Boo and tart

Wedding pics

2006-12-29T19:39:00.000-12:00

Our Dream Wedding

2006-12-26T19:35:00.000-12:00

Yes, it's finally over ... our dream wedding! We had so much fun! JR and I loved every minute of it ... we just took in how everything happened ...just like a slow motion picture...lol! Visit http://kharenandjr.weddingannouncer.com and go to Diary and check out the onsite AVP that Shierdan made for us. Also, you can check out some pics at Fol Rana's site http://blog.folrana.com and go to JR and Kharen's wedding. More stories later ... we just arrived in TO! BTW, this is my favourite pic

Wedding shower

2006-11-19T19:35:00.000-12:00

We had a wedding shower last Saturday, November 11. And it was great! We had so much fun just hanging out with our families and relatives and everyone had a blast! It's not a typical wedding shower really...more like a get-together but I enjoy gatherings like this :)

Visit our wedsite, check out the the photo album and click on "Wedding Shower" for more pics!

2 WEEKS TO GO!!!

2006-11-17T19:34:00.000-12:00

Ok, I admit it ...I'm getting more and more excited by the minute! Feeling a bit nervous and anxious at the same time ...ugh! My uncle, grandparents and brother left for Manila yesterday and now it's becoming more real that we are leaving in less than 2 weeks for Manila too!!! Yipeeeeee! So much to do still but hopefully we'll be able to manage! But before we leave, Jarrod's going to have his first confession on Nov. 27th...can't believe we have a 7 yr old! His 1st Communion is next April ....time flies! Man, I feel old! Too many things to be thankful about though! :) In the meantime, have to start getting focused!

October updates

2006-10-26T19:33:00.000-12:00

We got our invites last week na and we've (I mean my Tito Boy in Las Pinas) mailed a few of them na. On delivery and service, I would like to highly recommend Ms. Trina Valenzuela :) Very affordable pa! I just need to get an actual copy since we're overseas. But my family said na it's simple yet elegant - just how we wanted it! I just need to work on the misallette, reception programme & song list! We're in the process of booking the bridal car with Streetline :) We're getting a limo!!! Nice, huh?!? It's my hubby's request...hehehe!

I've been so busy with work that I can hardly find time to do any wedding stuff...ugh!!! It's November next week.... and I can't help but smile when I think about it....oooooh, I'm sooooo excited! And yes, I can't help grinning when my co-workers ask me about our wedding. Oh, we're having a wedding shower with our family and relatives on November 11th - since most of JR's family will not be able to make it to the wedding. I'm working on the giveaways ...I will post our invitations and shower favour tag next week :)

October's here!

2006-10-08T19:32:00.000-12:00

We finally got our measurements taken by a family friend today and will be sending it out to Enan and Tet. And my best friend, Norie (maid of honour), also went to see Tet for measurement taking too. Getting more things done. Well, I was looking at the calendar and it's only 8 weeks before we leave for Manila! Yipeeeeee! OMG, I think I have butterflies in my stomach ....hehehe.... I know soooo exaggerated! But time really flies....it was December when we first talked about our church wedding/renewal of vows and now it's almost here! And I've started having some "wedding nightmares" already! LOL! Just things like forgetting to get a florist and car....hmmm...ok got the florist...still have to get the car....JR's dream bridal car...a limo! Will do that today and hopefully have it booked soo. Gosh, and I still have to read th reminder sheet that my coordinator forwarded to me...ugh....the small details!!! Oh right, and I still have to work out :( Almost crunch time!!!

JR's early birthday gift

2006-09-24T14:28:00.000-12:00

Since early this year, JR has been talking non-stop about playing Foosball. So when he switched to his new job this month, he had mentioned how he would miss playing Foosball. Ok, I have been thinking about getting a surprise b-day gift for him and I thought this would be perfect for him this year. His b-day is not until end of October so I thought I had lots of time, right?!? Wrong! Just a week and a half ago - he was talking about wanting to get one right away! So I had to be sneaky and try to dissuade him from getting one this year. I told him we still have the trip and wedding to think about so he shouldn't buy it yet. But no, he still wanted to get one and so I decided to get his friend's help to stall him. I contacted him last Thursday and he told JR that they will get it next week - which gives me this weekend to decide! Well, I called my uncle on Friday night to see if I can borrow his van but I found out that he was working ...darn!!! So I decided to visit the place anyway on Saturday morning - and yes, I had to make up a lie that I had some hair appointment that day ...well, I still had a short hair treatment so technically, it's not a whole lie....hehehe! I went to the store and talked to the guy ....and I was able to haggle without even trying too much! I was even able to cut the delivery cost to $20! Anyway, had to ask my sister-in-law to tell JR that we don't have to go to my in-laws until 2 pm that day so that we can wait for the Foosball table to be delivered (JR's uncle's b-day lunch was on that day which is why I had to go in the AM). And it worked cuz I was bale to pull it off!!! Here's a pic of the Foosball table:

Yes, JR's very happy that he has a Foosball table now! I told him that it will be his b-day, wedding and X-mas gift rolled into one!!!

