After a three week cupcake marathon, I can say that I am bake-free until the next fornight. Woohoo! I am keen to join my boys play basketball in our backyard and attend to their extra curricular activities.
I'm thinking of having a hair-cut soon - shorter this time. But that's at the bottom of my priorities. I have to pay dues to my three boys first. And those DUES spell TIME. 
I did these cupcakes just before the Manny Pacquiao - Oscar Dela Joya match started last December. This cupcake represented me cheering for Pacman to win - and he did!!!
(My friend, Yay, looked for the 3 stars. But never got around putting it.)
Anyway, with the sudden demise of the Man from Manila, I feel like doing another batch. It's just unfortunate that I am cheering him on a different way.
This time I will make sure I don't forget the 3 stars. Godspeed to Kiko!
Thank you for being consistent in proclaiming through your craft your love for the country. I will be forever a fan of yours and your music!!! (My husband is a fan of your clothing design too. We will definitely visit your FrancisM Clothing Co on our next visit!)
Anyway, I know you're in a better place now. Good on ya - I know you made Him sooo proud with your bravery and your FAITH.
This is the dress I bought this week. It felt like it was waiting for me because it was the last size on the rack and it fitted nicely. 
This was how our 10th anniversary celebration went...
All along I thought we were booked to have dinner at Wildfire restaurant. That was my suggestion, having heard from a friend that food was good and their website is a real stand out when I checked it out.
But it was Friday and traffic was heavy going to the city . So I volunteered to call the restaurant myself to move the time. But he was quick to stop me from ringing directory assistance. Apparently, the dinner is booked in a different place. Somewhere more exquisite!
And so the secret has been revealed. This is the view from our table at Shangri-la Hotel's Altitude restaurant, 36 levels above the ground where you can see a full view of the harbour while enjoying a 7 course degustation menu. NICE!
Actually, he made more plans but ran out of time looking for the "gift" he had in mind. He even booked a room for the night but thought we wouldn't be able to "maximize" it if we were arriving late at night. So he just cancelled it at the last minute. He made $528 savings just by doing that. Good thinking!!! I'd rather throw that into the "gift's" budget.
And I don't know where he got the idea of taking a chance at asking the Head Chef to pose with us. He kinda made up a story that it has been our tradition to have a photo with the Head Chef everytime we enjoyed the food at a resto. And he prodded the wait staff about three times. Well, we were really enjoying the food and wine. We raved course after course. And I think we will be making this a tradition from now on.. Hahaha!
been made special once again by both of us. I know our marriage is not perfect. But it's the willingness to make it perfect, for our children to see and learn from, is what I am proud of. And I am also proud that we are now blessed with a stronger FAITH, that we know we can rest our HOPE at the helm of His grace, and that we are able to give another true LOVE because of these two blessings. I bought a hallmark card in Manila last January. And I am giving it to him today.
It says
"The earth turns.
The sun rises and sets.
We're still in love.
All is right in the world.
Happy anniversary."
There are many things I wanted to say. But imbetween shopping for the right dinner dress and getting my hair done, my heart only managed to type in the following, (Printed on an A4, cut down to the size of the card).
Geeze, we're already halfway through the first quarter of the new year and I haven't posted a single thing since we came back from our holidays in Pinas.
There have been shortcomings from my end and I acknowledge that. Forgive me for being remiss in updating this blog and for being delinquent in responding at all to tags and comments. I repositioned my inner compass when the year began. I was very busy before our holidays that I felt the urge to be with my husband and children every chance I get. TIME is really a demanding word! But it is much of my pleasure when I cherish my treasures in life.
Anyway, as simple as it can get, our Feb 14th was spent by simply exchanging cards. 
Love is in the air as we shared it over a bottle of red wine and a plate of fish balls (hubby's comfort food), while watching Body of Lies in our theatre room. Hmmm, only the wine complemented the commercialism of Valentine's Day but we found ourselves more than contented to be "celebrating" with the whole world in this way. Cheers!
(I had to make cupcakes on this day and so we skipped doing anything special. After all, we hardly did, even before. To my DH, thank you for bearing the joy and pain of making cupcakes with me... Love you to bits!!!)
To my DH, merry Christmas Babes! (Btw, you still have the rest of my Christ-MUST wishlist, right? :) Kaluguran daca!)STOP. RACISM.
I am supporting my friend's cause. Please pass on and keep spreading the word.
I've called Australia my home for the last decade and wouldn't wish to have my sons experience the same cruelty. As a parent, I know I can only do so much to shield my children from such attacks. I want them to grow up - proud of their heritage but without feeling that they should be treated like second class citizens in their own country of birth. Let us continue raising them to have a solid character so in any case that we will not be around to protect them, they will always be able to stand up for who they are.
More importantly, let us practice what we preach. Let no one or any similar bad experience transform us to become "racists".
I got to spend a Saturday doing what I (lately) love doing most. And that is making cupcakes!!! I went home with new stuff to show off my fans - (who are my kids and my husband!).
