Oh Christmas Day

I spent the 24th and the 25th with the family as usual. We attended the Misa de Aguinaldo at around 9pm of the 24th. When we got home from the mass we already ate Noche Buena and then started opening gifts at around 11pm. Di na nakaintay! My parents are getting old they can't stay up late for too long! Joema and I usually give them separate gifts. Pagkasal na kami as one na lang yung gift dapat magtipid na e harhar. We gave my mom two blouses - one polo shirt actually and other blousy blouse. Then to my father I gave him a polo barong and Joema gave him board shorts. My brother naman gave them watches (nung nakabalot akala nila sabon haha!) To my brother I gave two shirts while he got messenger bag from Joema. I actually benefit from that coz now he doesn't have to borrow bags from me. Anyways, Joema and I joke that we should ask our parents (both sets) to have dinner and then they should use their Christmas presents kasi ako I gave his mother the same blouse I gave my mom (same color, same style, different sizes) and then the same polo barong din to his father (different color, same style, same sizes). Naku baka yun ang isuot nila pag namanhikan hahaha! Ako I only opened a gift or two from my officemates which I know are body lotions. The rest I opened on the 25th coz I waited for Joema. After opening the gifts, my parents went to bed and my brother went to his girlfriend naman. Hay iba na talaga pag tumatanda ang mga bata may kanya-kanya ng buhay. Ako naman I waited for midnight. Although I slept around 1am din. Our Christmas celebration is really very simple basta attend mass, Noche Buena and opening gifts ayos na.

The next day, Christmas day, Joema went straight from work to our place. We let him eat breakfast first before we all trooped to my Tita and Lola's house. Ayun he got to meet everyone although he met most of them naman na talaga. We stayed there for a couple of hours making chika and eating again haha. My cousin bought his IMac so he and Joema has something in common to talk about. Not that Joema has one hahaha but he knows the features and other hooplas being a tech support and all. The joke is you should call him kasi he won't be able to help you pag face to face. I borrowed three DVDs from Adam - Stardust, Underdog and I Know Who Killed Me. We watched Stardust when we got home. Sidekwento lang about the DVDs I borrowed. I loved Robert de Niro in Stardust. He was believable na gay ha! Unlike other actors na obvious na umaarteng bakla. And Michelle Pfeifer is beautiful - the most beautiful witch ever! Underdog was okay, movie na pambata. Ika nga ng mga entry sa Metro Manila Filmfest pambata kaya panoorin dahil ang Pasko ay para sa bata. Crazy! But that movie of Lindsay Lohan sucks! I thought it was drama at first and then was hoping na medyo deep yung movie dahil parang Indie film ang dating coz it was kinda dark and the character had conflict. And then it turned parang scifi sya. Now I have to reserach kung totoo ba yang stigmata twin na yan or they just cooked it up for the film. Oopps! I should have done a separate post for the movies. Back to my story: we hadn't finished watching the movie when we ate lunch. Interesting part yung lunch coz my mother and my father told Joema na about the family stories (father side). You see their story is straight out of a telenovela. I don't want to tell it here coz it's not really my business. Kumbaga pag ginawang pelikula e supporting role lang ako. Yung pwedeng wala naman don pero pandagdag lang sa cast hahaha. Very juicy kasi yung details sometimes I can't believe it really happened.

I forgot na Joema and I opened gifts pala before we watched the movie. We didn't have gifts for each other. No material gifts - tama na muna yung pagmamahal at pagkakalinga wahahaha. Sweet talk for no moolah! After all that, Joema had to go home na to be with his family naman. Although pagdating nya sa bahay nila nagtulog lang ang loko. Ako naman I watched the two other DVDs. Next year hopefully, it will be a little different - different coz I will be married but just a little coz we'll surely be celebrating it with our family.

Happy holidays!

