Category Archives: wishful thinking

If I ever won the lottery

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…one of the first things I’ll do is buy my husband any guitar he wants.

We were at the Cultural Center last night for the last concert of the guitar festival (Abet conducted the UST Guitar Orchestra for the first time), and there were guitar merchandise everywhere, from guitars of all price ranges to instruction books, CDs and DVDs, emg pickups (I think), and strings. There were guitars on display, and some of them cost hundreds of thousands–so much more than what I earn in a year. Oh, how I’d love for my husband to have one of those!

Now, about my Abet, he is the least materialistic, most contented, and most practical person I know. Sure, I know he’d love to have an instrument of high quality–as any serious musician would–but he understands that those guitars are way beyond what we can afford at this point. And instead of wasting his time pining for expensive guitars, he concentrates on making his current instrument produce the best sound it can.

This saddens me a bit because I know that his guitar right now is not at par with his skills. His playing is top caliber–his mentor Ruben Reyes has taught him well, and he works really hard to keep improving.

I know that Abet will get to have his nice instrument someday. He deserves it. We all know how good karma works. He’ll probably have to win it himself in some competition, there’s a much bigger chance of that happening than me winning the lotto.

Colored stones make me swoon

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I love ogling jewelry online, aside from makeup, cupcakes, and cute baby animals. This is one of my favorite stress-relievers (and time-wasters). I am most attracted to colored gemstones more than anything (black titanium bracelets just don’t do it for me), and when it comes to colored gemstones, the top brand that comes to mind is Bvlgari.

I just spent a good hour browsing their website looking at stuff like these:

Oh, be still my heart.

Since these baubles go up to hundreds of thousands of pesos, I don’t think I’ll be getting anytime soon (and by anytime soon, I mean in this lifetime), so I’ll stick to drooling over these gems online.

I’ll go back to looking at cute baby animals now, there’s a much bigger chance that I’ll be able to take home one of those.

 

Birthday Makeup Wishlist

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It’s that time of the year again when I start thinking about what I want to get for my birthday next month. When I mentally tried to make a list of birthday present ideas, I realized that all I want to get this year are makeup.

And so, I’m making another birthday wishlist for this year. I find that whenever I make these lists, I end up with a lot of the things I want. It’s like if I put it out there, the universe hears me, and–in the words of Coelho–conspires to help me get them.

Here goes:

  • Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks in Nectar and Rose Shimmer

 I asked my friend Carrot who works at Estée Lauder to recommend what to get from Bobbi Brown, she recommended these. I’ve been lemming for these ever since.

  • Anything Bobbi Brown, actually. I don’t own any Bobbi Brown yet.
  • Wong Kar Wai for Shu Uemura Holiday Limited Edition White Recovery Brightening Cleansing Oil (what a mouthful!)

Okay, so this is just the Shu brightening cleansing oil in special limited edition packaging, but what the heck, I love Wong Kar Wai’s films, and my current bottle bought last July is running out soon.

  • Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick

Any color, since I don’t own a single one, and I hear that these are better than MAC.

  • Also, anything Shu Uemura. Except for the eyelash curler because I already have three of those.
  • NARS bronzer in Laguna

The contour powder of my Dollface contour kit shattered, I need to replace it. It’s either this or the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark.

  • NARS lipstick in Schiap

I’ve wanted this since March when my makeup teacher wore it. I had to ask her what she was wearing.

  • Lots and lots of MAC lipsticks

I have a thing for lipsticks, obviously. I already have enough eyeshadows for now. I just love MAC lipsticks and I can’t have enough.

    • MAC brushes (187, 239, 168, 208)

I have one MAC brush, the 217 blending brush, and I love it to death. I want more, next on my brushes-to-get list are these four.

  • Portable makeup studio and director’s chair

Ah, yes, these are what I really, really want. For when I go pro in the future. I already know where I’ll set these up in our home. My husband has promised me these, it’s just a matter of when we’ll be able to afford them, hehe.

So there, universe. These are what I want. Help me get them, pretty please?

I want colored ceramic knives!

