Gone Vacationing!

Just want to let you guys know...going on vacation tomorrow! So excited though still packing till the last home stretch.
E and I are pretty psyched! It's been so long since we went on a real vacation and heck, this is our honeymoon. :P I hope we can do all the planned activities on the cruise ship and the land tours that I booked us. :)
See you all real soon and with photos and stories to match.

On the left is my ASM family!
We have been through a lot and though some have moved on to other work/job/company/life, it was really great to be able to round everyone up on my most recent (and short) trip to HongKong. We really did partied the night/morning away, which was surely rare for pure workaholics like us. :P

Some new places that hubby and I went to...
1.) Bite Club (burgers)
Katipunan Extension
213 Katipunan Extension, Across Blue Ridge, Quezon City
~ Burgers: freshly cooked/prepared; juicy and tasty
~ Feature: the big 1 pound burger...good for sharing
~ Others: fries...fresh and crispy

~ Price: a bit pricier than Brother's Burgers but I think it's worth it!
~ Comments: currently one of my favorites for a burger. It's cheap and simple! The downside is that you need a car to get to it since it's in the middle of Katipunan Extension.

2.) La Nuova (Italian)
San Antonio Plaza, McKinley Road, Forbes Park
Makati City, Metro Manila
(02) 867-2370
~ Pasta: love everything that we have currently ordered...from the spinach ravioli with riccotta cheese to the parma ham with truffle cream sauce (?)
~ Pizza: wonderfully light, decently thin crust with loads of taste and toppings
~ Price: a bit steep but they definitely use the best quality ingredients so it's all justified in the end
~ Comments: will go again and again and again. Thanks LS with recommending this place to us. It's purely a God-send!

3.) Pepper Lunch (Japanese Steak)
Rockwell Power Plant Mall
Makati City, Metro Manila
(02) 895-6185
~ Specialty: sizzling steak meals
~ Price: good for the P200/P300 meals else I think the P600 and above doesn't justify it's worth since you can basically go to a hotel buffet (with a hotel discount card) and have better quality of meat
~ Comments: Taste was good and the novelty of cooking your meal that way you like it is nice...but the steak portion/cut quality could be better...not overly tender...to think that my mom got the most expensive steak - the rib eye steak and it was a bit tougher than expected while my steak, a bit cheaper but not by a lot was far better.
**WARNING: long long queue (wait time in the line is about 30mins, if not more) though the turn-over is quite fast (less than 20min or so). How long would it take to eat a decently slab of steak in a sizzling plate? E said that the waittime is even longer than the eating time!

Catch Up Time!

Work is a loadful since we are reaching 3Q's last stretch. Got a lot of important deadlines to meet before E & I head out for our honeymoon. Correction...it's more like "my dream cruise" since E's letting me decide on everything within reason. :D We'll be visiting the following places:

1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Marseille, France
3. Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy
4. Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
5. Naples, Italy
6. Mykonos, Greece
7. Istanbul, Turkey ~ highlight
8. Kusdasi, Turkey
9. Piraeus (Athens), Greece
10. Venice, Italy

We agreed on the land/shore tours and believe me, it's a lot of sights. I hope we have enough memory card to store our pictures!
So excited to see the other side of the world!!!! Time's surely a ticking...

****************************
KIT: Suddenly Friends by Deanna Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
TEMPLATE: 12x12 Template – Simplicity by Doodleboogs(ScrapOutsideOfTheBox)
PROGRAM: PS7.0
FONT: Book Antiqua & Amazone BT
JOURNALING: Life’s most fulfilling thing for a parent is to love their little joy.

Features and Tributes

First of all, I would like to thank TeacherCarrie, who featured one of my layouts (Dog Mom) in her blog, Multi-Photo Scrapbook Layout Gallery. Thanks so much! It's truely an honor!

