Day 31: Fortune

Gong Xi Fai Ca!

Day 30: Sharksfin

Dimsum is a comfort food.

Day 29: Dollface

Dolly. 

Day 28: Written

Books. Actual, bound, printed on paper books. Oh how I love thee.

Song: Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Day 27: Brekky

Welcome back to the breakfast club.

Song: Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth

Day 26: Dear Darla

Spent this lazy Sunday on a veggie binge.  Well, as much of a veggie binge as I could do, anyway.  I also indulged the 8 year old in me with a Disney marathon.  I'm on Frozen, which is a current favorite.  I lived by it's soundtrack during the last two grueling weeks of my certification.  Every now and then my peers and I would belt out an Elsa or Anna line to lighten us up.  I think I'll remember the last two weeks as an abundance of sugar, quotes, and music from Frozen.  On hindsight, I think the experience is close to career-changing.  At the same time, this was the only certification I went through that I actually have doubts if I will attain.  I'm still a little scared.  There are instances in life, though, that you leave to fate, the gods, or whoever is out there who have it for me.  This, I think, is one of them.

Regarding Frozen, by the way.  I think it's great that Disney is creating layers on their characters.  I find it interesting that Elsa's character was not strictly depicted as a villain.  I like the fact that there are no cut and dry villains nor perfect heroes in the story.  They have layers, which I think is closer to how people are.  It's also curious that Elsa's signature song "Let It Go" reminds me of Elphaba's "Defying Gravity", which Idina Menzel also sang.  The two characters have the same complex.  They're both misunderstood and ostracized for doing things they believed were right.  Curious, isn't it?

Song: Frozen Heart

Day 25: Bookworm

Managed to squeeze time in for leisure reading. I missed it. The weather was also great for staying in to burrow and waste the day away reading.

Song: Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Day 24: Cake Cup

Sweet.

Song: For the First Time in Forever

Day 23: Chocolate

Sugar feeds the brain with sweet things to think of. A sweet treat for our fried brains.

Song: Good Morning, Baltimore

Day 22: Hustle

Last day of prep before certification day.  We can do this! 

Song: Let It Go - Idina Menzel

Day 21: Anchor

Another day in certification.

Song: Do You Want To Build a Snowman? - Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel

Day 20: Pop Rocks

I missed this.

Song: Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth

Day 19: Caramel Popcorn

Prepping for the week ahead with popcorn to munch on. 

Song: Miss Jackson - Panic! At the Disco featuring LOLO

Day 18: Ravioli Dinner

The last week was so stressful due to the amount of mind-processing I had to do. For the first time in three years, I brought work materials home. I don't do that. I can spend an inordinate amount of time at work, but I will not bring home work. My home is my sanctuary and it's my space for myself. This certification I'm going through, on the other hand, is not usual. There were times during the week when I couldn't decide whether I wanted to cry or I wanted to vomit. So, today, I decided to give myself a break. I slept in and worked through my errands in the afternoon. Then I did what any normal stressed girl would do - I went shopping. I decided to dine out before I went home instead of having something delivered and I got myself my favorite pasta for dinner. The calm is almost done. The review happens again beginning tomorrow.

Song: 66 - The Afghan Whigs

Day 17: Cocktail Hour

This week deserves a pitcher. 

Song: Stay the Night - Zedd featuring Hayley Williams

Day 16: Bagnet

Comfort food on a really stressful day.

Song: Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey

Day 15: Lights

Draining day. This certification is so much more stressful than I anticipated. I'm thankful for profound lightbulb moments, though.

Song: Lights - Ellie Goulding

Day 14: Star!

Second day of certification today. A few essential things to survive are shown above. Sugar and stress star ( because it's not a ball).

Song: Truth - Bamboo

Day 13: Smiley Cupcakes

Day 12: Rights

Met with an old friend tonight to watch her husband play with his old band. I haven't been to B-Side in a while, and this mural was screaming for attention. I can write a million things about this mural, but I think it speaks fairly well for itself.

