Feels Like Home

Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself

Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms

There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast

Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life

If you knew how lonely my life has been

And how long I've been so alone

And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along

And change my life the way you've done

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

A window breaks, down a long, dark street

And a siren wails in the night

But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me

And I can almost see, through the dark there is light

Well, if you knew how much this moment means to me

And how long I've waited for your touch

And if you knew how happy you are making me

I never thought that I'd love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way the back where I come from

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong

(Artist: Chantal Kreviazuk)

Love Advice #1: We all have so much love to give.

Do not own them all. Share.

What is the best way to end a year and start another one? Share love to other people. An act of kindness does not have to be huge for it to matter. Even something so simple can make so much difference. A simple genuine act of goodness can be someone else's ultimate happiness. It is not really about what will come out of it, it should be how good the intentions are. Share love. Make other people happy. The best feelings come from little things we do for other people. Smile!

Happy Holidays!

^_^

"Stay open. Who knows? Lightning could strike."

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived. 

― Meet Joe Black

I paused and played the beginning part of the movie just to get this quote. I believe searching something I can't understand or did not fully get in Google is not learning at all (ok, truth is, Wi-fi is not working. hihi). There is too much heart in this movie that I had that feeling of overwhelming sadness when it was about to end. It did not made me cry, but it definitely made me pause for a while to think and reflect. 

In life, we all have that defining moment when things seem to fall apart and yet pieces are falling into their right places. We need to stand strong and be patient. What's meant to be, will be.

Someone told me before that it is very rare for me to fall head over heels in love, that kind of love that keeps a person awake at night just thinking about all the good feelings. So when I do, I do not hold back. I give it my best shot. Maybe this is what everyone is looking for in life. Get swept away. Be someone else's one and only. Feel the rush of its ups and downs. Moments where we find beauty everywhere. Moments when raindrops are like music to our ears.

It is never a reason to settle with someone just because it is convenient. That is not love. There is the right person for everybody. There is the right time for everything. Do not waste time on something with no passion. We all deserve something better. 

Keep dreaming! Your fairy tale is out there somewhere.

That person who can make your eyes smile
like nothing else matters but being happy.

^_^

Beautiful life.

Busay Falls, Malilipot, Albay

Some things don't last... 

Some things, genuine and beautiful, stay forever.

Positive vibes are everywhere. Keep smiling!

The best things in life come for free. Raindrops in slow motion.  The rainbow that comes after. A warm smile from a stranger. The sound of a baby singing her first nursery rhyme. A colorful ice cream cone. Children with improvised instruments singing Christmas carols. It is not necessary to spend too much money or effort just to have a grand moment. Some people find it difficult to be happy because they never stop wanting more. And when that "more" is reached, they would want something else entirely different. The cycle continues and instead of being content and happy, this practice only sucks out body, mind and soul energy.

What they do not realize is that we are the one who creates our happiness. It is our choice and not other people's fault. It is no one's responsibility to make us happy. It is nobody's fault if we are not. No matter how perfect a person's life is, it will always be a combination of ups and downs. We do not get used to being sad or miserable; we just learn how to deal with it and move on. 

I agree, people who see life as the most precious gift are always the happiest. Positive vibes are everywhere. Keep smiling!  

Hello, Monday! =)

The Good Fight is the one we Fight because our heart asks it of us.The Good Fight is the one that’s fought in the name of our dreams. When we are young our dreams first explode inside us with all of their force, we are very courageous, but we haven’t yet learned how to Fight. With great effort, we learn how to Fight, but by then we no longer have the courage to go into combat. So we turn against ourselves and do battle within. We become our own worst enemy. We say that our dreams were childish, or too difficult to realize, or the result or our not having known enough about life. We kill our dreams because we are afraid to Fight the Good Fight. --http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2013/03/06/the-good-fight-3/

 - - - - - - - -

It's been a while since I again tried this kind of 'chilling and relaxing.' Browsing random sites, catching up with friends, downloading songs and books from different genres, eating junk food and drinking unhealthy drinks... and as I realize that it is already Monday and I've been up for quite some time, I had this goofy smile on my face.  I don't feel tired at all. In fact, I feel like I've removed the stress I've accumulated for the past week in just one night of fooling around the cyberworld. I guess I miss having back and head aches for staying up all night and being unproductive.

