No Ordinary Day

This is our typical weekend. The good thing about having a big family is this!
GOOD COMPANY + GOOD FOOD= uber PERFECT SUNDAY

Kuya Bambi w the duo who cant get enough of each other

dinosaurs invade citywalk! ate ri & tin!
forever young at heart :)

nobody does it better :)
my eating partner, my movie date and everything else!

ponch, ria, fiance jp and me taken @ Gerry's Grill

(l-r) ate ri.beth.tin.ciab.sas.camille
cousins & soon to be in-laws xx

of course, Kyle is always present!
everyone loves him dearly. so thankful.

hungry packs @ Gerrys Grill for Sunday Dinner

There you go... my future family. This is one of the many reasons why I am excited about getting married. Having my own family, raising my own kids and taking care of Jp, my future husband inspires me a lot & it makes me feel really worthy. It inspires me to think about us getting old together, qrowing old together. I am indeed very lucky to be a part of a very bonded clan. One thing that i've always dreamt of having. This is exactly what i've always wanted... Truly I found love :) My life has been better than my dreams!

someday =)

happYness

Lucy Torres-Gomez' write-up the past two Sundays is truly a "pat on your shoulder"...especially if you are feeling blue. "GREAT THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE".. and oh well, "being happy is absolutely great!". When I first started this blog, I wanted to write only about my "happy thoughts" but due to a number of unfortunate events (sigh) I wasn't able to help but rant about life's frustrating moments. Much has been said.Life is short and beautiful for me to waste my time dwelling on these hurts... "Live life to the fullest dear and be very very happy".

I'd like to share to you my friends my very own happiness list:

Happiness is:

• going to work on a Monday and thinking that its nearly weekend once again
• waking up to a sumptuous breakfast prepared by my mom
• weekly movie dates with fiance
• sweet byebye kiss from Kyle every morning
• eating my favorite lapid's chicharon -not so often :D
• finishing a good book
  
• going for a walk with mommy dearest w free mom & daughter talks
• ssshhopping!!!! :)
  
• starbucks' hot caramel macchiato- skim milk, extra hot
• mild & sweet buffalo chicken @ Flaming Wings Katipunan
• Kopi Roti breakfast with Jp on a Sunday (no other preferred day &time :D)
• Preview and Mega Magazines
• wedding preparations :)
• warm hugs from Kyle especially after a very tiring day at work
• lychee black tea for SM Hypermart
• mcdonalds' french fries
• ipod playlists
  
• good morning texts from Jp
• weekly calls from my papa
• wine & pasta @ Galileo Enoteca
  
• kodak moments from my digicam
• Sunday mass w family & Jp
• out of town trips with family or friends
• Moroccan Mint Latte from CBTL
• new company projects (another challenge = achievement)
• Kyle's good grades
• company sponsored out of the country trips
• Dove assorted chocolates
• nice bangles, necklaces, bracelets
  
• quality time w my baby
• Christmas
• lunch w officemates @ the office pantry
• waking up each day & counting the days left before I am finally / officially Mrs. Jp Pimentel :D
• payday
• bread talk date w mom
• the Buzz & Startlak with future mother in law (chika minute! hehe)
• watching Greys Anatomy & OC @ home (no advertisements/ marathon baby!)
• national bookstore & powerbooks
• once in a while manicure & pedicure
• my lavender & mint body scrub
• blueberry shower gel on a warm bath
• foot spa w tita mao
• watching TV Patrol when I get home from work
• aerokaebo
• bbq @ tiendesitas or metrowalk
• bazaars, bazaars, bazaars
• Cello's doughnuts just beside my building
• Krispy Kremes & hot brewed coffee
• dinner w friends that you don't get to see that often
• warm hellos
• new found friends
  
• Tita Bic's homemade chocolate cake and sansrival
• Banoffee & choco lava cake from goodies & sweets
• Norah Jones & Sarah Mclachlan
• exes who remained friends! hihi!
• preparing Jp's favorite spicy pasta marinara, apple salad & banana cream pie
• KFC bucket feasts w my brothers
• PTA meetings, AGS Salu Salu
• weekend get together w the Cuna Family
  
• body masages
  

More,more to add to these list! I can just imagine how long these lists can be :D I guess i'll be doing this more often now :) It feels really good! Let's all be happy... everyday!

