OraLE! oLe!

Thanks to Sister Tin and Fiance BJ, Nel and I are sooooo raving about this new Mexican Restaurant discovery....

ORALE, located at the Fort Strip

For better visual presentation, I grabbed these two pictures from OAP's blog

Their Chicken Quesadilla is simply TO DIE FOR!

The same goes for their STEAK BURRITO!  Hubby forgot his name sa sarap! lol.

But sad to say, I can't say the same thing for their lonely Nachos -- just didn't click our taste buds :)

Órale! Taqueria Mexicana  (address grabbed from OAP's blog as well)
The Fort Strip, 7th Avenue corner 28th Street
(located where Go Nuts Donuts used to be)
Bonifacio Global City

GaV and GeNe

I got married in 2006, since then, my barkada would make a constant guess and bet who would tie the knot next.... and after 6 years... who knew... it would be Gene's turn!

The Ceremony was held at the Central United Methodist Church along TM Kalaw at the heart of Manila.  It was a first for us to attend a Methodist (pardon if the term is incorrect) wedding, and it was like a Catholic's as well, just different with the readings and rites.

Kuya Joaquin was one of the Page Boys (a.k.a. Bearers), while Besty Chris was one of the Bridesmaids.

Besty Gene, trying hard not to cry... awww....

I love this part!  "You may now kiss your bride".... meaning they are now officially married... wedding is over... and time to head to the reception... and eat!!! hahahaha!

I love love love the set-up that Scenta Creations did at the Makati Shanrila reception.  The attention to details can't be missed!  And it was so elegantly and tastefully done :)  

Kuya Joaquin was thrilled when he saw his name on the place cards.  He eagerly sat on his 'assigned' seat and insisted that his picture be taken with his 'place card'. haha :)

It was a beautiful and memorable wedding.  You can feel the love.  Now, if only Kats was here... :)  I wonder when we will be complete again.  Suddenly... I miss my Bestys 

HappY 2012!

Happy HaPPy NeW yeAr!   

And I just know that 2012 will be an awesome year because of 

them :)

mY FuLL-pLedGe kUya

Ever since Jacob was born... one constant fear that hubby and I have is that Joaquin would reject his baby brother due to jealousy.  So I researched for tips on how to ease the transition of JOaquin from being an only child to a Kuya.

I got tips, especially from co-Mommies, on how to prepare Joaquin, and it helped a lot.  We included JOaquin with activities with regards to Jacob, like changing Jacob's diaper, giving meds to Jacob, etc..  We made him feel included by letting him participate and giving him 'Kuya' roles. Though it can't be avoided, especially during family gatherings, that relatives would focus more on Jacob (since he is newest addition), leaving Joaquin on one side.  Whenever this happens, we have observed that JOaquin would find ways and do something in order to get attention :( That's why we double our effort with Joaquin, especially when we know that Jacob will be the 'star' of the show.  Then there is Kuya's date day, (Kuya is the star! while Jacob is left at home with Lola), wherein we let him choose where to go, what to do, what to eat, etc... 

SO on Kuya's date day, we went to Eastwood Mall.  We made him choose where he wanted to eat (He chose Cravings, cause he saw the bread and buttter sa buffet station. lol).  Then we made him play sa timezone, then we went Fully Booked where he got 2 books as prize for being a good Kuya.  It was his day, he is the star :)

On our way home... this was the conversation that transpired between Kuya and Papa

Papa: "O Joaquin, nag-enjoy ka ba anak?"

Joaquin: "konting enjoy lang papa"

Papa: "O bakit naman?  We did everything you want anak.  Ikaw pumili ng restaurant. Nag-timezone tayo. May new books ka pa.  Bakit konting enjoy ka lang?"

Joaquin: "Kasi papa iniwan natin si Jacob.  Dapat kasama natin si Jacob para happy ako.  Kasi diba family tayo, kaya dapat kasama din Jacob"

AWww.... Hubby and I were speechless!  Another fear that we had, was for Joaquin to not want Jacob be with us during family trips and outings.  BUt we were so amazed and touched at what Joaquin said.... He is a full pledge Kuya! And though there will unavoidable instances that he will feel 'left-out', deep inside, we know that he loves his brother :)

HaLF waY ThERe!

And just like that, Jacob hits the half way mark!  HapPy 6th month sweetheart!

