Alice in my wonderland

I am smitten with old school Alice in Wonderland accessories even before the Tim Burton movie came out. I've always loved the nostalgic and whimsical feel of Alice charms especially the Classic storybook illustrations.

...And now at last, after more than a month of waiting, my Alice charms had finally arrived! I'm excited to turn them into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. I've always wanted to try limited edition charms but found them quite a lot of work. I used to find them expensive...I now realize the more appropriate term should be precious. Watch out for them!

I'm giddy with excitement...=)

I WANT TO GO BACK TO DOWNERS GROVE.

NOW.

=(

I woke up today, missing my WHOLE family so much to a point where I didn't know who I miss more.

I want to be with my nieces and nephews. I want to hang out with all three of my sisterettes. I want to be with Josh. I want my papa and mama.

I want to go to Illinois. NOW.
As usual the hubby is so busy with work and can't find the right time to get his VL.

I'm so tempted to go ahead but when I think about the 13-hour flight on my own again...*sigh.

cocooning

We went to a friend’s bachelor pad. His unit is at the 35th floor of a condo in Ortigas. Sometimes, I still pine for high-rise living. I’ve always been a City girl and I dreamt of living in the heart of the Metro in one of the top floors. But then, things don’t always turn out as you planned.

Pao and I go back and forth from our place to my parents’ place. I remember I was so enthusiastic last year sprucing up my new home and we did get a head start then Ondoy came and sadly, we we’re one of those affected. After cleaning up somehow my other home improvement plans got moved on the back burner. Then my bead business got bigger than I anticipated and now I miss being domestic. My parents’ place is very nice and cozy and I must admit I sometimes get a little bit comfy here than I should but of course this has been my home for the last 23 years…it’s not ours. It’s my parents’ place. It’s my brother’s someday. It still feels a bit weird to be sleeping beside Paolo in my childhood bedroom but ironically, it’s also the place where we felt we were really newlyweds because we were left alone to our own devices.

When we were little, my sisters and I are inseparable. All four of us shared a room and these days, sometimes, I still can’t believe that all four of us have our own different homes now with our own families. My Ate Tiff is moving to a really nice house in the Suburbs in Illinois (still near Downers Grove) and I’m just so excited for her.

My husband has been berating (strong word) me to go back home which is just 15 minutes away from my parents’ place, thank goodness.
I’m motivated again to continue with my unfinished home improvement ideas. I just wish this time, I can really follow through with my domestic, wifey plans.
I love having projects! This will be my summer project...I'll let you guys now how it goes. =)

Saturday, for a change.

I haven’t been blogging so much lately because the past week had been a really busy time. I had a down time a week before and I was not literally doing anything since I thought I deserved a break. Now, I’m swamped. I have a loooong list of things to do. That’s what I get for slacking off.

Last night was year end party of the Philippine Junior Marketing Assoc. The Alumni officers were invited and we decided to join the party at LAX although it was a busy night because of JT’s concert. I felt old. Most of the kids hanging out were students. I remember my time with PJMA. It was a great time and a great experience for me having been given the opportunity to work with some of the brightest students. I was the lone representative then from UP manila but the work atmosphere was great even though I was working with students from other good Universities. I have nothing but good memories with the Board.



PJMA is national marketing org for students supported by the Philippine Marketing Association. I met up with an old colleague and good friend, Albet from U.P. Diliman (mga iskos, unite!)who was the President at that time I was the Officer for Media Relations. Sometimes, I do miss the hustle bustle of the Corporate world---well, sometimes. I still enjoy keeping my own time. =)


I’m not really a drinker since my alcohol tolerance is low. Yes. A Nerd, I tell you.

My mama never cried in any of our weddings...

Not a tear. Unlike my papa who is legendary and just a look on his face, made the whole church cry. It’s a given when you are giving away a daughter.

But mama was always composed in her gown. She looked different every time, in all of the four weddings. I suspect most of our friends from Roxas were more excited about how she would look like than they were with the bride. Everyone says their mom is the most beautiful, it’s a given. But when I say I have the most beautiful mother, I think a lot of people can back me up. She has always been the muse, the celebrated beauty.

She walked down the aisle in all of our four weddings; cool, composed and smiling.

That’s how she has always been. When I was in grade school, I was all the time joining different competitions from Balagtasan to Math contests (go figure) and student council and she was always so nonchalant about it. I saw other stage moms fluttering about with my classmates and other contestants and mama was just always so cool as she tells me, “ok, do your best.”

I always asked her why it seemed like she’s so blasé about it and she always answered the same thing: Because I know you can do it.

A mother’s word is like a magical placebo. The syrupy sweet thing you take in thinking it can cure all the ailments when in fact it’s not anything different with the usual.

And yet it cures you.

I knew I was a good student then. But I wasn’t good at everything yet I was able to do a lot of things because she made me believe I can do it.

It’s not that my mama is cold. She's actually very funny and emotional. She cried more when we had our hearts broken. I remember having my heart broken over my first puppy love. She drove all the way to my dorm, picked me up and we had a burger at McDonald’s. I remember her telling me how I would look back with my true love someday and everything would make sense and how everything would pale in comparison.

And oh, how right she was.

Now, it’s my great hope that someday, when it’s my turn to walk down the aisle to give away my future daughter I will be as composed. I would smile and make sure I have the loveliest mother-of-the bride gown, not a make-up out of place. I would enjoy the walk with my head held up high…because I know I did my job.

