Awesome at twenty-nine

Happy birthday, Mara! 

Thank you for the gift of friendship. I think there is absolutely nothing that you need anymore -- you have a tight family, a job you love, and a wonderful circle of friends. In the grand scheme of things, you have everything going for you.

Right now, am in a cafe thinking about my birthday post for you. While enjoying a sip of my caramel macchiato, I am reminded of our shared passion for coffee. And it got me into thinking about the many things that make you awesome in my book. 

So here goes my 29 thoughts about you, Mara Ruiz. 

1. You are the human connector. In a society where relationships are fleeting, you set out to build one-- seamlessly. It's not even contrived. You have a natural knack for bringing people together. Thanks to you I have widen my own circle of friends in a city where I got transplanted. 

2. You are one passionate woman. Work is not just work to you. It defines your being to a certain degree that is why you fiercely fight for your ideas. 

3. You are the true digital diva. If we commission someone to trace your digital footprint we will find a huge pile or a long winding one. Before anyone has ever gotten into the digital age, you've already conquered it. 

4. You are the perfect companion on food haunts. We share the love of good food, good conversations. 

5. Your travel itinerary is equal parts learning new culture, sightseeing and retail therapy. You map out routes based on viability of shopping districts.

6. You crave for an active lifestyle hence your constant search for apps that fill it. Couch to 5K, Nike+ Running, name it you've got it. 

7. Your bloodstream is consist of 1/4 water, 3/4 caffeine. 

8. You have the propensity to hoard tumblers, water bottles, and the likes. Starbucks tumblers both local and international, Kor bottles, Nalgene are some of the brands that you have in your cupboard. 

9. You don't stop learning. You love to learn, unlearn and relearn ideas, concepts, designs. You even enrolled out-of-pocket for diploma courses that will enhance your knowledge and talent in digital media strategy. 

10. You are a beauty product junkie. I am amazed at your collection of different types of foundation, eye color palettes,lippies, lip balms and so much more. 

11. You are a true-blue Harry Potter fanatic. Costumes, collectibles, the works. 

12. You like to collaborate. It gets you going when you find like-minded people whom you can brainstorm with and implement concept with little or no budget. 

13. You get a kick out of watching teenybopper movies.

14. You are solid Sarah G fan. You love Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and John Lloyd. 

15. You have a healthy body image. 

16. On Monday mornings, you always bring with you a cooler full of grocery and cooked food intended for your meals the whole week but always find yourself buying lunch and dining out. 

17. You look forward to 2016 when your 3-bedroom condo will be turned over to you. And by then, we get to finally be neighbors. 

18. You have no qualms sharing your space and ride. You're quick to offer rides to anyone. Thanks for the countless times I've ridden in your car!

19. You are fiercely loyal to your friends. And you are a keeper. Distance and time aren't a factor for friendships that are beyond superficial. 

20. You willingly spend time and money for your friends like attending your friends' milestones. Thanks for going to my wedding, will forever be grateful. 

21. You hate poseurs. Specially if they're your friends. 

22. You get territorial when people encroaches in your field and yet do not bring anything substantial to the table. Worse, if they're clueless. 

23. You adore your nieces (cousins twice removed) but the parents tend to make your brow take a hike a lot of times or always. Ha ha.

24. You treat Cavite as your province. It comforts me knowing that am not alone in my "probinsyana" roots. And are loving it.

25. You have a lot of first world problems like getting the right gadget for your wifi connectivity when the rest of the country is just mooching on somebody else. Lol.

26.You have a generous soul.

27. You go gaga over Darren Criss. I hope that very soon, you'll meet your very own Darren Criss.

28. You are your Father's daughter.

29. You look forward to the next decade with trepidation but at the same time excitement at the prospects it offer. 

Being 29 can be bittersweet. You are almost leaving behind the years that paved the way for you for self-discovery, self actualization. Yet, it is also a springboard for the great things that can be achieved in your 30s. 

It's not anymore about blazing new trails but strengthening your core competencies, settling down and broadening your horizon.I am confident that you will forge your mark in the universe.

And so on your 29th, I raise my champagne flute to you for a year full of learning, love surprises, travels and awesome relationships. Cheers, Mara!

XX

Sheng

My Hello Kitty 35th!

It is a norm in our team to surprise a birthday celebrator a day or two before the actual date. In Avon, we are blessed to be given a birthday leave if it falls into a work day. Whee! One of the fringe benefits of an associate (for some reason Avon does not want to refer to us as employees) that we are grateful to enjoy!

The week of birthday, I had already an inkling that there is something happening. The night of June 25, we were treated to an exclusive showing of "Man of Steel" at the Director's Club in the Mall of Asia. While we were waiting for the show to start, we did what people nowadays occupy themselves with in their spare time -- cam whoring!

Erika showed me one of the photos on her phone, then, I accidentally saw an invite for me. Ha! Giggling, I told her what it's all about. For a few seconds, there was total silence. Zilch. 

Come Thursday (June 27), I saw this on my desk. 

My Hello Kitty invite!

As a kid, I was obsessed with Hello Kitty. As an adult, I have a few things that allow me to reminisce about my fascination with the pink one -- a miniature cabinet, lunch bag (in sober brown), iPhone case, toothbrush holder... about a few personal things. Hence, the girls idea for the lunch party. 

True to its theme, the conference room cum party venue was dressed as Hello Kitty land. 

