Covid-19 Thoughts

Covid-19 Thoughts (I will continue to update when ideas hit me):

·    * Happiness is now defined by the first breath I take after taking off my facemask.

·    * I have more than 10 pairs of shoes, but I only use 2 – one rubber shoes for the office, and 1 pair of sandals for times that I just have to go out of the unit. The others are now gathering dusts.

·    * I have more than 10 watches, but I only use 1 so that there will be lesser items to clean and disinfect. They are just continuously using batteries that I may have to replace once the lockdown is over.

·    * I have more than 10 bags, but I only use 2 – one for the office and 1 for just going out the unit. There is actually a recommendation to use brown bag to store my stuff in so that I can throw it away when I get home.

·    * I have make-ups, but can’t use right now. No point as I will have to cover almost my entire face of a face mask.

·    * My hands are dry due to the constant washing and alcohol. So dry that my lotions are no longer working.

·    * I still can drive in Manila even after stopping for almost 10 years. Manila traffic has become horrible that I swore never to drive again. But now I have no choice but to drive myself to work. With lesser cars on the street, driving has become pleasurable again.

·    * I haven’t stepped on a grocery since the start of the lockdown. I have no patience in waiting for 3 hours in queuing just to be able to enter and another 3 hours to shop and pay for my items. Convenience (Alfa Mary and All Day) stores has become my go-to place for groceries (prices are doubled and sometimes tripled, though).

Celebrated My 40th Birthday

Last Monday, April 13, 2020, I blew my 40^th birthday cake. It was a "lockdown birthday".

I am not a party-goer, I actually hate parties so I really don’t celebrate my birthdays. The last party I’ve had was when I turned 18 years old – the typical debut party.

Every year, I’d just go out with closest friends to treat them for lunch or dinner either before or after the day of my birthday. Oh, I remember setting up one party (but I can’t remember anymore what year) where I invited few friends at our house. Still, it was just simple – no programs, just prepared food for my guests and few chitchats.

During my birthday days, I’d wake up, do normal stuff and probably just go out for lunch or dinner with family. There’s always a cake and noodles.

Since I’d be 40 this year, I planned to have a party. I have actually made reservations at a restaurant last February and it was supposed to be a “Tropical Fun” party. I had several programs and games in mind. I’ve initially shopped for decorations and prizes, but I am glad that I didn’t shop big time. I even have my dress to wear already.

Then Covid-19 came. My 40^th birthday party celebration has been CANCELLED. My sister asked me if I’m sad that my party got cancelled. In all honesty, I am not.

Life may have been halted by the pandemic, but my 40^th birthday pushed through. However, I celebrated it in almost the usual way. I ordered my food through Grab and made a drive through at Jollibee before going to my parents’ house. I had no interest to cook anymore.

I celebrated a milestone with the people most precious to me – Doc M, Mom, Sister G, Niece G and my Cousin D (my Dad is spending the lockdown in the province while my Sister A is in another house).

So here are my birthday menu:

·         24K Bear Cake by Boulangerie 22 (Grab)

·         Lechon Manok and Pork BBQ by Andok’s (Grab)

·         Spaghetti Pan and Peach Mango Pie by Jollibee (Drive Thru)

·         Coke from the Sari-Sari Store near our house

Life may not be the same anymore once this pandemic is over, but life still goes on. I am certain that whatever the situation would be, we will be able to adjust. I have so much to thank God for, and these are reasons to go on.

As for my party, it's something that I can plan for again. I don't stop at 40. I feel like it's actually a start of something more exciting!

I hope everyone remain safe and healthy.

Time of the Covid-19

I (actually we) am in a different time while I am writing this. The entire world is currently at war with an invisible enemy called Covid-19. I won't go much into details of what it is as I am sure every one is very much aware of it.

The pandemic, though, hasn't stopped me from my hobby of doll-collecting. Maybe I haven't been to the mall for more than a month now, but internet is still up and it gives me access to online shopping. 

I am at the office now as I work in a hospital, but tasks as well as people to interact with are limited since a lot are required to stay at home. Having lesser things to think about, I have though of visiting my blog so here I am typing.

