Macky's Birthday Treat 2018

I finally got to spend some time with my cousins the other night (February 11). One month na ako dito sa Pinas pero noon lang kami nakalabas, they're all busy with their own lives eh lol. Syempre naiintindihan ko naman. Saka dahil matagal ako palaging magbakasyon dito sa Pinas, they don't feel like they have to rush to bond with me hahaha.

Anyway, it was my youngest (maternal) cousin MacMac's birthday last February 10 kaya naawitan uli namin siyang manlibre. I thought hindi matutuloy kasi missing-in-action uli yung isa pa naming pinsan (busy sa love life eh!) pero gumora na rin kami.

I actually just wanted to make tambay (so conyo!) sa Starbucks because I was so full na that day (may pinuntahan pa kaming kainan that lunch time) pero gutom ang isang pinsan namin at gusto ng Japanese buffet. We ended up in Wakamatsu Yakiniku in Tambobong, Bocaue, Bulacan. Ayaw na naming lumuwas ng Manila kasi sobrang traffic saka medyo late na rin. Biglaang lakad lang talaga.

It was my second time in Wakamatsu and parang di naman ako impressed sa food (pero super love ni hubby ang sushi at sashimi nila), but since Php419/pax lang naman kaya keri na. Additional Php180 yata kung may unlimited sashimi and sushi.

Sobra sobra na ang carbs intake ko that day so nagpakasawa na lang ako sa inihaw na angus beef, pork short ribs, at shrimp. Kaso nagtempura rin pala ako waaah.

As expected, may sabit akong dala. Nathan wouldn't want to be away from me kaya lagi ko siyang bitbit. Buti na lang my cousins are all fond of kids. Inaanak nilang lahat si TanTan hehe.

It's good that Jim had some sense to buy surprise eggs muna sa 7-11 on our way to the restaurant, kasi talagang mabo-bore ang bata while we were eating. Hindi kasi siya kumakain ng food doon eh. Naawa nga ako kasi nung nagutom na siya, humingi na ng pagkain. Kaso ayaw naman nga niya, kaya pinangakuan ko na lang ng Jollibee chickenjoy pag-uwi.

And here's the busog-lusog team sans Sandoc.

Happy birthday, Engr. Otep!

Thanks for the treat, MackyMacMac! Sa uulitin!

NOTE: Ang hirap ng may kasamang batang bubwit. We had to go home early kasi gutom na siya saka bed time nya na rin. Namimiss ko ng gumimik ng talagang gimik lol.

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Oops, here's our last year picture pala. Sa Vikings SM Jazz Mall - Makati nagpakain si Engr. Macky. =) Hope makalabas uli kaming 5 1/2 (kasi kasama si TanTan hihi) before we return to Canada in April.

February 12, 2018

#LatePost: Nathan's 2nd Birthday (2016)

Nathan is turning three in less than 2 months and I still haven't posted his first two birthday parties yet. Let me start with his second, kasi I couldn't find the USB (from the official photographer) where his first party pictures were saved. Nag-pack nga kasi kami ng gamit kaya nagkagulo-gulo na. Most of our stuff are in storage. But I am not worried naman kasi I have a copy in the Philippines. So I might be able to post it by next year pa. 

Anyway, Mamoosh and I gave a very small and simple party at home for Nathan last year. Unlike his first one, which I admit was sort of 'bongga,' I decided to just keep it low that time. My reason: "Pagod pa ako sa first party ni Tantan." It was actually true. Sobrang nangarag ako sa party na yun  (saka sobrang napagastos si Daddy Ford haha) which took several months to prepare. 

We deliberately went home to Pinas just a few days (November 8, 2016) before TanTan's birthday so we could throw nga a party from him. We just moved here in BC then so aside from wala kaming own house, wala rin kaming friends dito na pwedeng iinvite. Kaya sa Pinas na lang para mas masaya. Sunday ang birthday niya noon but we held the small salo-salo in our Marilao house on November 12, Saturday, para walang hassle sa mga cousins ko kahit mag-stay ng late.

Please read here na lang why I chose minions as party theme.

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I am glad because our every reliable secretary/assistant Joanne knows how to photoshop. Siya lang ang nag-design ng tarpaulin na ito tapos pina-print namin. Ang mura ng tarpaulin printing sa Pinas, yun ang mahal dito kaya hindi uso for parties.

