Iloilo Trip 2020: Day 5 ~ Morning Walk Along Benigno Aquino Ave

March 12, 2023

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My First 24 Hours on Hogwarts Legacy

March 12, 2023

For decades, we dreamed about this, and now it has become a reality -- Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world game based on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, was launched in February of this year, and it's everything I hoped for for the first ever open world game of this fictional universe. ✨

As a child who has grown up reading the Harry Potter books and watching the films, I have daydreamed more than a hundred times of being a student myself at Hogwarts. I imagined receiving my letter by owl post, being sorted to a house, and participating in classes by learning potions and spells. And now, finally (after a few years of delay from the original launch date), Hogwarts Legacy is finally here to play! Is it worth all the hype? Well, it's a solid YES for me. ✨✨✨

To say that I am hooked on this game is an understatement. 🫥 I'm not proud of this, but I'm borderline being a games addict at this point. 🥲 I would spend hours and hours in front of my computer just playing away. And I suffered some unfortunate consequences, physically and mentally (don't worry, as of this writing, I am already recovering 😉).

As a long-time Potterhead, I'm just so happy that this game finally came out, and that it was actually accessible to me. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical with the game at first. I loved the game trailers, but I took them with a grain of salt because we can't really judge a game based on a few minutes of footage from the trailer, right? Also, there was so much hype about the game, because it is the first of its kind for the franchise. However, I prepared myself to be disappointed. But, oh boy oh boy, I was too quick to judge everything. Where did my faith in humanity go? 😅 As the title says, I have played a full 24 hours on the game (I think even more as of this writing), and I was very much enjoying every moment of the game. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally invested in this game. Well thankfully, I can say now that the honeymoon phase for me for this game is over, and I can get back to being a more responsible adult. 😂 But before that, I want to reminisce how awesome that journey was. Hold onto your brooms, or hippogriffs (or thestrals!), as this is gonna be a hella kind of ride. 😎

A Month Before the Launch

Like most peeps, I was looking forward to the game's release. As a Potterhead, this game sure did capture my attention, but I was still undecided if I would purchase the game. I'm not really much of a gamer (I have a handful on my Steam library) and I think Hogwarts Legacy is the most expensive one that I will buy, in case. Well, I don't know what came to me, but at a whim, I checked Steam a few weeks before release date and saw that the game was already available for pre-order. I felt the urge, thought about it (for a few minutes? LOL) and went ahead and bought the Deluxe Edition. 😉After this point, the game became "real" to me, and that was the time that I realized what was about to happen.

The Potterhead in me came alive and I slowly went into fangirl mode. I bought HP-themed highlighters, switched my phone wallpaper to the Hogwarts Legacy promotional poster, and bought a Hufflepuff house poster, thinking I would choose that house for my character in the game (plot twist: I did not get sorted to the badger house). I coincidentally also dug up some of my college stuff and found out that I actually had an HP folder before. I legit forgot about that, and discovering that was just so timely.

My college folder binder + the Hufflepuff tapestry -> signs that I'm up to no good. 🤣

I couldn't resist not getting these. They're just... highlighters, I know. But these are special and they spark joy in me every time I use them on my planner. ✨

Few Days Before the Early Access

Part of the perks of buying the Deluxe edition is the 72-hour early access, which just meant that we Deluxe players would be able to access the game earlier than the general public release date. This didn't really mean much for me (but I bet this is a huge deal for content creators who want to feature the game). For me, I just didn't want to read spoilers online and yeah I admit it... couldn't wait for 3 more days for the release date. 😅

This was also the time that I joined the Hogwarts Legacy subreddit, and that's where I experienced all the buzz and excitement of all the fans all over the world who were highly anticipating the game. Expectedly, I got into their energy flow and just bounced back with the hype, all of us now passionately looking forward to the game.

