hi everyone!
it was a wonderful wedding. i still cannot believe it that it all happened. pictures and wedding kwentos to come soon! :)
have a merry christmas!
The Epistolas
Saturday, December 24, 2005
i am sooo married!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
not another nightmare!
today i woke up from a dream that was so vivid that i thought it was real. i tell you, these wedding jitters are starting to get to me now. the dream was terrible, and like the previous nightmare i mentioned a few months ago in this blog, it was one of frustration and hopelessness. i'm glad i finally woke up to realize that it wasn't at all true.
unlike my last nightmare, this time, though, i was wearing a gown. it was not made of piña but rather, it was fully beaded with gold sequins. the gown was short and it came only up to my knees with no train. i was not wearing any veil. the worst part though was that i was just wearing my bedroom slippers and for some reason, could not find my shoes. i was in full panic, that i kept running around in my gown!
in my wandering, i also noticed that my OTD coordinators were not present. i was especially looking for Jody, but to no avail. and with that, the reception program couldn't start. furthermore, it somehow dawned uon me that i was not able to make my bridal march. that was the worst part for me! :(
when i woke up, i just ran down to the breakfast table to tell my family about it. my mom just reassured me that probably, all things will be positive on the big day and that usually, it's the opposite that happens. i hope there's some truth to it.
my maternal grandparents, Lolo Nene and Lola Meter, just flew in from Cebu yesterday. we were afraid that they wouldn't be able to make it because of my lola's condition. (TRIVIA: she suffered a hip fracture last year. since then, she has not been in the best of spirits to go back and socialize.) i'm just happy because our family's complete and my grandparents are here to witness my marriage to Joseph.
four more days to go. we've finally worked out our guest list and even come up with a really organized system to assign our guests to specific tables. thanks to hubby, Joseph, and his cool database program. this helped us generate reports and categorize guests. one last major thing we need to tackle today is our music CD for our reception. i never realized it'd be so hard picking out songs.
tomorrow, we are back to see Father Dennis, our officiating priest, for more counselling. we've already accomplished the required seminars at Saint James, but he insists that we do another two rounds with him. we had our first session last Friday and it was very enlightening. he was very effective in explaining all these symbolism in the Gospel readings. we found it to be quite interesting. tomorrow's session will tackle on human sexuality. uy, more interesting, methinks! LOL! ;)
hopefully, by tuesday, we can finally relax. by this, i mean, no more running errands. all remains to be seen though. :P
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
i'm still alive!
it has been a pretty hectic week for Joseph and I as we had to attend to last-minute meetings with major suppliers. right now, we are in the process of zoning and grouping guests to organize our seating arrangements. i knew from the start that this was going to be a major headache, but there seems to be no other easy way around it.
we attended my cousin Kate's wedding last Saturday. for us, it was a little preview na rin as to what might happen on our big day. it was a good way for us to note what parts of the program might or might not work for us. needless to say, we learned a lot. :)
i got my wedding gown already from Veluz yesterday. everything was placed in one enormous box as i also got the other accessories na rin that came with Veluz' bridal package.
my gown is just lovely. sometimes, i still cannot believe that it's done already and i'd find myself taking a peek into the box once in a while. oh and i couldn't help also but take a photo of the hemline (with beads now) and the two pillows for the bearers.
as usual, sneak preview lang. you can view the rest of the photos here.
after our meeting with Anne Zablan of the Palms, we were able to get all the food items that we requested for the same price. here's our final menu. prepare to drool! :)
COLD ITEMS
Thai style siomai
Marinated and grilled vegetable medley
Tomato caprese
Angel hair pasta with smoked salmon
Pinzimonio with extra virgin olive oil dip
SALADS
Penne pasta tossed in macadamia nuts and baby shrimps
Assorted garden greens
SHOW COOKING
Caesar salad with smoked chicken breast
CONDIMENTS
Thousand island, French, Caesar, Balsalmic, Vinaigrette
Garlic croutons, chopped egg, bacon bits, roasted nuts and grated parmesan cheese
BREAD & ROLLS
Freshly baked selection served with butter
SOUP
Clam Chowder
CARVING
Herb crusted slow roasted beef strip loin with red wine shallot reduction
HOT DISHES
Chicken cordon bleu with mushroom gravy
Braised pork neck with tomato and garlic sauce
Snapper fillet "alla fiorentina"
Potato and mushroom gratin
Sauteed prawns with garlic and pepper
Olive oil sauteed spring vegetables with a sprinkle of parmesan
Emilia-Romagna style meat lasagna
Steamed rice
DESSERTS
Assorted fresh fruit platter
Panna cotta with cappucino sauce
Marble cheese cake
Tiramisu
Crepe Samurai
Ice cream station with toppings
yum! nagutom tuloy ako! :)
after sleepless nights of surfing on the net, we now have a place to stay after the wedding. it's a little apartelle and it's near our parents' house so it's very convenient for both of us. we will only be staying there for two weeks, until Joseph leaves for Oz in January.
I have yet to receive my spouse visa from the Australian Embassy. hopefully, by next week, we'll hear from them na. i need the papers so i can avail of the first-time immigrant free additional baggage allowance of 20 kilos.
only 8 days left til the wedding. we are keen on finishing all the details this week so that next week medyo relaxed na. i wish! :P
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Lucky Number Nine
prenup picture by Fotogra.ph
yes, we are in the papers! :)
as part of the w@w community, we get the chance to announce our wedding in the Manila Bulletin free of charge. we were lucky to get picked and be included in their About Weddings issue for the month of December.
i was hesitant at first to submit our picture. but what the heck! you only get married once in your life to the person who matters most to you and it's a rarity that you'll see your face in the papers (unless you're the president or a fugitive). it was a chance i just couldn't miss.
i was watching The Oprah Show the other night and saw Josh Groban singing to Oprah's bestfriend Gail. i am not really a Josh Groban fan at heart, but when i listened closely to the lyrics, the song just captured my heart. it was so beautiful. thanks to Ann who sent me the mp3 version. :)
by Josh Groban
Like the sound of silence calling,
I hear your voice and suddenly
I'm falling, lost in a dream.
Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,
You say those words and my heart stops beating.
I wonder what it means.
What could it be that comes over me?
At times I can't move.
At times I can hardly breath.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
You're the one I've always thought of.
I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.
You're where I belong.
And when you're with me if I close my eyes,
There are times I swear I feel like I can fly
For a moment in time.
Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth ,
And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive
[bridge:]
And this journey that we're on.
How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.
And when you say you love me,
That's all you have to say.
I'll always feel this way.
When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside and
When you say you love me
In that moment,I know why I'm alive
When you say you love me.
When you say you love me.
Do you know how I love you?
Thursday, December 1, 2005
This is where I was...
Ten years ago, i was in my third year in college, trying to survive all those major subjects in Gross Anatomy, Physiology, Histology and Neuroanatomy. It was also my first time to go on a blind date that my friends had set me up. :)
Five years ago, i was just new at my first job as an Occupational Therapist. What you do in the clinic is not exactly what they taught us in college and i was still trying to feel my way. i think, groping is a more appropriate word. It was also at this time that I met my first OT volunteer, Vanessa, who has been a good friend since then.
Today is my first day of no work. I resigned effective yesterday. after waking up this morning, i signed some papers for my insurance policy. Later, i'm going to the bank to do some transactions, pay some bills, and then visit my in-laws to deliver their barongs. maybe i'll check out some scents that a few w@wies have suggested that i wear on our wedding day. i'll probably drop by the salon too if i can manage it.
Tomorrow, i'll be meeting with Joseph's good friend, Ruel, to hand him their barongs. The rest of my day is practically free so i'd just probably be online then. :)
simple living for me! :)
*I read this in Theresa's blog. If you're reading this, i tag YOU! :)
wedding updates
December na pala and the BIG day is drawing near! as part of tradition, here is our final leg of wedding updates.
Church: Parish of Saint James the Great
Fully paid.
Will be upgrading to avail airconditioning.*
Officiating Priest - we're having a kababata of my brother-in-law celebrate the mass for us. fortunately, he came home last September from Sydney and will be here 'til after the New Year. He will be calling the parish priest of St. James to determine the requirements that is asked of him.
Clearance from Chancery - done
Canonical Interview - done
Marriage Banns - will be picking up my banns from our parish on the 7th.
Pre-Cana - done
Document Requirements - submitted all except my marriage bann
Reception: The Palms Country Club
Confirmed reservations.
Paid 50% downpayment last September.
