First 2012 Thought Bubble ♥

Since I didn't get you for Christmas.. Can I have you for New Year instead..that way I can keep you for at least a whole year, haha! ♥

bytheladymargaret@flickr

Charisma's Crazy Beautiful 2011

I have always wanted to do a year-ender-photo-blog, but I though was a writer since college and a photografreak from the longest time imaginable - I was never really able to to do and publish one. Well, today, when I am actually doing one, I have come to realize that 2011 is the best year to start with.. True that reflection happens every end of each year, and as we turn in the calendar we always say that the year we are about to bid good bye to is by far the best year -- however, for Charisma Torres; 2011 is truly one heck of a Memorable, Perpetually Pinned to my Life's Timeline, Crazy Beautiful Year. 

To call it a roller-coaster is an understatement, its more a Yin-Yang-ish kind of year; I had the worst first half and an awesome year's end; truly a manifestation of the Big Man Up Above's Promise of Love, Favor, Restoration and that He can turn one's mourning into dancing. 

My dad having a heart problem, a deeply broken heart, and my best friend leaving for SG to take on a permanent job sprayed my January 2011 with dark shades of grey. It was then followed by scares and an accident that almost cut my life's journey to an untimely ending.

But just when I thought that my year is directed towards a dooms-day fail, it did a sudden somersault which geared me to face the sky over troubled waters, where a perfectly painted rainbow was there waiting to greet me.

My career went heading the direction I've wanted and signed conformes from clients when shooing in, my family was graciously blessed with our property dealings, participated in the MVP Olympics and Ms. PLDT & won 1st runner up, my dad was completely healed, and my heart has been freed from hate and hurting; it is once again ready to truly love and freely live. I was able to write again and read my verses out loud. Also, I have been blessed with the opportunity to relax and travel, meet and gain a few real friends, re-unite old friendships and just spend time with the family + our latest added member, Sushi; my 2 month old baby ShiTzu. Oh, and I have two tattoos; on my back inked in black is the Hebrew of Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven and  inked in white, place on my right arm to remind me that truly, one must Live the Life you Love ♥

Here are my 2011 highlights -- to all those who have faithfully stayed come sunny days or rock bottom; you guys are the best and am truly blessed to have you in my life, to the new friendships; with no doubt you guys have brought color and bliss to my year -- here is to the year that was and to the year that God is about to bless us with - cheers! :)



Mi Familia + Sushi = Perfect Love ♥



Scuba Diving Trips + Awesomes



My PLDT Family



MVP Olympics, Best Muse 1st Runner Up

 

The Girl Who Got INKED
Black: Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven
White: live the life you love <3



Good Old Friends + Brand New Additions

  

Boracay Hits x2 in 2011



 SPONTANEITY at its BEST
Impromptu SINGAPORE Flights and TAGAYTAY Roadtrips

 

My Most Love Girls Since High School



OPEN SPOKEN: Was able to read out load the verses I have written
First Shot at it is with TAKIP SILIM



My Baby Girl Sushi

Charisma Ending her 2011 with Lots of  Love for the People she has been Blessed to Have in her Life, with More Passion for Music, Poetry, Arts and Tattoo ++ Loads of Faith and Hope ♥



Why do smart kids grow up to be heavier drinkers?

Yes, Smart and Heavy Drinkers all in one sentence. The article going around facebook hit the right spot and made me want to do some online tinkering.

A pair of new studies suggests a correlation between intelligence and a thirst for alcohol. What's the connection? According to two long-term studies — one American, one British —  there's a correlation between smarts and a thirst for alcohol. The "more intelligent children in both studies grew up to drink alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities than less intelligent children,"

It's all about evolution: Drinking alcohol was "unintentional, accidental, and haphazard until about 10,000 years ago," says Satoshi Kanazawaat at Psychology Today. Smart people are generally early adopters and, in the context of human history, "the substance [alcohol] and the method of consumption are both evolutionarily novel." The Hypothesis would therefore predict that more intelligent individuals may be more likely to prefer drinking modern alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and distilled spirits) than less intelligent individuals.

Consistent with the prediction of the Hypothesis, more intelligent children, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, grow up to consume alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities than less intelligent children.  Controlling for a large number of demographic variables, such as sex, race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, number of children, education, earnings, depression, satisfaction with life, frequency of socialization with friends, number of recent sex partners, childhood social class, mother's education, and father's education, more intelligent children grow up to drink more alcohol in the UK and the US.

