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So another Birthday has come and gone...  This time around I did not get to go back to Manila and celebrate with my family like I have the last 2 or 3 years..  Just did not work out well, schedule wise...  Will be there in July to celebrate...

Instead, I stayed in rainy Taiwan and babysat Juju, whi did jot have school, as it is also the start of the Dragon Boat Festival Weekend..  We trekked on to 1914 Huashan Creative n Cultural Park to get into an exhibition...  Sadly, being the holiday that it was, the lines were too long and waiting out in the rain was not a good thing..,...  Still it was good enough as we got to walk around and checkout the boutiques...  Got entertained by local singer Jeff Huang, and even got to stop by Church for me to give thanks for another blessed year!!! 

Truly am Grateful for having been blessed with another year full of fun memories, travels, family and friends!!!  And with mo major disappointments or disastrrs fotbthat matter.  Here's hoping this new year will be even more special...  And of course, smooth!!!

Thank You all for being a part of my life..  Here's to many more years to come!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Oh such simple pleasures that packs loads of delights!

Yesterday, Oct 5th, our little girl turned 4....   it boggles the mind how this could have happened... seems like she is just a little baby and BOOM... she is 4!!!  

Time really flies when one is having fun - and since she arrived on the scene, we have had a lot more fun...  Her personality is just so that she has always kept us entertained.... and if you are following me on Facebook, am sure you know that the two of us has become quite a pair when it comes to goofiness and having fun....  We make the most of each day we are together... and we always seem to manage and find something to do, rain or shine, and create our own fun!!!!  We share the same love for colors, toys, and music....   and this makes taking care of her a lot easier.... Thank God!!!

Amazing how I have seen this girl grow....  from being born...  to her first step, first smile, first word, and a bunch of other firsts!!!   And each day, she does or say something that amazes me....  even her comprehension and command of English still surprises me....  so many words am pretty sure a lot of others I know cannot even say - much more know the meaning of - but this girl picks up fast....  unbeknown to us until she utters them....  and she now speaks complete sentences in ENGLISH!!!  I for one am HAPPY that am able to help on this part - ut if you ask her - she will say: "I taught myself English!" - LOL!!!

I had a few things planned for her SPECIAL DAY - since Mami N Papi are both working, and GioGio is working in Italy,  I made sure I get her on her BDay - so as it will not pass without marking the day with any kind of memorable event....  so I planned.... at first I thought it was not to be so as she had a little bit of accident at her home before coming to me....   but after an hour's rest... she woke up with a smile and asked: "When can I wear my Sofia dress?"  Her birthday present from me.... Put it on her, much to her delight and she said:  "let's go out!  I want to show everyone my Princess Gown!"   Not sure if she is really OK already, I decided to just walk over to Dajia Riverside Park... get some fresh air and take a few shots....  She was in Heaven... acting as if she is really Sofia....

This was not enough...  she remembered my promise...  Hello Kitty Cafe for her 4th BDay....   since this was already on my schedule, and she seems to be doing fine...  off we went....   take the bus and walked a couple of blocks over to the Hello Kitty Heaven....  the whole time she is in full Sofia costume, high heels even!!!  Such a delight to see her happily stroll the streets in her costume....   savoring every minute of it....  Made the whole trek worth it for me...  it mattered not that the food was not really that great....   and a bit overpriced....  every minute spent, as I can see in Juju's eyes, was like being in her idea of Heaven!!!

The night did not end there... she is still energetic, raring to go... and wanted to still be walking the streets in her Princess costume....  so we walked a bit more....  stopped by a Temple to give thanks....  and walked to Breeze Center to window shop and take a few more photos....  Juju was in heaven, remembering I have taken her here before....  loved the Castle looking buildings in the backdrop so she wanted to take loads of photos.... and she even chatted up with a few passers by - in Chinese and in English - proudly explaing why she is dressed as Sofia, The First! 

Oh such simple pleasures that packs loads of delights!

 

Mission Accomplished! The day turned out to be as memorable to me, as it is for Juju....

  and for her 5th BDay - I already promised The Barbie Cafe... LOL!!!

 

Manila for My Special Day!!!

Yep, decided to spend my Birthday in Manila for a few reasons: 

-mainly because the last time I hot to celebrate my BDay with my sis was almost 10 years ago..  Back in 2005.  Her BDay is June 8th, while mine is June 9th.  

