hello again

someone's been keeping me occupied

i can't wait to see you in person!

october 2011

---

oh what i wouldn't give to eat some home cooked meal and not throw up (;_;)

---

love, love, love

sentimental

*sniff*

---

leaving tomorrow

then it's back to normal again

day 3

day 3 

going stir crazy

coby snapped a picture of me with a fruit i haven't seen before

i just realized that i don't have that much friends here anymore

thank goodness for mortimer!

hello from the PI

home sweet home

watching old tagalog movies while eating some santol 

it's so good to be back home

:)

2 days and counting...

ready, set, go

finally started packing

homeward bound on friday!

july 2011

---

the light in my bathroom is out

so right now i am using a floor lamp

the ceiling of my apartment is pretty high and i can't reach it without using a ladder

 (plus i don't even have chairs to stand on!)

anyway a floor lamp is okay for now even if it looks so out of place 

oh well that's what i get for choosing an apartment with "character"

i'm getting a little bit tired of this place...

---

i didn't realize i had this picture in my computer

my mom and i

1982

i think my love for accessories started at this age, note the bag

Last minute

I dropped my phone on the way to the park today. It stopped working for a bit and then I started panicking. Good thing after a couple of minutes it started working again but then the back is all scratched it's not smooth and shiny anymore :( I should be more careful next time.

I have tons of yogurt in my refrigerator right now and I am under pressure to finish all
Of it in 3 days. So right now I am sitting on my bed eating yogurt instead of getting ready to go to bed something I don't normally do. It's actually nice to break the rules once in a while...It's liberating :)

Had some tofu for dinner and mangoes for dessert now
I am dreaming of pancakes...

Today was a good day...hoping that tomorrow
Would also be an easy one.

On my to-do list tomorrow: laundry and packing (how exciting!)

Blogging on my phone so no pictures today...

sweet tooth

we're off to first grade!
june 2011


---


the children in my class had been eating cupcakes and cookies for snack 
(and i must admit i have had a cookie or two *single tear*)
not good at all
we had a birthday ceremony, 4 goodbye circles and a transition ceremony this week
my request for fruit or juice bars have been totally ignored
if i see another cookie i am going to scream
next week my kids and i will return to eating vegetables and fruit for snack
no more candy, no more chocolate chip cookies and definitely no more cake!


---

this one's a keeper :D
my 2 loves j and hello kitty
2011


---

stop and go

spent a rainy tuesday afternoon painting our backdrop for our little ceremony tomorrow

i picked a good day to wear a white cardigan because after work it wasn't white anymore

left work at past 5

the rain made my commute longer

i spent a lot of time stepping on the brakes and shifting to first gear

makes me wish i drove an automatic

my legs got so tired by the time i got home at 6 i just wanted to take a shower and lie down

what a long day!

---

today rex runs up to me and gives a drawing

i asked him why he kept giving me his drawings

he answered: because you always give me hugs

i love, love, love that boy!

---

i only have $1.96 remaining in my itunes gift card

i was saving it for something really special

i couldn't believe i forgot about this song

this is probably one of my favorite songs ever!

:)

---

the number one thing on my to do list for this week is LAUNDRY!

a typical thursday

today:

i was observing rex drawing furiously at a table

he looked up, walks up to me and asks

"nicole do you have kids?"

me: i don't have kids rex

rex: oh (looks really disappointed)

me: but then i have all of you, so that means i have 26 kids

rex's face lights up and then he runs up to me

"here nicole i drew a picture of you, and i only drew 2 kids because i couldn't draw 26"

me: rex, why am i bald?

rex: its just a drawing nicole, you don't really need hair.

---

i have 2 blisters on my foot

not fun at all

---

i

REM

the ducks are gone

hurray!

i can sleep better tonight

june 2011

---

i have been taking naps after school

i just crash when i get home

i think the heat makes me tired

today, while i was waiting for my laundry i tried to read a book but the i found myself dozing off

it's a miracle that i am able to fall asleep at night

i think my body knows that i won't be getting much sleep when i'm back home

---

here we go again

neon trees, animal

H-O-T

another picture of my feet

rancho murieta

june 2011

---

i am going home in 2 weeks

:)

the first thing i am going to do when i get there is to get my hair cut

(after i have my tatoy's fix)

---

thank god for air-conditioning!

the heat is killing me

i take back what i said about summer being my favorite season

i think fall you deserve that title

---

i still get teary eyed every time i read this book

one quick update

our first harvest!

luca and our radishes (easter egg variety)

june 2011

---

home on a friday night watching a news program on tv about a murder of a young woman in las vegas

how exciting!

