The ABC's of Friendship

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plain things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

*TKS2DSP*

Amazing Race and Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

The season premiere of DH, entitled "Next," aired last September 25, 2005 on ABC.

Synopsis: Mike finds Zach holding Susan hostage; Lynette interviews for a position at a top ad agency; Rex's mother (guest star Shirley Knight) arrives for his funeral; Gabrielle, feeling guilty, visits Carlos in jail.

Quotes from DH (1st Season)

Episode 01.07 - "Anything You Can Do"

Mrs. Huber: "Competition. It means different things to different people. In Suburbia, it means keeping up with the Jones's. On Wisteria Lane, that means keeping up with Bree Van de Kamp. Everyone knew Bree had the nicest lawn in the neighborhood. And no one begrudged her this. No one, that is, except Martha Huber, whose own lawn paled in comparison. No matter how carefully she trimmed...or how lovingly she watered...or how generously she fertilized...the grass was always greener on the other side of the fenc

Episode 01.18 - "Children Will Listen"

Mary Alice: "Children come into the world with their own agendas. Some to brighten our days, some to test our patience, some to give us purpose, some to take care of us. Yes, when they come children change everything. Especially when they're not invited."

Amazing Race (Family Edition)

It's a race around the world as ten teams, all families of four, compete to be the first to arrive at the final destination and win $1 million. Along the way, the Teams will face a series of mental or phyiscal tasks before learning their next destination and will have to work on a limited travel budget in unfamiliar territory. This year's twist - the teams are families of four.

STARS:
Phil Keoghan as host
Godlewski Family as contestants
Gaghan Family as contestants
Weaver Family as contestants
Black Family as contestants
Linz Family as contestants
Aiello Family as contestants
Paolo Family as contestants
Schroeder Family as contestants
Bransen Family as contestants

Note: We were able to download the Season 2 Episode 1 of DH and Amazing Race 8E1 through TSPY, Shows are not available here:(

Angels again Best of West

OAKLAND -- Mission accomplished.

In a scene reminiscent of last season, the Angels turned to a familiar winning formula and once again eliminated the A's on their home field to capture the American League West title for the second consecutive year and fifth overall.

And in doing so, they rode the strength of their ballclub -- solid pitching performances -- to register a 4-3 win Tuesday over the A's and their 91st victory of the season while becoming the first AL team this year to clinch a playoff berth.

"This game and this series was a microcosm of the whole season," manager Mike Scioscia said. "They kept their composure the whole year and they didn't let down tonight."

Ervin Santana tossed 6 2/3 solid innings and was backed by a bullpen that took it the rest of the way with Francisco Rodriguez shaking off a ninth-inning homer by Marco Scutaro for his 43rd save of the year. As the final out settled into Juan Rivera's glove, a shallow pop fly to left, the Angels began a raucous celebration on the field that carried into the clubhouse.

"The two biggest celebrations are right now and when you win the World Series," said Steve Finley, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and remained to play center field.

Source: MLB.COM

Reminiscing Papa's First Glimpse...

S-M-I-L-E

Ryoma's 2nd Birthday!

We went to my cousin's house last Saturday to celebrate her Son's 2nd Birthday. It was raining and cold that day. When we arrived food were almost ready. Tita Rosa was there too.

Oishi!! Hubby loves the BBQ that my cousin Chat prepared. We're supposed to have a BBQ party in her yard, but since it was raining, she pan-fried it. After lunch, most of the boys slept. Hubby slept at the BIG couch. It was big indeed for us...

Happy Birthday Sisterette Brenda!

View the Digital Scrapbook i made for her

She will be celebrating her birthday on the 25th of September. Eventhough we're far from each other, our friendship remains intact. I miss her company and I have fond memories of her when we were in Bangkok.

Our Disney Adventure

It was a long weekend and we were thinking of places to visit. It was Saturday night when we decided to go to Tokyo Disneyland. After checking the weather and thorough planning on how to get there, we were set to go to Disneyland.