-secondly,  i decided that as a gift to myself on my BDay, I will get a Full Physical Check Up - something I have not done longer than celebrating BDays with my sis...  LOL

So the day after my arrival, I spent pretty much the whole day at My Healthway Clinic - getting the works.,,  "Top to Bottom" as they call it!    Of course it was a bit scary...  But as always, once I have decided, I just go for it and go with the flow..  And Hope for the Best!  

I got the blood works done...  Urinalysis and fecalysis..  ECG...  UltraSound and a few others i really do nit know the names of..  All done in one day - just need to wait till Monday, my actual BDay, to get my results... 

with all that out of the day - it was on to Bataan to celebrate my sister's and my BDays quietly....

Suddenly, it's June!!!

My, My, My How Time Flies....    already my Birthday month....  already we are nearing the end of the first half of 2014!   Seems like am always on the go....  to this am not complaining... I welcome more travel this month and the next half of the year.....   As for the ups and downs of life....  heck, bring it on... will deal with it and go with the flow as I always have done so....  for I do agree and believe, that everything in life works out in the end and that "It Gets Better!"

Have A Great Month of June All!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

You are surely missed..  

Forever you will be   in my thoughts and my heart...  

Here's hoping you are looking down on us, and feeling happy..  I love you, Mom!

Thank You!!

A year older and a day.,.  So far so good..  

Still joyous for all the Wonderful Greetings and Wishes received...  And am still receiving...

Thank You All so very much!!!

My Day 2013

Well, not much can be said about this year's BDay - it was pretty uneventful with touches of frustrations here and there..  Still, it was a day full of reflecting and being Thankful for surviving another year... 

The day started on a sour note - waking up to a stressful note on FB...  Something that could have been resolved quite easily but ended up with an hour's worth of back and forth... Having to defend myself for things I should not have to..  In the end, i took the high ground to put it to rest..  Just cut my losses and went on..

By the time i finished with this, it was just enough   time to get ready and make my way   to church...  During this Sunday's service, i was a bit put off by something the  Priest said about Karma...  His stance on it totally put me off...  I mean, I have always felt that religions are to be taken for what is good in it and what applies to one, the rest can just be ignored...  But his views on Karma, i just could not shake off.. Almost to a point that I wanted to raise my hand for discussion..  And/or just walk away...  I come from a view of being respectful to all religions..  To embrace CO EXISTENCE amongst all nations and religions but it was obvious this Priest was not...  Anyway, o sat through the whole service with every intention of writing to the Parish later on...

Then, as with most birthdays, I wanted yo do something meaningful in a way of giving back...  And one of the easiest and best I could think of is donate blood...  Went to the local Red Cross, much to my sadness, Blood Donations are no longer accepted from foreign nationals...  I never knee that hiving could have so much red tape around it..  So I walked away, a bit sad...

All of that sadness and frustrations was alleviated by treating myself to a showing of, Now You See Me - a really slick movie that is both trippy, mind boggling and absolutely satisfying!!!

Wanted to top it off by "Having It My Way" at Burger King on Nanjing East Rd.. On the way back home.. Sadly, this particular BK had closed...  Instead I chose to eat at KFC..  Which was not a bad alternate as I git to try their Spicy Chicken Wrap and the oh so yummy, Mango Tart...

Now  capping off my nite, sitting by Dajia Riverside Park...  Admiring the night light.. Watching all the bikers and runners... enjoying the breeze..  And of course, writing this entry - best place to do so, if you ask me...  

So even with the frustrations and disappointments here and there..  Things not going as I would have wanted them to - am still Grateful..  Grateful for making it through another year.,.  Grateful for the highs and even the lows  as they thought me something about life and myself...  

The Day - INSTAGRAM STYLE!!!

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Most of all, Grateful for my family, friends and love ones...  The dearly departed and the ones who have come in and out of my life...  For I believe that each and everyone has come into my life,for one   reason or another, imparting wisdom, beautiful memories,  & love... and even Grateful  for those who have hurt me - as I know that from them I acquired more strength ...  Strength to face more trials, more high and lows, and more of whatever else life has in store for me... 

Here's to another year of living life as best I could and facing all with a SMILE on my Face - Smiles to Share with the World...  

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Thought that was the end of my day but I got one more surprise at the end of the night...  Juju with her Papi were waiting for me at home with a SPECIAL BDAY cake....  Juju, with the help of Papi sang me the "Happy you" song as she calls it... help me blow out the candles - am either 12 or 21...  either way it is fine by me...- and truly put a smile on my face... nice way to end my special day....  sadly, Mami was still at work - catching up from work demands especially after being in JAPAN for a week....  but am thankful as I know she was behind this lovely gesture....  :)

THANKFUL.6

Birthdays & Birthday Cakes!!!

