Last week had been such a super fun week!  Zue Anne came home after 5 years for a short visit home.  We had round up the gang for a "surprise" party and try and spend as much time as we can before she return to South Africa.


I cannot articulate how awesome the week has been.  Truthfully, I do not know where or how to start.  I just realized how amazing and fun and wonderful my friends are. The week we did nothing but eat and laugh and do silly things like we used to.  So here are just some pictures from my phone.


Sunday was when we had to execute the "Surprise Z Project".  I am the worst organizer in the world so everybody had to help.  The fact that Z is expecting to the surprise wasn't helping either. :P  But it went well.  The food prepared by Clang and Ed was super yummy!

 

 our first picture together after 5 looong years

 

Photobooth!

 

couples.

 

girls groupshot

 

Photobooth 2.

me and John.  

 

after the "hot seat"

Wednesday - we met Z and John for breakfast in Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. The food is good and filling.  We plan on going back.

 

first peeps in the restaurant.

 

Bianx and Z!

 

the group shot!

 

girlfriends!!

  

we played a game of heads-up!  So much fun!

Thursday Morning we had breakfast date again, this time over at Zue's place.  Clang and I stayed over as promised since there is another get together for Z that evening and she is flying out Friday night.

the girls with Mon

 

good morning!

good morning photobooth

bracelets from South Africa

Loony.

I am crazy. I know this is true. I like routine and I like knowing what to expect at certain times of the day because surprises aren't really my thing.

I am crazy.  I believe to sometimes a terrifying degree that things go right because of how I did certain things to start the day.  That it will be good because of the time I set the alarm, the shampoo I used or if I drank a glass of water before I showered.  Yes I am crazy.

If I had a really good day, I will try to do things the very same way for a week- insanely thinking I will have a really good week if I change as little as possible.  I am crazy. 

I am a loony and I am okay with it. 

Genius Gillian

Over the weekend all I did was read.  I read all of the awesome books of Gillian Flynn.  It was such a treat.  She is a genius for writing them books!

Gone Girl.  I started reading this last year but stopped because I thought it dragged so much.  I was not enticed by the characters in the beginning and so I just stopped.  I stopped and read other books.  I picked it up again because some of my friends are gushing about it on twitter.  I  started reading and thank God I did!  I just love Amy Elliott Dunne. She is a psycho witch and I love to hate her!  

Dark Places.  I was not thrilled that much by this book.  I am glad it was the last one I read. I was not drawn to any of the characters and I really didn't find the plot very interesting.  This is not to say that it was not good because it was.  I just didn't like it that much. The Days weren't very likable either.

Sharp Objects.  Now this is my favorite of the three!  It is twisted and disturbing and wonderful.  I love everything about this book!

Oh yeah, can we all just stop and admire how gorgeous and simple these covers are?! Well done Gillian Flynn, Well Done! 

Picture.

Over at tumblr, I shared this  picture I saw from weheartit.  Now, I am in no way shape or form tumblr famous and the number of reblogs this picture got might not even be that impressive but seriously, I have not gotten this many notes in a post!

This kind of made me think.  Are we in general, all looking for something like this? 

Personally speaking, I liked this picture because it conveys a certain intimacy without being vulgar.  Obviously, the people in the picture is a couple. I imagine them in love.  In love and comfortable.  In my mind, this is just an ordinary day and they are just talking about anything and everything. Amazing how this picture created all that. Wow. 

Things I know at 30

1.       Friendship, it ends.  Not all friendships last. Even the strongest friendships can end and sometimes there is really nothing you can do but to let go.  It is okay. Sad but okay.

2.       More than anybody, I know what would make me tick.  This gives me the power to decide what would get to me and what I would shrug off.

3.       Loneliness is a strong force and sometimes it is so palpable you can feel it in your bones. You wouldn’t know when this will hit but when it does, you just have to cry it out.  Cry it out and move on.

4.       Failure is eminent.  It happens and it might feel like the whole world just collapsed – especially if you gave it everything you’ve got. 

5.       Not all battles must be fought.  Choosing your battles can be tricky but it is necessary. There is no point in losing precious time and energy in things that simply doesn’t make you any better than when you started.

6.        Wins.  Little precious moments of life that are just awesome.

7.       Nothing cures a bitter spell better than laughing with friends over good food.

8.       It is always easier said than done.  ALWAYS.

9.       Taking it to bed is always my first answer to problems life throws me.  I really need to sleep the edge off.

10.   YouTube is a total time suck.  If you want to be productive, close that browser and stay away from that site!

11.   Not all days are bad days. 

12.   Books.  God’s gift.  There should always be time for reading.

13.   Crying helps.

14.   Laugh. Laugh until every bit of you is exhausted from that sweet exercise.

15.   That bit about patience being a virtue? Totally true!  In this age of time is money and all things available instantaneously, it is very hard to be patient.  

