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29 September 2005

Going on a Seminar

Next week is going to be different for me.... I am going on a Seminar at Legenda Hotel in Subic! I'm really excited because the last time I went away on my own, for anything, be it work or play, was... well... a long time ago na! I usually go on seminars naman but with a group of people from my office, now kasi it's basically just me and Abby (from a different Department) and we would stay there for almost one whole week! I'm really looking forward to this because although most of the day we would be attending sessions and lectures, Subic is really quite a scenic place to be in plus we'd be staying in a five-star hotel so who wouldn't get excited about that? The only thing that's dampening my spirits right now is the fact that my honey isn't going to be with me...
Not that we see each other everyday... (We're lucky if we see each other twice a week!) but we at least get to talk non-stop over the phone (providing we're both not too busy from work, of course!). But anyways, he's also excited for me because I hardly have the time to go anywhere on my own (and of course he's also excited about his pasalubong from me!) Also, I wouldn't be able to post for quite a while because of this... I'll be leaving on Monday, October 3 and going back on the 7th and then I will be required to make a report about the seminar due on the 12th! Yikes, now I really don't have time to even go online! But I will post pictures as soon as I meet my deadline... so to whoever visits this blog while I'm away....
"leave your name and contact details and I will get back to you as soon as I can... Thank you for calling! Este, Thank you for visting pala! hehehe!"

20 September 2005

Lazy as ever!

I don't know what's come over me lately... I've been feeling extra lazy! I wake up super late na which makes me even more late (if that's possible!) in going to work. It's not that I sleep later than usual, because I haven't changed my nightly habits naman so I still sleep at around 11:30 to 12 at night... minsan nga, I get sleepy earlier pa e. So I can't, for the life of me, understand why I feel so tired and sleepy all the time! What's worse is that I also feel hungry all the time so now, I don't get near the bathroom scale anymore for fear of finding out that I have gained yet another set of extra pounds! Hmmm.... MUST wake up from this laziness!

So anyways, this morning I woke up early and cooked breakfast for me and my youngest sister Mae... I was feeling good about myself because I was thinking... FINALLY! Naalis na yata yung heaviness that I've been feeling for a couple of weeks now. But I celebrated too soon yata because right after having breakfast, while preparing my work clothes before taking a bath, I dozed off! Would you believe it! I actually fell asleep sitting on my reading chair in my room while thinking of what shoes I would wear! Gosh! Talk about going zonkers! Buti na lang mg sister had to get something from our room so she woke me up, if not I would have slept until I don't know when na!

So in conclusion, I ended up not having enough time to blow dry my hair or have a decent dusting of face powder, I didn't even get the chance to put my contacts on, and wore my glasses instead. I had to leave for work in hurry so I just tied my hair in a ponytail while it is still wet and tint my lips with the first lip color that was able to grab! (But I took 5 seconds to take the above picture with my phone to document my booboo!) And then when I arrived at work I found out that I left the keys to my drawers! Ha! Talk about disasters coming in threes!

16 September 2005

Rainy Days and Fridays

Ok, so it's super rainy today (actually last night pa!) that several roads here in Parañaque became flooded... and I have nothing to do but stay at home and...

And what?! I don't have anything relevant to do! I'm super lazy to pick up my latest cross stitch project and finish it... I don't have a new book! I've already finished reading the book I bought two days ago so... hmmm, what to do?

Then came Melfender! My adorable, cutie pie, 1 1/2 year old cousin!

So, I ended up spending the whole day with this loveable little girl...
We read comic books (actually I was trying to read to her but she kept pointing at the pictures and asking who it was or what that object is that we ended up just looking at the pictures instead), We played (I was teaching her the names of the different body parts and she liked comparing hers with mine like I would wiggle my toes and she would mimmick me and say "Feet!"), We slept (I was humming to her so she would go to sleep na but I ended up sleeping also, hehehe!) and then when she woke up I gave her a bottle of milk and she slept some more... When she got bored with sleeping we watched the disney channel for a while and then came the time when she had to go home na...

Bye, bye Mel-mel! See you next time!

Whew! I can't believe 8PM na pala... Time to cook dinner na...

08 September 2005

Charlie's Birthday


Yesterday was my honey's birthday...

