seven

i've been tagged by rhona. :) this post is long overdue. :P didn't realize it would be soooo hard to finish...

seven things that scare me

1. heights
2. death
3. rollercoaster rides
4. cockroaches and other creepy crawlies
5. dying a slow death
6. accidents
7. deep waters

seven things i like the most

1. my books
2. my husband's smell ;)
3. snuggling with hubby
4. potato corner's sour cream and onion
5. the internet
6. watching dvd's on a lazy afternoon
7. weekends

seven random facts about me

1. i had piano lessons when i was 5 but only reached grade 1. i can read notes but can only play simple pieces like blue moon and chopsticks. :P
2. i used to collect stamps, stickers and stationery when i was in elementary.
3. i could read at age 4.
4. i wore braces in high school.
5. once tried henna tattoo and placed it over my right ankle. it turns out i was allergic and scratched it real hard. it must have turned into a scar because i still have the tattoo. i'm just glad it's faded a bit now.
6. i buy books even if i have lots yet to read.
7. i get teary-eyed at weddings, even of couples i don't really know.

seven important things in my bedroom

1. photos of Joseph and me
2. my books
3. my favorite blanket
4. my alarm clock
5. my audio CDs
6. AVP CDs from Joseph
7. my PC

seven things i plan to do before i die

1. go to confession
2. tour Europe with Joseph
3. plan a big reunion with family and friends
4. raise beautiful and healthy kids and hopefully be able to see our grandchildren
5. learn a foreign language
6. get that Aussie slang which Joseph never did acquire :P
7. donate to charity

seven things i can do

1. i have a good memory. i can remember small details .
2. i can surf on the web for hours.
3. i can dance!
4. multi-task! :P
5. i can type fast.
6. i can speak Cebuano and understand Ilonggo.
7. i can be really organized (if i want to). :)

seven things i can't do

1. drive on the expressway (well, i avoid driving on the expressway, that is.)
2. carry a tune
3. ride a rollercoaster
4. swim far from the shore
5. cross bridges without getting my knees all wobbly
6. i have poor endurance. :( (time to go to the gym!!!)
7. i can't eat okra! :P

seven things that attract me to the opposite sex

1. sense of humor
2. the way he speaks
3. intelligence
4. how he carries himself in front of other people
5. how he is with his family and closest friends
6. maturity
7. his being affectionate

seven things i say the most

1. ano ba yan?!
2. hay naku!
3. ahak oi! (this is a cebuano phrase)
4. okay ka lang?
5. grabe!
6. sus ginoo! :)
7. ah ok..

seven celeb crushes (in random order)

1. brad pitt
2. eric bana
3. dermot mulroney
4. hugh jackman
5. dylan mcdermott
6. richard gere
7. john lloyd cruz (nyahaha!!!)

seven people you want to see take this quiz

1. Jacq
2. Iris
3. Sheryl
4. Becky
5. Jannah
6. Mik
7. Tin

The Floriade

very big beds of tulips at Floriade Annual Flower Festival
Photographer: Trevor Creighton

What is Floriade?
Floriade is Canberra’s annual spring splash of colour – a flower festival with more than 1.47 million flowers that bloom on cue for four weeks in September and October.

To compliment the flowers, the event also includes a full entertainment program with visiting and local performers, kids activities, workshops, exhibitions and the Craftman’s Corner featuring Australian made gifts, crafts and produce.

It all began in 1986 as a vision for the 1988 bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th birthday when two members of the ACT Parks and Conservation Service envisaged a huge floral display for the celebration. Their inspiration was the annual Dutch Keukenhof flower display and Holland’s Floriade which happens every 10 years. Floriade is now the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

The meaning behind the name
The name, Floriade, comes from the Latin word “floriat”, which means to design with flowers. This is exactly what happens every year at Floriade.

How many flowers?
This year more than 1.47 million bulbs and annuals will bloom at Floriade, 200,000 more than last year. The bulbs and annuals are planted in autumn. Different flowers bloom at different times but there’s always a good spread of colour throughout the event. It is constantly changing as different plants flower, so it is a good idea to visit a few times if you can.

What sort of flowers?
There’s a big mix of flowers and a huge kaleidoscope of colours. Some of the blooms this year include tulips, irises, daffodils, hyacinths, freesias, violas, chrysanthemums, ranunculas, English daisies and a special showcase garden of new varieties.

