My 33rd Birthday

For my birthday, I told Richard that I only wanted 2 things: a day of pampering at the spa and a new bag.  He offered to take us on a weekend getaway but my heart was already set on my birthday wishes.  An overnight stay at a pool villa by the beach didn't interest me.  All I wanted was a 90-minute massage and a mani-pedi.  I didn't want anything else.  Oh yes, and the bag, ofcourse :)

a

a

It was a simple celebration -- no birthday banner, no decor...but the lack of birthday decor and ambiance was made up for by Richard and Aly's surprises.  And they really made sure that everything was perfect for my birthday.  They were waiting for me when I woke up and gave me birthday cards with the sweetest messages ever.  I was definitely treated like a queen!

a

a

All dressed up for my birthday :)  Aly said we were wearing special clothes because it was a special day.  Heehee!

a

a

Look at my big girl baby!  That skirt is actually a dress that she's never worn.  The top part was a bit tight on the chest so I made her wear a shirt and cinched it with a belt.

a

a

I love that she's wearing black, which she doesn't normally wear but since it was a special day, she didn't object to it when I chose her outfit.

a

a

The hubby doesn't need any guidance from me.  I always thought that he's a good dresser -- one of the things that I love about him :)

a

a

One more photo from the waist up to hide all that we need to hide.  Heehee!

a

a

On our way to Gaysorn to pick up my new baby a.k.a Richard + Aly's big birthday gift.

a

a

It was a quick shopping trip because #1 my feet were starting to hurt -- haven't worn heels in a long time!  But that's ok because I had a "tired feet" spa treatment scheduled later in the day, which brings us to #2 the spa awaits!

a

a

Dressed down for the spa.  

a

a

I wanted to try out the other spas in Bangkok, but I still ended up with my suki, Green Leaf Spa, since it's just an elevator ride away.  I didn't want to waste precious time by getting stuck in traffic.

a

a

I got a pedicure...

a

a

...and a manicure with paraffin dip.  Special talaga dba!  But my hands needed that -- badly!  Overworked na kasi.

a

a

Tried on metallic nail polish for a change...channeling Chanel's Graphite nail polish.   

a

a

Flowers from Richard (top) and from our S.A Khun Waraporn (bottom).

a

a

Birthday cake and card from Chatrium.

a

a

Terno sa card!

a

a

Birthday cupcakes from Cupcake Love.  We got ultimate chocolate (for Aly), red velvet, carrot and white chocolate macadamia.

a

a

Aaaaannd my new baby :)

a

a

Prada Tessuto Gaufre Nero

a

a

It's #32 in the LA Times 50 Signature Bags list.  Oh, if I could have at least 5% of the bags on that list, I'd be one happy cow. :)  Sweetie, if you're reading this, please refer to the list for future gift ideas.  Heehee!

a

a

It was a great birthday!  Thank you to friends and family who greeted me on Facebook.  Big hug to Richard and Aly for making my birthday extra special.

Mother's Day Presents

Mother's Day in Thailand is actually in August (in time for the Queen's birthday).  But we're not Thai, so we celebrate it just like everyone else back home.  Besides, I can't wait until August for my mom's day gift.  May is a lot quicker.  Heehee!

a

a

Richard and Aly surprised me with these cards when I woke up.

a

a

a

a

This is why I love being a mommy.  I have the best daughter ever!

a

a

Gifts from the hubby.

a

a

Yipee!

a

a

He took a look at my wishlist and chose the Cuisinart hand blender.

a

a

a

Thank you, sweetie!  I love it!

a

a

He threw in a new cookbook too!  I chose this myself at Kinokuniya.

a

a

He also bought me a white chocolate cake.  But now that I have a blender with a whisk attachment, I think I'm going to say goodbye to store-bought cakes soon.

a

a

The spoiling doesn't end there.  He didn't want me to cook so we ordered pizza instead.

a

a

He also got me a tub of ice cream because he knows I've been craving for more than a week already.

a

a

That's only because I was on a diet!  I've been deprived so mother's day was the perfect excuse for a cheat day.

a

a

Swensen's ice cream, I love you!

a

a

Oh yeah, I had more cake too!  Cheat day kung cheat day!

a

a

It truly was a great day!  Thank you, Richard and Aly for making me feel extra special.  The hubby missed the Pacquiao fight for our mother's day thing.  I feel bad about that, but he said it's ok.  And that's why I love him more! :)

