Rock Star Chic

My Sister's "Party Like a Rock Star" themed Birthday celebration last Thursday was a blast.

I'm glad to have come up with the idea despite the fact that Rock isn't really my sister's thing. Thank goodness for ever supportive and cooperative friends who are always "game" on any of our (me and Mars Janice) crazy and fun party ideas.

As the brain behind this themed party I have to make sure I go by the requirement of sporting a Rock Star ensemble for the occasion.

Pulling off a rock star style isn't really that complicated. As long as you have some black shirts, faded-ripped off jeans, leather jacket kept in your wardrobe and some gaudy accessories to go perfectly well...you are good to have that rocker look.

I know this ain't a Fashion Blog, and resembling a "Fashionista" peg isn't really the whole idea of me blogging about my Rock Star outfit for the occasion.

Hence I decided that whenever I have time (just like now, I've been making the most out of my idle time at work to blog and read blogs) I will write about the things of my liking, be it about gadgets, shoes, bags, clothes, food, movie, tv series or anything that I fancy and defines my personality. And this is just one of them.

I love organizing and conceptualizing themes to make ordinary occasions extra-ordinary, fun and memorable. Asking the guests to dress up for the occasion can really be a biggie especially to those who's really not into these kind of things, but it really means something for the celebrant seeing most (if not all) of his/her invited friends, colleagues or relatives dressed up. It goes to show that like you, they are also willing to be a part of the memorable occasion and have FUN of course.

Behold my ROCKSTAR GET-UP for the occasion

Outfit:

TOP - Old plunging black Mango (I painstakingly ripped off  the front lower hem to become more sync in  rockstar image)
BOTTOM - unbranded faded denim mini skirt which i got for a very reasonable price at the thrift shop nearby our place few months back.
BOOTS - Charles & Keith  3-inch suede boots which I get to wear only during winter season.
ACCESSORIES - Dangling hoop earrings (Splash; QR15) , Long black beaded necklace (Splash; QR20) , black necklace with Fly pendant (loaned from Mars Janice) and black bangles (from Mhela)
MAKE-UP 

Face: MAC Primer + MAC Foundation + MAC DOLLYMIX shimmer blush
Eyes: MIKYAJY Black I set combined with Purple eye crayon
Lips: NIVEA cherry red (mat finish)

I'm letting my sister upload the pictures from the party in her FB page...after all it was her birthday, not mine.

                   

One last thing, Kuya Dong is a perfect example of the person I mentioned above who's not into dressing up for themed parties but he surprisingly nailed it for showing up impersonating one of the greatest Rock Star ever; JOHN LENNON.

A Letter To My Sister

Dear Ate,

Today unfolds another year of your life. We both know birthdays could not be any happier when celebrated with the family. Truly nothing beats the joy of spending this special day with our parents and your kids especially no matter how simple the celebration may be. But this year is another birthday away from them. It is sad, I know. No matter how familiar we’ve become in this situation, in this environment and culture there will always be days and nights when homesickness will just strike you through.

I know you already know by heart how much I love you as my sister. Like any other siblings, we have had a lot of misunderstandings and differences but I’m always glad how we always find our way to patch things up at the end of the day. Looking back, I am proud of us for not holding any grudge towards each other no matter how petty or major our misunderstandings had been.

Thank you for not just being a sister but a friend too.

Thank you for all the support.

Thank you for the love, care and understanding.

Saying Thanks can be uttered conveniently; to any one at any time and any place. We may be unaware of how frequent we say that to our family, friends, colleagues or strangers on our day to day living. It can be expressed with much and heart-felt sincerity or even with unimaginable sarcasm.

I can thank you for a lot more reasons; we have shared so many memories and surmounted a lot of trials together even at our very young age. And we still have our lifetime to create more memories and to thank each other for.

Today I just realized the one thing I have never told you before.

I would like to take your birthday as a perfect opportunity to express how much I AM PROUD OF YOU for being a Mother to your Children.

I need not to elaborate because you know it to yourself that you are a Good Parent to them. You may not be physically present for them most of the time, but you always ensure to make them feel your unfailing unconditional Love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE.

I will never trade you for any other sister here or in another lifetime.

I love you.

With So Much Love,

Ada

P.S.

