Swept Away

Peek-A-Boo

2008-11-23T09:35:00.000+08:00

Gaby's learning the fun of peek-a-boo

Daddy's Little Mini-Me

2008-11-23T09:14:00.000+08:00

Here's a picture of Dek and Gaby. You can just see the resemblance
(left: Dek; right: Gaby)

PAL... Delayed as Always

2008-11-15T17:43:00.000+08:00

Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!! This is so frustrating. I am currently here in Changi Airport waiting for our trip back home... Our flight was supposed to be at 5:15pm. We learned that the flight was delayed since the plane was still in Jakarta. Estimated time of departure would be at 7:30pm instead. Yeah, they provided for free meals worth SGD8.00 but hell, we wanted to go home already. At 7:00pm we were already waiting for boarding but 7:30 came and still no plane. 7:30pm became 11:59pm then turned to 12:30am.... urrrggghhh... We've been waiting for the damn flight for 7 freaking hours already!!! Good thing I was with the rest of the management team or else I would have gone mad already!

Time check: 10:43pm

Cute Tee

2008-09-22T12:19:00.000+08:00

Dek and I found this cute little shirt for Gaby... and it was in time for the first UAAP Finals Game. Our cute little Archer

Would You Be Able To Resist This?

2008-09-10T09:07:00.000+08:00

Our First Family Picture

2008-06-16T08:07:00.000+08:00

First Father's Day

2008-06-16T07:56:00.000+08:00

It was a simple celebration for us. Cooked some wonderful array of goodies for lunch (steak, prawns, garlic potatoes, mushrooms, soup -- YUMMY!)

Dek and his little angel, Gaby

1st Picture

2007-11-09T14:25:00.000+08:00

Dek and I took some time off work today to have some scheduled laboratory tests done. By taking this leave from work meant that I won't be joining the company's annual offsite and not joining my team for the weekend's festivities. But having experienced some abdominal cramps lately, I knew that I had to forego the offsite to attend to my scheduled check-up and tests.

My scheduled Trans-V was basically to know if the baby's heart developed and if the heart is already beating. It was truly an unforgettable experience seeing the baby's form already but also seeing it's little heart beating :)

Here's our baby's first picture :)

Finally.. Our Video :)

2007-08-14T12:30:00.000+08:00

Three months after the wedding, we finally got our wedding video. Let me just say that it still brings back all the wonderful memories of that special day! The first time I saw the video, it still made me cry... and to date, I've seen it a number of times but still never fails to make me teary eyed. We're still trying to figure out how to upload the video here but hopefully we can do this soon enough so that we can share them to you :)

I may be biased but I so love our video! They were able to show my wedding vows (don't know what happened but in the edited video Dek's vows weren't included), one song from my favorite 92 AD, my bestfriend's speech, snippets from the games and the party.

Oooohhhh.. I really can't wait

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and oh.. last saturday we went to Dek's cousin's wedding and they also got some of our suppliers (chico & delamar, 92 AD, and the human race). We got to talk with Chico and Delamar again and it was so fun knowing that they still remember us and the whole wedding Delamar really loved Bel's speech during the toast while Chico can't forget how great our photographer, Nelwin Uy, was. I'll post some of the pics taken during Kuya Jojo's wedding next time.

The Proposal

2007-07-23T11:50:00.000+08:00

A Surprise Birthday Present

December 2, 2005. I woke up that day feeling special... It was my 25th birthday. Dek and I decided to take the day off work to spend the day together. Since we'd be meeting my family for a birthday dinner, Dek decided he'd arrange for our lunch. By around 10am, he arrived at my house holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I remember I kept on asking Dek why it seems that he lacked sleep (I thought it was because we went out the night before) and his only reply was that he had a hard time falling asleep. We left the house for lunch by 11am... our destination, The Powerplant Mall. Things were beginning to turn bad when we got stuck in traffic and I was starting to get annoyed at Dek since we couldn’t find the restaurant (hahaha, I can be a little cranky when I’m hungry). We then decided to just park and find another restaurant at the mall. When we got to the parking area, I noticed that he wasn’t turning the engine off so I looked at him and said “tara na?” He looked so serious that time. He then turned to me and asked if I’m not wondering why he didn’t give me any birthday gift. I said no since I wasn’t expecting anything and I was very happy with the flowers. But then he said he did have something for me and slowly reached over the backseat and got a box. I smiled with what I saw. It was a pink box. The same box I used the day we became a couple. I’ll never forget the things he said that day… He said that the place was so memorable for him and he wanted to make it memorable for me too. He opened the box and I instantly saw that it was filled with crinkles. I was so touched that time since I knew he stayed up late to bake the cookies (and yeah, at that moment I thought that was his gift). He asked if I wanted to take a bite and urged me to take the one in the middle. As I took the cookie, I saw a smaller box underneath it. I took it out and saw that it was a jewelry box. It only occurred to me that it was going to be the moment when Dek took the box from me and opened it. I'll never forget the things he said to me that time... He told me that he wanted to spend his whole life with me and asked, “Will you marry me?” Emotions were high that time even more when I saw Dek crying. I knew that I found the man I’d want to spend my life with. My answer? Of course I said yes with the biggest grin on my face! We were so happy that we even forgot that we haven’t eaten lunch yet… I even told Dek jokingly, “kahit sa jollibee na lang tayo kumain, ok lang sakin.” It was truly the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten… the gift of spending my life with Dek forever.

Our Story

2007-07-23T11:49:00.000+08:00

Dek Says...

Rewind to 1998: I was a sophomore, she was a freshmeat, este freshman. We were both active in student activities and usually hung out in the same building and same floor. I always saw her passing by our staffroom since our offices were next to each other (I think she was trying to get my attention). It didn't take long before I noticed her and eventually had a crush on her. However, the torpe that I was, I never had the guts to talk to her. I knew her name since we had common friends, but I never thought she knew me that time.

Forward to 2003: We got to meet again through a common friend. They were both working in the same company, and whenever our common friend would drop by school (where I work) she would usually tag Ella along. However, it was not since 2004 that I had the courage to ask our common friend if Ella had a boyfriend or was dating someone. Fortunately, she wasn't.

