go flatter yourself

need to feel good about yourself? go to the link below and type in your name.

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/flattery.html

another one from ITchick. :-)

woman

to all the women out there, this is for us and for every male to know!

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved."

thanks to ITchick. :-)

on calligraphy

i found this informative article on the knot website. i didn't realize there'd be so many "hands," as they call it. interesting! read on...

Calligraphy: 18 Popular Styles

From the traditional to the whimsical, calligraphy can be created in many shapes and styles. Whether you choose sumptuous curves or sophisticated lines, the calligraphy on your invitations -- and envelopes, menus, place cards, table cards, maps, programs, guest books, wedding favors, and notes for out-of-towners -- adds a personal touch that reflects the tone of your event. To help you find the lettering that best suits your wedding, we've collected 18 of the most frequently used "hands," or writing styles.

1. ITALIC. By far the most popular hand, this elegant yet simple style looks good on any paper. Italic letters slant upward to the right and are based on an oval shape, with the width of the letters usually half of their height. Created with a broad-tipped pen, the clean, crisp line can dress up to announce an ultra-formal Saturday night affair or dress down to set a more casual mood for a Sunday afternoon garden wedding. What makes this hand so pretty is the alterations between the thick and thin lines made by the pen. Variations are endless, and Italic can be matched easily to complement many typefaces. (This is helpful if you want to mirror the typeface on your invites, for example.)

2. CHANCERY ITALIC. Slightly sharper and more formal than traditional Italic. The capital letters, like the M, C, and H in this example, are more decorative.

3. SCROLL ITALIC. One of the most formal hands, Scroll Italic is a simplified adaptation of Spencerian (see below) and resembles cursive handwriting.

4. STRAIGHT ITALIC. This hand falls between Italic and Roman styles and is recognizable by its vertical, rather than slanted, letters -- most noticeably in the capital E and lowercase d in this example.

5. FLOURISHED ITALIC. This Italic is enhanced with a calligrapher's personal touch. Note the exaggeration on the finish of the letters, as well as the slanted word "and."

6. COPPERPLATE. Written with a pointed pen that is hand-dipped in ink, this style uses pressure to create delicate thick and thin lines. Traditional Copperplate sets a romantic mood and is popular for addressing envelopes. Developed in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, this is a true calligraphic hand and one of the most graceful, lending itself easily to flourishes (it's the lettering on the Declaration of Independence). Copperplate is also one of the most difficult alphabets for a calligrapher because of the method of writing (the slow process of applying and releasing pressure on the nib) and therefore tends to be the most expensive. As with Italic, there are endless variations, and Copperplate can be matched easily to complement many typefaces.

7. ROOK COPPERPLATE. "Rook" is hand lettering made to resemble a printed typeface. It represents a variation on the traditional Copperplate, with a slight difference in the capital letters (a bit more round in the accents -- see the exaggerated curls of the capital M and lowercase n).

8. SLOOP COPPERPLATE. "Sloop" is also a term taken from printed type and shows another variation on the traditional Copperplate. In this hand, the capital letters have elongated curves in the accents; see the sweeping motion of the capital M and L and the lowercase r and d.

9. GOTHIC. Also called Old English or Blackhand, this is a very formal hand. Written using a broad-tipped pen, Gothic is perfect for a theme or period wedding and works well with similar or matching print typefaces (on your invites, for example).

10. UNCIAL. Uncial is one of the oldest styles of handwritten alphabets and is a nice alternative to Italic. Based on Irish calligraphy, it works well with an Irish theme. This alphabet is mostly all caps, with the letters all about the same height and width. Uncial is very rounded and stylized, offering a traditional yet contemporary look. Produced with a broad-tipped pen, it is straightforward and elegant and also works well matching simple print typefaces.

11. ROMAN. A very classic hand with a clear round alphabet, Roman is less formal than its related print typeface. This hand is best suited for bridal showers and other casual parties. Its small serifs dignify diagonal stroke letters such as capital R as well as straight letters such as capital M and lowercase p. The lower case is half (and sometimes a little more) the height of the capitals. Developed by Italian scholars in the 14th century, Roman lettering is one of the most recognized of all styles.

