Photo Hunt :: Water

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Hand in hand we walk on the shore...

This was taken at our beach trip early this month at Laiya, San Juan Batangas. The water was perfect for swimming. The gentle waves and clear water was great for snorkeling.

To my fellow SPH participants, I'm a little busy today but I promise to visit you later... Take care!

Turtles and French Cake

Dear friends, before anything else, I'm very sorry if I haven't been around to visit you lately. I'm behind on my visits 'coz I've been a little busy. I promise to make it up to you soon. Thank you for your kind wishes. Take care!

I spent my birthday with Jules and Yohan. We watched TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). I was so proud of Yohan because he was at his best behavior at the movie theater. No restless movements, no wondering around and most of all he was very quiet.

During our past movie dates, Yohan would often talk inside the theater, usually to ask questions. Sometimes I would feel a little embarassed because Yohan's voice would suddenly break the silence inside the movie theater. Thank goodness I never heard a single disgruntled movie goer. Maybe they were more understanding towards young children. Besides, we only bring Yohan to movies that are children friendly. The last one we watched was Night of the Museum.

Before we went inside the theater to watch TMNT, I told him to whisper in a soft voice if he wanted to tell me something. Surprisingly, he followed my request. The only time I heard him talk a little loud was when his Dad dug into his popcorn. Yohan protested, "Dad, not so much!" I almost laughed upon hearing my son's objection to his Dad's action. Jules and Yohan each had their own popcorn to begin with but Jules finished his too quickly. :)

We all enjoyed the movie. I remembered when I was younger, I also loved watching the cartoons of TNMT with my brother.

Saw some good movie trailers. Looking forward to the next Harry Potter and the Transformers.


In this picture, Yohan and I were about to enjoy a lovely dessert at Bizu. This small, delectable french cake is called Amour. See the chocolate bow on top? Yummy!

We also had some fun at the arcade. Yohan enjoyed playing fire fighter. I forgot the name of the game but I was fascinated that real water came out of the hose to put out the fire (form of a light) in the building. Yohan enjoyed several more games before we went home.

Yohan fell asleep in the car ... sign of a tired but happy lil' boy.

Heartfelt Thanks

Thank you Toni for this lovely e-card. Your sweet note have touched my heart in more ways than one. Thanks for being my first online friend.

Thank you Tita Princess for dedicating a birthday post for me. I really appreciate it. I'm happy that you're enjoying blogging and hope that you'll always have inspiration to write your thoughts and feelings.

Thank you Pea for posting a special birthday message for me on your blog. It's such a kind gesture for someone I have met just recently. I'm very touched that you have asked your friends to come by to greet me. It has been a pleasure meeting new and interesting people.

It's a lovely gift Alyssa. Thank you very much for dedicating a birthday post just for me. I'm overwhelmed by your sweet gesture. I love purple. :)

Thank you Daphne for this precious e-card. I'm very happy that you took time to greet me on my special day. It's been a true pleasure meeting you through blogging.

Grazie Kia for these cute personalized signature tags. I love all of them. The time and effort you spent on them makes each one very special. Thanks to Zeno too.

Thank you Graymama for sending me warm birthday greetings and thank you for sharing my birthday with your friends. It was wonderful meeting new people. My best regards to Buddy.Thank you Darlene for this cute e-card. I'll see you this weekend. Kisses to Tisha and Sofia.

Thank You For Your Thoughts

To my dearest blog friends,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful birthday greetings. Each one warmed my heart and I feel as if I've been given 100 hugs.

I will always treasure your kind and touching words. Each one of you is a blessing that I'm truly grateful for.

Always,
Rachel

Labor of Love

Thank you to everyone who have greeted me happy birthday. I really appreciate every sweet and kind greeting.

Jules and Yohan were very busy earlier. They baked birthday cupcakes for me. They worked very hard because they insisted on giving them to me before midnight. Yohan didn't want to sleep early because he was eager to help his Dad with the cupcakes.

Here are the lovely carrot cupcakes that Jules and Yohan made for me. Yummy! I appreciate the time and effort they invested for this wonderful gift. Notice Yohan's different shirt? He got icing on his white shirt so I changed him. :)

Jules gave Yohan a chance to decorate his own cupcake and our little boy had a marvelous time.

Here are some extra cupcakes they made for me. I love you too Jules and Yohan. Thanks for making me feel special and looking forward to a special day ahead.

Miss You Cheese

To live fully, laugh often, and love life's simplest joys ...

These are my wishes for you on your birthday and always.

