We're just home this whole weekend as Noel's recuperating from the flu and probably won't be able to go to work tomorrow. I was able to do a bit of cleaning up (our dining table is piled with junk!) But the heat is quite draining so it's hard to get a lot of work done.

Boracay was such fun, it's hard to transition back to reality, so forgive me if this is a rambling post.

Noel and I finally saw Once today. Soundtrack was really very good, and the entire movie was poignant but not heartbreakingly so. We also watched August Rush. That Freddie Highmore just breaks my heart, he's so talented. I want a son just like that.

Been busy juggling teaching, our businesses and ballroom dancing! :) (it's helped me lose a total of almost 20lbs.!) Here are some photos:

tada!

Angela's dramatic foxtrot

Corinna doing the abracete

whee! (me showing off my skirt)

We visited Tita Lit and Tito Smit in Discovery Shores, about 3 resorts away from ours. And wow it was nice, very modern and hotel like.

We had dinner with them that night, after a day of walking and swimming.

Boracay was getting busy now. The beach at night was filled with people and some beachside parties.

Last night we arrived at Caticlan airport via SEAIR. We're here with Via's family. The trip was a result of last minute planning, they we're deciding between Hong Kong or Boracay... and I'm glad they decided to come here instead. This is our second time to come to boracay, but it is still as pristine as we remember. Although I was surprised at the new resorts, some which took over too much of the beach, somewhere between station 1 and 2. We had dinner at Guilly's last night, it was good. Lunch was at a korean place in D'mall.. still good Bibimbap. But so much for that... I've gotta go take advantage of the sun and the beach now!

1. parlor time with my Mom and sis (only our Mom is not in the photo)

2. quiet time with Noel at this very good resto in Alabang called The French Corner

3. expansion of the Tech Tote in terms of distribution. It's now available in all Powerbooks stores save for Megamall, Glorietta and Cebu. It's all available in all Crossings Department stores except for Quezon Ave.

4. better health

5. more savings and investments

6. lots of fun family time

dancing at Jon-Jon and Kei's wedding (can you see a sliver of Fran's face to my left?)

Fran and I doing a Marc Jacob's at Tito Mon's bday celeb in Summer Palace

7. catching up with lots of friends and finally meeting Javier! :) (first baby of Jolet and Cristina)

trying on the same Matisse inspired shirts at Mantra in Piazza Serendra

8. teaching Italian, il mio vero piacere

9. my MAC mini from Noely

10. health insurance

11. travels to Kota Kinabalu for our 5th year anniversary and to Singapore for our joint bday celebrations.

12. learning The Secret!

My fascination with mineral make-up started late last year when I discovered Sophie and Tin's mineral make-up shop, BeautyandMinerals in multiply. It's great because her sample baggies just cost PhP 100.00 so you can test all manner of shimmer and sparkle without denting your wallet too much. And no guilt after having purchased huge quantities that you'll never use up. Yes, I am a big mineral make-up fan!!! (especially after the free loot bag I got from the La Vista Bazaar) I really liked Blusche Minerals mineral foundation in Irish Creme. And they have a shop in Greenhills One Shopping Plaza open till the 16th!!!
Here's a before and after shot of the make-over I got from Tin at the La Vista bazaar Beauty and Minerals Booth:

Moments after another officer swerved his motorbike in front of my car. I had no choice but to stop.. but I did think twice about running him over. So the officer went to the driver's window and asked me why I did not stop when the other officer called my attention. I replied, "Why should I stop? I didn't do anything wrong." He explained that I swerved lanes and crossed the white line.

Wow. At this point I was pissed. I remember an email that I got that said swerving is not a violation... and moving from one lane to another is definitely not swerving. It was a bad day to confront me with this nonsense. In rage I answered back.

I debated if the officer has any proof that I did in fact swerve. I told him that we could go back and look if I really did. I told him that I was not at fault. At this point we were both exasperated, seeing that I will not move from my stand and him not having any reason to catch me. He then asked for my license. I said, "why should I? I didn't do anything wrong." But I showed him my license anyway, told him that it is valid and that it expires next year. Showing him that I know exactly what he's trying to look for. He didn't budge and still asked me to hand it over. I told him that I will not surrender it until he promises to give it back. He nodded silently.

I gave my license with a deep sigh of defeat... thinking that he wouldn't give it back. To my surprise the officer handed back my license and said, "sana di na maulit to." (I hope this does not happen again.) Angrily I drove off.

Mineral make-up weekend event this Dec. 15-16 at La Vista! Details here

At my other blog, I'm giving away a Moleskine planner to promote the blog. :) Please go there and tell your friends about my Moleskine Giveway!. And no, I'm not abandoning this blog... just putting focus there first for now.

My mom wrote an email to the family egroup:
"Perla joined our Creator at 9:15 am [Oct 31] (Manila time) today. The past days were filled with blessings. We had the opportunity to be with Perla, praying the rosary, singing hymns, saying our goodbyes individually & as a family. Her remains will be cremated after mass at 3 pm. [Her immediate family wanted to keep the Wake private] So her ashes will be in my condo where the family will keep vigil until she is interred. Thank you for being with Perla, Eddie, Lambert & all of us throughout this journey!"

Instructions:
Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things … nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person who nominated you has the same first initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name? Via
4-letter word: Vain
Vehicle: Volvo
City: Venezia
Boy Name: Vincenzo
Girl Name: Veronica
Alcoholic drink: Vodka
Occupation: Vet
Something you wear: veil (for mystery hehe)
Celebrity: Vanna White (pwede rin Vicki Belo hehehe)
Food: veal
Something found in a bathroom: vanilla soap or videt hahaha
Reason for Being Late: vehicular accident
Cartoon Character: Vulture man (I don't know who he is- had my husband's help)
Something You Shout: “Vamonos!”

Alright, your turn! :)

PRESENTS!

Spam Musubi for breakfast (Noel loves spam)

Noel opens his presents first thing on his birthday morning

Cosi tries to help out

Spa Treat at Sanctuario

Dinner with my family (not in picture) at Je Suis Gourmand

Hope you enjoyed your birthday as much as I did! :) Happy Birthday my love!