Real Life Sundays, ed. 32

In the famous words of a wise, ancient dragon:

So, hi y'all!  

I am alive and kicking.  But not kicking very high because I am currently sick :'(  I haven't been sick like this- dry cough, cold, swollen sinus- in a long time.  But I have been pushing myself quite hard this semester.  

My life currently involves work for 8 hours, followed by graduate classes on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and I need a weekend from my weekends because I am doing back-to-back ministries helping out a youth group and serving and attending church.  I have never complained, and this is not a complaint, mind you.  I am simply telling the story of my life for the past month and a half.  Despite the strength that I feel in my mind and spirit, my body couldn't keep up.  Plus, there's a bug going around.  So, I am calling in sick tomorrow to shake off the last of this cough and cold.  And that's why I can blog a bit tonight.  :)

I am really excited despite this hectic schedule!  Since I was a wee one, I really wanted to get my Master's long before I'm 30, and that's what I'm working for now :)   

Anyway~~

I am currently in love with this Filipino restaurant that my sister and I have been frequenting, that we would drive for 25 minutes to get to it: Ben N Yan's!!  Slurp!!

Photo time!  

[Insert cliché: don't say I didn't warn ya; get ready to drool; gastronomical adventures (this so deserves a derp face because it's soooo pretentious)]

Clockwise from top left: sisig, crispy pork snout marinated with chili sauce served on a sizzling plate (dis da BOMB!); pinakbet, a medley of veggies sauteed with shrimp paste, shrimp, and pork; and oxtail kare-kare, savory peanut butter based sauce with bokchoy and tripe (dis also da BOMB!); pagkain means food in Tagalog. 

It's a shame that I used to snob Filipino restaurants because apparently, when your mom is a wonderful cook, you think that she's the only cook.  Haha!  But Ben N Yan's has an inviting, presentable interior with delicious food.  (Sadly, some Filipino restaurants look so cheap-o :( )

Another of my food loves is Cookie Spread. ♥♥♥ 

My family and I can finish a jar in a week!  

Stahp it!  Stahp it some more! XD

Didn't watermark it.  Go ahead~  I'm willing to share the love♥

This entry is not only about goodies for the tummy.  I also have one photo of a goody for my face:

SK-II has finally arrived on Guam at the DFS in Tumon.  Heard it had a cult following.  Had to try it.  :) 

And if Ben N Yan's and the arrival of SK-II did not already attract you to Guam, ;)  here is an article by BBC to further peak your interest: BBC Travel: Guam.

Anyway, I do not promise that Guam is paradise.  Some people I know have come and go: had a blast for a year or two but then became bored after that and have been itching to go.  I've always wondered the reason for that...  I am not bored because I am always busy here, although I feel the occasional wanderlust.  I guess this is my home, that's why.  Yes, that must be it: the idea of making Guam home.  

Real Life Sundays, ed. 22

Yuck!

You cannot be more real than this when you show yourself to the world in all your glory... or gory!  Hehehe!  No photo edits!

Even my own mother asked incredulously, "You're going to publish that???"

And I said, "Yes!!"

I don't know what came over my skin last week to make me suffer like this.  But thank God, that them pimples are all gone now!  I am just putting on a lot of whitening creams to diminish the scars.  

Anyway, let me tell you a secret that I've just discovered from my older sister (^__^)

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*The secret to quickly dry pimples is......*

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Hydrogen Peroxide.....................................................................................................................................................

Did you catch that?  HYDROGEN PEROXIDE!

When I applied it on my pimples, the peroxide foamed and bubbled, and I was like, "Yes!  Yes!  Get 'em suckers!"  *Fist pumps*  Honest, with that much gusto.  (By the way, I think your pimples have to be open wounds in order for the peroxide to penetrate within.)  Then the following day, my pimples were dried up.  But I continued to apply for the next 2 days for good measure.  Now, I only have scars... :)

♥♥♥

Here's the rest of my photos:

Kobe is growing up so fast!  She is quite naughty but very smart.  ^^
Only 2 weeks with us and she already knows how to sit, shake hands, and
defend her food from toad intruders.

