It has been five weeks since my operation and I am healing much better. My wounds still hurt if I stay standing on my feet for too long or walk far distances, but generally I can say I am on my way to complete recovery. If there's anything this ordeal has taught me, it is patience, especially on times I want nothing more than for my body to hurry up and heal.

This past week has been productive because aside from the John Legend concert, I also got to do other things I've been wanting to do, like learn how to crochet.

... And I failed. Spectacularly.

I have seriously never felt dumber in my life than when I was trying (and failing) to imitate what Miss Monina of All About Crochet was teaching us during the Workshops part of the Women's Summit held in ManilaMed (the hospital where I had my operation).

The Summit was organized by my doctor (and my boyfriend's aunt), Dr. Luisa Mangubat, and it was a lot of fun because I learned a lot from the speakers and teachers of the Workshop proper. Still, my attempts to learn how to crochet was terribly executed because my brain seemingly didn't want to cooperate with my hands.

I refuse to give up, though. I even got more yarn and I intend to use them when I'm more adept at it. At least I have my double-ended crochet needle and yarns now so I can watch tutorials online and try it again and again and again.

Wish me luck!

CURRENTLY

READING

Mina V. Esguerra's Iris After the Incident.

WRITING

Plans for my birthday! It's next week already! Eeep!

LISTENING TO

The Music of Haruki Murakami. J took me to the Listen to Haruki Murakami jazz concert last Friday at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater.




I didn't think I would enjoy a jazz concert that much but it was so beautiful and intense and delicate and creative and inspiring.

The hardest part of attending a concert after being operated on is not being able to clap because the movement hurts my wounds.

SMELLING

Lavender.

Just kidding.

J surprised me with a lavender plant last Saturday and I potted the seeds today.




My Mother and Grandma didn't pass on their green thumbs to me but the "100% Natural Seeds Guaranteed to Grow" blurb gives me hope that I will be able to grow these.

Wish us luck!

WEARING

The new Althea Korea Bare Essentials Fixer Cream.


The new Althea Korea Bare Essentials line hopes to strip down your skincare needs and go back to basics: a 3-step routine instead of the more complicated 10 to 15-step Korean skincare routine we have become more familiar with. I started this new skincare routine today and will let you know how it fares and how my skin reacts to it in the coming weeks!

THINKING


Should I have more cake?

Seeing double with Coraline on the screen and my NECA Coraline bendable doll.

And yes, I had cake!


Guiltless desserts c/o Tita Judy and her new creation: a keto lemon cake.

FEELING

Anxious because the days are passing quickly and my vacation is almost over.

Excited for my birthday.

Apprehensive for my birthday because, in the words of my friend Anne, "it's all going downhill from here."

Sad and worried for my Grandpa who has been in the hospital for two weeks now.

Happy for and proud of my cousins who are graduating today.

I'm a small girl with too many emotions inside me that it's a wonder I haven't spontaneously combusted.

LOVING


Sleepy Hugo.

WANTING

To meet more friends in the doll collecting community. I went to my second doll meet-up last Sunday and it was my first time to meet most of them.


It's always nice to meet more friends with similar interests.

NEEDING

To think of themes for my mini pre-birthday celebration happening next week. I wasn't supposed to have a theme but Ruth asked me so now I am thinking of possible themes to choose from.

WISHING

For a collection of precious and priceless Barbies.


One of the highlights of my week was being invited by Richprime Global Inc. to come visit their office. I saw the huge collection of their CEO Myrna Yao and my jaw almost dropped. I will blog more about this visit on my next post and I hope you can check that out.

Until then! Thank you for reading. ♡

My boyfriend and I just got home from Araneta Coliseum for the Manila leg of John Legend's Darkness and Light tour. I need to wake up early tomorrow for a morning appointment but I need to write this so I may process my emotions better.

I have not recovered completely from my operation yet but there was no way we were going to miss this concert. We purchased our tickets the moment they became available for sale on November 30, and I counted down the days. Ready or not, we just had to be there.

And it was worth it. I may not get over it for a long, long time.

I started crying the moment John crooned his first notes on stage, but I totally lost it at the Like I'm Gonna Lose You - Save Room - PDA triumvirate.

The man is phenomenal! We were seated at the Upper Box section but even from afar it is obvious that passion and talent seep from every pore. He knows he's sexy and he knows how to work the crowd. He has such a silky voice perfect for serenading the entire coliseum, and everyone fell in love. 

I also loved how he inserted personal anecdotes before most of his songs. My favorite was the part where he talked about how the birth of his daughter Luna is one of the most unforgettable moments of his life. I guess I should also admit here that I am a huge Chrissy Teigen fan and one of the many reasons why I cried so much tonight is because I was thinking about how perfect they are together. ♡



I know I say this almost every time I go to a concert, but seriously you guys, John Legend's Darkness and Light tour is up there on my list of favorite concerts of all time. I am already looking forward for his next visit here.


