (V.7)

   It's already a tradition for me to post Year End Thank Yous so despite my very busy schedule I've chosen to take time to sit my butt in front of the computer and type my 2014 year end thank you post although it technically isn't the "end of 2014" anymore. Last year I had a short list. Maybe this year it's going to be a bit longer.  Before I begin, I just want to point out that I've had my hair chopped short again. I feel that I always start the new year with shorter hair. I guess that's another tradition. *wink* Let me start this post by thanking the almighty Father. I am thankful to the Lord for all the blessings He has showered upon me this year 2014. I am also thankful for all the challenges He has sent my way because it has helped me to become a better person. I'm not a perfect Catholic but the Lord has never failed to amaze me with His patience, kindness and love. Thank you to my parents. For the love, support and understanding you both have given me. Thank you for bringing me up well and making me feel that it's okay for me to be myself. Thank you for guiding me always and yet allowing me to make my own decisions so I can learn from them. I know 2014 has been tough on our family but we've managed to pull through. I appreciate every thing you've done and given me. To my grandparents, thank you. Thank you for taking care of me for the past 4 years. Thank you for listening to all my whining and consoling me when I've had a particularly bad day. Lola, thank you for being my second mum while mum is away. Thank you for spoiling me (almost rotten) and for handing down family secrets for baking. Lola, you are my numero uno, my best-set best friend, my most trusted confidant. Always. Forever. I love you! Lolo, thank you for constantly reminding me that life and living isn't always about the big things. Thank you for also being my most willing taste tester! Thank you as well to my lil sister. You aren't so little anymore and you've always taken better care of me than me of you. Thank you for being my sidekick. Thank you for being my solid rock when the times emotional waters tend to drown me. I love you. I will always be "Ate Pipi" and you can always, ALWAYS count on me to have your back in everything you decide to pursue. Never allow assholes to make you feel like the lesser human, and never let them dictate what path you want to follow. Dream big my little sister, I know you will go a long way.
Thank you to my yaya & mamang. You've stuck by us through thick and thin and have never left the family when we needed you both the most. I can never repay that kind of loyalty. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you to my real friends. I can only count the total on one hand, but I've also learned that it isn't a bad thing at all. Though you guys are few and far away, I know I can always count on you. No need for special mentions (lest others get jealous, HAHA!) because I know none of you are the type to be too showy. I appreciate all the things you've done for me especially during the times that I'm feeling  downtrodden. I know our paths will always cross no matter the miles between us.
Thank you to my CMZ co-workers from my unit & complex. I've grown as a nurse because of all the teachings I've gotten from you all. I will never forget how each of you took me under your wing and made sure that I learned the best techniques to survive our unit's toxicity. I may have had rough relationships with some at the start but I'm still thankful that everything has worked out in the end. I hope to work beside each of you for a long time and enhance my skills and knowledge even more.
ANAS.
Thank you to everyone that made my 2014 a year to never forget. Hoping for a better 2015!

 

view post