I guess it took me two months of bugging her on YM, texting her quotes, and late night chats on the phone that I had the courage to tell her what I felt about her. Since she was into baking, I suggested that if she would say yes, she'd bake me her famous chocolate crinkles. If she'd say no, she'd bake me any other stuff (it's a win-win situation for me, since I still get to eat baked goodies ü).

On May 21, 2004 at the basement parking of Powerplant Mall... I received the crinkles ü

Ella Says...

Yes, it took him 6 years to finally ask me out.

I have always wondered why he didn't try to talk to me in college, least to say even utter a simple "hi" given the fact that we did have some common friends and have neighboring offices.

When I started work, me and our common friend (who happens to be my officemate then) would aways go to school to hang-out. I would often see Dek since his office would always be one of our usual stops. Even then, he didn't even talk to me (could anyone be more "torpe" than him?!) Then one night, our common friend told me that Dek asked for my number and that he wanted to ask me something. At that time, I didn't think there was anything odd with the situation since I thought he'd be asking something about my org, being the former president and him being the coordinator (am i naive or what? haha). And true to his word, he did send me a text that night but it was different from what I expected. He asked if I wanted to attend his friend's surprise birthday party! Unfortunately for him, I declined. After several days, he asked me if I'd like to have coffee with him and some of his friends. I also declined. I finally agreed to meet up with him for coffee (which turned out to be dinner and coffee) after turning him down a couple of times. Who would have imagined that after years of being "torpe", Dek could be so persistent in courting me! He'd always send me daily quotes, text messages, IM messages, and phone calls.

During one of our dates, he brought me flowers and told me how he felt. I wasn't ready to take it to the next step so I asked if he's willing to wait. He said he was. His creative side showed when he told me that if the day comes and I'd say yes, then I have to bake him some crinkles but if it would be the other way around, then I'd bake him something else (quite clever if you ask me 'coz either way I'd still be baking something for him).

It was Thursday night. He was out with his friends. I was at home... baking.

It was at the Powerplant Mall parking lot on May 21, 2004 was where I gave Dek a pink box. I told him my decision was inside the box. Slowly he peaked inside... he then looked up and i saw him smile. Yes, after 6 years we finally found the right time to be together ü

New Countdown

2007-07-16T09:54:00.000+08:00

Dek and I are looking forward to 2009! Yes, I know it's still a couple of years away but we sure can't wait. Last 07.07.07, we finally paid the reservation fee for what will be our new home in 2 years.

Dek and I talked about it a lot of times already after the wedding not knowing when we'll be able to find the right one for us. Who knew that it would be this soon... just 2 months after our big day and the search is finally over I really wanted to post some pictures but our building is still being constructed (we didn't have time to take pics of the model unit).

Crazy Shots

2007-07-09T12:24:00.000+08:00

I don't quite get it and Dek knows it... they call it lomography. Oh well, he does enjoy taking pictures using his weird cameras and does win some awards to prove it (Awards won:2 Home of the Day 2005-09-07 Oktokino 2007-07-06 ) here are some links to his crazy pictures:

http://www.lomography.com/oktokino/

www.lomohomes.com/whimpee

The Day Before

2007-05-04T09:26:00.000+08:00

After one and a half years of preparations and 3 years of being together, the day Dek and I have been waiting for will finally come. Tomorrow will be the day.. Our Wedding Day!!! Yes, I'm a bundle of emotions right now... I'm very excited, anxious, nervous, giddy... I had a hard time sleeping last night. I think I only had 4 hours of sleep. I'm so sleepy right now but I can't find myself marching to bed and going to sleep...

Later on the day, Jay, my brother-in-law, will be dropping Junie and me at the hotel. We'll be checking in at 2pm. Dek will also be there but as superstitions goes.. we can't meet until tomorrow (bad thing about this is that today is my brother's birthday and Dek won't be able to come with us for dinner).

Zandra will also be bringing my gown and all the accessories later at the hotel. I'm so excited to see my gown. I've only fitted this once so I'm praying that it still fits :)

I'll post more updates once the weddings done :) wish us luck and help us pray for a good weather!

Updates!

2007-04-16T21:03:00.000+08:00

Easter sunday, Dek and I went out and bought our bed! It was fun canvassing and making decisions on what our bed should look like... funny but I felt so grown up buying a bed ;) It was delivered last night and I got to break it in. :)

The final fitting was also scheduled last saturday, April 14. There were a few gowns that needed alterations but overall I can say that I'm extremely satisfied with how the gowns turned out. Was just disappointed that I didn't get to fit my gown anymore since it was already finished with just a few bead work left that needs to be added. O well, I guess it just makes the wait until the wedding day more exciting :)

Another thing off our list was our pre-nup with Nelwin. We had ours at The Greenery in Bulacan. Dek and I almost got lost going to the place since we didn't see the signs going to TG but luckily, we got there on time (although Nelwin and his partner got there before us). During the shoot, I really felt so self conscious of posing in front of the camera. I never imagined myself doing some of the things we did but what the heck, I'll only be doing this once anyways :) After a few shots, I became more comfortable doing the poses and it did help that I was posing alongside Dek. Who could've thought that 3 hours of posing and smiling could be so tiring! We really had fun yesterday during the shoot! We already saw some preview of the photos and I can really say that Nelwin is really good! :) Can't wait to see the pictures.

Series of Unfortunate Events

2007-04-07T21:01:00.000+08:00

Call it wedding jitters... As the wedding gets nearer I seem to have more dreams every night about the wedding. Last night's dream seems to be a series of unfortunate events. A day before the wedding the whole entourage informed me that they won't be able to come to the ceremony but said that they'll be going straight to the hotel instead for the reception so I had to do the candle, veil and the cord during the ceremony by myself (hahaha, I don't even know if that's possible). Then during the ceremony, I saw the guests were wearing formal tops but were wearing jeans with it! Then to top it all off, all the readers for the mass decided to shorten all the readings by not reading everything in the misalette because they said they didn't feel like it...