12. ANTIQUE ROMAN. A variation on the traditional Roman, Antique Roman has capital letters that are much taller than the lowercase. This stately hand also has extended vertical strokes on the ascending and descending letters; see the capital M and S.

13. ROMAN CAPITALS. Similar to traditional Roman but in all capital letters. Roman capitals are the foundation of our modern-day alphabet, derived from the style of Roman scribes and stonecutters, which developed into the very common Roman typeface.

14. SPENCERIAN. This is another example of a true historical calligraphic hand. Ornate and flourished, Spencerian is an offshoot of Copperplate and dates back to the 18th century. Created with a pointed pen, the thick and thin lines create sophisticated letterforms and rhythms within the script. Spencerian is traditional, formal, and very easily matched to a printer's font. Spencerian has many variations depending on the scribe; it is the most varied of all the hands since there is no "set" alphabet for calligraphers to follow.

15. LONDON. London is hand lettering made to look like a printed typeface. Based on the Spencerian hand, it is beautifully classic, formal, and readable. It can be scripted with or without loops on the ascending letters, such as the lowercase l and d.

16. ST. JAMES. St. James is also hand lettering made to look like a typeface. Based on the Spencerian hand, St. James is refined and smooth. The ascending and descending letters (capital M and S) are unlooped and finished quite distinctly with a blunt stroke, creating a formal look.

17. VENETIAN. An offshoot of St. James, this is also hand lettering developed to resemble a typeface. The ascending and descending letters in Venetian (capital G and lowercase l and y) are looped with traditional cursive-style strokes.

18. HAMILTON. This is an example of a hand developed by an individual calligrapher. Calligrapher Glorie Austern created this script -- more of a handwriting style -- using the lowercase form for capital letters. This is a style similar to basic cursive -- it's fun and is readable, like Italic.

Resources:
Glorie Austern, The Calligraphy Co., Secaucus, NJ (hands 1, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Lisa Bates, Calligraphy by Lisa, San Diego, CA
Nan DeLuca, Calligraphically Yours, New York, NY (hands 4, 8)
Joan Lite Miller Calligraphy and Illustration, Seattle, WA
Calligraphy by Melanie Roth, Scottsdale, AZ
Lisa Rottenberg Yellin Calligraphy, New York, NY (hand 5)
Lynne Sandler, Lettering by Lynne, Alexandria, VA
Pya Seidner, Guilderland, NY (hands 7, 10)
Kathryn Shaughnessy, Calligraphics, New York, NY (hands 2, 3, 4)
Marcella Wegiel, Dearborn Heights, MI (hand 9)
Hilary Williams, North Hollywood, CA (hands 6, 14)

run down me

i haven't been feeling well lately. that probably explains for the long intervals of my blog posts. it could be due to my new pills (makes me sound like an addict noh?) or i just need a loooong vacation.

re: meds, my OB had me start on pills so as to let my ovaries rest from producing those precious little eggs. i'm saving my eggs until after we get married, of course. i realize how precious these things are when i read from somewhere that females are born with all the egg cells that they will ever use in their lifetime. they just ripen on a monthly basis once they reach puberty. males, on the other hand, from puberty till their death, will continually be producing sperm. so that's why even grandpas still manage to get young girls preggy. yeesh! what a thought!

and as for that vacation, i think i need one badly. lately, i seem to be dragging myself to work. don't get me wrong. i love my work. it's the idea of commuting to cavite that bothers me. would you believe that i actually have to travel two freaking hours to work, one-way? so, roundtrip, that's a good four hours already of my time. the reason why it takes me this long is because i still commute to work four times a week. oh, and one more thing, i've been doing this for the past five years or so. this is what's running me down.

that's why i can't wait for august. by that time, joseph will already be here so i intend to lighten my work load. then my eventual resignation come september. 4-5 months to go... and counting!

where we should go on our honeymoon

You Should Honeymoon in Europe!
You are a traditional romantic at heart...

