My Sweet Haven

Moalboal Family Beach Outing

2009-12-15T19:14:00.026-06:00

In the midst of a busy wedding preparation, we managed to take a short but relaxing breather. One Sunday morning, we thought of driving to Moalboal Bas Daku Beach. It was an impromptu beach outing. We didn't prepare much. We knew we're gonna stay overnight in Club Serena beach resort so we just brought a couple of clean clothes and a swimwear of course. Moalboal is approximately 2 hours away from our place. We dropped by the market and grabbed some lechon baboy, lechon manok, fresh mango, budbod, drinks, chicharon, puso, watermelon, pineapple and saging saba. I love the beach but I prefer the water in the pool. It was low tide when we were there so the seawater was less inviting, however, I enjoy the view especially the small strip of white sands. We rented a small house (casita 1 & 2), a 2-storey house with 2 comfortable rooms. I just love the cool breeze in that place especially in the late afternoon. Yes, it was a long drive but I loved the serenity and the provincial feel of the resort. It was definitely a nice breather. The whole family enjoyed it as well. There's really nothing like Philippines! Woohoo!

Sandy "Jenn"

The gang

The Millers

The Hisoler's sisters

Night swimming in the pool

The entrance
The small house we stayed at

From a different angle

The pathway to the beach

My mama emoting

One last pose before heading out

My dear mama before we went to the pool

This is Me!

Splish splash

My Family minus our youngest sister

Wrestle with mama

Mom and Bren

A nice breather

2009-12-14T03:42:00.009-06:00

Here's more vacation photos...

My sister Jingle with hubby and Bren arrived in Manila 2 weeks ago. Mom, Dad, nephew Andrave, Andrave's mom and dad met up with Jingle and they went to Mall of Asia, Star City and Manila Ocean Park. They stayed in Manila for 3 days and they've bonded with Bren and they all had fun. Some of these photos are taken during our beach outing last weekend. I'll post more beach photos soon. As always, I'm pretty busy but I'm doing very well as far as the wedding preps is concerned. Jeff is gonna arrive on Sunday and right on the next day, we're going to Shangri-la Mactan for our pre-nuptial pictorial. They say all work no play makes you dull so I took a break. The family went to Moalboal for an impromptu beach outing. It was a nice breather. I'll talk about it on my next post.

Dress-up and Make-up at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel

2009-12-12T02:38:00.001-06:00

The culmination of all the hard work put forth for this wedding happens on the 9th of January. There's no better way to end the preparation and get ready for the Big Moment than to stay in a grand bridal suite at Marco Polo Plaza. The entourage will meet at the said hotel for the make-up and pictorial session. We were allowed to see the suite before I made the reservation and I must say I was impressed with the room. It's spacious and modern-looking. The only drawback I saw was the location of the hotel. Dominating the Cebu City skyline, it is situated at 600 feet above sea level in the district of Nivel Hills. But that can be easily remedied since a lot of public transportation like jeepneys and cabs can take people there. Besides, some of my entourage drive their own vehicles, so that shouldn't be a big problem. I rented a 45-seater air-conditioned tourist bus to transport my entourage from the hotel to the church, then to the reception venue. The big day is getting near. But before that happens, I need to have my groom with me, don't I? That part is fixed too. My hubby (who will be my groom for the 2nd time) will be arriving in Cebu next week. Woohoo! I can't wait to be in my hubby's arms again!

What insurance agents should know

2009-12-11T07:22:00.000-06:00

I’ve learned that most insurance policies give you a certain level of security. In the U.S., most people have car insurance, health insurance, house insurance and even life insurance. It’s not necessarily true in the Philippines though. Most people here take care of the most basic needs first. But that doesn’t stop insurance agents from trying to sell policies to people. My aunt used to convince me to get one. I was on my 2nd year of my job as a data processing staff back then. I didn’t see the need so I kept on saying no to the offer. She didn’t make it big as an insurance agent so she shifted on a different area. If only she has an idea on how quality life insurance leads would help her find clients who are really ready to buy insurance and not just shopping around, then it would have made a difference.

