It’s time to Party… Party: The Birthday Attire

Please forgive me – na-LSS lang ako because my eldest kept on singing this song plus that “Gangnam Style” song to boot.  I don’t know exactly if “Gangnam Style” is the title of that song but my son (and I saw even his playmates in our condo) is fascinated with it.  You should see my son dance to that tune.  He is truly adorable.  I will try to take a video of him when he does that hahaha!

Going back to my post, I will try my best to finish the supplier ratings for my youngest son’s 1^st birthday party last September 9 (Sunday).  I will do this one supplier per entry so that it is manageable.

The Birthday Attire

Our theme is Super Mario Bros.  Rafa doesn’t have a choice yet and since Enzo loves anything Mario, we opted for this theme.  Hubby told me Mario is older than Luigi which is why Rafa is the one wearing the Luigi costume.  Both costumes were made by Cargins Costume.  Suki na kami dito since Enzo’s 1^st birthday party.  Imagine, he turned 5-years old already.  They also did the Halloween costumes for Enzo in the past – Wolverine, Buzz Lightyear.

This Nike Jordan 11 shoes is a hand-me down.  It was a gift for Enzo by his ninong Mac, my husband’s younger brother.  Parang bago lang diba!  Enzo used it when he was still trying to figure out how to walk on his own (December of 2008).

We also had a mini-family pictorial before the party started.  Buti we decided to come to the venue with this attire first before we had the kids changed to their Super Mario Bros costume.  Otherwise, we will not have time anymore for any outfit change.

Both polo were bought in RL including hubby’s.  Enzo's shoes is a steal which I got on sale in Converse.  Mine is a dress from Tango.  I like it’s fit kaya I went back to Tango if they have other colors I would like kaya lang puro light colors na.  This lovely family picture is courtesy of the famous GingLorenzo.  That would be for another post.

The birthday boy in his Luigi costume.

Rafa’s Birthday Wish List

Hala!  We have received a couple of messages and texts asking us of what they can buy as gifts for Rafa.  I used to register special occasions through the gift registry of SM, Rustan’s and Mothercare.  Some guests have told me that it’s easier that way – they will be able to get something that they know the child needs (or what mommy wants for her kid teehee!).  So what I do before is choose from a wide selection.

It’s just that I don’t have much time to register Rafa for his 1^st birthday.  But for those who are still asking us, here are some of our suggestions:

1.      Johnson’s Baby Bath (the boys share this so between the two of them, they consume a lot!)

2.     Pampers’s Large (orange)– Rafa currently uses Medium but he might outgrow it if we receive tons of medium diapers hihihi!

3.     Huggies Pants Large – Because Rafa now knows how to pull the tape from the regular diapers and does it quite often to our yaya’s dismay hahaha!

4.     Avent 9oz. bottles

5.     Avent #4 Fast Flow Nipples (6m++)

6.      Avent Hard Spout (12m++)

7.      Avent Decorated Cup with Toddler Spout (12m++)

8.      Or the Nuby No-Spill Twin Handle Cup

9.      The ever-durable crocs will be nice (size 4-5)

10.   Richell’s Baby Snack Case (for an OC mom like me!)

11.   Clothes like shorts and shirts

There!  Or whatever you feel Rafa would appreciate… See you at the party.

Anniversary Lunch at People's Palace, Greenbelt

That's Rafa's toy!

This is both our first time in People's Palace even though I have been working opposite Greenbelt for most of my career.  I have heard good reviews of the place - they say 'even better than Mango Tree' but I couldn't compare as we haven't tried that one too.

So after our passport application in DFA, we trooped to Greenbelt because hubby was buying me the bag. Since we were there at noon time, we don't have time to choose where to eat so I asked hubby if he wanted to try Thai food.

Here is what we ordered. We both love the food - hands down! It do come with a hefty price for a small serving but it's worth the taste. We're are still drooling as I type this post. I'd like to go back there and soon hayz!


