10 signs that you're getting older

As I was on my way to the toilet earlier (Yes, you read that right :P), thoughts came flooding my head. Haha! Weird but these thoughts sometimes come out of nowhere!! Jeez.

Anyway, I just realised that in three years time I will be reaching the big three O and this does not excite me in any way. Haha! The past few months have been crazy and thank you God for everything.   I may not seem to have grown much in the aspect of my height, but somehow some parts of me have changed. Let me see if you and I have the same experiences as you grow and become closer to adulthood. Haha! So much adult-ing to do so little time!!!

YOU PREFER COFFEE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.
I don't know about you but coffee+good view+good food=heaven on earth. Haha!

YOUR WARDROBE IS STARTING TO GO FROM FLORALS TO BASICS.
Don't get me wrong. I still love anything with flowers on it but lately, I've been admiring plain coloured tops. Maybe because people from this country don't care much about what you wear and won't judge you if you wear something crazy AF or plain AF. (This is why I love this country. Haha!)

YOU CAN GO FOR A MONTH WITHOUT FACEBOOK, SNAPCHAT AND INSTAGRAM.
Yes people. You can do it. I did it and it was (a bit boring. Haha) but fulfilling in a way. Social media cleanse gurl! :P You'll learn to appreciate nature more. :)

YOU'RE STARTING TO WEAR SUNSCREEN.
Back home, I would only put on sunscreen when I'm on the beach (maybe because it's too hot to put sunscreen on my face everyday. hihi) but for the past year, I've been applying sunscreen before dabbing powder on my skin so congratulate me for finally being able to work on a regimen for my skin! #signsofaging #girlthang

STRESS IS SO REAL.
Not that I haven't been stressed before but dang, this "stress" thing can sometimes be annoying to deal with! But oh well, it's part of growing uh... up? :P

YOU BRING OUT THE CHEF IN YOU.
You're getting more creative in the kitchen and there are times that you have to make do with what you have since you couldn't be bothered to go outside and buy food! :P Thank God for friends who would sometimes bring me food or ask me out for lunch or dinner! :)
I will forever remember you and keep you guys in my heart. Haha! :P

YOU CAN'T FINISH ONE ROMANTIC NOVEL.
I love books but lately I can't finish even one :( I would end up sleeping after a few pages or I would shut it down since the love affair would seem so unrealistic. Haha! That's what you get for being so exposed to real life that you're starting to lose your faith in what they call "fantasy". :(


FREE STUFF IS GOOD STUFF.
I think this doesn't apply only to people that are getting older but for everyone in the planet! But in relation to this blog post, I would say that as you grow older and money is becoming harder to earn, free stuff like flowers being given to you in the streets and anything that involves a "free taste" sign on it is already considered a treat! Hihi :) #mababawnakaligayahan #aminin 

YOU'RE BECOMING MORE APPRECIATIVE, MORE FORGIVING AND SURPRISINGLY, MORE OF A PEOPLE PERSON.
I need to work on the "more forgiving" part for this one person and my mom knows who she is but we'll get there mothaaaa. Haha! :P As you grow older, I'd reckon that you now prefer less drama that's why you'd rather smile and forget about stuff than dwell on it. Remember, every wrinkle is.. (can't think of a rhyme. Haha!)

YOU'RE STARTING TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT... or not.
That quarter life crisis is slowly fading away and now you're more certain on what you what in terms of your career and life in general (of course that includes your partner of choice blabla)
But if you're reading this and you're still not there and you think that the quarter life crisis is taking longer than expected, don't ya worry cuz as the day goes by, you'd get to a point wherein you will just know, you know? Haha! :P

So there ya go! That'll be all for now! I have more to add next time. :)

Hope you feel the same way as I do. If not, then feel free to comment below and share your #signsofaging moments! :)

XOXO, 

Gennin

SPECIAL THANKS TO (Wow, me ganern? Haha!):  ATE ANN JALIT FOR THE PHOTOS!!!

