Hello 30-something

So I thought of blogging again and what better way to say hello to an old friend but on my birthday?

I had a really lovely day today. All the greetings and love are truly appreciated. 

Most of all, I love how my boys spoiled me for the day. As usual, it was a quiet celebration but truly a wonderful one--- one of the best I’ve had in a long time. 

I guess when we get older; birthdays get us in to a more retrospective than celebratory mood.

with my little guy who refuses to smile for the camera

We had a nice buffet lunch near our place. We don’t do buffets as often anymore since I have been focusing on trying to lose weight (verrry slowly) the past few months. 

Not surprisingly though, Paolo is also benefitting from my portion control project and is not eating as much as before. 

Buffets are not as enjoyable as it used to be for us. I guess it’s a good thing since people rushing towards the food lines stresses me out more than it should.

Later after lunch, we went to a shop in BGC that Pao has been telling me about to pick up my birthday presents. Although I’m in this line of business, jewelry and accessories are still my fave gifts to receive!

 I get to choose my birthday gift and I chose these beautiful Arquise diamond earrings in my favorite shade of Pink. As expected, a few minutes after purchasing my lovely present, I was already thinking about redesigning the piece. 

I chose the pair for the color and shape but I want to change the very basic hooks to a nicer gold stud hooks. :/

Hunter’s gift is a very cute leather fish coin purse. I love it!

Thank you boys!

 The hubby then brought me to BGC Shangri-La lounge near the jewellery store. After seven years of marriage, he knows how I just love quiet tea/coffee time just talking and planning for the next months.

Finally, a little smile!

Lately, I have just been blogging about occasions and milestones in my life and family because it’s a sort of record keeping for me. 

I want to remember all the little details that make these moments special.

Love my birthday this year. Thank you Pao and Hunter, you will always be the best gifts in my life.

I love you! Thank you!

hamming it up for the camera =) My birthday photo!

Hello, Hello

Oh wow, it’s 2016 already. I’ve always been excited about starting another year. There’s something about fresh starts and new beginnings that really motivate us to start something new or do something better.

I must admit though that I have been more excited this year after a long time. 2015 wasn’t really bad…but it wasn’t really good either.

Although I had really good highlights: My parents came home last year after a long time and Hunter started school.

A few shake-ups and bumps here and there and I managed to reach the end of 2015 with a good closing dash.

I have a feeling 2016 is going to be great.

The last holiday season was the busiest for us so far. We were running around the whole December, we had to cancel two of our annual bazaars. I guess it was a really good decision that I opted to concentrate more on family time than focusing too much on business opportunities. Last Christmas, I saw Hunter finally understanding that it is a big deal and now I can say he is a real Christmas-person. He looooves it. My only challenge now is how to wean him off from watching Arthur Christmas and Polar express.

We spent our holidays pretty much on the beach; Boracay for Christmas, which was a relatively quiet holiday for us. It was something new for our little family but a really welcome change.

After almost a week of adventures and misadventures down South, we were off to Tagaytay for a celebration in our family. I was tasked to help out and coordinate the details with my SIL. I must admit I missed this. I missed organizing events and the little control freak in me enjoyed orchestrating from behind the scenes.

With my former schoolmate and Event Coordinator, Tricia. Loved working with her.

My dashing date 

We capped off our holiday celebration at Pico de Loro with Paolo’s family. Holidays are all about family and love. It was really a busy, busy time for us, but a really good one too. Definitely looking forward to our next.

So excited for 2016! I'm feeling it's going to be a great year.

Always a fun time with this little guy 

We Begin and End with Family

I just realized that my blog is sending off some somber vibes these days. I have to do something about that. Lately, when I feel the need the blog are those times I’m not at all feeling high.

Today is a Saturday and our first weekend alone as a family after more than three months. My dad just left two days ago and I’m feeling the blues again. I’m blogging from their old master bedroom that I claimed for myself as my big walk-in closet/ woman cave. I love coming here and just being alone but today it felt emptier than any other time in the last six years since they moved away.

I guess one good thing about being the only one so far away from my family, every time I’m with any of them is savored.

Each moment is carefully curated in my mind to look back on days I’m feeling alone and missing them.

Every activity, however mundane it may be is etched in memory even though at the back of my head I always wonder about when will the next time be.

I realized the most ordinary things we do, the most everyday routines are the ones we remember the most --- and miss the most.

Every little moment is a little bit more special.

Today, I’m missing some people in Chicago a wee bit more than the usual, this morning the ache is more gnawing.

Today, I will cuddle with my husband and son, hug them a little bit more and remind myself that I’m not alone and as long as I have family, both the one I came from and the one I’m creating--- I’ll never be alone.