* . . Memoirs of A Young Bride . . *
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Yellow Cab
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 / 2:22 AM

YELLOW CAB

On lazy Sundays, B and I would call the cab...
Then we sit on the couch and watch some DVDs. :)

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Pam's Party at the Fun Farm
Monday, September 29, 2008 / 3:50 AM

Last Saturday, Sophie attended a very different kind of birthday party.
Situated in the grassy fields of Sta. Elena, Pam celebrated her 7th birthday at Fun Farm!

FUN FARM

I was amazed at how beautiful yet humble the farm was.
It's the kind of place that makes me feel one with nature.
Calling the city girl I've become back down to earth. :)

BIG OLD TRUCK

There was a big old truck parked by the trees.
It is rusty and dirty. Completely worn out.
It must be as old as my grandfather.

DADDY, SOPHIE, AND CARABAO

B carried Sophie and posed beside the serious-looking carabao.
This carabao was being led by the farmer to do some farm work.
No wonder he looks so old and serious. :)

MOMMY, SOPHIE, AND HORSE

This big brown horse just came out of the stable.
Its mane and tail looked so thick and fine.
We tried to sit Sophie on the saddle.
But Sophie was so scared that she cried and screamed. :)

SOPHIE

B carried Sophie in his arms as we walked around the farm.
Safe in Daddy's arms, Sophie stared at the animals with her big round eyes. :)

GUINEA PIGS

These guinea pigs are cute furry creatures!
Bigger than hamsters. Smaller than rabbits. :)

DUCK

This duck seems to be in deep contemplation.
To quack or not to quack. :)

PIG

This pig is so fat and lazy.
It has a very serious and snobbish face.

CARABAO

This carabao is pulling a heavy load of children in a wooden cart.
I don't know why I suddenly felt for this carabao. :(

After going around the farm, we all went inside the big nipa hut clubhouse to have lunch. There were spaghetti, palabok, barbeque, chicken strips, and breaded fish fillets served in the buffet table. Dessert included chocolate fondue, buko pandan, and leche flan. After filling our tummies, we watched the magician do some magic tricks and watched the children play parlor games. Sophie sat on one of those little chairs in front and watched the bigger children play. There were also a balloon artist and a face painter in the nipa hut. The balloon artist made Sophie a purple teddy bear that she happily played with. The sound of music and children's laughter filled the entire nipa hut.

BIRTHDAY SONG

It was finally time to sing the birthday song.
All the children, including Sophie, gathered around the cake.
They sang happy birthday to Pam. :)

HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, PAM!

Pam, the beautiful daughter of Edmund, just turned 7.
It can be seen in her eyes how happy she is in her farm party. :)


* * * * *
FUN FARM
STA. ELENA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
CABUYAO, LAGUNA

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A Little Less Pepperific
Sunday, September 28, 2008 / 6:38 PM

Last Friday, I had a dinner date with my girl friend, Eileen. Eileen and I have always loved hanging out in Greenhills coz we practically grew up here. Though Greenhills is no longer as laid back as we have first known it, we still love Greenhills for the comfortable and homey feeling it gives us. Just like the good ol' days back in high school. :)

And so we decided to have dinner at Sizzling Pepper Steak in Promenade.

SIZZLING PEPPER STEAK

The menu board is very enticing.
The kind that wakes your senses and appetite. :)

BEEF PEPPER RICE

Not denying my addiction, I ordered Beef Pepper Rice.
To my dismay, the slices of beef were hard to chew.
This pepper rice was not half as delicious as Pepper Lunch's.
Can I just say that... It's not so pepperific?

EBI FRY

Eileen and I also shared a plate of Ebi Fry.
I love the light crisp batter of the prawns.
A good complement to my pepper rice.

Sadly, Sizzling Pepper Steak is not as pepperific as my favorite Pepper Lunch. :(


* * * * *
SIZZLING PEPPER STEAK
PROMENADE
GREENHILLS

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Shitake Beef Soup
Saturday, September 27, 2008 / 3:47 AM

SHITAKE BEEF SOUP

It was raining hard that night when I decided to cook some soup for B. Looking inside my fridge, I saw a pack of shitake mushrooms, ribeye sukiyaki, and some vegetables. Good! I realized that I can make a soup out of them. I threw in the mushrooms and fine slices of beef in the water boiled with beef stock. Then I put some vermicelli in the boiling soup before adding the leafy vegetables. Add a dash of salt and a pinch of pepper. Voila! A bowl of delicious and heart-warming soup for my dearest B who just came home from work very exhausted. :)

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Cherish Closet : October Collection
Friday, September 26, 2008 / 12:02 AM

BECAUSE EVERY WOMAN DESERVES TO BE BEAUTIFUL...



