Learn From the Past and On to the Future!

2010 Thank you for letting me successfully complete half of my law school journey, an awesome District Attorney Internship, the great friendships I've made, my grandma's recovery, the opportunity to transfer to Loyola, my family's love, all the crazy Vegas trips, my New York adventure, the lessons I've learned, and the strength I've gained from the hardships. 2010 you were filled with so many blessings and I wouldn't trade one moment for anything. This year has made me learn to appreciate the beautiful things in life and I am EXTREMELY excited for what this 2011 year will bring. Happy New Year Everyone and Live everyday with no regrets.


“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”

- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

A Very Merry Christmas!

Kris Kringle gift exchange!
The cousins did our first annual Secret Santa Gift exchange! We went to Unami Burger in LA and their burgers were delish. It's amazing how lucky I am to be surrounded by such positive and beautiful women in my life. Their kindness and warmth never cease to amaze me and this Christmas I am so grateful for their company. Thank you cousins for the laughs and smiles you bring to my face and for being for me this year! I would not have been able to go through everything without your love and support.






I got my very own Egg for Christmas! He's not tall but he'll do ;) Thank you to my Secret Santa, Jacq for my Egg and sweaters you're the best!









Time to Decorate the house!!! Stockings are up and the sissy poo and I had the best idea ever! Big Stockings for big presents and little stockings for liwwle presents! [totally joking] but we still got a kick out of it!






The annual Christmas Eve Bash at the Sebastian home! Lots of food, laughs, Apples and Bananas, Taboo, pictures and FAMILY!











MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!


"The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.”

Holiday Movie Nights

Holiday Movie nights! Best way to spend time in this crazy storm. Stay Safe everyone!

Vegasssss!

Trees, Stockings, and Dancing Galore!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES!!!!! I have come to the conclusion that sugar cookies are my favorite! I was looking all over Albertsons for green and red sprinkles but you know what I found instead?!?! CHRISTMAS TREE SPRINKLES!!!!!!!!! AWESOME! I love Christmas!









Next on the Christmas Agenda, DECORATING THE PASADENA HOUSE! After the craziness of finals we finally found time to decorate the house! Look at our awesome Christmas tree! It's so pretty and it's making the house so festive! Thank you 99cent store your decorations are fatastical.









AND ya I'm not even done yet! We also decorated and hung our own personalized stalkings! I have to say I think mine looks thee best :) Merv's Half tree and Kathy's invisible Hello Kitty have nothing on my cherry looking holly!









After the fun of decorating I topped off the night with some dancinggggg! I love my cousins so much it's always a "wtf happened last night" kind of experience.

I must say I LOVE BREAK!

First Round of business: Happy Hour Celebration!

- M: "park at my work and let's walk to old town it's not that far"_ K: "(after a mile) WOW are we going to Alaska??!?"
- K:"Try this piece, there's a lot of avocado" _ M: "but I don't even like avocado"
- J: "come pick me up in downtown" _K: "ummm so see you tomorrow"
- M: "Crepes! yes it's Open!"_ Store owner: "Sorry Kitchens closed for crepes" -__-
- FLASH! M: "dang why is it so perfect?!?!"
- K: (to the waiter) "whats better tarimasu or the red velvet cheesecake?_ W: cheesecake for sure :D

Never fails, my cheeks hurt from laughing so much after hanging out with these guys.

DONEEEEEEEEE!

IsHalfWayDoneWithLawSchool SAYYYY WHATTTT?!?! Man it feels sooooo good to be done! TIME TO CELEBRATE ALL BREAKKKK! happy-hours, christmas decorating, shopping, VEGAS, gift exchanges, Ice skating, Christmas baking, New Years, movies, and PURE RELAXATION here I come!

Katy Perry - Firework

Sara Haze - Lovely

One Day

" Never let go of hope. One day you will see that it all has finally come together. What you have always wished for has finally come to be. You will look back and laugh at what has passed and you will ask yourself... 'How did I get through it all of that ?'"

-Anonymous


One day, I hope it all makes sense. One day, I hope I can laugh at all this. One day, just one day.

Seriously

Seriously, seriously, seriously, have a heart. Is that too much to ask? People can suck sometimes and be so hypocritical but I can't let it bog me down. It's the holidays! Appreciate what you have and what is coming your way. No looking back, no regrets, and no wasting time on people not worth your time.

