Calendar…check.

Entertainment Weekly copies…check.

The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion…check.

Do you think it’s too much if I got a shirt, too? Hahaha. Ok, I’ll just hold off buying one until prices are slashed to an irresistable price. $19.99 is a bit too much.

I can’t wait for Friday when the movie finally hits the theaters. I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to watch it but it doesn’t really matter because I intend to see it even if it means going by myself. I’m obviously a fan of the book, bordering on obsessed but not so obsessed that I’m overly affected by who’s playing whom in the movie. After all, it’s just a movie. I do hope the movie version is good and that the actors do justice to their respective roles. Otherwise, I fear Twilight fans might burn them at the stake, which is practically what some of them did to Stephenie Meyer when they didn’t find Breaking Dawn (the last book in the series) much to their liking. Oh well. Needless to say, I’m cheering for everyone in and behind the movie.

Here’s the final movie trailer, in case you’ve kinda been buried under a rock the last couple of weeks.

You want some behind the scenes footage?  Here’s one. Spoiler alert though. :)  Then again, if you’ve read the book, you already know what’s going to happen…you just don’t know how it’s going to be executed in the movie.

Four more days.  We can do this Twilighters and Twihards!  For the meantime, let’s do some cool down exercises to normalize our heartbeats.  Deap breaths now..inhale..exhale.

Have a great week ahead, y’all!

Noong nakaraang Sabado, kami at ang aming mga kaibigan ay nagpunta sa Texas Renaissance Festival sa bayan ng Plantersville may mahigit dalawang oras ang layo mula sa aming tirahan.  Kami ay naging saksi sa mga tanawin, kasuotan, tugtugin, laro at lasang (kultura sa madaling salita) kinagisnan ng mga taong ipinanganak noong ika-16 na siglo (Ang panahon ng Renaissance ay tumagal mula ika-15 hanggang ika-17 siglo).

Hindi ko na papakahabain pa ang panimula.  Narito ang mga eksenang tumambad sa amin sa mahigit pitong oras na pagbabad sa panahon ng Renaissance… (PS: Nilakihan ko na ang mga larawan kaya’t mukhang mahaba ang aking akda…well, napahaba nga yata. :D)

Mga magagarang kasuotan - Ikinagulat namin na kahit ang mga bumibisita sa festival ay nakagayak Renaissance (costume) din.  Ang iba’y nakita naming nagbibihis sa paradahan ng mga sasakyan at ang iba nama’y nagarikila sa may labas ng theme park.  Marami ding nagtitinda ng kasuotan sa loob ng festival.

Ang mamang ito ay hindi si Sting.  Pero kamukha ano?  Bahagi siya ng palabas na nagtatampok sa jousting.

Kung napanood ninyo ang pelikulang A Knight’s Tale na pinagbidahan ng yumaong si Heath Ledger, may mga taong nagpapakilala sa mga kalahok sa jousting.  Iyon ang papel ng babaeng nakasuot ng magarang kasuotan sa larawan.

Kngith in shining armor?  Hindi ba’t iyan kung minsan ang ginagamit na pantukoy ng mga kababaihan sa kanilang mga iniirog? Kiliiiig!

Ikinatuwa naming lubos ang panood ng jousting.  Ikalawang bahagi lamang ito ng palabas ngunit ito ang aming pinakaaabangan.  Hindi siya kasing “action packed” katulad ng sa pelikula at katulad ng aking inaasahan ngunit talagang nakapagbigay aliw sa lahat ng mga nanood.

Dahil ang Renaissance ay ang muling kapanganakan ng istoling klasiko (rebirth of the classics), maraming mga estatwa (sculptures) na may bahid ng istilo at kapanahunang Griego (Greek).

Para sa gustong makaalam sa kapalarang naghihintay sa kanila sa kinabukasan, tabi-tabi ang makukulay na tents kung saan may nagbabasa ng palad, tarot, mga bituin (Astrology) at pati siguro bolang kristal.