Ang cute ng color scheme noh? It all started from the plastic table minion table cover that I bought in Dollarama. Teal color yata yan, saka syempre orange and yellow. Ang aliwalas tingnan. 

Bitbit ko yang mga balloons from Canada, binili ko sa Dollarama (orange balloons) and Party City (yellow and teal balloons). I would have bought everything from the dollar store kaso wala sila ng teal-colored balloons eh. The NATHAN balloons naman were bought at Divisoria by Joanne. Dito sobrang expensive ng mga ganyang letter balloons.

We just rented a couple of tables and chairs. Konti lang naman ang bisita namin. Ang konti lang kasi ng close relatives namin sa mother side. Sa father side naman, puro nasa States.

Joanne's husband Louie helped us set up the place. Natuwa ako kasi nag-match sa color-scheme namin ang chairs pati table cloth (na pinatungan ko ng yellow plastic table cover from Dollarama rin).

Balloons make me happy! Gusto ko talaga ng nice balloons kapag birthday.

As I have said, super simple lang ng party na ito. Walang kahit anong eklat (like games, give-aways), just food and balloons and cake.

We just asked my cousin-in-law Ate Janet (the Francisco family's official cook) to prepare some dishes -- fried chicken, pancit, lumpiang gulay (without wrapper), menudo, and beef caldereta.

We just ordered one small-sized lechon. Nathan's Grandpa Jim and Lola Elsie (hubby's parents) gave us some moolah for it haha.

Dito nga rin pala sa Canada galing ang mga disposable plates, utensils, and plastic cups. My old-fashioned mother wanted pa to use "real" (as in babasagin) plato and baso but I told her mahirap magligpit noh. She said, may kasambahay naman kami who would help. Sabi ko wag na dahil ayan nga at may dala na ako. Sobrang na-impress pa nga ang mga guests namin sa quality ng mga disposable na ito, ang kakapal naman kasi. Ayun, I later found out na hinugasan pa rin pala nila yung plastic cups and utensils kasi sayang daw lol.

The cake's so cute, I loved it so much! I ordered it from Box of Sweets, same maker of Nathan's barnyard cake. Ang gaganda ng cakes nila as in! And since since province-based sila (sa may amin lang sa Marilao), affordable pa.

This cake only cost me Php1,150. I just sent them my design (ginaya ko lang sa cake na pinost ng isang FB friend ko) at ayan, maganda naman. We agreed on a 6-inch cake at mas malaki siya sa expectation ko. Probably kasi malapad and the hat made it taller.

Ok, let't admit it. Good-looking cakes seldom taste delicious. Kaya bumili pa rin kami ng additional cake na "edible" haha. Salamat, Goldilocks!

The candle is from Walmart. Buti nakapagdala ako kasi ang chaka ng mga candles sa Goldilocks at Red Ribbon eh.

Nathan was still very shy that time. Kagagaling lang sa bundok eh (i.e. Canada). And shaiks, I was so bloated! Grabe ang bloating ko that time (sign na ng disease ko) na wala akong maisuot na damit kaloka.

Tsk, tuwing birthday ni Nathan ay may insect bites sya sa face. Grrr.

We had few guests. My BFF Raxie wasn't able to come kasi her brother died, tapos yung isa ko pang BFF was heavily pregnant. Tinamad na rin yung iba.

Aside from an aunt, my cousins, and nephews and nieces, I also invited Ford's two aunts and one uncle who live just a town away.

One cousin from my father side also came with his girlfriend (I only have two cousins left in Pinas).

We also called some of our kapit-bahays. We invited all our employees kaso konti lang ang nagpunta. Nahihiya daw.

Medyo na-overwhelm si TanTan at the start of the party kasi nga maraming tao. As expected, ayaw humiwalay sa akin. But later on, medyo nagloosen up na rin. Tumambay na rin sa labas with his guests.

Having a small party is fun, you get to chika a lot. Para rin kaming nagka-mini reunion. Our guests stayed till around 11pm, I think.

They were just kids dati grabe! Ngayon ang lalaki na, may asawa na nga ang iba. They are my son's second cousins.

