Love Language: Words of Affirmation on Valentine's

Another day has begun.
Hearts, roses, chocolates are plenty.
Valentine's day is in full swing.
You watch the day go by
while I sleep and say bye-bye.


A new day kicks in.
It is raining and maybe rightly so.
My heart is crying with longing.
And yet thankful of the chance to have someone
to spend forever with.

Your day ends and you say your prayers.
You say Happy Valentine's.
while I say Good night!
The moon rises in your sky
While the sun is hiding in this Texan sky.

Someday time and distance will be conquered
And we can look forward to be
really together
But until that time we strive our best
in this quest
to express our love
with what we have
and any which way we got.
As they say, distance means little
When someone means so much
So today, let me say,

I love you always and everyday.

To the moon and back

Happy Valentine's Day!

Someday soon.

Yours forever,

the New Mrs.

Getting In and Out of Airports

It's interesting that this blog is entitled travels and stories but for the most part it's just been stories so far. So for this fourth post, I'll try to make it travel related this time.

My job and the company I work for has allowed (or required depending on how you look at it) me to travel to many different places for the past years. In two years, I've been to several different states and cities including Boston(MA), DC, Philadelphia(PA), Pittsburgh(PA), Cleveland(OH), Providence(RI), Indianapolis(IN), Lake Charles(LA), Chicago(IL). Prior to that other trips on separate occasions have taken me to Bradenton (FL), Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, different parts of South Korea, Zhuhai for the most part. While I still fail at packing (I am by no means a light and expert packer), I managed to be really comfortable travelling that I don't worry much when I have to.

Getting to the airport, depending on the location, taxis/uber/grab/supershuttle may be an option but for a matter of convenience, lately I find myself preferring to drive myself and just accumulate points by being a rewards member of long term parking companies that operate in airports. Once at the airport, to check-in I would start look for self-service kiosks, check for baggage drop counters outside with a really short line, scan the screens for the counter numbers for my airline, line up accordingly if needed (I normally have baggage for check-in), grab those tag labels or immigration forms if needed and start filling them up while in line or while checking in. If not required to pay for travel taxes or any other fees, I'd head straight to the Homeland Security or Immigration Queue. At this point, there is no need for me to stop and write down on the forms because I've already done so while waiting to check-in. My goal is typically to get cleared by immigration or security check as fast possible and head to my gate or wander around after doing so.

It has now been my habit to always bring with me, my company ID on all travels whether business or personal because of past requests from the Immigration officer when I used to travel heavily in Asia (from my home country). I will have my passport/Driver's License ready as well as my flight ticket (or phone depending) and everything else tucked in my bag.

Once cleared, at the security checkpoint, I would have already observed if:
1. shoes need to be taken off at the security checkpoint. Some still requires you to do so. (I don't wear any steel-toed shoes at all.)
2. laptops need to be taken out of the bag.
3. water bottles have been chucked.
4. jackets, belts and loose coins, if any are removed.

This would allow me to start removing my shoes, taking my laptop out of the bag, etc. while waiting for the slowpokes to finish and be ready in a jiffy to push my bags to the x-ray machine and wait for my turn at the security screening.

And after then, will I relax and take my time to wander.

Now, arriving at the destination is another story and depends if a flight connection has to be made in a certain period of time and in which terminal.

Flight connection required:
1. On deplaning, boarding gates and times are immediately double checked on the screens near the arrival gate.
2. Follow the signs for transfers to different terminals or gates.
3. Grab a bite or drink because US domestic flights don't normally provide any unless flying business or first class, even when flying during lunch or dinner time.
4. If it is absolutely necessary, free airport wifi are typically now more available although sometimes you have to wait a little bit until a little window pops up on the screen requiring you to acknowledge those terribly long terms that in my informal survey so far nobody really ever reads before actually getting you connected to the internet. If nothing shows up, you may either have to forget the network, join again or manually launch a browser and attempt to connect to any site. This may trigger the connection prompts. Otherwise, if still unsure if you are connected or just using a cached site, you can always look up for daily news and see the date and time there.