I know that this is normal -- brides having nightmares before their wedding. But I still hope and pray every night that things would turn out great during our special day! I pray that the weather would be perfect too and that everyone enjoys the day with us (friends: hope you help us pray for these too)

Stressed Out Bride

2007-03-29T13:27:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'd like to admit... I am a stressed out bride (Dek can attest to this) hahaha. It's a little over a month before the wedding and I seem to remember things that still needs to be done. I've found a nice article that answers some of the things most us brides go through.
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Wedding Goddess Wisdom for Stressed Out Brides
By Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway
If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, you might be wishing you ran off and eloped in Las Vegas right about now.
Everybody loves a wedding … yet we are living in a nation of stressed out brides.
Bridal stress is unique. It is essentially temporary, yet is connected to much deeper family issues and emotional challenges. It can easily be triggered by practical issues – ask any bride who has tried to interpret a tricky vendor contract or shop for bridesmaid dresses with their attendants -- and is exacerbated by family dynamics. There is often a decision to make, or challenge to resolve, at every turn of the journey to the altar. Every little nuance, and nuisance, can put you in a momentary tizzy -- if you let it.

Las Vegas weddings promise less stress … less mess … more fun! But that doesn’t mean you won’t have your moments. This is a major time in your life and whether you are in New York, Oshkosh or Nevada, you might hit a few stress speed bumps.
Here are some of the challenges, and the Wedding Goddess Solutions, for brides-to-be:

1. Bridezillas are made, not born. It’s supposed to be the happiest time of your life – and you want it to be – yet planning a wedding is like working a second job. You have to find the time to tend to a multitude of details as part of an already busy schedule while managing vendors, family anxieties and demands, your groom, your emotions and an array of tricky wedding dynamics. True, some brides are downright demanding but most are nice people, sucked into the vortex of wedding planning stress, and overwhelmed by the stress, pressure and expectations of those around her.

Wedding Goddess Solution: A bride has to include stress management, self-nurturing and time to chill out as an integral part of her wedding planning process. When you feel the stress building, take time out, go for a walk, slip into a movie, get a massage, go for a manicure, write in a journal, do something un-wedding. You have to love, honor and cherish yourself if you want to be loved, honored and cherished by someone else!

2. Everyone has something to say about your wedding. It's a given. No matter who you are or what age … everyone has something to say about your wedding. You may be showered with congratulations and gifts, but you are simultaneously bombarded with unsolicited advice, wedding horror stories you don’t want to hear, and negative vibes from well-meaning friends and relatives who are too lost in their own experience to realize they are imposing on you. People tend to see your wedding as a chance to fulfill their own needs and family dynamics erupt in every which direction because as the clan prepares to gather they begin to act out what it’s all about for them – not you! The issues are classic – mom wants it to be the wedding she never had, sister or best friend wishes it were her, your groom is afraid to stand up to his family. Or the experience may be fraught with more modern challenges such as questions about mixing faiths, opting for a non-religious wedding or planning an alternative kind of affair.

Wedding Goddess Solution: A Bride has to clarify the wedding she truly wants, try to stay centered and set clear boundaries that no one can penetrate with words or attitudes. If all else fails, consider this: The reality is that weddings tend to be for other people, but marriage is for you two. Focus on what your marriage will mean to you.

3. Getting married can stir up a lot of emotions. The process itself sets forth period of growth and change that can be very confusing and nerve -wracking. Once you decide to marry you will begin the process of getting ready for marriage, and unresolved emotions about parents and family, past loves and concerns about the person you have chosen will come to the surface to be explored. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t marry, it just means inner work is called for along with all the outer preparations.

Wedding Goddess Solution: A bride can embrace the awareness that she is embarking on a journey of evolution from one part of life to another, and honor and address the emotions and fears that arise. Trust they are natural and pay attention to any issues that might require support or counseling. It is important to stay on top of your emotions and be honest with yourself during this time. Don't sweep things under the rug.

4. Wedding planning can be a crisis. There is so much focus on the external experience that a bride can become mired in details and demands and lose track of herself and the reason she is getting married in the first place. When she feels that planning the wedding of her dreams means going to battle – with parents, family, friends, groom, and almost anyone involved – she becomes hostile and reactive. What began as a joyful experience turns into a fight … a fight for having the perfect wedding. It is exhausting and can turn sweet tempered people mean and cranky.

Wedding Goddess Antidote: Remember that the true meaning of marriage is to bring two together in sacred union – the party is meant to be a celebration not something that will kill your spirit in the planning. When two people in love literally step up to commit themselves to one another in matrimony they have the opportunity to unite not just their hearts, lives and families, but to unite their very beings. And it is not just the couple that benefits from the ceremony – anyone who witnesses a wedding can be empowered and inspired by the love in the room. Focus on the love and remember it is always your aim.

5. Your happiness in life DOES NOT hinge on your wedding alone (it really doesn't ... so lighten up!) Some brides believe that they must have a perfect wedding in order to have a perfect marriage and a perfect life. They give the wedding day too much power. They begin to treat the wedding itself as something to be worshipped and served. There is an underlying fear that if something goes wrong with the wedding, it is a sign that will make or break the marriage. Our culture places a tremendous emphasis on having a great wedding and not enough focus on having an awesome marriage. It's okay to be temporarily obsessed and to yearn for the perfect wedding -- we all go there at some point -- but you have to keep your eye on what's truly important.

Wedding Goddess Solution: Step back and realize, the most important part of the day is not the day itself ... but that you walked down that aisle and into the arms of the person you love … the one you look forward to building your life with. You will have a lifetime in which you can create more memories ... the wedding day, while important, is only one of the many experiences and memories you will share!

Most of all, relax and have fun on your big day!

Weekend Updates

2007-03-27T07:27:00.000+08:00

Haven't been updating our blog lately since our schedule has been pretty hectic since we're down to the last leg of our preparations for the wedding.. it's just 39 days to go for us. Thought I've run down the things that we did for the wedding:

Had our first fitting with zandra. Posted some pictures at our wedsite but locked the page with a password so that Dek won't be able to see my gown
Already got our wedding rings and paid for it as well. Thankful to Tita Mel (she's one of our ninangs for the wedding) for giving us a big discount for the rings. We so love our rings. I'll post some pictures next time.
Bought the boxes for the giveaways
Gave out the invitations to the guests
Printed out the gift tags
Bought some gifts for the entourage
Submitted marriage banns for posting
Dek and I met our emcees/hosts for the reception last saturday and paid them already. We had fun with them (I'm sure Dek definitely did! )

Still need to finish more things before the wedding. Right now, we're waiting for the rsvp's to come so that we can finalize our guestlist and the seating arrangements. Next month, we'll have our second fitting (hopefully last for most of the entourage) then most of the payments to our suppliers would need to be settled. We'll also have our engagement photo shoot at the greenery with our photographer. Oh and I need to schedule to have my trial hair and make-up for the wedding day.... aaarrgghhh, there seems to be so much to do with just a little over a month to do everything. I am starting to get nightmares and it's all due to the stress with trying to think of every detail and wishing all things would fall into place on the wedding day.

