Have you watched the movie “What Happens In Vegas”? We were able to watch it and I think it’s a hilarious movie.

As the title obviously tells us, the movie is set in Las Vegas, the Sin City, and the story revolves around Joy and Jack, two people who can’t be more different from each other. Joy was depressed because of a recent breakup and Jack was just fired by his own father, and both decided to go to Vegas to escape their misery. Well, you know what happens in Vegas, there’s lots of partying, drinking, and of course, gambling.

After a night of partying and being drunk, Joy and Jack find themselves together in bed the following morning, in one of the fabulous hotels in las vegas, apparently, already married and with no recollection whatsoever of how they got themselves into it. They realize they hate each other so they decided to get divorced. But everything got complicated when one of them won a huge jackpot in a casino playing the other’s quarter. Everything got even more complicated when the judge assigned to their case sentenced them to “six months hard marriage” and the couple is forced to live with each other and see it through.

Everyday after that was a greedy battle between the two, culminating in each formulating a plan to get the other to give up or cheat or be late for counseling, anything to get the money for themselves. But then, like all romantic comedies, it gets predictable… they fell in love with each other along the way, and they ended up together.

I personally liked the movie because it made me laugh. I’m a romantic comedy kind of girl, and although the ending is quite predictable, I enjoyed the humor and love accents in the movie. I also liked that the main characters were played by Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz. Overall, I think it’s a good movie to watch, especially if you need to laugh a little or love a little.

Pain In My Heart is one of my favorite songs ever since I was a kid. The first time I heard this, I didn’t even know anything about love. So it wasn’t even about the lyrics, at first. I remember I was too young to relate to the song. I just liked the melody and somehow it stuck with me. As I grew older, I started to understand the lyrics, and having experienced love myself, I learned to appreciate the words of the song.

It’s a very sad song, I think you have to experience being heartbroken to fully realize the sadness that it conveys. If you’ve never nursed a broken heart, then you probably won’t be able to appreciate the real meaning of it. But if you’ve lost a love, I think you’ll find the lyrics and melody piercing. It may even make you cry. It’s about pain, loss, and longing.

The original artist is Second Wind, but it has been revived by various artists. It’s a good thing actually, coz when I knew this song, not a lot of people really knew it then. Now, it’s quite popular and I’m sure there are lots of people who have gotten themselves attached to it somehow. I really love it, and having experienced a heartbreak myself, this song is always present in my play list. Here’s the lyrics:

Here I am alone in this empty room
And let my mind just fly you to the end
Thoughts of you still linger in my memory
Wondering why my life is not that fair
I could still recall those memories of you
The joy and all your laughter
The love that we’ve been through
Oh, I can’t believe you’re gone, oh no…

Talking to myself for reasons I should find
Finding out why everything went wrong
Tears falling down my cheeks
That I’ve been trying to hold
I just don’t know if I could still go on
I wanted you to stay, the tears begin to show
You said you cared for me, but then you had to go
And now I know you’re gone

But I don’t want to remember
The things we used to do
And all the things that remind me of you
I don’t want to hear the songs
The songs we used to sing
Coz I don’t wanna feel the pain in my heart

I just can’t believe you’re gone…

I saw this fashion show on TV today, and it was really good. It was a lingerie line that they were promoting, and I have to say I loved the nighties, the classy bras, the lacy underwear, and the flannel pajamas. But what I loved most in that show were the corsets. They were absolutely beautiful! I’ve never worn a corset before, but after watching those models flaunt them in the runway, I’m thinking I should probably be getting one for myself too. They’re supposed to slim the body by making the waist smaller and emphasizing a lady’s curves. It’s a kind of lingerie that is close fitting and hides flabs and excess fats around the waist. Sounds good? Nowadays, clothes are even designed to look like a corset. It’s become a kind of fashion statement by itself.

When I was a little child, my mother embroidered a great deal. I can remember the time when, as I was sitting at her feet and looking up at her, I asked her what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. I remarked that it looked like a mess from where I was. As, from the underside, I watched her work within the boundaries of the little round hoop in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.

She looked down, smiling at me, and gently said, “My child, you go and play for now, and when I am finished, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side.” I wondered why she used some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my point of view.

Later, after some time had passed, as I was playing, I heard my Mother calling for me to come and sit on her knee. I went to her, and as I settled into the comfort and security of her lap, my mother said, “My child, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize there was a plan on the top, a design that I was following. Now look at it from my side, and you will see what I was doing.” Then, when she showed me her completed work, I was surprised and thrilled to see a landscape scene full of beautiful flowers adorned by the radiant glow of a magnificent sunset.

