Princess Wardrobe

I checked on my closet for my clothes if I need to add more blouses. Normally, I do not pay much attention on what I wear. I work at night I wear jacket, sweater or shawl over my blouse because of full blast air con at the office. We are required to dress in business attire Mondays and Tuesdays only. We can wear denim jeans and t-shirts, but no rugged prints after Mondays and Tuesdays. Most of my clothes are blouses, slack and legging pants. I just have to interchange my blouses that match the color of my slack and legging pants. Not sure if my officemates noticed I only have few pairs of clothing. Hush! Please do not tell them, okay?

Sunday, I had time to inspect one by one the clothes I have on hangers. I found some blouses I could wear without the color red in them. I just added some missing buttons. I appreciated my effort buying some  branded discounted sales clothing. The colors of the cloths are just as good as new. I did not notice most of my old blouses. I hang them two at time in a hanger to economize on the space. Most of my clothes are light cotton materials and t-shirt blouses. They go perfectly with my slack and legging pants. Legging pants and t-shirt blouses are no ironed. The cotton blouses and slack pants have to be graced with easy ironing. My legging pants by the way are tight-fitting pants. They are a fashion here in Manila.

Did I not say I am thrifty? I am, not only on monies but on the use of electricity. I am an advocate of Earth Hour 60. The bottom line is no more buying of blouses. I am planning to buy two light colored legging pants. To alternate with my black, dark brown and dark blue blouses.  And that is it. I have mostly dark colored slack and legging pants. It is good I have mostly plain colored blouses. What about if they are on discounted sale again you say? Try me. I have great control over temptation when it comes to shelling out monies. ☺

The Big Breakfast

I was back to work last Friday, 17^th of Sept. I thought I had forgotten how to handle calls after ten days of absence. There were plenty of calls yet, I was thankful I received less irate callers. I arrived an hour earlier than my work shift to read some updates. However, it was my computer that acted up and slowed me down. I managed to read some important items sent to my e-mail through intranet. Yes, our e-mail address is within the company only. Our server barred us from receiving and sending e-mails from other networks. We can only receive and send e-mails from work related networks. The reason is for security of our client.

The following day, I met my nephew. Yeah, he is the one who graduated from college last May this year. He started working full time as a web designer, last 1^st of Sept. Like me he also works at night time. Our difference is that, he does not wear headset and no direct communication with their client. He received his first pay and he treated me for breakfast at McDonalds. His boyish face lit up as he showed me his pay slip. I likewise gave him the part two of my cash gift on his graduation. The budget I set aside for him was used for the helper of my mother. Mother will not need a helper in heaven anymore. I was able to give the balance of the promised cash gift to the favorite grandchild of my mother.

My nephew likes his job. He bought rubber shoes, a brand that is a bit expensive part of his salary. Then, gave his ATM card to his mom so he will not be tempted spending his hard earned monies on not so important items. Good boy! Like me, he gets his salary by withdrawing the money from the bank opened by his employer. Most big companies in Manila provide their employees with ATM card. It is up to the employees as to when they would like to withdraw their salary. This is I guess is for their convenience and likewise for the convenience of their employees. I ordered a big breakfast and caramel sundae at McDonalds. The story part is more than the food we ate. We parted ways after I guess an hour or two. Ahhh! I lost counts. It was a nice bonding time. ♥

Giant Animals

I noticed most of my friends love animals and flowers. I am fascinated by their blogs showing photos and paintings of these beautiful creatures next to humans, of course. I guess no one would challenge me if I type in here I am more beautiful than any flower on earth. Okay, hold that thoughts folks. No violent reaction please… This is my blog remember? Your Jolly Princess is free to give a little credit to her humble self. Okay… Before I get peppered with comments, I would like to let you know I am likewise an admirer of these lovely creatures. I am mesmerized on how they inspired us and to some extent loved us like that of a Knight to his Princess. Let me share to you my friends at the World Wide Web the photos below. I shared these already in my earlier post but for the benefits of my new friends, here they are… Rolling up curtains!

Giant animals at the mall!

Do not fret they will not bite.:)

These photos were taken from one of the shopping malls I visited. Sorry folks I cannot do better than these photos, unless I go to Manila Zoo. I hope you like them.  ☺

What’s In It with Coffee?

Had you visited Manila, and some other cities in the Philippines, you must have noticed a lot of coffee shops located almost everywhere. Among the top ten coffee shops are ~♥

1.      Starbucks

2.      Gloria Jean’s

3.      Bo’s Coffee

4.      Figaro

5.      Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

6.      Seattle’s Best Coffee

7.      Café de Lipa

8.      UCC Café Plaza

9.      McCafe of McDonalds

Let us stop and talk a while..

10.  Café Capreal 

In Manila, most of these coffee shops are located inside hotels, shopping malls or they have their own rented place like that of Starbucks. Starbucks rank number one. You could easily find one, either close to offices, golf course or any strategic locations frequented by people from all walks of life. To be more attractive to coffee lovers, this coffee shop sells, tumblers, coffee mugs, bags or other items bearing Starbucks name. Although Filipinos love coffee, those who have tight budget may not be interested buying the items. They are quite pricey. Coffee lovers do buy them as keepsake items. One thing I noticed about Starbucks is their accommodating place. You could enjoy your stay in the place as long as you want. In some coffee shops waiters would ask if you have other orders or needed something. As if to say, you need to give way to other customers.

