I may not be a bookworm, but I do remember how I used to read my school books in a not so well lighted area (like my room, during dawn). I also loved watching television very close to the screen and at age 9, I already had problems with my eyesight. Me being one of the tall girls in the class, I was always asked to sit at the back row and I really had a difficult time coping up with the lessons, simply because I couldn't see the words on the board.

I was only 10 years old when I first had my eyeglasses, and even if I had to adjust with the situation, having my eyeglasses really made things brighter and better.


It was 2008 when I had that pair of eyeglasses (the one I was wearing on the picture above). Believe it or not, I still am wearing the same pair as of this writing. Well, I really do take good care of my things because I know eyeglasses can be really expensive. I do, however, look forward to having a new pair because one of my eyeglasses' stems is now showing signs of age and might break anytime soon.

I am a big girl with a big face, so whenever I go to the optical shop, I don't really go for the stylish frames - I go for those frames which I think is sturdy enough to be used for a long time. I also go for frames with plastic stems because the metal ones tend to injure my face because my perspiration tend to ruin the material. When I first heard of Cubik Eyewear, I was instantly impressed with their selection, and I was much more impressed to know that they follow standards such as allowing only licensed ophthalmologists and opticians to order prescription eyewear.

I was browsing through their sie and checking through it, I found one that fit all my criteria: the Cubik T107 C2. The lenses are rectangular in shape, the nose pad can be adjusted, and the stems (or temples) look sturdy to handle my everyday use. Best of all, it's also in lavender - one of my favorite colors.

Like what I wrote on the scrapbook layout, my eyeglasses aren't just a tool to help me see things clearly in the literal sense of it. I view having eyeglasses as a way of seeing things at a different perspective. Now that I am turning my life around by eating well and exercising, I am also having a new outlook on life.

Twenty five more days 'til Christmas and I just might win Cubik eyewear simply by joining the Cubik Eyewear Blogging Contest. Do you think I will win? I hope so, too, because I sure think my current eyeglasses deserve to retire now.

Wish me luck!

I have been a lax when it comes to blogging, but I promise, I will write a blog post most days of the week if not everyday.




Monday is my Kikay day here on my blog, and here's how my nails look like when I met up with my fitness buddy last Saturday. Coming with this style of manicure was a spur of a moment thing - it was already Friday night and I still haven't had a manicure, so I took some time to give my hand and nails some pampering.

At first I just wanted to go for the red one - using the 24K nail polish my sister bought recently. However, seeing the My Posh "Princess Pink" polish made me think of doing a French style manicure, and I was glad everything came out good.

The 24K nail polish was so easy to use; it's not really that thick and not too thin, just enough to make a good coat. One pass was okay, but for this one, I gave it two coats. The pink one was quite thick already because the bottle was nearly empty. I still haven't bought a bottle of solvent to thin the polish, but for doing the French style manicure, it was already okay.

It was around 9pm when I did this, and since I will sleep about one and a half hours after, I used the hair blower to dry my nails easily because I don't own a bottle of quick-dry nail polish.

I really love red / pink nail polish colors!

Sunday Stealing is on a break right now because of Bud's surgery, but since I wasn't able to answer this set of questions last week, I will just answer it today.

23. Do you ever walk around the house naked?
> Only when I am completely alone in the house.

24. If you were an animal what would you be? Why?
> I want to be a cute chubby gray cat. Cats are cute, sweet... yet quite demanding and bossy - kinda like me, actually. Hahaha.

25. Hair color you like on someone you’re dating?
> Hair color isn't important at all.

26. If suffering an injury, would you rather be left blind or deaf?
> I'd rather be left deaf. I sure might not hear the wonderful words from my dear family and friends, but I can still see and read the words. I'd rather see the beauty and chaos of the world.

27. Do you have any special talents?
> Hmmm... I don't know.

28. What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?
> Take off my footwear and feel the cold floor. :) If I see any of my cats first, I'd carry them - hug and kiss them first.

29. Do you like horror or comedy?
> Comedy. I am such a scaredy-cat when it comes to horror movies.

30. Are you missing anyone?
> Yes. I miss K a lot (we don't talk that much lately, darn YM - it keeps kicking me out).

31. Where do you want to live when you are old?
> In the countryside.

32. Who is the person you can count on the most?
> My sister.

33. If you could date any celebrity past or present, who would it be?
> I would date Robbie Williams!

34. What did you dream last night?
> Oh gosh, I already forgot.

35. What is your favorite sport to watch?
> Figure Skates.

36. Are you named after anyone?
> Not anyone... I am named after the song "Jennifer" by Bobby Sherman

37. What is your favorite alcoholic drink?
> Tequila! I can even drink it as is - no chasers, no limes, no salt!

38. Non alcoholic drink?
> Water.

39. Have you ever been in love?
> Of course! I'd be abnormal if I haven't been in love at age 31!

40. Do you sing in the shower?
> At times.

41. Have you ever been arrested?
> Nope.

42. What is your favorite Holiday?
> Christmas!

43. Would you ever get plastic surgery?
> I don't know. I mean, I am 200+ lbs.... I will surely try my best to lose weight without getting flabby all over, but if I do get flabby and I have the money, I might consider having a surgery just to make the skin firmer.