Though studies were done and tested in the American and British environment, I think the above articles taken from the below acknowledged web links are heavily applicable to us here in the Philippines. I have been a self-confessed drinker for 10 years now and still, I have manage to make a career for my self in the Telco industry, having said that: with proper control, choice of drinks and the people you would do it over with plus the doesn't get drunk mastery - I believe to be one of the Smart ones and I have some good friends from that bunch as well.

Cheers to all the Drinks and Good Times this Holiday Season! :)

http://theweek.com/article/index/208561/why-do-smart-kids-grow-up-to-be-heavier-drinkers

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201010/why-intelligent-people-drink-more-alcohol

IAN's INKING Time >((()>

Aside from getting myself INKED, you know what’s the second best thing I recently discovered I like doing?  It's watching my friends go through their INKING Session :)

Its like accompanying them to their very first roller coaster ride. Or something as radical as jumping of the edge with them for a free fall cliff dive. Yes, you'll get the chills but after the whole inking session - am sure you'd want to get another one, if not...more.  

 Before this month's Holiday Rush; Monchie, Roy and Myself drived all the way to JUKI's Tattoo Studio at Villamor to support our boy Ian as he get himself Inked (and of course watch him cry over it as well, haha! Okay, you didn't cry, Peace!)



Before the Whole Inking with Monchie!
Roy and Myself all for Support and of Course, Some Good laughs ++ Juki! :)

 

INKING SHOTS! Got it all from all angles, super nice color!
*Watching Juki do all those color to Ian's back made me realize that I want a colored one for my next Tattoo!

  

INKING Process from Start to Finish -- all Chronicled :)

IAN and his KOI, All INKED Colorfully!

JUKI is an Awesome Artist, specially when it comes to Color and Shadings! :)
You can vist her Tattoo Shop at 10th 17th St. Brgy 183 Villamor Aiir Base, 1300 Pasay City or drop her a call at 0915-7005759

Fade into Darkness & Fall in Love in a Hopeless Place ♥

Word of the Week: GASTRONOMY

Since its the Season to be Chubby

(yes, this has been the thrending email message greeting in our office lately) the best word to feature is one that pertains to this Season's blockbuster hit, FOOD :)

gas·tron·o·my   n. pl. gas·tron·o·mies

1. The art or science of good eating.

2. (Cookery) the type of cookery of a particular region the gastronomy of Provence [from French gastronomie, from Greek gastronomia, from gastēr stomach; see -nomy]

Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating^[1]. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine. One who is well versed in gastronomy is called a gastronome, while a gastronomist is one who unites theory and practice in the study of gastronomy.^[2]

Gastronomy involves discovering, tasting, experiencing, researching, understanding and writing about food preparation and the sensory qualities of human nutrition as a whole. It also studies how nutrition interfaces with the broader culture. Later on, the application of biological and chemical knowledge to cooking has become known as molecular gastronomy, yet gastronomy covers a much broader, interdisciplinary ground.

Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gastronomy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastronomy

Random Thought: Jokes Are Half-Meant, Sometimes..

That opportune moment when you said it as a joke but you were dead serious all along.

Sushi's First Christmas :)

Happy Birthday, Papa Jesus!

Dear Papa Jesus,

Happy happy birthday! ♥ There isn't enough words to express how much grateful I am for the life you have given me - the life and all the people, experiences and material/immaterial things in it that truly makes it worth living. Amidst all the hustle, bustle, glittery lights, heartfelt cheers and gift-giving happening all around me during these past few days, I would like to spend the first few minutes of your special day in bringing back all the Glory, Thanks and Praise to you and you alone. All things are secondary, you are the reason for this season and for that, I raise this glass to you!!

For all the love, blessings, cheer and true friendship that God has truly blessed me with through all of you -- muchos gracias mi amores. 

Though 2011 started in the worst shape that I can ever thought of, it sure is on the right track and schedule of ending in the best-cheerful-blessed-love-filled and awesome way I can by far hope for and imagine. 

Merry Christmas!