With a taste for fine wine, museums and beautiful walks.

You and your sweetie should get romantic in a cafe in Paris

Or get a Eurail pass - and see as many cities as possible!

Suggested destinations: Paris, Venice, London, Greece


Where Should You Go On Your Honeymoon? Take This Quiz :-)

my dress

just one of the details

recently, i have been mulling over the thought of what to wear on our civil wedding. i didn't want to wear something too formal nor too casual. i wasn't really planning to buy anything as early as now. but when we went to waltermart pasong tamo last wednesday, i knew instantly that i found "the one." it was actually a perfect fit!

it's a two-piece dress made of the "gusutin" type of cloth and it's of a lovely shade of pink. more like blush. there were embroideries and sequins, but only enough to add character to the dress. it's simple, light and ultra feminine. love it! =)

break muna

it's time to take a little break to soothe some frazzled nerves.

testing the limits

all these wedding preparations can truly push you and test your limits. i'm talking about joseph's and mine. it's a given that no two people are ever the same and i realize as well that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. but, more importantly, i think it's how you guys come into terms with all of these differences.

sometimes, we're doing okay with the joint decisions. sometimes, we're not, especially when somebody's tired or had a rough day. sometimes we wonder why we ever argued in the first place. must be the stress. in cases like this, we have somehow managed to stay sane and hear each other out, never to take anything personal. i guess this is what matters the most.

oh, and another thing i learned in this lifetime, you can NEVER EVER please everybody. self-explanatory.

last night, we were arguing about the invites. today, we're okay na. well, all's well that ends well.

some wedding invitation etiquette

in one of many daily surfs on the net, i encountered this wonderful website on invitations. they feature designs that are quite unique and personalized. it's called You're Invited. how very appropriate.

below, i've quoted a few rules on etiquette when composing your invites.

bride and groom line
Traditionally, a bride takes no title before her name. Another option is to include titles for both the bride and groom; this is useful when one of you has an occupation that carries an official title, such as Dr. One way to put yourselves on equal footing is to leave titles off altogether. This is also appropriate if both sets of parents are serving as hosts.

date and time lines
Spelling out the day, date, and year lends sophistication, but you can also use a numeral for the year. Similarly, although“half after six o’clock” is classic, it may not be right for a less formal wedding. When stating the time, only the hour is necessary; there’s no need to note A.M. or P.M. Where time of day may be unclear use“in the morning” or “in the evening.”

location line
Make sure you have the proper name of your church. As with everything else, spell out “Saint” or any other abbreviations (except R.S.V.P.). Direction cards have become a common way to direct your guests to both the ceremony and reception site. Invitations are typically written without punctuation; line breaks take the place of commas, except to separate city and state, or to avoid confusion.

for the love of books

yup, i love books. in fact, i have a growing list of to-read books. i realize that it has grown to a number beyond me. i am still trying to finish "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. this was given to me by joseph last august 2004 pa. see what i mean?

the following is a list of my "to-read" books:

white oleander - janet fitch
snow falling on cedars - david gutterson
she's come undone - wally lamb
a widow for one year - john irving
the five people you meet in heaven - mitch albom
the cider house rules - john irving
the restaurant at the end of the universe - douglas adams
life, unverse and everything - douglas adams
so long, and thanks for all the fish - douglas adams
slow waltz on cedar bend - robert james waller
daughter of fortune - isabel allende
100 years of solitude - gabriel garcia marquez
the unbearable lightness of being - milan kundera
fortune's rocks - anita shreve
sea glass - anita shreve
the fourth hand - john irving
the language of threads - gail tsukiyama
the da vinci code - dan brown (finally!)
P.S. i love you - cecelia ahern
lost in translation - nicole mones

as you can see, most of them are old books. that's because i bought them from book sales with prices ranging from P30 to P200. i wish i had more time on my hands to finish them all. i suppose i'll read them when i'm in oz na. that'll keep me busy for sure.