My favorite favorite part was when he asked us to tell the people we love that we love them, and My Love was right there sitting right beside me. So I'm gonna love him like I'm gonna lose him. I'm gonna hold him like I'm saying goodbye. Wherever we're standing I won't take him for granted 'cause I'll never when, when we'll run out of time. ♬♫♪♡ 

I was supposed to go somewhere very exciting today. I was actually dressed and almost prepared to leave, until my wounds started hurting. I didn't want to force it and deal with harsher consequences after, so I just decided to cancel my plans and go another day. 

I will just stay home and sulk, but at least I get to sulk with Coraline.

This is a NECA Coraline bendy doll with her yellow raincoat, denim jeans, and yellow rain boots.

She looks exactly like Coraline from the movie, and I love her bendy and pose-able body although my favorite feature of hers is her blue hair. She also comes with a stand.

I hope I can make an orange sweater for her when I learn how to knit.

My boyfriend got her from Collector's Toy Box. I'm her Other Mother now. ;)

CURRENTLY

READING

I haven't started with it yet, but I just bought the Kindle edition of Mina V. Esguerra's Iris After the Incident from Amazon.

LISTENING TO

John Legend. We're going to the Manila leg of his Darkness and Light tour tonight! Please please please body please please please feel well enough.

WEARING

My pajamas again but I'm going to prepare to leave for the concert in a bit.

FEELING

A little better than earlier.

WISHING

That everything goes well. <3 p="">

My hours and days have blurred and blended into one another and I have lost count of time. I check my calendar frequently though because my birthday is approaching and I need to make birthday plans. The perfect idea came to me today, and the only challenge is making people go because it falls on a work-day. Nonetheless I will be happy even if only a few people end up making it. 

CURRENTLY

READING

Nothing. I need to look for my next book to read.

LISTENING TO

The news. I'd rather use earphones and listen to music because watching and hearing the news is heartbreaking, but I guess it's better to be armed with knowledge about what's happening around us.

SMELLING

Lavender and mint. Everything in my bathroom is either lavender- or mint-scented, or both. I love it.


Here are my newest orders from Human Nature, and the new Human Nature Volcanic Cooling Body Scrub is an instant favorite.

WEARING

Pajamas all day, every day.

THINKING

Of more ways to jazz up my birthday celebration. For my 28th birthday I had a How I Met Your Mother-themed party which will be difficult to top, but the goal is not to top that anyway, but to make it another memorable party that will be a beautiful story someday.

FEELING

Equal parts anxious and excited for the future.

LOVING

Miniatures! Most of the stuff I ordered online have arrived, and they're darlings.


I'm done with all the pieces of furniture of this diorama, I just need to finish sewing the pillows and cutting out the framed photos and books.


Is that the most adorable sewing kit you've ever seen or what?


The rest of my new Barbie accessory pack. ♡

WANTING

I don't know. My boyfriend asked me what I want for my birthday, but I couldn't give an answer. I just want my little party to be fun for everyone who will be able to go.

NEEDING

Time to slow down. I just realized I have one month and nine days left for this vacation! I need to learn how to knit and crochet before then!

WISHING

That you are taking care of your heart.

Thank you for reading. ♡

It took a while before I got a new doll, and this one is pretty special. ♥ I wanted to post her in time for Barbie's birthday but I only got my hands on her this weekend, so here she is. She has a Made to Move body but what makes her extra-special for me is that she is my first Curvy Barbie!

Ladies and gents, the new Barbie Made to Move Dancer!


I almost gave up on getting one because I didn't think she would be released here in the Philippines. As far as I knew she was only available in Australia, and even a quick search on Amazon didn't give me results. Imagine my surprise when my doll collector friend Wawie posted about her, and kindly offered to get one for me as I am still on bed rest following my operation. As luck would have it, my boyfriend J's sister, Courtney, was en route to Uptown Mall where there's a Toys "R" Us, and so as per J's request got me the last remaining doll on stock! Yay!


Special thanks to Richwell for distributing this doll locally!

I unboxed her as soon as I got her.


The first thing I noticed as soon as I held her in my hands is how hefty she is. Unlike my other Barbie Made to Move dolls and regular Barbies, she feels really solid and doesn't seem fragile at all, and so I wasn't worried about mishandling her.


I love her skin tone and her fiery pink hair with orange highlights!




Because she is a Dancer, there's a boombox included in the box with her. Unfortunately the phone in the boombox is just a sticker and cannot be removed, hee. To match her Dancer street style, she wears a cropped shirt with a black tube top underneath (plus points for two separate pieces of clothing!) and a pair of acid-washed denim jeans. She is also wearing a pair of teal sneakers that match the loudness of her hair. I love it!

I wanted to see if a regular Barbie's dress will fit her but all my dolls, dolls' clothes and shoes, and other accoutrements are in my boyfriend's house. Fortunately I had a package delivered here from the House of Malibu online shop so I was able to change my Curvy Barbie's clothes.


The front says this pencil cut dress fits, albeit a little snug. She also looks fierce in heels!


But the back tells a different story. Yikes. I could barely close the Velcro.