Nagpa-prepare nga pala ng isaw bbque ang  isang cousin ko and that extended our night. At alam nya kasing paborito ko yun. #preDDSdays

It was so funny, Nathan hid under the table cover when we sang happy birthday to him. He was smiling pero hiyang-hiya talaga siya haha!

Nung bandang gabi, binaba ko na lang ang cake niya para maka-face-to-face niya si "bab-ba."

Amazed na amazed din siya sa cake nya, katuwa.

He actually didn't know how to blow the candle yet.

Nathan's second birthday gifts (which he opened the following morning, his actual birthday).

The only sad part about Tan's second birthday was that his dad wasn't there. Oh well, he was with us in spirit naman.

I would have to thank my Mamoosh nga pala uli for Nathan's handa. Siya talaga ang nag-shoulder haha! We love you, 'Nay!

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Nathan will be celebrating his third birthday naman with his dad's side of the family in California. Yung first two bitrthdays niya were in Pinas na eh. Kelan kaya sa Canada?

Dad's 39th Birthday Dinner @ Kyo (Vancouver)

September 6, 2017. Dad's birthday this year fell on a Wednesday so there's nothing else to do but eat dinner out after his work. Nagkataon pa na ang dami niyang load so past 6pm na siya nakauwi. Buti na lang it's still summer kaya maliwanag pa.

Oops by the way, he was given a cake daw in the office and his officemates sang for him. Ayos, at least may cake na siya kasi hindi na ako bumili (#hellodiabetes). I asked him to take a picture of his cake pero ayaw, nakakahiya raw haha.

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We drove to Granville Street in Vancouver because I found a restaurant that serves my husband's favorites -- sushi and korean BBQ. Maganda ang review sa Yelp so I suggested it to Ford. Game siya, lalo na at buffet. #cheatdayagain!

Buffet dinner is $30.95 + drinks + 5% tax + tip. Mas mura pa rin kesa kakain kami sa Tony Roma's or Old Spaghetti Factory. And no, we are not fond of fine dining. Kahit dati pa lang, hindi na (mga simpleng tao lang kami lol). Lalo na ngayon na may anak na kaming bitbit.

There's a similar buffet restaurant Il Uk Jo in Surrey (near our place) that we frequently go to if  we want to pig out pero mas sossy dito syempre kasi mas mahal at mas maraming food options.

 The ambience of the was was nice and cozy. Medyo madilim nga lang kaya pangit ang pictures.

Unlike in traditional buffets na nakalatag na ang food, usually ang korean BBQ dito ay per order. You will be given a paper where you can check what you want (and put the quantity too). Maximum of 1.5 hours lang daw ang eating pero hindi naman siguro nila inoorasan haha.

I don't eat sushi (or anything raw) but I love BBQ and tempura and teriyaki and tonkatsu.

Here's some of what we ate:

We asked for 10 pieces of mussels pero 6 lang ang sinerve. Ginto kasi ang tahong dito.

All protein, I know. Meat lovers kami talaga. No salad, no kimchi, no soup, no noodles. We just asked for plain steamed rice. Thankfully, hindi tumaas ang sugar ko after kasi nga low carbs. Kaso patay naman sa liver kalurkey!

 My very picky eater son (mana sa amin kanino pa ba?) only had rice and chicken wings.

Keri lang naman ang service. I was expecting more from the food though, pero parang mas ok pa ang sa Il Uk Jo.

We asked one server to take our family picture, parang hesitant siya. Hindi ba talaga uso ang makipicture dito? I didn't like the said picture kaya di ko na ipopost. Itong groufie ko na lang. Again, pangit ang lighting eh.

Ford had a small strawberry pudding for dessert and then we asked for the bill. He paid $75.73 all in all.

We had nowhere else to go after that. It was past 9pm, wala ng mapuntahan. Di na rin pwedeng mag-frappucino sa Starbucks.

Bigla tuloy namin namiss ang Manila! Yung area kasi ng Kyo ay parang street sa Manila, busier-looking lang sa Manila syempre. Saka marami pang bukas na establishments kahit alas onse na ng gabi.

Kyo has an underground parking nga pala na ayos sa reviews sa Yelp ay very steep kaya ayaw kong magpark dun. But we were left with no choice kasi wala na talagang available na street parking kahit nakailang ikot na kami.

