{Wishful Thinking} Birthday Wish List

After days of tutoring for R's exam week, we both welcome the school break with a smile as wide as our lips can go!:) After days of whining that he "cannot take it anymore", I get a handwritten note from him expressing his BIG thanks for helping him review for his tests.

Not only that, R also grandly stated that for my birthday he is going to buy me a watch!!! O di ba? Hahahaha! As if he can afford one...

Well, since he asked... I have always wanted an all-gold men's Datejust Rolex ... and seeing pics of these fashionable celebrities have only added fuel to my fire...  

Realistically, these gold medals for the wrist cost too much to be worn everyday by an errand-running mom/driver/tutor/cook. If I would get one for myself it would have to be one of the ladies sized ones that I can wear to dinner parties.

For an everyday watch, I have been wanting an all-gold men-sized wristwatch for about a year already. Just patiently waiting for the right one to catch my eyes' (and more importantly, my wallet's) fancy. Something mid-priced would be more suitable for everyday wear; I need not worry (too much) about it getting scratched, or lost. So the Nixon 42-20 Gold Chrono Watch is a good deal...

Here is a closer look at the Nixon. What do you think?

Still, another option is Michael Kors 5055 Chrono Watch, also in gold. This one is even cheaper than the Nixon, but looks just as delicious. Yes?

 

Still about birthday gifts...

B just came up to me, "Mom, I am so excited for the weekend. I can't wait," she dramatically clasped both her hands together and raised it to her chest dreamily. I raised one eyebrow, wondering where all this drama would lead to. She continued, "This weekend, I am going to Tiffany & Co. at Shangri-la Mall. I will ask Dad to go with me, I will buy you a necklace or a bracelet."

"And where exactly will you get the money?" I sweetly challenged her. "I will bring my wallet... it has one one-thousand bill and one one-hundred bill," she said with a smug look on her face, her head arched to one side, a self-satisfied smile curling on her lips.

Just too sweet and just so adorable! I will just leave it to her dad to explain the kind of money needed to go out of the store carrying that robin's egg blue bag. hahaha! :)

I don’t expect expensive gifts, or any gifts, for that matter on my birthday; however if it’s true, that it’s the thought that counts when making decisions about gifts, then I have just gotten the grandest gifts of all! Of course we all know I am not getting anything close to the watch and the necklace, but their simple gesture is more than enough. Now, if their dad is willing to shell out the money... I will not complain... I surely won't.

Weekend In Instagram {October 21-23, 2011}

Last weekend started with a lunch date with B.  We haven't had one in a long while, so it was a date that is long overdue.  She had her favorite Macaroni and Cheese at Pancake House, followed by a quick trip to Starbucks for a Strawberry Milk Drink.  We regularly schedule one-on-one dates with all the kids, but I feel it is B who is really appreciative of it.  I regularly observe a significant improvement in her behavior after we take her on a day-out.  She is usually profuse with thanks, and it makes me feel like I am truly the greatest mom. :)

Dropped off J for another slumber party, this time at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.  The suite she stayed in had 2 bedrooms, a dining and living room, and a working kitchen.  The kitchen is really a winner for me - it is really ideal for hosting slumber parties for girls her age (as I think taking out a handful of pre-teens could potentially be a cause of head-ache) since you can just prepare meals in the kitchen or call for food delivery, and thus save you the travel time of taking them out for meals; yet your wallet also do not have to suffer from the exorbitant prices that hotels charge in their food outlets.  The girls are really just content with movie-marathons, lounging by the pool, and talking all night.

Saturday night, C took us out to eat at Cerchio Grill & Lounge.  I cannot particularly place what cuisine the restaurant specializes in, but most of the food on the menu would make it look like a very glamorous version of a Filipino grillery.  The place is very modern looking, with the hand-painted white loops on the charcoal-colored walls adding to the visual delight to the place; the presentation of the food was commendable, much more than what I can actually say about the food.  I found the food unexceptional.  For one, the boneless crispy pata did not get to our table "crispy" at all.  Nevertheless, the over-all experience in the restaurant is still positive as the service given to us was excellent. 

I always look forward to attending wedding parties.  The pink, blue and purple hydrangeas that filled up the ballroom reminded me of my own wedding.  I just love how any newly-wedded couple can radiate their love to fill up the entire ballroom.  I take joy in being able to bask in the sunshine of their happiness.  Weddings are also a good occasions to revel in the company of friends, good food and good wine. 

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One tiny hand...

C and I stood as godparents to a happy and lovely baby girl last Sunday.  The only princess in a family of rambunctious brothers.

It is amazing how a baby's smile can unravel its magic on the people around.  It is such a delight to witness how being around a baby can transform people into mushy, sappy beings...

Speaking of babies, my first one hardly looks like one anymore...  She is starting to be more conscious about clothes and shoes, and is starting to pay more attention to what she wears.  I love what she wore that day.  It is something I would wear myself... I am looking forward to the day when I can share clothes with her.   How adorable she looks working gold, camel and white. 

ZARA kids white and gold striped cardi, Gingersnaps white knit vest, MNG white halter top, H&M gold braided belt, John Rocha trousers.

Some photos taken during the luncheon at Choi Garden.  The food was superb, as always!  Their "Lechon Macau"  is a consistent best-seller.  The skin ever so crispy with minimal layer of fat in between.  No food photos as everyone was too busy enjoying the food.

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Instagram Weekend {Sept 2011}

The past weekend was a busy one for me.  But busy is always good because it is a reminder that I have a lot to be thankful for...

The weekend activities started early - Friday lunch with some friends at a hole-in-the-wall resto deep in the pockets of San Juan.  Mely, one of my foodie friends, always discovers these great restos, and makes it a point to share it with us.  This time, it was at Maimee's Garden Cafe.  It was a family residence that the owner transformed into a cafe serving Filipino comfort food.  I love kare-kare, and their version is quite good.

 

Saturday started very early as I juggled a dice game, a swim meet, a kiddie party, and a get-together with my high school friends.

We attend a lot of dice games during the Mid-Autumn Festival season, but I simply love how this dice game with this particular group of friends turned out to be a tradition already.  Our kids have simply grown to expect this every year; and the prizes, as with the company, just keeps getting better and better through the years.

Simultaneously happening with the dice game is the third and final meet for the G-League short course.  Good thing for me they were held at the same venue so I just had to rush up and down a few flight of stairs to catch the action in the pool.  Big, big thanks to the team's sponsor for the new team jersey.:)

Come night-time, it was FUN catching up with high school friends... how great to see that most of us do not look a day older than twenty, no? :)

 

Sunday is yet another wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends as we celebrate the first birthday of a friend's unica hija.  The indoor basketball court of the RONAC Art Center was transformed into a castle fit for a princess.

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Frames Of Your Life

After several summers of art/painting lessons for the kids, I now have about several dozens of the kids' works waiting to be displayed on our walls.  Their artworks are gorgeous to my eyes, and I simply cannot wait to hang them. And still on the topic of putting artwork onto walls, I also have some beautiful photographs in my digital album that are begging to be framed.   Only hindrance is that I do not have any idea on how to go about it. 

How do I put up the artworks and photo frames onto my wall in a way that looks cohesive and put-together.  Here I am on a lazy Friday morning tagging like crazy at Pinterest.  Here are some of my favorites...  

Do you think I should I go white on white...

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or do you prefer black frames?  Do you think they give a much nicer contrast to a stark white wall?

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and what do you have to say about putting them in a rainbow of colors to liven up the wall?

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perhaps just mount it on a board and go frameless?

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