My Bun in the Oven!

Positive!!!

Yahoo!!!!!!!
I am going to be a mom. How cool is that?!

I cannot contain my excitement since last week when we found out that I was 5 weeks pregnant.
Overwhelmed with joy, blessed, grateful and all the rest of the adjectives I could think of could not suffice to what I am still feeling today.

Even Hubby is extremely excited.

And totoo pala talaga that everything
changes once you have a bun in the oven.

Hubby became so maalaga to the nth power. He does all the chores at home.
He would rather ask me to lie down after my whole day at the office rather
than let me do the cooking and the dishes. How sweet of him 'no.

Few days before we did the PT, I was worried that I am sick since the day that I was
supposed to have my monthly period, the discharge was very light, not the typical first day.
And then on the second day of my supposed-to-be monthly period, I did not have
any discharge at all. I was so alarmed.

On the third day, when hubby and I went to our friend's housewarming party/bridal shower, I told my ates (because I am the youngest. hahaha) that I think I am sick and all that. Hahaha.
How shunga talaga. Then they told me that I am likely pregnant. hahaha.

Suddenly, i was so kilig. a smile just formed my face :-)

We went to my OB at Thomson Medical to have my first check-up. Yay! We saw our baby
and heard his heartbeat for the first time.

Your daddy and I can't wait to see you baby! :-)

Stop Cyberbullying!

 Source: Cyberbullying

With the advancement of technology, with just one click of a mouse, we could easily share anything and everything of what is happening around the world.

Christopher Lao. Robert Blair Carabuena. John Paul Encinas. It all rings a bell right?

These people had their 15 minute of fame or should I say shame due to their infamous behavior.
They claimed to be victims of cyberbullying. Their names and actions trended in all social networks not just in the Philippines but worldwide.

And now, we have an addition to the group. Paula Jamie Salvosa or popularly known as Amalayer.

When I saw the video, instantly I knew both sides were at fault.
It just so happened that Paula's action was way too tacky. Napa English pa talaga sa sobrang galit. 
I believe that Paula was already having a bad day and then the lady guard did or said something to provoked her to act that way. But of course, that does not give her a right to pour out her anger to the lady guard.
I am not in any way defending her attitude or action towards the lady guard.
What I am trying to say is that we all have bad moments.
As they say, one bad moment does not define our character.

This is just some sort of a reminder to everyone that there will always be two sides to every story.
We should not judge somebody when in fact, we do not even know the whole story.
 
In my opinion, the incident was just blown out of proportion and personally, there's no way that I would upload a video nor hit share button on Facebook to make fun of somebody.
Internet users should always adhere to ethical conduct. And besides there are other ways to make our time useful.

What would you do and how would you feel if this happened to you? Think about it guys.

Stop Cyberbullying!

Happy 1st Year Wedding Anniversary!!!

A Letter to My Loving Husband on Our Wedding Anniversary.

A year has passed since our wedding day.
But I could still vividly remember the vows that we shared.
Those vows that melted my heart and soul.

True that A wedding is just a day. A marriage is a lifetime.
The best and the difficult part are the days we will share,
the days we will live out what we had promised in front of the Lord Almighty.

Months before and after our wedding were the hardest times of our lives.
Still, I am grateful to the Lord that we managed to overcome those struggles.
Those struggles made us stronger.

From you, I gather my strength.
Thank you for being My Bestfriend. My Rock.

I love waking up next to you.
You just don't know how giddy everytime I get knowing you are lying next to me.

I love it when I could be myself with you.

To the many more wedding anniversaries we will celebrate, cheers!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HON!

A Heartbreaking Day in My Life

More than break-ups, I consider this as way more heartbreaking. The day I learned that my Lola is undergoing dialysis. It is something words cannot even describe.

It breaks my heart to know that she is going through this pain. And the worst part is there is nothing I can do to ease the pain. I can just talk to her on the phone, I cannot even see her.

If it is not too much to ask, please include in your prayers the well-being of my Lola.
She is an amazing woman. We love her so much. Thank You.

Lord, I am begging you to watch over my Lola.
Please let this treatment be a success.
May she find the strength to carry on.
Amen.

Nearing 30. Yay! It's my Birthday Month.

