Shoo, blog spammers, shoo! Go away, don’t bother me!
Shoo!
Reply
Six
And just like that, we’re now celebrating six months of marriage. I sometimes feel like our wedding was just yesterday. It’s true what they say: time really does fly when you’re having fun.
We always make it a point to celebrate the 16th of each month in some special little way. Our funds are a bit tight right now because Abet’s grad school expenses are mounting, so we’re celebrating simply today. No flowers, no gifts, no wine gift baskets, no fancy resto date.
I just got some salmon sashimi (Abet’s absolute favorite food) and tuna sashimi from the famous Suki Market in Mayon, and some maki for me since I don’t eat raw fish.
I paid P355 for those four trays. Not bad, no? This would have cost more than twice that in restaurants.
Abet wasn’t the only one who was happy with all that fresh fish:
We just had dinner, and man, am I full!
What I’m looking forward to is what we’ll be doing later tonight. We’ll be doing something really fun and really enjoyable and just thinking about it is making me excited.
Game of Thrones, Season 2 Episode 3.
Yeah, baby.
Happy six months to us.
Big brunch
…because today is a big day.
Pancakes, German franks, Hungarian sausage, and hash browns. No coffee for today. It’s Abet’s solo recital, and he’s not allowed to have coffee before he performs.
He’s thisclose to getting that coveted Master’s degree. I’m so excited for him.
Wish him luck!
You might also like:
The Hunger Games Colors from the Capitol: A China Glaze Review
Being a big fan of The Hunger Games books as well as a nail polish junkie, I was excited to find out China Glaze and Lionsgate (the movie’s producer) have teamed up to create a line of nail polish inspired by the book.
The colors are inspired by each of the 12 districts of Panem, the post-apocalyptic country where the book is set:
Luxe and Lush – District 1 (Luxury)
Stone Cold – District 2 (Masonry)
Riveting – District 3 (Technology)
Hook and Line – District 4 (Fishing)
Electrify – District 5 (Power)
Fast Track – District 6 (Transportation)
Mahogany Magic – District 7 (Lumber)
Dress Me Up – District 8 (Textiles)
Harvest Moon – District 9 (Grain)
Foie Gras – District 10 (Livestock)
Agro – District 11 (Agriculture)
Smoke and Ashes – District 12 (Mining)
I just had to have a couple of bottles. Fortunately, my favorite color of all is Smoke and Ashes for District 12, where the heroine, Katniss, is from. I chose my second bottle for sentimental reasons: Agro, as tribute to Rue from District 11. I cried over her death both in the book and in the movie.
Below are my swatches:
Agro
Smoke and Ashes
Agro is a medium metallic green that is packed with fine gold shimmer. Smoke and Ashes is a deep bluish-black with tiny blue and green flecks. I only have Instagram photos because I didn’t think I’d be reviewing them, but for better swatches, as well as swatches of all colors in this collection, visit my favorite polish blog, All Lacquered Up.
Now, what do I think about China Glaze polish? I love them! Let me count the ways:
- You know where it says on the bottle “Nail Lacquer WITH HARDENERS?” They weren’t kidding about the WITH HARDENERS part that they had to write it in all caps. They contain China clay as hardeners. I don’t know what China clay is, but it sure is hard.
- They don’t chip easily. This is my fourth day of wearing Agro, and here are what my nails look like:
Two coats applied straight (no topcoat and basecoat). Barely noticeable chipping–the polish on my pinky is practically intact. The only chipping is at the growth. At this point, I’ve done the dishes 10+ times and logged in more than 20 hours of typing. - The brush and the formula are just right for easy application. This is a big plus for girls like me who do their own mani-pedis. Both colors go on smoothly with no streaking. Take note, though, that these are shimmery/glittery polish which are more forgiving than regular or matte polish.
- The formula is thick enough to produce an opaque finish with just one coat.
- China Glaze is less expensive than Essie and OPI. China Glaze costs P350 a pop, Essie and OPI cost P425.
- China Glaze is more readily available. They are available in some Watson’s branches while I don’t think I’ve seen Essie and OPI outside of Rustan’s.
Overall, I’m loving this brand of nail polish.
My new bottles are not in my usual brand (Essie) or color (girly), but I’m glad I made an exception for the Hunger Games. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have discovered China Glaze. I’ll be getting more bottles, definitely. I’m thinking of getting more colors from The Hunger Games collection; I want to get Foie Gras and Fast Track, and my mom would love Dress Me Up.
I pre-ordered my nail polish from Digital Traincase. They still have Hunger Games colors on hand for P360. For other China Glaze colors, you may find them at some Watson’s branches.
You might also like:
Whiskey Boy
Today, March 27, is World Whiskey Day, but for my cat Phoebe and me, there’s only one Whiskey–our 14-month old beagle.
