When a movie gives you all the feels

Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum

So my husband and I were watching The Vow just now. I was prepared to watch a so-so movie because that’s what I heard one of my friends say about this one. What I didn’t expect was.. I’d end up crying like a hormonal pregnant woman (oh wait, yeah, I’m one!) and holding on to my husband tight, unable to stop the tears, by the time the movie credits rolled out.

Allow me to blame most of it to hormones, because my tear ducts are really taking over my composure these days. I guess it’s partly because Leo (Channing Tatum) reminded me so much of my husband, especially that part in the movie where he took in a stray cat for company; Or when he made some beautiful music on his guitar when his heart was broken by the woman he loved.

So maybe this post is not really about The Vow, but about my husband, and how blessed I am to have him.

Truth is, between the two of us, even before we were married, he is the real better half—for everything and whatever the term means. When we were younger, he was always the one fighting for us, solid and consistent in his love, while I was the impatient girl who made a habit of giving up when things were not working out.

He gave me all the time I needed to figure out what I really wanted, to try out options, while he waited for me to come to my senses and realize that I could never be with anyone better. All of this with the added challenge of being continents and timezones apart.

Sometimes I feel ashamed to admit that I broke his heart way too many times in our younger years, and how I took advantage of his young loveall those times I’d come back to him when I was feeling lost and unloved, confident that he would take me back in. But he sure did take me back without fail, and I’d give all credit to him for being the one who took the extra mile.

So on our wedding day, when I declared my vow, and I promised to never give up on him, those words meant more to me than just some cheesy phrase you hear on weddings. When I said that I will never give up on him, it means turning away from my old selfthat young, unsure girl who gave up on him many times in the past.

The Vow - Channing Tatum & Rachel McAdams

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just romantic movies that bring me moments like this. I feel blessed to have him everyday. When he picks me up from work, when he makes sure I take my vitamins, when he makes me a glass of Anmum before I sleep at night, when he holds my hand through a stomach cramp.

Or when I place my hands over my growing belly bump, and it dawns on me that God is actually making a family out of us.

I feel so loved and blessed, and maybe tomorrow I’d cringe at how cheesy this post turned out, but while I’m still overwhelmed with so much love (and hormones), I shall take this opportunity to address you, all of you singles out there:

You deserve someone who will fight for you and will never give up on you, no matter what life brings. And when you find that person, don’t ever give up on him too.

This post is for you too, husband dear, in case, a few weeks from now, I become too nauseated to get you a Father’s Day gift. :)

Good times at the Kitchen, and thoughts of a frustrated food blogger

(..and by “Kitchen” I meant that restaurant in Greenbelt 3, not really that area in the house where you cook food.)

These photographs have been in my drafts for too long, waiting for some text to come along with them, perhaps a review of the place and the food. But I realize now that the food review is not going to happen I might as well just post the photographs.

Here’s a bunch I took from a lunch date at Kitchen in Greenbelt 3, months ago, when Mae was visiting from Singapore. (I still can’t believe she’s relocating to Manila again very soon!)

Not in the photos: David and our friend Hobbes.

I love taking photos, but describing food is just.. beyond me. My friends and I, at one point, even joked about how we’re never going to be food bloggers. We tried.

When I was single, living on my own taught me how to cook for myself. Now, being married has forced me to level-up my cooking. So I’ve been learning to cook some dishes alright, but I guess I’m not one to talk about the.. process. Inasmuch as I want to share my culinary escapades here, I don’t know how to write about food. I tried.

(And haha, NO, I’m not linking it up haha.)

Conversations at home would go,

Husband: What are we having for dinner?
Riz: Chicken shomething.
Husband: Fried chicken?
Riz: No, it’s not fried. It has potatoes, carrots, ham, cream sauce, herbs.
Husband: Ohh. Sounds good!

Few days later I’d find out that what I cooked is called Chicken Ala King pala. Or some hybrid of it.

I really should just take photographs.

Anyway, don’t you just love using the word “photographs” instead of “pictures”? It’s soo Audrey Hepburn. :)

Visit the Kitchen at Greenbelt 3, their Sundried Tomato Pesto is very.. authentic!