Song: Sweat - Inner Circle

Day 11: An Apple a Day

Once a week, they give out fruits to people at work to encourage a healthier diet. I haven't been getting one, so I hoarded my fruits last night and got an apple. Along with a pear, a mango, and an orange. I've been nibbling on them since getting home. Should I feel healthy already?

Song: Pompeii - Bastille

Day 10: The Road Hone

Not much to share here. On the way home after an exceptionally long day. 

Song: Safe and Sound - Capital Cities

Day 9: Calculate

Yup. I train folks to do things like these.

Song: Demons - Imagine Dragons

Day 8: Call Out

Stayed late at work because of a call. All work and no play today. Boo!

Song: All Night - Icona Pop

Day 7: Sharpies

I have new Sharpies! I'm such an office supply nerd. Actually, I'm a nerd. Period.

Song: Still Into You - Paramore

Day 6: Collage

Nothing to say here. 

Song: The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - The Postal Service

Day 5: Sinigang Sunday

I caught up with a good friend today. This was dinner, Corned Beef Sinigang. Sinigang is hands down my favorite Filipino food. It's awesome comfort food. Also, main reason why I can't go vegan. How do I live without sinigang? Without pork sinigang? Without corned beef sinigang? And my ultimate favorite - sinigang na bagnet? How? Not possible.

Song: Sunday Morning - Maroon 5

Day 4: Leather Leather

I have a fine appreciation for good leather materials. A good piece of leather will last longer than you expect it to. That's why I'm often guilty of spending when I find leather things that are well made. Like today. *grimace*

Song: Let It Go - Idina Menzel

Day 3: Best Foot Forward

Being part of a highly dynamic team makes my work-life exciting and entertaining.  The nice thing about having a diverse team is it allows variety in ideas and approaches on different situations.  My peers help me keep grounded and give myself a regular temp check.  I have to admit that I have a limited tolerance to idiocy, and sometimes, I forget myself and end up moving away from diplomacy.  That's where my team comes in.  They reign me in when they can so I don't start snapping at everyone.  Really, I'm far less patient than people give me credit for.  One peer might provide insight, while another would provide me comic relief.  It makes me completely grateful I have a support group as diverse as them.  They refuse to let the world know that I put anything less than my best foot forward.

Song: Stay the Night - Zedd feat. Hayley Williams

Day 2: The Usual

Back to work today.

And, boy, do I feel lazy...

Since coming back to work means going back to the tasks left pending during the holidays, a caffeine fix is in order.  I often start the day visiting the local Starbucks for my peppermint mocha.  I love that the baristas know my "usual" enough that I don't have to say it everyday.  I'm the one who gets the tall hot peppermint mocha with stirred whip.  When the peppermint syrup runs out, I get mint mocha.  It's a close substitute for the rest of the year when my favorite drink is not available.

I think my caffeine addiction is partly psychological.  I insist that I do not feel human until I get coffee, so I indulge.  People who know me attest, though, that I'm a bitch without it.  So, who knows?

Song: Wake Me Up - Avicii

Day 1: Inside a Bag of Maltesers

So, let's try doing this one more time.

I was able to finish my first 365 Project, but failed to even finish the first month on the second attempt.  Considering how easier it is to take digital images, I don't know why.  But then I remember this project requires a certain amount of dedication, which I hope I have this year.  Interestingly, I don't have any set goals for this time.  I used to begin a year with a list of goals for myself.  Last year was so crazy, though, it kind of felt like a blur.  I'm hoping this project would distract me enough from my regular timetable so I do not degenerate into someone with a complete lack of creativity.

Anyway, a lot of the things I got over the holidays was sweets.  I got so much it felt like I raided Willy Wonka's factory. I ended up giving out a lot to friends and family.  As crazy as it sounds, I'm not big on sweets.  I prefer meals.  I like desserts, because they complete a meal.  Snacking on sweets is not necessarily something I do a lot of.  I saved this bag of Maltesers for myself, though, because I enjoy the texture of the malt. 

I don't have any though-provoking insight on the start of the new year, but I'm up for whatever it shells out.  As the song goes, anything could happen.

Song: Anything Could Happen - Ellie Goulding