Still, I like this dress on her and I think it suits her and her personality.


She's seen here wearing a pair of eyeglasses and clutching an iPhone that came from another Barbie accessory pack, also purchased last week from Toys "R" Us by my boyfriend while chatting with me about my top picks. (I love how supportive he is of my hobbies. ♥)


The Barbie Made to Move Dancer has light gray eyes, dark gray eyebrows, and a bubblegum pink lipstick. She's really pretty. I named her Jessica.

I asked J to bring my Barbie Made to Move Skateboarder when he came over on Saturday with my Barbie Made to Move Dancer, as I thought it would be fun to take photos of them together.



Sandy and Jessica are instant BFFs!

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the two Barbie Made to Move bodies:


Look at Jessica's booty! I am so excited for Mattel to release more body types under the Barbie Made to Move line!

I grew up surrounded by blond Barbies, and I remember wondering if I could ever be as beautiful as my dolls. Barbie with her thin waist, perfect smile, and long legs was always the star of the story lines I wrote in my head, and they were always stories of frivolous wealth and glamour because that was the world I imagined her to represent. I don't think my self-esteem was affected by this and it's not like I needed a doll to validate how I view myself, but now that I visit toy stores and see Barbie dolls from different races sporting differing skin tones, hair colors, and outfits that veer away from the standard pink clothing I was used to, I feel giddy because here, here are dolls that look like me. I am as beautiful as Barbie.

33 months of being enamored with you.

♡

Yesterday marked the second week since I had my operation, and I "celebrated" by opening another investment account.

I was supposed to just open a new savings account but an info-graphic on BPI's counter enticed me. One of the tellers gave me and my Aunt Jean more details and so I happily opened a BPI-PHILAM insurance-investment account. I wish I started a long time ago, but it's good that I'm doing it now rather than later.

We had to ride a tricycle and walk a bit to go to the bank and back home but I felt too tired and my wounds hurt after. I was advised that even if the wounds have healed outside, my insides are still healing and I should continue resting until it heals completely. That means I had to beg off my engagements this weekend: Project Vanity's 10th Anniversary Event on Saturday and the BDJ Women's Summit 2018: Women Redefined on Sunday. :(

BUT you do have the chance to go to the BDJ Women's Summit to be held at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura this Sunday because I am giving away five pairs of free passes to the event!


A huge chunk of the work that the Belle de Jour team does is geared towards building a community of empowered women. As part of this support system, they regularly hold women empowerment events. This year they aim to inspire, empower, and equip more Filipinas, especially millennials, with empowering messages on how they can find one’s true self and lead an authentic life.

In celebration of Women’s Month 2018, they are holding the 3rd BDJ Women’s Summit, Women Redefined. Scheduled for March 11th, Sunday, in Samsung Hall, SM Aura from 9AM to 6PM, their Women Redefined Summit has the tentative line-up of speakers and plenary sessions:

• Opening Speaker: Maria Ressa
• Transformative Females: Finding One’s Identity and Discovering One’s Passion (Abby Asistio and Blu Pingoy)
• Extraordinary Females: Overcoming One’s Circumstances and Maximizing One’s Blessings (Jover Laurio and Rachel de Villa)
• Resourceful Females: Paving One’s Path and Sustaining One’s Success (Kathleen Yu and Audrey Tangonan)
• Closing Keynote Speaker: Kris Aquino

They will also partner with NGOs and Women's Advocacy Groups to educate Filipinas on feasible solutions for issues faced by underprivileged women who don’t have access to informative talks. This summit will be attended by at least 500 individuals who are goal-oriented and ready to make a difference.

Do you want to go? It's so simple! If you want to win a pair of passes for you and a friend (and a pair of Summit Kits to go with it), just tell me why you want to go by leaving a comment on this blog post, or by tweeting me, or by letting me know on Instagram, or by sending me a message on my blog's Facebook Page. I will choose five people on Friday morning! I really wish I can join you but I have to heal first. Good luck and have loads of fun on my behalf!

CURRENTLY

READING

Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians. I know I know, I'm late to the party, but what a fun read!

LISTENING TO

Remember Me. Congratulations on winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song!

WEARING

Pajamas, all day every day.

THINKING

Of more ways to earn more money. Rebecca Bloomwood (of the Confessions of a Shopaholic fame) said it's either you spend less or earn more. Clearly I can't spend less what with all the dolls and books I need to buy, so I need to earn more.

FEELING

A serious case of FOMO. Resting is good but I kinda miss the daily grind, but I know I have to cherish this long vacation because it will be over soon.

LOVING

My boyfriend. Seriously. I just want to say I really appreciate him for all that he does and I can't be prouder and more blessed that he's my man.

WANTING

To heal soon so I can at least leave the house.

NEEDING

To think of birthday plans. I am turning 32 in less than a month! EEEEP!

WISHING

That I heal completely, without any complications. Going to the hospital is scary, and I don't want another reason to go.

Aaand that's it! Don't forget to join my contest for the BDJ Women's Summit passes! Thank you for reading! ♡