As for Abet, everyday is whiskey day.
You might also like:
This makes me want to move to the province
This article was posted on the Time website last week: Mom’s Exposure to Air Pollution Can Increase Kids’ Behavior Problems.
Yikes.
One of my biggest complaints about now living in Manila is the quality of the air here. I came from Las Pinas where the air was relatively less air pollution. Manila is just such a high-traffic area, too many vehicles go through here every day, thus, more pollution. This makes me want to consider getting an air filter for our home.
I’m not even pregnant yet, but I’m already worrying about this things. How much more when I’m already a mother?
Full to the brim
We just had lunch for Abet’s birthday, at my parents’ this time, and I swear I could burst at the seams.
My brothers roasted huge slabs of ribs and made grilled blue marlin, while my mother made kare-kare and kinilaw na tangigue. My dad bought oysters because those are Abet’s favorite. Dessert was the biggest leche flan that I’ve ever seen (made by using a Selecta ice cream can as a llanera) that my friend Josie gave me for doing their family’s makeup for an event yesterday.
Wearing pants with an elastic waistband was a good idea. I ate so much today I may need to start taking myoripped.
You might also like:
My mom’s spaghetti: almost there!
One of the things on my 31 Before 31 list is to master my mom’s spaghetti recipe. It is one of the best spaghetti recipes in the whole wide world. You can ask anyone who’s had the good fortune of tasting it.
Her sauce is really special. She uses two kinds of spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, the leanest beef she could find, finely chopped hotdogs, quickmelt cheese, butter, beef cubes, cream, and condensed milk.
I attempted to make Mama’s spaghetti yesterday for Abet’s birthday. The day before, I had her explain to me step-by-step and in detail how she makes her sauce. It turned out really well. My in-laws, and most especially my husband, were impressed. I loved it, too. If only I wasn’t afraid of the side effects of oxyelite pro, I probably would have eaten the sauce like soup and just have taken a diet pill afterwards.
My spaghetti last night was good, but it wasn’t my mother’s spaghetti recipe. I’m getting there. I know I’ll be able to replicate it because my youngest brother Joe has done it. A few more tweaks–and a few more spaghetti dinners–and I’ll be able to cross this item off my list.
You might also like:
31
My dearest husband turns 31 today.
I thank the Lord everyday for the blessing that he is. After all these years, he still makes me feel like I’m the happiest, luckiest woman on the face of the earth.
–=-=–
All he wanted for his birthday was to celebrate with his loved ones, so we invited his mother, his brother, and his nephew over for dinner. The four of us, we’re his world.
We had a really simple celebration, I just cooked spaghetti (which was quite good, if I may say so myself), barbecue from the friendly neighborhood isawan (because we don’t have any charcoal grills), bread, salad with store-bought Italian dressing, cake, and ice cream. Simsimi provided the evening’s entertainment.
It was an evening full of love and happiness, just like how birthdays should be.
You might also like:
Can I just rant for a bit?
My neck is stiff as hell from a bad sleeping position, my cat just shredded a P100-peso bill (I can still tape it up and deposit it at the bank, but, mehn, hassle), there are great big mounds of dog poop downstairs waiting to be cleaned up and the dog needs to be bathed today, I haven’t reviewed yet for the refresher exam at work that I have to take within the day, I don’t have money to buy lunch (thanks to my cat) and there’s no food in the house so I have to go out to withdraw, and I have to write about an IT Infrastructure Library which I know nothing about.
*Aaaaaaaaaaarghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!*
Okay, I’m feeling better now.
Next destination: Baler
Abet’s and my travel plan is to visit one new country and one new local beach each year. We have already chosen which country to visit (and a Plan B in case we don’t get approved for a visa) this year, but we are still undecided on where to get some sun and sand. We were torn between Pagudpod (because he’s been there and he liked it and it’s on my list) and Puerto Galera (because it’s more affordable and we’re probably the last two people on earth who haven’t been there yet). That was until we read Chyng‘s blog entry about Baler last week.
You can read her blog entry here, it’s very informative. Her blog post about her recent Baler trip was enough to convince Abet and me to make it our next beach destination. We can go try surfing there, which is also on my list of things to try by 2013. We can also go trekking, something my husband really enjoys doing (I’m hoping we’ll have enough money to buy a pair of Zamberlan Vioz hiking boots for him).
Because Abet is about to finish his Masters, both his schedule and our budget is very tight right now. We won’t be able to go on this trip until he’s done with grad school. I wish the days would just fly by. Abet and I haven’t been to the beach in a long time, and we both deserve a nice vacation.
You might also like:
Skype convert
I just finished Skype-ing with my best friend Jemima who currently resides in the US. I’m helping her plan her Philippine wedding next year, so I’m expecting a lot more Skype sessions in the months to come.
