Party!!! Party!!!

I know it's too late to share anything about the previous holiday season, still, I want to write about how our department celebrated our Christmas Party.

In December 2010,  we had our Christmas Party in Century Hotel, Angeles City. We agreed to wear black although few of our fellow Analysts wore a different color outfit. But that is totally fine, their presence is what really matters. The food was okay but not that spectacular. We had games and so much FUN!!!

On the contrary, the party food we had in our December 2011 Christmas party became the highlight of the night care of K Cafe, who happens to be the owner of the famous Shanghai Restaurant in Balibago, Angeles City. Oh so yummy! is all we can utter during dinner...savoring every bite!

I just realized that I've been hosting our department's Christmas party for three consecutive years now. Hosting is exhausting but you will never feel such when everyone truly enjoys the moment! I don't mind doing it again and again.

QA Christmas Party 2010

 

QA Christmas Party 2011

Hoping for a Great 2012!

Hey guys, Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yeah I know, I'm now a certified lazy blogger. It's been 6 months since my last post, I don't want to make a promise again but deep in my heart there is so much I want to write and share and believe me I continue to visit and read my favorite blogs and would even write my comment's on their post/s that I find interesting.

It's now 2012 and I'm really hoping that this year will be better and kinder to me and my family. Looking back, I would say that 2011 tested my courage, faith and emotion. My family and I faced the most tying time of our lives with the passing of my beloved mom in the last quarter of 2011. I am not ready to share the details yet as I still get very emotional everytime I think of it. It will take forever to endure the pain.

On a lighter note, I am delighted to receive a Starbucks planner with the help of my friends Pao and Coline. It's my first time to have an SB planner. The frugal person that I am is satisfied with having Cosmopolitan or Sterling planner, the dates and days are just the same anyway, be it an expensive or cheap planner. But this SB planner that I have now is special because it was a gift from friends. I did not spend a single centavo to complete the stickers and redeem it.

Have you guys written down your New Year's Resolution yet? I said written because most of the time we just write them and ended up not doing them at all. But it's fun enumerating new year's resolution when a brand new year is about to start. I guess I have an idea what to share in my next post, hopefully soon?

I wish everyone a FRUITFUL and  BLESSED Year of the Dragon.

Simple Family Celebrations

My family seldom celebrate occassions with a big party, invite relatives & friends with lots of food to share. Me and my siblings never demanded for a party to celebrate our birthdays. In as much as my parents would like to provide us party during special occassions, they could not afford it. We accepted and understood that. When I was little, I can vividly remember the whole family would dine in Nelson's Balloons in downtown Angeles City with yummy bibingka as their specialty on special occassions. My siblings and I would excitedly play in the see saw inside Nelson's Ballons right after eating pancit and bibingka while my parents stay in the table and chat, look at us while we're busy playing. The only time my parents threw a party was when my brother passed the board exam for Mechanical Engineers in 1998, and that's something worth celebrating.

Now, whenever there are family occassions, still there's no party but we all dine out or eat somewhere and try some specialties of different restaurants. Honestly, I like it that way, it's more intimate, convenient and hassle free.

Last January 09, my brother and his wife celebrated their 13 years of marriage. We had an early dinner in Extremely Expresso because my brother and our kids craved for pasta and pizza.

On February 02, mom turned 64 years old, she didn't want to go somewhere and eat, she preferred to just cook for the family since it was weekday and thought my father and my brother were tired from work to go out. She cooked pancit, chicken and cheese lumpia. I bought her flowers and Pandan cake from TollHouse on behalf of my sister who's in Qatar.

Acey's birthday was February 10 but we celebrated it last Feb. 13 which is Sunday. We had dinner in Max Restaurant in Marquee Mall because Acey's favorite is chicken and ate her share of Max chicken unswervingly, she almost uttered "Sarap to the Bones!".

Acey  in a "Sarap to the Bone" moment

A Busy December

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

Let me start by greeting you Belated Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Wonderful 2011!

My December was a busy month. I attended 3 Christmas parties. I got busy brainstorming with my mom and sister-in-law about what to prepare for noche buena and media noche. Since we're living in the same compound, we decided to do it the potluck way, cook our own specialties and place them on one table so that all members of the family will just get their preferred dish.

The Christmas party of the QA department (where I belong) was held Dec. 10, 2010. We decided to do it early because we do not want to stress ourselves making reservations for venues, everyone knows that December is the peak season for almost all kinds of businesses, venues included. Our department's christmas party was a huge success! Everyone came in their best attire. The food was great. One of our teammate Lhen came in the venue early to do the table settings and the highlight of the occassion was the pictorial. Vic who has an innate talent in photography brought her DSLR and newly bought continous lights and transformed one corner of the venue into a professional photography studio. Suddenly, the team is composed of one whole cast of a Telenovela.

Two days after, my kids and I attended a family reunion on hubby's side. It was held December 12, 2010. Even if hubby wasn't here or wasn't able to come home for christmas, I make sure that me and my kids are present in his relative's gathering most especially if it is a family reunion.




