TOPAZ HORIZON

I wish!

Start of the week and I'm already drowning in my to-do list. Initially, I thought I'd be absolutely free today (today of all days!). But, nope, I have tons to do. In order of urgency, here's what I need to do today:

1. Buy food! We actually have a fully stocked everything except there's no meat, vegetables and rice in the house! 
2. Go to the bank for some OTC transactions.
3. Sort dirty laundry and send out to laundromat (yes, I'm the one who does this!).
4. Write an article for a parenting magazine.
5. Unpack the bags from our mini getaway in Tagaytay this weekend.
6. Organize the stuff I brought home from the office.
7. Re-sked a dentist appointment.

Then I seriously need to fulfill some blogging promises I made to people and brands who have generously sent me goodies. The list is long and I don't know if I'll ever get this done!

How's your Monday like? No matter what you plan today, remember to smile and thank God that your busy life means it's a blessed one. I know I complain a lot but I'm actually really grateful. For one thing, despite all of the stuff I have to do, at least I don't have to go to the office! How lucky am I?

Iggy Pop wrote this lovely letter to a young girl who was going through a lot of shit. His letter made all the difference.

I have also just recovered from a pretty massive hit. I wasn't surprised when it hit as I have felt it building up since the start of this year. And when it finally punched me straight between the eyes, I was dizzy and in despair for a good long while. You didn't notice it? I'm very good at hiding things apparently, which comes as a surprise to me.

For a while there, I was thinking, "Why can't my life just remain perfect? Why do I have to go through this? Why must things change?" I soon realized—rather, I was made to remember—that some things, good and bad, are meant for you. You'll just have to man up, embrace the changes, and move forward.

Good or bad, it applies.

What got me going was the gigantic love and support of Vince and a few very close friends. Yes, only a very few knew. So precious few, but if you read between the lines of my blog posts, especially at the start of the year, you'd have been able to tell that I was going through some major emotional seismic shifts.

Now I've taken my hits, I've recovered, I'm moving on. It wasn't so bad, after all! In the great scheme of things, my hit was so ridiculously shallow, I am ashamed I was so worried and upset about it. In fact, I'm now glad it happened. Because I'm so psyched about the future!

I'll tell you all about it soon. I'm off to Tagaytay for a much needed break! Meanwhile, what I just want to say is if you're going through hell right now, don't despair. It's happening for a reason—whether it's to humble you or to prepare you for something much bigger. Or maybe you're being used to help someone. Whatever it is, you have to believe that there is a purpose. Of course, some shit is really just random. You just happen to be collateral damage. But don't allow yourself to be a victim of random shit flying about. Like that poster above said, if that shit wasn't meant for you, it wouldn't land on you! So get a-hold of the situation, stand up, dust yourself off, and move on.

Now if you know someone going through hell lately, be more patient with them. Sometimes, words of encouragement are all we need. Or a smile, a hug, a look of love. Then we're ready to take on the world again.

Thanks to my amazing support group, I am. I am oh so ready.

Last week was really fun! Best birthday week ever. Which comes as a surprise to me because I'm obsessed with my birthdays and I'd always plan for it and bug people about it BUT this year, I totally forgot that my birthday was approaching until I looked at the calendar and saw it was November. I kinda freaked out a bit—I haven't come up with a gift list, I don't have anything to wear, I didn't plan a party. Nothing!

In a futile attempt to celebrate, I got free Facebook covers with a birthday theme (sample above and the last photo below) so I can remind everyone on Facebook that my big day was coming up and then I thought, "You know, I don't really care. I have a great and happy life, wonderful family and friends. What am I freaking out about? I don't want anything; I have everything!"And, yes, the week proved that!

Monday. My prayer group surprised me and Cathee with a birthday party. Surprise parties I'm usually allergic to haha since I'm never ready! Ya know, I didn't have a pretty dress, my hair was unbrushed, my face was devoid of makeup. But, what the heck, I had the loveliest time with my mommy friends!

Yummy chocolate cake from Red Ribbon. But I want to know who did the icing letters!

Cathee blew out her candle first since her birthday was before mine.

Vito blew out my candle but I made a birthday wish for my sons.

Thanks so much, Claire, Earl, Dada and Tricia! Happy birthday, Cathee!

Tuesday. My favorite hairstylist in the world, Louis Phillip Kee, treated me to a salon day. I had my good friend Jane Kingsu-Cheng of Forever 21 and Lucky Janie with me and we chatted about everything under the sun—from our sons and yayas to career plans and other bloggers.
Louis, thanks for making me beautiful! Jane, thanks for spending the day with me and for the free lunch!

Then Vince surprised me with a bouquet of red roses. Vince always gets me flowers for my birthday. I love flowers. He either gets red roses or multi-colored tulips.
He also got me Chocolate Truffle Cake from Mary Grace Café. It's my favorite chocolate cake. Yum yum! It's Vito's favorite cake, too. Hehe, yes that's Vito's birthday candle! We didn't have any other candle kasi haha. For more photos of the boys and their Grab The Cake Mission, click here!
At work, my staff "surprised" me with the best banana chocolate cake (from Kitchen's Best) I have ever had in my life. I put surprise in quotes because it's tradition that we give cake to whoever the birthday girl/boy is. But I was still surprised because... I don't know. I really truly wasn't expecting anything!

Sugared pili nuts, dried mangoes, calamansi honey with toasted quesong puti, La Maria Camembert and Queso Rustico.

And now it's done. My birthday's done. I had a great week. I felt really loved. I am really truly happy and excited for what life has in store!