Happy Birthday

Thank you to my dear friend Charisse for this lovely birthday card.

I miss you!

I'm happy that you're enjoying your independent life.

Hope that you'll live your dream.

KMMS Postcard Swap

I received this lovely postcard from Judy of Welcome to My World of Dreams. Thank you Judy! Finding a lovely surprise in my mailbox always brigthens my day.

I met Judy in one of the weekly memes that I participate in and it's wonderful to encounter her again in Kooky Kay's KMMS.

I enjoy swaps because it somehow brings us closer to people we meet in the blogosphere.

Yohanism #2 (fomerly Fun Chats with Yohan #2)

I'm going to share fun conversations with Yohan from time to time. I have renamed my earlier conversation with my son as Fun Chats #1 to keep track of amuzing exchanges.

Here are some recent ones:

Me: Yohan, kindly throw this banana peel in the trash can.
Yohan: Ok, mommy.
Then I heard him saying to the trash can ...
Yohan: Lunch time.
LoL!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yohan: Where is Miko? (our white dog who passed away middle of 2006.)
Me: He is in Heaven.
Yohan: Where is that?
Me: A special place in the sky.
Yohan: Let's go to Heaven and bring Miko back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yohan: What's the name of Pinnochio's father?
Me: Guissepe.
Yohan looks at me in a weird way.

Yohan: No, it's Geppetto

Me: Oops, sorry, mommy forgot. You're right Yohan. Very good.

Early Birthday Blessings

I'm blessed to have a thoughtful and loving family. I'm very happy to receive these wonderful birthday blessings from my Dad, Mom and brother. Thank you for always keeping me close to your hearts.

Thinking of you on your Birthday with warm thoughts and
loving memories of all the very special things that make
you a wonderful Daughter.

Happy Birthday!

Love you always,
Dad and Mom

I love my lilac Nokia 5300 XpressMusic ...

Happy Birthday Ate! Love, Jun-Jun

Tagged :: Seven Songs

I've been tagged by Gracie of Echoes of Grace for an interesting meme. You're to name seven of the songs you're currently listening to and then tag seven more people. Thanks for the tag Gracie.

Here's my list of seven songs which you can hear playing on my blog. I also thought of sharing my favorite lines for each song (especially for those who don't have their speakers on).

1. Sunshine by Gabrielle

favorite lines:

You are the calm, when I am the storm
You are the breeze, that carries me on
When I set adrift, you anchor me
Youre there for me

2. Constantly by Vanessa Williams

favorite lines:

I knew it was there

Though I tried to hide it

The feeling just kept on shining through

Havent known you that long

So I try to deny it

But the feeling was much too much too strong

3. Sweetest Days by Vanessa Williams

favorite lines:

All the while, life is rushing by us

Hold it now and don't let go

These are the days

The sweetest days we'll know

So we'll whisper a dream here in the darkness

Watching the stars till they're gone
And when even the memories have all faded away

These days go on and on

4. Driving by Everything But The Girl

favorite lines:

Oh loverboy

I know you too well

And all of my lonely secrets

To you I tell

THe highest of highs

The lowest of lows

I'll come driving

I'll come driving fast as wheels can turn

5. Cross My Heart by Everything But The Girl

favorite lines:

Will it ever be alright

To ask you where you spent last night

And can it be polite

The way we never write,

Of course I don't have the time,

And anyway I'm fine

If I should tell a lie

I'll cross my hear and hope to die

6. The Way You Look Tonight by Michael Buble

favorite lines:

Yes you're lovely, never, ever change

Keep that breathless charm.

Won't you please arrange it?

'Cause I love you

Just the way you look tonight.

7. At Your Best by Aaliyah

favorite lines:

But at your best you are loved

You are a positive motivating force within my life

Should you ever feel the need to wonder why

Let me know, let me know

I choose to tag the following ...

Alyssa of LETHIA

KK of My Good Finds.org

Lynn of Everything and Then Some

Nancze of NhisGarden-Oklahoma Reflections

Princess of The CooknTcherMom

Salen of Sassy Mom's Corner

Yvonne of Grow Your Writing Business

Everyone is welcome to play along. Let me know when you do so I could visit you as well.

Hope you can play this meme when you have some time to spare. No rush. :)

Monday Madness #25

Click here to join the madness.

1. What kind of automobile do you drive?
My husband is always in charge of driving. We have a Nissan Sentra sedan.

2. What kind of automobile do you WISH you drove?
I've always pictured myself driving a small SUV, like a Honda CRV or Nissan X-Trail.

