2014: Year in Review

 

Happy belated Christmas!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your beloved ones and had your wishes come true.

I can’t believe this is the last day of December and even more mind-blowing that this is the last day of 2014.

Looking back, it’s been an adventurous year with all the good and not-so-good experience mashing up together.

I remember I had a rough 2013, which is why at the beginning of 2014, I told myself “you know what, I’m in charge of my happiness and I’mma start focusing on myself now.”

So that’s what I did.

Taking that first step was hard, I almost forgot how to be “selfish”. I’m not trying to brag that I’m the most selfless person on this earth, but I used to care so much for every single thing, or every single person, and most of the time, for the wrong people and forgetting about myself.

However, I find myself to be more spontaneous and carefree this year, and it feels damn good. I’ve always been a planner. I plan out everything beforehand and things should go the way I plan otherwise I’d be upset. But I managed to let go this part of me, not all though, because some things are really need to be planned, and I’ve become less rigid.

This explains the impromptu travels, blind dates (yes omg, can you believe it) and generally not giving a damn of what other people think. Some say that this is being ignorant, but hey, ignorance is a bliss.

Oh, I think I have not shared that my name is on the acknowledgement page of a book. It’s my previous boss’ book that I had been helping with earlier this year and this is one of my greatest achievements so far.

So yes, I got a new job this year. Not exactly my dream job but I get to meet a bunch (and I mean a BUNCH) of new people. I also started taking Chinese class again and joined a few interest groups. I’m happy to say that I can call some of the new people I’ve met this year good friends of mine now.

I’m still an introvert though, although I can be the most extroverted person among the introverts. I’ve been working on it and actually I have seen an improvement this year.

I’ve let go of the past that I had been holding on to for too long and I’m not taking the what-ifs and all the “we’ll see”s seriously anymore, because I know they’re just false hopes and hell no, I’m not waiting for anyone or anything to come my way anymore, ain’t nobody got time for that!

On a different note, I’m also very happy that two of my good friends from Uni have gotten married this year. Funny thing is that both of them are the ones who had very little dating experience and ended up with their first bf/gf. I’m expecting some offspring next year and I can’t wait to hold them in my hands.

Again, on a random note, I’m still keeping my hair short this year and I think I prefer it this way. You know what they say, short hur don’t currrrr.

That was my update for this whole year. Overall it’s been a good year, especially that I get to make new good friends from different places.

Main lesson from 2014 and previous years:

Don’t depend your happiness on anything or anyone, because if that thing or that person leaves, he/she/it will take the happiness from you. Be your own happiness.

I hope next year is just as good or even better. Can’t wait for the new adventures and experience in 2015!

Having said this, I wish you a very happy new year! May joy, happiness and blessings be always with you.

Have a great New Year’s Eve everyone! Stay safe and take care <3

 

xo, Jo

I'll be travelling to...

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!

Hi folks, yes it's me. It's really been a while, hasn't it?

Happy belated happy new year to all of you!

So yes, I'll be going to Ho Chi Minh tomorrow for 4 days. Just a short trip on the weekend but I'm so excited as it will be my first time going to Vietnam. Next round I'll visit Hanoi for sure. It's already in my travel list! :)

I'll be posting pics as soon as I come back.

See ya! 

xo, Jo

Last 3 weeks of 2013! (#TT133)

Hello lovelies!

It's crazy that 2013 is almost over. It just feels like last month when I spent my Christmas Eve at the hospital, and guess what, I'm now sick again again geez.. Not as bad as last year though. Hopefully I'll recover soon!

Let's reminisce your favorite (or guilty pleasure) hits of 2013! 

Which mashup is better? 

I think I like Pop Danthology better in terms of variety of the music selections and the beat in general. DJ Earworm is a little repetitive (too much of Lorde's Royals I guess?). But I like how selective DJ Earworm is in terms of how he combines songs with similar lyrics so it kind of flows nicely. What do you think?

By the way, have you checked out Lorde's latest single?

I might do a 2013 recap post on those events that I did not have the chance to blog about. Hopefully I have the time to do it before the New Year! I'm pretty busy at the moment juggling my time for work, looking for a new job, preparing for Yamaha Student Concert this weekend (SO nervous!!!), getting my Christmas shopping done and trying to maintain a good health! 