Lurking on that subreddit, I learned that PC users won't have the pre-download option, so I saw several comments that expressed their frustration on this. I also got a bit disappointed because I knew this would be a huge game, so downloading the game would take some time. Well, we were in for a surprise. A day before the launch, guess what we found out on the Steam page of the game -- the pre-download button! ✨ Immediately after discovering it on Steam, I went straight to the subreddit and as expected, everyone was in a frenzy about it. 😁PC users were so happy about it. Of course, I went ahead and triggered the pre-download, which completed after a few hours.

I knew it wouldn't work, but I still tried to press that PLAY button repeatedly. Yep, nothing happened. It's all grayed out and unclickable. 🤣

Launch Day

And so the day finally came. I wasn't sure what hour the game exactly unlocked for my timezone. I just got up earlier than usual to check if the game was already playable. Well, yes, it finally was. 😍

Still groggy (and I wasn't even wearing my glasses LOL), I went through the first few minutes of the game. It's so surprising how quickly time passed by. Next thing I knew, my work shift was already starting. Yeah, I made the mistake of not taking a vacation leave on this day. 😅 What was my point of having early game access? Oh well, so I reluctantly dropped my controller and went on my day to work. I stayed off Reddit for that time because I didn't want to read spoilers or be distracted from my tasks.

Finally, the end of my work shift came, and I immediately shifted to gamer mode. I continued where I left off, and... ladies and gentlemen, this was the moment I fell in love with the game. 💖

Seeing this title page sent strong tremors down my body. I was already close to tears of joy. 🥲

The Game Play

Let's get into the meat of the matter, shall we? 🍖

⚠️ Spoilers alert! You've been warned. 😉

First and foremost, that intro was AMAZING. It was like I was in a movie. There was already a major battle scene, I loved how it played out as the tutorial of the game controls. This was such a creative move from the makers of the game. We are so used to having Harry Potter games that start with receiving your letter (well this game did start on this one) and then going to Diagon Alley to get your wand and other supplies, jumping the Hogwarts train, yada yada yada, we all know the drill, right? But for this one, our main character got to encounter dragons (and see death just a few minutes into the game, that's why we immediately get to see Thestrals), goblins, and huge sentinels of a treasure in Gringotts Bank. The game has such amazing storytelling, I could already tell at this point.

I did not get a "normal" sorting ceremony because I linked my Wizarding World profile and I was automatically sorted to Ravenclaw house. That's when I remembered that Ravenclaw was the latest house I got sorted into. I thought I was in Hufflepuff. Hmm well yes I was under the badger house in my Pottermore account. However that platform was already defunct, and so I just chose to stay under Ravenclaw. One factor that made me stay also is the fact that my Patronus is a black-and-white cat, which I think perfectly suited my current "spirit animal" preferences.

After the sorting scene, things began to feel wacky on the game, because apparently my PC only meets the minimum specs requirements of the game. I cracked up laughing when the characters began looking like the infamous Hagrid meme.

I found the cutscenes that followed so funny. But hey, at least the game is still playable for me.

It took me some time to get the perfect settings to have the smoothest gameplay possible. There were times that I needed to sacrifice performance versus quality of the images rendered to have the best gaming experience. Whenever I was not in battle and was just leisurely strolling around Hogwarts, I will put Texture Settings to Ultra level and I just appreciate how Hogwarts Legacy is such a visually-striking game, and you will be able to appreciate the game as it is, even if you are a newcomer to the Harry Potter Universe.

Aww yes, the devs are my people. 🐈‍⬛

Exploring Hogwarts Castle

And this is where the fan in me felt so ecstatic -- going through every corner of the Hogwarts castle felt like I'm a kid and it's my first time in Disneyland. My heart leapt with joy whenever I discovered familiar areas that I saw in the movies. Avalanche Software, the team behind the game, did a fantastic job recreating every detail of the castle. 🏰

The Great Hall is so breathtaking. I visited it for the first time during night time, and it felt eerie but still grandiose.

