My Annual Birthday and Christmas Wish List

20 more days before my birthday. And if its not your first time in here, you'll know that I keep this one blog tradition... where I help my friends pick out gifts for me. (go ahead type in the search box above "Annual Birthday and Christmas wish list" or here 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004) ...  I know how hard it is when there are just too many people on your list and you don't know what to get them.. not because you don't know what they want or like... but because there are just too many options. In my annual Birthday and Christmas Wish List, some of them I got, some of them I don't... but as they say, it's the thought that counts.

For for this year, I have been thinking of what I want for my Birthday and Christmas... And to tell you honestly, I can't think of any material things... well maybe except for that RED KEDS Sneakers (worn by Taylor Swift) that crossed my mind.  But other than that, there's none.

But an inspiration came to me when Keevee, ask permission to go to the post office so she can mail her do-it-yourself postcard swap! And I said I want one too! I remember back in October when I sent out postcards to my friends Sonny, Keevee and Anni (she wants a Koala so I sent her one! hehe!) I was so giddy to send postcards for the first time and how happy the recipients where when they got them.... I want to have that too... that happy feeling when you received a snail mail... since in this technologically infested world, we start to become lazy in stuff like these....

And so the only thing on my Birthday and Christmas wish list this year is to get POSTCARDS from friends, family and even strangers (if they care enough to wish me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, they are all welcome to send one) from all around the WORLD. It would truly make me a HAPPY Birthday Girl!

May it be a do-it-yourself postcard or from a newsstand or from the neighborhood bookstore... it doesn't matter, because its the thought that counts and the effort too :)


Message me on Twitter and I'll DM you my address xx

xoxo,
S

Multiply.com Shuts Down Blog/ Photo Sharing Service

I've bid farewell to another social network that I have come to love. Multiply.com has changed its platform to a marketplace online, thus last quarter, they have announced that they are shutting down the blog/photo sharing services. I have been a member since 20 September 2005 and I have shared thousands of photos both for my site and my son which I created a few months before I gave birth 11 May 2006. A lot of memories on this site. I have registered as  premium member to be able to upload hi-res photos so I can share them with friends and family (Facebook then was in the shadows of Harvard).

But as they say, good things had to come to an end. But the end was never easy, especially if you need to back up thousands of photos. Multiply gave tips on how to download the media that members uploaded (via Chrome or Firefox) but none of them was successful enough to complete the task. So I had to go manual.

1.From Media Locker
2. Click Photos
3. Choose the photos you want to Download
4. Click Download and save zip file on your hard drive.

 They said that they'll shutdown the blogsite by December 1 ,2012, but I can still access my 2 accounts. So if you haven't finished saving or downloading your files, you can still continue to do so. Until when? that I don't know.

My Borrowed Heaven

The World According to Andre

Thank you for the 7 years Multiply.com

xoxo,
S

Sydney Scrap Book: Day Nine

Sunday was spent in the Suburbs of Sydney.. Just like in the Philippines, Sunday is a family day. Went to hear mass at St. Brigid Chapel (i'm kicking myself for not taking a photo of the place!). This is my second time to hear mass here in Australia (first on was at St. Mary's Cathedral) and what i notice is that, they shook hands to say peace be with you (not just bowing their heads like we do here in the Philippines).

After the Mass, on our way back to the Apartment

This is our Street, Arden Street, our home away from home

Hubby and I went to have lunch at his cousin’s place at Plumpton. Going there would take about an hour and a half from our place in Coogee.. via Bus and Train but  due to some unfortunate events, it took us almost 4 hours to get there because there was a fatality at the Lidcombe Rail Station (Depression is everywhere, even in first world). We were at Burwood Station at the time of the accident where the train had to stop until they are cleared to proceed so all passengers had to alight the train and get on a bus going to Strathfield to continue our journey. 

My favorite Station, Central

  
                       

From Strathfield we are again suppose to board another Bus to take us to Parramatta Station. But good thing, one of the ground Marshall at the Strathfield station went to the bus stop and announced that the train is now boarding to leave in 1 minute… my husband and I were like running a marathon just to catch that first train leaving the station. It was actually the same train that we alight from at Burwood. Finally we arrived at Rooty Hill Station where we were picked up by Kuya Benny.

When we got to Plumpton, the food was already served at the dining table (there were veggies, fresh seafood and grilled pork) and I was excited to see RICE!! Yes, for the past 8 days I haven’t had RICE and I haven’t been this glad to see them on the table.. I think I had more servings than hubby did and I was too hungry to take pictures of our food (sorry!) We stayed there until past 5pm and took the train again back to the city, this time Ate Elsa and the fam bam took us to Parramatta Station so we’ll have a shorter train ride.

And since it is my last day, I wanted to take some Bon Bon Chocolates back home.. but since it was already 7pm when we got to George St. where they have a branch at QVB, it was already closed. We took a chance and walked to the Strand near Westfield  to see if that branch is still open… but to no avail :( all i got was a photo op.

Since I still have 2  more items in my Sydney Trip to-do-list  that I haven’t done yet (which is cross the Harbour Bridge -- climbing it is too expensive for me -- and see Luna Park), so Hubby took me there before going back to Coogee.

Known as The Strand Arcade, The Strand' was built in 1891 and was opened in 1892, as the fifth and last of the arcades built in Sydney in the Victorian era. It is the only one remaining in its original form today according to Wikipedia

why do they close so early?

My last glance to my favorite Queen Victoria Building (QVB) before i say goodbye to this beautiful place.

Between those skyscrapers, a Victorian architecture holds its own character

A mixture of Old and New at the central business district of Sydney

waiting for the train to take us to Luna Park

The lights of the buildings at CBD and the Harbour Bridge was a sight to see… Luna Park (which have a scary entrance) had a great view of both Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, After the mandatory photo op at Luna Park and the Bridge, we took the ferry back to Circular Quay and had Hungry Jacks for dinner  while we wait at the Bus Stop for our ride back to Coogee.