3. When is the last time you bought a vehicle (new or used)?
Four years ago.

4. What is your color of choice as far as vehicles go?
White because it looks simple and clean.

5. Do you regularly have your oil changed?
Yes, my husband attends to it regularly.

6. How long do you generally keep a vehicle before thinking about buying a new one?
Ideally 5 years or so.

7. What kind of automobile will you buy next?
We want an SUV or a nice pick-up truck.

Hi to my fellow MM participants. I might be late on my visits but I promise to visit you soon.

Lavender and Then Some

I finally got my own Crocs last Saturday. I was thinking of buying the army green or black mary janes but Jules suggested I choose a more lively color. I didn't realize how hard it was to choose just one color. I got confused when I saw all the lovely colors on display.

I remember Connie fondly suggesting I choose a fun color like purple. She's right, I have too many black shoes anyway so why not try something bright and cheerful for a change.

I finally settled on lavender, one of my favorite colors. I tried the beach Crocs and found it more comfortable than the maryjanes so here it is ...

I love my jibbitz ... a sunflower, butterfly, Aries zodiac sign and a pink Crocs seal.

Now the gang is complete...

Photo Hunt :: Empty

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It's officially Saturday (12 a.m.) here so I might as well post my photo hunt early since I'll be going out later today. I promise to visit you as soon as I get home. Have a lovely weekend to everyone!

I shared these photos last year but I thought they would be perfect for this week's theme so I'm sharing them again.

Here I am helping myself to a Godiva chocolate. My son gets one then followed by my husband.

Before I knew it the box was empty. :)

Friday's Feast #15

Come join the feast here.

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Six

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?
No one in particular.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Hungarian sausages, Fish (Tilapia) and Meat

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
I'm not sure if it already exist but I'd like to name a new town or city Serendipity. I love the movie and the significance of the word.

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something
fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. Wikipedia

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?
I have no idea yet.

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
The face - I appreciate someone who smiles a lot because it somehow suggest a friendly nature.

Pizza Anyone?

Remember I mentioned freshly baked pizza made by Jules as one of the things I'm grateful for on that day? Well, rather than make you imagine it, I thought of sharing some photos of that delicious homemade pizza.

I'm lucky to have a sweet husband who cooks the food I fancy. He spoils me sometimes but I'm not complaining. :)

Yummy Krispy Kreme

Finally, I was able to buy a box of those original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts when Jules and I went to Serendra. I've tried one at my friend's place last Christmas and I've never forgotten the taste.

Jules and I each got a free glazed doughnut while waiting in line at the Krispy Kreme store. What a nice treat for customers. I wish many stores were that generous.

I just bought half a dozen of original glazed and realized my mistake ... I should have bought at least a dozen of it 'coz they were gone in an instant. :)

Ves, my sister-in-law suggested I try their New York Cheesecake so I bought two for starters. They were good but a little too rich for my taste. I couldn't finish it in one sitting. I put half of it back in the fridge and ate it the following day.

Yohan likes the original glazed too. He was very patient in this photo. He was very eager to taste one but I asked him to wait a little so I can take a picture. :)

Celebrate Each Day

The most visible joy can only reveal itself to us when
we've transformed it, within.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Sometimes I feel that time just pass by in a glimpse. That's why it helps to pause for a while and embrace the moment. Enjoying some peace and quiet helps me think of my life. A time like this makes me realize how lucky and blessed I am.

Allow me to celebrate this day and be thankful for what I have. When I think about it, there are so many things that I should be grateful for...

• my cotton pajamas
• soft pillows
• a warm embrace from my husband and son
• kisses from Yohan and Jules
• parents and a brother who love and spoil me
• Jules' mom doing much better
• knowing that my loved ones are in good health
• early birthday presents from my parents and brother
• an adorable boy calling me "mommy"
• my Yaya (nanny) who has been with me all my life
• Yohan's beautiful smile
• cellphone bill stating that I have overpaid my last statement so I only need to pay P103.00 ($2.15) this month
• freshly baked pizza made by Jules
• walking Bruno and spending some quality time with him
• hearing an old favorite song on the radio
• mailing a birthday card for my aunt
• singing Barney's song with Yohan
• watching Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Episodes 10-17 on DVD
• lunch date confirmation with friends this Saturday
• carpenter reporting for work to do our new cabinets
• sharing a chocolate bar with my son
• nice afternoon breeze
• a lovely weather
• perks of having DSL
• joy brought by looking at old photos
• an invitation to the 1st birthday celebration of my best friend's (Lyonnel) daughter
• Yohan's dinosaur growls
• my son taking a nap so I could spend some time on the computer
• new comments on my blog
• an inspiration for this post

Dad and Son in Fashion

Continuation of A Day of Pampering ...