Hubby thought we won't push through with the trip because I woke up with a nasty migraine. We got up earlier than usual, it being Sunday and all. I prepared a heavy breakfast then hubby and I took vitamins, nothing was left to chance.

We left our house at around quarter til' 9. It was estimated that the travel time will be just under an hour. But since it was a Sunday, public transport schedule was not as frequent as usual.

There were long queues at the ticket booths. We heard that sometimes they stop selling them due to over capacity, we were a bit worried. Luckily, thanks to good old Japanese efficiency, we got in without a hitch.

We were welcomed by the loud and joyous sound of Disney themes played by the Disney drum and bugle band. There were literally thousands of people walking about as we went pass through the World Bazaar. It was then that we realized that we were in for a fun time in a land where dreams and magic come true.

The plan was to maximize our limited time and for everyone in the family to enjoy. The day was filled with parades and attractions that we wanted to see and we thought that we may not have enough time to see the whole park. Baby Rein couldn't care less what we do really but I can feel that she was also anticipating to see a world full of color and happiness.

After a few minutes inside, it struck me that I was finally fulfilling a childhood dream. It took me 30 years to fulfill this and I felt that my inner child was getting the better of me when I asked hubby to find Mickey Mouse so I can be in a picture with him. He had a big grin and looked at me as if I was also his daughter.

As we approached Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters attraction, it suddenly occured to me that 1 part of the plan may have to wait. The waiting time was 3 hours and the Fast Pass ticket was scheduled for 6 p.m. already. It was then that we decided to skip the rides and just see the colorful parades plus hunt down my favorite Disney mascots for a photo op :)

The first impression I had was that the castle, which is the centerpiece of all Disneyland theme parks worldwide, was not that big. I was expecting a huge and grand castle, one that is really a jaw dropper. Does this mean that we have to go to Orlando and visit Disney World ;)

The first parade we saw was Disney's Halloween Parade. It was sort of an appetizer for the day, just to get our Disney blood pumping. Rein was asleep during the parade, she was totally unaware of the things that were happening around her. Hubby and I then agreed that we have to go back after a couple of years when Rein can fully appreciate and enjoy Disneyland.

I was lucky enough to have pictures with Goofy and Dale (without Chip) but was a bit disappointed not to have one with Mickey and Winnie the Pooh, guess they were too busy. Winnie the Pooh's Hunny Hunt would have been a good attraction for our family but again we had to wait for more than 3 hours and the Fast Pass was sold out.

Then the main event of the day, Disney's Dream on Parade. This is where we saw ALL of the Disney characters. I was very amused that Rein giggled when she saw the beautiful floats and the Disney characters that she is familiar with from our regular book readings.

We had lunch around 3 p.m. at the Plaza Pavillion. We were again lucky to be seated alfresco since right in front of us was the Super Dupper Jumpin Time show with Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and Chip & Dale. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone :)

At dusk, we marveled at the beautiful lights that adored the castle as well as the clear sky the served as a nice back drop. I was imagining that I am Cinderella and that it was my Castle. Rein's laughter and consistent hair pulling quickly brought me back to reality ;)

One more parade to go and it was the magnificent Dreamlights parade. The lights were dimmed as the colorful floats passed by. Making it more magical was the perfectly bright full moon on a clear sky. I guess halloween is really fast approaching.

As the day came to a close, the only thing left was the fireworks display. Thoughout the day, hubby and I were searching for the elusive Hotdog vendor! We've been seeing people eating those juicy american style hotdogs and wondering where they bought it. We finally found that it was at the Refreshment Corner where we got a table with a perfect view of the castle for the fireworks.

We were all set to enjoy the last attraction for the day when suddenly......an announcement. At first it was in Japanese and it didn't sound like it was good news. Some nihhon-jins got up and headed for the exit upon hearing it. Then the english one came and indeed it was bad news. They had to cancel the fireworks display because it was more windy than usual. We were disappointed but we understood that accidents may have happened if they continued.

Are you a Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last, ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. The daughter did and noted that they were soft.

She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

Don't tell GOD how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is!