There's always a place for some legal advice

2009-12-10T08:04:00.002-06:00

I’ve always thought that riding on a motorcycle is dangerous. Motorcycle accidents happen all the time. Most of the time, it’s the cause of heavy traffic in the Philippines. I’ve seen bikers went out of balance and fell off their motorcycles plenty of time. But that doesn’t really stop people who simply love to take adrenaline rush rides like motorcycles. They can only try to be extra cautious but still accidents do happen. That’s why it’s necessary to have a good motorcycle accident lawyer if the need of one arises.

Be on the alert!

2009-12-09T03:09:00.000-06:00

After being away for 2 years, I think my dad has not changed. He still is the “security freak” in the house. He’s always the one who make sure all our doors and windows are locked when we go to bed every night. He’s always been suspicious to strangers. I can’t blame him. I’m sure he just wants us to be safe and sound. Like me, I think he’ll be amazed with how awesome some home security systems in the U.S. work. I bet he’d be partially at peace if he had one of those security alarms installed in the house. But knowing my dad, he’d still double checked everything, lol!

Go contemporary

2009-12-08T02:49:00.003-06:00

Have you thought of updating your old furniture to contemporary furniture? Present-day furniture seems to have a touch of class and modernity that could enhance the over-all look of any room in your house. I know for a fact that we need to update our dining table. We kept putting it off but when we get back after our wedding, that is one of the things that we’re going to take care of.

Look dashing on your special day!

2009-12-07T02:31:00.003-06:00

Aside from Christmas, December is also the time for weddings. I claimed my certificate of confirmation in the church yesterday and I’ve found out that they are fully booked for the month of December and January as well. Wow! A lot of people like to get married huh! I’m not sure if December is also a wedding month in the U.S. Probably there are brides that would like to get married in December despite the cold weather. After all, it’s perfect for winter-themed weddings. For the grooms, it’s time to pick the best tuxedos for your special day. Surprise your brides with your dashing look.

The smaller, the better!

2009-12-04T08:10:00.000-06:00

I miss my fast broadband internet connection in the U.S. Besides the time constraint, the limited connectivity with our SmartBro Broadband here in Cebu is keeping me away from my Entrecard dropping and uploading of vacation photos on Facebook. This is better than dial up connection though, but I was spoiled with our fast connection back in the U.S. that I’m beginning to yearn for the same speed back home. I didn’t even get a chance to use my laptop since our internet here is wired connection and for some reason, it will only work on my sister’s laptop. Jingle, Jhazel and I each own laptops but we’re all stuck with using our youngest sister’s because of the internet set-up. I love my HP Pavilion lappy but mine is the heaviest and the biggest of the 3 so I’m looking into netbooks and see if I can afford to get one someday. I love the huge screen of my laptop but sometimes I'd wish it's lighter and smaller so maybe getting a cute netbook is my next project.

Pre-nup Pictorial Location: Shangri-la's Mactan Resort & Spa

2009-12-02T23:12:00.008-06:00

I had a hard time deciding where to have my pre-nuptial pictorial session. I once considered mountain view background, lighthouse or even a provincial setting as location for my pre-nuptial photo shoot. But in the end, I've decided to have a luxuriously romantic setting instead. I think Shangri-la Resort is perfect for that. It's convenient as far as distance travelling is concerned as opposed to having to travel hours to go to the province. Plus the fact that we can enjoy the beach waters after the photo shoot is too irresistible. I've never seen the place except on photos until weeks ago, when I made reservations for our stay on December 21st. I love the place and the ambience. Jeff will arrive from the U.S. on the 20th and despite the jetlag and time zone adjustments, we need to have our pre-nuptial pictorial right away, because we need the pre-nup photos for different purposes such as the slideshow presentation on the reception, wedding give-aways with frames provided, background for our foto-booth wallpaper, and for our wedding Guestbook. Whew! There's still so many minor details to take care of, which reminds me of getting in touch with my wedding coordinator later today. I'll try to update you more about my wedding preps from now on. Enjoy the internet photos of Shang, everyone!

In between the wedding preps, I still blog!