Many times, I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and asked, “Father, what are You doing?” He has answered, “I am embroidering your life.” I say, “But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?” My Father gently says, “My child, you go and do My will for now, and one day, I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee, and then you will see the plan from My side.”

Author Unknown

We went to a hotel this weekend for a well deserved break and a day of pampering. I was so excited when we arrived and couldn’t wait to go to our room and relax. There were so many people in the hotel that time because there was an ongoing seminar so we had to wait a little while in the lobby. I looked around and was admiring the whole place, the lights, the decoration, the plants.

Being a nature person, the flowers and plants caught my attention the most. There were so many of them around and they were great to look at, but I couldn’t help wondering how much care and time the hotel staff have to put in to maintain the plants. I imagined someone dragging a hose inside the lobby and watering the plants. I almost laughed. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

I looked closer at a beautiful plant nearby and I realized it wasn’t real! It was artificial. I asked one of the hotel staff and he confirmed that they were, in fact, silk flowers. They use them for decoration purposes so the hotel will look serene and fresh without the hassles of live plants, which require sun and moisture and maintenance. Yeah, I knew these things existed, but it was so difficult to spot the difference. They looked so real to me! I guess with the advancement of technology, it’s no wonder even plants now are replicated and they would still look like the original. I was still pondering on that thought when we went to our hotel room. Amazing.

Have you ever been to Orlando, Florida? I have a friend who migrated there last year and she tells me that it’s a very nice place. It’s also a great vacation destination because it has lots of entertainment options and the place is bustling with activity. She told me that if I was the kind of person who love the outdoors (which I am), I’ll feel right at home there. Orlando vacations are so much fun and worthwhile, she says. There’s just so much to do and so much to explore. She even invited me to visit her place, she told me she would show me around and that I’m going to have the time of my life there visiting theme parks, museums, and of course, Walt Disney World. Just listening to her talk about these fun places makes me jealous and I’m so looking forward to visiting them someday.

Yesterday, I went to this new coffee shop at our place and tried one of their special coffee concoctions. Do you guys love coffee? Me, I love it. But I’ve always limited my intake of them. I especially love the taste and the aroma, and it’s always available at home and at work, but I’ve never really allowed myself to get addicted to it.

Some say coffee is good for you, some say it’s bad for you. There are health benefits and health problems associated with coffee. But the thing is, most people don’t really care. Coffee is popular with people who are always on the go, because they need caffeine to help them get through their busy day. It’s also popular with kids and teens, because they usually hang out in coffee shops with their friends. It’s popular with lovers, because having coffee is a common date activity. It’s also popular with young professionals and homemakers and dads. The list goes on and on.

Research says that coffee can reduce the risk of certain diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease, heart disease, gout. But also, it has negative effects due to its caffeine content. And those who drink it all the time have gotten so used to it, that when withdrawn, they experience an increase in anxiety and depression. For me though, even though coffee can have specific health benefits, too much consumption is not good. Once your system gets used to it, it’s difficult to stop. Too much of anything, is never good. Moderation is key. That’s why personally, I just drink coffee at times when I really need a little pick-me-upper. Other times, I simply avoid it.

Do you love coffee?

Copyright©2008angel

In my line of work, I sit in front of the PC for nine hours a day, five days a week. It’s an easy job but the problem is, my back gets stiff at the end of the day from sitting for long periods of time. Imagine spending hours just sitting and typing all day long. It’s not just my back that’s affected, sometimes my neck gets all stiff too and my wrist and hands are strained. There are some tips for proper sitting posture but I don’t really think it can help much with regards to the stiffness that my body feels. What could really help is a nice, comfy chair. It also helps if the chair has a high back rest so we can rest our heads and our necks won’t be as stiff. It’s a good thing our bosses noticed our discomfort so they bought us all comfortable chairs. I believe every company should invest in some good office furniture for their employees. If the employees are comfortable enough, they can avoid body aches and pains, and as a result, increase their work efficiency.

