Month: August 2012

Canyon Woods Batangas Baby Moon

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From our anniversary weekend. Here’s more, just because we have tons of them. :)

The resort was huge, and we had it all to ourselves! Because the place was so huge (Have I said that yet? Oh yeah.), we had to take a shuttle to go around from our cabin to the clubhouse to wherever in the vicinity we want to go.

The clubhouse. We had meals at their empty lounge, with a beautiful view of pine trees and the sky. The food can be pricey in the lounge though, so we had one of our lunches in Tagaytay proper, more or less a 30 minute drive away.

The casitas. Although the rooms and the facilities are old and a little worn out, I think it adds to the rustic and country-feel ambiance that Canyon Woods is all about.

And I just looove the floor-to-ceiling glass doors/windows!

The indoor pool. The highlight of our stay has got to be the indoor pool, which we had all to ourselves! They turn on the heater only in the weekends though, so if you’re planning to come here for the indoor pool, definitely schedule your trip on a weekend.

Say hello to my huge belly, at 26 weeks. :)

I think swimming really did me well, especially for my muscle cramps and back pains. 

The outdoor pool. It was pretty much ours during our stay, too. Although it wasn’t heated, the sunshine on our backs evened out the cold water, which made our outdoor swim a really nice experience as well.

Canyon Woods is always mistaken to be in Tagaytay, but it’s basically in Batangas already. We love it and we definitely recommend it! Like I said, we seemed to be like the only guests at the time, but they’re not under-staffed and we were taken care of really well.

A tip: Best if you go there with coupon deals, we got ours from Cashcashpinoy. ;)

I’d love to come back soon, but my tummy is getting bigger and bigger, and we’re getting closer and closer to our due date. I guess this is my last trip, at least for now.

This weekend on Instagram: our first wedding anniversary

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Obligatory instagram post of our weekend at Canyon Woods Resorts:

(1) For the first time the whole week, the sun was shining brightly and we spent our weekend without a hint of dark skies and rain! (2) We woke up on our first morning with sun rays through our room’s glass windows, what a sight! (3) We had our breakfast of eggs and bacon with a beautiful view on the side; (4) ..and we can’t help but stare at the two empty seats in front of us, thinking that soon enough, two little girls will occupy those seats; (5) I’m so thankful my husband is a good swimmer. I’ve always loved swimming, and I’m glad to have someone who’s game to swim anytime! (6) The indoor pool was practically the highlight of our stay, we had it all to ourselves the whole time we were there! Seriously, no other guests but us! (7) My big bulge didn’t stop me from swimming, yeah! (8) Posing by the highway, just because; (9) Pretty casitas by the lake, one of which was our love nest for the weekend; (10) Gotta love having a husband who’s ready with a camera all the time; (11) Waiting for our ride back home, after 3 days of rest; (12) Pasalubongs from Tagaytay.

We couldn’t help but compare how different this August was from last year. How we were surrounded by lots of people, family and friends, on our wedding day and on the days before and after it. This time, celebrating our first wedding anniversary, it was just two of us. And it was really just the two of us, literally, as it seemed like we were the only guests in Canyon Woods that time. The only times we’re reminded that we’re not alone were those moments when I feel tiny kicks in my belly, and we realize that we have two little girls tagging along wherever we go.

The place was beautiful, the moments were precious, and it was just the kind of weekend where we keep marveling at how huge and how wide God’s love is. And yet, in His Greatness, He’s still mindful of the personal details and the little things in these small and short lives we live.

525,600 minutes

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It’s been a year since that day. Being in a long distance relationship for so long, we used to count days ’til we’re together again. But now, we’re counting years together. How amazing is that? More so, how amazing is This God who brought us together; who’s continuously making all things beautiful in His time? Our gratitude is beyond words.

I don’t usually embed videos in my blog, but this one is worth the exception—a beautiful remembrance of our wedding day:

Rhiza and David SDE:) 13.08.11, made by the awesome Marvin Barbarona.

Every time I watch this video, I still swoon like it was just yesterday.

Last Sunday we dined out with my family to celebrate our anniversary. And last night, our simple home-made dinner for two became a small celebration with our disciplers, our Pastor and his wife, who dropped by to surprise us.