Love, Charisma :)

Freedom, Love ! ♥

Thanks to Facebook, I've again confirmed what I have long known & seen what I have then hid from. Truly, it Doesn't Hurt Anymore :) I just waited for the Perfect Time to put myself to the test & I've never been happier from the results that I got back. 2011 indeed was a great one, it was a rollercoaster of shizz and glitz and on this Christmas Eve I've never been more certain that this year will end with a Big Big Happy Blast. Freedom, Love!♥♥

As Stong As The Sun ☀ ♥

You Give Me Something ♥

I am sooo loving James Morisson for this Track --- >> For every piece of me that wants you, Another piece backs away.. 'Cause you give me something, that makes me scared, alright.. This could be nothing.. But I'm willing to give it a try.. <3

YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING


You want to stay with me in the morning
You only hold me when I sleep
I was meant to tread the water
Now I've gotten in too deep
For every piece of me that wants you
Another piece backs away

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might know my heart

You already waited up for hours
Just to spend a little time alone with me
And I can say I've never bought you flowers
I can't work out what they mean
I never thought that I'd love someone
That was someone else's dream

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might call you from my heart

But it might me a second too late
And the words that I could never say
Gonna come out anyway

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something

'Cause you give me something
That makes me scared, alright
This could be nothing
But I'm willing to give it a try
Please give me something
'Cause someday I might know my heart
Know my heart, know my heart, know my heart

Soundtracking to BEATS by DR. DRE :)

MUSIC is LOVE.

Also, in more cases than not LOVE is best expressed through MUSIC. Music goes about our mood, often sets the course of the day's outlook and even the whole TRIP's (if your travelling; drive trip/flight) disposition. Music is your souls echo, music joins you in missery and sails you through the ocean's motion of bliss.

In short, MUSIC is LOVE and having said that, I obviously LOVEMUSIC <3

For the Music afficionados who are willing to get themselves specially crafted headphones, you can NEVER go wrong with MONSTER :)

Am such a Happy Happy Chachie, last year someone dearto me gave me the tour in ear beats by dr. dre for my 24th irthday. And for this Christmas, from my dear OJT friends and his bestfriend, I got myself a studio over ear beats :)

Lets keep the MUSIC BEATing, Happy 2011 You all, Cheers to Music, Cheers to Love :)

**text about the tour and studio pasted on the photos are from http://beatsbydre.com/Default.aspx <<-- clickclick for more details :)

Country of the Month: North Korea

Okay by now, those who read this blog would be perfectly aware how spontaneous, extreme and far fetched my interests are from each other. Obviously -- I Love Tattoos, Music, Poetry and Travelling, aside from that my likes are from extreme poles of UFC and Boxing to Vain Attacks of Digital Perming and Spa Treatments. Well, aside from that -- I'm also a mindf*cker, who is nerdy enough to do a Word of the Week entry. Now here is the latest addition to my self-confessed, nerdy-ness; Country of the Month. Don't Worry, to compensate - I shall post one of my photos, one of those visual proof that am not yet a bipolar/schitzoooo. Anyhoo, here is North Korea for yo!

***

I was with my girlfriends at Kalibo International Airport, our Singles Getaway was about to end when the news the Kim Jong Il, NK's leader died. The news was all over twitter, and just like that I was glued on searching online who Kim Jong Il is and all the other facts about North Korea. Since I don't want to be partial and judgemental about North Korea, all I'll be posting here after are the info's I have gathered from Wikipedia and some of the Videos I have been watching (yes over berroca and chips, lol!) late at night.

***

North Korea ( listen), officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선민주주의인민공화국), is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. The Amnok, or Yalu, and the Tumen rivers form the border between North Korea and China. A section of the Tumen River in the far northeast is the border with Russia.

The Capital City is Pyongyang and the National Language is Korean. Currency is North Korean Won and  North Korea's government is a self-described Juche (self-reliant) state,^[65] described by some observers as a de facto absolute monarchy^[66][67][68] or "hereditary dictatorship"^[69] with a pronounced cult of personality organized around Kim Il-sung (the founder of North Korea and the country's only president) and his son and heir, Kim Jong-il. Following Kim Il-sung's death in 1994, he was not replaced but instead received the designation of "Eternal President", and was entombed in the vast Kumsusan Memorial Palace in central Pyongyang.^[70

***
Inside Undercover in North Korea:

**The above videolinks are from youtube and are documentaries from National Geographic. I dont own them, nor am I paid or asked for them to be re-published. I just want to share the video-knowledge I got from the vids :)

 ************


Ahn-Nyeong Hah- Seh-Yo!
The promised proof of not being scheeezooo photo, sane enough? :)



Soundtracking House Craze Mix

I was never really a fan of House Music. But recently, even before the Avicii Craze - i got so into it that its my constant chillax earphones music in the office whenever i need to breathe in and out the stress of the workday. More so after Avicii coming over the country (yes, I missed his repupliq stint, boo!)  am all over the Internet searching for even the not so freshly mixed house music.


