Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♡ opportunities i didn't know were possible slowly opening up for me
♡ finding a favorite recipe for bread (we ended up gifting our family with for christmas)
♡ treating myself to a few gifts because after the year i've had, i think i deserve it haha
♡ getting to write again (1, 2, 3, 4)
♡ learning that sometimes, friendship just takes time
♡ spending hours with old friends who are like sisters to me laughing, crying, and everything in between
♡ the thrill of opening gifts on christmas eve—and seeing faces light up when they open theirs
♡ sharing laughs, sweets, and homecooked meals with family you don't see often
♡ committing to a daily habit i hope to keep well into the new year
♡ getting a hug and kiss from my favorite not-so-tiny human

Ten Things I'm Thankful for

♡ my yummy.ph debut, lol

♡ a beach trip on my birthday weekend that involved lots and lots of eating with friends who will wait for you to catch your breath under the heat of the noontime sun
♡ slowly adding to my list of easy recipes; follow me on Instagram for my cooking journey (haha)
♡ finally finished alias grace and about to start the sinner. ahh, i'm always thankful for tv time!
♡ seeing my fellow novembers to celebrate our birthdays, exchange gifts, and laugh like old times. if there's anything i miss about my old workplace, it's the people i used to see every day.
♡ hanging out with my former teammates, but more importantly, friends for lunch and coffee and dessert. we've been through a lot the past 3 months but i wouldn't trade it for anything because this friendship i've forged with them in the course of those 3 months is truly irreplaceable.
♡ knowing the right words to say to people who aren't having the best day. thankful because i have people who are the same to me.
♡ seeing harry styles live! eternally grateful to my welcoming committee of one in singapore. will always look forward to visiting you!
♡ a trip to the same place for the fifth time (my third this year alone, wow) and still discovering spaces that surprise me and make my heart flutter with joy
♡ coming home

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♡ a seemingly untimely (but actually well-timed and long overdue) reality check

♡ the perfect dress for a wedding 5 months away (lol)

♡ the right words at the right time from the right people

♡ new episodes of your favorite shows

♡ impromptu get-togethers that always involve food and laughter

♡ a new haircut that makes you feel like your old self again

♡ remembering to write things down so you have something to look back on for days when it gets tough

♡ friends who always have your back and tell you the truth even when it hurts

♡ family—the best support system anyone can ever ask for

♡ time: to think, to rest, to discover old and new loves

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ Learning a craft with some of my favorite girls in the world for my birthday.
♥ Salon perfect hair (haha)
♥ Handwritten birthday notes are always the best!
♥ Breakfast food for lunch and baby smiles and giggles for dessert.
♥ #kaladkarin dinners are even better with buy 2, take 1 promos on tacos and burritos.
♥ A lengthy late lunch with my DQs
♥ Staying up past 1 in the morning listening to my favorite songs and singing along with everyone in the room.
♥ Meeting the vocalist of my favorite band and giving him a card I made!
♥ A spur-of-the-moment lunch out and discovering a new place to escape to.
♥ Shopping for cute things and helping out at the same time.

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ My four-month-old niece who makes my heart swell with joy. I can never not like a photo of hers.
♥ A talented crop of teens to work with.
♥ Jeans that fit like you've had them for years. PS They're only a month old.
♥ Making a pattern to print on fabric and sewing a pencil case for me and a pillow for Mira!
♥ Getting through a level of Candy Crush. Sorry, I still play it in traffic no matter how many weeks I'm stuck on one level.
♥ Twirling in the office that ends in tears-in-our-eyes laughter.
♥ A fresh episode of Dexter that's waiting to be watched.
♥ Getting an Instagram heart from the songwriter of the lyrics you watercolored. Teehee! Never gets old.
♥ Being credited as a legit illustrator in a book! All my art-class-taking younger self's dreams have come true!
♥ The new Stars song

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ Afternoon silliness at the office pantry starring Dyan Valdyan
♥ A new body wash that smells like the beach
♥ Kaladkarin dinner after work
♥ Bacon rice!
♥ Sondre Lerche ♥
♥ That kiss on New Girl!!!
♥ Seven years of being a Candy Girl
♥ Taking my to-do list to ta-da before the weekend
♥ Zombie!Nicholas Hoult
♥ One birthday in Christ, one birthday in heaven

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ Grabbing the last Chanel-y cardi in my size. On the closing day of a store (which I find out about days later).
♥ Sharing a Fil-Mexican dinner with old friends and ending sweet with yummy ice cream.
♥ Seeing Les Misérables twice! Cried both times.
♥ Getting through our monthly report, which I still dread every month.
♥ Getting our mockups approved! I'm so happy that I apparently still know what I'm doing seven  years (!!!) into this job. And I'm lucky that I'm always blessed with great people to work with.
♥ People still think my goods are worth ordering! ♥
♥ A new episode of The Vampire Diaries. Team Delena all the wayyy!
♥ Hassle-free weekend shoot that ended early enough for me to catch Saturday Mass with my Dad.
♥ My favorite Tuna Corn Casserole for our weekend grub!
♥ Fresh stock of my favorite 3-in-1 courtesy of my first friend in college.

