My Girls : The Summer Celebrants

Anissa used to complain about her birthday being in March. She was never able to celebrate in school, and everytime she had a party (which was every year of the 1st ten years of her life as an only child and grand child), her classmates would be out of town or out of the country. The same goes for Sabine, although at 7 years old, she hasn't started complaining just yet. I wonder why I had to give birth in the summer twice? 

Anyway, it's mid-April, the girls' birthdays are over. Anissa didn't really want to do much when she turned 17. Other than a new phone to replace her iPhone 4S which kept giving her problems, she just wanted to treat her friends to pizza. 

It had to take a 36" Big Guys Pizza to make this hungry bunch of dancers happy

The pizza party took place right after dance training. Friends surprised her with a cake awwww!

At 17, she is happiest when in the company of people her age. Sniff sniff! Sad but true. I was a teenager once so I know. But there's a difference because we're generations apart. Don't let me get into that right now! 

Note : Next year will be a whole different story. She'll be 18 and as early as now has told her Dad and I that she wants a party. Not your traditional formal, coming-out thing, but a party nonetheless. 

In contrast, here's what my little girl told me recently : "Mom, I just want to be with you all the time!"

Yesterday, we took her out to see The Croods and to play in Time Zone while killing time. She knows that she's having a party in 2 weeks, but we just couldn't let the actual day pass without doing anything. Thankfully, this kid still knows how to have shallow fun. She told us days before that she wanted to watch The Croods and I prayed so hard it would still be in the cinemas yesterday. It was! 

Giddy giddy in the car on the way to Glorietta

Dada took her to Time Zone while Ate and I sat in Starbucks

Who got 350 tickets in one tap? Ate was the lucky tapper!

Before the movie, she shopped for her favorite Cheese-flavored popcorn

She wanted pizza. Her wish was our command. Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen in Greenbelt 5, even if my tummy wanted to try Bulgogi Brothers hihihi. 

Happy 7th, Sabine!!! 

So yes, summer is always an expensive but happy time for us. It will be even more so next year when Anissa graduates from high school AND turns 18! 

Happy Birthday, dearest Mama!

Everyday I pray for your protection and good health, so that I can repay you in this lifetime for every little sacrifice you've made for me. Thank you for always caring for others before yourself, for the love and support you generously shower us with (most especially the kids), for your unending prayers. I'm truly grateful beyond words for you. Your birthday this year may be bittersweet, but I thank the good Lord for His goodness and for giving us reason to celebrate. 

My heart overflows with love, respect and admiration for you!

Happy happy birthday with all my love!!!

This photo was taken on my 44th birthday in November last year. I had just started chemo the month before, just one cycle done as of this time. I hadn't gained all the weight yet. I want to lose some of this weight!!! 

Family Time : Casa San Pablo - The Food

One thing that made our stay in Casa San Pablo very memorable is all the great food we were served. I mentioned in my previous post that the rates we were quoted already included all of our meals (except snacks, which we were allowed to bring in). I honestly didn't expect to be as blown away as I was about all the food. I was hoping that it wouldn't disappoint but I have to say, it well exceeded our expectations. 

We stayed overnight, so the meals that were included were lunch and dinner on day 1 then breakfast on day 2 (because check-out time is officially at 10am and we wanted to have lunch out). 

Day 1 Lunch (pardon the photos, I arrived late at the dining area because I went to nearby SM San Pablo with Sabine to grab a few necessities) : 

Lechon Kawali --- I really shouldn't have eaten this haha!

Lumpiang Hubad --- really fresh because everything was crispy

Alimasag sa Gata --- so flavorful!

The spread also included soup, but I forgot to take a photo of it. 

Then for dessert? 

This huge chunk of Ube! 

Let's take a quick break from the food so I can show you what we did that afternoon. I kinda fell asleep in bed while watching one of my downloaded TV shows on my laptop, because the airconditioning was also so cold. But in no time, the little girl was tugging at my blanket and asking me to go to the pool with her. I dragged my Mom with us as well. 

We chose the lower pool area (there's an upper pool area, too) so that the maintenance people wouldn't have to watch us while we swam. It was gloomy because it rained extremely hard after lunch. 

Now let's move on to what we had for dinner on Day 1 : 

Here's how our table was set at each meal time. Very simple, like having lunch at home. 