16.    There are all kinds of people in this world and you never really stop being surprised by them. 

17.    Those you love can hurt you the most. 

18.    Praying cures our aching soul.

19.    Music must be explored

20.    Hugs are the best things. 

 

Reading Challenge

Last Year, I did the reading challenge again over at Goodreads.  As you know I love reading but setting a goal kind of makes me more conscious of carving out time to actually read.

I set a goal of  75 books for 2013 but unfortunately I didn't finish it. I still read a lot but being crazy busy last year made it a bit more difficult. I ended the year with 53.   Nevertheless, I am still proud.

My Top 5 Reads last year

1. Eleanor and Park 
2. The Book Thief
3. Hopeless
4. The Triple Agent
5. Tiger Lily

2013 Round-Up

My 2013 has not been as eventful as I wanted it to be.  I have planned a lot of things that did not really push through, but I am not regretting it.  It has still been a good year.  

Here are just some things that I have busy-ed myself with last year.

1. I have prolly colored my hair more than 5 times this year.  I know it's crazy but I was kind of obsessed with getting it orange and trying my darnest to grow it out. I achieved orange - for a short time, but I got bored and chopped it off.  This month, I went back to my stylist and got the color to a subdued red.
2. Books - I read a bunch but I still failed my 75 book challenge.  I was only able to finish a couple past 50.  I read about a lot of stuff.  Holocaust, Islam, Love.  Yeah - tried getting lost in them books.
3. I listened to  a lot of good music this year.  Tried branching out but found myself listening mostly to Ed Sheeran, The Lumineers, Lorde and Fall Out Boy.  But seriously - I'm 30 and One Direction songs are on repeat in my iPod. *gasp*
4. I wasn't a good daughter to our Father this year.  I wasn't great in general.  I wish I know why I was not on fire.  I wish I fought back the complacence I was feeling.  I wish I prayed more.  - I promise to work on this. I promise.
   
5. Frozen - can we just take a minute and just give this movie a standing ovation.  I felt like a kid again.
6. Youtube! I have no idea why I just wandered around this part of the internet - wow!
7. I went out of my comfort zone and hunted for another job and actually got an offer.  I didn't go through with it though.  I was chicken mostly and hate to say this but money talks.
   
8. California Maki.  For the love of all that is mighty, why am I just loving this now?  I used to hate this stuff but I tried it again with my sibs and lo and behold, I got hooked.  This year, I resolve to eat as much as I can.
   
9. Mint + Chocolate.  Same thing with this divine combo.  This year fell in love.  Mint Chocolate Ice Cream?  Get the hell out of here!
10. SCANDAL.  Seriously, do I really have to say why?
    

On a more serious note though,  I have been swamped this year.  Mostly by work and all that is related to it.  It had been a whirlwind and after every upset I find myself taking all my broken pieces to bed. (melodramatic much? I know.)  But at the end of all this, I am still stronger.  2013 made me stronger.

Several of my prayers have been answered.  Some good, some not so good.  I have been meaning to sit down and actually write how I feel about these answered prayers but I am not sure how to feel about them individually.  What I know for certain is that the way you think you would feel upon getting the answer isn't exactly how you feel when the time comes that it is given.  It is funny how things are so much better in my mind.  How more wonderful I think I'd feel towards certain situations if I am placed in them but in reality - it is a total bust.  I know that I may come off as ungrateful, but I am not.  I am thankful for a lot of things this year.  I am thankful for the usual things.  I am thankful for this year.  It had been a good year and as far as 2014 goes, I am ready.  

Wow! In a day it is going to be december, how did that happen? I wish I'd written more this year- but I guess it is futile to think about the things I should've done. 

I have been swamped with work the past couple of months, but I resolve to write something more about what has been happening with me lately soon.

Promise.

Link.

Just jotting down a few notes because I wanted to share a link. Yep, i found a link in my starred items and have re-read this nice article. I am really unsure if I have shared thia before, but here it is again.

HERE.

So, click away!

What this week holds..

This week will be my first week functioning in my new role -somewhat.  This is going to be a pretty busy week - hell week but I am not worried.  I know it will be okay.  Truth is I do not know where to start but I have this calm in me - something I am thankful for.  Check back on me again on Wednesday - I might not be singing this tune. :D

"It is good to love the unknown"- Charles Lamb