the hanoi hangover: day 1

My apologies for starting this entry on a rant, but I just need to let this out first, and then we can proceed to the happy notes.

Months of planning for and excitement about our Hanoi trip, which was our 6oth birthday gift to our Mom, got dampened by a distressing incident upon landing at the Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. We took a red-eye flight, and we--my sister, her husband, my mom, Francis, and I-- touched down in Hanoi at about 12:45am (15 minutes delayed, but not really bad) only to line up at the conveyor belt and discover that our (mine and Francis') luggage was nowhere in sight. After filling out forms and being assured by the local airport personnel that they'll inform us as soon as our luggage turns up, we all shuffled to the hotel shuttle service so we can finally check in to our hotel. Poor driver, he had to wait for us for a couple of extra minutes because of that conundrum.

Long story short, Cebu Pacific responded to our complaint 24 hours after we sent our email. They confirmed that our luggage got left behind at NAIA. How and why, I have no idea, considering we checked in on time and our luggage had its proper label. So Francis and I had to endure about two and a half days without our essentials: clothes (I planned my OOTDs for each day only to have no clothes at all!), underwear, toiletries. Despite the distress (I cried myself to sleep that first night at our hotel), we still managed to make the most of our trip. Yes, we did have to buy new clothes and underwear, and I had to borrow a few pieces from my sister. 

Putting all that (and a few more glitches that I just want to forget so that I'd have good memories of that four-day trip), our Hanoi experience has been generally fun and wonderful. In fact, I enjoyed the city more than I did Ho Chi Minh. Hanoi has more flavors and colors, and there's always something that will catch your eye in every corner. Here are the daily highlights of our Hanoi experience in photos, starting with our first day in the city--left luggage not included. 

The very charming details in our hotel--Golden Sun Palace. This is the view from our T&B! I'd like to note that all the hotel staff had been very friendly and accommodating. They helped us follow up our missing luggage, and all were very patient with our requests.

First stop was the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which accepts visitors from 7am to 11am. There was nothing much to see except for the impressively well-preserved body of Vietnam's iconic hero. Cameras are not allowed inside, so we were only able to take photos once we were outside the building.

Every street is filled with souvenir shops that it's easy to be overwhelmed! These colorful, plush key chains are on display at Swan Embroidery. The place, in my opinion, carries merchandise of better quality compared with the others in Old Quarter. Of course, I didn't leave the store empty-handed. I bought a sling bag with pretty Hmong embroidery.

The amazing neo-gothic architecture of St. Joseph's Cathedral. The church sits gallantly amid the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter district.

We explored the grounds of the church, and found equally interesting French-inspired architecture, showcasing the strong influence of the French colonization of Vietnam.

My family and I took a breather from all the walking here at the Hoan Kiem Lake, a famous historical landmark of Hanoi. That's my sis and her hubby (seated) and my svelte mom. I hope to be as fit as her when I turn 60!

The Turtle Tower on Hoan Kiem Lake

We all went back to our hotel to rest before heading out to dinner. Since there were a few more hours to spare before regrouping, Francis and I decided to check out Old Quarter some more. We also took this opportunity to buy new clothes while we still didn't have our luggage with us. Before heading back to our hotel, we made an impromptu stopover at Cong Caphe near St. Joseph's Cathedral. Here, we got our fill of delicious innovative coffee--one with yogurt and another with coconut milk. Later in the evening, we came back with the rest of our family in tow to cap off the night with more cups of coffee. It could have been a bad idea, downing caffeine before bedtime, but our tired bodies won, and we all slept like babies!

Our last agenda for the night: watch the Water Puppet. Though the play was in the vernacular language, we didn't have a hard time understanding the context of each act since it was written in the program handed out to us. Basically, each act features the traditions, customs, and legends of Vietnam, particularly Hanoi.

Of course, our first Hanoi experience (second for Francis) would not be complete without these motorbikes and scooters--the main mode of transportation in the country. The trick to not getting run over is to hold your breath and cross without hesitation. The motorists are used to crossing pedestrians that they'll be the ones to avoid running you over. Bravery is key!

