It's the season

Tis the season for parties

and getting together with friends

Hope the rush is not keeping you away from the true spirit...

5 more days...

Presenting my painting classmates

our advanced celebration of Thanksgiving

moved dessert to the living room

say cheese! me w/ my sling

interesting conversations

party ended late, no one was rushing to head home!

Been talking about my painting class for a long time

but my husband hasn't met them yet save for two of them

I would always talk about my class and classmates with much fondness

And yes, my eyes do twinkle after class

It is just rejuvenating and inspiring

I told my hubby, children , and yeah, even my Mom (who I talk to everyday for hours)

that my classmates are more mature

and therefore has a lot of wisdom to share

I think my husband was not prepared to see

that they (not all)really are much older than me

and my Mom finds it amusing that I have friends who's more like her age group

Age doesn't matter

I do enjoy talking to older people

But then again , I also have friends 2 decades younger than me

What I like about my life is that

I have interactions with all ages

Not only my kids or their friends for the young ones

but I have students I converse with regularly as well

I have friends also in their 20's still finding love or hoping to settle down

They usually ask me for advice

In their 30's,

My age group, the 40's

I have 50's, 60's, 70's, and oldest one is 90, and yes they are real friends

People I talk to, share laughs with and most importantly we share our lives

Life is really what you make of it

It throws surprises that sometimes take you aback

Which challenges you to be better

And then it also throws amazing people

who just make life all the more interesting and inspiring

And for that I would like to say thanks to.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our painting class's Thanksgiving dinner

before guests arrive

Though we're in the Philippines and not Americans

Our painting class decided to celebrate Thanksgiving

It's a week early since several will be travelling out of the country

I think it's a good tradition to have a special day to give thanks

for the past year

Since I am the one they never ask to bring any food to class

As they always tease me I would just bother my chef husband

I decided to host a thanksgiving dinner

as my thank you for our class

And of course, I did bother my husband, hahaha...

More on the next post...

Simple dinner with friends

w/ Rima & Mai, David, Alexa Kaufman

The week has really been a busy, tiring but very fruitful one

Monday started with meeting with my volunteer work in the community

Tuesday was exciting but can't tell you til November

Wednesday, covered an event

then Thursday, had friends over for a simple dinner

Haven't seen Mai in a long time

Though we're always in touch

Rima, on the other hand, we're always in communication with each other

Love her new 'do

So it was one of those nights where you just hang out with friends and enjoy their company

Though sleeping at midnight is not on top of my list

It was sure worth the 5 and half hours of sleep.

Great catching up!

Teasers

our appetizer : scallops , my youngest helped in slicing and preparing/plating this

main course

Okay, since my hubby doesn't like me taking photos of food

Had to sneak in these photos

It helps when you have a top chef in your kitchen

He gets to work while you entertain the guests, haha

Enjoy...

Fab dinner with friends

this is me after the party

after party

We hosted a dinner last night for the godparents of my son in Confirmation
Was really a fabulous time being around people you like

And intellectual people whom you can converse with

With just about anything

Sharing thoughts, ideas and learning from their different fields of expertise

We weren't able to take photos as we were involved with the gastronomic delights

prepared by my husband

So these are just the photos I can share

I hope you sort of get a glimpse of the fun we had...

Happy Monday!

Sunday's dinner

antique musical instrument from Bali

Our dinner last night

Thank God for weekends.

Have a good week ahead!

Home with a view

casual set-up, serving take out Chinese food from Eat Well

our home with a view

One of the last dinners I will probably host in this home
As I am gone the whole day

Site inspection and meetings in the morning

then catechism class in the afternoon

Decided to just serve take out food from Eat Well

Had a wonderful time

talking about life, the world

and just about anything one can think of

I have hosted countless parties and dinners

at this home of ours

I love entertaining

My guest, last night, asked me

if I would miss the place

to which I replied a ho-hum answer

We've moved countless times

as it's part of the expat life

In Bangkok alone, we moved 3 times in a span

of 2.5 years!

The thing we've done to always make it feel at home

despite the difference in country or location

was have the same pieces

When we started out, we never bought stuff for the sake of it

We always waited til we find the right one

Hence, we plan to keep the same stuff in the new home

Interesting how it would look in a totally different perspective

I am so at home in our home

I love it

It still evokes a feeling of warmth & coziness

I still enjoy looking at it to this day

Being greeted by the greenery of the golf course in the morning

while being hypnotized by the skyscrapers at night

and the cars moving by the flyover

It's lovely, mesmerizing

and comforting

It is home

It was in the past 6 years

and it will , in my memory,

Forever be

top from Bossini, more than a decade old, skirt : Folded & Hung, bag : Isaac Mizrahi for Target

This was me yesterday

Again the great chaperone

Was looking forward to a quiet Saturday

but I guess that's not possible

Reason why I oftentimes write if something's old

is to prove that if you take care of your things

even when they're not expensive, they will last

Oh yeah, for delicate clothes, use Perwoll

My eldest went to paintball camp

while I have to chaperone the other one

to tennis class

In between, I was going around home depot

and Rockwell

And no, I haven't been shopping for myself

I gotta say, the hardware store shopping

has taken my appetite for clothes, etc

My husband accompanied me to the store

showed him the tiles I chose

Man, he needed to disapprove of some

I wanted one bathroom to be feminine

He had to intercept

Am supposed to be the decorator here

Although, truth be told

He agreed in the end

I had to show him with the help of the staff

how the look would be together with all the

sinks, wcs, tiles,etc.

It would've been much easier if the decision

was all mine, haha

But marriage is always about compromise

and choosing which battles you want to win

Happy Sunday!

Beauty in Rusticity

Anne G.

our rustic setting

Had another fulfilling day.

Spent the whole morning in a Board Meeting.

I enjoy that, planning, coming up with solutions.

Hearing other people's opinions on things.

Broadens your mind and perspective.

Home for lunch and time with my kids.

Then met with the staff for some pep talk.

Went over to my neighbor's , Anna, to visit her cute son.
Got a call from my friend Reg Yuson that he's in the area.

Am so proud of Reg, he's so cerebral.

Went out with Reg, showed him the space then we went to S&R.

Had to buy some stuff for my dinner tonight.

Went home then prepared for the dinner.

Culminating with having a friend over .

Lovely day.

Got to do things for others, got to enjoy time at home.

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?

Enjoy your Friday!