Here comes 2009

I'll be offline for the New Year, so I'm greeting all of you in advance. Though the year of the Ox does not start until January 26,2009, It has been said that YELLOW is the lucky color of 2009 (thus my greetings in yellow.hehe!)

Hope the new year will bring us all good health, more money, lower sales targets and less stress!!!

Here's an overview of the year to come.. this is a forecast only and can still change :) make the most out of it and don't dwell on the negative. click here for more details.

Yearly Horoscope Forecast for 2009
Rat Average	Ox Average	Tiger Bad	Rabbit Average	Dragon Bad	Snake Good
Horse Bad	Ram Bad	Monkey Average	Rooster Good	Dog Average	Pig Average

Left Overs

Last week my colleague Kim Chua (who is an entrepreneur by heart - he's Chinese obviously) gave everyone in the office a small jar of Bagoong for Christmas. So Original and it's so Kim because it says" Merry Christmas at Manigong Bagoong Taon" for orders call: Kim Chua 0917xxxxxxx. I'll give it to him to always see opportunities in anything...

So last weekend, I thought of using this bagoong gift (which some office mates said that it was masarap - even more delicious that the one from barrio fiesta). I tried my hands (for the first time!) on a favorite Thai cuisine, Shrimp Paste Rice or simply, Bagoong Rice. I have my steamed rice, bagoong, eggs and green mangoes ready... Then I saw some left overs from breakfast (omelet) and lunch ( pork adobo) so I decide to use them as well.

Here's my Recipe for Shrimp Paste Rice (with pork adobo and omelet leftovers)

Cook scrambled eggs and heat the left over omelet, cut lengthy and set aside.

Saute minced garlic and onion in a pre-heated pan with a tablespoon of oil (Olive). Add 2 tablespoon of bagoong and then add the pork adobo left over (just the pork don't add the sauce). Stir until pork is covered with bagoong. Add steamed rice and stir fry until all rice are covered up with bagoong.

Serve with strips of green mangoes and topped with scrambled eggs/omelet.

Enjoy!

Top 10 Men in my Life

Magazines and Networks left and right have been announcing their choices for the Sexiest Men in the World, Most Powerful Women in world, Most Beautiful Women etc. Well, I also do have my own list too...

Here are the Top 10 Men in My Life:

10. Dingdong Dantes – what can I say… he is 2 places away from David Beckham on E!’s Sexiest Men in the world… need I say more.






9. Derek Ramsey – dark tall and handsome..and yummy.







8. George Eads – I don’t know, its love at first sight I guess. He’s the reason why I’m sticking it out with CSI, now that Grissom is on his way out. I cried when his character was buried alive in one of the season finale of the show.. it felt so real.








7. Patrick Dempsey - oh the husband material…hahaha! he ages gracefully and he’s my mc-dreamy!








6. Ed Westwick – I loathe his character in Gossip Girl, but then after that ep13 in Season 2, I can’t seem to get enough of him… his Brit! Maybe that’s why.




5. Robert Pattinson – Love him as Cedric Digory, I fantasize him as Edward Cullen. Talented. Yes! Good Looks. Check! Yelling girls (me included). Absolutely!








4. Wentworth Miller – I'm just magnetized by his intelligence and good looks. ehem, Princeton!








3. Kimi Raikkonen – his boyish and incredible eyes drawn me to him.. I watched F1 because of him, if he retires early on any of the race, I leave the couch and do something else. He is the only reason why I watch it anyway. But before him, there was Ayrton Senna, then he died.






2. Andre Agassi - my teen age first love..even with his long hair in the late 1980’s he has captured my attention. I still have this Sports Illustrated issue (March 13, 1995). I still wish to meet him in person and have him sign this ish so I can finally have this framed. No I am not a Tennis fan.. I am an Andre Kirk Agassi fan. Now you know why my son is named Andre.






1. Adrian – He is all of the Above. But then they have the money and the fame.. but they don't have me...now who's the luckiest man on earth? haha!

fanatic or obsession?

This is going way out of hand... I haven't even heard and seen anything like it... not even during Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings days...I never imagined fans would go as far as creating a movie trailer for the next installment or even combining a series of animation to create a Twilight and New Moon Anime.

