IFC's bday celebration

Irvin’s birthday fell on a Friday so we couldn’t eat meat (in observance of Lent). We have agreed to just go out this Sunday for lunch. It’s more practical that way than cooking for just the two of us. I told him I’ll just cook sardines for dinner.

On my way home yesterday, I told him I would pass by Kohls and check on the items on sale. The truth is I went to Tai Pan Bakery in Flushing to buy him a birthday cake. I also ordered Shrimp Parmigiana, 2 slices of Cheese Pizza and 2 slices of Mushroom Pizza from Romeo’s as soon as I got home. The thing is he got here before the delivery. *Sigh*

Tita Laling sent him the Eagles’ Farewell I Tour DVDs earlier this week. And I got him the Lacoste Shoes that he wants along with some Green paper bills.

IFC's Birthday!!!

Happy birthday, Sweetheart! May all your wishes come true! Keep in mind that I'll always be here for you no matter what. And that I love you... today... tomorrow... and forever.

Snow/Ice Storm on Friday, March 16th

Here are the pictures I took on the way home during the storm…

IFC's birthday card from Miggy

It’s IFC’s birthday on March 30th and he received a card made by Miggy… a 5 year old kid who’s very creative…







Thank you, Miggy! From Tito Idols...

WifeSpeaks' Anniversary!

Happy 2nd anniversary to WS! And as a reader, I would like to share my As to the “Misis Slumbook” Qs as follows:

THE BASICS:

1. What is your (screen) name, and why did you choose that as your screen name? faye070574… it’s a combination of my name and birthday so it’s easy to remember.

2. How long have you been married? Have kids? A year and a half… with no babies yet…

3. What is your favorite color? And how has your color preference influenced your life (if it has)? Red. Many people perceive it as bold and strong. I think I have been one having surpassed all those times that life seemed to be a little harder.

4. What are your hobbies?
Blogging
Listening to music
Cooking

5. What is your motto in life? Nothing can be achieved the easy way!

6. Do you have pets? Nope.

7. What are the three adjectives that best describe your spouse?
Kind
Loving
Responsible

8. Give three songs that best describe you.
I am what I am by Gloria Gaynor
When I See You Smile by Bad English
You’ve got a Friend by James Taylor

9. What satisfies you about the work that you do? Talking to different kinds of people… difficult to deal with or not.

10. Do you blog? Where? Can we visit? Yup… right here. :)


CHIKAHAN:

1. Define Love. Love is patient and kind.

2. Kakaibang talento mo. I easily remember numbers… be it money, telephone number, etc.

3. Share your adobo recipe. Palpak adobo ko eh. Pwede yung kay Irvin na lang?! Hehehe

4. Describe your current screensaver/wallpaper. A picture of the beach I took in Club Paradise Palawan.

5. During your teenage years, what fad/s did you follow? Why? Wearing mini skirt with hi-cut shoes… Nenuco… Angel’s breath… and Aqua Net. Lol. Uso nga po eh.

6. How many times have you had a broken heart? Which was the worst and how did you recover from it? I think only once. I just realized one day after losing so much weight that it’s not worth crying for. Besides, I was young then. I told myself someone would come along and then there was hubby.

7. If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? I want to be RICH so I can help the less fortunates.

8. What frightens you about getting old? The feeling of being alone… the feeling that people seem to care less for you or simply that of being neglected.

9. Do you have a guilty pleasure? None that I could think of.

10. What's your favorite chore? Cleaning... that's why some calls me a "neat freak" Lol.

11. Describe your wedding ring. It’s white gold with 5 princess cut diamonds.

12. If you could have a tattoo, what would it look like? Sorry but I’m not really crazy on tattoos.

13. What book would you like to be made into a movie? Who would you like to star in it? The books I’ve read so far (based on what I remember) have already made into movies... I think?!

14. Share something that you do not believe in. People tend to overuse the term “busy”. No offense intended but for me, a simple hello whether through emails or on the phone can mean a lot to someone. It wouldn’t take much of your “busy” time to do this don’t you think?!

