Happy Rawr-aaa 2013!

It's animal prints theme for the Marcial's annual New Year's Eve party. I'm pretty sure you don't have to ask whose idea this was. :)

I only have a few photos to share though, I hosted the party and prepared all the parlor games for my nieces, nephews and cousins. All games were taken to the next level (hinirapan ko talaga kasi hindi ako pwede sumali, hahaha!).

We also had our own version of photobooth with masks, hats, shades and all. Spell prepared!

That's all for now! Wishing you a great year ahead! Happy Rawr-aaa 2013, friends! Cheers!

♥,

Marianne

A Dozen of '12

Making a year-end blog post is exciting when in the shower but when I'm already in front of the computer, everything in my mind just disappears. I can't think of any cool idea to start this, I'm having a hard time. Whenever I ask myself what's the biggest thing happened this year, I only have one answer--having a baby! 

But for the purpose of joining the bandwagon (hahaha), I'm listing the twelve big things I'm thankful for this oh-twelve. And I'm serious, this isn't just for the purpose of joining the bandwagon coz it's always fun reminiscing. It reminds us (or explains) why we are here NOW. 

Here's a monthly calendar view of the year's highlights --

January

HOLIDAY HANGOVER

New Years Eve with the family. Shining, shimmering theme. And other Christmas events last 2011.

February

CEBU 2012: The Great Santa Fe Beach

Paolo and I's eighth year together as a couple.

 March

First of Summer: Potipot Island

My first summer trip with my bibes Susie, Kim E. and Doms. There's a kind of hush! :)

April

When Perci Turned 40

It's a rare opportunity to party with TV5 Executives, I feel so honored to share this photo with them. I miss these people already!

May

Leighton Meester in Manila

Do I need to explain why? I SAW LEIGHTON MEESTER IN REAL LIFE. 

June

Marianne x Hello Kitty

My 24th birthday celebration, meowed!

July

da.u.de

My favorite tea place opened in the country, and it's right beside our office building in The Fort.

August

A Day In Japan

I got to cross this out from my 2012 to-do lists: go to Little Tokyo!

September

Tatamaan Ka!

The last event of the year I attended with my BFF Monica and Derek Ramsay was a freebie.

October

This is the first time I'm posting a copy of my ultrasound last October, when I found out that we'll be soon having a little one. That's my 7-week baby. :)

November

I got engaged to my 8-year boyfriend, who's now my fiance. <3

December

My Christmas gift wish is to have a French bulldog and voila! Pao and I bought one. Meet Tofu, everyone!

There are other many things that I'm really thankful for this 2012--a complete (and growing bigger) family, a company of good friends, healthy career and more. Lord has indeed showered us with blessings and I couldn't ask for more. Looking forward to 2013, I'll have our baby in our hands and I vow to take good care of him/her. I'll be a good mother like how my mother raised me and I will surround him with inspiring, happy people who are also surrounding him now.

I may not be able to completely cross out all my to-do list for 2012 but there's this mini-me who changed my life, the way I view and live it and I'm really excited to start my journey with the family I call my own.

Happy new year, everyone! Here's to another blessed, happy and peaceful 2013! Cheers!

♥,

Marianne

Holiday Hangover

Cheers to 2012, everyone! Here's my first ever blog post for this new year. I got so busy over the holidays, barely had time to visit Superloved and post new entries. And since the Yuletide spirit is still with us, I'm rolling all the happenings (from Christmas parties to birthdays to reunions, etc) this recent holiday in a single post. But prepare yourselves for a real photo-loaded story, I tried to cut the number of images but.. it was hard. Enjoy reading! :)

Tropang Logbi Christmas Party 

The same college barkada Paolo and I share celebrated Christmas last December 17 at Garahe 25. It's a big  group mostly composed of boys so don't expect to see some gift-giving activities for boys hate giving presents! :P The party poured beers however. Add sexy girls who promote beers.. it was really fun, at least for them. But seriously, it was a fun night. Year-end party plan did not push through, though.

Monthly Period Christmas Dinner

We had the North Park in TriNoma all by ourselves last December 19. We did not reserve for exclusivity but we loved the fact that the place was not too crowded because it was a Monday night. We exchanged gifts and gave my friends some cheapo presents but I'm so happy they liked it.

Yang Chow overload! And dim sum and noodles and all Chinese goodies! So yummy!

Mia gave me a 5-piece brush set from Charm. Yay! :)

"Our future is so bright, we must wear sunglasses!"

Exclusive for Monthly Period. ♥

We had numerous Christmas parties in the past, add grade school and high school parties to that, but this one's really memorable! It was the night we became friends with our dearest Lovi Poe, too! And this dinner did not involve drinking alcohol. I am so proud of ourselves for we put career first and fought alcoholic temptation. Yeah!

Mark's & Irene's Birthday-Slash-Christmas-Slash-Reunion-With-Grade-School-And-High-School-Friends-Party

Whew! This epic party happens every 21st day of December of the year. If it's true that the world would end this year, then you will know where we are and who we are with. :P And after two years of not bringing Paolo with me, I finally brought him back at the Pelayo's residence this time. Shocking for him to see my friends grow bigger... and better!

With the "outstanding" birthday boy, Mark!

With the birthday girl, Irene, and Toto and Kay: my friends since 1993!

My high school bffs and our bfs! So cute!

As usual, this annual epic party is awesome! I also skipped alcohol that night (and drank milk tea with Mika instead) because I learned my lesson the day after I drank with Tropang Logbi people. I almost puked on the third night of Simbang Gabi! Told myself to continue fighting that kind of temptation until I complete the novena Mass and hey, it was a success!

