Frozen Blue Birthday

Some people are worth melting for.  Olaf is definitely right! I'm melting for the ever sweetest Math and IT people who put up a Frozen-themed party for Laiza and me! The floating snowflakes, the flying Olaf, the Elsa and Anna cake topper, the colorful balloons! Wow!

It is a usual phenomenon in the office to create something for the celebrators. Thus, I was not supposed to be surprised anymore. Although I did not have expectations, I still felt that they surpassed my expectations. That feeling!!! 

Ems as Elsa and Laiza as Anna :)

Frozen birthday party

Everyday, I am grateful for this job and the people who surround me in it. It is not always a perfect working relationship, like any other relationship but we manage to grow together through love and respect. You are all so special to me!!! Thank you for your creative minds and hands. It was another sweet surprise!

For the record, Laiza and I did not talk about our color of the day. It's just that great minds think alike. :) We were feeling extra playful that day so we thought of having an impromptu photo shoot. Coordinated dresses, birthday balloons, a scarf turned table cloth turned picnic mat, a natural  green backdrop, a willing photographer, and we were good to go!

 

It was too much fun for a first time!!! Birthdays are the second most wonderful time of the year!

Yummy Gensan: Shabu-Shabu at Tong Yang

Shabu-shabu style of dining is something new on this side of the world. This is the reason a lot of Generals have been eyeing Tong Yang at SM Gensan. And of course, that would include the attracted-to-newly-opened-restaurants me! :)

Technically, this is not already new as it has started operating few months back. Since it was opened, my friends and I were itching to dine there. I didn't understand what took us so long. Hehe.. So anyway. This was what happened...

The waiter assisted us with the hot pot by providing us with the chicken and sinigang stock for the soup. Plus butter for all the grilling. Then he guided us to a chain of trays of raw food - vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, fish. Name it. They have it. They even have condiments and eggs and hotdogs which amazed me. :) This is when I started to get confused. A lot of choices! What would I get first? 

While still figuring out what to eat, I went to the ready-to-eat corner. Aren't you glad to hear that? Yes, they actually have something for the very hungry people. I got myself a vegetable salad and slices of watermelon and went back to my seat.Then Laiza and I were discussing our battle plan. Haha!

Look at these choices! How could you not be confused? I suggest that when you go there, you already have in mind what to cook. :) You can have as much as you want. This is unlimited! You can eat for straight three hours! Oh, how much more awesome could that get!

I love chicken and fish. Laiza loves shrimps and everything else so that's what we decided to have.What came out of our plan? We let the boys cook for us. Haha! They couldn't resist Laiza's charm. And I guess they were too shy to say no to their Ate Ems. :) Thanks boys!

Laiza and I in a bliss

Rendon and Jypzie almost regretful of dining here with the too-lazy-to-cook ladies.Hihi

Rendon is happily serving us. :)

Trying to look Koreans here. This is an after effect of unlimited ice cream plus unlimited drinks. Ahuh! That's a complete meal, from appetizer to dessert, for Php299 from 10am to 3pm on Mondays to Fridays and Php399 from 3pm onwards on all days of the week. (Note: Weekend lunch buffet is also at Php399) - the most sulit price for an unlimited meal ever!

The gang of five. The young ones of the office. The four of them are batchmates while I'm two years ahead. Now I feel old. Haha!  

Jypzie, Laiza, me, Rendon, Rommel

Location: 2nd floor of Alfresco Strip SM Gensan

Beautiful Cakes

I wanted to give the cake for my niece's first birthday. I was in the middle of searching the web for ideas when I stumbled upon the FB account of a highschool friend, Jennie Mae. Her creations were so beautiful and I knew right there and then that I had to get her to make Caela's cake.

My sister and I decided to have a garden theme so I'd like the cake to have beautiful flowers and butterflies in bright pink and sunny yellow. 

Look at this! Just the way I wanted it and even more! :)

Cupcakes and a fondant cake. This was the star of the event (like a cake should be).

So if you're looking for a maker of beautiful cakes in Gensan, click here.

On My 26th :)

Yey! I'm so done with being 25 :) Oh no no.. Don't get me wrong. It isn't that I didn't enjoy my being 25. It's just that I'm more excited to be 26. :)

I told myself 2 years ago that on my 26th, I would want to get married. So now you think I'm getting married this year huh?! No, not that again. I actually set aside that idea and postponed my marrying age until I'm 28. Haha! I don't feel like marrying just yet. My plans have changed. My pursuits have gone to a detour. :)

Let me first say that I had a blast when I was 25. I always say that I just had the best year of my life and the coming year will even be better. So, 26 here I am!!! Embrace me with all the courage and happiness and love in the world.

This is my first birthday that I did not go out. I usually take a moment of solitude the whole day and celebrate with family during the night. But today, I only stayed home for reflection. I let my brothers buy the things needed for dinner. I love giving birthday treats for family but I want mine to be the simplest. I haven't thrown out a party. I only want solemn moments with family.

This year is extra special because our family has gone bigger because my sister got married. My once little brothers have grown into responsible and wonderful men. It's my mother's joy to see the ladies in my brothers' lives joining us on special occasions. :) It is a happy "extended" family. Minus papa because he was at work.

