I usually blog before or around my birthday but I was busy... LIVING LIFE?! whaaat haha :)

Here's a list of some things that happened since February #22:

-donated my hair to Locks of Love (check off last year's list)

-became a couponer, not an Extreme Couponer, but I have a fairly decent stockpile of things I got for free or extremely cheap for my family. A lot of the time I end up shopping for stuff for other people haha. I'm sure the bf and his family were happy with the razors I supplied them for a while.

-all the free & cheap nail polish I've acquired from couponing has me painting my nails more often probably because I have more colors than ever before haha

-in addition to couponing, I also watch daily deal sites and get other stuff for cheap

-Bf went with my family to SoCal

-Vegas in the summer with the bf's family again

-my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, shaved her head, had a partial mastectomy, went through chemo and radiation, and is currently a great example of how it cannot claim your life. I stopped my on and off questioning of God during this period and instead seemed to have my faith restored. I always thought I'd be a crazy mess if it ever happened to my mom and for some reason, I was at peace. I just felt she'd be okay and she is. Maybe it's because there are so many people I know who have come out strong and fought cancer, maybe God was tapping me on the shoulder, maybe it's good karma after all the endless good things my mom has done. I just know I think differently about God, life and health than in previous years.

-Grandpa on my dad's side passed away. I didn't get to go with my dad to the Philippines for the funeral and I'm sad I didn't really get to know my grandpa first hand... I know he was a good man from my dad's stories though. And my dad was able to see his family after several years. He freakin went on zip lines with my uncle haha. It was a sad occasion for my dad to go back but he made a pretty good trip out of it is what I'm trying to say. I wish I was able to go... maybe in year 23?

-did the layout for the entire program/ad book for the Fil-Am's Dinner Dance;
  -first time it wasn't just the ticket and cover design

-bf partied with my friends and i in the city and for the first time, saw me get really messed up...  i say it counts as a bonding experience. lol

-I attended my first Christmas party with Ricky's family (after what 5 years... lol). Of course that meant I missed the annual Christmas party with my friends and friends' families in Daly City. I hope they're different days next year hmph

-pushed my comfort zone by attending my friend's ladies only Christmas party, full of people I don't even know. And I drove myself haha

-discovered on New Year's that I finally have no problem playing beer pong because I can drink my own beer now haha

-first time choreographing really young kids for the Santo Nino celebration;
   -first time dealing with a really angry, not very understanding parent...

-LAS VEGAS for the February birthdays! Turtle doves!
    -first road trip Ricky and I took together by ourselves
    -first time to Vegas with my besties
    -first time to be drinking... a bit much... for that many days in a row
    -first 2 times of actual "clubbing" experience (checked off of last year's list)

-First time I decided to give up meat (except fish) for the entire duration of Lent. 

-Getting up to my 2nd year of working with my company as a graphic designer and I'm sure I've made a pretty big impact :)

Here is what I want to take from YEAR 23:

-Constantly EXERCISE! (need to check this one off from last year!)

-Eat more like a vegetarian... which should be pretty easy after Lent
      -Documentaries like "Forks over Knives" and "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" explain why

-Possibly design more for myself and design stuff I like on my own terms that maybe other people can use
   -my inspiration is Amy Moss: www.eatdrinkchic.com

-Try to update my portfolio

-Ask for a raise. Gas prices have gone over $4!

-Go couponing and donate a bunch of stuff like the people on TV

And of course like every year I hope to...

-evolve my relationships with myself, my family, my friends and my boyfriend

-grow and be generally a better person

Year #22 was an extremely interesting, insightful and exciting year. I hope Year #23 will be even better!

The 21st February seemed a lot nicer than this 22nd February thus far...

I was spoiled last year I suppose. It was year 21, too.

But it's my favorite month...

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Domo Panda Shirt