44. Have you ever caught a fish?
> Not yet. I hope someday I will try fishing.

Get well soon, Bud!

Ever since I documented my everyday journey through life and weight loss on my other blog Slenderella Jenn, I noticed that I am not blogging much here. I will really do something about that, but for now, let me just make a recap of my week by presenting a collage.


12 November - Sister was preparing a sandwich and as always, our cat Oreo would hop on the chair and act as if he's one of us... eating at the dinner table.

13 November - I met up with my fitness buddy Pipoy at the Quezon Memorial Circle today. There were moments I couldn't keep up with his pace, so this picture represented our shadows as he held my hand just so I could keep up with him. Well, he surely couldn't left me behind as my earphones were plugged in his iPod. :)

14 November - Walked to and around Colinas Verdes with sister today.

15 November - Dinner for today was something brother cooked. It felt nice to take a break from cooking dinner.

16 November - Aunt Mary delivered some seafood from Pangasinan today, and part of the package included some spicy seaweeds, which was part of dinner. I didn't eat it, though.

17 November - Survived my first solitary walk at Colinas Verdes. Sweet!

18 November - With emotions (negative at that) seemed to cover my perspective, I was supposed to give in to cravings of cooking fried chicken wings, but decided to choose the healthier option - cooking fish for dinner.

I didn't title this "Project 365" because even if I still am taking food pictures everyday, I decided to stop it and just get back at it next year. I titled this "My Life in Pixels" because I am thinking of joining my friend Nathalie's upcoming meme (will open next Saturday). I thought of rekindling my love affair with scrapbooking because of that meme, but while the meme is still not open, I decided to give it a test run.

I really want to pattern this from Becky Higgins' "Project Life," but I don't have a template that looks like the page fillers. I will try to create my own template come next week, but if I can't, I think this template above would be okay already. Let's see next Saturday.

How many days more before Christmas? I honestly don't know, but even if Christmas is about receiving the best gift from God (Jesus Christ), part of celebrating Christmas is also to receive tangible items. I like to think that I am quite a simple lady and anyone can give me whatever gift one wishes to, but it's some sort of a "tradition" for people to make a list of wishes - just so people don't have to think more about what to give for Christmas.

Since this is my personal blog and I do have different sides, let me just list down my wishlist separated by the my different facets.

For the traveler in me, I want...

• Backpack. I do love my cloth sling bag I bought while on a trip to Banaue (Ifugao), but at times I can't use it especially during rainy days.
  
• Round trip tickets to Batanes with pocket money. Traveling there is just so expensive!
• Wawa Dam. I have always wanted to go there; have planned it numerous times, but I still can't travel there.
  

For the Photographer and Life Artist in me, I want...

• DSLR Camera with Macro Lens. Usually, DSLR cameras are purchased with the kit lens on, so the kit lens is already part of the package, but I do wish to own a macro lens because I do love photographing small objects - be it flowers and insects. Also, macro lens can also be used in photographing food, something I am leaning towards to. I can go with any DSLR Camera - be it the most basic or the most lavish one... I just want to graduate from being a point and shoot camera user and take photography a notch higher.
• Food Photography Workshop. Food is something I take pictures of every single day, and since my food blog, Tara, Let's Eat! is the one with the most visitors, I just think I owe it to my readers to provide them with good food photographs, so they will be encouraged to try eating or cooking it, too. There are so many food photography tips available online, yes... but I know you'd agree with me that reading books and attending classes are two different things.
• Light Box. Our house has poor lighting, making food photography difficult for me especially during nighttime. I just want to own a light box (be it store purchased or DIY) just so I would have a good source of light when photographing my food.
• Project Life (Amber Collection). I so miss doing scrapbooks, but I still can't find a way to get back at it because I still lack some items and I feel scrapbooking can be a bit overwhelming. Project Life is a good way of telling life stories with a scrapbook vibe without having to use much embellishments and scrapbook materials.
  
• Printer. Simply because I do want to print out images taken from my daily life and compile them together to tell the story without asking one to check my galleries online.
• 2012 Planner. Hopefully those ones with big spaces, so I have a lot of space to write on. If I can get an executive diary, the better.
  

For the Kikay in me, I want...

• Nail Polish. Lots and lots of nail polish! I do love the pinkish/reddish hues, but I can go with any color. :) Brand isn't so important, I just put on a picture of Orly nail polish because I find them expensive at p300 each bottle. :)
• Lingerie! I am losing weight and I can feel my undies becoming a bit loose now, time to update the lingerie drawer.
  