Moony's Pinklife -- Samantha Jone's Rise -- Maria Nayler's Naked and Sacred -- Astro Nuts' As Strong As the Sun -- Avicii's Fade Into Darkness, Levels and Rapture, Ooh Love <3

Verses: Makata Sa Sariling Wika

**1st Tagalog Entry Everrr..*

Nagsimula akong maglathala ng aking mga saloobin, hinanakit, pangarap at kaisipan noong ako ay asa highschool. Hindi ko inakalang ito ay magpapatuloy hanggang sa kasalukuyan kung kailan ako ay tapos na sa pag-aaral at ilang taon na rin namang nagtratrabaho at may sarili nang pamumuhay. Higit sa lahat, hindi ko inakalang ako ay makakasulat ng ilang berso sa wikang tagalog, bersong masaya ang tema at walang pinaghuhugutang hinanakit at lumbay.


Ang susunod na mga talata ay dulot ng isang pagsintang puno nang katatawanan, mga bagay na hindi pinlano at tunay na hindi inaasana. Ang titulo nito ay:

EPEKTO MO 0512

Pilit mang ipikit ang mga matang nagmimithi,

Kahit sa dilim, ngiti mo ay hindi mawaglit..

Mag-kunwari mang ikay hindi naiisip,

Hangang sa panaginip, ay ikaw ang ninanais..

Nakakapanibago, sa totoo lang, natatakot na ako.. Kahit sa hinagap ay hindi ko ikalang ganito ang iyong epekto..

Sa isang malayong ibayo ng mga mag-sinta at mapaglaro.. 

Sa isang lugar ng pangako, kung saan ang buhangin at alon ay parating nagtatagpo.. 

Inakala kong doon na ang huling yugto, yun pala ang kasunod noon ay tatlong tuldok..

Nakakapanibago, sa totoo lang, natatakot na ako.. Hindi ko inakalang, hindi ka lang puro loko.. 

Sa likod nga mga tawa at mga pagbibiro, mayroon palang paglambing na mukha namang totoo..

Hindi ako umaasa sa madaliang pag-ibig at sa pangako na handog ang kalawakan at mundo. 

Pero akoy magpapasalamat kung balang araw ay magkatoto -- na matawag kitang akin, at ako ay sa iyo..

Dumating man ang araw na iyon, o manatiling lamang epekto ng bisyo.. 

Akoy buong pusong makukuntento.. 

Kuntento dahil, lubusang napasaya moko, natuto akong mabuhay sa ngayon at di masyadong maging seryoso..

Maliban don, kalakip ng mga tawa at mga emoticon sa mensahe mo, dulot mo ang inspirasyon upang makasulat ako ng masaya at nakakapagpangiting tagalog na berso..

Random Thought:: He Can Turn your Mourning into Dancing

It is amazing how God can change all your fears to faith, all your doubts to security, all your worries to assurance -- and a sick, hurting, unsecured, tear-filled start of 2011 to a blessed, surprisingly awesome, blissful, filled of laughter, love and grace 2011's end <3 



*8 more days to go before my year-ender-photo-blog piece, God you are amazing. I feel so blessed :)

Word of the Week: SURREPTITIOUS

surreptitious •\ˌsər-əp-ˈti-shəs, ˌsə-rəp-, sə-ˌrep-\• adjective

When someone behaves in a surreptitious way, they're being secretive. They're doing something that they don't want to be seen doing.

While surreptitious means secret, it has the added sense of "sneaky" or "hidden."

You'll see surreptitious applied mostly to actions, rather than to things or ideas. We do things surreptitiously. The members of the secret society hold surreptitious meetings because, well, they're a secret society. I was very surreptitious in how I organized the surprise party: he never knew!

Origin of SURREPTITIOUS

Middle English, from Latin surrepticius, from surreptus, past participle of surripere to snatch secretly, from sub- + rapere to seize — more at rapid

First Known Use: 15th century

 

Gotcha from http://www.vocabulary.com/definition/surreptitious & http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surreptitious

Jackie gets INKED :)

More than finding out that your friends are into Tattoo, it is the thrill of joining them in (and the honor of capturing snapshots of) their INKING experience that I enjoy the most.