An open letter to people who called ME and others fat

I used to be 75kgs and being called fat or pig used to be something that was said to me on a day to day basis. Friends, family, classmates, you name it, they said it. People who think that only the physical appearance of a person makes them attractive are all the wrong people. They don't know how it feels to hear those words and they don't know the emotional pain and struggle that they're causing the person that they say those words to.

Most of the time, I am thankful that I used to be one of those people being called fat. I still am fat but the difference is, now I've learned to embrace it. I came to a point where I lost more weight and people now began to call me skinny. You can really never please anybody. 

Funny enough, there was this one guy who used to be my schoolmate. We never talked back then. Yeah we would say hi along the corridors but that was it. Years later, he sent me a message telling me that I look better now than back in Uni. I thanked him just to be polite. He didn't stop there though. He told me that I used to look different. (From the way he said it, he meant it in a bad way). I wanted to tell him off right away but I figured, people like these, are not worth my time and energy. 

So to those who called me fat and still calls me fat now..

    

 Sorry. Sorry for I did't look pleasant or good enough for you. Sorry for even if I was fat I was happy because I'm not missing out on good food. Sorry for you thought I had to live my life according to YOUR standards. Sorry for you were born so perfect that you couldn't find any imperfections about yourself and you've decided to take it out on me. Sorry for your words that made me feel like being fat is a crime, and now those words don't affect me anymore. Sorry for I realised that I wasn't the one who was insecure, it was you. Sorry for all those who thought only those who are skinny can be in a relationship. Sorry for you have boxed love into a context based on physical appearance. Sorry for you are lucky enough to be born sexy and I wasn't but even if that's the case, I still wouldn't wish to be you. Lastly, Sorry for I have accepted my flaws as a person and I pity you for all that you've said and I promised myself not to define my self worth based on your words. :)

All I'm praying for is that in the future, God will send me and surround me with people who accepts me just the way I am. Cliche as it may sound. :)

Gotta sleep now or else I'd be all drowsy again tomorrow. Haha! Goodnight loves! xoxo, Gen.

10 things you don't know about me

This is another selfish yet personal post since I tried to ask my previous roomie for a topic to blog about but she wasn't able to give me something to work with so I decided to just come up with something to blog about tonight. Haha! (Hey Heart! Haha :P )

In my last post, I shared the 5 things that are currently making me happy but now I'm going to write a few things that you don't know about me (or only a few people know about me). I know this is a useless boring topic to read but bear with me while I discover something about myself as I type this down. Haha!

I'M QUIET WHEN I'M HUNGRY OR TIRED.
     Don't be upset when you're with me and suddenly you find that things are getting awkward since all of a sudden I'm not talking and I'm not my usual happy self. The thing is, I'm just hungry or tired or both. Haha! 

I HAVE THIS THING FOR SISTEMA TUPPERWARES.
     Haha! Maybe it's part of "adult-ing". These containers are so cute and I have a habit of buying them when they're on sale. :( I should stop ASAP.

PIC'S CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER MADE ME REALISE THAT PEANUT BUTTER IS LOVE.
     I used to hate peanut butter. My mom loves peanut butter and she would often spread it on top of her bread when she eats her breakfast in the morning. Things changed when I tried this brand of peanut butter. OMG (arte!) I can't even. Haha!

CINNAMON MAKES ME SNEEZE.
     I'm not much of a cinnamon fan. I can eat it but too much of it makes me sneeze for some reason! 

THE SIGHT OF BOOKSTORES EXCITE ME.
    I stopped reading books a few months ago. I couldn't finish one book now which sometimes make me feel like I'm not my old self. :( butttt, even if that's the case, I still get excited and happy whenever I see a bookstore. My feet would often drag me to go inside and just "have a look". 

MY HAIR IS PARTLY HAIR PARTLY SPLIT ENDS.
    Not sure if this counts as something that people don't know about me since if you look at my hair you'd automatically see how awful my split ends are!! Had to chop them off recently. Hihi :)

I CAN EASILY PICK UP A TUNE OF A SONG.
     I love music but I'm not into metal or anything rock. This is something that I must've inherited from my papa or mama. :)

I SMILE WHENEVER I SEE A FLOWER. A MOON. A TREE. A RAINBOW. ANYTHING NATURE-ISH.
    It doesn't take much to make me smile. Haha! #imcheaplikethat

NEVER HAVE I EVER...TRIED SMOKING.
    And I do not intended on trying it soon. I just hate the smell of cigarettes. No offense to those who smoke though. 