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Any fan of Junior Master Chef Australia would be familiar with the red ceramic knives that the kiddie chefs use on the show. I want those knives as badly as I want to cook like those kids.

spectrum ceramic knife

I want good knives when I’m married. Abet feels the same way. We plan on getting Zwilling J.A. Henckels knives this Christmas, we already got cute magnetic knife holders from Ikea last year. I can’t get over the colored ceramic knives, though. These are Scanpan Spectrum knives which are from Australia.

I must have me these knives. I’ll check for a local retailer, but if I have to order them all the way from Down Under, I will. I don’t care about a Martor USA utility knife, but I sure want these Spectrum knives in my kitchen.

Things I’ll do when I’m jobless

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I’ve been fantasizing a lot about resigning from my job lately. I guess you could say I’m burned out, so I’m preoccupying myself with thoughts of what I’ll do once I get out (which may be sooner than later).

I’m scared shitless, to be honest. I’ll be leaving a stable job with a good enough pay. I’m not earning six figures — it’s far from it — but I did get to travel to seven Asian countries (I’m counting HK and Macau as countries) in a span of two and a half years with my own hard-earned cash, so I guess I’m making enough.

Anyway, I’m basking in the thought that once I quit my job, I’ll be able to pursue the things I love and I’m passionate about: cello, baking, reading, dance, yoga, make-up artistry. I can go running again. I’ll be able to pick up the piano, guitar, and violin again, and maybe even take saxophone lessons again. Or I could sign-up for flute lessons and finally put our flute to use. Heck, I could take up all the lessons I’ve always wanted to take but never found the time for: photography, pole-dancing, swimming, a foreign language (still haven’t decided what) and musical theater. If I could only afford it, I’ll take equestrian lessons as well!

Ah, how fun to daydream. I do not belong in the corporate world. I can’t wait for my freedom.

Of course, I’ll have to figure out how to earn my keep once I resign, else I wouldn’t be able to do these things (unless I ask money from my future husband, which is not something I’d want to do).

I’m working on it, I’m working on it.

No babies for us anytime soon.

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I often get asked this question: “Will you and Abet have a baby right after your wedding?” Or “When will you be having a baby?”

Well, in case anyone else is wondering the same thing, let me tell ya: Abet and I do not plan on having a baby anytime soon after our wedding. Maybe after a year or two of marriage. We want to have our honeymoon period for us long as we can (actually, I want us to be in the honeymoon stage until we’re grandparents). He’ll be my baby in the meantime, and I’ll be his. Also, we still have our travel plans, and I still have my 31 Before 31 project.

And to anyone who’s concerned about my ticking biological clock, no need to worry. We want to have my first baby when I’m in my early thirties, just like my mom did. My mom had me, the eldest, when she was 31, and had Joe, the youngest, at 41. We all turned out well, if I may say so myself. Especially Joe!

So there. Don’t expect any baby announcements until three to four years from now.

Aaack, another bag lemming!

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Okay, blame it on Frances of Topaz Horizon and Chuvaness, who both blogged about these beauties:

Cambridge Satchel

The Cambridge Satchel.

I want one. The pink one.

Satchels really aren’t my style, I prefer my bags big since I carry everything including the kitchen sink. This is why I prefer Longchamps — the large Le Pliage can carry large stainless steel sinks! — but I still can’t help salivating over the pink Cambridge. Oh, and the satchel played a vital role in Tangled which Abet and I saw over the weekend, so yeah, I want one. Don’t judge.

Let’s see if I can bring myself to get one of these, I’m not one to fork over P6,000 just like that on a bag. It took me some time before deciding on getting my Le Pliage for $118 (which I got from magnums.net because I can’t find the Bilberry color in Rustan’s, and I want to make sure I’m getting an authentic item, so I also had to pay for shipping).

If I still want this after a month, I’m going to get one.

I still want to be a doctor.

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Didn’t we all want to become doctors at some point in our lives? I certainly did, and you know what? There’s an itty-bitty part of me that still does. I guess it’s the same part of me that still wants to be a jazz singer/principal cellist/ballerina/fashion model (don’t laugh). Or maybe it’s because of all those episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, House, and Scrubs.

One of my brothers is in med school, and I can’t help but get fascinated and envious when he tells me about his day at school and all the activities he’s into. I’m sure the feeling will stay a bit because I’ll have at least one sibling in med school in the next six years. Yep, my brother and sister will be taking up medicine as well, my sister will start this June. I don’t know how my parents do it.