Oh Goldilocks! You forgot to give a candle for my cake.



But I didn't feel like having a birthday without blowing my candle. So my mother got me a candlestick instead just so I could make a wish. Yey! I made a wish. And I know it's coming true soon. After long years! Excited much!



Mama got a surprise for me! Tadahh!



Yey! Purple slippers. Love it! Well, I have few things of my own at home. Most of my things were left in BQ. And so I had to borrow almost everything from anybody. Thus, it was really a surprise when Mama gave me the slippers. And oh! Another thing! It didn't' please her when I painted my room purple. She doesn't like the color. But I think I'm beginning to make her love it :) I got purple placemats for the dining table from the mint green that she had. But hey she smiled pleasingly when she saw them.



"Haha! I'm slowly transforming the whole house into an Ube!" --Purple Monster. The purple slippers are the proof that she's beginning to forgive me for the purple painted room :)

Aunt Daisy gave me a handy travel bag. How I love bags. And how I love travels. It seems that I'm ready for another adventure. Hmmmm...



Thank you everyone for making my birthday a special one! I actually thanked everyone who greeted me on Facebook. Why not! I love the thought of being thought of :)

Thank you to my family for still loving me even if I'm soooo me!

Thank You Lord for my year that was. And I pray for an even bountiful year in all aspects of my life! :)

Babies Naming A Baby

Our little angel is due in 3 months. My sister will give birth to a baby girl. Everyone is excited even our little cousins. I don't know if they fully understand what's going on but they are told that "Ate Lenlen has a baby inside her tummy."

Revson and Heart are the youngest people who visit our home. They have been the apples of our eyes ever since they were born. We've witnessed their growth. I became a some sort of a nursery-rhyme-teacher, playmate, story teller, nanny on some days. I love the thought of being part of their growth. Now, they're big boy and girl already. They are already going to school. It's seldom that we see them and so we're so excited for another baby to come.


They are excited to be kuya and ate. They actually thought of what names to give the baby. Everytime they visit, they have something new to suggest. Revson said that when it's a boy, Carlo would be the name. If girl, Carla. And we asked if he had anything else in mind. And he said, "Uhmmm.. Myrna!" Haha! How I burst into laughters. I didn't know where he got that Myrna.

Heart, on the other hand, hugged me from behind when she saw me in church and whispered to me that she came up with a better idea. If boy, Michael. If girl, Mikaella. Well, not bad. She had a better choice than Revson.

I find it sweet that they think about the baby. That they somehow have a concept of being kuya and ate. How I wish they'd just remain cute little angels so we could play and sing forever but they're not babies anymore. They have grown into wonderful kiddos. :)

Interesting Finds

We were strolling around Mall of Asia and found things which left me in awe even up to now. :P

(1) The chocolates

They are Belgian chocolates named "Plejaden". The J pronounced as H according to the saleslady.

Math lovers, aren't you in awe? It's such a beauty! How clever the people who thought of placing the integrals on the chocolates. :P People can chew Math! Literally. Look, my friend Harvey enjoyed the integrals. :)




I did not take a bite of it though. I can't bear eating my beloved integrals :P.

(2) American-Filipina Couples
It still may seem to be an unusual couple in my part of the world. But in Manila, it was a normal sight to behold. :) And thus, I observed some. And found this:



Americans tanning themselves while the Filipinas, after being asked by their partners to join them under the sun, chose to stay under the shades. It was pretty interesting to me. :)

This third one I saw in Manila Oceanpark.

(3) Spotted garden eel



Eels which seem to look like weeds! I never thought this kind of creature exists. How odd! Are they like this for the rest of their lives? Did they just sprout from underneath the sand and voila! became an eel like how plants grow? Aren't they supposed to be swimming and maybe dancing with one another. Amazing, aren't they!


Simple things can turn out to be so amazing in my eyes! :)

I'm Alive

I'm loving this song of Celine Dion at these moments. I love Celine Dion! :)

This is my latest song in my MP3 player. I needed some dance songs to get my cells moving after amazing mood swings. Happy moves create happy thoughts! I wanna move my feet and lift my hands, sway my hips and sing on top of my lungs. Whew! I really am so glad I'm alive :)

"I'm Alive"

Mmmm...
I get wings to fly
Oh, I'm alive

When you call on me
When I hear you breath
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive

When you look at me
I can touch the sky
I know that I'm alive

When you bless the day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm alive

You've set my heart on fire
Filled me with love
Made me a woman on clouds above

I couldn't get much higher
My spirit takes flight
'Cause I'm alive

(When you call on me)
When you call on me
(When I hear you breath)
When I hear you breath
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive
I am alive

(When you reach for me)
When you reach for me
Raising spirits high
God knows that

That I'll be the one
Standing by

Through good and through trying times

And it's only begun
I can't wait for the rest of my life

(When you call on me)
When you call on me
(When you reach for me)
When you reach for me
I get wings to fly
I feel that

(When you bless the day)
When you bless, you bless the day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm alive

When you bless the day
(I just drift away)
I just drift away
All my worries die
I know that I'm alive

I get wings to fly
God knows that I'm alive

This is my new happy song. Stay happy world! :)

Non Stop Missing

It's been a little less than a month of missing each other after Ate My has transferred workplace. We're still in the emotional stage. Our messages would always be how grateful and blessed we were of having each other, that we miss our wonderful moments together.

