One of my best gal’s wedding

She and I saw each other through heartbreaks, dates, failed relationships, kilig moments, and other ups and downs of the right path to everlasting love. We were there through tears, countless cigarettes, bottles of beers as we cheered or patted each other on the back, together with our close-knit group at work. But as I said to her, God is good all the time. No matter how our past was littered with hurts, it was really for us to appreciate and prepare our future. It may sound so cliche, but really, everything happens for a reason. The pain was all so worth it!

I am so happy for one of my dearest friends. It was so good watching her walk down the aisle with her tween daughter, Nicole. I wish I could have been there to witness her love life bloom. But as fate would have her, they met in Dubai where she has been working since 2008, at about the same time, I began my own love story. That bus stop where they would start their own tale is one for the books.

Best wishes mare. Cheers!

Busy Iloilo

My trip to Iloilo was short, frenetic but nevertheless, insightful. As with all the other places I’ve been to (you can check out my Lakbayan score on the right widget of this site hehe), I always, always learn a lot–positive or negative. I really wish I had stayed long enough to savor this busy cultural and economic hub in this side of the Visayas. But as time and budget only permitted, I only got an overnighter. Didn’t see much, save for the hotels I had to inspect for a conference we will be holding in the middle of the year. And, as I and a colleague flitted from rooms, suites, conference facilities, in-house restaurants, to museums for a side tour, it broke my heart that I wasn’t able to visit, enter and marvel at all the wonderful churches Iloilo is famed for. It didn’t help my cause that it was the start of the Dinagyang festival since many major roads were closed to give way to the parade. Well, so much for that. I will be back by April or May though. So I will make sure that I will be able to explore more places by then. Wait for me, Iloilo!

What I really found true, though, is that Ilonggos are really malambing when talking to you, with a few exceptions of course. They have soft, lilting voices that almost caresses you. Even those on the streets! How much more if it was somebody you love.lol

Anyway, I was glad I had my fill of:

Tatoy’s, a seaside restaurant on the outskirts of Molo

A wonderful bowl of Deco’s La Paz batchoy

Also had really wonderful meal at Afrique’s, an Italian restaurant in the new Smallville business district

Another thing I got impressed with in the city is its world-class airport. It was like a smaller version of the Terminal 3 airport in Manila. Best domestic airport in the Philippines by far, after Cebu and Davao.

Soi

“Not all Thai foods are spicy.”

So goes the slogan of Soi. The restaurant specializing in Thai cuisine has been around for a while now but there is a newly opened branch at the Mall of Asia, which we got to try. The problem with only the two of us (hubby and I) eating out is that we could not order so many dishes even if we want to try a lot because it’s just so much waste if we couldn’t finish. That leaves us with only a few to satisfy our gustatory cravings.

Soi is actually very good. As we are not that into spicy food, but wanted to veer away from the usual Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Continental and Italian, we chose the lesser evils (hehe). Sometimes I feel some hesitation delving into Thai since it looks so vegetarian and healthy that it may not be flavorful. But I was pleasantly surprised about how wonderful the food turned out! There was that just right hotness, saltiness and sweetness. I don’t normally like cloying, sugary taste in entrees. For me, sweet should be reserved for desserts or after-dinner coffee or tea.

Anyway, we’ll come back for more at Soi. It just whet my appetite for other Asian dishes.

Cute centerpiece

Eggplant with Tofu

Chicken in green curry

Pad Thai

New boarders

Meet Mischa’s newest favorites:

Ever since she saw the aquarium at my sister-in-law’s place, she wouldn’t stop asking us to buy her fish. We figured, why not? And so we decided to start off with the little fish bowl one of my kumares gave us. I got a little surprise when we bought a couple gold fishes, and some little plastic plants to give the bowl and its inhabitants a homey feel–the little creatures cost only five pesos! But the look on the little girl’s face when she saw the fishes–priceless!!

We’re going to see if we could maintain having these, and if we could go on to those really cool tanks with a more varied and colorful fishes.

Couldn’t come up with really witty names, though. Help?

On my nightstand now

Got this for Christmas, and began reading only now. While I got excited at the prospect of sitting down, or lying in bed, with a good book, any working mother would tell you how hard it is to get a minute to yourself when you have an active toddler demanding your darn attention. And as soon as she conks out, my thought would be not to open books or the television so that I could catch up on my crime shows, but to join her in dreamland.