********************
something off-topic... i texted mimi abesamis and asked her if she was free on the 24th of August for our prenups pictorial. i'm glad she replied that she was indeed available on the said date. i might also schedule a trial hair and make-up on the same day, before the prenups.

we chose a weekday so that the venues wouldn't be as crowded as it is on a weekend. i tend to be overly conscious of people looking at us. i had first hand experience of this when we attended the w@w christmas party last december.

as for venues, joseph and i have been brainstorming for places that are significant to us. so far, we've come up with the airport, a bowling alley and probably baywalk. i am not sure though if people at the airport will allow us to pose within their premises. baka akalain nilang terrorista kami! haha!

father faller's schedule

to those who are interested in attending father joey faller's healing masses, i took the liberty of posting his schedule as i too am keen in attending one. got this from my good friends vanessa.

here's his schedule of masses in metro manila:

Every 3rd Tuesday - 12 NN: Radio Veritas, Quezon City

Every 1st Wednesday - 8 AM: SM Makati

Every 1st Thursday - 6 PM: Metropolitan Hospital, Masangkay St., Manila

Every 1st Friday
12 NN: Export Bank, Buendia cor. Pasong Tamo, Makati City
6 PM: Santuario de San Antonio Church, Forbes Park, Makati City

Every 1st Saturday - 12 NN: Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, SM Megamall

Every 3rd Saturday
9 AM: Buklod ng Pag-ibig, Balete Drive Ext., Quezon City
3 PM: Shrine of Divine Mercy, Mandaluyong City

Every 1st Sunday
8 AM: NBN Channel 4, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City
9 AM: SM North EDSA
3 PM: Lord's Flock, D. Tuazon cor. Quezon Ave., Quezon City

Every 2nd Sunday - 3 PM: Divine Mercy Channel, Greenhills, San Juan

Every 3rd Sunday - 8 AM: NBN Channel 4, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City

For inquiries, information, prayer request and scheduling of healing masses, contact fr. joey therough the following:
Telephone number - (042) 5403085
Mobile number - (0917) 8536267
Fax number - (632) 9200910
Email address - fjoey36@yahoo.com

poor kitty!

this is the culprit who has been keeping me awake (therefore, puyat!) for the past few nights. i thought he/she (still dunno the gender) would be a little scraggly and dirty, but just look at her/him! when i first laid my eyes on this adorable kitten, we decided to just adopt him/her right there and then. besides, we felt that he/she wasn't safe because of the two dogs. i dunno if his/her mom abandoned him/her already. seems like it 'coz the poor kitty has been crying day and night.

we still haven't named him/her. got any suggestions?

faux wax seals -- DIY!

i've been hearing about using faux wax as seals for wedding invites. i originally heard about from tin, a fellow w@wie, and now from glo, also from w@w. it's actually cool, especially when you have enough time on your hands. or we can also opt for the sticker seal. but that doesn't appeal to me very much as i find the faux wax seals more personal, a labor of love. here's a cool website for those DIY seals.

tomorrow, i might go malling and look around for colored glue sticks, a reliable glue gun, a seal (probably one with the letter "E" to denote joseph's surname) and ivory or ecru board paper for my mock up invitations. i'll post pictures soon.

our rings!

i never really got down to posting pictures of our wedding bands and the engagement ring that joseph gave me when he formally proposed a day before the pamamanhikan in december. (just mentioning it got me a little misty-eyed there.)

we bought the bands from karat world at 50% discount. if you noticed, we got a matching two-tone pair with NO rocks. since they are going to be worn everyday for the rest of our lives together, we didn't want something too fancy. just something simple yet classy-looking without having to worry if the rocks will be missing 10-20 years from now, with all the wear and tear.

joseph bought my engagement ring in oz. it's a unique ring actually. not like the usual ones with the big diamond in the middle. it consists of 2 rings -- one with the arch of small diamonds, and another with the rosette of 3 diamonds naman. it's set on white gold, which is what i really wanted.

i'm happy with our rings. can't wait to wear them together.

missing my sweetie

i miss joseph is all. that's basically why i'm posting this little entry.

i wish i can see him everyday.

i wish we can watch the latest movies.

i wish we can have lunch together at wok inn.

i wish we can eat soft ice cream and sour cream and onions flavored french fries.

i wish i can challenge him again to play another game of bowling (and beat him to it! hehe..).

i wish i can just snuggle right up next to him after a long day at work.