I bet my parents are relieved that I’m not going to be looking into getting an online nursing degree as a pre-med course. Just looking at how sleep-deprived my brother is and how he has his nose buried in a giant hardbound book 90% of his waking time is enough for me to realize that I will not be a doctor in this lifetime. There’s a much bigger chance of me becoming a jazz singer/principal cellist/ballerina/fashion model, maybe I should just work on that.

I want a sapphire ring so frickin’ bad

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I’m still not over the most famous ring in modern history:

That, of course, is Kate Middleton’s perfectly-groomed hand, and that ring, as we all know, was Princess Diana’s engagement ring.

I adored that ring even back when it was on Lady Di’s finger, but now that it’s been passed on to Will’s future bride, I desire it even more. It has even more history. Who wouldn’t want a beautiful blue beauty like that? I know I would. Even one of my favorite local bloggers, Frances of Topaz Horizon, has something similar. So gorgeous!

The sapphire ring has officially made it to my list of things I want to own in this lifetime. It’s not a long list, don’t worry. I’m not as materialistic as I’m coming off right now, I just believe in allowing myself pretty little things every now and then if they make me happy.

I’m going to get my very own sapphire ring — a real sapphire that came from the earth, not one of those created ones. And no tanzanite rings even if they’re also blue, not right now anyway. My mom has been bugging me to get my own real jewelry because I’m too old not to have my own collection, I have to be an obedient daughter, right?

As much as I’d want an 18-carat stone like that on the royal engagement ring, I’ll be perfectly happy with this half-carat stone that’s well within my budget:

You’ll be mine soon, my darling!

I must work harder!

I want a camera this time

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I’m still not over lemming for my very own netbook or laptop, yet now I’m longing for another gadget: a camera. Not just a camera, but a kick-ass point- and-shoot. I have long accepted the fact that I am not a DSLR type of girl, our Olympus E-500 just refuses to work with me.

Right now I’ve narrowed my choices down to two: the Canon S90, and the camera I’ve been salivating over for some time now, the Canon G11.

Canon S90

Canon G11

I can’t choose between the two. On one hand, the S90 is around $150 cheaper and is much more compact and portable, but the G11 is, well, a G11, and I promised myself I’d get one once I have kids. I’ll have Abet check out the reviews to see which one suits me better because he’s good at that kind of thing (he went through several ipod reviews before deciding on his iTouch), while I have no patience for that.

And then there’s the decision of whether to get a camera or a laptop/netbook, or to just save the money, since neither is really urgent or absolutely necessary.

Ah, so many choices.

It’s high time I get myself some boots

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Three things I noticed about ‘em fashionable Hong Kong girls:

  • they were all slim (must be all that walking — Hong Kong is very pedestrian-friendly)
  • they wore awesome eye makeup with perfectly placed false eyelashes
  • they were all in boots

Yep, boots of all kinds. Tall boots, short boots, furry boots, sparkly boots. I’m sure the 16°C weather had a lot to do with their choice of footwear, but those boots certainly upped those girls’ chicness by several notches. My sister blended right in in her Geox pair, but I stuck out like a sore thumb in my Havaianas.

May in Ocean ParkMay in Ocean Park – 27 October 2010

I don’t own a single pair of boots, isn’t that sad? Yep, I think so, too. It’s about time I get myself a pair of my own. I’m particularly liking this baby pink pair of Uggs I saw on the Whooga website:

I signed up for the Whooga newsletter to get a chance to win one of these lovelies, they give a pair of Ugg boots out every month to one their subscribers. Contest is open internationally so I’m crossing my fingers. I wouldn’t mind having these as my first pair of boots.

Now, where to go for our honeymoon?

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Abet and I realized on the plane ride home earlier that this may be our last trip abroad before we get married. We’ll probably forego trips next year to save for our wedding and beyond, so the soonest we can go out of the country again will be for our honeymoon.

We haven’t decided on a honeymoon destination yet. If I had all the money in the world, I’d want us to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, a European tour, or an African safari, but that isn’t going to happen unless one of us wins the lottery (which also won’t happen because neither of us play). We’ll have to go somewhere nearby.