But the week has just begun, and something tells me this is going to be one long week of celebration and thanksgiving. :)

Week 24: August is Made for Beautiful Weddings

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So we went to this beautiful wedding last weekend and love was definitely all over the place. I’ll post more photographs later, but for now, here are some instagrams:

Just some of the things I loved about that night: (1) the beautiful flowers; (2) the smorgasbord of yummy desserts; (3) the couple’s beautiful love story; and (4) my charming date who seemed to have enjoyed getting a chance to wear a suit ala Harvey Specter, at least for a night.

(Top-right photo: no cocktail drinks for the preggy though, I’ll have water thankyouverymuch.)

Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone wearing the same dress. I wore it proudly with my huge bulge, went back and forth the buffet and dessert tables with no guilt whatsoever (what, I have to eat thrice as much!), and danced the night away with everyone.

While it was my friends’ wedding, my husband and I couldn’t help but have our own sweet moments here and there, remembering how it was like a year ago, also on a rainy August night, when it was our turn to tie the knot. We’re celebrating our anniversary in less than a week! How time flies.

On a hunt for a new journal; Thoughts on Psalm 86:15

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Where’s a Peter Pauper Press Journal when you need one? I haven’t seen any in the usual places lately, much to my frustration. And just now I find myself browsing PPP’s online catalog and daydreaming about getting my hands on the journals, specifically these two designs:

Yellow is such a happy color, yeah?

My last journal ran out of pages, and I’ve been using this non-PPP notebook for a while now. And it’s affecting my writing rituals! The paper is too thin, the lines are too thick.. Or I could just be lazy and simply finding excuses. I haven’t written long journal entries lately, and have been merely jotting down verses and quick notes here and there. I miss being absorbed in paper and ink and letting my hand speak for my heart.

When will I ever have the time? (And the journal? Hah!)

I have so much going on in my list, not to mention the house is still a mess, and I’m killing myself for not being able to keep up with everything. It’s a horrid habit of mine, putting my standards up too high—on others, and mostly on myself. Then I end up feeling disappointed about not meeting my own expectations.

And then words like this hit me hard in the head, and I’m amazed once again how God knows what I need to hear/read when I need them:

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. ~Psalm 86:15

Our Lord understands our limits. He realizes our struggles. He knows how much pressure we can take. He knows what measures of grace and mercy and strength we’ll require. He knows how we’re put together.

Frankly, His expectations are not nearly as unrealistic as ours.

When we don’t live up to the agenda we have set, we feel like He is going to dump a truckload of judgment on us. But that will not happen.

So why do we fear it could?

~Chuck Swindoll

I heaved a sigh of relief, thanking God for being merciful, and gracious, and forgiving, when others, or even we, can’t forgive ourselves.

I grabbed a pen and a paper to write these words down. And I thought maybe that’s why I suddenly miss having a journal—I remember things better when I write them down.

And these days, these are the kind of stuff I need to remember.

Week 23: Found the Perfect Maternity Wedding Dress

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So we’re going to a big wedding this weekend, and last night, I found the perfect dress to wear to the occasion.

I love it! It fits me like it was tailored for me and my huge bump! I’m surprised I could still fit in a small-sized dress, by the way, when I weigh about 130 pounds by now. The length, the style, the fit, the fabric, the color—everything is just so right, even better than what I was looking for. My only worry is, I got it from Forever 21, and you know how Forever 21 mass-produces every piece of clothing they have, yeah? Well, Jasper & Darlene, the couple who’s getting married this Saturday, has about 500 guests—can you picture how huge a crowd that is? So now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t bump (pun intended) into someone, out of those 500 people, who wears the same dress as MY perfect dress. We’ll see.

In other news, we’ve moved in to the new apartment, and everything is still a mess. I reckon it will take us this whole month to get our stuff out of moving boxes and put everything in its place. I’m trying my best not to stress out about it. I’m glad that my husband and I have learned to make a home out of whatever space we have, wherever we are.

It’s around this time too, last year, when we were so busy preparing for our wedding and settling down in our first home. July 30, 2011 was the date stamped on David‘s one-way NYC-HK-MLA plane ticket, and I still remember that night in the airport, exactly a year ago, when we were reunited once and for all.

So we’re celebrating a lot of anniversaries this whole month. And we’re making the most out of our time together, just the two of us. Coz soon enough, two kiddos will be sharing our space, and our days, with us. And nothing will ever be the same again.

Oh. boy.

I mean, girls.