Glee's Season Finale..and other random things :)

Watching Glee's season finale on a Saturday is the best way to spend a lazy day at home. The last 2 episodes were soooooo intense! Aaaaaack! I actually cried while watching the sectionals. Heehee :)


The past 2 days at work weren't really good ones because, well...people problems. Actually, I have a problem with only one person in the office. Am trying my best not to react in a way that would make things worse. This will pass....it's not as if this is the first time I've had problems with that person. Lord, please grant me the patience I need to deal with her...


Got off later than usual from work. I was trying to contact people if they were free to drive off to Tagaytay last night, alas no one was available. Thankfully, Simon went online right before I left the office so I asked if he was free. He was a bit down in the dumps as well so we decided to chill at Farsi (it's a cool kebab place near Tomas Morato; great ambiance, yummy food, FREE WIFI! I think it's at Scout Lozano). Seppi followed after a few hours. After Farsi we were supposed to hang out at Coffee Bean at the UP Ayala Technohub but it was closed already so we settled for Starbucks (hahaha!). Spent just an hour there...was too sleepy I had to go home.

I woke up late this morning so I wasn't able to go to the doctor. I've been having this throbbing pain in the right side of my head since Sunday...I hope it's not something bad, but I do need to get it checked...maybe this coming Tuesday I can drop by the doctor's.


Okay, I have to go and prepare for dinner...Raiz, Kten and I are having dinner at Isabelo's. Yay! I'm sure I'll be posting something about that but I'll post it maybe in a couple of weeks next year (hahaha!). I have lots of backlog entries--am really sorry :| So many things to write about! :) Actually, I already made an entry about Isabelo a few months back. Isabelo is DEFINITELY one of Manila's hidden culinary treasures. If you're looking for a laid back yet sophisticated ambiance, Isabelo is one place you should try. No walk-in customers, though. You have to place your reservation at least 3 days before and you should pre-order your menu because Portia (the owner) cooks everything! Okay, I will really have to make a separate entry about Isabelo.

It's finally out!!

photo credit: Our Awesome Planet

The very-much awaited Starbucks planner is finally out! Yay! I've been badgering the baristas at Starbucks Emerald for the past month when they'd release the promo cards for the planner and they kept on telling me it'd come out on the first week of November. Then last week, they told me it would come out on November 4th so imagine how excited I was yesterday.

The reason why I wanted to get the card on the first day of the promo period's because there's a free sticker already so instead of collecting 17 stickers, I'd only have to collect 16. That's still 120+ pesos so yeah it makes a lot of difference especially for us working our butts off to earn a decent living on a third world paycheck. Don't get me wrong, I'm not living beyond my means...I could just be spending my money on other things, or maybe not spend it at all. My savings account has suffered enough because of several 'retail therapy sessions' no thanks to my mom. It all boils down to my lack of self control when it comes to shopping. I don't really have vices--I quit smoking and I don't really drink and go out partying. There's just something about shopping that's so addictive. Like a drug (though I've never taken any kind of illegal drug), there's something about buying gorgeous shoes that makes me high. Okay, Nicole....STOP IT.

happy happy weekend

This weekend was just amazing. No, I didn’t go bungee jumping or do anything spectacular. I spent the weekend doing things I’ve never had the time to do for the past month. I started my weekend early so as I mentioned in my previous entry, I had my nails and hair done this Friday. On Saturday, I spent my morning at Lay Bare. In the afternoon, I met up with my friend Dianne so she could teach me how to use my Smena 8m Russian lomo. We were able to do a bit of catching up as well. Dianne and I talked about a lot of stuff. I had fun just hanging out, with Dianne’s hot chocolate and my lite dark mocha frappe (no whipped cream, of course) on our table, and us just chatting away. It’s a good thing I was able to meet up with Dianne. Unfortunately, her family also lost everything in the typhoon. They actually had to wade through the flood to be able to leave their home in Cainta. I feel like Dianne really needed to talk about it. I know it was hard for her to share what she went through, but I think talking about it relieved her a bit. On the lighter side, we talked about Glee—which happens to be my current favorite show. I’m so glad that there’s a show about the glee club. Finally, a show that isn’t about fashion, ‘popular’ kids, and what-not. I’m sick of that storyline. I guess that’s why I’m not so drawn to Gossip Girl and 90210. Anyway, I spent a good couple of hours with Dianne at the Starbucks in front of our univ. It’s been a while since I last visited Pearl Drive. My office is so near my former school but I really don’t have the time to visit it.

After my coffee date with Dianne, I picked up my friend Val at her house. It took me an hour before I was able to reach her house. Blame it on the horrendous traffic from Ortigas to Commonwealth. I knew I should’ve taken the UP route. Anyway, Val and I wasted no time so after I picked her up we started our trip to Tagaytay—which is a good 2 hours away from Manila (coming from her place). Thank God traffic at EDSA was a bit light. We arrived at Tagaytay around 9 p.m. Val and I decided to have dinner at Café Platito, one of the restaurants at Cliffhouse. Good thing we stayed there since the ambiance was relaxing and conducive for good conversations. I had steak and fries for dinner. Hahaha, I know I’m supposed to be on a diet but I couldn’t resist just having a decent meal for dinner. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten steak, might as well indulge a bit. Val had the tuna sandwich since the other fish dishes weren’t available. The food was okay, nothing spectacular that I’d really rave about. But the entire feel of the place was really nice. I’m giving Café Platito 3 out of 5 stars. They can improve on the food, but the ambiance made up for it.

Val and I were supposed to have dessert and coffee at Café Breton (right across Café Platito), but we were informed it’d close at 11 and it was already 10:30 so we decided to just go to one of the Starbucks—I think the one across Josephine’s. Val and I just chatted the night away. We spent a good 4 hours just talking about a lot of things, sipping on our hot coffee, and almost freezing to death because it was so cold! I miss the cool weather of Tagaytay already. It’s been awfully hot here in Manila—which is a good thing, I think. With the floods and all…the Sun is very-much appreciated by us Manilans.

Today’s a Sunday, and I spent the entire morning sleeping. My little cousins arrived this afternoon, and I spent the rest of the day with them. I love it that this weekend was so relaxing. I’m looking forward to next weekend because I’ll be (finally) seeing my friends and we’re going off for another photo-adventure.