I actually smiled when I saw this poster. It’s true, our minds and hearts are often, if not always, arguing when it comes to love. Oftentimes when the heart wants something that the mind doesn’t like, the mind interferes and makes the whole thing complicated. Sometimes the heart should follow the mind, because it’s the one that provides balance and logic. It provides a reality check to our unpredictable and sometimes out of control emotions. And even though we hate to admit it, the brain can be right and we know we’ll do better if we follow it. But there are also times when we need to follow our hearts too. Sigh, love really IS complicated. But don’t you just wish sometimes, that you can just leave the mind behind so you could follow your heart and be happy? Oh, the irony. If that is at all possible, perhaps most people would do it.

I was on my way home one day when I saw a group of bikers pass by. Seeing them, I realized how much I miss biking. It’s been so long. I haven’t ridden my bike in months! So when I arrived home, I sought out my old bike. I was planning to do a couple of laps around the neighborhood. Like I said, I haven’t touched my bike in months, so understandably, it wasn’t in good shape. I’m not good with fixing things, so I asked my cousin to check it out for me. We took out our box of air tools and my cousin began tinkering. Turns out, the wheel needs to be replaced. We had a spare alright, but the problem is, the nuts are already too tough for a hand wrench. They simply won’t budge! So we had to use an air impact wrench. It’s a good thing we had these tools ready. They really are handy and efficient. Using the impact wrench, the nuts were removed easily. Talk about fast and convenient! Before you know it, the task was done and I was biking away. God, I miss biking!

I read a chapter about The Cross today. It was such a heartfelt passage that I cried.

What’s the meaning of the Cross anyway? Most Catholics simply know that it signifies the death of Jesus Christ, but some don’t realize the true meaning of it. Sometimes, I don’t fully grasp the importance of it and the extraordinary meaning behind it. But when I read that particular chapter, I was deeply moved.

So why did Jesus die in the Cross? He was innocent and pure, right? He didn’t deserve to be subjected to the harsh and cruel treatment that was given Him. So why did it have to happen? Why did He have to SUFFER and DIE? The answer is simple. He did it for You and Me. He did it because HE LOVES US. He did it because it was the only way for us to be saved and our sins to be forgiven. Yes, sinning is part of our humanity, but we shouldn’t downplay it or say that it’s no big deal. Because sins are, in fact, a big deal. And Jesus was willing to sacrifice His own life, so these very sins won’t destroy us.

I know you’ve probably already heard this over and over again, in sermons, in Church, from pastors, and some of you might just dismiss it as, “Oh yeah, I already know that.” And I don’t mean to sound preachy or anything. But really, try and let this shocking truth capture your hearts. Coz it’s such a beautiful truth. Jesus loves us so much, He was willing to die and suffer, so we could live. Imagine that! We’ve made a lot of mistakes in our lives, we’ve sinned many times and we deserve all the pain and punishment for our sins. And yet, there He was, He took it all, even though He didn’t deserve any of it, so we wouldn’t have to.

See how unconditional His love is? And what about God? Do you realize how much God loves us too? He sent His only Son to save us. He loves Jesus so much, but He allowed His only Son to die and suffer for the sins of the world. I hope you realize the enormity of this sacrifice. He rejected His own Son so our sins will be forgiven! We put Jesus on the Cross, it was our sins that put Him on the Cross, but He did it, because He loves us.

If you’re reading this now, and you acknowledge that you’ve sinned, don’t think that because your sins are great, you will not be forgiven. Don’t think that because your sin is bigger than those of other people, God will take a longer time to forgive you. All sins, big or small, are the same in God’s eyes. So, no matter where you are, remember the Cross. Remember that Jesus loves you so much, He died for you. Remember the image of Jesus Christ’s extended arms, nailed on the cross, saying, “This is how much I love you. Believe and repent.”

Copyright©2008angel

I’ve always been fascinated with interior design. I love to look at magazines that feature how a room is designed, from the color theme to the individual furniture and decorations. Not that I’m any good at decorating, but I love to look at how a room really comes together, the transformation that occurs with just the right touch and concept. Fast forward to the future, when I have my own house. I see in my mind’s eye how it would look like, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the bathroom.

Just now, I came across an interesting piece of fixture, a glass sink. I looked into it, and I thought to myself, “Why not?” It would certainly look cool and elegant in a bathroom. Not only that, they’re durable too and easy to clean. Just use mild soap and water and you’re good to go. The thing is, this kind of sink provides a fresh new look to any bathroom. And also, I don’t know about you, but personally, I love hearing the splash of water against glass. It’s so refreshing and calm. I think I’ll definitely consider this when I’m ready to build my own house someday.