florist booked!

finally, we have a florist! i met with Yolly and Rex of flora@eleven_01 (yup, that's their new business name)to discuss the general details of our floral requirement for the bridal entourage. we were able to talk about the flowers as well as fillers that we will be using for the bouquets. this was based mainly on ideas that i got from the web and of course, on our wedding color motif. i already paid them the downpayment to book them on our wedding date na.

so far, we have finalized the following details. here is our bridal entourage requirement:

1 bridal bouquet

1 hand-tied bouquet for the MOH

4 hand-tied nosegay bouquets for the BMs

3 floral balls with crown style headdresses for the FGs

3 wrist corsages for the secondary sponsors

5 hand-tied nosegay bouquets for the female principal sponsors

2 hand-tied bouquets for the mothers

Freebies:

1 throw-away bouquet for the reception

1 offertory basket of flowers for the mass

loose petals

basically, we will be using roses, calla lilies, carnations and fillers (e.g., hypernicum berries, foliage, gypsophilia, wax flowers, etc.). i'm pretty happy with the choices. :)

Two-in-One Map to St. James the Great & The Palms Country Club
thanks to Tin AKA Mrs. Schmuck, i was able to get a 2-in-1 map to St. James the Great Parish and The Palms. the only hitch here was that it was in MS Visio format, which i (nor joseph) do not have. :( i have also inquired with some computer shops if they can support such a file format. negative din daw.

but luckily now, i don't have to fret anymore. Catleya, a fellow w@wie and st james/the palms bride, requested a copy of it. i asked her if she can convert it to jpeg so that i can print it na rin for our invitations. she replied with a copy of it in jpeg format and one also in MS word where she pasted the MS visio version on (which i was also able to access, by the way). thanks catleya, you're truly heaven-sent!

you can check out the map HERE. now, on to other details... :)

On Metro Weddings Magazine - July to December 2005 Issue
hmmm... i wasn't so impressed with this issue. first of all, the fonts were too small and therefore, tedious to read. second, the photos weren't as vibrant as that of the previous ish. feeling ko tinipid. tapos, there are soooo many ads! almost every spread had an advertisement of some supplier. :(

i also noticed that they have a different editor-in-chief now. it's not Daphne Oseña-Paez anymore. i wonder what happened...

borloloy galore

thanks to Glo, who had the link on her blog, i found these lovely and exquisite bridal accessories on White Aisle. take a look!

The Palms Country Club FAQs

the main entrance and driveway

since we haven't really taken time yet to discuss our concerns (re: reception details) personally with Anne Zablan of The Palms Country Club, joseph and i thought of jotting down our queries the other night and sent them to Anne for clarification. Anne, as usual, was very prompt in her reply.

here was our little Q&A portion. other Palms couples might find the following information useful as well.

Q. What is the minimum and maximum number of seats in a single table that they are amenable to?

A. Minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 seats. Size of round table is 72” diameter.
+++++
Q. Would PALMS provide a technician to operate the AVP equipment during the wedding?

A. A technician from Palms will be on hand to operate the AVP equipment for as long as your representative could give him the CD/DVD material ahead of time. However, if your AVP material will make use of a laptop, then, your representative alone will have to operate it to avoid damage.

+++++
Q. Would the AVP equipment already include the DVD and CD players?

A. Normally it only includes the projector. However, if you would need the CD or DVD player, we will throw it in for free.

+++++
Q. Does the reception area include a sound system that is adequate for the AVP equipment and good for our number of guests (say, 150 guests)? Again would there be a technician that will operate this or we need to get somebody to do it?

A. We provide a public address (PA) system that includes the CD and cassette players, speakers, microphones and amplifiers. Yes, our technician will operate this. If you have a program, kindly give us a script so our technician can assist you in playing the CD’s or controlling the house lights if needed. The PA system is adequate for the AVP equipment and for the ballroom. However, if you will plan to have a band that will bring in musical instruments, please provide your own sound system complete with the microphones, player, speakers. Our PA system’s amplifiers are just for microphones and can’t take in instruments.

+++++
Q. Can we swap food items from one or more menu to make our own special menu?