Something New

2007-02-13T07:32:00.000+08:00

A few wedding updates....

Last saturday, Dek and I went to Trina's house to get our invitations :) In just 2 weeks, we already got them! Although there were a few changes with the envelope material, we're still happy with how it turned out. We've also started printing out the names in the envelope since we're planning to give them out by next month. We still need to do the registry though so that we can include them in the invite... hopefully we'll have time to do it this coming weekend.

Another update is that... we already got our rings!!!! :) Like the invites, there were some changes in the design of the rings but I still think it looks nice :) The design is very simple but elegant. Been trying it on since my mom gave it this morning.. hahaha, talk about excited! ;) I think I'll post a picture of it in my next post :D

Countdown

2007-01-24T07:19:00.000+08:00

Just 100 days until the wedding!

Last night, dek and I were talking about the wedding and the little things that we still need to do. we suddenly felt very happy.. not only because the wedding is just a few months away but because the problems that we've been encountering has been resolved :D

Invites

2007-01-23T14:02:00.000+08:00

Last saturday, we went to Trina to pay the dp for the invites. We've already approved the text and sample that she emailed us and also saw the final mock-ups too. We loved our invites... it's not the traditional wedding invitation, just like what we wanted :)

Marriage License

2007-01-22T13:57:00.000+08:00

We already received our Marriage License! :) We actually applied for the license last week but it had a 10 day processing policy... so Dek went back today to get it! Only a few more requirements to be done... pre-cana seminar, weddings banns, parish approval for me. Just a thought, why does the church require the brides to submit an approval letter from their respective parishes but the groom doesn't have to submit anything? hmmm...

Paper Work

2007-01-11T08:54:00.000+08:00

Yesterday marked the start of the series of paper work that we needed to accomplish for the wedding.

We went to Manila City Hall to apply for our marriage license as this was part of the documents we needed to pass to the church. We met up at around 7am to have breakfast together at McDonalds (PS Building) then drove towards Manila afterwards. We wanted to get there early since the schedule for the Family Planning Seminar was 9am but we needed to register at around 8am. Finding a parking space at the City Hall was very difficult and unfortunately SM Manila hasn't opened yet so we couldn't park there. We decided to park at the nearby "Park and Ride" area. Funny but after having a hard time looking for parking at the City Hall, we were the only car parked at Park and Ride. Going back to our City Hall experience, we started to look for the venue for the seminar but got lost in their hallways luckily we eventually found our way :) The room for the seminar was quite small and we were around 12 couples there. After accomplishing a few more forms, we were asked to watch a couple of documentaries... Well, these clips weren't new to Dek and I anymore since we were showed a similar film during college. It was something about how life is formed and also about abortion... the last film still gets to me though... After watching the film, our counselor (Jude) started the actual seminar and asked us a few questions that would allow us to get to know our partners and their expectations about married life... The seminar can get a bit boring but luckily, our counselor was very entertaining!

After the seminar, we then proceeded to the area where we need to pass all the documents needed for the license as well as the application form. Good thing Dek got the application form the day before so we didn't need to fill it up right there (this saved us a lot of time). We just need to get the license after 10 days :)

After lunch and a little time to nap, Dek and I headed to Katipunan to get a copy of my confirmation certificate at Sta. Maria Della Strada Church. We still need to go back though since their dry seal was being fixed... at least I have time to think of how much "donation" I need to give for the certificate ;)

Top Wedding Trends for 2007

2007-01-04T09:09:00.000+08:00

Fun 2007 trends by The Knot <http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=A61121110627>

happy reading!

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Trend 1: A Crush on OrangeIt's not just for fall celebrations -- orange is the hottest hue for weddings in every season and in every shade (from creamy peach to burnt sienna). Pair it with espresso for a modern, formal tone, while orange, raspberry, and kiwi is the perfect palette for a laid-back beach wedding. There's no denying its versatility: See chic orange cakes, bouquets, and bridesmaid dresses. Other hot colors for 2007: aqua and aubergine.

Trend 2: All Herald the Trumpet SkirtThe fit-and-flare trumpet gown continues to be the silhouette of the moment. Brides love the look of a slim shape teamed with the exaggerated bell of a skirt -- we love it for the kick of drama it adds to the altar and the dance floor. Whether it's made of lace, taffeta, or luxe silk satin, this sexy, feminine shape provides a runway-ready look for the stylish bride. Along with embellished belts, black accents, and oversized floral details, trumpet skirts are among the freshest looks for fashion-forward brides.

Trend 3: It's All About ItalyDestination weddings are hotter than ever, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' castle wedding near Rome highlighted what many couples already knew -- with its exquisite cuisine and storied architecture, Italy is the perfect place to host an unforgettable celebration. Even more, a recent poll of Knotties revealed that Italy boasts three of the top four most romantic cities (Venice, Rome, and Florence), as well as two of the most romantic countryside destinations (Tuscany and Lake Como). Check out our destination weddings guide for Italian resorts, planning tips, and regional rules for tying the knot in the land of amore.

Trend 4: Cocktail Hour Takes Center StageBrides and grooms are constantly thinking of new ways to wow their guests, and every event during the wedding day presents a new opportunity to impress. Last year saw a boom in over-the-top after-parties, weddings in 2007 are focusing more on the cocktail hour than ever before. Couples are serving signature cocktails, bite-sized hors d'oeuvres on elaborate displays (like sushi served on beds of bamboo), and keeping guests entertained with live music that sets the mood (like a sophisticated jazz trio or a festive mariachi band).

Trend 5: Decadent Dessert BuffetsWedding cake is a given, but many brides and grooms are opting to have their cake and a buffet-style selection of more delicious desserts. Dessert tables -- often called Viennese tables -- can be stocked with everything from chocolate truffles and Key lime pie to mousses and chocolate fondue. Consider filling in with secret family recipes and childhood indulgences like Oreos or grandma's famous gingerbread cookies.

