April na!

Happy first day of April everyone!

And since this is our month anniversary I would like to dedicate some posts in remembrance of one of my happiest day on earth..naks! I’ll be posting some of our wedding pics from time to time, some wedding memorabilias, wedding tips and wedding kwentos.So expect a lot about wedding posts here my dear readers.

my wedding bible, wedding souvenir and the aras.

What I did last weekend

Anybody wants to join in writing and completing a story? It’s fun! Visit bunso’s site and it’s there. I am actually entertained reading those few sentences added by the readers. It’s like he started a story and then asked fellow bloggers to write on..it’s far from having it’s the end so you might want to go and add your few words.

We participated in the EARTH HOUR last Saturday night, it’s sad though because when we looked around in our neighborhood, seems it’s only us who participated. Sigh. And I sigh more when I think that not my entire church mate is into the idea of helping our mother earth. I got a chance of promoting it to our Friday meeting and some nodded their head and some I guess are just like “and so what? It’s bound to happen anyway”.

Last Sunday afternoon, we went to Binan, Laguna and attended a child dedication, hubby was chosen as Ninong (Godfather) and though it’s a bit far we obliged ourselves to go. It’s sad though because the parents of the child separated few months after the youngest was born, all 4 kids are in the care of the mom. The father left them for another girl daw. So it moved us to tears yesterday when she went into front to dedicate her only girl and her youngest to God. May the good Lord bless them and provide for them. And I pray for her to be strong and to hold on.

Friday and Saturday night- I watch ROME (series) and the Love comes softly (movie series) again, only this time am with our good friend Grace ..and you bet, I cried again. haha! We haven't finish it yet and we plan to continue it tonight. We were all exhausted last night so we skipped it.

tag

Thanks joey and jen gor tagging me.

~~Begin Copy~~

This is the easy way and the fastest way to :

1. Make your Authority Technorati explode.

2. Increase your Google Page Rank.

3. Get more traffic to your blog.

4. Make new friends.

Rules :

1. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.

2. Put your own blog name and link.

3. Tag as many friends as you want.

1. Picturing of Life

2. Juliana’s Site

3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future.

4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space

5. Starz in De Sky

6. My Charmed Life

7. Denz Techtronics

8. Denz Recreational

9. Life’s Simple Pleasures

10. My Blog

11. Because Life is Fun

12. In This Game of Life

13. Scribbles of my Life

14. Changing Lanes

15. This is what my heart says...

16. A mom's note

17. Tasteful Voyage

18. Jackie's Everyday Life

19. Jackie Simply Pinay

20. Gerthy's Scrapbook

21. Gerthy Sanctary

23. Asawa's Love Book

24. A Mother's Journal

25. Simple Life, Simply Me

26. Pinaymama's Diary

27. so it goes. . .

28. the working mom

29. Through the rain

30. Regalo ng Diyos (God's gift)

You're Next here

~~End Copy~~

I'm tagging funkiemommy, issa, joanne, luchi and abelle.

23 days to go

I’m counting the days to our 2nd year wedding anniversary.

Although I don’t expect something special, or any surprise from hubby on that day because I know we don’t have funds to celebrate after that Ilocos Trip, we decided we’ll have simple but still intimate celebration.

But planning a simple celebration is not easy too..I am really at lost what to do and what to plan.

Should we eat out na lang? or should we dine out and see a movie together..we haven’t done this for a long time now.

Or should we checked-in ourselves to a not so fancy hotel in town? Or go to nearby resorts and unwind..by the way, I check some hotels and surprised to find out that some are really not that expensive naman pala especially if you book on line.

Tsk..tsk..if only money is not a big factor..I’ll book ourselves right away to Bohol or Boracay or Palawan and enjoy the day with hubby.most likely I’ll do this in secret to surprise him.

But just as I said before, I still know we are blessed..maybe not more of material things but still..we are blessed in so many ways.

I am blessed with a hubby that showered me with so much love. I am blessed to wake up every morning with his kisses and I’m blessed every night as I close my eyes with his assuring hugs.

And with or without something to do on our anniversary..It will still be special because It was after all remembering the very special day God has made us one.

And for me it’s the best gift ever.

I know I am not a good cook but...

Last Friday, while having our movie marathon, I took time to cook Tuna spaghetti for my nephews. I got the recipe in my kitchen calendar and since we’re not home that time I remembered all the ingredients and the cooking process only in my memory.

I am not a good cook, I have to admit that, but when I do it I make sure I do it with all my heart specially when I’m cooking the recipe for the first time. I have always been fascinated with the chefs and I watched several cooking reality shows, even local cooking TV shows I catch them up when I have time. I love the way they prepare something ordinary and make it look super special. Interesting.

I guess that’s the wonder of being a graduate from a culinary school or a chef school.

