29th bday - simple but happy celeb

I had a very simple 29th celebration but this was one of the happiest in the last few years ... maybe because I am finally with my REAL family and the people around me are people who REALLY care for me for real ... I feel so blessed.

Arny's surprise for me

stoplight?

28 years of blessings...

Today is the last day that I will be 28. For the past 28 years, life has been a telenovela for me. I've had my really high moments and I've had my really low moments. I've cried buckets of tears and been in situations I wish I never had to go through again. Most people who know my story says I should sell my life story to a soap opera because it resembles one.

Still ... for the last 28 years ... I want to list down 28 blessings that I am thankful for.

1. I am still alive.
2. I am healthy.
3. I graduated from one of the most prestigious colleges.
4. I still have a job in the middle of the global financial crisis.
5. I have my family who supports me no matter what.
6. I have few friends but they are real and accept me for all that I am.
7. I am creative and talented (singer, dancer, stage actress, model, scrapbooker, accomplished cross stitch artist, collage maker, blogger.)
8. I am a mother to a 4 year old wonderful boy.
9. I am able to support my son on my own.
10. I was able to survive my telenovela lilfe.
11. I am still able to love with all my heart no matter how badly it was broken.
12. I am faithful and loyal.
13. I have great helpers in the house.
14. I have a home.
15. I am able to eat at least 3x a day.
16. I have a good fashion sense when I want to be fashionable.
17. I have a heart big enough to help less fortunate people.
18. I still respect the elderly.
19. I have a healthy dose of fear in me which allows me to be careful and to weigh things.
20. I treasure moments that other people seem to not notice.
21. I still stop to smell the roses.
22. I still find happiness in plastic balloons, balloons, cotton candy, and flowers.
23. I appreciate things that I have and treasure things given to me.
24. I have a huge book collection.
25. I still thirst for knowledge.
26. I learned from my mistakes.
27. I value GOD and believe in HIM.
28. I am me.

Happy 28 years to me and here's to a more fabulous, happier, quieter, richer 29th year and more. =)

affirmations

I just saw a bunch of affirmations from A Charmed Wife's blog and I love it! I love the positivity and I love how it encourages you to feel better and to look at life in a more positive note. I need that badly.

Here are some of the affirmations she posted that I would like to borrow.

I am ready for more positive things in my life.

the surprise party

Here are some pictures from the surprise party last week ...

the graduate with Grandma

the graduate with his tarpaulin

the people responsible ...

Till the next graduation in the family ....

finally: family portrait

We finally got our family portrait taken the day after lil brother's graduation. I love the end result. Mind you, no photoshop done on it. =) We're just really gorgeous. Lol.

* Photos a bit blurry coz I took a picture of a picture.

lil bro's graduation

Last Saturday, October 17th, was a very special day for my family and I. Another milestone was achieved by one of my brothers, Kirk. He graduated top of his class as Magna Cum Laude. My mother was in tears as can be seen in the pictures because she was so happy and well, she's a Mom and I guess that's what Mom's do. Hehe.

He wasn't able to give the speech because it was given to a deaf mute who also graduated Magna Cum Laude but was only 2nd to my brother over all. They gave her the privilege because she was special. It's cool though. My brother still received the honor he deserved to have. I myself was teary eyed when we were pinning the medal to him. It was a glorious moment and I am happy that I was there.

Afterwards, we ate at Sakae Sushi and went for a Sushi buffet. As you can see on the pictures, we consumed a lot of sushi and what we paid for was well worth it.
A lot more happened after the graduation but that deserves another blog entry. For now ... I leave you with pictures of one of the milestones in ou life.

the graduate

family picture
the invitation - VIP!

our Mom crying ... hehe
the certificate

too late the hero

Its so frustrating at work right now. The boss that I have right now should have been the boss that I had when I was just starting. The efforts she exert would have been much appreciated coz we'd learn the things we needed to learn and our lives would probably be much easier. Instead, she comes in now and wreaks havoc on something that I personally consider not really worth it. I am on this project for less than 60 days; to make changes to it is not something that I look forward to. I just don't see the point anymore.

Am I just tired already of trying for my team? Am I just tired of reaching out and not getting any help? Have I become complacent? Maybe. I think so. It's just that I've been doing this for 1.5 years and after so many battles, we finally realized that we just need to do the best with what we have. And now ... she comes in and I know she has the best intentions ... she wants what is good but I think ... she's too late the hero.

cafe world

I thinks this application makes for good training if you wanna go into the resto business. It makes you think what the best layout is for your resto to make the routes of the waiters easier ... how you want to design it ... and what to cook (the combination since the cooking time differs) and of course, time management because you do have a life outside FB. Lol.

It's our newest addiction now and its fun. It bonds us (family and J) and I love it. Hehe ...

J and J's wedding

the newlyweds
showing off the contract that will bind them hehe

looking good ...

the beautiful ladies ... I mean, men ...

the entourage ...

It was tiring but well worth it. It always feels good to see true love having a fulfillment. Best wishes to J and J. =)

random pics (events of last week)

before dinner at Savory
panic buying in preparation for Typhoon Pepeng

with a good friend, Ron G.

with her souvenir from China

and the reason why I experienced high blood pressure for the 1st time ever last week

I have been neglecting my blood due to FB games such as Mafia Wars and Cafe Resto. I apologize to my 12 readers. Lol.

I'll be better in sharing my random thoughts. And the crab on the last pic, still worth all the pain I suffered. It was delicioso. =)

dinner at Savory

posing as always ... look at B ... funny!

choosing what to order

eating on his own with his plastic "plate"
posing with B

The new SM Center opened last Friday and on Sunday, we went there to have dinner and check out the place. Yummy Chinese food = really good dinner.

my childhood dream

photo taken at my elementary graduation

When I was young, I wanted to be a lot of things. I wanted to be a flight stewardess because I wanted to fly all over the world (this was dashed because I did not know how to swim.) I wanted to be a martial arts expert because they looked so cool doing those kung fu moves (this died because I am allergic to pain.) I wanted to be a circus performer, a chef, a beatuy queen, a model, an anthropologist and so many things. Obviously, none of it came true.

Most of all, I wanted to have a happy family. My idea of a happy family back then was to have both Mom and Dad in the same house, tending to my needs, cooking me great meals, and helping me with my homework. I thought that if I had those, I'd be happy.

I grew up and had a family of my own. It was anything but idealistic. My partner was nowhere near good but I stayed because I wanted that happy family. I needed to have that happy family.

Fast forward to now and I realized that though I am a single Mom and I at times struggle to support B, we ARE a happy family. We are happy because there is peace of mind. We are happy because I do not need to worry if I will be beaten, cheated on, or reprimanded for not being perfect. We are happy because we love each other and have the support of my family and people who truly care for us.

Did I get my childhood dream? To most, the answer would be no for there is no Mom and Dad in one house doing stuff together. For me, the answer is, FINALLY, yes. I did get my childhood dream. There were some tweakings but yes, we are one happy family.

twins in China

GOD save the PHILIPPINES!