CONVERSATIONS WITH CLETO #1

Cleto is our office messenger. At least once a week, I ask him to deposit or pay my bills for me. And just for kicks, I always always speak to him in english because his replies are hilarious! I can't believe I never blogged about him before.

As soon as I saw him this morning, I asked,

Me: Cleto, are you going to the bank today?
Cleto: Sooner or later.

Hehehehehe!

Will post more conversations with Cleto soon :)


This is me and Cleto at an officemate's wedding a couple of years ago(sigh! ang payat ko pa nun!)

The ONLY two photographers I want for my wedding are a little out of budget. However, photography is sooo important to me so I am still trying to see if I can squeeze their rates into our very tight budget.

Mangored's photos are exactly how I want my wedding pictures to come out. Completely unconventional.

Metro Photo on the other hand, is still very classic but artsy. It also helps that their service is more personal (Oly, the chief artist, went out of his way to say that my email made him laugh a bit and that he was happy I loved their work). AND, they promised me a trash the dress session after the reception!

Mangored or Metro Photo?

Wait, hanap muna ako ng budget :)

P.S.
If you guys can recommend anyone, it would be appreciated :)

UNSOLICITED NINONG

Show encrypted text

MAKING HIS MOMMA PROUD

One of the things I love about being a mom is discovering my son's tiniest feats and being mighty proud of it. Aside from the usual "close open", "high five" and "bye bye", Joaquin can now identify my eyes and nose, (he still has confusion with the mouth). He also dances to "I have two hands" by clapping at "clap them softly..." and showing his hands at "clean little hands are good to see.." (I promise to take a video of this soon to show you). He also rubs/pats his tummy when we sing, "rub rub tummy, yummy yummy yummy!"

I don't want to sound like a Nido commercial but Joaquin also eats healthy and sleeps well. He eats a serving of strawberry yogurt every morning. He also can't get enough of mangoes, bananas, kiwis, avocados and peaches. Last Sunday, we ate at a Japanese resto for lunch and he finished his miso soup (he also ate the tofu in it). He loves it when I cook him spaghetti, lasagna and ginisang sayote. He even likes sinigang and he eats the kangkong!

My son is also never sick. He's a year and 2 months old and he's only had fever once and it only lasted for a day, and that fever was caused by his vaccination. The most serious ailment he's ever had to date is cough and colds. Everyday I pray that it stays that way.

I know that no matter how hard I try, I can't be a perfect mother but only one thing is certain-- I only want to give my son the best--my best. And when I see how happy, healthy and lively he is, I thank God for the shower of blessings and I realize that all my efforts are paying off (even when they sometimes burn a rather large hole in my pocket. Haha!).


He loovveeesss bubbles!


Big toes to go with his big feet!


V and Joaquin, feeding me. Hehe!

KILIG!

Finally found my bridal march song!

And I have the whole weekend to listen to it, yaaayyy!!!

Just need to decide whether to get a choir or not.

I was in the middle of a meeting with Rosell ofNurture Spa yesterday afternoon when she got a call from the Tagaytay office. One of their guests was getting married in June and wanted to book the place-- on the same day as my wedding day. She was willing to make the downpayment already.

Though they've pencil-marked my wedding day, it just goes that whoever pays first gets the place, right? I freaked. I couldn't think of any other place in Tagaytay more "me and V" than Nurture Spa. So while Rosell was talking to the people in Tagaytay, I excused myself, went to the bank and got the 10% downpayment. And I paid her. I'm still keeping my options open though. The good thing about Nurture Spa is, if I change my decision, I can just consume the downpayment in the Spa.

What actually made my day yesterday was discovering that Starbucks now has chai tea lattes! You can have it hot or cold and with soy! *does the dance of joy* Sadly though, Coffee Bean's chai tea latte is still better.

Mama sometimes makes me cry, sometimes she makes me laugh. But there are times when I just want to pull my hair and do both.

She called me this morning to keep tabs on my wedding planning. We were going thru the menu of Nurture Spa when she said...

Mama: Are you sure you want to get married na? You really love V? Kasi if you're not sure, don't get married na lang.
Me: (screaming inside)

After a year ofmaking me kulit to tie the knot, after she just bought her plane ticket going back home, after she just bought my wedding gown (yes, decided to just buy my gown in the US--its cheaper), after I've booked the church, in the middle of finalizing everything, she drops this. I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

But I'm happy because now I know she doesn't want me to get married just because. At least now I know that she wants me to get married because I want to. Because I'm sure of it.

Mothers! :)

STIR-FRIED PORK WITH BROCOLLI

My Uncle Danny who lives in Baguio has a small farm in his backyard. He usually sends us a whole box of potatoes. But for the first time yesterday, he sent us brocolli! Lots lots lots!!! So, this is what I made! And it was good :)

LV

My officemate, Jhoy was wearing a top with LV prints on it. One of the agents saw her and said,

"Ma'm Jhoy..wwoowww! Sosyal! Viniton!!!"

