Halloween Family Bonding

Wow, it's been a while since I last blogged.  My excuse?  I became a busy career woman who got so tired after work and I had to reserve the rest of my energy for a short family time before going to sleep.  If ever I got to do some internet surfing, I just look around and check my FB.  The internet at home was also down during the long Halloween weekend, that's why my husband and I entertained ourselves by making this Halloween season a memorable and joyful one for our daughter, Rian.

And since our daughter is taking a week's vacation now at her grandparents' home in Laguna (and the internet's back!), I guess I owe my blogger friends a story posted on this blog site. *wink*

October 29, 2010
Halloween at Office!  There was a Halloween office decoration contest, costume contest, kiddie program and of course, Trick or Treat.  I didn't get to visit all the decorated offices but the ones I saw were great.  The theme of the HR department office (where I belong) was Harry Potter.  They even had one of our Korean student OJT's as Harry Potter.  the rest of us wore something white with black blazer or jacket, and necktie (so that we would look more like Hogwarts students.  We planned on renting toga's but it was too expensive).

After office pictorial at our Harry Potter inspired decorated theme

October 30, 2010

2nd shot of Cervical Cancer Vaccine.  And I had it at my right arm this time.  It still hurts.  Anyway,  this was also the day when I first saw my ex's girlfriend (the one that he flirted with when we were still together).  She was my husband's officemate and we saw her when we arrived at his office building that day during my vaccine schedule at their office clinic.  I don't know if she knew me.  We didn't warmly greet each other, probably because my husband didn't get to introduce me formally (our daughter was with us and all the attention of his officemates were at her.  Well, I didn't mind at all, anyway).  But we got to talk casually, just a sentence or two.  And when she finally left, my husband and I smiled knowingly at each other and I said, Ah, yun pala ang gf ni Nhald.  She's nice and I felt no hatred towards her because we were both victims back then.  And anyway, I should thank her for snatching my ex.  Because of it, I got the chance to fall inlove with someone BETTER like Jeff, who is now my husband. Harhar!

Nuvali Tripping.  My family also went to Nuvali to just look around.  We didn't want to go home straight to Alabang because we knew there was a heavy traffic at expressway going to Manila.  While at Nuvali, we also got the chance for a tripping to see the model houses of the subdivisions.  Among the houses we saw, my husband and I would have wanted the one at the Nuvali Estates with 3 bedrooms + 1 maid's room, 2 restrooms, and a big kitchen.  But for now it's all in our dreams because it was worth almost 5M!  Well, we still have to sell our house and lot first at Batangas....

At Nuvali park

October 31, 2010

Trick or Treat!  It was not our daughter's first Halloween but it's her first Trick or Treat experience.  We went to SM Southmall to attend the Trick or Treat there.  I dressed up Rian as a doll (she was wearing a cute all white gown with small black dots on the skirt, with matching white stockings).  I wanted to put red spots on her cheeks using my lipstick but my husband won't approve.  But well, she still look like a doll on her costume.  She was very happy to see lots of other kids there.  She also gave an exciting scream of delight when she saw monster decorations (she wasn't afraid of them!).  We even rode the kiddie ferris wheel and she was all excited!  And the best thing she enjoyed there was watching the show of a tall man clown!

In the afternoon, I bathed her for the second time (because she was already smudged with chocolates and candies which she ate at the mall) and I super brushed her teeth.  Then I dressed her as a fairy princess, which she would ramp around the subdivision for another Trick or Treat.  She got her pumpkin bag full of goodies plus an extra bucket of candies!  In just a few minutes, quota na ang baby ko! Harhar!

A neighbor on her Jasmin costume and my little tot in her fairy costume

November 1, 2010

At Laguna.  The night of october 31, we packed my daughter's things and went to Laguna where we stayed for the holiday, and where our daughter will stay for a short vacation.  I hope she will not cry too hard when she miss us because my heart aches whenever I remember leaving her.  But well, she has to learn to be strong, away from mommy's arms for a moment in time.  She has to learn to trust time that mommy and daddy will come back for her.  I'm sure she will enjoy being with my parents, and I'm confident that while she's there, she will learn a lot while I'm away. :)

At Alabang.  So my husband and I returned to my in-laws home at Alabang where we currently stay.  Rian's taking a vacation and the internet's back, and now I'm back blogging.  I missed all my blogger friends! :)

A Birthday Story (Happy Birthday to me!)

It's my birthday and I spent it while working. Hehe.  As much as I would like to take a bithday leave, I couldn't because I am coordinating a week long training at our office.  I still feel blessed because I got to spend it at our head office instead of spending it in an official business provincial trip (coz that would be sad, I wouldn't be able to be with my family). 

I started the day with a smile from my husband, greeting "Happy Birthday" to me.  But then, the first one who really greeted me a Happy Birthday was my brother, Bob, who texted me at 12 midnight (duh, he might be in a midnight shift in call center that's why he was still awake that time!).  Next who greeted me through text was my parents who are currently taking care of my daughter Rian at Laguna for a week (as much as I would like my daughter to be with me during my birthday, I still decided to bring her to her grandparents' house in Laguna to take a short vacation again because I would be extra busy in my work this week because of my training program). 