Getting Sick during Holidays

Yep, you read that right. I'm sick right smack in the middle of my vacation leave. I was on leave yesterday and was supposed to have dinner and watch a movie with some friends. But I had to beg off because of this f*cking fever. I had chills the night before yesterday but I only thought it was because of the cold weather. When I took my temp it was 37.7. Argh! Tonight my girlfriends and I are supposed to have a slumber party Sharon's house (she's home for the holidays) but I have to tell them I won't be coming. Huhuhu. I'm feeling a lot better now but I have to watch my temp because last night before I went to sleep I was okay, then I woke up at 3am and felt feverish again. This sucks big time. I hope I'm feeling 100% better come New Year's eve.

Santa's Elves

You wanna see us dance? Go here.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas! Let's not forget the real reason for this day and share our blessings to our less fortunate brothers. I hope you have a meaningful yuletide season.

Reservations

In our recent travels out of the country like in Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu, I’ve usually booked our hotels online. What I usually do is I google “Hong Kong hotels” or “Kota Kinabalu hotels” and then search on the different websites that is listed on the search results. Little did I know that Hotel Reservations exists. This is like a one stop shop for travel bugs like me. I can book our hotels from this site. And not only hotels but flights in and out of the country. They even offer vacation packages. Aside from the time you save, you also save money because they offer the lowest rates. Next time we travel I will book from this site.




This post is sponsored.

We're Engaged!

I can't get over the fact that we're actually engaged. Huwaw ganon pala feeling non. We've been talking about getting married pero iba pala talaga when you finally hear those words asking you to marry him. Hay!

Yesterday was supposed to be our housewarming party for Mands. Kaso nag-backout si Steve cause he was sick, then si Jose had practice for their Christmas party presentation, Charline and Allan had to beg off na rin cause super trouble for them to commute from the south all the way to Commonwealth, si Penny nagback-out na rin dahil may family lunch pala sila. So yes my original plans didn't push through kaya I told Joema he can come by the house na lang dahil wala akong gagawin. Ayaw pa nya nung una dahil originally dapat today kami magkikita 16th (kaya pala gustong sa monthsary makipagkita). Anyways, so yon he got here around 2pm dahil he had to meet his brother pa in SM North.

We were kissing and fooling around (haha naughty!) when he suddenly stopped and reached for a red box. Ohmygas! This is it!

Me: Seryoso ko ba? (when he handed me the box)
We hugged then I started crying.
Joema: Marry me. (It sounded like a statement to me, not a question)
More crying from me. And hugging. And kissing.
Joema: Gusto ko palagi na tayo magkasama.
Crying. Hugging. Kissing. Crying. More crying. Exchanging of I-love-you's. Crying still.
Joema: Nililigawan palang kita alam ko gusto na kita pakasalan. (Awwww!)
Crying. Hugging. Kissing. More crying. Crying pa rin. Exchanging of I-love-you's. Buckets of tears.
Until he finally said:
Joema: Hindi ka pa sumasagot...
Cris: Yes (and still crying!)

Tinanong pa nya kung nagustuhan ko yung ring dahil di ko pa agad sinuot. E pano naman busy ako kakaiyak noh! hahaha! The ring was a bit big so I'm earing it now in my middle finger. We'll have it resized this coming week.



In my pambahay after the proposal. Fcuk you!




Watching Vacancy after the proposal. (pangit ng kamay ko!)




Wrapping Christmas gifts after the proposal.




I've imagined of elaborate and grand proposals pero this was just perfect. It's so him and so us. Steady lang sa house and just the two of us.

Messenger gets shot

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS.

ALWAYS. ALWAYS. ALWAYS. ALWAYS. ALWAYS.

It's All Good

Last Friday was Tita Percy's daughter's wedding and fortunately we were invited. Lorena and I went to make usyoso haha. It was both our first time to attend a wedding at Fernwood Garden. We left the office at 3pm because the invitation indicated 4pm as the start of the ceremony. We were there at 3:40! No traffic on a Friday from Ortigas to QC! Walastik! E kaso mo late nag-start ang ceremony so tagal namin nag-intay. As usual while waiting picture taking muna.







The procession of the entourage started at 5pm. But the bride walked down the aisle a few minutes before 5:30pm dahil sa dami ng entourage.