 

 

Stir-Fried Chicken & Cashew Nuts

Hubby's Fave - Panaeng Curry of Beef

I love - Crispy Lapu Lapu Fillet

PAMANA: A Father's Day Post (12 June 2012)

Hubby has been veerrryy busy these few months, rendering OT for successive weekends (as in wala nang QT=quality time with the family!).  Thank God yesterday was his last OT for a weekend! So for Father's Day Celebration, we invited both our families to join us for lunch at Pamana in Tagaytay last Independence Day.  We wanted to do an ocular visit of an Ayala property in Nuvali kaya lunch in Tagaytay is not far-fetched.  Ang ganda dun I swear and the property itself is quite promising. 

 Here is a rare shot with my brother's family who met up with us.  This is the area where we were seated with the family's pictures at the background.

Here is what we ordered:

The Original Bulalo (Php535.00) - This is just ordinary, nothing spectacular but the serving was large (good enough for our group of 11adults).

Three Way Adobo (Php295.00) - The Native Adobo Spareribs is yummy, my son loves the Adobo Flakes (di siya maalat and it's really crunchy) BUT the Chicken Adobong Puti is quite forgettable.

Kare-Kare (Php395.00) - Hubby loves Kare-Kare but he said the one in Cafe Romulo is way better than this one we had in Pamana.

Binagoongang Bagnet (Php365.00) - This one is a hit!

Pinoy Fondue (Php265.00) - This is a must-try when you do dine in at Pamana! Sarap!

 This is at the upper floor of Pamana with quite a good view of Taal.  The de Claro's cousins - yup! All boys yan hahaha!

Rafa was 8 before he turned 9-months (2-in-1 post)

Since I am so late in blogging, I am doing a 2-in-1 post.  The first one is to share with you our find in Cake2Go.  There is a newly opened branch near our place so that's where hubby opted to buy for Rafa's 8th-month birthday.  This is really sweet but moist and oh so yummy!  This is one of their bestsellers - Devil's Food Cheesecake if I remember correctly.

And I also wanted to share with you guys the Baby 1st walker we bought for Rafa.  Warning: his pedia said it is NO longer recommended at any age!  However, I wanted to have somewhere to place him for a little while as he doesn't want to stay put in his crib that long.  BUT I always remind the yaya to keep watch at all times kahit nasa walker pa as it might topple over.

Moving on, last June 7 is Rafa's 9th-month birthday.  I left the office a bit early because I still have to go to my dental appointment for the root canal therapy (that should be another post!) at Dentista, Inc. in Shangri-La mall.  On our way home, we passed by The Bakeshop of Edsa Shangri-La and decided to buy his cake there since they have on display this Dark Chocolate Cake for only Php560.  Di gaano kamahal!  The other choices are in the range of 1K already.  I tell you - sa chocolate frosting pa lang sulit na kahit the cake itself is a bit crumbly (do you get what I mean?! - not the moist and siksik-type).

From Rafa's check-up last June 1 (a few days shy of his 9th-month), he weighs 7.2kgs and 70.2cms longer.  Head circumference is 45cms while chest circumference is 43cms.  He is catching up with Kuya in terms of his height but Kuya is a lot heavier at 9-months (9kgs and 71cms I believe) hihihi!

A Mother's Day Post - late at that!

I have been meaning to blog – seriously!  But either my hands are tied or we don’t have wifi at home.  But I have a lot of stories to share for those who still drop by my blog from time to time… feeling lang may nagbabasa!  It’s been that long as my last post was on Rafa’s 7^th month birthday and now, he is about to turn 9-months.  I have yet to share the photos from his 8^th month birthday celebration.  We got a cake from Cake2Go that is super recommended – sinfully sweet!  But I’m waiting for hubby to copy them to our laptop.  So for now, let me share with you my Mother’s day (slash Birthday) gift from my boylets (3 of them).