---

a lifetime ago

2002

the night when i got so drunk that i puked inside the elevator of my apartment building

happy birthday nino!

---

taking a break

i did it!

my last minute father's day project

june 2011

---

i had quite a night!

i slept at around 10 then at around 11 i suddenly woke up coughing

i was coughing so bad that i almost threw up in my bed

so i ran to the bathroom and just let it all out

oh yes, it wasn't a pretty sight

i was hugging the toilet, gagging with tears rolling down my face

not a pretty sight at all

while all of this was happening the first thought that came to my mind was

"i wish someone was here to hold my hair while i am puking my brains out"

i find that very funny because of all the things i should think about, i was worried about my hair

anyway, after that episode i felt so much better

let's just hope it stays that way

---

the hell raisers are really testing me

all day i have to force myself to think about things that make me happy

because if i don't i will seriously have a nervous breakdown

\@_@/ -->this is me having a nervous breakdown

---

today...

sacramento

june 2011

---

yesterday after work i missed my exit

i was spacing out thinking too much about a father's day craft for my class

you would think by now i would have thought of something

but my mind is still blank

---

another typical day in my class:

today a child was cutting some pears for snack when her hand slipped

she cut her finger pretty bad and had to go to the doctor to get some stitches

the children were just fascinated with the blood and came rushing towards the sink pushing and shoving each other

it got so bad that we had to shoo them away

one child even wanted to keep the blood stained paper towel

very disturbing

---

it's weird but i have been craving root beer

i don't like root beer but yesterday (and today!) i couldn't stop thinking about it

what is going on?

---

this has been playing in my head the whole day today

yeah yeah yeahs, zero

drawback

prawn mee soup

i hope to go back someday

penang, malaysia

2010

---

one drawback of being a pre-school/kindergarten teacher is that you have to think of a craft for every single occasion

father's day is coming up on sunday and i still haven't thought of anything

i was supposed to do my research today and there were a couple of things that i felt were nice gifts for the dads but it was just a lot of stuff to prep and since i only have 2 days to pull it off

i don't think i would be able to do it without panicking and losing sleep

so the next best thing would probably be doing something simple, like a card or a drawing

no point in stressing about it

as i told one parent today, in my mind i am already on vacation

---

a friend's daughter just turned 2

someone gave her an ipod touch for a present (the daughter not my friend)

that's just not right

who gives a child an ipod?

and don't get me started on those leap frogs reader thingies...

---

out of whack

injured

luca, 5

june 2011

---

oh what a day!

crazy doesn't even begin to describe it

my little hell raisers were just in their element!

the boys were rolling on the floor

the girls were just drama queens

and it didn't help that i have been feeling really tired (and cranky)

so i had to have a class meeting and i told them how upset i was

i thought that worked but oh no!! as soon as i dismissed them it was chaos and mayhem

by the time 11:00 hit, i was already done for the day

thank goodness it's friday!

--

28 days and counting...

yipee! :)

---

i keep on pressing repeat...

summer is finally here :)

angus and julia stone, babylon

sunny days are here again

rex's new kicks

"nicole i got this from the mall"

june 2011

---

feeling much, much better

that is until next month, when i find myself weeping again for now apparent reason

---

yesterday, sofia and i were practicing reading

sofia: f*ck it

me: excuse me? what did you say?

sofia: f*ck it

i looked down at the card that she was reading and i almost burst out laughing

the word was FAUCET

never a dull moment in the blu class :)

---

dark blue

tulips, by josephine j

taken today at 10:00 AM

june 2011

---

i am feeling quite emotional

today while i was driving to work i suddenly found myself crying

i just felt so sad

nino said my hormones are out of control and i shouldn't let it control me

and i think he is right, i just hope it goes away soon because i hate being so sad

anyway i felt better while i was talking to him, i actually found myself laughing

but then when we said our goodbyes i found myself alone again with my thoughts

i just want this week to be over...