Day 2 will soon be up!

after almost a five-month hiatus...

Wow. I had no idea until now that I haven't been updating this blog for almost five months! Tsk, tsk. Such a shame!

So, what have I been up to the past months that I've become such a lame blogger? Work, mostly.  It's been crazy-busy, but mostly fun. I am not complaining. In between the hectic work schedule, though, are pockets of glitter and joy.

Last February was our 5th wedding anniversary.  Francis planned a surprise dinner date for us. A full day of anticipation found me with my sweet hubby at La Cocina de Tita Moning. It was such a romantic dinner, and the food was really good! 

Pretty blooms from le hubby on our 5th anniversary

Then it was his birthday and mine. We spent Francis' hatch day with a brunch date at Rustic Mornings, then headed to Nuvali on a whim. Impromptu roadtrips rock, yes? Meanwhile, my big day was spent reviewing Philippine history and culture at the National Museum, and was concluded with a fantastic dinner at Harbor View Restaurant in Manila, where we basked in the marvelous sunset of Manila Bay. 

A lovely mid-morning at Rustic Mornings as hubby and I celebrated his birthday

On my 34th birthday, we got front-row seats to this magnificent view!

There's so much more to be excited about in the coming months. At the top of the list is an upcoming Hanoi trip with my family. It's going to be a belated celebration of my Mom's 60th birthday. Despite the different travel philosophy between me and my sister (haha!), I am very much stoked about this trip. It's been a while since Francis and I have flown out of the country, so this is a much-deserved break. Add to that the fact that this is the first time my family will be traveling to another country, so it's going to be a fun riot, for sure. I just pray that the weather here in the Philippines will be bright and sunny as we leave and come back from Vietnam (it's going to be summer there, so hurrah!). 

Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. Image from meracushotels.com

Another wonderful thing that has happened is an unexpected collaboration with my fave sandal brand of the moment: Renegade Folk. I have written about it in my other blog a few month's back, and I've already purchased two pairs from this amazing local brand. Naturally, I have posted a few Instagram photos of me wearing my pairs. It's one thing to have them like those photos; and another to see them asking for my email address. I immediately replied, of course, and was a bit intrigued. Long story short, they asked me to do a collab project with them! It's so amazing and surreal, really. Aside from the obvious perks, what I love about this endeavor with them is that I get to be really creative and expressive using a medium I love: photography. Along the road, I hope to once again rekindle my passion with photography (my 400D misses me already!), and ultimately, inspire others to embrace their passion and celebrate their uniqueness. See more of this cool collab on my Instagram and on my VSCO Grid.

My third Renegade Folk pair, along with some of my arsenal for our Hanoi trip

And yes, I really, really will work harder in updating this blog more often. Definitely no months-long hiatus!

Have a wonderful weekend!

it was another roller coaster ride

January just breezed by! I'm not complaining, though, because the first month of this year proved to be a roller-coaster ride.

First, there was this confirmed trip to Hanoi. My sister and I will be treating Mom to her first out-of-the-country trip for her 60th birthday this April, but it's going to be a belated celebration. So when the tickets were finally booked, I felt so excited, of course! 

But the excitement gave way to worry when we learned that Mom had to undergo an angiogram to rule out any suspicion of serious heart problems. I was on edge, but something told me that I shouldn't worry. I couldn't help it, of course, and  I was somehow preparing to cancel that Hanoi trip in case the findings are not favorable. 

I was still at a shoot that day when Mom underwent the invasive procedure, which was two hours delayed. But when my sister texted to tell me Mom's clear, I was greatly relieved! Who wouldn't be? And because of that good news, I had reasons to believe that that "something" that told me not to worry too much was God--He was assuring me that everything will be fine, and that I only had to be still, as Psalm 46:10 says. 

So yes, Hanoi preparations will restart! Mom will finally be able to wear an ao dai, haha!

shuffling here and there

The past months in photos (or, My Excuse for Not Posting Anything Decent Here Lately).

