Changes.

My life changed all of a sudden. I am now a Mom of two. My sweet boy (let's call him JG) and my new pretty baby girl.

Hubby and I were blessed with a second baby six years after. Imagine the years. I feel like a new Mom. Good thing my boy can fend for himself... and is even another hand when my two ones are not enough.

Honestly, I wanted another boy. I did not believe that I am a Mom fit for a girl. And I love the way boys adore and "fear" their Moms -- oh yes, selfish reasons.

But my girl is so adorable. I cannot believe I wished for a boy. Never mind how cranky she becomes when sleepy. Never mind how hard it is to bottle feed her -- she likes my boobies more. Never mind that she mostly does not sleep long during the day. She makes up for them with her numerous bedimpled smiles, her interesting goo gaa stories, her 7-8 hour sleep at night and many, many more.

Blog, meet my AC. You will hear a lot about her.

Menu for Tita Lei.

Tita Lei, my mom's sister, recently came home to the Philippines for her annual motherland visit.  Everytime she goes home, she makes sure to have a blast.  This visit was no exception -- she went to Singapore with Tita Amy and my cousins... and wore her smashing swimsuit at the top of the Marina Bay Sands!

As usual, hubby and I were so busy with work and a lot more stuff... we never really got to spend time with her.  So, when Mom asked us to host a lunch / dinner party for Tita and Tito Joseph, we said yes right away.

It was a good thing that the Mom and the Titas (and Dad) are always the best when it comes to potluck events.  We were able to come up with sumptuous, very Filipino and somewhat healthy (?) menu.

Pansit from Tita Baby.  Inihaw na Samaral from Daddy.

Hipon from Daddy.  He is really into seafood...

...and greens.  His Talbos ng Kamote dipped in bagoong.

There was also Ensaladang Mangga and Steamed Okra (also dipped in bagoong).

My Mom's specialty - Dinakdakan.  It's Inihaw na Baboy with ginger, onion, kichay (?), with calamansi or suka.

For dessert, there is the classic saging...

...and the good ol' Mango Float made by moi.

Not caught in pictures but equally yummy are Tita Amy's lumpia, puto, and kakanin.

We had a great time that day.  Everything ended late that night.  I hope Tita Lei and Tito Joseph had loads of fun, too.  The next time they come for a visit, perhaps, a dip in the clubhouse pool would be part of the menu, too.

*pictures grabbed from Thea Esteban.

Happy 2011.

It's the 5th New Year's Eve for hubby and me... the 3rd with our little boy (who was, by the way, sound asleep the whole night).

Spent the night before January 1 in my folks' place.  

We lit up firecrackers around 11pm.  Greeted each other with a beso at 12mn.  Went back in the house for Media Noche at around 12:30am.

It was a modest supper.  Baked mac, bread, ham, grapes, wine and cheese.






I pray that our family will have a peaceful, happy, prosperous and healthy 2011.


Happy New Year to everyone!

Grand Office Party.

For the past 2 years, Christmas parties in the office were courtesy of our big bosses and us.  Times were hard back then so it was not prudent to hold company-spent parties.  But then, we love to have fun so we were willing to shell out our own money to celebrate the holidays with each other.

This year was different.  While our company is not yet completely out of the dumps, things are way better and there is no way to go but "up".  It was the worst two years so we just had to give thanks to everyone who in their own little way stayed and helped.

And so, we had a superb yearender thanksgiving party at the SMX Convention Center.  The theme was Broadway Red Carpet affair.


After prepping up.  Our glam looks were indeed out of place in the office.

Rizza looked like a swan.  She was one of the ten best dressed during the night.



Anna's elegant look.



Ivy was so glamorosa in her lovely dress.



Cindy, pretty in pink.


All the girls in the team.

And some of the perfomances...

Moulin Rouge

Mama Mia (2nd place)

Lion King (1st place).

Third Place went to Hairspray.  Our department's presentation was Footloose.  As we were one of the background photos, we were not able to get some photos.


While dinner was not something to remember, it was a first for us to have an open bar.  I did look forward to the raffle because of the prizes -- 3rd prize Nintendo Wii, 2nd prize LG 32-in LCD TV, 1st prize an iPad!

I had enough Margaritas and stayed until about midnight.  The performances were superb, people looked good and I had a great time. 

More Christmas Sights.

Seems to me 2010 Christmas is an all-out holiday. There are more lights, more ribbons, more Christmas balls and a lot of new concepts.


Here are some more remarkable sights that awed me.


Enterprise Center.  Lobby looks like a big ribbon-ed gift.  The Belen is the centerpiece.



Enterprise stars suspended along the tall escalators.



More stars.



This time crossing Ayala Ave. to the Ayala Triangle gardens.  They turned the park to a fantasyland complete with lights AND sounds.



A banig of Christmas lights.



Of course, the Belen... the real reason of Christmas.



Now, let's go to Global City, Taguig.  Here is a statuesque Christmas Tree.


High Street's version of the Ayala Triangle spectacle.




Don't you just love Christmas in Pinas?

 

Christmas Lunch at Kirin.

At this day and age of shopping madness, I have looked for other ways to give gifts and avoid the malls.  And since, my office buddies love to eat, I thought of organizing a lunch gift at the Kirin in Bonifacio High Street. (Kirin photo below grabbed from Cindy.)

 

Kirin offers one of their functions rooms whenever you avail of their set menu.  For a minimum of Php8,000 (VAT-inclusive but exclusive of the drinks), you can host a private lunch/dinner for a group of 12 (mine was 13, though).

 

The set menu has at least 10 courses that will fill your guests to the brim.

Assorted Chinese Cold Cuts for appetizer.  Love the seaweeds!!!

Another appetizer -- Roasted Pigeon + Shrimps.  Was not able to take a shot of the soup.

Believe this is the Braised Beef.  This is yummy.

Broccoli with mushroom.  Veggie just right for a non-fan of vegetables.

Birthday Noodles.

Humongous head of a fish called Imelda.  It is swimming in a spicy sauce.

Dessert... the classic Butchi.

The whole team munching away.  (Photo grabbed from Cindy.)

The Last Hurrah.

The very first of all my December parties is actually the last for one phenomenal group.

I enjoyed the last 4+ years with these two teams but recent org changes broke us up.  And no, we are not sulking at one corner... mourning our last Christmas together.  We, instead, had one SUPAH party to cap 2010.

It was a Christmas Party cum New Year Party cum Movie Fest cum Raffle Night.

Fraser Place was the place again.  Here is Carlo, Master of Ceremonies.


The early birds... Cindy, Anna, Rizza, and Thirdy, goofing around.  Marianne, the photographer, is missing.


Party chomps... Angel's Pizza and Goldilocks Barbecue (so soft and yummy).



Amber Palabok, right?



Lumpiang Sariwa from Goldilocks, the epic Barbecue, and Coke, of course.



Chica girl, Rizza Tan.  Mars at the background.



This time with another chica girl, Ivy Ilaya.



Fasyon BUT conservative Liezl.



The Preview Magazine shot of the night.  Thanks, Ivy!  Stole from your FB pics.