sTagE MomMy

Joaqui celebrated his 2nd birthday at Jollibee Ever. The place was beautifully dressed up by Mommy Jacque's PartyBooster. I just loved the Spongebob pillars! It was the first item to be taken when the party ended (nauunahan ako! hmph! haha!). As usual, Mommy Jeng threw an awesome party! Not only was Jollibee present, but she got the complete line-up!


The Mommy in me kicked in when Jollibee and friends showed up. I just have to have a picture of Joaquin with Jollibee! so....

I huffed and puffed and blew the other children away, so that Mommy and Joaquin can have a closer encounter with Jollibee!

hOngKong 2008

Last Dec.24-28, the Versoza clan spent their Christmas at HongkOng.

dec.24: Arrived at 9:00am. Little Boy extremely excited. Look at how giggly he was at the HK airport.


dec 25: Spent ChristMas day at DisneyLand where...


we had our picture taken with Santa Clause! where...


joaquin rode the carousel with papa! where...


joaquin had crazy fun time at the tea cup ride! where...


joaquin enjoyed watching the fireworks!

dec.26: Harbor and Victoria Peak where...

papa taught joaquin lessons in life. where...


Mama & joaquin enjoyed a top deck bus ride! where...


Mama had to zip up Joaquin since it was outragously cold! brrr!

dec.27: Free day! So the Versoza Inc. went... !

shopping and on foot city tour!

dec.28: back to the Philippines :)

joaquin at HK airport baggage check in. Haha!

eaT aLonG gRouP

The eat along group held their monthly eating spree (hahahaha! what a term!), at Mommy JAcque's place in TayTay.

(L-R) jeng & joaqui, simone & jacque, rhea & andie, joaquin & con
not in the pix: ayn and ibim

We had as sumptuous dinner! I thought it was going to be a night filled with laughter and non-stop chicka. Much to my horror, Daddy Simon signaled that it was time for videoke. My mommy friends who have the gift of voice, sang their hearts out with the videoke.

Mommy Jeng even stood up in her seat as she sang!

They kept on teasing me that it was turn every now and then, but I politely declined. But then the constant teasing went on, what ultimately triggered me was when I saw that Daddy Simon even went to his parents' place (which was far far away) just to get the playlist. Awww.... I so his effort... so

warning: may be repulsive. children must be accompanied by adults

It was a good thing my son came to the rescue! Either he heard the silent plea for help of Mommy or he wants MOmmy to stop singing! hahaha!


Over-all it was a fun day! Fun in the sense that you don't have to worry if Joaquin is getting too active, plays with his food, or did #2 -- because you are with Mommies!

bELLe dE jOuR

Yey! I got my Belle de Jour planner today! For 3 years, I've been using the Starbucks planner. I've decided to fore go it since it's ridiculously more expensive and the design is so plain. So for you gals out there... Get your Belle de Jour! This is soooo for us! Can't wait to use it!

cOncOn's cOoKinG (Cc) 2

With time to spare, I decided to cook my mother-in-law's ultimate Pot Roast. Her classic recipe is always a hit with hubby. And this is one of my most cherished recipes. In respect to MIL, i can only divulge the basics.

(having trouble uploading pix)

Mama Linda's Pot Roast:

A kilo of beef (you may choose any part. I usually put in the shank to make it more flavorful)
tomato sauce (better make your own fresh tomato sauce)
Worcestershire sauce
Clear soda

Directions:
Saute beef in onions and garlic. Add the tomato sauce. Cook until beef is tender. Add clear soda, Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 3 minutes. You may wish to add salt and pepper to you liking. Serve :)

Optional:
Add olives

chRisTmAs pArTy 2008

Business was really bad this year. It came to a point that we considered closing down one company. But then, God is good. When you surrender everything to him, He will find a way. Thus, as this year closes, we are so thankful that our employees are still with us. That they still have their livelihood to support their families.
Our Christmas party was not held in a lavish hotel nor clubhouse. The food was not catered. The entertainment was not some famous band. The prizes were not the trip-to-HK type. But the memories created were timeless. Their smiles all worth it.

cOncOn's cOoKinG

Since you all know how I'm just soooo crazy about cooking. It's just about time to blog what I've been 'experimenting' in my little kitchen :) I'll be sharing the basic, but would keep secret the 'secret' ingredient. Haha! Hope you like it :)

Porkchop and Java Rice

Porkchops: marinade (at least an hour) in soysauce/liquid seasoning, brown sugar, lots of garlic and pepper. I usually just eyeball the quantity. You can either fry or grill them. Optional: you may place a tiny bit of butter just before serving and sprinkle with parsley.
Javarice: mix together ketchup and soysauce. Pour over sangag rice. You may add sweet corn kernels if you desire.

10 RaNdOm FacTs / haBiTs aBouT mE

Thanks Rhia for this tag -- sorry took me a while to do it :)

The rules:
1. Each blogger must post these rules.
2. Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.
3. Bloggers that are tagged need to write ten facts about themselves. You need to choose ten people to tag and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and also to read your blog.

10 Random facts/habits about me.
1. I'm deathly afraid of house lizards. But we have snakes for pets.
2. I can't eat chicken fingers without honey mustard sauce. But I eat breaded chicken with ketchup.
3. I always end up having my jeans cut either way short or still too long. Never got this right!
4. I am most passionate about -- COOKING.
5. I can't sleep without washing my hair.
6. I can't live without Food TV.
7. I read 2-4 books at the same time.
8.I always pack extra clothing than the usual, for fear that if it might get wet or something -- at least I still have an extra pair. But I don't bring extra money. Mwehehehehehe.
9. I hold grudges (sorry! I know this is bad! )
10. I must have my last meal 4 hours before bedtime or else, if say I ate at 9pm, I'll sleep by 1am. (blame in on Dr. Oz! hahahaha!)

aNdy's 1sT biRThdAy

The youngest girl in the CWL brood of babies finally turned one! Although her celebration was back-to-back with Manny Pacquiao's big fight with Oscar dela Hoya, it didn't stop us from trekking the long, long, very long journey to the birthday spot. Haha! That's when you get when you have true friends. :)


(L-R) Andy & Daddy Archie, Joaquin & Daddy Nel, Yakee & Daddy Jojo


Mommy Tin and Andy

FinaLLy, iT's up!

After DAYS of 'nagging' Nel to put up the Christmas tree... He finally did it!


As much as we wanted to get a decent shot of Joaquin with the tree. This is what we managed to get....


He was so busy picking the balls! Ayayay! Haha!

mS. eVeLyn

When the business was up and soaring, she was there. When the business went bleak and bleeding, she was there as well. And now that the business is starting to pick-up, she still is here.
While talking to our business partner, I can’t help but smile to see Ms. Evelyn Alvaran Cruz seated on my right, as she graciously accepted the invite of our business partner. She’s like the ‘Queen’ of the hair and make-up industry (google her up, and you'll see), yet you don’t feel like you’re talking to one. It’s more like… she’s a mom. Very approachable, kind, easily listens, but more importantly, cares. She’s got everything. She can buy anything. Yet, she chooses to continuously help. I thought people like her only live in fairy tales, I was wrong. Her secret? She chooses to pay it forward.

jUsTiCe sYsTem - suS!

We were scheduled for a mediation with the person we a filed a complaint against. This case has been running for the past 2 years. If the erring person wished to settle, he/she should have more or less paid her dues on a weekly or monthly basis. But no, instead he/she got a lawyer (which is his/her right of course). Oh by the way, when we caught his/her, he/she already admitted the fraudulent act and even wrote a letter of an apology, stating the he/she was tempted, etc... So it was a surprise that he/she changed her mind, said he/she was not guilty and hired a lawyer. So my point? Why would the court order us to undergo a mediation??? In the hopes of maybe ending the case?? Duh!!!! We already filed and paid for filing fees!!! We already paid and is continuously paying our lawyers for their services!!! And now, after 2 years, you just want us to mediate!!! Actually, what really ticked me off big time was the mediator who handled the case. For your information, mediators are there not there to judge nor to force on you his/her own opinion. From the word itself -- Mediate: intervene between people in a dispute in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation. So if one party is not willing to mediate, you have no choice but to forward the case again to the courts. But this was not the case, Madam Mediator insisted that we should settle. That Judge has many cases that are more important to handle. Duh! Is this what the justice system is all about now? Settle niyo na lang yan, dami pang mas importanteng mga kaso hina-handle si Judge. Sus!

hApPy biRThdAy LoLo rEy!

We celebrated papa's birthday with the best way we know how, with his favorite all time past time -- FISHING!

"Let there be fish!"

Of course, I understand fishing is not everybody.

PaPa tried.... And tried...... After 10,000 years...

And there are those who will cheat.

"Lola sabi sa yo mas madali manghuli ng fish pag may net!"

Then afterwards, we had a simple dinner at Sushiya. Yes that's my papa, the simplest and most humblest person in the whole wide world.

Of course for Lolo only the best -- Alex Franco cake