One more major supplier booked!

2006-09-24T14:27:00.000-12:00

We have finally booked a hotel for our wedding preparations - Crown Plaza! Sooo happy that we've booked all the major ones! Check out our wedsite for more wedding info!

Wedding entourage

2006-09-17T03:03:00.000-12:00

Yipeeeeee! I'm soooooo happy that our friend, Roel, will be coming to Manila to be our best man!!! I'm really glad that one of our closest friends will be able to there with us - he's known JR since their FCAR (Ryerson) days. At least there will be someone from the groom's side since my in-laws will not be able to make it to our wedding. So .... I'm happy!!! Also, we've confirmed that JR's cousin, Bam, from Manila accepted our invitation for her to be in our wedding entourage as well!!! So our entourage is finally complete!!! I can finally send the list for the invitations!

More wedding suppliers booked!

2006-09-08T17:33:00.000-12:00

Whew! I finally booked more suppliers! I have booked the following:

1. Tet Hagepe for the female entourage's gowns
2. Katrina Valenzuela for invitations
3. Rey Casedo for male entourage's barongs
4. Sunday Cabagay of Kablooms for flowers for entourage and church
5. Kaye Cunanan of Cunanan Catering for cocktails at the reception

I've made a downpayment with Tet and will be making a deposit with the others next week. Gosh, I'm sooo excited! Now my small stories for each one. Since Tet was recommended by Ade (a good friend of mine thru W@W), I didn't really have any reservations on booking her. She was so nice pa on the phone when I called her. With Trina, I've only dealt with her thru email, but she replies very promptly - grabe! In less than 2 weeks yata, she already made a mock up invite for me - free of charge! With only a few modifications, she will make another mock up invite for us and after our final approval, she will be making our invites na! She can do it in 2 weeks time lang - oh, and she doesn't require any minimum # of invites to order - wow! Now, Mr. Casedo naman is the same, very prompt with emails - and the best part is he does home service to take measurements and I think he also delivers the finished products - wow ulit! Sunday is another W@W find, Jonna, another W@Wie was raving about the work done sa wedding niya. After checking the pictures, I liked it anman and was relieved na very reasonable yung price - galing ulit! Then last but not the least, Kaye was booked thru email din lang - she adjusts to your budget din and I know na sarap din yung menu niya for cocktails - yummy! Well, that's the latest update on our suppliers ....can't wait !!! In less than 3 months, we'll be in Manila na :)

September is here....

2006-09-04T14:14:00.000-12:00

And so the first "ber" month is here! which means, we're exactly:

And I'm just ecstatic about all this! But first...school starts tomorrow for Jarrod. It's his first day at the new school since we moved to Mississauga. Went shopping for school supplies this weekend and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be :) I will drive Jarrod to his new school tomorrow and I think I'm more restless than he is... hehehe!

And now wedding stuff....well, trying to finalize the invitations, menu for cocktails, getting my shoes :) and female entourage gowns...ok, still have to get a barong supplier for the male entourage ...oh and the bridal car.....I think that's it in a nutshell!!! Whew! Oh, and confirm bookings with the hotel!!! Well, I guess I have my hands full for now :)

A day at Wild Water Works ....

2006-08-24T13:16:00.000-12:00

We went to Wild Water Works in Hamilton last August 19th and we had a great time even though it was drizzling a bit. Took my son, Jarrod, on the slide, check out the pics. I was not too scared to go down the slide (although I was screaming at the top of my lungs!!!) but was afraid that Jarrod would fall off the tube - yes, the paranoid mom in me! But it was a blast! I'm hoping we could do more of this next year ... especially after the wedding and all :)

Lay's Wasabi

2006-08-24T13:12:00.000-12:00

Hmmmm...heard about this new flavour from Lay's... then JR and I saw it at the grocery store .... bought it! Thought we'd try and it was actually good ...not too strong like the wasabi in Japanese restaurants...it was just enough. The chips had some green colour too.

Colour scheme dilemma

2006-08-24T13:09:00.000-12:00

Gosh, it's 4 months before the wedding and I haven't fully decided if I'll stick with Red and Gold or change it to Pink (one of my fave colours) & Brown. I need help...take the poll at our wedsite to help me decide. Visit Kharen & JR's weditse ...thanks to all who will respond or send me a message! Here are some pics:

Tickets booked!