E and I are currently getting ready with our honeymoon to Europe...a Mediterranean cruise.
I'm doing most of the research on which land tours to book since E isn't really familiar of what would be worthwhile sights. I'm so thankful that I have a good background in the arts field since most (if not all) of the locations have important landmarks that brought about great movements in Art History. It's more or less trying to squeeze in as many places to visit as we could in a day.
I hope we decide soon so we can reserve our slots. :)

On a sadder note, gramp's (mom's side) passed away last week. He was in the hospital for three weeks to treat his pneumonia. He was also having problems breathing when he was admitted. We were all hopeful at first since he was active and communicating with us constantly but his body wasn't responding to the various antibiotics given to him to cure the pneumonia and was becoming weaker as the day progressed. He was on a respirator and couldn't eat on his own. There were a few complications in his lungs like having fluids in it like my other grams (dad's side). It was sort of deja vous for me - same hospital, same respirator...same result.
My mom told me that grandpa was unconscious for about two days before succumbing to death Thursday morning. At least, gramps didn't experience too much pain unto his next life.
I'd like to thank everyone who sent their prayers and support. My gramps was laid to rest on Sunday morning. I thank the Lord that the weather was cooperative after the many storms that came our way as of date. Someone was surely watching over us and making sure gramps had a safe and peaceful journey.

***************************
Kit Name: Hush mini kit girl by Doodleboogs
Template: 12x12 Template – Simplicity by Doodleboogs
Program: PS7.0
Font: CK Becky
Journaling: Maxine looked so cute as a flowergirl at a recent wedding. She behaved very well and was able to walk down the aisle without a fuss. She even made some new friends aside from giving daddy a few great solo shots to remember this wonderful day!




Kit Name: Hush mini kit boy by Doodleboogs
Template: 12x12 Template – Simplicity by Doodleboogs
Program: PS7.0
Font: Civilian
Journal: Boracay 2008

Furniture Wishlist and more...

Since E and I got our own place, I've been so into furniture/design mags. As an advance bday gift, E got me a year's subscription to Elle Decoration (UK edition) and I've gotten a furniture/design wish list in the works (in my head). Of course, owning the original would like put me back a whole lot but since there are a lot of replicas being done nowadays, access to these timeless and practical pieces are not unachievable. Below are some of what I would hopefully own...as of this date. :D
This is going to be one costly house...good thing I chose one piece and section area at a time!
From left to right: Ray & Carles Eames' LCW (Lounge Chair Wood), Eileen Gray's Chrome Side Table, Isamu Noguchi's Nogochi Table, respectively.



Buon Giorno
Italian
Near Puregold Shaw Blvd
Liberty Center, Mandaluyong City
4/5
~ highly recommend the vegetable risotto...very tasty and cooked to perfection
~ got the spinach lasagna...a bit hard on the bottom side of the lasagna
~ would rather have gotten the pizza
~ beverages are so worth it since they serve is in a big tall mug...got the grape shake!

******************
Title: Lullaby
Kit: Dainty Delight by Deanna Patterson
Template: Free Sampler by Doodleboogs
Photo Credit: Vivian Chung Photography
Program: PS7.0
Font: Book Antiqua
Journaling (abbreviated):
by John Fuller
Sleep little baby, clean as a nut, Your fingers uncurl and your eyes are shut. Your life was ours, which is with you. Go on your journey. We go too.
Oh be our rest, our hopeful start. Turn your head to my beating heart. Sleep little baby, clean as a nut, Your fingers uncurl and your eyes are shut.

Mags mags mags

This is one doozy entry since there are lot of things to show you - published again!
Check out below :)

1.) Metro Weddings Directory 2008: WeddingAtWork Brides share stories/testimonials


In the most recent Metro Weddings Directory, some of the WatW sisters were asked to contribute some testimonials about certain suppliers. I have to thank Joshua for letting me know about this since I totally forgot all about this. :)
Ed pushed me to get it when we found out that it wasn't only one supplier testimonials but three!
My testimonials for Henry Pascual, Bridal Conservatory and The Write Impression were all published. Click on the photos above for a better look. Very honored to have been chosen for this since it was all done in a rush by Mama Benz. Deadline was the next day. Good thing that I was super happy and inspired just after my wedding that these words didn't take me so much to think of because these were honest comments about them!

2.) Peachy Juban ~ online site
One of my favorite wedding suppliers has just set-up her own website to promote her wonderfully created and scrumptious cakes ~ Peachy Juban
She was one of the suppliers that made my wedding an exciting one with her lantern cakes. She made me and my mom laugh like little girls planning for our own weddings and at the same time still impart her own "unique stylings". I looked forward to each and everyone my meetings with her during the brain-storming sessions.
She is a bit on the pricey side but I was so happy and overwhelmed with the results that it is all so "justified"! Not only was it a pure eye-candy (not an understatement), it was also so delicious that a lot of our guests requested a few take-homes.
She's a real gem that my mom found while scanning through wedding magazines that featured Manila cakers.