Cream of Mushroom Soup (I don't think it was made from scratch, though)

Sitaw and Kalabasa --- loved this! 

Roast Chicken Hamonado Style

And the dish that we easily ran out of because it was so tasty --- Grilled Tilapia! 

Dessert was not-too-sweet Leche Flan (argh, sorry I hate blurry photos!)

On Day 2, we only had breakfast which consisted of the following: 

Sunny Side Up Eggs --- obviously, late nanaman ako because hey, N woke me up at 7am and I had to go to the banyo first, of course!

Our very attentive server, Justie (sayang I failed to take his photo) told us this was Longganisa ala Lucban, because it tastes like Lucban Longganisa but is actually made in San Pablo City. Nom!!!

Sinangag (Fried Rice) just the way my family likes it --- with tons of fried garlic!

Fried Danggit --- too salty for my taste but that's not the kitchen's fault. This fish is really salty and I'm not much of a fan. 

The best part of breakfast? Unlimited brewed coffee!

And sipping it while enjoying the view from the veranda while Instagramming. 

Ahhhhh the life! 

I'm really missing this place as I type. Yes, the food is one of the things you should look forward to when you visit Casa San Pablo.  Not just because everything tastes good, but also because it's served home-cooked style with lots of loving care. 

Family Time : Casa San Pablo

Way before summer began, we knew we were going to stay put in Manila for the first time in ages. Just one of the many changes we have to deal with now that Daddy has gone ahead. It's all good now. I was dreading the start of Holy Week because I knew it would bring back so much painful memories of Daddy still being around and planning our annual family trip to our 2nd home in the North. But I prayed hard to be able to face, embrace and overcome the emptiness. 

I still wanted us to do something as a family though, so I searched and searched for places to go without having to get on a plane or drive too far. After seeing so many options, I ended up choosing CASA SAN PABLO in San Pablo City, Laguna. Everything I saw and read about it told me that this was the place I should decide for us to go to. 

We wanted to be away just for a night, and at the beginning of the Holy Week, so that we don't go head to head with the many others who are planning to take out of town trips. We all know what this is like, having gone out of town every year on Holy Week for more than a decade now. This time, we all just wanted a change of pace and to do something different from what we've gotten so used to. 

After exchanging email messages and texts with someone from there named Angelica (whom I didn't get to meet), we found ourselves in Casa San Pablo on the morning of March 25, Holy Monday, at around 10am. The drive was uneventful, as expected, and we were happy to know that we practically had the entire place to ourselves. Only one other room was taken, by a really quiet and young couple. 

Angelica, based on my headcount, assigned Rooms 1 and 2 for us. 

Room 1 went to N and myself, because there's only one bed in it --- a queen sized one with a stiff mattress. Win! We both don't like soft fluffy mattresses because they're not good for our ageing backs hihihi! Note that Room 1 had a small veranda up front. 

Here's what our toilet and bath looked like in Room 1

Nothing like a 5-star hotel's toilet and bath but it had its own distinct character which I loved. Best of all, it was clean and complete.

Room 2 was so much bigger than ours. There was the main bed which was also queen-sized, 2 single beds nearby (this photo), plus 3 more. 

The 3rd bed in Room 2 was this, tucked away in its own enclosable area. We actually turned this into the luggage/baggage depot haha. 

The 5th and 6th beds were on the 2nd floor of Room 2, where the loft was. Just follow Sabine!

So yes, Room 2 had a total of 6 beds. Too big for us, actually, but we were happy with all that space.

Each room had its own conversation pieces. Room 1 had this ... 

It's an oil painting by artist, E.J. Cabangon, entitled Hanging by the Moment. The stuffed rabbit belongs to his 5-year old daughter. She and the rabbit are inseparable. The story behind this painting is just so touching. I'll share it in a separate entry. :) 

This wall is what gave Room 2 character ... 

It's a collection of Hot Wheels toy cars. I failed to get the history behind this though. But even my girly girls found the idea cool. 

You're probably asking by this time, what the rates are like. You'd be totally surprised if I tell you that we didn't spend too much and that the rates already included all meals (except snacks). You can shoot me an email message at nonstopbabble@yahoo.com if you want me to let you in on the friendly numbers for these rooms (and the 16 others they have). 