Ang mga gamit sa pakikipaglaban noong panahong iyon ay amin ring nasilayan.  Sa katunayan ang mga ito’y  ibinebenta bilang ala-ala (souvenir) sa pagdalo sa festival.  Mayroon ding mga espada na gawa sa matigas na foam at ang iba’y gawa sa kahoy.

Mga gayuma: pampabata, pampaganda, pampabango at kung anu-ano pa!  Pabango talaga ang mga itong isinasalin sa mga naggagandahang maliliit na bote puwedeng gamiting palawit ng kuwintas (pendant).

Nasubukang sumakay ng aking mag-ama sa isang camel sa tumataginting na  $4 bawa’t isa.  Hold-up!!!  Pero gusto talagang sumakay ng aking anak at dahil siya’y may kaliitan pa, hindi siya papayagang sumakay kung hindi may kasamang matanda.

May mga diwata (fairies) ring namimigay ng mahiwagang alikabok (fairy/pixie dust).  Hindi naman nila talaga binibigay, dahil magbabayad ka muna ng $1 para sa alikabok na iyong hihipan upang ikaw ay makapagbulong na kahilingan.  Pagkatapos ay bibigyan ka din ng diwata ng kristal. Hold-up ulit!  Pero di kami nagpabiktima…ang mga kasama lang namin.  Hahaha!  Mahirap pahindian ang mga anak. 

Kapag nakagawa ng matinding kasalanan, ito ang iyong aabutin…pagpugot sa ulo sa gitna ng plaza!  Iyan ang tagapugot (executioner) at ang kaniyang alalay.

Mahigit 300 ang mga larawang kuha ko mula sa festival.  Akin pang pinipili ang aking ipapakita sa mga susunod na araw. Nailathala ko na sa aking blog tungkol sa pagkain ang mga masasarap na pagkain sa festival.

Ang isa ko namang lahok para sa Litratong Pinoy ay pagpapaliwanang kung bakit sanay sa pagpapakuha ng litrato ang aking anak.

Mabuhay!

What do you think? *wink*

Have a great week, y’all!

oOo

Halloween and the day immediately after were filled with treats.  No tricks whatsoever!

October 31st

We originally planned to go trick or treating at the Outlet Mall, but ended up at another mall closer to where we live.  Our group of 12 (5 adults and 7 kids) were at the mall at exactly 6pm.

It’s funny how Abby just automatically raises one arm, as if to fly, when I take pictures.

Here’s another pic with Abby raising her arm.

See what I mean?  But here’s one of Abby in the trademark hands-on-waist Superman stance.

It took us about an hour and a half to complete our rounds of participating stores at the mall.  The kids enjoyed a few of their treats right away!

From the mall, we went around my friend’s neighborhood.  It was a beautiful night and the weather was perfect!  It was our (Hubby, Abby and me) first time to go house to house and we all had so much fun, specially because we had wonderful company.

We are already looking forward to next year.  In our own neighborhood perhaps?  And I mean where our own house will be?  Come on, think positively with me!

November 1st

The day after halloween, we attended our first halloween/costume party.  It was potluck and with six families in attendance, it was a halloween fiesta!

I was able to convince Hubby to at least wear a cape.  I used the cape I had from last year, while Abby wore her Snow Princess costume, which now fits her perfectly (it was still too long for her last year!).

Photo by one of our paparazzi friends, A.S.

I’m glad Abby agreed to wear this costume.  She initially wanted to wear the pink Barbie gown she wore at the mall exactly a week before the party.

The kids were kept busy with game after game after game plus some crafts.  They all brought home tons of treats.  It felt like Christmas!

Abby being mummified by Nicole

The kids sticking eyes, nose and mouth to each of their pumpkins.

Here’s a short slideshow of pics from the party, all of which were taken by A.S.  I’m still waiting for the pics from the rest of our paparazzi friends.

