The Art of Gift Wrapping

Ever since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed wrapping gifts, whether these be for birthdays, Christmas, or any other occasion. It's a sad thought when i realised that as years passed by, I just relied on two things: either I have them wrapped in Rustan's, National Bookstore, or any other store that offered gift wrapping service. Worse, there was a time when only paper bags of the stores (whether they have themed paper bags or not) were the ones used as "gift wrappers."

This year, I have decided that those days are gone, and that I will go back to my liking for wrapping gifts. This time however, I choose to be a little more crafty, and to have my own brand or style of wrapping gifts. I bought a ball of twine from Craft Central, washi tapes from various sellers (mostly IG / FB sellers), and kraft paper (three huge rolls from a main supplier in Pasay) as my materials to wrap gifts. I also ordered customised gift tags (one for Christmas, one for any occasion) from Post Script Designs. I love Post Script's products and have been ordering from them since 2013! 

Anyway, I'm sure I would have so much fun wrapping gifts, thinking of ideas on how to make use of simple and inexpensive materials. 

This Christmas season, I have already started wrapping a few gifts, and although at first it was a bit tiring and such a slow start for me (I even got help from our helpers), I slowly got the hang of it. I loved the end products, I must say! Each gift has a different design, thanks to the number of Christmas-themed wash tapes I hoarded hahaha.

I plan to attend gift wrapping workshops in the future so that I would gain more knowledge, experience, and ideas in the art of gift wrapping. Oh happy heart! 

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Christmas 2013

This Christmas is indeed a very special one... it is the first Christmas of my dearest little Enrique Miguel!

Although it's a bit sad that my bunny isn't home for the holidays, I still felt blesses because I have two beautiful children by my side.

This year was full of challenges, but at the end of the day, what matters most is that I have my husband, my kids, my family, my friends, and all other things I have. I am truly blessed. :)

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Wheel of the Year

Found this great artwork from Wightwitch's Instagram.

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Holiday Season is Near

There is something magical every time the Yuletide season is coming. People tend to be friendlier, jollier, more generous. Even the weather seems to be just perfect!

What I look forward to the most (wait, probably second only as the most I look forward to is Enrique coming home!) is the Christmas gathering of our Hidalgo clan every 25th December. There are lots of good conversation, good food, children happily playing, and of course, good music!

My cousin always provides the best music every time. He has really good dj equipment that's comparable to equipment found in clubs. From 70's to 80's up to the most hip songs, gotta love his taste in music. It's no wonder even our elder relatives couldn't help but dance too. How about you guys, how do you celebrate the Yuletide season?

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Samhain is Near

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Merry Christmas!

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Welcome 2011!!!

Welcome 2011!!!!

Sorry, I was really busy during the holidays, I didn't really have time blogging! Anyway, I am really looking forward to this year, a year that will be full of love, joy, and blessings!

Our family, though the husband is away, greeted the year with a bang. I was one of the lead organizers for our condo community's first ever New Year's party, and though we didn't have that much support from our PMO, the event was a major major success!!!

Lots of homeowners attended the event which started as early as 8 pm and ended well after midnight. And yup, people were dressed for the occasion!

We had a countdown and waited to see all the fireworks outside! It was a spectacular view! Unfortunately I wasn't able to see much (and take pictures of the fireworks) because I was the one on the microphone doing the countdown, hehehe.

Anyway, I really really hope that the way we started the year will be the trend all throughout. Happiness, joy, love, laughter, pure living!

Happy new year to all!

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Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all!

May all of us have a truly joyful, meaningful, sacred, and blessed holidays!

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Gifts!

We bought Christmas gifts over the weekend, and though it was a bit stressful and tiring, I guess it was worth it, hahaha! My goodness the lines in the gift wrapping section of Rustan's was soooo long I felt really bad for the gift wrapping personnel!

Anyway, here's the little girl with the gifts under our tree.

She was very happy with these gifts and I'm surprised that she didn't think all of those were for her! She knows which ones were hers hahaha.

The Christmas spirit is indeed in our home!

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Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

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It's Christmas Time!

In our home at least!

We first put up our Christmas tree. Then maybe later on we'll add other Christmas decor.

Why this early? Because I probably will not have the heart to set it up when the husband is not home.

*Sigh*

Yup, I'm senti like that.

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Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all!

To Papa,

I know you are reading my blog. Just want you to know that we miss you and we love you so much.