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ A brand new year: a fresh start, new beginnings, and a heart full of hope.
♥ Future babies!
♥ A new cube at work—I'm back, sitting with my favorite girls!
♥ Seeing my cupcakes in another country. Super cool!
♥ Our site's new section. I'm in love with it!
♥ My new camera, hee.
♥ Tea time with my college best buds.
♥ A new episode of Revenge and Pretty Little Liars (I am probably one of three people left watching this show, hehe).
♥ Hilarious Facebook threads with my high school barkada. I love how babaw we can get.
♥ Planning surprises. (:

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ Finalizing an interview assignment and not sounding like a gushing fangirl, hehe
♥ A yummy burger and a cocktail that makes me wish I were drinking it by the beach.
♥ Good news—two in a row right before 10 am!
♥ Getting an unusual amount of money in your account. Yay, 13th month pay!
♥ Chimichangas and a mango margarita to celebrate the end of the week and the start of the long weekend.
♥ An awesome episode of The Vampire Diaries—I'll pretend there was no Stefan/Caroline scenes during the last few minutes.
♥ Staying in bed and not changing out of my pajamas all day. Long weekends are always awesome.
♥ Getting some Christmas shopping done
♥ ...and treating yourself to a few gifts too (:
♥ My favorite cream cheese pastry <3

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

 

♥ A new episode of my favorite TV shows.

♥ Hilarious Facebook comments.

♥ A weekend with friends.

♥ Sunday bake date with my cousins.

♥ Unlimited nachos with cheese and ranch!

♥ A good hair day.

♥ A great article from our contributors.

♥ Hearing an old song that I used to listen to all the time.

♥ A good piece of extra dark chocolate.

♥ Swiping off mascara with a piece of cotton ball at the end of a really long day.

Ten Things I'm Thankful For

♥ A pack of my favorite 3-in-1 coffee (my apologies to coffee connoisseurs out there!).
♥ A bottle of body wash on sale.
♥ Perfect blue winged liner.
♥ Impromptu plans and planned plans.
♥ Honesty, even if delayed.
♥ One of your favorite bands possibly coming to the city you live in.
♥ Booking everything for a shoot in a day, more than a week before your deadline!
♥ A glass of ice cold orange juice in the morning before I head out the door.
♥ Quiet time with my dad in Church on Saturday afternoons.
♥ A good laugh with friends that I happen to work with.

What are you grateful for these days? (:

Ten Things I'm Thankful For Tuesdays: Plans

♥ A foodie pact between friends: to try new restaurants this year.
♥ 13-item itineraries, Facebook message threads, and email trails!
♥ A trip to Singapore for the first time ever.
♥ ...a trip outside of the Philippines in what seems like years. I don't remember the last time I traveled out of the country!
♥ Bright nails to cheer me up on these gloomy days.
♥ Moral support from friends in light of bad news.
♥ Buying a new pen for travel-related entries in my planner. (:
♥ The beach in February!
♥ My best friend's wedding in less than a month!
♥ A Candy wedding this March, which means another trip to get excited for.

Ten Things I'm Thankful For Tuesday: In Photos

What are you thankful for today? (:

A speech

I know there are still a couple of days left `til the New Year, but I wanted to type my list up while I still have it in my head.

There are a couple of people who made my 2006 one of the best years in my life. And there's no better time than now to thank them. (:

My family, for being the people I come home to everyday. You never fail to be my instant happy pill and time spent with you is always time well spent. No matter how many times I get bratty, I will always love you guys. ♥

My high school friends, especially Niña and Lani, who I've been going out with more than anybody else this year. Laika, too, because even if we don't see each other that often, she always knows exactly what I'm going through. Even if my explanation is barely a sentence.

The driving queens, for my first ever surprise birthday party. It couldn't have come at a better time, too. Totally unexpected and totally appreciated. (: You three are my favorite memory from college. I'm so happy that we kept in touch. I can't wait for Friday. :D

The Candy team, for being the best support group ever. I love "my peeps." They're the most awesome group of people I've worked with and I feel so blessed to be part of this team.

The handful of people I've kept in touch with from Wazzup. The ex-PAs Janezcha and Apols, my partners-in-crime, Mel and Lenni, Sheiden who didn't flake out on dinner the last time, and Chatmate Earl and his great music recos!

My friends in the office. It's so refreshing to be in a place where people are actually nice enough to be called such—friends. (:

And that one person who I was contemplating whether or not to include in this list. I figured, I might as well include him, since for the most part, he was a major reason for my happiness this past year. Unfortunately, I doubt it'll get carried over to the next, but even for that, I'm grateful. (: Every experience teaches you something new. And we should be thankful for lessons learned.

When I said that 2006 was going to be my year, it was part-wish and part-declaration. I have to say, in some ways, it was my year. I guess when you put your mind to it, things really can happen, things can really go your way. (: So 2007 is going to be even better than this year! I just know it. (: