Well hello there, 2013!

My first post for 2013. Five months of hiatus. How pathetic is that? As usual, I'm pre-occupied with work and the holiday rush (last year!) and then moving out of the old house and moving in to the new one and Jhay coming over again and [insert all other excuses here] but hey, I truly, madly, deeply miss blogging. So here's another attempt to get my writing mojo back and I beg you, Universe, to give me more free time to sustain it. Pretty please with cherry, chocolate chips and candy sprinkles on top? ;-)

Also as usual, please allow me to try to finish something I started way, way back -- the 100-day Picture Challenge, that is -- because it's the easiest way to start things up again, and to share the past few months of my life bit by bit. Shall I start? :)

Day 56 - A picture of you all bundled up

Sorry I have never been to a winter-y city yet so this is the most bundled up that I have ever been. Haha! Photo taken in the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet last December. In fairness naman it's cold there though the bonnet is for picture purposes only :P

Day 57 - A picture of you in your backyard

Another apology 'coz our house in Manila and here in Singapore both don't have backyards so let me just share my photo in this big, big backyard of strawberries up north. We went to Baguio after Christmas and I'm so happy about this trip because it's the first time that I was able to bring my whole family somewhere far from Manila, all on me. I felt kasi na Jhay and I have been exploring other countries na when I can't even bring my Mom and the kids out of town. Seeing them enjoying the sights and the climate is just priceless. Only I wish Dad were still with us to make the vacation perfect.

Day 58 - A picture of your hair all done

Rarely do I get my hair all done so this is from 7 years ago pa - my 18th birthday celebration. I loved what the HMUA did to my hair (pardon the grainy close-up shot though, a camera phone was all I have then! haha) except that we didn't have enough time to curl the ends. And omg, look at those arms! I know it's big already but looking at my arms now makes me realize that I really have grown bigger since I started working :(((

Day 59 - A picture of you at your graduation

I miss my dad so much. Now I'm anxious about reaching another milestone in my life because I'm sure it'll feel incomplete without him to share it with :'(

Day 60 - A picture of you at a sports game

On Jhay's birthday two years ago I surprised him with tickets to see his all-time favorite basketball team Ginebra. Of course it wasn't his first time to see them play live but he was so happy that day because he's been wanting to watch them with me. In fairness, it was super fun! I am not a Ginebra fan but seeing him cheer his heart out instantly turned me into one. I'd do that again any given day! :D

Day 61 - A picture of you at the mall

At ION Orchard, one of Singapore's premiere shopping centers. Nahiya naman yung Charles and Keith paper bags ko sa brands sa likod ko! Haha!

Day 62 - A picture of you on a ride

Perfectly-timed shot by Jhay. That's me on the Battlestar Galactica at the Universal Studios Singapore. Holding on for dear life, literally. Lol!

Day 63 - A picture of your luggage

I used to wonder why most luggage are black or brown or navy blue until I saw this pretty orange luggage of mine in the carousel all covered in mud splats after a rainy departure from Manila. Lesson learned the hard way, eh?

Day 64 - A picture of you at work

I wish we can work wearing something like this every day. Haha. Unfortunately, shorts are only allowed on weekends.

Day 65 - A picture of you at a park

When I was little, I have a pink and purple bicycle I would go round and round on it until I'm tired and sweaty. Of course I'm hungry too so I'll park the bike on the sidewalk, take my Hello Panda and bottled water out of the basket in front and eat to my tummy's content. Ah, childhood memories. All those I got to relive one holiday afternoon at SG's East Coast Park. Good thing I still know how to bike!

35 photos left! I can do this! Hope I can also find the time to share with you our new house and let you in on a virtual tour of my humble room. And all our SG adventures as well!


And even if this is a bit late, Happy Happy New Year! (kakatapos lang naman ng CNY eh :P)

'Pinas Vacation Day 2 Part 1 aka Family Day-out

*I hope you don't mind if it took me a month and a half to post this ;P*

After a busy day 1, we started the second day of my quick vacation late. Instead of the planned early morning visit to Dad, we got there just an hour short of noon. Seeing his "new place" still makes me shake my head and think, "I'm sorry, Dad, I wasn't able to buy us our dream house yet. You so deserve better than this." Not a good way to start this post, eh? Fine, good vibes na :D

Here's a cute photo of Haley to cheer us up ;-)

I would've visited Dad every weekend if I were staying in the Philippines but I'm not so I made the most out of the hour or so that we were there. I talked to him like he was actually in front of me and I told him just how much I miss having him around. Looking at his picture brings me back to the day it was taken -- the first time I went home for a vacation last March. It's my sister's graduation and it's something that I wouldn't want to miss so I surprised my family by showing up at the exact moment she's delivering her Valedictory Speech. That day we're a complete, happy, proud family and I swear if I could stop time right at that moment, I would do it in a heartbeat. 

We all miss you, Daddy.

After visiting Dad, we all headed to our next stop: Seaside at Macapagal Blvd. I've always wanted to treat my family to a seafood feast so there's no better place than this. We bought the fresh seafood ourselves at the talipapa then had them cooked at Aling Tonya's Seafood Palutuan. I spent only about Php2000 for crabs, prawns, squid and salmon belly. Oh my, I am salivating again as I type! O_o

Butter Garlic Shrimp

Calamari

Halabos na Alimango

Sinigang na Salmon Belly

Tempura

Since we have kids with us, we also ordered Inihaw na Liempo but I didn't have time to take a photo of it  for it was swiped in an instant! Haha! All the dishes we ordered at Aling Tonya's were delectable that even my grandmother who's a picky-eater loved them. It's the tempura that I keep coming back here for but the salmon belly was the crowd favorite.

Here are a few snaps during lunch:

Mi familia.

Mi familia  in action. Haha!

Haley and her huge appetite never fails to amuse me. Yes, she can and she did eat on her own! :D

It is in moments like this that we miss Dad all the more.

One time while on Skype, Haley told me... "Ate nung andito pa si daddy, pumunta kaming MOA eh, nanood kami ng fireworks..." Hearing a little child reminisce of her father like that instantly made my eyes well up and I promised her right there that we'll all go to Mall of Asia when I go home. I'm not one to break promises so you know where we went next ;-)

The globe and the multi-cab shuttle service -- two things that scream MOA to me. LOL!

We only did a little shopping then off we headed home. Both the kids and the young-at-heart were tired but happy nonetheless. For me and Jhay though, there's no room to lounge around because we're running late for the day's last appointment -- Surprise Dinner with the School of Fish! That's up next ^^,

TGIF!

Very rarely do I get the chance to say this so indulge me...

I'm ecstatic because tomorrow is one of those few Saturdays that we are not reporting for work. The past 3 weeks have been really really stressful so I didn't have time to blog. I have a lot of stories piling up again! I've been aching to write so I swear this weekend I'm gonna make time for at least two posts :D

Another thing that made me happy today (or yesterday, technically) is that I've already booked my December flights! Yay! Airline tickets cost a fortune during holidays but what the heck, I am sooooo coming home for Christmas! As one station ID goes, Da Best ang Pasko ng Pilipino... di ba? :D Although truth be told I'm anxious cause it's the first Christmas that we don't have Dad with us anymore but I'll cross the bridge when I get there.

One more reason I am hyped is because J is visiting me again in 8 days! ^_^ He'll be staying here for a couple of weeks and we're spending 2 days in Malaysia. I've also booked our hotel an hour ago and by the looks of it, I might just lounge around all day and forget the rest of our activities (just like what happened when during our Indonesia trip). Haha! I'm crossing my fingers that we get to enjoy what KL has to offer. After all, it's a new country to explore, new memories to cherish and new adventure to share with all of you. Can hardly wait! ;-)

Okay, I know this post doesn't have even the tiniest sense of cohesion but maybe all I wanted to say is that I'm happy and thankful that it's Friday already. Whatever it is that you're doing this weekend, I hope you'll have an awesome time. And if not, I hope this can make you feel at least a wee bit better :D ---

My days get really rough  but one press on my phone does the trick. Every. Single. Time :-)

Have a rockin' weekend, y'all!

Day 51 - 55

Day 51 - A picture of you wearing sunglasses

Taken a few days ago at East Coast Park where I and my SG friends bonded over barbeque and bike rides.

Day 52 - A picture of you dressed up

At Century Park Hotel for my sister's awarding.

Funny because I took the effort to dress up for the event but it turned out that only the awardees are called up the stage and I will only be her photographer. Okay, that makes me the prettiest photog in there! LOL!

Day 53 - A picture of you in a car

I have a lot of in-a-car pictures more decent-looking than this but I cannot not share this with you.

Look at Haley in the background! Naughty little girl! :D

Day 54 - A picture of you on your last vacation

My last vacation, as I've told you, was last July when I went home for J's birthday. Another thing I was looking forward to on that vacation was getting to visit Dad.

Day 55 - A picture of you with a date

A quick lunch date at Bintan, Indonesia on the very day of our Seventh Anniversary.

How I miss going out on a date with J! September 22 come sooner! :D

*yes, he's going to SG again! ^^,*

I Just Realized...

Truly, a Dad's love is insurmountable but i'm lucky being with someone
who loves our little girl almost as much.


Happy Sunday, everyone! :)

P.S. That's Dad's motorcycle and I know he's smiling from up there because J's taking good care of it.

P.P.S. Haley doesn't back-ride alone -- Mom's there to hold her. Also, J is a responsible driver and their destination is only less than a kilometer :)

Father's Love

I saw this video from Ms. Patty of NON.STOP.BABBLE and from the first few notes of the song alone, I knew it will make me cry a river.

For this song, beautiful is an understatement. I love how Bob Carlisle articulates the feelings of a father (Butterfly Kisses, and then this one) and I love the raw emotions Gary V. put in his version. I've watched it for the nth time and tears would still fall. How I really truly badly miss my dad.

Thank you, dad. Twenty-three years may be too short but you were nothing short of a loving father.