*sigh*

tentative date

joseph and i have decided to schedule our civil wedding tentatively on the 26th of August, 2005. that's a Friday. we would have wanted to have it on a weekend so people can attend the little reception that my mom will be hosting. but since it is normally officiated by a judge, we may have no choice but to follow the law.

********************
in line with dates, i encountered this site on feng shui. i think someone mentioned this in w@w. anyway, i found out that 22 December 2005 is not an auspicious day to get married. by auspicious, they mean that it is "indicative of future success or full of promise." therefore, if it is inauspicious, it is an "unfavorable day which must be avoided at all costs."

yeah, whatever! hehe! as for 26 August 2005, they say it's an auspicious day to tie the knot. in that case, i guess you can call it quits then. haha!

our pet dog (for a change)

i couldn't help but post this. i have been hearing about dogster from a few friends before but i have never taken the time to sign up our adorable dog, Engy. until now. here's his profile.

Engy is not of any special breed. he's just your regular askal. he is one of 3 pups by our old dog, daisy (may her soul rest in peace). the name Engy (yes, shortcut for Engot) came into being because when he was a little puppy, he had really beady eyes that seemed way too large for his then tiny face. he reminded me of a cartoon character who had the same features. and so the name stuck. you might say, "poor dog!" pero i tell you, he can really do justice to his name. hehe!

i'll be posting Puppy's story within the next few days. Puppy (aka Itim/Norman/Maliit) is Engy's bestfriend. ;-)

invites update

tita rita, my stepdad's cousin of z&z faxed me her quotation yesterday for our invites. the quotation was for a job order consisting of one main invitation card, entourage card, reception card, map, inner and outer envelopes. the price she quoted was just one grand higher than that of QP's two-card, two-envelope package. although the print isn't embossed like that of QP's, i think that is fine with us. what's important for us is that it is cleanly done (meaning, no smears, etc). we also think that we shouldn't pay so much for the invitations since, after the wedding, it will serve no purpose anymore and people won't want to keep it anyway.

joseph and i have already decided on the layout of our invites. i will be making a sort of mock up invitation on board paper and have the printer copy the layout as is. as for the map to st james and the palms, we got a soft copy from tin of w@w (thanks tin! ü) but it is in ms visio format. will have to shop for the software so that i can open it and have it printed as well.

as for the fonts to be used, i think, for the body, we might be using any the following:

Engraved Gothic


Copperplate Gothic


Donatello


President


Richmond Hill

for our names in the invite, we are considering the following (got all fonts from here):


Carpenter


Linotype Zapfino


Corinthia


Monterey


Good Vibrations
very lovely scripts noh? well, there are actually hundreds of similar fonts like these but i have no more time to post them all here. hehe!

********************
i'm posting this pretty early on a work day. well, actually ... i have no patients to treat this morning. they all cancelled! so i'll be reporting to the clinic a bit late today. it's okay i guess. at least i won't be feeling harassed later.

wedding checklist

today, i went through the checklist that jody liwanag of events experts gave to me and updated the things that we still need to do for the big day in december.

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.
Notify out-of-town guests so they can make early confirmation of attendance.
Decide on your new home after the wedding.

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.

10 months before (february 2005)
Decide on the color scheme and wedding theme.
Finalize your guest list.
Consult a Travel Agent regarding Honeymoon Plans especially if you will be traveling to countries that require entry visas.

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.

7 months before (may 2005)
Canvass and select a reliable florist.
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.
Shop for wedding rings.
Canvass and select gifts for the Principal Sponsors, Entourage and even parents if desired.

