What I Got Myself into Last 2011

2011 was a productive year for me and I couldn't thank the Big Guy above enough, as well as all the important people in my life for giving me the opportunities of enjoying this year much more than 2010. As what my wondergirl-extraordinary daydreaming partner Gwen once said before the start of 2011, 2011 would be the "endeavor" year and 2012 will be our "achieve-na-achieve" year. Since mahilig akong gumora in everything, here are some of the events that I got myself into last 2011.

JANUARY:

Passed IELTS with a high band score (photo credit: British Council Philippines)

                                                                 Turn-over of Delima Condo

Started on my Zumba and other HIIT workouts (Video credit: GRDanceFitness) but eventually stopped by mid-February bilang nagkasakit ako =/

FEBRUARY

Celebrated my boyfriend's birthday with friends

MARCH-APRIL

*Applied and got chosen for a scholarship grant

Started and maintained a regular swimming training at kaloka sina coach bilang national team ang tine-train, so push kung push sa akin. We always had our sessions at Marikina Sports Center (Photo credit: paramio.com)

MAY:

Went back to the province for one of my closest cousins' wedding (guy in dark shades)

though i got a scholarship to study in the UK, I decided to follow my dream of studying in Italy and enrolled myself at Florence Institute of Design International instead (photo credit: FIDI website)

JUNE

El Nido with my closest college group in UP. half of us lang ang nakapunta since the rest were busy with work (a.k.a. di pinayagang magleave)

JULY

July was all work-related since magrresign na ako the following month. Handled Ilocos Norte's ID work for Balai Condo. I also got to work on a big residential project in Bulacan, where I turned their old house into a white villa. I'll post pictures once i get back in Manila

AUGUST:

Now, August was full of despedidas and the good thing about these despedidas was that i got the chance to see my closest groups again. I have this thing kasi for small close groups rather than large group acquaintances, so madaming ganap at hiwa-hiwalay since magkakaiba ng schedules in life.(i don't have photoshop with me right now so i can't stitch my photos together. bear with me, whoever is reading this blog)

With the people I hang out with almost every weekend/weeknights

With my elementary classmates (manila-based)

Joint-despedida for Joey and I since he also left to study in Korea

With my closest college orgmates

With my college roomies (which were not my real roommates, btw)

END OF AUGUST:

Arrivederci, Manila and Ciao, Firenze!!!

SEPTEMBER

School and endless partying on weeknights in Firenze. It was crazy.

OCTOBER

Celebrated our 4th yr anniversary.I'm happy to say that this LDR thing isn't giving us a hard time since it taught me how to become more patient and understanding. I can't wait to be with him by May.

My 25th Birthday. The lengths that these people got themselves into to surprise me was worthy of a blog entry. 

DECEMBER

End of the 1st Semester

Other things that happened last 2011:

* got more online jobs and offers <3

* countless foodtrips with cherry and papa ching

* started planning our eco-store business 

With all the wonderful events that took place last 2011, here's to hoping that Gwen's "achieve na achieve" year will come to reality.

Tuscan hills: Fiesole

This is a totally late post, but I'd still like to share with you the scenic Tuscan hills of Fiesole. Though Fiesole is still within Florence, the surrounding felt more Tuscan and cozy, so it was definitely a break from walking around the busy touristic city center day after day. And with only half an hour bus ride and 4 euro worth of ticket (to and from the center), we didn't waste the chance of spending an entire Saturday afternoon in the hills.

Playing with light

Church of San Francesco

I remember when we were still looking for an apartment, one of my house mates suggested that we live in a villa in this area. Unfortunately, traveling everyday can be time consuming so we were not quite sold with the idea (although the residence in question is a three-storey, 6 bedroom villa with a large swimming pool overlooking the wineyards of the hills. not to mention, the rent was the same as what we're currently paying right now for our apartment)

What to do on the Holidays-

Since this Christmas will be a very different one- not being with my family and practically spending it alone or with some friends on most days (insert awwww sound here), I decided to create a checklist on the things that I need to accomplish to lessen the loneliness. And since traveling outside Italy might be a little bit impossible since i'm running low on my measly student allowance LOL So here are some things that I need to do during my month-long school break.

1. Spend a few days away from Florence
2. Accept more online job assignments!!!!
3. Get to eat Filipino dishes on a Filipino Christmas party
4. Learn basic Italian (since I've been missing my Italian classes like crazy)
5. Start creating my portfolio which might be useful after May
6. Catch-up on my series
7. Tour some friends around Florence
8. Take cool pictures which are blog and tumblr worthy
9. Start thinking about my thesis LOL
10. Have a great New Year's Eve celebration

-just trying to psyche myself that this won't be a lonely Holiday season for me.

Oh Hello Birth Month!

In between finishing Studio design works and working on my online job, I still managed to squeeze in a short time to produce a decent blog post. Not that i pride myself in being too good with time-management, but i succumbed to distractions well enough to remember that it's actually October, and my birth month deserve a post on its own. lol

October is my favorite time of the year, not just because my birthday falls on this month, but because a lot of things take place in October. However, being out of my comfort zone, I'm quite not sure what this month will hold for me.

but here are some sure things that will take place/planned this October:

Moving in to the New Apartment!!!!

Possible trips

 Cinque Terre!!!! (photo from weheartit)

Chianti!! (photo from empson.com)

Can't wait to get out of town. Not that i'm tired of Florence, but the city is so small, you could literally walk the city center in less than three hours.

lol, definitely not an interesting post. i just blab and blab for hours when i get excited

Ciao, Firenze!

S. Maria Novella

Duomo!!!!!

While walking to the other side of Arno

Piazza Michelangelo (with the view of night time Florence)

Attraversiamo

I've a lot of things to say but school work is taking up too much of my time. Ci vediamo!

Tục tưng ơi, tục tưng à, tục tưng nựng cái nà

 Apparently, i was no responsible passenger. I left a bag full of pasalubongs at the terminal. heehee



*photos from my officemate's and cousin's fb account

El Nido, Palawan

We've been totally busy for the last 3 years, and this would be our first out-of-town trip together after graduation. 3 days in El Nido with these girls is never enough.