Since it was weekday, meaning a workday for both of us, the celebration was very simple. He picked me up from work and then we went to Church and then shared dinner for two at Max's Restaurant. We ate his favorite Kare-kare and Sweet & Spicy Chicken. I gave him matching silver necklace and bracelet. But I would also like to dedicate this song for him because the lyrics really fit with what I really want to say to him...

Thanks To You


Thank you
For teaching me how to love
Showing me what the word means
What I've been dreaming of
And now I know
There is nothing that I could not do
Thanks to you


For teaching me how to feel
Showing me my emotions
Letting me know what's real from what is not
What I've got is more than I ever hoped for
And a lot of what I've hoped for
Is thanks to you


No mountain, no valley, no time, no space
No heartache, no heartbreak, no fall from grace
Can stop me from believing that my love will pull me through
Thanks to you


For teaching me how to live
Putting things in perspective
Showing me how to give and how to take
No mistake that we were put here together
If I break down, well, forgive me but it's true
I am aching with the love I feel inside


No mistake that we were put here together
If I break down, well, forgive me but it's true
I am aching with the love I feel inside
Thanks to you


Happy Birthday honey... I love you very much!

06 September 2005

Enzo's Baptism

It was raining really hard and we were running late in preparing to go to my nephew's baptism (Enzo's my cousin Tin-tin's son) but as soon as we were ready to go, the weather cleared a bit (haaay! salamat). My sister Lynne and my honey Charlie are going to stand as godparents to Enzo so we hurriedly went to the church (pero late pa rin!) at BF Resort in Las Piñas. It rained a little more while the baptism was going on pero when it was time for the reception the weather cleared again. And it was a good thing kasi the set-up was in the garden! Here are a few pictures from the event!



Here's a pic of the invitation that I made for little Enzo:



And here are a some more pics of me and charlie naman...

with baby Enzo Gabriel


kami lang...


All in all, we had fun kasi parang reunion na rin with my cousins. Tapos Charlie was like part of the family na din so masaya talaga. In fact, he even bought the souvenirs for the godparents and special guests so Tin-Tin and Elmer (Enzo's parents) were really gateful to him. Next event... Charlie's birthday!

04 September 2005

Tagged by Edrei!

Ok... let's do this! Mind you, I'm posting super quickly as I'm about to go to my nephew's Christening in 10 minutes...

Seven Things That Scare Me
1.) Strangers who stare
2.) Being robbed (again!... Don't ask!)
3.) Travelling alone (specially when going somewhere for the first time)
4.) snakes, lizards and anything slimy or cold-blooded
5.) Being involved in a car accident
6.) Losing a loved-one
7.) Being a burden to my family or loved-ones

Seven Things I Like The Most
1.) Watching my favorite TV programs
2.) Spending time with my loved-ones
3.) Cooking
4.) Having a full body massage
5.) Shopping
6.) Red Ribbon's Coffee Crumble Cake
7.) Going on vacation/tours with friends and family

Seven Random Facts About Me
1.) I'm the eldest among five siblings (also the eldest grandchild on both mother and father side)
2.) I'm a frustrated interior decorator
3.) I graduated from premed but didn't pursue medicine proper
4.) I'm a planner. (I don't do anything major without planning it down to the tiniest detail)
5.) I'm a self-confessed couch potato. [But I don't get to be one nowadays! :( ]
6.) I go to a bookstore once a week without fail. (sometimes twice pa nga e! And yes, I buy a book each visit)
7.) I love taking pictures! (specially with my new digicam, hehehe!)

Seven Important Things In Our Bedroom
1.) Bed and at least three pillows (1 for my head + 1 for my feet + 1 to hug)
2.) TV & CD-VCD player
3.) Phone
4.) Alarm Clock
5.) Scented Candles / mint oil for aroma therapy
6.) Corkboard containing snapshots; ticket stubs & flyers from memorable events
7.) Books

Seven Things I Plan To Do Before I Die
1.) Lose weight (soon! i hope!)
2.) Buy a house
3.) Go to Florence, Italy
4.) Marry Charlie G. Yadao
5.) Have children
6.) Put up our own business (Charlie & I are still arguing as to what kind it would be. hehehe!)
7.) Go on a tour around the world.