I'm sorry if ever I hurt you last night with how I made you feel. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't weigh down on you. I'm here to support you always. Both Eanna and I prayed for you and we always pray for your safety.

I love you.

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Delinquent Again! Updates, Updates

Once again, I've been delinquent in updating my blog. This actually happens whenever my dear husband is here, even during the time when I still have a job. There has been so much going on these days, blame it on our long holidays and all, that blogging each and every one of them really exhausts a lot of time. And the husband does not approve of that.

Anyway, our holidays were really well-spent, together with all sides of our families. We got together with long-lost cousins and relatives, and the usual gatherings with our closest relatives.

Immediately after Christmas we headed to the beach where we stayed overnight. Aside from communing with nature, we prepared a really nice feast for us, composed of surf-n-turf menu: grilled meat, ultra fresh fish, and lobsters. love love love the lobsters! We bought a couple of more live lobsters supposedly to be served this New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, they died the next day when we went home. Too bad, but we immediately cooked them and had yet another wonderful meal.

Then we had dinner with my cousins from my biological dad's side. it was a very good reunion and we vowed that we will have regular gatherings from hereon. I just hope that we won't be lazy to set up our gatherings in the future!

We are all so happy and thankful for the blessings that we received this year, and we are looking forward to an even better, more meaningful, and more blessed year this coming 2010.

Happy New year all!

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Oh, Christmas Tree!

When hubby and I got married, we had this idea of getting small Christmas trees for the holidays, and whenever we feel that we have "progressed" we will buy a bigger one. This year, we felt that so many blessings where given to us, including the blessing that I can be a full-time home maker / stay-at-home mom, so we got the Christmas tree I have wanted to get for the longest time. all of us were very excited to go home after buying the tree and some adornments. we couldn't wait to set up our first "big" Christmas tree!

Our tree is still incomplete in terms of adornments and lights, but here it is after our initial set-up...

 

Although it kind of looks big for our tiny place, we still got this because I really really love the goldish color of the tree, but there are no more smaller sizes.

I am now looking forward to installing the lights and some more adornments, though it looks ok na rin for me.

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Happy New Year!

Happy new year to all!

I know, I know, I have been very lazy in updating my blog and this latest post will do no justice to what happened to our family during the holidays. Hahaha. Still a lazy blogger now, so my post will be short and sweet.

Anyway, I think I have gained a million pounds this week alone, thanks to the numerous dinners we had - either we hosted them or others. Just last night I had a seafood themed party with my in-laws here at home, and boy, that was just amazing. The other night was Mexican theme, for my family - love the tacos and chili con carne. The other night, hubby and I had dinner buffet at Heat in Edsa Shangri-la. And more parties... but these were just the most memorable for us. Hehehehe. Love the food.

The gifts... hmmm. People were probably saving (including us)... but we managed to maximize our budget and was proud of the little presents we gave. I was half-expecting my family to give me some gym-related or sports gifts as they knew that one of my New Year's resolutions is to lose some fat and jiggle in my arms and booteh... but I guess they didn't have that much faith in me on that aspect. Nyahahaha. Instead they gave me cosmetics stuff. Oh well. Hahahah. Dear hubby told me to buy the Le Creuset enameled cast iron that I weanted but I'm still uneasy about it. I can't justify right now spending 15k on one dutch oven. Nyaiks. Will probably opt for Mario Batalli's.

Anyway, later (if I get in the mood again) I plan to make a list of my New Year's resolutions, including a summary on the year that was (a good one!), but right now I gotta go make my family some dinner.

Happy holidays friends!

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Night at Policarpio Street

One evening last week we visited that "famous" Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong. What makes it famous is that every year, all houses are lit with Christmas decor plus a tiangge, much to the delight and amusement of the people. This year however, it was announced that there will be no more tiangge and that only a few houses will participate in the Christmas decorations. We tstill checked it out, and indeed only about 4 houses had Christmasss stuff on. Still, these houses looked amazing with their lights and decor!











Although I doubt that they used energy efficient bulbs and lighting, but still, one would really smile and temporarily forget the hardships of life, and just be glad that it's Christmas.

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The Party Before Christmas

As early as now, Christmas decor is being sold in the malls. But of course, I'm not really that interested to buy these stuff, because I'm still thinking of one party - a fun one - before we go in Christmas mode... Halloween! gash, I love this "celebration" simply because we would have fun dressing ourselves as creatively as we can. I remember those parties held at friend S's place, and we had to come up with unique costumes and all. The last one though was not a private party but a big event at the Fort. I dressed up as Selene of Underworld. Leather jacket, knee-high boots, black pants, plus I had fangs made. Hahahah. I wonder where that is now. It was really a nice touch and it felt like real teeth. Hehehe.