2006-08-24T13:08:00.001-12:00

Yipeeeee! We've finally paid our tickets to Manila for our wedding! Exciting, isn't it?!? I can't believe the wedding is 4 months away! I will be working on our schedule for our trip....first thing on my list is to go to a spa! LOL! We'll be in Manila on Dec. 1st but we have our canonical interview on Dec. 2 and pre-cana seminar on Dec. 3.... so we will be in Antipolo the day after we arrive .... ugh, busy schedule! But looking forward to it! :D

My obssession....

2006-08-24T13:08:00.000-12:00

Well, not really an obssession but it would be great if I could get Paolo Santos to sing at my wedding! *SIGH* I had this idea where he can sing "Because of You" with Jarrod (he used to love that song!). But I also like Jimmy Bondoc and Nyoy Volante! I even wanted Side A, Freestyle and MYMP!!! Yes, say it with me .... DREAM ON!!! Huhuhuhu!!!
On the more realistic side, we will be booking our tickets soon!!! We're going to target Nov. 30-Dec. 26/06 and hopefully it will be ok at my work :) I'm sooo excited ...can't wait! Booked most of the major suppliers anyway...so I guess I sholdn't panic...right?!? LOL! I'll probably be going crazy soon!

Busy weekend!

2006-07-21T13:53:00.000-12:00

Had a chance to be my cousin's church coordinator ....and my gosh, it was a bit stressful!!! But it was a great experience! I told my cousin that I would help her out and I'm glad I was able to contribute in my own little way :) I'm happy cuz everyone was giving me compliments on how smoothly the church ceremony went! Hihihi...goosebumps! Their wedding was very beautiful....*sigh*...hope ours will be just as great :) It was really fun too at the reception. I should post some pics soon. The funny part was at the hotel - the photographers were talkng to me as if I was the coordinator...hahaha...do I look that authoritative?!? LOL! I had a great time helping them out and it was fun...maybe I should do this coordinating thing for good...hehehe!

It's getting close....

2006-07-12T12:45:00.000-12:00

Didn't realize that I haven't posted for 2 months! I've been sooooo busy with my new work - doing overtime and also doing errands for our not-so-newly-bought house. We've finally moved in last June 24th and we love it! It's nice to have our own place again although it's expensive. Haven't really bought anything new since we're trying to save up for our church wedding and trip to the Philippines in December. I bought our luggages last month! It was 50% off and they're from Eddie Bauer - seems like it's durable...hehehe! My cousin's wedding is on Saturday, July 15th and I'm supposed to help her "coordinate". Should be interesting, I think. Anyway, time to get into shape again! Argh, can't believe I'm still 125 lbs! It's just hard cuz I've been doing so many overtimes...I know, excuses, excuses! Gotta get back into gear! BTW, we watched "CARS" and it was funny! I really liked it! For the 2 months that I haven't blogged. my mind is surely blank! I guess it's because I have more wedding updates than anything...lol! Visit our wedsite for more details!

What a weekend!

2006-05-01T12:36:00.000-12:00

Yipee! We got our house! Our stress with the preparations etc. to purchase the house is now over! Another stress comes into play though....new home expenses!!! LOL! Oh well, we'll deal with it as it comes along. We're really both excited with moving in ...which is not until July 1st. Last weekend, we did some minor cleaning on the house...I mean, I did some minor cleaning...JR did other stuff like taking out the ugly wallpaper from the master bedroom! It took the almost the whole weekend and I fel bad for him yesterday so I helped him...hehehe! Now, we're both in so much pain!!! So a piece of advice, don't use wallpaper! It's sooooo tedious to remove! The agony of being homeowners again cuz the expenses hurt! Imagine, we had to buy carbon monoxide/smoke alarms for each floor (there's 3) and they're almost $70! We also replaced the locks for safety reasons. Replaced the toilet bowls too but we'll be getting a rebate of $60 each for the 2 that we bought because of WaterSmartPeel. I managed to call the utility companies for the new house and on Friday, Direct Energy will fix our water heater & Bell will install the satellite dish....I might have to take a day off for this...huhuhu! We got more work to do on the house but it feels good though knowing that we're working on our new home...sigh! Too bad spending money is part of it!

I picked up Jarrod's Pokemon Emerald Official Guide book at Chapters today. We figured we owe him this and a Pokemon Emerald game since he's been very good in school and he's the best reader in his class! We're so proud of him! Hopefully, his grades will stay the same or get even better when he moves to his new school in 'sauga.

No wedding updates yet, slowed down last week because we were concentrating on the house. Maybe I will check up on the invitations since it's now May! Whoa, time flies!

My birthday celebration(s)

2006-04-18T22:34:00.000-12:00

April 17 is my birthday ...and I'm 29! I feel sooooo old! My b-day celebration actually started last April 15 because we visited my family in Mississauga. JR and I only bought some steaks & frites from Costco. We dropped it off at their place first since we're taking Jarrod to watch The Wild. I liked it better than Madagascar although they both have the same storyline. Jarrod really liked it a lot which is what we want. When we got home, my Tita Amy and Tito Danny cooked more food for me. My brother and his girlfriend actually bought an ice cream cake for me and my dad changed his work sched for me... I feel soooo special! LOL!