• Make Up. Well, am not so much of a make up person, but I do want to have new blush on and lipstick.
• Shoes. Simply because I don't have much to wear. :D
• My Christmas Dress. I still don't have anything to wear for this year's annual family photoshoot.

For the Slenderella in me, I want...

• Arm Band for iPod Nano. It's much more fun to walk outside while listening to some tunes (as it helps you with your pacing), but at times I couldn't take my iPod with me because my leggings or my jogging pants didn't have a pocket to hold my iPod. Having this one makes me just walk and jog without having to think of my gadget and just focus on my walk.
• Running Shoes. I am such a heavy weight that my current shoes are showing signs of wear and tear. While I can still walk and jog with it, I just think having a new pair will be sweet. :)
• Gloves with Weights. Simply because it can get a little tiring holding on to the dumbbells for quite a long time.
• Heart Rate Monitor. One that looks like a wristwatch, which can help me track my heart rate while walking, jogging or doing my video workouts.
• Gym Membership. Just so I can use the expensive equipments, which can help me tighten loose skin - especially on my upper arm and tummy areas.

For the Foodie in me, I want...

• Immersion Blender. Just so I can whip up soups from vegetables with ease.
• Plates, Bowls, Cups, Linens. Of different designs and sizes, just to help me with presenting different dishes from my kitchen.
• Measuring Cups. Those that aren't dome-shaped. If there are rectangular, or square ones, I'd be happy with it.
  
• Turbo Broiler. I just want to cook roasted chicken this holidays, and we can't use our old Turbo Broiler because our neighbor neglectfully washed the motor and it's dysfunctional now.
  
• 1 Year Magazine Subscription to any or all of these culinary magazines: Yummy, FOOD, and Appetite.

These are just my wish list. It sure would make me happy to receive any of these items, but of course, if I don't, it wouldn't really make me depressed and all. If you're thinking of what to give me, then you can choose from any items above. :)

The video and images posted here aren't mine, I got them online following an image search, the video and images belong to their respective owners.

I am supposed to talk about my newly painted nails, but just before I took apicture of my pretty nails, my hand accidentally hit something that caused a little chip on my nail. I will just re-apply the nail polish next time and share it next week.

For today, I want to talk about a sparkly giveaway.


Young fashion blogger Ericka of She is Dainty is giving away a pair of Fancy Flats' Ciara Glitter Oxfords. I want to join because I still don't have my pair of shoes for Christmas, and me winning this would somehow ease the pain of losing this pair of wonderful flats I saw at the nearby shoe store ( a different label, of course) - It was a very pretty pair and very cheap that it made me feel giddy because I initially saw a size 10 half of the pair. Trying it on, it looked so pretty, but when I asked for the other half, the salesman gave me a size 6 half of the pair. What the... was that why it was so cheap? Arrrgh!

I somehow can't get over that, but not buying the shoes gave me the chance to still go and search for my Christmas footwear. Would these Fancy Flats' Ciara Glitter Oxfords be that pair? I sure hope so. I find the Sparkle (reddish tint) one prettier, but regardless of what the prize will be, I sure will be happy if I can get to win it. :)

It's quite difficult for me to find shoes because depending on the label, I am either a size 9 or 10. I am glad that Fancy Flats have shoes from size 4 to 10, so if I win, I can definitely get to wear it.

Christmas is always associated with sparkles and glitters. Why not make your shoes sparkly? If you want to join the giveaway, you can read the whole mechanics HERE.

Crossing my fingers that I get to win this!

I wasn't able to share these pictures last week, so let me just catch up. :)

It was the year daddy died, so come Undas (All Saints / Souls Day), the whole family traveled to La Union to visit daddy's grave. Brother and Sister traveled a day earlier than mom and I because we still had to cast our votes, but the day after mom and I arrived, the whole family went to the cemetery to visit daddy's grave.


Happy Halloween. The cemetery then was fairly new, but every year, they do decorate the place to go with the Halloween theme.


Siblings. Brother just bought his digital camera and of course we were all shutter happy back then, taking pictures every now and then! Hahaha.


Ohana. This day being October 28, there weren't much people visiting the cemetery yet, so there was no one around we could ask for a group picture. This we took by turning on the timer and using an empty Coke 8oz bottle as our camera stand. Well, it didn't give us a very good framing, but at least we have a family picture.

We stayed in La Union until November 02 of that year, then we traveled to Pangasinan - to mom's hometown to visit her ailing father (he died two weeks later).

This year, I wasn't able to visit the cemetery to light a candle on dad's grave, but I did light some candles here at home and offered his favorite chocolate (Meiji Dark Chocolate). Brother did travel to La Union, but since he wasn't able to find some Meiji Dark Chocolate, he just offered some Kit Kat and flowers.