Happy Easter!

When we were kids, our neighbor would give us an Easter basket (which she personally and lovingly prepared) for Easter Sunday.  The basket is filled with different goodies like hand-painted eggs, chocolate eggs and an assortment of colorful candies. . . all sitting pretty in a bed of green trimmings.  You can say that this basket is the highlight of our Holy Week!

Then time passed by, we grew up and learned that there is more to Easter than the Bunnies and the Chocolate eggs.  I know that Easter means different things to each of us.  For me, Easter means a renewal of faith and new beginnings.  I hope and I pray that we all find in our hearts the "new beginning" that we are looking for in our lives and the will to remain steadfast in our Faith.

Have a blessed Easter Sunday! =)

The little girl in me misses getting her Easter treats =)

Finally!

Happiness beyond words . . . the second time around.

Somebody has seen the light of day . . .

Meet our Little Man, our Little J

You feel so much love for your first child that you wonder how you could possibly love the second one as much.   Then you discover how infinite your capacity to love is.

                                                                                    - Linda D' Agrosa 

                                                         (from the book "Meditations for New Mothers)
                                                                           by Beth Wilson Saavedra

Congratulations Graduates!

March is considered the Graduation month here in the Philippines.  

I remember when I graduated from University, I was on top of the world but I had mixed feelings about it too.  I was happy (and relieved?! Haha!) because I was done with schooling. . . tired (from all my academic requirements). . . and scared because I didn't know what's next for me.  I didn't have a plan, haha!  All I wanted was to find a job and start earning my keep!  

I am so blessed and thankful to have found a job that I loved, it's the only one I had actually.  Doing it didn't feel like work at all.  The office became a home and we were just one, big, happy family!  I remember what somebody told me. . .  when work becomes too stressful, it helps that you love the people you work with. =)

To be able to work in a dynamic organization, to be given different learning opportunities as an individual and as a professional and most specially, to have met and worked with amazing men and women truly made my corporate life memorable.

To the Graduates of 2013, Congratulations and I wish you the best of luck as you go on your own and explore what the world has to offer.  The road to success may not be easy.  Should there be bumps along the way, don't get discouraged.  This is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure! 

www.graduationwisdom.com

Dreaming of Dedon

Last night, my sister and I were looking at the Instagram account of a local celebrity and saw her vacation pictures in "Dedon".  We haven't heard about this place so my sister googled it and found out that there is a Dedon Island Resort which is located at the southeastern tip of Siargao Island, a popular surfing spot in the Philippines.

Well Huney, guess what, we have something to put in our Bucket List!  A new vacation place!

I'll let the photos do the talking =)
 

* All images are from Dedon Island Resort's FB page

The Resort Villas *Sigh*

I can cocoon myself in this Villa . . .

I think I'll have a hard time getting up from this bed

Love, love, love the bathroom!

This is an island life I wouldn't mind living!  Haha!  

I've read from their brochure that they have an All-Inclusive rate (Rate/person/day).  It is inclusive of food, drinks, massages (!!!), outings, excursions and activities.  (VAT and local taxes are not yet included in the rate) 

As they put it, "Every massage you indulge in, every excursion you undertake, all the equipment you use - from paddleboard to Jeepney to our state-of-the-art amphibious boat, complete with crew is covered by a single flat rate".

For more information about Dedon Island Resort, please visit their website and FB page.

Okay Hun, saving for this dream vacation starts NOW!

Bath Time!

I was going through my blog posts' "Draft" folder when I saw this Iya (my niece) story that I forgot to publish.  This happened when she was 5 years old.  

One day, I picked her from school and when we reached their house, her Nanny (who was then cooking lunch for the household) opened the gate and got her from the car.

Iya: Ate, hindi ka pa naliligooo!!!  

      Amoy kamatis kaaa (she actually meant "ginisa"). . . . and after a split second, she said. . .

      PERO MABANGOOOO!!!
   
I guess she cares for her SO MUCH that she doesn't want to offend her . . . or could it be that she just really loves the smell of the kitchen?!!  Haha!

Mrs. Barney

Yes, the Little Miss has fallen under the charm of the Big Purple Dinosaur!  *Cue the music. . I love you, You love me, We're a happy family. . .*

What could possibly make her happy but to see big Barney in person!  So what does a Mom do?  Improvise!

A big Barney Blanket was all I needed . . . and my big pregnant self!   

What a mother would do for her child =)

Hearing the Little Miss shout with glee and giving me a big hug was . . . PRICELESS! =)

I don't know who enjoyed Mrs. Barney more. . . my Little Miss or my dear sister who was laughing so hard while watching me!  Haha!

7 Cardinal Rules in Life

I saw this at a friend's FB wall (Thanks J for sharing!) . . . and I couldn't agree more!  Love this!  

I think these rules pretty much cover the life lessons we mostly hear about.  Lessons which we might have learned already, or may still be learning . . .    

Wishing everyone a great week ahead! =)

Funtabulous!

If there's one word to describe my weekend, I would simply put it as Funtabulous!

FUN. FANTASTIC. FABULOUS! 