BLOOM AND BE BEAUTIFUL!

CHECK OUT THE OCTOBER COLLECTION BY

CHERISH CLOSET
HTTP://CHERISHCLOSET.MULTIPLY.COM

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Poor Pinky
Thursday, September 25, 2008 / 2:35 AM

Last Tuesday, I accidentally hurt my pinky finger while I was carrying Sophie. I was part-kissing Sophie when I swung the door hard with my other hand to close it. Not knowing that my pinky finger was still holding on by the door hinges. When the door hit my pinky, I screamed out loud! It was so painful. I was only thankful that I still managed to carry Sophie despite the shock and the pain. When I looked at my poor pinky, the nail was cracked hard in the middle. Literally cracked. Blood started to flow out. I was terrified. :(

Before B left for work, he nursed my poor pinky with an ice pack. He was worried that I might have broken my finger. He even asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. For a moment, I was insane when I asked him to stay with me at home because I am, well, hurt and sick. But to my dismay, B still left for work and left me with my poor little pinky. :(

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A Box of Meringues
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 / 3:05 AM

MERINGUES

B bought me a box of meringues that comes in 11 yummy flavors.
My favorite is the strawberry meringue. :)

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The Pepper Promise
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 / 5:17 PM

BEEF PEPPER RICE

While I was in Canada, I had a serious craving for Pepper Lunch. It's like not one restaurant in Vancouver can ever satiate my craving for Pepper Lunch. So whenever I get to chat with B, I would tell him how much I miss my Pepper Lunch. B told me that he will take me out on a Pepper Date as soon as I'm back in Manila. Thus, the Pepper Promise.

After watching Hellboy II at Powerplant, we window shopped a bit then we decided to go to Pepper Lunch for a rather early dinner. As usual, I had my favorite Beef Pepper Rice and B had his Curry Beef Pepper Rice. When my sizzling plate was put before me, I was silent for a while as I breathed in the mouth-watering aroma of the pepper rice. Then I started cooking the fine strips of beef by mixing them with the hot and steaming pepper rice. Then I was all set for dinner. Finally. How I missed my Pepper Lunch! :)


* * * * *
PEPPER LUNCH
POWERPLANT
MAKATI CITY

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FIC : Black Sesame
Monday, September 22, 2008 / 7:42 AM

FIC'S BLACK SESAME ICE CREAM

I am truly amazed whenever I get to taste such unique ice cream flavors. I mean... Who would have thought about making a black sesame flavored ice cream? I totally love FIC's black sesame ice cream. The flavor is so enticing with the fragrance of the sesame seeds. I loved it the moment I licked on it. In fact, I had it two days in a row. First, with Pam on our shopping date. Next, with B after our movie date. Obvious that I can't get enough of it. :)

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Hellboy II : The Golden Army
Sunday, September 21, 2008 / 6:48 PM


"You're such a Beautiful Freak
I wish there were more just like you
You're not like all of the others

And that is why I love you
Beautiful Freak"

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Cyma
Saturday, September 20, 2008 / 8:36 PM

My love for Greek cuisine only began when B and I discovered Cyma.
Since then, Cyma has been our favorite restaurant in Shangri-La. :)

CYMA

BABY CLAMS ANGEL HAIR

I absolutely love Cyma's version of vongole pasta.
It is generously topped with fresh baby clams.
The wine sauce poured over the fine strands of angel hair is just so delicious. :)


* * * * *
CYMA
SHANGRI-LA PLAZA
MANDALUYONG CITY

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Brandon's Little Feet
Friday, September 19, 2008 / 6:16 AM

FATHER & SON

Before you make hasty assumptions, I'd like to interrupt and say... No, I'm not pregnant now. But B and I are planning to have a new baby very soon. We both wish that it would be a boy this time. In fact, we have already chosen a name for our baby boy... Brandon. :)

I know that it's crazy to be shopping for Brandon as early as now. He's not even conceived. And we don't even know if we really are gonna be blessed with a baby boy. But when I saw this cute pair of baby sandals, I can't seem to walk out the shoe store without it. It was so tiny and so cute! I can already imagine Brandon's cute little feet on it. Not to mention that B has almost the same style of sandals. They'd look cute wearing them together as father and son. :)

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Sophie's New Car Seat
Thursday, September 18, 2008 / 8:08 PM

EVENFLO BOOSTER SEAT

Yesterday, I successfully assembled Sophie's new car seat. I said successfully coz I was never really good in assembling things. Sophie's new car seat is in the shade of black and gray. I intentionally chose this neutral shade so B and I can still pass this on to our future baby boy. But God! I was very tempted to buy that frilly pink princess seat for Sophie. :)

Now, nobody can deny that Sophie is a big girl now. She has graduated from her buggy travel system and rear-facing car seat basket to a light umbrella stroller and an upright booster car seat. How time flies! :)

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The Perfect Wife
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 / 7:00 AM

B and I have been married for 2 years now. After all these years, I am still so in love with him. But there are moments when I just feel so taken for granted. Especially when B comes home late from work after I waited for him all day at home, hour after hour. Well, this is something for B who loves to lurk around his wife's site.