Are you as stressed as I am during the holiday season? :D

xo, Jo

Happy 2013! (TT #97)

Hello guys!!

Long time no post, I know. First of all, I’d like to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well. Mine was.. interesting.., not in a good way though. We’ll get to that part in a bit.

Let’s see what I have in my basket for this very first TT of the year!

A different style from Blink 182!

VE continued pursuing their change in sound as well, from alternative rock to power pop!

Uh oh, 1D’s new video! It looks silly at first, but later on I started to understand that that’s the theme itself lol.

New indie emerging band that I just came across. Reminds me of Matt and Kim :) I even think this band has a higher degree of originality! Love it!

What do you think of the playlist?

So, let’s have a quick recap of my Christmas and New Year.

I had been sick since a week before Christmas and when I thought I was getting better, the otherwise occurred.

My parents came to visit me and my brother in Singapore. I had a lot of plans in my mind and at the end I just stayed in the hotel for the whole time. I started vomiting, though I made it to Christmas Eve mass.

My face was bloated, I guess due to medicine’s complications. I basically took too much medications and every time I took them I just threw everything up. After getting back from church, my parents took me to the hospital. I was hospitalized.

And that’s where I spent my Christmas Eve at.

In the morning I pretty much begged the doctor to let me go home, since I had a flight waiting for me in the afternoon.

Didn’t take any pics at the hospital except this quick shot of my bro holding my present at my ward hehe.

I was thinking, “great, nothing goes right for this Christmas, every plan is ruined”, but as soon as I reached home and saw our little Christmas tree, I felt there’s still a tiny bit of Christmas spirit in my heart. My parents and I exchanged our gifts before the clock passed 12 midnight.

In the morning of  New Year’s Eve, my best friends came over for a late Christmas gift exchange. I will do a haul for my Christmas presents on the next post :)

I spent the New Years with a couple of my aunts at home. But I got sleepy after dinner, so I took a nap and woke up at 11:55 PM. Haha! The noise of fireworks was my alarm and I made it for the countdown. On the New Year’s day I only had lunch with the fam, together with my other aunts and grandmom.

So that was my out-of-plan-yet-memorable year-end holiday.

How was yours?

This holiday I’ve learned that the more I want something to be perfect, the easier it will get to be ruined. I thought too much about getting the right presents and doing the “fun” stuff that made me ill at the end. Nonetheless, although my holiday was far from perfect, at least I learned something from it.

I’m still in my hometown since I needed to go back and forth to the hospital for a check-up. I wasted my flight last Sunday and I realized that I have wasted A LOT of my dad’s money as well :(

I don’t make any resolutions for this year. I did  accomplish some of the last year’s, but I’ve failed many of them too. So if I were to make a resolution, I guess it would be to take care of my health better than before. Without health, everything will be useless. I don’t want to pressurize myself as well and definitely don’t want to make myself disappointed. So I guess I’m just gonna let everything flow by itself. Who knows that I might accomplish something unplanned, right?

Have a wonderful year, everyone!

xo, Jo

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012!!!

I had a simple yet memorable New Year’s Eve last night.

    

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Hope you’re having a great time with your loved ones and let’s hope for the best in this brand new year!

Bring it on, 2012!!!!

xo, Jo

Christmas 2011 Recap + NY Resolutions!

Hello, peeps! How was your Christmas??

Mine consisted of eating, shopping, going to church and museums :) here is a list of few shots from the Christmas weekend.

My family :)

This chocolate cake was delish! Love the goldish color :p

Stuffed christmas tree that sings Jingle Bells and HOHOHO!

Don’t we look cute? Haha

Awkward bro’s embrace lol.

My presents!

Actually I didn’t tell my mom that I wanted a makeup palette. But instead of UB’s Naked, I got this makeup compact from Lancome! Just as good I think :)

So here comes the interesting part.. my new year resolutions for 2012!

