Guaranteed LOL

Someone asked me the other day if I had a YouTube clip that can guaranteed make me laugh out loud, every time - and literally, not just in typed 'lols'.  I know I'm slow on this one, but my brother sent me this a few days ago and it has been making the loops with me, it just gets funnier every time:

"And you're in *Yemen*..."
Love Kirsten Wiig.  Do you have a guaranteed IRL LOL?

Phils, again.

Does two years in a row make a ritual?  Not sure.  But after going every two years up until I was 16 (and then a big break) it does feel nice that the family faces we saw this time around were only a year older from the last.  Again we had a mix of old familiars and new adventures, and this time C even made it in time to ring in the new year.  Some snaps:

Kayaking over Pagsanjan Falls.  And by 'kayaking' I mean it wasn't rainy season and so our superfit guides had to haul our boats over the rocks where there wasn't enough water - they made it look so easy!  A highlight but not pictured was getting pulled through a waterfall on a raft.  Through a waterfall.  Drenched.

Beautifully serene infinity pool at The Farm at San Benito.  This place was amazing!  Think delicious vegan foods and different yoga and workout classes every day.  The perfect post-Christmas cleanse.

Riding tiny horses to the top of Taal Volcano and view of the Lake.  You can see from my attire that health and safety is their #1 priority over here.  There is still a gash on my leg from when my horse - named 'Papa Bear' - ran me into a tree, but the view at the top made it all worthwhile.

This was the cutest, happiest pup I have ever met.  His little tongue!  Found him in the greenhouse at Sonya's Garden where we had lunch while nursing horse-riding wounds.

Our smoky view of the city on New Years Eve, taken from a friend's apartment in Makati.  Most wonderful was having C by my side.  That, and they had a make-your-own-pork-buns at the party - I only have a vague recollection of this but apparently I was at that table all night hehe.

Not a food shot in site I know (?) but I can assure you it was the best way to welcome in the new year. Happy 2014 everyone!

It's the most wonderful time

- of the year!

Noone does suburban Christmas lights like 'Murica!  This year I upped the anti with a buddy who offered to drive us around Chestnut street in South San Francisco, which has a famous lit up strip:

So pretty!  The detail is amazing - even all the windows have little lit up scenes set up for when you peer in.

Deer!  Snowmen!  Inflatable Santa with a husky sled!  You can't see but the deer on the right was nodding.

We made a special stop to snap this one of me and my buddy HK.  I love how she dressed for the occasion, she has a wardrobe for every holiday.

Again.  Rituals make a home.  SF, you're killing me here.

True to the ritual, I'm off to the Philippines tomorrow.  To all a good night!

The power of empathy

I love the RSA shorts, this latest one on the power of empathy is simultaneously hilarious and thought provoking.  Take a moment to watch it, won't you?

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something within myself that knows that feeling."

I've written about how I have been thinking about kindness a lot lately, I think empathy is its buddy that it goes hand in hand with.

Nesting, Part 7

I think it has officially been the longest time ever between posts.  You may speculate on what's been keeping me busy, but in reality this is just how long it took me to replace my mac which died last month *tear*.  I was thinking about whether these 'nesting' posts should stop as I've effectively been here a year now, so am I now 'nested'?

Then I decided no, because it's a perpetual act for so long as having a home is important.  I will never stop anymore than I will ever stop going to Paper Source.  And with that, some snaps:

The 49ers vs the Seahawks - so, so much fun and what a win!  I'm not really a big sports person, but just like my first ball game this was a ton of fun and I wish I'd gone to one sooner.  Bonus: we even tailgated and made chili dogs in the carpark beforehand - best Sunday ever!

A most beautiful lettuce (?) at Contraband Coffee Bar.  Mental note of keeping lettuces instead of flowers around the house more.  Bonus is that I'll be able to say things to it like "lettuce turn on the heater", or "lettuce get some dinner" around my house and it will be puntastically relevant.

New obsession: Roasted brussel sprouts.  Dust with paprika to give them a little kick - tip via a buddy.

New holiday: new peeps (see last nesting).  You could keep your calendar by these marshmallows.

Feels so good to be coming into Christmas - hoping y'all are enjoying the lead up to the holidays too!