2009-12-01T23:25:00.005-06:00

In as much as I’d like to update my blog every day, I just can’t. There’s not much time really to even use the computer. I am so busy with the wedding preparations. At times I wish this is just pure vacation, no wedding to take care of. But then this is the whole purpose of this trip…to make my ultimate dream come true…which is to walk down the aisle, on a very pretty wedding gown, in a Catholic church, witnessed by my family, close relatives and chosen friends. So even if the whole thing has almost taken a toll on me, I still wake up in the morning with a smile anticipating the big day ahead. Since blogging has really been a part of my system now, I can't do away with it completely. So whenever I get the chance, I'd sneak in to the computer and write to my heart's content.

As I've mentioned in my previous post, my sister Jingle, her hubby John and son Brennan arrived with my family from Manila last week. I can't believe how fast my nephew had grown. He looks so handsomely mestizo as ever. He's such a handful but the family just love him to be around.He's sweet with his Lolo (my dad) but rough with the rest of us, hehehe. It's just good to have such a cute English-speaking kid in a house full of bisdaks, lol. We all think he needs a dedicated yaya though. With everybody busy doing stuff, sometimes Bren and Andrave are left alone playing and breaking stuff. I know it's hard to find a job these days, but I think it's doubly hard to get a trust-worthy dedicated yaya for the kids. After all, you don't just trust your precious kids to anybody you don't know, do you? So I guess everyone in the house just have to take turns and babysit my nephews. It's a tough job. I've learned it the hard way the other day when me and my sister Jhazel accompanied Bren in Timezone in Ayala. The poor little boy had fun with all the games though. We were tired but seeing the innocent giddy face of Bren while he ran all over the arcade playing bowling, shoot balls, billiards and other kiddie games and stuff, it was all worth-it. I tried to ask myself though after that, am I ready for this? lol! I'd better be, because after this wedding, we'd work on having a baby. Whoa! (*wink)

Missing winter...

2009-11-28T07:22:00.002-06:00

It’s almost December but we still have very warm days here in the Philippines. Every day since I got here I would wish for U.S. weather. Jeff mentioned that it has been noticeably cold in Lakeview lately. Well, it’s wintertime there anyway. I think some places up in the north even get snowed already. It's perfect for people who want to experience ski vacations. I've never done it and I know Aspen is one of the great places to try it. I'd better stop thinking about snow and cold weather. It's pure torture considering how uncomfortable our Philippine weather here. It's hard to think and write with all the pounding noise in the background. Arrggghhh!!! Today is the feastday of our town and they are having disco a few blocks away from our apartment. We can clearly feel and hear the vibrations made by their sound system. God, I so miss the quiet town of Lakeview, Arkansas.

Acne...Go away!

2009-11-25T05:48:00.009-06:00

I’ve been struggling with adult acne for so long. I’ve tried a lot of over-the-counter acne medication but nothing seemed to work. The closest positive result I got was from Obagi Acne Therapy system. It dramatically controlled the breakouts but it didn’t completely remove the problem areas. So I’m still desperately in need of an acne treatment. I’m thankful Cebu has plenty of derm clinics, facial spa, aesthetic centers and the like. First week of my arrival, I went to Ruiz Derma in SM. They did an acne high frequency treatment on my face. Sad to say, I wasn’t satisfied with them so the week after that, I gave Ellen’s clinic in A.S. Fortuna a try. I’ve read good reviews about them over the internet. The facilities are not outstanding but I’m quite satisfied with the results. I had High Frequency Acne Treatment again, the aesthetician was very good in removing all my white and black heads. After the thorough facial treatment, I tried Diamond Peel. I still continue to use my Obagi treatment. It seemed to work great. My family even noticed the changes. It got rid of my active acne and dead skin cells. To be able to see great results as far as Diamond Peel is concerned, I have to do 4 to 6 sessions. I went there today for my 2nd session and I bought some night cream as well to help lighten the acne scars. I expect to have a much better face in the next month or so. The cost of the treatment that came out of their receipt printer is no joke. It's reasonably lesser than the overrated Belo Clinic though. I understand that I have to shell out some bucks if I want to look better. I hate it that I have acne. It's a fact that I have to face. But I'm glad that I'm finally doing something effective about it.

