Project FEETrail [December 2012]: 2012 is not for the faint hearted.

I've completed my Project Feet Trail Project that I started early this year. I just didn't think that I would be ending it in this picture.

Here's my project photo during the holidays. This holiday we:

• Did not have any Christmas tree or any Christmas decorations in the house. Just the old, year-long Christmas wreath hanging at the door, the same way Dad saw it the last time he was here.
• Braved driving in the wee hours and late at night. 
• Camped in a cemetery in lieu of going to Halloween parties - which will be the start of our new tradition.
• Opened the gates of a closed cemetery, few days before Christmas  just so we can visit Dad. I used to be scared of the eerie aura of the cemetery but now I really don't care.

Last year I asked for the Top 5 intagible things that I wanted for Christmas, and you know what? It all came true. I guess that's the benefit of having a blog, you can always archive your musings or whatever  it is that you jot down and see if it made sense a year later. This year, I was asked what I wanted this Christmas. I was not able to respond, because I had a wish in mind and it was to turn back time, but I know it is impossible.

I've always been a little scared of all these stuff about the end of the world, when December 21 came, I was on my toes. But then, my father's death kicked the butts of all the End of the world hype. I started looking fear in the eye, telling it to screw it. I'm not very good at it, but heck, I'm doing it.

This year have broken me down, but in exchange, I got a whole new spirit. I believed in miracles because I am one. I am very, very grateful. Even though Dad is no longer with us, and as the eldest, I have to act fast and take the first step to accept that Christmas will never be the same, I know he will always have my back and he is always watching over us.

The year 2012 is not for the fain hearted but my spirit remain optimistic for 2013.

Mochi, Mochi, Ano na teh?

I already knew about Mochiko ice cream mid part of this year and I've seen the Mochiko ice cream place at the new wing of Alabang Town Center back in September.

It is only this month that I got to try and see what it tastes like with the support of my grad school friends who I think will move their sweets diet too to year 2014!

Finally Found Joe's at LB

I was scheduled to meet my friend, Kat, for lunch and as usual, I don't know what really nice place to eat in. Good thing Kat suggested that we eat at Joe's in Umali.

I've been hearing about this cute little homey place called "JOE'S" somewhere in Umali Subdivision, Los Banos, near UPLB. I've been living in Los Banos since 2010 and it's only now that I had the chance to actually see and eat at Joe's.

We walked to what somewhat looked like a cute little secret place. This is Joe's.

Travel Laguna: Auravel Grande Resort and Hotel in San Pablo City

Auravel Grande Resort and Hotel, (Auravel derived from their grandparents name, Aurea and Avelino) just opened last December 4, 2012. It's only 10 minutes drive from the city San Pablo City town proper.  It just so happen that by the 20th of December, our cousin Ate Iyen, had her wedding reception there.

As wedding suppliers (wedding florist), and yours truly as wedding coordinator , we immediately saw the opportunity to take a look around and see what's in store.

First, we like the pool. San Pablo City is known for its cold water, but the pool water is warm and moderated.

Review: Maybelline's HyperSharp Liner

I may have found a competitor of the stress-resistant dip liner that I blogged about before.

Meet Maybelline's HyperSharp Liner. The answer to the easiest application of eyeliner.

Image Source

This is actually not new in the market but I got in only last week, wore it consistently for five days, before I made this review.

Wedding Spying: The first wedding event in UPLB's Carillon

A reliable little birdie told to me that there's a wedding happening at UPLB's Carillon today, 12.12.12.

See, I've lived and grew up in UPLB all my life and no one really had the idea (or maybe no one dared) to have their wedding/venue in UPLB's grounds, particularly the carillon.

The carillon is usually the venue for the Easter Sunday mass for the Catholics, but that's been long prohibited.

Today, we decided to take a peak and see how they're going to pull it off.

The first ever wedding event in UPLB Carillon

The Baby Shower Challenge

Three weeks after our friends, Ellis and Joy's wedding, we threw a baby shower to our beloved couple. 