I'm not in Gryffindor so all I could do was hang out around this portrait.😜

And ladies and gents, this is where that legendary punch was thrown.

This was my first time seeing the Quidditch field in the game. As soon as I saw it in view, I ignored all quests and immediately ran towards it. I heard the news, even before diving into the game, that there's no Quidditch, so I felt bittersweet during this time.

Riding the Broom

Yes, you read that right, we have the feature to fly on a broom (and more ✨). It's very useful especially in traveling to far places in the map beyond Hogwarts castle. First time riding the broom around Hogwarts was magical 🥰, and the music during that part tugged at my heartstrings. As someone who had this unrealistic dream of learning how to fly, discovering this open-world on a broomstick is already a dream come true.

Flying into the sunrise is so enchanting.

Room of Requirement

Our beloved room is present in Hogwarts, and this will play a huge part in the game. The RoR will feel like your headquarters, and you will be spending more time here than sleeping in your room (well our character doesn't sleep anyway). Here, you'll brew potions, grow plants, and take care of magical creatures inside vivariums.

This scene is inside the Room of Requirement. Can you believe that? 😮

If you've reached this part, and have thoroughly read this post through, you already know at this point how much I'm in love with this game. However, there's something else I discovered that made this game just super special in my heart. My "safe place", the scenery that I have envisioned during my meditation moments, came to life in this game. One of the vivariums was very strikingly similar to the environment that I created in my mind, so I really admired this little coincidence in the game. ✨

24 Hours And Beyond

Who was I kidding? My playtime as of this writing is already beyond 24 hours. 😅 The latest progression I have was acquiring a hippogriff, and my overall progress still less than 50%. This means I still have a lot of stuff to do. This game gave me a lot of emotions -- from feeling giddy and in love with the magical creatures to having sweaty palms as I battled with a huge tarantula. I thought it's physically impossible for me to pull an all-nighter, but this game broke all the rules. The mental energy that I had while playing this game smoothless kept me awake until I realized it was too late for me to get any sleep (well my body got back to me for days 🥹).

I have read a lot of feedback online that the potential for this game is huge, and DLCs that they will release for this game will sell like hotcakes, easily. Hogwarts Legacy is everything I imagined (and more) but what if I can still ask for more, well here's my wishlist:

Quidditch, of course!
Multiplayer game for wand battles and mini games like Summoner's Court
More magical creatures to breed
Other places in the wizarding world, like Azkaban, and the Ministry, or maybe an underwater quest wherein the character goes down the lake to meet all the merpeople

I'm giving Hogwarts Legacy it a shining and shimmering five stars review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It's an amazing game, truly a love letter for all Potterheads out there. 👓⚡

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movies

Movie Review: Juno

February 18, 2023

What were you busy with when you were 16? Probably school, right? Typical teenage stuff? Maybe. I can't really remember much about my teenage years (maybe because it's so long ago already 🤣), but for sure, I did not have the set of problems the heroine of this movie was experiencing. I was the typical nerd in class, and so I was preoccupied with studies. However, we all know that being a teenager means having raging hormones all over the place, especially for the opposite sex (or whichever your sexual preference maybe, if you already know it at that time). So for a teenage girl, how should she deal with the realization that she is pregnant?

This is the scenario of the plot staged for this film entitled Juno, starring Elliot Page. I first heard about this film in Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, wherein it was included as one of the titles in that episode's Review of Related Literature (RRL). I heard the two hosts gush about the story, and narrated how they adored that one dialogue scene with the father. I didn't really think much about it, but upon searching on Netflix on what movie I could watch on that Friday night, I somehow landed on this film and added it on My List.