@Yellow Cab before the DP session

My mom turns 49!

2009-11-19T23:24:00.008-06:00

It's my mama's birthday and we ate at Gerry's Grill in SM. Two of my cousins were with us and so was our new helper. It was my first time to try again authentic Filipino food. We ordered Seafood Soup, Blue Marlin Steak, Sizzling Chicken, Inihaw na Pusit, Lumpiang Shanghai, Chicken Finger Foods, Adobo Seafood Rice, Special Pansit Bihon, another flavored rice (but couldn't remember the name), Lechon Kawali. I missed these foods and I didn't think about weight gain that night. I allowed myself to binge and I'm glad that I did. There's no food like this in the U.S. This is part of the vacation, you know, to enjoy Filipino foods so I didn't feel guilty, hehehe. It was funny because the restaurant's crew sang a jolly "Happy Birthday" song for mom and they gave her a free scoop of mango-flavored ice-cream. I was happy that mom enjoyed her birthday celebration even if it's just a small family gathering. She was fashionably dressed in red and was the most photographed person that night.

We are all excited for next week. My sister Jingle, BIL John and nephew Bren will be arriving from Illinois. Mom, Dad, cousin Libby and nephew Andrave will be flying to Manila to meet up with them there. My sister is going to treat them to Manila Ocean Park, Star City and Mall of Asia. Mom is busy packing for that 3-day weekend trip. She wanted to get a Kipling luggage but I told her to use my Samsonite luggage instead. It was big enough to fit all of their clothes for that trip. She was excited to see her grandson again. Bren was still 2 when he first visited them and the words he knew of speaking that time was "Over there" and "I did." We would always laugh whenever we ask Bren if he farts and he would respond "I did." But now that he's 4, I bet he can fluently speak English with an American accent better than anybody living in the house right now, lol! This is going to be a fun Christmas for my family.

Rediscovering Philippines

2009-11-12T17:45:00.011-06:00

I’ve been here in the Philippines for 2 weeks now. I’m enjoying myself so far. We go out everyday to take care of some wedding stuff. It’s hot and humid here as always, hehe. It helps a lot that I don’t have to ride on jeepneys all the time. I’m glad that my dad is always willing to drive the family van for me whenever I need to go to SM or Ayala or even to meet up with my wedding suppliers. Today I had to say no because my destination is only 2 kilometers away so I told him I’ll just ride on a jeep, that way we can save gas. I must say it’s really such a blessing that we own a vehicle here, though I can’t drive here of course. I always get nervous with the bumper to bumper traffic here in the Philippines. Not to mention the way drivers seem to disregard basic road rules. I can now understand why Jeff and my brother in law would say they don’t want to drive in the Philippines, lol. Anyway, things like this only make the Philippines more unique and enjoyable. Other than missing my Jeff and my Wii back in the US, I love being here! The fun has just started.

Me and my youngest sister Jhazel

Home Sweet Home

2009-11-10T09:05:00.002-06:00

Vacation officially starts last Sunday. It feels wonderful to finally see my family again after 2 long years. The flight to the Philippines was long, boring and very exhausting. I had to take 4 different planes, Chicago to Hongkong the longest and most turbulent. I've admitted in my previous post that I was a scared flyer. But being on 4 different planes for more than 24 hours made me less fearful and I have come to not over-react to the weird sounds that planes make and the unexplainable feeling that flying gave me. The scariest part for me is Take-off and Landing but I must say these are the most enjoyable experience anybody could have when flying. I hate turbulence the most. For me, I think it's the most uncomfortable feeling especially when you're in their very "bulilit" lavatory, lol! My butt hurt from sitting for long hours. I wasn't thrilled walking through the airports for the check-in process and gate transfers, but I haven't really had a hard time with it so it ain't that bad. Chicago airport is huge and confusing but so long as you pay attention to the airport signage and wayfinding systems, you'll be fine. Generally, it was a good experience and it was all worth it.