Food tasting - done.
Menu has been approved at the same price that we wanted.
To review booking confirmation with Jody of Events Experts and Anne of The Palms next week.
Balance of total bill to be paid 10 days before the event.
Other Documents
Marriage License: done
Family Planning seminar: done
Birth certificate for marriage purposes: done
Confirmation certificate for marriage purposes: done
Cenomar: done
CNI: done
Marriage Certificate: have already copies of our marriage certificate from NSO.
Photo: Karmina Abesamis Photography
Paid booking fee (25%).
Prenup pictorials - done
Paid second installment of 50% of total package last week. Have scheduled preproduction meeting scheduled on the 8th of December.
Videographer: Imagineer Digital
paid Frank booking fee of 20%.
Pre-production meeting on the 9th of December.
Bridal Gown and Barong and Pants for the Groom: Veluz Reyes
gown embroidery c/o Ate Beth de Leon - done.
had my final fitting last October 30 and paid third installment (25%). was able to fit my shoes too. perfect!
for pick-up on the 4th, but still need to confirm with Niko. Pay balance on the day of pick up.
Pants and Barong for the groom - done
Veil: Veluz Reyes
part of the bridal package
Shoes: Seeds
Shoe design agreed on
tried them on already and found them to be really comfy!
Hair accessories: bought some U-pins from divisoria.
Veluz will also give me a hairpiece, as their gift to all their w@wie clients. hairpiece is by Niko.
Cord and Pillows: part of bridal package
Secondary Veil and Garter: part of bridal package
Wedding arrhae: c/o Joseph
we will be using Australian coins for this. Joseph will be bringing them in when he comes back in December.
Female Entourage Gowns: Ate Emma
Gown fittings done, except for 3 bridesmaids. will be back on the 7th to pick up the gowns and pay balance.
Male Entourage Barongs: c/o male entourage members :)
They will all be wearing Piña Barong. We bought cloth though for the 2 little boys' Barong from LCM in Divisoria. their barongs were delivered to me yesterday. Beautiful!
Ento flowers: Flora@eleven_01
Reservation paid (20%)
pre-wedding meeting set next week to finalize the flowers.
Pay in full 2 weeks before the wedding date
Church Decor: Mother Butler Guild
fully paid.
have confirmed time and date of ceremony.
Cake: selected design already
part of wedding package of the PCC
Flutes for wine toasting and Cake Server Set
The PCC will probably provide, need to speak with them. If not, will bring our own.
Ceremony Music: String Minstrels
50% paid, balance remaining to be paid a week before.
Submitted song list last month.
Wedding Rings
Bought rings from Karat World.
Had rings engraved at Rustan's Makati last month.
Invitations: QP Designs
Done printing, have addressed 80%.
All invitations have been distributed.
Missalette: DIY
Done, approved already by the church.
Already photocopied and binded last week. To submit 6 copies to St James next week.
Guestbook: included in the wedding package by the PCC
Guestbook pens: included in PCC package
HMU: Anne Castaño/Tess of Tropicana
Paid Anne in full. Anne will be doing my make up.
Miss Tess will be doing our moms', my MOH and our BMs HMU. Paid her already the booking fee.
OTD Coordinator: Events Experts
Paid 50% booking fee last January.
met with Jody Liwanag last September for turn-over of contracts and discussion of program and other details.
still need to finalize on the program and other details of the event. will meet with Jody on the 8th of December.
Accomodations: Bellevue Hotel
I am glad this is okay na as we originally had a dilemma with their check-in time. all it took was Joseph emailing them about an early check-in and the reservations supervisor personally guaranteed us that we can check in at 10 am. :)
Gifts for the principal sponsors: Paintings c/o Joseph's brother
We have already chosen the theme, colors and strokes that we want.
Souvenirs/Give-aways for the guests: bought souvenirs in Divisoria already. will be wrapping them soon. (c/o my twin sisters)
Honeymoon: Australia
Have already booked our tickets. we couldn't get tickets so that we can go back together. Joseph will be leaving on the 7th of January. i follow suit on the 28th. gives me time to pack my stuff. good thing my travel agent was able to book me on a flight which allowed me to have an additional 20-kilo baggage allowance since i'm a first time immigrant. yipee! :)
ano pa ba?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
coming soon!
i've read the book and i have nothing but raves. it'll be interesting how they will be able to put life into this long-time Arthur Golden bestseller. (More info about the movie here.)
what got me more excited about the film is that it will be shown during the holidays. will definitely watch this with hubby. :)
Monday, November 28, 2005
tagged again!
i can't sleep. buti na lang holiday bukas. i overslept during one of my rarest afternoon naps and now i am so wide awake.
and so i decided to blog-hop. stumbled into Jacq's and found out i was tagged. here goes.
2 names you go by
Leah
Lami
2 parts of your heritage
Filipina
a little bit Spanish, a little bit Chinese
2 things that scare you
not having my own kids
death
2 of your everyday essentials
internet access
reading a novel
2 things you are wearing right now
boxers
striped tank top
2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
Alicia Keys
D'Sound
2 favorite songs (at the moment)
Unbreakable by Alicia Keys
That's All by Michael Buble
2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
sense of humor
open communication (you can talk about anything)
2 truths
I am in love!
I can be really OC.
2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
wonderful smile
eyes that draw you in
2 of your favorite hobbies
designing blog templates
reading, collecting books
2 things you want really badly
get pregnant
be with my husband
2 places you want to go on vacation
Europe
U.S.
2 things you want to do before you die
raise a good family
see my grandkids!
2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick
PMS
I'm a sucker for flowers.
2 things you are thinking about
wedding details
Joseph coming home next week
2 stores you shop at
Book Sale
Powerbooks
2 people i would like to see take this quiz
Sheryl
Via
i went out with friends from work for a little dinner and coffee at Greenbelt 3. they tried to mislead me that it was our friend Johann's birthday celebration. but me, being suspicious and all, couldn't quite fall into their teensy trap.
for one, i knew for a fact that Johann already treated them to lunch last week. so why would she do it all over again for the same group of people? something was just too fishy but i just played along. :)
L-R: Kathy, Johann, Janet, Vanessa & Me
soon enough, my friend Vanessa, revealed that it was actually their send off dinner for me. i was right. it wasn't actually a regular shower thing that you'd expect, but it turned out great nonetheless. besides, it's been a long time since we last went out for dinner. it was fun. thanks guys! :)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
3 months na kami
amidst all the rush and excitement, it just dawned on me that today is our third monthsary as husband and wife. :)
having two wedding dates leaves us quite confused sometimes. we even greet each other every sixth of the month since that is our monthsary when we were still dating. i suppose it really isn't a dilemma. this actually just gives us more reasons to celebrate! ;)
Happy happy, Beh. :)
speaking of celebrations, i just want to congratulate two of our suppliers for making it to the Top 5 W@W Suppliers of the Year. Congrats to Mimi Abesamis (our photographer) and Veluz Reyes (my bridal gown designer)! Another round of applause please for Veluz for being the W@W Supplier of the Year! they so truly deserve it. :)
the letter in the mail
after a tiring day at the clinic and at the photocopy shop, i was informed by our helper that the Australian Embassy sent me a letter. for a minute or so, i panicked because i was thinking that maybe our application lacked some important documents or i failed in the medical exam. i had to tear apart the pouch to reveal what the message was all about. wanna make a wild guess?
Date: 24 November 2005
By Courier
Interview Reference
Dear Ms E:
Thank you for forwarding your Partner/Fiance visa application to the Australian Embassy by courier. Your application has been checked against the Partner Migration Checklist and is now ready to proceed.
Please contact the Call Centre to make an appointment to lodge your application and attend a partner migration interview.
You must:
> bring your valid passport
> pay the visa fee when you come for your interview.
Yours sincerely,
Australian Embassy Manila
waaaaaaaaa!!!! i was screaming and jumping around. LOL! in other words, i was hysterical! well, who wouldn't be? i just asked the courier to pick up our application last Tuesday, November 22 and had my medical exam last Saturday. and now, i'm up for interview?!?! pretty fast noh?
and yes, they do issue visas on the spot, upon interview. so it's good as saying that my visa's been approved already. it's just a matter of them attaching it to my passport.
is this for real? i am really hoping so. right now, i can't wipe away the grin on my face. makes me look stupid tuloy. LOL! i don't think i can sleep tonight with all the adrenaline. :D
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
30 days to go!
is that really correct? 30 days? time flies! and am in panic mode na rin.
i say panic mode kasi i haven't had enough rest for the past few days and my poor body is starting to suffer. yesterday, after a tough day at work last Monday, i couldn't even get the strength to sit down in front of my PC to chat with my hubby. that was how tired i was. i was all aches and pains and i couldn't deny it anymore that my body was in desperate need of a respite.
nevertheless, here are still some updates. hehe.