Oatmeal with peppermint kisses and Heath toffee.
"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy cane, candy corn,
and syrup." -Buddy, Elf

Wendy's Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt: finally fast food burger done right!
Not tough and dry at all! :9

My Korean restaurant staple: Yukgaejang

Mmmm ;9 ... Bossam with oyster kimchee on the side.  Love Bossma but...
Oysters- I HATE them raw.  They taste as if all the essence and grossness of
the ocean were concentrated into these sloppy nuggets of mucous.
If you like raw oysters- more power to you!  You are a brave one!

We ate at a Korean restaurant with the sweetest uncle in the world.  He is not my uncle by blood but he was my pastor, whom we've adopted as our uncle.  :)  I love him so much!  If you met him, you'd love him so much, too.

♥♥♥

Christmas break is coming so hopefully, I can have more time to blog by then ^___^

Good night!

Oh, I hope you all have a good week!

Real Life Sunday, ed. 17

Thank you for those who actually check out my blog from time to time.  Although my following is really small, I feel very encouraged that when I do check my blog's viewer stats, there are actually people who stop by.  ^___^  Sometimes, I wonder why, especially when I go on my hiatus.  But since you do, I won't wonder so much and simply thank you!  ^___^

I've been writing a lot about my life.  I will try to review a couple of old circle lenses later (hopefully, this weekend or the one following that).  But I do not want to be so apologetic because I work... and I've been working really hard and come home very tired.  When I finally do have the time to blog, it's been a form of therapy to de-stress from my day.  And the easiest topic for me to write about is to actually talk about me and how my day/week has been, although I'm hoping to be more mindful of my viewers but am just waiting for the right time.

That was lengthy...

But it's all ok with you, yah?

I really look forward to weekends to unwind...  Although, I am pretty busy then also, I welcome change.  :)

Last week, I celebrated the birthday of my beloved Korean sister.  I was almost raised by her for seven years but I haven't been seeing her recently.  So, it's nice to get to surprise her. ^_^

Check out those bags!  You can put nickels in them...

Peace out!

Then the following day, my sisters and I tried a new restaurant, En Japanese Restaurant in Tumon.  The food was delicious!  I'm not too much into sushi (because the rice feels so heavy) but En's made me rethink that a bit.

Beautiful paintings!

The restaurant even had quotable quotes hanging on the walls.

This was Sunday:

Ready for church.

Another letter to my dear Syuzi.  I'd like to introduce her to you one of these days.

My holographic nail polishes finally came in.  I will take a photo later.
It was pretty excessive of me to purchase them.

Lastly, dinner tonight: Carmen's Cha-Cha-Cha in Hagatna!

Mole sauce is definitely BOSS!  :9

Until next time, everyone!
Thank you so much again for reading along!  :)

Real Life Sunday, ed. 12

Ok, you got to get yourselves ready because I'm about to flood you with food photos!  (Well, 3 photos- not really a flood... Heh!) :D  Let's hope you already ate so you don't end up licking your screen.

18 side dishes, I tell ya!  18!  O.o

You must see the view!

We got our burgers on.  My favorite is the Umami burger with its "sauce is
boss" (top right).

My partner in crime and I dared to go sans-make-up.  

The following are miscellaneous things:

Received my package in the mail.  Shoppingholics got one of my orders
wrong...  Received Brown EOS Adult Brown, rather than Grey.  I'm not
going to throw a hissyfit about it, especially since they treat me so well and
I pretty much love them to pieces.

Ominous, yet so beautiful, storm clouds rapidly coming in the horizon.  Gotta
love Guam's vast skies.  Thank You, God, I live here!

Red lips make girls feel so pretty.

Update on My Life: Sister's Grad ^0^

YAHOO!