We slept over at their place and the next day we looked at our house again - last time before our closing date. Tito Kits was there to give us suggestions etc. for the house. So we were able to find out that it's really expensive to change the carpeted floors to laminates! This is why we're going to do the laminates next year! We decided that we'll paint the rooms and change the toilet bowls and sinks on the 2nd floor including the ensuite. So I'm planning to go to Canadian Tire or Home Depot to look for Benjamin Moore paint pallettes. I'm looking at magazines so I can look for ideas - JR's idea to save money on buying magazines is to get yung free New Condo and New Homes mags...hahaha! But there are a few ideas! I really like neutral and earth tone colours. So I might go with those and I can spice it up by choosing bolder colours on accessories & decorations. Exciting!

On Sunday night, we went with JR's family to VIP Sushi Restaurant for all-you-can eat. Yummy, lots of salmon sashimi for me! We had so much food! I love the sashimi and dragon rolls! Good thing is, it was free for us! But we brought my aunt and we had to pay for her! UGH! Oh well...too bad. But dinner was good.

On the 17th, I read e-mails and e-cards from friends and family. Answered phone calls and my friend from LA called to greet and chat with me. Too bad I had to work that day, trying to save my days for December! JR took me to Le Montmartre French Restaurant for dinner.
We've been here once before and the food and service was great! We had the restaurant all by ourselves! Enjoyed dinner
and we talked about the house and the wedding ..everything that we can chat about. Had a lovely time with my hubby!

I can't believe I had 3 birthday celebrations...hehehe! Lucky me!

Work out updates

2006-04-12T21:38:00.000-12:00

Wow, it's been around 2 weeks since I vowed to try and be fit...but no changes with my weight although this is my progress so far:

I guess the good news is that I'm not a 4 or 5 but a 3 ...woo hoo! I've vowed to try doing my cardio (Tae Bo) and Stott Pilates alternately for the next 2 weeks or so. I've done 2 in a row! And I'm a little sore. Can't wait to try my new workout, Yoga Booty Ballet ! I think I'm going to try another type of cardio ...running and skipping rope (if I could find it...lol). It's getting warmer anyway (crossing fingers). 2 1/2 months to go and I'll be able to have a bigger room for my exercise routines. I might take up tennis too...hoping that JR would be patient enough to teach me the basics...hehehe! It bums me out that I won't be able to play beach volleyball this year but I had to since I already have too much going on this year. Oh well, I guess I better get ready for next year's season!

How Much Do I Weigh?

2006-04-03T22:06:00.000-12:00

You Should Weigh 120

If you weigh less than this, you either have a fast metabolism or are about to gain weight.
If you weigh more than this, you may be losing a few pounds soon!

How Much Do You Weigh?

Who Are You? -- The Classic Bride (WeddingChannel.com)

2006-04-03T15:16:00.000-12:00

THE CLASSIC BRIDE

Some looks are timeless. Elegance is, after all, immune to age. And in the impeccable tradition of fashion icons Audrey, Jackie and Grace, your bridal style endures season after season, transcends trend after trend.

You're drawn to clean lines, beautiful drape, luxurious fabrics and important details. We can see you falling in love with a strapless A-line gown of candlelight duchess satin. Or swooning over oyster-colored covered buttons, opera gloves and your mother's pearl choker. We can see you twirling in an off-white princess-cut organza gown, or marveling over a design of simple seed pearls embroidered onto a delicate shawl.

And oh, the veils. Even in the dressing room, you find they make all the difference. Edged in white satin, decorated with tiny crystals, or with impossibly small silk blossoms, your best friend's tears may be persuasive, but it's the veil that reveals the gown you were born to wear.

You understand the importance of details. Small diamond studs, wrist length gloves, a shantung shawl. We know you won't overlook even the smallest accessory. You know how perfectly a sleek French twist is anchored by two small pearl-encrusted combs. And no one knows how to take a tiara from homecoming queen to imperial princess like you do.

Our digital camera is broken!!!

2006-04-01T12:08:00.000-12:00

This sucks...big time! We lent our cam to our nephew ...and now it's broken! I had a gut feeling that this would happen...and I was right! Huhuhu!

I'm sore today

2006-04-01T06:01:00.000-12:00

Wow, I was able to do 2 cardio exercises this week! Yay! For a few weeks, I've been trying to get back into shape since I've been so busy ...wedding preps and buying our house etc. Aside from the Tae Bo, I was able to squeeze in 10-15 min of crunches...which is why I'm sore today. But the Tae Bo exercise did it for me. My abs/stomach area hurts ...ouch...I guess it's an indication that the crunches work...lol! I just have to keep doing this for the next 8 1/2 months...ugh!!! The punishment for being so vain...hehehe!