I am proud to be PINOY :)

Ipagdiwang and National Flag Day sa ika-28 ng Mayo hanggang sa
ika- 12 ng Hunyo, Araw ng Kalayaan (Independence Day) !:)

AA sponsored our office 16 free tickets for the
Pirates of the Caribbean premiere screening! Thanks thanks!
A few of our perks! :)

no summer

I didn't exactly felt much of the summer bliss this year. For one thing, I work in a company that arranges summer getaways for other people, so that definitely meant - I can't go on leave myself :( Unlike my other friends, I have no Boracay, no Bohol, no Ilocos photos this year...
I do away and make the most of my weekly events with family. It's definitely fun and this year, I must say that I am really embracing every moment that I get to spend with my family and my fiance's clan as well. I am able to spend a good amount of quality time with each and everyone especially my mama who is beginning to love our walks at ateneo, BREADTALK date, and travel plans these past few weeks.

This weekend, we ( my family, jp & his mom) will go up to the Cuna's resthouse in Tagaytay. We will laze around & relax on Saturday and on Sunday we will spend the day at Villa Escudero. Not quite fun for friends my age but I am definitely loving this quality time with family. I guess I am really getting old :S I'm excited for this road trip. For one thing this is the first time that we will be going out of town together. My OM said the seafood buffet in Villa Escudero is worth a try and I am taking her word for it :)


Kyle's class will start June 5. I am not sure though if he is that excited. I know the kid is very well enjoying the summer vaca and I sensed a little disappointment from him when I told him that summer vacation will be over in two weeks. I bought his school uniform & supplies last week. I am almost done with my checklist. His trolley school bag & school shoes are the only ones left on the list. I am buying them next payday... operation budget :D

Another post-summer activity... I'm working on the office's company outing. Target date is end of June or first week of July. Options : 1)Caylabne Bay 2) Montemar 3) Golden Sunset.

Attended management meeting the whole afternoon of yesterday. Looks like my boss is really loving me... More more work for me this year and my planner is already booked till August next year :D Tsk, I still have to work on my wedding preps boss! Office work is challenging, tiring, & exhausting... but ironically, I am loving it!

craving for fresh strawberry yoghurt shake now... :)

There's so much to share :) I feel so happy and blessed today! I thank God for another year :) thanks to my friends who remembered & sent their happy birthday thoughts :)

There's my family... ( who asked me to buy my bday cake-- kasi nga daw bday ko! exag talaga!ang hirap maging panganay hahaha :D ) & my little kyle who made the morning of my birthday very very lovely :)

to my hubby who took a day off just to be with me on my birthday :) malakas na talaga ako sayo :) at long last hahaha! kaya love na love kita kasi di mo din ako matitiis at ang pangungulit ko :P i love you so much baby and thanks for being with me on my birthday kahit wala ka pa tulog! :)

this is me & jp @ FRIDAYS. our favorite hobby :) eat! eat! eat!

Thanks to my super loving future mother-in-law for singing me a happy bday song over the phone :) Loving talaga siya! the best! I will be the happiest bride on my wedding day! What more can I ask for? 1 out of 10 wives are lucky to be super close to their husband's parent... I guess I am that lucky 1 :)

And another surprise for today :) God never fails to make you feel important & loved at the most unexpected time :) Sobra! I wasn't feeling really good last night (i don't want to mention why) but two important things happened today... and I thought... Why am I feeling sad ba? Jp made his not so usual call to check on me this morning. Sweet :) Aj, surprised me with this blog entry that she made for my birthday :) http://pinkmonster.wordpress.com . I feel grateful :0 Your second entry is dedicated to me :) This will be forever kept in my heart.

