Yesterday, the whole family went to Quezon Memorial Circle to walk and be together. It was a bit sad that the museum and the theme park "Circle of Fun" was closed because it was a holiday (in celebration of the Chinese New Year), but we were still able to do things... like shopping.

At one part of the park were rows of stores selling clothes, shoes, home items, and food. It wasn't my plan to buy some stuff, but there were items that I found really affordable, so I still bought some:




The fabric shoes I bought at only p150. The brown closed shoes I bought a few months ago blistered my feet, so I really wanted to buy another pair of closed shoes I could wear during certain events (as I own mostly pair of flip flops). p150 is way too cheap for a pair of shoes, and I agree, to some degree that people get what they pay for... but I also believe that it's up to me to take care of my things if I want to use it for long. Come to think of it, my brown sandals I bought in 2008 at only p120 pesos, yet I can still wear it 'til now if I wanted to. This green fabric shoes are so comfortable... something I surely wear when I travel to Baguio, La Union and Vigan next month.

Clothes... I initially bought the light brown top and the floral summer dress, and the dark brown one was something mom bought for herself (which is why the label has been taken off - my mom dislike having tags on her clothes - she says it irritates her), but later gave it to me when she saw me fit it. Yes, I still am not over the summer dress - that when I saw a stall selling some, I quickly went over to buy one. I wasn't disappointed with this - it looked way much better than the one I wore on Christmas day!

The light brown top is size XL. That made me happy. I know that is still "big," but for a woman who would often wear 2XL, sometimes 3XL (especially if clothes are Philippine-made), having to buy a top at just XL is already an awesome gift I can give to myself.

I am slowly building my closet. Almost all of my old clothes are now big on me, so I really need to start buying new clothes. However, I still have 50lbs to lose, so I take it easy on buying... I sure don't want to say goodbye to clothes that quick as I lose more weight. Well, the clothes aren't that expensive anyway (just less than p200), so even if I can only use it for a short time, I feel I still got my money's worth.

Sharing the last part of questions from Tense Teacher of Tense for a Reason for Sunday Stealing.

36. Have you watched American Horror Story?
> Nope.

37. Baseball hat or toque?
> I'd go for a toque... I'm more of a foodie than a sportsperson.

38. Do you shampoo or soap up first in the shower?
> I shampoo my hair first.

39. Wet the toothbrush or brush dry with the toothpaste?
> Dry toothbrush with the toothpaste, then I run water on it before putting it in my mouth.

40. Pen or pencil?
> Pen.

41. Have you ever gambled at a casino?
> Not yet... come to think of it, I haven't entered a casino yet.

42. Have you thrown up on a plane?
> Not yet.

43. Have you thrown up in a car?
> Yep.

44. Have you thrown up at work?
> Just one time - I was so sick that time, but I had to report for work.

45. Do you scream on roller coasters?
> Oh yes.

46. How many shoes do you have?
> One pair of running shoes, two pairs of sandals, three pairs of flip flops.

47. Who was your first roommate?
> Technically, it was my nanny. Hahaha.

48. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk for the first time?
> Oh... drunk is a word I haven't felt/experienced yet. I can drink a lot, but I don't get drunk.

49. What was your first job?
> I was part of the production team for a comedy/gag show on TV.

50. What was your first car?
> I haven't bought one yet.

51. When did you go to your first funeral?
> My paternal grandmother's funeral - I was only 1 year old that time.

52. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?
> 19.

53. Who was your first grade teacher?
> Mrs. Vita. Her first name I can't recall anymore.


54. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
> I went to Bohol with K - November 2008.

55. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
> I didn't do this.

56. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them?
> My best friend is Ahdz, and yes we are still very great friends.

57. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents’ house?
> La Union.

58. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
> Now, it's Mr. Pipoy.

59. Whose wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen?
> My parents' 25th wedding anniversary - they renewed their vows, and mom chose me as her bridesmaid.

60. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
> Thank God for a brand new day.

61. What was the first concert you attended?
> Hanson's "Underneath World Tour" circa 2004. I hope to watch their upcoming concert here in Manila this coming March - I still don't have a ticket for it.

62. First tattoo or piercing?
> I only have the typical ear piercing. Tattoo, I have yet to have.

63. First celebrity crush?
> Tom Hanks.

Cheers to us thieves!

A very quick post before I go...


Last week, I received an invitation for a "Mystery Event" and asked attendees to wear "Red Chinese Outfit." I don't own any Chinese-inspired clothing, so I asked mom if she has one I could borrow. She gave me this blouse. Trying it on, my brother was teasing me that it won't fit, but surprise, surprise, I got to fit in it. So awesome!