Oh yes, that was exactly how she pronounced it.

i think that just made my Friday :)

Enjoy your weekend!

RENALDO LAPUZ

If you saw the latest episode of American Idol, you know what I'm talking about. The next William Hung is no doubt a Filipino (he has his own website na agad!). It was so easy to tell by the accent, the way he looked and his name!

Is it something to be proud of? I think, yes. While his song was tacky, his voice wasn't that bad. And he's funny!

Watch his audition video here.

He's our brother forever! Hahahaha!

INTERESTING!

MEET THE WORLD
A friend shared this link with me and I love it! I wonder what they'll put if they make one for the Philippines.

CASHMERE MAFIA
If you like downloading tv shows on utorrent as much as I do, you have to download the new TV series produced by Darren Star (of Sex and the City). It's still about 4 women who have flourishing careers but not all of them are single. I love how the characters cover different issues like working moms, cheating husbands, sexuality and competition in the office. 2 episodes have aired already so while you're waiting for Gossip Girl's next episode, download Cashmere Mafia muna! :)

Ay, you guys also have to watch Samantha Who. It stars Christina Applegate (who i've always liked)

THIS IS IT!

Tagaytay greeted us with bad weather last Saturday but we came home with very good news. We've booked San Antonio de Padua Quasi as our church and we're already 80% sure that our reception will be at Nurture Spa.

I really love our venues. The church is quaint and the surrounding neighborhood is so serene. Inspite of the rain, I fell in love with Nurture Spa's garden. The size is perfect for our 100 guests.

Here are pictures of the church:

Me and my not so little boy :)

Pictures from Nurture Spa:








The only reason why I'm only 80% sure about the reception venue is because I have yet to taste the food :) Will try to do that this weekend :) Hopefully, it will be bright and sunny and the food will be yummy!

On a totally different note, I've been having these dreams about J. Yes, J. I didn't really want to talk about it and I pretty much kept it to myself but I had another dream again last night. It's starting to bother me.

I told my Uncle about the first dream and he told me to get over J. That's the thing...I am over him. In fact, I haven't thought about him in a while and that's why the dream was freaking me out. In the first dream, he had a message for me. In last night's dream, we were together. I know! Together!!! Last night's dream was what could have been if he had not passed away.

What's going on?! I can't put my finger on it and I have the slightest clue what to make of it.

Haaaayyy.

Okay, back to work.

I'm actually excited! This is the feeling I've been waiting for.

V, Joaquin, Marby (my sister) and I are leaving for Tagaytay in a couple of hours to look for a church (I actually know na which church I want but I need to check if our wedding date is still open. And no, it's not Calaruega.). We will also be looking for a reception venue even when my heart is set on having the reception at Nurture Spa. We'll see if we find something better :)

Pictures to be posted when we get back!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

ALMONDIGAS

I made this for dinner tonight and it was such a hit. V and Joaquin ate lots!

It's hearty and healthy (there are carrots in the meatballs)! It's yumyum!

Thanks to Pinoy Cook for the recipe!

I'm planning a wedding for June. My wedding :)

I really want an out of town wedding (1st choice: Tagaytay 2nd choice: Antipolo) but I am worried that it will rain so I have opted for a Manila wedding.

If I have the wedding in Manila, the church will be at my parish and the reception will be at Le Souffle (they've pencil-marked my wedding date already).

BUT I reaaaalllyyy want a Tagaytay wedding and Nurture Spa has given me good rates. Church na lang problem ko.

Do you guys think it will rain on the last week of June?

WHY MY NAME IS SUCH A HIT

I was on the phone with a Filipina client based in the United States. We were about to end our conversation when,

Client: What's your name again?
Me: It's Bunny, Ma'm.
Client: Oh I will never forget that name. You have the same name as the character in my grandson's favorite show. He watches it every morning.
Me: oh really? (The kid loves Bugs Bunny, who doesn't?)
Client: Yes, he always watches that show...that big dinosaur.
Me: Hmm. Okay, it was nice talking to you. Thank you!

Nyaaaaahhhhhh.

MANIC MONDAY

Important day at work today. A big big prospect is arriving and everyone will have to be at their best. I hope we bag the account because my boss has offered me a position in that account if we get it. God knows I need something new.

Speaking of things that are new, has anyone tried Lipton's Milk Tea? It's yuummmyyy!

Okay, it's not as yummy as Coffee Bean's Chai Tea Latte (which I will trade for Starbucks anyday) but it's good! If you're a coffee drinker like me, I don't think it will replace your jolt of morning caffeine but its a substitute for your mid-morning and afternoon coffee breaks.

I am wishing that Lipton starts selling this in the Philippine market:


Anyone here who works for Lipton? hehe!

Have a productive Monday, everyone :)

NEW YEAR. NEW BLOG. NEW LOOK.

It feels good to be blogging again. Gone with the OLD. In with the NEW.

Looking forward to this fresh, new start :)

Happy new year, Everyone :)