Trend 6: Monumental HoneymoonsSipping a cocktail while lounging on the beach will never lose its charm, but some newlyweds are using their honeymoon to see some of the most awe-inspiring sights on earth. Hiking through the ruins at Machu Picchu, rafting in the Grand Canyon, and strolling along a section of the Great Wall of China are all are prime activities for honeymooners with a sense of adventure.

The Knot

2007-01-02T20:09:00.001+08:00

I've received and email from a site that I've subscribed to for the wedding... and it officially provided our wedding countdown...

Funny but it stated that we should now be fixing our honeymoon details. I've decided to take the quiz to know my honeymoon personality and guess what my personality is...

You are a Romantic Soul
You need a spot where no one can find you -- an untouched location where you and your new spouse can spend some much-deserved alone time together. What a luxury! For one of the most romantic spots on earth, book a room overlooking the caldera on Greece’s Santorini Island and watch the sun dip into the ocean every night from your private balcony. Or rent a small villa with a private pool in the hills around Montego Bay, Jamaica. Many of these homes are available with a private chef (and security guard, ensuring no one will disturb you). For an isolated and exotic destination, consider Fiji, where your room is set on stilts over the gently lapping blue sea.

Unfortunately, there'll be no Jamaica for me or Greece since we've already booked for Hong Kong... No regrets though since this will be our first time to travel together with only the two of us in a foreign country :)

If you'd like to know your honeymoon personlity, you may check out this link: <http://weddings.theknot.com/quiz/quiz.aspx?quizid=21&channel=honeymoons&MsdVisit=1>

A New Year

2007-01-01T01:00:00.000+08:00

A new start... the year has finally come to an end and 2007 has began. Wishing everyone a happy and blessed new year! :)

4 months to go....

Christmas!

2006-12-25T23:32:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas! :) After waiting for a whole year for this day, finally christmas day is here. Dek and I are celebrating our last christmas as singles. Although I think nothing will be different in the way we celebrate christmas except next year, we'll be husband and wife. Since last year, we've been celebrating christmas eve and christmas day together --- Dek would come and be with me and my family for christmas eve and he'd pick me up the following day to be with his whole family for christmas dinner :)

One more week until the end of the year and 2007 begins... then the countdown starts for our big day :)

Happy Day

2006-12-05T20:21:00.000+08:00

Today is such a happy day! Been busy with a certain "project" for the wedding for quite some time now and I finally received the answer I was waiting for. Wish I could post it here but still trying to save it until the wedding day. Hope to post about it soon :)

After a year

2006-12-02T20:22:00.000+08:00

It has already been a year since our engagement! :)

Looking back now, I can say that I am very pleased with how our preparation is coming along... imnagine, having booked most of our suppliers already. Even after a year, I still love remembering and reading how Dek proposed over and over again whenever my day isn't going well (hahaha, talk about sentimental!)... But I guess any engaged couple would agree that thinking about it would still brings tears of joy and never fails to make them smile.

Just wanted to share my engagement ring (although i think i could have shot a better picture of it) :)

oh, and today is also my birthday :)

Invitation

2006-12-01T13:15:00.000+08:00

We already got the mock-ups for our invitation from Trina of village Pro'Jekt last wednesday. Although we've already seen the sample invite design since Trina sent it through email, it was different when we saw the actual thing. Dek and I were so happy with the outcome.

Since we didn't want the traditional looking wedding invitation, we researched for someone who can give us something unique but still classy. We found our supplier through the help of w@w :) Trina only needs to add a few more revisions before we can go ahead with the production --- oh and we need to submit the texts for the invites.

If you're looking for different invite, check village Pro'Jekt out :) She'll customize your invites the way you want it... and apart from loving our invites, we also fell in love her dog moon ;)

Cars and Measurements

2006-11-28T07:41:00.000+08:00

Last saturday we went to the megamall bridal fair and booked a bridal car for me. It was the fastest bridal fair visit we went to since we already knew what we'll be booking. We chose a Benz e320 --- it was nice since we got a discount by booking during the fair.

We also had our measurements taken last saturday (well... most of us anyway). Experiencing some bumps in the preparations... hopefully we'll resolve it soon....

Cute Toppers

2006-11-01T10:07:00.000+08:00

We finally received the sketch of our wedding cake from Karla (claycakes). We love it so much! :) The design of the cake is really simple but what makes the cake so special is the cute topper that Karla designed. It just made the cake more precious! Since claycakes makes their signature toppers edible, I just wish we can find a way to preserve the topper after the wedding.

Oh and both moms already have a design for their gowns. We're so happy that they both loved the design and the colors that will be used. Just a few more months to go until we have our measurements taken. (note to ourselves: we seriously need to trim down! hahaha)

Our color motif

2006-10-19T11:33:00.000+08:00

We've both started to work on our wedding preparations again =)
We've already signed our contract with our hotel and paid our downpayment. We'll also be having the menu sampling on October 24 together with our moms. Last Saturday, we also met with our designer to finalize the contract. She showed us the colors we'll be using, and we were very happy to see how it turned out. Here's a scan of the sample she presented to us:

Lastly, we also visited Karla of Claycakes to inquire about her cakes. Instead of just inquiring, we ended up loving the design she made for us. So we decided to get her to make our wedding cake =) Of course, we want the design to be a surprise, so we won't be posting it here in our blog.

Our Save The Date (e-card)

2006-10-06T14:22:00.000+08:00

Only 7 months to go before our big day. We finished making our Save the Date card to be sent to our guests. To minimize the cost, we thought of just sending them through email :)

My Baby's Birthday

2006-09-20T16:53:00.000+08:00

Taking a break from doing wedding stuff :)

Today marks Dek's 26th birthday! I arranged to have lunch at the Fire Lake Grill at Tagaytay together with his family. We arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes after the scheduled reservation. The owner even sent a message confirming if we would still push through with the reservation. We thought that there were a lot of customers waiting for tables but when we got there, since it was a weekday, the restaurant only had a couple of customers. The trip was well worth it.. the food was really great! We ordered different things so that we can try out the menu... Dek and I ordered their steak and pasta. Their steak was really yummy. It was really a perfect day spending it with my baby and his family. Here are some photos taken during the trip.

Updates!