How is it designed?
Floriade is different every year and has a theme that is carried through from the shape of the garden beds to the type and colour of the flowers.
This year’s theme is Rock ‘n’ Roll in Bloom. Floriade will celebrate a lifetime of popular music, from the 40s through to today, with classic tracks represented in flowers. Canberra landscape architects, LANDSCAPEalign, have created the design for Floriade this year.

How many people visit?
Floriade has become more and more popular over time and over 300,000 people visit the event each year during the four-week period.

When is Floriade?
This year Floriade is on from Saturday 17 September to Sunday 16 October. Opening hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 6pm on weekends and public holidays. Last entry to the event is 30 minutes before closing.

Where is it held?
Commonwealth Park in the heart of Canberra is transformed for Floriade every year. The Floriade gardens cover about four hectares, the size of two football fields, and are spread throughout the park.

(Source: Floriade)

home

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be allright
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

~ Michael Buble

** Joseph used this song in the last AVP that he made for me. I miss him terribly. :(

back online

Joseph is probably cruising through the clouds right now, on his way back to Oz. As with our recent marriage, i still feel that everything is surreal. the loneliness has not yet set in, maybe because i try to keep myself busy with things i have set aside when he was here.

i will surely miss most our constant companionship. nothing can ever beat that. i can't seem to get enough of our togetherness. physically, that is. now, it's back to being together online and physically away from each other. i still wonder why i can never get used to that.

but then again, looking back, we managed to make it through eight months. what is another three months, right? after which, we will be finally together... forever! :)

More Updates
in the midst of last minute bonding and quality time with hubby, we still managed to squeeze in a few wedding preps.

We have already shown our missalette draft to Ms. AC of St James and she pointed out a few parts that we had to remove and some that we have failed to include. will revise this after my trip to Cebu.

We also paid some suppliers this week. We paid 50% to the Palms Country Club and paid also Anne Castaño the booking fee of 50% as well.

We have started compiling documents that will be required of us when i apply for a spouse visa. Joseph has been really organized about it, which is good because all i need to do now is just slip in the document in the assigned plastic sleeve. (way to go, baby! ü)

We've also started addressing our invites. We've decided not to hire a calligrapher and just use our PC to label the invites. We're using the Lanie Day font. It's the font that we used in our haloscan comment box.


Lainie Day Font

wedding update

i borrowed Mik's format for a change. in summary, here are the things we've accomplished so far.

Church: Parish of Saint James the Great
Fully paid.
Officiating Priest - we've already chosen one.
Clearance from Chancery - done
Canonical Interview - done
Marriage Banns - submitting the letter from St James to our parish some time in October
Pre-Cana - done
Document Requirements - submitted all except our marriage certificate

Reception: The Palms Country Club
Confirmed reservations.
The PCC requires us to pay 50% downpayment three months before the event. We're paying them today and will be finalizing menu details with Anne, their catering manager.

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: to follow up immediate transmittal to the NSO from the local civil registrar

Photo: Karmina Abesamis Photography
Paid booking fee (25%).
Prenup pictorials - done
Will pay second installment (50%) some time October.

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 ongoing c/o Ate Beth de Leon.
will be having my final fitting on October, pay third installment (25%).
Pants and Barong for the groom - done

Veil: Veluz Reyes
part of the bridal package

Shoes: Seeds
Shoe design agreed on

Hair accessories: still looking for swarovski crystals

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
booked her this week. will probably have measurement taking next week na. bought cloth in Divisoria yesterday for all 12 entourage members. was able to ask for swatches for the female principal sponsors as well. Both moms bought cloth for their respective gowns yesterday.

Male Entourage Suits: 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.

Ento flowers: Flora@eleven_01
Reservation paid (20%)
Need to schedule pre wedding meeting to finalize the flowers
Pay in full a month before the wedding date

Church Decor: Mother Butler Guild
Reservation paid (50%)
Gave post-dated check to Mrs. Jurilla for final payment (dated October)

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. Submit song list some time October.

Wedding Rings
Bought rings from Karat World.
Have rings engraved. Decide on what information to engrave on rings.

Invitations: QP Designs
Done printing, to be addressed yet.
Have started distributing some.

