Halloween 2011

Halloween also known by Hallowe'en or All Hallows Eve, is an annual holiday observed around the world on October 30 or 31st, the night preceding All Saint's Day. Much like a festival honouring the dead.

Here in the Philippines, you can see masses' effort on dressing up in their cute, sexy and scary costumes. Both grown-ups and kids. Aside from dressing up, the typical activity done during this special holiday is the trick or treating. 

Halloween 2010 vs. Halloween 2011 - more like a 3 months old Ashley vs. 1 year and 3 months old.

2010- Didn't really dressed her up but she wore a bumble bee headband 

This year...

Night before her actual trick or treat, we tried out her bunny ears.

Her Pumpkin costume. She was supposed to wear this during her Halloween Parade in Hillsborough but then we got confused with the time and didn't get to join the parade. It's fine though. I don't want her wearing that costume at 1:30pm sweating and irritated. Hehehe. That costume was too thick and enclosed. She was cute with that pumpkin, for sure.

And so, she wore a Ballerina outfit for trick or treating. I love this outfit!  She was comfortable wearing that tutu. And look at her
treat bag - Hello Kitty! LOL.

Last 2010, Ashley has no idea what trick or treating is, she was just there staring and having an affair with her pacifier. Hahaha!

 

Such an innocent baby.

Who can tell me that time that the next trick or treat with Ashley will be like these

 

Walking and almost running under the heat. She was excited and thrilled! As if she knew what she was doing and as if I will allow her to eat all the candies she got from the houses. Hahaha! 

And so I told her to behave and gave me this pose. She learned that behave pose in Gymboree.

Her face when her Lolo carried her and she can't go down to walk nor run. Too funny!

Of course, it wouldn't be a trick or treat without giving treats to the kids. Ninang gave away candies to the kids every year and this year nangs gave popcorns along with the packed candies this year. 

Last year was like this...

 

 

And this year...

 

 

Ashley kinda helped out giving away treats to the kids. :-)

2010 decorations vs 2011

 

2010

 

2011

Here are some cute costumes and unique decorations from the houses I've seen and captured...

twins wearing a fairy costumes.

Here comes Spiderman!!!

Ashley as a Ballerina and Carmela as a Pirate

A walking iPhone Man! :D

Let us not forget Happy the "Supedog"

This house is a genius. They made up a life size Plants vs. Zombies game and gave away Taho as a prize.

We also celebrated Ninong Ben's birthday that night though his actual birthday is November 1st. 

 

And then went to Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina rhe next day.

 

 

When we were in the cemetery, GMA news approached our family and interviewed some and took a video.  The reporter even made us sing "happy birthday" to Ninong Ben. It was funny. We just ate and prayed. It was a little reunion. 

It was nice to pass by The Philippine Centre for St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Inc. after visiting cemetery. It really made me feel good and relieved. It is a non-stock and a non-profit organization. The church is very quiet which gives the atmosphere a solemn feel. I recommend people to go there and pray if ever you have things to ask. I prayed and held his hand not quite that long but part of my prayers were for him to help me to mold myself and be able to be worthy enough for the people surrounds me. 

Tuesdate

Feels like the day is so much faster than hour lately. So I thought I shall make the most of it and take advantage of the time where the possibility of spending time with my family, husband and Ashley can happen.

Today is her 5th session in Gymboree. Though I didn't took pictures at Gymboree today, they have a new teacher which I don't know if she would be their permanent teacher. They did sang, dance, climb up the stairs, jumped, walk through a bridge, popped some bubbles and pushed the air log. And as usual, we had fun!!!

It was kind of a Tuesday's ritual to be with my parents and sister, spending time with Ashley and bringing her somewhere she can extend playing after her Gymboree class. Her Grandparents' arrived Gymboree in the middle of her class to fetched us and grab some snacks somewhere.

She loves playing with bubbles

missing to make a bubbles cause she's too excited to blow.

But this! TADA! :-)

We head off to Festival and ate at Kenny Roger's. (I missed Kenny!) It was Ashley's second time dining at Kenny Roger's and her Second time as well to play in the mall. The first one was in Timezone 

and now, Pixie Forest. (If I'm not mistaken) 

She was kinda refusing at first on trying out the airplanes, cars and the swing but she did enjoy it when she has someone with her.