My Saturday was about catching up with good friends over lunch and coffee . . . good food, good conversation, good company . . .all these and more definitely makes up a good time. =)   

Thanks K for the photos! =)

Sunday was still about good friends . . . and SURPRISES!  With just one more week to go before I give birth, I didn't expect a baby shower (at all!) from these girls (who are all oh-so busy!).    

The surprise was overwhelming and I am deeply touched by their effort to organize and to make time to give me such a fun and memorable baby shower!  Ladies, you have such generous hearts,  I couldn't thank you enough. =)     

Thanks D and C for the Instagram photos . . . and for getting me hooked on it, haha!

I am still on a high from my weekend to say the least.

Hope you all had a funtabulous weekend just like mine!

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

Shabby Chic.  (I think Rachel Ashwell would love this place!)  This is what came to my mind when I saw Vanilla Cupcake Bakery while strolling in Glorietta 4 in Makati. The place was just too cute (that I just had to give it a second look, haha!)  and too inviting (that I had to ask my sister if we can go in and get some cupcakes.) 

All things pretty . . .

And dainty . . .

So feminine . . .

I love how they came up with the interior details . . . well-thought out. 

A good mix of chairs. . .

I looove. . . and want this chair  . . .

Oh and this pink SMEG fridge!  Haha! 

A pretty place to go with pretty cupcakes .  We were still full from breakfast so we got some cupcakes to go.  It's been over a month since we went there so I only remember key words for the cupcakes, haha!   

Cupcakes range from Php 60-Php100
Top Row (L to R) - A cupcake with a brownie topping (haha!), Coffee  Walnut, Banana Nutella
Bottom Row (L to R) - Red Velvet, Blueberry Cheesecake, ? No idea, heehee

The cupcakes were moist but the frosting was a tad too sweet for my liking.  Among the sweet treats in this box, I like the Blueberry Cheesecake and the Brownie bite (so fudgy) topping that came with one of the cupcakes, haha!        

Besides cupcakes, they have other sweet treats like Cookies and Muffins, Cakes, Panna Cotta, Tiramisu, Banoffee Pie . . .and they serve hot drinks too.

Besides Glorietta 4, Vanilla Cupcake Bakery also has a branch at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

It's a good place to hang out with friends (especially with your girlfriends!) and to satisfy your sweet cravings.

Have a nice weekend everyone! =)

Rise and Shine

I am a morning person.  I don't find it hard to wake up early in the morning . . .yes, even on weekends!  I think I became one because growing up, my parents would always tell me and my siblings "that the early bird catches the worm". . . something I hope the Little One will learn in due time.

This is how our morning goes when she wakes up. . .

She lazes around the bed

Rolls around  . . . does some stretches 

She removes her socks (when I ask her to)

  

Not quite ready yet . . .

Guess she needs a few more minutes

Still not ready . . . 

As my sister said, we ought to give her an extra hour just to get up from bed!

Can you imagine what we will go through when she starts going to school?!  Haha!

 

Nooks and Crannies

I don't know why but the Little One is just fascinated with . . .

Corners and narrow spaces . . . that she just goes right in and wiggle her way through.

There's something about walls

And ledges too. . . 

I wonder what's next . . .

Grateful for "BFs"

I was doing some spring cleaning (again!  It's just never. . .ending!  Haha!) to free up some space before our Little J arrives when I saw this picture of me and M, my first "BF" in school (best friend that is!)

Circa 1981
My best friend M, on the left
and moi, on the right =)

We were both in 1st Grade but we were in different sections.  We got together when we were chosen as majorettes to represent our class for our school's Foundation Day.  I really don't know how our friendship started, we just clicked I guess.  I  just remember that in one of our practices, she was snacking on a childhood favorite drink of mine (our local version of a snow cone, a sweet and syrupy drink with red tapioca pearls).  So I guess I can say our friendship started over food?!  (Nothing has changed, she is still a best friend and we both still love food!  Haha!)

So the other day, I was watching "Bride Wars" (starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson) and heard this quote which made me feel grateful for having all these amazing girlfriends (who I've met at different points in my life) who have given me their gift of unconditional love and friendship.

Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you'll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but theres also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.

*Quote from www.finestquotes.com

To my best girls . . .Thank you very much for just simply being there when I need you (that you don't even have to say anything!), for wiping away tears of joy and sadness, for helping me get over my fears and celebrate my success, for helping me deal with my frustrations and share in my happiness too.  

As a mom, you pray a LOT of things for your children (it's a long list I tell you, haha!).  One thing I'm sure I've included in my list is that they will be blessed with such great and true friends just as I have been blessed in my life.

Summer Love

Another Iya story to share =) 

 My younger sister went to Boracay (also called "Bora" by locals, a small island located in the South of the Philippines which is known for its beaches) over the weekend with her friends. 

Photo source: www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

Yesterday, Iya thought of calling her Nang-nang (that's what she calls my sister).

Iya: Tata, can I use your phone?

Me: Why?

Iya: Tatawagan ko si Nang-nang, tanong ko sa kanya kung nakakita na siya ng boyfriend sa Bora

      (I'll call Nang-nang to ask her if she already found a boyfriend in Bora) 

So if you're single, Boracay might be a good place to find love, you'll never know!  Haha!

Well, I didn't find love in Boracay, I brought mine =)  

Boracay 2009

Have a nice weekend!  Ready for Summer?!