My New Year's Resolutions

Photo from here.

I don't normally do New Year's resolutions because I believe that changing for the better can start any day even without an occasion, but, for the sake of the spirit of New Year, I will give you my resolutions.  I only have a few but realistic and achievable resolutions.  I don't want to list more than what I can keep.

1.  I will not go on a diet but instead I will choose to eat healthier foods.

2.  I will not exercise but will make more steps a day than what I used to have.  And instead of taking the elevator or escalator, I will choose to use the stairs.

3.  I would still buy shoes (my only luxury) but I will only buy at most 4 in a year. This year, I bought seven and I am starting to feel guilty.

4.  I will maintain a year of no enemies.

5.  I will automatically deposit my freelancing income and 10% of my regular salary to my savings account.

These are the resolutions that I can keep.

Do you have resolutions?

How did you spend Christmas?

How did you spend your Christmas?

It was a tiring day for me but I had fun.  We went to Tagaytay City to unwind a bit and eat halo-halo at Razon's. A cold dessert in a cold place... yeah, that's how we do it.  After halo-halo, my nieces decided to buy cold drinks at Starbucks... and they are already freezing cold.  While my nieces are enjoying their strawberry milkshake, my son and I had a little running around Robinsons.  No, it wasn't our intention to burn fats... my son is just running the whole time going to the arcade, the toy shop and back.

Good thing I wore my flats.

Sparkling Tattoos

If there is one thing that I will never do, it is having a tattoo.  I don't like needles puncturing my skin to inject ink. Just thinking about it already hurts. If you have the same thinking as I am about tattoos, an alternative is this Marbella crystal adhesive tattoo.  It sparkles and it is removable.  

Like it?  It is available at Luisa Via Roma for $60.  Other designs are available.

My Bloomingdale's Christmas Wishlist

Juicy Couture 'Tizzy' flip flop slippers, $45.  Just because it is so comfy to wear!

Juicy Couture 'Sugar Kiss' laptop sleeve, $78.  Just because my laptop sleeve needs to have a rest.

Bvlgari BLV II set, $97.  Just because I like to smell good always.

Emporio Armani white round watch with rose gold numbers, $545.  Just because I collect watches.

Cuisinart SP2 rechargeable salt and pepper set, $75.  Just because I love cooking.

Patio Makeover

I had a conversation last night with my mom.  She now lives in the US together with my younger sister and a dog named King.  In our almost an hour of conversation, it was all about King and how the dog made her decide to finally go for a patio makeover.

They just moved in to a new house when they had King.  Mom had no plans of renovating their patio because their first project is the living room.  To make the long story short, King must have a place of his own because he's all over the house, scratching and biting the living room couch.  My mom thought that if the patio is more conducive to dogs, King will leave the couch alone.  Being the supportive daughter that I am (as if I can stop her from doing the makeover), I told her to buy patio decor from furniture stores that are right in her budget, has a wide selection of furniture, and will deliver the items for free because she is so busy all the time.  And I asked her to send me a photo of the patio after the makeover.

My Early Christmas Greetings

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...  Let your heart be light.

This is a sign that I am already having Christmas jitters.  Eleven days left.

My early Christmas greetings to you.

XOXO

Joanne

My Net-A-Porter Christmas Wishlist

You will never have a hard time buying gifts for me because I don't look at the brand and price tag of the gifts I am receiving.  Don't you just wish everyone would be like me?  Haha!  Of course, not every one is like me.  If you have a girlfriend, a sister or a mom to buy a gift who is brand conscious and you don't want to spend a fortune for gifts, I have here my Net-A-Porter Christmas Wishlist that might help you in your gift buying dilemma.

Alexander Wang 'Tasha' bandage leather boots, $380 previously $760. This is a super deal!

J. Crew 'Sasha Glen' wool blend pea coat, $150 previously $300.  

Notify 'Anemone' low rise straight leg jeans, $150 previously $300.  

Thakoon Addition wallpaper print silk top, $196 previously $280.  

Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Hexi' hoop earrings, $29.40 previously $42.  

Antik Batik 'Friel' chain-embellished suede shoulder bag, $220.50 previously $315.

Cute Gift for Hello Kitty Fans

This is so cute!  It is a Hello Kitty key chain that you can play up by changing Hello Kitty's dress.  Turn her into a police, a cook or a sailor.  This is the perfect gift for Hello Kitty fans this Christmas.  You can get this at Mod Cloth for only $6.99 but you have to hurry because this is one of their best sellers.

Brad and Angie's Public Display of Affection

A little public display of affection won't hurt and besides we rarely see photos of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt snuggling each other.  This squeezing Angie's butt is surprising but hey, it somehow confirms that the rumors of them splitting are not true.

Love Angie's Versace dress, Brad just let her shine... anyway, it is the premiere of her latest movie The Tourist with Johnny Depp as her leading man.

Last Song Syndrome: Separate Lives

I have a last song syndrome... Phil Collin's Separate Lives.  It's not really the last song that I heard but it is the song that keeps on singing in my head.  No qualms. I love the song.  I think it is one of the best duets ever and the saddest.  I never grow tired listening to it.  Thank goodness the hormonal imbalance has just passed.

Feeling Mushy and It Is Not Yet Valentines

I am feeling mushy today because I heard again John O'Banion's song I Don't Want To Lose Your Love.  I first heard it when I was in college because of my aunt's collection of Cruisin' CDs.  I really like the lyrics and the emotion behind it.  This is the song that made him win the Tokyo Music Festival Award in 1982.  The song was later revived by several artists.  John died in 1990 because of blunt head trauma from a car accident.

Listen and enjoy.

Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown Winner

Congratulations to Akihiro Sato for being the Survivor Philippines Celebrity Showdown winner!

He got 3 votes from the jury beating Solenn and Ervic with 2 votes each.  Akihiro took home 3 million pesos.

When To Keep Things Secret

très chic: Who Won the Grand Lotto Jackpot? Keep It A Secret.

If you won any lotto jackpot, will you tell it to the world?

I won't. I love my life so much for the criminals to know.

Unfortunately, some people thought that knowing who won and broadcasting it to the world will earn them the praise for bringing the news. Well, that is not the case. I really feel sorry for Miko Morelos and his family from being a victim of false news. As for Tim Yap, he did get extra famous... famous for spreading wrong information that makes the life of another person in jeopardy. He has lost his credibility.

People, common sense is not so common.

This is a concrete example of when to keep things secret. Even if Morelos and his family deny it, I don't think everyone will believe them. In the chase for who the multi-millionaire is, the hunting will start with Morelos.