Unconditional Love for Hello Kitty

There's been a worldwide fuss lately about hello kitty "not being a cat." Many people who know that I love hello kitty began messaging me about this controversy...

And my reply:

"Hello kitty may or may not be a cat. Others may accuse her of being a 'fraud.' But still, I love her. Nothing can change that."

Now that's unconditional love haha!

Birthday Dinner @ The Kitchen - River Cree Resort and Casino

I've had a very modest 35th birthday celebration. After lunch, I asked my husband to drop me at West Edmonton Mall because I didn't want to spend the whole afternoon at home. After his work, he picked me up and we headed to River Cree Resort and Casino to eat. River Cree is approximately just 5 minutes away from our house.

I have an appointment with my diabetes doctor the following day so I wasn't really in the mood to eat. But I could not refuse a steak buffet haha! I originally wanted to eat pasta but that's high in carbs so never mind.

If I remember it correctly, this was only the third time that I celebrated my natal day with Ford (first was in 2009). We've been in a long distance relationship for almost 9 years before we got married in 2012.

Just the two of us.

My Ford loves crepes!

I ought to have a cake, right? I only ate 1/4 of it because my blood sugar might shoot up again.

So here I am at 35 - happy, blessed, and grateful.

I wish to thank my better half for giving me a good life here in Canada. I couldn't ask for more. Ooops, except that I give birth to a healthy baby Chicklet!

Happy birthday to me! :)

A bit of birthday in Pinas

It was my first time to celebrate my birthday outside the Philippines and I am glad that though I am not there physically, my family still celebrated it for me.

My Tita Oya offered mass for me in the morning (she does this every year) with special prayers for my safe delivery this November. She and Mamoosh attended the mass and I am thankful.

Then in the afternoon, Mamoosh and her angels (Dyrin and Joanne) munched over this pancit for 'my long life.'

Oh, how I miss this pancit from Tapsi!

My cousins SanDoc/Mylyn and Cricket/Jim also bought Starbucks mocha frappucino for me (my favorite!).

Thank you, guys! You made my birthday extra special! I miss you and I can't wait to see you all again! :)

On Goodbyes and Hellos

We had to say goodbye to Ford today. A highly sentimental person that I am, I wanted to cry. It wasn't easy leaving "Truckito" behind, we just had to. It was my hubby's first vehicle here in Canada. They've been together for more than three years - in the heat of summer and in thickness of the snow. But we had to let it go because our 'growing' family needs a different car. We would have kept it if not for the high costs of insurance here.

We will miss you so much, Truckito! You were the one who first welcomed me here in Canada. You brought us to so many places. You accompanied us in our new home, carrying all our stuff and loots. We will never forget you. Hope they'll find you a nice new owner who'll take care of you like what Pod did.

With goodbyes comes hellos.

After bidding farewell to Truckito, we said hello to Subaru. We waited for more than six weeks to get it.

This car is also special to us because it's the first that we bought as a married couple. It will also serve as reckoning for Chicklet's birth. We'll have plenty of good family memories in it. I really am wishing it will serve us well, for we intend to keep it for a very long time.

Oops, I bought a Pandora car charm nga pala to commemorate Subaru's arrival into our lives.

Dollarama Finds: Romance Novels

Who would have thought I'll find these romance pocket books in Dollarama? I knew they carry books (children's books, cook books, coffee table books, and other random reading stuff), I just never expected seeing these novels haha!

I need light reads for now. I prefer REAL books than e-books.

They only cost $2 each!

Books are very expensive here in Canada. Thank God there's Dollarama! From now on I'll frequent the stationery aisle na for more cheap books! =)

Walking and commuting

We are currently living in a new community here at the West end of Edmonton. We initially came from the downtown area so I kinda got used to a 'busier' and 'noisier' place. But yeah, I've eventually grown to appreciate it here. Everything seems peaceful and quiet and safe.

The only drawback though of living here is the difficulty in public commuting. I do not have a driver's license yet (as that would raise up our insurance) so I am highly dependent on my husband. And since I will just be at home in the next few years, buying another car is not an option. Car is cheap, insurance is not.

When Ford and I were deciding (way back in 2012) on where to buy a house, I told him that it has to be accessible to a bus stop. He was able to convince me to say yes to this area because there "will be a bus stop just in front of our unit."

But when we finally moved here, we learned that buses only operate during peak hours in the morning and late afternoon. Waaaah! I wanted to cry for that would be so inconvenient. Pod was hopeful though. He assured me that when all the housing developments in our area are done, surely there will be more bus trips available for the residents. Eh kelan pa kaya yun?