Jules and I went to Piazza Serendra last Wednesday. It was our first time there. Serendra is now the latest place to go for fine dining and some shopping on the side. Too bad I forgot to bring my camera so I wasn't able to take photos of this new and interesting place. I'll make a mental note not to forget the camera on our next visit.

We went there to check out the main store of Crocs™. We regret having dinner already before going there. There were so many nice restaurants that we were almost tempted to eat dinner twice. :) Oh well, we can always go back another time.

I wanted to buy a pair of Crocs™ maryjanes but the store didn't have my size. I was told they ran out and waiting for a fresh delivery within the week. Just my luck!

But we didn't go home empty handed. I decided to buy Jules a pair of this comfortable footware. I wanted to buy him the black one with red straps but he wanted the exact color of Yohan's beach Crocs™ (which he got last December 2006).

My boys wearing their fashionable twin beach Crocs™. You can see a little difference in color since Yohan's pair are several months older.

See those cute little things? They are called jibbitz. Aren't they cute?

I just love these cute accessories and bought my boys several of them. For Jules, I got Scorpio zodiac sign and Crocs™ seal. For Yohan I got Lightning McQueen, Cancer zodiac, Nemo and a letter Y.

I hope to buy my own on our next visit to Serendra. I prefer the black or army green Crocs™ maryjanes.

Monday Madness

Click here to join the madness.

1. How many times do you wake up during the night?

I sleep very late so when I hit the bed, I sleep soundly until the following morning.

2. On an average, how many hours of sleep do you try to get?

At least 7 hours.

3. What day of the week do you do your "major" housecleaning?
The maid does the cleaning on a daily basis but I personally like doing a major housecleaning with my husband once a month. It's a time when we get rid of some clutter especially things that we don't need. It's like a monthly purging so to speak. :)

4. How often do you move your furniture to clean behind it?
We try to move the bigger and heavier pieces of furniture once a month during our major housecleaning but lighter pieces are moved daily.

5. Do you do your dishes by hand or do you own a dishwasher?

We don't have a dishwasher so dishes are done by hand.

Photo Hunt :: Drink

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I was at the supermarket with my son yesterday. He asked me if he could have one of those drinks that came in a superhero bottle. I said okay and he chose the Spider-man bottle. It was still cold when we got it and he was anxious to try it when we were in the car. But the moment he tasted it, he didn't want it anymore. So I tried some myself and it tasted awful! Oh well, the label says 100% real fruit juice (flavor: fruit punch) but it tasted like some sort of medicine.

I ended up throwing the contents when we got home. I told my son that we can put his favorite juice in it if he wants.

Friday's Feast #14

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Five

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.
A new haircut and a refreshing facial.

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when you find the perfect pair of shoes, just to find out that the store doesn't have your size?

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

Daydreaming about my favorite movies and making myself part of the cast.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

Why people disregard "No Jaywalking" signs and risk crossing the highway when the overpass is just several feet away. I don't understand why they risk getting caught by the police, worse risk getting hit by a car when a safe alternative is very accessible.

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

Carbonarra (spaghetti or penne will do)

A Day of Pampering

I had a full day of pampering yesterday.

First, Jules dropped me off at Rever in Makati and had a haircut, hair color and eyebrow threading. My hair had become quite unruly and I knew it was time for a hair cut. I have telltale signs of white strands (something I inherited from my dad; he had early signs of white hair at a young age) so I needed to have my hair color redone. The color is barely noticeable because I still prefer a dark shade. You can see some signs of reddish brown when the sun shines on my hair. Otherwise, it looks like ordinary black. My eyebrows have lost its shape so it was also the perfect time for threading.

Going to salon is a special treat to myself.

I've been going to the same salon since college. When I got married, I moved far south and the drive going to Makati takes about 1 1/2 hours. It's quite a long way considering that there are many good salons in Alabang (30-45 minutes away). But I'm too afraid of going to a new salon and risking another hair 'nightmare'. Several years ago, I tried another salon. It was a reputable salon and had many clients. Their services were much cheaper too. But I got out of the salon feeling terrible. I hated my haircut! I went home and cried. I had to wait several months for it to grow back before having it styled again. This time, I went back to Rever and vowed never to take my chances in a new salon ever again.

