On a gratitude high

I honestly don't know how to write this post or what angle I'll use to make it more interesting to whoever reads it, but I guess I will just let my stream of consciousness flow and type away.

I woke up today with a big smile on my face and then when I remembered how amazingly awesome yesterday was I just suddenly teared up.

After being prettified by the Make Up Factory team, we had a bloggers' launch attended by most of my favorite beauty bloggers. Sometimes I still want to pinch myself when I think about how I used to just read their blogs before and now I get to interact with them in person, forealz. I will share more details and photos about the brand on my next post, but I've also written a little bit about them before. I can't wait to use my new blush and lipgloss. Pretty, pretty colors ♥ For the meantime, make sure to visit their first branch in Bonifacio High Street! 

After the quick but intimate event, I braved heavy rains, traffic jams, long lines, and a packed MRT just to get to Smart Araneta Coliseum where my forever concert buddy Ana was already waiting so we can watch Jason Mraz's concert. Thanks to Angela for dropping me off at Ayala and to Kira for lending me her MRT card - those two random acts of kindness saved me lots of time! We went to his concert two years ago and it was one of the most emotionally fulfilling and enriching concerts I've been to, so there was no way I was going to miss this one even though I feel like I wasn't entirely prepared for it because I've only been listening to Fun. in the last couple of months.

When I got there, Ana told me I didn't have to pay for my ticket anymore because it was part of her birthday gift to me! And, get this, from General Admission, we got bumped up to Upper Box A thanks to Niche! Could this day get even more awesome?

Apparently, it did. When Jason Mraz started singing, the sheer joy I felt from being able to watch his concert for free was multiplied eleventy thousand times. ♥

I can't explain it, but it was like he and his Superband lifted everyone's worries away. It was a solid two hours of great music, spectacular instrument-playing skills, and Mr. A-Z's soothing voice. He even dished out several tips after every song that Ana joked it wasn't just a concert, it was a peer counselling session as well. My favorite was when he said that "Worrying helps. I need to worry a lot more because 90% of things I worry about doesn't even happen." I should always keep that in mind ;)

I have a lot of favorite moments from last night, but my top three are: hearing A Beautiful Mess live again (what a beautiful song), hearing I Won't Give Up live for the first time (he sounded divine, I swear), and hearing this song:

Oh Jason, you beautiful soul you. You are my sweet serenity.

Using that song as a segue, I'd also like to thank my dear friend Ed for sharing the experience with us even when we were at opposite sides of the stadium and my friend Third for waiting for me until after the concert just so I'd have someone to keep me company on the long way home.

What a day yesterday was. First we finally learned who the Mother is, then I got to hear some of my favorite Jason Mraz songs live (never mind that he didn't sing Details in the Fabric and Life is Wonderful), and then I got a message from my favorite local comic book artist Manix Abrera!

Sublime. Happythankyoumoreplease, I guess?

I am still on a Gratitude high, and I don't think I will be coming down anytime soon.