Beautifully taken pics, ‘no?  I feel a camera ache coming.  Hush. Hee hee!

And that was our halloween weekend.  Can you believe it’s the weekend again?  Let’s all have a wonderful one!  Cheers!

“Maalaala mo kaya? Ang sumpa mo sa akin? Na ang pagibig mo ay sadyang di magmamaliw?”

25 pounds ago Unang araw ng Pebrero ng taong 2001 nang ako’y pormal na yayaing magpakasal ng aking kasintahan ng mahigit pitong taon.  Pormalidad na lamanag ang pagyayayang ito at ang pagbibigay ng singsing dahil bago pa man ang araw na iyon ay nakapagpasya na kaming magpakasal sa susunod na taon.

Nakakalungkot! Ang payat namin noon!  Hahaha!

Pitong taon na ang nakalilipas simula ng araw na iyon ngunit tandang-tanda ko pa rin ang mga kaganapan.  Hindi “book worthy” ang aming proposal story.  Hehehe.  Maghapon kaming bumisita sa iba’t ibang simbahan sa Makati noon at naghahanap ng pagdarausan ng aming kasal.  Noong kinagabihan, dinala ako ng aking pinakamamahal sa Cafe Maestro sa Reposo (bago na yata ang pangalan ngayon) para sa isang romantikong paghahapunan.  Tinulungan siya ng isa naming matalik na kaibigan na mai-reserve ang ikalawang palapag ng restaurant para lamang sa aming dalawa. Alam ko na siyempre na iyon na ang gabi.  Bwahahaha!  Habang hinihintay ang aming inorder na pagkain, itinanong na nga ang mahiwagang tanong sabay bigay ng singsing.  May I cry ako siyempre matapos sambitin ang matamis na oo. :D  Pagkatapos ay dumating ang waiter at iniabot sa akin ang mga bulaklak (ang sweet ng waiter ano?). Nagdessert kami pagkatapos sa lobby ng Shangri-la Makati at nang ako’y ihatid na sa aming tahanan, saka kami nagpicture taking!

Ika-5 ng Enero ng 2002 nang samahan ang aking engagement ring ng isang wedding ring…sagisag ng pagiibigang hindi magmamamaliw.

Oo, naaalala ko pa. At natitiyak kong naalala pa rin niya.

Larawan ng mga pinakamamahal na buhay sa iking puso’t isipan ang isa ko pang lahok para sa Litratong Pinoy.

Mabuhay!

I hope you can handle a dozen photos.  The stories (and even more photos!) I will just have to share tomorrow. *cross fingers*

Without further ado, I present to you, Super Abby.

I won’t ever be able to pick just one favorite photo for posting, as far as Abby’s pics are concerned.  That you know by now.

Abby, you’re my superhero! Mmmwah!

Have a great week ahead, y’all!  Cheers!

Kadiliman ang kailangan upang lubusang makagiliwan ang panonood ng Electric Parade sa Disney’s California Adventure.  Hindi siyempre maaappreciate ang naggagandahang makukulay na mga ilaw ng mga karosa kung tirik na tirik pa ang araw.

Nagsisimula na ang parada nang dumating kami sa isang kalyeng dadaanan nito sa loob ng theme park.  Agad na humanap ng lugar ang aking asawa at si Abby na may kalapitan sa daan.  Pinaupo ng aking asawa si Abby sa kaniyang mga balikat upang makita nitong maigi ang mga karosa.

Ako nama’y pumuwesto nang medyo malayo ng kaunti at naghanap ng matutungtungan.

Maraming taon  na ang nakalipas nang una akong makapanood ng Electric Parade.  High school pa lamang yata ako noon at wala pang California Adventure noon.  Sa Disneyland pa idinaraos ang parada.

Nakakatuwa na sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay kasama ko na ang aking asawa’t anak sa panood ng parada.