Hence, her Dora doll!

It was hard cause rides are for toddlers and no one is able to fit the sizes. Hahaha! But My sister is an exception. LOL. 

SEE? :p

I was pass 5pm and Ashley is starting to throw fits so we decided to call it a day. She didn't nap, that's why. But before that, I took this shot first cos I find it cute! :-) I'm glad she agreed to pose with this after her mamsy and ninang posed first.

Her fairy photo. :-)

That's all for now! Thanks for reading.

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Pet peeve for the month of October

As I've blogged before about my biggest pet peeve for Plastic people, I have now found a new biggest pet peeve yet called "the incompetent others"

I haven't blog anything that is happening about work now cause there's so much to talk about and I don't know where to start and I don't know if I do have to blog about those shits. But to cut the story short and talk about my work, I am very very and sincerely tired physically and figuratively in all aspects. From scheduling, break time,  co-workers, dealing with the kind of people whom I consider belong to my first pet peeve blog and all. Tired of all the dramas, tired of all the being so famous cause of the things I've never done my whole life, tired from non-stop working and exerting unappreciated, unseen efforts and hard works. Tired from thinking and feeling who the real people are, trying and taking chances to understand why some people like that exists. I'm tired dealing with all the dramas and falseness.

If you are now puzzled why these issues are being revealed just now, to tell you now as well, we just lost 4 employees in a month span. How can that be so possible? That 4 staffs were the kind of a "yes, maam. yes, sir" kind of people. And since 2 employees out of the 4 employees were from back of the house. Some should make an adjustment, that's us! It was so hard and tiring to work where you were the only one who exert effort, only one who does the job at it's best and care the most. How could an 8 staffs inside the kitchen can produce 100,000 + sales a day during weekend? That is obviously insane and lack of manpower.

So why is that? I now thought of I should probably be the next, despite of all the hard work and efforts, someone would somehow, someday will surely look at the lamest thing you've done and turn it into a big issue that'll cause you to keep away from the job. If you know what I mean. Keep away from their hidden business/agenda. Something wrong is happening here. So wrong.

Inspiration

I am running out of inspiration or subject for blogging. Aside from Ashley and what I did for the past few days, what I ate and where I spent my days, I have nothing to talk about. I guess I am changing my blog title from "Virtual Journal" to "Virtual Scrapbook" eh? But I bet sooner or later after doing that I will change it again. 

I find writing and blogging calming. It calms me every time I write and so much easier when I type. And I miss the scenario where I click on my google chrome's 'open new tab button' and go click and open my blogspot.com, hit the 'new post' and just type and the words and thoughts were like flowing and flowing so easily. I just missed it.

The time I got a nice subject for you guys, my readers, my followers and random online searchers could learn something good from me not only just scrolling and scanning photos from my blog. :-)

Hope It'll be that soon! 

Vacation Leave Summary

I was not really planning to file a 1 week leave from work last September25-October1st, how I wanted to get off from work when my birthday comes in November. Hahaha! But since it's my Lola's 80th Birthday and I was assigned by the family to cook for her birthday, I had to do so. 

September 26th - Bahay Kalinga

This year, my Lola decided to spend her pre-celebration in Bahay Kalinga with the 100 lolo and lolas. So I spent my first day of leave gathering all the equipment, tools and ingredients I need for cooking. First thing in the morning, we visited Ashley

too bad, Ashley's having siesta when we arrived.

I gave her her dora doll her daddy bought for her.

then we went straight to the grocery store to buy all the ingredients. 

We serve them Chinese-style Adobo -it is similar to filipino adobo with just an extra fragrant of star anise- and Lumpiang Togue. 

Here are some pictures in Bahay Kalinga...

 We had Japanese Food for lunch that day after doing grocery shopping. Please check my blog about the Japanese food.

September 28 - Lola's Birthday (her official) at Max's

It was raining hard cause of the typhoon the day before Lola's actual birthday, but still the family cannot be stopped by the rain. It wasn't raining that hard that day. We just had a simple lunch for Lola in Max's Restaurant, Robinson's Manila. The mall was hot, walang aircon eh!  hahaha. The mall was just using generator for the lights. There were even no escalator and elevator functioning. Such a hassle bringing Ashley's stroller all the way down and up the escalator. Lol! 