This has been part of my Good Fight. To be nothing for the weekend because the week had been too much work for my mind and body. It does not always have to be so great or monumental; even when it is just a simple thing like surviving a day at work or finishing a project or trying to cool a the best meal ever, as long one feels happy and fulfilled in trying to achieve it, it becomes a part of "the Fight." Where else do we get strength for the coming fight but in moments like these -- uninhibited and free? Ala lang, I just feel great today so please, walang basagan ng trip.

Hello, Monday! ^______^

And kudos to all fathers who have kept their families a one happy and united family. Your sons and daughters will always be your number one fans.... To my Tatay, I love you so much!

just suppose that the shaping and molding of destiny, is in fact YOUR destiny...

Destiny is the bridge you build to the one you love. 

--My Sassy Girl

Merry Christmas! While almost everybody seems to be taking a rest after two days full of reunions, eat-outs, dates, parties, and whatever it is they do on the 24th and 25th, here I am still awake... blogging, uploading pictures and videos, downloading OSTs from the movies I've watched, eating left-overs, and of course, greeting people a Merry Merry Merrrrryyyy Christmas! I hope you had a blast!

- - - - - - - - - - - 

Dear Jesus,

Happy Birthday! Thanks for everything. I know You're busy, yet You always has time to make us all happy. Thanks for letting me keep my child spirit, and for helping me be a grown-up when I need to be. Thanks for never getting tired. And for Your unconditional love, I am so blessed to be at the receiving end. For my family and friends, I hope they all find what they are looking for. Please do not get tired in guiding them everyday... in watching over all of us. Thanks for making our home Yours, too. I hope someday we can be worthy enough to live in Yours. Help us live in Your glory and Yours alone. 

Love, 

Your child, Marivic

- - - - - - - - - - - 

Here goes some pictures from my Christmas Week. Plans for the rest of the year are still not over. Sana kasing saya, or mas masaya pa ang pagsalubong nating lahat sa New Year! God Bless!

My Cousins. We ended the night and started the morning together. Walang ligo-ligo, we visited all our aunts' and uncles' homes in the morning para mag-bless and also to greet them Maligayang Pasko. We're getting older so no aginaldo for us. But for games pictures, and food, age never matters.

2014 Planner and Coelho Book. Planners never work out for me. I was just born to be 'not organized.' When I fell in love with an excerpt from the book and the planner's design, I realize it's time to fix my life (yeah, planner is the life-changing answer. LOL). I even sell my SB planner 'coz I figured I don't like it at all. This is my best Christmas gift to myself.

Sweets! I only wished for a buffet, anywhere as long as there's a loooooot of food. And then I got more! This was from our Team Christmas Party held at Sambo Kojin Edsa. Even if i never tasted the blueberry cheesecake, I still got hyped up at all the colorful and tasteful sweets they have. These plates hold my favorite cakes and ice-creams. 

Waterfall and Rebel Braids. I never fix my hair, so my workmates go extra miles to do it for me (the wax is a punishment for not being vain, I think). For Christmas week, these are my favorite 'weird-hair-day' braids.

Dress-down Shoes. In just two weeks, I was able to collect five new shoes. And so far, these three are the mostly-worn of all. The World Balance (middle) is my favorite. BTW, it's for boy kids and I mine is a size 4.

Random Gifts. These are the gifts i love the super most. The music gal. The cookies that kill. The Justin-Bieber-hater-culture-shirt. The palaboy's powerbank. It's always the thought of the gift that counts. The value behind everything is measured by the beautiful story it brings.

See you on New Year!

when there's nothing else worthwhile doing...

Hooking up with friends is never ever a good idea. This is one thing that friends learn to accept mostly after they had been directly or indirectly affected by the aftermath of a friends-to-lovers-to-friends-only-again drama. Otherwise, it's just a life-wrecking wisdom, emphasis on the wrecking part. Good thing with friends, when they are real, they let you come back no matter what. It's always like an army that knows exactly when an assembly is called for. They always come to help fix whatever it is that is broken in the friendship. They will not do miracles and force you to just forgive, tell, and forget... but they will not stop until you at least try. Friends, in a way, are a lot like lovers... they fight, they shout at each other, then they make-up, then they compromise.

What used to be something that kept you apart, that for a while made them leave you alone hurting in your isolated world, would then be the very thing that would bind you again... stronger than ever. You will talk about it. You will laugh about the stupid parts. You will cry about the hurtful things. Mostly, they will do the talking so you have nothing left to do but laugh. You had been asking yourself why you never gave up, they will give you the answer: You never gave up, you never will, because you know these people believe in you.

