happy holidays!

There are so many things I'd like to talk about the holiday season but I don't know where to start. It's still not our ideal way of celebrating Christmas. Unlike most Catholics, we (at least in my in-laws' case) don't really put that much effort in Noche Buena. I miss having wonderful family dinners when I was a kid in my father's house. I grew up to that tradition and hopefully we'll be able to have that again, soon.

My in-laws place is still in the process of fixing things so we didn't have the space for a tree but we don't want Offspring to miss something traditional such as a Christmas. DK suggested that we buy her a small tree and we found a battery operated miniature Christmas tree that's perfect for Offspring.

look at how small the tree is

The photo above cracks me up. Two of those gifts (the biggest and medium sized) are for Offspring. We're trying not to spoil her with toys that why we only limit it into two gifts, one from each of us. The other gifts are for our inaanak.

in the spirit of christmas

Christmas shopping for us came in late this year. It took us quite a while and a lot of stress. For one, there are still a lot of people in the mall shopping just like us even on a weekday. And those who didn't go there to shop simply loitered and hang around just to cool off. It's awfully warm these days for a Christmas season. We didn't get to finish off our shopping list. We're only done with DK's siblings. We still have to buy stuff for half of his family and then my side. At least in my side, I know what to buy them. I actually ask them on the sly so I know what they really want to receive. But it' so hard to buy stuff for someone who you don't know personally. Honestly, I am thinking of buying them some thing edible, like pastries and wine.

baby bruha

I love statement shirts, especially cute and affordable ones. There are a lot of cute shirts out there but not as affordable as the new store we discovered during one of our trips to Market! Market!. Offspring's is wearing a size 3 shirt from LalaughKa and only cost P250. They have lots of cute shirts both for adults and kids but we wanted to try the quality of the shirts first before ordering for more. And they didn't disappoint that's why we're planning on buying more on our next trip to the mall.

Another thing I love in their collection is the availability of statement shirts for the whole family. I have my eye on the Mommy Bruha shirt for myself and Tita Sexy loves me shirt for my niece (hehehe!) There are also shirts for Tito Macho and Love shirts for the grandparents. If you're on a budget and have lots of pamangkins in the family I think the Tito/Tita shirts are great Christmas gifts.

Tis the season to be jolly, fa, la, la, la....

Filipinos are known to have the longest celebration of the Christmas season. There was a time in my life that I hated it but the past years had been good to me and renewed my love for this joyful season. But no matter how much I'm loving December, there's still something missing in our happy bubble. Christmas is all about family. Sadly, Sister #1 and her family migrated to Canada a few years ago and I miss them so much. Brother  #1 and family lives in Singapore, not sure if they'll be spending the holidays here in Manila, hopefully they will. No news yet as to how my other two siblings will celebrate their Christmas but as for us three, a visit to my hometown is as concrete as it could get. I miss the City of Manila. No matter how crowded downtown Manila is especially around this time I still love how alive the people are. The street decorations, the church mass and the food. How could I forget the food. I live near the store that's selling the best bibingka in the Metro plus it's available all year round.

Ayala Triangle, Makati City

Apart from Manila, Makati is my next favorite city. This city used to be my secondary home while I was busy being a corporate slave. Now that I temporarily quit working, I terribly miss the fast-paced life in this city.Not to mention that the Central Business District have the best Christmas decorations in their streets and buildings. The photo above was taken in Ayala Triangle during the lights and sound exhibition called Christmas at the Gardens. It's on repeat every 30 minutes from 6 pm - 8 pm daily. Offspring was initially scared of the show but she enjoyed it the second time around. The park is kid, pet and jogger friendly so don't be surprised to find all three in the park. But it's a happy and safe crowd so you'll get to enjoy your stay and there are security guards everywhere.

Toddler Talk

The Wanderer: Let's change your diaper.
The Offspring: No way!

She's 22 months.

NU Music Generation

DK and I grew up listening to NU107 and it broke our hearts when it was announced that they're closing the station. It saddens me that Offspring's generation will no longer have the kind of freedom of listening to alternative music.

NU 107's Last Goodbye, November 7, 2010

Photo by: Erick Dantoc

The Big Change

Whoa there, is this a new blog?

If you were one of the few subscribers of this blog before the big change then you already know that this is supposed to be my personal personal blog. But things change and I decided to create a separate personal blog instead of dumping them all in my craft blog. I also want to revamp gene + experiments and focus it back to its original purpose which is showcasing my crafty experiments. Let's just say that I had some sort of mid-life blogging crisis going on around there so it's so chaotic right now. There are still few changes to be made on this blog but nothing as drastic as what I have planned for the other blog.

To make things clear, this blog will talk about family time, musings from both me and DK and mostly growing updates of the Offspring. I think the earlier sentence is directed to myself to remind me not to put any rubbish on this newly made blog, there's Tumblr and Twitter for that.

I think that's about it for now. I'll be posting some of our recent family outings later. For now, feel free to explore what little space we have here. Leave us a message here if you want it to be a secret. Enjoy!


- The Wanderer

Uhm, hi?

 { credit: BenGoode }

Unlikely Cover

Paramore's lead vocalist Hayley Williams singing Lady Gaga's Bad Romance.

I think she can pull it off with an official cover, maybe a rock version.

GT: Sexy Back

This weeks Girls Talk theme is a picture of a sexiest part of the body. I must admit that I wish I have a bigger tush because I find that particular part of the body sexy. Unfortunately, the nicer tush went to two of my older sisters so I was left with little tush. Boohoo! And because we girls should appreciate our bodies, I'd like to showcase to you, what I think is the sexiest part of my small frame.

With my friend Kharen, notice my backless shirt?

Girls Talk: Flesh

My first try in joining Girls Talk. Today's topic is about a picture of your showing some flesh.I find this month's topic appropriate, with International Women's Month and all. Plus summer season started early, it means it's also the season to show off some skin. And I love doing that whenever were on the beach thus the photo I have below.

This was taken in 2006 by my college friend and Una's godfather in one of our outings in Laiya. God, I missed that place. This is also the first time I wore a bikini top, always been a tankini wearer. Notice the visible tan line of the tank top? We went to White Rock, Subic for my sister's farewell party. They migrated to Canada that year.

put your records on

An uplifting song to start the week for Music Monday.

Corinne Bailey Rae's Put your records on

I love how laid back this video is. It makes you feel like life is good and easy.

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the roadside,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Got to love that afro hair do.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

wandering star

This is one of my favorite songs by a band called Portishead. It's a gloomy song but I love how the music and lyrics explain reflects my current state. I love listening to this whenever I am feeling at a lost.

Please could you stay awhile to share my grief

For its such a lovely day

To have to always feel this way

And the time that I will suffer less

Is when I never have to wake

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

... Those who have seen the needles eye, now tread

Like a husk, from which all that was, now has fled

And the masks, that the monsters wear

To feed, upon their prey

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

(always) doubled up inside

Take awhile to shed my grief

(always) doubled up inside

Taunted, cruel.... ...

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved

The blackness of darkness forever

Alice

We're back from watching Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Love it, love it, love it!