You know me well sweetie! Touched talaga! uber thoughtful :)

At 25...

• I am at peace
• I have a better relationship with my parents and family
• I had to let go of some people & nourished friends who are worth keeping :)
• I lost love... and found love once again ... even better
• I was hurt and I cried my heart out... but now I am laughing :D
• I found out things which were not so good... but its ok, I believe I will be a better person because of that.
• I am engaged... and soon to be married :)
• I am excited to be Mrs. Jp Pimentel and a mother to our future kiddos
  
• I am now in a better , stable and more fulfilling job
• I've experienced the craziest fight ever
• I am loving my family more each day
  
• I am loving my life more
• I am loving God very much for all the hurts & healing
• I am at my HAPPIEST :)

I still want to write so many things but I need to rush home. Mom made my favorite sinigang & she's expecting me for dinner...

I'll post again tomorrow :P

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NEXT TO YOU
by: Dan Siegel

if i had me a bag of good wishes
there's no mystery to what i would do
i would use all my magical powers
and try to get next to you

i would bring you a field of flowers
as your lucky star would do
with my heart i would paint you a rainbow
if i could get next to you

there's so much we can share
however far too long

we both know that there's so much here
this is where i belong

late at night when i close my eyes
make believin' that you are here
dreamin' of the things we do
if i could get next to you

in my mind, ooh ooh, i have kissed you
and it feels like a thousand times
i'd lose track of all the hours
dreamin' i'm next to you

this is where i belong

late at night when i close my eyes
make believin' that you are here
dreamin' of the things we do
if i could get next to you

in my mind, ooh ooh, i have kissed you
and it feels like a thousand times
i'd lose track of all the hours
wishing and hoping
that i could get next to you

I WANT THIS!!! :D

on drinking wine

Will it be that sinful to be a little curious??? Well, i've always loved drinking wine among any other alcoholic drinks. Well not for anything else, but I never appreciated the taste of beers. I realized I am not really particular on which brand to drink. My choice, most of the time would vary on its taste - (& price hehe). I wouldn't want to be spending that much anyhow. Just today, while blog hopping, I figured there's is something to learn...So expect more from my blog as I search & pour for my another favorite...from coffee to wine? Hmm, I dont think so. I guess this is just another phase of learning...

yipee! a good friend started blogging and im excited! :)
welcome!welcome! don't be too addicted sweetie!

http://pinkmonster.wordpress.com/




w/ my friend AJ taken 1st quarter of 2006 @ CBTL greenbelt :)

'been a while

it seems forever since I last blogged or even read my favorite blogs... That's how technology idle i've become for the past two weeks. Nothing much happened during holy week. I practically stayed home, cleaned up my closet, watch dvds, read some books & magazines.. and yeah wait for my fiance to finish work so he can pick me up for lunch or coffee. Yes, that was practically normal.. for us maybe. My fiance and I work different shifts, sometimes hard & frustrating. Nevertheless, we try to make the most out of our time together. We got used to it and learned to live by the fact that... "absence really somehow makes the heart go fonder..." sigh*

Holy Thursday, we ended up feasting at Circles Shangri-la since most restaurants were closed that day. Yeah I know that was fasting day supposedly and we felt guilty afterwards.. :S The rest of the holidays were really slow. I took the time off to relax....

April 10- start of my week long training in Makati. I miss my office. I miss my mails :(

So before finally hitting work mode, I got the chance to go out and party with friends friday last week! Went to em.ba.ssy & cui.sine at The Fort with my bestfriend Marielle & some other friends.
The last time that I really went out on a gimik like this was 3 years ago... October 2003 to be exact! And oh yeah I was single and in-love at the same time hehe! Yes you read it right... SINGLE & IN-LOVE *wink*

Saturday night, I had dinner w my family at Gerry's-Libis. Jp, my future hubby joined us. Again, we went home bloated. See that? we are a family and a couple- who cant resist one vice-FOOD.

