Lalin's Birthday Treat (2018)

February 18, 2018 (Sunday). We were supposed to do an early morning picnic at Quezon City Memorial Circle (Lalin will bring all the food) but we changed plans the last minute. There's no way that Raxie and I could make it before 9am so masyado ng mainit. Kaya yun, kain na lang daw sa new favorite mall ko -- UP Town Center.

I told my friends that I can only go/drive to Manila on Sundays kaya naging linggo na talaga ang meet-ups namin.

We were the first to arrive so pinakain muna namin si TanTan sa Jollibee (kasi chickenjoy lang ang gusto nyang kainin kainis). I brought our kasambahay Ate Charry nga pala kasi na-trauma ako the last time I met up with my girls na kami lang ni TanTan. It was so hard! Grabe ang pagod at hirap ko kasi nga ako lahat.

I was thankful because his Ninang Atty. Mels brought something for him that would keep him busy the whole day.

We didn't want to pressure Lalin into spending a lot for us (she's the breadwinner of her family) kaya ayos lang samin ang Rodic's tapsilog. Ang importante magkasama-sama lang kami. But she insisted that we look for a nicer place naman. Raxie suggested Silantro. Sakto naman because Mels wanted to try their food din daw.

Sobrang puno ang restaurant. I didn't expect that we'll wait for almost an hour to be seated. Ang tagal naming tumayo sa labas. Medyo tinotopak na nga rin si Nathan dahil sa inip.

Finally, nakaupo rin! We were all starving!

Truly a "cantina-style."

Here's their menu. Very concise. At affordable nga.

We had...

Beef Nachos

Dinamita

Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Marlin

Silantro's Pork Ribs

Paella

We liked the food, medyo bitin nga lang because we were all very hungry haha! Hindi na kami nag-order ng additional kasi ang tagal mag-antay eh. I think Lalin only paid around Php1,600. Not bad at all. I want to bring my husband there kapag nagbakasyon siya sa Pinas.

As usual, direcho sa Starbucks after kumain.

While lining up, ito ba naman ang nakita ko -- my two favorite cakes in Starbucks! Waaaah! Pero talagang tiniis kong hindi mag-order hay. #ihateyoudiabetes

My girls with my boy, such a pleasant sight.

Haha, hindi payag ang anak ko na wala siya sa picture.

I am so happy whenever I am with my friends. They are my people. We don't see each other as much as before, but I know they're just there.

Ooops by the way, nakahabol pa ako sa Starbucks planner! Haha, nag-extend kasi sila ng promo duration. Special thanks to Raxie!

And because katatapos lang ng Valentine's Day, Atty. Mels gave us a little gift. We would always give gifts to each other kasi dati kapag araw ng mga puso. Medyo na-guilty nga kami kasi hindi namin naalala haha. Among us, si Mels talaga ang mahilig magbigay ng kung anik-anik.

Thanks, pare ko! =)

So there, another birthday has been celebrated. I am looking forward to two more birthday treats before I leave -- Mich's (super late na kasi last November pa ang birthday niya) and Mels' (sa July pa ang birthday niya pero iaadvance na niya habang nandito pa ako).

I love you, my girls!

Pictorial + Dinner at the San Pedros' House

It's good to have friends who cook -- we always get invited to their dinners!

October 19, 2014 (Sunday). Because Mark is back from Fort Mac Murray (where he works for 20 days per month), he and Joy invited us again for dinner at their home. Joy said she'll cook ginisang monggo for me. Super sweet, eh!

The day before that, they asked me and Ford to join them (and the Cuencas) to an "autumn pictorial" at the Alberta Legislature (in downtown) -- but we can't because I'm already  committed to my former co-workers that day. Bakit ba naman kasi nagkakasabay-sabay ang mga schedule hehe.

First autumn ko pa naman ito kaya nanghinayang talaga ako. I want to have preggy pictures by the red/orange trees! Thankfully, may punong pula pala sina Joy haha!

The tree by their front yard is old and huge and fabulous! Kaya doon na lang kami nag-pictorial haha!

Raw photo courtesy of Joy

Too bad I was too lazy to dress up that day. I was just in my pambahay clothes. Oh well, pwede na rin.

Raw photo courtesy of Joy

Mark is really cool! Always young at heart!

Photo courtesy of Joy

Photo courtesy of Joy

Photo courtesy of Joy

Photo courtesy of Joy

After the fun pictorial, we finally ate. Wow, they prepared a super sarap dinner for us.