 

I was looking for a perfect quote about sisters and what I found cracked me up:

“More than Santa Claus, your sister knows when you’ve been bad and good” – Linda Sunshine

 

The Big LEAP

Few days ago I have taken the 2^nd biggest Leap in my so-called career life (so far). First of which was deciding to leave home and embrace this seemingly heroic role of being an OFW here in Doha, Qatar and work for LINEAR CONCEPTS (former name; now it’s called LINEAR ASSOCIATES).

After 4 ½ years of working in an Interior Design Firm managed by a Singaporean Couple (names not to be disclosed), I have finally decided (and when I say decided, it means FINAL, IRREVOKABLE, NON-NOGOTIABLE.) to leave and take on a new opportunity that easily landed into my very eyes. The first attempt was July 2010 and was just some sort of a scheming strategy to force my request for increment. By the way it worked. (Insert evil laugh here). 

Though the decision gives me such happiness and relief, I cannot deny the fact that whatever knowledge I have acquired related to some bits and pieces, basic and technical aspects of Interior Design, Architectural, Exhibition, and Construction…major credit goes to this company and the people I have worked with.

I would like to consider this post a little bit of my “Tribute” for LINEAR ASSOCIATES that will feature and somehow take me down the memory lane of some of the most memorable events and experiences and people who have made my entire 4 ½ years a remarkable one.

Projects

Some Photos / Perspectives of the major (if I may say), physically and mentally stressful yet rewarding and memorable projects I was involved with.

Oishi Sushi Japanese Restaurant - The very first project.

This was when I started to have a little grasp about reading and understanding lay-outs, elevation, furniture plan, construction terms, materials and etc.

I worked for this project under the supervision of my Marketing Manager. This is one helluva highly budgeted project because this is a private office of the sheikh. All his furniture were ordered from Italy and costs millions when converted to Philippine Peso.

Sout Al Khaleej (QTV) - a project where the special glass used keeps on breaking. Without exaggeration, I ordered the special glass from Thailand at least 10 times. (whew..what a waste!)

Al Mashata Beauty Center and Spa - 90% of the materials used for this project were procured from overseas (Thailand, Singapore, China, Turkey, India)

Mercedes Benz Stand for Qatar Motor Show 2012 (January) - My first and hopefully not the last experience to handle and manage exhibition project.

Birthdays

Photos of all 4 Birthdays I celebrated with Linear Family

I may look slimmer back in 2008 but why do I feel like I don't look good in these photos???

Very special thanks to Papa D. for the caricature he made me. I will keep it FOREVER.

Thanks to my Supplier friend for the cake :)

Travels

I have had 2 All-Expense-Paid Travels during my tenure with Linear.

First was actually just to leave Doha temporarily as my business visa already expired. 

January 2008 was my first time to visit SINGAPORE. Too bad I lost (or maybe accidentally deleted) the very few photos I have during my stay there. So I don't have something to share over here.

Second trip was January 2010 bound to ISTANBUL, TURKEY with my boss. The trip was mainly to visit the automatic revolving door supplier I found and do a little bit of materials sourcing. Since I was with my boss (who by the way walks too fast in her classic red rubber shoes while I endure the pain of walking with my high heeled boots) I also didn't have much chance to take as many photos I can or at least enjoy strolling around the beautiful city. Nevertheless, the trip was a very memorable one for me as I experienced and actually felt the freezing yet exhilarating coolness of Snow that has fallen over me on our way back to the airport during our last day. If I'm not with my boss that time, I could have lingered further outside to enjoy the snow, and even just for a while, I felt like my cheeks are all so rosy (feelingera lang).

Due to heavy downpour of snow, our flight going back to Doha was cancelled and all the passengers were booked in Sheraton to stay overnight.

Friends and Colleagues

Another very important reason why I stayed with the company is the happy and tight bond I have established with my colleagues.

Despite the language barrier, it's still good to work with your fellow Asians as our cultures and beliefs are somehow similar with each other..most often even our physical features (I don't know if it's any good but I am often mistaken as Singaporean too whenever I'm with my bosses or vice versa)

Some photos together with our Thailander, Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese Colleagues

First New Year celebrated away from home.

We all had lots of Fun!

And of course, the people who I don't just consider as my colleagues but as my own family here in this foreign land. 

I will miss seeing you guys everyday in the office, our chit chats every morning while preparing coffee, our gossiping, kulitan and tawanan.

BFF Mhela - The everyday "Damsel in Distress"

Nette- My room mate for the longest time, confidant and now figure conscious buddy.