3.) Inquirer Golf: June 2008
More publishings, our golf team recently won the 2008 Ladies Federation Golf League. It was a pretty good run since we learned from past mistakes and how to be the best role model for the sport - win or lose. We were kind and gracious with whatever came our way.
It was a really bright, clear skies~sunny, hot day when this picture was taken. I would wear my shades till the photographer gave the signal then I would take it off. Man, I was squinting so much and it showed a lot in the numerous shots! I don't know why I didn't get my red had (that I didn't know I have) during these shoot.
Photo taken on the 9th hole of Wack Wack Golf & Country Club.
With teammates like these, who needs anyone else!

One Big Happy!!!

Got my Father's Day gift for my dad from the family. It didn't take much thinking since my dad is into the gadgets. Will spill the beans on what we got for him next week. I hope he likes it...and that it works out just fine since he bought numerous "fake ones" that failed miserably. :P

Have a great weekend, everyone!

******************************
Title: Never Forget The Good Times
Kit: Backyard Barefoot by Deanna Patterson
Template: Table of Contents by Doodleboogs
Photo Credit: Reggie
Font: Cornerstone
Program: PS7.0
Journaling: Gumgut 2008






Title: Dog Mom
Kit: Dog Gone It Paper and Elements by Deanna Patterson
Template: Table of Contents by Doodleboogs
Photo Credit: Reggie
Font: Courier
Program: PS7.0
Journaling: Before I was a Dog Mom: I made & ate hot meals unmolested. I had unstained, unfurred clothes. I had quiet conversations on the phone, even if the doorbell rang. / Before I was a Dog Mom: I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got to bed or if I could get into my bed. / Before I was a Dog Mom: I had never been peed on, pooped on, drooled on, chewed on or pinched by puppy teeth. / Before I was a Dog Mom: I had complete control of my thoughts, my body and mind. I slept all night without sharing the covers or pillow. / Before I was a Dog Mom: I had never held a sleeping puppy just because I couldn't put it down. I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was well. I didn't know how warm it feels inside to feed a hungry puppy. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important. / Before I was a Dog Mom: I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being / A Dog Mom.

Fast Track Updates

Sorry for the long absence...still catching up with life and work.
It's audit season, you know! :P

This is one of the cool sights I've seen a while back. I enjoy the good old Havaianas like a lot of Flips here though I don't wear mine as often as the rest since I do want to look a bit more semi-casual than beachy casual. The slippers are so popular in the tropics like the Philippines since we have tons and tons of beaches to choose from and we basically love being in the sun!
This was taken at Serendra, Fort where there were gigantic displays of the famous slippers with various themes.
I'm guessing this pays homage to soccer. The slipper company is a huge fan of the sport - maybe because it's made in Brazil...or @least most of them where conceptualized there. :P

In celebration of the movie, Speedracer, Rockwell's Power Plant was one of the places that this "star" gave light to the movie. I never would have thought this car ever existed in this lifetime aside from what's in the movie.
Although it didn't fair well in the box office, it was pretty cool to be able to touch and to be this close to the star of the show. Too bad E was at work when I took this photo. It was my bragging rights picture! :P
Go Speedracer go!

Travel Café Philippines
2/F GB5
Rating: 2/5
E & I checked out the new café at GB5 on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We shared this dessert sampler which showcased the typical Filipino native sweets. There was the leche flan (Filipino custard), suman (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk), banana turrón (deep fried banana wrapped in spring roll skin) and some fresh fruits on the side. It looked so impressive and nice in photos but the only winner for us were the banana turrón. Would we go back again...most likely not.

Restaurante Pia y Damaso
2/F GB5
Rating: 3/5
One of our food trippings again at GB5 on another Sunday afternoon for snacks.
The chocolate was cool since carabao's milk was used so it smelled heavenly and so rich. E was a really happy camper with this unique detail.
I had the "boring" hot peppermint tea. :P We share a toasted local pastry - ensaymada (Filipino sweet bread).