Aly's 8th Birthday Weekend: Part 2

The big day has finally arrived!  The moment she woke up, she ran to our room and shouted, "WOOHOO!!".  It only meant one thing: it was time to open her gifts.  She's been waiting for that moment all week!  She tried to lure me into letting her open the gifts earlier but mommy had to stand firm even if the little girl used all the tricks in her book.  Haha!  Aly tried everything: the slight parinig (I can't wait to open my gifts!  I wonder what's inside them?  I'm so excited!) to the super obvious, direct to the point (Can I open my gifts now, mommy?).  She also used the paawa look and this certain look she gives me that tells me she wants something, hugs, kisses...the whole shebang!  But I kept telling her that her tricks are no good; she can only open her gifts on her birthday.  Nakalusot pa din sya kasi everytime she would receive a gift from her classmates, she would open them in school.  Hay naku...Anyway, let's watch her unwrap her gifts.

a

a

Hindi na naghilamos si ate.  She was that excited!

a

a

a

a

a

a

Gifts from mommy and daddy.

a

a

If you're wondering why she got all these toys, that's because she only gets to buy toys twice a year: birthday and Christmas.  So she filled her birthday wishlist with toys.  She also included books but I told her that she can buy books anytime so we'll just get the toys.  We also had a bigger budget for her gifts this year because #1 we didn't travel like we did last year and #2 we didn't have a birthday party for her in school.  Plus, she's been a really good girl :)  

a

a

Now where were we?  Once all the gifts have been unwrapped, I put a blindfold  for another surprise.

a

a

Isn't she the cutest girl with a blindfold ever?

a

a

a

a

Surprise!!

a

a

Medyo clueless pa dito...

a

a

Wheee!!

a

a

A new iPad!

a

a

How did you get this, daddy?  When did you buy it?  She was trying to analyze the surprise.  She's getting smarter and smarter every day.  Senyales na big girl na talaga.

a

a

Soo happy :)

a

a

She probably can't believe that we bought the iPad.  She thought kasi we'll buy it next year pa.  Haha!

a

a

Happiest birthday ever!

a

a

After opening her gifts, I made her favorite pancakes for breakfast.  We had an entire day planned for Aly's birthday: Church, lunch, dinner at home...anyway, take a look at the photos.

a

a

Birthday outfit: top from Central Department Store, leggings from the export overruns bazaar in Nuvali, watch from Gap.

a

a

Birthday shoes (we all need birthday shoes, right?): Gap kids

a

a

Birthday bag (we need that too just like mommy!): Hello Kitty

a

a

Goofy Aly.

a

a

a

She loves her Tinkerbell cup!

a

a

My big girl baby is growing up too fast!  Sniff!

a

a

Daddy and mommy are happy too!  Heehee!

a

a

Daddy loves you!

a

a

Gigil with Aly!

a

a

Checking her messages after the mass.  Big thanks to all who greeted Aly on her birthday!

a

a

On our way to Chokchai Steakhouse.  

a

a

a

a

Love.

a

a

I love you, babe!

a

a

Her dad arranged another surprise for her.  Heehee!  Gulat sya.

a

a

Make a wish, babe!

a

a

a

a

Valdezes in Chokchai.

a

a

After lunch, we went to Paragon to pick up her birthday cake.

a

a

Aly's birthday cake.

a

a

Ready for dinner!

a

a

I prepared a simple dinner for Aly.  Actually, she was the one who came up with the menu.  I asked her to list down her favorite dishes: spaghetti with meat sauce, fried chicken (from McDonald's), focaccia with olive oil + balsamic vinegar dip.

a

a

One more photo with the birthday girl.

a

a

Then it was time for the cake!

a

a

a

a

a

It was a great day for all of us :)

a

a

Happy birthday princess!  We love you to bits!

a

a

That night, she told us that it was the best birthday ever :)

a

a

And that concludes Aly's birthday special.  It was a busy weekend but a great one nevertheless.  Our little girl has been looking forward to her birthday all year so Richard and I did our best to make it extra special.  Anything to make our princess happy!  Besides, she's been a good girl; she doesn't give us a hard time and she always follows mommy and daddy without any complaints, so she deserves only the best.

a

a

Happy 8th birthday, big girl!  We love you!