No flight connection required:
1. On deplaning, find out where arrival or exit gates are.
2. Any forms that need to be filled out should already be filled out.
3. If it can be helped, restroom breaks can wait until getting through immigration
4. Line up immediately on the arrival country's immigration for foreign nationals.
5. Look for the carousel number for the bags.
6. Go for the restroom break
7. Collect your bags
8. Exchange some money just enough to get you through a day or so
9. Grab a taxi/uber/grab or in Seoul/Tokyo/Osaka: find a train or airport bus.
10. Or head to the rental desks. Again, it would be wise to sign up for rewards especially if travelling for business and I've been somewhat partial to National. I like their concept of being able to just walk straight to the garage and just pick and choose any car according to your membership level. Board the car, and drive off to the exit gate.

Hopefully I didn't miss anything. On a sidenote, we are terribly spoiled nowadays given the availability of GPS. I remember a time I had to travel to Florida for the first time and GPS wasn't as available back then that all I had to get me from the airport to my temporary residence was the directions printed out from MapQuest. I survived nonetheless.

Sale Galore!

Many folks say that it is actually a good time to shop after the holidays. Many stores do have their sale events following the holidays possibly for a new season and to boost what would otherwise be a really slow quarter. It is after all the time when most folks try to recover from all the holiday spending for gifts, parties and just good old shopping. Zara normally has their F/W sale during this time. It seems even luxury brands would also have their own version. I saw one post from a personal shopper I follow of a crazy line and failed attempt at cray-cray shopping at Hermes. (That and also of Asians being the predominant clientele. Maybe it's also a cultural thing, to be a sucker for good deals. For personal or for other gains.)
I've been desperately trying my darn best not too shop too much but the stingy/frugal side of me has this effect of not being able to resist what seems to be good deals. Before I left Manila, I probably ended up spending $100 equivalent to 4/5 pants, some shirts/shorts or dresses. If that weren't enough, Kate Spade tells me about a one day only sale for a specific item which was to my taste, fortunately or rather unfortunately. It was hard to pass up because I have made an observation that the surprise shop and factory outlet store items tend to be different and appear to be of lower quality than their "normal" boutiques. This is what I especially observed for Kate Spade alone. I think it is quite easy to spot an outlet item vs one that's not for this brand.
It didn't end there though, a trip to DSW at Mall of America ended up with two flats. And then I dropped by Macy's. Apparently, they have this last act sale where prices go down to about 70%++ off! If it weren't for the fact that I had to rush to the airport, I probably have spent more than I what I did for clothes. Also, it was tax free in MN for clothes and shoes!!! Why was I not aware of it until now?! 

Prenups and Engagement Sessions

I will admit I miss wedding planning and yet somehow glad it's over. But who knows, God and finances willing we might do it again in xx years time. Anyway, one of the things that stressed me a little was the prenup or engagement session. Where I am from it felt like there's some pressure to "show off" somewhat. hence, the post-game analysis below.

There are several factors to consider regarding a prenup/engagement session. Probably two of the commonly asked questions involving a prenup would be:

1. Should I have one?

2. Do I need to hire a stylist?

In all honesty, the answer is both yes and no. From my experience it all depends on several factors (in no particular order) namely:

1. Your reason

2. Your budget

3. Your time and effort

4. Your vision

5. Your location

6. Your photo team

7. Your HMUA team

Reason. Why are you having an engagement session? 

There are all sorts of possible reasons that can range from 

1. It's included in the package . A lot of photographers include this in the package anyway, sayang naman ang "freebie".

2. I want to include our pictures in our wedding invitations, websites, AVP, etc.

3. I want to add to our memory bank of our pictures together.

4. I want our prenup to be a reflection of our style and who we are as individuals and as a couple.

5. I want the prenup to allow us to explore and feature a new/different facet of us.

6. I want to make a bold statement. 

And so on. I don't know the history of engagement sessions but for me, in its very essence an e-sesh gives couples the chance to become comfortable and confident with the camera and the photo team they hired. An engagement session was an eye opener for an inexperienced me on how to pose, smile, etc. It gave me a glimpse of how tiring the actual wedding day may be, that one should eat because posing for so-so hours may drain you. Come wedding day it was somehow easier to work with our photographer for all those "staged" photos because not everything is candid. Instructions did not have to be repeated or for us to be coached because that has been done during the prenup.

2. Budget. How much are you willing to spend on your engagement session? 

The e-sesh may set/establish the tone of your wedding. The cost can easily add-up so think about your budget as with the rest of the factors.

My husband and I didn't want to spend much for an engagement session which affected the rest of the other factors and not the other way around. (Ex. The budget dictating the vision/reason/theme vs The theme/vision/reason dictating the budget.)

