9 Years: Babymoon

Nine long years and counting!

Our ninth year together starts a new page for both of us. And because I am now on my 23rd week bearing our little one in my tummy, we can't go out of town for a celebration like we did in the past two years. We decided to just stay in a good hotel for an overnight stay and spoil ourselves a little. 

Sofitel did the justice. We felt like we were in Plantation Bay, only nearer and better! The view of Manila Bay eased the pain of me missing the sand, and its poolside, great food and service made us real VIPs! Paolo and I lived a luxurious life there. No worries at all! If we could only afford a 3D2N stay, we would definitely stay longer!

We'd like to thank, by the way, our lovely friends who came to celebrate our special day with us! Toto, Kimmie & Mon and Jovy came over for a night swimming session and movie night special showing Black Swan! Thank you, thank you! You made it more special! Love you guys! 

Our extra special anniversary dinner.

Everything is good about this place.

As we enjoyed the famous Manila Bay sunset.

Me and my girls Jovy and Kimmie. Swimming party! Toto Bee took our photos. Thank you, lovey! :*

A panorama shot of what our morning looked like..

...before we enjoyed our buffet breakfast as Spiral.

Pogi:)

Now this is what my bump looks like at 23 weeks.

Our first family picture, I must say. ♥

What's good about short/overnight trips is that you'd get to enjoy every second, if not, every minute of it. We wasted no time, I must say. We enjoyed our bonding with our little one's quickening. 

I am not sure what's gonna happen next year, on our tenth. But what's really, really up next is that my ultrasound is scheduled next week. Can't wait to see our baby inside me! 

To my dearest Paolo, I may not be the perfect girlfriend/fiancee, but I promise that I am going to be the wife and the mother to our child that both of you deserve. Thank you for all the love. Everyday of my life I am devoted to take care and be the best for you. I love you, babe! 

And because my "anniversary" special entry is short compared to the past years I wrote, feel free to take a trip down memory lane. Read our Iloilo-Guimaras (7 Years) and Cebu-Bantayan Island (8 years) adventures. Big cheese alert. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. :D

Kung Hei Fat Choi, my loves! 

♥,

Marianne

Hundred Days of Summer

I've been to my second summer destination! I just couldn't let the very long weekend pass without having another island to discover.

I never thought that this getaway would push through. I swear I wanted to cut myself into two when I found out that my family had last minute plans of going to Cavite. I had my things packed a day before Saturday and I was so freaking ready for the beach. Not that I chose to be with Paolo's family but I already gave my word that I'd be joining them. I did. My family's so understanding.

As we all know, getting to Pangasinan usually takes 4-6 hours but it took us 8 long hours! We stayed at Tropical Island Resort located at Tondol Beach in Anda Island. I had no photo to show you on how good-looking this island is especially on low tide but when you Google it, this will be one of the results:

Crystal clear water with white sand and it's at its best during low tide. Unfortunately, we went there on a holiday hence a crowded place. Tondol Beach isn't fully developed yet. I might go back here to see how it looks like during off peak where garbage is less visible and seaweeds/grasses are more... manageable.

Anda is right in between Hundred Islands and Bolinao (AHHHH NEXT TIME, BOLINAO! I SWEAR!!!). On our second day, we went to Hundred Islands--the main reason why we went to Pangasinan.

At Anda Port going to Hundred Islands!

With my boyfriend who's gaining weight! Haha!

With Deedee, Paolo's niece. She's already a grownup! ♥

From Anda Island, it took us 30 minutes to get to Quezon Island, one of the few islands in Hundred Islands National Park where guests are welcomed to swim. On our way there, we saw the many other islands which complete the hundred! Two of the notable ones are:

Turtle Island

I don't know the name of this island but I call it the hippo island. :)

I expected a large number of crowd and I was right. But it surprised me even more to find out that the island is loaded with sari-sari stores. It quite turned me off. I hope someone from the DOT or the local government would try to fix minor problems like this. A beautiful place like Hundred Islands deserves intensive care. 

For five minutes I dipped in the sea. Paolo and I also kayaked, resulting to sore muscles and body pains. The crowd is bearable but it's uncomfortable for me to leave my things somewhere while beating the heat away. We just took photos instead, went up the rocky hills and enjoyed the view.

What I wore: Sunkissed animal prints bikini, Betty satin pants.

Good to find out there's a clam-viewing area where guests are not allowed to swim but taking photos is fine! :)

At the clam-viewing area.

All the other islands behind me!

I know I'm gaining weight. Lalalala. I'm trying hard to bring back my Puerto Galera body!!!

Family picture with our daughters Deedee and Julianna. :P

Sad to say, we only stayed there for two hours. We had to go back to Tondol before the sunset. We killed time by jumping and jumping and jumping to starve ourselves and to give bigger space for our dinner: crabs, shrimps, crabs and shrimps.

Here are the two of my favorite jump shots:

SOAR HIGH!!!!

Lack of photos, I know! Apologies, but I enjoyed too much time there with no camera and iPhone in my hands!

♥,

Marianne

First Of Summer: Potipot Island

Unplanned trips are, most of the time, the best! How often do you hear this? Me and my other groups of friends always find a hard time syncing all our busy schedules to go out of town and usually, the plans don't push through. So when you have the chance to go somewhere for the weekend and you've got friends who impulsively say yes to be with you a day before/on the very same day you plan to leave... pack your bags, leave and TREASURE THEM FOREVER. Times like this is definitely one for the books, and I'm pretty sure you're gonna roll! :)

Ever since Susie made Zambales her home extension, we have been planning to visit her and Neil. She never fails to tell us her story on how accessible the beaches are in Iba and have always used her magic spell on us: free accommodation. Neil is about to finish his term at All Asia Aviation Academy so he has free hours to spend with us and tour us around. Kim, Doms and I were honestly not sure if we could join in the fun that's why we just confirmed the trip two days before.