Source: Happy Birthday!

A woman nearing 30.
I am 29 yrs of age. 2 more years and I'm out of calendar.

Should I be scared?
Why should I when I am living the life the way I want it to be?
Far from perfect but definitely worth living.

They say that when you are nearing 30, there are A LOT of things a WOMAN should
have accomplish before they reach that age.

Here's my list.

1. Got a job. Not exactly my dream job but in these hard times, I
still consider this as an accomplishment.

2. Sent by my previous company for two months in Europe for training.

3. Finished my bachelor's degree on time. And with flying colors if I may add.

4. Got married. Now, should I really consider this as an accomplishment? Hahaha

5. Not a pasaway daughter up to now. I may have been naughty once or twice,
or I may have not followed my parents' advices several times, but
I would like to think that overall, I  did not become a pasaway. Haha.

6. Turned into a Beautiful Princess. I think? :-) I was an ugly duckling during
my primary until my university days. I just started to build my confidence
when I was already working. Hahaha.

Well, if I am to compare myself with my colleagues, I still have a long way to go. But why compare myself with others when I should think about the things I have, the people who cares for me, the many blessings God has bestowed on me?

Everyone should remember Lao Tzu's advice, “When you are content to be simply yourself
and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”

Amen.

Top 8 Posts on Facebook This Week.

Facebook may be overrated. But it seems that most people who have said several times
they want to deactivate their Facebook Accounts are having hard time to do so.

Everyday, billions of people are logging into this overused social networking site to upload photos, post rants, raves and everything that's going on with our lives. Or merely to check on any updates.

Since I come across some updates that maybe hilarious, while some are inspiring and some are just plain stupid, I decided to make a list of the top 8 posts on my Facebook Account.

1. Always leave the office on time. 

2. Work at it with all your heart.

 

3. Pursuit of Happyness.

4.  Laugh. Fight. Love. Live Life.

5. Lata ka ba? Bakit? Kasi ang sarap mong batuhin ng chinelas!

6. The best days are when you don't need anything extreme or special to happen to make it great.
You just appreciate it and feel gratitude, seeking nothing else, nothing more.

7. Men who kiss their wives in the morning live five years longer on average than those who don't.

8. Celebrating 63 months of Togetherness :-)

Happy weekend!

Kids: Then and Now

Source: Addiction

Indeed the world is changing so fast brought about by Science and Technology.
It has really affected our lives tremendously especially the younger generation.

Kids are so attached with their Mobile Phones, Tablet PCs, Computers and Laptops.

Imagine, a 3 year old boy knowing how to play Temple Run.

When I was still a kid, I used to play outdoor games.
Luksong Tinik, Patintero, Frikidam 1-2-3, Tumbang Preso, Langit Lupa, Taguan, and the likes.
Not a lot compared to my playmates back then but still, I know what it felt like to be a kid.

I learned to be a good sport.
I learned the value of camaraderie.
I learned to get dirty.

Unlike the kids of today, the things that they play with are not anymore a typical child would and should be familiar with. Today, they are more inclined to computer games and social networking sites.
Even the Filipino kids living here abroad are not taught of the outdoor games that we once played.

I had my first cellphone when I was already in University. Haha. That was in Year 2000. The ever-reliable Nokia 3210.

I started playing computer games when I was in Primary 4 (if I remember right) with our Family Computer.
Back then, It was already considered luxury. In short, sikat ka na pag meron kang Family Computer.
Haha. And all the kids will visit your house so they can play with you.

How I wish... nah! What can we do? That is the trend nowadays.

But one day, hubby and I will teach our kids play outdoor games. That's for sure.

From My Dream of Becoming a Doctor to Being an OFW.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
I bet everyone was asked this question when we were still young. In fact, asked repeatedly.
I could somehow remember what my answers were.

One day, I wanted to be a Flight Stewardess since our neighbors would tell me, "uy, matangkad ka,
pwede ka maging Flight Stewardess at mag travel san mo man gustuhin." 
(You are tall, you can be a Flight Stewardess and travel wherever you want to.)

The next day, I wanted to be a Doctor, particularly a Pediatrician.
The day after next, It was my dream to be a Dentist.
And so on and so fort.

The BIG question is did we end up being what we wanted to be way back then?

