After hibernating for quite awhile, Aggie came back with this awesome AWK #4 for us. I love her idea of giving this space only for us. We usually blog about our love ones and our shopping finds that we forget to tell something important about ourselves even how miniscule it is.

Aggie said:

Anyway, for this week, I want to SEE you. Post your most recent pictures. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t look great. I want to see more than what is a normal avatar. Take note that it needs to be RECENT. Can you believe I can use an avatar dated 2 years ago? Time for things to change

Secondly, I want to KNOW you. Just YOU. Sans kids, the husband, just YOU. I have a lot of ME tags in my blog – you can use that. What do I want to read: You – Now. It can be as simple as “I love Coke.” or as complex as “I am the crossroads of my life.”

So here I was last Friday having a small photo opp with my Husband while our son was busy playing hoops.

Taken last September 26, 2008, in the comforts of our home. I left a comment at Aggie’s blog saying that I need to take a picture of myself (I haven’t seen myself in photos for quite awhile now) and if I will find the guts to not photoshop my picture a little. I usually do that because I admit, I am very conscious of my pimple scars and my freckles. But this is me, the real me, pimple scars, gray hairs, freckles and all, minus a great acne treatment that is way long overdue and the magic of photoshop. I used to be very confident of how I look, been nominated to be Ms. Senior (even if I wasn’t picked) in high school, was a cheer dancer, was a member of the dance club and was really popular in high school (yeah our school was really small that’s why) but ever since I got acne in 4th year college everything changed. But now that I have a family, I feel more complete even way before my clear skin days… I’m most comfortable of being a Mother and a Wife… (I hope you don’t mind Aggie that I included photos here with my boys, I must admit, I look better when I’m with them)

So on with the things about me:
1. I have a Spanish heritage. My Lola (Father side) and Lolo (Mother side) both have fathers who were Spanish hence explains my fair and freckled skin. I used to wish I got their pointed nose instead.
2. I love to cook, it’s in my blood. My passion.
3. It usually takes time before I warm up to conversations or people. I usually keep quiet in gatherings and usually blends in the crowd, I never stood out.
4. I love to eat, explore new cuisines. I love Japanese, Italian, Filipino, Indian, Korean and Mexican cuisines.
5. I never wear make up. Powder and cheek stain? That’s how far I can go in putting something on my face.
6. I can keep a secret. I am very trust worthy when it comes to this. I can take a secret to the grave.
7. I’m a real friend. When I say that you are my friend, you really are my friend. Though I seldom see my friends now, I really pray and wish them well every single day I think of them. I don’t waste my time to people who I think are not worth my friendship.
8. I’m an Optometrist by profession, I’m definitely underpaid by the government. I sometimes blame the Ophthalmologists for dispensing eyeglasses to patients hence we are not really known by most people here in the Philippines, but who can really blame them? I really think that the authorities really don’t do their jobs when it comes to implementing the laws for all professions here in our country.
9. I always dream of living in a foreign country like Japan, Canada or Paris.
10. I’m scared of the ocean. I love dipping in the shallow water, but when I get a bit farther from the shore, I panic.
11. I can change my handwriting in a blink of an eye. But I have one handwriting that I usually use all the time.
12. I had my very first relationship when I was in Grade 6. Yeah, that young. It wasn’t really serious, the relationship after that wasn’t either. Dee was my 3rd boyfriend but I always consider him my first and last.
13. I usually decide for my family. Dee always asks me about this and that, he says I’m better in decision making but I always keep in mind that he is still the man in our family and should always be consulted before I decide on something. Respect is still the key.
14. Some people will think that I talk back to my parents, but that’s just how I am, when it comes to my love ones or the people that I’m close with, I love to argue and speak my mind.
15. I don’t hold grudges. I can easily be provoked but when the issue is over and after a heart to heart talk -I’m okay. I will never forget but I always forgive.
16. I can be a very impulsive spender but when I say that I will save, I can really save.
17. I love to travel but I hate riding on a plane. I’m really scared of airplanes.
18. I’m really not religious. You will not see me going to mass everyday or pray the rosary everyday but I have strong faith in God.
19. Favorite numbers are 7 and 8.
20. I used to eat like a construction worker and never gain weight. My usual McDo meal when I was in high school and college were Big Mac, Spaghetti, French Fries, Caramel Sundae and Large Coke. That’s how much I eat but when I reached the big 3-0, losing weight is the hardest thing to do.