The film opens with Juno, finding out that she's very positively pregnant. She decides to continue having the baby. Very much aware that she's young and not ready to be a mother, she chooses to have the baby adopted by a couple. With this kind of plot, I think it's so easy for the story to have lots of drama. But actually I was pleasantly surprised, to realize in retrospect, that the movie was such an easy watch. There was a lot to absorb, especially going into that situation from the perspective of a teenage girl. But hey, Juno is not your typical gal. She's quirky, but blatantly honest. And through her point of view, I was able to absorb these three main takeaways:

It's helpful to have options, supported by law. I realized how beneficial these laws are. Juno had the liberty to go to the Women Now office or take that other route of giving up the baby for adoption. I know this is a controversial topic if we talk in terms of religion and women rights, but through this movie, I saw how the availability of these services can be beneficial. Also, I recognized how important sex education really is.

In processing tough decisions, it's invaluable to have people around to support you. In that scene where Juno admits she's pregnant to her family, I was bracing for the explosion of emotions from the dad and the stepmom. But wow I was amazed that no voices were raised during the conversation -- no blame game happened, and they just went straight to discussing the next steps that they needed to do. It was such a healthy discussion. Also, having that best friend who's there with you all the time is a great treasure. Juno is lucky to have that kind of support system around her.

Age is just a number, and it does not necessarily correspond to a person's maturity level. Exhibit A: Mark Loring, the prospective adoptive father of Juno's child. I viewed him as one immature and irresponsible adult. 🤮Paulie Bleeker had bigger balls than him.

The story circled around heavy issues, but it was fulfilling to see how things worked out for everyone. Also on a lighter note, it's always a treat to watch old movies because it brings back waves of nostalgia (those CDs and VHS, and that hamburger phone). Also, did I just spot a young Candice King in that classroom? 😆

I really loved Juno's character. She's just 16, but she proved to have handled this stuff even if it's beyond her maturity level. The film showed how the decisions she made allowed her to continue her life as a normal high school student, in love, kissing her boyfriend after a guitar jamming session. 🎸

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goals

Q1 2023 Goals Setting & Steps

February 05, 2023

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goals

Q4 2022 Goals Evaluation

January 07, 2023

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lessons

Grateful for 2022

January 07, 2023

It's kind of strange to look at 2022 and just try to look back at all the things that happened, because looking back now, I feel like everything happened in a rush and now my memories are a blur of how the year went by. However, as I crammed (😅) to write the remaining year's life logs during the last days of the year, I felt the memories rushing in, and then I realized how transformative the year was.

Here are some important lessons the year has taught me.

I'm still unaware of my full potential. Winning in the Toastmasters Table Topics three times (all first place!) was a huge pleasant surprise for me. It was a great boost of confidence for me, because I have always been intimidated by public speaking. I felt relieved somehow because, hey I still have something to offer to the world. I'm just still navigating on how I could further utilize this capability in a bigger arena. Let's see, life's full of endless possibilities!

Time heals. I know it's cliché, but it's true (in most situations). It took me ~6 years to go back to where things were, and I'm happy to have finally arrived in this place. Looking back, I recognize now that I needed to go through that journey to find myself. It took some time, but I'm so glad to be finally here. ✨

Trust the process. I have always been skeptical of a lot of things. I think it's just correct to lay out some precautions, but once they have proved themselves, it's okay to give them some trust, because they earned it.

Respect boundaries. This applies for myself and for others. I specifically learned to adhere to my own bonds, especially if I feel that it would do more harm than good.

Integrity is next to godliness. I was reminded of a key element that made it possible for me to get where I am today. I need to remember which methods worked for me in the past, and live by it.

The world is your oyster. Think of endless possibilities. ✨

There is magic in stillness. There are so many distractions in life now (phone being the main culprit), and it's just so refreshing to be able to sit down and listen to the wind and the chirping of the birds, and hear the random rumble of the crowd from the distance. During those moments, time seems to slow down, and it relaxes me. I need more moments like that.

Tune out from the noise. That's how you will filter and see clearly what the most important things are.

