Ako legal wife :D

Kinikilig kinikilig! Parang noon lang unang lumabas ang pangalan niya sa Philippine Collegian at TODAY. Some things never change.

1. Go to http://www.kearnyalliance.org/theteam.aspx
2. If you know my last name, search.
3. If you don't know my last name... oh whatever... here it is!

Click to ZOOM

Kailangang sabihin lang... Asawa ko yan! 

Artista na sila

This photo is from Ayala Triangle Garden's website.   Lovers (left) are Zhailyn and Tatay Carlo. Wow!

Symphony of Lights 2011 was so-so after this

Watched the free light and sound show at Ayala Triangle Gardens with Hubby, TLO, Ate J and F. It's my first time to see this type of show. Para kang nasa Engkantasya.

I'll post more photos tomorrow. But for now, I'd like to share two special images --- no digital enhancements, no fancy camera. I took them before the show started . We were sitting under this big tree. I looked up and was touched by something overwhelmingly serene. I borrowed the Hubby's phone to take a couple of shots.

I'm blessed to have witnessed nature's light and sound show.

Anti-Baboy Campaign

Tonight is the soft launch of my vanity project for 2012.

I'm counting on your cosmic support. 

I need to bring sexy back. 

If you want to check on my progress, milestones, failures, etc., I'm sharing all the details through this blog.

For Whom The Fish Thaws

Random thoughts while thawing the fish.

Image is from here

~ Dalagang bukid, in english, is Yellow Tail Fusilier. This fish brings back happy childhood memories. Fried dalagang bukid means dinner with everyone. If I remember correctly, it happened three times.

~ Frying fish is not cooking. It's meditation.

~ Damn, I'm really fat. Four-year old kid looks at my tummy and asks "may baby dyan?"

~ Someone I recently met is a bombshell. Beautiful, talented, mom trapped in a porn star's body. Just found out that she used to be F A T. Then the husband had an affair... She did everything possible to be get rid of the fats. She started dressing up. She started wearing make up. Things are much better between her and hubby now. The saddest, but most effective, motivator for losing weight - losing your husband.

~ My mind cannot accept that "losing" is pronounced "loo-sing." My Filipino brain wants to spell the word the way it's pronounced.

~ While frying fish, I checked out the DVDs in our book shelf and found Carmen. I remembered how close I got to being hot in 2007/2008. Through diet, swimming and her divine intervention during weekdays, I lost almost 20 pounds. Only to get pregnant... which was kewl!

~ I like what Yuri said about being slim - a lot of us have gone to the promise land of beautiful bodies only to be banished after a while... good thing is, you can always go back.

Season 5, Episode 9

Almost done. One last before I take a nap.

Sorry my dear, I'm taking one big leap towards emotional independence and interesti-fying myself. That's my big word for 2012.

We're no longer watching these things together.

Speechless

Don't know much about the guy. Never really Google-d him. I just know that whenever people rave about some of his quotable quotes, I go... "but Covey/Maxwell already said that."

I don't know much about the guy but the title of the article got me. I just had to read. And for someone who hasn't owned, nor touched, anything Apple... it's sad that my first interaction with Mr. Jobs didn't get me to "think different" about my outsider (of the Apple cult) prejudice against him. 

He is, like their products, overrated.

Read article here.

A Fantasy, Captured on TV

"Look at you... getting me to engage in the social sciences... You're a vixen, Amy Farrah Fowler." - Sheldon


I don't care what other people think I've accomplished. I don't care what other people think about who I am. I only care about what He thinks. I am only proud of me, when He's proud of me. I am only beautiful when he posts pictures of me in his Facebook profile page. I am only smart if he tells his editor friends that I am.

And this should change in 2012.

This time around, I only need to care about what I think. Period.

Tuesday afternoon art project

(from last week)

My love affair with accessories started in 2006. It's been a profound connection (to date), I don't see myself giving up on it within the next 20 years.

With what I've acquired, lost, and continue to acquire... storage is becoming a serious business. Here's a little art project for my bracelets. Will need to make more because I plan to get more! Hahah!

