Life as an Architecture (Fine Arts) Student...and more

One of the best times I had when I was younger was my college years.

The best of both worlds, I got a bit of freedom and  a lot less responsibilities to worry about than now. Those carefree moments when life was stretched out right in front of you. 

I was a student of Interior Design, University of Santo Tomas then, and like Jerald, I can perfectly relate as to what he was talking about regarding plates and endless sleep. Sleeping over at a friend's to finish a plate to be submitted the next day. The cramming. Actually, sleeping over is not actually sleeping but trying to listen late at night on the radio while finishing our plate with cups after cups of coffee to keep us awake. Alarming our mobiles to make sure that we are informed when the time is almost running out or in case we accidentally slept out of sheer exhaustion. 

Graduation was both a happy and sad occasion. Happy to see that we are somewhat in the finish line for school days but sad when we realized that we won't be seeing as much of our friends as we were used to.

I didn't have someone significant during my college years but I would really be swept off my feet if my boyfriend did this during our graduation...

It was a real treat to see Beato Angelico in the video. It was quite new when we left for graduation. The familiar hang out tables and chairs as well as the new uniforms. I feel like it was so long ago... Thanks for this video, it somewhat transported me back to my yesteryear as a Fine Arts Student.

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To Jerald and Angela, I don't know you but I definitely wish you all the best 

* * * * *

Everybody deserves someone 

who makes them look forward to tomorrow

-Anonymous

Fun Fun Ranch...

It's Kimi's first time to attend a birthday party here in the Philiippines...

and it's being held at Fun Ranch.

The place which we also considered for her own Farewell/ Baptism Party when she was 5 months old.

* Fun Ranch, Pasig

* Fun Ranch Train... with mommy

* Capilano Bridge Kuno...

* Birthday Girl KC

* Carousel

* Mini Ferris Wheel

* As Kimi simply puts it... He is Dora and gwama is Diego... haha!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KC VILLENA

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Fun Ranch

 Frontera Verde Ortigas Ave/ C5, Pasig City

The "Joy" of Cooking

Nope, It's not the popular book...

but my friend, Joy.

She is one of those women who can juggle career and be able to serve up sumptuous meals effortlessly.

I wish I have some sort of that talent in the kitchen...

* Mel, Chef Joy, Cherie with Little Kimi

* Joy, Mark, Dexter, Kester, Harvey, Kimi and Mel

* * * * *

Thanks to Mareng Joy for cooking up dinner to welcome us...

Nothing really beats your sisig homecooking :)

Mwwaaaaah!

Beauty Day @ Bamboo Nail Spa

It was our (sis in law, Sab, me and the kiddos) planned beauty day but Sab's regular nail salon's aircon unit wasn't working so we opted to try another nail salon....- Bamboo Nail Spa.

* Bamboo Nail Spa Logo by the foyer

* Interiors

It was a nice, cozy place with sheer curtains to offer a bit of privacy in between clients...

* The Little Princesses Nail Service Php 215.00

* The Little feet getting painted

* Kimi was a bit rigid during the first part of the service...

First time hesitation?!

* After warming up to what was happening... both Kimi and Sophie started playing around

* Marge was able to join us for a girl's foot service :)

I really enjoyed the mask and the massage done to my lower legs and feet. It was my first time in months to have my feet pampered once again that I might not be a good judge of what is good at that point. Just having someone (anyone) massage and a pamper day is enough to make me swoon with delight. Thanks again to Sab for this wonderful pamper date :)

* * * * *

BAMBOO NAIL SPA

P. Guevarra, San Juan

Loving Cibo...

I really miss the pasta in Cibo and was so glad I could meet one of my best friend here. Perfect setting and great conversation...

I still don't have the food pictures from this place because of the laptop water spill... :(

Happy to say I was able to eat my favorite, Linguine di Valentin :)

* Ninang Ciara and Kimi

* Mel and Carlo... Carlo and Kimi's age are just 3 weeks apart

* Getting chummy

* Finally!

* * * * *

CIBO

Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan

Exploring Serendra, Taguig

Before I left for Canada, Serendra was a new hip place to go to. I was excited to see what was new 3 years after. 

