nondescript

Intrusive thoughts win here. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[riyalissst]

I should dig deeper into the Philippine indie cinema. I want to dig deeper into the Philippine indie cinema.

[riyalissst]

17.07.2026

The girly stuff I ordered online arrived today.

I know it’s kinda late but I’ve decided to embrace my womanhood by paying attention to my skin-care. Let’s how this works. Applying make-up will still be occasional, though.

But so excited to try them! I hope they are okay on my skin. 🤞🏽

🌷 Jung sae mool - Essential skin nuder long wear cushion #21

🌷 Beauty of Joseon - Relief sun: rice + probiotics

🌷 Beauty of Joseon - Red bean refreshing pore mask

🌷 Etude - Lovely cookie blusher (sweet coral candy)

🌷 Focallure - Color correcting concealer palette

[riyalissst]

11.06.2026

Today I volunteered to cook Pork Nilaga. I mean, it’s just Nilaga, what could go wrong, right?

Everything went wrong. Lol.

No Knorr pork cubes available so I used beef cubes from a different brand. After stewing, I tasted it and it was so bland. I followed the instructions from a youtube video, water was just the right amount, even added 1 tbsp. patis, but still not tasty enough? 🥲 From then on, it was a series of alternating between salt and pepper. 😂

I apologize to my housemates for putting them through the whole ordeal of eating that. ✌🏽 I feel squeamish thinking about it haha. Added to the fact that the quality of pork here is not that good and tastes a little weird. I managed to make it tender, tho.

But that’s how I’ll learn, I guess. Going to try it next time, when I finally find Knorr pork cubes.

[riyalissst]

Lilies in full bloom 🤍

[riyalissst]

I have a date with myself on my birthday next year. I booked a ticket to Wicked musical which will be at Dubai Opera, my first time to be in there. Stoked!

[riyalissst]

[riyalissst]

12-04-2026

Today I met Ate Lorna. A stranger who allowed me to share her umbrella.

I didn’t anticipate the rain. Only when I was outside did I notice the gloomy sky. When I arrived at the Church’s metro station, the rain was already pouring. From the metro station, it was an approx. 5-min walk to the Church. Almost everyone had an umbrella.

I don’t want to chastise myself for failing to anticipate the weather cuz I’m not often outside, and so bringing an umbrella was not instinctive.

But I have confidence. Lol. So I asked a random woman who I hoped would be kind enough to share her umbrella. And kind she was!

We even attended the church together. We were ushered to the babies room! I thought it impossible for my single childless self to ever set foot in the babies room, but apparently God had made the impossible possible? 😆 And because our home stations were on the same line, we rode the metro together. She even waited for me while I topped up my card at the station. 🩵

Thanks, ate Lorna! May God bless your kind heart. 🤍

[riyalissst]

I think that for my own peace of mind, I should assume that I am meant to be alone in this lifetime.

My heart hopes to find a place where I truly belong, friends that will always celebrate me and all my quirks, but how? where?

[riyalissst]

12-03-2026

A war has been going on here in UAE. It seems normal on the surface, people seem normal on the surface, but really I think we are all afraid.

[riyalissst]

Technically, I was born at around 4am on Feb 15, 1995 PH time. Given that UAE is -4 hours of PH time, then my bday is at 12 midnight here. 😌

[riyalissst]

I bought an unnecessary item today. It racked me with this guilt of buying an expensive item without it being a necessity or something that I really wanted. It’s another birkenstock that was “on sale” and was now 235dhs. It was not what I wanted to buy. I wanted to buy beach slippers. But it looked so good on my feet and I was trying a few more that it seemed embarrassing not to buy.

It’s not because I couldn’t say ‘not today’ to the attendant. He wouldn’t have minded me. If he did, it probably would be for like 10mins or so then he would forget about me and go about the rest of his shift.

I bought it because it looked good and I feel guilty cuz I should have bought something for my mama and papa instead of for myself.

I don’t regret it, tho. I could use it in the beach and somewhere else. I bought a pair 3 or 4 years ago and I still have it so it’s proven to be durable and til now still in style.

Now I keep telling myself, to soothe me, that I am working to do this, to buy not only what I need but also whatever looks good on me. 🥺

[riyalissst]

Before 2025 ended, The Talk happened.

I admit that there were words or confessions in that Talk that when I remember, I still get hurt.

It charred me.

[riyalissst]

There is a reason why the energy feels off. Looking back to years past, there were signs I think I saw but did not mind. I just didn’t expect something could be wrong.

Maybe I’m not worth keeping.

[riyalissst]

2026 Vision

More activities or new activities to try

Still contemplating whether to move to another country or stay here in Dubai, but I’m envisioning that early this year I will be able to have a decision.

Less screen time

Healthier lifestyle or more active

Non-fiction books/autobiography

Finish the Bible (1st read)

The right person who will become my boyfriend

MORE PATIENCE (less rage)

More intentional in what I do.

If possible plan ahead the activities

No need to buy gadgets, spend it experiencing things.

[riyalissst]

01.01.2026

Started reading the Bible in 2025. Now I’m on the book of Esther.

[riyalissst]

riyalism’s Year in Books

riyalism’s Year in Books

💚💚💚

[riyalissst]

It feels like she doesn’t know me anymore and has no desire to.

[riyalissst]

It’s the little things that are not so little. And these little things make up this one big and obvious hint that the feeling is not mutual.