2006-09-08T08:46:00.000+08:00

Everything's been going smoothly with the preparations for our big day. Last sunday, we went to the Bridal Fair at the PICC forum to pay Lala the balance of our downpayment and to scout for cakes and invites. The cake section was near the entrance of the fair and it was so crowded! I saw claycakes' booth but we weren't able to inquire since there were a lot of couple's there.. I guess we really need to set a meeting with the owner for a quotation and possible ideas for the cake design (but I'm really aiming for this as our wedding cake). We were able to talk with Elaine Young (can't remember the name of her store though) and sample some of her cakes.. it was really yummy! But like other supplier's I've asked, she too couldn't give a quotation off hand since she needs to know the specifications of the couple.. so like claycakes, I still need to meet with her.

After sampling some cakes, we went to Interplay's booth to pay the balance of our downpayment. We saw Lala at their booth but we had to wait a couple of minutes as she was talking with another couple... Good thing about paying at the bridal fair, not only do you get discounts but you also get to participate in their raffle. Upon paying we went to the end of the venue to claim our raffle tickets and saw that the grand prize was a trip for two to Hong Kong. The chances of winning was slim since we saw that there were alot of couples joining :p

Last month, we were also able to finalize the designs for the entourage's gowns as well as mine. I had them voted on the design that they would want to wear so that they'll feel comfortable on the wedding day. I loved the designs they chose! Already sent the designs to Zandra for filing. By November, we'll be paying the downpayment and will be getting the contract so that when December comes we'll already start getting the measurements.

Today, we'll be meeting with Emie (our AE at Intercon) to finalize the contract.

countdown.. 8 months to go! :)

Marking One Off Our List

2006-08-07T07:52:00.000+08:00

Last saturday, Dek and I booked the last major supplier for our wedding -- the designer. We went to Zandra Lim's shop to pay the down payment. Among the designers that we met, Zandra's rates were the most reasonable yet the gowns that she makes are still great. I really didn't want to spend too much on something I'll only be wearing for a day (don't get me wrong, I still want to look radiant on my day hehehe), so finding her was a real catch for us! Zandra will also be making the gowns for the entourage as well as the moms, the barong of Dek and the dads. She'll be sending the sketches later on the day (can't wait to see it!).

Now that this is settled, Dek and I need to tackle a much bigger issue... DIETING! :P

Fickle-Minded Bride

2006-07-24T18:26:00.000+08:00

Ever wondered how women can be so fickle-minded? More so a bride choosing the wedding colors. Initially, I thought I had it all figured out. But having searched the net for some wedding ideas, I changed motif to a new one (of course with dek's approval). And then after talking with some designers, it made me think about our chosen motif. Now, I changed it again to the original planned colors with a little revision. Good thing I have a patient groom.. hehe.. listening to all my complaints and even editing some gown sketches to reflect the different colors we were thinking of using to make it easier for me to choose :)

Now, we finally made up our minds and hopefully stick with this last one! :)

Fleurs

2006-07-24T17:42:00.000+08:00

We've been canvassing for florists for several months now. Gone to a few bridal fairs with a goal in mind: to find a good package from florists. I was having a difficult time when I talk or canvass with florists.. I didn't know the flowers they were telling me except for the typical tulips, roses, gerberas, blah, blah, blah... aaarrggghh.. that was a little frustrating on my part 'coz I want to have a good bunch of flowers for our May wedding. After shortlisting some florists and meeting with them, we've finally decided to get Interplay to make the flowers for the entourage as well as the decorations for the reception. I couldn't be happier with the package Lala customized for our wedding. Assorted flowers for the bouquets and great ideas for the centerpieces. Can't wait for the wedding to see the actual thing!

Heavenly Sounds

2006-07-07T20:01:00.000+08:00

Last month, Dek and I went to Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park to hear the group 92 AD perform live at a wedding. I was waiting for the bridal march since it would be the first song that we'll hear them sing (my gauge if they're good is if I cry when I hear them sing since I seem to easily cry when it comes to wedding stuff.. hehe). The singer's voice was great during the march but it didn't hit the "wow" factor like we were expecting. We were thinking that it was probably the chosen song for the march that didn't appeal to us since when they sang during the offertory, we knew we just got to book them for our wedding. They were especially great when they sang the Lord's Prayer... it was like being in a concert! So last monday, we met with Ed of 92 AD and paid the down payment to reserve our wedding date :) Click here to view their site.

We also got ourselves our OTD Coordinator :)

A Tradition

2006-05-30T07:15:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday, May 27, was a memorable day for both our families. We finally had the pamamanhikan.

To be honest, I was really anxious the whole week. I kept on praying that everything would go well. My biggest worry was that if they would find some things to talk about... My mom and I started cleaning the house a week before the 27th and up until last saturday, we seem to keep finding more things to arrange. Dek and his family arrived at our house at around 6:30pm bringing with them lots of food :) We were so happy that the day went so smoothly!

left to right: Yanna, Ella's dad, Dek's dad, Dek's mom, Tita Lilian (Dek's tita), Ella's mom, Kate, Dek, Ella, Jessel, Luis

left to right: Yanna, Ella's dad, Dek's dad, Dek's mom, Tita Da (Ella's tita), Ella's mom, Kate, Ella, Dek

So now that this is part of the preparations is over... we need to go back and book some more suppliers! :)

Pictures

2006-05-23T07:40:00.000+08:00

Posting some pictures we took last sunday at the Cliffhouse in Tagaytay.

We had a great time eating the scrumptious meal at Buon Giorno!

and we couldn't be more thankful for a perfect weather! :)

2 Years

2006-05-21T09:01:00.000+08:00

Today marks our 2nd anniversay!

We're spending it by having a nice lunch, watching a movie we've both been waiting for, and saying a prayer at the church we're getting married into! =)

Summer getaway

2006-05-03T19:58:00.000+08:00

Finally!

2006-04-22T11:08:00.001+08:00

After two months of researching and meeting photographers, we finally decided on who to get. We got Nelwin Uy! Why him? The deciding factor was the layout of the album. My baby asked the top 4 photographers to send us a sample of their layout and based from these we came up with a decision. Both Dek and I were satisfied with the album layout that Nelwin showed us. Initially, we had doubts on Nelwin's video package but after we saw the 15-minute video he told us about we booked the video as well.

We were also happy with the big discount we got! Thanks to the W@W tag :) Click here if you want to see some of Nelwin's work.

