wedding updates...

Time just flies so freakin' fast! You would think that with almost 18 months of preparation, I would be all done by this time. But NOPE, we're still going over the details and some important stuff still needs to be taken care of!

I'm super thankful for my Nanay. She takes care of the things now for the wedding, she dove in full force with helping with the wedding preps. My parents even offered to pay for our wedding cake and the Starbucks kiosk!

The latest suppliers that we have booked through my parents help are: Yhoan's Flower Shop for the entourage and church flowers, Joy San Gabriel for our cakes and Boy Kastner Santos for the entourage's dresses. My Nanay said that dealing with them is a breeze. I particularly love Tito Boy because he updates me of the progress. He just recently sent me a message, reminding me that Topher's sister who was also our secondary sponsor, is the only one whose dress was yet to be cut.

I've posted before that I would have a cake buffet and forgo the usual wedding cake but as we are nearing the wedding date, I realized I don't want to stress about that anymore. I know it will take a lot of effort from us to pull off the cake buffet.

The most important things that we need to take care of ASAP are the following:
Topher's Baptismal Cert
Topher's Confirmation Cert
Marriage Banns to be posted on church
Misalette
Song List Approval for Church
Photo booth Backdrop
Photo booth Layout
Prenup Slideshow
Guestbook

Topher's mom already took his baptismal and confirmation certificate before, it was my fault that we need to get one again. I didn't know that it's only valid 6 months prior to the wedding, and when I said that it was a requirement, his Mom went off to get it immediately. So need to get another one again.

Most of the items, I need to do myself. I seriously need to start on them NOW!

imma back!

Just as what Super Mario would shout whenever you'll do a continue, Imma Back! :)

I can't believe it's been more than a month that I haven't posted here. Just so you all know, I'm still here, still doin' well! Alive and kickin'! I've been swamped with daily work routine, going to the gym after work and I'm usually beat once we got back home. Never finding the time to post and even update my status in FB!

Can't believe that other people frequents my blog more that I do, LOL! 

the blizzard of 2011

This is the 3rd winter we experience since we got here in Chicago, and this is the greatest one yet! As of this writing, it has been 4 days after the great blizzard. We started the week good, I didn't even know that there is a snowstorm coming until the day before we got hit. We were informed that it will hit the Chicago area Tuesday afternoon, February 1st at around 3pm. Naturally, we were still asked to report to work on Tuesday, but were allowed to leave early to head home safely. By 4pm, the wind was blowing soooo hard and the snow felt like hard pellets when it struck you on the face. It was terrible and frightening to say the least.

My usual 45 minute-drive home took almost 3 hours and it was absolutely the scariest commute of my life. It was actually better when it's bumper to bumper traffic, because at least you're following someone on a lane. It got soo much worse when the traffic ease, because by then you can't see the lanes and my car windows are all covered with snow. Switching lanes is impossible to do since I only have the rear view mirror as reference. There was even a time that I can't get to the ramp to exit since the road is covered with soooooo much snow, making it very difficult to drive.

Thank God, I arrived home safely. Upon arrival, I had a good cry. I really thought I'm gonna be stuck somewhere and will not make it home. We can hear the wind howling all through the night. The wind and the snow didn't stop until noon the next day. And that was after pouring in about 20" of snow.

(somewhere underneath that snow are our cars)

Thankfully, the sun shone at around noon. We started digging out the cars from under the pile of snow. It took us almost 3 hours to remove all the snow that surrounded both Bossing and Scarlett. I'm actually happy that we decided to dig them out early, it was freezing when the day reached the afternoon. Negative Fahrenheit degrees, anyone?

(it almost reached my waistline)

(playing around before the dig-out)

Right now, most of snow are plowed into the side street. It's natural to see hills upon hills of snow. Forecast in the coming days are not good, more snow on the way. I am seriously and anxiously excited for Spring.

on turning 28...

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. ~ Mark Twain

This post is officially eleven days late. Because eleven days ago, i turned a year older. I don't mind getting old, it just freaks me out that the kids that I know are now in their teens! That certainly makes me feel old.

When I was small, I told myself that I'll get married at the age of 28 and start a family. Good thing I forgot that note to myself, because getting married early (at 25), is one of the best decisions of my life. This coming June will mark our 3rd anniversary as husband and wife and I am most thankful for the times that we have now. Starting our own family is in the plans but we're not rushing to anything. We want to savor and enjoy these moments.

We celebrated my birthday in a simple way. The night before, I received a sweet gesture from Topher. Waiting for me when I got home is a dozen red roses. It came as a surprise since I wasn't expecting it.

We both went to work that day. We celebrated with dinner at Olive Garden, we both enjoyed our meals. And then tonight will be a joined birthday celebration with a friend and we're having dinner, drinks and movies after! Good times. God is indeed very good.

hired!!!