3 Things Survey

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Beth
2. Bethchay
3. Chay

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. Issabelle
2. Tricia Mae
3. Beth1028

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. Hair
2. Boobs
3. Butt

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. Tummy
2. Waist
3. Fingers

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Filipino
2. Portuguese
3.

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Infidelity
2. Death
3. Riding in an airplane

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Wedding ring
2. Wallet
3. Cellphone

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Marcks & Spencer white panty
2. Giordano shirt
3. ABU boxer shorts

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS:
1. EWF
2. Julia Fordham
3. Incognito

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Love moves in Mysterious ways (By Julia Fordham) our wedding song
2. The Prayer
3. Anima Cristi (It was included in our wedding mass)

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Loyalty
2. Sweetness
3. Honesty

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE (in no particular order):
1. I just love being a Mom
2. I'm not bored
3. I own a Ferrari

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE PREFERRED SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Eyes
2. Lips
3. Nails

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Surfing the net
2. Watching Movies
3. Cooking

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Whole body massage (3 days rejuvenate course)
2. Go to Disneyland
3. Vacation

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING/YOU'VE CONSIDERED:
1. Web designing
2. Programming
3. Doctor

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Maldives
2. Back in Bangkok
3. Monaco

THREE KID'S NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Nathan John
2. Savannah
3. Renee Issabelle

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Cruise around the world
2. Drive an F1 car
3. Skydive with my husband

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I can ride a big bike
2. I'm not afraid of heights
3. I can move furnitures and do things all together

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL:
1. I love bags and wallets
2. I'm emotional
3. I love to shop

THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Chris Klein
2. Freddie Prinze Jr.
3. George Clooney

THREE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW:
1. Hubby
2. Bkk_Sisterettes
3. Yen

I love Surprises!

Creamy Godiva Dark Chocolate Ice Cream made with rich Belgian Chocolate.

Whew! Hubby went home last night with"Godiva Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream" and "Truffles". A bit pricey but it was soo yummy and we enjoyed it.

We had pan-fried Tuna steak with butter and parsley, tamago-yaki and Ice cream for dessert. We slept at around 1:30 AM.

I miss Rebecca Brandon (nee Bloomwood)

I miss Becky. I love her "Shopaholic Series" and "Can you keep a secret?" books. I was checking on books that i bought in Bangkok, where we used to live, and wondered where my Shopaholic Books are. Then I thought if she is busy writing a new book. Probably she'll call it "Shopaholic has a Baby" or "Shopaholic and Baby". Not really sure what the title would be, it's a wild guess. Also, I've heard about the movie starring Kate Hudson in "Can you keep a secret?" I hope it will be done this year.

I believe there is a bit of Becky in all of us. People sometimes laugh at their own flaws --- and who hasn't bought some useless and worthless things just because it was half the price? She might be silly at times and a bit shallow, but she is also amazing, warm, loving and resourceful indeed. I can relate to some of her spending and comment on the things she bought. I remember my friends in Bangkok, we usually shop together when we get flyers sent to us by Emporium or Central. Sometimes, we justified the things we bought to our husbands. Some things are for future use. (Sorry for the barrage of words).

Excerpt from "Shopaholic and Sister"

You know, I could really live in Sri Lanka," I say with a sigh. "It's perfect. The weather . . . the scenery . . . all the people are so friendly . . ."You said the same in India,"

Luke points out. "And Australia," he adds as I open my mouth.

"And Amsterdam."Oh.God, Amsterdam. I'd completely forgotten we went there.

That was after Paris. Or was it before?Oh, yes. It was where I ate all those weird cakes and nearly fell in the canal.

I take another sip of juice and let my mind range back over the last ten months. We've visited so many countries, it's kind of difficult to remember everything at once. It's almost like a blur of film, with sharp, bright images here and there.

Snorkeling with all those blue fish in the Great Barrier Reef . . . the pyramids in Egypt . . . the elephant safari in Tanzania . . . buying all that silk in Hong Kong . . . the gold souk in Morocco . . . finding that amazing Ralph Lauren outlet in Utah . . .

