Reviewing my 2011 plans, projects, and dreams

I don’t normally created New Year’s resolutions each year because I always failed or sometimes things went different along the way. Most of all, I just get frustrated of not achieving the things as I have expected especially for myself. Instead, I outlined plans, projects, and dreams – a total of 20 of them. It sounds very subtle and appears manageable for me. In this way, I can also include my family and other aspects that I believe have contributed so much in attaining my desired goals.

A year to remember

Year 2011 is about to end. Two days left and we will be welcoming 2012. But for me I’d like to recap the things that happened this year, especially those that have a bigger impact in my life. Here are the things that made 2011 a year to remember.

A surprising year-end gift

On Christmas day and while at work, my husband Jesse received an anonymous call. The man on the phone was congratulating him and had asked him to go to the Ministry of Manpower to claim his CHEQUE. Being astonished, Jesse verified the number on my mobile phone and surprisingly it was registered to our company’s senior recruitment officer.

How to Cook Lechon Manok at Home, the Pinoy Style

yummylicious lechon manok (photo courtesy of my BFF evelyn)

Most of Filipinos love to eat chicken. No one can resist the mouth-watering roasted chicken famously known as "lechon manok" stuffed with loads of spices and  giving a truly tempting scent.

All I want for Christmas...

i wanna come home on christmas day!

Tonight will be Christmas! I believed each one of us are occupied with the last minute Christmas preparations – wrapping up gifts, cooking “Noche Buena” meals, phoning and texting friends and families, visiting love ones, and waiting for the clock to strike 12 midnight – then the normal tradition begins.

A merry family snaps for Christmas

now, we are four in the family

Every Christmases, we love to take snaps for our family portrait. It is and will always be our family tradition since Jesse and Andrei got to Oman in 2009. I simply choose the concept while Jesse makes the choreography and artistry.

12 pieces of "Christmas Inspirations" - rekindle the spirit of love and hope

Our first christmas tree in Oman

Oh, I love Christmas! It is and always will be my favorite time of the year. It is a time for rejoicing and merry making. I remember when i was a kid, my family always have the tradition of celebrating Christmas whether it was through decorating the tree, giving of gifts, making christmas arts, and preparing food for "Noche Buena".

Jungle Animals at Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort

Arabian Oryx - the pride of the desert

One of our plans during our Eid holiday vacation in the UAE is to see first-hand the world’s rarest and most beautiful animals at Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort. This is a great chance for us especially the kids to gain fuller appreciation of the desert wild animals and endangered species as well as animal breeding and conservation.

At the top – Burj Khalifa Experience

the view of the highest point of Burj Khalifa from the observatory deck

Since its opening in January 2010, Burj Khalifa has caught the attention of many not just in the Middle East but the whole world. An ultra-modern mega-structure the surpass the limit and ingenuity of modern architectural and structural engineering marvel, this landmark carve a niche as the world’s tallest building and world’s free standing structure bringing glory to Dubai and the entire Emirates.

Freeze the desert at Iceland Water Park, RAK

The Snow Mountains

I first learn about Iceland Water Park about a year ago when it was first published in a magazine. I knew it was an awesome water park with so many fantastic rides and attractions. When I stumbled upon their official site, I carefully browsed each page and was really fascinated to visit the place. And so, when we had a chance to spend the Eid holiday vacation in November, I encouraged my family and friends to really see and experience the swimming adventure in Iceland Water Park in Ras Al Khaimah.

Awesome speed and thrills at Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

The Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s first and largest Ferrari theme park in the world. Jesse really wanted to visit this place to experience the speed and thrills offered by F1 racecar and feel the spirit of Ferrari.

It was a thirty minutes ride from Abu Dhabi city proper. At a distant you can see the magnificent and ultra-modern space frame structure highlighted with Ferrari’s signature white, silver and red colors. The place is the largest indoor park and is a famous venue for concerts and live performances by international stars and singers.

Our UAE ultimate dream vacation

Having a vacation in the United Arab Emirates was just a plan. It never came to reality until my close and very good sole sister Evelyn, who formerly resides in Muscat but now living in Abu Dhabi, invited us to spend the Eid holidays from the 3rd to the 9th of November. Right then, my family along with our Muladdah friends like Gerry, Catherine, and Melo designed the itinerary and prepared for our once in a lifetime getaway.

Welcome to the Christian World, Anyah

Anyah was annointed with the Holy Water

Finally, our dear little Anyah has been baptized and now a member of the Christian community. At two months and 3 weeks, she was warmly love and embraced by everyone and become one of God’s children.