Ahhh, the things you do when you have nothing to do but sit in from of your computer...but to be honest, these are great stuff. Bite me!


New Moon Trailer by tiffanyd666. One word. Awesome.



Twilight and New Moon - the Anime Version by Elyon64. Great anime adaptation, actually even better than the movie. Sorry Catherine.

more obsessed fanatics creating New Moon Trailers. And you can even vote for your favorite.

birthday and christmas wish list 2009

I'm one of the unluckiest people in the world... having my birthday so close to Christmas that I only get 1 gift for 2 occasions. That's why my annual birthday and Christmas wish list includes some exaggerating gifts that I know my friends and relatives would never in their wildest dreams will buy for me on my birthday and Christmas... unless maybe I give them the money to buy it for me... but then again.. that won't be considered as a gift right?

So here goes..( includes some exaggerated gifts but then again who knows... i might have a friend who's a secret billionaire! and buys the 1st on my list. haha!).. my list for this year.. in no particular order.
1. Yes.. I want this. I want to be a photographer. learn how to do it right. And be a contributor in National Geographic.





2. Okay, so if number 1 is a bit expensive for you.. I'll settle with Canon Ixus 80 is.... the IS is the most important feature here.








3. I'm a sucker for pictures..I love taking them, I love looking at them and I love keeping them.. I also love showing them off. haha! And wouldn't it be great if I can display them on an 16G Digital Photo Frame?



4. I want to experience how a watch helps "balance the body’s energy flow", and strengthens the body’s resistance to stress and provides an overall improved well-being. I say no more.









5. A day in The Spa is tempting.. but I'll settle for an hour and a half of rejuvenating Shiatsu and Thai Massage experience.




6. An acrylic manicure would be nice to try... it would be my first :) But a Spa Mani and Pedi sounds fine with me.





7.When I first saw a Nike Sprint Sister Women's Running Shoes on my friend Bianca during her trip to Nike Camp, I said to myself.. I got to have those! Please???






8-9-10. These should be the other twilight series hard cover books... but since I did some panic buying last week... you are spared. You should thank Edward Cullen for that :)


xoxo
S

Weeks worth of thoughts

Yayks. I can’t believe I have not opened my multiply account for more than a week now. Ok so I have been busy not really with anything important (except for my motherly duties of course).. Ok so this is a week’s worth of blog so this might be a bit long.. move on to the next blog now or else… read along…
My mom finally arrived from her 2 weeks vacation last Nov 8 (Saturday) so that made me relax while I’m at work and not worry about my son drowning in the bathroom or choking with a small part of his toy.

On my way home Monday night, I board a bus (Santrans) and I was curious about a device on the wrist of the Kundoktor (don’t know if this is the right spelling). It’s as long as a PSP but a bit thicker, like an old fat TV remote control. I was eyeing it while he takes payment from other passengers and a tape receipt comes out of this. Yes people (for the benefit of my friends who does not take BUS), the bus ticketing system is improving… no more ticket of several denominations. What’s cool is that the ticket already indicates your destination and where you board, time as well as the amount you paid. It has also a bus number in the ticket which is for me a great improvement just in case you need to complain the driver or the bus company to LTRFB =) May pagasa pa talaga umasensyo ang Pinas.. though I haven’t seen others have such device yet… so I’m hoping that soon all bus companies would have this FAB way of ticketing bus passengers... will Jeepney's soon follow?

Okay so moving on to Tuesday… It was raining hard after I left my clients building and since its already 6pm I decided to went home straight from my client call. Unfortunately, rush hour and rain does not really go well together because it means traffic and a lot of commuters stuck in the bus stop. So I went back to Galleria (my client’s office is beside the mall), and decided to pamper myself with pedi and mani while I wait for the rain to stop and for the traffic to ease up.

Upon entering California Nail Spa, there was only 1 customer, and she looks vaguely familiar.. as I settle myself with an OK! Magazine in front of her.. I recognize her but I was skeptic ..but then who else could it be? Another few seconds of staring at her while she examines her toes, it was indeed Donita… she had no makeup on and was very ordinary looking.. she even have black circles around her eyes (maybe for waking up too early for her morning TV show). Naks pang showbiz ang nail services..hahaha!