---

as i was leaving work

jj rushed up to me and kissed my palm

she looked at me and said

"if you feel sad just press your palm on your cheek

and think of me, you will feel better"

i had to bite my lip to keep myself from crying

i can't wait to go home and hug my family.

my apartment feels huge all of a sudden...

---

3 more meetings to go...

---

i totally forgot about this song...

bon iver, skinny love

rain

a rainy saturday in sacramento

decided to bake some cupcakes

i made a vegan chocolate cupcake with creamy peanut butter frosting

the frosting needs a little work but the cake turned out really good!

june 2011

ready...set...panic

jj the little artist always gives me pictures and i keep all of them

this is her version of me

note the hair LOL

may 2011

---

oh my gosh it's june already!

it means it's time for my triangle meetings with the elementary teachers and parents

it means getting ready for graduation

it means i need to get my evaluations ready by next week

it means i need to purchase a ticket for the philippines

or if i can afford the ticket

it means i will most probably be stressing out like there is no tomorrow

oh june, i'm not liking you at all!

----

today at carline

rex: i want to go home!

me: me too rex

rex: you have a home?!

me: ofcourse i do, where do you think i live?

rex: i thought you lived in school

(hahaha! that made my day)

---

my new driving music :)

santigold, lights out

quick update

brown rice with tomato, garlic, onions and basil

plus sparkling pomegranate lemonade

may 2011

---

week 2 of no eggs

it's hard to quit but i am gradually getting used to it

today i had some egg whites but i felt a bit weird eating it

slowly but surely...

---

sleep i need you

:(

all smiles

i opened my mailbox and look what i found!

a happy surprise :)

cheesy as it may be it was totally unexpected

may 2011

---

today j and i took my nieces, kiley and bridgette for lunch to this vegan restaurant

we sat outside and had our nut burgers and sandwiches

fed the chickens and just got to know each other

when we dropped off j at his place

bridgette turned to me and said "tita nikki i thought your friend was a girl!"

me: well i told you he was my boyfriend

bridgette: i don't like boys!

lol, my funny girl

she refused to talk to j, but in the end when we dropped him off she said "bye"

pill popper

thank you meds!

the doctor prescribed anti-biotics for a week and i can feel a big difference

i am not dancing around trying hard not to go to the bathroom

i could actually go to a store and not be scared to have an accident

hooray for meds (although i am still not a big believer of taking them all the time)

today i went for a run and i ran 1 mile!!!

woot woot!

---

j is coming back from NY

happy happy joy joy!

i can't wait for the weekend :)

appreciating appreciation ;)

it has been teacher's appreciation month in our school

on the first week of may the parents prepared breakfast for the teachers and staff

on monday we got wonderful bouquet of flowers

today we had a gift basket

and i heard some rumors that on friday there will be a "surprise" for us

it's nice to feel appreciated

:)

---

aidan, 5 rushed up to me and kissed my belly

i looked at him and told him that i don't have anything in my tummy

me: it's only food aidan, sorry!

(i definitely should lose weight)

---

rediscovered this

the smiths, this charming man

dancing with myself

i believe in you cranberry!

may 2011

---

today:

luca: nicole can you please help me with my map?

i promise to give you hugs everyday if you help me

after lunch i walk into the classroom and he runs up and gives me a big hug

luca: i'm just going to stick to you like glue, i am not letting go!

god help me that little boy will be a heartbreaker

---

still kept running to the bathroom :(

i was at the store today and i kept doing the dance while i was shopping

i risked it once again and went for a run

i was doing the dance while waiting for the light to change

i kept on jumping and running in place people might have thought i was so into running but they don't know i was just dying inside praying that i don't pee in my pants

i'm still downing cranberry juice like there is no tomorrow plus i have been munching on dried cranberries

this better work!

----

it's the weekend

woo-hoo!

tomorrow i will just lay in bed, eat junk food and read my novels

sounds like a very good plan :)

urge overkill

pasta with roma tomatoes, garlic and oregano

may 2011

---

cranberry juice is my new best friend

i feel like an old lady with a really bad bladder problem

i have to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes or so

yesterday while i was pumping gas i had to do my dance just to stop the urge to go

good thing today was a little better but it still bothers me

anyway i went for a run in the park and thank god i managed to go home without any "accidents"

although i might say i never ran so fast!

oh cranberry juice please be my savior!