I USED TO BE HALF CATHOLIC HALF MORMON.
     and now, I'm officially a Christian. :) Sinner but with God's grace I'm trying to let go of the old me and live my life according to His will. I'm not perfect and never will I be. I often sin. :( Christians are not perfect and as long as we worship one GOD who cares about religion!!! :) 
     

Tell me something about you by commenting below! :) 

xoxo, Gennin

5 things that are currently making me happy.

BAPTISM

I'm going to get baptised in the next few days!!! Ahh!! Can't believe this is finally happening and God has finally led me to the right church!

After years of searching, God has finally placed me into the right place. I now know why he brought me here. It's not about the money that I'm going to earn but it's about the relationship that I'm going to build with him. Almost 10 years ago, I received Christ as my Lord an saviour. I would never forget that moment when we were at Rose Memorial and for some reason the presence of the Holy Spirit was calling me to go in front and I knew right then and there that God wants me to come closer to Him.

You see, religion is complicated for me. My mom is a mormon and my dad is a catholic and I'm well.. not sure where I am or what I am. I've been going to any churches and I've lived my life not caring about religion at all but I've always believed that there is something about your relationship with God.

Miracles. Yes, it's not the universe talking. It's God working in and through you. It's amazing when you hear stories of people finding Christ in their lives. Especially those people who never had a religion. People who never knew who Christ is. People who were born in a completely different environment.

I knew that the devil would always get in the way of me getting baptised but always remember, if the the devil can always bombard you with sickness but he can NEVER ever touch your heart and soul if you're focused on GOD. 

So, the first thing on top of list is.. my BAPTISM! :)

Baptism Video

KUMARA FRIES

These past 2 sundays after church, I would go and walk to Burger Fuel to get me some of these kumara goodness! Haha! You know where to find me next Sunday! :P

TIL I MET YOU- Yes, the teleserye of JADINE.

Hay. <3 Haha! Keeps me busy every Monday during my day off!

DATES. 

OMG. I can eat a loooot of these now. I tried making raw date and cashew balls and my boss loved it so yeah. Haha.

NO FACEBOOK. INSTAGRAM AND SNAPCHAT.

I'm on my third week now and I'm still alive! Haha! It can get boring sometimes though but you know what? Makes me realise that if people really miss you and care for you, they'd check up on you the normal way. Through call or text. So far, nobody missed me yet :( Haha! 

GOODNIGHT LOVES! :)

How does it feel to be single for a long time?

        I saw this post on Facebook a minute ago and it sparked by sleeping writer's mind. Haha! These past few days have been quite a struggle for me (new job and all) and writing puts my brain into relaxation mode.

      So, do you REALLY want to know how it feels? Let me tell you more about it. Haha!

IT'S A BIT LONELY.

      Oh common guys admit it. You have those days wherein you'd see couples around you and there you are walking in the streets alone, eating alone or in my case having coffee alone. It makes you wonder why in this world full of you and me's (I know, there's no such thing as "me's" in the English dictionary, but there is in my blog so ignore it. haha), there you are hoping for a you and I. Haha! But nonetheless it can also beeeee....

               LIBERATING.
                       No more "I'm here at." or "Can I do this?" or "Where are you's?". Being single teaches you to stand on your own and you're learning to make decisions by yourself without relying on someone to make it for you. It makes you realise what you really want and gives you permission to do it. Right away. In your own terms.


MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE OF BEING ALONE.

        Which I don't know whether or not it's a good thing. Haha! Sometimes you'd get used to your own presence that you don't know how to act around other people. Weird. I know. Don't ask me why. Continue reading. Haha!

PROMPTS YOU TO BECOME SOCIABLE.