I think I am on a roll now. Ready and pumped to deliver my cupcake orders in the coming weeks. Just this week I received another order with five (5) dozens of cupcakes. Most orders are due just before we leave for Manila. Whoah!!!
As I get busy making more cupcakes, fingers crossed, I hope not to forget packing all the essentials before our trip!!! Wish me luck (on both)!
Yesterday, I chanced upon this newly opened cafe in Crows Nest. The whole setup is so inviting - from the layout to the colours to the music - up to the macho barista. (That's just my humour! DH is still my numero uno hunk!). In short, it felt too good to pass up on the oppurtunity. 
Anyway, from the menu, I ordered a bagel with chicken and cranberry sauce filling and a white coffee. But as soon as I said, "Coffee", the white guy asked me back, "You mean, Choffee?". So, I checked the board menu again. Aaahhh, it is indeed called a "Choffee". It's signature name for a double espresso with a blend of white chocolate. But I got discombobulated all over again when the menu indicated prices for "Large" and "Bowl" sizes. So I asked again if what I was ordering was really a drink. LOL! Anyway, I picked the bowl just for fun.
This was the BOWL of my white CHOFEEE as good as a soup bowl. Its size belittles my bagel. 
I am really no heavy coffee drinker but I was able to finish it! I even snacked on two of chocolate coated coffee beans that came with it on the side.
When I got home, I started to feel distension in my abdomen. Then I burped and expelled gas from-you-know-what-hole and burped all over again. I became dizzy that I just wanted to lie flat on my back. I became too bloated that belching (((Burp))) was the first thing I did when I woke up the next day.
I don't think I will be having coffee for the next two weeks. The supposed relaxing experience became traumatic.
DH and I just started this routine of having "sweet seventeen" minutes with each other whenever we get home from work.
Two days ago, he moved to the "bank's" head office located at Sydney Olympic Park. So now we drive in separate cars. When, for many years as far as I can remember, we would pretty much always share the pain of rush hour traffic.
So what's in the sweet seventeen? It's approximately 17 uninterrupted (ideally!!!) minutes of sharing hugs, kisses, sweet nothings of how we missed each other throughout the day and briefly sharing our "highs" for the day. (But because our sons are equally excited to see us home as well, I think we will play around this number as we go along.) But that's the plan and we hope to make it a habit...
So where did we get this tip? From Ed and Lisa Young - couple pastors from US who recently gave an inspiring talk on "Sex, Love, and Relationships" last month. But with them - it was sixteen minutes, as in "Sweet sixteen".
So why seventeen? Well, its significance lies on the age we met and became steady. He was 17 and I was two weeks shy of my 17th birthday when we became bf-gf...
Remembering two mothers whose light brightens up their son's "worlds".
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Meet my new blogmate Joanne whom I have known for the last eight years through w@w and has been back in Australia with her family for a year now.
I am just happy that despite the situation she is forced to face lately, she remains to be in high spirits. I am not really good at giving comforting words - at least that's what I think of myself - but I know for sure that when one receives encouraging and uplifting messages, it is good enough to get him/her through the next minute or even hour.
So to my friend Joanne, God has prepared you and Pat well enough for this challenge. His providence and guidance will be with you I believe. Be brave and be strong. I know your love for Jorel is enough to provide him the best in this world. Everything you need is within you. You'll get through this, I'm sure you will. 
Why do I know? Because my cousin is a testimony to that! Just now I have finished watching the very touching video her eldest son, my nephew Alex, has made for Alphonse's 14th birthday last week. And I also know that if my cousin was asked by God when she was still pregnant with Alphonse how she would want Alphonse to be, I am guessing she'd be happy to have him "just the way he is right now". (Right AteP?)
As hinted in my previous post the family holiday overseas will push through. I have been keeping it low for a while so as not to "jinx" it. (I probably saw that big "bubble" bursting prior to last month - which made us stop, pause, and rethink if it's worth going on holidays during these times that most people tend to cash up.)
Anyway, as per Yoyon's naughty expression, "what the heck!". Soon, my little lion will be roaring in the land where his mum and dad were born and raised. And Wiji, even though has got little memory of his last visits, is already ecstatic to be seeing his Lolo and teasing his Tito again.
Last weekend, I had a great time making double chocolate cupcakes for a double celebration at the Lollipops Playland.
I made a dozen of Thomas the Tank themed cupcakes. 
And another dozen for my goddaughter's Disney Princess theme.
During the party, some mum from another party room "summoned" me, inquiring how much I was selling the cupcakes and whether I can make cupcakes for her daughter's Christening. I was stomped. I was lost in motion. Felt like my tongue rolled up inside. Guess I was just pretty darn excited to know that someone wants to "buy" my work.
But anyway, from that weekend til now, I've had about 5 orders in line. Two orders for Christmas giveaways, one Christening, a Bratz party next year and another potential Thomas The Tank Engine party next year.