It's quite funny for me sometimes because I'm getting used to not having her around but at times when I'm reminded that this would mean forever, I find myself half sorrowful. And every everytime that happens, I would visually tap my shoulder and would half-talk to myself saying I would be ok.



Maybe that was two weeks after her transfer, I visited her new world. It was a laugh-filled moment, as it always is when we don't see each other for long. We talked a lot, as what it would always be also when we failed to update each other for quite some time.

I felt a little tight in my throat when we were in her cubicle and when she said she was glad to see me and that she missed me so. I did not say any word because surely my tears would accompany whatever I would have said.



Well, I know this missing wouldn't stop. What I'm hoping now is that when I think about her, I would forget the pain and just experience pure joy.

My New Swivel Chair

Look at that. Isn't my chair so great? :) It maybe so unusual for you to listen to me right now asking me what so great about this swivel chair. Ok... Listen well and I'm so sure you'll shake my hand after this.

I've been working in this state university for almost three years already and I've been sitting on this chair.


Yes.. Just look at this chair. I've felt you patting my shoulder right now. I'm hearing your sympathy. Thank you so much for knowing how I felt on those three years. Exactly! It wasn't good sitting on this 5 days a week! If I wanted to rest my back, I just couldn't. Good that I love working with my back straight and not leaned back.


But hey, you should also understand that state universities are sometimes like that. They don't seem to care about their teachers' welfare or they lack budget or they just haven't known some simple necessities. The facilities of the school for students are worse. But I don't wanna talk about that at this time. I just wanna commend them for the improvement they've made. :) Don't like writing sad stories.

I actually didn't wanna tell about the chair struggle that I had because I haven't really minded that. I didn't wanna think about what I didn't have. I still saw the bright side. At least I had a chair. :)

Anyway, so there it is. After the chair struggle, let me share my joy of owning a chair. It really is now my chair. (By the way, that old chair wasn't really mine. It was just a second hand from a senior one).

When I saw my new chair, I had my smile so big that it almost reached my ears. My teeth flashed and my hands were clapping and my heart jumping.

Thank you so much! :)

Now I feel more like a professional. I have a beautiful and comfortable chair.



I hope others would realize how blessed they are for having the simple things.

One Fun Afternoon

I had a very exciting day yesterday. I finished typing parts of my thesis in the morning and it felt good to have done something about it. Next step, read my Abstract Algebra textbook to review the basic concepts needed for proving.

The day before, Ate My and Laiza (my colleagues/close friends) planned to play badminton and so I decided to go with them. I didn't wanna play. I just wanted to watch and bring that book with me so I'll have a new environment and a different aura. :) I had a healthy lunch - rice, fish stew, and a very delicious ripe mango. And so the afternoon came.

Sir Nathan, one of our colleagues, too and a bowling coach in school also decided to spend the afternoon with us. And guess what, the plan changed. Since he doesn't play badminton, he suggested to go bowling. And the two girls were so game! Uhmmm... Did they actually say bowling? The last time I bowled was uhmmmm...3 years ago? But without a second thought, bowling indeed. After all, I would not be playing. I would just be watching.

Bowling came right after Sir Nathan treated us on Cafe Amoree. They have delicious choco and coffee drinks and frappes. I just drink the ones with strange names. :) I wanna try every frappe. Yesterday I ordered Iced Dutch Choco.. Uhmm.. I forgot the exact name. But I'm sure it has Dutch.



Anyway, when we were there, people seemed to have so much fun. I'm sure I had fun too 3 years ago. Then I returned my Abstract Algebra in my bag and told myself, I was going to have fun. And so I did. I was not a good player. But Sir Nathan said, not bad for a beginner. :) I wanna play more the next time because I wanna master the art of throwing that ball and take all those pins down. I found myself so eager to just throw and throw the ball and make those standing pins disappear from my eyes. :) I super enjoyed bowling.

We ate dinner after at Chicken Ati-atihan. I had delicious hot shrimp sinigang and chicken Ati-atihan. I guess it was just the same with chicken inasal - the grilled marinated chicken.



After, I had my haircut and hotoil. It was so refreshing. I love it when I have something new. I wasn't so satisfied with the service, though. But I took in consideration the emotional state of that attendant because prior to my haircut, I heard his aunt texted informing him that his father was admitted in the hospital.

Anyways, the last part of my day was the service meeting of Singles for Christ. I was so late that I had a grand entrance and everyone was teasing me about going to that parlor and have my hair done on an unusual time in the evening. (I had it at 8pm and was done past 9). When I arrived, they were about to end. But I knew my presence wasn't much of an importance on that meeting. And I had Ate My to take notes of my tasks.

My yesterday has been one of the best days ever! :)

To my Father be all the glory! (Thank You my King for making Your princess beautiful and free!)