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity. ~André Gide

Change

So after having a little conversational release last night, I feel like for the first time I'm actually confronting me, just me. There are certain people in your life that will always be there and there are people who won't, plain and simple. We never know someone until shit hits the fan. We can think we know someone and put our trust in them but in reality, we never really know them until your relationship has been tested. When a person is there through the good and the bad, when a person really knows you and still loves you, that is when you know that person was meant to stay. I'm not only talking about the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, I'm talking about every kind of relationship and the all around meaning of "love." Pushing people away is something I am very good at, but at the same time through this epic failure of a characteristic, I have learned what true love is. The "I love you even though you are acting like a jerk" kind of love and the "I'm going to be here no matter what because deep down inside I know who you are and I'm not willing to ever give that up" kind of relationship. Honestly, I would take those select few friends who have shown me this kind of relationship, over any kind of superficial-ness out there. So thank you to those who have not been here to stay because you showed me exactly what friendship/love is not about and in essence you've made me a better person.

Never Enough

Pretty sure I failed my exam Yesterday. Seriously what is the point in studying... All I do is study and I still fail!

I am dropping out of law school and being a burlesque dancer/singer. Sounds like a plan. Hopefully I'll just meet a super rich man and get married so it doesn't matter if I fail out of law school.

I just hate how It feels like no matter what I do It's never enough.

I'm Alright

I've got a little hope in my pocket, I want to share a bit with you
Just be careful that you don't drop it, but don't worry if you do
'Cause I got broken down inside me, and I might just need some help
But I will get by

And I've got demons in my history, got bone beneath my skin
But I've been taken by a mystery, yes, I've been taken in
And sometimes voices down inside me try to fight me for myself
I will get by

What have I got to live for
If there's nothing beating in my chest
What have I got to live for
When this world starts turning, it's burning me up
I'm alright

I used to think love was just a barter, second hand coincidence
What doesn't kill you just makes you harder, so I used my common sense
Keeping cold to keep my distance, ‘til you took my pride away
Now I will get by

I am not afraid, no, I am not afraid
And I will not go crazy here

I've got a little hope here in my pocket, I want to share a bit with you
So just be careful that you don't drop it, but don't worry if you do
'Cause I got voices down inside me, and I might just need some help
I will get by

What have I got to live for
If there's nothing beating in my chest
What have I got to live for
When this world starts turning, burning me up
When my heart is hurting, I'm learning the rough
When this world starts turning, it's burning me up
I'm alright

- Bebo Norman

Falling In- Lifehouse

Sleep

tossing and turning, half awake half asleep, feeling yourself think while you should be sleeping, no deep sleep, ughhhhhhh this anxiety is horrible. I can't wait to sleep tonight.

See Lawyers DO have a sense of humor!

hehe I really should be studying... but I had to share a little holiday cheer :)

<3 a future lawyer

Gimme!

GIVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
I wish I could keep a puppy in Pasadena :(

60 Seconds

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back."

- Anonymous

1 down 2 to Go.

Finals time has arrived! I say it like I like it right? Truth is as much as I don't like the anxiety finals give me, I actually like challenging what I know and pushing myself to the edge. Kind of morbid huh, ya I know. I've never felt this kind of drive to do work before law school. I think it may because I am deathly afraid of failing out and wasting my THOUSANDS of dollars in loan money that I'll have to eventually pay pack with interest. My finals this year are 3 weeks long, 2 this past week, 1 next week, and one the following week. I think I am consuming about 2 cups of coffee a day on average and that cannot be good for my teeth. I am going to buy some major teeth whitening magical strip thingys after finals to undue the effects of my coffee inducing habits during finals. Anyways that's my rant, I have a final in like 3 hours. Wish me luck. 1 week down and 2 to go!

King of Anything - Sara Bareilles

Dream Like New York

So many dreams come and go
We blink our eyes
Time flies by we don't know
What ever happened to those childhood years?
When we thought we could fly
We got to keep those dreams alive

And dream like New York
As high as the skyline
Aim for the stars above those city lights
I want to dream like New York
I'm running down Broadway
I got to catch the next train
I'm making my way

Race to work again today
From nine to five
I only strive to stay awake
But the child inside me
Dares to believe I still can fly
Can't let those dreams just die

I got to dream like New York
As high as the skyline
Aim for the stars above those city lights
I want to dream like New York
I'm running down Broadway
I got to catch the next train
I'm making my way