Whoa...shopping spree!

2006-03-31T19:03:00.000-12:00

Last Saturday, JR and I had another chance to check out our new house (we have 1 more viewing before our closing date). So we decided to measure our bedroom, Jarrod's, kitchen and family room (these are the rooms that will have some furniture first). It's funny how the more times we look at the house, the more we love it. With measurements in tow, we decided to do some window shopping...yes, supposedly just to look. We went to Cozy Living Furniture and we had no idea they have a sale going on! Looked around and we spotted a nice looking dining table then we asked what its measurements were... the size was perfect for our small dining room! Just look at it (ok so we might have different tastes) - we loved it! And it was $500 off! Then when we asked the salesperson, and we found out that the sale was only that weekend ...great, it was probably one of their schemes to get us to buy so we told them that we're going to come back for it. We went to The Brick and found one similar to it but this one was not real wood and the other one was and it was only $100 cheaper. The salesperson was a bit arrogant too ...sheesh...he's trying to sound as if he's the most knowledgeable person around...so I nudged JR to walk away! We had a small talk about it(in the car!) and decided that the other place has a better deal and we shouldn't pass up on it. So we went back to first store and we decided to put a downpayment on it - 25% only ....money down the drain. Then JR asked about mattresses ... sheesh... and it was on sale too! We were looking for a king size mattress and we only wanted a low bed so we would only need the mattress (no boxed spring). Well, this was less than $800 !!! Another good deal! So ... you guessed it, we put another 25% downpayment! Argh! Oh well, we're broke! Again!

Shape-Up: Wedding Gown Workout Moves (The Knot)

2006-03-29T17:47:00.000-12:00

Two things brides want on their wedding day no matter what: to feel great (the fiance at the end of the aisle helps with that) and to look great (here's where we come in). Whether you're already in great shape, or you're just beginning to wrap your mind around a bridal slim down, the right workout will get you on the fast track. How? Since it's all about the wedding, what to do depends on what you're wearing. Going strapless? Show off those perfectly toned triceps and svelte shoulders. Choosing a sleek sheath? Focus on your tummy and whittle your middle. Pick your gown style from the list below and follow the instructions to achieve a healthier, hotter you.

If you're not a gym member, invest in a good set of five- or ten-pound hand weights, then establish an every-other-day weight training routine (muscles need to rest a day to repair). For each of these exercises, start off with two sets, then increase to three as you get stronger and more secure with the routine.

The Sheath Gown Workout

Target Zone:
A sleek, smooth torso is what's required for a super sheath bod, so make ab crunches and waist toners your new best friends.

The Twist
1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent. Imagine holding a ball in between your thighs. Squeeze your thigh muscles, then pull in your belly and tuck it under your pelvis (so you're in a slight sitting position). Lace your fingers together and place your hands behind your head.

2. Keeping your chest high, slowly twist from side to side without moving your lower body, so that your upper body turns from facing left to facing right. Keep it slow -- you won't get the full benefit if you're relying on momentum. Repeat 40 times. Yep, you heard us right -- 40!

Standing Side Crunch
1. Stand in the same position as for the Twist, with your abs tucked in and your toes facing front (but drop the imaginary ball!)

2. Lift your left knee toward your left arm bringing your elbow down to meet it. Hold, then return to the starting position. Repeat it on the right –and do a total of 20 repetitions on each side.

The Best-Ever Back Workout

Target Zone:
All eyes will be on your back at you float down the aisle . An upper- and lower-back workout will help firm up that all-important rear view.

One-Arm Row
1. Stand with your left side next to the front of a bench (or a coffee table, or a futon). Place your left foot and left hand on the bench, bending your right knee. Keeping your torso parallel to the ground, grasp a dumbbell with your right hand. Let your arm hang straight down with your palm facing your thigh.

2. Slowly pull the dumbbell up and back until it’s in line with your hip. You should feel a muscle contraction in your upper back (that means it's working!). Repeat 10 times, then switch sides.

Pullover
1. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, hip-width apart, and feet planted. Grab a dumbbell with each hand and extend your arms up over your body, so that your arms make a 90-degree angle with your torso.

2. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, slowly lower the dumbbell back behind your head as far as you can; you should feel a stretch in your back muscles. Next, lift the dumbbell back into the starting position above your body, squeezing your back muscles as you go up. Do 10 repetitions per set.

The Sensational Strapless Workout

Target Zone:
This shoulder- and arm-baring style requires a combination of exercises. You'll need to work your triceps, biceps, and pectorals if you really want to strut your strapless stuff.

Biceps Curl
1. Standing with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, pull your tummy in and tuck your pelvis under. Hold a heavier pair of dumbbells down at your sides with your palms facing front.

