Mom's 4th Death Anniversary

Today is my mom's 4th death anniversary.  I can't believe it's already been 4 years...I still miss her so bad and yes, the pain is still the same as it was when I found out she was dead.  But, I figured she wouldn't like it if we remembered her with sadness so I thought I'd post 4 things that my mom loved when she was alive.  :) 4 things because it's her 4th death anniversary.. silly, I know, but it's fun for me to think about these things :) So, bear with me :D

1.  Speed - yep, I remember when we watched that movie, she almost had a heart attack because she was holding on to her breath and being all tense!!  She would be gripping the armrests of the chair and just be so taken in with the movie.  After that, she was smiling like crazy and laughing like she was high on something.. :D  It doesn't matter if she sees it the 2nd time, it'll be the same all over again :)

2.  Cinnzeo cinnamons - I remember when I first brought home a box of Cinnzeo cinnamons for my mom.  I bought it at Greenbelt on my home from work.  I was so enamored of the flavor and I knew she would be too so I bought a box for her.  Imagine her surprise when she first took a bite out of the original flavored one.  She said it was to die for!! She didn't really like that it was so expensive but I told her, that's the reason why we work so we can enjoy good food like this :)  It was such a guilty pleasure for her that I would still buy her a box every time I could :D

3.  Tom Clancy books - Yep, this is no surprise but she loved Tom Clancy books.  She first started with Patriot Games and I guess she fell in love with Jack Ryan.  Whenever we'd go to Booksale she'll scour the shelves for the rest of his books until she was able to complete majority of the collection.  Her favorite one was "Without Remorse" because it was more personal and so aptly titled.

My brother and I got our love of books from our mom and we'd always share the books that we read.  Even when she was in the States she'd send books that she'd finished to me and my brother would complain that he hasn't read them yet hahahaha





4.   Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet - Oh my God! I just suddenly remembered how giggly like a teenager my mom was when Spandau Ballet first came out hahaha Granted we all loved their songs but it was Tony Hadley that really made my mom's heart race LOL  I remembered that I bought her a full-size poster of Tony for her birthday hahahaha It was right in the middle of her bedroom! hahahaha I'm really laughing here because it's such a good memory and I'm glad that I did this...

Brian and Donna's Wedding

I realized that at my age, there are three events that I will most likely be often invited to - weddings, baptisms and funerals.  Last year, I made a promise to myself that if I get more invitations for get-togethers and chances for meet-ups with friends, I will not pass up on them.  So, when I received a personal invitation from Brian regarding his wedding today, I immediately said yes.

It's nice being personally invited to a person's wedding because it means that this person really wants you to be a part of their celebration.  It didn't matter that I would have to spend for it considering it was a strictly formal affair but it's a chance to really dress up and look good ;)

It also was a chance to meet up with other college buddies, Nancy and Grace, who shared the same table with Patrick and I.  The wedding was held at the Manila Cathedral.  That was also a good enough reason for me to attend the wedding ceremony.  I have lived in Manila all my life and yet I haven't been inside the Manila Cathedral hahaha  It was an impressive church - no one Brian wanted to get married here.  After the wedding, we all trooped to One Esplanade near Mall of Asia in Pasay for cocktails and the reception.

There's one word that I can use to describe Brain's wedding -  Bongga!! It's roughly the Filipino version for Extravagantly Fantastic! :)  This was a dream wedding for most brides I think.  Getting married in a very beautiful church.  Having your family and friends surrounding you on this very special day (there were around 300 guests if you were to count the number of tables at the venue).  Just the right dose of entertainment during the reception with Chico and Delamar hosting the program.  Very tasty food at the buffet tables.  Fireworks to cap the evening. :)  It was truly a day and a night to remember for both the couple and their guests.

Here are pictures while at the Manila Cathedral:

Here are pictures while at the Sunken Garden at One Esplanade.  We tasted different types of cheese!