Cuillère
G/F Serendra
Rating: 2/5
One of the highlights at this resto. My mom was so looking forward to some good French food in Manila - this comparing it with Le Souffle. Sad to report that she was disappointed with the results. The cool thing was the soup and the rest was so-so to her. It's quite pricey but as long as the food is superb, we will keep coming back for more. E and I still have to go back to try the lamb platter so we'll keep the rating as it is for now.

CAV
Lot 5, Quadrant 8, Bonifacio High Street
Rating: 4/5
Love the set menus offered that you can personalize - either a three or four course option. The one photographed is my dessert, Baked Alaska. Very fatty but not bad.
The feature of this resto is the very cool wine dispensers wherein guests can try various win by the glass on their own - similar to the soft drink dispensers but a lot more sophisticated. We weren't able to have wine on our trip there but I can see that it's a really hip and happening place that requires you either to make reservations or go early to secure a nice table. A lot of beautiful people make up this joint. Get ready to be pretty and to spend a bit.

Look who visited me in Manila...of all people! It's R and his family!!! What a blast from my YVR past and in "my turf"!
Though of course I was pretty surprised when I got an FB message that he would be coming. It was totally a crazy surprise since I didn't think he would be heading to Asia in general since he was wrapping med school.
R and his parents came to Manila to play some golf with their friends. His folks are basically retired, mom's semi while dad's fully retired. They stay in HKG almost half of the year now since they have some business in China and are looking into moving back to be closer with their HKG relatives. I think if this pushes through, I will have the possibility of seeing R more than before. The last time we hung out was my YVR time in 2004! It was pretty cool to let E meet some of my YVR friends.
I showed R some sights and food trips around town the day after he arrived while the rest of the time was a lot of golfing trips for him and his folks. :D
We went around ChinaTown, Chinese Cemetary, Fort Santiago, Old Manila, Rockwell, Alabang Town Center, etc. I hope his folks enjoyed their golf game and come back again soon!

This is our new family member (MIL's), Creamy. He's far bigger and got groomed to shorter do now than in the picture. He has been a real handfull since he refused to be housetrained and has been driving everyone nuts! He's pee'd and poo'd whenever and wherever he wants. There were times that my E and I babysit him and it would mean guarding this little one's every move around the house, especially our room! :P
Plus I changed my hairstyle a few weeks after this picture has been taken.
Been so busy these days due to the new work and just getting the house orgazined.


This is one of purchases that E and I got for the house. We got this during the Megamall 3-day Mega Sale at My Home.
It's pretty cool with it being expandable on both sides - the white portion is the "extended" part while collapsing it would reveal only the glass portion that is nice for dinners for 2. Anything more would require extendingthe table so as not to look so cramp.
I love the "modern contemporary" look of this. Form and functions are my criteria in searching for the right furniture...oh, and aside from the dimensions. E was super excited when I discovered this through my furniture research.
Thanks Dey!

Okay - next would be the sofa/living room - I'm off to get this rolling...

Boracay 2008 Trip

Went to Boracay for a few days during the Holy Week break...before the crowds.
Stayed at Discovery Shores. See pictures below.
Verdict: Highly Recommended
Decor: Greek Islands feel, Buji Layug furnitures all around (awesome stuff), modern chic
Service: full service deluxe for everything and anything you would want to have (all within reason)
Food: free meriendas by the beach and by the pool, cookies & fruits galore, drink freebees
Amenities: free Wi-Fi, DVD player on each room, free DVD rentals, free kiddie toys for the pool, beach and playroom, etc.

GO GO GO GO...save your money and treat yourself to the best! :)

I'm currently back to my couch-potato ways and currently follow the Gossip Girl, Project Runway (Season 4). Speaking of the former show, there seems to be a similar thing happening with a Manila-based blog, http://delfindjmontano.blogspot.com/. It's pretty interesting and makes a great reading.

********

Kit: Aggregates and Igglitates by Deanna Patterson

Template: 12X12 Template – Corner It by Doodleboogs

Extra: Mess It Up Splatters by Deanna Patteson

Font: Arial and Bernard MT Condensed

Program: PS7.0

Journaling: I savour watching Aidan take his afternoon naps. There is just something about a child’s serene look when they are asleep that is unexplainably fulfilling for a mother. It could most probably be how angels sleep.