Which gets me to thinking — maybe we should just honeymoon within the Philippines instead. We’ve been to several Asian destinations but we haven’t seen much of our dear Lupang Hinirang together. I think we’ve only been to Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Boracay, Baguio, and Davao so far. We have such a beautiful country that it’s a shame that Abet and I haven’t seen much of it. Besides, it will be much less expensive to honeymoon here in the Philippines instead of flying off to, say, Bali or Phuket.

I’ve always wanted to visit Coron in Palawan. One thing’s for sure, our honeymoon has to be a beach trip. And when it comes to beaches, the Philippines has some of the world’s best. I’ll bring this up with Abet and see what he thinks.

Fitness Wishlist

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If I had these pretty little things, maybe it would be easier for me to pick my bum off the floor and work out.

Or maybe not. :P

  • a baby pink or baby blue yoga mat with carrying case

  • purple and white Nike Shox

  • Core Rhythms Dance Exercise DVD

  • Adidas by Stella McCartney gym bag

  • Nike sports bras (can’t live without these)

  • a Bikram Yoga Manila membership

  • a Barre3 membership

  • pink kettlebells (I have no idea what these are for, but I saw them on TV Patrol the other night and I want a pair)


and last but not the least:

  • the time and the discipline to actually exercise!!!

If only shipping was not a problem…

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. . . my Paypal balance will definitely, surely be depleted on kitchen appliances!

Now that I’ll be getting married in a year, I’ve been obsessing about kitchen gadgets. My interest in clothes, shoes, bags, and make-up have waned, I’m now lusting over blenders, stand mixers, panini grills, and ice cream makers (I have Stepford-Wife ambitions). My favorite site du jour to drool over these items is www.abt.com, a US-based online appliance store. The Gourmet Shop section drives me insane!

Here are a few items I’d love to have in my future kitchen:

a white KitchenAid stand mixer (I’ve wanted one for years)


an espresso machine for Abet


a gelato/ice cream maker


a waffler

If shipping costs were no issue, I’d have gotten some abt electronics coupons and snapped up that Delonghi gelato maker already.

Will you buy cake from me?

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I already mentioned this before, I dream of running a successful home based business one day. Aside from the additional income, it will be very fulfilling. I want to sell cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other baked goodies in the prettiest packaging. My carrot cake looks promising, I’ll start with that. My other products aren’t too shabby, either.

Abet keeps pushing me to just go for it, to just start baking and selling. There are several homebakers at my office, I could very well go that route, especially since some of my officemates are asking when I’ll take orders for carrot cake. But of course, I wouldn’t want to start a business, albeit a small one, without learning more about it. I need formal baking and cake-decorating lessons, as well as lessons on costing, packaging, etc. At this point, baking is just a hobby.

Anyway, the reason I’m posting this is because Daphne Osena is featuring hobbies-turned-businesses on her blog, and she’s encouraging hobbyists-turned-businessmen to promote their products on this entry. Some of the comments are really inspiring. I hope I’ll have my own success story to tell someday.

If you have a hobby that turned into a business, hop on over to Daphne’s site to share about it.

Lemming for a trombone

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I want a trombone. I’ve always wanted one. It’s my second favorite instrument next to the cello for three reasons: (1) it’s used in both jazz and classical music, which are my two great loves; (2) it mainly uses the bass clef, which I prefer over the treble clef; and (3) it doesn’t call for long fingers, which I don’t have. Abet and I went to Raon yesterday to get a mic for the cello and I can’t help but ogle the t-bones on display. I probably won’t be getting one anytime soon, though. I need a trombone like I need snow boots in Manila. Besides, we already have enough musical instruments at the moment. We have Jacqueline the cello which is in Baguio with Joe. Then there’s Joshua the violin which is missing its chinrest. Underneath my bed is Herbie the flute, which I haven’t touched again after I had it re-padded three years ago. There are the two guitars, one of which was a Christmas gift from Abet to my family. We have an upright piano that needs a bit of tuning. And somewhere in this house, there’s a “C” harmonica named Toots.

I wonder if there’s anyone out there who’s willing to trade a decent trombone for a chinrest-less violin.