We had fun having our pictures taken at the two photo booths there.  The second picture was cut and attached to a guestbook for Brian and Donna.  The rest of the pictures (the 3 small ones) were turned into refrigerator magnets.  How cool is that?! :)

Here we are inside the venue, Coral B at One Esplanade.  Grace and Fred arrived a little later but were still able to partake of the special buffet.

All Attendees received the small box which was full of chocolates and candy, while female attendees received the bigger box.  Guess what was inside the bigger box?  A jewelry box! :) Dana claimed it for herself :)

To Brian and Donna - Congratulations and Thank You for Inviting Us! 

A day of pampering: Let's Face it & Laybare

 It's not often that I get days when I feel pampered.  For today, Dana and I went to SM San Lazaro, for pampering with a purpose :) My college buddy, Brian, is getting married this Saturday and it's a good time as any to just look good for it :)  So, I scheduled such a day specifically for a facial at Let's Face It and eyebrow threading and underarm waxing from LayBare Salon.


I have tried several facial treatments from different salons.  I've tried Dermclinic (in SM Sta. Mesa) but wasn't satisfied with their Medical Facial.  It wasn't very thorough and it felt like the one doing the process was a trainee.  I've also been to White Beauty Face and Body Center in Ortigas.   Patrick had access to several GC's offered by his office and I was able to take advantage of those.  The GC's were worth P1500 and I used them (on 2 separate occasions) for a Facial with Mask.   Their service seemed okay but I didn't think that the facial was worth P1500.

I was wary of Let's Face It because often times when I look into their area, there are almost always a whole bunch of women getting their faces cleaned and I didn't really like that at all.  I much preferred a more private atmosphere which was the reason I went for DermClinic and White Beauty in the first place.  But then, I was kinda short on cash at the moment so I timed my visit when the Mall opened so there will hardly be anyone in the salon which can give the illusion of being in a private setting.  I was right, when Dana and I got there, there were only 3 other clients in the service area, so that was okay, and we were far from each other too.  I only tried their basic facial which was worth P245 with laser and 2 free check-ups.  I didn't really have any expectations at all so it was with an open-mind that I proceeded with my facial.

I was directed to their wash area to clean my face twice with their cleansing soap with a follow-through of a moisturizing soap.  They helped me put on a hair net and a "bib" so you don't get water and soap on your clothes.  Then I was directed to one of their beds, got relaxed and just waited for the process to start.  After a relaxing facial massage and I assume, another cleaning to open the pores, steam was directed at my face for about 15 minutes.  The atmosphere was relaxing since the attendants weren't really noisy and there weren't that many customers too.  Then the "actual" cleaning began and I've never had so much pain in my life!! Honestly!  My only thought at that time was that prisoners and criminals should be treated to such a "benefit" so they will hesitate the next time they want to commit a crime.

The pressing and the removal of the dirt on my face was so painful I can possibly compare it to having labor, I think worse even! LOL  At one point, when I can predict the attendant's moves, I was mentally crying "Block!" "Block!" "Block!" when the attendant will press on my face and my skin.  I can't fault her for being thorough though because, ultimately, that's the point of a facial - to get your face cleaned of yuck and dirt that you normally can't clean with regular soap and cleansers.  I just wish it wasn't so painful!  After all that, I felt like my face was swollen and indeed there were marks on my skin when I left the salon.  Some people were looking at me funny while Dana and I got something to eat afterward.  I just didn't mind them hehehe

About 30 minutes after Let's Face It, the swellling on my face has subsided and we headed next to LayBare.  I've been to this branch three times.  The first time and 3rd time, I felt really pampered and I felt good.  I had both eyebrow threading and underarm waxing with MJ as my attendant.  Her hands were supple and light and the threading wasn't painful.  The underarm waxing was very relaxing, I loved it!  The 2nd time I went there, I wasn't so satisfied because I felt that the attendant was rather hurried.  The underarm waxing with her took about 5 minutes only.  I felt kinda cheated.  She must have been hurrying because she wanted to get on with her break because as soon as we left the salon, we saw her heading out.  I will avoid her the next time I go back :)


I will have to think twice about going back to Let's Face It though.  I don't think I can take that much pain the next time hehehe