For me, it's a NO.
I did not become a Flight Stewardess.
I did not become  a Pediatrician.
I also did not become a Dentist.

What did I become?

I became a BAGONG BAYANI, as what my fellow Filipinos would say.
Yes. I am an OFW and proud to be one.

Some would say that OFWs are very lucky since we are earning dollars, more than what an average professional can earn back in Manila.
But what people don't realize are the sacrifices we make for the welfare of our families.

Working abroad is not easy as it seems. Back in Manila, I could off my computer the minute it was 5:30pm.

In foreign countries, especially those which don't have work-life balance, we cannot do that. In short, kayod-marino kami dito. We need to keep in mind that we are not working in the Philippines, or in Manila for that matter.

We are also sometimes asked to do things beyond our scope of work.

Whenever we fall ill, who would take care of us? Luckily, my hubby is here with me.
How about the others who do not have a loved one to run to?

The many Birthdays, Christmases, New Year Celebrations, Graduations, Reunions that we missed. Argh.

I happen to know somebody who receives an SMS from his loved ones only a couple of days before every month ends asking "magkano ipapadala mo ngayong buwan?."
For him, a simple SMS saying "kumusta ka na dyan" would uplift his spirit.
Same goes for the rest of the OFWs.

Receiving a Thank You message whenever our families have received the money or the gifts that we have sent would definitely warm our hearts.

I would like to end this post by sharing a reminder to my fellow OFWs.

No matter how good we are at doing our job, we are still indispensable. Especially after hearing the government's new ruling on tightening foreign talent policy.

That's why we need to SAVE for the rainy days.
Otherwise, sino ang tatakbuhan natin pag tayo ay wala ng trabaho?

A Must Read for ALL the Wives.

Whoa! Time really flies by so fast. It's already the second half of the year. 

Anyway, here's a quote I want to share to all especially for the wives out there posted by Caleruega Couples on Facebook about Marriage. Happily Married or Otherwise, this is a must read.

After reading, care to share your thoughts on this?

Choosing the Perfect Baby Name.

Oops! Don't congratulate me yet.
I am not yet going to be a mom anytime soon.
It's just that lately, I've been spending time thinking of babies' names.

Hubby and I had an unwritten agreement that he will pick the names for the boys.
I get to choose the names for the girls.

However, at the back of my mind, I am hoping to just have 3 boys.
No girls. Don't get me wrong.
Who wouldn't want to have a mini-me?
But I am soooo scared to have girls especially a lot of things are running through my mind
when I think about my daughter/s becoming teens.

I still leave it all in the Lord's hands.
As long as the babies are born healthy, I am a-okay with that. In fact, super okay. 

Here's my 8 Baby Names for my boys and for my girls.

For my boys:

1. Kurt
Is of German origin, meaning A bold counsellor.
It's not because of the meaning why I like this name. Names starting with K, appeals to me.
Not to add the fact that Hubby is a fan of Kurt Cobain.

2. Liam Wyatt
Liam is of old German origin, which has various meanings.
It means will, desire and helmet, protection. 
On the other hand, Wyatt is of English origin which means brave/strong/hardy war.
This combination is very masculine, don't you think? :-)

3. Lucas Sebastian 
Lucas comes from biblical word which means Lucius, luminous, white.
Sebastian is of Latin origin which means Venerable.
I love the name Lucas, with a c, not k. It's also a popular name but not overused.

4. Jacob Isaac 
Jacob is of Hebrew origin, meaning, Held by the heel. 
Isaac is also of Hebrew origin which means laughter.

For my girls:

5. Arabella 
Name with bella in it, to me is very feminine. I love it.
This name means A beautiful altar and is of Latin origin.

6. Lili Margaret 
I find this combination very cute. :-)
I initially want it to be spelled as Lily but the meaning and spelling of Lili looks nicer and cuter. Agree? :-)
Lili means Consecrated to God.
Margaret is pronounced as MAR-gret. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of this name is "pearl".

7. Dana Annika
I love these names very much.
Both are very unique.
Dana has various origins and meanings.
My most favorite meaning is of Danish origin, a very rare pearl. Symbol of exceptional beauty.
While Annika means favored by God.