Missalette: DIY
Done, but still to be submitted for approval by the church.
Design cover lay-out (c/o Joseph).

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
To pay 50% today as booking fee.
Anne is doing my make up, plus my MOH, and the moms.
We're still scouting for a cheaper HMUA for the rest of the female entourage.

OTD Coordinator: Events Experts
Paid 50% booking fee last January.
will schedule meeting with Jody Liwanag for turn-over of contracts and discussion of program and other details.
(my apologies to Jody on this one)

Accomodations: Bellevue Hotel

Gifts for the principal sponsors: Paintings c/o Joseph's brother
We have already chosen the theme, colors and strokes that we want.

Honeymoon: Singapore, on the way to Australia
Have already booked our tickets.

Did i forget anything?

Trial Makeup with Anne Castaño

we also managed to squeeze in a trial makeup session with Anne Castano. got rave reviews from Mik, so i decided to see how she worked.

we would have gotten there on time had it not been for the terrible traffic along south super hi-way, not to mention that we also got lost along the way since we weren't quite familiar with the area.

Anne is a petite woman but she made up for it because of her stunning looks. we later found out she used to be a model (probably for print ads) in her younger days and then she eventually pursued her passion for makeup and hairdressing. she has been making people beautiful (mostly brides and models) for ten years now.

on the dresser were all sorts of make-up. nahilo ako sa dami kasi i'm not much of a make-up person after all. but i felt like i was a kid again since my mom used to "experiment" on me.

Anne was quite meticulous in her work, never letting up until she got everything right. i noticed she was very particular about the lashes. she admits that that is her favorite part so she always wants to have that "perfect curl."

i liked Anne a lot. i had fears before that she might turn out to be real bossy and maarte. but she's really a doll! she was overly generous with her advice, not to mention ma-chika pa. i felt very comfortable with her.

my mom being my greatest critique, loved the job that she did, especially with the eye makeup. as the night went on, it seemed that my makeup was only getting better and better. totally waterproof pa! it took me almost an hour to take it off. :)

the eyes have it

i suppose with that said, we're going to book Anne na. still haven't informed her though. :)

more pictures of the trial makeup session found here.

we're married!!!

i am now officially mrs. joseph. :)

we arrived on time for our appointment with the judge but only started the ceremony at 8:45 AM. the judge was actually late for 15 minutes so we were surprised that the whole thing was over in ten minutes. we didn't even get to say "I do." he was obviously in a hurry to get things done since he had a hearing scheduled at 9.

signing our marriage certificate

after the civil rites, we proceeded outside of the chambers for signing of the marriage certificate. Joseph's brother and sister-in-law were there to serve as our witnesses. Joseph's mom and my mom were also present. we just celebrated with an intimate dinner with both of our families. our family hosted the little party.

all in all, it was okay. very quick but definitely life-changing. i suppose it still hasn't sank in -- the thought that i am legally Joseph's wife now. it's probably because we still haven't chosen to live in together. we both decided to have the honeymoon after the wedding in December as it is more significant than our civil wedding.

his other half

i'm getting married tomorrow and i can't sleep. a few hours from now, misis na pala ako. everything seems so surreal yet i have no fears whatsoever. i guess i am just excited to finally officially be Joseph's other half.

now, we are whole and complete. :)

more updates

i have been out of the loop for almost a week. we've been terribly busy with preps and reunions with family and friends.

i am also recovering from an undiagnosed illness. maybe all that stress finally got to me. was having diarrhea yesterday and felt so weak. it felt like i was going to have the flu but my fever wasn't high enough. i must have been just dehydrated from all the fluids that i lost. i'm feeling better now but still a bit tired. nevertheless, i have taken this opportunity to blog. :P

anyways, on to updates. here's what we've accomplished since i last posted...