Harbour Bridge and CBD at Night

Scary Luna Park

The Sydney Opera House and CBD

 

My last day was filled with unexpected unfortunate events but ended we a majestic sight of lights from Luna Park, Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. This vacation is too short and I vow to come back soon… with my son this time... oh he'd love the open free space of  Sydney's parks : )

xoxo,

S

Sydney Scrap Book : Day Eight

Its a beachy day today! We went to Bondi Beach today...its a weekend and we are expecting lots of people (topless people) on the beach today. But unfortunately for the men who I'm with (Erik and Hubby) there were no topless women.. but half naked men are all over the place so I'm happy and they are not.

Had late lunch at the Bucket List which was highly recommended by Hubby. We ate King Prawns, Fish and Chips (mind you if they say chips it means french fries ,not the crunchy potato chips here in Manila) and BBQ Lamb. It was delish... especially the King Prawns.

Hello Bondi Beach

King Prawn Bucket at Bucket List

After Lunch, we loitered along the beach walk in search of the Sculptures by the Sea which Hubby's officemate recommended we go see since its only available for viewing until Nov. 4th... but to no avail, it was actually at the other end of the beach towards Tamarama Beach. So we headed there, now joined by their other colleagues, Phil and Joy.

in search of the Sculptures by the sea with Hubby's colleagues

The Sculptures by the Sea are additional attraction for the coastal walkers

paper boats

with the view of the pacific ocean

some kind of a dog... or a chair or something. I think its a something.

Have you heard of the Coastal Walk? They say its a must to all visitors of Sydney to do the Coastal Walk. This is a 6-kilometers walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee. It should take about 2-hours from Bondi to Coogee, in a steady pace without too many stops. And I planned to do this...my hubby who had done this

walk before vowed not to do it again... and he had apprehension if i can do it... he says I can't. But hey, I am a Capricorn and I am more determined to do it when others say I can't do it. To prove him wrong. I did it. Alone. Yes, I am stubborn like that. But I glad I did because it was the most fulfilling and amazing walk I have ever made in this entire trip...maybe even my entire life.

with my havaianas on, i'm ready for this!

The coastal walk starts here....

Bondi from afar 

Sculpture by the sea ends at Tamarama Beach

I have arrived at Bronte Beach ... Halfway to go!

I saw a local doing a Tree Pose. Have a balance Life.

To Coogee says the sign: I'm on the right track

The Cemetery

That bench at Clovelly Beach is so inviting.... but sun set is coming.

Sweet. Life. Surprises.

I made my mark. Finally at Coogee Beach after 3 hours of Coastal Walking

Walked through 5 Beaches namely, Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach and Coogee Beach, a Cemetery, several Parks and Reserves in 3 hours with more occasional stops for photographs.

So if you plan to visit Sydney... put this in you must do list...but i warn you, its not for the lazy and people who does not love nature..... because they will die of boredom and the next thing you know, they already hopped on a bus at the next stop.

Enjoy the scenic view of Sydney :)

XOXO
S.

Sydney Scrap Book : Day Seven

Today, I woke up early to join Hubby for breakfast at Café 407 which is at the ground floor of their office building. This is so, I won't be late for my pick up point at central station...Ate Elsa and Kuya Benny will be taking me to see the Olympic Park which is a bit far from the city.

We arrived at Hubby's office just past 8am and had a big breakfast with slices of bacon, sausages, 2 eggs, 2 slices of bread some mushrooms and tomatoes and of course a cup of latte... I wasn't bored waiting for 2 hours because of the free WiFi haha.. you know me and free WiFi we have an unspoken attraction :P
And when they arrived I was so excited to go that I just realized that I didn't have my seat belt on until we arrived at the Park. Thank goodness there was no check point or something.. or else Kuya Benny's license could be suspended because of me.

With ate Elsa at the ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park

Hi Mate! one of the workers at the Olympic Park Posed with me at the Olympic Cauldron Sign

 the Olympic Cauldron

names of the athletes are etched on this metal plates

So after taking pictures at the ANZ Stadium, the Olympic Cauldron, we went to the nearby Lake Belvedere and Parks for more photos. Kuya Benny became our photographer and had jump shots with ate Elsa by the fountain.

with Kuya Benny (cloudy day isn't it?)

at Lake Belvedere with Ate Elsa

had to do a jump shot... :) Ate Elsa is so game!

Afterwhich we had lunch at D.F.O. which actually means Direct Factory Outlets where all items are on sale and at factory prices. I resisted  shopping and successfully done so, oh why should they have an Esprit outlet here??! But still my head won over my heart because I didn't buy any.... But ate Elsa did haha!... that's her Esprit shopping bag I'm holding.

no no no.. stop stop stop...i must resist temptation

Not my shopping bag! haha!

We headed to Rooty Hill and bought some meat at their favorite butcher, Jory's Meat Shop which is owned by a Filipino, as requested by hubby since we will be having some steak-party dinner at the apartment later.

Plumpton, is one of the 3 areas where Filipino communities live in Sydney ( the other two are Rooty Hill and Blacktown), This is my last stop for the day at Ate Elsa's home. I took an hour train ride back to the city Central Station and meet with Hubby and Eric carrying 2 kilos of meat. When we arrived at the apartment, Eric took care of the Grill, Hubby marinated the T-Bone Steak with salt and pepper and I prepared the mashed potatoes and the steamed veggies... It was a hearty meal.. and cheaper than dining out :)

Before and Prepping

After .. Bon appetit!

Tomorrow... it beachy day! night kiddos!

xoxo,
S