8. Zia Margaret
This name is also a cute combination, right? :-)
Zia is of Arabic origin, which means Splendour or ripened grain.

Whew! 
In two year's time, I definitely would not be surprised when hubby and I will get into an argument on deciding our baby's name. Hahaha.

Care to share your baby's names?

Book Review: The Litigators

Disclaimer: This is the first book I read authored by John Grisham.

Therefore, this review is based solely on the book and not on his writing style.

I have always been fascinated by legal drama stories/genre. Such as lawyers trying to battle and outwit each other inside and even outside the courtroom. And The Litigators is one of those books which immediately got me drawn into it.

It has all the elements most readers require in a book - suspense, sarcasm and drama. Those are actually what kept me going. It is as if the story is happening in the real world. Not just a product nor a figment of imagination. Far from fantasy. Pragmatic.

Mind you, it also contains humor. In fact, I cannot remember how many times I tried to suppress my laughter while reading it.

This book is definitely highly recommended. John Grisham instantly became one of my favorite authors.

Summary: 

Oscar Finley and Wally Figg are partners in a small twenty-plus year old Law Firm in Chicago specializing in divorce proceedings, DUIs, not to mention chasing ambulances, reading obituaries and even visiting funerals for potential cases.

David Zinc, a Harvard Law School graduate, earning big bucks but sick and tired of corporate life, barely have time for himself and his wife, decided to dropout and landed on the doorstep of Finley and Figg Law Firm after drinking alcohol the whole day at a bar.

After David Zinc was employed as an associate in the law firm, the drama unfolds.
How can they win the case against a lawsuit against Varricks, which is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world that produces the drug called Krayoxx when none of them, has actually tried a case in a court? This drug allegedly helps lower cholesterol but may in fact cause people to die of heart attacks.

Enjoy reading!

Kuriya Fish Market Singapore

Fabulous Sunday once again.

This time, hubby and I together with our housemates went to Kuriya Fish Market for our delectable dinner.

This restaurant offers Japanese cuisine, ranging from sushi to fresh seafood which they say is airflown directly from Japan to Singapore thrice weekly.

Japanese cuisine has always been a favorite of mine as well as hubby's.

When we came to Singapore several years ago, we used to go Nihon Mura outlet in Dhoby Ghaut at least twice a month for their to die for sushi and sashimi. :-)

Salmon Teriyaki with Potato Croquette and Dumpling. Price: S$9.50

Big servings at a very cheap price. Needless to say, worth every penny.

Served with Japanese rice with beans, the salmon is dipped in their own version of Teriyaki sauce.
A must-try to satisfy your cravings for Japanese food :-)

Yakitori: Pork Asparagus / Ebi Fry / Tori Negima

Yakitori in Japanese means skewered food. 

Lobster Salad Maki. Price: S$5.80

Sushi is served best with Wasabi which has a very strong flavor. I normally eat my sushi without wasabi.
For me, the taste is still delicioso.

Salmon Sushi. My all-time Favorite :-)

Oh, I love Salmon. Whether it's a sushi, a sashimi, fried, grilled, smoked, or just added in sinigang, I will definitely love it. It is a must that whenever I visit a Japanese restaurant, I will have salmon in my plate.

See why I love Sundays? ;p

New Addiction: Legal High - Japanese Drama

I am an avid fan of Korean dramas. Without a doubt.

But recently, I got addicted to Japanese dramas as well. Particularly, detective stories. Something that involves mystery. I find them interesting and highly intellectual. The plots are well-crafted. Though, there will always be exceptions. The actors also portray their roles in a very convincing manner. I think Japan should be given credit and commendations for these kind of dramas. That is what they do best. Don't you agree?

Legal High is one of the Japanese dramas I am looking forward to watch every week, which is currently airing. Here's a short description of what this drama is all about.

