Worthy Cause

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".

N@W-OZ Christmas EB

Calling all OZ N@Wies!!!

Let us celebrate the holidays with cheers and welcome the new year ahead.

WHEN: Dec 20 (Saturday), 12 noon for a 12:30 pm start.
WHERE: Castle Hill, NSW, 2154

If you're not a Sydney sider and would like to visit around this time, we have two spare rooms available for you to stay ...

Please email me if you haven't subscribed to mailto:n@w OZ so you can get the full details of this get-together.

Would love to meet you in person!!!

More on cupcakes...

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)!

A Bowl of Coffee

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.

Seventeen, so it is!

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?)

There's No Stopping Us

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.

Like My Cupcakes... is up!

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...

Hello back to you!!!

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!

Last Hurrah for this Year...

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?)

 

Anyway, my little cub had a blast - laughing, jumping, shouting, playing around and feeling extra special!!!

 

He anticipated eagerly for his day. Mind you, he can really get excited to the point that he loses sleep. He has a tendency to wake up a few times during the night, reminding you of the special event for the next day. I was bent on not telling him but he has been seeing us days leading to the party, shopping for loots, blowing up balloons and baking cupcakes. So how can I not tell the truth? But it has been worth it because his face beamed with joy everytime I said, "It's for your party!". And telling the truth has proved to be once again, THE BETTER OPTION! Because he knew right away that he shouldn't touch the balloons, the cupcakes, the loots until it was party time. He'd proudly say to his Kuya, "Thats foh mah pah-ty!"

 

Here are some photos:

 

Didn't I say earlier that he had a blast? Look where we found him when all guests had gone home and while the rest of us was busy cleaning up.

 

 

Out and about...

I will be away from the blogging world from 29th of August to attend to Yoyon's party preps and celebration.

I will be resuming on the 1st of September. (Hopefully with pictures to tell of Yoyon's birthday party.)

For urgent matters, call me (if you know my number. Hehehe!).

Alternatively, you can drop me a message via :

1. the chat window on the right-hand side of this page.

2. YM (again if you know my ID).

3. email (again if you know any one of the many email addresses I keep.)

Ang kulit ko ba?

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This morning, I surprised my little cub with 3 spesh cupcakes.

And my little cub roared in delight.

I am beginning to ask the same question, "Like Mum's cupcakes?" to my kids and DH everytime they taste these little treats. So I will call them LM cakes for now... Sweet!

Cup-pirasong Cake!

I have been baking a little too often this month. Just this week alone, I did 96 cupcakes in total.

A dozen of that have been devoured last Sunday.

Last Tuesday, 28 cupcakes went along with Yoyon to his child care for his pre-birthday celebration. His treat for the little people in his "school". (The rainbow icing was an inspiration from my kumareng April. I used a small pipe and cheap food colouring for my practice.)

Wednesday was the night I started baking carrot walnut and vanilla choc chip cupcakes. All stored in the fridge right now, waiting to be frosted and decorated for my little lion's party on Saturday.

Only used a cheap hand held mixer for all of these. So you guessed it right - my forearms need some loving massage right now. But I can't stop just yet. I have choco-mocha and almond orange flavours lined up fro Friday night (after office hours!!!).

I am truly enjoying this craft right now. I am beginning to think that I might have to bid adieu to my collection of scrapbooking materials and tools (just when I have finished painting my scrapping room - I can see DH going , "Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!"). But then again, baking and cake decorating is done in the kitchen. That means, I still get to keep (and maybe use again) my colourful scraproom.

Don't lose heart ...

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!)

Fun Friday

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!

For my little cub

Because we skipped throwing him a birthday party last year, I promised myself that I will be slaving on the preparations this year. ((( Gulp! )))

But I'm keeping it simple still .

Here's a few of what I have accomplished so far.