Impromptu adventures are stressful, but memorable. As someone who loves control and writes to-do lists everyday, moving without a plan is something I approach with animosity. However, I do realize that those moments are the most memorable. I had a number of those this year, and I learned a lot from those experiences.

Be kind to yourself. I would benefit more from a compassionate inner voice.

Life is all about collecting experiences and learning from them.

Every day is a new beginning. Yesterday's woes are gone and lost, so it's really useless to wallow in them. Take the chance each morning to start with a clean slate.

Thank you 2022 for these life lessons. I will surely carry these on for the years to come. ✨

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lessons

How I Improved My Budget Management

January 06, 2023

I'm still at a new-year high and up until now processing the year that has passed. Since the evaluation that I did in 2021 for my expenses, I realized the improvements that I have done in terms of handling money. I have been applying these new methods for two years now, and I just want to explicitly lay out here the techniques that I have learned that worked for me.

Having a Budget Planner and Expenses Tracker

I realized that it's really helpful to not just have a budget plan, but also a way to track your expenses. For the two years that I have been doing this (and will be planning to do this as long as I can), I had a good bird's eye view of how I was doing with my budget.

I have mentioned this in my life logs and I'm mentioning it here again. One great game changer that I have done that monumentally changed how I navigate my lifestyle is using the You Need A Budget (YNAB) software. I continued to use this for a year, and just look at these beautiful visualization of where my budget was at in any given time of the year:

This is my monthly budget breakdown.

My favorite part is this Net Worth graph. I'm relieved to see its steady growth!

I really liked YNAB, because it felt like it gave me a lot of help on how I managed my budget and expenses. The only thing that I wasn't a fan of was the subscription fee. I thought that it was too expensive. And so when I learned that they were increasing their prices in 2022, I made the difficult decision of finding an alternative. Thankfully I found one -- Buxfer, which is almost 50% cheaper compared to YNAB. It also uses the envelope method of budgeting so the transition from YNAB to Buxfer had minimal mental pain.

Buxfer's version of Net Worth Trend. Whew, that's a deep dip there. 😲

(Religiously) Tracking My Expenses

This one is a bit challenging, but this is really the key in making the plan effective. What's the use of having the budgeting app if the values are not accurate? 😅 Fortunately for me, this has really been incorporated in my system. Before spending something, I check if I still have funds for that. It really helped me control my online shopping spree to stay within my budget.

At the end of the year 2022, I now have data of my expenses and I now have the capability to evaluate where my money went in that year. Looking at that list now, I see that some of my major expenses went to:

car-related expenses (loan, accessories, gas) 🚗
beauty items 💄
workout equipment 🧘‍♀️
pet food 😺
small appliances 💦
gadgets 📗
concert tickets 🎫
travel 🧳

Planning for Long Term

This is the most intimidating step for me, and it's something that I'm still learning to integrate into my system. I kind of did some practice already when I purchased my car and did all the research and calculating for autoloans, and I'm just so thankful that there is a lot of information available out there to help me make informed decisions.

I have always wanted to buy real estate property, so I'm doing my research to know which one is a great deal by calculating and comparing each agent's offer.

Aside from investments, I truly believe everyone should also have a retirement fund. We won't be corporate slaves forever, right. There will be a point in our lives wherein we will stop working. At that point, we should be ready with our finances. And so, the younger we start thinking of retirement, the easier things will be. However, as always, the best time to start is NOW. Again, there's tons of resources online that will help you with your retirement plans so it's easier to visualize and to quantify how much money we need to sustain this kind of lifestyle in the future. I feel some form of anxiety now that I'm typing this (😅) because I'm the type who really doesn't plan that long in the future. But I know, my logical mind knows that I need to think about this as early as now so that I would have some level of financial security in the future.