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.
Order invitations, missalettes and other stationery required like thank you cards.
Canvass and select make-up artist/hairdresser.
Start to have your trial make-ups. Take a photo of ourself afterwards to see if make-up is too heavy or light.
Canvass and select cake maker.
Canvass and book other wedding service providers (i.e. decors, butterflies, candles, etc.).
Obtain a sample copy of a sample missalette from your officiant and have it approved by your officiating priest and the church or ceremony venue.
Draft your ceremony program.
Begin planning out your honeymoon.
Start working on your vows, if you are saying your own.
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’s baptismal, confirmation and residence certificates.
Obtain marriage license from your city/municipal hall. Be sure to have all needed documents.
Measurement taking with Veluz.
Groom: Secure certificate of freedom to marry from your parish in Canberra.

4 months before (august 2005)
Decide on and finalize wedding details/contracts/agreements with your florist, musicians, photographer, caterer, couturier, make-up artist, and other suppliers of your choice.
Complete Honeymoon plans and book your itinerary.
Have passports ready and secure visas, if necessary.
First fitting with Veluz. Pay second installment (25%).
Book a calligrapher or a social printer for addressing of invitations. If invitations and guest list are ready, go ahead with the calligraphy/printing.
Reserve the Church for a wedding rehearsal.
Confirm fitting schedules with your couturier and provide those concerned with a copy of these dates.
Schedule prenup pictorials with Mimi.
Attend pre-cana seminar.
Finalize on the menu with your caterer or hotel.
Order the bridal accessories and paraphernalia.
Shop for a new home.
Second fitting with Veluz.
Get a complete medical check-up.
Resign from work!
Civil wedding.

3 months before (september 2005)
Set an appointment with your wedding officiant for pre-marital counseling.
Request respective parishes to have your wedding announced for three weeks.
Obtain a wedding ban certificate.
Submit marriage contract 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.
Complete gifts for the sponsors, entourage (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.
Invite participants for your reception program and check their availability like a friend who will sing.
Pay the Palms (50%).
Third fitting (shantung) with Veluz.
Prepare your AVP if desired.
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.
Have passport amended. Then, apply for a spouse visa.
Start decorating your new home.

2 months before (october 2005)
Address and send out invitations. Personally deliver invitations to your primary sponsors
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.
If desired, book a hotel room for your wedding day.
Pay photographer 50%.
Start moving things to your new home.

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.
Final fitting (piña) with Veluz. Pay 25%.
Arrange for final fitting for your entourage. Set delivery time.
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.
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%.

Phew! that was long! i think we're right on schedule, except for that red bit there. still undecided. =(

updates

this post is long overdue owing to my recent hectic schedule. yup, the patients just keep on pouring in. what's new? time sure does fly when you're busy!

last wednesday, i met my stepdad's cousin who owned a little printing business (z&z). i asked my brother, Dave, to accompany me as it was going to be a long trip from Parañaque. she only had a few wedding invitation samples to show as they weren't available at the moment. it seemed that their work was okay so i asked for suggestions on what paper to use and inserts to include in the invitation. i also discussed with them the design Joseph and I wanted and the specifications. we ended the meeting by her promising to fax me her quotation on the things that i wanted. i am hoping to get that anytime soon.

since i was in the makati area, we decided to head off to glorietta to check out QP Designs. i have also liked their work ever since but had this impression that they would cost us so much. i eventually decided to look around to confirm my theory.

i was so happy to find out that they did have designs that didn't cost as much as i had expected. these designs, by the way, were what Joseph and I had really in mind. now, i'm hoping that z&z will give us a quote that is not feasible with our budget. i am really inclined to get QP now. am i bad or what?

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joseph and i spent our 8th monthsary online, discussing our invite layout, entourage, music playlist for the ceremony and reception. the layout for our invite has pretty much been finished. we cannot finalize our entourage for now as we have still to confirm with some people if they can make it to our wedding in december. the songs for the wedding ceremony (to be played by string minstrels) are all done. music for the video and reception are yet to be discussed and deliberated on.

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my good friend, Lalam, texted me last night to inform me that she is already in Australia. she arrived last tuesday. good for them. i think they have been separated for six months since they got married in october of last year. it's about time.

as usual, inggit na naman ako.

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i have been procrastinating lately. i am due to submit 2-3 progress reports to my patients in the coming week! *sigh* there goes my weekend.

of flowers and frills

i was surfing the net today for ideas on my bridal bouquet and found some really wonderful arrangements. my top picks have always been roses, tulips, and calla lilies. in any order.



i have also found some equally lovely centerpieces. simple yet very elegant. they definitely set the mood.

photos: courtesy of the third day and modern bride

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joseph and i have been eyeing Hong Kong Disneyland as one of our honeymoon destinations. we are considering it because we want to go to a place that we've both never been to. although i spent a few months of my childhood in Hongkong, i couldn't have appreciated the sights then at the age of 5. it would be nice to see it again as an adult with my hubby-to-be.

if not HK, we're also considering Thailand. joseph's brother, Eric, loves the place and he recommends us to get a feel of the sights and sounds of the place. i just hope another tsunami does not strike again.

designs by veluz

i wrote veluz a couple of days ago, requesting for her to come up with designs for my mother and my future mother-in-law. i sent her pictures of the two women so that she had an idea of their body shape. joseph's mom prefers the classic and conservative type while my mom wants a terno. since my future MIL has not yet seen the designs sent to me by veluz, i went ahead and posted here the designs that my mom wanted (especially #2). i like her choices. very elegant!

as for color motif, we are still clueless. we are now choosing from the following combos (parang fastfood menu ah! hehe!) :

• wine/matte gold/forest green
• turquoise or aqua/silver/lemon yellow or seafoam green
• "kiwi"/"banana" (this is a new addition. check them out @ dessy.)

i've also requested veluz to sketch my bridal gown so that i can better see its details, both front and back views. i got my gown from a bridal magazine. when i first saw it, i knew immediately that it was the gown for me. i wasn't into the ballgown types. i just wanted something simple and light. i'll post her sketch as soon as she sends it to me.

prayers for the pope

the pope died today (read more about it here). catholics from all over the world are grieving.

in a way, it is a good thing, because finally he is laid to rest and he does not have to suffer anymore the complications of his illnesses.

let us take a moment to pray for his soul. may his successor be one who is truly deserving.

for ripley's believe it or not...

joseph shared to me an article from the manila times. this is totally outrageous! i don't know if this really transpired or they're just pulling our leg. or has this something to do with April Fools' Day?

remember the "sexual harassment" charges filed against the 77-year-old Rep. Antonio Diaz by Viva Hot Babe Anna Leah Javier? would you believe the old man proposed marriage right in front of everybody with matching song and dance number? geez! here are more excerpts from the article by RJ Ledesma:

"Javier was dumbstruck as Representative Diaz unexpectedly tore off his barong and pants to reveal a body hugging shirt and tight shiny black pants while performing his cacophonous rendition of 'Please Forgive Me' followed by 'Your Body is a Wonderland,' which brought collective fits of vomiting from the female Congressional staff members."

"When questioned as to why the proceedings were postponed several times, ethics committee chair Rep. Roberto Cajes of Bohol commented: 'We purposely delayed the proceedings so that Representative Diaz would have more time to prepare his song numbers and for the Hot Babes to prepare for their production number. The logistics for all this took more time than our VAT deliberations. Sayang naman also if we moved the hearing earlier, we would have had to cancel our tickets to Las Vegas for the Pacquiao fight.' Then, after securing the phone number of Viva Hot Babe Jennifer Lee, Representative Cajes broke out into a smile and said: 'But we knew it was all worth it when Anna Leah gave Tony yung kanyang matamis na ‘Oo’ [her sweet ‘yes’]."

is this a joke or what? read the entire article here.