15. What qualities are important to you in friendship? Trust and constant Communication.

16. So far, what WS topic have you found most helpful? Most entertaining? Most controversial?
Helpful – dealing with sensitive topics like financial issues.
Entertaining – beauty tips.
Controversial – dealing with in-laws/extended family.


QUALIFIED TRUE OR FALSE:

1. First love never dies. TRUE. I believe in the saying that no one forgets anything which happened or felt the 1st time.

2. You can change your partner once you're married. FALSE. It's a commitment that you accepted when you got married so any differences have to be sorted out the way they should be.

3. The Philippines is worth it. TRUE. There's still no place like home. I'm in my adopted land right now just because this is where the opportunity is. But i'll definitely go back to the Philippines.

4. Women are moodier than men. TRUE. I think women easily gets irritated than men. Women in general makes a big deal out of small things. Well at least for me...

5. James Yap is innocent (Sorry Kris!). FALSE.

6. 80s fashion is coming back. TRUE. Hello mini-skirts! :)

7. Angels. TRUE. That's why we're always safe...

8. Good and bad luck come in threes. FALSE. Everything happens for a reason.

9. Destiny. TRUE. It will happen if it's meant to be.

10. It is better to have love and lost, than never to have loved at all. TRUE. Being loved is the bestest feeling ever and that is where you learn your lessons too.


TIPS:

1. What is your favorite skin care product? St. Ives Apricot Scrub

2. What do you do to keep fit? Eating right since I’m already too tired to do some exercise.

3. Where do you do your bargain shopping? Walmart, Target

4. Recommend an effective household cleaning item. Water mixed with a little vinegar

5. Sex. Keep your spouse happy.

Happy Birthday, Tatay!

all sorts...

Thanks to Lea Salonga!

I finally met Nette and her husband Mike in person last Saturday. Thanks to Lea Salonga (LS) who will be performing for Les Miserables from March 6th till summer. Nette is a die hard LS fan!

Maybe some of you are wondering who is Nette. Well I got to know her through an online community which I joined when I was preparing for the wedding. It 1st started with just complimenting and commenting on all sorts of things within the group until a friendship blossomed. We were in constant communication through chats, emails and blogs.

Anyway, I went to Milford Plaza Hotel where they were checked in at around 7pm or so. Nette was all smiles as she was coming near to where I was seated in the lobby. I too was so giddy that I’m meeting my blogging buddy at last. We were too comfortable with each other that we talked about so much stuff.

Dinner was at Tony’s where I made a reservation a day before. Irvin just went directly to the restaurant since he was working that day. We ordered caesar salad, calamari, linguine with seafood in garlic and olive oil and shrimp and chicken franchese. Everything tasted good and their servings are really huge that we had to take home a lot of left over.

We strolled around Rockefeller Center afterwards. It was chilly though but nothing could be nicer for them since Chicago is colder. We said our goodbyes at almost 11pm.

To Mike & Nette… We really had a great time! Thanks for meeting us... and for the dinner too. Hope to see you guys again.

Recipes from pinoycook

I like trying new dishes from time to time. I think that’s one thing you have to do when you’re married. You wouldn’t want your husband to be eating the same thing repeatedly. I love this cooking blog from Ms. Connie. I learn a lot from her. She even has her own recipes that are just amazing. She has this way of improvising her cooking just so her kids will like it.

Broiled Pork Chops and Onion Rings





Chicken Menudo





Flowers from IFC

It was really nice to have had an early Valentine’s date since we had the snow storm on Feb. 14th. There was no gift whatsoever but the flowers were very much appreciated.





False Alarm

I had the symptoms but they’re very similar to when you’re having your period. It was my 1st time to have used the home pregnancy test kit and I didn’t realize that it was going to be that disappointing once you get a result other than what you expect. *Sigh* We just have to be patient I know. I guess I just have to say it will happen in God’s time…

Tag from Caryl

Caryl... sorry for the late post.