I think I'm getting closer to upgrading my Kenwood mixer!!! Woohoo...
I have created another blog for those who like my cupcakes...
Almost two months came to pass without a single entry from my end. But I will have to use the same old excuse that I have been busy - with a lot of things! You'll just have to make do with that. LOL!
So while the global market plunges down, I have been honing my *ahem* skills at baking and cake decoration. Who knows, it could replace my day job - "I.T. professional turned pattisserie"?
And while most people feel the pressure of the Aussie dollar getting weaker due to the lesser demand in the commodity-driven economy of this continent, I still carry on arranging travel plans and holiday accommodations overseas. (This family holiday has long been planned and most of it paid already.)
RBA's interest rate cuts has brought upon relief to this household. But I still am holding (just) a tiny grudge against the government for giving "$1K Christmas bonus" to every child belonging to low-middle income families ONLY. Oh well, I guess our taxes, when combined, will bless more people this Christmas. I just hope they spend it immediately to help stimulate a bit of growth in the economy. LOL!
Running like a headless chook for the past four months organizing celebrations (with birthdays and anniversaries a month apart from one another, just among the four us ) can take a toll on one's health and wealth. But I can now take a break from party planning for this year. (Or just maybe?)
I got this "Important Announcement" via email today from HillSong
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Dear Church,
In the past 24 hours it has been brought to our attention that Michael Guglielmucci’s illness is not what we have been led to believe.
Michael has confirmed that he is not suffering with a terminal illness and is seeking professional help in Adelaide with the support of his family.
This news has come as a great shock to everyone including, it seems, his own wife and family.
We are asking our church to pray for the Guglielmucci family during this difficult time.
God bless,
George Aghajanian
General Manager
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I am a bit saddened but his composition "Healer" will remain to be a favourite. I will not lose heart whenever I sing this song because I sing it for Him alone.
A wise man once explained to me, that I cannot set my eyes on the church or on the people/pastors/priests - or we are bound to get shakened/delusional/cynical once they falter. Rather I should fix my eyes on the Holy One - the One who is constant - who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(I am married to that man! Though imperfect, he is a significant part of all the good things I believe today!)
For a very busy working mother like me, preparing a weekly menu can be stressful sometimes. So I would normally vote a Pizza night while Friday has become more of a "Fun Friday". That saves me from labouring too much in the kitchen at least two nights a week.
But as we try to hit our goals, I had to do some cost cutting. So Friday would sometimes be anything in the pantry that I can put together as one dish. It goes between omelet corned beef, stir fry chow mein with whatever veggie and fishball/meat, pizza pasta, ham/cheese/tomato toast.
Yesterday, DH and I were both craving for Peking Duck. So when mama txted me that she didn't cook anything for dinner, we both took the cue to take her to our favorite local Chinese restaurant.
Our boylilits had good fun watching how the whole duck is sliced and chopped, placed in crepe topped with slivers of onion and some hoisin sauce. Yum... Craving has been sated... Fun Friday indeed!
Pardon the absence. We have been busy lately. But with the arrival of groovy Lola a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to have time to catch up on some breathing again.
Anyway, I just needed to blog this one for posterity reasons. This is an excerpt from my DH's email to me last 7th August.
He has been reading, (his term actually is more of "hooked into"), a lot of motivational books/e-books. He finished lately "8 Secrets of the Truly Rich" by Bo Sanchez and "Who Took My Money" by Robert Kiyosaki. Now he's halfway through "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill and James McIntyre's "What I Wish".
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anyway, share ko lang things i want to feed my subconscious mind
i imagine our life to be like this…
- to be employed by others will no longer be a necessity
- we’ll have many income streams and never have to worry about our financial needs. total financial independence!!!
- we will buy our house, car, boat and any luxury we want with cold cash, no more debts whatsoever!!!
- we will travel at least once a year overseas, locally, limitless, whenever we want
- we will setup businesses in the phils and employ our relos to improve their lives
- we will buy/aide our love ones to acquire their house
- we’ll have all the time we want to spend with our kids
- we’ll be able to give at least 10% of our income to the church and start our own ministry of helping people
- we’ll make love in the middle of the ocean on our luxurious boat
- we’ll make love in the air on our private plane
- we’ll have spa/massages whenever we want
- we’ll build the house i used to always picture in my mind when i daydream when i was a kid (multi-level, with gym, basketball/tennis etc court, swimming pool/sauna, cinema... as in, underground garage… batman style, helipad)
think of these things, think as if we already have them, that we’re already living this kind of life…
i love you babes… i will share all these just with you.
kisses,
me
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I was thrilled except the last point about the big house doesn't seem to appeal to me. With our current situation, a five bedroom second level is just too much to maintain.
But overall, I had a good 10 seconds living in that dream. For me there's nothing wrong about dreaming for more as long as your purpose is aligned with HIS master plan.
