A More Personal One.

Dear Blog,

I suddenly felt disconnected from you. You should have known by now because it took me months to visit you again.

I did become busier and more distracted. And perhaps, one indeed loses passion at some point.

One sleepless night.. I just thought about how I call you. You seem to be one of the many blogs in Google. You do not sound like you are mine.

And so I thought... maybe it is time for a change. You are all about me and should have a name close to my heart.

My home is where I am happy, where I find myself and where I feel so loved. So, I am changing you and giving you the name of my happiest place on earth.

Hello again, Blog. You look good in lavender.


Sincerely,

Lalaine Ann

Almost A Year.

Indeed.

I have never thought I would be this busy. From trying to conceive to being pregnant.

Yes, I am pregnant again with my second child. It has been a six-year journey... filled with ups and downs. Finally, the baby is coming very soon -- and she is a girl!

God works in mysterious ways.

The boy is now going to a big school. Hubby is enjoying work. Things are okay now. I am thankful that I am blessed.

In the next few weeks, I will be busy prepping the house... making it baby-ready and, at the same time, maintaining the 6-year old's space. Tricky.

To start with.

My boy's hand-me-down crib still looks like brand new. This was purchased six years ago - at half the mall's price. Thanks to my good friend from my former office.

The first purchase at Php 6,000 is an old school rocking chair from Market Market's Home Market. Made in Vigan. Something very useful for sleepless nights... and for a not so sleepy baby (oh, please be sleepy!).

 

Slowly getting back into the groove and revisiting my creative side. I miss it a lot.

I will see you a bit often again.

How Things Are Lately.

Hello, blog.  It has been a long time indeed.

The break was good and I missed you.

I figured you might want to catch up... I have been doing a lot of things these past months.

I went to Tokyo.

And London.

Leveled up my cooking.

                   

Became domesticated.

Did a bit of gardening.

And bought a bag!

Of course, I continue to be a mum and wife.

Sorry, I have been distant for several months.  I will be visiting you more often again.  I think there is even more to chat about now.

Hiatus-ed.

I was on hiatus for a while.
Lots of things going on in my life - both work and personal.
You would think when you have more time for non-work matters, things will be less insane.
But no... I was wrong.  Because you see more things, have more ideas and have more energy.
So things have been REALLY non-stop lately.
I miss you again, blog.
But I am back.
See my next post.  You are going to be happy for me.

Blogger App!!!

Posting this entry from my iPhone... And I am very excited about it.

I am still a Blogger laptop version fan, of course. But, the app makes it all the more convenient to post entries anytime, anywhere.

Repost: Spot The Difference

This is our 6th Valentine's Day together as a married couple.  And the most unforgettable February 14 to date was last 2008.  Here's why...

March 2008
Multiply Blog


1. Colors of the envelope
     Left -- Red
     Right -- White
2. Brightness -- Left picture seems to have a brighter shade.
3. Time the card was given
     Left -- Valentine's Day 2007
     Right -- Valentine's Day 2008

Things hubby and I realized:
1. Hubby is REALLY forgetful.
2. I am also forgetful.   I shed a tear when I read the message of the card this valentine.  I only found out that it was the same as last year's when I went all sentimental and checked out his past cards to me.
3. His thoughts of me remain the same even after a year.
4. One should never buy cards for the same occasion from the same store for two consecutive years.  In our case, it's The Office WareHouse at the Paseo Center.

I Miss You.

Life has been so hectic. I am not complaining though.

It's just that I miss my blog. I have a lot if stories now. I do not know if I would be able to write them all.

Writing this entry using my iPhone. See how desperate I am!

Promise, I'd give you more time. This weekend. Swear.

Change Venue.

Armed with my phone and its hotspot feature, I wrote my latest Saturday blog entry in our village clubhouse.  It was a windy and bright morning so it was a welcome venue change for me.
I do my writing during the evenings.  But mornings are not that bad especially if you are in place as bright and beautiful as this. 
So excited to move in soon.

Ultimate Thomas Gift.

I am pretty sure you remember BakeHappy and her wonderful cakes.