You did a great job, mama. I love you so much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Anniversary Celebration

Somebody asked me if I enjoyed my stay in Villa Escudero. She pointed out it wasn’t a great experience for her when she visited. I guess if you are looking for an adventure, artificial waterfalls wouldn’t just do it for you. The place is just meant for relaxing and to just basically enjoy the rustic ambiance. I don’t think one can really say much about it for just a one day visit without staying for the night. It wasn’t really exceptional. I guess what made it special was not so much the place but the significance of the day when we stayed there.

Days before our anniv, we were running around so much that we weren’t able to plan for a nice getaway. Two days before our first wedding anniversary, all the places we originally wanted to go to were all fully-booked. I wasn’t really expecting much. To be really honest, I was looking forward to my anniversary gift more than the celebration, hehe. I had so many projects and finished quite a lot of things days before, I just felt exhausted. I thought we needed to do something special on our first anniversary or I’ll regret it. When in fact, I just really wanted to stay home and have a nice dinner somewhere.



There were quite a few people when we got there but they started thinning out around 4 in the afternoon. By dinner time, we found out we were the only guests for the night in the whole villa. Jamby M. came in with her entourage and they booked the farthest hut down the hill so I basically felt we were still alone for the night…and I totally loved it. I loved swimming alone with all the lights up.



As we were hanging out by the hammock looking over the river, I heard guitar playing and male voices unmistakably singing Kundiman songs. I realized they were outside our hut and I was being serenaded! Paolo and I went outside to see three men singing outside our hut. Suddenly, Paolo jumped in with the crooners and started singing with them. I was so pleasantly surprised that he knows kundiman songs! As he always says, he is a promdi at heart. I felt like a true-blue dalagang Pilipina inside my kubo by the river with a harana outside my window.






At dinner time, guests usually have a buffet inside the hall but since we were the only guests for the night, they decided to arrange a table by the pool under the stars with our food being served on our table and with a nearby harana. I felt so special. =)



It was a nice experience and Villa Escudero was charming. But then, its not so much about the place but the person beside me. ;) I guess we were meant to stay there on our anniversary night because I don’t think we’ll be able to have the place all for ourselves ever again. =)

I have been so behind with this blog. I've got so many photos to post and stories to tell but I somehow got all tangled up with the everyday life.

Will be back soon. I just need to organize a few things.

It's been a year of bliss...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY mahal.

I so love being your wife.

When I was younger, just like most girls, I dreamt of the perfect man.

He will be somebody with all the trappings…and of course, he will be handsome too. For me, he is a tall, a bit dark (mestizo boys were never my type), lanky guy with nice eyes.

I guess, for all women its safe to assume that dream never fades as time goes by. It just gets reinforced and maybe a bit tweaked on our personal ideas of what those trappings would be. As a 25-year-old, it’s a bit presumptuous to list down my realizations about this dream. Maybe it’s a bit too early to tell…or maybe I’m just lucky to realize it early on.

…It’s not about having somebody to give me a dream wedding but having that somebody to immerse in all the shimmer and brouhaha of weddings with the same level of excitement no other man has ever known because he knows it will make me happy.

…It’s not about having somebody to buy me gifts and bags (although it’s big plus) but having somebody to give these gifts not because I asked him too or because he's trying to impress me and the people around me but because he tries to learn about my world and its unique language (Neverfull? Lambskin? Vernis?)

…It’s not about having the richest husband but having the most generous and more importantly, the kindest one.

When I was a little girl, I dreamt of the perfect man.

I grew up…and married him.

Happy birthday my love.

TODAY is one of those days...

It’s time for new habits.

I’ve been contemplating for days already about selling one of my “baby business ventures.” Not the beadbar of course. For the past 8 months, I wasn’t really focusing much on it and had someone took the reins. Somehow, something is holding me back especially that it’s doing well and it’s Summer already which means higher sales. For the past months, it has proven to be a sensible venture and there’s such a big room for growth yet I know this is not the direction I want to take.

My parents never had a job because they are proprietors and do well in business. I think I got that from them, although I’m more scrupulous and calculating in many ways. =) I’ve always felt I’m a reluctant salesman. I’ve never consciously pursued business yet surprisingly; I do well with the risks I take so far, at least. I’m doing well and I’m quite comfortable where I am yet I know I still have a career to start. Sometimes, I still think about where and how to take it from here. I’ll be going back to D.G., Illinois in a few months and would be staying there for sometime to refocus on my other goal. This time I guess, I just want to devote more of my energy and time on this goal and my accessories business which fits quite well with our routines and way of life. After all, this is just what I do on the side; time to go back to the front and center.

Although I can only hope that I do as well in that aspect.

MARCH, we meet again...

It used to be the most insignificant month of the year...

Now, it is the most special =D

Has, it really been a year already?

So, in honor of this beautiful month...I'm offering Aquamarines, stone of March: real smooth Aquamarines in my bead shop. It is usually more expensive than my usuals. But hey, March is indeed more special now.




I've been eyeing these stones for weeks already but it was too expensive for the price range I offer in my shop. Then my supplier gave them at an irresistible price, I just had to get tons. They are beautiful. I guess this excitement can only be shared by a fellow crystal enthusiast, but I'm determined to make them into lovely pieces that will be loved by many.

And yes, MA. I am making you one too.

It's finally here!

Just in time for our first anniversary: My engagement ring upgrade. Yay, its blinged out all-around! More "me", yes? =D

I MISS YOU GUYS!!!

My three sisters during ate honey's baby shower. =)