Category: X-Extended Family

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.

Mae’s Ikea-fied room; An Afternoon With My Girls

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Saturdays are for family, and friends, and love. And even though I decided to discontinue my 52 Saturdays Project (I shall not bore you with excuses and explanations), I’m still making the most out of my Saturdays, and taking photographs as much as I can. Last Saturday was spent with my girlfriends while the husband was away for our church’s Men’s Encounter. Ivy and I went to Mae‘s, and spent the afternoon hanging out at her newly renovated room.

And look at what a cozy little haven it is! If only her bed was bigger, I would camp out there for days! :)

Edit: Mae just finished blogging about the details of her room. CLICK HERE!

You bet I took more photographs than these, but I’d let her post it up on her blog herself.

Mae’s room reminds me of my blue room, back in its glory days. I remember locking myself up in my room for days, and investing so much time and money to prettify my little nook. No regrets, even though I only stayed there for less than a year, until I had to move out again.

Mae painted her walls all white which makes her room look bigger than it really is (there goes a tip for small spaces!), and used red accent pieces all over the place. Some of my favorite details in there are her vintage camera collection, her snow globes and souvenirs from her travels, and the Ikea items she collected while she was still in Singapore. Can I just say, I’m crazy about that wall print! Ahh, when will we ever have Ikea in the Philippines?!

Our private viewing of Mae’s room aside, spending time with my best girl friends is the highlight of my day, maybe even week. I’ve known them since we were in diapers, and I’m so blessed to have them around all these years, no matter what phase in life we’re in, and wherever in the world we are.

LOL. They touched my baby bump like it’s the fertility statue or something. I have such weird friends.

But that’s okay. That only means I can be my weird self around them. :)

Year 29, bring it on!

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These photos have been up for a week now, just waiting for words to come with them. The truth is, I’ve ran out of ways to say what a riot this past year has been, so I’ve put this on hold for a while. Birthdays are the best times to count blessings and to look back at how far you’ve come. I’ve blogged about mine each and every year, and this year has so far been the biggest leap for me.

On the contrary.. after so many years of throwing parties/get-togethers on my birthday (and being surprised with one), my 29th birthday has got to be the simplest celebration I ever had—by choice. I didn’t think I needed a big celebration anyway; after all, this year has been full of BIG celebrations already, starting with our wedding. And then I’ve got myself the biggest gifts: Being married to the sweetest husband ever, these two babies growing inside of me, and having my two best friends both in one continent again.

And of course there’s my family, who’s always there to celebrate with me and support me in all of my joys and triumphs, including loving my husband and whole-heartedly accepting him as part of this new life that I have. I’m not sure how I’ll cope with all these changes without the support group that they are.

So that’s exactly what I did on my 29th birthday—spent the day with my greatest gifts.

Continue reading “Year 29, bring it on!” →

Fairies are real, they come and make you smile and brighten up your Monday

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It’s been a slow-moving Monday, and I was feeling a little bit down and low to start the day. Must be Monday morning sickness. But looking at these photos of Baby Jill* wearing her cute tinkerbell dress, and her Ninong Bud being all too adorable carrying her, makes me feel sunshiney again. And hopeful. And loved. And excited for things to come.

Amazing what babies (and husbands) can do. Instant pick-me-upper!

Lunch break is over, and I’m feeling so much better now. Hope you’re having a sunshiney Monday yourself. :)

*She’s the baby who was dedicated last week. :)

Afters Espresso & Desserts, we found our new happy place

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There’s this new place in Tomas Morato called “Afters” which we accidentally discovered one Sunday night. We were really aiming for Bubble Tea, but as we were placed in the waiting list (at 11pm! Por que!), we decided to hang out somewhere else. Preferably, a more quiet place where we can talk and have coffee.

The best discoveries are those which happened by accident, so it seems. We ended up a few blocks from Bubble Tea, in this quaint little cafe near the intersection of Tomas Morato and Roces. We’ve been hanging out there since (we brought more friends!), and each night at Afters has so far been epic. ;)

I love that in Afters, you can have gelato AND espresso in one place—have one or the other, or you can have them together! The Affogato is my favorite, it’s a scoop of vanilla gelato submerged in one shot of espresso goodness.

Ahhh. I think I’m in love. 

Still, the best part of every dining or coffee experience is the company of friends. I happen to be blessed with a bunch of crazy ones I can be my-crazy-self with, laugh with, grow with..

..and entrust my husband to. LOL. (Obviously, my husband is fitting right in!)

Cheers to discovering new places, epic nights, and friendship!

This made my day

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This morning, as I was doing my daily rounds on Facebook, I found these:

Hello Isaac, you’re sooo kyot!! Ian Fornoles, thanks for capturing these photos! The best!

I can’t stop smiling! I mean, come on, how can you stop smiling with photographs like this? I want to squish my nephew’s cheeks and give him a biiiiiggg suffocating hug, the kind that’s soooo tight he starts crying haha.

I suddenly miss those days we live in the same house and I eat/drink/breathe babysitting and playtime for lunch and coffee breaks. And those little knocks on my door in the morning. And how he would laugh at his reflection in the mirror and then laugh harder because the boy in the mirror was laughing at him haha. And how he would say “aw-aw!” in response to everything you ask or say. (What does the dog say? Aw-aw! What does the cat say? Aw-aw! I love you! Aw-aw! Say bye-bye! Aw-aw!)

Haha I miss him!

Which reminds me, he’s turning 2 years old this week! Has it really been 2 years? Wow.

You’re growing up too fast, little boy! Slow down!

*All photos are taken by rising photography guru, Ian Fornoles.
Post-processed by me.  Just coz I had to chasingdreams-ify it. :D