AWOL: Japan 2012

Just in case you didn't notice (^.~), I wasn't posting or checking my blog last week.  It's been good: the disconnect from all things that connected me.  But not too long... not too long...  I miss me my Internet, yo!

I feel so wildly blessed, yah!  I finally went to "The Land of the Rising Sun!"

~Japan~ 

I've always dreamt of going there, and for the past years the only parts of Japan I've been to were confined in the airports...  Bleh (-__-)... So those do not count.

But I've been so blessed with kind older sister and brother who took me there ^____^   Thank you, Ate!  Thank you, Kuya!  Love love love yous!♡

And I love Japan... 

*sigh*

I will try to cover my trip with 3 more posts after this.  Five days so I gotta divide.  ^___^  Thank you, readers, for bearing with me!  I'm really happy about the experience and am still dreaming about it.

*Photo heavy*

"ようこそ," they say.

Kid sister, you're here, too!

Grand Pacific le Daiba
Room for little sister and me ^^  It was spotless!

Bathroom shot

View from the 19th floor.  Sometimes, it freaks me out that we're that
high up.

Hi! My first day look- weary from the flight and
the transport.  But amazingly, there is no traffic here,
unlike Manila and Seoul!
Love it! ♥

Evening stroll around the hotel and mall.

Hotel Nikko is the one in the front.  Grand Pacific is the brown building
 behind.

Breathtakingly scenic: Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo's Statue of Liberty

The Japanese people had great hospitality, in the hotel and everywhere else.  What I really liked about Odaiba (お台場) was that it was not as crowded as Shinjuku or Shibuya.  I like the calm- clears my mind.  But if you like the crowds, our hotel was surrounded by four malls and the train station can easily take you to other areas of Tokyo.

☁Also, we came during tsuyu☂, which I really underestimated.  I thought, "Hey!  I know rain!  I know summer!"  But nooooo!  It wasn't the hot and humid rainy summer like back home.  It was cold!  So, a word of advise, if you're not used to the cold, bring an extra sweater and weatherproof jacket.  But one will soon find the cold pleasant and crisp when you get used to it. ^-^

Don't forget to enter my first giveaway below!

See you in a little while, my friends! ♥♥♥

Photo credits:
These photos were taken by my older sister and me.

Madness and My First Giveaway ^0^

What is this madness???

I've got the books!

The side braid!

Mockingjay paraphernalia!

And the mad need to influence others into the 3-finger salute!

Yes!  I'm crazy about The Hunger Games!  Suzanne Collins is simply magnificent!

I'm quite keen to post-apocalyptic stories, and this reminded me of one of my favorite novels, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

The Hunger Games, as cliche as this may sound, is a book you won't be able to put down.  ^___^

I hope that you would get the chance to read it, too.

And so I'll give that chance to you!

Ruthee Cee's "A Tribute" Giveaway!

The rules are simple: 

• Be a follower on my blog. (Mandatory)
• Leave a comment below with your name and email address.  (Mandatory)
• Leave a comment telling me who was your favorite character in the book or the movie. (Optional)
• Repost this giveaway on your blog. (Optional)
• Only one giveaway winner.
• Open internationally.

Here are the prizes, selected and purchased by yours truly~~  ^___^

In addition to the first volume of the trilogy, you'll receive...

My favorite color MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick
in "Girl About Town" ^___^

Etude House Nail Art Pen in pink.

Plumeria earrings~~  So you can feel real island-y :)

Hello Kitty phone strap

One My Beauty Diary face mask in
Bulgarian White Rose and one Osmej
eye mask.

I got this from Shoppingholics.com and this is the authenticity
stamp.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hebrews 11:1

Faith 


Solid, tangible, and peaceful.  
That is the faith of my father.  Never did I witness him fret about money or the future.  Never did he doubt the goodness of the Lord.  "Good or bad, only God knows.  But God is good all the time" was the motto that you didn't have to say, but your actions clearly showed.


Papa, thank you for all those times that you encouraged us for our family devotions with God, although when I was young, I found them very boring.  ^^;;  Now, I understand.  And I don't think I'll be the same person today without you and every bit of your attribute that I hope to develop in me: peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness.

I love you!  ^0^

Happy Father's Day!

♥♥♥

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see."

I Pray For You

I pray for you
To be like still waters,
   Rested and renewed,
   Content, not lacking in anything,
   Peaceful in your heart and spirit.

Psalm 23:1-3 "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." 

I pray for you
To be like a wise man,
   To walk the straight and narrow path,
   To seek the star that leads to God,
   And find yourself in His loving arms.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

I pray for you
To be like a song,
   Rejoicing,
   Singing praises that bring in the dawn,
   Thanking the Faithful One, your Redeemer.

Psalm 108:1-4 "My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;  I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies."

I pray for you
To be like a prince,
   Prosperous,
   The crowned child of the Everlasting One,
   With a crown that will never fade.

1 Peter 3-5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

I pray for you
To be like a warrior,
  Strong and courageous,
  More than a victor, more than a conqueror,
  Steadfast in the Truth of God- the armor that the enemy cannot penetrate!

Joshua 1:8-9 "'Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.'"

Scripture taken the New International Version (NIV) from Biblegateway.com. 

Images:
Calm waters
Lighthouse     
^6 2 3 

Something Ridiculous

Just as promised... But I feel so shy. ///^.^///

To further catapult me into this global embarrassment.  키키키!

But I'm warning you!  Turn the volume down and pardon my butchering of Taylor Swift's "I'm Only Me When I'm With You."  Pretty please... T__T

Anyway, this was for my little sister because I can really be me when I'm with her ^______^