* * * * *

WHAT IS THE PERFECT WIFE?

They say there's no such thing as perfection and that she doesn't exist.

TRUST ME, DARLING. SHE EXISTS!



* * * * *

She dresses up all pretty every time you take her out on a date.
This is her way of keeping you interested.
But you don't even stop, look, and appreciate her.
She gets hurt and upset that all her time and effort were put to waste.
You call her INSECURE.

She holds on to you like she's never letting you go.
This is her way of telling others women that she's lucky to have you.
And no, you're not available.
You call her CLINGY.

She calls and checks up on you,
Making sure that you're safe and fine.
This is her way of showing how often she thinks about you.
That she worries constantly because that's how much she cares.
You call her a NAGGER.

She cooks you're favorite food for dinner.
She slices the meat and accidentally cuts her finger.
She waits for you to come home so you can have dinner together.
But you come home late and tired with no appetite.
She feels hurt and unappreciated.
You call her OVERLY SENSITIVE and DRAMATIC.

So go ahead. Try to leave the insecure, clingy, nagging, overly sensitive, and dramatic woman. She will soon be much happier in the arms of someone who actually deserves her... the perfect man. CAN YOU BE THAT PERFECT MAN?

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Ever After
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 / 9:48 PM


"I kneel before you not as a prince
But as a man in love... But I would feel like a king
 If you, Danielle De Barbarac, would be my wife."

Fairy tales and happy endings are always my fantasy. But despite my self-proclaimed princess syndrome, I only got to watch this Cinderella movie last week. Thankfully, Mel downloaded the film for me. How could I have missed this beautiful movie? :)

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Could I Have Left My Heart in Canada?
Monday, September 15, 2008 / 6:58 PM

It's been 4 days now since I got back in Manila. And I have been in an emotional rollercoaster. I miss my family in Vancouver. Now I really do feel like an old orphan adopted by B. I just pray that my decision to stay in Manila is the right one. I'd like to share to you the wonderful people in Vancouver who I will miss so much...

#1 DADDY


Even if he's so makulit.

#2 MOMMY


Even if she nags me till my ears hurt.

#3 DHIA


He was so sweet to pay for my Seattle trip. :)

#4 MEL


For our heart to heart talks and shopping sprees. :)

#5 KIMI


I will miss her Daisy Duck voice. :(

Thank you so much for making our stay in Vancouver a very special and memorable one. Thank you for doing all the house chores even if I don't really consider myself a guest and for helping me take care of little Sophie. Though we are now oceans apart, I will always have each of you in my heart. I love you all. See you all again next year! :)

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Back in His Arms
Sunday, September 14, 2008 / 2:25 AM

HUBBY & WIFEY

The flight back to Manila was long and exhausting. But I was bright and happy after 13 long hours coz I was finally seeing B. B had warned me though that he can't give me a kiss coz he has a viral sore throat. Despite B being sick with fever, B promised to picked me and Sophie up at the aiport at 5 am. When the plane landed, I immediately opened my cellphone. It beeped and blinked right away with an awaiting message. I opened it and it read... "I'm here na at the airport waiting for my family." :)

Despite the doctor's advise for B to have complete bed rest, it turned out that B didn't sleep all night in fear that he might not wake up in time to pick us up at the airport. Sadly, I came home to our flat taking care of 2 babies... Hubby and Sophie. Luckily, B has a very loving wife who nursed him while he was sick. And thankfully, B was referred to a secret doctor who treated him in no time. Maybe I shouldn't leave B again... B can't seem to take care of himself. He needs his loving wife by his side. :)

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Leaving On A Jetplane
Saturday, September 13, 2008 / 3:00 AM

LUGGAGES & KEYS

All my bags are packed now. I'm ready to go.
I'm leaving on a jetplane. Don't know when I'll be back again.

