One Day in Vegas.

One of the good things of being in Phoenix, Arizona is the proximity to Las Vegas.

Ron has not seen the Sin City yet while my last trip was more than 10 years ago. Our trip would not be complete if we did not swing by Vegas.

The Stratosphere


Las Vegas Blvd


Caesars Palace




The Strip


View of Las Vegas from our Circus Circus hotel room


Ceiling of The Venetian




Next time we go back, we'll stay longer. Heard that Las Vegas has very good outlet stores. ;)

NBA Finals in HD.

My last US vacay was 2004. Back then, the HD technology was not as widespread.

I am not an NBA fan really but what a way to watch the NBA Finals.

LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics. Was rooting for the Celtics. The Lakers won. The heck -- we had an amazing view via HD TV. Haha!










Camera and lights ain't cooperating... promise, it was the clearest basketball game ever.

VS.

Last Thursday was super shopping day. We went to the biggest mall in town and went crazy (not too much).

One of my most favorite parts is...

June 20.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Happy Father's Day, Ron!

Happy Birthday, Lou Vince!

Bumpy Ride to Phoenix.

(Been days since I last blogged. I had a busy week in Phoenix, plus a great weekend in Vegas. Will write about them soon... I would be glad to give you an account of all the "memorable" stuff that happened in our vacay...)

Never experienced a bumpy airplane ride to Phoenix.

Last Monday was an exception. The sky was clear but it was filled with air pockets. And I had the clammiest hands, perhaps.

Pre-boarding photos. Before I started to breathe heavily 35,000 ft up in the air.




Thank God we arrived safely.

Sunday Habit.

When vacationing in another country and Sunday comes... either you try to look for a church or you take the Sundays off -- it's vacation anyway.

I have been, for a long time now, trying to my very, very best to go to church every Sunday... whatever happens. But I do have my days...

My weekend in LA was indeed a productive one. Met with my high school friend and a former officemate... and of course, attended to my Sunday obligation.

Went to St. Joseph Parish in Lawndale. It was a cute church -- lots of people, mostly Hispanics. Saw a good number of African-Americans and a handful of Filipinos.

Of course, I did my usual "make a wish" activity when visiting a new church.

Venice Beach.

It's the Boracay of LA... or should it be the other way around?

Had the chance to go to Venice Beach yesterday (Saturday, LA time). This time though no swimming. It was too cold.





I think it's also called Muscle Beach.


Similar to Boracay, they also have a walkway parallel to the beach. You'll see all types of merchandise being sold...




And a Freak Show! (Something I hope Boracay will never have.)


Thanks, Jonjon, for taking us out to the beach!

Where We Are Staying.

Baymont Inn and Suites at Hawthorne Blvd., Lawndale, CA.It's a small and comfortable hotel that has free airport transfer and breakfast.

Our messy hotel room.

I Survived!

Longest 12 hours of my life but I made it through.

My wonder drug did fine with my clammy hands but was not successful enough to put me to sleep.

Oh well! All is well.

PS. My husband spilled my fear of flying to the pilot and he gave me a quick lesson on how planes are tested. He helped actually.

UP Ampitheater.

I am finding it hard to believe that it is now almost 10 years after I graduated from college. Life was easy back then... UP was so convenient.

Been to the Ampitheater/Quezon Hall only twice back in college -- (1) when I was in the College Student Council and (2) during University graduation.

Visiting the place after several years made me appreciate it more. It is grand in many ways.

The UP folks did a good job maintaining it... maybe, making it even grander for the next 100 years.

iPhone Camera.

Lovely photo... or, perhaps, just lovely girls.















My officemates, Cathy and Marianne, after their shots.


Starting to see through iPhone now. It's not just a complicated phone anymore. It's also a nice camera :)

Chopsuey.

Well, well...


I know how to cook now. Been cooking for 3 months straight already.

Was forced to become a real wife and mommy when my househelp decided to call it quits with us so that she can study. And because I have a two-year old, it is not a good idea to feast on fastfood or even restaurant food... the MSG might just be too much to handle.

Here is my recipe for chopsuey. Note that I do not really measure -- not because I am good but because I don't really know. I just go with my gut... or should I say, tongue!


Chopsuey

Ingredients --

Garlic, Onion, Tomatoes
Pork
Carrots
Young corn
Sitsaro
Cauliflower
Mushroom (optional)
Oyster Sauce
Cornstarch
1/4 cup of water
Salt or patis and ground pepper.

How to cook --

1) Saute garlic, onion, tomato. The longer the better.
2) Put in the pork. Wait until color becomes less red/pink. You can put ground pepper.
3) Pour 2-3 tbsps of oyster sauce.
4) Add the veggies. Start with the cauliflower and young corn then add the others. Season with ground pepper.
5) Cook a bit then add the mushrooms.
6) Pour in the cornstarch diluted in water.
7) Let it simmer.
8) Season to taste.

Voila!

Going Further South.

Attended a priority selling event at the New World Hotel awhile ago.
It was for Venare -- an Alveo Land development within Nuvali.
The property is in Sta. Rosa -- not too far away from the Metro and should be a good location for a suburb... eventually.
Never thought there would be a lot of people in the event. The lots were selling like pancakes.

Huwaw!

Around a week ago, I mustered the courage to see how much I weigh.

140 lbs. My heaviest. That was my weight when I was 6 months pregnant.

I do not have the habit of checking my weight on a regular basis. I take cues from my pants. If it becomes a struggle to button 'em... I should be getting heavier.

Took the effort to cut down and even skip rice during lunch for the past week. Does not really help that we are not busy in the office because I have time to go down the cafeteria during merienda. And so it was a struggle.

Weighed myself this morning. I lost around 4-5 lbs.

Day 2.

Renamed my blog.

Hypothesis: Positive energy cleanses the soul and should, thus, help you look and feel younger.
(I just turned 30, by the way, so I am considered old. And while I do not really have qualms about aging, sure is nice to be delay the process a bit.)

I thought that I should channel energies only to the plus side. Negative Nancy is getting more famous by the day.

This blog will strive to see the good in everything. My husband is there for the rants. ;)

Good night!

Another shot.

I have 3 other blogs that I have abandoned. Now, I am trying another one.

I miss writing and wanted to start fresh.

Let's see how this goes.