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).

Let's see what I am up to...

1) I am already in the last few chapters of the book I am reading... 1 down! I am excited to start my Mitch Albom book :)

2) Wedding Preparations : church- OK, reception -OK, entourage-OK, couturier -OK

3) I started with my "pledged" AEROKAEBO last weekend and I am loving it! I wanted to work out in a gym but since I couldn't find any affordable fitness centers near my place , I decided to do my home-based exercises instead. I go jogging at Ateneo if I have time in the afternoon, do a lot of stretching and I do my AEROKAEBO religously.
My fiance offered to enroll me at Gold's Gym, I am still thinking twice about the idea. I'll try to make the most of what I have at home. These fitness centers are way too expensive already. I pledge to do this more seriously now. I gained a lot from all the events and gatherings last year. My pants are getting tighter and tighter :( I dont want to be "lumba-lumba" on my wedding day. :D

4) Singapore, here I come!!!! I am leaving for SIN tomorrow! Im excited! I am going there for my scheduled business trip and at the same time visit my cousins who migrated there late 2006. Singapore is one of the places that I've been wanting to visit. In fact, I wanted to work there. Guess what, dreams do really come true! :)

for the last two days or so...

stressed

tired

exhausted

work.work.work

I can't wait till weekend... Im excited. I'll pamper myself on Saturday....

excited :)

collapse

After watching Leonardo de Caprio's BLOOD DIAMOND , I found interest in reading further...
This book speaks so much about the argument between a civilization's secret and society's success...

MUSTS:

1. Finish 2 must-read books (pending for a long time now)
2. LOSE WEIGHT (target 100 lbs)
3. Avoid unhealthy foods (byebye lapids chicharon)
4. Jog at least 3 times a week
5. Limit shoes & bag shopping
6. Closet Review (take out really old and worn-out stuffs)
7. Hear Mass everyday as much as possible
8. Have weekly dates with little kyle
9. resto-hunting in the city (w/ hubby)
10.destress!!!

Not one of those New Years resolution... it's a TO DO list rather so its mandatory... by myself! lolZ

Another good book written by Mitch albom...
Hopefully i'll have more free time this weekend so I can start reading :)

new love

To take a break from my year-long wedding preparation, I found another LOVE hahaha! No joke! I had a date with a former officemate last December and I was surprised to see exciting new flavors of tea when we headed off to CBTL -Gateway after dinner...

This one I love...

The aroma of strawberries & cream is definitely a wow... I am a fan of CBTL's Morrocan Mint.. both tea & latte, but I guess this one's an addition to my list of favourite leaves :)

Felt sorry ...several times that I went to Eastwood Branch, they don't have it yet :(

this year's christmas :)

Few weeks back before Christmas, I wrote a blog on how I hoped Christmas would be. God is good. I may not have spent Christmas with Jp but I got something much better this Christmas. Happy... I am :) Its Christmas! And I am where I wanted to be... I am with people whom I wanted to be with... I am in a life I longed to have... sincerely contented....

24DEC
My papa is home to spend the holidays with us! It feels so good especially after that storm. We all went home to Ilocos and we spent Christmas there. I took a leave from work since my papa will just be home for about 2 weeks. I wanted to make time for my family. Fun. Mama and I prepared dinner for everyone. We did the cooking of course while the boys... oh no! sang, sang and sang! haha! (kawawa naman ang magic sing wala ng pahinga :D )

We went to hear mass just before Christmas eve. Ang lamig sobra!!!! And si Kyle naktulog sa church hehe! busog kasi sa luto ko :p

25DEC
We went to my tita's house for our annual Christmas Lunch. As expected, we went home bloated. Lechon, shrimps, super sarap!

26DEC
I met up with my Naomi, a very good friend in Batac... Merienda time wasn't enough for all the catching up to do...

waiting... waiting...

My fiance and his family arrived midnight of 27th. They traveled all the way from Manila to do the traditional "pamanhikan". Jp was kawawa because he just came from a graveyard shift night before they left Manila. (I really appreciate the effort babe!) FYI, it was his first time to travel really FAR. As homebuddy as he can be... the only place he goes to is Tagaytay because they have a house there.

