$$

I found my new source of happiness. It is seeing my bank account getting fatter every payday. I am not rich and I am not yet a millionaire (with emphasis on the not yet because we all want to be a millionaire). :)  I am saving up for our trip back home next year. I am not good in handling money and I just feel proud of myself that i've made "savings" as part of my vocabulary. I just hope all the fats in the world would go to my account and not to my belly. Oh well! Project Frugality!!!

Overtime

I worked for 12 hours today. That is 8 hours of regular work plus 3.5 hours of overtime. Spell T-I-R-E-D. I am not complaining because it is an opportunity that i got to work here and i cannot count the number of times i prayed to get this job (i am still praying that i get regularized) . This is waaaaay better than my previous job. I always think about how hard i worked in retail but how less compensated I was.  So now, i just feel blessed to have this. Thank you Lordie!

wanderer

I love stepping on unknown territories. The feeling of getting lost and having to find my way back excites me. It may sound weird but I don't really care because I love doing it. I know it's fun to travel in a group but "alone time" is a different story. It gives me a different boost.

Mood board

Out of excitement, i made this mood board for the wedding. I know it's 10 months away but i just wanna share what i've come up with.

Hi

Hola! This is your lazy blogger from the East Coast. I'm sooooo lazy with words that i just prefer to post tons of pictures here.  This writer's block has been going on like forever. And i just called myself a writer which is a total shame.  So, yeah! Bear with my pictionary.  *click*click* 

Cheesy Monday

Today's highlights:

1. Oh my God! My driving instructor is driving me crazy. I failed today's lesson. Boohoo! I needed to reschedule my road test because Reggie i'm so not ready to take it. 

2. My strict but sweet instructor took me here for dinner. Hello happy belly! 

3. Cheesecake's chocolate bread is my ultimate favorite bread. I sometimes just go there and buy a whole loaf for take away. 5 stars for this. 

4. Shrimp Scampi and Steak Diane vs Famous Meatloaf. The picture doesn't do justice to how good these taste. 

5. My date who is busy playing candy crush. Correction: we both were. Hahahah... It's a candy crush kinda date. 

6.The price we have to pay. It is expensive because in my mind, i always convert it to Philippine peso. Reggie said it's his treat for letting him go on OT. 

Instagram

I love instagram and it breaks my heart that more and more "jejemon" are making their way to my fave cyberplace. I know i used to post almost everyday about everything but i just feel restricted now. Oh God! The glorious days of Instagram are over. I have dozens of pictures that i haven't posted yet but thank God to blogger, i have found another outlet here. This has always been my hiding place.

3 things

1. Reggie brought me to this bridal gown store as suggested by one of my co-workers but this place is too much for me. Too ugly for my taste, too expensive, too "baduy"  and so unfashionable. Gaaaah! I can almost hear Michael Kors, Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia screaming "nooooo!". So,yeah! That bad. 

2. This is my reward for doing the laundry today. Hahaha... I love the movie. The actors portrayed their characters so well. Comedy and drama in one. 

3. Beautiful pattern on the table at Chili's. 

4th of July

Red, blue and white is the theme for today but since i'm working, black day for me. Uhmm...not really! Since I was able to squeeze in a lil time for our family's BBQ at my BIL's house before i went to work, i made a lil effort to put on a red shirt and wore my blue neckpiece. It's not really a spot on American Flag theme but at least it's closer. And why do I even care?  Well, i know some customers bought undies with the American flag print for the 4th of July so it made me think that i should just stick to theme. Hahaha...  

I am not a citizen yet but who cares?! I will just celebrate with these people. 

Red and blue. This was before i changed to my work clothes. 

Reggie picked me up from work and we got lucky that we made on time for the fireworks display. 

Happy Birthday America!

Free day

Today's highlights:

1. I miss commuting. Hurray for independence! I feel free when i wander alone. I got bored at home so i'm going out and taking the bus. 

2. One of my fave places. Reggie and i usually hang out here, read magazines/books and have a cup of coffee. I miss him today because he has work.

3. Free reading is allowed here. Read all you want!  Simple pleasures! 

4. Starbucks inside the bookstore. 

5. Pegs. This is the reason i went here. And i think you know why. My mind is so full of wedding ideas. I'm like a mega-million wedding planner waiting to be discovered. Hahaha...

6. The sun is out and ready to party so i had my umbrella with me. I know people were staring at me because they're dying to get a tan. Hahaha... 

7. While waiting for my bus, witnessed an accident but thank God both parties were okay.

... Til the next random bus ride! 

