Last Hurrah

With the arrival of the "ber" months, we find ourselves making that last sprint to the "Things to Accomplish for 2010" finish line...Wish us luck!!!

RORIE

1) Enroll in driving school - Sigh. Thought I could get by without having a license and learning how to drive but apparently not. Looks like I have to battle it out with the buses in EDSA and learn to read a street map. Though if I had a BMW SUV, I wouldn't mind driving anywhere, anytime.

 

2) Channel Ina and Martha - Now that I have my own place, looking after my family and managing a household are my top priorities. These superstar homemakers are my idols when it comes to whipping up gourmet dishes and maintaining a spotless house. My current bibles:

Given by my gorgeous daughter Maxinne: The Barefoot Contessa at Home

Given by my future MIL Suzanne. First saw this at bolso babe Kit's pad and knew I had to have my own copy: Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook

3) Edit my wardrobe - A difficult task for sure given the nature of my work and the number of things I have amassed through the years, but sadly, I have no choice because closet space is LIMITED at our new place. My dream closet when we move to a bigger place next year:

4) Do charity work - While I have given old clothes and monetary donations in the past, what I really want to do is pledge my time and energy. One of the organizations I plan to help out: WE International Philippines

5) Spend more time with my girls - This year has been crazy with work and wedding preps so I have been flaking out on several GNO occasions. I promise to make it up to my LLFs and Cuzins after the wedding is over! ; )

 

KIT

1. I am already on a healthier diet, but I am so out of shape and quite honestly don't get enough exercise. I always find an excuse to NOT work out. And so my most important goal before the year ends is to begin and continue barre3 classes at least twice a week.

2. My husband and I have been planning to take a vacation - minus the kids. With so many things going on this year, it's been a nightmare to schedule. I am still hoping for Spain, but if time won't permit, I'll settle for Japan just to see the auctions at the Tsukiji Market.

3. I don't usually talk about religion - it incites way too many fiery arguments. I've recently been faced with many questions about faith from my sons and I'll be damned (hehe, no pun intended) if I can't give them a proper answer! As Catholics, many of us get caught up in the habit and routine of it all but forget the true foundation of our faith. I think it's important for us to keep studying our beliefs to be able to have a deeper understanding of our faith. I've finally got my copy of the Navarre Bible New Testament Expanded Edition and my goal is to finish it by year's end.

4. The five of us in our family just seem to accumulate so much - junk! This is not good, especially since we live in a condo and don't have the luxury of storage space. We are about as neat as can be, but I shall declutter this year! Mark my words!

5. I may be on a healthier diet, but the boys definitely aren't! Feeding three - er, make that four growing boys is stressful! Especially when they eat non-stop throughout the day. I will find healthier alternatives to their staples of pizza and burgers! And not give in to the temptation of buying instant snacks for my bottomless pits.

KARISIA

My most pressing task: APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS for school. After my brief stint at NYU, I find myself itching to leave once more and see the world outside the comforts of Manila. Ol' Blue Eyes did say that "...if I can make it there, I’m gonna make it anywhere..."

Last January I vowed to FIX MY ROOM. And now, 9 months later, I find myself in a panic since my haven has not been re-vamped and is probably in an even worse state than it was! And just because I love To Do Lists, here goes: 1) Start with throw, keep and donate piles. 2) Paint, hang and move things around. 3) Shop. Decorate. Done...Now if only I could buy everything in Ralph Lauren's The Heiress Collection...

As much as running has now become a part of my life, I have yet to SPEED IT UP. My Sissy always says that she "just finished an easy 30-minute 5k" and I'm silently thinking "Umm...my 35-minute 5k contains a lot of huffing and puffing..." I figure that there are some thing’s in life I cannot force to come quickly, but I sure should be able to tell my legs and feet to move faster (with a little bit of help from David Guetta...on my ipod).

You know that go-to pair of shoes you have that puts an extra swing to your step? That is exactly what my black peep-toes do...did...for me. Yes, it's time to finally put them to rest, they have done their job well. I am now asking the help of my BFF Lani, and her fab shoe shop WSW, in my quest to find my next perfect pair. In my dreams I am already wearing Valentino's flower-embellished suede pumps...

I am not a rice lover, except for sushi, my carb enemy is pasta. Recently my Spanish teacher, Mati, gave me a Paella recipe from her native Madrid. I am dying to make this, but I have yet to buy my own paellera. Do know I intend to have mastered my own version in time for mi familia’s Christmas Eve dinner.

JENNY

• DE-CLUTTER & ORGANIZE MY ROOM This is something that’s in the top of my “things I really must find time to do” list. It’s surprising to see how much things one can accumulate within the year! I’m hoping to find the time to slowly de-clutter and organize my room making it easier for me to move around in again… I can do it, a day at a time!

• DO ONE MORE 14 DAY MASTER CLEANSE It’s important to do some form of cleansing regularly. When you begin to realize that the basic cause for feeling tired, irritable and generally sick is due to excessive waste matter accumulating internally you’ll want to start cleansing too! In my case, I’ve found one that works well with me-- the master cleanse. It’s a simple detox method that can greatly improve one’s health. I try to do it every 3 months with each cleanse lasting at least 14 days… have to sneak one more cleanse in before year’s end!

• ENROLL IN A GYM This is something I’ve been hoping to do for a long time now. Finding and making the time to do it has been quite challenging though-- It can be hard to commit to because of the kind of schedule that comes with juggling several theatre commitments at the same time. My “note to self” the past weeks was to make sure I find the time to sign up in a gym and find myself working out in it at least 3x/week… crossing my fingers!
  
  
• GO FOR RF & ULTRASOUND TREATMENTS My sister is a dermatologist and has these machines that can do procedures that i’ve been dying to try but because of my crazy schedule I just haven’t had the time to-- Radio Frequency (RF) Lifting and Firming which works wonders for firming and facial contouring… and Ultrasound Cavitation which targets fat melting, cellulite improvement and body contouring . These non-invasive procedures are a God send to women… need to work on scheduling my sessions soon!
  
  
• PREPARE MORE HOME-COOKED VEGETARIAN MEALS Time, time, time—a luxury which I wished I had more of to spare so that I could work on whipping up more vegetarian meals at home. Not only is it pricey to dine out often but when you’re vegetarian in a carnivorous country like ours it’s not that easy to get a good variety of vegetarian dishes unless you make a special trip to specialized vegetarian restaurants like Corner Tree Café (which is a winner!!!)… must plan out more kitchen time at home!

Photos from: carscooop.blogspot.com, amazon.com, elledecor.com, moolf.com, echeng.com, thelennoxx.com, net-a-porter.com, spainontheroadagain.com, themastercleanse.org, clickthecity.com