Seven Things I Can Do
1.) I can cook.
2.) I can be very stubborn when I choose to be (which irritates Charlie to the max!)
3.) I can watch TV or DVD movies for 12 hours straight.
4.) I can sleep for 14 hours only to wake up for bathroom breaks.
5.) I can drive (but I don't because my driver's license expired a couple of years ago and I havent renewed it still!)
6.) I can spend hours and hours on the computer.
7.) I can design my own clothes. (and i do, but i ask my dressmaker to sew it for me)

Seven Things I Can’t Do
1.) I can't start the day without drinking something hot.
2.) I can't eat seafood (i'm allergic)... yes, me too Edrei!
3.) I can't stand long waits.
4.) I can't sing in front of an audience.
5.) I can't stay away from junk food :(
6.) I can't sleep on moving vehicles (yes, no matter how tired i am or how long the trip... i just can't)
7.) I can't eat okra or anything slimy.

Seven Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex
1.) Good Hygiene
2.) Great sense of humor
3.) Love for God
4.) Love for his family
5.) Ability to express himself (whether in words or in deed)
6.) Sense of Responsibility
7.) Self-confidence (just the right amount)

Seven Things I Say The Most
1.) Honey
2.) Why?
3.) Anyway
4.) Sure
5.) Seriously
6.) No kidding
7.) My gosh!

Seven Celeb Crushes (Whether Local or Foreign)
1.) Harrison Ford
2.) Pierce Brosnan
3.) Ben Afleck
4.) Colin Firth
5.) Joshua Jackson
6.) Jesse Bradford
7.) Kiefer Sutherland

Seven People You Want To See Take This Quiz
1.) Jen
2.) Bless
3.) Maricel
4.) Janix
5.) Olivia
6.) Mhay
7.) Hazelle

24 August 2005

Our Love Expressed with Songs

(my 22nd monthsary gift to my honey)
Let me start off by saying I promised myself, no posts on wedding preps update until November so… looking for something to post about, I went blog hopping and saw saw Jenn’s post about her and Tab’s love story… it kinda got me started on posting our love story as well…

Before we even get to the story, let’s start from when I didn’t even know of Charlie’s existence so the readers would know where I’m coming from…. by the way I titled each “chapter” of this kwento with a song title quite apt for it:

Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love
I have always been what people would say as a “late bloomer”. In high school, when all my friends and classmates would be talking about boys, I was always the odd one out. Mind you, I had my share of crushes and admirers but at that time, it wasn’t my “priority”. So when finally I had my first boyfriend right before I graduated from high school, I thought it would all be about sweetness and “kilig moments” (I was an avid reader of Sweet Dreams; Sweet Valley High and other Romance pocket books at that time). But I was promptly disillusioned when my idea of having a sweet, romantic relationship turned out to be too dreamy for real life…. After that short (it only lasted for three weeks), tragic relationship I became “hungry” for a new one… I told myself that my next relationship would last longer and would be more “mature”. So when my best friend of three years declared that he has fallen in love with me, I readily agreed to go steady with him. Needless to say, that didn’t work either. This time, “we” just lasted for two months. Mind you, I am not blaming these guys for the failed relationships… I guess I was just too idealistic or too immature to handle whatever these guys were offering. Anyhow, my next boyfriend came much later. By this time, I was thinking “hmmm… this is going to work” because I was more “level-headed” and my view on life wasn’t seen through rose-colored glasses anymore. It lasted long enough… long enough for me to realize that even the best of intentions could turn sour when people with evil minds interfere! After the three year relationship with an incredibly sensitive and thoughtful guy ended I was starting to lose all hopes of ever finding “the right one”. I guess it was a blessing in disguise na din because it strengthened my faith in God… It brought me back to the church, and taught me to really lift everything up to the Lord…

Lose Your Way
Trials came and went… There were still a couple of suitors but I can’t seem to trust myself to enter yet another relationship with such high hopes and then be let down again… I was just too tired of trying… I wanted stability… I wanted security… but all these came second to Faith… I wanted someone I could trust and pray with… and so I prayed… I prayed for guidance… I prayed for strength… I prayed for patience… I prayed for a sign… I sort of made a pact with the Lord. It was that if by the time I turn 30 and I still don’t have a boyfriend, it means that I was meant for spinsterhood. That it was God’s way of saying I was one of those women who will be happy with taking care of her nieces and nephews and is better off. But… If and when I will have a boyfriend before I turn 30, I would know that I should say yes when he asks me to marry him only if he would turn out to be somebody I could pray with. No, not just ordinary going to church together or belonging to the same religion but really pray together in the true sense of the word.