Just to update, I have lately ventured into international marketplaces as well like Amazon, Walmart and ShopDisney. I even tried Etsy once. Facebook has also launched a Marketplace, which also gives a lot of options in shopping for toys and dolls. 

Lately I am being hooked to Facebook Live toy shopping. I intend not to do it long, though... (my fingers crossed).

I just dropped by. I wish to write more as I expect to stay home longer next week. :)

First Post for 2019

Time flies when you're having fun... as the song of Gloria Estefan goes. I hope I can say that it's the reason why I am not able to write in this blog page. 

I am, however, more active in my Facebook account nowadays. It's easier to manage by taking photos, then post and I don't need much to write about it as short descriptions will do. 

I won't say too much for this post as I am hoping (yes, always hoping) that I'd be able to write about so many things in this blog. 

See you when I see you. Thanks for dropping by!

Hope to see you in my FB page, which you may search as "pastelprism".

Ciao!

Pastelprism's Shopee Online Shop

Activities to keep adults busy are never-ending. 

Since I stopped working, I had to focus on the payment center business that we opened as well as paying attention to the setting up of our condo unit that was recently turned-over to us. These things have kept me busy even during the weekends that I don't get to play with my dolls, not even to check them out nor arrange them. 

However the past few days I have managed to slip-in some time to check them out and gather few that are duplicates and that I am no longer interested in keeping. I have set up a Shopee online account several months ago and would upload items every now and then. Pacing was slow, though. But at the start of the week, I was able to upload more items. As of the moment I have more than 100 items for sale on the said account.

I still can't do full blast, though, but it's better than not being able to do so. I still  have so much items to sort and sell. 

I also love the idea of getting moolah out of these toys and at the same time make other collectors happy as the stuff I have might be the ones that they have been looking for the longest time.

Please drop by my Shopee account. As of this time, shopping can only be done within my country, the Philippines, but I am considering being able to sell internationally perhaps through eBay. I just need to learn more about shipping internationally.

I know I haven't gotten much readers, but to you who's reading and perhaps also following, thank you very much.

Here is the link for my Shopee:

https://shopee.ph/pastelprism

Ciao! 😊

Pastel as of November 2018

Haven't written for a while again. But just to update you, I am not longer working and now manning the business that Doc M and I opened. We do not have a clerk yet as the previous one has resigned, so I am the one doing the task. At the same time, I have become active with my online selling through Shopee where I try to sell my dolls that are duplicates, and other toys that I am ready to part with and no longer plan to keep. 

I have lied-low in terms of purchasing preloved dolls online. Shipping has become expensive, and oftentimes higher than the items I buy. I also need to slow down with my spending, given that I am no longer employed, and doesn't have consistent moolah supply unlike when I was still working. I have gotten back to purchasing from stores from the malls. I am also standing by for the sales that shall be happening in the next few weeks.

Hopefully I'd also be able to focus with my blogging and be able to write more often. I have so many new dolls and toys that I can post in this page and they will surely add so much flavor in this blog. 

That's it for now. I am closing the shop in few minutes. Ciao!

Wednesday Doll Thoughts

It's lunch time. I am at the office, still with so much stuff in my head. At one corner I would like to let go of my passion for dolls as it is somehow overwhelming, but at the other corner tells otherwise.

Doll-collecting is not a cheap hobby in the first place. At my age of late 30’s, I am supposed to be focusing already on my future funds like retirement. I should already be cutting unnecessary purchases, which dolls mostly fall under and just get my basic needs.

It is, however, uneasy.

I have written from my previous blogs that I have tried to abstain from doll-collecting, which I thought I was successful as I have managed to turn my glance away from toy stores. Little did I know that staying “sober” was just for few years. The Monster High Doll collection had re-hit the “addiction button” and sooner I realized that I am back to the hobby.

It was back with a vengeance!

I have now considered other dolls like babies, toddlers, 18-inches, vintage, Japanese, etc, and these are bigger dolls. My storage space issue has actually increased. The bigger dolls require bigger spaces compared to the ones that are Barbie-sized.

I have started selling my duplicates. I am tempted to sell the others. The thought of making money out of these dolls is exciting, but something whispers that I might regret letting them go afterwards.

To sum it all up, I am back to zero. No progress whatsoever. Melancholic.

How can a source of happiness be also a source of distress? Ironic.