So for the mean time, kailangang magtiis.

Just like yesterday. I had an appointment with my diabetes doctor at 1:30pm. I chose that schedule so that the husband could just drop me off at the Misericordia Hospital during his lunch time (he comes home for lunch, anyway). But fate must have put some trick on us. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng araw, kahapon pa niya kinailangang may puntahang site. And that was a last minute call, take note.

I had no choice but to take the bus. I haven't really commuted since the time I learned that I am expecting and quit my job. The nearest bus stop that has regular bus trips is approximately 1.5 km away. Walking that long is such a toil for a pregnant person like me, but what other choice do I have?

I was still lucky because the weather was fine, malamig at hindi maaraw. My baby Chicklet was also cooperative. My tummy was in a good mood at hindi naman sumakit.

The pressure really falls sa pag-timing sa bus. If I miss my bus, I would have to wait for another 30 minutes for the next one to arrive. But if I arrive too early, kailangan naman mag-antay ng nakatayo. How I wish there is a bench in this stop.

I miss you, Bus Stop 8096!

I am used to publicly commuting in the Philippines. Though I knew how to drive and we have cars, I preferred to commute most of the time because of heavy traffic, pricey gas price, lack of parking, and all the other inconveniences of driving your own car.

I don't mind taking the bus here. In fact, I feel like I would like to take the bus forever haha! Why, buses come on time so you can plan your schedule ahead. Sana lang magkaroon na ng regular trips sa lugar namin para hindi na malayo ang lakarin. I don't mind walking during non-snow times (and when I am not carrying a child), pero mahaba ang winter dito eh. It's difficult to walk in the snow with a -20+ weather.


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Oops, this was my bus selfie pala taken at this very bus stop last March 11, 2014. It was still very cold and I was pregnant na pala (around 5 weeks) without me knowing it.

This is what you have to endure during winter to get to that bus stop.

New Pandora Charm: Car

After more than six weeks wait, we are finally getting our new car this afternoon.

This will be our first car purchase as a married couple so to commemorate this special event (haha!), my husband reminded me to get a car charm from Pandora.



So instead of buying a 'birthday charm' last Wednesday, I bought the 'car' one. I find it expensive though, for $65 (plus 5% tax), but I had to purchase it. That's the thing with Pandora charms, you have to get them even if you're not into the design or price because they represent 'milestones,' right?

My next Pandora charm will be something to remember my baby Chicklet's birth. I'll make sure to find a nice one, something that I really really like.

Free birthday drinks from Starbucks

I received an email from Starbucks a couple of days before my birthday 'reminding' me to redeem my free birthday reward from them.

Whoaah! I almost forgot this reward! I haven't been drinking Starbucks na kasi since January. In fact, my Starbucks card (that Pod has given me when as part of my 'welcome gift') is still loaded. Even prior to my pregnancy, I kinda stopped drinking mocha frappucino na (I am an ADDICT in Pinas) because I find its taste here to be bland. Wala pang chocolate syrup or mocha sauce on top.

Anyway, I checked my Starbucks account online and confirmed that I indeed can claim a free drink or food on my birthday. I was so happy! I miss getting freebies haha!

Unlike in the Philippines where you can claim just a free cake on your birthday (and you have to BUY a drink), here you have to option to choose a drink - which is more sulit because it's more expensive than any other pastry. You also can also get any size you want.

After my birthday dinner at River Cree, Ford and I claimed my free mocha frapp at the nearby Starbucks.

POD -- Oh bat ang laki naman? (referring to the venti size)
BIM -- Syempre naman noh, sayang free lang naman hehe!

I took a few sips (three I think), which is bad because I promised myself "zero sweets" until I've given birth. But it was my birthday naman, so I gave in haha! Ford consumed the rest of the drink.

Thank you, Starbucks!

The best birthday gift ever!

I did not receive any material gift this year. My husband gave me the go signal yesterday to shop for anything I want but I didn't feel like it. With all our forthcoming expenses, it is not wise to put so much money on one designer purse.

And why would I ask for another expensive present when I already got the best birthday gift ever -- MY BABY CHICKLET!

Chicklet @ 28 weeks and 6 days - August 27, 2014

I never expected that at 35, I'll still be a mother. But here he is, kicking me hard every night (and day!)! In a few more weeks, we can finally experience that sweetest moment of holding and hugging and kissing him.