How many times have u tried and failed?
Have you watched your dreams slip away?
Well every hero falls and every soldier crawls.
And every dreamer dreams again
Got to dream again

Go on and dream like New York
As high as the skylines
Aim for the stars above those city lights
Go on and dream like New York
Run on down Broadway
Catch the next train
Go make your way

Go on and dream like NY
As high as the skylines
Aim for the stars above those city lights
You got to dream like NY
Run on down Broadway
Catch the next train
Go make your way
Go make your way
Go make your way

- Tyrone Wells

Angel

Due to the stress of finals and the long hours of studying with no social life, I didn't do anything last weekend except go to mass with my family. It was weird though, I was at mass and for some reason, I just got really teary eyed. I have been uber emotional lately due to stress and just because I'm a girl but this time it was different. I felt as if it was a good cry, not a "I'm so stressed, I'm so sad" kind of a cry but a "wow I'm ok" kind of a cry. I know it doesn't make sense, but a part of me was really relieved. Like being there at that very moment made me realize how "ok" I really am. Comfortable with just me, gives me the freedom to be me, just me.

During the Homily, the priest says a couple of things that really stuck with me. One of those things is that, when the world "Angel" was used in the readings its meaning was not definite on whether the writers meant Angel as a being from heaven or Angel as meaning an ordinary person at the right place at the right time who made an impact on your life at that very moment. Crazy how everyone in your life, good or bad, have been people at the right time and at the right place shaping how the story of your life will play out. All I know is that I am really liking this chapter :)

Blessed

I welcome the sun,
the clouds and rain,
the wind that sweeps the sky clean
and lets the sun shine again.
this is the most magnificent life has ever been.
here is heaven and earth
and the brilliant sky in between.
blessed is this life
and I'm gonna celebrate being alive.
blessed is this life
and I'm gonna celebrate being alive
I dwell in the darkness
I live in the light
I sleep in the afternoon
and become the noise in the night
I trespass in temptation
suffered in sacrifice
but I awake each day with a new sunrise
blessed is this life, oh
and I'm gonna celebrate being alive
blessed is this life, oh
and I'm gonna celebrate being alive

- Brett Dennen

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the ladies of my family to you!

This year I am giving thanks for all the blessings I've been given. Instead of being "all talk" and simply saying I am thankful, I have decided to act on it. No more being mopey or sad for the things I don't have, Instead I'm going to be giving thanks for the many blessings I have. I have an amazing family, incredible friends, great health, at a wonderful law school, and have more than everything a girl could ever ask for. I am thankful for everyone and everything In my life. I Love you <3

Landon Pigg - Can't Let Go

Seriously

seriously, get out of my dreams. K thanks.

Christmas at the Grove.

Christmas came early this year at the Los Angeles Grove! Merv, Tin and I headed to the Grove this past Sunday to watch the 9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. I don't think any of us expected the crowd to be that intense and we ended up standing in the same place for 3 hours waiting for the show. I thought the wait was worth it.

Mario Lopez was so handsome! I always thought he was cute but he is even cuter in person!





The main performers were Jesse McCartney, David Archuleta, and Charice Pempengo! My mom was so jealous that I saw Charice perform live, it's every filipino mom's dream, true story.











And do you know who else I saw?!?! The Governator. Ha I actually like him better as the terminator. I have like 20 pictures of him. I don't know why I got so star struck? I think it was because I watched his movies growing up! like Twins, that movie was my favorite!




















The Fireworks show/christmas tree lighting/ snowfall ending spectacular was really nice. The fireworks show was so pretty it felt like Christmas threw up all over the Grove. I really can't wait till finals are over and I get to really celebrate. Merry Early Christmas everyone.

James Morrison - You Give Me Something Lyrics

I Fail.

I have come to the conclusion that I think too much, I can't just relax, I read into things too much, and I am definitely not ready for anything. The end.

Teddy Geiger: Love is a Marathon

Jason Mraz - Life is wonderful

Christmas Spirit

I seriously cannot believe the Christmas season is already here. This school semester has gone by so fast and finals are right around the corner. I wish i could fast forward time to after finals because I feel like I cannot fully enjoy the Holiday season until one second after my final-final has ended. I Love Love LOVE Christmas time. I love how Christmas brings the best out of everyone (or at least it's supposed to) because everyone is in such a giving mood. I can almost feel Christmas already, I am slowly starting to see decorations around old town Pasadena going up and Christmas decorations are up in Starbucks already! I cannot wait till I can indulge in all the Christmas Spirit! Ice skating! Elf! Tree decorating! Christmas cookies! Skiing! Snowman building! Santa Pictures! Family parties! Christmas lights!