Now that I am 31

Yes, I’m officially thirty-one and a year older than yesterday. Getting older is inevitable somewhat synonymous to a 7 year old child’s tooth falling off and an aging woman whacked by menopausal syndrome. But instead of putting myself into a pit of worries and procrastination, I diverted my whole energy to embrace the challenges and surprises as well as pain and joy that await me in this new stage of life. I must admit there are so many things I am thankful for and it is necessary to tally my personal complacency. After all, it is not years that count but the life I have in years.

Anyah’s Pre-Baptism Snapshots

Everything is set for our little girl’s baptismal celebration scheduled on October 28, 2011. Her dresses, shoes, giveaways, program, venue, are perfectly ready but only one thing is yet to be done – the invitation.

31 things you don’t wanna know about me

Turning the 31 is another remarkable milestone I have achieved in my life. As most people would jokingly rib that “31 is the last number in the calendar” but for me it is a high time to look back and reflect everything I know about myself or perhaps the things that my friends and families don’t wanna know about me.  In this way, I can discern what I have been through all these years.

Almighty God's Hands Work in a Perfectly Bad Time

Almighty God's hands work in a perfectly bad time to help us discern reality and appreciate that He truly dwells in us. Oftentimes, things happened for a reason and give us insight to the great value of life’s lessons and keep ourselves humble and decent. I believe that this is true as what I have experienced yesterday. It was a day that is supposed to be a happy moment but turned out to be ugly and disappointing. However, when I tried to look back into the chronological oddly events, contemplate, and reflect, I discover the real purpose of the two happenings.

So, this is how the story goes.

Andrei is an Icon Model too

Andrei is a model-wanna-be for GapKids Collection

Jesse has an intense passion for photography. He started his relationship with photography when he got his first DSLR camera in 2007 (that camera still works until today). During his spare time, he browsed and read materials from the internet on enhancing skills in digital photography and artistry. After sometime, his plan was made into fruition – having his very own family as subjects and models in his own photography concepts. Much more, he created a do-it-yourself and frugal kind of photo studio at home.

20 Things that change when I have a baby

After giving birth, my life has never been the same again. A lot of changes took place that in some way I was able to apprehend and endure. Below are the things that most women like me, a mom, can somehow relate to.

Anyah is a Model

When I was pregnant, Jesse and I have envisioned how our baby girl would look like by the time she will be born. We keep on teasing and hoping that Anyah will get the statuette and charm from her dad whilst inherits the beauty and talent from her mom. But one thing for sure, we want our little one to be someone we can truly be proud of. As my due date was nearing, the idea of having her photographed while being infant, tiny, and fragile was our ultimate dream. It was our way to cherish our little one’s individuality and infanthood.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The chewy and soft Choco Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie is one of my son Andrei's favorite because of the perfect mixture of butter and a combination of white and brown sugars which produces a rich and chewy cookie. After dozens of test recipes, I have come up with the chocolate chip cookie that is ideal to my son's preferences.

About Me

Hi everyone!

Firstly, I would like to thank you for dropping by in my blog where you get to read all the stories of my life. I just love to document the important happenings so that somehow when I get older I can reminisce the past and remember the happiness, pain, achievement, and failures I have encounter in my whole life.

A Letter to my daughter Anyah

This is a wonderful letter to my newly born baby ANYAH

Anyah @ 1 week old

Days before my due date

Today is exactly a month ago when I have my last ultrasound. I can recall that moment when the three of us went to the clinic and waited for an hour before our turn. When my token number was flashed on the LED panel screen, a rush of excitement felt into my veins. I whispered to Jesse, “this is it…finally the doctor will confirm the baby’s gender.” Then Jesse replied, “I hope our prayer will be answered.”

Braso de Mercedes - Meringue-Custard Roulade

Braso de Mercedes

Brazo de Mercedes is a classic and popular Filipino dessert that I keep on dreaming to bake one day. Brazo de Mercedes can be translated to “Mercedes Arms” perhaps because of its elongated and arm like appearance. This dessert is a roulade made of meringue sheet with a yema “yolk” filling. It is mostly made of eggs and sugar, sugar and more sugar!

My Second Pregnancy Experience

Jesse and I have been longing to have another baby for almost three years. I remember when Andrei was four years old it came across our mind to try for another one. So we had many attempts for me to conceive but unfortunately fate doesn’t agree with us at all. I am not a believer of any foretelling practices but when someone made a prophecy to me, I was depressed and had to accept the fact that we will only have one child for the rest of our life.

Girls in Stripes

My girl friends - (from Left) Catherine, Me, Evelyn, and Melo

GAP Kids

Andrei and Ken are amazing kids. They almost have the same preferences in life: internet, computer games, toys, food, and entertainment - that they are really crazy about. Just imagine they can be in one place unrelentlessly using their own laptop while playing their favorite games. These kids are computer fanatic and I was thinking what they will become when they grow up. Can they be computer programmers? Software Engineers? Game developers? Or perhaps company Chief Executive Officers? Well, we might not know what the future holds for these two amazing beings. But only, one thing for sure, whatever happens, both kids will remain good and best friends forever.