Lastly, I also attended our highschoolbatch's christmas party held 4 days before christmas day. This was also the reason why only few of my batchmates were able to make it. We organized it especially for one batchmate who arrived from the United States to spend the holiday season here in the Philippines. She shouldered the expenses that night. We got Big Big discount because it was held in Wishing Well, managed by one of our batchmate.



So there, it was a December full of parties and happenings.

DIY Cupcake Stand for Toots' Birthday

Toots celebrated her 30th birthday in Fontana last Saturday (Nov. 27, 2010). She's undeniably one of the prettiest and sexiest mom I know. This hot mama is also a fashionista. She’s addicted with plains and prints dresses and highheeled shoes and a lot of branded stuff every girl wishes to have. We thought she doesn’t need material gifts anymore so we thought of bringing cake and cupcakes for her birthday with matching 5 tier cupcake. Collyn who’s starting a baking business volunteered to bake the red velvet cake and cupcakes. We actually had a tastetest of her red velvet cupcakes and we approved it with two thumbs up. The cream cheese frosting was perfectly done. All we can utter is “mmm…” after every bite.

I volunteered to take care of the tower cupcake. I inquired to one of the cupcake seller in multiply and attempted to order. It took 5 days for the exchange of messages (excluding the days the multiply seller didn’t reply in my emails) and when I was about to order, unfortunately, the delivery of the cupcake tower won’t make it on the day I needed it. I didn’t tell Collyn and other friends about it because I do not want to disappoint them. I do not want to hear “it’s okay” when in fact it’s not, considering I had enough time to order it.

It’s already Saturday and the event will be held at night. I got in touch with cupcake sellers I know who owns cupcake tower and ask if I can rent it and VIOLA…NOT AVAILABLE! I was so unlucky that day...I got stressed!!! Then I thought of the DIY cupcake stand I read in one of the blogs I follow. I run into the craftstore to buy all the materials needed and assembled everything with the help of my little girl Acey. It may not be a 5 tier cupcake tower as originally planned, it’s just a mini cupcake stand AND when I saw the finish product in the picture with the actual cake and cupcakes on it, oh boy, you’ll agree with me if I say it’s a BEAUTIFUL mini cupcake stand. This is one of the nicest and cutest thing I’ve done in my entire life. Here are the photos and let me know what you think…

A Spooky October 31

I was supposed to bring CJ and Acey in the trick or treat activity of Marquee Mall held last October 31 at 10 am, but good thing I changed my mind. I knew from the pictures uploaded in Facebook from friends that most of the kids who joined the trick or treat activity were pre toddlers. They all looked so cute and adorable in their costumes. But we attended the halloween party organized by my highschool batchmate in the afternoon of October 31.

CJ was captain John Smith while Acey was a little fairy. I wore black top, jeans and higheeled black shoes and tried to copy the seductive vampire make up of Michelle Phan minus the contact lens. Unfortunately, I didn't have close up picture because I was busy taking photos of my kids. I used Acey's headband with a black flower to match my get up, I actually planned on putting a tool on it and some feathers to make it look like an empire hat just like what the designer Mich Dulce was known for, but there was not enough time for me to execute my kikay idea.

We arrived at the venue on time and I brought chocolate rumble from goldilocks. The hosts of the event were busy arranging the candies, materials for the games and making the venue spooky looking. Whenever guests would arrive, they get giddy taking pictures of the venue, the food plus kids wearing costume.

Kids enjoyed the candies more than the food. They got energized after the first game which was the "donut eating contest" and I did an impromptu hosting for the second game because my batchmate was already exhausted and requested me to facilitate the "picture perfect" game.

It was another memorable Halloween event for my kids. CJ and Acey's pumpkin baskets were almost 100% filled with candies and they shared some with their cousin the next morning.

Sweet Treats on Father's Day

Aside from sending hubby a heartfelt father's day message in Facebook, I wanted to make him feel it’s really a special day for him so I ordered a father's day cake for him (for my dad and brother as well) even if he can’t have a taste of it since he’s several miles away.

It was a pre ordered cake, I was undecided what design I like, I just told Annali (the cake maker) any design for as long as the phrase “Happy Father’s Day!” is written on it. I was delighted to see the design of the cake, simple and cute. The icing or the sugar paste is not too thick so you can tolerate the sweetness coming from the sugar and most of all, we love how super moist the cake was.




I also made mango sago dessert. I ‘ve been wanting to do this last summer while mango fruit is in season, perfect dessert on a humid day but I had a hard time looking for sago (Acey calls it baby sago). When finally I was able to buy sago and found the easiest cooking directions in google, I lost the momentum doing it.

While buying ingredients for the pasta I brought in my brother-in-laws despidida party last Saturday, I also bought readily peeled and sliced mangoes. I have ready ingredients so there was no excuse for me not to make mango dessert. My family enjoyed and loved it!

Belated Happy Father's Day to all Wonderful Dads out there!!!