Sunday, Jp and I met up with our photographer to finalize things for our wedding :) Again, one down! "excited" is not even the word to describe how I feel... I am really getting married! haha! (will be coming up w a separate blog exclusively for my wedding preps)

We went out on a date afterwards.. wherelse?! our ever favorite - Galileo Enoteca last night. Had cold cuts, cheese & wine! and of course some uber yummy pasta! Perfect for some soon-to-be-married dinner dates... Yes, after 3 years, we still go out on dates :) his effort -- most of the time :) hehe! I really enjoy exclusive time with him because... I dont know... it feels so different and I still feel "kilig" even after 3 years ... And I still hope to post about these "dates" in the future, even after we get married :)

{sadly , photos from our family dinner and galileo pic w Jp got lost.. I mean deleted :( grrrrr) kasi naman my super cure brother deleted all the pictures from my camera!}

busy bee

My weeks been busy as hell. Literally. While the rest of the world is busy planning their out of town trips, we (the one's in the world of travel) are working their ass off to confirm bookings and flights for our clients. That's the hardest & most challenging part. For the past three weeks alone, I had to monitor flight confirmations & Malaysian guests which both gave me a headache. I need to slow down... I am beginning to feel really really tired.

I've been giving up my pledged weekday run in Ateneo because my body is just too tired and exhausted the moment I get home. I am that tired to even prepare dinner. I am excited for the upcoming long weekend vacation. Oh! thank God I can now relax and enjoy my dvds & books at home. I also planned to finally meet up with college friends for that "always cancelled" badminton session. I'm excited! I hope my bestfriend Mar can join us though :S for old times sake hehe :D

Kyle is coming back from Ilocos this weekend and I am very very excited. I missed him... and I am missing him more everyday. I miss him around the house, I miss him requesting a certain food for dinner, I miss him being eager to go to tito Jp's house on weekends, I miss him asking mommy to hug him at night because he can't sleep :(, I miss him playing his gameboy while I read my books at night... I really can't wait for that warm hugs & kisses from my little boy...

Five days of no work, how can I not be this excited? :)

currently reading

...........

MARCH 8 (THURSDAY) is INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

for your info
The United Nations began observing International Women's Day, March 8, in 1975 - the International Women's Year.

{ girlfriends! it's officially our day tomorrow!=) }

in.yo cuisine

I fell in love with this place at an instant. It is situated at Esteban Abada -the road parallel to where I live in Katipunan. I was curious when I first saw the restaurant opened.I wanted to try it! Good thing, it was my fiance's birthday the next month (december) so I brought him there for dinner on his special day :) Surprise! Surprise! :) He initially thought that I prepared something for him at home since I asked him to drive the car going to my place .

This is me and my fiance on his birthday at in.yo cuisine
December 14, 2006

The interior of the place alone was already a surprise to me and Jp :) Very good food also! The service is excellent and the owner-chefs are very hands-on! Price is reasonable enough because of its big serving :) Jp and I wasn't able to accommodate their desserts in our stomachs anymore after the main course hehe! I will definitely go back to the place for another good food experience!

IN.YO FUSION CUISINE
66 E. Abada St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City (behind Katipunan Avenue)
You can call 09209607202 for reservations :)

wives alert!

tin.nina.ina
taken on 02/18/2007 @ magallanes
nina's birthday celebration

currently listening

Norah Jones'- NOT TOO LATE album, now out in the market!

I am a NORAH JONES' fan for the longest time now. Her first two albums "COME AWAY WITH ME" (a gift from an ex) and "FEELS LIKE HOME" (mom's gift to me) was one of the cds constantly played in my cd player (no ipods/mp3s yet at that time!), pc and even in the car when traveling. Her voice is very smooth and relaxing. I just love the way she plays her music...soothing... !