White House Down

Five stars for this movie. And yes, i am biased. I'm not a good movie critic because i somewhat base my rating on the actors, the same way i root for any NBA team. hahaha... So, Channing Tatum is already rated 4 stars. There's something about movies featuring the White House that makes it exciting for me. It is somewhat similar to Gerard Butler's "Olympus has Fallen" but it is still a must watch. 

OOTD. This was taken just outside our apartment. Reggie took this pic using his S4, that's why it looks elongated. hmmm...I'm not sure if that's a good thing. 

Have a blessed Sunday! 

State Fair

It's the nurses' weekend off so it's a family day and my SIL suggested we go to the Meadowlands State Fair. We were there for the sight-seeing. None of us took the rides. The boys had their share of the games but so sad we went home empty-handed because we didn't get any of the prizes. 

Today's highlights:

1. Entrance fee is $9.00 and if you wanna avail of the unlimited rides, you can pay $30.00.

2. The state fair is just right outside the Metlife Stadium.

3. Not so much fun for the adults but i'm sure kids loved it.

4. My ever sweet PIL. They are always like that. I never heard them fight or shout at each other.

5. NBA City.

I am out of words so just please bear with me. 

C & R

Church & Reception. This is what kept me busy for 2 days now. We have finally set the date for our church wedding. It's the start of something complicated and stressful. Hahaha.. I hope i could take away all the stress so everything will turn out well. 

Five things

I was an hour late today because i just feel like going to work late. Thank God it was a steady workday! My date showed up late again but he treated me to an early dinner. 

1. A taste of Italy. 

2. 2 for $20 hunters but we always end up spending more. 

3. No rice today. 

4. Food for my eyes. Window shopping it is! 

5. Bought this pretty dresses for my niece, ish. I cannot wait to see her wear these. 

Bridezilla.... Not!!!

I am starting to feel the pressure and the stress.
Planning a wedding is not easy especially if you
are the bride. There are a  lot of things i wanna
say but i don't think this is the right venue. So,
 i will shut my mouth.

FYI: I AM THE BRIDE.

So, deal with it.  No one wants to be a bridezilla. 

4AM

My day started at 4am. The early bird catches the big worm spelled m-o-n-e-y. I love working in the morning but i dread waking up at 2am when everyone around me is still asleep. But life goes on. No work, no money and money is food, water, clothing and shopping. So, work it girl!

Today's highlights:

1.Teal. I wore my new neckpiece today and it's a scene-stealer. $6 is so worth it. Hahaha...

2. Reggie picked me up from work earlier and then i had my driving practice. It's better than the last time. I told him after 5 practices at the parking lot, i'm gonna brave the streets of NJ. I hope no accidents or any mishaps. That would be so scary. So, help me God.

2. After practice, we went for a stroll in the uber sosyal  Short Hills mall. Imelda Marcos used to have the whole mall closed while she shops. Sosyal talaga ni Madamme Marcos. Kaloka! I'm not a billionaire like her so i went home empty-handed.

3. Lunch is at this deli inside the mall, Au Bon Pain. I love the whole store but my tastebuds didn't agree. Or maybe i just didn't know what to order. The bread is delish thought.

4. Anthropologie is my favorite store. It's a chic home store. I love every bit of it except the price. 

5. Reggie bought this for me. My reward because he picked me up 2 hours late. It's $12.85 for 5pcs. Go figure and do your math. Expensive strawberries but definitely worth it.

Project Frugality

I was in temptation island earlier and this was my view. It was so hard to resist but i have to say "Noooo!". I have to think about buying a plane ticket to the Philippines. So, there. I went home empty-handed. *clap*clap* to myself. 

Long day

I worked in the offsite store today at Tice's Corner Marketplace. I loved their location and i wanna go back there just to look around. It's a quaint shopping area with different shops that i adore: Anthropologie,Williams-Sonoma,Victoria's Secret, Free People etc.  There's no food court or access to public transportation. The Victoria's Secret store was newly renovated so they needed people to help them set-up. Spent 10 hours at work today. Whew! Good thing i made it to the 5:30PM anticipated mass. We then headed to the Japanese food fair and ended our day staring at the lovely skyline of New York. 

Today's highlights:

1. Today is washday but i still could't show up at work wearing sweats. Haha... 

2. Lunch at my fave Panera bread.

3. Japanese Invasion at Mitsuwa Marketplace

4. Squid Takoyaki. 

5. Going Jap for a night. 

6. Sunset stroll at the park. 

7. With my SIL Cooky in Edgewater, NJ with the view of the Hudson river facing NYC

8. Hello NYC! You're so lovely tonight. 

-xoxo-