How I wish I am one of them but that of course I know would always remain a wish on my list. I heard culinary schools are quite expensive, but it’s all worth it I should say. Chef earned big bucks especially if you work for some five star hotel or top restaurant or maybe even more in luxury ships.

For now, I will enjoy whatever I can cook for my hubby and for my nephews & nieces. They loved that Tuna Spaghetti and I’m happy.

By the way, if you’re looking for some culinary schools. Check this site. They have broad list of cooking school. Who knows you’ll be one of the next top chef in the country.

Happy cooking!

thank you because...

I know we are blessed, I mean If I look around and open my eyes and see people in the street, I feel so blessed indeed..

But sometimes..there are just those moments when you feel so low and that you wanted to change everything..you’re environment, the place you live in..

Recently, I got so mad ( read: sobrang sama ng loob) to this special person in our life, my initial reaction was to pack our things and move out..but of course I had second thoughts and even third thought about it.

Yes, we are blessed..we don’t pay rent for the house or let me say our room, we don’t even pay for electricity and water bill, and I just want to grab that opportunity to save and spend our money wisely while we’re having all those blessings.

For I know someday, sooner or later..we will have to live on our own and leave our comfort zone.

No, we’re not living with either of our parents nor relatives.

We’re living in a mission’s house, provided by our church to full time workers like my husband.

And yes, there are ups and downs, there are raves and rants, there are advantages and disadvantages…but still at the end of the day I’m thankful.

I’m grateful that I am surrounded with people who cares, who love us, who needs us. People who have an entirely different upbringing, different family backgrounds and different characters, yet.. united in God’s love.

I just hope this LOVE will carry me through until we hear from the Lord what we have to do next.

Angel of Mine

I would like to thank jown for sharing her angel, and in return I would love to share this angel to nice bloggers who I think are angels in thier own way.

To : sis jen aspacio- I love the way you and your husband write about marriage life, you're both an angel.

To MEC - I'm a big fan, and you inspired me a lot.you're blog is so real,no pretensions. you write what you feel, you write what's in your mind..and I love it.

To MARI - sis, our own little angel is coming soon! let's keep on hoping and asking..thank you for praying with us and please rest assure that me and hubby also remember you in our prayers.

Our Pagudpud-Laoag-Vigan Trip part 2

BANGUI WINDMILLS – located outside Pagudpud, 15 to 20 minutes drive from Pagudpud town. It’s simply breathtaking, there were few people taking pictures of the windmills also when we got there. There are 15 giant electric fans but two of them were off at that time. I just can’t believe that there really are windmills in our country. These windmills are being used to supply electric power to some part of Ilocos Norte together with the Aqua Grande Hydro Electric Plant.


CAPE BOJEADOR LIGHTHOUSE- old lighthouse indeed but still working, everything is old, the walls, the stairs..I was afraid to go up at first pero nahikayat din ako umakyat sa itaas. The view from up there is very stunning. I wish we stayed a bit longer para nakita naming sunset…sigh. Mang Celso-the caretaker told us so many ghost stories..hehe! pero di naman nakakatakot talaga,he’s very entertaining, no entrance fee but we left some voluntary donation na din.

And then we proceeded to Laoag na, we checked in muna sa Palazzo De Laoag- not so new hotel pero ok na din, there is a swimming pool na inenjoy namin that night kasi kami lang ang nag swimming. The staffs are friendly and courteous. Breakfast is included although 2 choices lang, tapa and longganisa. Ok na sha for their rate na less than 1,500 per night per room.

We visited next the PAOAY CHURCH which is less than 30 minute drive from Laoag. It’s almost 5 pm when we got there. Hubby was able to take a good picture of the century old church.

And then on our way home, we literally drove through VIGAN lang. We went to Heritage Village and bought some pasalubongs, unfortunately wala pang lutong empanada that time. We also dropped by at Syquia Mansion but it’s close pala on Tuesdays.

I would want to go to Vigan again and spend at least 2 days there, sayang kasi I want to visit all the museums eh..maybe next time.

It’s good that we rented a car, very comfortable because you can go anywhere you want and you can rest while on the road..and to think mas cheaper pa rin sha compared to bus fare.

Hope this would be of help to those who are planning to go to Ilocos.

planning to have our own house

My newlywed friend Jerlyn flew back to the US yesterday, but they managed to visit some house and lots in Laguna some few weeks back because they are planning to have their own house soon. And so they encourage us to have a look and plan ahead too. It was exciting! We all daydreamed that all of us three couples will be neighbors someday.

Of course, having our own house has been one of my priorities since I got married and I know it’s not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God anyway. I asked her about the house and the community and of course the mortgage. I only hope I could avail of one that is affordable and good terms.

I knew nothing about home mortgage so I made used of all the available information on the internet about it. I found this site that has news story about it and I find it helpful. I’m still learning, still visiting some sites. I plan to visit HDMF (pagibig) office one of these days so I can personally inquire about the current mortgage here in our country although visiting their website is a big help too. I learned that I have to attend a seminar if I want to avail of the housing loan. I don’t know if they also offer Fixed Rate Mortgages here just like in other countries, I surely wish there is because I think that would be better.