I'm not allowed to post photos until after the groom and bride have posted the pics themselves. Heh.

My li'l sis' pre-nup photo shoot, which was shot in the outskirts of the metro, kept me busy looking for pegs and doing a bit of post-edits. First stop was Thunderbird Resort in Bingonan, Rizal; then it was at Jardin de Miramar in Antipolo, where the couple will be holding their wedding reception.

The weather was considerate enough to let us have enough natural light. Sadly, no blue skies were in sight that day. 

***

At work, every single one of us at Real Living was running around like headless chickens because of our first ever major event, the Real Living Space. 

It was a one-week event last September that showcased the model units and function areas of the Trion Towers in BGC. These units/spaces were patiently and meticulously designed by seven designers who were very nice enough to work with us despite the short lead time. The result? Real Living Space was a resounding success! All the hard work really paid off, thanks to our partner stores, sponsors, the designers, the Events team, and our publisher Tom. The event may have been very challenging to put together (birth pains!), but the feedback we got told us that it was all worth it! Thank God!

***

This setup was on the second floor of our church, and was supposedly for the "buffet" table, but we all ended up transferring downstairs for a bigger space.

  As my sister's matron of honor, of course I took the initiative to throw a shower party for her, with a big help from our EBC churchmates. And being the managing editor of a magazine that promotes creativity in the form of interior designing and styling, I was inspired to come up with a tablescape that features photos of my sis and her fiance, tucked inside DIY cloches made of reused empty bottles (thanks to Tala for lending me a few pieces). These cloches surround a bigger bottle that holds a twig, where paper flower balls in yellow and red hung (thanks to Dagny for giving me those pretty balls!). Tea lights completed the Shabby-chic setup, and it was such a pleasure to actually see how my sister liked what I did. Hee! (And with that first tablescape "stint", I am motivated to do more at home for special occasions and gatherings!)

This month is looking extra busy for me; aside from matron-of-honor duties, our (seasonal) band, Ice Cream Assassins, snagged two gigs to prepare for (after a year of inactivity, haha! Well, we're not really that active in the music scene given our day jobs, but we try to grab hold of gigs that come our way). And of course, the Christmas is just a couple of weeks away, and Francis and I have yet to prepare the house for that. And the thing I dread most? Christmas shopping, because I'm pretty sure we'll cram again this year. In fact, we haven't even polished our Christmas list yet. Argh! But yes, I promise to not make these as another set of excuses to lag behind blogging.

Wish me all the best!

i'm 33 and happy!

It feels so good to turn a year older and see how everything is falling into place. It feels like I'm in this stage where I have already learned some important things in life, the most significant of which is to forgive myself for that one thing that I totally had no control of, and to finally forget the pain. I cannot thank the Lord enough for the emotional healing; it took a while, but I finally got to this point where I am able to ignore that Ugly Feeling and not let it affect me the way it did a few years ago. Perhaps, I am wiser now. 

On a lighter note, here's a chronicle of the wonderful things that happened leading to the day I turned over a new leaf.

Another answered prayer! We brought home our own car, Midori, last month!

We celebrated Mom's birthday a few weeks before mine at Sonya's Garden

My Mom doesn't look 59, right? Heehee!

My job entails field trips and shoots at stores that always have wares I cannot resist. This was at A11 Gallery in FB Harrison; I did bring home a paper bag-full of ceramic items. Haha!

The TOE (a Japanese post-rock band) concert last April 19 was nothing short of AMAZING!

Francis surprised me with a romantic birthday dinner at Ninyo Resto, located along Esteban Abada St. in Q.C. I have the sweetest hubby!

I decided to go back to a pixie to mark my 33rd year. Looking forward to what this year has in store for me. Thank you, Lord! You are, indeed, gracious!

the first two weeks

It's been two weeks since I started on my new job/career as Real Living's managing editor, and all I could say is...I'm having a blast! I feel blessed to be part of a great team who knows how to appreciate what our magazine stands for. Sure, turnovers and deadlines can be a pain, but the hardship is compensated by a daily dose of creativity witnessed during shoots and events. And in my first two weeks, I've seen enough to be inspired. How inspired? Let's just say that all those wonderful colors I see almost every day, whether at shoots or visits to exhibits, have translated to how I decorate our own nest. 

The table runner (first photo above) is actually a steal from Landmark: it's reversible and costs only Php199! Such a great find! Meanwhile, the pillows are from Duo Deco (the big, floral ones), SM Homeworld (the ones with green geometric prints), and Mandaue Foam Furniture (the yellow/white one with orange embroidery). Since it's already summer, I decided to update our throw pillows as a means of adding more color to our place. The ones from Duo Deco and SM Homeworld are newly acquired, actually, and I just mixed them with the one from Mandaue (which belongs to our original set). Francis and I also bought new curtains to complement these summery pillows. I was originally gunning for something printed, but decided on a plain, olive green set to temper the explosion of prints and colors on our couch. Haha!

But it's not just our home that benefits from my new job. My closet, too, got a little update, thanks to this year's Manila Fame.

There were so many pretty, locally made accessories (aside from magnificent furniture pieces, of course) showcased, but the one above, which is a neck piece  from Avatar, caught my eye and my heart (haha!) that there was no other option but to buy it.

So yes, I am loving my job. Aside from the fact that there's less stress compared with the previous one I had, seeing pretty things on a daily basis makes it less tedious. The only thing I "hate" about it? I spend on those pretty things. Haha!

it's another career journey (and i am bursting with joy!)

I passed the dreaded interview (and got challenged to further improve my craft), signed the papers, and am now preparing to complete the employment requirements.

In a few weeks' time, I will be officially the new Managing Editor for Real Living magazine.

(Writing that down here feels terribly good.)

I waited for this opportunity for years; it wasn't an easy wait, but I am so glad I did. Some people might actually find it crazy that I had to resign from my previous job when, after only a few months, I'd be back in the same company. I could have just endured a few more months in my old job so that I could have retained my regular employment status and all the benefits that came with it. I could have. But I chose not to.

A few more weeks in that old job would have driven me clinically insane. Those few weeks prior to my resignation, I was at my worst--emotionally and mentally, and to a certain degree, physically. I knew I had to get out. And although I don't regret the experience in my almost seven-year job in a pseudo-ad agency department (it honed me to be a better manager and taught me how to handle pressure gracefully), the stress became a monster that I was no longer willing to battle with. It wasn't worth it. Worse, I never had the opportunity to improve something I really love doing--writing (not to be confused with copywriting, please). While my managing skills really did improve by leaps, my writing skills took a backseat. Also, I believe that had I not made that big decision, it would not have been easy for me to grab this opportunity.

But now, now  I have the chance to finally do what I've always wanted to do--write, and be part of an editorial team again. I am excited to be part of a team and brainstorm ideas and see those ideas translated into crisp and colorful pages monthly--without any AEs or clients telling me to do a fourth and a fifth study, or that they're sorry they now have a different direction so please make four more mockups from scratch, or let's just tell the crew you already booked for tomorrow that we're moving the shoot next week, kthanksbye. 

Emancipation. At last.

That's not to say, of course, that there won't be any stress in my new job. There's no stress-free job, to begin with. But I know that this new set of stress is something I am willing to handle, that it's worth it. And the best part is, this new job makes me want to be a better writer, a better manager, a better team player. This motivation to give all the best that I have thrills me and excites me in a way that my previous job failed to do. 

I know that the moment I signed those papers, I also signed up to the challenge of stepping up my game and meeting high expectations. And I promise myself that I shall meet that challenge head on. The Lord has been gracious enough to give me this job. He taught me how to be patient and how to trust in Him more, and that if I remain still, He will grant the answer to my prayers in His perfect time. I know He will provide me with everything I need to be good at this so I can give back the glory to Him. 

(To my friends and family who have prayed and supported me in my decisions, THANK YOU.)

