There's still a lot to be thankful for

The last months have been hard, with all the work in the office and personal stuff. Its hard to be so strong when you almost have no energy to get up and smile one more time.

FY12 has been a very challenging time for me at work. It was a year that I moved roles after 5 years doing candidate management. It was a welcome change, but it was not a walk in the park. I have to relate and adapt to different personalities who are not as welcoming as the team that I have been with. So I'm more of an outsider, really. And I have to try very hard for my ideas and inputs to be heard and implemented.

Last Friday was my annual review with my boss. To be perfectly honest, I was so nervous with my final performance rating for FY12. But after our talk, I was happy. I am back in the game after 2 years of being in the rut with my work. It was a major improvement, and it proved that with the right mentor and boss and team, I can succeed again.

FY12 ended very good and FY13 although very busy, I will hold close to my heart the promise of moving forward and up, bringing with me as well, that although there are hard times, a lot of times, its more painful than hard, that I will get out of it and still come out as a better person.

For now, RAG status is GREEN. :)

Fire Twins

With my fire twin, Jam. Taken at the church during G + P's wedding last week. She's my sister from another mother. Born a day and a year apart, we are practically destined to be each other's support system. A friendship that is 6 years and counting already, which started when I joined Accenture in 2006.

We have been through a lot of ups and downs. We have downed a lot of alcohol while crying because of a bad break up or just chilling. We are each other's confidante and counselor for almost all things professional and personal. Friends are forever, and this one, I will never let go no matter what happens.

Taken via Instagram.

Off to Somewhere.

Wing of an AirPhil Express plane, at NAIA T3

Off to somewhere in the next couple of weeks and months. Its been a while since I have travelled, and I am pretty excited for the upcoming trips with friends, because there will be a lot of firsts on these trips. So I'm pretty stoked, no pun intended. :)

I will share photos of the trips once they're done! For now, back to daydreaming while in the office crunching numbers and spreadsheets. And hopefully get to buy new beach wear. :) Heksayted!!!!

Taken via Instagram.

Crostini

This is a late post (super). This is the first time that I have made crostinis. The inspiration has struck me several times since one of my favorite starters from Cibo is Crostini with the Chicken Liver Pate. So I made my own. At first I was intimidated, but after researching how it is done, it was, well quite easy. :)

Ingredients:
old baguette
olive oil

Directions:
1. Slice the bread into crostini sizes.
2. Brush the bread with olive oil.
3. Bake in a 250 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

Just make sure you watch the crostinis closely while baking, especially when you have sliced it thinly as it might burn.

This is great as a snack in place of chips. :) Or if you are planning to have a party, this is a good starter to your meal. You can top it with almost anything. I loved it with cream cheese and jam or even honey. Second favorite was the tinapa with tomatoes and basil mix with cream cheese. 

Try it once. :)

Photo taken via Instagram.

Numbers are all that matters.

taken via Instagram

It's all about the numbers. That is how we play the game in Recruitment. So these are my artillery on a daily basis. My excel sheets, my liter of water, my laptop, my phone and my wireless internet USB. Mobility is always the key, so you can always be on top of your emails everyday.

C'est la vie

C'est la vie. As they say, Such is life. And so I believe. One thing that I found very cathartic more than retail therapy is the buzzing sound of needles. I can't wait to add another one.

Taken via Instagram.

A new baby.

Meet the newest, cutest and makulit-est addition in our family - Boochok. :) He is an Aspin. So adorable and cute that he doesn't fail to brighten a damp day at home. I so love puppies, well not until they get so big and irritating (at some point). Hahaha! He is getting bigger by the day.

Welcome to the Olarte Family Boochok! We all love and adore you!