My family didn't get much sleep as well because of excitement and anticipation. You see, we were all excited, lol! I've always wanted to eat in Jollibee again so that's the first thing I did when I arrived. I had my much needed Jollibee fix on my first day. Yipeey!!! Even if I was exhausted, I didn't sleep that day. I tried to get my body adjusted to the new time zone. It was hard for the first 2 days. I'm very much fine right now though. I've been busy with the wedding preparation. It's taking so much of my time but this needs to be done so I can relax when Jeff gets here next month. So far so good...I'm enjoying Philippines!

Have showered and freshen up after a long flight

Me with my mom and nephew Andrave

With mom, aunts and cousins

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

2009-11-05T13:30:00.002-06:00

This is it! I'm leaving for a vacation to my homeland Philippines. My flight leaves early tomorrow at 6:20 A.M. XNA airport is 3 hours away so hubby will drive us to the area tonight and just stay in a hotel so I won't be late for my flight tomorrow morning. I'm actually nervous. I'm scared of flying. I wish I have hubby with me. My family back home were all excited. My mom, dad, youngest sister, cousins, nephew and aunts are going to pick me up at the airport. Whoa! A big entourage huh! Nothing screams I'm welcome and they're excited to see me again, lol. I can't wait to be in the Philippines again. I'll try to update my blog as often as I can. I'll share photos of my vacation especially my upcoming wedding. I may not be able to drop EC everyday for at least the first week but I'll do the best I can. Please pray for a safe flight for me!

Torn

2009-11-03T14:41:00.002-06:00

My flight to the Philippines is in 3 days. Am I excited? Yes... Am I lonely? Yes... How could I have felt these two things at the same time? Well, simple. It's been 2 years since I left my country and family back home. I've missed them. I want to see them again and spend Christmas and New Year with them. However, it tears my heart to leave hubby here alone. The fact that I'm leaving on Friday didn't sink in until last night. He just held me and I cried like a baby. We're going to miss each other so bad. Our only consolation is that the separation is temporary. He'll follow me in December. Just like the old days, we'll chat everyday and talk on the phone every Sunday until we can be together again. Haay! I know it's sad but he was only allowed to take a month off from work so I guess we'll just have to deal with it. I won't be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with him and Dad's kin. I've always spent it with them since I got here. Philippines does not celebrate this occasion so I'll just to have catch up with them next year.

Bren is Bumblebee!

2009-10-31T07:14:00.004-05:00

He was a little Bat...turned into Darth Vader...sailed as a little Buccaneer...raced like Lightning Mcqueen...and this year, he transformed into...BUMBLEBEE.

This is my cute little nephew, Brennan Carlyle. He's 4 years old and like all kids on Halloween, he's all dressed in his bumblebee outfit and proceeded from house to house for the customary trick-or-treating. My sister said he had a blast. He's got a grocery bag full of candies and didn't want to let it get away from his sight. He asked for his bag of candies first thing in the morning and just practically ate nothing but candies. So typical for kids his age. It was a shame we didn't have any trick or treaters this year. As I've said this town is the home of retirees so I've yet to see a toddler so far. If we have kids, then we'll probably be the only one trick or treating here, lol! I've entertained myself by viewing cute photos of my friends' children on Facebook. They look so adorable so I thought of sharing my "tisoy pamangkin" photos on my blog. Happy Halloween!

One great love

2009-10-29T21:21:00.010-05:00

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin~

In the midst of an overwhelmingly busy move, we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in a low-key but cozy fashion. We've been caught up in so many things like the big move and our big vacation in the Philippines for our wedding. We did not make plans for anything fancy. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the moment together in a Mexican dinner date. It's been two years since we professed our love and commitment to each other in front of God. In those years, we've come to know, love, understand and respect each other more. With him, I always know I have someone who understands and knows me by heart. He always makes the good times better and the tough times so much easier to bear. He's my best friend and I can't imagine what life would be without him. Marrying him was the best thing I ever did and I'd gladly do it all over again in January.