I hope this post serves as an inspiration for you to start your own budgeting technique. This will serve also as a reminder for myself about the habits that I will need to consistently execute to be financially independent for life! 💰

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personal

Life Logs: December 2022

December 31, 2022

💃 Experiences

Attending the first birthday party of our neighbor's daughter. I literally grew up alongside my neighbors. I saw familiar faces but they just all looked older. I don't see them that much even if we're all living in the same street (because I seldom go outside LOL) and they were also surprised to see me all grown up as well 😅. It kinda felt like a family reunion. One neighbor boldly asked me if I had plans of getting married, and surprisingly, I didn't get offended at all. I just blurted out "bahala na" (in God's will) since I couldn't really control that kind of thing to happen. I felt some kind of relief being able to respond in that way. It's like I'm telling the Universe that I am open to possibilities. I didn't want to say a straight "yes" because it feels like I'm in a state of wanting and longing, which leaves some bitter taste in my mouth. I wouldn't say a "no" because just like what Justin Bieber said, never say never. 🤣 Bahala na. What will happen, will happen. For now, my focus is really just to improve myself and to love myself more. 💗

(Still) struggling with productivity and self-discipline. These bad habits became pronounced in February of this year, and here we are at the end of the year, still tormented by it. I'm beginning to question myself -- do I need some change in scenery? Am I in a rut? Is this still a phase or has my standards become this low? 😭 As I struggle with productivity, a high level of stress and anxiety persists within me. This is not good for my overall health, so I really need to smash these demons out of my system and out of my life. 😢

Having more dentist adventures. The more I frequent the dentist, the more I realize how poor my dental hygiene is. But I'm so happy to finally correct those habits. Did you know that you should not immediately rinse your mouth with water after brushing? Toothpaste leaves a layer of fluoride after we brush and if we leave it there, it helps for the teeth to absorb that, making them stronger and healthier. I now have a more sophisticated dental routine that involves dental floss, water flosser, and of course the toothbrush (no more glass of water included 😉).

Attending our company's year-end party. It was so worth it going on-site. It's nice to dress up and meet with my colleagues and just have fun! I didn't win in the raffle (😥) but I really had a great time! I even had the opportunity to visit one of our friends' houses after the party and did karaoke until 2 in the morning. 😊

Getting my APE results. And here comes the signs of aging. 😔I really need to start changing my lifestyle for the better. 🏃‍♀️🥬🍎

Staying at my sister's house during the holidays. It was such a great adventure! We had lots of bonding time through eating, visiting places, shopping for clothes, and watching movies at night. I especially enjoyed being cuddled at night by their cat. She's the sweetest cat ever! 😽

Joining a seminar from Dar, BDJ Planner's founder. Her story is inspiring and her seminar was very helpful in helping me visualize my goals. I'm so happy I purchased my second planner from them. I can't wait to use it to plan and achieve my goals next year. 💖

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

I was able to navigate my way around some unfamiliar roads. It was an adventure, and I loved it!

🧠Game Changers

Printer at home. It is an investment, and I believe it's worth it.
Mindful eating. I have tried it a few times and it's changing the way I look at food while I'm actually consuming it. I find it more delightful when I eat my food without any distractions (TV or music/podcast). This is indeed a game changer!

💡 Takeaways

A person's trash can be another person's treasure.
Humans are a bunch of complicated multi-dimensional beings that are capable of evolving for the better.
New places introduce new insights.
Pets are therapeutic.
A home is a house made out of love.

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personal

Life Logs: November 2022

December 31, 2022

💃 Experiences

Going to a mall in Pasig for a blog-sponsored visit. I super liked this experience because I got to visit a new place and try great food while also being able to avail of free services as a blogger! It's been a while since I received offers for a blog feature on the site so I'm really thankful for that opportunity. ✨

Watching the livestream of TwoSetViolin's 4M Celebration concert. Discovering their channel really helped me become entertained during the lockdown of 2020, and they have inspired me so much in their journey to where they are. So proud of them boys. 💗

Starting the "Dare to Love" podcast. I got inspired to start another one, this time circling around the theme of the BDJ Dare To Dream kit that I purchased. I'm still figuring out how the show would generally flow, but I have already published episode one. I will not link it here, but it's out there on the interwebs.