GuiltWhat is yours? Explain yourself Culinary: Beef Stew (Caldereta in Filipino)
I really love Papa's Caldereta so I keep on trying to perfect mine. It's not as good as my father's but I think it's still good.
Literary: BloggingI don't mean to copy Caryl but I just like it having new found cyber friends and of course keeping track of what's happening to them.Audiovisual: Prison BreakI just love the thrill of events that I couldn't stop wishing to have a complete DVD collection of it.
Musical: Soft MusicIt makes me feel at peace when the world around me seems so complicated.
Celebrity: Hugh JackmanHaving seen him in person with no make up wearing just a shirt and jeans, I have to say that he is really good-looking and neat.

Now I tag:-

Pao, Nette, Abby, Alynn and Kitts


to complete this same Quiz, Please click THIS.

It's been a year for IFC!

Yesterday marked the 1st year since Irvin came to the United States. How time flies huh! I can’t believe it’s been a year already. I think he has already adjusted to the environment, people, etc. I remember how he was complaining about the weather when he arrived. By now he knows how it’s like after experiencing his 1st winter storm on V-Day. Well pretty much… he didn’t experience a blizzard yet. I’m just happy the homesickness he had wasn't that bad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Gail... Hope you had a blast! All the best!

HaPpY bIrThDaY, Caryl!

I know you are happy and contented with what you have right now but I still wish that He will continue to shower you with blessings that you truly deserve.

Sama naman ako sa Jollibee! :) I really miss that!

Happy Birthday, Joe! Hope you're enjoying your stay in Cebu. :)

Snow Storm on V-Day!

We had a crazy day yesterday with the snow storm mixed with rain and sleet. I didn’t think it’s going to be that bad wearing only my regular shoes to work. But as time went by, the road has become more messy and slushy. What a Valentine’s Day Treat huh! Still it didn’t stop some people from delivering the flowers. They did whatever they could to still celebrate a special day. :)

And despite that crazy weather, many people said we’ve had a long drought this winter and having a day like yesterday was the best. Well not for me. I mean yes I’m thankful for not having a bad winter season this year but I definitely don’t want too much snow.

It is sunny today and many are expecting the snow to melt. I guess not since temperature is very low. I don’t think it will since it is very cold.

I feel bad for Irvin though not having snow boots. I brought him to the store before for a few times asking him to pick one. He may be thinking that we’re having a really nice winter then so he kept on saying next time. And he didn’t like anything that was on display too. But come to think of it… snow boots is snow boots. You buy it for your protection and not for fashion. Oh well! I hope he learned his lesson.

Pictures of yesterday’s storm courtesy of CNN…

And here’s more snow storm coverage…

Happy Valentine's Day!

An Early Valentine's Date!

We went to see the movie Night at the Museum yesterday at the Lincoln Square’s IMAX Theatre. The tickets were given to me by my superior a few weeks ago. I also want Irvin to experience IMAX. It gave us a headache though with the big screen and all.

Anyway, I think the movie was nice. We both liked it though Irvin said the movie was very simple where they basically just concentrated on the museum as their location. Though the title already says it, we think it could have been better considering those great actors in the movie. But overall, I would still watch it. :)

Synopsis: Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley, despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how big, when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift security guard at a museum of natural history. During Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he's history's fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Teddy Roosevelt , who helps our hero harness the bedlam, stop a nefarious plot, and save the museum.

We had a hard time finding the theatre location. Lincoln Sq. is on Broadway which is supposedly 2 blocks away from 5th Ave. if you in 34th St. So I was thinking we can just walk when we get off at Lexington Ave.-63rd St. and 5th Ave. but it’s not. We still had to take a cab just so we could be there on time.

After the movie, we headed towards Times Sq. to have dinner at Olive Garden. The wait time was 45 minutes so we decided to just dine in at another restaurant of which the name I’d rather not say. Irvin and I were both surprised when we looked at their menu. The prices were almost double compared to the same one we have near our apartment. I understand they may be paying higher rent and for other expenses being in the city but had we realized that soon, we could have just gone to the one that we usually go to. Oh well just charge it to experience!

TGIF!!!