Prenup Pictorials with Mimi and Karl
we went to Tagaytay for our prenup pictorials with Mimi and Karl. the place was actually owned by Freddy Elizalde. it was built on a hill with a view that was breath-taking. we were so relieved that it didn't rain, although the clouds did for some time look quite threatening. it was very humid and we were sweating in no time. i'm so happy with how some of the pictures turned out. all that posing and sweating was all sooooo worth it!!! (see more prenup pictures HERE.)

swiped from Mimi's blog

Food Tasting at The Palms Country Club
the food was absolutely divine! we had the following items for our food tasting:

appetizer: thai-style siomai

cold item: penne pasta tossed with macadamia nuts pesto and bay shrimps

hot items: chicken cordon bleu, sautéed prawns in garlic and pepper, snapper fillet "alla fiorentina"

desserts: marble cheesecake and samurai crepe

we were also able to discuss with Anne the basic table arrangements, cake design, timeline, floral and backdrop arrangements, crew meals and sound system. it was a full afternoon for us, stomach-wise and wedding prep-wise. hehe! :)

Mother Butler Meeting and Church Requirements
we met with Mrs. Jurilla of the Mother Butler Guild and chose the ten-thousand floral arrangement. she was kind enough to suggest that we didn't need that many flowers on our wedding ceremony as the church will already be fully decorated with christmas ornaments by then.

we had our pre-cana seminar last saturday morning. before that though, we were required to listen to the faith catechesis given by one of their priests. since we were required of this, we came in early for it then proceeded to the pre-cana seminar along with around 10 other couples.

we have already submitted all the documents that St James has required of us, except for my wedding banns which i will have to give to my parish in October pa.

Things to Do

get prenup pics from Mimi

finalize guest list and have envelopes calligraphed

buy appropriate undergarment for me

submit to Anne of the PCC the desired floral arrangements for the tables (to check if workable within the package we selected)

meet with Emma for the entourage's gowns

go to divisoria and look for swatches of cloth for the ento's gowns

get married on friday! :)

i'm back!!!

temporarily that is... ever since Joseph came home, things have been pretty busy for us.

on the wedding preps front, here are what we've accomplished in the past three days:

we have applied for a marriage license last monday at the Parañaque City Hall. it is such a big help that we were introduced to Mr. V who assisted us with the application process. he was so kind to accompany us even when we just needed to photocopy some documents. what is so cool is that there was no hanky-panky involved, whatsoever. now that leaves me guilt-free. :) we were done after an hour. he informed us that we can get married on the 26th. yipee! right on schedule! :D

we also met up with Arlyne of La Herminia. she brought a variety of piña silk with sinuksok and hand embroidered designs for Joseph to choose from. Joseph chose a hand embroidered vine-y design with callado. it was somewhat similar to the design that i had chosen for my gown.

Joseph had his measurement taking yesterday at Veluz' place in Project 8. Although Veluz wasn't around, Niko was there naman to facilitate and assist. Joseph gave the tailor his piña silk cloth and they have already discussed style preferences as well.

we met also with Mimi Abesamis, our photographer, to discuss our final album preference (which is the 12x12 scratch-proof laminated leather-bound album with 40 pages). we also had our preproduction meeting for the prenup pictorials that is to take place on the 21st already. since we were absolutely stumped for Metro Manila venues, Mimi was so kind naman to offer a place in Tagaytay where their family usually stays. we were worried about having to pay additional fees since it would already be an out-of-town shoot, but Mimi gladly said that we didn't have to pay anything. great! :D it was quite a lot of fun actually to discuss some concepts for the shoot. we just told Mimi that we wanted something casual and fun, nothing scripted if possible.

as for the days to come, heto ang plans naman namin:

18th of August

meet with Anne of The Palms Country Club for the food tasting session. thanks to Jacq for all the food recommendations! ;)

we're meeting Ate Beth de Leon, my (and Veluz') bordadora. I have to pay them our second installment for the embroidery labor costs as Veluz wants this finished by the end of September. remaining balance will be paid upon delivery of the finished product.

we've also set an appointment with the Mother Butler of Saint James, Mrs. Jurilla. she has asked us to drop by her place so we can browse through the albums and choose the arrangement that we prefer. we're quite decided already in getting the 10k package (the least among the choices) since the church will be decorated na for the christmas season. we don't want it to be overly decorated. so i guess that leaves us to deciding na lang which flowers to use.

20th of August

pre-cana seminar at St James. this will be a whole day affair (9-5).

dinner with my dad. i'm bringing the kids along. this will be the first time that Papa and Joseph will meet. exciting! ;)

21st of August

prenup pictorials in the morning with Mimi and Karl. location is near Crosswinds Tagaytay.

quite a mouthful, i should say. i'll keep you guys posted for more.