Attending my first live concert in 3 years. It was a breath of fresh air, and I super missed the vibe of being an audience in a concert. It was a Jacob Collier concert and I'm just so happy to be able to participate in the audience choir singing that he does in every show.

Undergoing my second dental surgery. The first few hours after the surgery was the most painful, but after the pain killers kicked in, I was okay. I was already eating solid food the next day. 🤣 I'm so happy I'm done with this. It's something that I should have done several years back, but you know what, as they say... It's better late than never. 😁🦷

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

I finished playing the Stray game, this widely celebrated indie game where you play as a cat. 🐈I was so close to aborting it because of the stress I felt evading the Zurks. My anxiety was at an all-time high during the Sewers stage, but I was able to push through. And the ending was worth it, although it was a bittersweet resolution. 💔

🧠Game Changers

New office chair. I had to replace my current one because the wheels got broken again, and my DIY fix didn't work. So I bought a Sihoo Office chair as recommended personally by people I know + what I read on the forums. I'm satisfied with it so far.
Disney+. I have not really watched anything, but I'm excited to watch more shows on this new live streaming platform.
Tasty. I have discovered the app on the iPhone and I discovered a lot of doable recipes that are delicious like the Easy Slow Cooker Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs And Sauce, the Slow Cooker Creamed Corn, and Egg Breakfast Cups. I super enjoyed discovering new recipes and the ways I could transform the usual food that we have in the pantry to glorious dishes.

💡 Takeaways

The simplest moments give the highest level of happiness.
The old and boring can transform to something new and beautiful.
Dreams can come true.
No pain, no gain.
Life is all about collecting experiences and learning from them.

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personal

Life Logs: October 2022

December 31, 2022

💃 Experiences

Running a set of new routines for a few weeks. Yes, it only lasted for a short time. 😅 I think I did that common mistake of trying to do a lot of things in a limited amount of time. I tried doing intermittent fasting, exercising at night + taking a warm bath after, and sleeping with positive affirmations playing. I guess it was difficult for me to sustain all of these new routines all at once, and so I let go of them all at once. 😅
Interacting with a band I liked on IG. This is one of the reasons why I love being a fan of indie bands -- I get to have intimate interactions with them. ✨
Spending a whole weekend cramming. I hate myself for doing this, and also... I hate myself for repeating this. I feel like I'm stuck in this cycle and that I'm not learning the lesson. Again and again, I'll come out of the weekend and face Monday with already exhausted energy and no time to recharge. I'm experiencing burn out but I am the one at fault.
Having my impostor syndrome validated. I feel like it's not even appropriate to label me as someone with impostor syndrome. I feel like I am a legit impostor, I feel like I am a fraud, for real. It's the worst feeling in the world. For sure, it will take me months to years to recuperate.
Dealing with a chaotic life. Everything was just out-of-place during this time. My task plate is full to the brim, I didn't have time for myself, I wasn't able to deal with personal tasks (didn't have time to even write on this blog 😭). My sleep routine was a total wreck and I was in a terrible mood most of the time. I think it's safe to say that I was not my best self during this time.
Participating in The 1975 new album Twitter listening party. For some time, I felt high vibrations because I was just so happy listening to the new songs. Ross and Jamie (the band's bassist and manager) even retweeted my tweets. I surely had serotonin boosts during that listening party. 🎉
Purchasing a BDJ Dare to Dream Kit. I purchased my first BDJ Planner last year, and it served me well in 2022. This is why I got motivated to get another one for 2023! This time, it's bigger and better, because I purchased for myself the "Dare to Love" kit. I'm super happy with this purchase, and I'm planning to blog about that soon! 💗

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

We were able to spay our other cat, mommy Myeowers. 😻
I bought an aircon for our other room in the house. No more sweaty summers (only higher electric bills 😅)!