It’s been a long and tiring week for me at work. Audit went on for three days that I couldn’t even do my regular tasks. They asked for too much information compared to what has been done the previous audit year.

Also, I wasn’t able to do my normal weekend routine… apartment hasn’t been cleaned… I had to do my laundry on Friday after work… I didn’t go to Flushing to do food shopping so we just settled for canned goods, breakfast foods and orders from the restaurant this week. I was in NJ last Saturday and we went to a birthday party on Sunday from noon till 8pm.

TGIF! At least I can have some rest this weekend…

Groundhog Day

Hooray!!! We're going to have an early Spring this year!!! Well, this was Phil's prediction if you believe it.

What is Groundhog Day anyway?! I can’t really relate the 1st time I heard of this. A co-worker explained it but also suggested that I research it in the internet for a better explanation. Here’s a brief history of how it all started…

European Roots

(Adapted from "Groundhog Day: 1886 to 1992" by Bill Anderson)

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

Read more…

tagged!

I was tagged by Weng on:

5 Things That People Don't Know About Me

1. It has always been my fantasy to become an image model (endorser) of Guess. Yes you’ve read it right! Haha! And I really don’t know why! I’m not even photogenic by nature. Modeling or anything related to that sense is not even in our blood. The only modeling experience I had was in high school when we had to wear the clothes that we saw in Home Economics class. It’s free to dream anyway.

2. I don’t like soft/saggy bread. It’s either I’ll toast it before I put the condiments or better yet, make the sandwich when I’m about to eat.

3. I won’t stop whining till I get what I want. To me, there are so many ways to whine… not only the annoying one we know about. I would use a lot of “parinig” as they call it in our language especially if I can’t ask for it directly.

4. My brothers and sister used to call me Ms. Minchin… a character from the cartoon series “Princess Sarah” who’s an old maid, very strict and organized. I don’t want any mess in the house. When we were kids, I would ask my siblings to sleep in the afternoon so they could have snack. I never gave money to my siblings for pagers, cell phones or even for dating. I used to tell them they’re still students so act like one. They will have all these luxuries when they have their own job anyway.

5. I have fear of heights. I can’t be on those fun-rides like roller coaster, etc. I can’t really take it other than the fact that I also have motion sickness. I remember that time when Castrol (the company where I used to work) sponsored a Team Building Program. I was 40 ft above ground and I had to cross from one tree to the other just by walking in a single log that’s not even flat. I cried a lot and got so much support from the leaves and anything that I could hold on to. I did it though!

Now, I’m tagging:

1. Caryl;
2. Jheng;
3. Ate Irmee;
4. Erica and
5. Carmela

quality time!

I feel relaxed… well not really. I suddenly remembered sometimes you feel more tired if you had too much rest. Haha! But yesterday was one of those happy and stress-free days. We just stayed home practically the whole day talking, giggling, watching NBA, eating and feeling guilty (as charged) for not having gone to the church. I cooked 3 dishes yesterday and I didn’t feel beat up at all.

Backgrounder...
We’re always tired during the week being at work for 12-14 hours including traveling... 12 hours for me and 14 for him. It’s as if we don’t want to do anything anymore when we get home. And so we have to cook 5 dishes every Sunday for our one whole week’s food. We refrigerate them and just heat up whatever we’re going to eat. I try to finish all the chores (cleaning up of the apartment, laundry and food shopping) on Saturdays while Irvin is at work.

Bottom line is… I definitely had some quality time with my hubby. :)

anything goes...

Irvin's christmas gifts...

California Pizza Kitchen





Pho-Bang Restaurant (Vietnamese Cuisine)





1996 pictures that Tita Baby sent me

HaPpY bIrThDaY, Papa!!!

Papa is always in a light mood... always smiling and is fond of throwing out jokes. He's not much of a talker (it is Mama who's always been vocal to us in most things especially if we've made mistakes) but he can be serious when he does. Best wishes for my funny and loving father!

Birthday greetings also to my friends... Ellen and Janice... All the best guys! :)

Oh and belated happy birthday too to my niece Daighne! She turned 6 years old last January 15th.