To Be Loved
Then came Charlie….

Love Moves In Mysterious Ways
He came into my life when I needed a friend the most…

The year was 2003, the venue… THE NET! Yes, the internet… I was checking my mail and browsing through the Banana Republic site when… came an instant message containing a new ID I have never seen before… the message was… “Hi! Ganda ng smile mo…” and when I still did not reply he sent another message saying “Can we be friends?” Ok, ok… so it wasn’t original nor attention grabbing or anything but I was bored so I said “where did you see me? how did you know I have a nice smile?” and then he went on to explain that he saw my picture in my Yahoo! profile (no folks! it’s not there anymore!) and thought my smile looked really friendly. And so it went… we chatted for not more than thirty minutes but somehow, we became at ease with one another, we chatted almost on a regular basis after that… talking about nothing in particular, never mentioning anything about ever meeting in person. Later on, (about 4 months after that first IM) we graduated to phone conversations… He became my confidante. You know the saying “it’s easier to open your mind and emotions to strangers”? I guess that proved to be true for me because I could talk to him about anything… as in anything at all! My sentiments about work, family and failed relationships… my hopes and dreams… my near-boo boo with a married man (don’t ask! suffice it to say that I came to my senses way before the point of no return!)… my faith… my plans… my rules… and he did the same… we shared anything and everything under the sun! From day to day experiences to our most embarrassing moments! We were phone pals for another four months before it finally came… the request for an EB! I hesitated (who wouldn’t?!)… I mean, it’s ok to pour your heart out to a complete stranger over the phone but to actually meet in person is a totally different thing! So after days of convincing and reassuring we agreed to meet… no buddy system, just us (don’t worry I insisted on a well populated venue)… and the rest is history…

Swept Away
It went like a whirlwind romance… the kind you read in pocket books… only this time I was not wishing for one anymore… At first, I thought it was just a matter of him being in the right place at the right time (he was lucky) but then he became my savior, my knight in shining armor, my friend, my shock-absorber, my adviser, my source of strength, my teacher, my alter-ego and most of all… he gave me true love when I thought I would never be able to experience it… Love that doesn’t discriminate nor judge. Love that is genuine and pure. Love that is kind and generous without waiting for reciprocation. Love that is blessed by our strong faith in the Lord and the fact that he makes all things beautiful. Proof? He gave us each other, didn’t He?

Feels Like Home
When I asked Charlie when and how he knew he loved me he said “Ipinagdasal kita… Nagdasal ako noon na mahanap ko ang babaeng makakasama ko habang buhay, ng babaeng mamahalin…” and just when I thought I was going to cry from sheer happiness he continued “Binigay ka niya sa akin, kaya alam ko, walang duda… Mahal kita noon pang una mong sinabing sa simbahan tayo magkita”

22 August 2005

Updates!

Ok, I know it's been quite a while since my last real post so this is going to be quite long... Let's start from what happened first...

August 13

Charlie and I braved the streets of Quiapo once again… this time we combed through Evangelista St. to look for bargain barongs and entourage gowns. Earlier on, we decided that we would first buy his barong and from there we would base the color of the gowns of the entourage. You see, he wants a specific type of barong… one that is colored green from the bottom and then the color fades or lightens towards the upper part. Anyways, we looked and looked but all we found were ordinary ones and one that has green leaves printed on it. It looked nice enough but we decided to look again in a couple of weeks in Baclaran or in Divisoria. And then we headed to Ongpin once again, this time to submit our wedding ring design to a shop owner that we talked to during our last visit. We gave her the printout of the ring we wanted and she gave us a quotation much cheaper than the ones we got from the other jewelers we talked to. She gave us her contact number and we promised her we’d call her as soon as we decide, besides, we have yet to finalize the date of the wedding and we want the rings engraved already before we get it.

****

August 16

• I was informed by ate Emma, my dressmaker that we would have to postpone our Divisoria textile hunt due to the influx of work load on her part. I agreed naman agad since I still have a lot of things scheduled for next couple of weeks
• My officemate and kumare, Rosebeth, informed me that my inaanak “Justhine” is going to have a party for her first birthday and Justhine and I have the same birthday, I offered to make her invitations in lieu of my not going to be able to make it to the event
• I found out from Charlie that he has overtime work on Saturday (my birthday) so he wouldn’t be able to accompany me to the church and the grocery to buy party needs for my celebration on Sunday. I told him it was ok as long as he would make it on Sunday.