My birthday banner :-)

My Hello Kitty guests!

Obviously, they were going for 'unleashing the kid in you' feel. The music played were Disney-ish. The food are kid's staple such as spaghetti, pizza, barbecue. The games were fun. It was nuts to have adults competitively play for a loot bag. 

Of course, a party without a cake is just a meeting. So, we've got a really cute and yummy cake and I got to blow the candle.

Everyone went out with a loot bag, full bellies and enough energy to last the whole day. I went out with a good vibe and a memory that will last me a lifetime. 

To my Operations Development family -- thank you for organizing! To my other Operations friends, thank you for taking the time out to have fun with us. And to my Lunch Girls, thank you for the beautiful messages.

Everyday, am thankful for God's faithfulness in my life. And you, my friends are one of my blessings. 

Thank You!

XX

Sheng

Happy birthday, Sandra!

To a woman who is a citizen of the world, we send you greetings of love, happiness and awesomeness.

The world greets you!

grattis på födelsedagen

  Alles Gute zum Geburtstag

 

  feliz cumpleaños

Maligayang kaarawan

Happy birthday, Sandra!

Enjoy Eastern Europe in August!

Turning Torso (Sweden)

The Opatija´s Maiden in Croatia

Danube in Hungary

The Dancing Building by Frank Gehry in Prague, Czech Republic

 I wish you three things: love, love, love.
 
We eagerly wait for your fantastic stories.

XX

Sheng

Birthday Wish List

Needless to say, June is my favorite my month. That's because it's my birthday month. Yay.  This year marks my 35 years of adventure in this world. I have done many things, switched jobs and careers, moved to different cities, traveled (but not as much as I want to), bought a house and got married. 

At 35, I think it would a steadier year. Breaking new grounds, gaining more friends, living a dynamic married life and consistent blogging are my serious wishes for the year. I do sincerely hope and pray that they be granted. I pray  the prayer of Jabez that my territory would also be enlarged.

But if it rained wishes-do-come-true on other things like consumables, I would gladly have these awesome stuff:

1. I love writing notes. And so I would love to have one or two of Isabel Gatustlao's flat note cards. They're awesome. I think I would easily get one of these as good friend Erika Saenz offered to gift me one.

2. I would like to trade my iPad 2 for an iPad Mini. I love it (iPad 2) still but it's just way heavier than the mini. I don't really watch movies and videos on it so no hard feelings. I think the Mini would be perfect size and weight for my reading fest. And even blogging. 

3. Bikram Yoga pass. I kept on postponing enrollment. I would really want to go because it's good for my thyroid.

 

4. Photography classes. I want to attend a class on digital photography. Preferably one that zeroes in on the use of just digital cameras like my trusty Olympus. If the world is kind I would want an OM-D.

Photo Source: Virtualsciencelab.blogspot.com

5. A nice bag. Promise this will be the only bag I will buy have this year.

6. A sleek 11-inch MacBook Air will thrill me to the bones. 

 Sigh. A girl can dream, right?

XX

Sheng

Twenty-two

How does it feel to be twenty-two? It's been such a long time ago but that was the age I bravely left my comfort zone and worked in the big city. Many things and experiences have happened since. I feel ancient already. 

One of those things that remind me of being young is surrounding myself with pretty young friends. One of them just celebrated her twenty-second birthday. It's awesome, right? She's one of those few who are very down-to-earth people. She's also a  talented writer, painter, and collector of all things miniature. 

Happy birthday, Dawn!

 She hosted a farewell dinner -- adieu to 21!

Thanks for the scrumptious dinner, Dawn! 

I know you had your share of yummy Sonja's cupcakes for dessert but I actually think you'd love these things I found for you. 

Miniature carriages.

For a picnic with Sam!

For your dainty kitchen.

Nice office! Sleek.

And to keep you organized.

I hope I made you smile! Happy birthday, Dawn! I know in my heart that wonderful and great things are going to happen for you. The world is waiting for you to conquer it. 

Here's a lovely topiary for you.

 I look forward to many years of friendship, food hunts and great conversations. 


XX

Sheng

Happy 30th, Mei!

Dear Mei, 

Happy 30th! 

I want you to know that you are blessed and you are a blessing to the people around you. 

Thank you for being such a great friend. You have the loudest laughter in fun times and you have the most reliable listening ear in times of trouble. You are quick to praise, slow to criticize. 

Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for trusting me enough to share your innermost thoughts, your joys and worries. And thank you for allowing me to share mine. You're that rare kind of a friend that I trust to bare my soul with. 

Bellaroca

I look forward to many trips and experiences shared together. And I look forward to the day when we can go on trips with each others' partners. I pray that God's best for you will be revealed soon. (So, please look around you. He might just be in your circle. Ha ha ha). 

Boracay.

Las Casas.

Thunderbird Poro Point

Chinese Temple in Vietnam. Remember this?

Vietnam. Safe to say that Armin and I were still a little payat here. Ha ha.

 

Oh, yeah I photo bombed you. And Ho Chi Mihn. Lol

I hope that in our gray years, we would still travel together, discover new places and explore foodie hunts. 

Today, I raise my champagne flute to a woman of grace, strength and incredible sense of humor. To many happy returns, cheers! Here's to you, Proverbs 31 woman!

Before the sunset. Poro Point.

XX

Sheng