P.S.

For the record, the freelancing life has been good to me; and in case the time comes when I have to live it again, I won't be afraid anymore. Haha!

patience is a virtue

I remained still and I trusted, and He answered that prayer. 

TO HIM BE THE GLORY!!!

(Sorry for being cryptic. I'll share reveal more details soon. I have yet to finalize certain things and find words to express my gratitude.)

what made my 2011

Some friends say that 2011 wasn't a good year for them. For me, it was a mixture of the good and the bad. I may have expected too much of this year, and so I have resolved to just keep my expectations for 2012 in check. Still, I have a lot to thank for, and I choose to count my blessings, for they still trump the unpleasant things that have happened.

1. Our new home
Until now, I'm still thrilled over the fact that Francis and I have a place to call our own. This is such a big blessing for us. The holidays found us so busy fixing the house and decorating it for guests, and so far, we like what we've accomplished. Our small abode is still a work in progress, though, and we're taking our time to make it as cozy and Baguio-ish as we want it to be.

2. Baguio trip with mom
It was two (or was it three?) years in the making, but I was finally able to bring my mom to my favorite city last July. Unfortunately, my sister was not able to join us because of her work, but it has been a fun experience with mom and hubby. I was finally able to share with mom why I love Baguio so much, and based on the pictures (she became an overnight camwhore in Baguio, haha), she had a great time as well.

Mom looking out Vocas' window

3. My first out-of-the-country trip
An opportunity to travel out-of-the-country presented itself when Francis was assigned to Vietnam for almost two weeks last August. Though we've planned to really fly out of the country on the latter part of the year, Vietnam was hard to pass up. So we took a peek at our finances and decided that it won't hurt if I follow him in Ho Chi Minh. It was a fantastic trip, what with all that rich history, delicious food and to-die-for coffee!

Taking in and documenting the flurry that is Saigon

4. Ovarian scare no more
Had a little health problem that involved a functional ovarian cyst. Thank the Lord it was nothing serious and it resolved itself a few months after, so there was no need for another invasive surgery. It was such a relief to hear the good news from my OB, considering what I've gone through last year with my ectopic pregnancy. (Speaking of which, that ugly feeling still crops up whenever someone I know gets pregnant, but I hope this year will continue to heal me so that I can finally rid myself of that ugly, nasty feeling.) It was another scary health issue, but the Lord answered our prayers; had it continued swelling, I would have gone under the knife again. But after two weeks of observation, a miracle happened and that swelling went kapoof!

5. Real Living's 101 Great Condo Ideas and Makeovers
I've worked so hard on this project, which was assigned to me by RL's EIC, and I have nothing but thanks for the oppotunity. Working on the book kept me sane from all the stress that my day job brought. What made this endeavor more fun and fulfilling to do is the fact that the team I've worked with is such a nice bunch of people. This book definitely made my year.

This is still available in all leading bookstores, 

so go get a copy for only Php120!

6. First holiday in a new nest
Like I have mentioned, this holiday season is extra special because it's the first one we've spent in our new home. Despite the chaotic schedule of cooking, cleaning, organizing and entertaining, this season is one of the best yet!

Our humble abode

So when you think this year didn't really make it to your best list, count the blessings--big or small--and things will take on a new perspective.

Happy New Year, dear friends! I pray for an abundance of blessings for the coming year!

this little girl is super giddy and excited!!!

I have a confession to make: I haven't traveled out of the country yet. It's a shame. But at least somehow I've already gone around the country (but not yet enough). Anyway, before I further digress, I am super happy and giddy and excited to announce I can cartwheel right at this moment that I finally am flying outside the Philippines! Yay!!!!

Where to? Here are picture clues:

 (All photos from wikipedia.com)

Another item in our bucket list will soon be ticked off! Praise God for this marvelous blessing! I'll definitely make sure to indulge all my senses in this city! Yayayay!

counting my blessings

Because I can foresee that the following weeks will be crazy busy, allow me to reflect on happy, blessed things that happened recently/is happening/will happen soon:

Ice Cream Assassins with UR Face Radio DJ Sick James;
that's me and hubby, screen cap courtesy of sis (thanks, Sis!)