Materials: 

Tea Can (Ate J found it somewhere, someone's trash became my precious find)

Container of SmellCil from Zhai

Ribbon Reel (not sure how it's called)

Mighty Bond

What Happy People Know

This "Juan for all, all for Juan" replay is very touching. The winner, Imelda , was abandoned by her mother when she was barely a year old. At 43, Imelda longs to be able to meet her mother. Eat Bulaga's popularity helped send the message to Imelda's mom. It all ended with a reunion between 43-year old Imelda and her mother.

 

Touching right? I just hated one statement that kept coming out of Imelda's crying mouth.

"Nahihirapan akong ipakita sa mga anak ko kung paano maging ina, dahil hindi ko naman yun nakita."

That statement just pissed me off, big time. I hate it when people use their childhood/sad stories to justify their grown-up behaviors. My father was abandoned by his dad when he was barely a toddler. But he turned out to be a great dad. No but's, no if's, no nonsense excuses.

People, we are who we want to be. Everything that you have in your hands right now, are the consequences of decisions you made. You have the right to grieve every so often. Tao lang tayo. But don't fucking use your sorry-ass kiddy tales to defend yourself against your perceived failures, big or small.

I'm harsh, but I know what I'm talking about. Come see me if you have issues about this post. Or better yet, read this book. It will change your life.

2011 Highlights: Little Garden

This year will be remembered for so many things around endings and beginnings. For one, this is the year when I finally fulfilled my gardening dream. When I quit my job in April, I had more time to live like a normal human being... Found the strength, free time and will to purchase my first plant - White Angel.

White Angel came in one plant box. It had two main "roots." I eventually had to put White Angel in two separate pots. They were growing very fast. So this is how the White Angel (She) looks like now.

White Angel (He), on the other hand, is fighting for dear life. The Husband feels that it's just going through some sort of "fall." I'm afraid it's dead. Hmm... were we talking about our marriage? 

I'm hoping White Angel (He) is as strong as Pretty Minnie (2). I also had to transfer Pretty Minnie 2 when the main root started growing so fast. Look at her now. She's growing "prettier" flowers compared to her big sister Pretty Minnie (1). 

Actually, I must have done something wrong. Pretty Minnie (1)'s flowers used to be big (like the ones on top). Now they're smaller than carnations (see below).

So these are the inhabitants of our Fire Exit a.k.a Secret Garden. I hope to have more flowering plants soon... And I hope each one of them lives long enough to be able to move with us... when we get our own house.

Ms. EB Universe 2011

I'm a big EB fan. Ikaw na ang ma-hook kay Bossing since infancy. Haha.

Kanina, hindi maalis ang mata ko sa nangyaring rematch ng Ms. EB Universe. Napakagandang babae talaga ng aking super crush na si Paolo B. That's it 'teh. Ang tunay na maganda, kahit anong itsura, bagay. Sana sumali rin si Ryan Agoncillo one of these days...

Image is from here

 

How we spent our first Christmas

May lagnat si TLO, followed by LBM.

Dadda and I took turns giving her sponge baths to manage temp - except for the night of the 26th when I was too dizzy to get up.We managed to have a little Noche Buena, Dadda and I, with friends from Big Bang Theory.

It's not so great, but we were together for the first time. It's our first Christmas as a family, quietly spent at home. So it's still great. Looking forward to the next one... sana wala ng may sakit this time.




Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, 
Jack Frost nipping on your nose, 
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, 
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, 
Help to make the season bright. 
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, 
Will find it hard to sleep tonight. 


They know that Santa's on his way; 
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. 
And every mother's child is going to spy, 
To see if reindeer really know how to fly. 


And so I'm offering this simple phrase, 
To kids from one to ninety-two, 
Although its been said many times, many ways, 
A very Merry Christmas to you 

Merry Christmas

"Although it's been said, many times, many ways..."

My desktop says it all.

Image is available from so many sites... digital Magic is mine, through Microsot Office Picture Manager. 

Why God, Why?

Naalala ko pa ang mga panahong lahat ng angst sa buhay eh binabato ko sa Kanya. Naging agnostic, naging atheist... Hanggang nagbalik.Habang nilalantakan ko ang masarap na regalong cookies ni Ms. Inah, napansin kong nagbago na nga yata ako. Apat kasi ang laman ng isang balot. Lahat masarap, pero yung isa may pasas. Di ko talaga kayang kainin. Eh ang sarap, bitin.

