Hubby's attempt to a surprise romantic dinner = SUCCESS!

I know I still have so many backblogs backlogs to post -- wedding, supplier review, honeymoon -- but I had to make way for this cute little one just because!

Ralph made one of his dreams come true last night -- to surprise me with a romantic dinner at our very place. The sweet heart was able to pull it off so well because I was really surprised! Just to give you a brief background, I am a control freak. I hate not being in the know. This is one of the reasons I can't say I'm all surprised when he proposed six months ago. I always investigate on random things. I interrogate him all the time. Observing is my habit.

Now this one literally escaped my sensitive senses. He used the "I am sick" trick. In fairness, he was really sick and still is while I'm writing this. We left the house before 7am yesterday; myself headed to the office, him to play basketball. He was back home before lunch and said he's not feeling well that he even had to stop playing mid-game. I got really worried because I anticipated this could happen knowing that he has not played ball since almost a year ago.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, while I was in the office,

My Bridal Shower by Awesome Friends

Four days before the wedding, I attended the bridal shower prepared by my closest girlfriends. Just when I thought I wouldn't get any more of this because Ralph & I had been surprised with an amazing couple's shower by our church friends already weeks back; Duchess (one of my MOH) caught me off-guard by asking if I'm free to attend their very intimate event they prepared for me on the said date. Who am I not to clear my schedule for a very special treat?

Nasi Lemak

Last night, I got the chance to finally try this little restaurant I always pass by on the 2nd level East Lane of my home mall -- Robinson's Galleria. I have been meaning to experience their food because I always see that it's full of people -- always a good sign when eyeing a novel diner.

Nasi Lemak mainly serves Hainanese, Malaysian, and Thai cuisine although in reality it's called Nasi Lemak Authentic Singaporean Restaurant. Interestingly, at least according to Wikipedia, Nasi Lemak means "a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and "pandan" leaf commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered the national dish".

Since most of their dishes are good for sharing, my friend Ghea and I tried their Penang Char Kway Teow for 265Php which, even with our best effort, we weren't able to finish. Not that it's not good, it's just that it's barely one week before the wedding and we're so careful to maintain the waistline we have been wanting to and have already achieved. (She's one of the secondary sponsors) Lol! Anyway, this is mainly spiced noodles with very savory pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. It was too tasty for my liking I was tempted to eat rice on the side!

Reggie got himself this Singapore Laksa for 275Php. And yes, he finished it on his own and even got some tummy space left to savour the remains of our Kway Teow.  Singapore Laksa is basically a noodle dish with curry soup. It also has egg, shrimps, and fishballs (or squid balls?). I like its kind of spicy than that of Penang Char Kway Teow -- very subtle amidst a hint of creaminess.

According to Munchpunch, currently, this is their only branch. I'm a happy kid to be near this mall because I'm definitely going back here to try the other side of their menu.

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When your wedding is the first you'll attend

At one week before the big day, here I am again; contemplating on so many things -- random and otherwise.

Even before Ralph's wedding proposal, I have been addicted to watching wedding SDEs and other forms of coverage. Not because I love weddings (I know some people who are just crazy about them) but because I want to have an idea on how it's like to walk down the aisle and how people behave in a rather big celebrations like this. It was my way of preparing myself. I felt I had to educate myself because the first wedding I'll be attending is mine.

Funny how that sounds but it's true. Unless we consider that one time I went to a wedding as a flower girl two decades ago and which I don't even remember who the bride and the groom is anymore. Seriously. So yes, this is my first wedding to attend. Now, how do I feel about that?

Fantastic. Because I won't be able to compare it with any wedding I have seen except for the ones I have seen in movies and in Youtube. And c'mon, let's face it. Movies are different because those are actors pretending to be in love with another actor in front of them. And the Bob Nicolas vids that I watched? No comparison either because I wasn't there in the venue to wipe my tears along with the other guests who were thinking of dinner already. So you see, we're talking experience here -- the part where you actually take part and witness a wedding on a personal level.

This really excites me. Fellow brides who have been there and done that, any tips for me? :)

Bacolod City to Dumaguete City & vice versa

Last year, I got the chance to visit my homeland. This is a throwback photo blog on our Bacolod-Dumaguete tour. The original plan was to fly directly to Dumaguete City. But since it's not one of the seat sale destinations, we ended up taking a flight to Bacolod City instead.

at NAIA Terminal 3

The Hardest Part of Getting Married

Today marks the last two weeks of my single-hood and we're almost done with the wedding preparation. I just need to treat myself to an overhaul (hair color, mani and pedi, facial, & spa if I have the time) and I'm wedding-gown ready. For the big day itself, all that's left to do is the table assignment, finalization of guest list to be submitted to the coordinator, and little DIYs for the candles and the wedding favors which I'm sure won't take half of my day.

from Google image

As days go by, my busy-ness is starting to fade and this is both good and bad news. Lately, I have been finding myself in deep thoughts about this transition especially that Ralph and I have already found and settled the dues with the owner of the apartment we chose to be our home while God prepares for us our own house. This is it. For real. I'm leaving my parents and will start to make a family of my own with a guy I don't even know 3 years ago. OK I know I'm not helping myself by making this sound even more creepy than it actually is but this is plain reality. We were strangers until August of 2010. This will be a huge amount of novelty for me to take. From all familiar house and housemates to unfamiliar ones.

Whom I'm voting for this May 2013 election

Photo: crashingwaves.wordpress.com

It's the wedding election month! To be honest, I have not completed the names i'll put on the ballot yet. Although I have several candidates I'm already considering, they are still subject to change depending on the results of my research. One thing is for sure, I'm voting for:

1. Godly candidates. They are more likely to serve the people because they know it's a way of serving God. Godly candidates know good leadership as best exemplified by Jesus Christ himself -- selfless, loving, wise, and always speaks in truth.

2. Candidates who are not obsessed with their election campaign. I find it disturbing that a politician is willing to spend just about millions to win an election. It should be of public knowledge that senators only have a monthly salary of 35,000. As far as I know, they do not own their pork barrel -- it's for the projects they are supposed to execute to "give free education", "abate the rate of families in poverty", and "make more jobs". So please enlighten me, why on earth will you be so willing to spend millions for campaign materials to win a position which offers (technically) guaranteed financial loss? And I'm seriously asking this because like mentioned in my previous election entry, I have limited knowledge on this matter.

3. Candidates with good track record. This is a no-brainer. Newbie, re-electionist, or running for a different (higher) position, I am only voting for people who were able to do something significant for the city or country in the past. Though I don't deny the reality that people change and bad government employees (yes, we often forget that the senators and the president himself are government employees just like the cashier in the municipal hall and the stenographer in the supreme court) can also turn into selfless leaders. So yeah, I might vote for some redeemed candidates, too (if any).

Sure it's not easy screening each candidates with the wedding preparation and all the jazz that comes with it. It will take a lot of time, let alone wisdom. I'm sure I'll come across so many black propaganda, false promotion, and the like and this is why it's so important to ask for the Lord's guidance in everything we do. Yes, everything. Including doing something as significant as this for our nation. To close this, I'm leaving you fellas with a couple of scriptures to help us as we choose our future leaders:

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

God bless the Philippines.