The Wedding

June 08 was my brother in-law's wedding with his long time girlfriend Ria. Clark, the youngest among 6 male siblings (hubby is the second to youngest) finally tied the knot. I thought he's not gonna marry anymore after breaking up with his previous girlfriend for 8 years. Clark intentionally did not get marry early because he devoted his time taking care of their grandmother and my mom -in-law, who both passed away 4 years ago.

Time, money and effort were spent during the preparation, not to mention, stress was also experienced. I brought CJ and Acey to the place where gowns and barongs were rented month before the much awaited occasion for their measurements to allow the dressmaker finish the barong and gown on time. Despite that, we were only able to get the barong and gown a day before the wedding. Acey has to fit the gown 3 times before they can finally get the perfect measurement...stressful isn't it?

I am happy that the wedding was an enormous success. Everything was perfect from the wedding ceremony to the wedding reception. The audio visual presentations showing the old pictures of my in-laws with Clark when he was still a kid and the video message (which is my idea) from my hubby who's in Qatar suprised the groom and made him teary eyed.

I can assure the bride she's in good hands and Clark will be an ideal husband. I say this not because he's my brother-in-law but simply because I witnessed how loving he is as a son and brother, how considerate he is as a brother in-law and affectionate as uncle to his nephews and nieces.

I wish the newlywed happiness and more wonderful years together.

Now, take a look at the photos taken during the wedding.

with my kids

me and my good looking son CJ

me with my lovely daughter Acey

Acey, as the little bride, holding the bouquet of the bride

Acey marched in the wedding isle to meet the bride and hand over the bouquet

bride and groom...Clark and Ria

A Year Older

I turned a year older last May 16. I am overwhelmed with the birthday greetings and wishes I received from family, friends and acquaintances through facebook and SMS. There was no party but I fulfilled my promise to my kids to bring them in a nearby resort for a night swimming. My friends have been inviting me to resorts within the city, they also organized an outing in Abra where one of my friends and her family are currently residing and try Pagudpud beach but I politely declined. We will be attending my brother in law's wedding on June 08 and my daughter Acey will act as one of the flower girls and I do not want her complexion to darken because of swimming and most importantly, I can't allow my kids stay in the water under the scorching heat of the sun even if there are various sunblocks available with higher SPF. I believe dermatologists when they say that direct exposure in the sun can cause harmful effects. Two hours of night swimming is already enough for my kids. It made their summer complete!

Mother's Day!

When I woke up on Sunday morning last week, my daughter Acey immediately greeted me "Happy Mother's day", my son CJ did the same. Such gesture instantly put a smile on my face and made me realize it's a special day for moms.

We didn't have celebration but we attended a birthday party and they enjoyed it immensely because of the games, magic show and lootbags they got as giveaways and prizes for winning in the games.







Belated Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow great MOMs

Graduation

My daughter Acey graduated from preparatory level last March 29 with high honor from Achievers School. She is a consistent honor student that's why we are so proud of her. Her dad wasn't able come home to witness the graduation because he planned to spend his vacation with us several weeks from now to catch up on his kids. We can't wait!









On the other hand, my son CJ passed as fourth grader student. He doesn't need to enrol in summer class which doubled my happiness. Last Easter Sunday, me and my kids went to attend Sunday mass in the morning and proceeded in SM Clark afterwards because I promised Acey a dollhouse and Ben10 collectible for CJ. It's their prize for being good students and children as well. We then ate lunch in KFC. We had a simple but wonderful Easter Sunday!

Touching Valentine Message

Even if hubby and I have not celebrated Valentines Day for the past years, I can still claim that my Valentine every year is complete with the presence of my kids. I treasure the valentine cards I received from my kids.

Acey made a Valentine card days before Valentines day. She drew in the card a woman too focus watching TV as if she doesn't care whatever is happening in her surroundings. Admittedly, that's how I am especially during weekends. Watching my favorite shows is what I love doing and my kids know that very well.

On the other hand, CJ made a huge valentine card which was actually a project in their school and this is the actual message written on the card...

Dear mom and dad,

This is your son CJ. Mom, I want to say that you have the same attitude as the Maiasaurus which its name means good carrying mother like in the Dinosaur King show in episode 6 & 13. In episode 6 the Maiasaurus did anything to protect its egg and in episode 13, the acrocontosaurus did anything to go to the volcano and the island to protect the fossils of its mate and son and for dad, he is like a deinonychus which its name means terrible claw and the deinonychus work hard to find food. Like dad he work hard to give us money and transport the money to us.

from your son CJ


My son is engrossed with Dinosaurs. He always watch dinosaur films and shows via youtube and when he does, all the dinosaurs figures are scattered on the computer table.

I was elated after receiving those cards that I decided to do a quick visit at Marquee Mall and bought my kids valentine gift...luckily different Baby G watches were on sale.

Kids know things that can make you happy. Kids know how to express their love in very unique and innocent way.

Belated Happy V Day to all!!!