• Take the Spanish DELE exam so I can put it under my resume
• Graduate college with at least second-upper degree
• Get a working permit and a job
• Make more electone covers for Youtube
• Read more books (omg this again!)
• Control my spending and save money
• Be more grateful of what I have (ahhem this sounds familiar)
• Be more punctual!!!
• Not to be overly sensitive (in general)
• Be more patient (again, familiar)
• Watch and listen more to Spanish/Latin entertainment
• No more damaging my hair! Permitted for cutting and treatment only! lol
• Tighten the relationship with my family
• Have a trip with my bffs!!!
• Join the charismatic group in church and get to know God better :)

Well, so far these are the things I can think of. I may or may not have more in the future :p

I still don’t have a fixed plan of how I’m gonna spend the New Years Eve. Hmmm.. what are your plans??

xo, Jo

Dear 2011 (TT #28)

On the 31st of December 2010...

It's 2011! Can you believe it?
Time flies super fast and before we know it a year has gone by.

I chose this song for the first Tuneful Tuesday in this brand new year because it's got good encouraging lyrics as a motivation to start off everything. Enjoy :)

2010 had been an interesting year for me. I met new people, made new friends, gained new experiences, and challenged myself to new problems. Despite the new stuff I have encountered, I also experienced stuff that is related to the past. I found my ex-crush on facebook, met up with my bestfriend in 3rd grade that I had lost contact for 10 years, got reconnected with my North Korean soulmate, and reunited with some of my highschool friends. I can say that it was a good year, though there were few moments that I don't want to happen for the second time, like losing a family member and realizing that a person that you used to love has become a complete different person.

My resolutions for this year:

- to manage my time better.
- trying to be more patient and not to think so much about matters that are not worth the time.
- to love myself more and be more grateful of what I already have.
- to try my best to understand people with different personalities and attitudes that conflict with mine.
- to play more the electone.
- to read more books.
- to gain more new experiences and accomplish things that make me feel good.
- to respect my parents more and be closer to family and God.

In short, I want to be a better person for others and myself :)
How about you??

On the first day of 2011, I visited my aunt's house. It was really a quiet neighborhood and since my brother and I were being obnoxious, some neighbors peeked outside from their fences LOL.

This cat was a total poser! Camerawhore :p

I hope all of you have a wonderful year ahead!

xo, Jo

Christmas recap 2010 and Happy New Year 2011!

How was your Christmas?? I hope it was good because mine was great!

I had an early Christmas celebration with my college buddies a week before Christmas. It was pretty fun :)

We exchanged presents and I got this cute table lamp which is also a piggy bank. It’s really what I need for my room! Haha.

Afterwards we played 3D puzzle and Monopoly for hours!

I went back to my hometown few days before Christmas and celebrated Christmas at home after twice having Christmas in hotels without a Christmas tree.

Nothing can beat Christmas dinner at home :)

I got a few stares at church when I wore this outfit on Christmas Eve. What’s wrong with red tights? It was Christmas!

Opening up presents on Christmas morning! I know my house is kind of a mess :p My presents!! A Body Shop set from brother, a rosary bracelet from mom and CDs from dad. Super stoked when I saw the CDs coz I had been waiting for pretty long :DAfter opening our lovely presents we headed for lunch and bowling!

At night we had a big family gathering where relatives from my dad’s side came over to my house. It was fun, but at the same time I couldn’t stop thinking that it was our first Christmas without my grandpa.

The next day, there was another big family gathering, but this time was my mom’s family! Yeah I have HUGE family haha.

My family is really using this holiday as a chance to spend a quality time together because we don’t meet that often, especially my brother and I. So the next day, we drove away to a highland and stayed over for a night.

It was colder than I thought! I had to put on my tights at night because it was so windy!

We played pool and went shopping at this factory outlet that sells branded stuff with very good deals! We shopped a lot, especially me heehee.

Good times! But I don’t think my New Year will be as good.It’s because I just got my wisdom tooth taken out yesterday. The operation went smoothly but now half of my face is swollen and it’s killing me! It looks like I got punched on my face real hard. My bro keeps laughing at me –.-

So I can’t really go out anywhere with this meatball face and I only can eat soft food like porridge. Aghhhh!! So yeah, no parties, just staying at home. The BBQ dinner that I was planning even has to be cancelled :/

I’m sure most of you are gonna party real hard tonight. So have fun and be safe! ;)

Happy New Year!!

xo, Jo