Wisdom to know the difference.

Last Saturday I went to mass with my family, and as bad as it sounds, I have to admit that I usually zone out during the homily. This weekend was different though, I actually listened and I felt like it was exactly what I needed to hear. The homily centered on the idea that we shouldn't worry so much on what the future will hold, but we should focus on today and what we can accomplish at this very moment. The homily focused on change and how we have to have faith that no matter what happens we are equipped with the strength and courage to overcome it.


I know not everyone believes in the same things, but no matter what you believe and no matter what your values, faith that everything will be alright and that we are not alone are needed to get by.

Serenity Prayer:

Please grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Everything In Between

Morning Glory

MORNING GLORY
I finally got to see Morning Glory this weekend. I've been waiting for the movie to come out for weeks now! I really liked the movie because it was easy to relate to the protagonist. Rachel McAdams played an extremely motivated and strong-willed young woman trying to make it in a competitive industry. She is such a great actress, I loved her awkward role. It is definitely a "thumbs up" in my book! Go watch!








SHABU SHABU






Shabu shabu dinner in the city of industry tonight. Definitely bomb.com. I usually don't care too much for shabu shabu but this place was pretty good. Oh and the banana tempura with green tea ice cream topped off the dinner and satisfied my sweet tooth. Good day.

I Never Told You

Butterflies

I totally forgot what it feels like to get real butterflies. lol I know nothing's going to ever happen but it's nice to get to feel the butterflies again, just for fun. The kick your feet and smile for no reason kind of feeling. ::sigh::

- Iamsuchagirl

Dear Starbucks Guy,

Dear Starbucks worker,

You have the cutest smile ever. I cannot look you in the eye when I order my coffee because I think I might get ridiculously red eared and flustered. You make my tall bold coffee worth every cent. :)

Sincerely,

The quiet girl who comes in every Monday and Wednesday morning to study

Worry-Free

I miss the days where my biggest worry was what cartoon I would watch, or what barbie to buy, or which Disney would watch. I miss being worry-free.
November has arrived and it is that time again where I have to get really really focused and put my all into studying.

“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.”

- Albert Einstein

Sara Bareilles "Gravity"

Text

Funny how one thing in your entire day can make you feel all the better. A friendly gesture of kindness can make all the difference.

Bumped into an old friend at church yesterday and received a text later that night that read somewhere along the lines of, it was really nice seeing your smile today...

Sometimes I don't think people realize how the smallest gestures in the world can just make someones day.

:)


"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day."

- Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

John Legend - Everybody Knows

Oh Na Na!

Happy 24th Birthday MERV!



Merv's birthday extravaganza was bowltastic last night! we started the night out with dinner at red robin. Delicious whiskey river bbq burger, endless fries, and a strawberry lemonade. nom nom nom lol. oh ya company was great too, can't forget that.










After dinner, we spontaneously decided to go bowling! I have not bowled in a really really long time. I thought my bowling techniques would miraculously get better but that dream was far fetched. I still sucked and I think I even got in last place. oh well still fun. The song of the night was "What's My Name" by Rhianna. Tell me why that song is so catchy? ooohhh yaaaaaa.













Overall, it was a really great night of eating, drinking, good company, and birthday celebrations. The Cabs are Hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! t-shirttttttt timeeeeee lol!

Fall 7 Times and Get up 8

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily. ~Thomas Szasz

The Little Things...

My parents are back! My parents have been in the Philippines for three whole weeks. I have not gone without seeing either of my parents for that long. I'm really close to my parents and I usually see them at least once a week along with daily phone calls to update them on my "exciting" life. I missed them when they were gone. I'm glad they're back safely and with tons of "pasalubong!" Seeing their faces just instantly makes me feel better. It's funny how the little things make all the difference.





AND I usually go to Starbucks to study everyday after or before class and I realized the holiday Starbucks cups are out! You know what that means?!? The holidays are right around the corner! I love the holidays! I love the decorations, the spirit, the togetherness, family, and presents! Even though this might be a tough holiday season because of everything I've been going through these past couple of months, I know I still have so much to be grateful and excited for. Thanksgiving with the family, finals will be over and it will mark the mid-point journey of my law school career, Shiks will be home!, Vegas with my old suitemates, Ice skating, Big Bear, Christmas and Christmas eve with the family, New years eve celebration with the cousins and then My Birthday and San Francisco! Even though a year ago I never thought I would be here at this point in my life, I am here and I am living life as I should be. I am taking each day one day at a time and growing stronger as each trial passes. No Regrets, and remember it's just life.