Meantime, speaking of meals! This was probably one of the biggest highlights of our super short stay in Casa San Pablo. The meals were such a treat for all of us! Please stay tuned because my next entry will be about all the glorious food we were served!

Casa San Pablo is located in San Pablo City, Laguna

Visit their website at www.casasanpablo.com to know more

P.S. This is also worth mentioning. When our booking was confirmed, Angelica sent me an email message containing not just our confirmation letter (which we had to present upon entering the premises), but also several attachments which included a map from Manila, places to see around the area and how to get to each of them. Really so efficient!

Weekday Wedding

My niece-in-law (N's niece by his 2nd cousin) got married on a Tuesday morning with Sabine as one of two flower girls. We had no choice to but to ask that Sabine be excused from classes that day. It's a good thing she had just gone back to school, no major lessons or tests missed. 

Leejay and Arman's church ceremony was to begin at 10am, at the San Antonio de Padua Church in Marikina. I had never been to this place before but I was pleasantly surprised. The church was quite simple but I enjoyed the fact that although there was no airconditioning, it was located high up on the lot it stood on, so it was airy and fresco. 

My flower girl waiting for instructions from the wedding coordinators on where to position herself for the march. Don't you think her dress is so cute? It's not your usual flower girl dress. In the car on the way home from the reception, she told me that she really liked it because it didn't feel itchy. So cute and honest and I agree. She can use this dress again and again. I also love that they provided the wrist corsage with a tulle flower on it as accent. It was a bracelet, also meant to be reused. Props to whoever came up with this practical idea.

Some of the members of the bride's immediate family. From left to right : her sister, Qai who was Maid of Honor, FOB Kuya Ricky (cool blue pants!), MOB Ate Mayette (I loved her gown, watch out for the next pics) and the bride's niece - and my grand niece horrors! - Dana who was a Junior Bridesmaid. 

I really should be more conscious about the way I stand in photos. I look so awkward here!

The MOB's gown --- so very Hollywood-y! 

Here comes the bride! I can't believe it's my and N's nieces who've been tying the knot lately. 

Gaaaaaahhhh we're old! But it's always so nice to witness these milestones from our point of view. 

Sigh. Young love, sweet love.

More photos ... this time from the reception

The set-up ... simple but consistent. I've seen the photo set-up in a few other weddings before. The couple sits on the couch and there's no table hopping for them. The guests go to them on the stage and have the group photos taken there. Why didn't anyone think of doing this a long time ago? I remember having to take my shoes off at some point during the reception because my feet were killing me from going around the ballroom having my picture taken.

The Cake - which I unfortunately didn't get to try. Again, simple yet elegant.

More details I took note of ... 

Crystals dangling from the topiary, pompoms hanging from the ceiling, personalized napkin holders

The group shot before we decided to make our exit. I was rushing off to another appointment and so was my SIL (beside me in blue). 

Last but not the least ... 

That requisite shot before actually leaving the venue haha!

My jersey magenta dress is from Cole Vintage, the studded black leather and gold clutch is from Tonic (technically belongs to Anissa, but Mommy borrowed). I would really rather have that Prada Saffiano my SIL is carrying hee hee!

Anyone else getting married soon?

Our Awesome Weekend

The family went on a much-needed respite and was privileged to have stayed at this beautiful place somewhere in the south. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to say whose property this is, upon the owner's request. I was a bit sad that my Anissa wasn't able to join us on this trip due to dance rehearsals for the dance concert she'll be performing in tonight. I'm hoping we can go back sometime in the not-so-distant future. 

The stay was extremely short, just one night. So I had to make sure to take in as much as I could while I  was there. I'll let the photos speak for themselves because really ... this place was so amazing, I was speechless most of the time. 

Pool Area

A portion of the huge balcony of the house where we stayed

The walkway outside the house that was assigned to us

At the foyer on the 2nd floor of our house, this door led to our bedroom. Awesome detail.

Our house was Filipiniana-themed. I loved these capiz windows.

The main road leading to the main property. So well-maintained. 

So much more to see 

These are just photos I took using my iPhone 4s (fab quality, huh? my poor Lumix has been sitting in the dry cabinet for months!). There are more photos in N's DSLR camera. I will share those as soon as he's converted them. 

Oh this place ... until today, I have only dreamed of going to a place as beautiful as this. 

More soon!