My hubby laughed at me nang makita ang sinasabing "steep." Maluwag naman pala, sa standards nating Pinoy ha. Kahit ako hindi mahihirapang mag-park doon noh. Isa yan sa advantage nating Pinoy drivers eh, sanay sa masisikip. Masyadong spoiled ang mga taga-first world lol.

Ay nga pala, when we were in the car na, we saw the server who hesitated to take our picture. He went to his car to get something eh. Nagkatinginan kami ni Coblancs, brand new BMW ang kotse nya ha! Naloka talaga kami.

CES -- Baka naman sila ang may-ari ng restaurant? Tapos gusto lang siyang i-train ng tatay nya.
FORD -- Ano yun, koreanovela?
CES -- Haha, asar talo ka lang kasi yung nag-serve sayo eh naka-BMW!

Oh well, common naman dito talaga na naka-magarang sasakyan ang blue collar worker. I know pa nga one person na sa McDonald's nagwowork pero naka-Mercedez Benz. Ay correction, isa ang McDonald's sa mga work kasi triple job nga pala siya. Kanya-kanyang trip talaga yan. Kapag mahilig ka sa kotse, you will do everything para mabayaran ang montly or bi-weekly amortization.

I remember just a few weeks ago, I asked my husband if he's not envious of those with 'magarang' kotse. He simply answered: "Mi, kung gusto ko ng mamahaling sasakyan, sana bumili na ako noong binata pa ako noh." 

Oo nga naman. Modesty aside, he could afford a really flashy car naman (lalo na noong hindi pa niya ako asawa at binubuhay haha) pero hindi niya talaga trip. Kaya ngayon we're happy na with our  reliable Subaru. Hindi ko rin naman din kasi type ang mahal na sasakyan.

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We just went home after dinner. Pagod na rin kasi si Dad and he still has work the following day. Corny nga eh. Di bale, next year when he turns 40, I'll make sure to prepare something special na talaga.

I was sad nga kasi we had no gift for him except for this card (na pinasulatan ko rin kay TanTan ang loob). Eh kasi wala naman akong makitang magugustuhan niya. I am telling you, Ford is the simplest guy you'll ever meet. Walang mga kiyeme sa katawan. Binilhan ko na nga lang ng card sa Dollarama (no cute happy-birthday-daddy card kaya itong pang-hubby na lang) para may maiabot sa kanya si Nathan. I want our son to grow up kasi nang nagbibigay, nang thoughtful at caring at generous.

Happy 39th birthday, Daddy! Everyday we thank the heavens for giving you to us. We love you very much!

This song is for you!

A simple 3rd anniversary celebration

I love it that we got married on the first month of the year. The coming of January signifies the end of holidays so at least there's another occasion that we'll look forward to.

Our anniversary this year -- January 12 -- fell on a Monday so we only had dinner time to celebrate. At first we thought of just celebrating on the 13th para sabay na sa monthly 'birthday' ni Nathan but I realized that we ought to have two different celebrations for two different occasions.

We didn't really plan anything grand but it was indeed the most special of all our anniversaries in the past (2 wedding and 11 bf-gf anniversaries) because we now have Nathan James Levin as the fruit of our union.

Here's my chubby cheeks who is daddy's mini-me!

When you have a baby with you, a fine dining restaurant is not an option. Hence I just asked Pod for a simple buffet meal at Buffet Royale Carvery. Nathan was just two months then so I was worried na baka umiyak siya nang umiyak kapag matagal na naka-steady sa car seat / basket niya. Kapag buffet, kakain na agad. No need to wait. And also, I was still pregnant the last time we ate there so my food intake was so restrained. Gusto ko namang subukang kumain doon nang walang worry about gestational diabetes haha!

And because it was a Monday, halos solo namin ang area. Walang masyadong tao.

Here's some of my plates haha!

We looked so haggard haha! Obviously the result of sleepless nights for the past two months. But then again, that was the happiest two months of our life!

Thankfully, our baby was so cooperative that night. Mom and Dad were able to eat a lot. He looked bored though haha!

Anak, you are God's perfect gift to us! We love you and we will take good care of you forever. We'll make sure that you will grow up with loving parents.

Ahh, three years na kami! I want to thank my husband for bearing with me. I am not a perfect wife. In fact, sobrang layo ko sa pagiging ideal wife. But I love Ford and Nathan more than myself. 

Thank you for everything, Dear! Cheers to our three years! =)