After almost 6 years, kinuwestyon ko siya ulit. Pero hindi na tungkol sa trahedya, o kahirapan, o deformed na mga tao. Simple lang... Bakit kailangang maimbento ang pasas? Bakit?

Fever can't be cool

Kung kelan Pasko na, saka naman nilagnat si TLO. :(

Christmas is cancelled pag di siya gumaling agad.

Image is from here

Team Mates

Posted without prior approval. Therefore, no names.

Introducing, the people in my neighborhood.

 Photos grabbed from FB.

Lay-out done in MS PowerPoint

Final touch in Microsoft Office Manager

TLO Newsflash

Akala ko naiwan kong bukas ang laptop, binuksan pala ng maliit na tao, by herself.

~Witnessed and reported by Ate J.

Isaw Overload

This is just a two-minute walk away from the office. Been hearing good reviews from Zhailyn and Kleyr about it - especially about the kebabs. We didn't know that it's only open from Wednesday until Friday (9PM-AM) so last Tuesday, team mates and I went hunting and gathering for good food only to end up in  McDonald's PeopleSupport. Haha!

Image is from here. Read more about Distrito from this site.

We were successful last night. As per Steph - FULLFILLED. Full na, fulfilled pa. Lalo na ako.

• 2 Isaw Manok
• 2 Isaw Baboy
• 1 Balat
• 1 Betamax
• 1 Rice

With gigantic servings, di na masakit sa bulsa ang PhP180.00 pero sakit sa puso, di pa sure. The overload gave me a nasty tummy for almost two hours. I don't think I'll have isaw for the next six months.

Creepy thought. The bbq booths are near Makati Med's exit where I once saw a dead patient being wheeled out.

Kebs. Yum!

  

All images taken using Samsung B7320 and enhanced through Microsoft Office Picture Manager 

Christmas Spirit - Now Showing (Sa Aking Tindahan)

With two major projects completed and two new shining, shimmering, splendid team mates helping out will classes, it finally felt like Christmas in my workstation. Umabot pa sa laptop. Parol kung parol! Of course, the gifts helped change the mood too. I am blessed.



Ang layo ng ganitong tanawin sa mood nitong entry na ito.

A Krampus Carol by Anthony Bourdain

The minds of the men I like... amazing.

...Read more about this here.

I love Zhai

Walang kaabog-abog, bigla na lang. May bumwisit na naman siguro kay Zhailyn.

"Like 7 inches from the midday sun"

Last post was from a drama queen. This one's from a hornball.

God, he's hot.





And so this must end with a hot tango, swing, salsa fantasy. Haha!

Bless this mess

Government takeover. TLO (The Little One) is President of our home.

I'm Back

Stopped blogging but never stopped cooking. This rainy Sunday is all about good food, good OPM (Original Pinoy Music) and stable internet connection.

This is lunch!

Tinolang Tahong (Mussell Soup) with Pritong Galunggong (Fried Mackarel Scad).

Finally got to Google the English translation for Galunggong. Love it! http://wiki.answers.com/Q/English_of_galunggong

Christmas is cancelled

With so many things happening at work, it feels like Christmas is cancelled. It's frustrating. This is the first time that we're spending Christmas as a family - in our own home. I was hoping for some "steady" existence in the office to pave the way for early Christmas shopping and decorating. Yes, now that The Little One (TLO) lives with us, I was really hoping we'd be able to have our own little Christmas tree at home.

So here's my desktop. Hoping for better days ahead.

Teach me how to dougie

Loving this song... When I first heard it, I thought it said "TEACH ME HOW TO DANCE." Tried to look for the lyrics and got dismayed when I found out that the actual line's "TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE." Wiki saved the day. Apparently "dougie" is a dance. It's groovy. Love the beat and the spunk. Nevermind the lyrics. The rhythm compensates for the lousy word salad.