****

August 17

• Charlie and I met up for our usual Wednesday novena and mass at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and then afterwards we went to SM Sucat to buy paper and ribbon supplies for the invitations I will make for Justhine
• We told my mom that we would probably have the Ongpin jeweler to make our wedding rings instead of her jeweler-friend because of our limited budget. She still insisted for a while that her friend could be trusted to make rings with higher quality but when we explained that the Ongpin rings would come with certificates and a “sort-of warranty” she relented.
• Having decided on who would make our rings, Charlie and I had to make the date final so I scheduled an early morning trip to the Church the next day

****

August 18

• Went to St. Andrew’s Cathedral office to have our date blocked but found out new rule: We have to provide our Baptismal and Confirmation certificates first and have the Canonical Interview before we could even reserve a date!
• Finished printing and assembling Justhine’s invites and gave it to Rosebeth for distribution

• Informed Charlie about the new rules and we decided that we would go to San Miguel Church next weekend with his Baptismal Certificate so he could be confirmed (or be scheduled to have a confirmation)
• Uncle Boy told me of the rates of Multinational Village Clubhouse and I thought that it was a lot cheaper than the other venues that we have inquired. Upon passing on this information to Charlie, we decided to have the reception there (yey! we have a venue!) But we have to move fast on our Church reservation first because I was also informed that there are already quite a number of 2006 events being scheduled in the clubhouse so we could have a date blocked there too!

****

August 20

Hmmm… I’m 31 na!

Aside from going to church, making some last minute party needs shopping and having a footspa/pedicure and hot oil at RHC with my youngest sister Mae, I spent the rest of the day just lazing around the house, finishing the latest Harry Potter book (which I have started reading a couple of weeks back but has not had the time to finish!) and watching DVD. Charlie called several times during the day and my cellphone went crazy with all the text greetings from friends and family… All in all, my birthday was very relaxed and peaceful!


August 21
My day started early because I still had to do some last minute cleaning around the house before my guests arrived for lunch. I was still on the last stages of my cleaning when my Ninang V arrived with my Lola and several of my cousins. Good thing my dad and I had started cooking early! I had to take a quick shower before entertaining my guests… By the time I finished dressing up, my friends Andrew and Jaybee has already arrived. The other guests started coming after that… I served them with Inihaw na Bangus, Beef Caldereta, Adobong Pusit, Grilled Pork Strips and Chicken Barbeque. Cheese flavored Ice cream served as the dessert. Charlie came at around 2pm… He came with a big red ribbon cake, a greeting card and a heart-shaped small box which contained our engagement ring! My birthday was perfect! Almost all the people that mattered to me were present (even Vhangie, my friend whom I haven’t seen in a long time and my inaanak and future flower girl, Leanne came!) Jheng, my officemate came even though she was late and alone and has not been to our house before. I couldn’t have asked for anything more… it was made even more special with my engagement ring! I’m so happy!

And here is one more picture of the ring on my finger!


Ok... one last shot! (is it obvious I love it so much?!)


And then of course, I have to post a picture of the person who gave me this really beautiful gift... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HONEY!

16 August 2005

Mood Ring

I don't have the energy to write my post today although I have so many things to report so for those who chance upon this site today... entertain yourselves by taking this cutesy "mood ring thing"
Your Mood Ring is Red

Excited
Energized
Adventurous
Ready to go

15 August 2005

Tagged!

Passing a tag from Jennie:

1. What are the things you enjoy doing even when there's no one around you?

hmmm... let's see... I enjoy watching old movies (yung tipong hindi pa ako pinapanganak e pinalabas na). I also like reading books and listening to mellow tunes pero sometimes naman I like dancing (yes, po! alone... he, he) but mostly I sleep or I munch on junk food!

2. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level?

praying, talking with friends or just looking at old photo albums (it helps to look back at happy times when you're down kasi) but if super stressed out na talaga ako, i go to a spa for a treatment like sauna & massage or facial or foot spa basta anything na nakaka-relax

3. Tag 5 friends & ask them to post it in theirs:

Dei
Jenee
Cri-C
Edrei
Zelle