Entourage Gown Fitting
We went to Emma Panaligan's house last Sunday to have their fitting. the gowns looked great! Yun nga lang, everybody seemed to be on a diet kasi all their gowns were loose and will definitely require some alterations. View pictures here.
Hotel Accomodations
I called up The Bellevue Manila yesterday to reconfirm our reservations. it was still okay but i learned that check-in time was at 3PM and check-out time was at 12nn. that's less than 24 hours and it doesn't give us much time to prepare. we are eyeing now Vivere Suites for our accomodations. They have a promo for local residents and i'm hoping we could avail of it next month.
Engraved Wedding Bands
I went to Rustan's Makati last Saturday to have our rings engraved. for the two rings, it amounted to only P150. the only available style was a calligraphed font, which was quite okay with us. we got the rings after thirty minutes.
Missalette
I'm practically done with the covers for our missalette. all's left now is for me to photocopy it and have it binded at a shop near the hospital where i work. i'm doing this on Friday. :)
Joseph is coming home in less than two weeks. i can hardly contain my excitement. finally, the long wait will soon be over. :D
Saturday, November 19, 2005
I am left brain dominant!
Brain Lateralization Test Results |
| Right Brain (34%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (64%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain |
personality tests by similarminds.com
Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.
Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.
Overall you appear to be Left Brain Dominant.
According to Darwinian theory, optimal evolution takes place with random variation and selective retention. The evolution savvy individual will try many different approaches when faced with a problem and select the best of those approaches. Many historical intellectuals have confessed their advantage was simply considering/exploring/trying more approaches than others. The left brain dominant type suffers from limited approaches, narrow-mindedness. The right brain dominant type suffers from too many approaches, scatterbrained. To maintain balanced hemispheres, you need to exercise both variability and selection. Just as a company will have more chance of finding a great candidate by increasing their applicant pool, an individual who considers a wider set of options is more likely to make quality decisions.
So, what are you? A righty or a lefty? :)
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
all a-glitter!
my mom came home today and told me that she had a litte surprise for me. take a look!
necklace and earrings set
aren't they gorgeous? :)
can't wait to wear them on our wedding day. :D
good news!
today was spent mostly in the x-ray department of the Medical Center Manila. we had to wait for 2 hours because my OB had to attend first to her patients at her clinic. this made me more tense as the hours ticked by.
finally i was asked by the technician to enter a room where the procedure will take place and to don the hospital gown. a few minutes after, my doctor arrived and immediately started the procedure. gosh, i was so tense! she kept on telling me to relax and just lie flat on my back. you see, i kept on arching my lower back, which didn't help make the insertion any easier.
at first, i felt no pain. it was just like any examination i had before. then my OB warned me that there'd be "konting hilab." konte my a**! i was in so much pain that i was out of breath! i thought it would never end but after around 2 minutes, the pain eventually subsided. but i still felt weak inspite of the 2 mefanamic acid tablets i took earlier. the nurse had to help me get up from the bed.
then my OB gave me the results of my test. both of my tubes are patent! the right tube is a bit narrow (but still open), but the left one is definitely clear! all the pain just simply left my body and i did not have cramps (as what the literature forewarned me) even as i left the hospital.
i guess what hastened my recovery was the fact that there's still a great chance for us to have kids. i told Joseph the great news and he breathed a sigh of relief as well. i will be back to see my OB on Thursday so she can explain to me more the results of my tests and probably options that Joseph and I could take in the future.
i am so happy. God is good. thanks to everyone who prayed for us. you know who you are. :)
Sunday, November 13, 2005
tired and scared
having gone through so much in the treatment of my endometriosis, i think i cannot ever get used to the pain associated with the condition. all sorts of pain. and i am plainly tired of feeling it.
and yet, tomorrow, i will be seeing my OB again. she will be performing a diagnostic test on me. it's called a hysterogram. after scouring the web for more information on the procedure, i am made to think that i have nothing to worry about because i will only feel a mild discomfort, much like that of menstrual cramps. i had just gone through a week of cramps last week because of my period and tomorrow, i'll be going through another one.
when does it ever end? this i question myself endlessly. i know, i know. you'd probably say that things will be fine and i'll be okay. well, i'd very much like to think that but sometimes, i just can't. i guess sometimes i get tired too of convincing myself to be a positive thinker.
tomorrow will definitely define our fate as a couple, if we can be parents or not. not only am i tired, i'm also scared out of my wits.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
what dreams may come
the human mind is a powerful thing, no doubt. even if we are asleep, it continues to function. i've always believed that our dreams allow us to take a peek into our subconscious. it may be about our fears and apprehensions. it may also be about the future.
in my experience, my dreams have always been extraordinary. there have been bad dreams where i wake up and realize that i was crying in my sleep. other times, i get to continue my dreams after waking up in the middle of the night because of my rhinitis. i'd also get episodes of deja vu. then there's the usual monster-chasing-me-but-i-can't-run-any-faster bit when i was i child.
here's one naman that's wedding-related. obviously, it was all about my fears. it was a terrible nightmare alright. mostly it was about all the things needed for a wedding -- a ceremony venue, my gown, and our cake.
to start off, the ceremony was to take place on a sidewalk! i saw the pews but they were all lined up along the sidewalk! there was even no carpet for me to walk on.
our cake? well, it wasn't so bad. it was from Goldilocks daw. think choco and mocha rolls! i have nothing against Goldilocks. it's just that i have a different kind of cake in mind.
and the finale was my gown. i was wearing something that was nowhere close to my real gown. i was just wearing a camisole!
in my dream, i felt so helpless and i just cried and cried. it happened a year ago but i've never had any recurring dreams since then. what a relief! but i'm keeping my fingers crossed that this won't be another deja vu episode.
that's all
joseph and i were finalizing our song list for our ceremony and checked out the String Minstrels' site for their audio clips to listen to some samples of their music. i stumbled into "That's All." it gave me the shivers! although we couldn't squeeze it anymore into the church repertoire, we are sure to include this into our reception song list -- as our song for our First Dance. check out the lyrics:
I can only give you love that lasts forever,
And a promise to be near each time you call.
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone
That's all,
That's all
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall;
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter night
That's all,
That's all.
There are those I am sure who have told you,
They would give you the world for a toy.
All I have are these arms to enfold you,
And a love time can never destroy.
If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore,
For now and evermore
That's all,
That's all.
If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore,
For now and evermore
That's all,
That's all.
ain't it terribly romantic? *sigh*
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
in tearful anticipation
an audio CD arrived in the mail today for me. it was from my hubby, Joseph. it was a compilation of all the songs that we chose for the String Minstrels' repertoire, to be performed during our nuptial mass.
the songs were just audio clips that he downloaded from their website and i had been expecting it for weeks. what i didn't expect though was the fact that i was moved to tears while i was listening to the songs. sheesh! talk about emotional! :P
i honestly couldn't help myself. if you really think about it, it was actually a preview to the big day in December. being all alone in the house this morning gave it an even more solemn tone to the whole listening experience.
i can already imagine myself as i walk down the aisle to meet with my husband at the altar. i just hope i don't make a fool out of myself and ruin my make-up in the process.
yup, guys, Christmas is just around the corner... and so is our wedding! :) and to add a little Christmas-y spirit to our humble abode in Blogosphere, i've put up a few decors.
speaking of decors, we've also put up ours at home. everything looks wonderful, save for the fact that our pet kitten Betty has been playing with everything that is hanging on our tree! it's kind of cute at first. but after seeing a Christmas ball being seized, one after another, you just want to hang her as well. this spells a lot of potential disaster in the future so i told the maids to not put any decor on the most bottom branches. and you think that was successful? think again. this little kitty is smarter and more determined than i thought. when there's a will, there's a way. cliche, i know, but it works! what was i thinking?
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
our blog's worth
it's been months since i bloghopped. along my journey last night, i stumbled into this:
My blog is worth $22,581.60.
How much is your blog worth?
wow, i didn't realize that our blog could be worth as much. that's around 1.2 million pesos. hehe! oh well, just for fun... what's your blog's worth?