I have actually been eyeing this Michael Kors bag for the longest time which was supposed to be my birthday gift but alas, it was out of stock in Greenbelt when I first checked in February.  It was still out of stock now even in their Shangri-La Branch.  Ganda sana noh? I like it because it’s similar to my Neverful one which means it’s big enough to accommodate the “house” but not too expensive to be bringing in the office on the daily basis.  But luck was not on my side.

Then I saw this in Greenbelt last May 12 (day before Mother’s Day) but opted not to buy it yet at that time.

 I was actually eyeing the orange version.  My BIL invited us to dinner on Mother’s Day (dinner because hubby is rendering overtime on a Sunday… I know!?).  Hubby insisted that I get that one already before it goes out of stock again.  So we troop to Greenbelt before dinner and bought this style (pikit mata) however in Royal Blue.  The orange one is the last piece on the shelf and it’s a bit dirty already.  The blue one has 1 stock left so faith will have it that I get the Tory Burch’s Blue Nylon Ella Tote.

Loving it sooo far as it is huge and could carry the “house” though I have to warn you that it is heavy.  But carry lang.

I am also giddy excited come September as I have ordered another loot from my Tita who went to London to visit her daughter who works there.  I know, ako na ang spoiled!

Eto pa… I am obsessed with LV’s Speedy 30 (with the strap).  But I MUST stop myself as we still have a 1^st birthday party to throw late this year and I promised a HK trip for Enzo on his 7^th birthday so I must start saving as I am hoping for a 5-days/4-nights trip to make sulit.  Then probably on our trip to HK, I can get myself that Goyard tote I am also salivating right now.  I know?! Puros kaartehan.

Note to SELF: Must S-A-V-E!

Birthday Loot #2: Charles & Keith Peep Toe/Slingback Shoes

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

This peep toe/slingback shoes is so pretty and versatile - I can wear on jeans and even on office clothes, nice diba? Got it for almost Php1,800.00. There was no intention for me to buy shoes last weekend. In fact, we weren't even supposed to be in Eastwood Mall last Sunday. It's just a spur of the moment buy but both me and hubby got home with a wide smile on our faces. Yes... hubby also bought a Nike rubber shoes. I know he wanted to get one and when I saw the same pair he was looking at in Cash & Carry the other weekend and it was less than 1K in Compex, I urged him to buy. He was telling me he would only buy if I also buy one for myself... alam nya kasi that I'm kuripot when it comes to myself but for my boys... go! Go! GO lang ako! So I agreed and ended up with this lovely pair.

Birthday Loot #1: FaceShop's Peeling Day

Got this last night when we went out to do our grocery in Landmark Trinoma. I told hubby I wanted to try this product I've read in one of the blogs (forgot lang which among the many).

I honestly don't have any beauty routines on my face aside from the daily wash - that's it. Though my officemates said I have a very nice skin - except for the blackheads I have on my face. I hope this would do the trick. I don't like to have facials as I'm scared that it hurts - parang dentist lang. I know... I know... I underwent CS (twice for that matter) but still scared of going to have a facial or the dentist. Hahaha! I even told hubby payag na ako to have baby #3 mawala lang 'tong toothache na 'to grrr! And yes - I'm having a toothache since Friday kasi hayz! I've tried Panadol, Advil, Alaxan FR and now, Ponstan which I hope will finally take care of this pressing problem. Problem talaga yan!

True to Word: Better Fresh Dough

Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. That's Papa John's.

This is if you're craving for (good) make that better pizza. I know there are A LOT of pizza parlors in Metro Manila but I would consider Papa John's as one of my go-to places aside from S&R, Yellow Cab and Shakey's (not in that particular order but usually depending on what I want to eat). But let me warn you of their limited menu. Yes - they have pasta, side dishes but not that noteworthy. The pizza specially their fresh dough is what you will be coming back for. Here are what we ordered there:

"Forgettable" Seafood Carbonara (Php 180)

"Just OK" Diablo Burst (Php180)

"my drink-nothing special" Green Apple Italian Soda (Php69)

And the star of the show - Super Papa's 14" (Php 580)They have this garlic dip for the pizza which reminds me so much of Domino's. But the dough I super love talaga! And I'm not even a fan of thick crust pizzas. But theirs is really sooo good!