We brought the out-of-place Japanese tray hehe!

First time kong kumain ng ginisang monggo -- and I liked it! Masarap ang version na ito ni Joy!

I cheated with Bal's guinataang bilo-bilo. I knew I wasn't supposed to eat this (read: gestational diabetes) but I was really craving for it talaga. Sakto naman na nagluto siya. Ang sarap grabe! Nagtake-out pa ako nito.

The Blancos and the Cuencas at the San Pedros' lovely home.

Raw photo courtesy of Joy

Ang sarap ng kainan namin!

Raw photo courtesy of Joy

For the nth time, I am grateful to our new found generous friends for always inviting us. Dahil sa kanila nakakakain kami ng masarap haha!

Reunited with my former co-workers =)

I was happy to be reunited with my former co-workers. I actually had a very short work stint here in Edmonton. I started working on February 1, 2014 and ended up resigning six weeks later, March 17, 2014, because I found out that I am pregnant. I was in pain during that time (I also had UTI then) so the moment I confirmed from the lab that I was indeed expecting, I talked to my boss and explained to her my situation. She was very understanding. She needed me the most that time (there was a management transition going on) yet she gave me the most comforting hug. She even promised me that I can come back to work there again anytime.

In my six weeks of working there, I have of course made friends with my other Filipina co-workers. Yep, syempre kami-kaming mga Pinoy ang nagfa-flock together. Hindi naman sinasadya, kachika rin naman namin yung ibang mga lahi, kaya lang talagang iba ang work ethics ng Pinoy. Mas masipag, mas magaling (naks!) kaya madalas naiinis kami sa iba haha (kailangan ko talagang Tagalugin ito kasi baka may makabasa).

I wasn't able to properly say goodbye to my 'new friends' because of my urgent resignation so I kinda lost contact with them until recently, when Cristina found me on Facebook (we have common friends). I was thrilled! Through Cristina's account I was able to find the others as well. And when I saw pictures of their bonding activities together, I commented: "Isama nyo naman ako next time."

And it was fast. Before Thanksgiving, Bonivie messaged me and invited me to go watch the Sea Lion Show at West Edmonton Mall (WEM) with them and their kids on October 18, 2014. I agreed right away, despite the fact that I'd already be 36 weeks pregnant by then hehe.

It was a Saturday and I asked my husband to just drop me off at WEM. For the first time, nagka-gimik uli ako nang hindi kasama ang asawa ko yebaah! I felt like I need some "me time" naman syempre.

Baby Chicklet at 36 weeks and 2 days

WEM is "MY" mall (because we live less than 10 minutes away) so I always see the Sea Lion Show every time I am there. But it was my first time to see the show up close.

Thanks to Bonivie's free admission pass! Even Cristina has free ticket haha! I think they got it from some of their friends who are working at the mall. One of the perks of working there are free admission tickets to the mall's attractions.

Akala ko Sea Lion Show lang ang meron doon. Sa ibaba pala, may mga aquarium din.

Their main attractions are sharks.

Emma, Me, Cristina, and Bonievie (my first picture with them)

Photo courtesy of Bonivie

The three girls -- Athena (Emma's), Mika (Cristina's) and Hailey (Bonivie's). Haha, next time kasama ko na si Chicklet. Kaso siya lang pala ang boy!

Feeding of sharks

After, we proceeded to watching the Sea Lion Show na. The show was at 4pm so we waited in line for a few minutes.

Photo courtesy of Bonivie

OMG! I looked so huge!

Photo courtesy of Bonivie

I am glad I brought my monopod (which was sent to me by my cousin Mylyn last June). Haha, Pinoy lang ang may monopod dito kaya sikat kami sa mga puti!

Waiting for the show to start

I was no longer excited to see the penguin and the sea lions. I must have seen them hundred times from afar. It's the company of my friends and their kids that I really enjoyed.

The show is really just for kids. I've seen better shows in HongKong and Singapore so I wasn't impressed anymore. But someday, I will of course bring Chicklet here.

The three girls had their picture taken with the sea lions. So cute. Mahal lang ang print-out haha! But of course the three mommas were very much willing to indulge.

After the show, we ate at a Vietnamese restaurant near T&T.

Photo courtesy of Bonivie

We had Vietnamese chicken noodle soup...

And rice plates...

Another groufie before ending the night...

I spent just a total of five hours with them and I had so much fun. I invited them to come over to our house after I give birth and recovered and they agreed. I hope this was just the first of our many bonding activities together.