Attorney Komikado Kensuke (Sakai Masato) loves money, prestige & women, but also has a 100% winning rate when it comes to his legal cases. Mayuzumi Machiko (Aragaki Yui) is a rookie attorney who holds a strong sense of justice; passionate about protecting the weak. She is also awkward and rigid in her work. One day, due to unforeseen circumstances, Mayuzumi Machiko begins to work at Komikado Kensuke's law office. The two attorneys constantly clash, but in the courtroom they cooperate to fight as one. - Dramacrazy

You can watch the full episodes at Dramacrazy or Dailymotion


Episode 1 Part 1/4

Legal High.ep01.Subbed_clip1 by specialsunny13


Episode 1 Part 2/4

Legal High.ep01.Subbed_clip2 by specialsunny13


Episode 1 Part 3/4

Legal High.ep01.Subbed_clip3 by specialsunny13


Episode 1 Part 4/4

Legal High.ep01.Subbed_clip4 by specialsunny13

Enjoy! :-)

Easy Recipe for Working Wives & Moms: Oven Baked BBQ Spare Ribs

For working wives or moms like me, managing time is one of the hardest thing to do.
After a hard day's work, we still need to fix a dish for the family.

Here's a recipe that I want to share with you guys.
It will only take about 10 mins to prepare and 1 hour to bake and voila! The food is ready.

Initially, I thought of making my own version of Spare Ribs Sauce to marinate the pork overnight.
However, after not being able to find one ingredient that I need, I ended up buying a ready-made spare ribs sauce.

I tried it out last night and the sauce really tastes good. The taste is similar with my own version of Spare Ribs Sauce.

What you will need:

1.5 kgs Spare Ribs

6 tablespoons of Lum Kum Kee Spare Rib Sauce

Procedure:

1. Coat the ribs with the Spare Rib Sauce and marinate it overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place the marinated spare ribs in a baking tray and bake it in 30 mins and turn the meat over to bake for another 30 mins.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Not bad eh? It looks burnt but it is very juicy inside. A Must Try! 

Happy Cooking!

IKEA's Pendant Ceiling Lamps - Is it a Must Have?

Right after attending a Tagalog mass at Church of the Holy Cross at Clementi, Hubby and I went to Ikea in Alexandra Road to do window shopping. Ooh, la la.

I was in search for ceiling lamps that can add life and vibrance to our room.
We searched all over the store and found so many fascinating stuffs, of course.

But. But. But.

Fickle-mindedness again! Argh!
I couldn't decide which one really suits me and my hubby's personality.
Plus the fact that, is it a must-have or just nice to have?

Nice, isn't it?

It's actually made of polypropylene plastic. Cost is $S99. Yes, it is expensive, I must say. 

Filipiniana Theme.

This lamp is made of handmade bamboo shade. We wanted to get this ceiling lamp if we will also get the table lamp which I really really like, also made of the same material. But due to budget constraints, I can only choose one at the moment. :-) Cost is also S$99.

This photo in IKEA's website do not give justice to the actual ceiling lamp. Sad to say.

This lamp is of white color. Made of Polycarbonate Plastic.

Way cheaper compared to the other two ceiling lamps. Only S$29.

So, can you help me decide which one is the best choice? :-)

All photos are from Ikea's website.

A Must See:Our Same-Day-Edit Video

Again, this is a late post :-)

Hubby and I were really astounded when this video was played during our wedding reception.
We weren't expecting much from our Videographer. :-)
One lesson we learned throughout our wedding preps: Trust your suppliers.

This video captured our heart-warming moments.




Obie + Daisy Same Day Edit (SDE) from Lito Q. Genilo on Vimeo.

Enjoy! :-)

Transgenders allowed to join Miss Universe Pageant.

Source: Miss Universe

This issue has been circulating all over the world for the past few days. Now that Donald Trump's Miss Universe Organization has announced the inclusion of Transgenders in the Competition.

As expected, it has raised reactions from all over the world.
Based on what I have read, 90% are against this decision.

I, for one, is totally against this new rule.

I firmly believe that NO amount of surgery will make a man into a woman.
At the end of the day, a transgender may look female but will never be a female.

This is not even a discrimination issue.
They should know their limitations.
This is actually an insult to REAL women.
Transgenders should respect natural-born women.

I would not be surprised if 5-10 years from now, natural-born women will no longer join this once called a prestigious beauty pageant.

Is the essence of being a woman still there now that the organization has made this decision? 

Finally!

Better Late Than Never :-)
Rest of the photos from our Official Photographer can be found here:
Smart Shot Studio

Do also check our Wedsite for the pre-wedding details!

From an almost 3-year Hiatus.