A Labor of Love Project: Outdoor Shots

This is the second phase of my hubby's photography concept called "Labor of Love Project". The first one titled "Seasonal Glamour Shots" was done in a frugal photo studio at our home.

Footprints they will leave behind

The school year is almost over. Everyone seems so excited and enthused that counting the days in going home to Philippines has finally started. Smiles and happy faces are profoundly visible everywhere as most people are looking forward to the upcoming summer fun and getaways they will spend with their families and love ones for the next two months.

But on the flip side, there is a heartbreaking feeling knowing that there are those who will leave the college for good reasons. Some are not coming back because they have found better employment, move to other countries, go back to their home place, or any other personal causes. And for me, these persons are significant because somehow they have touched my life and made a greater influence to my being.

A Labor of Love Project: Seasonal Glamour Shots

At last, after almost two months of waiting and wishing, Jesse made a break and started with his so-called "Labor of Love" project. It is an art in photography wherein his subject is ,obviously, me in which i have to do some artistic and contemporary pose based on his "bump" pregnancy concepts.

Andrei's 7th Ultimate Alien Birthday Party

Finally Andrei is now 7 years old. I couldn’t imagine how time flies so fast that our baby had grown up and soon will be a big brother too. We have just celebrated his birthday last June 23, 2011 at Taza Restaurant.

Andrei will turn 7

Andrei's 7th Birthday Invitation. He is wearing his favorite BEN10 Costume.

Feel Royal in Al Alam Palace

June 2, 2011 – The final stop of the day’s getaway is the Al Alam Place. It is right on the road driving through Old Muscat so an easy stop. We arrived at night which is the best time to go as the Palace and surrounding buildings lit up beautifully.

Discovering Science @ Oman Children's Museum

June 2, 2011 – Our second stop is the Oman Children’s Museum housed in a white-dome shaped building at Shatti al Qurum near the Qurum Natural Park, Way no 2601.

The Gigantic Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The overall view of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The Other Half of Me, I call Dad

Jesse's carrying Andrei right after birth at the Hospital Nursery

The Father I’ve Known

I wrote this poem for Papa on FATHER'S DAY 

Papa on his 54th Birthday (photo courtesy of my sister bebe)

THE FATHER I"VE KNOWN

Explore Oman

Oman's famous FORT serves as look out for foreign invaders in the Ancient Times

Being in the Sultanate of Oman is a great opportunity for me and my family to uncover its majestic wealth and beauty. Known to be the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has many things to offer which makes the place so unique and an ideal tourist destination. Hence, Jesse and I are completely decided to take several excursions and adventures on the countryside.

Diamonds keep dearly in my heart

"Genuine frienship is like a single piece of diamond worth treasuring forever."

I like meeting people from all walks of life. Their stories and challenges keep me interested to discover the convoluted aspects of their true persona. And then, when our common interest, aspirations, attitudes strike in I started to establish a good friendship with them.

Whatever floats your boat

Baking is my thing that makes me happy...

Life can be truly amazing if you have to dig through and figure out the countless things that help you become and able to stand with certainty. Humans that we are, endowed with intelligence to control life and maintain a balance, seems like traveling a road with so many focal points. It’s well worth your time to focus on who you are, what you truly value, and what makes you really happy.

Bake your own BROWNIES DELIGHT

Brownies Delight

It's not too late...Papa

This is a special message for my Papa on his 54^th Birthday on May 16, 2011.

With Papa and Andrei during my Despedida Party before i went back to Oman in 2009

And so we named him "KIANO"

our baby KIANO

When Jesse got his driving license, it was a total relief since getting a driver's license is hard and difficult considering also the expenses incurred in taking the driving lessons as well as the effort and time of going to Rustaq (30 minutes away from our home).

[M]y [A]dorable [M]other's [A]ffection

Mama and Me

Before I was a Mom
I never thought of buying toys or singing a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my hands are dirty and the house is safe and clean.
But you were there to give me Support.

A "Labor of Love" Project

A sample preggy pose!

As a tribute to mother's day celebration, i have uploaded my pregnancy pictures on my Facebook account to show to everyone my pregnancy progress in months. A lot of comments, messages, and likes were posted in the photo album. It was totally heartwarming to receive such wonderful thoughts from the people that cared so much for me. And many of them were hoping and wishing for a “Baby Girl”.

A new beginning...

I have been so fascinated with the many blogs i have read on the internet. Stories on travel, cooking, sports, life, and the many interests that these people shared have actually inspire me and everyone else.