Cutty

Back when Vic and I were still a young couple, I felt that Valentine's Day was a big deal.  I don't mind if I don't receive flowers.  But, there has to be a special dinner.  Now that we have celebrations like annniversaries and birthdays too close to Valentine's Day, I felt it unnecessary and bothersome to celebrate.  With the cheesiness I see on TV and FB, it is starting to get very corny. Honestly, I feel that Mother's Day should be given more importance.  Hehehe.  Well, as we mature, our priorities change.  We became pratical too. Vic and I went on a pre-VDay night out with friends.  It was spent singing, drinking and catching up with friends.  It was a good night that lasted till the wee hours of the following day. On Valentine's Day, I did my usual thing.  I paid the spa a visit after an early morning singing engagement.  We brought the car in for some repairs.  After getting things in order, we shared a special meal...

My husband is excited about our upcoming trip this weekend. He will be celebrating his birthday in Japan. This trip is actually a 3-in-1 gift to both of us. This covers our wedding anniversary and both our birthdays. It really is a cheap gift if you ask me. We got our plane tickets from our Mabuhay Miles credits.   This is Vic's second trip to Japan. The first one was nearly two decades ago. This is my third though I feel like this is my first time. My previous visits were not leisure trips so I really haven't had the chance to explore and enjoy the sights. I am currently working on an itinerary because I don't know where to go. We are not going to the Tokyo Disneysea or any other theme park because we are not traveling with our kids. I am trying to recall the highlights of my first Tokyo visit. I do remember the "death march" to Harajuku St., Asakusa, St. Francis chapel, the complicated train system, various milk teas, the convenience stores, seei...

It is my second visit to this small cafe. It right across my son's school so I find it convenient to come back again.  It offers drinks different from the mainstream cafes. It has a varied selection of hot chocolate drinks that come in fragile cups like this.  This is a serving of Hot Chocolate infused with Cinnamon. For P160, it is kinda hefty.  My first experience of Tweedle hot cocoa was the Dark Chocolate variant.   I found it too pure, I had to ask for two helpings of syrup. The server was right that I may find it too bitter.  Their hot cocoa selection comes from TCC. I am not familiar with the brand.  From what I've seen, it looks like it's Philippine-made. It tastes of the premium kind. But, it still hasn't come up to my Top 3.  Honestly, I find everything on the menu on the expensive side too.  I  guess I am paying for the ambience. Like me, m ost of the people who hang out here just enjoy the cool A/C and the peace and quiet offered ...

Our youngest, Joaquin Lorenzo, turned 1 last Saturday.  It wasn't a big production like the other first birthdays I orchestrated.  This time, it was a DIY party in our own backyard.  I had two weeks to prepare. As soon as I got back from our Dubai trip, I got hold of suppliers. I got a supplier from Etsy to do the invites: I got Jhoanne of Polkadots to do the decors.  Here are the Elmo lanterns.  I also had ELMO pillars and centerpieces made. Ces Kasilag covered the event.  She and Jhoanne have been helping me over the years.  They both got the shock of their lives to see my kids grown up. Kuya Boyette took care of the tarp design.  You can see it in the photo above.  I ordered food from Hearty Onion.  They weren't availble to cater, even if they were available, I couldn't afford them.  I got the Stuffed Hoisin-Glazed Chicken, Pandan-Wrapped Salmon and Beef Tapa. I made Inihaw na Liempo, sandwiches, green-leaf...

Our holiday celebration wouldn't be complete without a year-end trip.  I suppose the FIL got tired of our previous destinations so he decided to take us to Dubai.  It was a good thing because the kids were getting tired of those destinations too.  I was afraid that there'll be nothing to do but shop and I am trying to veer them away from consumerism.   Luckily, PAL came out with promo fares last February to introduce the new destination.  I couldn't believe that adult promo fares were cheaper than full-price child fare.  Because we got promo tickets, we had to leave and arrive in Manila on a weekday.   It was also a coincidence that one of SEPI's clients owns a travel agency.  He was the one who took care of our day trips.  We also had a van and a driver at our disposal during our whole stay.  To give you an idea, this was our working itinerary: Day 1:  Arrival in Dubai.  The flight took 9 hours and it ate up our who...

I know that this round-up is a week late.  How can I let it pass when it has brought me countless memories? It was a year of trials.  There were times when our household had to survive with one house-help.  It was in Q3 when I found out that the my most-trusted store supervisor was stealing from me.  Business was unstable.  Kids getting sick at the same time, specially when I couldn't be there to care for them.  Javi was physically abused by newly-hired nanny.  There were lots of late night meetings.   Monthly budgets barely covering expenses.  Lessons were learned, tears were shed BUT I have moved on.  I never realized I could overcome all those despite the judgement and opinion of envious individuals (wink, wink). It was a year of travel.  A summer trip to our favorite shopping destination during summer.  A trip to the World's Cultural Capital and it neighboring countries spear-headed by the ACS took place in Q3.  It...

When we held TATLO at the CCP, we thought it was the end of the cycle.  Apparently, our conductors wanted another round.  Japan's Gaia Philharmonic Choir took us to Sapporo, Japan's winter destination.   I can't believe that was two years ago.  Then on December 2014, it was Singapore's SYC Ensemble Singers' turn to host the event. This was my first time to join the Singapore leg of the choral festival.  I am glad I did.  It was my fourth visit to Singapore but there were still lots of firsts during this visit. 1.  I got to sing at the Esplanade.  Apparently, it rhymes with "made" not with "mad."  That's how the locals pronounce it.  Though old already, the facilities are quite impressive.   2.  Vic and I arrived two days early so we got to explore the Bugis area.  We used to be confined along Orchard Rd. 3.  Our previous visits were with family so went with what's familiar.  This time Vic and I go...