Surviving September

A few years ago I was introduced to the concept of ghost month. Yes, apparently in our Chinese household this was not a concept we followed so it was quite foreign and well, not something I really believed in.

According to traditional belief, the gate of the “Lower Realm” or hell is open during this period and spirits of the dead are free to wander the earth “for 29 days.”

This makes August “the most inauspicious time of the year” to undertake important activities such as “weddings, engagements, opening new businesses or closing business deals, starting new construction or renovations and other major actions and decisions.” - 

Sourced from BusinessInquirer.net

 But this year was a different story. August was a slow month for me. Not a lot of things happened and well, I was able to relax and take things easy...a prelude to the hell September was going to be. Let me tell you about why this blog has been on stand still...

I personally cringe every time someone I know says "wake me up when September ends" once we hit September. Ok, ok, we get it...you know the song...move on already. But then again you never realize how true those words are until you've lived it. Maaaaan, I thought September was never going to end. Although let me clarify that, I am very thankful because I  had a busy month thanks to the many blessings that came my way. But maaaan, did it tire me out. There were actual days when I felt lost because I didn't know what task to do first. They were all URGENT! WTF right?!? Lucky for me I always had people I could turn to for help and once you put everything down and take it one step at a time things just get done. :D

So what have I been up to this month? Well, work has been awesome. This month has been my best month so far! :D See, not complaining, just saying. Work has been crazy busy, I do some things on the side too and that has been crazy busy as well. But what I personally made sure I did not miss out on was Luke's First Birthday! Yaaaaaaay!!!

See, I'm a stage godmother! That little boy will grow up to be spoiled loved and I'm going to make sure of it! For those of you who don't know, Luke is my brother's son. He is the cutest little boy ever. He knows exactly when to give you the smile making sure you don't have a choice but to do what he wants.

See what I mean...
***photo from Ninong Laya

Because I went crazy and bought him 2 football kits the parents and I agreed, yes I was part of the decision making, we would throw him a sports themed party. Both my brothers grew up as football players, they both sadly lack basketball skills but they know how to kick some balls. hehe...and you may not believe it but I used to be sporty too. "Used to" being the operative phrase. 

Since I've recently discovered the wonderful world of pinterest I thought it would be a great idea to make our own decorations. Yes, I thought it would be a great idea. Halfway through I wanted to bonk myself on the head. It was not so much a great idea as a what was I thinking idea. I need a team next time. hehe...but I think we were able to decorate the place well enough. 

I had my younger brother make the field centerpieces using a green mat that had a grass feel
the bu and I spent the whole night making the centerpieces.
Figuring out how to make those things stand was hard.

since the tables were tiny we only put the candy centerpiece

I printed out those Thank You cards and design panels and sis-in-law put them together

I bought a new printer because I wanted to try out making stuff
found awesome sports themed banners and made this myself. :D

printed out all sorts of sports themed toppers

The party was actually an adults party, Luke only has 3 other cousins his age and 1 wasn't able to come so the guests were all mainly friends and family of the parents. 

Despite the extremely busy and tiring month, I don't have anything to complain about. I am blessed beyond anything I ever imagined and thankful for everything that has come my way. :D

Look who fell asleep during his party.
As tired as Ninang.
 

But before I end this post let me leave you with my favorite photo of Luke. I had them printed out on A3 sized boards and posted them around the room. This is by far the cutest. :D

Lucas is Love. :D

Let's all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the last 2 days of the longest month of the year. Wake me up when September ends.

On working over the holidays.

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year! :) I love the happiness it brings, the outpouring of love, the time spent with family. Christmas to me has always been about one thing. Family.

This year however, I have work. It's a challenge to remain positive when everyone is on vacation mode and you're still in the office working like crazy. But then again, that's what this blog is all about. Pursuing the positivity in all the things happening. It's a new experience. Working on a huge party in Boracay. :) I get to see what the island is like leading up to the New Year. Then I get to come home to family just at the right time. :) I can't wait! See, there really is a silver lining in everything. What makes it even better? The fact that R and K will be on the island working and partying with me! :) It will be Epic! :)

So will take loads of photos and share them with you as well. Which reminds me, I have to upload the ones that I took during my last events. Will definitely do that soon.

Spinning and spinning...

I haven't had the time to get a write up together for the series of events I did last week. But we have one more event to go this weekend then we can all rest a day each next week.

Anyway, will get to it next week.

But wish us luck...this weekend's going to be a big one! Let's go team!

Luzon, Mindanao, Visayas then back home...

I'm getting ready for a really long week ahead. I have three major events that I'll be handling. It's going to be a lot of fun albeit A LOT of work. I'm excited and yet at the same time I'm scared. I know everything is working out and well the team is hard at work! :) So happy to have so many people involved and invested in these projects just like me! :)

We can do this!!!

Will update more through out my trip! :)

Busy...

I hate the word busy...I hate hearing it, I hate saying it. It's such an unfriendly word...or tone for that matter but it's something I've been all too familiar with recently. I haven't had time to take a breather and every time I seem to get a few minutes to myself something else comes up. hahaha...I'm not complaining. It's challenging and it makes me push myself harder, way past the limit. The silver lining, I get to share this experience with about 12 other people. :) We're in it to win it! :)

I should really get into the habit of blogging about the events I've been doing. That way, we can all share in the things I've been busy about. Next time then.

Oh how the Holidays have come...

In the Philippines where I have lived all my life it has been customary to start celebrating Christmas once the BER months hit. Meaning once September 1 comes all the establishments start playing Christmas tunes. I kid you not...