Badly need this

in the interest of:

1. Time
2. LPG consumption
3. Higher levels of satisfaction (think: Kare-Kareng tuwalya, Callos, Pata Tim, Bulalo, etc.)

Snaps snaps for B1

Received a message from B1 last night. The news felt WAAAY better than finding out that a friend (or me) is getting married or will become a mom. She's going to say goodbye to the corporate world to become a full-time mom. She may work-from-home though.

Standing ovation!!!

Teardrops.

B1 is one of the many weekend moms that I know (myself included). It's been our shared dream to one day be able to stay in the same house with our kids... ok fine, to be full-time home makers.





Hats off to E for keeping to his promise and for giving what was not even asked. I know he's not cheesy and all but I swear to all the Gods, I will hug him the next time I see him. And if he gets to make Dream#0 (higher than 1) come true for B1, I will worship him for the rest of my life.

Dream#0 is another shared dream between me and B1... can't share it. Not so controversial items in the list of dreams include learning how to bake (she already knows how to do that), having a kick-ass garden, living in the same neighborhood, bringing sexy back, etc., etc., etc.

I miss B1 terribly.

Favorite Halloween

Since it's almost time for the big H, here are two favorite images from the past.



This photo came from an era in my work life when I was REQUIRED to join company events - as part of my new role. I was miserable at work and in so many aspects of my personal life. The concept was liberating. I got to express how I really felt - dead, just going through the motions of existence. I got to walk the way I always do when I'm alone, outside of the office... savoring every image without having to manage non-verbals.

CONCEPT: DEAD WOMAN WALKING
Costume: a hospital gown from the first, and hopefully last, I got hospitalized in Cebu
Make-up: by yours truly
Hair: naturally curly and messy, no gel or anything
Special Details: not captured in this shot are cuff/rope-blood marks on the legs and arms
Special Effects: walked barefoot the entire time in the office; "stared" at people as if I didn't recognize them



This one's a statement against the pretentious middle class (haha!)... especially those that we used to work with. I had class that day. I was able to teach wearing torn "duster," slippers and hair rollers. How many corporate trainers will be able to say the same? I just loveeeed it.

CONCEPT: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES OF SINGALONG
Costume: duster (actually mine - only use them inside the house)
Make-up: none
Hair: rollers borrowed from someone (forgot who)
Special Effects: we were loud and talked dirty, we kept talking about our "husbands in jail"

Daddy, FYI

This is our two-year old bathroom scale.



A few minutes ago, I saw The Little One (TLO) using it as a trampoline.


Image is from here

Dadda, FYI.

Haha!

Yes, I am.

With the gift that is the Nanny, we have been living like a "real family" for the past couple of weeks. It's like playing house with real chores and bills. :D

With additional responsibilities come additional joys. I get to cook everyday. Hubby and I can no longer live in Clutter-Ville - that means cleaner house. Of course, all of these are only second to living with TLO (The Little One).

The transition from being a weekend mom to working mom has paved the way for interesting discoveries. At work, colleagues poke at my insatiable need for organized ways of doing things, drafting and documenting processes and timelines. I just realized, given that we have TLO and Nanny now, that I am a stickler for organization even at home.

This is how the freezer looks like (5 days worth of food). Leftovers are in food containers and they are neatly stacked in the fridge too.



I have a special notebook for weekly menu.

I have devised a process for planning the market and grocery list (interdependent on the weekly menu).

I have so many other plans inside my head. The next few months will see them come to life.

I don't know if this is still healthy. I bet it is though, because it makes me very happy.

Writing With TLO

This morning, The Little One (TLO) allowed me to teach her how to properly hold a pen. We know for a fact that she's left-handed but she's still in an "ambidextrous" phase so I taught her how to write using her right hand. She drew lines, swirls and circles.

My pretty OC-OC heaven (purple notebook) now bears this page.

Desktop Wallpaper as Work/Life Mood Ring

My desktop is a mood ring.

I am truly greatful that the employer (and its IT team?) has yet to deactivate the customize desktop wallpaper function on the laptop it issued to me.

The ability to express one's self through colors and images is a priceless perk. I hope it stays this way forever. Kababawan pero malalim na ligaya ang dulot nito sa akin.


10.15.11 - NOW


08.02.11 - 10.14.11


07.22.11 - 08.01.11


06.06.11 - 07.22.11