Someone's eye-ing to play with the cake

my sister and brother - enjoying their crispy pata!

please excuse the blurry photo. I guess the cam was not set to auto focus. hehehe

Tita Wena's Part I - Slicing of the cake

went to Roxas Blvd to visit and take a look at the place for lola's birthday.

Ashley giving her ninang a Hi-five while daddy's kind of struggling with their position. hahaha!

This is our "up hands" pose! :D

Prepping 

These bell peppers was the hardest one and needs to be prepared thoroughly. 

First step is to simply grill the bell peppers. These are roughly 3 inches long only which made it harder to prepare. I grilled 200 of these.

Once grilled, you let it cool of course then you have to peel its skin. After doing so you have to make a small slit to each peppers, just enough for you to take their seeds without ruining its shape. After that procedure, you stuffed the pepper with taco-beef. Chill it for few hours and do 3 basic breading procedure: Flour, Egg and Breadcrumbs. Then chill or store until it is set, then that is time you'll deep fry them peppers. :-) I know, right. Difficult. 

gonna be look like this. :-)

loads of tomatoes and onions!!!

And for the last highlight of my vacation leave, Lola's birthday celebration with family and friends!!! This year's her 80th and my Tita decided to have a Mexican Feast themed party for lola. My husband and I were up early in the morning even though the party starts at 7pm. We were finishing preparing foods and cooking. At 4pm we started the buffet set-up and set-up for tables and chairs. 

Grilling Skewers!

Setting up tables and chairs

Archie, my husband and Mikee, my cousin - doing some final touch w/ the foods.

My sister was in-charge of the decorations.

Done already. Waiting for the centerpieces.

buffet set-up

My Mexican Menu for my Lola's Birthday

Starters:

Beef Taco Salad - 

Pepper Rellenos - Bell pepper stuffed with taco beef and cheese

Cheese Quesadilla - Tortilla flour stuffed with ranchero sauce, lettuce, salsa and cheddar cheese.

Main Course:

Chicken Enchilada - Layered Tortilla flour, Enchilada sauce, grilled chicken, sauteed onions and cheese. Topped with cheese sauce, sour cream and grated cheese.

Chili Beans - Red beans and Chorizo with ground beef in thick chili-tomato sauce

Filete de pescado - Crispy cream dory fish marinated in spices and topped with pomodoro sauce.

Chicken Jalapeno - Grilled Chicken fillet marinated in jalapenos and cilantro. 

Amigo's style chicken skewers - Chicken cubes marinated in our special adobo rub paired with tomato and red onion. 

Mexican Red Rice - Rice sauteed in our Pomodoro sauce.

Lola and her Mexican Birthday Cake from Aggy's sweets and bakeshop.

Here are some pictures of family and friends...

from left to right: My sister Jaz, Jay, My husband Archie and Me.

from left top to right: Papa, Me, Renz, Jaz, Tito Evan, Tita Wena, Adee and Ethan.

Amigos and Amigas!

Tita wena, went home from states to make this event  happen! :-)

Cousins! :-)


It can never be a feast without Lechon

Lola and Ashley matching gold outfits. hahaha

Relatives with the celebrant

they keep on coming back for more. eh. :p

Please like Amigo's Taqueria on Facebook. For Catering inquiries, feel free to leave a message. Amigo's Taqueria can cater different types of cuisine but we specialized Mexican Cuisine.

Moving on, I have 1 day left til I'm back to reality. Saturday, we went to Kowloon House in Q.C to attend Archie's nephew's dedication. We also went to Folks' house to pick up some pots we left at the party and to check out Papa's new baby!!!

Lack of sleep photo. Hahaha!

gloomy weather makes ashley sleepy and well behave

traffic

Sleepy driver

Papa's baby

It was indeed a fully-booked vacation leave. I didn't even felt being relaxed the whole leave. Hahaha! Went back to work on a Sunday - another peak day and busy day for me. No time to rest and relax. Hayayayays! Anyways, That's it for now! xx 

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