There were several new retail stores like MUJI which are brand-less quality items which I still find a bit on the expensive side. They reminded me of Canada's DAISO. A lot of the familiar brands back home like La Senza was also present as well as unfamiliar brands imported from Asian countries like Singapore... etc.     

* By the fountain Sculpture

(L-R: Eric, Eileen, Kimi and Mel)

* Sound tubes... You push down the circular tube to produce sounds..

(L-R: Eileen, Kimi and Eric)

* Kimi and Mommy

* A NASA Astronaut statue graced a restaurants front

* Little Kimi enjoying the outdoor

* Peek a Boo everyone

(L-R: Eric, Kimi, Eileen)

* This sculpture requires one person to make a sound on one end then the sound travels to the other side :)

Eileen is paging for something?!

* Hmmm, This makes a good spot to take pictures he he!

* The King is mine!... No! He is mine...

(L-R: Eileen, Elvis and Mel)

* * * * *

SERENDRA

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Beauty day and Eight Spices...

One of the things in my must do list is to have a pamper day (actually not just one day but several pamper days he he!). The first pamper date was of course with my favorite sister in law, Sab :)

* Kimi waiting for Coco and using up her time by playing with Mommy's old toys...

* Kimi and Sophie finally reunited :)

* Little Brandon taking a milk break in the afternoon

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HAIRLAB SALON

Tanya Torre- Senior Hairstylist/ Colorist

23-A M. Paterno St.

Brgy Pasadena

San Juan City

(+632) 7236447

Dinner with the Family from my hubby's side was also a part of the day's plan :)

Thai was the choice for dinner and Starbucks to end the night...

* Me with my new do (Thanks to Sab for the beauty date)

Kenny, Alanna, me and Kimi

* Starbucks with Sab, Kimi, Sophie, Alanna and Kenny

* Little Kiddos in the Night Scene

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8 SPICES THAI CUISINE

Robinsons Galleria

(2nd Level, Robinsons Galleria Veranda, Ortigas Center, Pasig City)

STARBUCKS

Robinsons Galleria

(2nd Level, Robinsons Galleria Veranda, Ortigas Center, Pasig City)

FaMEALy Day

I used to remember giving my dad a hard time about eating together while I was younger. it would always start with my dad preparing our meal. Yes! it is my dad who does our cooking... then asking all of us to eat together. I always remember that I am always the one with numerous excuse and asks them not to wait on me, but my dad is very strict with his 'Eating together' rituals and I am missing that a lot now that I am far away...

I can finally see the importance of having something as simple as meal time to unite and bond as a family. Thanks dad! I am going to do this now that I have my own family.

I have heard about FaMEALy Day recently and am all for it.



Source: http://www.shoppamomma.info/2010/09/famealy-day/

Through the untiring efforts of Lucky Me!, the first National FaMEALy Day – Araw ng Pagkilala na Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga was launched in 2008. FaMEALy Day became a nationwide call to celebrate family dining every 4th Monday of September as supported through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Committee for Filipino Families (NCFF). Last September 30, 2009, Presidential Proclamation 1895 was issued declaring the commemoration of the Filipino Family Day every 4 th Monday of September. Coincidentally, National FaMEALy Day coincides with the first day of DSWD’s National Family Week.
While Lucky Me! has embraced the advocacy as its own, through the annual celebration of National FaMEALy Day, it also envisions for the advocacy to have a “life of its own”, able to ground and spread itself more and more, even independently of the brand.

This year’s National FaMEALy Day will be on September 27, 2010. Mark your calendars now and pledge to eat dinner with the family!

... better yet! make each day a FaMEALY Day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Glee Season almost here! :)

I love Glee and now I am more excited now that Charice is on the cast. More Pinoy talents to be proud of....

Way to go Charice, MAKE US PROUD!

Getting in touch with my Pinoy roots...

We finally got an HDTV box for our Telly.

YEY!!!
...and the greater news that comes with the box? It has a TFC trial for the month of September which we can enjoy :) I can finally record all the TV shows that keeps me entertain while little Kimi sleeps...