We're right on schedule.. next would be finding a designer for my gown! :)

Our arrhae

2006-04-18T11:31:00.000+08:00

The Sacagawea dollar was authorized by Congress in 1997 because the supply of Anthony dollars, in inventory since their last mintage in 1981, was soon expected to be depleted. Delays in ramping up Sacagawea dollar production led to a final 1999-dated mintage of Susan B. Anthony dollars. As predicted by Coin Coalition representatives at Congressional hearings on the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997, the government's failure to eliminate the U.S. one dollar bill prevented the Sacagawea Dollar from being widely circulated. While dollar coins are used infrequently in general commerce, they are used in place of tokens in some areas and are given as change in many United States Postal Service stamp vending machines, creating a relatively small but significant demand.

The obverse was designed by artist Glenna Goodacre, using Shoshone Randy'L He-dow Teton as a model for Sacagawea [1].

There are approximately 1 billion Sacagawea coins in circulation and about 250 million more in reserve. The United States Mint greatly reduced production of Sacagawea Dollars after the 2001 minting, citing sufficient inventory. As of 2005, The Mint continues to produce circulation and proof quantities of the coin each year for sales to numismatists.

The Mint took great care to create the coin with the same size, weight, and electromagnetic properties as the Anthony dollar, but with a golden color. Unfortunately, the selected alloy has a tendency to tarnish quite severely in circulation (unlike Canadian dollar coins, which retain their yellowish appearance in circulation), ruining the "golden" effect. Being able to easily co-circulate the coin with the Anthony dollar was considered a higher priority than maintaining a consistent coloring, despite the fact that the Anthony dollar had virtually no circulation and many vending machines had to be recalibrated to accept the new coins anyway.

As of 2006, dollar coins are seldom encountered in commerce in the United States, except in vending machines dispensing tickets, tokens, or cards for rides on mass transit in or near large cities (which offer the coins as change from a $5 or larger bill where necessary) and at casinos, where they are used in slot machines. They are also given as change in stamp vending machines at post offices. However, the Sacagawea dollar has achieved popularity in Ecuador, where the US dollar is also the official currency.

Have You Met the One?

2006-04-10T15:58:00.000+08:00

I was browsing through the weddingsatwork website and found a nice artice entitled "How will I know if I Met the Person I Should Marry?"written by Gary Cruz. Seeing the title brought me back to days when me and my girl friends would talk about love and ask each other questions related to this. It's quite funny coz every single time we do this, one question that would always pop up would be the question in the article... how would I know if I met the one. But I guess as cliche as it may sound, the saying "you'll just know if he's the one and if it's the right moment" is very true.

I recommend this article for our single friends, those in a relationship, and those that have just been over one. As stated in the article, when it comes to relationships and marraige, we shouldn't just let our hearts rule over our minds. Although the thought of spending our whole life with one person entails a lot of responsibilities, it should make us feel excited and happy and not confined.
Don't listen to your heart alone or your head alone. Wait until your heart and head agree. (taken from the article)

So if you have time, read the article and see if you've met the one (i know i did). ü

Our Symbol of Wealth and Prosperity

2006-04-08T16:45:00.000+08:00

My baby and I were both excited when we learned that my mom was able to find us 13 US one dollar gold coins that we'll be using for our arrhae. I was informed by my mom that one dollar coins are rarely used in the USA since they do have dollar bills that's why I feel a little more special after knowing this (of course, I got to love my own! haha). Passing the arras (term used for the coins) from the groom to the bride symbolizes the ability of the groom to support his wife and their family and also wealth and prosperity for the newlyweds. Also, each coin represents the thirteen universal ingredients of marriage: love, harmony, cooperation, commitment, peace, happiness, trust, respect, caring, wisdom, joy, wholeness, and nurturing.

We'll post some pictures of the arras as soon as my mom comes home from the US.

Shortlisting our photographers

2006-04-06T13:42:00.000+08:00

So far, we've managed to reduce our list of photographers to the following:

John Mateos Ong
Fol Rana
Nelwin Uy
Bern Mejias
Mimi Abesamis
John Aguas
Biggs Javellana
Raymund Marcelo
Dino Lara
Bong Rosales

We're in the process of meeting each of them and looking at their works. Hopefully we finalize our photo and video suppliers by next month.

The Hunt Continues

2006-04-03T17:51:00.000+08:00

We still haven't decided on who's gonna cover our big day. We already met one photographer and initially we liked him and his work. But after a lot of thinking and analyzing about some things that got our attention, we decided to look into other possible photographers. We're scheduled to meet another photographer this week. We've read good reviews about him in w@w and seen his site for sample works and so far, so good. Aside from the one we're meeting this week, my baby also scheduled some more photographers within the month so I'm sure we'll be pretty busy this April.

Dream Themes

2006-03-27T10:18:00.000+08:00

I got this article from www.modernbride.com.

Dream Themes
Giving your wedding a unifying theme can make the day that much more personal. Here's how to pick a theme that reflects something special about you and your guy.
by the editors at Modern Bride magazine
Everything from the flowers and decor to the wedding attire and music can be used to express your undying love for Star Trek (or Halloween, or the ocean, or whatever idea theme your heart desires). A theme is the perfect way to make your wedding your own.

Planning a theme wedding involves a lot of extra effort and imagination, but the big payoff-an inventive event that's so completely representative of you and your husband-is worth the work. You may also need to go beyond the typical wedding budget. A themed event can often tack an extra 10 to 20 percent onto your overall costs. But you can always tailor your theme to suit your budget by cutting out a few details: don't dress the wait staff in costumes, or arrange a Cinderella-coach exit.

Of course, you need to figure out what theme you want before you set off in search of sombreros or hoop skirts. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Look to your dating history for theme ideas and details
If you met at a country-western bar, go with cowboy attire and a down-home barbecue reception. If you fell in love on a romantic trip to Paris, serve a menu of French classics—including the decadent croquembouche wedding cake (a tower of caramel—coated cream puffs).

Build your theme around a local landmark or distinctive attribute
If you're near the ocean, a beach party would be a logical choice. If your yard has lush landscaping, try a garden theme. Put pressed flowers in your invitations, have a neighbor pick flowers for your bouquet that morning and create a menu full of fresh local produce. Potted plants make great centerpieces and packets of seeds would be a perfect favor.

Dramatize a particular passion
If you're a film buff, decorate the place with movie posters, screen your favorite romantic film and wear a gown worthy of the red carpet. If you love reading, give out books of love poetry as favors, and have your cake decorated like a stack of books.