🧠Game Changers

Work Laptop connected to LAN. I'm so happy I got to work a setup where this is possible. I'm now more confident with the internet connection that I have with my work laptop! More productive work hours ahead! 💪🔥

💡 Takeaways

Exercise is a non-negotiable task.
Introduce little changes at a time. Baby steps!
Self-love can be intimidating and difficult, but it's worth all the effort.
Confidence comes from within.
Our life priorities align with our core values.

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personal

Life Logs: September 2022

December 31, 2022

💃 Experiences

Receiving more crystals from IndigoCrystals. As I have mentioned in previous life logs, I needed all the help I could get, and so maybe reprogramming my energy would be an answer. Heh, four months after (as of this writing), I would say it didn't really have an effect. Well I believe, the level of power aligns with the level of your belief, and sad to say I'm moving towards a different mindset that might have little attachment with crystals. 🔮Although during this time I was thrilled to have received the labradorite as one of my freebies. 😁
Attending another Virtual Healing for a Cause by Third Eye Wellness. I don't know what's happening, but the session didn't have much effect on me. Maybe again it was because of my changing mindset. I was feeling it shift. I knew I was leaving that space, but I was still yet to determine where I'm moving to.
Getting inked, again. This experience was meant to excite me, similar to my first tattoo experience. However, I didn't have the same level of thrill. And I went through emotional phases in dealing with my new tattoo. I will blog about that in the (hopefully) near future.
Feeling a bit lighter, less tense when asked about my romantic plans. Well I'm feeling more comfortable talking about this, because I'm feeling less of the anxiety and more of the acceptance stage of opening to more possibilities. I'd say this is a milestone in my journey.
Eating samgyeopsal with my sister and her hubby. It's such a nice way to bond with my sister now that she has moved on and has become a married woman. It felt like closure for me actually. Thank you for this opportunity, Universe.
Meeting colleagues after two years. We sure missed each other, A LOT. One officemate graciously drove us home, so we were able to chat a lot during the ride home.
Going to my sister's house to celebrate my niece's birthday. It was nice to be able to visit my sister (and meet the doggies and kitty again!). It was a memorable adventure. 😁
Witnessing my parents get hooked on a show. I think this was the first time I saw them binge watch a series on Netflix. They were so cute. I just felt a bit out of place because they were discussing the plot even during dinner. 😅

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

I'm getting more and more experience driving and I feel more confident about it. I was able to use both the Manual mode and Power mode of the Raize. Also, it was another accomplishment to be able to park in my sister's elevated parking area. Good job, self! 👏

🧠Game Changers

iPhone. 'Nuff said. 😄
LinkedIn Vocal Lessons. I feel closer to finding "my singing voice."
Overnight oats. I am relearning my recipes and I'm loving it!

💡 Takeaways

NOW is all I have. The past and the future are non-existent. We only have the present.
Learn to play mental gymnastics.
Train the mind. Ignore the voice.
"Take the most direct route to your goal." - Ali Abdaal
Consistency is key.

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Pages

A Month Before the Launch

Few Days Before the Early Access

Launch Day

The Game Play

Exploring Hogwarts Castle

Riding the Broom

Room of Requirement

24 Hours And Beyond

I'm giving Hogwarts Legacy it a shining and shimmering five stars review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It's an amazing game, truly a love letter for all Potterheads out there. 👓⚡

Having a Budget Planner and Expenses Tracker

(Religiously) Tracking My Expenses

Planning for Long Term

💃 Experiences

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

🧠Game Changers

💡 Takeaways

💃 Experiences

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

🧠Game Changers

💡 Takeaways

💃 Experiences

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

🧠Game Changers

💡 Takeaways

💃 Experiences

⛰️ Accomplishments / Milestones

🧠Game Changers

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