1. A 6' x 3' tarpaulin as welcome banner.

2. Digital invite.

3. Reserved puppetry service from Murphy's Puppets.

4. Practicing on baking and decorating cupcakes.

My cub has a sweet tooth like his mummy. He loves cakes. He devours them. So I figured, I should serve a lot of sweet treats on his party!

Here's what I have perfected so far.. (Wow, perfected daw oh!) ...

1. Carrot walnut cake

2. Almond friands

3. Crinkles

My next project is the flourless chocolate cake.

Yummm... calories!!!

Playing Doctor

Last weekend we celebrated the birthday of Tin. (She moved to Sydney more than a year ago but I have known her since we were five years old. We went to the same kindergarten, even classmates when we graduated high school, and went to the same college in UST. But she finished med school while I did Computer Science.)

 

Being a doctor herself, ALL her guests were doctors except DH and me.

 

Anyway, we had this funny conversation over dinner.

 

Tom (to us): Oh my God, we got you two (IT people) surrounded by doctors!!!
Louie : That's cool! I play doctor to her (pointing to me) sometimes!

 

((( Everyone laughed!)))

 

Oo nga naman! Gusto niyo makita nurse suit ko? Hehehehe!

 

Goals, goals, goals!

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.

Last Hurrah at being 30...

You know how they've got "baby moon" these days wherein the couples celebrate a romantic getaway before the delivery of their baby? I will call yesterday, my birthday moon.

I had a wonderful time closing down the last day of me being thirty yesterday. Why? My loving DH invested on pulling off a grand surprise!

Days leading to this weekend, he was telling me that he will take me somewhere for my birthday. For how long - he never really said. Then, he asked if I wanted to go to the Blue Mountains, and of course I said yes. (He knew I've been wanting to go hiking or simply enjoy a good view of the valley from the mountains).


He then said I had to take some change clothes with me. Got me asking what kind of clothes... "Are we going to sleep over somewhere?". "Are we going for some fine dining?". "Are we going for another adrenalin rush?"

I was trying to suss out to the best I can. But finally he said, that he's got nothing planned out in particular but we'll just decide when we get there. He was really trying to confuse me. But he made it clear that it is important that we leave early because he wanted to get there before breakfast so we could have a lot of time for other activities.

The night before, he was googling for restaurants, some spa/Japanese bath houses. And he got me packing some change clothes and my bikini. But no sleepwear.

Morning came and we hugged and kissed the 2 boys goodbye for the day. I never knew I would never get to spend the night with them.

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Yesterday, we created beautiful memories.

We enjoyed a full breakfast at The Conservation Hut by the cliff overlooking the Jamison Valley.


We hiked down the valley not really knowing how far and how long it will take. We didn't even change our shoes. We didn't take anything except our camera and mobile phones. We didn't even have a map with us. We just relied on signs and tracks that would eventually lead us to the bottom of this valley where we got to appreciate Wentworth Falls. The bushwalking took us a good 3 hours. Our legs are still sore upto now. But it was good fun!!!



And my DH hinted that we would surely have a good sleep after hours of walking. And that was because he booked at the Palais Royalein Katoomba (Not in Paris! Geeze, I was almost in Paris again, huh!) for an overnight stay. It was a private hotel that took name after the Palais Royal in Paris, France.


And at the back of the car, was a small suitcase he pulled out that contained clothes and shoes he packed himself with a little help from my Ate the previous night. Hmmm, the clothes and shoes almost didn't match (but I coped well) and he forgot some of my kikay toiletries. But he boasted that he didn't fail to bring my tootbrush and his favourite lingerie of mine. Hahahaha!

We enjoyed a sumptous dinner at the Solitary. Highly recommended! It was a bit pricey but the food was exceptional.


I was just speechless. I was in awe. The whole time we were both happy creating something we both know we will remember years upon years.


And today is the start of moving onto the right of 30. My boys - I missed them so much and I just wanted to tell them how their father made me feel NEWER again!

This is my high school music(al)!