I do not say this often, but "Thank you, Lord!"

A 39-Hour Birthday

I've been celebrating my birthday since yesterday at 10am (12mn, Philippine time). It started when several friends greeted me on Facebook.

Picture taken from Aunty Acid Facebook account (credits to the owner)

So this is how it feels to be living in Edmonton while the rest (or at least the majority) of your family and friends are in the Philippines -- you get to celebrate your birthday longer! Thirty-nine hours to be exact, since the Philippines is ahead by 15 hours than Edmonton.

An extra 15 hours for a birthday is such a bliss. Something to be truly grateful for. Happy birthday to me! :)

First Time at Sylvan Lake

July 26, 2014 (Saturday). Our new friend Joy (who was introduced to us by the Cuencas) invited us to her husband Mark's birthday picnic celebration at Sylvan Lake. This town / lake is about 1 1/2 hours from Edmonton.

It's been raining days before that so we didn't know if we will push through. Then the very morning that day, Cecille called and informed us that the weather there is sunny so we'll go. We were at Meadowlark that time and I was about to take my glucose screening test.

After my test, we immediately went home to change clothes. Then we stopped by at Safeway to buy a cake and some chichiryas.

Sylvan Lake is near Red Deer.

It was our first time there.

Seeing the lake was so calming. Sana lang pwede rin akong magtampisaw.

Since the weather was fine, a lot of people were there... enjoying the sun. Take note, walang entrance fee dito ha. Everybody's free to use the facilities - picnic tables, playground, wash rooms, parking lots.

We arrived at around 2pm already and all the rest have eaten lunch. We were starving. Andami naming nakaing barbeque, pork inihaw, chicken adobo, and bangus.

Our mistake though was not bringing our own outdoor chair and mat. Kanya-kanyang dala pala. 

They even brought their own tents, which has proven to be useful. It was a very sunny day, kailangan din ng malililiman. 

We liked the place. Masaya talaga kapag marami kayo. Mas masaya kung may bitbit kang anak kasi napakalawak ng playground.

Plus the sight of water is always welcoming.

Ford and I are not exactly "shades" persons but we were thankful that we brought our pairs. Nakakasilaw kasi ang init. We wore our shades the whole time that we were there. So kahit mainit, hindi na namin masyadong naramdaman. Hindi naman kasi malagkit dito. Yun nga lang, sobrang umitim talaga ako after.

It was hard for me to sit on this mat. How I wished I really brought my own chair!

By the way, here's the birthday boy Mark and his lovely wife Joy. We are grateful for our new-found friends.

Next time, we'll have our own baby to bring na rin.

It's always fun to have someone in a group who's a passionate cook. Walang problema sa chibog. Obet cooked pancit for merienda. 

Kung merong cook, meron ding taga-kain!

It was a fun day. We've met several other Filipinos, too.

We'll definitely frequent Sylvan Lake in the future. Especially when Chicklet's a bit older and ready for play. =)

Taber corn on the road

We've noticed that several Taber corn stands have sprouted all over the city so we decided to stop at one last Sunday, August 24, 2014. Sa 91st street yata ito.

We were excited! We have gotten used already in buying corn at the grocery store so purchasing from this stand was a deviation. Para lang kaming nasa Pilipinas na may mga tindahan sa gilid-gilid ng kalsada! Ang saya!

Here are the prices of their fresh commodities...

Aside from the famous corn, they sell fresh fruits too!

And even chips!

We only bought half dozen of Taber corn for $7.

Ooops by the way, Taber (pronounced as "Teyber") pala is a town here in Alberta that is famous for its corn. Salamat sa Wikipedia haha!

We boiled some corn pagkauwi sa bahay and our verdict: ANG SARAP! Parang peaches and cream pala siya. At $1.17 (or around Php47)  per corn, sulit na rin.

So I suggest guys that if ever you see a Taber corn stand, stop and try their corn. They'll only be here for the summer.

Missing the girls

I am turning 35 in four days. This will be the first time (since college) I'm celebrating my birthday without my girls.

My 33rd birthday celebration @ Red Box Trinoma (August 27, 2012)

I miss them so much! And I need them, especially with all the big changes happening in my life right now. Oh how I wish they're just here beside me!

I've been living a relatively 'friendless' (in the profound sense of the word) existence here in Edmonton ever since I moved. It's not easy, as I am used to having long quality talks over Starbucks coffee with these ladies. It was painful leaving them, I am telling you.

Hay, birthday jitters!