Usually for someone in the service industry that also means a huge influx of work, not that I'm complaining. Recently I've been swamped in work that my life has been on hold. Hahaha...as usual. Such is customary for someone in the service industry, how fortunate of me to have people who love me enough to support and understand me when I'm not there half the time and pick me up where ever I am the other half of the time. Yes, I am blessed.

Anyway, as I was saying. I have been working non-stop for the past how many weeks I've actually lost track. Suffice to say it's been crazy, so when the opportunity to pack my bags and escape for a weekend away from work came along I jumped on it without looking back. And this is where my story begins. :)

I have been trying to learn how to surf for the past two years. Let me explain. I've had numerous attempts at surfing and I actually love the sport but the fact that I don't get to go out as often as I want to and that I am such a -frady cat has kept me from actually progressing. I am still a beginner...that only means It's a whole lot of push me fun every time I head out.

Well, the last long weekend brought me, the bu and our friend Colin to Zambales. It was such a fun drive! :) Albeit long due to the amount of people travelling at the same time. I had so much fun! :) We were supposed to stay at a cousin's place, let's just say...I was freaked out so we crashed in another cousins house. It was sooo much fun. An adventure to say the least! :) Here are a few shots I thought would be nice to share. :)



My aunt and uncle who let us crash in their place! :)



the bu walking out to catch some waves...



Colin riding one...

Bids...Bids...Bids...

Working in events is not what everyone thinks it is. The perception most people have is that all we ever do is party. Well...that may be true for some part of the job but most of the time, we're at the office thinking of new ways to reinvent the ordinary. :)

When I graduated from college I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I was...undecided. I think most college kids feel that way except for the few, overachievers, most kids just go through college then wing it their first few years after. At least that's what I think. hahaha...

On the other hand though, what I know for certain was that I didn't want to be stuck behind a desk doing the same thing over and over again. That wasn't the life for me. I have a short anecdote about that and well, I don't think I want the whole world to know about it yet. In time...:P

So for the first couple of years after college, I was spoiled enough to be able to travel, take my time in looking for a job, and basically just enjoy myself. It was a good thing I eventually figured out I couldn't stand being home all day and that well, I was wasting away just staying there anyway.

So I went into teaching. I loved kids and of all the practicum hours I put in teaching was the most fun I had. So that's what I did and for a year and a half I loved what I was doing. The kids were amazing, the management however was not. So after the school year we all decided it was time to move on.

That was when I started working in events. I took a 2 week break then went on to work with my first events company and I had a blast. :) It was a lot of new experiences and to tell you honestly, it was a big change. That's when I realized, doing events is not all about the partying. It was a lot of hard work.

Now I moved into a different kind of events company. I used to work in a wholesome company, we mainly focused on family events. I now work in a more lifestyle events company. It's a whole different ballgame and a whole lot of fun. :)

My role now is that I get to do the pitches. I think of things, brainstorm with the team. Put it all together in a presentation and hope to God I get the account. :) It's been pretty good so far. I've been having fun. I'm learning a lot and well...it's what working in an events company is all about anyway...bids, bids and even more bids. :)

So wish me luck as I work on even more bids. :) I want more accounts! hahaha

What a last two weeks it has been...

I've been buried in work the past two weeks and it's been crazy! haha...I had to do a lot of presentations, edit and re-edit them, work on the costs as well and then I had to attend all these meetings and to a media launch in between. Top it off with an event I had to attend to cause I was covering for an officemate. Yes, it has been crazy. hahaha...but that's not all...on a more personal note, I've been shuffling from hotel room to hotel room cause I've been spending time with my aunt who has been driven out of her house by her a** of a neighbor and on the days I'm not there I'm with my cousin who came in from the States...so there. I have been tied up. But at the end of it all, I'm still alive and that makes me happy! :)

Work has been fun! :) I am actually enjoying myself a lot. The work is really hard especially when the pressure of making all these things happen get to you. But then again it's what you live for. Challenging yourself, pushing yourself to the limit almost to the point of breaking but not really. Then you make it and you're there. You're right where you're supposed to be and you went through all that. Amazing feeling it gives you.

I did my first media event with the company and it was packed. So many people came that it was crazy. I missed that. :) I really wouldn't be able to do any of the things I've been doing had it not been for the people around me. I remember panicking and crying at the same time. Hahaha...then everyone just got me to where I needed to go. :) Amazing friends! :)

I guess at the end of all that work and all that crazy I'm just happy to be where I am. I am getting better at what I do. I am getting better at being patient...haha, trust me I need loads of it. But I am getting better at it. :)

Now, if only I could find the right time to celebrate! :) Going to the beach with family and friends two weeks from now! :) I am excited!

Working on a weekend

Saturdays are usually spent for having fun. Like going to get a massage or shopping. Unfortunately, I have work today. I actually had plans to do something else but the client is asking us to do something and so today we're hauling our asses off to the province and making the most out of it.

Usually I'd complain but my client is really nice. They asked nicely and they don't really demand. Hence the reason why this isn't so hard to do. If only we could stop by the shopping places before heading home. hahaha...but that would only mean getting home later, so fine. Maybe next week. :P

I believe there are two types of clients, there are those who feel that they have to make the most out of what they pay you and therefor make you work yourself to the bone and there are those who appreciate your hard work, ask you to do things nicely and keeps thanking you for a job well done. See, these clients ask you to do the same amount of work yet the latter always makes you feel like it's your choice to do so and quite frankly from working in the service industry for 4 years. It's definitely something I would do gladly if I liked you. Haha...better results as well.

So I must prepare for this road trip and keep telling myself this will be over soon. hahaha...