The Beach

R and I had the chance to wake up early and head to the beach!!!

Yes! It has been in the plan for weeks months now but it never happens. I guess this time schedule permits for us to visit the beach and it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!

There were a lot of people in the beach... I think it is because the weather was just right. We arrived at about 10am and managed to secure a nice spot. Since we were in a rush to head to the beach, we were not able to have breakfast so we ate there before joining the other beach goers.

The water was uberly cold!!! You just need to take the plunge because eventually you get used to the water's temperature. R and I watched people's reactions when they take a step to the water and it was hilarious!

The whole experience was calming and fun.

R and I usually go out to be in the malls so this was another welcoming adventure. We do go to the beach but this happens once a year? Hahaha! So when he told me that we will be back next week! I am sooooo thrilled!!!

I hope to be reunited with the waters soon :) 

It made me think if we will be going back to the Philippines, most of the beaches are in the outskirts. You need to travel for about 1-2 hours before reaching the beach gem! Here in Dubai, it can take about 30-45 minutes to reach the beach or like what we did, we took the bus and it took us about 45 minutes (including the waiting time) only. 

Now, I am back to my thinking cap about 'the' options :)... I know you will not understand my readers (if I have any) or maybe you do... just cannot reveal it yet.

Crossroads

Am I really?

or do I just need to think about 'THE' game plan?

Bucket List

Do you have any? I don't :(

I wonder what does that make me? I do not have any desire to travel and now, I don't have a bucket list!!

Does this mean that I am satisfied with where I am now or I have already achieved most of my goals? Seriously?! at 16 years old (LOL!)

Hmmm... (long pause)

More long pause ...

Maybe I should really write a list...

Drool!

I was just browsing through my emails when I stumbled upon HomeDesign's newsletter.

Their feature on the newsletter was all about bedrooms... and being a wife who always wants to have a peaceful bedroom, this definitely caught my attention.

You see, R is a light sleeper which at times turn into an insomniac :( He has difficulty sleeping. We have tried various stuff (vitamins for him to sleep, melatonin pills, sleeping pills, milk with honey, etc) so as to cure this. It would work for say 1-2 tries and then after that, we go back to the same problem :(

From our room, I think about 3 to 5 years ago, we painted our room ocean blue. I liked it because of the calmness that it brings into the room while R likes it because he feels the colour lulls him to sleep!

I talked to him about it and we have discussed changing our room colour to ocean blue so that he can rest well and for the calm feeling to remain (being that will be our resting / nesting place).

I guess that is enough background about this newsletter! :p

I like this room because it definitely spells cozy!!! The browns and a touch of green gives you a feel of nature in your room. The colours are not that loud and there is still enough natural light that comes in to your room. I like the LED lights beneath the shelves because it already serves as night lamps for us both (me in particular since I do like reading and right now, we do not have night lamps). 

This is my second option

Again, I am lured to take the brown/ earth tones because I think this is what a room should be. Calm and relaxing. I also like the fact that outside, they have a small breakfast/ nook area where you can just type away or chill...

This I might discuss with R since we do have a small space where we can extend our room and maybe come up with this design. Not sure though if this is possible but it will be nice to have a space like this in your room. I think if given the chance to choose over a walk-in closet or this nook, I will definitely go for this one!! :) 

Check out Home Designs website to get more inspiration on what you can do to the spaces of your house. 

Note: All photos were taken from Home Design's website

On New Year Resolutions and Goal Setting

Today is the first day of 2014 and I am writing a post!!! Hahahha...! Well, to be honest, R and I didn't go out and painted the town red because they were not given any day off (boo! I know)... reason is the malls have been jam-packed because of the holiday season... oh well, the holidays are over but here comes the Dubai Shopping Festival and just like that, the bad schedule continues :(

Yes, I want to cry but hey, this (I guess) is far better than him being miles away from me. At least I still get to see, hug and kiss him if I want to (I just need to sleep late and wake up early!!).

So... this is the first day and I come to think about resolutions or goal setting for this year. I saw a friend post in Facebook regarding goals

(grabbed from my friend, MJ Ces)

I admitted to him that I am not setting any goals... not sure why but for the past years, I have been aiming on finishing the payment for our house in Manila... and now that it's finished, I keep asking myself - what's next? 

Usually, I make resolutions and stuff that I am thankful for... but never about goals. I am not sure if this is because I don't know how to conquer failure or rejection. This feeling is something that I try to deal with most of the time and if I can, I try to avoid it (hahha!). 

Though thinking about it, I need to have goals not to show off but more of to keep me focus for the year. 

Hmmm... now, let me go and write them down ;-) 

Happy New Year!!

Happy Holidays!!!

I just want to wish you all a

Merry, Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!! :) 

from R & Me :) 

Bank Mishaps

Note: Pardon my post, this is just me letting out my irritation on how a prestigious bank like CITIBANK handles the queries of their customers

I didn't really want to write anything about this but my frustration is boiling up that I need to let it out (well, initially, I did that in Facebook)!

I have been a loyal customer for Citibank here in Dubai. When I started out in my first company, they were the first bank who offered to give me a credit card (circa 2003). It was like a gift as I never had a credit card back in the Philippines.

Tempting and it does bite back, over the past few years, I have managed to understand what the credit card is used for.

During those times, I was able to purchase items that are not within my budget, things I want and things that we need. I was also able to understand how the "reward" system works with Citibank and was able to get a few good deals in doing so.

I was able to read in one of the CitiLife Rewards newsletter that I can use my CitiRewards for my annual fee. Since I keep on forgetting to do that, I have made a decision that when this comes up again, I will pursue in using my rewards.

I have enquired and given calls through Citibank's agents. I made about two calls making sure that this is done --------------- wow! only to find out that not only was I MISINFORMED I was also charged with other bank charges.

I made another call only complaining about this (which I am truly sorry for the 3rd agent I spoke with but you can never really avoid having this type of emotions most especially when you have been reassured that this will be dealt with). I guess the 3rd agent can not defend who I spoke with before and can only apologise that I was MISINFORMED.

As I have said, I will understand if outright, someone told me NO, it's not possible but giving you the reassurance this is being dealt with just shows how valuable their customers are --- NOT!

I know we have used the credit card and I know that the annual life is something that I have agreed with the bank and have rightfully paid for the past 9 years but I just want to be clear that this might just be a hundred dirhams only but this is hard earned money I am paying the bank.

The money that I have worked hard for and we do not have a money tree on standby to grow and water. Everything has been hard earned and I was expecting, being a prestigious bank and have consistently been bragging of being one of the best that they do not or they failed to educate their agents properly.

As I have mentioned, I have been a customer since 2003/2004 and this is the service that we get for being loyal customers? I also don't know if maybe because I am not a person in power or authority to demand an explanation.

I thought that we, as customers are always right? In a customer-oriented industry where feedbacks and proper information is important, you have failed miserably CITIBANK.

I do not know where this opinion of mine will go or if it will even reach that agent who has MISINFORMED me but I hope the next time someone calls, do your job well. Be honest if you do not have an answer and I would have appreciate if you have asked me to call back and check again.

Boohoo!!! :(:(:(

image source: http://www.emirates.com/english/skywards/about/partners/banks/citibank-uae.aspx