Magkatapat lamang ang California Adventure at Disneyland at mas maagang nagsasara ang California Adventure.  Ito ang kuha ko sa labas ng theme park, bago kami lumipat sa Disneyland para naman habulin ang Fireworks display.

Sa kadiliman lang maaappreciate ang pangitaing ito.

May mga palabas sa kadiliman rin kaming natunghayan sa Disneyland, ang isa ko pang lahok sa Litratong Pinoy.

Maligayang araw at mabuhay!

The mall festivities was from 12nn to 2pm.  There were games, arts and crafts, a bounce house for jumping fun and photo op sponsored by the Picture People.  I was initially afraid to dress Abby up in a costume because she might end up being the only child in costume.  I immediately felt relieved as soon as we got to the activity area and saw little princesses, superheroes, furry animals and the like milling around.

What’s halloween without candy?

I miss my pamangkins (nephew and neices) back home a lot more than I already do during festivities like this.  I know soon, we’ll be trick or treating together again…here. *wink*

We have a full weekend ahead.  Come Friday night, we’ll be trick or treating at the mall, although we have yet to decide which mall.  And Saturday we’ll be attending our first real halloween party with our NFFs (new found friends).  Sunday, we have a birthday party to attend.  Yes, it’s going to be tiring but we don’t really care.  “Fun tired” is always better than “rock bored”.

oOo

I also had a personal halloween kick-off last Saturday evening.  I baked some chocolate cupcakes and had a dress frosting rehearsal of sorts which had Abby practically salivating on the kitchen table so early the next morning.

Photo Title: “Makahulugang Tingin”

Photo Title:  “Maitim na Balak”

I posted more monster cupcake photos here.

Let’s all enjoy the rest of the week! 

As I was saying, the fun we had on October 18th didn’t end at the pumpkin patch.  Nobody seemed to want to go home yet, after all, the sun was still out!  After spending more than 4 hours at the farm, C and L graciously invited all of us to hang out at their house.  And then it was decided that we will go to Oasis, dubbed the Sunset Capital of Texas to, you must have already guessed, watch and take photos of the sunset!  Reservations were made for 6:45 pm.

In spite of the reservations, we still found ourselves without a table when we got to Oasis.  The place was packed with people!  While waiting for a table, we proceeded to the 2nd floor balcony to enjoy the view of Lake Travis and the sunset.

This was our (Hubby, Abby and me) first real good look at Lake Travis.

Houses on the land surrounding the like must cost a ton of money.  And check out that lone structure towards the upper right hand corner of the photo.

Here’s a closer view!

That’s the house we’re building for our family.  You’re all invited to our house warming.  Yeah, right! Hee hee.  Here’s another palace by the lake…

I was kinda expecting Rapunzel to come out to let her hair down. :D  But there was no sign of her.  Hu hu.  There were a number of speedboats lined up near the shore and there here were jetskiers, too…

Did I manage to take a snapshot of the sunset?  I did but most of them are not worth posting.  I didn’t realize the sun sets so quickly!  The most decent photo I was able to take was this…

See?  I almost missed the sun!  Tsk tsk.  Better luck next time.  I hear the sun will set again anyway. 

The sun has already set and yet, there was still no sign of a table for us.

Abby and Lica waiting for a table

It was decided that it might be better if we just had dinner elsewhere, Denny’s, to be exact, where kids eat free on Saturdays. ;)  When we stepped out of Oasis, our ride was already waiting for us…

Ha ha ha!

At Denny’s we were given a private room.  Naks!

There were five tables in that room, one for each of the family in our group.  Seven of the 9 kids got to enjoy a free meal, the other two are still babies so no restaurant food for them. :D  And guess what, our drinks were on the house, too!  Our server explained that he wasn’t exactly very organized when he took our beverage orders, and since we were paying separate checks, it would be too much of a hassle for him to go to each table all over again to find out who drank what. Poor guy.  I hope the cost of drinks won’t be taken out of his paycheck.