God, we've had some experiences. I sigh happily and take another sip of juice."I forgot to tell you." Luke produces a pile of envelopes. "Some post came from England."I sit up in excitement and start leafing through the envelopes."Vogue!" I exclaim as I get to my special subscriber edition in its shiny plastic cover.

"Ooh, look! They’ve got an Angel bag on the front cover!" I wait for a reaction—but Luke looks blank. I feel a tiny flicker of frustration. How can he look blank? I read him out that whole piece about Angel bags last month, and showed him the pictures and everything. I know this is our honeymoon. But just sometimes, I wish Luke was a girl."You know!" I say. "Angel bags! The most amazing, hip bags since . . . since . . ."Oh, I'm not even going to bother explaining. Instead I gaze lustfully at the photograph of the bag.

It's made of soft, creamy tan calfskin, with a transparent resin handle and discreet zipper. But what makes it unique is the beautiful winged angel hand-painted on the front, with the name Gabriel underneath in diamante.

There are six different angels: Gabriel, Michael, Dante, Raphael, Uriel, and Ariel. All the celebrities have been fighting over them, and Harrods is permanently sold out. holy phenomenon says the headline beside the picture.I'm so engrossed, I barely hear Luke's voice as he holds out another envelope."Ooze," he seems to be saying."Sorry?" I look up in a daze.

Are you a Shopaholic?

This is Fun!!

You Are A Total Shopaholic! You have a keen eye for spotting trends before they are hot. And sometimes your credit rating takes a beating as a result. Consider a job in retail to subsidize your gorgeous outfits. Over time, you could become a famous stylist or designer!

Are You a Shopaholic? Take This Quiz :-)

Developmental Milestones

8th Month

* Chews on objects

* Reaches for utensils when being fed (She wants to hold the spoon every time she's eating, you just can't imagine the mess on baby chair. But we enjoy looking at her do her thing).

* Turns head away when finished eating (Very Seldom!) as long as she sees food on the table, she'll continue eating.

* Sleeps between 10 and 11 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps. She won't sleep unless we also sleep. She wakes up before her Papa leaves the house for the office, and get back to sleep again and wake up at around 1030 for brunch.

* Masters in crawling

* Has specific cries for various needs

* Babbles enthusiastically (When her Papa is around)

* Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair (spills water from her cup)

* Shows some anxiety when removed from us

8 Facts @ 8 Months

1. She knows her name already. And responds to words like "No, Yes and Goodbye".

2. If i say No,she'll stop whatever she's doing.

3. She's very friendly whenever we go out and would make an effort to smile at everyone. There's this one time when a Japanese girl talked to her in the restaurant, Rein showed interest and gave her a big smile.

4. We have this trick to make her stop crying. We put her infront of the mirror and she will suddenly smile.

5. When we're eating, she wants to eat the same food as ours.

6. She now has this habit of "bowing" whenever we say "Hai".

7. She loves to watch Baby Einstein "World of Animals" and her all-time favorite Sesame Street show "Elmocize"

8. We know when she's pooping, when she stands infront of her cabinet and is quiet, Then she'll look at us as if she's guilty of something. She Giggles whenever she sees her papa coming home from work.

Accidental Mom (Part I) I wish....

L. R. is a part of my life. People say she's stubborn--a hard headed person and with no ambitions at all. I wish i could speak for her. It's not too late for her to change, she can still go back to school (College) and fix her life if she wants to. But since she got pregnant by her boyfriend, it may be difficult.

What can i say? I've done my part in trying to build a better future for her and got tired of giving advises and listening to her undying words like " Yes I will do that, or Yes Ate, I know that!" I can't hide how disappointed i am with the things that she's going through right now. I wanted to help her in many ways, but then again, I want to teach her the hard lessons in life.

Having a baby is a gift from God. It's not something that you accept just because it's there. But then, you're clueless on how to raise a child. In married life, it's a transition from being a couple to becoming parents. I must admit, having Rein changed everything from being a "not-so Shopaholic" to "Baby comes first before anything else". It was a life changing event for me and for my husband, and we embrace and love it.