Yay!!! A month and a half spent searching for a job and it finally happened! Last January 05, 2011; I received one of the best news I've ever had through a phone call. The hiring manager called and offered me the job!

(my reaction upon hearing the great news!)

I received the employee welcome packet the day after, and that was when I called the HR department regarding the concern that I have for the wedding. I know that I should be up-front with the company with our wedding taking place on June 2011. The hiring manager actually had a couple of concerns about my pre-scheduled leave and thankfully, they understood and I was allowed a 3-week leave for the wedding.

I started work last Thursday, Jan 13, 2011. The job is comparable with the work that I had with Trend before, so I know that I won't be having a hard time with the job responsibilities. I just have to train myself again with the work schedule. Being out of the workforce for more than 2 years had taken it's toll on my daily routine. It was really tough to get out of bed at 6 in the morning, so I need to work on that. The first two days were basically meetings with the HR and technical trainings. I'm lucky that this company celebrates all the minor holidays, which is why I am able to write this entry now. It's MLK (Martin Luther King) Day today!

My workplace is a bit far, it's a 25mi drive from our place and that means that I had to get my own car. It's way too far for Topher to drop me off and pick me up after work. Two days before starting work, I bought my car (Scarlett)! She's a red 2005 Accord Coupe and I love her! :)

I thank God for this blessing, it's sooo nice to start the year on a positive and productive note!

diy rosary wedding cord

Happy New Year everyone! :)

I'm happy that my first post for this year is a productive one. It's less than 6 months before the big day, I want to make sure that we make use of the time wisely. The last thing that we want to happen is to see the wedding day coming and we're cramming in completing our DIY projects.

The project that I decided to tackle after our invitations is the rosary wedding cord. I'm quite handy with paper crafts but it's my first time in doing beading/jewelry making. I initially thought that I would be having a hard time in doing the wedding cord but is pleasantly surprised that it is actually easy! When I went back home, I had the chance to get all the materials that I needed for the project when we visited Divisoria and Quiapo. I basically patterned our wedding cord from Lights and Binds website, I love their rosary style wedding cords.

I thought I'd share the materials and instructions on creating our DIY rosary wedding cord, so that you can make your own too! Okay, let's start with the materials:

1. Beads that catches your fancy. I think the ones that I used are called class-A swarovski. You can use any beads that you want here.
2. Different kinds of spacers. I'd suggest that you buy two packs of every design. You don't want to run out on the spacers while finishing the cord. Also the circle ones are a must.
3. Pliers and tape measure. You want the to have at least 50 inches for each loop.
4. Rings and end-clamp. Ok, I honestly don't know how you call the "end-clamp", but it's basically a clamp with a small hole in between which you place in the beginning and end of each line. It will hide the knot that you'll create with the nylon cord.
5. Trinkets of your choice. Since this is a rosary wedding cord, I chose a crucifix, a brooch for the middle and letters of our initials.
6. Nylon cord and bead board (optional). Choose a thicker nylon cord.

Now, for the instructions:

1. I initially laid out the sequence of the beads and spacers that I wanted using the bead board, but that's totally optional. First, you want to measure the nylon cord, make sure that you make an allowance on the length before you cut the cord. Make a knot using the pliers and pull until the knot is small enough.

2. Place the end-clamp in a way that if you close the clamp, it will swallow the knot. Then place the sequence of spacers that you want. How many spacers to put before and after the beads and the mysteries, it will be totally up to you. Just make sure that once all have been placed, the length of the loop will make at least 50 inches. Place another end clamp before making a knot to secure the end. Close the clamps before cutting the cord near the knot.

2a. After finishing the 2 loops, and the end tail of the rosary, connect all three using the brooch in the middle.

2b. For our initials, I basically created a small link using the rings and put clasps at the end. By putting the clasps, it's now optional if we wanted to include the initials or take it off.

3. I used white beads for the 10 Hail Marys and purple and gray beads for the mysteries.

4. The ones shown in pic 4 is the tail of the rosary. I basically followed the sequence form the Lights and Binds website.

If my instructions are confusing, let me know through the comments sections and I'll try my best to explain. :) Now I present our DIY rosary wedding cord!

(I used a brooch in the middle)

(crucifix)

(white beads for the 10 Hail Marys and purple and gray beads for the mysteries)

(a clasp at the end to make the initials optional)

(here connected to the brooch)

(our rosary wedding cord with the initials)

Not bad for a first time, right?! :) I'm really happy on how that wedding cord turned out. A bit surprised that it was actually quite heavy! For the cost, not including the strands of beads that I didn't get to use (about 4 strands, I bought extra), it will be about Php600-700. All materials are bought from D.I.Y Store and Wellmanson in Quiapo, Manila.

I can now happily take this one off the wedding list! Wedding Cord = Checked!

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. :)