It was March 2005, when she was in Manila for a live performance. Jp surprised me at that time with a concert date @ the Big Dome!:) love!love! :)


Most played in my ipod:
Don't KNow Why
Nearness of You
Come Away with Me
Sunrise
What Am I to You
Turn Me On
Cold Cold Heart

catching-up dinner with friends from college
February 28, 2007 - Cena, Greenbelt,Makati
(l-r) pam,kaycee,moi & marielle

@cuzin' nomer (a.k.a. starskyhutch)

this is a clip from the ym conversations I had with my cousin earlier :) its been years since I last spoke to him. Literally... I had to hybernate, live life, get hurt and grow up...

tiN: hehe ...parang di ako... tumatanda na rin kasi ako kaya may sense na
starsky hutch: u know what, life has done so much for u. it's not been that much long pero u'v grown so much. i'm happy that through all this, u'v overcome everything and look at u know. so much strong, and able to face anyone with a chin up attitude. i;m wishing u all d best. sana eh, this time around, u'll be happy with every decision u make. stay strong. keep up.

www.annegeddes.com
ANNE GEDDES desk calendar!!!

a gift from Tita Miriam :) She is one of Tita Mao's (my fiance's mom)
very good friend. I finally met her when I went to SIN for my business trip.
Nice and Cool! Literally COOL!

Five Balls

A lasting lesson in Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas is the story of five balls. Life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. This balls are work, family, health, friends, and integrity...

Every day you keep them all in the air...

Then you come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back....

The other four balls are made of glass...

When dropped, they will probably shatter...

Some points to ponder...

Your Power Color Is Magenta

At Your Highest: You energize yourself and push others to suceed. At Your Lowest: You feel frustrated and totally overwhelmed. In Love: You are suprised by who you attract. You're a love magnet. How You're Attractive: Open and free spirited, people want to explore the world with you. Your Eternal Question: "What is my next source of inspiration?"

I'm up to something! Sshhh! :D

I went to hord some books the other day!!!
I'm excited to read em'!:)

OUR PINK SALT DINNER

Our personalized post-valentines dinner catered by PINK SALT (chef couple Nikki & Aji)food was very gourmet and the presentation was great! .It was some kind "i-feel-guiltyruining-the-food-presentation" type of feeling. hehe! Nevertheless, our stomachs were much more important I guess :) It was past 8pm when we started our so-called dinner date. Jp & I along with his couple-cousins (Jovi & Ina / Ponch &Nina)were all in our very comfortable dressy attire. We had the dinner set-up at ate Ina's house this time.And to add more romance in the setting,a solo guitarist ( i forgot his name,s0o sorry!) was with us to play loooveeey songs :)

OUR MENU : APHRODISIAC PALETTE
(perfect for the love month!hahaha!)

With my fiance :) My favorite person to dine with. We are to conquer
the best restos in town! ( as long as its near our area :D)
My eating partner and my dessert buddy!:)

Trying a chef-for-hire dinner at home was an experience. Away from all the traffic hassles going to the restaurants in Makati or Fort, we were able to manage & celebrate v-day at home romantically :) plus good company as well! :)

ben-INIS-simo

Yes , you read the title right... we were INIS! You see, Jp gave another effort to make V-day special apart from our planned "post-valentine dinner with his couple-cousins". My fiance took a day off from work and asked me to have dinner with him on V-day last Monday so I went to check out some restaurants near our area (will be coming from work so I opted not be caught up in another traffic). I chose benissimo... near... the place looks intimate and I heard food was good (according to rein). So I made the reservation 3 days before v-day and I even asked them to fax me their offer for valentines... specified the seats, etc.

Hmmm...

When we entered Benissimo, I was already frustrated with how rowdy the place was. The music was so loud and so the guests had to make their voices louder for them to be heard. ( c'mon its valentines day, you should have played a soft music instead!) waiters... just about 4 of them so definitely not enough to serve everyone. I told Jp "kawawa sila". Some of the guests (including us) were pissed already because their orders were not yet taken. I refused to be mad because if I do, for sure Jp will be pissed also. So I really tried to be patient as much as possible. Finally , I was able the attention of one lady waiter. So she took our orders REALLY FAST... which frightened us both. "Nakuha kaya nya?"

We waited....

And waited...

