Red Days, Not Always Bad Days

Girls often refer the menstrual cycles of the month as their "red days". This has been a literal name-calling to such because of  the red color of the fluid that comes out of the body (and you already know what I mean). And with the red days coming, we often experience difference feelings. We tend to have mood swings, hassle now-and-then changing of pads, and to top it off, the phenomenal abdominal cramps. This is the reason why girls' red days are bad days.

But for the Chinese families, like us, red is a lucky color. It signifies happiness, good luck, and prosperity. We may not be the typical Fil-Chi family who speaks Mandarin Chinese at home and has Buddha images all over their place, but we still pay tribute to the tradition my father's family had.

T-ice and T-bday celeb

At home, I am called "Di-chi". In Chinese, it's the name used for the second daughters. However, we still use the "Ate" and "Kuya" for my elder sis and bro. It has also been a tradition in my father's side that during birthdays and special occasions, we would be using RED as the color of the day. So, last October 5 (for my 21st birthday), I asked my guests to wear red.

Some of those whom I invited asked me, why red? And so I told them the reason... that red signifies happiness. We often greet celebrants a happy birthday, so red should be the color! Haha!

A group photo. Most of the guests followed the dress code. Haha!

The epic cupcake toast! (me ganun?! lol)

This baby is trying to color her cutesy lips with the gumpaste cake decors! So cute and funny :)

He and She.
We were about to eat the cake decors. He actually designed the cake himself. Wow! :)

Lucky though, that my Mama and I went to Cebu the other week. We got the chance to shop for some clothes and I was able to pick some dresses for myself. I had this red dress bought, too. My birthday celeb was just the right time to wear it! Yea. \m/

Well, it was just a simple dinner... with family and friends. It was a formula of:

 beautiful people + lechon + dinuguan + some other Mama putahis + cake + buko pandan + T-ice + band playing on the background + laughter + smiles + red = happy birthday to me! :)

Us girlaloos.

Pardon the photo watermarks which say "sosweetsuzette". This blog entry was intended to be published at sosweetsuzette.blogspot.com but I changed my mind and had this published here instead. Will find time to change those, soon. However, I still claim ownership of the photos, since I am the owner of both blogs (Exotic Expressions and So Sweet Suzette).

Almost 21

Hey friends! It's been weeks since I last posted a blog entry here. Sorry, I got a little busy with my other blog, So Sweet Suzette. Anyway, today is the third of October .. and do you know what that means? It means I'm 2 days away from getting a year older! Waaaaaah!

I will be sharing to you my thoughts on being "almost 21".

Girls often celebrate their transition to being a lady at the age of 18. And for me, girls start to enter the stage of womanhood at the age of 21. But of course, it would be kinda difficult to tell at what exact age does a girl really mature and become a "woman". It really varies from person to person.

As for me, I think I still can't say that I am that independent woman which is expected from a 21-year-old girl, aw, woman, I mean. :)

First of all, I do not have a job. I graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing last April. It has been about 6 months now and still I am here.. 100% tambay. I am not really degrading myself just because I am unemployed and still living with my Mama and Papa. But I know sooner or later, I would need to stand on my own feet.

Second, I still love to sleep. Who doesn't love sleeping? Haha. My Mama often shouts every morning that I am lazy. So, there, I need to work on my super-sleep habit! And maybe, to spend more time trying bto learn new things.

Third, I can't drive. Ok, my Papa has been forcing me to have my driving lessons but I don't run out of excuses! Hehe. I really am a bit scared of driving. However, I know that the skills would be very helpful to me in the very near future.

And lastly, I am still immature. I whine over the littlest sad things and jump for joy over the tiniest piece of prize!

But besides all this, I am happy. I am happy with the family and friends I have. I am happy because the Lord never failed to surprise me with great great blessings. I am happy because I'm still given the chance to celebrate my 21st birthday in good and gorgeous shape! :)

photo taken by Rodel Ryan Yana

I am almost 21, but not almost happy, because I am happy, have been, and will always be. :) :) :)

a dream.. ♥

it was a rainy night. the princess is asleep.. resting.. for she knows the next day's going to be a busy day for her.

no sound can be heard in the place except the ticking of the clock.

steps have been taken just outside the house, but nobody heard them.. not even the princess who's fast asleep.
a man walked carefully towards the doorstep.. went inside the house.. then, inside the room of the princess.

the clock struck twelve midnight.

the man then gently kissed the princess' forehead. the princess woke up, was shocked and got terrified. then the man whispered, "happy birthday my princess."
it was her prince. ♥
not a single word came out from the princess' mouth..
few seconds after that greeting, a sound coming from the outside of the room caught the princess' attention.. there were people who are bringing candles and singing her favorite love song - the first song his prince sang to her. only the light of the candles caused her to see the surroundings..
and on the song's chorus, her prince sang on a solo the line "the smile on your face lets me know that you need me.. there's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me.." then, the prince got the hands of the princess and continued "..the touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever i fall.."
tears fell from the princess' endearing eyes.. still out of words to say.

"..you say it best, when you say nothin' at all.."

then, gave her a bouquet of her favorite flowers wrapped with her favorite colors combined in a beautiful design.
afterward, he held on his hands a cake of her favorite flavor with a candle..
she made a wish and blew the candle.

she cried tears of joy..
they all jammed to sing her a birthday song.. all her friends were there.
she can't believe what was happening.
her prince handed her a letter saying "i am more than willing to do this even everyday just to see you happy..

i love you that much.. this much."

he arranged everything for her to be surprised.
and it worked. she was surprised, and she was superdooper happy :)

moments later, the guests all went home.. and the princess went back to bed. thoughts suddenly came through her mind:

"i don't wanna sleep anymore because i wouldn't want this to be just a dream."
~