Day 55: New Year's Eve Preparations

This is me post cleaning the room. Quickly preparing my recipe for my family's Annual New Year's Eve cooking contest:p

2010

from ala’s dos’ blog:)

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Travelled by myself to a foreign country (Malaysia). An experience which I never regret doing. It was a challenge since you have to take care of yourself and make sure that you stay alert all the time. I experienced carrying all shopping bags while dragging a heavy suitcase down the steep and scary staircase of a budget terminal with unknown men speaking in foreign language asking you if you want their help with your stuff. It can be quite lonely too as I have noticed that all pictures that I have were of the scenery and some forced solo shots. But it was one helluva learning experience!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I made a few resolutions and kept some of them. One of which was to drink more water and eat fruits everyday. Haha. I should maintain this one for the rest of my life;p

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yep! My cousin’s wife Ate MJ, Ate Nerie (Susi’s sister in law) and my good friend, Anne all gave birth to lovely babies. Anne got me as ninang because I share the same birth date as her son!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. It was a surprise and until now I still can’t believe she’s gone now. Missing you, Jessa.

5. What countries did you visit? Hong Kong (one of the bestest trips ever), Malaysia and Singapore!

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Money, good investments (condo, car, stocks, etc), flourishing career!

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory and why? September 8, 2010! Susi’s surprise birthday party which I successfully organized! Every one’s really happy and of course, you can see the birthday boy’s extremely happy 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Hmmm, getting out of my comfort zone by resigning from my company of 4 years, travelling alone, and successfully baked cheesecake from scratch (yes it is an achievement!) :p

9. What was your biggest failure? Not really a failure but I joined a company because I had no choice. This resulted in major heartaches and the feeling of not getting the fulfillment that I am wanting to have since the job description does not fit with what I’m previously doing.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope. The usual cough-colds combo.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A brand new flatscreen tv set!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Venus Raj (hehe)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Hubert Webb. Even if he is pleaded not guilty, he should at least show some respect to the family of Lauro. Ang yabang pa rin kasi!

14. Where did most of your money go? Travels.

15. What did you really, really, really get excited about? Travels pa rin.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? ”Everything in Life is Only For Now”, from Avenue Q.

17. Compared to this time last year are you: Happier? A notch lower than the year before. Thinner? Yep. Richer? Maybe.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Cook, surf, go to the beach and pray.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Overthinking.

20. How did you spend Christmas? Cooking a full meal and baked pastries 

21. How will you be spending new years? The same as last year – cooking contest between me, Gia and dad!

22. Did you fall in love in 2010? Still in love!

23. How many one-night stands? Zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program? How I Met Your Mother.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope.

26. What was the best book you read? ”Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold.

27. What was your biggest musical discovery? None. Justin Bieber? Hehe.

28. What did you want and you got? Our very own tv set in our family hall!

29. What did you want and not get? A flourishing career.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Inception

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? Turned 26 and celebrated my birthday with Marian, Japanese style: Sake, Sushi and Videoke party 

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I landed a job which is first, pays really well, second, fits the job description that I’m aiming for and lastly promotes work life balance. It is rare for a company to promote the so called worklife balance but there might be one somewhere.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Laidback.

34. What kept you sane? Emails from friends, food trips and travels.

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Kobe. Even if he is turning back to his old ways recently (read: ballhog).

36. What political issue stirred you the most? The horrifying justice system in the Philippines and their poor victims – Maguindanao massacre victims and Mr. Lauro Vizconde.

37. Who did you miss? My friends working in Singapore.

38. Who was the best new person you met? New friends in Citi:p

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:

1) Money isn’t everything

2) It isn’t too late to start something new

3) Everything in life is temporary. Enjoy while it lasts:)

Day 54: Ending the year right (kinda)

By eating these for breakfast haha:) January 3, 2011: Detox time!

Day 53: Madam Imelda

Spotted! Madam Imelda Marcos in Amici, Ayala Triangles. We had our photo taken with her (hindi na nahiya haha) then paparazzied her while she's eating her favorite ice cream:)

Here she is eating her fave gelato: Chocolate! At siksik na siksik ha!;p

Day 52: Congrats cousins!;p

A nice photo by Mr. Brian Laborada. Congrats May and Anton Gonzales!:) Best wishes!!:)

Day 51: Rare bonding moment

Instead of the usual mahjong game to kill time in Tanauan, Ayette, my cousin, and I chose to catch up on what's the latest in our lives:)

Day 50: Lounging at home

Today, after the hectic holiday season, I get to stay at home and just lounge in our "family hall" while watching nonsense shows. Sarap!

Day 49: Christmas party at Tanauan

Good times with my family in Batangas!

Day 48: Merry Christmas:)

The Gonzales and Mutuc's Christmas Eve in photos:

Christmas cookies <3

Oreo Cheesecake I baked from scratch!