For another 30 minutes or so...

one hour...

Its almost 9:30pm when the waiter came with our appetizer- but oh my! they gave us fresh oysters instead of the baked oysters that we ordered. Ok, wrong one so we had to wait again... Soup was not served, salad was not served nor our drinks... we gave up...

I told Jp that we rather leave because 1) I am really hungry 2) That one really got into my nerves already 3) Place wasn't very valentin-ey at all... I told Jp its ok that we eat in a fastfood, I don't mind anymore.

We the went to the cashier and had our orders canceled while the rest of the people were looking really pissed already. I cant afford to spoil the whole night for that one. The lady in the cashier just said that the kitchen wasn't able to accommodate all our orders. Oh my, I said, they could've have the soup and salad served! We were there 8pm and its almost 10pm!

And I really don't get it. They offered a valentine special set meal and the food were not ready?

So there, we moved to RECIPES instead. Oh...dinner! We were so hungry...

We had to laugh it off instead.... Jp said "buti nalang engaged na tayo!" "kundi baka awayin mo ko!" "at buti nalang ikaw yun nagreserve at di ako! kundi maiinis ka na naman sakin kasi palpak!"

We drove home and a bouquet of flowers was waiting for me when we reached the house... I handed him my gifts and I told him " because of the hassle that we had to go through tonight I got you a spa treat baby!"

...and he loved the dice btw!

I am a CARAMEL MACCHIATO addict! certified!
I heart!:)

love 'em dice =)

Look what I found!:) Ooh so purrfect for a v-present :)
And yeah, for two people soon to be married also! hahaha!

currently reading

How would a post-valentine dinner be like? :)

Specially catered by PINK SALT.

Extraordinary and special...

chefs-for-hire-kind-of-"dinner-date"...

excited :D

Getting Jp the perfect gift for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries etc., has always been a challenge to me. No, not that my man is picky but because of me always wanting to surprise him the best way I can :) For the past years... I, most of the time just hunt for a perfect resto where we could dine and celebrate the occasion. I must say that I was always successful because he appreciated everything from the food , service to ambiance and....he was always thankful at the end of the night. I am inspired and I am always excited in doing the resto research as much as I am excited in seeing him at the end of a day's work. For about 3 years now, I still want to surprise him and try new things with him.

I planned to surprise Jp for Valentines :) We've been eyeing Solemates Wellness Center in Eastwood City for quite sometime now but because of a very busy work schedule we haven't had the chance to go and try their service.:(

last weekend.. had to sneak.. for some GC's!

A colleague, Aleth & Jeff said their Thai Reflexology was great. According to them it is more than relaxing because the foot massage is actually better than a regular body massage. "papatulugin ka talaga!"

Hmmm, it for us to find out :)

My Trip to the LION CITY

This is ME in SINGAPORE! :)

The famous roti bread in SIN that I s0oo love! I usually to have this in Manila
every weekend at kopi roti (w/ hubby on our routinary Sunday Breakfast) and
breadtalk (w/ officemates).
SELOSO BEACH inside SENTOSA

Dolphin show inside SENTOSA. I was really feeling bad that kyle wasn't with me then :(
pink dolphins were amazing! and really cute!

who's this again?! :D

...inside SENTOSA, goofing around Merlion

newly constructed VIVO CITY, the biggest mall in Singapore
(well, that's according to the lady cab driver who drove me there... she was really very pushy that I go there instead of ORCHARD RD.)

with my cousin almira and her super generous husband :)
(taken inside the NIGHT SAFARI while waiting for the tram train)

Really big beef burger from Chaw-Chawang inside the night safari

Yes, this is my favorite hot caramel machiato (extra hot/skimmed milk). I had to look
for a coffee shop on my first night! hehe :D I needed to... Thanks to STARBUCKS for being worldwide!

ESPLANADE view from Pan Pacific, the hotel where I stayed. The hotel location
was perferct because of its accessibility to the "everything" and
of course the location of our clients (I was there for a business trip actually).