She read my post and was very happy about it (which really made me kilig because as I said she IS famous).  So the next Monday, I found this note on my office desk. 
With it was a box with THE ultimate Thomas and Friends gift for my little boy. 
 I was stunned. 
 Speechless.  And touched by her kindness.  She not only made Thomas (the blue train), James (red) and Percy (green), she also made tracks with grass.  She also made the sky via these stars.  My little boy loved them... and chose to eat Thomas first with the Thomas fork his Lola Racel gave him.  The chocolate cupcake was very good, my little boy kept saying, "This is my favorite!"  Then, he regretted eating Thomas after he took a bite of the face.  But he was just happy and perky all night... he could not forget his Thomas experience.

The rest of the week was filled with Thomas cupcake desserts.  Who can top that super special treat?!

Thanks, Tita Marie!  I am sure the little boy will remember that night for a very long time.

See her entry about the Thomas cupcakes here.

Happy Baker.

We call her Marie in the office. 
She is one of the sunniest people I know.


She is a blogger just like me... but famous.


Now, this is her famous blog -- Bakehappy. 
As the name implies, her blog is all about baking and how her cupcakes make "the world beam with happiness".  


It indeed lives up to its names because as you go through the site, you can't help but feel all giddy and happy.  The cupcakes and cakes are from out of my world... because I still could not believe that people I know can do them. The photos are superb and the way she presents her works of art just certifies that she is ALL art.


Just so you can get a feel of what she manages to create, here is a screencap of her popular posts. 
So, if you are feeling down, or you need inspiration, or you just need to find a good baking recipe / instructional guide, please visit Bakehappy.  It is a great site to see.

More Than A Year.

It's been more than a year since I started blogging again.  I proved myself wrong because I thought this was just passing thing... me writing and finding time to do so.

It's probably because of the things I write, which is why I am still here.  They excite me.  Every Friday is a happy day... not only because it is the start of the weekend but also because I have something to write about again.  And it ain't a rant, or an oh-so-bad review, or a sad story.  It is about something positive, something bright and beautiful.  Hey, at least one good thing should happen in a week, right?

It's my wish that I would be able to continue this blog for a very long time... even if nobody reads it, even if life becomes too busy.  This is my contribution to making the world less ugly.


I know I am a little late... Happy Anniversary.

This Blog and My Birthday Gifts.

Because I have been diligent in writing the things I like in this blog, I get gifts that I need and want!

Hubby decided to rely on my Christmas wishlist.  I scored two more which ups my batting average to 7/9.

First, he got me no. 6 in my list -- an iPhone earphone + mic.

From Digicam Shots

He also got me no. 9 -- the Suesh Makeup Brushes!

From Digicam Shots

From Digicam Shots

My good friend Allan also gave me a super nice treat!  Face Shop nail polish... not just one but FIVE colors!  I love you, Allan. :)

From Iphone loads

From Iphone loads

March is hubby's month.  What to get him?  Nuninuninu... If only he has his published list...

Repost: Getting Old and Realizing It

(Because we just welcomed 2011, I am reposting an entry I made in my former blog now that we are all set to add another "1" to our ages.)

December 23, 2006

2006 is about to end so I will be another year older in a few weeks time.

I used to think that a person’s 21st year on earth is the earliest old age. You’re officially away from the teens and officially in the running for the decade counts.

When I turned 21, I did not feel old. I was in fact feeling the same way I did when I was 19 — only that I needed to start working to fend for my wants in life. For the next 5 years, I thought that I was never too old for anything.

The happenings of the past week, however, brought me to an awakening… I am starting to age a bit. (And no, I don’t take it negatively… just something that is bound to dawn on me soon because I am a little bit retarded in terms of maturity.)