That’s about it for our 12-hour lakwatsa.  We have busy but fun days ahead of us.  We have about 3 parties to attend within days of each other plus trick or treating.  You’ll be hearing all about them soon.

Have a great weekend!

oOo

Oh yeah, I almost forgot!  I have a personal milestone to share with you.  *wink*

Last Wednesday, the 22nd of October, at the ripe old age of 33, I bought food from a McDonald’s drive thru for the very first time ever.  Hahaha!  I don’t know where my drive thru issues are coming from.  Must be fear of dropping the food or payment.  Or maybe, I really just don’t want to talk to a box.  :D  And you know how a lot of drive thrus back home are so narrow that damage to property is almost expected.  Anyway, Hubby wasn’t with Abby and me that time.  Normally, I’ll just park the car and order from the counter.  But it was raining and I just wanted to get home right away.  To cut a long story short, I did it!  Finally.  Another layer of shelteredness, if there’s even such a word, stripped off of me. :D  Woohoo!

Liwanag ng haring araw ang bumati sa amin noong magpunta kami sa Sea World noong ika-5 ng Hulyo.  Damang-dama naman talaga ang init ng Tag-Init (Summer) dito sa Texas.  Kaya naman sa makailang punta namin sa Sea World, sa unang pagkakataon ay napagpasyahan naming magbabad sa Lost Lagoon ng Sea World.

Gagamitin ko na ang pagkakataon ito upang mailathala ang mga larawang kinuha namin noong araw na iyon.  Oktubre na at hindi ko pa nailalathala ang marami pang larawan noong Tag-Init!

Panangga sa liwanag ng araw ang pink shades ni Abby.

Hindi ba’t maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na magkamukha kaming mag-ina?

Talaga namang nagliwanag ang mukha ng mag-ama dala ng kanilang mga ngiti.

Sa aming pagtatampisaw sa tubig, disposable waterproof camera ang aming ginamit.  Ito ay natutunan namin sa aming mga kaibigang si Meeya at ang kaniyang asawa nang magkasama kami noong isang taon sa Schlitterbahn.

Narito ang mga kuha mula sa disposable camera.  Pasensya na sa hindi kagandahang quality ng mga larawan.  Pero ipinapangako kong maganda naman ang quality ng mga ngiti!

Ang sarap magbabad sa tubig!

Talaga namang nag-enjoy si Abby sa pagangkas sa mga naglalakihang mga salbabida (tube) at sa paglangoy mag-isa (salamat sa life vest!).

Kung minsa’y kumakandong siya sa akin at dalawa kaming nakaupo sa malaking tube.

Walang zoom ang  disposable camera.  Literal na close-up itong kuhang ito dahil talagang kinailangan kong ilapit ang camera kay Abby.

Tuwang-tuwang kaming dumaan sa ilalim ng mga sprinklers.

Maliwanag din ang ngiti ng mama na itinuturo ng arrow!  Nakisali sa picture! Hahaha!

Mabuti at nakahiligan ni Abby ang paglangoy.

Malapit na rin namin siyang ienroll sa swim class.

Ilang beses kaming umikot sa languyang ito sakay ng tube o paminsan minsa’y naglalakad sa tubig.

Nang magsawa sa lazy river, lumipat naman kami sa laruan ng mga bata.  At ito ang mga kuha doon…

Kulang ang 27 exposures sa akin.  Dahil bawa’t galaw ni Abby ay gusto kong kunan ng litrato.  Hindi ko tuloy nakuhanan ang wave pool. :D  Next year na lang ulit.  Sarado na ngayon ang Lost Lagoon ng Sea World dahil Fall na.

Sana ay naibigan ninyo ang mga larawan.

Mga bagay na nangangailangan at nagbibigay ng liwanag ang isa ko pang lahok sa LP.

Mabuhay!