We left Friday evening to enjoy the whole day of Saturday in the beach. Kim brought a friend with her, JJ, so we traveled in even number--Doms, Kim, JJ and yours truly. It only took us 3 1/2 hours to get to Iba (we were told it would take us 5 hours) and how we got there was totally hilarious! Everytime I think about it, I can't help but laugh hard.

POTIPOT ISLAND

It's a choice between Anawangin and Potipot Island. Luckily, Doms has been to these two islands and he recommended Potipot because of its whiter sand (however, we are planning to go back and see Anawangin soon). We got up Saturday morning, around 9, and traveled up north.

From Dawal Beach Resort, you can see right away the beauty and whiteness of Potipot Island. We crossed the see the sea for only five good minutes and paid the boatman P400, round trip.

There you go! Welcome to Potipot Island! I'm very surprised on the whiteness of the island, I never thought it's as white as Panglao's! There's a fee (P100 for a day and P300 for overnight) and unfortunately, we were asked to pay in such a rude way.

Moving on, we had lunch the moment we found the perfect place to keep our things safe and dry and shaded. There are cottages in the island for P500 but there are tables under the tree for free. We all hate extra charges, don't we? So we opted to stay under the tree and besides, we were only staying for a day.

It's really sweet of Susie to prepare lunch for us: shrimp, chicken adobo, salted egg. It's a new her and we won't ask why. Ayeee! :)

That moment when Superloved is super hungry.

I know others are waiting for this: mix and match, bikini pics! Haha! Here it is --

I did not wear anything new. I just wore the top I wore in Bataan last year during Holy Week with its original pair, the purple bikini I used in Puerto Galera and Boracay in 2011. I also wore my see-through bottoms I used in Cebu to cover me up. That's just it, I spent no amount for this trip except for food and transportation.

There goes my belly. :)

Girls: me, Susie and Kimberly.

Plus the captain, Neil.

And the professor, Doms!

Meet JJ too! And here's the only group shot we had. Boo!

To cite Doms, "May area sa Potipot na pang-pictorial." Of course we didn't leave the island without taking photos in that area which Doms was referring to. We loved it! Temptation Island, indeed!

Picture perfect!

I ♥ stolen shots!

And speaking of stolen shots, I'm happy to found out that JJ takes good photos and he took us paparazzi-inspired photos! Some of my favorites are:

 "It pays to check the label."

"Test the water."

"ODK moments."

I just love this photo and made it my profile picture too!

Wanderlust!

While I'm asleep.

We went back to Iba before 6 to get ready for our BBQ party with Neil's "international" friends. But before that, we had a little grocery shopping to buy Magnum (Susie's really an influential person). Other photos were taken using Kim's camera so I've nothing to show you but this:

PAMU!!!

Hopefully, I'd be able to blog about our Subic trip soon. We had a day trip there as well before we officially ended our super short vacation. I want to share you our story about our personalized bus ride, our day in the park somewhere in SBMA, Doms' shopping spree at Freeport Zone and our super fulfilling late lunch at Xtremely Xpresso.

Xtremely Xpresso in Manila, please?

My first of summer is a big blast! Thanks to my pans and my mars for this ODK-worthy weekend! Looking forward to our next summer trips in Anawangin and Pinatubo! :)

♥,
Marianne

Big Bang Theory

How are you, my dear readers? I bet most of us are waiting for the clock to strike 6 to officially start the weekend. My blogging mojos are now recharged, finally! They were so feeling low the past few days, and even I can't think of new posts to make. And when I do, time won't allow me to.

Summer has officially started as well! The scorching heat of the sun outside make us all crave for the cold sweets like the very Filipino halo-halo, dirty ice cream, smoothies a la Jamba Juice, iced milk teas, frappuccino and the now famed Magnum ice cream. I'm also looking forward to my very first trip to the beach this summer with my college chums Susie, Kim E. and Dominique. We're heading up north tonight and we're so ready to get a tan! Oops, okay, I take it back. I'm mentally and emotionally ready but my things aren't yet. I have to do a quick packing after work.

That ain't new. I hate procrastinating but I'm pretty sure I'd still make it to our own assembly time. But one thing is new (boo, I hate this introduction!!!), I rejoined the bandwagon--I'm sporting full bangs now! The last time I cut my bangs on my own was 2009, months after I finished college. Three years later, I'm feeling like a youngster again. When I cut my bangs the other day, I thought of some inspiring people, just in case I'd look awkward and be much willing to blame myself (can I call this leveling? haha!).

Anne Curtis

Maxx Magalona 

Saab Magalona ♥

Saab Magalona is a major inspiration! Hee! I failed to find a photo of Patty Laurel, Regine Angeles and Heart Evangelista flaunting the full bangs though. I lacked courage so I thought of these ladies, they're my forever girl crushes! I hope I won't remind you of Charice because, uhm, yeah. But I saw she's got new looks now. For a change.

Masakit sa ulo.

Masakit sa bangs!

Full bangs, I conquered ya!

The next day, my bangs looked shorter!

...but nonetheless I loved it! I'm so happy that I did it--for my look, for myself. There are issues, actually. I have proved myself something and I'm so happy, even received compliments! Thank you! Thanks for calling me Emily The Strange, Sandara Park and a Japanese doll. Kawaii!

Hope we will all enjoy our weekend with a BANG! :)

♥,

Marianne