Moving on...OK!'s November ish featured the stars of the anticipated movie, Twilight . I remember chatting with my cousin-in-law a few years back (I think it was 2006) and she was reading this book and she said that is popular teen novel, NY best seller and she loves it! etc (she’s 13 then). But I didn't bother buying the book thinking that it was too juvenile for me.. so here comes 2008 and the buzz is all around me.. even in the office! So it was more out of curiosity that I bought the 1^st book of the Twilight saga. While on my way home.. I saw a billboard of the movie along EDSA and when I saw the tagline… I was even more curious about the book… the billboard says “The hottest books…. since Harry Potter”. WOW! I love HP and if its compared to Twilight then it must be very good. So I started reading it on the bus, on my way home. And to my surprise.. I stayed up until 3am last Friday just to finish the book. I have not read such book with so much anticipation…. Since Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. I even read in the bathroom for hours..hahaha! I regretted I’ve waited this long to read it but I’m glad I finished it before the showing of the film adaptation. I hope the movie will gave justice to the book. Can’t wait to get hold of the sequel book (New Moon).

Wednesday till Friday just passed by so fast with all the stress at work..Targets and deadlines to meet. I can’t wait for 2008 to end. I’m still 3.9M behind my target!
In a 5 weeks, its my birthday already and I have not done my annual wish yet! Ahhhh!!!
And to make matters worse!!! Serena is kissing Aaron Rose! Eeeewww!

Saving Private Ryan

Ever since the prices of gasoline went sky high and all mode of transportation increased their fares, I started taking the bus home. Yes its traffic but its cheaper than taking the MRT and FX. Good thing there are new buses on the road with TV/Video to keep passengers entertained.

A few weeks back, I rode on a bus where they were playing Saving Private Ryan. I didn't pay attention since I've seen this movie already (in 1998). It was a great war movie and won tons of Oscars and was a box office hit. So i slept through my hour of bus ride.

Today, I probably rode the same bus because they were playing the same video again. The scene was a bloody shore of dead soldiers... i felt goosebumps all over me. I try to shake off the image and switched on my ipod and closed my eyes. For some reason I can't sleep so I end up reading the sub titles.

The General is talking, giving orders to look for the remaining Ryan (who is missing in action) and bring him back to his mother because all his other 4 brothers are dead. Then Tom Hanks comes to the picture and assembles his 6 rangers and start looking for James Francis Ryan.

A dialog between Hanks (Capt Miller) and Edward Burns (Pvt. Reiben) got my heart to ache and I was controlling my tears because I was in a public transportation and I don't want them to think that I'm having a breakdown.

Pvt. Reiben: Say Captain, you don't gripe at all?

Capt. Miller: I don't gripe to you, Reiben. I'm a Captain. We have a chain of command. Gripes go up, not down. Always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior, and so on and so forth. But I don't gripe to you. I don't gripe in front of you, either. You should know that, you're a Ranger.

Pvt. Reiben: Well, I'm sorry, sir, but let's say you weren't a Captain, or maybe I was a Major. What would you say then?

Capt. Miller: Ah, well, in that case, I'd say this is an excellent mission, sir, with an extremely valuable objective, sir, worthy of my best efforts, sir. Moreover, I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of Private James Ryan and am willing to lay down the lives of me and my men — especially you, Reiben — to ease her suffering.

Pvt. Mellish: He's good.

Pvt Caparzo: I love him.

I get emotional when it comes to things involving a son/daughter-mother.. maybe because when I imagine myself into that mother's shoes, I feel the pain immediately.

While walking to our village, I came to reflect how selfless and heroic those men are to risk their life in order to ease a mother's grief.

I can't remember the ending so I read through wiki what the plot was. Capt. Miller died in the end and his last words to Private Ryan was , "James... earn this. Earn it." He did live a good life...worthy of Miller's and the others' sacrifice.

... we should live a good life, so we are worthy of our parents' sacrifices.

xoxo
S

best things in life...

.. are free...