It was my second time to attend a Christian wedding but this was different from the first one. Dito, pagdating ng bride sa altar tinanong agad ng pastor yung "Do you accept this man/woman to be your husband/wife?" With Patrick and Heili's wedding I don't remember that being the first part. Or am I really that forgetful. Gosh! That was like four years ago lang nakalimutan ko na agad?!??! Back to the wedding, aside from that sa Christian wedding pala parang wala masyadong role ang principal sponsors. Unlike sa Catholic wedding where the principal sponsors are the ones, together with the parents, bless the union of the couple. Dun sa wedding na yun parang in-acknowledge lang nung pastor yung principal sponsors and thanked them for being ninong/ninang. Aside from the exchange of vows, the couple also said some things to honor their parents. Syempre medyo nangilid ang luha ko when Iriz mentioned Tita Percy.

The reception was fun. Aside from the fact that it was then that we got to eat hehehe, may audio-visual presentation that tells the story of the couple and also yung hotel preps and some snippets from the ceremony and reception itself. They also had games. May "Bring Me" which asks for the guests to bring something related to the love story of the couple kaya medyo madali hulaan kung anong ipapakuha nila. Na-coach ko pa si Lorena na yung next na itatanong was dirver's license because the couple's first date was at LTO hehe. Binigay tuloy nya sa kin yung prize nya. =D They also had "Love It + Hate It" game. They chose 5 couples to participate and the couples had to answer love it or hate it depending on the question pero syempre they have to have the same answer. Tita Julie and Tito Philip almost won.



Sayang! They did not get the last question "Does your wife love or hate whipped cream in bed?" Hate it sagot ni Tita Julie while Tito Philip answered love it. Then Ms. Aggie, being a ninang, said a few things for the couple. She said that their marriage lasted for 30 years (their wedding anniversary is this Dec 17) because in those 30 years, every time they said "I love you" they follow it up with a question "Are you happy?" She said that you should always seek your partner's happiness because in his/her happiness you will find your own. Basta something to that effect which is really true noh. You will be happy if your partner is happy. Sabay giving emphasis to the pastor's sermon na "It's good" kasi daw si Lord when he made this earth (Genesis) at the end of every day he would say "It's good." It's all good. Anyway, when Ms. Aggie mentioned that its also their anniversary, the host asked her husband to get in front and they were asked tokiss each other for 10 seconds. Pero more than 10 seconds pa yon kasi super bagal magbilang 10....9.... tapos sa dulo 2...2...2... di na ata natapos. =P




Here's wishing that Iriz and Don's marriage will also last more than 30 years! I know that will make Tita Percy happy.

SanFo Treats

I've been missing Grace lately. One of the reasons for this, I think, is that I'm envious Joel will be seeing her this Saturday. He's going to the States for a one month vacation. He was insisting that we should throw him a despedida. We didn't cave in although Gary and I met up with him for dinner yesterday. It was supposed to be last Thursday but because of the attempted coup Joel wasn't able to make it.

Anyway last night we parted ways by 9pm. It's either we're all getting old for late night-outs or because it's an ordinary weekday and they (Joel and Gary) both have to go home from Makati to Fairview. With the long ride home and throw in the traffic jam caused by the Christmas rush it was understandable they wanted to go home early. The two hours worth of tsismis was enough to satiate the tsismosa in me hihihi.

Anyways, back to Grace. I bought her a DVD copy of A Love Story. I should have bought it over the weekend, instead of just yesterday during lunch time, so that I could have watched it before giving it to Joel harhar. Joel got a bit worried when he saw it because he will be bringing two copies with him - one for Grace and the other one for his cousin. He said he might be suspected of selling the DVDs there. I hope not. Grace was also asking me to buy her polvoron from Goldilocks but Joel didn't want to bring any food with him. Aside from this, she asked me if I can buy her disposable contact lenses. She gave me her grade as +3.25 and +2.75. The two optical shops I went to told me that they still have to order it (because of the "+") and it will take a week before I get them. When I told her this this morning, she apparently gave me the wrong grade and it doesn't have to be "+". Anyways, she also asked me if she can have my financial calculator. She said that Texas Instruments is not making those models anymore. They are releasing new ones and Grace is not comfortable using the new models. So I will be stuck with the new model and she with the old. I'm okay with that because she's giving me seasons 1 and 2 of Prison Break plus DVD coy of 300. Double yay! I'm so happy! I wish Joel would come back home soon so that I can have the DVDs already hehe. But I'm still envious they'll be seeing each other even for just one or two days. They will be meeting up in San Francisco, that's Joel's first stop in the US.