We'd rather channel the extra money to the wedding than on the e-sesh.

3. Time and Effort

How much time do you have to spare to conceptualize your e-sesh? Do you want to toil endlessly to develop your own moodboard, to find a location, to comply with the requirements and logistics of the location, to shop around for outfits (not to mention trusting your clothing choices but really whatever your choice is a reflection of who you are. Go back to factor 1. ), to make your own props etc? 

Are you living overseas and would you have a lot of time and resources to be ready? I'm based overseas so there's really not a lot of time for us for any conceptualization or anything. We just went with the basics and what's practical to minimize cost add the fact that I am not very crafty. Also, it was the perfect excuse for me to shop which was not at all a lot of time and effort on my part. :)

4. Your vision/theme

Do you want your prenup to be bohemian, to be laid-back, to use smoke bombs or sparklers, to spell grandeur and elegance etc.? There can be themes that will eventually become difficult to execute on your own and might blow up your budget even more if not done right. 

5. Your location

Is your preferred location in line with your vision? Does it need sprucing up? If yes, go back to #3 and #2 as well.

Do they charge extra for food, number of people, and hours of usage? You may need to have your inital hair and makeup elsewhere to maximize the venue rental. Having too many people on the shoot may become too expensive.

Ours, because of everything else and to simplify things we just decided to splurge on a venue that would not require much props. That will allow us to rely on the venue, ourselves and our photo, HMUA team. Yes, we skipped the stylist but just because we didn't have any much theme at all nor high expectations or requirements for the prenup. We chose a location that had meaning to us, where we actually dated etc.

6. Photo team

It is important to select well and then trust your chosen team. Trust their skill and let them showcase their talent by not imposing everything and dictating everything. Do not make them copy someone else's work. Test and see what they can do for you. 

One caption from a well-known photographer was sometimes poses tend to become exaggerated instead of the burden being on the photographer to make their clients look good. That allows to differentiate photographers in their craft, their skill, their form of art.

In my opinion, if a photographer is very skilled, even if the venue is bland, or even been used by the photographer thousands of times, he will still find you good shots that are unique to you. And if you change fast, he can maximize your venue and clothes in no amount of time.

To be honest, looking at our photographer's work, I had those sudden bursts of insecurities and regrets. That my personality and peg (non-magazine editorial) does not match his recent works. But at the end of it all, I was amazed.

7. HMUA team

If hiring a prenup stylist, even after having thought about the factors above is still unclear to you, you may want to consider your HMUA team as well. There are HMUA that goes above and beyond their "scope" of fixing your hair and makeup on their chair. There are those that actually go out there with you to help fix your clothes or your hair and makeup as your shooting and posing. 

Do they work fast? 

So there, hopefully that helps to answer the question. Don't be swayed too much by the tons of pegs and pins out there. Be you.

One thing, I would have benefitted from having a stylist though would be the fact that I don't know how to press my clothes and they kind of showed in some shots. Haha Time to work on my ironing skills...

HMUA: Ten Franco

Rating: Excellent and Awesome!

Photographer: Nelwin Uy

Rating: Excellent

Venue: Pinto Art Museum

Rating: Excellent

Starting anew!

So, in my line of work now, most of the folks I work with and get to meet are from the Gen X to as far back as the Traditionalists generation. Being Asian and all, it's terribly easy for everyone to categorize me as being a millennial. The trouble is there is almost a really negative connotation to being boxed as a millennial. One training I attended which was aptly called, "Generations in the Workplace", had me being a crucial part of the training to represent that generation. Being the minority and the "misunderstood" generation I had to bear the brunt of their rants and complaints. It is not that I don't empathize but I just find it unfair to be judged as such without chance to let them know that with age and experience comes some maturity as well. Also, that they are not without any generational "flaw" so to speak as well. A lot of times, I find myself in denial of being a part of that generation just because.

However, truth be told, I have been blogging even back during the dial-up days using xanga,livejournal and blogger. I have used MIRC and yahoo messenger to chat with folks. I signed up for a friendster, myspace and multiply account before facebook came about. Yes, I caught the internet explosion as it was just starting but I spent most of my childhood without it. This meant looking at encyclopedias and going to libraries to do the research for schoolwork, to submit reports in handwritten or typewritten form.

And now, I am going back to blogging but hopefully on a less dramatic way but on a more useful way to focus more on travels, relationships and weddings among others. Cheers to new beginnings!