The Story of Life

I found this after I felt like crap... Ok i feel a little better now.

The Story of Life

Sometimes people come into your life

And you know right away that they were meant to be there.

To serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson,

or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be,

(Possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost, lover, or even a complete stranger),

but when you lock eyes with them you know at that very moment they will.

Everything happens for a reason.

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity

all occurs to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, whatever they may be,

life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life and the success and downfalls you experience,

help to create who you are and who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from.

In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart,

forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust

and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally,

not only because they love you, but because in a way,

they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count.

Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can,

for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high.

Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself,

for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish.

Most importantly, create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely NO regrets.

And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

Can I get a Break?

Today was just a horrible just horrible day.

My mock interview went horrible. We ran out of time and didn't get through all the mandatory stuff we needed to do, but on a plus what we did get through we did really well. I hope this interview doesn't effect my grade too badly. I just want a B :/

Oh and I just hate having feelings. I wish I didn't care. Ok I take it back. I love being sensitive and caring but sometimes I just want a break from it all. I know that life is life and things happen but I just wish "shit would not hit the fan" for like a year. That's all I'm asking for is just a year. I know I have my faults and I'm not perfect but really really can things jut not get worse please? Can I just wake up and be over it? It's so hard dealing with this law school stress plus the stress of just being a girl. I know that whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger, but seriously this crap better make me like "hulk" status.

Bang.

I finally have a chance to get my full 8 hours of sleep last night and I have one of the weirdest/scariest dreams I've ever had.

So I'm in my law school class (but it looks like elementary school) and we all turned in papers to try to write onto Law Review. We got our papers back and the professor called out the names of the people who made it onto the staff. I didn't get on, but those who did got on received big blue eggs?!? And two of the people who got on weren't paying for law school and were only there because they snuck into class (I don't know how I know this). So I was so mad that I took time to write this paper that I made a big scene and called out the people.

All of a sudden I'm at a big family party and everyone is so mad at me for making a scene earlier (I don't know how they knew). One person was sooo mad that he took out a gun. I saw my mom and wanted to protect her so I told everyone to get down and I ran in front of my mom. The person shot me in the neck and I swear I could feel the pain. I woke up after that.


Seriously?!?!?!? I better not go that way.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.

-Eleanor Roosevelt


I think I've learned more about myself these past couple of months than I have my entire life. It's true what they say that it's at the times when you're alone and forced to reflect on yourself that you learn the most. Everyday I'm learning a little more about myself, what I want out of life, and who I am supposed to become. I'm learning everyday that happiness isn't just about who you're with or what others perceive you to be but it's who you believe you are and how you shape your own life to be. At a very young age I've been such a people pleaser. I've always done things because I wanted to make my parents or family proud. I've done things because I wanted to be the best couple, student, or worker. But now I know I'll never be happy trying to make others happy I need to do things for me. Life is too short to be living it on other people's dreams and expectations. I have my own dreams and my own expectations. I want to be successful so I can live a good life and I can help others fight for their rights and advocate for equality and justice. These are my dreams and this is my future.

I really do believe everything in life happens for a reason. The good, the bad, the laughter and the tears they are a part of a bigger picture. Everything I have experienced, every tragedy, every blessing, every friend, and every foe are part of my life for a purpose and it is my job to recognize that reason. It is my job to learn, listen, and grow from every experience. There are no accidents in life and there is no obstacle too difficult to overcome.

A SpOOktacular Halloween!

This has to be my one of my favorite Halloween celebrations! My poison ivy costume rocked and to make it even better I made it! I was surprised at how well the red dye came out but it was BRIGHT! Celebrated the night away with my cousins and sister at the Montroach party!












So my cousin Daryl (in the middle) came up to me at the party and I didn't even recognize him! lol he's supposed to be some wrestler but I don't watch wrestling so I didn't know who he was supposed to be.

There were really amazing costumes last night! A lot of people put in a lot of effort. I love Halloween!











Happyyyyyy Halloweeeeeennnn from the Se-Bash-U-In sistars! ya that's my sister and yes she's practically naked -____-