** I volunteered myself to dance for our team/floor in the Christmas Party group dance competition. Oh, I was sure that I have two left feet but I was so confident about it due to the fact that I have participated on several cheerdancing competitions during my school days. It should not be that difficult…
    The dance was Loose My Breath by Destiny’s Child and it was difficult. Aside from the fact that I had my wisdom tooth pulled out right in the middle of the practices, I just could not follow. The tempo was so fast, I had to move a lot, my body was too heavy — there was too much complication.
    In the meantime, my younger officemates were strutting their stuff easily, with little instruction and without too much effort.
    I should just stick to my dancefloor grindings and ballroom dancing next year…

** Our Christmas party was indeed a blast. I had my fifteen minutes of fame due to several Pepe Lopez tequila shots — about 5 to 7. I usually have a habit of pushing people to the spotlight when I am a little tipsy. This time around, I was a bit more drunk so I was easily whisked toward the stage. After some “pokpok” (slutty) dancing moves in front of everyone, I declared to myself that it was my most “bangenge” (intoxicated) night after several years.
    During my heydays, I did not usually get drunk easily. While I thought to myself that I still would have done some “pokpok” moves that night, I would have easily given up the fight, leave the title to somebody else and not end up as one of the top two “pokpoks” in the house.
    Gone also are the days wherein after 3 days I would have physically recovered from extreme partying and return to my old up and about self in school. Recovery period for this Christmas party took more than a week. I was sleeping on my office desk at lunchtime up until Friday.

** I realized just awhile ago that my youngest sister is in her 3rd year in college. Before this afternoon, I was in this dream sequence that she is still in her 2nd year (actually sometimes, I exaggerate and think that she hasn’t finished high school yet). My brother should, thus, be in his 4th year. Both already have significant others and do go out to gimmicks. The youngest is even having too much of them.

My metabolism is getting slower and slower. I am moving slower. I can’t remember the last time my parents shouted at me. I am starting to not get the drift of my two youngest siblings. There are songs, TV shows and games that my younger officemates do not remember.

I am getting old.

And I am not even halfway done…

The blog in Friendster form.

It's been a while...

... since I last posted an entry.

So many things are happening in my life right now. I can't keep up.

I am trying to find time because writing and sharing stories keep me sane. I have some catching up to do. Please bear with me.

Repost: 30, 40 something and single… YEBA!

(I started maintaining my first ever serious blog in Friendster. I got tired of it... perhaps, too much happenings back then. Will be reposting my favorite entries once in a while. Here's the first.)
August 2006

I was not afraid to die single. I had planned out my life — I was, actually, excited to live it. It would be filled with fun, adventure, fireworks, and laugther.

I was 23 then when I have come to terms with the prospects of living by myself, for myself. I would pack my bags, leave Pinas, and go straight to the US. The plan was to study for at least two months, borrow money for the CPA board exams there, get a job… and yes… find a boyfriend.

If things would go well, I should be married by age 25! If not, I would not get married anymore… Considering the time frame, the latter was more bound to happen.

No problem… New Yawk was there to be conquered. Frank Sinatra once said, “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere. It’s up to you. New York! New York! Tantantananan”. And I thought, this was the best way to celebrate a lifetime of singlehood.

For sure, I would have a successful career. I am harworking, patient, smart and single. A married woman with kids would not have the luxury of time and energy to join the rat race in the corporate world. True… there are many wives and mothers who have superb careers and happy families all at the same time, but they are the superwomen of the world and I salute them for that. They have big brains, high EQs and super healthy bodies. I am part of the average population — I simply can’t juggle two huge things at the same time.

For sure, I would have lots of money. And they would be more than enough for my parents to grow old in style. By the time I hit 50, I would travel around the world and visit the Philippines every year — giving dollars to my nephews and nieces and shopping to death.

For sure, I would have an apartment with a nice bed and cute kitchen. My OWN rules! Nothing beats that. No one to fight with, no one to think about. Everything in it would be because of me.

For sure, I would have Gucci bags, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Banana Republic clothes, etc. Where else should all of the money I earn go?

For sure, I would date a lot. (wink)

For sure, I would have girlfriends who rock… so I could never lose myself in all the material things I would have. In a city filled with different kinds of people, I know I was bound to find at least one soul who would spare me from all of the brouhaha that would get me out of my wits once in a while.

Everything I said, I wanted to happen. It was more of a direction rather than a dream. I knew then that even if single, I would have the time of my life.

But then, he came… so I had to revise the plan. =)

The blog in Friendster form.

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.