---

managed to run all around the park today without stopping

woo-hoo!

---

listening to this while i was trying my best not to do number 1 in the middle of mckinley park

cut copy, nobody lost, nobody found

a thing of the past

yesterday jeff and i braved the rain and the san francisco bus system to meet up with paul

he was in san francisco for a day and wanted to catch up, since we haven't seen each other in 6 years!

it was perfect timing because jeff had a race on sunday so we decided to just spend the night in the city instead of driving back to sacramento

i took the day off from work, which i totally needed but then felt guilty about it

oh well, i should have a life outside the classroom :)

my past and present

it was very surreal...

---

my dinner for the last week

may 2011

----

highlights

manong ryan's homemade batchoy

a taste of iloilo

may 2011

---

nicole i love every thing you do

-norah, 6

i have this ongoing thing with this little girl

she is the smartest one in our class

she has a very brilliant mind but she is still very immature

we have our moments but i love her to bits

anyway she just made my day today

---

i so want a kindle right now

i have a kindle app on my phone but i would just love to have the real thing

oh well

maybe it can be a very belated birthday gift

---

long overdue

first of many?

perhaps but i am still thinking about it

may 2011

---

wow it's been almost a week since i last updated my blog

i have been quite busy with stuff

but now my life is back to its old routine

i miss writing, although i am racking my brain on what to write about

---

had quite a busy weekend

spent it once again with the people i love, it was filled with laughter and tons of food

---

i managed to finish the race..woot woot!

thanks to j :)

although towards the end of the race i wanted to kill him for talking me into it

plus it didn't help that he kept on cracking jokes, and making such ridiculous comments

that i felt like collapsing, laughing while running is no picnic

---

a great summer song!

the spell, alphabeat

---

having a plan b is always good

gloria (one of my classroom assistants) last day of work is on friday

yesterday we decided to make a little something for her as a going away present

i had this great idea for a bag, it sounded like a really good plan

well like any good plans i had a hard time executing it, so right now i am just winging it, hoping that it will turn out okay

anyway it seems to be coming along nicely but it seems like i have a gazillion things to do

i am praying that i will finish this just in time.

---

i was supposed to do laundry today

wednesday is my laundry day, but then when i got to the laundry room someone else was using it

so now my whole schedule is screwed

i am very annoyed.

tomorrow i was planning to go to the store, run and finish my projects but instead

i will be doing laundry first and do my errands later

argh!

don't you just hate that it when happens?

(sorry i sound so lame, that's what happens when you don't have a life)

---

no turning back

the chikitings

circa 1998 (?)

---

i used to love glee

but now it's getting old

i don't even know what to watch now

---

utterly exhausted

the new child in my class kept on crying

from 8-12

screaming and sobbing

i was telling my assistant that it makes me think twice about having kids

plus i think i might be getting sick, but i refuse to give in to it

*thinking positive thoughts*

---

j signed me up for the race for the cure on saturday

it's 3 miles

i hope i can make it

*crossing my fingers*

i keep telling him how bad i am, and he doesn't believe me

so now i guess he will see first hand how out shape i am

wish me luck

---

a very good break up song

a much better song than rehab

amy winehouse, tears dry on their own

the things you have to do...

i tend to forget things

it comes with age

may 2011

(by norah b.)

---

i just got talked into running a half marathon in portland next year

apparently, his brother and his girlfriend, cousins and their spouses are running

and it turned into this competition among them

i told him that he better train really hard because i know i would probably come last

"if oprah can run a full marathon, you can do it"

thanks j! i can't believe he actually said that and i got hooked into signing up

so now i guess i have to train for it

this saturday i might be running the race for the cure with him

what did i get myself into?

---

1995

back in the day i just thought their fashion sense was so cool but 16 years later it looks so cheesy and dated

but anyway it's all about the music

blackstreet, before i let you go

it comes and goes

just when i thought i killed my roses

i discovered a new bud

april 2011

---

work again

i have a new child starting tomorrow

an addition to our wild bunch

let's just hope she is going to be an easy one

---

j is convincing me to take running seriously

i am really thinking about it

it's the shin splits i am worried about

:(

hmmm..i think, i might just stick to my own exercise regiment