2. Keeping your elbows at your sides, slowly curl the dumbbells toward your shoulders. Reverse direction and lower the dumbbells into starting position -- avoid locking your elbows. Do 10 repetitions per set. Slow and steady wins the race here -- you'll get a bigger benefit from the exercise if you use concentrated, controlled movements. If you feel like you're whipping the weights around to get them up, your dumbbells are too heavy. Downgrade to a smaller weight so you can move more comfortably.

Flat Dumbbell Fly
1. Lie down with your knees bent and your feet firmly planted shoulder-width apart. Stretch out your arms on the floor so your body makes a T. Grasp a dumbbell in each outstretched hand, keeping your elbows slightly bent. Keep your palms facing up towards the ceiling.

2. Slowly raise the weights upward in a rounded arc (as if you were hugging a tree!), gently touching the dumbbells together at the top above your body. Hold for a few seconds, then slowly lower the weights back to their starting positions. Do 10 repetitions per set.

Triceps Dip
1. Sit normally on a sturdy, nonwheeled chair. Place your hands on the front edge of the seat (fingertips facing front) and your feet on the floor, hip-width apart and a little bit ahead of you. Slowly slide your bottom off the seat of the chair, keeping your hands where there are.

2. Keeping your arms close to your body, bend your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the floor, allowing your rear end to descend past the edge of the chair. Using your arms to lift you, reverse direction and push yourself back up to the point at which your arms are straight. Work up to 15 dips per set.

-- Lisa Cohen Lee

Contributors: celebrity trainer Ashley Borden, fitness author Brad Schoenfeld

As if...

2006-03-04T11:42:00.000-12:00

OMG, as if this week hasn't been exhausting already ... I had to be sick! It all started last Thursday night with ulcer. Our waiter took an hour just to get our orders! By the time, our food got there, I was already in pain...argh! So by Friday morning, I didn't feel so good already, had to throw up when I woke up (and no, I'm not pregnant). I still decided to go to work since I have already taken 2 days off during the beginning of the week for Jarrod. And boy, it was such a bad idea! Felt like crap the whole day, until 2:30 pm, my co-workers told me to go home since I looked awful and they didn't want to get sick too...sheesh! Fine, so I went home. Tried to go to sleep and my temperature just shot up! Great, a fever! So Friday night was just a blur....being in and out of consciousness. Today, I only have a slight fever so I'm probably going to rest. I'm glad it's the weekend!

It's March

2006-03-01T20:40:00.000-12:00

Isn't this pathetic ...I'm so excited about the house!!! 2 more months and it's ours....bwahahaha!!! It's so funny that on our Agreement of Purchase on the house, they had to include a clause that says that JR and I are have no plans of makiing our house into a marijuana grow operation or grow op ... what?!? LOL! I guess they had to because of all the news about it lately.

This weekend was so exhausting. Last Friday, Jarrod and I went to Mississauga because I volunteered to take care of my 2 cousins - no one else can take care of them. So I thought of a plan on how to entertain the kids and to keep them from not getting bored while I run some errands. I decided to take them to Wendy's for lunch then we went to Home Depot after. With three kids in tow, I wanted to make this trip very short and informative so we went straight to the flooring department to ask about laminated floors and how to restain hardwood floors. I can't believe restaining the floors would be soooo expensive! Well, there goes our plan for retaining the hardwood floors, they can be done when we have more money to spend. But we're definitely thinking of taking out the carpet on the 2nd floor and basement - to be replaced with laminates - which is more low maintenance for us. I wonder if I'm going to turn out like that Toolbelt Diva from Discovery Home...lol! I have so many projects in mind but they have to wait. We still have to buy new furniture for the house - they're sooooo expensive too. After taking the kids to Home Depot, we went to The Brick to browse for living room, dining room and bedroom sets. The kids had a great time testing out all the beds and the recliners...hahaha! I hope I get that part-time job so I can have extra money to to do all these things - both JR and I would like to avoid credit cards as much as possible. Too bad all my favourite renovating shows are all in the US ...darn, why can't they move here?!? Then I took the kids for a treat - Laura Secord ice cream ....I had one too...lol! They seem happy and I was able to do my errands so we went home afterwards.