As people used to flock to these coffee shops. The entrepreneurship mind of their marketing staff had conceptualized the idea of selling cakes and pastries to go with coffee. Coffee shops are even popular than ice cream parlors. After all who wants to sweat it out at the gym to ward off excess calories? So what is with coffee that made it so popular? Nothing really, it is the place that is more important. Coffee shops are places you could conveniently stay while waiting for your friends. It is a good place for buying time while waiting for a business partner for an important meeting. Or a place to simply read the morning news paper while enjoying a stick of cigarette all by your self.  ☺

Lifestyle

I came home at around eight in the morning Tuesday after work. We have new work schedule every week. You get lucky if you get the most convenient work schedule for you.  I have the earliest work schedule this week same with my team mates. There are advantages and disadvantages with the earlier work shift. The advantages, I do not have to bring my umbrella or my sun block lotion to protect me from scorching sunlight. It is cooler when I come home. To name few disadvantages- having to fight traffic jams on my way to work. It is rush hour for those who wanted to be home from their work. Shopping malls are still closed. I just got lucky the place  I lived at has nearby Mini Stop and Seven Eleven.  These stores are open twenty four hours. There is also  a grocery store that opens as early as eight in the morning. In case I need something. They are the most convenient places to go.

This rose  is for my sister. Today is her birthday!

Housing in Manila is another big expense that you may not be happy setting aside your monthly pay. If you want to stay close to your place of work you have no choice but to pay for higher rent. I live in a big house run by Catholic nuns that suits me just fine. I get to see them all the time because we have same work area like living room and kitchen. My land ladies are of different nationalities, but most of them are Spanish. Oh, they were so happy winning the World Cup. There are at least seven of them assigned in Manila and most are assigned in Mindanao for their mission. Most of them are on vacations since early this year and went back to their respective countries. There are three of them in Manila right now. Normally when I get home, Miss India, as I teased her, would be busy preparing lunch. She goes to school in the afternoon. She has to take her lunch ahead of her colleagues.

For several months our house had been silent unlike when the other four ladies were here. At dinner time after their prayers I would normally hear them, telling stories and laughing by themselves. They never ran out of stories to tell. They are just happy and contented with their lifestyle. They are provided with housing and all they needed by their congregation but they do not have monies of their own. Miss India told me she has a sister who is also a nun, assigned in Rome studying. Later her sister will be assigned in Africa for missionary work. Such a simple life, yet they are happy and contented for what they got. No readers, I have no plan of being one of them. I have a different vocation. I just want to share a simple contented lifestyle. On the other side of the coin, I wonder why there are some people who fight for monies and fame. However at the end, they are still losers.

 

Weather Update

Weather in Manila, Philippines is back to normal warm temperature after typhoon Conson. The sunshine brings a smile to many after the storm.

The city folks were stunned by very strong wind last Tuesday night, 13^th of July. The following day however most houses had the electricity service resumed in the early afternoon. The aftermath of the strong typhoon could not be seen much in Manila, compared to those in the nearby provinces.  Badly hit by typhoon was nearby provinces. I felt sorry for those families who lost their loved ones. I pray for their immediate emotional recovery.

I was happy to receive text message to my phone from my American friend from Tennesey. He said he saw in the news about the typhoon. No teasing here folks. The two of us are just friends, okies? Getting defensive? Nope! I just do not want his girl friend to break up with him. By any chance, his real sweetheart reads this post. To my blogger friends from World Wide Web, thank you so much for your concern. You are my treasures. No worries. Your princess was hardly affected by Conson.

Yes, Manila is back to its normal warm weather now. I am glad I have earlier work shift. The schedule helps me to save on sun block lotion. My umbrella though had been a great companion, rain or shine. It is just that, sometimes I get lazy to give it a room inside my shoulder bag.

Typhoon Hit Manila Philippines

Manila, Philippines was hit by typhoon, Tuesday night, 13^th of July international code name Conson. It was signal no. 2 in Manila area but wind was very strong. Some areas in Manila do not have electricity as of yet and no internet connection. The power was shut down to avoid accidents or further accidents. I am glad however that at home, waking up at 3pm  14^th of July, Philippines time, our electricity service was back on. My internet connection is also working as if nothing happens.

I was at work last night and hardly felt the strong wind. The building where our office is housed is quite sturdy. I did not even feel what happened in the entire Metropolis. It was in the morning coming home from work when reality bites. Our neighbor advised me she was so scared and could not sleep keeping close watch at their roof that might be blown off. Thanks goodness the roofing was intact sparing them from major repairs. The rain was not that much. It was that wind apparently that was so scary.

At home except from missing cold water to drink everything seemed alright. I missed the electricity for a while. I slept after drying my hair with a hand fan after I had taken my shower. I just turned on my electric fan at its lowest. I woke up at the cool brush of air from my osciliating electric fan. I checked on my internet connection, typed this short post to let you know folks your Jolly Princess is still smiling.  ☺