"Boss Chief" Charles - my brother John Pratts (chos!)

Couple Kuya Berns and Ate Yvette - mga malambing na aso't -pusa.

And of course the Man I will miss the most.  Mr. Dong Tan a.k.a PAPA D. He may look serious but trust me, he's the most funny among the men of Linear which is really ironic because he cracks nothing but old and corny jokes. He has always been the person I can seek for serious advice.

Photos of the Original Housemates.

 

Soon, I will be taking on a new job, work with new people and embrace new challenges but I will forever be grateful for all the knowledge and experiences I gained all throughout my tenure with the company. It has given me this confidence to step out of my comfort zone and take on another risk.

 

Of Becoming a Mother

Last March 19, 2012 my sis-in- law Carla gave birth to their second child. I accompanied her to the hospital. At 5:00AM she was already admitted and brought to the Delivery Room while I stayed outside waiting till she delivers their new bundle of joy. Waiting can really be so tiring, especially if it’s just 4:00am and you were awakened just when you’re about to be in deep slumber. 

95% of the people I saw throughout the hours of waiting were Pregnant Women and Mothers, few of the pregnant women  are also expected to give birth that day but taking few rounds of walking as advised by the doctor para daw matagtag. And the rest were there to have their check-up, they started congregating at the hospital lobby came 9:00am, my guess was they wanted to be early for the 10:00am consultation because of the long queue. As in I can literally say na kahit saan ako lumingon puro buntis or mga nanay na may kasamang baby ang nakikita ko.

 

Looking at their different facial expressions fascinated me. Women who’s almost in their due date walks slower and looked like they are in pain whilst women who are perhaps just on their 1^st or 2^nd trimester looked more relaxed , some are even young looking and accompanied by their Moms;  parang mga college students pa lang na nabuntis ng boy friend. I can’t really distinguish who or how many among them are first time moms or pangalawa or pangatlong beses na manganganak…all I know is that behind their obvious facial expressions is the one common feeling of Happiness that goes beyond explanation.

I am not yet a Mother but I need not to be one to decipher how difficult yet fulfilling it is to carry a life inside you.  I myself felt immeasurable happiness the first time I wrapped my arms around my nieces and nephews or even a baby cousin, a godchild, a friend or even a stranger’s child. 

 

I must admit, aside from the excitement of seeing my new niece, that day I felt so envious. I have never felt so envious to anyone or to anything in my entire life until that day. 

Why? Maybe because I’m already at the age when I should have a family of my own.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but NO I am not bitter because I’m still Single. 

Believe me when I say I am HAPPY. 

For many reasons that can be enumerated at the next or future posts, besides I should not be derailed from the subject of this post which is becoming a Mother and not becoming a Wife (Lol)

 

Yes, I desire of being a Mother soon (soon talaga?).

I don’t know where this strong desire is coming from, but I know it has always been within me. I have always been so fond of children and I am proud to say I am good and ma-tyaga in taking care of them, long before my siblings had their own kids, I already had a firsthand experience in carrying a new born, changing diapers, feeding them, allowing them to burp, bathing them and putting them to sleep.

 I remember one of my BFF’s (who has just given birth to their 2^nd baby last month) commented in the photo I recently posted in FB carrying my new born niece that goes: “Bagay din sayo ang Motherhood neng”. I swiftly replied her with a beginning statement of “Alam mo yan neng!”

 

I’ve heard enough about how being a mother is not an easy and temporary job. It is not a simple task that you can quickly flinch whenever you feel tired. Even just by looking at my mother and remembering all her hardships in raising and nurturing us to become whatever we’ve become already made me understand what I have to go through when I become a mother myself.

Just thinking Out Loud: 

If I become a Mother, I will have to give up my career, (at least temporarily) the “gastadora” and “maluho” in me..

What the heck, the moment I even started wanting to have a child, i already told myself that I must sacrifice and face all the odds with eyes wide open.

And what kind of woman would ever deny herself to give life to such beautiful creation: 

                     Meet my newest Niece; Ma. Princess Victoria S. Cuera (a.k.a.) Phoebe

I would like to end this post with a very memorable and winning answer of 1994 Miss Universe; Sushmita Sen:

“Just being a Woman is God’s Gift. The origin of a child is a mother, a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring and loving is all about. That is the essence of a woman.”