Feeling high school again as we jammed with Ely Buendia of the band Eraserheads last Friday night. From "Alapaap", browsing through "Magasin", as we share a good kampay with "O Pare Ko!" until we hit "El Bimbo". And if you have no idea what I am talking about, "Huwag Mo Ng Itanong!". Hehehehe!

Here are a few pics with Ely from my favorite Alternative Rock band back in high school!

Gr8 Day 2gether!

We celebrated our 8th anniversary today. Before we cap the night *wink*, let me recall how it went.

It began with a wake up kiss and a warm whisper of "Happy Anniversary" from DH. Of course it was accompanied by a tight embrace. But that's common for us to be locked up in each other's arms all night long. Aaawwww!

Anyway, we had plan for this day to be filled with simple pleasures. So long as we are together happily - this day will be as grand as any luxurious celebration.

And so, while getting ready, he first took Wiji to school and left Yoyon with me. And then he came back and surprised me with a bouquet of peach roses. My fave colour of roses.

Then after dropping off Yoyon at the child care, we caught the bus to the city. Felt like being tourists when we got to the harbour (Circular Quay)!

Made a few poses around Sydney harbour to kill time before the main activity of the day. Hahaha! (Took advantage of other "turistas" for some photo opp!)

So what was planned for the day? - Try something different for that adrenalin rush! Prior to breakfast, we booked ourselves to this 45 minute jetboat ride.

And from being sooo dry, DH and I ended up overly saturated. Our clothes never recovered even until we got home tonight. My mini was even dripping while walking up the city streets afterwards.

So before we could even sit down to grab lunch, we had to look for decent shops (READ: SALE is the operative word!) for some unexpected shopping! And because of this, we ran out of time to try the dim sums at the newly opened franchise of Din Tai Fung. So we ended up having SuperBowl across Chinatown. Hehehe! Simple pleasures, remember?

Anyway, before catching the bus home, we had a few drinks at Bar333 and took the chance to pen down my thoughts onto the anniversary card I just bought then! Slack I am... NOT! I have long bought one but it I must have misplaced it. Couldn't find it last night. And it's very important for me not to let the day pass without giving him an anniversary card since he had already given me his very heartwarming card last night.

I know this posting have gone far too long and you must love or like us at least to reach this far. But like what I said to my DH in my card, I have loved you this far and I am not yet finished loving you even further more!

My Wish List

Our 8th church wedding anniversary is coming up. My DH has sort of made suggestions how we're going to spend the day. And I'm excited already!

There's no gift in particular I want to get this year. But I know I have (an unending) list of needs/wants. But whenever I am being asked - I just get mentally blocked.

So let me get these wishes started before they escape my (100 terabyte) memory again.

1. A new perfume. I tested a perfume at Myer a few weeks ago and liked it. But I forgot the name. 'Shame!

2. A necklace. I don't own one yet. My bling blings don't count. Sorry!

3. Room filled with roses and bears and chocolates just like in the movie Good Luck Chuck. I remember getting a room filled with air pumped balloons you did at 3 o'clock in the morning.

4. A booking at Spa Chakra. Only, it had to be with you!

5. A set of hot rollers! I'm done with my curling irons.

6. A KitchenAid mixer. See this.

7. Degustation at Forty-One or Tetsuya's. But I'll have a go at Prime first. Medium rare steak is just getting popular with me nowadays.

8. Cupcakes on Pitt St. (Cause I haven't tasted them yet!)

There you go. I'm pretty sure I will be attaching more to this list. Needs and wants vary over time, don't they?

A Life That Matters

by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owed, or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you came from, or what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but how hard you tried.

What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but you character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s not a matter of chance, but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

Our Favourite Quotes

... from the Bible.

From DH:
Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

Philippians 1:6 - "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

From Me:
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Isaiah 40:31- "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Do you have an ultimate passage from the Bible that you always cling to, that motivates you to keep pressing forward amidst challenging situations?

Care to share?

Dance with me...

Cause I will never dance with anybody else BUT YOU!