Flu Shot

I am seeing a lot of FREE FLU SHOT ads everywhere, especially in pharmacies and supermarkets. This is what I like best in Canada - their health services.

I am contemplating though if I will get a flu shot. At 34, I am still scared of needles and injections. Unlike in the Philippines where my mother (or cousin Mylyn who is a doctor) would be with me in every medical procedure I take, I will have to do things on my own here. My husband, though supportive, can never understand my being a 'drama queen' in hospitals and clinics. No empathy nor sympathy whatsoever. Hay!

Anyway, I think I have a couple of days left to decide if I'll avail of my first ever health care privilege as a resident of Alberta. I am lucky because in this province, a newly landed immigrant like me is already eligible for coverage (you have to wait for three months in other provinces).

Courage, courage... where art thou?

Welcome gift package from the Husband

This is such a late post. But it's better late than never, right?

I arrived in Edmonton last November 6 and when we reached my husband's place, this warmly welcomed me...

Isn't my husband the sweetest? We have no other family nor friends to help him welcome me here in Canada so he did everything by himself!

Let me briefly enumerate (and explain) the contents of his welcome gift package:

• PURPLE BALLOON. Balloons make me happy. I prefer balloons over flowers. He chose a purple one because it was our wedding motif. This color eventually became our official couple color.

• LOUIS VUITTON WALLET. He bought this wallet a couple of months ago (when he thought my visa would be released already) and had my initials CRB engraved on it. He said that since I'd be starting a new life here, I will be needing a new wallet to carry my new cards, etc. LV is my favorite luxury brand, by the way. 

• MICHAEL KORS BAG. He purchased this bag weeks ago at Cross Iron Mills in Calgary. I am a bag-lover and a purse never fails to thrill me.

• BMO CREDIT CARD. Ford is not only sweet, he is uber generous as well! He made sure that I'll have my own card (albeit an extension of his card) the moment I arrive. 

• STARBUCKS CARD. The Starbucks card was a recent phenomenon in the Philippines and I was sad that I wasn't able to enjoy it fully yet (I am a self-confessed Starbucks addict). Ford got me a Canadian Starbucks card to wipe away my bitterness haha! 

• DOLLARAMA GIFT CARD. Dollarama is my wasteland! I fell in love with this store last year when I came here in Edmonton for a six-week visit. Haha, my husband knew I would do some Dollarama shopping the moment I arrive so he bought a gift card for me. Aaaaw! 

• SHOPPING MONEY. I didn't have any winter clothes and boots prior to my coming here so the husband promised me some shopping money to buy what I need -- a sort of clothing allowance lol!

• HELLO KITTY COIN BANK. The coin bank actually came from the Philippines (I am a kitty addict, too!). When he went home last January to attend his brother's wedding, he asked me to give him a coin bank so that he can "deposit" a hundred dollar (which later on became two hundred) every pay check. This would be my bag fund, according to him. The day I arrived, that kitty coin bank already contained $4,600! I was amazed! 

• WELCOME BANNER. My husband is left-brained and never creative. Therefore this simple banner was already an effort for him. I can never ask for more.

Thanks so much, Dear! I really really appreciate this! 

I love you and I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. Mwah! 

Embracing the cold

I've been warned a million times by so many people that I should be "careful" when I get to Canada/ Alberta/ Edmonton because it is so cold in here. Others would even attempt to "scare" and "discourage" me into migrating, insisting that the winter weather is too harsh for a person like me who grew up in a tropical country.

November 17, 2013

To those who are wondering on how am I coping, I AM OK. I am very very much ok.

In fact, I am loving the weather. I AM EMBRACING THE COLD.

Winter isn't at all scary (though I have yet to experience the month of January). With proper gears and outfit, one's good to go.

I honestly loathe the Philippines' hot and humid weather. Extreme heat made me sick. Our monthly electricity bill soared up so high the past years because of my excessive use of air conditioner (and electricity in the Philippines costs more than here in Canada). I couldn't go out in the middle of the day for fear of sun burn and heat stroke.

Hence, being here in Edmonton is truly a blessing! And snow is beautiful!

If at times winter gets into me, I will always remember that this is what I've always wanted - to live in a cold, cold place. I shall always treat the cold as my ally, never a foe.

Starbucks + Tim Hortons = Happy Cessie

My new favorite snack combination -- Starbucks' Mocha Frappucino and Tim Hortons' Chocolate Dip Donuts!

November 17, 2013

Beautiful Edmonton

It was my first time to see this much snow. And I was in awe!

Over the weekend, the whole city turned into white!

What a beauty!

Ohh, so picturesque! Parang pang-postcard talaga!

Edmonton is so beautiful! I couldn't wait to explore it more.

Lunch buffet @ Pinoy Grill

November 17, 2013 (Sunday).  Ford and I have been eating a LOT of Filipino meals at home ever since I arrived but still we ended up having buffet lunch at Pinoy Grill yesterday.

Because there's just two of us at home, we normally just cook a viand or two for our every meal so we got excited with the idea of eating more many ulam in one sitting. Also, masarap din kasing kumain ng pagkaing hindi mo niluto hehe.

Pinoy Grill is located in the west area of Edmonton. It wasn't my first time to eat there (we already tried their buffet last year when I came here for a six-week visit) so I already knew more or less what to expect.

Pinoy Grill serves lunch buffet only on weekends, Friday to Sunday, from 11am to 2pm.

A courteous Pinoy staff welcomed us in. There weren't many diners yet because it was only past 11am.

For only $10.95 (+ 5% tax + tip), don't expect a huge spread. Here in Edmonton, that amount is only equivalent to one plated meal in a Foodcourt.

Buffet is always a good option for people with big appetite like us haha! Sulit!

There is really nothing special about their food but when you are living a thousand miles away from 'home,' the mere sight of familiar dishes is enough to make you hungry and happy.

My husband particularly liked their desserts. As he said, referring to the cassava cake: "Ito ang hindi natin maluluto sa bahay."

Aside from food, what you will like in Pinoy Grill (and in any Filipino restaurant abroad) is the idea of eating with your fellow Pinoys. And with the TFC TV on, parang nasa Pinas ka na rin. =)

Next time I will try their ala carte dishes naman.

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Pinoy Grill
18216 - 84 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5T 2B4
780.486.0005

Tuesday-Sunday
11:00 AM-10:00 PM

Peg for 2014 Christmas tree

Too bad we can't put up a tree yet this year because we're still "homeless." Sayang, akala namin aabot talaga. Pero sige, tiis muna. We'll buy Christmas decors na lang by January para sale na.

I am glad though that I saw a picture of this Christmas tree on Facebook a while ago. Ang ganda! I instantly fell in love with it that I have to blog it! Now I know what decors to buy. Para hindi sabog-sabog.


picture taken from Facebook (credits to the owner)

I've always been a red-and-gold-Christmas kind of girl. Very traditional. But now that I have a new life here in Canada, I can be more adventurous, right? And since having a white-themed Christmas tree is a no-no in the Philippines because of the famous Pinoy dust, this is my chance to have one.

Also, this tree would rhyme with the house interior motif that I have in mind.

I have a year to prepare for our very first Christmas tree. I want it to be nice and fabulous. Wish me luck!