..and privileged discount card holder
















Live and Love Life's simple pleasures!

Here Comes the Bride

I was once a bride and I know what all those brides-to-be are feeling.. anticipation and excitement when it comes to planning their wedding.. we (the Bride) want to be hands-on on every single detail... from the souvenirs to the invitation to the table setting and cake decor. Of course we should be on top of things since this is the day... Our Day.

I have dragged my husband-to-be to all the bridal fairs that I've read from newspapers and forwarded emails.. from Megamall, to the NBC tent... we scout suppliers from Divisoria to Dapitan to Laguna to Silang... And he better not say no because this would mean world war 3!

I'd say 1 year of prep is just right for couples who work on weekdays because its just the weekends and holidays that you get to do this stuff...But its scary to start planning especially if you don't have any idea where to start...

So to all of my soon to be Bride friends... I'm inviting you to a Bridal Fair this October 4-5, 2008 at the Blue Leaf, in McKinley, Fort Bonifacio .. which is dubbed as "A Day for a Lifetime" The most creative wedding fair in the country... so if you want to get some fresh ideas on your soon to be wedding... do drop by..

Why am I advertising this? My friend Janess who is part of the group - Designs Avenue, an Events Coordinating team - will be participating in this Bridal Fair ...they'll be dressing up the realm as Lord of the Rings. Freebies and special offers from their realm partners will be given to all visitors.
So I hope to see you there! Do spread the word and invite all your friends or family members who will be celebrating their weddings or debut soon.

For more details and for FREE admission, check out http://www.adayforalifetime.com/

DISNEYLAND Scrapbook

After 30 years.. I have finally made it to the happiest place on earth... DISNEYLAND!

Went to Disneyland on our 2nd day in Hong Kong. We didn't spent the whole day here so we didn't get a chance to see all the attractions. It was sooo HOT! .. I do not recommend kids going here during the summer. That's why we decided to go there mid afternoon. We arrived around 4pm, just in time for the Disney Parade.Then we head off to the carousel and rode flying Dumbo. It was time for the Disney's "meet and greet" where Andre had his souvenir photos with Chip & Dale, Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella and Snow White and of course Mickey... it took us around 45 minutes to finish the photo taking since we have to fall in line for each character and they (mickey and the gang) get 5 minutes break every 15 minutes...

We took the MTR going to Disneyland. Mamita pointing at our destination from the MTR Map

On board the Disney Train, with Papa Jun looking on

We have arrived!

Welcome to Disneyland!

Nice words of wisdom... Its a wonderland!

Just in time for the Disney parade

Snow White's Dwarfs 

Mickey, Minnie and Donald

Cousins Abby and Andre at the Parade

With the Princesses of Disney

We headed to "Its a small world" where they feature dolls from all the continents.. and as you ride the boat, the song "its a small world after all..." is playing in the background. Depending on the continent that your in.. that's the language of the song.. they even play the tagalog version when we passed by the Filipino dolls in a Bahay Kubo and Karabao.. cute!

bright eyed Andre so focus and entertained 

Little Drummer Boys

 Next stop was the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.. this had the longest line of all the rides we took.. we waited in line for more than 30 minutes. Then we did our pasalubong shopping at the exit.. by the time we left the souvenir shop .. it was dark and the fireworks was about to start..

All smiles even if we are already tired of waiting in line. We just have to find
ways to entertain the kids

The Pooh Story Ride finally !

There were so many more places to go to like..the Jungle River Cruise, Tarzan Island,Mad Hatter Tea Cup.. haven't even entered Sleeping Beauty's Castle. The Space Mountain that Adrian was so eager to ride but was already closed when we left the souvenir shop. We also missed the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and riding the train of the Disneyland Railroad.

So its safe to assume that we shall return to Disneyland...or maybe World?! hehehe! But we're definitely visiting during winter :)

The Heart Shaped Fireworks from Cinderella's Castle

its everybody's our first time to see Mickey Mouse in person :)

Mickey gives AJ a big hug

Too excited to meet Mickey

Got a hug from Winnie The Pooh

Goofin' with Goofy

 AJ hugging Dale while Chip looks over.