At 6months, Jacob can now do the following:

> sit very minimal support

> roll over... and over... and over.... and over (lol)

> laugh and giggl when played to

> recognize faces (especially mama's and yaya's)

> reach out for an object

> focus at a moving object

But more importantly... he now started eating solids! yey! He is now weighs a hefty 9.5kgs :)

Of course, Kuya was there to lend a helping hand.  He sooo adores his baby brother :)

YayA vs. AmO (EmPLoYeR)

Haha! This is so funny :)

source: http://leahdeleon.com/2011/11/11/this-is-so-funny/

Hmmm... may job opening pa kaya for maids? lol.

bAzAriSTa

I've always wanted to sell my dishes.... and for this year... it came through!

I was so nervous at first!  I have this fear - what if they don't like my cooking, etc, etc, etc, .... turns out my fear had no basis at all!!! yey!!  Their feedback was great!!! And they even bought the second time around for take out! yippeee!  My Joaquin even promoted Mama's food by going from booth to booth and shouting "Buy na kayo pasta ng Mama ko!" How cute!

My sisters and I shared a booth as well.  She is selling kikay stuff while I was more on the baby stuff.  Our parents were in full support!  They were even our first customers! Hahahahaha!  Papa just love my baked macaroni and he was the one who insisted that I start selling it.  I guess I needed that little push from them... and it all paid off :)

We will be selling all Sundays until December 2011 :) See you at Foodtown Weekend Market!

HappY 5mOnThs JaCob!

Instead of the traditional cupcakes, hubby and I decided to get a mini-cake for Jacob's 5th month celebration (read between the lines -- bitin sa amin ang cupcakes.lol)

We had a simple and sinful merienda celebration at Mcdonalds Libis

At 5 months, Jacob can do the following:

> roll-over or rather tumble over and over

> focus and grab objects (especially colorful ones)

> babble non-stop

> say MAMA!!!! <---- yup! his 1st word!

> giggle and laugh when surprised

> recognize faces ( in Tagalog, nangingilala)

> scratches right part of his head (which is becoming a funny habit. lol)

> sits upright, with support

> drools big time, which I read is his body's way of preparing for the introduction of solid foods

> grab his feet! (sabay subo! lol lol lol)

jaCobee

I love this stage in a baby's life.  When they learn how to smile and giggle non-stop :)

I can't wait for him to start talking! hahahaha :)

A LegeNdAry VisionAry diEs

RIP Steve Jobs.

WeLcoME to ChRisTianiTy JaCob!

At last! My baby is baptized!

We got this ensemble from Periwinkle Eastwood.  It was so nice!  Jacob looked like a mini-prince.

The Baptism rites was held at Sto. de San Jose Greenhills.  We opted for a private baptism, since we never liked the idea and the feeling of maraming kasabay.  The priest was prompt and kind.  The rite was simple yet very solemn.  The only irk we had was the parking!  

The reception was held at the clubhouse of Riverfront Residences, Pasig. Would you believe that the rent was only P5,000.00?? Although the parking area was ridiculously far, the newness and the cleanliness of the place made it all ok.

The place was dressed up by my good friend Jacque.  Due to prescribed budget, we wanted to have really simply balloons (as in ung naka-tali lang sana sa chairs.lol), but to our amazement, Jacque did more than we asked for and didn't even charge a cent!  It's her Christening gift for the little boy.  The tarpaulin design was c/o of my cousin Sarie and the printing c/o Ninong Robert, again, their gifts for the little boy.

The awesome food was by Tita Mely, which the guests raved about.

Entertainment was provided by no less than our dearest Joaquin, who did a Michael Jackson impromptu presentation with King, followed by a slightly for-adult-only dance and song number by cousin Pao and my brother RC.  Thank God for the talented Santiagos! whoowooot!

And the crowd went wild! hahahaha :)

Moments and gatherings like this make me appreciate our families all the more.

Welcome to the Christian World Little One!  We love you very much!

BoYs pLaY

This is our scenario on most nights...

I have grown tired of reprimanding them for ruining the sheets(tigermom here. lol)... but then I realized... if you can't beat them... might as well join them. Hahahaha!  And your crankiness will disappear if you watch them play and here them laugh :)

MommY C TuRns 92!

Our dearest lola (but we all call her Mommy Conse) turned 92.  As with her past celebrations, we make sure that we really prepare for it, for every year is sure is a milestone.

The celebration took place at VVI with the theme Willing-Willy, since Mommy is such a fan of Willie Revillame (I know right! lol).  And we got her a Casino inspired cake *wink*.

Her birthday celebration started with a special mass to thank God first and foremost.

After a hearty lunch, the program started wherein the families prepared presentations for our dearest Lola.

We all wore same custom shirts! Cute noh :)  and for the ending presentation.  My kuya cousins wrote a song for our dearest lola expressing how much she is loved :) ... which brought tears to everyone.

Then the blowing of the cake...

We love you Mommy!  I wish I can be just like you when I reach your age.... surrounded with love :)