When I was done at the salon, I went to Glorietta to meet Jules. He watched the movie 300 while waiting for me. I was glad that he enjoyed the film. We had a simple lunch at World Chicken. We did a little shopping and went to our facial appointment.

My facial clinic is also in Makati so I would often make appointments for a hair cut and facial on the same day to maximize gas consumption.

Jules and I had our (overdue) facials. Maggie, my skin therapist who became a friend as well, was happy to see me again. The last time I was there for a treatment was October of 2006. Oh my, that was 5 months ago. Tsk! Tsk! Note to myself: I should take better care of my skin.

Jules had his usual mint facial while I had my purifying facial and slush treatment. Jules has good skin so he doesn't need all those extra treatments that I go through.

It was truly a rejuvinating day.

Then we went to Serendra ... more on that on my next post. :)

What's your day of pampering like?

My VisualDNA

I've seen this VisualDNA on several blogs. I saw it again earlier at Judy's Welcome to My World of Dreams and decided to finally give it a try. I enjoyed it! Give it a try too. Find the link below.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Yohanism #1 (formerly Fun Chats with Yohan #1)

As I said in a previous post, time flies so fast. I feel as if it was only yesterday when I bought these cute socks for my baby. But more than three years have passed and my baby has grown into a young boy.

Yohan is a late talker. He started saying a few words when he turned two years old. His vocabulary slowly improved but not as quickly as we hoped for. I was really worried although our pediatrician explained that speech development is not the same for all kids. Some children, more often boys, take longer time talking compared to girls. It was only when Yohan turned three that he started using sentences.

That's why it warms my heart to hear his conversations with various persons. Here are a few funny exchanges that I wil always remember with a smile.

Random Conversations with Yohan:

#1:

We were having lunch at a family get together last year. Yohan had rice, pancit (asian noodles) and fried chicken on his plate. Jules and I had an assortment of food on our plates including some small shrimps. We were eating when Yohan suddenly exclaimed ...

Yohan: Dad, can I have some of those orange insect?

Jules: Do you mean this? (pointing to the small shrimps)

Yohan: Yes.

Jules: (with a big smile on his face and trying his best not to laugh out loud)
Yohan, that's not an insect. Those are called shrimps.

We are very careful in introducing foods that might give Yohan allergies like shrimps. That was why at that time, he didn't know what it was called. We realized it was about time for him to try one so Jules gave Yohan a shrimp but he didn't like it.

That funny exchange gave us a good laugh afterwards as we shared it with the family.

#2:

Yohan clearly knows what the word "hot" means. I often make sure that the food is not too hot for him by blowing on each spoonful.

When we order food at the drive thru, the french fries are still hot. Yohan is always anxious to take a bite but I tell him to wait a little while I blow on one before giving it to him. Given these examples he knows that hot food might burn his tongue.

One time, we were at my mother-in-law's house. Yohan saw his Ninang Chona eating some chips so he asked for some. He was already holding one when I noticed the kind of chips they were. I knew that those chips were a little spicy so I told him ...

Me: Yohan, try a small bite first because that might be a little hot for you.

Yohan looked a little bewildered and went to give me the chip he was holding.

Yohan: Mommy, please blow.

Oh my, I realized that he thought it was hot in a different context, when I actually meant it was spicy. After that funny incident, I explained to him the meaning of spicy so he will understand the word when I use it next time.

#3

We were in a family reunion when Jules saw his cousin arrive, who happens to be a priest. His cousin came over to our table and Jules introduced us.

Jules: Yohan, this is Father Tonet.

Yohan: He is not my father. You're my father.

It was really funny and we tried not to laugh because it might hurt Yohan's feelings. We explained to Yohan that a priest is also called a "father."

#4

Someone found a large grasshopper. Everyone was excited to show it to Yohan. He was curious but quite wary of the insect. He knew what it was based on pictures but he never saw one that big before. I was even afraid to hold it.

Yohan's Uncle Mark decided to play a trick on Yohan ...

Mark: Come Yohan. I'll show you something. (He pretended to swallow the grasshopper but he just hid it in his other hand.)

Yohan: You ate it?

Mark: Yes, it's delicious.

Yohan: Hakuna Matata. (then he laughed)

Everyone was quiet for a few seconds because we didn't know what he was talking about. Then I came to the conclusion that he was referring to the animated film, Lion King, where a warthog named Pumbaa loves eating insects and would often say "Hakuna Matata."

Binging Vacation

My friend Cecille gave us a box of these delicious Cinnamon rolls ... one of my favorites.