The Kuya tinkering with his iPad... I know it's not ideal to let the kids play while eating BUT that keeps him pre-occupied and lets me take care of Rafa and eat in peace (if that is ever possible with a toddler and a baby in tow).

The adorable bunso... in his Precious Moments' onesies (bought in SM).

See Rafa is still all smiles here until he realizes that it's not me nor Daddy nor his yaya that's holding him then he cries ever so loudly. Yes - nangingilala na siya at 5months.

Happy pa oh! Sayang I don't have a picture of him when he was wailing... next time I'll show you what I mean.

The Simplest yet Most Touching Valentine's to date

This is what I saw when I came home last night at 11PM past... grabe ha parang Christmas season lang sa dami ng tao pauwi pa at this time...

My boy wrote that while his dad guides him on some of the letters. The single-stem rose (I found out later from hubby) was from his office harharhar! This was actually taped in the mirror/wall where our dining table is.

It's true that not all sweet things come in expensive packages - mine came from the heart!

You see -- my birthday is coming up in 2 days after V Day so I insisted to hubby not to order flowers anymore and just give me the shopping money. I so wanted to revamp my wardrobe. It's been almost all of last year when I was on maternity wear and since we've decided that I'm at least not getting pregnant soon (or ever!), I think I needed some new office clothes. Hopefully, my leave is approve and I'm going shopping with Mama. Hubby kasi can't take a leave.

Anyway, back to my Valentine's post, here is our midnight snack last night to cap off Valentine's. We are a convert when it comes to Sonja's cupcakes. The Pistachio Berries N' Cream is so divine (Php 85.00). Hubby loves it! As in he finished off the whole cupcake. I was only able to taste a little. In fact, better than their Red Velvet Vixen (Php70.00). The Flourless Choco Cupcake (Php100.00) is another tempting revelation.

How was your V Day, guys?

Sidenote: However, other sweet stuff do come in expensive paper bag kaya lang out of stock pa!

The Ultimate Dessert: Frap na...Ice Cream pa...

That's because we needed to try the freezer of our new Electrolux LOL! Hubby & I were even debating whether to try this first or Ben & Jerry's. As you can see... we ended up with Starbucks' Mocha Frappuccino Ice Cream... and Blue Bunny's Chocolate Chip Cookies Ice Cream.
Hahaha! Look the boy can't wait to get his hands on it... Masarap sya, really creamy!

Early Shift Tuesday: a not-so-Happy Lemon (31 January 2012)

I had an online training for a tool that we are going to eventually make use in the office yesterday morning so I was in the office as early as 8AM and very sleepy at that.

I was able to leave the office by 5PM and meet hubby in his office in Ortigas. We went together to Trinoma to buy the 11 cubic Electrolux no-frost refrigerator we wanted. After ref hunting for the past few days from Megamall - S&R - Western Appliances (Trinoma) - Anson's (Trinoma) - SM North Edsa, we finally ended up buying at Anson's because they gave us 1K++ discount and a free Electrolux rice cooker to boot. Saka baka kung saan pa mapunta ang budget namin for this one hahaha! It's going to be delivered this Saturday yipeey!

Before going home, I told hubby I wanted to try this blockbuster hit - "Happy Lemon." The line at their Trinoma branch is really long since they opened. At least yesterday, the line was manageable enough. I ordered the Milk Tea with Black Pearl Sago (left cup on the pic) for hubby and Cocoa with Rock Salt & Cheese for me (the cup on the right).

Myverdict: ay! Bakit ganun lang... ;( I guess I was expecting too much since many have been raving about them. But for me, Serenitea's Wintermelon Milk Tea pa rin ang winner!