17 years

It's been 17 years since our first date
and yes, to this day,  we still celebrate it
That day led us to where we are now
and with those two adorable products that came from the union

Our first date, we went out for a movie
and I didn't have a clue that he would be the one I'd say "I do" to


Here's to love and why we shouldn't give up on it...

Enjoy the week!

My paparazzi's at it again!

Great Wall of China
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China

My husband always takes paparazzi shots of me
It is a thrill cause the only time I get to know is when I use his computer
(which explains why I am able to blog)
Being together for 17 years, I think it's cute that he still finds me, well, uhm, cute! haha

Was at the Great Wall, we love visiting wonders of the world
Had the best time!

Enjoy your Easter!

Is there an unselfish deed?

Today's Wednesday
Am on my 2nd year of teaching CCD (Continuing Catholic Development)
Last year, I thought will just try it out
Since my son was anyway going too
If you read the blog regularly
You remember how nervous I was about teaching kids
After awhile, you gain confidence
You get your own style
You get your groove
And you get to know and love the students
It then becomes easier, fulfilling

When I signed up again this year
My hubby asked, he thinks I sign up for too many pro bonos
I said, yea, am enjoying it
And part of it is am saving up points
til I get to that desired destination
the one that doesn't involve credit card points, haha

So today, it was raining so hard
And I just let go of my driver so no one to drive me
Such a shallow predicament, you might say
But in Manila, it can be if you're used to it

Was I tempted not to go, yes
Especially since it was raining bad
And my son's varsity practice got cancelled
So he's home early
It was tempting to stay home and be comfortable
and not take a cab

But then, one's gotta do, what one has to do
The guard got me a cab, no problem
Off I went to class
I even had another class join in cause their teacher was absent

I taught, we discussed, had activities, played games
Class ended
Mom came over to me and said her daughter always looks forward to CCD class
Another mom said, her daughter said she has the best teacher
Is it worth it?
You bet it is!

So while in the cab going home
I thought, it was worth going to class today
I enjoyed it
I feel good
Which made me think of that episode in Friends about doing an unselfish thing
When we do good things, we feel good, does it become a selfish act?
Nah, we do it without the intention of feeling good, it is after the unselfish act is done
that the good feeling comes in

Whether unselfish acts turn to selfish satisfaction
I want to look at it as a win-win situation

Happy middle of the week!

Serenity

While working on the computer yesterday
This was my view
Just one of those moments
When you just look up and say thank you.

Beautiful, clear day
I can see the mountains and the river
And the 2 people I love most

May you all have a good Friday!

Vanity cares

preparing for an event

at an event

Since I do the society pages of Town & Country magazine

I always go to events

I really enjoy what I'm doing since I love meeting people

I'm also a full time mom and doing this is another aspect of my personality/life

On my last birthday

My hubby wanted to give me Jimmy Choos

I said no

Huwhatt??? What normal woman would say no to that?

Well, told you am not normal, haha

Told him I want something for the house instead

So, he came up with the idea of giving me a vanity table

Suweett!!!

Thank you for my belated birthday gift!

You really know what tickles my fancy.

Stay happy!

A wedding we will go

Attended a wedding last night

Couple were prom dates

Just in their late 20's but been together for 10 years

Everyone has a cute love story to tell

Best wishes!

I have a teenager!

Happy, happy birthday to the one who first called me Mama.
Showed me how much love I am capable of

Can't believe how much you've grown
And how time just flies like the blink of an eye

And all the changes I've seen and observed
How we're now going through that challenging phase of teenhood
But with you as my first
I know the journey will be magnificent.

Happy birthday, my dearest!

My photographer in tow

inside the grand Angkor Wat

photo credit: my husband

walking to Ta Prohm where Tomb Raider was shot

by Bayon temple

I don't know any other person (okay, fine, my youngest is another budding photographer)

who takes my photos best than my hubby

He loves and I mean loves taking photographs

and lucky me, he likes me as his subject, at times

So, on my birthday

he was trigger happy with his camera

and asks me from time to time

amidst the wonder of the world

to shoot his own "wonder", hahaha

Really great sites we saw today

You'll be amazed at the work and talent that was put in

Such intricacy & detail

All the more you appreciate how God gives everyone talents

for all of us to enjoy

Happy birthday to me!

My brother's wedding

photo taken by my 9-year-old

w/ their cousins

my hubby was godfather

The last of my siblings to get married

Everyone's now settled

Since we have the groom

All preparations were done by the other team

We basically just showed up

My husband was one of the godfathers, I was commentator in Church

and our youngest was Bible bearer

Weddings are always a merry time

Seeing relatives and family friends

Relatives came home from the States

just to witness this special occasion

As I was watching my brother walk down the aisle with my mom and older brother

I can't help but remember my dad

He must be smiling to know that finally his youngest found a partner

Can't help to think about our wedding too

We had a beautiful wedding

We even had a horse and a carriage as our bridal car

To this day, people talk about it

My mom even said a friend of my brother's who just visited from the States

and was one of our groomsmen at that time

Said our wedding was his dream wedding

And that was 14 years ago!

But you know what

more than the beautiful, well-planned wedding

the Forever part is what couples signed up for

Weddings are just a prelude to the work one needs to make it work I had my dream wedding, yeah, I got the one which I dreamed about

when I was still a little girl

But come to think of it, didn't get to enjoy that much

all we did was take photos with people

Beautiful and yes, perfect as it was

I didn't have so much fun

It was really for other people

I am just glad

That I am having fun in my marriage.

And that's where it really counts.

Stay in love!

Those candid shots

This afternoon when I was outside the roofdeck feeling the nice breeze

Tagaytay

Tagaytay, Feb 25

My husband loves taking photographs

He dislikes being in them though

This afternoon, I was having my own taste of Sunday

Kids were doing their own thing

Playing Wii

Thought my husband was in the computer

and I wanted to spend quiet time alone by the roofdeck

While enjoying the breeze and reading on interiors

I heard someone laugh

When I looked inside , it was my hubby stealing another shot of me

He does that all the time!

Especially when am in the house

in my houseclothes such as the first pic above

He was teasing, it's for everydayflair

Wonder why people have this interest on photographing me in my houseclothes

I remember Reg Yuson, my artist friend, last time he came here

As soon as I opened the door, he had his camera ready and tried to shoot me

I was faster than him

I go, what's up with that?

Reg said, want to take a shot of you in a duster!!!

I DO NOT OWN A DUSTER, REG!!!!

Don't know with that guy, he thinks every woman wears that at home

Anyhow, back to my story

It's actually romantic that when I was thinking of blogging that candid shot of my hubby

I also found these recent ones from our trip to Tagaytay last week

Though I am in my vulnerable state

Am sharing this because I am thrilled

that after 16 years

He still watches me.

Keep clicking!

Paparazzi in love

Some shots taken by my hubby when we had our little get away in Macau.

Most, 3 out of 4 ,were candid shots.

Thank you, honey, for capturing my best angles, hahaha.

Thank you for those two best kids in the world.

Thank you for helping me become the best Mom/person I could be.

Thank you for the Mother's Day gifts.

Thank you for the wonderful life we share.

Oh wait, it's Mother's Day not Father's Day.

Can't you wait til June???

Happy Mom's Day to all the Moms out there!

Have a great one!