Winter

Let me tell you a story about why I used to hate my birthday.

For the past 27 years, every month of May, I feel burdened; Burdened by the idea that my birthday is coming. Generally, people love celebrating birthdays as it only comes once a year. It is the day they would feel the most important, blessed, and loved. However for me, it serves as a reminder that for the longest time, I didn't want to be alive, but still am. Another year has passed, of me living a meaningless and miserable life.

I suffered from depression.

I hated the fact that people were only nice to me 1 out of the 365 days that they could have. The only day that people who disliked me suddenly become my friends. 

My newer circle would always wonder why I would disappear on my birthday. They couldn't reach me, personally and electronically, consistently during my birthday. They would always wonder where I go, as I always give the excuse that I will be out of town. There have been numerous attempts for a surprise party, but I would always ditch them every time I suspect a plan. And so I never celebrate. I just tuck myself away in my bed, no internet, no reception, just me and some melancholic music.

However, the past couple of years have been different. I slowly learned to love myself; to appreciate life and share my blessings to people that actually matter. I learned to let go all of the bitterness of the past. My birthday has now become a reminder that I am still alive despite all hardships. I am still here standing strong; another year of wisdom that should be celebrated.

Now, I have people who genuinely care and show appreciation for me, not only my birthday, but also the throughout the year! Friends who actually show concern for me, and wants the best for me. Thank you so much for making me feel so loved on my birthday. I am alive, once again. I felt like I was reborn, and the next coming birthdays are only going to get better! :)

Happy new year everybody! This is my first post of 2022! How exciting is that? Did you know that I was in the blogosphere since I was in high school... like around 2006ish... 15 years ago! Although ofcourse I kept changing my handle and kept evolving in content that's why I'm always like a 누구 to this world lol. A lot of the lifestyle bloggers I knew back then has stopped writing... and moved on with their lives. I wish I could still stay in that era that inspired me a lot to write. Quite frankly majority of the blogs I come across these days are all for making $$$ off content, building a brand, improving SEO and all that jazz. I genuinely hope I come across that space of the blogosphere again where bloggers just write about their lives, and experiences -- more organic and relatable content. I have found some along the way, and I hope they won't change! If you are one, please can you let me know your handle? I will add you to my reading list! This 2022, I aim to be more raw in my posts, so even though we are not physically around each other you still know how I'm doing and what's going on in my life. 


Bear with me though, I've never really been comfortable using my real name in my online presence and so I still hide in this persona I call Winter Kennedy. For my friends and readers who has known me since the beginning of time, thank you for sticking around! :)


New Years came by so quick for me. First there was the Christmas long weekend, a couple of workdays, and then the New Years long weekend. It was so dragging to work in between Christmas and New Year! My coworkers and I were like... ugh... can we go home already? lol.

On Friday 31st December, we checked in again at Marriot Grand Cayman, for an overnight staycation. Did I mention that we were there last Christmas? This holiday season has been expensive to be quite honest! But it's ok, after working so hard in 2021, I do think we need a well deserved break :) It was not originally planned, we just decided on it on Christmas day that we need to be here on New Years too. Last year we went to the beach to watch the fireworks, but nope it didn't work for me. People just light their firecrackers here and there, what if something goes wrong and it drops in my eye?! Have you seen a dog flee and hide when they hear firecrackers? YUP THAT WAS ME. So nope, not happening this year!

We were supposed to watch the kids friendly fireworks at Camana Bay at 8pm but didn't make it in time. So instead, we had dinner at Eats, a nearby restaurant along the strip.  The food was good :)

When I called the hotel a couple of days before, they said that they will be hosting a Lantern Festival this year in lieu of the fireworks. So I really thought we will be flying out small lanterns into the sky (not eco friendly, I know I know), but turns out they placed it on the ground for aesthetic purposes only. How anti-climactic! Eitherway, there was a countdown pool party so we just went on and enjoyed the music, and fireworks from the next door hotel lol.

All in all I love the holiday season in 2021. It was a time to reflect on how blessed we are for good health, happy friends / family, a feast and nice vacation, plus extra moolah for gifts exchanges :) Weehee so excited for what 2022 has to offer!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a long time.... 오랜만이에요. I tweaked my blog a little bit here and there, did you notice any changes? lol. I'm writing to you now here at the comfort of my home with a nice and warm cup of coffee. Ah, it's a good life. Many of us fail to appreciate this, the beauty of the mundane. Anyway, I have a lot of catching up to do since my last update!

The last 2 months of 2021.

November, actually, is my favorite month. I love Halloween. I like dressing up in costumes and watching others dress up as well. This year, I suggested for a Halloween party in my workplace and it was granted about a week and a half before the end of October! There was a competition for best team office design and best costume, so say no more, I gave every ounce of creativity and effort to win! I realized that most of my coworkers will go for either a cutesy pumpkin carving halloween or a creepy skeletonish spidery one, but I took the opportunity do a concept with a story.

Introducing...

Murder Mystery: Who whacked Jack?

Mission success! We won best team office design :)

December, and so the festive season begins! In Cayman there really isn't so much to do other than see a couple of light shows or go to parties, which are unfortunately also restricted to a number of people due to covid. So for Christmas, my boyfriend and I decided to stay at the Marriot for December 24th-26th. Ah, expensive but I think we deserve some good time and rest after working hard for the year. We mostly just settled in by the pool, restaurant, and balcony.

And ofcourse, just right after christmas day, I hungout with friends for some Filipino food, games, fun and festivies! Filipino christmas party games are always the best. Hope you guys enjoyed your holidays as much as I did!

Visit us on instagram at @thebeautywanderer

I was mainly doing the photography, pricing, and a little bit of advertising so let me show you some of the outtakes before the opening day!