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
wedding update
i can't believe it's November already! next month, and another 22 days, i'll be walking down that aisle with my beautiful gown and shoes to be with my husband for eternity! still surreal, i tell you!
anyway, here's a rundown of the things that we have accomplished so far:
Church: Parish of Saint James the Great
Fully paid.
Officiating Priest - we're having a kababata of my brother-in-law celebrate the mass for us. fortunately, he came home last September from Sydney and will be here 'til after the New Year. He will be calling the parish priest of St. James to determine the requirements that is asked of him.
Clearance from Chancery - done
Canonical Interview - done
Marriage Banns - submitting the letter from St James to our parish this weekend.
Pre-Cana - done
Document Requirements - submitted all except my marriage bann
Reception: The Palms Country Club
Confirmed reservations.
Paid 50% downpayment last September.
Food tasting - done.
Details of the reception still being finalized. preferred food items still up for approval by their chef.
Other Documents
Marriage License: done
Family Planning seminar: done
Birth certificate for marriage purposes: done
Confirmation certificate for marriage purposes: done
Cenomar: done
CNI: done
Marriage Certificate: have already copies of our marriage certificate from NSO.
Photo: Karmina Abesamis Photography
Paid booking fee (25%).
Prenup pictorials - done
Paid second installment of 50% of total package last week. Have scheduled preproduction meeting the 2nd week of December when Joseph is here na.
Videographer: Imagineer Digital
paid Frank booking fee of 20%.
need to schedule a pre-production meeting as soon as Joseph's home in December.
Bridal Gown and Barong and Pants for the Groom: Veluz Reyes
gown embroidery c/o Ate Beth de Leon - done.
had my final fitting last October 30 and paid third installment (25%). was able to fit my shoes too. perfect!
gown for beading and another fitting is to be scheduled before the month ends.
Pants and Barong for the groom - done
Veil: Veluz Reyes
part of the bridal package
Shoes: Seeds
Shoe design agreed on
tried them on already and found them to be really comfy!
Hair accessories: bought some U-pins from divisoria.
Veluz will also give me a hairpiece, as their gift to all their w@wie clients. hairpiece is by Niko.
Cord and Pillow: part of bridal package
Secondary Veil and Garter: part of bridal package
Wedding arrhae: c/o Joseph
we will be using Australian coins for this. Joseph will be bringing them in when he comes back in December.
Female Entourage Gowns: Ate Emma
gowns still being sewn. fitting is tentatively scheduled on the second week of November.
Male Entourage Barongs: c/o male entourage members :)
They will all be wearing Piña Barong. We bought cloth though for the 2 little boys' Barong from LCM in Divisoria. they had their fitting last October and will be expected to get their barongs by end of November.
Ento flowers: Flora@eleven_01
Reservation paid (20%)
pre-wedding meeting to be set 2 weeks before the wedding date to finalize the flowers
Pay in full 2 weeks before the wedding date
Church Decor: Mother Butler Guild
fully paid.
have confirmed time and date of ceremony.
Cake: selected design already
part of wedding package of the PCC
Flutes for wine toasting and Cake Server Set
The PCC will probably provide, need to speak with them. If not, will bring our own.
Ceremony Music: String Minstrels
50% paid, balance remaining to be paid a week before. will submit song list within the week.
Wedding Rings
Bought rings from Karat World.
Have rings engraved. Decide on what information to engrave on rings.
Invitations: QP Designs
Done printing, have addressed 80%.
full distribution to be completed a month before the wedding.
Missalette: DIY
Done, approved already by the church.
Design cover lay-out (c/o brother David).
to be photocopied, submit 6 copies to St James a month before the wedding.
Guestbook: included in the wedding package by the PCC
we're also considering to get Mimi's guestbook using our prenup pictures.
Guestbook pens: None yet
HMU: Anne Castaño/Tess of Tropicana
Paid Anne in full. Anne will be doing my make up.
Miss Tess will be doing our moms', my MOH and our BMs HMU. Paid her already the booking fee.
OTD Coordinator: Events Experts
Paid 50% booking fee last January.
met with Jody Liwanag last September for turn-over of contracts and discussion of program and other details.
still need to finalize on the program and other details of the event. to be discussed with Jody.
Accomodations: Bellevue Hotel
will be reconfirming our reservations.
Gifts for the principal sponsors: Paintings c/o Joseph's brother
We have already chosen the theme, colors and strokes that we want.
Souvenirs/Give-aways for the guests: nothing definite yet.
will decide by the end of the week.
Honeymoon: Australia
Have already booked our tickets. we couldn't get tickets so that we can go back together. :( i'd have to leave at a later date.
Anything else?
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Final Fitting with Veluz Reyes
it was a very exciting afternoon for us. i was scheduled to fit my already assembled piña gown with all the embroidery. the suspense was actually killing us because when we got to Veluz' house in Las Piñas, she informed me that she picked out and brought someone else's gown with her home. and so, we had to wait for Niko, her assistant, to bring it to us, along with my shoes.
while waiting, i met Malou, a fellow w@wie who was also scheduled for her first fitting. she was with her mom. sayang, we didn't get to talk much kasi we were all so busy with the fittings.
Niko finally came 30 minutes later, but since Veluz had to finish up with Malou, it took us another 30 minutes before i could finally fit the gown and shoes. but it was all so worth the wait! take a look! (just a sneak peek ha. i don't want to spoil the surprise!)
embroidery along the hemline
it was as Veluz described it. it was densely embroidered but, oh so exquisite! no wonder, Veluz told me that she was going to "kill me." the beadwork would definitely also be as extensive. she told me that she will recompute the fee for beading because this was more than the agreed upon amount. i hope she won't be asking too much.
apparently, i had grown thinner since the last time i visited Veluz. the bodice was a little bit loose probably also because i had already worn the corset that i was going to wear on our wedding day. she just told me to maintain my present size. otherwise, she jokingly told me she was going to "kill me" once again. sigh! all these preparations does get to me pala. stress is such an effective means of losing weight!
now the shoes. they were a perfect fit and i found them to be very comfortable! the same pattern from my gown was sewn on the edges. aren't they sexy? ;)
my shoes!
and to top it all off, Veluz told me that they have a hairpiece for me. it was made by Niko. this daw was their gift to all the w@wies who got her as their designer. she showed me a sample and even tried to put it on my hair to demonstrate how lovely it looked. this will come with pearls as well since my gown will be beaded also with pearls.
hairpiece by Niko
i will be back to see Veluz some time next month for my second final fitting. i hope i don't lose or gain too much weight by then. i'm keeping my fingers crossed!
random facts
i needed this! i have been in blog hiatus again and this sort of refreshes our little niche in the enormous wide web. thanks mik! :)
here are twenty random facts about ME:
1. i'm terribly afraid of heights.
2. i tend to be obsessive-compulsive when i do things.
3. i'm currently into blog template designing. ;)
4. i love eating grower's garlic peanuts.
5. i'm a book-aholic. i've amassed a great pile of to-read books.
6. i can stay on the computer for hours, whether it's internet surfing, email, blogging, or just playing The Sims 2 (my character has great-grandkids already!).
7. i chat with my husband on YM every night for a minimum of 2 hours.
8. i'm a neat freak. :P
9. i love staying in bed especially on cold, rainy mornings.
10. i love travelling.
11. i can't sleep with the lights on.
12. i watch Oprah! :)
13. i can sleep real late at night but i can make up for it by waking up late as well. i guess i'm no insomniac. hehe..
14. i'm an occupational therapist and i help people cope with their physical and psychosocial dysfunctions.
15. i used to collect stamps and stickers in grade school.
16. i don't dress up that much. i can be real conservative when it comes to clothes.
17. i learned to read at age 4.
18. i can be very clumsy at times.
19. i can't really sing but i can dance.
20. i detest creepy crawlies, especially cockroaches.
Who's next? Lalam, Jacq, Sheryl, Via, and Jody. :)
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Saint Expeditus
as part of our preparations, we are also in the process of securing plane tickets for my imminent migration to Australia with my hubby, Joseph. so far, i am still waitlisted, to think that we have made reservations in August pa. our travel agent, Linda, asked if i believed in novenas. i said, yes, i have been ever since i could remember. and so she suggested that i pray to Saint Expeditus.
yup, the name says it all. :) i google-d him up and to my surprise, he was just more than a patron for expeditious solutions. he is also being invoked in emergencies, for financial success, for prompt solutions, by computer programmers, merchants, E-Commerce merchants, and navigators. would you believe he is also the patron against procrastination? :P
oh well, it never hurts to try so i'm posting the link to his novena here for all who might find it useful. i'm sure i will.
