Today, I'm officially Dutchified.

Vandaag ben ik officieel vernederlandst!

More details about it soon. I'm too tired to write now.

Five years ago today is when it started.

The idea of blogging came to me when I came across Christine's website 9 years ago. I frequent her site since then, and wished I could write like she does or be as creative as her. I like the simplicity of her designs and the way she writes her thoughts. She was my inspiration. But it took me four years after to start my own blog. I have been writing on my paper journal, though, and I kind of stopped when I started blogging.

Anyway, here's the blog entry I wrote on July 30, 2003.



Funny how the things I write about changed gradually. I have learned to write not only for the sake of a new entry. I don't know why I stopped writing about mundane everyday things. It came so easily before but, now, I can't get myself to write anything much about my day. Am I becoming boring? Or simply quiet? Maybe both?

Time really flies. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I'm not blogging. It feels strange to even think about it because, in so many ways, blogging has changed my life and it will always be a part of me. It's my joy to share my life and I'm happy to celebrate this 5 years of blogging with all of you.

Now, who wants some candy? :)

Happy Father's Day Papa and to all fathers out there! :)

This is a song called Dream by Priscilla Ahn - my current favorite.

Mama,



Thank you for the love, the never-ending support,
For everything that you have done for me, for Mike, and for the whole family.
I am forever grateful.
When I become a mother someday, I want to be just like you.
I'm ever so proud to be your daughter.
You're the best mom in the world!
I love you, more than words can say.
I love you forever.


Ma,



Ik ben zo blij dat jij de moeder van Michael bent.
Zo lief, zo zorgzaam, zo veel meer..
Jij bent er altijd voor mij, voor ons,
En ik kan je niet genoeg bedanken.
De eerste keer dat ik jou ontmoette,
Wist ik dat wij goed met elkaar zouden gaan.
Geloof me als ik zeg dat jij de beste schoonmoeder bent!
Ik hou van jou.


Nanay,



Eto yung ginawa kong kanta para sa'yo.
Miss na miss kita!

Nung ako ay bata pa
Ako'y iyong pinaghehele
Di nakakatulog 'pag ika'y wala sa aking tabi
Naaalala mo pa ba
Minsan nung ikaw ay umalis?
Katabi ko sa kama ang iniwan mong damit.

Pumapasok sa eskwela
Ikaw ang kasama ko
Naghihintay kang mag-isa sa may waiting shed
'Pag medyo kulang ang baon
Sayo agad tumatakbo
Laging handang magbigay ng limang-pisong papel.

Ngayon at ako'y malaki na
At nakatira sa malayong lugar
Pero 'wag kang mangangamba
Dahil ikaw ay nasa puso ko, 'di yan magbabago.

Dahil mahal kita, yan ang tatandaan mo
Nanay mahal kita
Mahal na mahal, mahal na mahal kita

Kahit san man ako makarating
Iniisip kita lagi
Kahit 'di tayo parating magkasama
Alam mong mahal na mahal kita, diba?

Dahil mahal kita, yan ang tatandaan mo
Nanay mahal kita
Mahal na mahal, mahal na mahal kita
Nanay, mahal kita.


To all mothers out there,

I salute you!

"A mother's love is faithful always trusting
A mother's love will stand the test of time
While others have their fun
A mother's work is never done..
.... a mother's love." - from a song

xoxo <3

I'm another year older.
Another year to celebrate,

to grow,
to learn,
to look forward to,
to be thankful for,
to create,
to achieve,
to make new friends,
to discover new things,
and open new doors.

Twenty-seven.
A good number, it is.
This will be a wonderful year.
Yes, I believe it is.

Today is Mike's 26th birthday and the celebration took place mostly around the dining table. We invited the family over for an intimate lunch of sandwiches, sushi, tuna and salmon salads, cake, bottomless tea and hearty conversations. I think we're going to do more luncheons and dinners this year because it's just so good to spend time and reconnect with people who mean something to you. I enjoyed it so much it felt like my birthday!

Shortly after his Grandpa left, I stayed in the kitchen to clear a big stack of the dirty dishes that's been sitting on the countertop for two hours. I wanted to do the washing when everyone else has gone but I couldn't ignore it any longer. It's like a switch in my head was turned and I have to deal with it right away else I have to scratch my brains out to keep the switch from flicking. Obsessive-compulsive? Haha, definitely.


And because I thought that I didn't serve enough food, as is always the case with me, I whipped up a quick cream cheese filled pepper bruschetta while Mike opened a bottle of red wine. I also made a couple of regular mild pepper bruschetta which no one else ate except me because I like it more than the cream cheese filled one. Oh, well.


These are the loot he got for his birthday and he's one happy bunny. (Envelopes with money, Zelda for his DS Lite, books and the anime chess pieces I got him yesterday from the book fair in Ahoy. :)

Now that the weekend is almost over, I can finally relax!

That day started with a romantic breakfast in bed and ended with my body crouched under the duvet, aching all over because it decided to succumb to the virus that I've been trying to elude the whole week. I have been feeling a faint sign of the flu for days until it hit me at the wrong date. Needless to say, our day was cut short and our evening plans were canceled, but more on that later.

Since we are going to do serious home improvements this year, we decided to commemorate the day with the trip to Ikea. We got there around noon and went straight to the cafe to grab some lunch. Mike already knew what he was gonna have while I had trouble choosing between a club sandwich and tortellini with 4 types of cheese as filling. He had the usual meatballs and fries which he ate with gusto while I opted for the pasta, that I regretted later on because I didn't like it, but I ate it anyway (half of it at least). It was the first time ever that I looked forward to dessert and that I enjoyed to the last bit together with the free cappuccino (one of the Ikea family card privileges) which I drank contentedly. The pasta was also a euro cheaper (another priviledge) and now I know why. Next time, I'll just stick with the free tea/coffee and furniture discounts.


We walked around the showrooms collecting ideas and noting the furnitures we want to get. We bought only the small and not-so-heavy things since we came by public transport and left with new inspiring ideas for the house, but the moment we stepped out of the sliding doors, we were greeted by what seemed to be a prelude to a storm. It was very windy and raining, and seeing the bus pass by was a bit disheartening. Then it was fifteen minutes of waiting in the cold. When the bus finally arrived, I knew it wasn't going to be a fun ride. The air was too dry and I felt sick to my stomach. Inspite of the nausea and lightheadness, I survived the bus ride still in good spirit. But the walk home was another story.

My limbs started to ache and my head was pounding. I couldn't think of anything else to do but lie down under a thick blanket. It was four when we got home and I headed straight to the couch and crashed. I laid down for an hour until the headache subsided. We canceled our original dinner plan to check out the Greek restaurant which was a thirty minute walk from where we live, and, instead, settled with a simple Thai beefstrips and veggies noodles meal at the much closer venue. We were supposed to watch a movie after dinner but due to unforeseen circumstances, we went home and watched Just My Luck on dvd then called it a night.