Christmas 2011

The best people to spend Christmas with: FAMILY. Never, ever fails. Happier this time, too, because our dearest Mama Nene (my Dad's sister, in peach top), went home from Taiwan to spend the holidays with us. Our cousins from Cavite also took a trip up north to celebrate Christmas with us.

Made these for Noche Buena!

My gift for my lucky baby monita! And greetings from Hello Kitty too!

Dedma sa gulo ng garahe. Paolo came to celebrate Christmas with us! We look like cousins already.

The girls with Mama. :)

I got half of my Christmas wishlist this year! Thank you to those who surprised me with presents! But what made my Christmas the happiest is being with my family and my boyfriend. Not a single thing can ever compare to what I feel when I'm with them. <3

My Mom's 50th Birthday

Our golden wonder woman turned 50 two days after Christmas. I took a leave from work to help my Mom prepare her much-awaited birthday party. I'm also proud to tell you that it was me and my elder sister, Ate Mai, who threw this party for her with my dad's and younger sister's support! Seeing her happy is priceless!

Cupcakes from Blushing Cupcakes!

We do not have enough photos because we got so busy that night. And another highlight of Mom's party is the attendance of Paolo's family! My family finally met his mom and his siblings at home! Such a wonderful occasion! Now I want them to be friends on Facebook. :P

2012 NEW YEAR'S EVE

The last day of Yuletide celebration is the first day of the year. Life's like this, so the best thing to deal with this irony is to be with your family. For 2012, we had the "Shining, Shimmering" theme. Just in case you did not notice, we wore something with sequins, glitters, lights and anything glowing!

I LOVE YOU.

Jai ho! I pouted and found out I was wearing a mask.

My baby girl Reesha gave me the sweetest kiss!

Some of the girls in the family!

The cute kids and proud titas!  

I hosted our new year's eve party and the kids had a severe hangover on the day of January first! They all woke me up at 10 in the morning and demanded me to throw games for them. I made some cupcakes for them instead because I'm suffering from sore throat. The smile on their faces while dancing Teach Me How To Dougie and Super Bass (the ONLY songs we played that eve) and while playing parlor games like paper dance, stop dance, bring me, simon says, trip to jerusalem reminded me of the true meaning of Christmas for children.

***

Again, happy holidays and let's cheer to this fresh, new year! I promise to post a follow-up blog entry for 2012, my to-dos, goals to achieve and resolution-like ideas to make me a better person this year. Aaaaand keep posted, Superloved's birthday is fast approaching. This blog is turning one this month!

♥,

2011, A Year Of Friendship

Friendship. Such a fragile word for me. I have always been so sensitive when it comes to friendship for all relationships should be founded by this. In my life, I have built a wonderful, unyielding friendship with my family. Then here comes an affectionate friendship we foster with our partners, our significant others. And lastly, the basic friendship we develop with our circles, our friends--the family we have chosen. Therefore, friendship is love. We can never say we love these people until we establish the kind of friendship we have with them.

My 2011 took me to a roller coaster ride. I've touched the clouds, felt the ground, floated in the midair, twisted me into the loops and oops of life but in the end, my safety belt buckled up by people who love me faithfully kept me alive. I almost gave up, but I was secured by the kinds of friendship I just defined. And just like any other rides, roller coaster rides come to an end. It stops on the right time. And it's up to you if you're willing to take risks and want to ride again.

If I were to answer my own question, yes, I want to ride again. There must be some views I missed because I'm too scared so I closed my eyes. Who knows, I might be braver this time.

Friendship rekindled, friendship rediscovered. New-found friendship, friendship wiped out. Best friendship remains. Welcome to my 2011.

It's quite challenging for me to post this year-ender blog. First, I don't know how to start and second, I have a lot of things to note I don't know which to prioritize. I don't want to call this the best of my 2011 because clearly, I share even my saddest emotions. Let's just go with the flow. But nonetheless, this is also my way of saying THANK YOU.

 I've been to a beautiful island called Guimaras.

This 2011, I turned a year old in the good hands of TV5.

Rachel and I have finally patched things up.

We also celebrated Mom and Dad's 30th wedding anniversary this year.
I watched Justin Bieber's concert without dropping a Hamilton.
And this year, I finally step a foot on SoFA.
I got to see the NBA superstars like Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose in real life for free and Kobe was this close to me.
My dream of becoming a fashion stylist happened in collaboration with my favorite online brands Royal Kouture, MARiS and Loca Trends.
For the first time in my life, I went to Puerto Galera and braved the strong winds and waves on our way there.
Also, Resorts World Manila brought my forever favorite The Sound Of Music. I can't describe the feeling!
2011 is really a year of firsts. My college friend Kim tied the knot with her long time boyfriend, Mon. She became my first girl friend who walked down the aisle.
Another first is my first beach trip with my high school best friends Mika, Maro and Ailyn. We went to Boracay in one, two, three, four days!

I went to places I've never been, met new people and called them good friends.

Two of the best highlights of my 2011 is my 23rd birthday. I threw a party and asked my guests to wear something with animal prints on it. Truly, they made the night I turned 23 memorable. Turning another year older is always wonderful, just like when Paolo and I turned seven.

So many things to be thankful for! I can't even enumerate all so if I missed something, it doesn't mean I forgot you. I'm just too clouded on what to prepare tonight and I'm not feeling well.

But here's a special shout out. My 2011 is dedicated to all my friends. It's a year of friendship and I look forward to spend the same, best times with these people who love me unconditionally without judging me, without asking for anything in return. They know who they are. :)

Cheers to 2011 and 2012!

♥,