Novena to St. Expeditus: Advocate in Urgent Cases
More About Saint Expeditus
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
it's official!
yup, i have finally tendered my resignation today from our department. after serving as one of their staff therapists for six years, i informed our department head of my intentions and she wished me good luck in all my future endeavors.
in a way, it's a relief to finally get some rest. all this stress from work, wedding preps and visa application has taken a toll on me. i haven't been feeling "healthy" these days. :(
but it is with no doubt that i will surely miss the clinic and my work. for one thing, it has been a pleasure to have worked for our department head who is a noted author of local reviewers for us therapists. she is an amazing woman really and you can't help but just admire her.
then of course, there are my colleagues. the long-time chief PT of our clinic has become a real good friend over the years. she's even my kumare as she asked me to be one of her daughter's godmother.
and yes, the patients! as therapists, we get to meet lots of people. as in, a whole lot! and with that, we have to learn how to work with them. some can be quite difficult to manage, while some are so easy to work with. it can be like a roller coaster ride, believe me.
what's good about treating adults with just physical dysfunctions is that you still can relate to them on everyday stuff. you get to talk about life and they even advise me on certain things. so it doesn't feel like work at all! :)
i love it that i can help these people. even more, when i see improvements in their condition. it feels great knowing that you've educated them on how to properly handle themselves and cope with their present status. all that is enough to warm my heart and no monetary value can ever compensate for that.
i leave the department next month on a sad note and with a heavy heart. but life goes on and i must go where my destiny leads me -- to be with my husband. it's time to move on to a new chapter in my life -- to be a wife and a mother to our future children. to quote my boss, "it's long overdue!" i totally agree! :)
Monday, October 17, 2005
bits and pieces
a few more wedding prep updates...
Trial Hair and Make-up with Tessie Bautista of Tropicana
due to budget constraints, we had to avail of a make-up artist who was more affordable. we had to ultimately decline from Anne Castaño's package of three and just get her services for my hair make-up na lang. my mother, mother-in-law and bridesmaids will now be made up by Ms. Tess Bautista of Tropicana.
Miss Tess worked real fast during our trial session. she did my sister's face and showed us three hair-dos that my sister could choose from. Miss Tess also made up my mother's face and my eyes. that was a lot for just a mere P1k and to think that she came all the way from Malabon to our house in Parañaque. i booked her immediately and paid our downpayment of P1500. Total package for 8 persons is worth P5k. now, that's super affordable! :) more pictures found here.
my sister Becky, makeup and hair by Miss Tess
because of this major change in plans, i informed Anne this morning of the situation. she was okay with it, though it seemed that she didn't remember me anymore from my trial makeup with her last August. she had daw kasi 3 brides named Leah. fine. :P
the guys had their mesaurement taking for their barongs last Saturday at my in-laws' house. Ate Mercy Dignos and her hubby Rod of LCM House of Barongs came all the way from Divisoria, armed with loads of sample barong designs.
it was good seeing my in-laws again, even though i was in a frenzy arranging with the supplier. because i have been very busy after Joseph left, i haven't had the time to go visit them or talk to them regularly. the reunion reminded me of my dear hubby and how it had always made him happy to be in the midst of family. it just made me miss him more.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
A-Z guide to keeping your love alive
Agreeing to Try Everything. It's hard to make time for each other within daily routines and schedules, but take a stab at new activities and adventures. Nothing's worse (or easier) than getting stuck in a dull routine.
Breakfast Break. Once a week, visit a neighborhood restaurant for breakfast. It's a perfect time to relax together -- and 20 minutes of coffee and bagels do count as breakfast!
Camping Out. Don't have time to go camping? Pitch a tent in the backyard! You'll have an excellent adventure. Although, the giggling coming from your tent may wake your neighbors.
Dishes a Deux. Just imagine how much fun you two can have with suds -- and then you can move on to man-handling more important things.
Exercising Together. You'll not only get in shape, you'll encourage each other to stick with it! Once home, make each other clean in the shower.
Flower Bed. Take some time together to plant flowers in your yard or in a window box. Your new seedlings will be like little kiddies, and you'll both love watching them "grow up."
Grocery Shopping. Make it fun! Shop for each other's favorite foods, race through the aisles with carts, and gross out little old ladies by kissing in the produce section. Once at the checkout, try to guess the total bill. Whoever loses has to make dinner.
Playing Hooky. Call your boss and take a sick day. (Just don't say it was our idea.) Go to the zoo or a ballgame, or rent some sexy videos and watch them in bed. Whatever you do, make sure it's far, far away (mentally and physically) from the office.
Ice Cream. Go to an unfamiliar part of town for a cone, and spend some quality time walking around, people watching, and nibbling your treats.
Jigsaw Puzzles. Pour the pieces onto a card table, and work on the puzzle in your spare minutes together. This will make it more enticing to turn off the energy-draining TV.
Kite Flying. Yep, go fly a kite. Check out Wal-Mart for a cheap one, and head for the nearest park.
Lazy Afternoon. Some Saturday when you don't have plans, get breakfast and the paper and get back into bed until at least 1 P.M. You'll feel well rested and more cuddly.
Mini Vacation. It's hard to get away for a two-week vacation, so take lots of mini vacations: Leave for a three-day weekend or just take a day drive. It's amazing how much romance a little break can inspire.
Nightie. Go lingerie shopping together. Salespeople will be extra attentive, and you'll come home with something that gets you both in the mood.
Olive Juice. You might have done this trick in grade school. Say "olive juice" as a code for "I love you," because your lips still mouth the heartfelt phrase. Well, now that you're married and hopefully saying "I love you" every day, it's time to go back to a code. Create a secret saying that only the two of you will know. It'll make the words sound extrasweet.
Picking a Date Night. This is crucial if you want to spend time together. Choose a day of the week for quality couple time -- then hold that day sacred!
Quick Massages. Take five minutes to give your sweetie a backrub, neckrub, or any other kind of rub, for that matter.
Reliving Your Youth. Go skateboarding, ride bikes, or play on the swings in the park. This time, however, your kiddie games will be enjoyed together.
Skinny-Dipping. Yeah, baby, take it all off! Silly yet delightfully risque, a naked trip to the pool will fix what ails you.
Tickle Fight. The best kind of fight is spent while giggling. "Attack" your partner randomly and see if you can find the most sensitive spot.
Uncovering the Past. Look through knickknacks you each have from your separate pasts. Maybe you'll find some old prom pics or your senior-year English paper. Whatever you find, you'll learn more about each other.
Volunteering Together. Although you're busy, this is time well spent. Nursing homes, schools, and churches can always use helping hands, especially two sets.
Watching a Sunrise. If you already get up early for work, take a few minutes for breakfast and sit together beside a window. It'll get both of your days started off right. And if you're usually up after the sun, pick a weekend to rise early... you can always take a nap together later!
X-treme Sports. Go rock climbing, skydiving, or rappelling. Challenges build character -- and strengthen relationships.
Yard Sales. Take a leisurely Saturday morning drive in search of hidden treasures at garage sales or flea markets.
Zzzzz. Did all this romance tucker you out? Take an afternoon nap together, and wake up looking into each other's eyes.
~ Chad Kimberley @ The Nest
bridezilla
oh yeah, i am definitely morphing into one. this week has been like hell! as much as you want to try to stay calm and not panic, i find it terribly difficult not to.
work is still keeping me preoccupied. part-time, that is. patient referrals continue to pour in. this i have no control of and i just have to provide the service that is due them.
wedding preps are also ongoing. it's the nitty-gritty details that's getting to me. it's so hard to focus when so much is going on all at the same time.
the visa application is almost done. i have yet to accomplish only 3 more things -- my medical check up, the counselling session at the CFO, and renewal of my passport using my married name. today, i plan to attend the seminar at the Good Shepherd convent along Aurora Blvd. would you believe that they have scheduled the sessions for spouses of Aussies at 3:30 PM and that it would take 3 hours??? not to mention that i have to travel all the way to that most traffic part of the world. hay...
and yes, my fertility work-up. i am plainly tired. i have been to the doctors for the past two years and believe me, it ain't no fun being poked around. initially i felt "violated" but since it was something i couldn't turn my back on, i guess i've just become so numb already to all the procedures. it's never ending! and i am tired!
after submitting again to another round of ultrasound yesterday and my blood drawn to check for hormone levels, i am scheduled to get my hysterogram next month to check the patency of my tubes. this, they say, is just a simple out-patient procedure but will cost us thousands again. i just hope that the results are positive and that we don't have to spend anymore for other invasive procedures.
hay... that's all i can say. i feel like i'm drowning. buti na lang Joseph is my lifesaver. he keeps my head above the water. he is my source of strength. i can just imagine him feeling so helpless because he is not here to lend me a hand in all the preps. but amazingly, his support seems to be more than enough. nakakamiss tuloy...