I should really apply for a US visa. One reason to go there next year is Karen's wedding. Ooooh I hope I have enough money!

Furniture for your Home

At the bank where I’m employed, staff may avail of the housing loan with interest lower than commercial banks. That is after five years of being an employee. So I have 2 more years to go before I can avail of that special benefit. For now, I will just drool over furniture in Furniture From Home. You can choose your furniture by room, by style or by color. And ordering is just one click away. Just choose the furniture that best suit your home and your taste and you're good to go. For me, I like going through the site by room. You can see in full the combination of the different pieces of furniture in one room. I love it! If you can’t afford to pay for an interior designer you can always look at their rooms and then just buy the pieces of furniture there. It’s a complete guide in furnishing your home.

Here at home, we probably should by a new sofa. I so love their recliners. I wonder if I could egg my mom to buy one. They have a lot of options too if you're looking for a bed. I especially like this loft bed with desk. Such a space saver! If you have kids, you have to check out their kid bedroom furniture.

It's so easy to navigate this site. Equally helpful are their Lifestyle Suggestions and Furniture Tips that are located at the bottom right portion of their homepage. Check it out!

It's beginning..

...to look a lot like Christmas. We've finally set-up our Christmas tree this year. That is, after spending a few years without it. I think the last time we had it was in 2000 or 2001. Ever since my parents came back from living in the province, we haven't had a Christmas tree in our home. Christmas has been very different now with five adults (including our help) in the house. I remember when we where kids, we'll be very excited to wait up for twelve midnight and then open our presents from our parents and Santa Claus. Actually, we usually hear the midnight mass then come back home for the presents. When we were teenagers, we have our younger cousins come over to eat with us and open their presents with us. But they eventually grew up too. Now, more than ever, I really that Christmas is for children. It's really not that exciting for me anymore...because I don't get as many presents hahaha! Just kidding! The truth is now that I'm an adult, I feel the Christmas spirit once I buy the gifts for my family, relatives and friends. Because it is really that…sharing what you have. Anyways, aside from the Christmas tree we also bought new curtains and pillow cases to make our home more Christmas-y.

On other news, aside from my tell-tale signs that Christmas is around the corner our unit has also celebrated our Christmas party last Wednesday, even before the Trillanes brouhaha. My “mommy” gave me two books. Yippii!!! I was actually expecting just one in the list of five books that I gave so I was really happy to get two with a bookmark to boot! Oh, and my "baby" gave me Toblerone. =D

How about you, how do you know that Christmas is nearing? Do you attend Misa de Gallo? I was never able to finish the nine novena masses for this. I always end up missing one or two because of Christmas parties and dinner with friends. So I now I just don't go to any of the nine unless of course during the regular Sunday masses hehe.

$ $ $

I need extra cash because I have been saving up for something. Before, I usually help students with their Math subjects as their tutor. But I am not really into that. I only do it if someone asks me to or someone referred me. I don’t really seek out students who are having problems in Math. But now, I think I found an easy way to earn extra cash - while sitting at home in front of the PC and surfing the net. I recently signed up at PayPerPost. I first saw this from some of the blogs I read frequently and some that I just bump into. And all of them are happy with the income they are generating from PayPerPost. The deal is you write stuff about their advertisers and then they review your blogpost and then you get paid if you pass their requirements. You also need to sign-up for a PayPal account. Isn’t that easy? I get to blog and earn money. I guess the easy part comes with the option of choosing which subjects/items I can write about. Of course, I will always choose those things that I am familiar with or am interested in. I am actually excited. As their badge says “Get paid while blogging about the things you love”. Ka-ching!