TGIF!

Very rarely do I get the chance to say this so indulge me...

I'm ecstatic because tomorrow is one of those few Saturdays that we are not reporting for work. The past 3 weeks have been really really stressful so I didn't have time to blog. I have a lot of stories piling up again! I've been aching to write so I swear this weekend I'm gonna make time for at least two posts :D

Another thing that made me happy today (or yesterday, technically) is that I've already booked my December flights! Yay! Airline tickets cost a fortune during holidays but what the heck, I am sooooo coming home for Christmas! As one station ID goes, Da Best ang Pasko ng Pilipino... di ba? :D Although truth be told I'm anxious cause it's the first Christmas that we don't have Dad with us anymore but I'll cross the bridge when I get there.

One more reason I am hyped is because J is visiting me again in 8 days! ^_^ He'll be staying here for a couple of weeks and we're spending 2 days in Malaysia. I've also booked our hotel an hour ago and by the looks of it, I might just lounge around all day and forget the rest of our activities (just like what happened when during our Indonesia trip). Haha! I'm crossing my fingers that we get to enjoy what KL has to offer. After all, it's a new country to explore, new memories to cherish and new adventure to share with all of you. Can hardly wait! ;-)

Okay, I know this post doesn't have even the tiniest sense of cohesion but maybe all I wanted to say is that I'm happy and thankful that it's Friday already. Whatever it is that you're doing this weekend, I hope you'll have an awesome time. And if not, I hope this can make you feel at least a wee bit better :D ---

My days get really rough  but one press on my phone does the trick. Every. Single. Time :-)

Have a rockin' weekend, y'all!

I Just Realized...

Truly, a Dad's love is insurmountable but i'm lucky being with someone
who loves our little girl almost as much.


Happy Sunday, everyone! :)

P.S. That's Dad's motorcycle and I know he's smiling from up there because J's taking good care of it.

P.P.S. Haley doesn't back-ride alone -- Mom's there to hold her. Also, J is a responsible driver and their destination is only less than a kilometer :)

A Sneak Peek at Haley's Birthday

Last November 25-26, our family together with my girlfriends went to Residencia de Riego Resort in Alitagtag, Batangas as a post-celebration of Haley's Birthday. The place is beautiful and that translates to about a thousand photos! So while I'm still sorting them out and putting into words the experience, here are some of the winner pics of the weekend :-)

 Beautiful girl + lovely backdrop = the perfect photo :-)

 The tarp that I created last minute!

She's currently addicted to Hi-5, an Australian child-oriented show, that's why!

 She personally chose that swimsuit. Goes to show that Dora the Explorer still has a special spot in her heart. Haha!

Our little princess looks sooo happy in that last pic, no? I have more of those to show you so please stick around for the full post ^_^

Cheers,

Three Today

Our little one isn't so little anymore!

Today she turned 3 years old and she's getting more and more adorable!

Can she just stay like this forever? :)

Happy Birthday, Baching!

Ate loves you so much!

My Pretty Little Ladybug

Days before the Scarefest, Haley would cry as I leave the house because she wanna come with me to the office already. So when the day came, words just can't describe how happy and excited she is!

(L) When we bought her costume, we're no longer after what's spooky or one-of-a-kind. We looked for what's comfortable for an almost-3-year-old and something that will fit her to a T.

(R) We succeeded, yes? :D

Let me do it a la fashion blogger, just because. Haha!

Dress, wings* and crown set from SM Dept. Store at PhP 430 (less 10% coz they're on sale)

*Mom tweaked the wings a bit because it's too plain for her liking. She added the red lining, that's PhP 10/yard from Carolina's :)

Black stockings from SM Dept. Store at PhP 150 (less 10% also)

Black shoes from Carriedo Shopping Arcade at PhP 150 (talk about wise spending! :P)

Skirted Trick or Treat bucket from SM also at PhP 100.

For only 800 bucks, achieve na achieve, di ba?

When we got to the office, as expected, my pretty little ladybug was a scene stealer! ^_^ Everyone walks up to her just to say hi or have a picture taken. Here are my 3 favorite shots of the day:

They stayed at the pantry while waiting for the program to begin. And of course, took pictures (the two shots above are taken there as well).

Haley with our cousin Jaren. Jaren's kuya also works in Headstrong :)

Here's Haley with our beautiful momma!

Then we went around the Angry Birds area for more photo opps:

Soooooooo charming!
I told you, kids loved our theme so whether we bag the award or not, we're still winners :)

I just had to pose with King Pig.

And Ate Junie, too!

The astronaut and the fairy are siblings. I love it when I hear them talk cause they speak very fluent English. I swear my kids will be like them! Haha!

I won't miss a photo with this blue bird, inside the makeshift iPod. Funny thing is that you have to guide him around cause he's blind. They forgot to create a hole in the costume for his eyes! Hahaha.

Finally, the program started. First, they gathered the kids in the conference room for some snacks and film showing.