        I'm the type of person who can sometimes be sociable and sometimes not. There are times when I just don't feel like talking. There's nothing wrong with me and I'm not upset or anything. (If it's lunch time I'm just probably hungry. Haha) I just want silence. Haha! Being single forces you to be sociable in all events. It kindaaa forces you to attend events as well. People would be like, "Why don't you go to this and that?" to meet more people.
Me: Nah, too tired to function. Haha! (Boring person right duuuuur.)

YOU'D SAY YES TO DATING BUT WILL SAY NO AFTER ONE OR TWO TIMES, MAYBE THREE.

         They say that this is the time of your life to try and go on as much dates as you can. I beg to disagree. (You can agree if you want, this is just me. Haha). Dating is so overrated. Most people think that the more dates you go to the more beautiful you are. Dating doesn't validate you. God does and you are so worth more than the number of boys you've dated. Amen? :)

Annnnd, don't you think it's better to go out with someone who really has interests in you and what you like and all that "I want to know more of you" stuff rather than going out with someone who is just talking to you and asking you out because he/she has nothing better to do that day?

MAKES YOU FORGET HOW TO BE SWEET.

          And it also makes you feel weird when someone is all of a sudden sweet to you. :P

MAKES YOU A LITTLE BIT WISER ABOUT LOVE.

          Well, all of us became dumb at certain point of our lives especially when it's about love. (Trust me. I know. Haha!) However, as the years passed you kinda know whether or not this person is worth your time.

Finally, (because I'm running out of things to say---or in this case,write.)

IT FEELS AWESOMETASTIC! And normal. 

        Haha. I just wanted to write that down. Some kiwi thing I learned in the past year. Haha!

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart."

Laters guys! :) Anything you want me to write about? :) God bless everybody! :)

P.S. Shoutout to my housemate Juna for taking the photos. I'm running out of photos to share so whoever is up for some random photo taking activities, lemme know! Haha :P 

xoxo, Gennin <3

       

How do you know it's time to let go?

     Ask yourself. How DO YOU know? Strange enough, I didn't have an answer to this question after a friend asked me about this earlier. It seems kinda hard to actually tell when it's time to let go or still put up with the fight but let me just summarise 5 things that "I think" are the most common indications that it's about time to let go and let fate happen.

It's time to let go when.. You're starting to keep secrets from each other.

      TRUST dude. If you can't be all out and honest to your partner, you might as well end it. How can you be in a relationship when your partner doesn't even trust you around your friend of the opposite sex? As I grew older, I realised that being open to ideas of your partner having real friends outside the both of you is important for them not to lose themselves. Being close-minded will only give rise to more and more secrets and scary enough, it might turn to lies. (Wow, so deep. Haha! Cheka.)

It's time to let go when.. You can go a day without having to communicate.

         Communication is very important.. to girls at least. Last night my friend and I were watching a movie and we were laughing about having to miss that kilig feeling when someone you love sends you a message. Haha! Isn't it amazing how one simple act of reaching out to the person you love makes them feel loved? I don't know about you but not communicating is like telling the other person (cue Edward Cullen. Haha!), "It's as if you never existed."

It's time to let go when.. You've cried enough.

         Teardrops are falling in my.. eye? Haha! Crying is normal, constant crying seems kinda abnormal. Haha! Not only will you look haggard, you'll also feel less about yourself and your wound is cutting deeper inside. (Knife, cuts like a knife. Haha! :P )

It's time to let go when.. You're tempted to find what your partner lacks in another person. or actually do it.

       

          Self explanatory. One word, cheating. Next! 

Finally, It's time to let go when.. you've lost YOU.

            

           I'm sleepy. Haha! Bye loves!! :) Comments?

Me before You

    I think I should stop watching movies from now on. My bank account is not liking it anymore. Haha! A few days ago, when Me before you was released in NZ, my housemate and I were talking about watching it. Sylvia Park's only 10 minutes away thus without hesitation, we got her laptop and booked our tickets online! (So much for "spur of the moment decisions". Haha!)