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
just wondering...
hmmm... i haven't been feeling "well" these days. something is definitely off.
lately, i have been sooo lazy to do things. i especially notice this in the mornings when i have to get up early to get ready for work. it's like i'm on drugs and my eyes just won't open.
what's even more weird is that 6-7 hours are not enough for me anymore. i feel like i'm so sleep-deprived when in fact, before, this was my average length of sleep. by the time i get in the van on my way home, in a few minutes, i'm already off to neverland. again, i have a hard time waking up but i eventually manage to do so just in time to get off at my destination.
i've told some friends at the clinic and a patient of mine about this. they were all speculating that i might be "with child" already! that can't be true?! in the little time that Joseph and I have been together last August, i don't think we could have been that successful. besides, i was on the pill, for health reasons of course. i really am positive it ain't possible!
but, oh, how i wish it were true! nagwishful thinking ba? :) but then again, in the future, i don't want to get my hopes too high and just be disappointed if it really wasn't what we were hoping for.
Thursday, October 6, 2005
Hair Accessories
my dear mother went to Divisoria a week ago and saw these beautiful U-pins (bigger ones sold at P180/half dozen; smaller ones cost P100/half dozen). Anne Castaño said she'd need 8-10 of these to stick into my hair.
these must be made of rhinestones. i'm not so sure! :P
this set uses smaller sized stones than the ones in the picture above
question now is, which one?
hanggang kailan
i know this song has been on air for some time now but it is only now that i have attached a certain liking to it. it's by orange and lemons, a fairly new band but is making waves, especially with their Pinoy Big Brother OST, Pinoy Ako. their tunes are catchy and reminscent of the 70's.
i chose this song because i could somewhat relate to it. and so without further ado...
Labis na naiinip
Nayayamot sa bawat saglit
Kapag naaalala ka
Wala naman akong
magawa
[Refrain]
Umuwi ka na baby
Hindi na ako sanay ng wala ka
Mahirap ang mag-isa
At sa gabi’y hinahanap-hanap
kita.
[Chorus]
Hanggang kailan ako maghihintay
Na makasama ka muli
Sa buhay kong puno ng paghihirap
Na tanging ikaw lang ang
Pumapawi sa mga luha
At naglalagay ng ngiti
sa mga labi
‘Di mapigilang mag-isip
Na baka sa tagal
Mahulog ang loob mo sa iba
Nakakabalisa, knock on wood
‘Wag naman sana
[Repeat Refrain & Chorus]
Umuwi ka na baby…
Umuwi ka na baby…
Umuwi ka na baby…
Umuwi ka na baby…
Umuwi ka na baby…
Umuwi ka na baby…
this is for my other half. :)
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
a little update
i woke up startled this morning. my phone was ringing so loudly. i finally got a call from Veluz. she said that my piña cloth was already with her but she asked me if i wanted to have the scalloped neckline as originally planned. Ate Beth must have forgotten that part in our conversation. i told Veluz yes because that made the gown quite dainty. She said it would only take a few days to have it done.
other than that, she said she was going to "kill me." it seems like naparami daw yung burda. but in fairness, maganda naman daw sya. buti na lang!!! i was afraid she was going to say that i chose a pretty ugly design. may taste pa pala ako! :P anyways, she explained the "killing" part. this would definitely mean that her beadwork would also have to be as extensive. i don't know how it could be marami when i just told Ate Beth the same instructions that Veluz told me (i.e., hemline height, scatters, etc) and just picked out the design that we really liked. oh well, what's important is maganda sya and i suppose Veluz does not need to put on so much beads anymore as it may look overdone. i'll just cross my fingers and leave it to her very capable hands. can't wait to see it! :D
i got a few referrals for an HMU artist who will do our female entourage members' hair and make-up. the one who seemed to be quite responsive was Ate Tess of Tropicana (0927-374-8435). she charged only 5 grand for 8 people. this suffices only one part of our requirement -- the budget. but we have yet to see her work. tentatively, i have set an appointment with her for the trial HMU. she's going to do my sister and maid of honor, Rebecca. i hope she does good. i'll keep you posted.
Saturday, October 1, 2005
wedding checklist update
here's our monthly wedding checklist update.
12 months before (december 2004)Plan the Pamamanhikan and announce the engagement.
Choose a wedding date and time.
Draw up a budget with your fiancé. Consult your parents if necessary.
Determine the number of guests you are able to invite.
Look for ceremony and reception sites.
Reserve chosen ceremony and reception sites.
Compile your guest list from the list you and your fiancé will make. (still ongoing)Notify out-of-town guests so they can make early confirmation of attendance.
Decide on your new home after the wedding. (still ongoing)
11 months before (january 2005)Select your ceremony officiant and check his availability.
Select primary sponsors Check their availability and personally invite them.
Choose members of the wedding entourage. Check their availability and personally invite them.Obtain a sample copy of a sample missalette from your officiant.
10 months before (february 2005)Decide on the color scheme (wine red, pomelo and matte gold) and wedding theme.
Finalize your guest list. (still ongoing, almost done)Consult a Travel Agent regarding Honeymoon Plans especially if you will be traveling to countries that require entry visas. (still waiting for confirmation of booking)
9 months before (march 2005)Start and canvass for caterers, if necessary.
Secure birth certificates from NSO.
8 months before (april 2005)Select the style of your wedding gown and your entourage’s attire.Ask your mother and your fiance’s mother to choose their attire.Canvass and select a reliable couturier and/or dressmaker.Schedule measurements and fittings for your bridal gown as well as entourage’s attire.Schedule your trial make-ups. (with anne castano)Schedule Pre-nup pictorials with Mimi Abesamis.
7 months before (may 2005)Canvass and select a reliable florist for the church & reception.
Canvass and select a reliable photographer/videographer.
Canvass and select musicians.
6 months before (june 2005)Select and order wedding souvenirs, and decide on packaging so you can order this as well. Ensure timely delivery of it. (still canvassing)Shop for wedding rings.Canvass and select gifts for the Principal Sponsors.Book a hotel room for your wedding day.
Measurement taking with Veluz. Get also swatches for the entourage's gowns.
Submit final draft/mock invites to printer.
5 months before (july 2005)Finalize the members of the wedding entourage.Select the mass readers and program hosts. Check their availability.
Double check full names (including middle initials) of your wedding sponsors, members of the entourage, mass readers and program hosts.Canvass and select wedding stationery printers and calligrapher.Start making draft for the missalettes.Canvass and select make-up artist/hairdresser.Canvass and select cake maker.Canvass and book a florist for the the bridal entourage flowers.
Draft your ceremony program.
Start printing of invites.
Come up with solutions for typographical error on entourage card. Explore all possible options.
Start working on your vows, if you are saying your own.
Start printing map inserts on parchment paper.
First fitting with Veluz. Pay second installment(25%).
Buy cloths for gown lining.
Second fitting with Veluz (shantung).
Secure Certificate of No Impediment from the Australian Embassy and statutory declarations for spouse visa application.
Secure original or certified true copies of your and your fiance’sbaptismal, confirmation and residence certificates.Groom: Secure certificate of freedom to marry from your parish in Canberra.
Bride: Request CENOMAR from NSO, to be submitted to Australian Embassy, as part of spouse visa application. Apply thru e-census.
Third fitting with Veluz (shantung).
Begin planning out your honeymoon.
4 months before (august 2005)Obtain marriage license from your city/municipal hall. Be sure to have all needed documents.
Decide on and finalize wedding details/contracts/agreements with your florist, musicians, photographer, caterer, couturier, make-up artist, and other suppliers of your choice.Have missalette draft approved by your officiating priest and the church or ceremony venue.
Complete honeymoon plans and book your itinerary. (still waiting for confirmation as it is peak season)Book a calligrapher or a social printer for addressing of invitations. If invitations and guest list are ready, go ahead with the calligraphy/printing. (printing ongoing)
Reserve the Church for a wedding rehearsal.Joseph's fitting with Veluz (16ht of August). Finalize on the menu with Anne of The Palms.(ongoing)
Buy piña silk for bridal gown and for groom's barong. Have piña silk embroidered in Lumban, Laguna.
