Life Begins at 40

My 40th birthday was another workday, so I spent most of it at the office. It was a happy occasion as I got to spend the day with my team mates and friends at work. This was what greeted me in the morning -- touching di ba? :-)

With my team mates and friends from the different offices in the Company:

I had two cakes, one cake for every 20 years:-)

Later that evening E and I were supposed to just have a quiet dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Galileo Enoteca (Calbayog St., Mandalulong City) where we also celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. But... a surprise party was waiting for me -- my dear friends from college were there to celebrate with us!:-) Thanks E for being so thoughtful! And thanks to my dear friends for taking the time to be with us, and thanks too for giving me some of my favorite things:-). Had a blast with the gang as usual.

That night at home, E gave me his birthday gift... AWESOME, isn't it:-) I never dreamed of having one, but E of course thought about it, and I LOVE IT, thanks Sweetie. Sige, libre na kita sa lahat ng meals natin this year:-)

I guess, being 40 IS special:-) Thanks everyone, it really was special.

Subic April 2010

We went back to Subic last weekend (to avail of the second stay of my twice a year privilege of using the Company staffhouse). This time, Dad, and my brother and his family were with us. We started our Subic vacation with lunch at Teriyaki Boy. Shopping at the newly opened Puregold was next in the agenda. A refreshing change from the crowds in Royal Subic, Puregold had wider aisles too. Although they didn't have Havaianas, they had FitFlops and Ipanema, and a wide array of factory overruns of popular brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Abercrombie and Fitch. We bought the usual snacks for the weekend, plus some to take home.

We had a relaxing afternoon doing what we felt like doing, which included internet surfing, reading, sleeping, taking walks, playing with Baby S at the playground and biking before everyone got hungry for dinner. Since Mom was going to treat, we let her choose the dinner place. Her choice was our favorite Indian restaurant Rama Mahal.

The next day, we enjoyed breakfast cooked by Mom (yup, she can cook!) and enjoyed our airconditioned rooms until it was time for lunch. We tried the Korean BBQ Chicken. Their spicy chicken is so good!

Pico de Loro, Hamilo Coast

Our dear friends JV and DV invited us to Pico de Loro and wow, the place is beautiful! I'm really not a beach person but I loved the place. The sea had a calming effect, and the mountains as backdrop to the water was just perfect. I spent most of the time just staring at the scenery. The kids , as well as the adults enjoyed the water, at the beach and at the pool. The food was also good! It was the perfect place for family and friends to bond.

Thanks so much Mr and Mrs V! We had an amazing time!

Mom and Dad's 41st Anniversary

We celebrated Mom and Dad's 41st Anniversary with dinner at La Maison,Greenbelt 5.

The celebrants, our wonderful and amazing parents:
The family:

Uncle B, Dad's youngest brother who is now based in Toronto, and his wife Auntie A joined us in the celebration:

My sister T and BIL

My brother and his family, with the one and only apo of the family:

We had dessert at the newly opened Gelatissimo Cafe:

Estancia Resort, Tagaytay

E and I went to a road trip with his parents to Tagaytay. We planned to eat at Sanctuario at the Rotonda, but it turns out, the place has already closed! The heavy traffic discouraged us to go any further and we decided to stop at the first restaurant we saw. We ended up at the newly renovated Estancia Resort , which took on a Mediterranean theme. The new building looked like it belonged in Greece. They had, what else, a mediterranean restaurant, Benedetto's. We're not really sure if there is a mediterranean version of fried tawilis, but being in Tagaytay, they had it in the restaurant, so of course we had it. E loved his pepper-crusted steak.