Today was my students' last day of school!  (Mine is tomorrow D;)

I just want to say that my first year of teaching has been an immense blessing!  I couldn't have asked for a better set of students and team members.  I loved almost every day of it :)  I am so thankful to God for all of the smiles, frowny faces, laughters, and lessons.  *Sigh*  T___T  

Onward to SUMMER!  \(^0^)/

Also, a couple of weeks ago was my sister's graduation.  :)  So, yep, I am behind (again!) but I so want to share these photos with you ^____^

It's Ooo-ohg!

Mi Mama!

Yeah, it's my Pops ^-^

V for Victory*

I see you~*

I put this up because I actually think I'm quite
cute here... +^.^+  heehee...

Asians and them fish-face poses

おめでとお！

Sunset

View from Toh Lee Chinese Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko.  Sorry, no food
photos...  Too hungry :)

Singing along to Taylor Swift's "Our Song".

And, ah!  If you join me again tomorrow, you're in for a treat.  ^__^  Unless I shy away and bail!

Nah...

Good night, everyone!

*Photo Credits: To my brother... Not taken by me. :)

Little Sister

A few weeks ago was my little sister's birthday!  I love her so much.  She is my best friend and (nearly) constant companion.  We are so close that I actually didn't begin attending school until she came with me.  She was 4 and I was 6!  Hohoho!  ^o^


So, we've been like peas and carrots~

Join us at Joinus for some gooooood teppanyaki^^

Great stuff~

Now, that's a "Happy Birthday!"

My friend joined our celebrating^^  And no, I ain't drunk at 12:00 PM.

Heeeheee...  By the looks of it, my blog is starting to look like a food blog... Huu...  (I'm getting back to jogging^^)

Anyway, I am one proud big sister!  Amidst the whirlwind of graduations, my little sis is making her own mark next Sunday!  She will be graduating as a Math and Secondary Major, with HONORS!  ^-^  I am so happy because she had worked tirelessly and ever-so-diligently while holding a part-time job with the local cancer research T^T  To God be the glory all the way!

Proverbs 2:6-9 ” For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.”

Yep, so that's that!

Thanks for reading. 

Button-Bustin' Entry

*Sigh*

Been feeling pretty blue since yesterday...  when the button of my jeans popped out...  *sigh*

I haven't gone running, yes...  And I feel like a hundred pounds heavier and my love handles are constantly handling me, alright.  It's been 3 weeks!  I'd hate to offer excuses so I'll just give my reasons :D

1)  Got sick... It was easier to eat than jog.
2)  Soooooooooo busy when mi madre left...  Again in times like these, it's easier to eat than jog.

Thank God, my Ma is back and I can exercise with her :)  So, tomorrow is a new day and a fresh commitment!  ^0^  It's time to fight on!

Other things I'll commit to doing:

1. Getting a haircut and a color
2. Blog
3. Finish my novels
4. Blog giveaway (I'm so sorry, it's long past due... >.<  My distributor friend had been so busy so the orders are taking a while to come!  D:  Sorry again!)
5. Enjoy life!

It's nearly summer vacation, anyway!  That feels "OH-SOME!"  Love my job, but every inch of my being is screaming for summer!

A tutorial and/or review, tomorrow?

By the way, here are the evidences! T^T

Home Cooking

Bean sprout 반찬.

Yup!  I can make a mean 김치찌개 (kimchee jjigae) :)

삼겹살 (samgyeopsal)
Grilled pork belly

Infusion

Inviting ambience at Infusion, a coffeeshop in
Tamuning

Blooming tea ^_^  It's really neat!

Finished product.  It's called "Falling
Water."  Do you see the cascading flower?

"Joshua" vegetarian crepe

Matcha cupcakes ^_^

 Von's Chicken

Golden chicken: spicy sweet and crisp on the
outside, flavorful in the inside.  Great stuff!  :9

If you can read that quote, it's an Asian stationery
classic! :D