Confirm fitting schedules with your couturier and provide those concerned with a copy of these dates. (for the entourage)
Trial HMUs with Anne Castano.
Prenup pictorials with Mimi (August 21).
Attend pre-cana seminar (20th of August). Pay balance.
Food tasting (August 18).Order the bridal accessories and paraphernalia.
Civil wedding (26th of August).
Personally deliver invitations to your primary sponsors.
Meet with mother butler of St James to decide on floral arrangements for the ceremony.
3 months before (september 2005)Work part-time na lang.
Set an appointment with your wedding officiant for pre-marital counseling.
Submit marriage certificate to officiant or his assistant. Be sure to give all needed documents.
Have missalettes printed. This should give you ample time for corrections.
Shop for your undergarments.
Order and finalize design for wedding cake.Invite participants for your reception program and check their availability like a friend who will sing.
Pay the Palms (50%).
Prepare your AVP if desired. (ongoing)
2 months before (october 2005)
Complete gifts for the sponsors (if needed).
Finalize décor details with the florist, if needed arrange for a mock set-up.
Re-confirm with the musicians and choose songs for the ceremony and the reception.
Start working on your reception program.
Organize your calendar to accommodate all pre-wedding affairs (shower parties, etc).
Finalize your arrangement with your make-up artist/hairdresser of your choice.
Arrange for purchase of liquor or bar requirements with the reception venue. (waiting for The Palms Price quotation)
Attend CFO seminar as part of visa requirement.
Get a complete medical check-up.
Get NBI clearance.
Have passport and other IDs amended. (ongoing) Then, apply for a spouse visa.
Address and send out invitations to guests. (ongoing)
Request respective parishes to have your wedding announced for three weeks. Obtain a wedding ban certificate.
Finalize your ceremony plans and reception program.Canvass and book for a bridal car service (if it is not provided by the venue). Arrange for your florist to decorate the bridal car.
Make other necessary transportation arrangements to and from the ceremony and reception sites.
Have wedding rings engraved.
Double check favors, accessories and paraphernalia.
Designate at least two people to handle RSVP and prepare a list for monitoring acceptances.
Pay photographer 50%.
Final fitting (piña) with Veluz. Pay 25%.
Shop for a new home.
Scout for HMUA for the entourage. (ongoing)
1 month before (november 2005)
Confirm attendance of guests, make follow-up calls to those who do not respond to R.S.V.P. Give the final count of guests to your caterer/hotel/restaurant.
Have the final meeting with the caterer/hotel/restaurant to confirm details of decors, arrangements, lay-out, etc.
Arrange for final fitting for your entourage. Set delivery time. (tentatively set on Nov. 10)
Pick up missalettes.
Finalize all food and beverage arrangements.
Delegate duties and responsibilities to the participants/entourage involved.
Set final dates for wedding gown delivery, and call times for florists, photographers, and other deliveries/services on your wedding day.
Finalize instructions for your photographer/videographer.
Discuss reception program with your emcee.
Inform parents, sponsors, friends who will give speeches and toast.
Attend wedding rehearsals, bridal showers and bachelor’s party.
2 weeks before (08 december 2005)
Delivery/pick-up bridal gown. Pay last 25%.
Pay The Palms and String Minstrels in full.
Attend wedding rehearsals and last minute showers.
Confirm honeymoon arrangements and transportation arrangement.
Pack for your honeymoon and migration to Australia.
Confirm check-in time and date in the hotel for prepration.
Go to the dentist.
Brides: Practice walking in your shoes.
Confirm final payments to your wedding suppliers.
Start to sleep early and do away with smoking environments.
1 week before (15 december 2005)
Organize accessories/paraphernalia according to category.
Make a phone call to your entourage re: call time to the church or preparation area and inform them of specific tasks assigned to them.
Make a phone call to your mass readers, offerors, emcee, ushers re: call time and inform them of specific tasks assigned to them.
Assign an authorized person to receive all turn-over items of the coordinator.
Rehearse your speeches.
Remind parents, sponsors, and friends who will give speeches to prepare already.
Head to the Spa! Get a massage, scrub, Javanese bath. The works!
Go to confession.
Spend quality time with your family especially with your parents.
1 day before (21 december 2005)
Get your final manicure and pedicure.
Pack for the things that you have to bring in the hotel or preparation venue.
the big day (22 december 2005)
Relax.
Give yourself enough time for hair and make-up.
Remember to wear a robe or button-down shirt so you don’t ruin your hair-do and make-up when you undress.
Savour and enjoy special moment of your big day.
Take pleasure in being the most beautiful bride ever.
Pay videographer 60%.
as the BIG day draws nearer, small details have sprouted out of nowhere. makes one go into panic mode. but hey! i will try not to panic. the key word there is try. hehe! hay naku, good luck na lang. i hope i don't turn out into a bridezilla over the next few weeks.
Friday, September 30, 2005
on the receiving end
this blog has been in hiatus for quite some time. i've been pretty busy with work, wedding preps, and my visa application. oh, and it was also my turn to be patient this time.
last wednesday, i saw our family dentist because i was having pain on the left part of my jaw. pain was initially noted whenever i took a bite. then after a few days, pain was observed whenever i opened my mouth wide. it has been like this for more than a week now so i thought it best to consult our dentist.
dra. nanette just told me to observe it for another two weeks and to take ibuprofen "as necessary." if after two weeks, nothing much has changed, she will refer me to her brother who's a specialist in TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) dysfunctions. yikes! :( she said that i may need to wear a certain appliance to correct my jaw because it may be misaligned. uh-oh.
i'm crossing my fingers for the next two weeks.
after my visit to the dentist, i went to an OB-GYNE fertility specialist to check on the status of my endometriosis. now that i am already married and very much ready to start our own family, Joseph and I decided to get a fertility work-up to determine our chances of conceiving.
i underwent an ultrasound first and yes, there are still cysts in my poor ovaries. chocolate cysts, that is. nothing malignant. just a result of the chronic condition that i have (read the resource blog that i put up).
as part of the work-up, we need to undergo some diagnostic tests as well to rule out whatever problem there could be that might prevent us from conceiving. this includes, to name a few, blood tests (CBC & CA-125), a hysterogram (to check the patency of my tubes) and a sperm count.
i now know how difficult it feels to be a patient. it is financially and emotionally draining as there is no guarantee if the procedures will be successful in helping us conceive a child. it has been utterly frustrating for some of my friends at our support group and i know we could also go through that at some point. but Joseph, being the more positive thinker of the two of us, has been quite supportive about the whole thing. he just advised me to just focus on what has to be done. he believes that it is God's will if He will bless us with a child and that we should just accept that. (i just love my husband! ü)
now, we realize how much children are true blessings. some people may take it for granted because it is given to them so easily. but for us, it will always be a wonderful gift, because it was willed by no other than God himself. we are still hopeful though. after all, miracles do happen every day. :)
Sunday, September 25, 2005
young at heart!
being a slow and lazy Sunday afternoon, i decided to take this little quiz over at Blogthings. got the idea from my old friend Via.
| You Are 24 Years Old |
 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
Great, i'm still within my age group. =) What is yours?
Saturday, September 24, 2005
entourage gowns
i have been checking out Marj's blog and lately she has been featuring her female entourage members' gown designs. it is now only that i realize that i did not feature pa pala OUR ento's gowns! silly me... :P
some of the gowns were designed by Veluz. others were gathered from the web. take a look!
maid of honor
since my original MOH (peggy) won't be able to make it to our wedding in December, i decided to get my younger sister Becky. Since the design that Veluz made for my MOH was quite sexy and unappropriate for my teen-aged sis, i suggested the gown in the picture below for my sister instead. she absolutely loved it. :) wine dop-dyed chiffon and diamond satin as lining will be used.
bridesmaids
our bridesmaids are a young bunch so Veluz suggested a not so deep V-neckline corset top with spaghetti straps. i wanted also to incorporate these cute sheer cap sleeves to make it youthful-looking. their skirts will be slightly flaired. they will be using "pomelo"-colored dop-dyed chiffon and diamond satin for this ensemble.
secondary sponsors
our secondary sponsors, on the other hand, wanted something a little like the one in the picture below, except that they wanted an ordinary v-neckline and the bust part will be "crushed" or gathered to give a little "oomphh!" ;) yellow gold is their color (same lining as the FGs).
flower girls
for the little girls, we wanted something light so we will be using matte gold frosted organza and yellow gold diamond satin as lining for their ballgowns. they will be wearing a wine and pomelo colored satin sash on the waist, sort of to bring together the entourage's color motif.
if you noticed, i intentionally chose designs which had pleats or draping. in place of beads, we thought that this was enough to accentuate the gowns.
for the mothers
my mother-in-law preferred design # 1. it's a simple spaghetti strapped chiffon gown underneath with electric pleats on the skirt. on top, is an asymmetrical overlay of "melon"-colored lace with scattered beads. the asymmetrical cut will make my petite MIL look taller. :)
my mother chose design # 2, a mestiza gown made of rust orange chiffon with beadings. she really wanted to wear this type of gown because she has never tried dressing in one before. it will just be a regular long gown. no asymmetrical cut will be made as indicated in the sketch.
for the female principal sponsors
when we were in divisoria to buy our ento's cloths, we asked for swatches of satin in four different shades of gold. we divided them into 5 equal parts and sent the samples to our ninangs so that they can refer to it when they buy their gown. we provided them with four shades of gold to choose from, taking into consideration the fact that they couldn't possibly buy a dress in the exact same shade if we were to provide only one.
