Welcoming 2012

Happy new year from my family to yours!

And oh. Let's not think it's an apocalyptic year, okay? Haha!

Like what I have already mentioned before, I spent new year at my parents' house in Caloocan. As usual, I helped prepare our food for Media Noche; it was certainly a simple celebration for my family but we still had a blast (while the sounds of our neighbors firecrackers accompanied our feast all throughout LOL). But anyway, during the night of the 31st, my sister and I had a movie marathon after we had finished cooking and then, thereafter, as the clock slowly approached midnight, I hung out by the porch to watch the fireworks... and also to watch my dad put out some fireworks of his own:

First thing that I have to say though before I proceed: I have a hunch that I was possessed by a distant cousin of the Chipmunks or something because I swear... that did not sound like my normal voice at all! Haha! Also, I meant to say fountain (not 'firework') and sparklers (not 'firework' HAHA!)

Aaaand yes, I am and always will be afraid of firecrackers. I am more into the watching-them-from-afar kind of thing. As evidenced by the below candid photo, I am not a fan of sudden booms and bangs, here and there. Seriously, it's bad for my heart. LOL.

Besides, as from what you can see in the video too, mom turned from lovingly-coaxing into angry-woman when I repeatedly denied to hold the sparklers. (I know, okay? It's JUST a sparkler, but who knows if it suddenly decides to sparkle on the other end?! LMAO).

Mom is smiling in the picture; but inside, I bet she's angrily wondering as to why her daugher is so maarte. LOLJK.

Anyway... moving on, let's get it on with a family picture!

Dad looooves looking like Uncle Scrooge in photos.

Not only during Christmas, but for the whole year.

As you can see, I'm wearing a red polka-dot skirt (for luck) and a blue top (for luck too as it is said to be this year's lucky color). Errr.... Superstitions. Superstitions. It will never go away, I'm telling you. Haha!

Now before I end this entry, let me just say that I am very hopeful for this year.

I do have a feeling that even without trying, 2012 will be great for me! (See how optimistic I am already? LOL). If I take a moment to look back, I can say that 2011 has been a very great year: full of learnings, luck, experiences, mistakes, success, heartache, pain, loss, gain, happiness, thrill—yes, a mix of everything to cut it short, bust just so you'll know, it is still one of the most memorable years that I've had so far.

Now, I'm not really a fan of making resolutions but I have at least tried to come up with my own 2012 theme and mantra:

"I won't be afraid anymore..."

...to try, to explore, to love, to take risks, and to be me.

Once again, happy new year!

Let's all have an awesome 2012!!!

But then again, I'm sure we all will!