A. Yes, you may. In general, we don’t adjust the price if you will change one meat item with the same type of meat, i.e. a chicken dish with another chicken dish; a pork dish with another pork dish. For a seafood based soup exchanged with a non-seafood based soup, please consider adding another P 45+ per person to the menu price.

i'm beginning to like this Q&A bit. feeling ko, nasa Ms. Universe beauty pageant ako (kahit si Ms. Anne ang sumasagot.. hehehehe!!!)... yeah right! :P

invites update

i went to glorietta this afternoon for the final proofing of our invitations. everything was perfect, except for the main invite which had JOSEPH AND LESLI on it. i wonder who "lesli" was... the person in charge of layouting must have had his mind drifting to outer space while he was typing it. hah!

anyways, it's all corrected now and i've signed the proofs to indicate that all information has been verified and is accurate. we are to pick up the finished product by july 12. that gives us enough time to have them addressed by calligraphy. by the time joseph comes home, everything will be set. :)

Florist Update

joseph and i have finally decided to get the services of Yolly Aguilar for our entourage bouquets. i have already informed Yolly last Thursday of our decision through text and we plan to meet anytime in the coming week to confirm our booking by paying the required 20% downpayment.

Civil Wedding Update

thanks to Joseph's friend, Atty. E., we now have a judge who will preside over our civil rites on the 26th of August. the judge has requested us though to have it before lunch instead of the planned afternoon schedule because she has a class to teach in the said afternoon. now, i must ask anne castaño if it's possible to adjust my trial make-up schedule with her to an hour earlier. i hope she'll be fine with it.

gypso... what?!

when i was canvassing for flower suppliers for our entourage's bouquets, the suppliers would sometimes mention names of flowers or fillers that they would suggest for the said arrangements. one which came up too frequently was the term GYPSOPHILIA/GYPSOPHILA. i was like, "Gypso-what? What the hell were they talking about?"

anyways, Yolly of Tita Beth's Flowers was kind enough to translate the darn thing into layman's term. Gypsophilia/gypsophila is more commonly known as Baby's Breath. yun lang pala yun!

according to flowers.org, "The botanical name means 'lover of chalk' - as this is the sort of soil the plant likes to grow in. Its popular name, baby's breath, gives an indication of its delicate airy appearance."

for more help on flowers, click HERE. very informative. :)

bridezilla

here's another comic strip to brighten up your day. i'm sure every bride-to-be can relate to this.

swiped from Favor Ideas

6 months to go!!!

wow, i cannot believe there are only six months left before we walk down the aisle. time surely flies when you're having fun doing the preps for that big day. here's a rundown of what i've accomplished today.

Invites Update

due to tita rita's unavailability and unreliable schedule, we have finally decided to have our invitations printed by QP Designs instead. at least, all we need to do is just choose from their ready-made designs and provide them with the lay-out that we wanted.

i've posted a sample invite which joseph and i have decided on. we wanted it to be just simple and elegant, nothing too fancy. after all, when the wedding's over, i don't suppose people will still keep your invites. generally, they just go into the trash bin after a few months or so. we also thought that this was one thing that we could save on. my dear friend, Girlie (Thanks kaayo ha! ü), has agreed to contribute in paying for our invites so we only need to pay for the balance. we also chose a simple design so we could order additional RSVP cards for those expected to attend.

i went to QP Glorietta this afternoon and confirmed the design that we wanted. i also paid a one-thousand-peso deposit so that they can start to layout our invitation based on the sample i gave them. i'm due to get the layout this saturday so that we can finalize it. i will also be paying the balance of the required 50% downpayment so that they can start printing na once everything is finalized. by the way, since we're ordering around 150 invitations, they gave us a two-peso discount per invite. :) it will take them around 2-3 weeks to print it so the timing is just right. by then, i will have it ready na in time for joseph's arrival in august and we'd only need to worry about the calligraphy na lang.

Gown and Motif Update

i went to see Veluz this morning, with my mom. today, she took my measurements na for my bridal gown. we discussed some color combinations for the entourage's gowns as well. for the moms (Veluz will be making them too), we agreed to have it in rust orange or a melon-y shade of orange, with touches of wine or yellow gold to make them look younger. as for the bridesmaids and secondary sponsors, it's still going to be in wine red but with touches naman of the orange and gold. as for the little flower girls, they'll be in yellow gold with splashes of orange and wine on their sashes. love it! :)

i'm attaching the swatches that Veluz gave me. i hate how my scanner has captured them because sobrang layo talaga in real life. :( anyways, there's wine red chiffon there, orange reversible satin (love the texture, by the way!) and yellow gold shantung. we might be using a maroon shade of satin for the lining of the chiffon. will definitely use chiffon for the skirts to make it real flowy! :)

now i need to submit to veluz pictures of my entourage so that she can design something appropriate for each one of them. so kind talaga of veluz, when in fact, this is not part of her package naman. we plan to have the gowns sown by her sub-con who already knows how to interpret her designs. at least, there'll be some sort of coordination na rin.

well, that's it for now. by the end of the week, we might also be confirming our supplier for the entourage's flowers. things are finally starting to gain momentum already. i am so excited na! :)

a peek at hunter valley

Peppers Convent @ Hunter Valley

joseph and i might be visiting Hunter Valley when i'm all settled na in Oz. joseph's friend, J, may be sponsoring our trip there. my dear hubby-to-be has been talking to me about this romantic get-away place and has even showed me pictures of it. i admit it is lovely and very ideal for a quiet weekend to unwind and relax. sana matuloy kami! if so, we plan to go in March to celebrate our birthdays (we were both born in the same month).


the bedroom @ Peppers Convent (ganda!)

my life expectancy

i was bloghopping a while ago and landed on Balay ni Bambit. there, i was taken to a site which calculated your life expectancy based on your sex, weight, race, gender and lifestyle. it is somewhat similar to the Death Clock, but more detailed. and so here are my results...

YOUR LIFECLOCK RESULTS

You were born on: 02-03-1976

Given your current habits, you are likely to die on: 11/3/2063

That is in:
58 Years
701 Months
21323 Days
511729 Hours
30703700 Minutes
1842221950 Seconds

You will be 87 Years Old.

wow, i get to live to a real good old age pala. i hope i'm alive but NOT bedridden naman by then.

To find out about your life clock, click here.

bonita's world

since i'm a bit afraid of the water too (not of taking a bath ha!), i thought i'd post this cartoon from Mik's friend, Sheila. very funny! enjoy! :)

some tips from mimi

since we're having our prenups soon (in August na. can you actually believe june is almost over?!), mimi was so thoughtful and kind enough to give me some tips on some do's and don'ts on the day of our pictorials. here are just a few:

On Clothes
It is recommended that:

both your outfits match --- either they're of the same color, or in different shades of the same color, or same tonal range (of different colors but both light colored or dark colored -- a light pink would go well with a light blue but not with navy blue).

you go for solid tops; in case you want to wear clothes with designs/patterns, they should not be too distracting so as not to take the attention away from your faces.

your shoes and accessories go well with your clothes.

you wear light clothes as most of the pictorial will be outdoors, under the sun.

you bring at least 2 sets of clothes for variety.

On Make-up
Your make-up depends on the outfit or theme you have for the engagement portrait. If you're to be photographed in your formal clothes, then it is a must that your hair and face is made up. However, if you're to be in your casual outfits, a light everyday make-up (light powder, blush, lipstick) is recommended for the bride-to-be and a some powder for the groom-to-be (to help eliminate the shiny spots). Aside from a compact powder for touch-ups, oil control film is also a must bring.

i guess i'll have to reschedule my trial make-up with Clamar then. my appointment with them is not yet final pa naman as they serve clients on a first-come-first-served basis. i'd have to check with them a few days before the scheduled trial if they are still open on the 22nd of December. if not, then i'd have to cancel the appointment na lang. if they're still available, then i'd have to request for a rescheduling of our trial MU, probably after the civil wedding na.

it's sad that mimi's album supplier still hasn't responded to her inquiries. we're still hoping though that the 13x13 album is still available.

********************
Florist Update

i met up with Yolly Aguilar last wednesday and i was happy with our meeting. she really knew flowers! hehehe!!! i'm a real idiot when it came to fillers and other not-heard-of blooms so i felt so confused with all the terms she was mentioning. serves me right for not doing enough research. :P

i showed them pictures of bouquets that i gathered from the internet and some appealed also to her. we seemed to have the same ideas and the suggestions she gave really made a whole lot of sense to me. she was also open to my suggestions as well. her final quotation was definitely reasonable and affordable, not to mention that they really deliver the flowers to the hotel pa and they have other freebies as well (throw-away bouquet, loose petals, flowers for the offertory). oh, and did i mention that they really make the bridal bouquet in the hotel na to ensure it's freshness and that they only endorse it to the bride when the she needs it na for the pictorials?

i think these are what are important between a client and a supplier -- the rapport, that both are somewhat in unison in ideas adn of course, you get value for your money. it's so hard if your supplier has different tastes and styles from yours. that would definitely spell disaster.

i pencil-booked yolly na for the 22nd of December. i am just awaiting joseph's decision on this as he feels that he still has to compare the price of Yolly's flowers with other possible suppliers.

********************
remember that mommy (of my patient) who's still in denial? well, she told me yesterday that they will "temporarily" stop muna their kid's therapy because they're really having a tough time daw. besides, they've enrolled him in some playgroup somewhere near their home. their kid seems to be enjoying naman daw.

i was actually relieved to hear this, as if some weight has been lifted off my shoulders. i also felt that it was divine intervention in a way, and God took care of it for me. i was meaning to have a heart-to-heart talk with the mom so that they can better accept the situation of their kid. now, i don't have to do that anymore. they have really justified their denial by pulling out their kid from therapy. that's just sad. but i'm so fine with it because at least i won't be stressing out anymore on the child's management which the parents, i believe, don't actually believe in. the management is, in fact, ineffective already so there is no point in continuing the said treatment.

our secretary was also happy for me. she said that little by little my patients have been discharged and that everything seems to be working toward my stress-free resignation in august. less patients to be endorsed, less reports to make. ain't that the life? :)

yan ang pinay

i was bloghopping a while ago and stumbled into data's site. she was promoting a new cause in upholding the Filipinas' reputation across the world wide web.

you too can join in this crusade. i did because i felt it my duty as a Filipino and i also wanted to change the way people from other countries look at us Pinays.

for more information on how to help in this campaign, click here. make a difference!!!

my OC groom

and i thought i was the only one who got anxious when things don't go the way they're supposed to. joseph, being the systems analyst that he is, has been trying to think of ways to make our reception registration go as smoothly as possible. it has once been a cause of argument for us because i was content already in just printing out the table assignments and let the coordinators do the job of ushering the guests for us. he simply wanted more, mentioning so many what-ifs.

anyway, that issue is now resolved because he created (imagine that!) a program using MS Access to help us out with the guest list, the guests' attendance (whether confirmed, declined or for invitation only), clusters and table assignments. he claimed that he was so "obsessed" last saturday in finishing it that he wasn't able to do anything else at home. now, how's that for an OC groom?

the program is working fine now, save for a few minor bugs which he has vowed to correct. i was able to put in my share of the wedding guests and will be sending it back to him for consolidation. it's a very big convenience if you ask me because the computer will do all the sorting and reporting for us na. even my mom was awed when she took a glimpse at the screen as i was working on it. wala daw syang masabi sa "asawa" ko. naks! ;)

i didn't realize how much tedious the task was of entering all your guests' names, not to mention that my mom was also insisting to invite a few people that i wasn't so close to. i guess this is a common problem among soon-to-wed Filipino couples. families do play a BIG role in the guest list. i don't want to be going over our target number of guests anymore because as it is we are way over budget na. so mama promised that if the number of guests from our side exceeded my limit, she will be the one to pay for their meals. this is just being fair because my original guest list has not even reached 70 yet.

********************
Florist Update

Grace, a fellow w@wie, referred me to Yolly Aguilar of Tita Beth's Flowers. i texted her last saturday to inquire about her rates. i am happy to say that we found her rates affordable and well within our budget -- not too cheap, not too expensive either. she has even given me 50% discount on items exceeding her 14-item mark, because nga i was referred by Grace. :) i plan to see her on wednesday to discuss flower options and final costing of our floral requirement. i'm keeping my fingers crossed again on this.

hotel update

i called The Bellevue first thing in the morning and was able to book a deluxe room (for the gentlemen) and an executive suite (one-bedroom suite for the ladies) for our pre-wedding preparations. since my mother is a club member, we got the deluxe room free of charge and the suite with a fifteen percent discount. the overnight stay at the suite, by the way, includes breakfast for two. not bad! ;)

i'm glad that's done and over with. although the reservations officer told us that there were still many rooms available for december, i did not take any chances anymore and immediately booked our reservations. he gladly gave us our confirmation numbers with a cheerful, "See you in December." we will be calling a few days before the 22nd of December just to confirm our reservations.

********************

we were informed a few days ago by fellow PBOZ egroup members that there is a strong chance that Joseph has to fly before i do after the wedding. they suggested that i book my flight after my spouse visa has been granted just to be sure. we were not able to confirm it yet because it is not stated anywhere in the embassy website. so the only way to confirm it is when i go there for my interview.

joseph and i are very disappointed because we were really keen on going back to Oz together so that just in case i'd have any trouble or difficulty at the immigration, he is there to help me out. once this is confirmed (joseph going before me) then joseph might move his flight from the 7th of January to the 12th and then i'd follow na lang a few days after, hopefully on a weekend so that he doesn't have to go on leave at work. i hope things turn out in favor of us.

all this talk of starting a new life together has got me quite excited. can't wait! :)

********************
on to non-wedding related stuff... i had just one of the worst days at the clinic yesterday. i don't know why people bring in doctors to speak with me in behalf of themselves when these doctors have totally no concern whatsoever in my dealings with the child and the parents. and an ob-gyne pa at that! the doctor, while i was explaining my management of the kid (which i don't need to do by the way), even told me that she thought it wasn't the right thing to do. who is she anyway to tell me that?! she doesn't even know what she was talking about. in short, it was as if she was telling me indirectly that i was an incompetent therapist.

what got me more pissed was that the mother didn't even have the nerve to go and talk to me herself. so unethical! why did she have to bring the doctor/ninang to talk to me? to intimidate me? she was even patronizing me, making himas my back and asking for pasensya while i was talking to her as i was trembling with rage.

i am going to have a good think about it this long weekend. joseph and my mom suggested that i discharge the kid already. it would even be very harder now when i treat their kid because i would have to constantly prove to them that i know what i'm doing. true. plus, i need an apology.

the victim here is the kid, really. his parents are still constantly in denial about his condition, always insisting that their son is very intelligent. fact is, i'm not questioning his intelligence. he is very bright and knows basic concepts at the very young age of three. the thing is, their son has behavioral problems and has difficulty coping with changes in his environment and recognizing authority. they do not realize that if they don't address this, the kid will still have a hard time at school inspite of his intelligence.

i still cannot get over the incident yesterday. actually, i have lost all interest now to treat him because it has become a tedious task. tedious because there is no follow up at home and so we are caught in a vicious cycle all the time. the parents are obviously taking it real hard. but i hope they can accept their fate as soon as possible to help them help their child.

wedding checklist update

since it's a new month, i thought i'd update our wedding checklist. i promised to update it monthly kasi. here goes...

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. (still clueless)
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, forest green 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 clueless)

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. (ongoing)
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 clamar and 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.
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.
Start printing of invites.
Draft your ceremony program.
Begin planning out your honeymoon. (still clueless)
Start working on your vows, if you are saying your own.
First fitting with Veluz. Pay second installment (25%).
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’s baptismal, confirmation and residence certificates.
Obtain marriage license from your city/municipal hall. Be sure to have all needed documents.
Groom: Secure certificate of freedom to marry from your parish in Canberra.
Bride: Secure CENOMAR from NSO, to be submitted to Australian Embassy, as part of spouse visa application.

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.
Have missalette draft approved by your officiating priest and the church or ceremony venue.
Complete honeymoon plans and book your itinerary.
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.
Third fitting with Veluz (shantung).
Joseph's fitting with Veluz (21st of August).
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 Clamar and Anne Castano.
Prenup pictorials with Mimi.
Attend pre-cana seminar (20th of August). Upgrade to aircon and pay balance.
Finalize on the menu with Anne of The Palms. Food tasting (August 29).
Order the bridal accessories and paraphernalia.
Get a complete medical check-up.
Work part-time na lang.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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 and other IDs amended. Then, apply for a spouse visa.

2 months before (october 2005)
Address and send out invitations to guests.
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.

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.
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%.

i've managed to add a few other details i've overlooked last time. if you notice, i've also revised my working schedule with Veluz. it's all in there now.

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due to certain circumstances (which got my mom really pissed), we were not able to go to that swimming escapade in Laguna. we just stayed at home and ate all the food that we were planning to take with us. too bad. well, at least i get to be lazy today and snuggle into my warm soft bed and pillows. heaven! :)

to cheer up our mama a bit, joseph and i bought her the ever yummy Chocolate Mousse by Red Ribbon. see picture of luscious cake below.


yum! :9

The Prophet on Marriage

By Kahlil Gibran

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?" And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

(source: Robin's Web)

a pleasant surprise

from oz with love

i received a greeting card from my soon-to-be hubby, joseph. it was quite unexpected but i was so happy when i first laid my eyes on it. he sent it via snail mail and it arrived exactly on our tenth monthsary. i would say it's a rarity to get something from the postman these days, with the advent of electronic mails and instant messaging.

yup, it's still our tenth month of togetherness. feels like ten years already. must be the distance. our whirlwind romance wasn't quite what i had in mind, but i guess they were all right to say that when the right person comes along, you just know it. gut feel, in other words.

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wedding prep updates

anne zablan, the catering manager of the palms country club, informed us of the new rates effective june 2005. they already forewarned us about this when we booked them last january. there has been a ten percent increase and it's really expensive na. we have yet to ask for an update on their menu. they also told us before that they will be revising their menu, probably to add other dishes so that there will be a more varied selection.

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mimi answered the emails i sent her a few days ago, regarding the change in our album. we're going to wait until the 15th just to see if her supplier can still come up with the 13x13 italian album with the black cover that we like so much. she's also offering us an alternative to our original package. this will comprise of the following:

40 12x12 prints, layouted, in scratch proof finish (instead of 50 12x12 prints, layouted, in matte finish)

12x12 book-type Korean album with 40 leaves (instead of 13x13 Italian album with 50 leaves)

aside from these probable changes, we also discussed about possible location sites for our coming prenup pictorials this august when joseph comes home. we've decided to shoot at La Mesa EcoPark because of its beautiful scenery. however, since it's typhoon season already, we should be also prepared to have an indoor location site (for back-up), just in case we're not so lucky on the 24th of august. gosh, we're keeping our fingers crossed, not to mention our toes too (as suggested by mimi) for so many things. sana everything will be okay.

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it's my beloved mother's birthday tomorrow. we're going swimming at her friend's house in Laguna, rain or shine. happy 54th, mama! :)

feedback on fresh cut flowers

i read this not-so-good feedback on Fresh Cut Flowers, courtesy of a fellow w@wie.

i did not get fresh cut because hindi nya patikman sa yo cake before ka mag down ng money...so parang na turn off ako and opted instead for sugarbox... tapos when i asked him to quote for my flowers, ok lang siya ng ok, when he was about to draft the quote, sabi nya parang mahal daw nung flowers and mali ang na quote nya for me.... parang ang gulo di ba.... ~ YNA

there goes my little ecstatic bubble. *sigh* next!!!

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i got word from Mimi Abesamis (our photographer) as well. she just informed us that her supplier won't be carrying the 13x13 italian album anymore. sayang naman. i hope her supplier changes her mind. we really would have wanted the traditional album to store our wedding photos in. the book style or magnetic type wasn't quite what we had in mind.

airbrushed make-up

to those clueless on airbrushed make-up (including me!), read on! i stumbled into this very informative page on this new technology.

Why Air-Brushed Make-up?
Airbrushed Make-up achieves extremely smooth poreless looking skin and allows for shinethru of very tiny details at the same time. The evenly distribution of a sprayed pigment mist paired with a very sensitive usage of materials enhances the airbrushed face rather than hiding its unique features under a layer (covering it up).

Since Airbrushed beauty make-up aims for a merely 10% coverage on the skin rather than the full cover of a regular product, the unique features of the face blend organically with the applied color. This combination fosters an exceptionally healthy and natural look. Even in “full armor”, made-up for the big social night of the season, a woman does not have to feel like wearing a Make-up mask.

And it will show: To most, she will simply be a georgeous female without any make-up at all. Or maybe just a tiny hint? But where? Even for a professional Make-up Artist, it is often hard to tell, wether the striking beauty of a woman in Airbrushed Make-up is not “just” natural proof of an afternoon on the beach, a good nights sleep and a happy lifestyle. Getting compareable results with a regular brush or a sponged fluid would be next to impossible in most cases. (The well-known and widely feared joke/comment “she looks like a clown that swam thru a paint bucket” will no longer be applicable. Too bad!)

How does an Airbrushed Make-up system work?
Quite simple. An Airbrushed Make-up system consists of four components:
1. The Airbrush itself, sometimes called “the gun”. It has about the size and weight of a pen.
2. A thin flexible hose, that connects the Airbrush to the Airsource
3. The Airsource. Usually a compressor -about the size of two stacked pieces of soap- that puts out a soft continuous flow of air.
4. Specially formulated Make-up colors. Liquid, with a viscosity and thickness like milk to make them sprayable.

For application, a few drops of Make-up fluid are filled into the Airbrush gun which uses the compressors airflow to create a very fine mist over the desired area of the face/body. The constant softed airflow adheres the pigment onto the skin as it delivers it.

for more information on this method, you can check out USLU AIRLINES.

my wedding style

i've encountered a few online quizzes on wedding styles, but this one i found to be more comprehensive than the rest. here are my results:

Traditional with a twist
Your style is 'tradition with a twist' - you're not ready to forgo tradition, but you feel strongly that your wedding reflects you and your groom's personalities, as well as your lifestyle and relationship. While you can't imagine having a receiving line or traditional top table, you like the idea of sharing a first dance with your new husband. Nowadays, it's completely acceptable for brides to revise traditions; in fact, it's a must. That way, you can include some of the common and familiar elements that work for you and still have the freedom to make changes where necessary. After all, most brides have to work out a way to involve parents, step-parents and often children in their wedding day.

you can take the test yourself here.

sigh of relief

now i am able to breathe easier and sleep better (although i still have the colds and a sore throat). the whole seminar thing is all behind us now. para akong nabunutan ng tinik!

re: my visual aids, i had to do a bit of overtime last thursday to complete it. of course, my co-worker was trying to help naman, although she only rendered her assistance at five na in the afternoon. what irked me was that there didn't seem to be any signs of panic on her face, probably because she was NOT the one who was going to do the lecture. in short, things got done by 7 in the evening and i got home at around 8:30 na. she was wishing me good luck repeatedly before we parted that night. yeah right!

i was afraid i wouldn't make it to the seminar because i felt like i was already coming down with something last thursday. my hacking cough and aching body was probably the result of too much stress thinking about the darn lecture. fortunately, when i got up yesterday morning, i felt a bit better, although my voice was a bit hoarse. so on to the lecture i went.

we actually started an hour late. the resident doctors who were assigned to help us with the equipments (sound system, projector, screen) somehow forgot their responsibilities. had i not called their attention, we would have been waiting for eons for them to help us out.

anyway, as any novice lecturer would be, i was nervous and anxious as ever. i managed to calm my nerves as i saw some of the audience nod their head in approval while i was discussing something. that sort of gave me hope and confidence. i was probably saying something that was actually making some sense to them.

now came the open forum. i braced myself for people who would be asking challenging questions as well as irrelevant ones. joseph warned me that those who asked the irrelevant Q's are usually the ones who just want some attention. in other words, mga gustong magpasikat.

okay, so i called on a few who did have some worthy Q's up their sleeves. then there was this guy in a dark shirt who raised his hand and asked me to clearly differentiate some terms i used in my lecture. (by the way, i was discussing about a few techniques to manage behavior in kids with ADHD in the home setting.) he told me to differentiate punishment from penalty from time-out. (this actually is an irrelevant question because i was not discussing about terms and their definitions. i was merely talking about techniques.) so to appease him, i said, "Time-out is a form of punishment, while punishment is synonymous with penalty. Both punishment and penalty are negative reinforcements." then he goes, "No, mali yata yun. from what i studied in DLSU, punishment and penalty are not synonymous terms, for sure."

a parent from the audience, who happened to be also a physician at our hospital and who was also sending her kid to our clinic, spoke up to say something in the same context as i did a few minutes ago. then, mr. know-it-all replied, "Hinde talaga eh. Ang alam ko di talaga synonymous yung dalawa."

so, dra. G, probably getting irritated na rin, asked him to tell us what the difference was. you know what mr. smart-ass said? he said, "well, actually i CANNOT recall the exact words anymore. basta alam ko di sila synonymous. so suggestion ko lang, if di kayo sure sa sasabihin nyo, wag nyo na lang idi-discuss kasi mako-confuse lang yung audience nyo."

everybody was stunned, including me of course. but i wasn't dumb enough to stoop to his level. i just ignored all his comments and i was smiling the whole time, making it obvious to him that i wasn't going to be affected by his smart aleck remarks. geez, some people are just so KSP, thinking that they're highly intellectuals when in fact, he was already making an ass out of himself by asking a super irrelevant question.

oh well... charge to experience na lang. pero when i recall yesterday's highlight, i just laugh at the thought of mr. smart-ass. i pity the guy.

updates

things are looking brighter after finally deciding when and how we will be procuring the cloth for my gown and joseph's barong. i've emailed arlyne (of la herminia) and veluz yesterday and that just about finalized things.

veluz was telling me about the current style for barong called the sinuksok. the design is actually interwoven into the piña silk. i've asked la herminia to quote me on this and according to veluz, the price they gave to me was fair enough. since the design is already integrated into the cloth, we might not have to get it embroidered at Lumban anymore. additional expense saved!

we will still push through with Joseph's measurement fitting on the 21st of August and have his final fitting as soon as he gets back from Oz in December. this gives us the chance for Joseph to personally choose the design he likes most. now, this design in turn will be the basis for the embroidery design on my gown so that we'd have similar ones. i'm glad that's settled na.

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we still have no florist as of this writing. Petal Patch has already sent me their price quotation based on the requirements i gave them. unfortunately, their price was too steep and way out of our budget. although we know that flowers are a necessity for the wedding, but they're something that we wouldn't want to splurge on. for as long as the flowers are presentable and definitely NOT wilted, that's fine with me. i don't care if they're just local flowers.

incidentally i also inquired with Rey Darocca of Fresh Cut Flowers about his rates. it turns out that his quote is almost half only of Petal Patch's. way tooo big of a difference! in short, i was ecstatic, although i still have yet to see his work. he has also invited me to view his work in an exhibit that will be held this month of June. he was honest to tell me that he has 2 bookings already for december 22 and he is still waiting for the third client to confirm. i hope the third one backs out. wishful thinking lang naman. i'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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maiba naman po tayo... i am in the midst now of preparing for a seminar-workshop that i will be giving tomorrow, as part of the Department of Pediatrics' Post-Graduate Course. the outline and content have long been completed. what i'm waiting still for are my visual aids. my co-worker (who has volunteered to do it for me) still cannot submit it to me as of this writing. i am actually pissed because her procrastination has left me hanging in the middle of all this.

here's the story. she was actually the one assigned to make this presentation, but due to other commitments earlier made by her (she has to attend a friend's wedding), i was chosen to do it in her behalf. siguro to lessen the guilt, she has volunteered to do the visual aids for me. this happened last month pa. and now, she can't give me anything yet.

haaay... i should have listened to myself. if you want to get things done, do it yourself na lang talaga. it has always worked for me. now i'm in deep sh*t. wish me luck. i dunno how i'll manage to make this work smoothly tomorrow. i'll keep you guys posted.

correct kissing position

imagine my amusement in finding this at the files section of the w@w egroup. i suppose if you really want to make it look good, here is how you SHOULD be doing it. take note ha! ;-)