Shepherd's Pie - an 8 year old high school recipe of Cea

our tree with so many gifts underneath!

Even Keeko says Merry Christmas!

Tita Emma frying her famous fish fillet

corn muffins! Best paired with coffee:)

Merry Christmas! Our family picture. Hindi man lang ako nakapagbihis. Tsk.

Post Christmas Party. Tired.

Day 47: Traditional Christmas Lunch

After months of planning and parinigan of Christmas wishlists, Raffy and I had our "culminating" Christmas Lunch at Banapple in Ayala Triangle. Since the place is near my office (Citi Tower in Valero), I made sure to go there during opening time since I bet that the pack will be full since many will be having their Christmas lunch with friends as well:)

I arrived at around 11AM and man, the place is packed! The waitress gave me waitlist #1. Buti na lang! Gutom na ko eh haha. Anyway, while waiting for Raffy, I ordered their Caesar Salad and yes, I enjoyed every bit of it. The traditional Caesar salad dressing smothered over hearty greens and corn then drizzled with candied walnuts. Yum!

A few hours after, Raffy arrived and on to our annual Christmas gift giving!:)

Got my 1 year subscription of Yummy Magazine!;) Thanks dear:)

Got his wish! A gym bag!:)

Eating time afterwards!

Hickory Ribs for Raffy

Chicken Parmigiano for me

Both delish!:) Happy Holidays everyone!:)

Day 46: noche buena brainstorming

Got my collection of Yummy magazine out of the dusty shelves. Browsed through them, looked at the photos of delicious meals, and then..

Haha, got my noche buena menu from a 8 year old high school recipe! I'll be making Shepherd's Pie and bake cookies, cheesecake and muffins:)

Day 45: Cowboy Parents

My parents in their complete cowboy costume :) They attended the Christmas party of their iGive group in The Feast (a group formed by Bo Sanchez). Guess what? My mom danced! Good job mom!:p

P.S. If you zoom the picture much closer, you'll see my baby picture hanging in our Christmas tree:)

Day 44: Found!

Found this at Duty Free Fontana. Cereals on the go! :)

Day 43: Kuya Miki and Ate Shiela's Wedding

Congrats Kuya and Ate!:)

Day 42: puppy alert!

Ready for adoption! I saw these cuties on my way to Festival Mall:)

shy pup

black lab according to the seller;p

Day 41: two christmas milestones (and an almost milestone)

1. Finally saw the Christmas lights show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Really nice indeed. I love how they try to coordinate the music with the dancing of the Christmas lights. Kids will definitely enjoy the show. It somehow reminded me of Sentosa's Songs of the Sea <3

crowds gather around the christmasy trees

2. Got my 1st ever (and hopefully last kasi magastos) Starbucks Planner!:) Not as nice as the previous ones but the pages are spacious enough for jotting down your day to day plans for 2011. Pardon my step by step photo blog of how I opened my planner. Haha. 

The Boxed Planner;p

Slowly opening it..

Tada! In its nice velvety red glory!

And last but not the least, I'm on my 4th day of doing Simbang Gabi and haven't missed one yet! :)

Mass at Ayala Triangle

Wish me luck in the coming days:p The holiday season is getting busier each day!

all i want for christmas...

9 days before Christmas! And to join my sister who is in a Christmasy mood doing her wishlist, below is my own version. Purely material things! Haha. But of course, the joy of being with your loved ones surely beats all material things combined! I only do this list once a year lang naman, hehe:)

1. La Mer Eye Concentrate - I checked this in Rustan's and it is currently priced at Php 10,000! Whew! Reviews say that this is highly effective in minimizing undereye circles and fine lines. I was thinking of investing one next year to treat my poor peepers;p

2. Silicone Zone Baking Mats - For baking cookies, cookies and cookies!:)

3. Kitchen Aid in Ruby Red - Our decade old mixer is showing signs of old age =/ The paddle attachment tips are "scarred" and chipped off due to many years of use. This will definitely match our newly renovated kitchen. But the classic white ones will do:)

4. Cath Kidston bags - Too cute to resist, right?:) I almost bought the imitation ones in Greenhills. Pero sige bibili na nga rin ako hahaha. Mas mura eh!=p

5.  Canon S90 - Originally Raffy's wish. If I were to replace my old point and shoot, I'll replace it with this one. The features are more "hi-tech" and night shots look more amazing with this unit.

6. Faster ISP: Wi Tribe - 'Nuf said!

And to my next to impossible wishlist:

Tickets to Giza, Egypt, Stockholm, Sweden and the Bahamas!:)

That's it!:) Off to Simbang Gabi Day 2:)

Day 40: Dahil namimiss ko na...

Amphi Then (photo of my college barkada:))

Amphi Now

It's been four years already since I graduated from college. Four frikkin years! Ambilis talaga ng panahon:)

Day 39: classic!