They are my idea of friends. Funny. Compassionate. Generous. Crazy. Loud. Adventurous. Unpredictable. Independent. Brave. But after years of being with them, I realized"ideal friends" don't really exist the same way that "ideal man" does not. No matter how creative we are, the beautiful things about people that we can create in our minds will never be as great as the real thing. Just like a healthy relationship, there's always more to discover.

 They will push and shove. They will help you get back-up. They will tell you all your faults, and then help you be a better person. Friends will not try to save you because they know they can't, but they will stand by your side while you are trying to save yourself because they know only you can. They can forget to contact you in months, but when they do, it's like you've only talked to them yesterday. Friends could get very far, distance is a variable that always plays a part even when people rarely recognize it. Yet there's always a place reserved for those who go, with an unspoken promise to come back.

We really did not have a good start. A lot of things went wrong (ahem sa nagtitinda ng siomai at sa mga caused of delay!), some people had other commitments to fulfill and were not able to attend (ahem sa mga 'di pumunta!), and it was so cold it felt like raining. Yet when we got it all set-up and ready to go, we were able to make it feel right. This is a celebration of friendship, a yearly tradition that some might call "reunion." For us, it was both a 'November night out' and a 'reunion' that will maybe followed with a December party, then a January meet-up.... and so on. I missed these people so much. And I can tell they all feel the same nostalgia I was feeling by the way they were making jokes and odd observations. We were all talking at the same time and yet somebody was always paying attention to what someone was saying so I guess it's safe to say that noone felt ignored. These are my best friends and I love them to distraction. I feel safe knowing that I will never run out of happy (and really funny) memory when I think about them. Being with them again, however briefly, is something that's worth writing and telling.

my 21st birthday Cliché...

Happy Birthday to me! And good morning to you, too! Because I've been awake for almost three and a half hours now doing nothing, really, but twist and turn and eat mini milky way and musketeers chocolates on my bed, I finally decided to do something productive (yep, this is me being productive).

What I'm about to do is Clichéd... my 21 birthday wishes for my 21st birthday (oh yeah, it's gonna be a long list)!

1. Book. This is a personal tradition. Either someone gives me a book, or I give me a book. I have a really long wish list for books so let's not get into that. But there's this one Filipino joke book I've been trying to buy that I guess I'm gonna get for this birthday (I just thought of that exactly a few seconds ago).

2. Song Dedication. This is another personal tradition. I wonder if there is one for this year.

3. Shooting star. Some people wish upon them, I just wish to see one of them during birthdays...okay, I also wish to see one during Christmas. They are just so magical it feels like everything is not happening even when they really are. (Fun Fact: I've seen a shooting star only once. And yeah, it was on a long-time-ago birthday).

4. New Girl Season 2. I love this series. sa mga panahong stressed at depressed ako, I could go all day bumming around and watching Jess live her life.

5. Fringe Season 4 and 5. This was my fierce mode series. Can you believe I finished the first three seasons in just two months? (FYI, I only had two rest days in a week).

6. A bottle of alcoholic drink. I don't drink so I'd love a bottle. Kampai!

7. A Movie Date. It was a plan I formulated when 2013 began...that special occasions can be celebrated alone as long as part of the day is a movie date. 

8. Ritter Sport in dark green wrapper.

9. Ritter Sport in patterned dark brown wrapper.

10. Ritter Sport in Cappuccino flavor. I forgot the wrapper's color. For numbers 8 and 9, too. Since last year, this has been my favorite chocolate and in the seven flavors I've tasted, these three are so far the best. Can you feel how much I love ritter sport? They occupy three numbers on my limited 21 wishes!

11. Hug. When nothing seems to go right, a hug always makes a difference.

12. A Good Joke. A joke that would make me laugh all day and has no expiration date.

13. A Great Meal. What's a birthday with no food that would make me remember the day? Bad birthday... hihihi

14. A Letter. It could come from anyone, but it should come from that anyone's heart.

15. A Poem. It's classic but I still think writing for someone is the sweetest thing in the world.

16. A Birthday Picture.

17. A Cute T-Shirt. I'm just that t-shirt kind of girl.

18. A Birthday Card. People rarely appreciate greeting cards anymore. It's been all about social networking sites and techie means these days. It's sad how trends could break good sentiments. Facebook or Twitter greetings hardly make a person cry, even a phonecall could be difficult. But a greeting card? It's the epitome of things that make a person cry with joy.

19. Fireworks. Something that would make this birthday magical...

20. A Surprise. Something that would make this birthday the best ever...

21. 