They stayed in a hotel-resort 15 minutes away from my house. Two of Jp's titas went with them and Tito Butch of course who is like a father to JP already , joined the trip without any hesitation. His cousins went with him also :) What more can you ask for?

27DEC
We went on a tour... It my third time! ( 1st & 2nd time was with my ex and some friends hehe). Though we went to places that I was not able to visit before. Everyone enjoyed! You can see the look in their faces and I am happy it was worth their loonng trip after all.

(I'll post the slideshow of the pictures soon!)

Night of 27th... is the pamahikan. My mom offered to cook dinner instead of having it catered... Touch naman ako. After everything that we have been through ... she finally understood and respected my feelings...

Ano ba ginagawa sa pamanhikan?!- that question was what Jp and I had been asking each other the whole time.... sabi ko kakanta sya dapat (I was kidding of course! ) Ayaw talaga! :( Anyways , things at that so-called "pamanhikan" went smoothly. Ang sarap ng feeling. My parents and my future in-laws - all very excited sa wedding preparations. Sana 2008 na...

Kyle is excited also. His future room is the first achievement we had so far sa wedding preparations namin. Blue paint (as requested by kyle) nalang ang kulang :D Kyle loves Jp :) He respects him like a friend.. like a father...Just exactly what he needed...


28DEC
My future in-laws dropped by our house to say goodbye... and my mom invited them for lunch again before they travelled back to Manila. They loved my mom's cooking! I was very certain about that kasi masarap talaga luto nya! :P Jp loved her lechon paksiw, igado and Ilocano kaldo :) Good thing, I cook also :D

Bye bye babe... i'll see you on new year!

(you can never imagine how our new year was! action film haha! I'll post tom... a different story hehe)

AND OH, WHEN I STARTED MY BLOG, I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I'LL BE POSTING HAPPY THOUGHTS ONLY... I TRY TO =)
I JUST FEEL ITS A WASTE OF TIME WRITING ABOUT ANGER NOR WHATEVER IT IS THATS MAKING ME INIS ...AND I GUESS IT IS MORE PATHETIC TO BE WRITING STUFF ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES ... .SHALLOW DAW KAYA GANUN... =S
HAPPY NEW YEAR! CHEERS!

points to ponder

I received my kerygma mailed newsletter last Monday and its only today that I had the chance to read everything. I am always amazed by how God usually taps my shoulder in every way possible... church homilies, emails, movies/shows that I watch or books that I read... Like these texts that I read through today...

" If you aren't succeeding, be magnanimous enough to accept defeat and retreat. Forgive yourself for your mistakes, for things you should have done and didn't do, for what you said and should't have said... Go to confession, ask God for pardon and He will pardon you..."

"Then change your gameplan. In other words, change the things that are making you a failure-- bad habits, negative thinking, or plain and simple laziness.."

Next, recharge. Draw strength from God's word, from elders and trusted friends who can help you sort things out and relieve you from your stressors."

Then, when you've fully recovered, you can go back to the battlefield of life and fight your good fight..."

I can't help but reflect on this... Admittedly, I am still hurt by a number of events that happened in 2006. I leave everything to the Lord as I ask now for forgiveness, strength and guidance...

Jp started renovating the rooms in his house... for us... for Kyle :) We had our weekly dinner date last night .... We talked about how our week went in the office, our wedding plans, room interior , business start-ups and his plan of getting us a big family car hahaha & my requested huge dresser ... We do not really agree about every topic that we get to discuss but this I must say makes our bond well, well, well... Yes, I am falling in love with this man over & over for the past three years... He knows very well how to treat me fairly... like a princess (but definitely not the spoiled one :D) I must say that his principles and rules in life compliments what I truly need and want.

We are getting married in 2008 and I was never this certain in my life. Jp is the man that I am willing to offer my life to... I want to grow old with him & take care of him.... Cook his favorite food and prepare irresistabel desserts for him... fix his tie ... watch dvds with him... and grow fat with him hehehe :D