When we got home, Jarrod and I were supposed to go home but I had a migraine so we decided to sleep over again. But then Jarrod started throwing up around dinner time....so we took him to the walk -in clinic...doctor was so serious that when he was trying to make a joke...my aunt and I didn't know what to do. So the doctor told us to give Jarrod some Pedialyte ...every 10-15 min...looked like I wans't going to get some sleep. I didn't since Jarrod still threw up until 1 am. So I took him to Trillium hospital (emergency)...and waited a gruelling 4 hours before we could even be let in a room!!! After 30 min, a nurse came to see us and she was quite nice and told us to wait for the doctor...which was 1 1/2 hours after! By this time, Jarrod had stopped vomitting and when the doctor saw him, we were only to wait for 1 more hour just to see if Jarrod can keep anything in. So an hour passed, and thank God, Jarrod was better. So we went home at 8:30 am, I was soooooo sleepy and tired while driving home. But I didn't get to sleep until 3 pm in the afternoon since Jarrod was still awake and I was scared that he might throw up again. He stayed home from school until Wednesday but he's much better, finally. But I'm still sleep-deprived . Very relieved that Jarrod's ok though.

Well, the weekend is here - my chance to get more sleep. But I doubt it that I'll get that chance.

What a week...

2006-02-23T18:37:00.000-12:00

The past 2 weeks have been very emotionally exhausting...my best friend, Norie, was rushed to the hospital. They thought it was a mild stroke pa but thank goodness it wasn't. I didn't even know that she was rushed to the hospital until the her 1st night - something just came over me ...that I have to send her a text message cuz she was supposed to go to my house in LP to pick up her mini-pasalubong that my dad brought for me. When she replied, she mentioned that she can't make it because she's confined at Asian Hospital....what?!? Of course, I panicked...I didn't know she was sick at all. So, even though it's 10 pm in the Philippines, I tried calling her house in Laguna to find out. Her brother told me all the info that I needed and then I called her. So I talked to her and her mom ...I was relieved that she's ok naman. Kaya lang at that time, she didn't know what was wrong with her. Her results came back a day after and they verified that it wasn't a stroke. Then more results .... all normal naman. Tapos, her doctors found out that she has Miller Fisher syndrome.

What is Miller Fisher Syndrome?
Miller Fisher syndrome is a rare, acquired nerve disease that is considered to be a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. It is characterized by abnormal muscle coordination, paralysis of the eye muscles, and absence of the tendon reflexes. Like Guillain-Barré syndrome, symptoms may be preceded by a viral illness. Additional symptoms include generalized muscle weakness and respiratory failure. The majority of individuals with Miller Fisher syndrome have a unique antibody that characterizes the disorder.
Is there any treatment?

Treatment for Miller Fisher syndrome is identical to treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome: intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasmapheresis (a procedure in which antibodies are removed from the blood) and supportive care.
What is the prognosis?

The prognosis for most individuals with Miller Fisher syndrome is good. In most cases, recovery begins within 2 to 4 weeks of the onset of symptoms, and may be almost complete within 6 months. Some individuals are left with residual deficits. Relapses may occur rarely (in less than 3 percent of cases).
What research is being done?

The NINDS supports research aimed at discovering new ways to diagnose, treat, and, ultimately, cure neuropathies such as Miller Fisher syndrome.

I'm so relieved that it's not life threatening - she still has to go through therapy but at least her recovery is looking great na. She went home last Tuesday and she's taking some time off work. I told her that it's a good idea kasi she's so overworked! It will really be great for her because at least she can relax for now and be stress free from work.

And then, while Norie was in the hospital, my grandfather was rushed to the hospital too...same place as Norie's...Asian hospital. His hiccups(hiccoughs) were really bothering him ...he would have them one after the another that he was having difficulty breathing. And at the same time, he's been having difficulty in urination as well. It was such a scare because my grandfather has never been hospitalized before in all his life. I think I've only been sleeping for about 3-4 hours everyday because I just can't help but worry. I don't think I'm the only one worried but my whole family. We're glad that he's been released from the hospital too but we're still waiting for some test results.

Say it with me....whew!!! What a week it is!!!

House update

2006-02-21T18:15:00.000-12:00

Finally! After 5 exhausting days, we've finally managed to close the deal
for the new house! Who would've thought that the mortgage approval would
take 3 days?!? And we only had 5 days to do this plus the home inspection!
You won't imagine how stressed out we were ....! And we couldn't book the
home inspection until the mortgage has been finalized. UGH! But we're
awfully relieved when it was approved and the home inspection was done.
We found minor repairs that needs to be done ...there was a leak but we got
a few hundred dollars deducted from the purchase price because of that...
better than nothing, I guess. So now, we're saving up for the remaining
downpayment (read: scrambling for money!), closing costs ... ok, gettting suffocated, I can't breathe! LOL!

So for anyone who would want to visit, just bring you own chairs! LOL!

A new house

2006-02-12T19:12:00.000-12:00

We bought a house!!! And it all happened in 1 day ...yesterday! We didn't expect it to happen that quickly but we've looked at a few houses and it's the best one! It's a funny story really... I saw the house listing on MLS back in January and the price was something we couldn't afford. I've talked to the seller's agent and he asked if we wanted to see it but we decided to wait until we get pre-approved for a mortgage. So a few weeks after we got pre-approved and we hired our agent ... I was so happy to find out that the house was still available...and the price was reduced!!! We were able to look at it and it was really what we both expected it to be. Then we looked at a few more houses and we've seen what the differences were ... then JR and I decided to make an offer on the 1st house. We didn't expect to get it because they wanted the closing date to be around Feb-Mar 2006 while we wanted May-June so we re-negotiated and decided April wold be the best for everyone. The price was a little higher than we originally talked about but it's still something that we can afford nonetheless.

I'll try and post more pics once we get everything finalized. It's so exciting, we have a house!!!

Our venue

2006-01-29T16:18:00.000-12:00

I thought I'd show you guys where our wedding reception is going to be. Like I've mentioned before, it's going to be at The Mango Farm which is located in Antipolo, Rizal. Why is it far? Well, JR and I both wanted our reception to be different so we decided not to go with any indoor venues. I really like Mango Farm and it really looks beautiful (from the pictures, that is). Sir Doods said that it was a pretty sight (what will I do without this guy - he's the best!) when he went there. And so did my uncle who lives in Marikina. Here's an excerpt from the venue's website:

"The Mango Farm is one of a few, truly, nature-based venues that has consciously veered away from the overly-manicured and landscaped look of contemporary gardens in urban areas. It is, after all, an operational orchard that has annual mango harvests in April and May. Wedding ceremonies and receptions, admittedly, were merely afterthoughts of the owners who were goaded by enthusiastic friends to open up this "secret garden" to more people. It is a business, but visibly tempered with the environmental advocacy of the owners.

Tucked in the quaint village of Kingsville Court is a real mango farm, a 2.5 hectare piece of undivided property in the Cainta-Antipolo border. It is merely a 20 minute drive downhill from Ateneo de Manila in highly-urbanized Katipunan, yet it is home to a community of over 200 fruit trees dominated by mangoes. Central to the Farm’s functionality as a venue are tastefully designed outdoor patios where guests can soak in the ambiance of a well-kept haven of greens. On evenings, guests will revel even more at the elegance of this veritable tree garden, teeming with a multitude of capiz drop lights and strategically placed spotlights that dramatically emphasize the features of trees. As one writer would say, it is an experience nothing short of walking through an al fresco gallery of art installations."

I can't wait until December! LOL!

A crazy year!!!

2006-01-19T14:38:00.000-12:00

I can't believe how crazy this year is going to be for us. We're planning to buy a house in June... which means starting next month, we will be house hunting once more! I really can't wait since we'll be owning a house again ...which means it's ours and we can do whatever we want. We've been living with my in-laws because we have to help them out financially and don't get me wrong, they're nice people and all but it's just different when you have a place of your own. Then again my family will be living with us ...but it will be different since they're the ones who will be staying with us and it's OUR place. But since my family travel back and forth to the Phils. so it shouldn't be a problem. But you can check again with me on how I feel about this by the end of the year....hahaha! My family is a quiet bunch anyway ...and I can boss them around easily...lol! Since we are planning to move, as a Trading Spaces fanatic (I used to watch that show a lot because I like this one designer, Vern Yip, but he has left the show since) and most home improvement shows, my mind is already reeling with how I can design our house! I've been restraining myself from buying all the home and design magazines that I've seen at stores. Mainly because I would like to see the house first! So yeah that's for the 1st half of the year and if that doesn't seem insane ...well, my husband, JR, and I are planning to have a small church wedding when we go back to the Philippines! Yes, we were married civilly years ago and we've both wanted (ok, fine, it's more ME) to have one.

Our original plan was to have it in May 2007 but ever since we found out that both our families will be going in December 2006 ...well, I guess that's when we started thinking of just doing it then. What are the chances that both are families will be there (read: we don't have to pay for their fares!)?!? So, we've decided to go for it! And we even have a wedding coordinator! Not only a regular wedding coordinator but one who was my mentor back in my high school days. Sir Doods or Mr. Domingo has agreed to help us with this crazy idea of ours! I can't find anyone else that I can trust more than this guy. And it's only been 3 weeks into January 2006 and we've already made reservations on the venue and the church! Our date is on December 15, 2006 and the venue will be at The Mango Farm which is located in Antipolo, Rizal.

The church is St. Therese which is only 10 minutes away from the venue. So far, we haven't set the time yet but it will come along eventually. We'll probably start looking at menu packages from the accredited caterers from Mango Farm soon. Then look for my wedding gown, JR's and Jarrod's barong and the entourage's...hair and make up artists... photographer/videographer...invitations...souvenirs...entertainment...etc. I'm glad that the flowers and the cake comes with the catering package. Well, it's still quite early so I'm going to try and not get too stressed ...for now.

Well, that's the crazy year that we have ahead of us but I'm already very excited about it! Doesn't make sense, does it?!? LOL!