Note: Number 21 is a blank... you guys have a slot in my wish list. If given the chance, what would you give me? Make me happy. ^________________^

of fridays, gummymallows and newly DL'd songs.

because it's been one heck of a stressful week, we just had to get away from work stuff. and since me and my friends still had lots of separate plans for the rest of the day, unwinding meant close- to-home-getaway.

So, it's a Thank-God-It's-Greenhills-Friday day for us !

and here's a snapshot (c/o ate pat) of me in our newly discovered kids' world. the place is called Regina's Place somewhere in Shoppesville (i'm not good with directions, sorry). it's not like your usual Greenhills shop or mall place. It was a simple toy, candy and book store with a lot of unexpensive but real stuff. They even had plastic balloons and imported white rabbit candies. And my favorite discovery was the strawberry gummymallows (which is behind the ice cream candies, btw). It was really tasty and not your usual gummy bear. And it was only for 49.50 php (ok, i'm stopping already).

For Lunch, we ended up eating chicken saucer and crablet something (i forgot what it's called. haha) because we could not find an empty table anywhere else. A little window shopping, then off we go.

but wait, i think there's still more (*evil laugh*). the weekend is just about to begin (*louder evil laugh*).

Happy weekend! 

^___________^

For those who lacks inspiration and just feels like it's all but grayish and never really just plain black or plain white...here's a playlist to accompany you... smile, you're always worth it. 

Something Real (Renee Stahl)

Our Story (One Day At A Time) (Graham Colton)

Carry On (Fun)

Just Give Me a Reason (Pink)

Stay (Rihanna)

Smile (Jayhawks)

Soul Singing (The Black Crowes)

The Light (Sara Bareilles)

Happy (Leona Lewis)

i hope you enjoyed my newly downloaded songs. :)

the battle worth waging...

A genuine place within ourselves that keeps us safe and warm when everything around us is just a mess. Troubles will always be troubles. Reality will always be reality no matter how many excuses we could think of. We are strong only as we make ourselves strong. We are happy only as we make ourselves happy. So in the end, it is all from within us. The outside world only reacts.

When the world is too painful to face, it is within us that we find comfort. 

When we are lost and alone, we find the way by closing our eyes.

When it feels like giving up is the only option left, we think of the  moments when the things we thought impossible happened. Then our hearts interpret it as a source of hope, another point to start being positive again.

When we forgot the rules and cross the lines, we pay the consequences and ask for forgiveness. Then we look for inspiration to do better next time. Sorrows and guilt. Dreams and hope. It's always a matter of our choice. 

When we are messing things up, we pause, reflect, and then gather power from somewhere within to find the right answers. And even when we cannot find the right answers, we are okay as long as we know we are asking the right questions. Coz eventually these questions will be answered, it's just a matter of patience, will, determination, or whatever combination we think could work the magic.

When we get scared that monsters will appear once we turn the lights off, we pray.

When nothing seems to make sense, there is that hope from inside us that keeps us from letting go. We always hold on because no matter how helpless we might feel, no matter how hopeless others might make us feel, we know that there is always another way.

Our truth is in our mind and soul, from deep within us. People might contribute a lot in our pain and suffering as much as they contribute in our happiness, but is is really just about perspective. Things happen to us in effect to how we react on the previous events.

We can do great wonders, even just from small decisions. If we will trust ourselves that we are can do it, then we will be able to do it. And of course, it starts with having that special place inside that only we can access, a place where nobody else can interfere.

That special inner space is a gift. I am blessed to be given that precious gift.

^_________^

Note: SIDE EFFECT of Fringe Season 3 marathon. May pinaghuhugutan po ako. Hahahahaha. At background song ko ay 'Girl in the Mirror.'

"...Because we don't focus on the miracle of the day. Instead, we just keep measuring it's length." --The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom

imagine the world without any walls...

smiles freely offered all around...
genuine laughter and tears are those of joy...
we see sincere gestures, we feel the thoughtfulness...
it must be really great to have happy people around.

dreams and wishes, sleepless nights full of silent prayers.
we fail, we fall, we still move on.
it's not the end that defines us,
it's the journey we've conquered with pride and all that.
it must be great to be brave no matter what.

we wait for rainbows during storms...
we light a candle when the darkness hides even our shadows.
the world would always judge, yet we persevere...
people would always mock, yet we stand clear.
it must be great not to lose our fancy child's heart.