Anyway, after sitting on a shelf for the last two weeks, Steve Jobs finally made it to my hands. I’m excited. And I’m hopeful. I’ve been looking for a little pick me up since we came back into the office since I’ve been feeling so lousy and down. I am eager to get inspired by how he changed the world!

Elmo-fied

How many Elmos can a person have?

One on loan, two are gifts. Ako yata yung nasuya. lol.

Ruby

My folks just celebrated their ruby anniversary three days ago. And being the kind of people they are, they are not prone to celebrations, especially those not involving their children. So it went up to us to prepare something for them. An intimate dinner with some wine would have been the order of the day but we thought that they probably wouldn’t enjoy themselves without us. And so because I wanted something new for them instead of the usual mall fares, and because I fell in love with this, I decided to bring them to Casa Roces for dinner. Looks like they enjoyed themselves naman but I really wanted it to be extra special pa. Hmmm, maybe I ought to buy them something ruby. After all, it’s not everyday every couple celebrates their 40th wedding anniversary.

Gee, that’s a really long time, don’t you think? Sometimes I do ask myself if they ever get bored with each other (just musings, please don’t judge me). I wonder if they still remember the details of their wedding day in the same church the hubby and I got hitched? Can they still recall the love in the air? The quiet anticipation? The jitters? I sometimes think about what they think when they see us, their children, and how they raised us. Are they proud? Do they have a sense of satisfaction?

My little family has been staying with them for the past seven months ever since we moved out from our previous home. What could they have been doing if not taking care of my daughter?

But really, you gotta hand it to them. We’re a long way off from the foundation they have laid (we will also be celebrating our third later this month). I look at them with a mixture of awe and envy. But as my brother put it, forever is indeed possible. May you guys have a fuller life ahead! We are beyond grateful for all that you have done to help us establish ourselves and make a mark in this world.

Family fun on New Year’s Day

So we ushered in the new year again with the hubby’s side of the family. Remember that we brought Mischa home to the province last year. I don’t know but maybe we’re slowly building a tradition for our little family of three–Christmas spent with my side, and New Year with his. I think the hubby was a little surprised that I insisted that we spend it at my sister-in-law’s instead of my own home. Oh well, I wanted Mischa to also get to know the other side of her family, not only my own. It’s very seldom that she sees any of them. Plus, she really needs to get more exposed to other people, especially kids.

Next year though, we would probably be in our own humble abode. Hurray for that! Definitely looking forward to that despite it seeming like a billion years away.

It was a very simple affair. We went to their place early on the 31st so that they could all play, play, play! My heart leaped to my throat though a few times. Mischa is really not used to rough play, and let’s say that her cousins weren’t the gentlest! Had simple buena noche, and watched the fireworks of neighbors. Of course, the brother-in-law lit up his own fire crackers, and we all had to stay inside because these were too loud for the kids.

Welcome 2012 again!

Happy 2012!

It’s time for a fresh new start! As I said in my Christmas post, my family has been more than blessed, and we are well on our our way to fulfilling our dreams. I know that more challenges are looming my way but I just have to fight the impulse to run or whine. Instead, I have to be stronger and wiser. Need to fight all the negativity trying to pull me down. After all, I am doing everything for my family, especially my little one. I just continue to pray that I conquer all. I know that He will lead me and point me in the right direction as long as I am looking for the right signs along the way.

Lugang Cafe

This will probably be my last post for the year. In a few hours, we will be welcoming 2012, the year of the water dragon. I do hope it brings more blessings and luck for our family. I am so looking forward to leaving 2011, which brought me to some heart/headaches although there were a lot of good parts, too.

Anyway, to close crazyshopaholic for the year, would like to post about Lugang Cafe. A branch of the authentic Chinese restaurant recently opened at the Mall of Asia, and was dying to try it out since my eye got caught by its beautifully done interiors. Elegant chandeliers and modern furniture adorn the huge area. There is even a mezzanine! But our visit at this time was quite forgettable–we brought Mischa to the office that day to play with other kids of colleagues, then we had to run errands and buy last minute gifts so were very exhausted as the day winded up. But the toddler was not. Her energy was still running high, and I had to keep her from banging on the tables and walls. The ending–I didn’t get to enjoy much the food we had.

Pork and Shrimp Shumai

Crusted Fish Fillet

As I said, my world did not do much for me. Or as I said, maybe I was just distracted and tired. I’d like to try the bistro again soon. Maybe I’ll have more luck with our food.