The venue: The couple's house

The guests: Couple's closest friends and some of their way minor kids.

The Attire: Wear any shade of Green (Because most baby boy showers are themed in blue, so make it green plus it's the mommy's favorite color)

The challenge: How to throw a baby shower with guests who don't like games and with little kids participating in the program.

To be honest, I don't really know how to organize/throw a baby shower for a friend because majority of the baby showers that I've attended, I have nothing to do with the planning. I just make an appearance, bring gifts according to the couple's wishlist . The most I've been involved with is host the party as the master of ceremony, which I've done for at least a few times.

Let's not even go to the part of hosting (which is another story but of a different party) but what makes this shower challenging is, the fact that not only it's a co-ed baby shower (most baby showers are exclusively for the women and wives because this is their venue for tip-sharing for the mom-to-be...shucks, I did not even know that!), there are also minor kiddies in the party!

But God Bless the internet, everything is highly googable from the decorations to program flow to baby shower games! 

So here it is: Decorations (banner by yours truly and the pom-poms by Shom...all labor of love!)

Decorations

More after the jump!

The first ever traffic I've witnessed in Jamboree

I wrote about Los Baños Traffic before that got plagiarized during one of the class in grad school but that's a different story.

I'm starting to think that maybe common sense, initiative and pro activeness to come up with a system to deal with traffic is starting to be too much to ask.

If you know UPLB and have been to National Arts Center or Boy Scouts of the Philippines in Jamboree, you will know that the road coming from Jamboree and going down to UPLB is rarely, if never, a scene for really heavy traffic. Until last Sunday.

Here's the scene from last Sunday:

They allowed the empty jeepneys park on the actual main road.

Quick story: Jamboree is the venue for boy Scout's camping and that sunday was the last day of camping so these vehicles were there to pick the scouts up and take them home.

Meaning: It was not just some random coincidence, it was scheduled and anticipated.

Review: Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes

After we land, we went to Banapple in ATC for Lunch. I've heard and tasted some stuff from Banapple before, I didn't even know they serve meals.

 

Travel Boracay: Aria Cucina Italiana at the D'Mall

On our last night, my sister and I decided to have a nice dinner at Aria to have my pre-birthday dinner. Aria has been a Boracay staple since it opened in 2003. I remember it being a hype and now I read that it branched out in Bonifacio High Street.

Travel Boracay: Tilapia and Chips Restaurant

Tilapia and Chips is a seven month old (at present time) restaurant in Boracay that's along the road and right before D'Mall Palengke (market). On our first night we were looking for new restaurant to eat in and there we saw Tilapia and Chips ( kind of like UK's fish and chips term, but with a Pinoy twist.)

What you will normally see in Boracay

We went to Boracay last 2009 and stayed at Station 1. This time, our accommodation happened to be in Station 2 where it's near the bars, restaurants, mall and all the popular spot to party at night. Besides the beautiful beach, the powder-like sand and the best sunsets, here are the stuff you will regularly see in Boracay Island, particularly in Stations 2 and 3.

This is a major photo dump, prepare to load.

Skimboards

Boracay Birthday Getaway: How to have a nice time on a strict budget

Ok let me tell you this as early as now. This post is not advisable if it's your first time in Boracay. Three years ago, we were in Boracay with my family and cousins and we're super super excited roaming/walking the whole Boracay shoreline, determining which one is the Station 1, 2 or 3. We had scheduled activities, prepared drinking cocktails before sunset, walking along D'Mall in maxi dresses then bar-hopping like the rest of kids our age. I was 25 and I'm pretty sure you get the picture.

Since we almost forgot that we booked this trip, we were on a strict budget. This time, we decided that we are just going to chill. No itineraries just lie around and do whatever you like.

And since we don't have any agenda in mind, other than swim in the ocean and enjoy the powder-like sand Boracay is famous for, I googled blogs on what stuff I should not miss when in Boracay: