2015 Highlights

(in no particular order)

First time to visit Seattle for my birthday. First time to visit New York for our 3rd anniversary. My first full time job in the Bay Area since we left Hawaii and after 'studying.' We were able to go back to Hawaii for Emil's birthday. Sent Paz family to visit Cebu temple for the first time. Visited Yosemite, Napa and Fresno. Emil officially became a CPA. Visited Wisconsin and Chicago to see ate Rhea and meet Ethan for the first time. I believe this year has been the best year of our married life so far. *wink*

Notice all of these highlights are memories and experiences and not a single one is a thing? I once read an article that suggested that we buy experiences and not things. Examples of experiences to buy are concert tickets, travel, theater or anything that will help us be a part of something new. Do not buy things you don't need. Of course it's easier said than done. For me too! We often hear it but yet still fail to do so because we are just programmed to like new things; but the newness just doesn't last and we need something brand new again! The cycle just goes on and on! We must resist the temptation. It IS doable. ;) I just realized that this is so true. As I look back when I was a kid, I don't remember the gifts I received however expensive they are but I vividly remember that we watched Disney on Ice every year at the Araneta Coliseum as a Christmas tradition for our family. I think this is absolutely a good concrete example of why we should focus more on building memories instead of purchasing material things. Memories lasts, material things do not.

My resolution for 2016 is in connection with my resolution as I turned 25 last year. Create more memories by focusing on spending time with loved ones as much as possible and by actually creating an opportunity for that to happen - travel to where our families and friends are and doing new things with them. Brian Chesky said "Repetition doesn't create memories. New experiences do."

This new year, let us experience new things and create stories that can last not just a lifetime but last 'til eternity.  

Cupcakes by Sonja

This not-so-little adorable shop at Greenhills really caught my eye when we got there. Not only was the interior greatly designed but the name of the cupcakes were so clever. It doesn't end there! The cupcakes that we each got was so good. Some are plain looking and some looked extravagant but all tasted soooo sooo great equally. I am really fond of uniquely designed boutiques especially in the Philippines. I love how they get creative with simple pieces like chairs, tables and lighting to make a well designed store.

Trixie's: Banana monkey cream pie (top left)

Zani's: Choco cream cheese (top right)

Mine: Elvis (bottom left)

April's: Pistachio berries and cream (bottom right)

First full time job

Yay! I survived my first week of full time work! Hello 4-day weekend (I'm off Friday to Monday, haha.)

I just started working at Kualoa Ranch last Monday, Sept. 23 and this is my first full time job after college. I know, I've graduated for quite a while now but this green card thing is taking too long that's why I was only doing part time jobs before this. But on the brighter side, I get to work outside of my sponsor (PCC) and now join the real world. So far, the experience has been so amazing. People are nice and I always have free food (yay to that again!) but I also came to a realization that I am not in the little bubble of Laie anymore though its only 30 mins apart. My co-workers have been confiding in me, though I'm still new, about their problems and I just couldn't imagine how they handle these things. My problems compared to them was microscopic! Emil said that this is a great practice for me before we move to the mainland and I couldn't agree more. Though sometimes I don't like to admit, we live in a little bubble of the Mormon community where almost everybody are members and all we do is work, school and church (for me at least). Almost everything is provided for us. Yes, even if you are poor college student at BYUH, you are still a student in BYUH attending college! That alone is a huge difference.

Some of my co-workers are a lot older so I get to listen to their words of wisdom which is really appreciated. These are the times when they share what they experienced already in life and I get to look at my life as well to see how blessed I am for what I have now. These are also the times when I re-realize (if there's a word) how grateful I am to the Church for the counsels they gave the members just about life! I don't know what I would do without these great counsels. I remember Elder Holland saying that the solution to socio-economic, political, economical, mental problems is the GOSPEL. That's it! Sounds simple? Of course not! That is why we need a lot of missionaries. Not only full time missionaries but member missionaries to share the good news that the gospel brings to our lives.

what greeted me during first day of work

it was actually a double rainbow if you will look at the top right

My work schedule is from 7:30am-6pm so I am with my co-workers for 10 hours that is why we talk about anything and everything! Yesterday, Wednesday, I think I only saw Emil for 2 hrs since I got home at 6:30 and he works from 7pm-11pm and I need to sleep between 9-10pm. Haha. Still getting used to it. I don't mind the 3 days off a week though!