Our Pagudpud-Laoag-Vigan Trip

We left Manila at around 2:30 PM, Sunday,March 16, we rented a car sa Hannan Rent a car, Php 3,300 per day including driver. A red Toyota Innova.Ok naman for us, 6 lang kasi kami so maluwag sha talaga.

After several stops we arrived at Pagudpud around 1:00 AM, so bale 10 hours ang travel time, mabilis compared to what I’m expecting na 12-13 hours, kasi sabi ni Manong Driver,mas mabilis daw talaga pag night travel.

We opted to spend the night in a “homestay” na lang since aalis din amai the following morning. Our tour guide Mang Lenzer, was able to find a very affordable homestay for us, P250.00 per pax. No aircon but with kitchen and CR. And it’s also in Brgy.Saud where most of the resorts are located.Mabait ang may ari ng house na si Mang Nathaniel.

We woke up at 6:00 AM and walk our way to the beach,malapit lang sa house na tinuluyan namin. From there kita yung windmills..beautiful scenery!

At 9:00 AM, off we went to tour Pagudpud, our first stop ;

KABIGAN FALLS – may entrance fee na 10.00 each and 100 pesos for the guide..na feeling ko hindi naman masyado kailangan coz very easy lang and may kasama na kaming tour guide, but I think eto lang kasi hanapbuhay nila..so ok na rin. 30 minute trek but worth it naman, mga 80 feet daw ang taas ng falls na ito and sobrang lamig ng tubig.


PATAPAT VIADUCT – here, you can see the beauty of the South China Sea, according to Mang Lenzer, this is the road that connects Ilocos Norte to Cagayan.


AQUA GRANDE – there’s really nothing much to see here,pero ok na rin,supposedly may entrance na 15.00 each, pero free na kami kasi we don’t intend to stay naman ng matagal.picture taking lang talaga kami.


We ate lunch at the only restaurant na malapit sa area. Bingbong’s restaurant, medyo mainit yung place,madilim ng konti sa loob at walang tao..Ok na rin food nila, we were so full sa order namin, 7 kami and we only paid 505.00 mura na no? or mahina lang kami kumain..

After lunch we went to

BANTAY ABOT – meaning “bundok na butas” in tagalog. A lot of rock formation here and still the south chine sea ang makikita..after several pictures we went to ..........

BLUE LAGOON – and I was amazed!! This is the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen, though haven’t been to Boracay,pero my friend who’s with us also na kagagaling lang from Boracay said it’s more beautiful daw. Mas blue ang color, fine din ang white sand..And the place is so silent,so serene, walang madaming tao kaya yata maganda pa. I’m gonna go back to this place and stay there for few days. Ang sarap mag isip, mag pray,mag worship at kung ano-ano pa. The only set back of course ay walang magandang hotel, no foodstore so dapat when you go there may dala ka ng food. May isa lang akong nakitang maliit na tindahan.

To be continued….

hello!!

I'm back from our Ilocos Trip but I'm still writing my blog entry for that one and I am currently uploading the loads of pics, for the eman time, I would just like to note that I finaly gifted my self a new digicam!! yeppee! that's right..

I chose SONY DS W55 and used it agad sa Ilocos trip namin, so far it performed well, di kami naubusan ng battery and ng memory..although 1GB lang ang memory stick namin.

so guys, wait for the picture of our Ilocos trip which I enjoyed tremendously! sulit ang pagod..

Digital Camera, Cash & Carry and American Idol

We’re supposed to see the movie BC 10000 last night at the Cash & Carry mall, yeah..I am one of those happy people na mall na ang Cash & Carry, super lapit sa amin ang galaan. We checked the time sched and last full show is 9:30 pa so we went to Anson’s muna, we look around sa mga available nila na digital cameras. I am particularly interested sa Canon A550, priced at Php12,500.00,they offered 0 installment plan and comes with free 1GB SD Card, rechargeable battery with charger plus the camera case. I think it’s a quite good na rin no? I browse the internet this morning and saw some good reviews about it.

But then, mas mura ang SONY DSC W55 na ito at maganda rin ang review..so right now I’m still confuse..I wanted to have my own cam na talaga, we’ll be going to Ilocos this Sunday and I know I’ll be needing one, para hubby will take care of the videocam and me sa still pictures. :

We cancelled our movie plan, kasi I remembered elimation nga pala sa American Idol..haha! and I’m so hooked as in, kahit replay na lang napapanood ko.I don’t wanna miss it so we hurriedly went home na. Umabot pa naman ako and boy I’m so glad to see Ramielle still hanging in there and of course my favorite Jason Castro is still there..I just do hope magtagal pa sha. I love his eyes..super!