I so miss the Filipino food especially when I get the street foods being advertised in between shows... The Fried Quail Egg... I can almost taste it...

Summer Package

Getting stuffs online is really fun. I just love getting packages and opening them up...


Buying online is a costly hobby so I decided to control myself even with all the online stores that I check out for our online baby shop :)

I couldn't resist getting some items for Kimi and Sophie though. My friend, Honey, decided to magnify the items that I bought and fill up a small box with goodies (... to my utter delight)

...she even manage to include a Philippine-made specialty tuyo for us to try :)
YUMMY!

Thanks HON!

Pinoy's For the First Time

K and I decided to watch a Pinoy movie that we downloaded recently. Our choice? The movie starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion.

I am not really keen on watching this film as I am not a fan of both actors although I have to admit that they are one of the best looking young actors in the Philippines. They do make a striking couple and I was skeptical as to how they would be portrayed in this particular movie.

It started off with KC, as Pia who doesn't like Richard, as Seth which was the playboy who dated every one of her friends and ended up breaking each of their hearts. Pia, working for her dad, went for a vacation at Santorini, Greece to unwind. I soooo love the setting of Santorini, it was so simple and the lifestyle there was so relaxed.

There they met again and despite their difference and Pia's initial reluctance began to feel something between them. Richard and Kc were so right for each of their respective roles... I wouldn't want to ruin the story by telling it all here, just watch and breathe in the spectacular setting :). I'd love to go here sometime in the near future ;)

T.G.I.Fri-date night

I just love Fridays :)

It would mean a night off for a few hours with just K and I. It's like dating after the baby :)

We decided to make it a Filipino Restaurant this week...

Lechin Kawali- Perfect with Mang Tomas Sauce
... I love how crispy this dish is

Tuna Sisig with Sili
Love this with some soy sauce

Miss the Sago and Gulaman
-the pearl was a little bit hard though...

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PINPIN RESTAURANT

6113 Fraser Street, Vancouver, BC V5W2Z9
in between 46th & 45th
Phone: (604) 322-3086

Top 10 Filipino Foods

For Pinoy Top Ten

Top 10 Filipino Food

1. Sisig
2. Lechon na baboy
3. Adobo
4. Sinigang
5. Pinaputok nap la pla
6. Suman
7. Crispy Pata
8. Taho
9. Kare kare
10. Bicol Express

10 bagay na aking pinagmamalaki bilang Filipino...

This is my entry for the Pinoy Top Ten (Sorry if my Tagalog is not that good...)

10 bagay na aking pinagmamalaki bilang Filipino (10 things I am proud to be as a Filipino)

1. Relihyoso/ May takot sa Diyos (Religious/ God Fearing)
2. Mapagmahal sa pamilya (They love their families)
3. May Respeto sa Magulang at sa matatanda (Respectful of parents and elders)
4. Di takot sa hirap (They are not scared of Hardwork)
5. Natural na talento na mapagmamalaki kahit sa ibang bansa (They have natural talents that is world class)
6. Matulungin (Helpful)
7. Marunong Makisama (Knows how to treat other people)
8. Marunonog Tumanaw sa pinanggalingan (Knows how to look back)
9. Matalino (Smart)
10. Masayahin at Kuntento sa kung anong meron pero nangangarap pa rin para sa ikabubuti ng pamilya(Happy with what they have, although striving to have more for their family)

Life Mag

A friend of mine posted this magazine in my Friendster testimonial page. This was taken during the bonding moment of our little babies before Kimi's Reception party last may 04, 2008...

Thanks CATHY! :)

I started doing this for Kimi's AVP which was supposed to be played on her baptism reception but i was not able to finish a lot of the layouts to make it a video so here are some of the layouts for viewing. I have just done 2 1/2 months of selected pictures and am way behind already.

When i looked at these picture, I realized just how much my baby girl has grown. She used to fit snugly in the nursing pad karl bought to help me nurse her but she has grown way too big for it now. Her first doctor's visit and how hard it was for us to see her get her shot. Her first christmas... How small she was then.

How happy we were to be spending Christmas with a new addition to the family. To our little bundle of joy, WE LOVE YOU... Mwaaah.