I was smiling when I got in the office so early in the morning because my husband drove me to the office (and that was about 6:00 am...my work starts a 8:00 am).  It was a very thoughful act, because my husband rarely drives me there! I passed by our building chapel to pray and thank God for giving me a new year.  After that, I slept on my desk for an hour and half.  And when I woke up, I brushed my teeth, put on my make up, and placed a big smile on my face, preparing for my day's task ahead.

Outside our office window.  It was 6 am but the sun alreaady shines so brightly, showering blessings on my birthday.  Thank you Lord for a wonderful special day.

Other greetings during the day came from my friends and mostly from FB friends (Facebook forwards me my wall messages.  Hey, the phone's still alerting until now! Gonna thank my friends later through my FB wall).  My officemates greeted me happily, some even visited me in the training room (which is at 11th floor of the office building.....  The Training Team's office is located at 7th floor, so just imagine, I was at 11th floor the whole day for the training!).  Of course, my participants also remembered my special day.  They were happy to have spaghetti for snack (I requested our caterer to serve it for our afternoon snack.  But don't get me wrong coz I didn't pay for it.  The training's snack is on the training budget!).  At lunchtime, I was surprised because I got these desserts---

The cake slice with cherry came from our new officemate, Grace.  The other cake slice came from the training's catering manager, Sir Zaldy.  The almond gelly came from another officemate, Sir Ariel.  Thank you guys for making this day a little more sweeter!

The best is yet to come.  My husband went home earlier than me and he started to cook pesto pasta (as he promised to me).  When I came home, dinner was served.  I celebrated the birthda dinner with the whole household (my husband with my in-laws).

The pesto pasta was my hubby's cooking product for the night!  The cake's not opened yet when I took this photo and the crispy pata's still on the stove and still sizzling!

A happy happy day for me, indeed even though my birthday week would be a busy training week for me!  29 years of existence...more to come bceause I'm sooo excited to live my life with my loved ones--- my husband, Jeff and my daughter, Rian.

Fun at Trade Fairs

I'm beginning to like visiting Trade Fairs eversince I got to experience it first hand in my former work in an non-government organization few years ago.  Since the former NGO I worked for provides training and consultancy services to micro and small entrepreneurs, we were able to be invited to join business trade fairs.  So when our office had a booth in a trade fair held at SM Megamall, we also had a chance to tour around the fair and got freebies, free food tastes, and lots and lots of fliers and brochures.  It was not the first time I had been in a trade fair but it's the first time wherein I got to appreciate being in it.  The second time was when my husband attended a Wedding Fair at SM Megamall few years back when we were interested in checking out how much would we spend in our dream wedding (we were in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship back then).  I had fun especially when we entered the fair and a lady came to us and ask if when are we getting (our ID's says bride-to-be ad groom-to-be so wala kaming kawala sa question!).  She also asked if it's ok to interview us, and I said yes.  Suddenly, she got a microphone and welcomed us in the fair.  Then she interviewed us with the whole place hearing us.  I didn't know if I should get embarrased or proud, but anyway, we just answered her questions politely.  The interview didn't last long but I was impressed with her idea of selling her services that way (she's running a wedding coordinationg and hosting service, by the way)...it was unique!  Anyway, after we had a tour inside the fair, we got home with lots of fliers and brochures and some freebies.  After a month or so, we visited again another Wedding Fair somewhere at Roxas Blvd (I forgot the name of the place, but it's beside CCP).

Just a few months back, I learned from Smart Parenting website that a Mommy Fair would be held at Alabang Town Center, sponsored by Mommy Mundo.  I decided to go there, since it was just near our place at Alabang.  I actually dragged my husband there (he was not that all excited to go there, but he got interested when we tour around the fair, anyway) because I really wanted to get nice freebies (and I got tons! Hehe). 

A freebie photo shot during the Mommy Fair at ATC

Two weeks ago, my officemate got a complimentary tickets for the Food Fair at World Trade Center.  She invited me for a company.  Since World Trade Center is just beside our office building, I gladly accepted her invitation.  It was a destressing activity for us and we truly enjoyed it.  I bought some blueberry and banana cupcakes, jellyaces, and Twistix potato on stick for my darling daughter, and blueberry cheesecake and chips for me and my hubby (so just imagine, I went home with a shopping bag full of pasalubong and brochures / fliers. hehe)

A shot with a mascot at the Food Fair at World Trade Center

And just after a week, I learned that there was a Filipino Franchise Fair at World Trade Center and I couldn't resist to visit WTC once again.  I invited my officemates to come with me and for just 100 Php per head, we were able to tour inside the fair and get information, fliers, and brochures on franchising different shops.  We weren't able to get more food tastes because it was almost closing hours, but we enjoyed each others company.  Another destressing activity for us.  I hope my officemate would upload our photots there so I can share them with you.

Now I'm thinking, what could be the best franchise my husband and I can purchase? Hmmm...