I wish she knew by now what path she's diving into. It's not the end of the world yet and she still has a lot of time left to correct her mistakes in life. I know she wants to go back to school after giving birth. I don't know how she'll manage to take care of the baby though. We'll be here to support her. But she has to prove first that she can finish it.

I wish she realized how lucky she was to have us, despite the things she have done.

I wish she'll be a good mom. It's going to be a fun-ride with "Stress and Anxiety" always by her side. Adjustments would take a bit longer that she thinks.

I wish he will take care of you, especially your baby. He's not man enough to face us. Be man enough to show us that he can take care of you and the baby. Emotionally and financially.

Lastly, I pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

Party Planning for our Li'l Princess

We started planning for Rein's 1st Birthday. Since we are out of the country, we thought that we should start early. So we have more time to think about the decorations, invites, games and some party stuff. I have a lot of ideas in mind and I wish I could do it all. Hubby's teasing me that it's my birthday not Rein's. Of course, you dreamt of having an extravagant party when you were a kid. It's okay to incorporate it into your child's party, provided that you wouldn't go overboard. So far we are 80% done in planning.

Rein's favorite character is Elmo. Elmo always makes her smile and giggle. So we thought of having a Sesame Street Party. Our caterer would be the same as what we had in her Christening and Jollibee for kids. We reserved the venue at RMH in Roxas, Boulevard. We'll have some art work (which we plan to put in her time capsule). All party stuff will be themed. I am a bit of an OC when it comes to planning. I'm very detailed and a perfectionist.

Drop me a note if you have some ideas in mind. I would appreciate it.

What is a Mother?

Mothers look different from other women. Their hair isn't always done in the latest style, and sometimes, it isn't done at all.

A mother is a woman who can bake a cake with six other hands helping her and still have it turn out fine.

A mother's shoulders sometimes smells of sour milk, and if you are very observant, you'll notice safety pin holes in her clothes -- even her Sunday best.

Mother's frequently have runs in their stockings, likely as not, Junior didn't park his trike off the sidewalk.

A mother is different. She likes chicken wings and backs and the hamburger that is slightly burned -- things the kids and Daddy don't care for. She never takes the last chop on the plate, and she always saves the candy from the tray at the club to bring home to the children.

A mother may not have ulcers, but she has versatile tears. They show anger, weariness, hurt or happiness. Once, when Daddy forgot an anniversary, Mother cried. One Saturday, he brought home some chocolates when it wasn't even her birthday or anything, and she cried then, too.

When a mother dies, she must face Him with her record of accomplishments. If she's done a good job of caring for her children, she'll get the most sought-after position in heaven, that of rocking baby angels on soft white clouds and wiping their celestial tears with the corner of her apron.

Desperate Housewives

A primetime soap with a truly contemporary take on "happily every after," this hit series takes a darkly comedic look at suburbia, where the secret lives of housewives aren't always what they seem.

The series began with Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) leaving her perfect house in the loveliest of suburbs -- and ending it all. Now she takes us into the lives of her family, friends and neighbors, commenting from her elevated P.O.V.

Her circle of girlfriends on Wisteria Lane include Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), the divorcee and single mom who will go to extraordinary lengths for love; Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), who recently went from being a stay-at-home mother of four back to her fast track career in advertising; Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), Martha Stewart on steroids, whose recent widowhood has completely reeked havoc on her perfect life; and Gabrielle Solis, the ex-model with everything she's ever wanted - a rich husband, a big house, and now a baby to go with it all… the problem is she's not sure who the father is; and serial divorcee Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan), the free spirited real estate maven whose love life has everyone buzzing. Enter newcomer Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard) and her handsome teenage son, Matthew (Mehcad Brooks), who mysteriously moved into a house they'd never seen in the middle of the night.

Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Alfre Woodard as Betty Applewhite, Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young, James Denton as Mike Delfino, Doug Savant as Tom Scavo, Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis, Mark Moses as Paul Young, Cody Kasch as Zach Young, Andrea Bowen as Jenna Mayer, Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van De Kamp, Joy Lauren as Danielle Van De Kamp, Mehcad Brooks as Matthew Applewhite and Jesse Metcalfe as John.