Tell Me Why We Don't Like Mondays

Like most people, I dread Monday. I would like to spend more time at home, with my family and bond some more. When it's time to spend some me-time, I'll realize only a few hours are left so I'd rather spend them with my daughter. Just being together, out or at home. I just like to do things which are not work-related and things I am not able to do on weekdays like cook, redecorate the house, whatever that comes to mind. Or sometimes, I'm too exhausted with weekend activities that I'd rather take a rest. It's like the weekend just flew by. It's Monday already.

But we can't get away from Monday. It wil always be there. I have come face-to-face with Monday. Face what you dread and it will go away, the dread I mean. 

I thought of just facing Monday head-on. I prepare for it. It's the first thing I do on Sunday after church or on a Saturday if I know my family will be out on Sunday. 

I prepare the clothes that I wear. I prepare the food I'll take with me. If I know I have a meeting on Monday, I take care of what I will be needing on Friday, if any. Just let the hours pass on Sunday and hey, it's Monday. 

Preparing helped me a lot. Monday is still not a favorite but at least I don't drag myself early Monday morning like I used to while I am preparing everything. I got Monday covered and the basics are taken cared of. I can rest my mind and just savor the rest of my weekend. 

Instagram Husband (from Time)

I was scanning my Facebook news feed when this caught my attention from Time. I just needed to read and watch it.

I cannot help but laugh. No judgment please. I am not as giddy as the women in the video but I know that my husband can relate very well. Hahahaha! 

Let me thank him for putting up with me with all my "photo shoots". But hey, if not for me, we will not have tons of pictures in our albums in every damn occasion including the trip to the cinema, going to a dinner near our neighborhood, the food we cook...and the like.:D

Talking About Hobbies

As part of my hobbies I was supposed to share getting fit, going to the gym and browsing/preparing for more healthy foods for our menu. But I don't think they fit into a hobby. Hobby, as defined by dictionary.com, is "an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation". Health and wellness are my main preoccupation for almost three years now - a way of life.

So to make it simpler, let me share with you one of my passions which I have not outgrown - reading books. One thing that makes reading pleasurable for me is because I can have time for it even in an activity-packed day. It serves as my relaxation. I usually read at night until I fall asleep.

I have several favorite books which I read back, at least my favorite parts. Randomly, these are the books on top of my mind when I am asked what my favorites are:

1. Harumi Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle
2. J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye
3. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince
4. Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower
5. Ken Follet's The Pillars of the Earth (This has already been made into a mini-series by HBO. I can't wait to watch it.)
6. Douglas Coupland's Generation X
7. Patrick Suskind's Perfume (But I have not watched the movie yet.)

I also have a lot of inspirational books both spiritual and about leadership. I used to buy a lot of books which delves into esoteric, astrology, meditation, about the earth and space.

When I was about 13 years old, I bought my first book on space - about the black hole. This I clearly remember. I bought a book about meditation, maybe when I was about 10 years old, and when I handed it to the sales lady, she was dumbfounded. Like, "huh, you read this? You should be reading Archie" (which I do read by the way).

My favorite writer is Mr. Haruki Murakami. His writing is quite convoluted - in a good way - it keeps you enthralled and makes you ask yourself what is next, how come, where to. You need to have a lot of imagination...and patience...but you will be surprised you will be wanting more of his words page after page after page. His writing was described as humorous and surreal. I love the way he composes his words like they just flow and you get caught up with the way he creates his characters, wistful.


I used to cover my books with plastic cover but I don't do that now. A little more trivia with my books...
*I highlight every passage or quote I love.
*I keep the price tag. I am amazed at how books gets so expensive through the years.

There are some books I did not buy but read them online, thanks to scribd.com. I read all the Twilight series through a link provided by Mo Twister in his blog years ago. I also read Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol thanks to the zipped file sent to me by my good friend, Julie. I have searched for Eat, Pray, Love and The Art of War in scribd. But these two I will buy. Yes, I have not read EPL yet. Haha.

Happy weekend. It's a rainy Saturday morning - great for a coffee and a good book.

More Mommy Moments at The Mommy Journey.

The Getting to Know You Chain

I came to know this through my friend Cess' link in Facebook. I like doing these kinds of survey...sharing is a better word. It helps me give a quick review of how it is/was with me depending on the questions. Here goes.....

1. Where you named after someone?
Yes, my mother named me after the 1963 Miss Philippines winner and Miss Universe 3rd runner up, Lalaine Bennett. Our surname is a bit long already so she shortened Lalaine to Lynn. :) For the first time I thought of checking her on Google. So, this is how she looks.

Lalaine BennettPicture from Video 48
2. How did you name your blog?
My first blog is http://avocado-express.blogspot.com, blog title, Everything and then Some. My husband and I were having some avocado with milk for dessert and it occurred to me I love avocado so why not name my blog after it. The image I see is talking about anything which interests me while eating avocado.