The blouse was a wee bit small, but I can breathe. As a matter of fact, this image above was taken a few minutes before writing this post, and I am wearing the same outfit while typing this post. I am just happy that I took on the road to lose excess weight, and while I still have to lose nearly 50lbs before I could reach my UGW (Ultimate Goal Weight), I am thankful that I took on the first step to finally do something right for myself. The blouse may be small, but seeing my picture, I could just imagine, "What if I am still 226lbs? For sure I won't be able to fit into this blouse and it might drive me to be sad because I can't attend the event just because I don't have an outfit to wear."

Yesterday, I had a milestone: being in Onederland.

I won't reveal my exact weight as of this writing, but one thing's for sure, I am already in the 100s. Goodbye 200lbs!

*** This post is supposed to be for "Red Hot Thursdays" but Lene's blog is currently inaccessible, so will just edit this when I get home from the event. ***

Last Christmas, I was able to wear a nice beach dress, which I bought at a tiangge for a little over 2usd. I super loved that dress, so first Sunday of January - the last day of the tiangge, I asked mom and sis if we could visit so I could buy one more dress I can use when I finally do that Ilocos getaway with my friend Ria.


We were able to see the exact stall where I first bought the dress and even if there were very few dresses left, my mom, sis, and I were able to buy one dress for each of use. Of all the available designs, I chose this one, but when I fitted it when we reached home, the fabric wasn't as big as the first dress - the size of the dress was just enough for me to fit in it. Bulges around my lower tummy area was quite visible, and sitting down, I was a bit cautious because the fabric was so thin that if it stretches, it might tear.

Still, I am happy that I could fit into this dress. Our proposed Ilocos getaway will take place either April or May this year - if this doesn't push through within the summer months, we might do it come October. That being said, I have more or less three months to fit good in this dress.

Crossing fingers.

Here's the second set of questions from Tense Teacher of Tense for a Reason.

21. Did you go to your high school prom?
> Nope, simply because we never had one at school.

22. Perfect time to wake up?
> 5:45am - gives me enough time to get dressed, stretch then go out to do my morning walk.

23. Perfect time to go to bed?
> Around 10pm.

24. Do you use your queen right away in chess?
> Nope.

25. Ever been in a car accident?
> No, but I hope I won't be in one.

26. Closer to mom or dad…or neither?
> When my dad was still alive, I was closer to him. Now that he's gone, I started getting closer to mom, and I am happy that we are now on the same page - before our gap was so wide, we don't even know each other even if we see each other everyday.

27. What age is this exciting life over for you?
> It doesn't end, I think.

28. What decade during the 20th century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
> The 60s. I love the outfit, I love the music.


29. Favorite shoes you have EVER owned?
> Right now, I am wearing flip flops most of the time, so my favorite shoes ever was this pair. I bought it at a mall on sale - slightly over 2usd, but I got to use it so much! I still have this on my shoe rack, but it has retired already - the soles were made of wood and the very thin layer of foam can't cushion my feet anymore.

30. Do you have an article of clothing you have had since you were in high school?
> Sadly, I have given it all.

31. Were you in track and field?
> Nope. I wasn't the athletic type.

32. Were you ever in a school talent show?
> Yes. A classmate and I joined a song-writing competition... he wrote the song, I sang it, but we didn't win the first place (we were in second) because one of the judges sort of revenged on us after we threw so many questions at her students (questions that made her students look like they didn't know what they were doing) at a different category of the week-long Math and Science Week.

33. Have you ever written in a library book?
> Nope.

34. Allergic to?
> Nothing.

35. Favorite fruit?
> Pineapple and Papaya.

I have attempted to lose weight many times already, but in the past, I always just lose about 4lbs. in one month. For the whole month of October 2011, I was able to lose 6lbs. so I sort of hoped and challenged myself if I could lose 10lbs. in one month. It was just a "wish," I know this might come true, but I sure didn't know when - when I listed this on my Bucket List, I just lifted this to God to help me achieve this, whenever it will be.




My weight on the first day of November 2011 was 220lbs. I was happy about that because as I have said - I always get to lose just 4lbs. in a month, but scared that I might hit a plateau, I lessened my food intake and upped my physical activity. Walking early mornings most days of the month was my biggest accomplishment this month - not only was I rewarded with awesome gifts from nature (having to take pictures here and there), I was also able to break the fears of walking alone. Even without any companion, I was able to get up in the morning and walk for an hour or two with gusto.




Weighing myself on the first day of December 2011, I was so surprised to see my weight at 207lbs. That meant, I lost 13lbs. for the entire month of November, and I was so proud of myself. All the food portioning and physical activities paid off!

I take all the glory of losing this much weight - I didn't go to the gym, I didn't enroll in any dance / aerobics classes, and I didn't take any weight loss supplements and drinks. I lost this using my strong will and my own blood, sweat, and tears.

The perks? Being able to wear my mom's and sister's blouses, seeing my old clothes look a bit loose, being able to cross my legs, and hearing people around me say it's already showing that I lost weight.

May I have the willingness to reach my goal weight of 150lbs.

Lose 10lbs in one month? A check on My Bucket List.