      I got the book and it has been lounging around my room for the past few weeks now (Since I have this habit of comparing books and movies) and a much as I wanted to flick to the next few pages that I've read, I just didn't have the time. (Reasons reasons. Haha!) Okay so, when we got to the cinema (It was my first time to be at Hyots so don't judge. Haha!), I was amazed on how roomy the seat was. If you're ever planning on asking your girl out on a date, then this place is a winner. Haha. :P

        Back to the movie. (I get sidetracked so easily. Jeez.) When the people were coming in, here I am sitting there smiling to myself thinking, this is the type of movie wherein guys would be forced to watch it just to avoid further arguments with ze girlfriend. Haha! As the movie was starting, I braced myself for what is about to happen. Tears and more tears and plus a little bit more. Haha!

     The movie got me hooked and surprisingly it didn't make me feel sleepy especially in the beginning. Hihi. I commend the writer for writing such brilliant set of lines which enabled most of the audience to laugh. Weird enough, I loved Louisa Clark's fashion sense in this movie. Fashion does depend on who and how that person wears such clothes. I'm going to go deeper about the movie so if you don't want any spoilers, stop reading from this point on. Haha!

     The story for me was Nicholas Sparks-ish since it involves one person being tragically paralysed for some reason and then fate brings the leading lady closer to the leading man, and the rest is history.  And by history I meant someone has to die and someone has to move on. This movie taught me something about selfish and selfless kind of love. Isn't it bizarre (I learned to use this word in a sentence and not just in a title of a song due to my Kiwi workmates. Haha!) how one can actually be selfish and self-lessssss at the same time?

      Will, as arrogant as he got after what has happened to him and after his girlfriend married his best friend (AWWWW), is the type of guy that you would actually be annoyed with at first and then your heart will begin to soften up as you get to know him and your heart softens up a little bit more as he shares to no one else but you and then days later you'd realise that... that you're starting to want to make him smile. That he's the only person in your life at that time who actually believed in your capacity to do something more out of your life that just live it. This is what happened to Louisa Clark, which was at that time, in a relationship with someone that was just too entered on himself and his wants that he forgets the importance of making Lou one of his top priorities. 

       Do you actually believe that some people are actually meant to be a part of your lives even for a split second? That every encounter you have and no matter how fast that encounter may be, you can see fate unfolding? (ANO DAAAAW? Hahaha) 

      It wasn't a coincidence when the cafe closed and Louisa had to look for a job to support her family and that she eventually ended sitting in front of Will's mom thinking it was Will's father that she was going to look after. You know how life goes. As the movie was progressing (Char), I've caught a few lines (#whatswithmeandmovielines) that kindaaaa made me feel kilig (Dear auto correct, FYI, kilig is now part of the English dictionary. Haha!). Here are a few:

1. When Will/Louisa (not sure. haha) said, " Can I take you somewhere?" 

2. When (this I'm sure) Will said, "You are pretty much everything that makes me want to get up in the morning." ----Awww moment. 'Kay fine. Haha.

3. When Will said, "You are something else." ----I hope he meant it in a good way! Haha. 

4. "You can't change when the people can't. What do you do? You love them anyway."---SOOO hard to do this one.

5. Will: "Will you stay?" ----As if he was asking himself to stay by starting of with "Will". Haha. :P Waley!

     Louise: "For as long as you want me to."

Favourite: When you feel sad, just live. 

        Overall, this movie seemed a bit cliche but the type of cliche that makes you want to believe that  by being selfish and by leaving the person you love behind is not all the time a bad thing. Most of the time when you're the person leaving you'd feel like it's just the right thing to do at that time. And as for the person being left behind, you may not understand how such a selfish decision can be so unselfish, but you just have to accept it. 

        After watching Me before You what stuck to me was each of us has to find that need to become our own selves before being with someone for "the rest of our lives". In some cases, finding "you" enables you to find that "you" that you're looking for. Buuttt always remember, "Walang forever". Hahaha! Jokkeeeeee. Bye loves!

     Oh, P.S. Their first date with Louisa wearing that red dress and the look on Will's face when he saw her was one for the books! :) and P.S.S.S.S.sss. Believe in serendipity. In finding things that are not looked for. :)

-Gennin