I know this service has been around for a long time, my friends who are in long-distance relationships swear by it, but I signed up for an account just last year when I resigned from my job. I signed up so I could video-chat with my ex-officemates. I was so amused with it at first, it reminded me of the teleconferencing services we used to hold meetings with our counterparts all over the globe back when I was still working.
I’m now convincing my sister May to set an account up so I can visually keep in touch with my family, you know, see my cats and all.
Anyone here into Skype, too? It’s fun, ‘no?
You might also like:
I want to hire a sweeper
Sweeping has to be my least favorite of all household chores. I hate it. Sweeping is probably the #1 chore my mom and I fought about when I was younger, I simply just didn’t want to sweep our floors. And I hate how I have to do it everyday. I dislike organizing as well, but I can get away with days–even weeks!–without organizing our shelves and cabinets, and we’ll still be able to lead normal, albeit messy, lives. I cannot not sweep daily, though, not with our furry quadruped babies who shed like crazy.
I hate how I go into a sneezing fit (no thanks to a lifelong bout with allergic rhinitis) whenever I sweep our floors. I hate how I have to go put Abet’s guitar case and music stand on the sofa so I can sweep under them (I wish he’d just get a guitar hanger instead). I hate having to sweep under furniture. Hate is a strong word, I know, but that’s exactly how I feel about having to do this chore.
Abet sometimes sweeps the floor, but he just doesn’t have the time to do it on a regular basis. I wish I can just hire someone to take care of this task for me. My life would just be oh so easier.
/end over-acting mode
You might also like:
The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades
*post title is a song by Timbuk3
New ones, that is. I want new shades.
I own just one pair of shades, a pair of Gucci shades that I bought 5 years ago with windfall money. I’m not really into expensive designer stuff (nor can I afford it), but I figured that a nice pair of shades would make a great investment piece. Plus, at that time, I deserved a splurge. I planned on wearing them everywhere for a long, long time. I did wear them everywhere, my shades went with me on all my trips:
Hong Kong Disneyland
Boracay
Singapore Zoo
Pearl Farm
Cambodia
Bangkok
These sunglasses are probably the most photographed item I own.
I think I’ve worn them long enough. It’s time to save up for another pair. After my Gucci shades, I now believe in splurging on designer sunglasses. I can’t afford to buy expensive name-brand eyewear anytime soon, but I’m already starting to scout for my next purchase.
I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with an oval face shape, I can get away with pretty much any shape of sunglasses. I have varied options. I’m thinking of getting a classic pair of Ray-Ban aviators or wayfarers, both of which are on my list of things I hope to own in this lifetime. I’m also considering getting Jackie O.-type ‘bubuyog’ shades, which will probably still be stylish when I have grandchildren. I think I also want Roberto Cavalli Sunglasses to match my Just Cavalli eyeglasses (seen here). I also want to get Kate Spade shades, just because I love Kate Spade, and they’re not as high end as, say, Gucci or Prada.
My clothing are all inexpensive–ukay-ukay and SM Department Store inexpensive–I feel I’m entitled to splurge on quality pieces every now and then. I hope I’ll be able to save enough money for a new pair within the year. Hopefully, I can buy one before our next trip, my current pair of sunglasses has definitely been photographed enough.
You might also like:
The kitty is now a mommy
Our darling 11-month old Sophie has gone from this:
and this:
to this:
Look at that, our baby girl is a mommy now. She escaped (and by escaped, I mean she ripped open our window screen just so she could get out) in a moment of heat two weeks before she was scheduled to be spayed. She was already pregnant by the time we were supposed to get her fixed, and that would have meant terminating her pregnancy. Since we cannot bear to let Sophie go through an abortion, we let her have her babies.
She gave birth to 5 kittens but the first one did not survive; the rest are healthy. Abet and I can’t wait for the kittens to get bigger so we can take the orange one, Johann, home with us.
You might also like:
Zombie Fascination
Like my friend Dang, a.k.a. The Neurochiq, I’m quite fascinated with zombies lately. Blame it on the addictive plot of the TV series The Walking Dead. I’m such a wimp when it comes to horror shows and movies–I couldn’t even watch scary cartoon shows for kids–but I’m just drawn to this series (but I can only watch it with my husband, and only after I have read the episode’s synopsis on IMDB).
I’m so into zombies right now that I’m thinking of joining The Running Dead, a 7-km run in Alabang in April where you’ll be chased by zombies. I’ll probably get ‘killed’ within a couple of minutes, but it should be fun.
I’m also lemming for these garden gnomes:
. . . and these car stickers:
Pretty cool, aren’t they? Now, if only I had a lawn and a car.