3. Where did you meet your husband?
At school. We were classmates in Zoology.

4. How long were you guys dating before you got married?
11 years and 9 months. :)) That long.

5. How did you bond?
Music and movies. We both love new wave. :)

6. If there is one song to describe your life right now what would it be?
I really love this song by David Isaacs, It's a Beautiful Life. I'm not saying life is perfect but it is beautiful. It is also the theme for Discovery's Travel & Living Channel. This song energizes me so much. Listening to this makes me feel the world is mine for the taking. It's very simple and very straightforward. "These days I'm lost in the beauty of life." This song describes my attitude the past days. Yes, I intend to have this attitude onward.

Now I am going to embed this in my side bar. :)


7. What did you first notice about your partner when you first met?
His naturally brown-blonde hair. Haha. His love for music which is the same as mine. I heard him singing Thompson Twins' Doctor, Doctor.

8. If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Either I can go invisible or I can read minds.

9. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Yes, during countless school programs in grade school. :)

10. As a child, what did you want to grow up to be?
I thought of being a teacher. I also fancied being a secretary because I love having so many papers to write with. Haha.

11. Do you remember where you first spent your paycheck?
My first job is a part time cashier at Jollibee but I can't remember now what I did with my very first paycheck. But my first paycheck from my first job after college graduation I remember I bought my mother a chocolate roll from Joni's Bakeshop in San Juan which is not around anymore. Buti pa ang Merced, there's still one branch along EDSA.

12. Favorite Social Network?
Twitter first, second Facebook. I get to be updated easily with the latest news through Twitter and it also serves as my microblog.

13. Favorite place in Manila?
Movie house, dining places, nearby hotels, gym, department stores, bookstores.

14. What are your favorite TV Shows (local and foreign)?
Lots but randomly: Glee, The Glee Project, GG, Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock, The Office, Outsourced, CSI: New York, Anything with Anderson Cooper, Rachel Zoe Project, TLC, History, etc, etc.

15. What’s your silliest pet peeve?
When people walk so slowly not minding that they are blocking other people's way. Also when my name is spelled with only a single "N". Mine's double. Ang ikli na nga ng pangalan ko, papaiklin mo pa.

16. What’s your favorite quote?
From Bob Dylan, "A man is successful if he wakes up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between loves what he does."

17. What’s your favorite smell?
My daughter's hair.

18. Say a random thing about yourself:
I talk to myself, sometimes out loud.

19. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be?
Michael Jackson and Michelle Obama.

20. If you could drop everything now and do something what would it be?
Travel the world with my family.

Now it’s your turn: in the comment box, answer one question AND if you want to ask me another question go ahead and do that as well and I’ll answer it!

Please give me the link of your post if you will answer and continue this chain in your blog. I'd love to get to know your answers.

Blazer Off, Blazer On

We had a corporate event this week which was a relaunch of one of our branches. It was a cocktail party. I was thinking of just wearing the black velvet gown I wore years ago. I tried it on and it fits me more now than before. But then I believe I will be over-dressed if I settle for this gown/long dress.

So after work last Wednesday I trooped to the department store and tried a few sets of cocktail dresses. I already have an idea of what to buy since two weeks ago we bought a gown for my daughter. I already know what to look for and where. That saved me a great amount of time knowing how I scout every nook and cranny of a mall when I scout and buy clothes for special events.

The dress I bought was actually a third choice because it sort of reminded me of my daughter's favorite brownie, with white stripes and all. But the hubby said I should try it on because it looks nice. And so I did and chose it in fact from among the clothes I tried on. I love its fit on me. And the white stripes breaks the all too common black dress for a night party. The price is very reasonable compared to other cocktail dresses off the rack.

So here's me with the dress I bought. Also my current profile picture at Facebook. I even have to mention that, haha.


I thought of putting a blazer over it and voila, I can wear it also at the office and it wouldn't look much as a cocktail dress. Love it!


Taken at the locker room of my gym amusing myself while I was waiting for my ride care of the hubby.
I love dressing up these days.

20%

You are 20% likely to be experiencing a midlife crisis

 

You might be experiencing a midlife crisis, but it's not very likely. You may have some regrets about your past, and may at times wish things could be different, but overall you're a calm and stable individual with a bright outlook and realistic goals.

MidLife Crisis Quiz
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The result of this quiz surprised me. I thought I will score high on having a midlife crisis. But I believe the reasons why my score is on the low side are my answers when it comes to my future.

This is just an online quiz and I am not sure if this was supervised by a psychologist but if you read the questions, they are really telling.

Yes, I am greatly looking forward to a great future. There are so many things to enjoy about life, to be thankful for. And yes, there are still a lot of things I want to accomplish for my family, for myself.

I love life so much that I feel so positive about the present, about my future, together with my family. I believe that God is always by my side (as well as my family's). I have proven this countless times. Yes, there were moments when I asked where is my God? But things eventually turn out great and I've come out of a difficult situation a better person.

I want to believe it's my enthusiasm in life and all things that bring joy to my heart, my love for my family and friends, and my belief in God that makes mid-life something I honestly enjoy.