Happy Birthday To The Love Of My Life!

I wasn't in the mood to throw a surprise. I was just tired coming from a 2-week vacation with no yaya in tow. I am not complaining really. Just stating a fact. The past 6 years that we were married, I always try to put together a simple surprise but this year, well, I had to improvise. Or rather be spontaneous. And make do with what was available.

So the kid insisted on cake blowing. I wanted to buy cake but the husband insisted it is not necessary. Still. We did our best with whatever was edible from the charred Calamansi muffins that I tried to bake the night before.

We sang happy birthday. And yes, I caught him getting teary-eyed. He lovingly thanked us and heartily kissed me and Maia. HE WAS HAPPY. And that's all that really matters, right?

Happy birthday hanibants! Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for all the support (or the lack thereof, yes, I still thank you for it because you always sort of balance my impulses). Cheers to 50 or even more (God-willing) birthdays we will celebrate together! We love you. To the moon and back. To infinity and beyond. To bottomless ka-corny-hans.

And yes, hard to believe but you are indeed 35!



And Maia takes credit for every word written on this card. I didn't have to say a thing. She just knew what she wanted to say.

Six.

We're starting a new tradition this year (a tradition that I'm not really sure if we can sustain...but...), the morning of our anniversary we set off to fly out of Manila and into one of the most beautiful places here in the Philippines.

We never had a grand honeymoon so this serves as our little redemption. An 'almost' honeymoon with the kid and her yaya in tow.

No fancy dinners here. No fireworks. Surprise gifts for this year. But this place here. It's more than amazing for me.

Happy anniversary my hanibants. Thank you for taking me and your little princess here!

Surprise!

It wasn't really the box of chocolates that won me over but that small piece of note that came with it. He never ever did notes. So this one, even if was just a one-liner note that said: "For putting up with me" it meant a whole lot to me.

Getting him to write a note felt like he is finally owning up to his share of growing up in this relationship. I felt like he finally put our growing up contract in writing and signed it to make it officially binding. And we married folks know that making a marriage work requires a lot of maturing from both couples. I take this note as a sign of my husband finally realizing this as well.

Yes my marriage is a work-in-progress. And it will probably remain that way after we celebrate our silver anniversary and even gold or diamond if the Lord permits.

The box of Patchi made me happy. I wouldn't deny that (as I've been salivating over a mere photo of their chocolates for so long now). After biting on a small piece last night, I knew the price is justifiable. But the note that came with most definitely trumped that box of dark chocolates.

Thank you sweetie. I told you that next year, a love letter would be enough. And I will hold on to that. Just make sure you write the letter yourself ha. Don't make your daughter write it for you. Hehe. I love you to bits. From head to toe. From To the moon and back.

p.s. So you see sweetie, surprises aren't that hard to pull at all. Agree now?

Everyday is Love Day

photo grabbed from tumblr

First things first ------ Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I married a guy who will probably eternally abhor Valentine's day. Not because he does not how to love or express it, but mainly because he thinks the day has become so commercialized he just doesn't like being inconvenienced by it. He feels he is being trapped at the center of the chaos every time Valentine's day is celebrated. TRAFFIC JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE (But maybe it's worst in Pasay ano?). LONG LINES AT PASTRY SHOPS. CROWDED MALLS. (I will have to ask him what else are the specific things he hates during valentine's day. You know, for documentation purposes)

So when he was single, he avoided Valentine's day like it's a dreaded plaque. 

Unfortunately for him, he married a hopeless romantic. So for the last 4 years, he braved the supermarkets, pastry shops and chocolate shops just so he can bring me a treat (or two. or three. teehee and he can never resist my puppy eyes). And subsequently bring a smile to my adorable face. (wahaha. no violent reactions please. this is still my blog, after all)