A new place, a new beginning

2009-10-28T14:52:00.011-05:00

Finally, we've moved to our new place in Lakeview, Arkansas. It is a very small town, mostly populated with retired Americans, 2 miles away from Bull Shoals Lake, which houses a huge Corps of Engineers powerhouse where hubby works. Back in Ozark, we live less than a mile away from the powerhouse. You see, he likes to live close to his work. I can't blame him. The closer to work, the easier and inexpensive the commute will be. So we did a little searching for a possible house to rent in this area. There are apartments to rent, manufactured homes for sale, a few nice houses for lease and a bunch of decent houses for sale. But we didn't want to buy a house right away without getting familiar of the place yet and making sure he likes his new job. The last thing we want is to be stuck in a town that we're not happy to be at or a job that he hates just because we couldn't sell the house easily. So we stick to the renting plan for at least 6 months or so and see if we like it here. And we are lucky to find a decent house to rent that's proximate to his work place in just a very short notice. I like the neighborhood. So far it's quiet and the wooded area seems to add beauty to the neighborhood. Anyway, let me give you a quick tour of our new humble abode. Boxes are still everywhere, I apologize for the unpleasant sight but we'll try to get everything unpacked before my big vacation next week.

Front

Garage

Living room

Living room

Kitchen

Utility room

Utility room

Cute little sunroom

View from the little sunroom

Covered porch

Small storage unit

View beside the house

Houses across from us

I need a break!

2009-10-27T12:16:00.002-05:00

Moving is tiring. I learned that the hard way. All the general cleaning, unpacking, arranging of stuff and all that, boy, it’s such a pain! I feel like I need a very long and relaxing vacation some place warm and fun. Here in the U.S., I think orlando vacations is one of the best. It’s a place any family would love to go. Kids adore the Disney characters while adults love to splish splash in the warm waters of Florida beaches. However, for now, I can only wish for an Orlando vacation, which is fine with me. Anyway, in 2 weeks, I’d be in my beautiful homeland Philippines so it’s not a bad alternative for a vacation.

The right plan for you

2009-10-26T10:33:00.000-05:00

We get sick whether we like it or not. For parents, as much as possible, they would want to shield their kids from getting any kinds of viruses, especially the current scare, H1N1 virus. But there are factors beyond our control and no matter how careful we may be, kids still get sick. It is important to have our health insurance handy. Not all insurances have the same coverage so it’s necessary to know the specifications. We are currently using Blue Cross. I’ve heard people that live in North Carolina can also avail of Blue Cross Blue Shield NC. No matter where you are, there's a plan suited for your needs.

Dead tired me

2009-10-25T20:00:00.001-05:00

The last time I've felt this exhausted was when I helped with a branch move to a new building. I'm referring to my previous job at the bank. There was no heavy lifting involved but the walking around the huge building and the hooking up of several PCs had taken a toll on me. Today, it's a different kind of labor though. It's not about computers. I've busted my b**t all afternoon. Pardon my French, lol! But yeah, we've been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning for God knows how long. Ok, I'm exaggerating. It's been probably for 2 hours. I have never done straight cleaning that long so I'm really physically drained. I don't have the right to complain because hubby had done a whole lot more than me. But still, I feel so tired right now. I had to rest for a few minutes because my lower back started to ache from scrubbing the tub. I bet there would be another round of cleaning and organizing next week when we officially move in to our new place. Gosh, I can't wait for my long vacation in the Philippines in 2 weeks. Darn, I really need the break!

Know more about SEO

2009-10-25T19:03:00.002-05:00

A Page Rank boost is important to bloggers. I have friends who lose their Google PR for their blogs and have been discouraged to update their blogs. I can’t blame them. I would have felt the same thing if that would happen to me. I have no idea how Google ranks blogs. I don’t want to know because I’m pretty sure I would not understand it anyway. Nevertheless, bloggers value PRs. I would imagine search engine optimization or SEO is essential to internet-based businessmen, as well as to those individuals who are looking to generate more traffic to their website. It is a confusing subject but be aware that professional seo services can be obtained without any hassle. Some companies would charge you for it, but you could still find free services online. It might be worth a try.