there's some who likes the cold, some loves the sun,
either way we do not live alone.
we might survive, but it is not living at all...
even when we cry, we don't do it alone,
when we laugh, we also share the joy...
it is great to have real people, and have them in it all.

real words, loyal promises...
we believe what we hear... we trust.
we see what is shown and do not doubt...
we believe that love is true and hatred will pass.
no hidden motives, no dark intentions....
not even a little dishonest thought or action...
it must be great to have honest people around.

the colors don't fade because we make them last.
we create and do not destroy.
we build things that last.
we die but never really fade away.
it must be great to leave legacies behind.

this is the list of my newly downloaded songs. :)
just want to share 'em. :)

^_____^

no place for the dark..

i just finished reading Born in Death, book 23 in J. D. Robb's 'In Death' series. and the title in this post was a phrase from the book, a phrase that just won't go away from my head..

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

life is full of combinations -- yin and yang, smiles and tears, triumphs and failures, excitement and boredom, morning and evening, sun and moon, life and death...  each is part of a whole, one cannot stand alone for both is created maybe to be accepted and understood as one, never meant to be treated as separate entities. but mostly, these are considered opposites and forever at war against each other.

but i believe that all things had began great and beautiful. everyone, everything, has a chance to end up with great and beautiful. even criminals were once innocent children with simple joys and pleasures. even superheroes have their alter-egos. and no matter how ugly things have million tendencies of becoming, there will always be the best moments.... moments wherein darkness could simply not exist. no 'buts' and 'what ifs.' and some of them are so simple we tend to take for granted...

           the awe in a mother's face the very first time 
                   she held her baby...

           a child's smile for a candy treat, 
                   a reward for a job well done...

           your first perfect score in a school test..
           daddy's proud smile when the dean 
                   held out your college diploma...
           a kid named after you, a legacy...
           your godchild's tight hug for making her birthday the best...
           a shooting star...
           another morning of waking up...
           a coffee break in a busy  working day..
           seeing a beautiful church for the first time...
           traffic lights turning green...
           a simple wish coming true..
           a prayer answered...

many books had been explaining how everything had been created to fulfill a certain purpose, whether we consider it for the better or for the worse. it is not really up to any of us to form a universal judgement; we all live by speculations and assumptions too at some points in our lives. we either understand or we just accept, that's what they always advise. some things just don't have answers, or some answers are just not for us. and we have to live with it. everything happens for a reason. and even when there are the dark days, it feels good to HOPE and have the FAITH that the wonderful ones will always outnumber the bad....


someone tried to ruin my morning. i almost allowed him to do so. then i remember how much energy i would be wasting being irritated and vengeful instead of living the day with positive vibes. i've got a few bad moments myself, but i sure do have good ones as well that i dont even try to count because they are just so many...

^____^

note: yeah, i respect your ' i beg to differs' and all the arguments you felt like giving.... =) this is a no-edit post, what comes around goes around. cheers!. =D or maybe that doesnt fit here? haha/ thanks for the visit all the same!

^____^

"why are you doing..."

school stuff are always at its peak (mostly irritating) when the semester is about to end. maybe it's the fault of us students who get the kick out of procrastination... but i like the sound of that it's always because of the professors' "antagonistic natures" (peace sirs and maams! LOL). either way, i'm stuck with projects and researches due within the week. DEADLINES, why don't you just die right now?! 

oh well, i think i'm well-equipped for the night's battle. caramel frap (why is it that java chip and mocha are out of stock?whyyyyyyyyyy?), a pack of chili hi-ho (my latest junk food addiction), and ritter sport (new chocolate favorite which according to my cousin isnt avail here in the philippines. and i dont believe him!).. and i have 37 Maroon 5 songs in queue to keep me entertained while im painstakingly doing what i have to do. im not much good doing what must be done, so pray for me please... good night!

P.S. whenever i remember my 3/yo cousin asking me "ate why are you doing...?" with so much innocence and curiousity, i feel revv and i just cant help smiling...

^__^

chef-mode. hooray for zero disaster...

for my inaanak's 3rd birthday, i risked my reputation being a major chef. which turned out better than expected, i guess. or so my bestfriends say as to avoid hurting my feelings. and so  to prevent me from sulking, which is rarely a pretty sight and forever irritating. but my adobo was great for a first-timer, really. the pasta wasn't not o bad as well. or so i claim. hey, i put all my focus and hidden superpowers in the task! hihihi.

great day. great company. tiring but fulfilling nonetheless. i just cant help myself from burping. too much food and too much laughter has its side effect as well...

^__^