Friday, September 23, 2005
in a rut
i haven't been feeling "creative" for the past few days. this blog is definitely undergoing a setback, thus, the boring entries.
on the wedding front, things are on slow-mo as we are on schedule with all our preps. work is more relaxed these days since i only work part-time na lang. i feel a bit antsy not doing anything at all. ever had that feeling? i guess i just got so used to all the hustle and bustle of my former life that taking long periods of rest isn't something that i really want anymore.
gulo ba? forgive me for my fickle-mindedness. :) i'm glad there's work today at the clinic. this will keep my craving at bay. well, at least for today.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
filipino time
in my recent visit to my hometown Cebu, i took the opportunity of meeting up with long-lost friends from high school and college. i was only there for 4 days but i did get to meet most of the people left in Cebu. i said "left" because some of my good friends have already migrated to foreign lands or to neighboring provinces.
i was really excited to get together with them and so every time i set a date with them i hurried with anticipation to get myself ready for the reunion and managed to finish just in time. but alas, i forgot i was in Cebu! it totally slipped my mind that life here was laid back, unlike Manila. things there did not really start on time. this irritated me most.
i have been based here in the big city for almost seven years now and i have therefore grown accustomed to the speed of accomplishing things. i must admit though that i didn't like it here at first because of all the traffic, the pollution and the fact that almost everyone was leading a very hectic lifestyle. but hey, life changes and i am just not used anymore to the slow tempo that their lives in Cebu are led.
so, does that make me a Manila girl now? just wondering...
Things I Did Today (wedding-related)
Sunday, September 18, 2005
success!
got this in the mail today from friend Sheryl.
At age 4 success is . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 20 success is . . . having a girlfriend that thinks you are really good looking.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 60 success is . . . having a girlfriend that thinks you are really good looking.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.
so funny yet so true. ah, the vicious cycles of life. :P
Saturday, September 17, 2005
new home page
because i was stuck at home and had nothing to do, guess what i did... here's a sneak preview:
check out the new layout for our new home page
do update your links. :)
Friday, September 16, 2005
just a little humor...
i thought i'd post this to brighten our day. can you relate to Kim? :)
swiped from Favor Ideas
Thursday, September 15, 2005
random thoughts
for the commuter like me who travels to real far places, i noticed that while on these long-distance trips, almost anything comes into mind. since i avoid reading or sending text messages while commuting (i get nauseous, you see), i have nothing else left to do but tinker with my brain. it's amazing how these thoughts range, from the really trivial to the most serious ones.
i went to the main office of the NSO in QC earlier today. being an awfully long trip (as i only commuted), my brain went into auto-pilot. i thought about reception games for our wedding. i even recollected the events of my personal life in the past year! i also worried about the patients that i was to schedule tomorrow at the clinic. heck, i can go on and on! :P
i have work tomorrow and i'll be traveling again to that familiar province of cavite. i've been frequenting it for the last six years, because work is there. gosh, imagine all that thinking! i could have written volumes of those thoughts! :)
Meeting with Jody
I saw Jody Liwanag, my coordinator from Events Experts, last Wednesday to update her on our wedding preparations. it's been quite a while since we last saw each other. at that time (some time January '05), she was so preggy pa with her baby girl. now, she looked like she didn't even give birth. she was all made up and looked really professional in her black outfit.
she had her checklist with her and we had a rundown of all that was expected/needed for the coming wedding. she will be sending me a detailed program/time-table for the entire event one of these days. this of course will still be subject to our approval. a materials checklist will also be sent to us so that we will know what to prepare on the day itself.
Joseph and i are more concerned with the reception program. since my brother Rex will be our emcee for the night (side-kwento: he does this if he has free time. he used to be a DJ for a radio station in cebu. ü), i asked Jody to just correspond with him through email when it came to the program. what i liked most in all our discussions was her assurance that everything will be orderly and that we won't be harassed with all the small details. as to how to go about this, she discussed with me the details. for every concern i had, she had an answer. i have good faith in her and am confident that she and her staff will be able to deliver. i hope she won't disappoint us.
Trip to the NSO
as mentioned earlier, i went to the NSO to personally request for copies of our marriage certificate on security paper. since it's been barely a month since we got married through civil rites, the lady of the NSO hotline informed us that we still cannot request it over the phone. it takes around three to six months daw from the date that the event occured before you can use this manner of requisition.
and so i went. good thing my brother Dave was so kind to accompany me. although the NSO lady told me that i should go to their main office along EDSA near quezon avenue, we still ended up at the census office along East Avenue. it's a good thing there were FX taxis already stationed near the entrance, whose purpose was really to bring people to the main NSO office (Vibal Bldg). talk about convenience! :)
when we finally got there, i noticed that there were quite a number of people milling around the place. this got me worried because i was anticipating that i might not be able to finish before the lunch break. but surprisingly, when i entered the building, i found out how systematic they were.
at the entrance, there was an information counter where 2 employees were stationed. you just tell them what the purpose of your visit is and they will hand you the appropriate form to fill out and direct you to the counter where you are supposed to submit it. in our case, i was told to proceed to the endorsement section (C) to show the accomplished form and the following: copy of the letter of transmittal from the civil registrar, receipt from the courier (it was LBC for us. others used JRS.), and a photocopy of the locally registered document (marriage certificate in our case). then they directed me to pay the appropriate fees at the cashier (window 1). the cashier issued me an official receipt with the date of when to claim the requested documents written on it.
that's about it. i was done in an hour. i was asked to come back on the 27th of the month. what was good was that instead of standing up to form a line, they made us sit on benches, on a first-come-first-serve basis. their system was quite simple but very efficient. bravo! :)
The Search is Over!
after worrying for months, i have finally purchased my bridal underwear!!! hehe.. i had almost given up on my search because the stores did not have it in my size. giving up meant i would have to settle for one not my size. the fit was actually so-so pero i was still not satisfied. then i talked to the saleslady if there was anyway that they'd get stocks in my size in the near future. they said that they cannot guarantee it. :( uh-oh. i was almost in panic mode. it was either i buy the bigger size or end up with no appropriate undies at all. the kind saleslady (of SM Makati) tipped me though that the shangri-la mall in EDSA recently had a fresh delivery of stocks. she must have sensed my worry and desperation.
and so, after my mission at the NSO, i proceeded to the shang right after lunch. i was actually not putting any high expectations on that visit. i did not want to be disappointed again. i dilly-dallied first at national bookstore, just browsing through books. after skimming through everything in sight, i proceeded to Rustan's. when i got to the Wacoal (yes, it's Wacoal! ü) section, i initially did not see the corset that i so dearly desired. i asked the saleslady if there was one in my size. she took my measurements just to be sure and then she went searching, rummaging through their stocks. then she told me, "Ma'am, wala na yung color black na seamless..."
i immediately told her that i wasn't interested in the black one. then she held up another and said, "Pero meron po yung may lace na skintone." OMG!!! gosh, i was so giddy, i had a difficult time putting it on in the fitting room. my fingers were fumbling in all the excitement. and as predicted, it was the perfect fit. i paid for it immediately, without any hesitation whatsoever. di ko na binitawan. baka mawala pa eh. :P
hay.. the satisfaction you gain from finally getting the one you so truly desire! it's like finding a needle in a haystack. it's like finding "the one!" now i can sleep better. :)
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