For me, the concept and reality of getting INKED in this modern times have surpassed the stereotypical locked inmates mark or break-out rebellion. I would want to believe that society has accepted this as more than a fancy, but as a legit form of self-expression, of faith profession, as a reminder of the things you personally believe in, an imprint of art and its circling implications.

**

Jackie and I went to P&P Tattoo Shop last November and she got her first (and yes, second bit of ink) that eventful Friday.

Jackie Gets INKED!



Ready.. Set.. Inkiiing...

tttt..ttt..ttt..

Jackie's Yin Yang ♂♀



With her Tattoo Artist, Mike Sambajon of P&P


BUT WAIT, There is more.. Jackie got her Free STAR in Orange :)

Perfect Cherry On Top Bonus Free Tatt :)

Try getting your TATTOO at P&P Tattoo and Body Art. They have Metro Manila Branches in Makati and Eastwood and a new one to inking at Boracay soon. Call +63-8908037 or visit their site: www.pandpatattoo.com for more details and appointment schedules.

You can also check out my 2ndTATT from P&P at INKED in WHITE and my 1st one from Alex Cabaluna at She got INKED.

In Praise Of Avicii Mixed By JCSandejas

InPraiseOfAvicii_MixedByJCSandejas

Good Good Mix by JC :)

Word(s) of the Week: UFC

UFC, which stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) production company in the world. It started/is being shown from the US and is being aired in most if not all countries around the world. UFC showcases different kinds of disciplines like Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Karate, Wrestling and is in observance of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. 


It currently has seven weight divisions -- and yes, though personally considered unfortunate  -- the Light Heavyweight division (205 lbs/93 kgs) now has Jone Jones reigning over it. Last December 11's fight declared Jones as the New UFC 140 Light Heavyweight Champ.


Don't worry, 100% girl in the house -- BUT YES,  I enjoy watching UFC and I am a Machida fan. Also, my insomnia is kicking in and I cannot help but doodle a few things about UFC and share some basics that might help you to at the very least understand if not appreciate what it's all about. 


UFC's Current Weight Divisions 

Weight class name	Upper limit
	in pounds (lb)	in kilograms (kg)
Flyweight	125	56.8
Bantamweight	135	61.2
Featherweight	145	65.8
Lightweight	155	70.3
Welterweight	170	77.1
Middleweight	185	83.9
Light Heavyweight	205	93.0
Heavyweight	265	120.2

The UFC stage is an eight-sided enclosure officially named "The Octagon." The UFC cage is an octagonal structure with walls of metal chain-link fence coated with black vinyl and a diameter of 32 ft (9.8 m), allowing 30 ft (9.1 m) of space from point to point. The fence is 5 ft 6 in to 5 ft 8 in height.


All competitors must fight in approved shorts, without shoes. Shirts, gis or long pants (including gi pants) are not allowed. Fighters must use approved light-weight open-fingered gloves, that include at least 1" of padding around the knuckles, (110 to 170 g / 4 to 6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab. These gloves enable fighters to punch with less risk of an injured or broken hand, while retaining the ability to grab and grapple

Matches usually end via:

• Submission: a fighter clearly taps the mat or his opponent, or verbally submits. 
• Knock-out: a fighter is put into a state of unconsciousness resulting from any legal strike.
• Technical Knockout (TKO): If the referee decides a fighter cannot continue, the fight is ruled as a technical knockout. 

A fight can also end in a technical decision, technical submission, disqualification, forfeit, technical draw, or no contest. The latter two outcomes have no winners.

Lyoto Carvalho Machida (Portuguese pronunciation: [liˈotu maˈʃidɐ]; born May 30, 1978) is aJapanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and is currently ranked as the #6 light heavyweight fighter in the world by Sherdog,^[1]

lYOTO Machida VITAL STATISTICS

Name Lyoto Machida Nick Name The Dragon Record 17 - 3 - 0 (Win - Loss - Draw) Wins 6 (T)KOs ( 35.29 %)  2 Submissions ( 11.76 %)  9 Decisions ( 52.94 %)  Losses 1 (T)KOs ( 33.33 %)  1 Submissions ( 33.33 %)  1 Decisions ( 33.33 %)  Association Team Machida Height 6'1" (186cm) Weight 204lbs (93kg) Birth Date 1978-05-30 Age 33 City Belem, Para Country Brazil

NOW, its TIME TO WATCH this MACHIDA-JONES Game Fight ►►

UFC technicalities and info from wikipedia.com