Anyway, last year we also celebrated Halloween but just in our home.

Look at little Eanna! Hahahah. Love this picture.

This year however, I want to throw a nice little party for kids. Low-budget of course, but I want it to have a real party feel to it - costumes, simple food, Halloween invitations, trick or treat goodies, decor, etc. Kids only though! Hahaha. We'll see, as it depends on our budget, if this can still be accommodated. Fun noh?

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Loong Weekend

Last weekend was the longest weekend I had (except for the time when I was on leave due to our honeymoon hehehe), mainly because of the following:

a) Holy Week
b) Araw ng Kagitingan
c) Asthma


Holy Week
The Holy days for me officially started Wednesday after lunch, as our office decided that we will only have a half day. Though the working week was only 2 1/2 days, I felt so drained that I had to take a rest immediately, so I just stayed at home with my sister, baby Aden, and our two helpers. On Maundy thursday, my family picked us up to go to 7 churches for the Visita Iglesia, and had dinner at Tempura Grill. Good Friday was also spent at home. Originally I was suppsoed to go with my family to visit the Church for the Stations of the Cross. However, I felt so drained and decided to just stay at home and say my prayers. The next time I left the house was on Easter Sunday, when our family had lunch in this lovely Chinese restaurant in Crowne Plaza. We then went to hear Mass, do some window shopping in Powerplant, then had dinner in Cafe Mediterranean.


Araw ng Kagitingan
I didn't feel that well last monday, so even though going to the grocery was very much needed, I again decided to just stay at home and cocoon myself.


Asthma Attack
Last Tuesday I skipped going to work as I woke up feeling really terrible, with heavy colds, sore throat, and really aching body. Fortunately I didn't have any fever, but I was beginning to sense that an asthma attack will follow later on. My prediction was correct, as the next day, I did have an asthma attack. I went to the hospital (after bringing Aden to the parlor just across the street for a long overdue haircut) and had myself checked up.

The doctor told me that since I am really asthmatic, I should expect that my attacks will be more frequent during my pregnancy. Of course this would pose a risk to our baby, but I just thought to myself that I really can't do anything about it, except to pray always and do my best to take care of myself and our baby. Two main factors why my immune system is weak are stress and lack of sleep. Stress, probably attributed to work. Lck of sleep, most likely attributed to the fact that Aden snores and cries at night and I get awakened by it. My doc suggested that I should not let Aden sleep beside me. This emans that my he and my sister might go back home. This of coruse saddened me so until now I haven't decided what to do. I'm quite sure that I will feel this huge hole if I don't see my bratty yet adorable nephew. *Sigh* The good news is that I gained 3 lbs. since last month, so now I'm up to 104 lbs. My doc told me that since we didn't achieve the desired weight for me during the first 3 months (I didn't gain at all!), I should continue eating whatever I want, double up on milk for calcium and meat intake for protein. Sweets, not that much. As long as I eat healthy food, that should be fine.

My OB also suggested that I should undergo an ultrasound in order to have a fetal survey, determine (if possible) the gender of our baby, and check if the cyst in my ovary is gone. The latter is very much needed because should the cyst still be there, I may be forced to undergo an operation which might put our baby at risk (premature labor).

Ultrasound Results
"Single, live intrauterine pregnancy, in breech presentation, 18 weeks 2 days by average AOG, with good cardiac and somatic activities.

Placenta is anterior, grade 1

Normohydramnios

Left ovarian cyst seen previously is no longer visualized in this scan."

In short, so far everything's good! The fetal survey was also good, no abnormalities so far. What's important though is that my cyst is gone!

Now regarding the gender of the baby....

I joked that my baby might be prude, because the sex organ cannot be seen. Why? The baby's legs are closed. Hahahaha. The face wasn't seen as well because of the babe's position. I only saw the pompie (butt) and the head's crown. I got a little disappointed with the new sonologist becasue I felt that she as hurrying the session. She didn't wait that much to see if the baby will move in roder for us to see the face or the gender, nor showed me that much. I was all the more disappointed when the printouts were given to me, and I couldn;t even determine where my baby is in the shot! Grrr! But anyway, I will just do another ultrasound next month, either in a cheaper clinic or same hospital but with the old sonologist.

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