"Happy Birthday, Xiaomei!!!"

Birthdays are always a very nice BREAK from the daily grinds....  

... especially when they are accompanied with Birthday Cakes to Gobble Up!!!  :)

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Happy 2nd Birthday, Juju!

Wow....  it is so hard to believe but here it is - Juju's 2nd Birthday!  My how time flies.....Just  matter of time and she will be off to school.... 

Happy Birthday, Lil' Miss!!!

 

JUJU ENJOYS her cake plus HUGS & KISSES from US!!!

More KITTY for her BDay!!!

and even a visit to OPEN!!!

Post Birthday!

Monday, the 11th:  Was FINALLY able to get together with Sue and Juliana - after a month of not seeing them..... Nowadays, it is a   TREAT for the 3 of us to be able to have lunch together - with the girls' work schedule really sooooo demanding....   it was even a Double TREAT  as we CELEBRATED my BDay....  

Lunch was at Lulu's....  this was our second time at the place.....  Nice Ambiance....  Good Food....  No One Rushing Us.....  and just the right amount of people - so as one can still people watch but not get annoyed by too much loud noises....

...and the SPECIAL TREAT was getting this Beautiful, COLORFUL, FUN

400% Be@rbrick!!!  Thank You Very Much, Juliana!!!

Happy Birthday, Jewel!

Yesterday, we celebrated Jewel's first birthday....  we were out for most of the day....  from 12Noon till 7PM really.....   went to SOGO for a BDAY Lunch... then walked around the mall and checked out the newest UNIQLO inside this SOGO.....

 

Right after we stopped by the Martyr's Shrine to watch the 5PM changing of the guards - a popular attraction for both locals and tourists alike....

Then we went on to the Temple so Jewel, as well as, all of us can pay respects and give Thanks to the Gods....

Ended the nite back at Juju's home - for dinner and top of the nite with a BDAY cake....  overall, I think Jewel had a Great Day - as she loves being out.... people watching....  and crawling in wide open spaces - which she sure did a lot of at SOGO....

Happy BDay, Jewel... here's to many more to come!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

“Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world.”
-Kate Douglas Wiggin

Happy Birthday Mom! I Love You!

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ADDENDUM: Spoke with my MOM a couple of times yesterday - truly feeling bad and Guilty that I could not be with her for her BDay.... anyway, I was so Happy to hear LAUGHTER in her voice...

She had visitors and my cousin even surprised her by bringing over my UNCLE (Mom's Older Brother) for a visit.... they had cake, food and family love.... so I felt less SAD knowing she had a WONDERFUL DAY...

AUGUST ALL STARS!!!

August is a BIIIIG MONTH for me with Birthdays.... starting today, with Sue's BDay.... just in case I do forget, I am sening BEST WISHES, GREETINGS, HUGS & KISSES to ALL now!!!3rd - Sue Huang
4th - Michael Teruel
5th - Rounette Palma
7th - Mommy Nelhia Palma
7th - Shaun Tsou
11th - Jhay Teruel
14th - David Wu
19th - Ruth Woo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY August Peeps!!!

and the beat goes on....

the beat of my life that is.... a couple of hours more and this BDay has come and gone once again..... Over all it was a nice, quiet, uneventful, smooth day... no major troubles with work... got all the shipping I needed to get out - out..... got to church.... and though it looked as if it was thunder and rain this afternoon, it still stopped after an hour or so, and the sun smiled again in the afternoon....I Guess the only thing I did not get to do, and would have loved to have been able to do, was go to the Gym.... I just ran out of time tonite.. boo hoo.... oh yeah, and that iPad 2 did not come after all.... Oh Well, there is always next Bday.... or tomorrow...
hahahahahahahaha....

Just noticed below.... i SHARE this BDAY with Natalie Portman, Johnny Depp, Michael J Fox, & Cole Porter - all FAVES of mine!!!! WOW!!!!

My Day: Just Another Day

yep... it is that time of the year once more.... another year older... another year wiser.... one can HOPE anyway....

I Thank the Lord for another year.... though it has been full of DOWNs this past year - I still am THANKFUL and would not TRADE it for the world... only one I would care to change - my Mom's condition.... everything else, I would and will take on... for better or for worse.... just like in the song, a FAVE of mine, "What About Love":

"I'll take the rivers rise.... I'll take the Happy Times.... I'll take the Moments of Disasters..." So for this Birthday of mine, I wish Blessings & Happiness for Us All!!!

Now Back to Work for me.....