1. After two years, our pseudo-band reunited again for an exciting radio guesting last June 21! We were all so stoked about the prospect because the last time we got together was for our wedding. The one-day-only practice had been a breeze, and the guesting itself was fun, fun, fun despite the downpour! Like I said, it's so good to have been back on the mic again.

Many, many thanks to UP Music Circle, our ever beloved college org (yes, I'm one of the founders, and yes, I am that old but shut up, haha!) for inviting us; and of course, to UR Face Radio for letting us crash and do our thang. Do listen to a collection of songs from Music Circle's bands here, and don't forget to check out Ice Cream Assassin's Coffee Dew (that's us!)!

2. There's this book I'm working on, and I can't say yet what it is so as not to preempt things. But here's a clue: it's going to be pages and pages of coooool ideas about nesting! My team is busy completing the whole thing, and I do hope we can manage to remain on schedule. I can't wait for the launch, which is going to be on the latter part of this year!

3. Every day, I am so tempted to skip work because of the sleepy weather and our cozy, cozy home. As mentioned in my previous entries, our dear nest still needs a lot of work and sprucing up, but I'm so, so in love with it already. I probably wouldn't mind staying in and just being lazy all week long. Happy sigh!

4. Hubby and I have become responsible adults recently when we decided to take a leap of faith and plunge into investments. It's not much, but it's a start. We hope and pray that we'll be blessed by it so we can share the blessings!

5. One word: Baguio. There's a trip coming up soon, this time around, hubby and I will be bringing my mom along. I promised her a Baguio trip two years ago, and it's about time that I keep true to that promise. So I'll be packing scarves and jackets and boots again real soon. Hurrah! (Plus, a Baguio trip is well-deserved, especially with the chaos I'll be going through the next few weeks.)

Well, it's true that when things are looking down, you just have to count your blessings. I look forward to counting more (minus the things-that-are-looking-down, haha!)!

prepping for the big move

Packing loads and loads of our stuff for the big move-in officially started this holiday season. The first one to get packed: our shoes. All our shoes are now stuffed inside a big balikbayan box, and guess whose pairs took up 99% of the space? Yes, mine. Next up would be all our reading materials and then our clothes. This is gonna be hard work!

I'm down to these pairs for
the next two or three weeks

Francis and I are both nervous and excited about the whole process of moving out from this 60-square-meter pad that became our home for almost two years, and moving in to our smaller unit but a place we can truly call our own. The unit improvement already started last week, which means we already have to start organizing all our stuff to see which ones we should keep, donate, throw and sell.

Yesterday, together with our architect/friend, we canvassed for lighting fixtures, paints and wood at Ortigas Home Depot. Of course, this part got me excited, but we didn't buy yet because we still have to check out other home stores to compare prices.

The many choices for pin lights. We're going for the small ones with LED,
as they are more eco-friendly than CFLs, so yaaay!

Crucial for us when it comes to lighting fixtures are the main lights for the major rooms. I saw these pretty drop lights perfect for the dining area.

The first one looks like a good repro of a Cobonpue piece, which will fit perfectly with our design in mind; the one in the middle looks like a futuristic spider web sans the scary factor; the last one is like a giant ball of candy hanging from the ceiling!

Aren't they nice? Unfortunately, neither of these is The One yet (but if it were down to these three, I think we'd go for the Cobonpue knock-off). Buying this kind of home furnishing is like buying shoes--I need to fall in love with that piece that won't let me sleep until it's in my arms. Good thing we're not really rushing to purchase main lights because installing them won't be necessary until the latter part of the unit improvement, when all the divisions and painting are already done.

So far, this is how our unit is transforming.

Me by our soon-to-be pseudo-walk-in closet

We can't wait for the new year to find us in our new home. We can't thank the Lord enough for this really, really wonderful blessing!!!