How can I resist?

I ate a few with gusto then realized I shouldn't have done that.

Oh well, I reason to myself, life is short so why not.

Now, where is that self discipline I've been preaching to myself?

I guess my self discipline went on a binging vacation.

LoL!

Monday Madness

Click here to join the madness.
Once again, our good friend tricia has offered some questions for our answering!

1. Do you believe in reincarnation?
I find the concept of reincarnation interesting but as a Catholic, I do not believe in it.

2. Do you own any anime figures?
No, we don't have any in our house.

3. Are you one of the fanfic writers over at www.fanfiction.net?
No, this is the first time I've heard of it. I'll check it out later to get an idea about it.

4. Do you review stories which are posted in www.fanfiction.net?
No.

5. Are you looking forward to seeing the third Spider-Man film?
Yes, especially my husband and my son. They love Spider Man.

6. Are you looking forward to seeing the Fantastic Four sequel?
Not really.

7. Do you like "Deal or No Deal"?
I enjoy watching it from time to time.

8. Are you a television watcher?
Not much but I enjoy a few like Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Smallville.

9. Do you write letters to people?
I love writing letters and cards to family and friends. Even though it is so easy

to send e-cards, I still prefer sending cards the old fashion way (snail mail).

Being a Friend to My Son

Yohan is our only child (for now that is) and I noticed how excited he is whenever he sees his cousins or whenever he attends his classes at The Little Gym once a week. Most of the days, he just has us to keep him company. He doesn't have playmates in the village either.

My husband and I make it a point to be his playmates and friends. We engage in countless make-believe scenes that Yohan loves. He enjoys mimicking his favorite movies. Lately, Yohan loves to role play scenes from Night at The Museum. Funny how he would appoint us our roles as if he was the director.

Sometimes, we would just put out his Thomas the Tank Engine tent and spend the afternoon playing at our small backyard. He has many toys which have been accumulated over the years and we try to rotate them so he won't get tired of them easily. Yohan loves looking at pictures in his books and he often asks me to read a book for him.

There are so many wonderful activities that Jules and I enjoy with Yohan. He is growing up so fast and a day will come when he would prefer other playmates. One day he will have his own set of friends and would get tired of playing with us. Before that happens, Jules and I would like to take advantage of this time and have all the fun we can have as a family. Life after all can pass you by in a glimpse. I just don't want to miss out on anything.

Photo Hunt :: Architecture

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Before anything else, I would like to thank TNChick for appointing me site of the day last Saturday. It was an honor. Thank you to everyone who graciously visited my hunt and looking forward to seeing you again this week.

This is the the Sta. Monica Church in Panay, Capiz in the Philippines. It's a beautiful church with Spanish design. I went there on a vacation several years ago with my family. Sta. Monica church houses the biggest bell in Southeast Asia.

The century old church’s five-storey belfry shelters a huge antique bell. I remember going up the stairway with my younger brother and cousins to see the fascinating giant bell. Old folks claim that the bell was casted from 76 sacks of coins believed to have been contributed by the citizens of the town. According to facts, the giant bell holds a staggering record - seven feet in diameter and weighs 10.4 tons.

Friday's Feast #13

Feast One Hundred and Thirty Four

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?
I usually sleep past 1 a.m. It would be nice to have an earlier sleeping time, say 10:30 p.m. I usually have more time to blog at night when my son is sleeping so I tend to sleep late.

Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?
I think I give more advice than receive. I give advice to family and friends who seek some guidance and help. But I'm more often there to lend them an ear. I learned that sometimes listening alone means so much to a person. I'm careful about giving unsolicited advices because I don't want people to think that I'm sticking my nose in their personal business.

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had.
On our recent beach trip, my husband grilled some fresh fish, squid and pork. We had some grilled eggplant as well and some salted eggs (which I recently featured for my photo hunt). We were able to buy freshly caught squid from the fisherman we encountered at the beach. It was a simple meal but it was so memorable because of our beautiful surroundings.

Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

This line is from the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this book. I love the story and how the author reminds us of the simple truths that we seem to forget as we grow older.

Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice?
I love fresh mango juice. I prefer ripe mangoes but occasionally I order green mango shake at the restaurant.

Happy Women's Day!

You always bring happiness around you
especially at home.
Your beautiful spirit inspires many.
Your love and dedication to the family
make you truly special.

Happy Women's Day!

A Boy's Summer Escapade

Hi! We're back from our fun beach trip. I prepared a little slideshow of our summer escapade at Balai Beach Resort at Laiya, Batangas.