After three long weeks, I was finally going back home to the man I love. B had been counting the days. Lying on my bed, I happily toyed with my house keys. B and I have the sweetest keychains in the world. Mine wrote I love Brian while B's wrote I love Sab. :)

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River Rock Resort
Friday, September 12, 2008 / 8:08 PM

To bid me farewell, my brother, Kelvin, treated the whole family on a lavish buffet dinner at Runway 26 of the River Rock Resort. Before we hit the buffet table, my family walked around the beautiful resort while enjoying the scenery and the cool night air. The part that made me feel lonely was when everyone started walking in pairs. When the cold wind blew, my mom clutched my dad's strong arm. Then Kelvin extended his arm to wrap it around Mel's body as they pushed Kimi in her stroller together. While I... I walked by myself while pushing Sophie in her stroller. That moment, I missed B so much. It felt so sad to be in such a wonderful place in the other side of the world without B. If you know what I mean.

RUNWAY 26 BUFFET

After strolling, we all headed to Runway 26 for dinner.
Buffet dinner was $20 per adult and $1 per baby.
For only $1, Sophie got to try the the international dishes and desserts galore. :)

BASKET OF BREADS

A basket full of breads fresh from the oven.

DESSERTS

Fruits, cakes, and fondues.
Pick your own sweet way to end dinner. :)

DADDY, MOMMY, AND SAB

I used to be the baby of the family.
The youngest and the only girl. :)

GRANDPA, NANA, AND SOPHIE

But now, I have resigned and Sophie took my place.
Sometimes, I feel like Dad and Mom love Sophie more than they love me.
But that's absolutely fine with me. :)

It was a wonderful dinner with my family. I savored each and every moment I have left with them. My annoyingly caring Dad and my naggingly loving mom. My handsome brother and his sweet wife, Mel, and their porcelain baby, Kimi. I'm going to miss them terribly. And so will Sophie. Because in a few more days, Sophie and I will be flying back to Manila where B is waiting for us.


* * * * *
RUNWAY 26
RIVER ROCK RESORT
RICHMOND, BC
CANADA

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Ivar's
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / 10:58 PM

Situated in Seattle's waterfront, Ivar's has been serving fish and chips in Seattle since 1938. What I love about Ivar's is the wharf-like feel of the restaurant. After getting our fish and chips, Mel and I sat on one of the old wooden benches by the wharf with friendly seagulls flying around us. Now I can't imagine a better place to eat fish and chips. :)

IVAR'S

HALIBUT & CHIPS

I chose the Alaskan Halibut from the menu board.
I loved tenderness of the halibut coated in a crispy batter.
Halibut is actually my favorite fish next to seabass. :)

CLAM CHOWDER BREAD BOWL

Ivar's clam chowder is served in a bowl of sour dough bread.
I absolutely love the chowder! I'd say this is the best I've ever tasted. :)


* * * * *
IVAR'S
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
USA

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Seattle, Washington
Tuesday, September 9, 2008 / 7:11 PM

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Last Saturday, Mel and I went to Seattle to spend an entire day meant only for ourselves. Honestly, I miss this kind of feeling. I miss being myself. I miss the carefree life I once lived before I settled down. The truth is that I had long buried my old self since the day I committed myself to Sophie. And just when I thought that I've already lost my old self, I found the free-spirited bubbly girl I once was in this getaway to Seattle. :)

SPACE NEEDLE

The Space Needle in Seattle Center is a spectacular sight to behold.
A glass type elevator takes one high up in the skies in no time.
Inside the needle, one can get a 360 degrees view of Seattle.
There are even complimentary Swarovski telescopes in the observation deck. :)

SPACE CENTER

It was as if a big spaceship landed right in the middle of Seattle.
The Space Center, wonderfully created and designed, is a captivating tourist trap.

WASHINGTON LAKE

The state of Washington prides itself for its abundance in salmon. Salmons are fishes with strong migratory instincts. It's amazing how after swimming across the world, the salmons swim back to their origin when they have fully grown. Upon coming home to the Washington Lake, the salmons are locked by an underwater deadbolt gate.

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

The State University of Washington is a big campus with lush greenery.
One of its famous graduates is Bruce Lee. :)

Before our trip ended, I get to buy a decorative magnet of Seattle that I will put in our fridge along with my other travel souvenir magnets. I also bought a Seattle Christmas ornament that I plan to hang in our Christmas Tree. It was such a wonderful day exploring the beauty of Seattle with my sis, Mel. :)

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A Box of Fried Chicken
Monday, September 8, 2008 / 6:31 PM

CHURCH'S CHICKEN

FRIED CHICKEN

Sometimes, I miss the simple joy of eating fried chicken.
It reminds me so much of the good ol' days when I was still young.
When a piece of fried chicken is enough to brighten up my day!

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