 Watching Spongebob Squarepants while munching on chicken lollipops (she had 4!)

Oh, here's another winner shot of moi! That's our little celebrity enjoying the attention of the paparazzi! ;P

After the mini fashion show, the main event was next... Trick or Treat!

 Haley and Jaren all set to get heaps of candies and chocolates.

 Love this candid shot!

 

 I had to include the 2 photos above (even if they're blurred) cause it captured Haley's experience trick or treating.

 Her bucket is getting heavy but the show must go on! Haha.

 Somewhere along the tour we saw her Ninang Jejo waiting for her to pass by :-)

Oh, do visit Jejo's blog - she's got some great stories and photos to share as well!

 Haley with the Queen and her lady royals.

 At the queen's garden.

 With the lady pirate and their treasure chest! :-)

 Haley and Junie at Hogwarts.

And lastly, Haley getting her treats from my very own team :-)

I was so proud of Haley because she was well-behaved the whole time. Some booths have zombies and ghosts and other spooky creatures -- she got scared but she didn't cry. She just closed her eyes and let me hold her hand until we're done. Good job, little girl!

Here she is at my cube - tired but would still smile for the camera. I trained her that way. Haha.

Oh yes, I deserve that tight hug! ^_^

And what better way to end the night than to dine at the kids' place-to-be -- Jollibee! :)

One last shot before going home -- right at the middle of one of Makati's busiest streets. Haha.

Dear Headstrong folks,

Thanks a lot for the awesome Halloween event!

Looking forward to next year's! :)

Love,

Little Ms. Ladybug

Haley's Birthday Bash

*this has been sitting in my drafts for more than a month. i made it a point to finish it today because tomorrow would be too late (literally! hahaha)*

Whenever I'm in front of the laptop, Haley would show up beside me saying "san betdey ko Ate Em?". It's her way of telling me to play a video clip of her second birthday party for the nth time. I get pissed sometimes but when I see her scream out of happiness watching it, the irritation vanishes into thin air and is replaced by that overwhelming feeling of joy and pride that I was able to give her the celebration that she wants. Call me stage sister but I wouldn't exchange that moment for the world ^_^

Now allow me to share how it turned out :)

The original plan for her 2nd birthday is to just celebrate it at home: mom and titas would cook food, kids from the neighborhood would come over for some games and loots -- mostly DIY stuff. But since the little girl, whenever asked where her party will be, says it's gonna be at Jollibee, I made both ends meet to give it to her. And I am so glad I did! Here's why:

I'm working on a limited budget so I chose to have a small affair, with only family and close friends invited. Funny because there were more adults than kiddos! And since we're not a fan of moving birthdays to a different date and most of the guests have day jobs and her Ates have school, it was set for dinner. Not your average children's party, eh?

 

 

There were only a handful of kids, most of them between 2 and 5 years, that's why they enjoyed every single part of it! Unlike other parties where they are outnumbered by their ates and kuyas, this time they're the stars of the show. They joined the games, won a lot of prizes and had a jolly good time.

 

 Obedient little girl.

They we're asked to close their eyes while the hosts hid their shoes for the game.

Of course the adults had fun too! They even made fun of me in this game called Maximum to Minimum. It was a team game wherein members have to arrange themselves based on different criteria. For example, the host says "Maximum to minimum - arrange yourselves according to age", it's going to be oldest to youngest. My team was leading, 2-0, and during the third round the instruction is minimum to maximum according to face value. I got a big ego so yeah, I insisted I should be at the back of the line. Guess what, we lost! Meanwhile on the fourth round, it was max to min based on waist line and all of them was shouting that I should be in front! I hate them to the bones! Hahaha. But we won, so it's all good. :)

 

This is what I look like while everyone's laughing at me.

You nasty people! Hahaha.

 

Haley was having the time of her life – running around, posing for pictures, joining her little friends in the games – until her special guest came...

Yeah, she's scared of Jollibee! We asked her everyday for weeks before her big day and she consistently said she won't be afraid anymore but there she was, trembling and holding on tight to whoever carries her whenever the mascot is near. Hahahaha. But in fairness, she handled her fear pretty well because she still managed to smile for group pictures.

 

And then came the obligatory candle blowing, which she didn't enjoy much on the spot because she's still conscious about Jollibee being at her back. Good thing I had the presence of mind (despite being the busy bee) that I was able to capture it in video. Now she relives her moment every single day and she has the same excitement as the first time she saw it. Mind you, it's on repeat pa!

 

Afterwards she opened a few gifts. She actually got Nonong Jhay's presents (a Jollibee stuffed toy and a bracelet) the moment she woke up. She loved the toy so much that she carried it around the entire day and it's very thoughtful of her two friends to give her Twirlie and Hetty during her party. Now Jollibee has playmates and Haley couldn't be happier!

In a few minutes it was time for wrap up. We conveyed our birthday wishes for Haley then said our thank yous to everyone who came. It was indeed a small party but Haley's memories of it was greater than we've ever imagined.