Plan your wedding around a holiday or season
This is a natural if you're marrying close to Valentine's Day, Halloween or the Fourth of July. At Halloween, you can go the campy route (costumes for everyone-except maybe the bride and groom), or keep it simple-black dresses and vivid orange flowers for the bridesmaids, and flower-filled pumpkins as centerpieces. In December, try a "snowball wedding." Find invitations that look like Christmas cards, wear a white gown with a marabou-trimmed cape and carry a muff decorated with poinsettias. Offer your guests sleigh rides and eggnog, and have carolers sing during cocktails.

Play up your ethnic origins or family background
If you're English, you can serve your guests anything from high tea to bangers and mash at the reception. If you're Scottish, dress the wedding party in touches of tartan and hire bagpipers to play a few tunes. Spanish couples could go with paella and flamenco dancers. Or, try a more local theme. When a Northern groom and Southern bride married, they used Confederate and Union flags to mark each side of the church. A drum and fife team led guests to the reception, where they toasted the newlyweds with mint juleps instead of champagne.

Consider investing in a professional wedding consultant
Party planners have access to tons of resources, so they'll be able to find the props and costumes you need—and often for much less than you'd be able get them. They know about key issues like fire codes and city regulations-very important when you're planning something beyond the ordinary. You can find good consultants in your area through word of mouth, or call a bridal consultant association. Try the Association of Bridal Consultants (860/355-0464), or June Wedding, Inc. (702/474-9558) for more information.

Supplier Update

2006-03-24T10:55:00.000+08:00

Photo and Video was our main concern this month and we have yet to finalize our supplier for this. I think the list has already been narrowed down to a couple of photographers. We tried setting up a meeting with Jong on sunday but unfortunately he said he'll be in Anilao at that time. Got a call from Dek earlier and was asking if I wanted to meet up with him later after office. Apparently, he got a message from Jong saying that he'll be at their showroom from 1pm to 9pm if ever we wanted to drop by. So, everything's set... we'll be meeting him at Shangri-la Mall later. Hopefully, we'll love his work (both photo and video) and I'm really crossing my fingers that we'll get a nice discount! Wish us luck! =)

Sad News...

2006-03-24T10:28:00.000+08:00

One of our dobermann dogs died yesterday... sad... :_(

What kind of Bride am I?

2006-03-13T16:09:00.000+08:00

Saw this quiz and decided to take it.. yeah, I was curious what kind of bride I am..

Congratulations! You are a traditional bride!

What Kind of Bride Will You Be?
brought to you by Quizilla

I totally agree with the result. I do see myself as a traditional bride ü Is there such a thing a a traditional groom? hmmm...now I wonder.. what kind of groom are you baby? ü

weddingannouncer

2006-03-09T13:46:00.000+08:00

Oh, have we told you that we also have a site with weddingannouncer?

Anyway, if you have time, you can also check it out here.

Two down

2006-03-09T13:31:00.000+08:00

Okay, we're done with choosing our ceremony and reception venues. We're now looking for a photo-video supplier for our wedding. Having been into photography myself, I guess it made it easier for me to look for suppliers because some of them I already know, and the terms they use are not alien to me ;) Anyway, I've managed trimming down our list to 19 suppliers. I've emailed all of them about their rates and now I'm just waiting for them to respond before we make our final decision.

On another note, I was disappointed after receiving Threelogy's email when I asked them how long it takes for them to deliver the final copy of their video. Guess what, they said it takes them 6-8 months!!! I dunno about the other couples, but for me that's a loooooong time to finish a video.

I guess we'll just have to check the output of the other suppliers.

Another glimpse

2006-02-27T15:34:00.000+08:00

Last tuesday, our AE informed us that there will be a wedding at their ballroom on Sunday. So we went to Intercon yesterday to view the ballroom fully decorated. We loved how the ballroom looked! It's really different from what I imagined! However, we were informed that the couple hired a different florist/stylist. But just the same, I just so loved how they planned the lay-out, the flowers, the lights...

The picture below is just the entrance to the ballroom

Booked!

2006-02-22T16:11:00.000+08:00

We finalized our reception venue yesterday and paid Intercontinental Manila the downpayment to block off our date. Yipee!!!!

21 this 21

2006-02-21T08:01:00.000+08:00

Happy monthsary baby! I love you!!!

Of things to come...

2006-02-17T14:16:00.000+08:00

We're already looking forward to the coming week. We've scheduled a meeting with the AE at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila this coming Tuesday. We're so happy because after several trips to different hotels and comparing the packages they offer, it's finally decided that our reception will be at Intercon. Hopefully, our meeting would go well and that we can bargain for more freebies! *crossing our fingers*

Oh, another thing.. me, Dek and his mom will be going to the Bridal Fair at Megamall tomorrow. We're hoping to meet up with a couple of photographers and videographers. Since we're nearly closing the deal with the reception venue, our next stop would be to find the perfect photo and video suppliers.

It really feels great that with over a year to the wedding, we've already made progress with the major parts of the prep =)

Choosing a theme..

2006-02-15T17:13:00.000+08:00

I've been reading a lot of W@W(Weddings @ Work) emails and been getting great ideas from the group. As one w@wie said, having a theme would make it easier to incorporate all aspects of the wedding (colors, invites, favors, decor..). That's why we decided to have one! Initially, I wanted to have a garden theme with lots of flowers and stuff. But when my baby and I went to a bridal fair, I really liked how one caterer decorated their space (it has fishes and shells). We then revised our garden theme with a summer/beach theme! The nice thing about having a theme is that we're starting to have ideas on what favors we want to give and the color motiff we'd be using. We'll definitely post some pictures when we find some more ideas we want to have on our wedding! Oh, what happy thoughts! Ü

Our Church

2006-02-14T15:44:00.000+08:00

We found the perfect church for our wedding! The first time my baby and I went to visit the church, we immediately fell in love with it.

I also love the white canopy ceilings inside the church!

We already paid the downpayment for the church last month. Must say, the price is very reasonable compared to the other churches. One down, more to go...

Our first post

2006-02-14T13:11:00.000+08:00

We've started with our wedding preps (yey!)... Just thought that preparing for the wedding could drive one nuts with all the decisions that has to be made (just so many suppliers to choose from!).