What's good though (well for him at least) is I am not a big fan of spending tons for flowers that will wilt after a day or two so that takes a LOT of weight off his shoulders. Yesterday, we decided to move our regular 'Thursdate' to a Wednesday in anticipation of the Valentine mob (see? I love the guy too. showed my concern by agreeing to go out a day earlier than schedule wehehe). We were supposed to catch a movie but nothing interesting is showing (Flight seems okay but he did not want to settle with okay. After all, a movie doesn't come cheap anymore. I wanted Die Hard but he just wouldn't budge. hahahaha). So we skipped the movie and ended up scouring the mall for a new pair of PE shoes for the kid instead. We ended up getting her not one but 2 new pairs of shoes. Lucky kid, eh? In the end, she owned the date night again. We then settled for a nice bowl of Ramen after walking around the mall for almost an hour. We're cheapos so Ramen X was just the right fit for us. We, however, on our way home passed by Kenji Tei Ramen House (near the Cinemas at Alabang Town Center) and thought the ambiance there was so much better. We agreed to try it the next time a Ramen craving hits us.

I will pay for all these indulging this weekend. I swear. Time to hit the road hard again. 

I don't know if I'll still get a treat tonight since we already claimed our date night yesterday. I'm hoping I would. But if I don't, well, at least I can still pull the puppy eye trick on another day and claim my treat then. In our household anyways, everyday is love day.

RAMEN X
2/F NEW WING
Alabang Town Center
Alabang Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City

Throwback Thursday: Sun and Sand

We are going to be beach bound  soon with a couple friend to an island somewhere down south. The last time we were in that island was for our belated 'honeymoon' in December 2007. I was never the beach-loving type (and truthfully I do feel the island is rather overrated)  but I don't know why I am suddenly giddy about this trip.

Maybe because we haven't done much travelling in 2012? We were never really big on trips but we've always liked exploring different places (albeit on a budget) and I guess, I do miss doing that. And yes, I do need a break. From work. From the hustle and bustle of being a working mom. But yes, we are bringing the kid along so it's really not yet a total break from motherhood. Just from the chaos of the city is more like it.

Meanwhile, putting these old photos up in here to remind me that I once had that youthful glow in me. Where did that go? Haha. Most days I still feel young though and maybe that's a lot more important than merely looking it. I just have to find out how to let that 'inner glow' out so to speak.

what's this crepe place again? 

have yet to take my best sunset photo. maybe this time it won't be that elusive anymore.
keeping my fingers crossed.

gotta remember to take photos of 3 pairs of feet this time. 

I fervently hope and pray for good weather not so much for me and the husband but for the kid who is just as excited to take this trip. 

Mr. Clean, Mrs. Mess

"Okay, I've tidied up the kitchen. You can now make a mess"

This is Tibs' usual monologue especially on weekends when our helper takes her day off. When I get busy in the kitchen, I really make a huge mess. And since our dining area also serves as our kitchen/prep area, the sight would sometimes bother him to the point of irritability maybe that he'd start tidying up even before I get my menu done. Despite this, he rarely complains. I think he's just too proud to admit it but cleaning up is his therapy just as cooking is for me. And I guess that's where our yin-and-yang really lies: on me being the messy partner and him being the clean up guy. 

When we decided to get married, we never really sat down  and talk about how we can equally divide the tasks at home. But I guess Tibs has always known that I demanded equality even in marriage so the division of labor somehow just fell into place. He's the treasurer, I'm the spender. I shop for groceries, he carries them. I take care of arts and crafts time with Maia, he cleans after us. (Perfect lang, di ba????)

Tibs is really OC when it comes to cleanliness, tidiness and neatness. The guy takes at least 4 baths when he's at home fer cryin' out loud. If that isn't enough affirmation to his OC-ness then I don't know what is. Well I can probably list down several other weird ways of him expressing his being a neat-freak but I won't. Because I love him like that. Lolz. 

I now actually have no idea what drove to start writing this post but my subconscious was probably directing me to make another THANK YOU post for this wonderful guy that decided to marry me for messy or for worse (and even worst). He probably didn't expect it to be as worst as this but I know he already accepted me as me (with the mess and all), so sweetie I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE (and sometimes even the lack of it hehe), FOR YOUR LOVE AND FOR YOUR ABILITY TO TIDY THINGS UP NO MATTER HOW HUGE THE (MY) MESS IS.