thank you 2010, hello 2011

Less than 12 hours from now marks the start of a new year in this side of the world. I have soo much to be thankful for the past year. Although we've lost our Lola Cute, I do know that she's in a better place, we just miss her terribly. On a happier note, 2010 had been another great year of travel for us. We got to visit neighboring states like Wisconsin (snowboarding, Easter Sunday at Holy Hill and Lake Geneva for Labor Day); Michigan (Tulip Festival and apple picking); Indiana (Indianapolis trip); Iowa (Des Moines) and Missouri (St. Louis). We also got to visit Florida (Key West!), New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts (Boston!). Whew! We've certainly been around! And of course I went back to Manila for my Lola.

It was also the year when we got to watch a handful of concerts! It started with the Q101 Jamboree (Three Days Grace, Seether, Hollywood Undead, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Janus, Story of the Year and Coheed & Cambria) then Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls, Switchfoot, Offspring, 311, Stone Temple Pilot, Cage the Elephant, Deftones and Alice in Chains. I know we can top this list next year, the bands that we love are releasing new albums!

Big things that we thankful for:
- Topher finishing his transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree this December
- Topher finding a great employer that sponsored our Permanent Resident (aka Greencard) application
- I-140, I-485, EAD and AP finally filed at the USCIS
- receiving our EAD a few weeks before, me finally allowed to work
- countless blessing in both our families

Another thing I'm grateful for is technology! I got to see and be with the family in Manila as they celebrate and welcome the New Year! Fireworks, food and everything in between! I love Facetime! If there is a reason to buy an Apple product, it's because of this!

I am very much looking forward to 2011! I'm excited to make use of that EAD and finally work! And of course, we are super excited for our wedding on June and finally making our way back to Manila again! See family and friends, explore the beauty of the Philippines, eat Filipino food that we can't find and eat here!

A blessed and prosperous New Year to one and all! Manigong Bagong Taon!

Vera Wang for David's Bridal

Yep, you've read it right. It's Vera Wang for David's Bridal! The Vera Wang. I was flipping through a couple of bridal magazines when an article caught my eye. I thought I read it wrong, but no! It was definitely an O-M-G moment for me. How can they do this?! Now, when I've already burned Topher's pocket with my Demetrios gown. Freakin' unfair!!!

Someone posted a link of the dresses from the Wedding Bee hive. It was Vera Wang herself guesting in Oprah, talking about the her new line, WHITE by Vera Wang for David's Bridal. It was said that the line will be available Spring 2011. There was this one dress that I absolutely LOOOOVE! Here are some of the dresses from the line:

(Vera Wang in Oprah)

(one-shoulder, crinkle chiffon-draped gown)

(halter-neck chiffon gown features a draped charmeuse bodice and floral corsage with grosgrain ribbon at its empire waist)

(delicately pleated bodice in netting and chiffon, features illusion straps and a floral corsage at its dropped waist)

(strapless chiffon and net gown that has a tucked bodice and is detailed with delicately gathered draping at the dropped waist)

(strapless taffeta, asymmetrically draped bodice features a sweetheart neckline and soft netting on a full ball gown skirt)

(one-shoulder mikado and structured organza fit-and-flare gown features a dropped waist and swirling draped skirt)

(strapless, satin-faced organza fit-and-flare long gown is detailed with lace appliqués and an asymmetrical pleated skirt)

(at front, illusion-edged V-neckline and scattered lace appliqués)

(inspired by Ivanka Trump's dress, features a short-sleeve, lace-illusion bodice with strapless, satin-faced organza full A-line skirt)

(strapless satin-faced organza ball gown has a diagonally draped bodice and an asymmetrically swirling draped ball gown skirt with floral corsage detailing)

And here is the dress that I ABSOLUTELY adore! It was inspired by Chelsea Clinton's gown!

(strapless structural organza fit-and-flare gown has a dropped waist and swirling draped skirt)

Isn't it absolutely Vera Wang? It was shown here in blush, but it will be available in ivory and soft white too. The dresses are said to retail between $600 to $1,400. A fraction of the price compared to her original line. *sigh* Hopefully, you dear readers will be able to get her dresses. I bet it will sell like hotcakes!

*all photos are grabbed from Oprah.com 

autumn in Chicago

Although it's currently wintertime and we are freezing here in Chicago, I'd like to post some pictures we did back in autumn at the Morton Arboretum. It was our third time to experience fall in Chicago but was the first time that we were finally able to shoot decent pictures of it. We promise ourselves that we'd do this for every season in the coming years. We have yet to do a winter shoot, have to do it sometime soon. :)

 

Des Moines, heart of Iowa

Last October, as one of his school requirements for Manual Therapy, Topher has to be on the school campus for his practicals. We started the trip early (2am) going to Des Moines. It's a 5-hr road trip from Chicago and they start 8am that Friday morning. I got myself busy at malls while he's at school. :) sweet. We were able to try local restaurants, like Jethro's (awesome BBQ and ribs, excellent sides! mac and cheese is ♥ ).

Before heading back to Chicago on Sunday, we visited the State Capitol and the Food Festival at East Village. Des Moines is pretty neat! I'm excited to be back again on May 2011 for his commencement.

(Iowa State Capitol)

(Downtown Des Moines)

(World Food Festival at East Village)

(there are 2 Filipino booths at the festival)

revisiting St. Louis

This post is a few months late, as well the the succeeding posts about our travels. These photos are taken last September, we (me, Topher, G, Joni and Kiko) went on a weekend road trip to St. Louis, MO. We planned it in time before G went back home to Manila. We (Topher and I) have visited St. Louis a year before but it was a short day visit only. We just went there to check out the Gateway Arch, however this road trip is a bit longer since we intend to roam around the city and check what St. Louis has to offer.

( a gloomy day when we visited the Gateway Arch)

(tiny tram seats 5!)

(city of St. Louis, MO)

(the other view on the side of the Arch, the Mississippi river)

(at the top of the Arch)

>(me and G, peeking at the tiny windows)

(tour of the Anheuser-Busch plant, home of Budweiser)