Jay's Visit - Part 2: Flowers and Barbecue ;)

August 8, 2011 - Jay cleaned my room, picked me from my office and bought me flowers.. Sweet! <3

 

August 9, 2011 - Barbecue party at east coast with my colleagues. We had a hard time building the fire because the wind was really blowing hard. The fire starters also wouldn't work. Out of the blue I remembered to pray 'Lord sana mag-apoy na, gutom na po kasi ako.. :( ' then at an instant one of the coals began flaming! In a pleasant way, I boasted to Jay 'kita mo beb, ang lakas ko kay Lord!' =)

Jay's Visit - Part 1: Batam Trip ^__^

Howdy friends? Was too lethargic to blog these days. Boooh!

Last Aug 5 - 14 Jay went here to visit me. Well, he had no choice, he's got 33 vacation leaves and his company had forced him to take 13 away as those won't be carried over the next fiscal year. He's already been to almost all tourist destinations here in Singapore so I had to plan for a budget friendly out of the country trip-there's this site, www.deal.com.sg, that I've been watching out for quite some time already. Fortunately we were able to avail a 2D1N Batam trip worth 75 SGD per pax. The promotion is inclusive of 2 way ferry ticket, 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast, City tour, seafood lunch and1 hour whole body massage. Good steal lah!

Date: August 6-7, 2011

Indonesian currency, Rupiah. With just 145 SGD (5000 php)  you can become a millionaire in Indonesia. 

We stayed at the 7th floor of the hotel

Watching TV with tito Robert, tita Grace and kuya Joseph after taking our lunch

here's one of my fave shots, with my hands shouting HE'S MINE! =)

Indonesia's version of timezone

Our first day was a free-and-easy day. We were thrilled when the tour guide told us that it would only cost us 2.5 SGD (90 php) to see a movie. We've agreed to watch 3 to 4 movies but to our dismay there were only 2 movies that were shown-and we already have seen them couple of month ago. Kaya pala mura. Hehe. =)

So we ended up singing at a videoke bar

havin' some talk over a cup of coffee at the hotel lobby

Jay ordered hot chocolate, while i requested for a milk which dragged me to bed 30 minutes later

Before going down for breakfast I asked him to pose for the camera. This is our 1st monthsary picture and one of the few monthsaries that we're together...Smile!!

Jay's not so happy with the breakfast..no food victored his taste buds :(

Tita and I playing around :)

Taken inside the tour bus. It was freezing cold but for the sake of good photos I had to take off my jacket =)

Jay buying pasalubong

Forgot to mention, the package is also inclusive of 20% off shopping voucher at this souvenir shop

Maniature houses situated at Golden Beach Resort

Scary skulls!!!

We were served with sumptuous 7-course seafood meal at Golden Prawn 333 restaurant. 

Our Batam getaway jumpshot

1-hour massage. Happy to see Jay's enjoying. The trip's all worth it.. :)

Ginger tea after massage

We ended our holiday with a delish dinner at Queens Restaurant situated along the Sentosa Boardwalk in Singapore. The place was introduced to me by my colleagues. The ambiance was very great! It will really put your feet up while enjoying the scenic view. Thank you Lord for this life! =)

i took a roasted chicken with mashed potato. Really luscious!!

Jay's food - crispy fish fillet. I love the potato fries!

Wrapping up our 2-day vacay with one more cam click. Do we so look tired? :)

Our DIY invites

One of the benefits of being a w@w member is being able to learn a lot of DIY ideas. Lots of it!
Now it's my turn to share. =)  Even before we formally started the wedding preparations I was already settled to do our invitation. Mainly because I want our wedding to be personalized as much as we can. Second because we wanted to trim down the wedding budget (it keeps on ballooning!!! but God would always leave me in awe for His unfailing provisions..), and third because I love to do any artful constructions, though I'm not that artistic. :p.

But to be honest there were some set backs while doing the invites which tempted me to turn back and have them made by the professionals. While I was doing the computation I realized that the money we would save from getting an invitation supplier will not be that remarkable because I bought most of the materials I used here in Singapore. The ink also costs 35 SGD (the invites consumed 2 inks by the way). I was also too lazy to DIY the envelops so I bought a ready made that cost around 2 SGD/4 pcs. I would also feel down whenever I see beautiful invites. But I really thank the Lord, He refreshes my emotions everyday. I also thank Him for sending Leslie, my barkada since college, here in Singapore. Leslie's such a great help. My ever dependable and full-of-ideas tita Grace has also been a great help, she's been my go to person whenever I'm not confident about my ideas and she would always gladly share hers. DIYs are really more fun when you're doing them with somebody.

Thanks also to sis Aleng for her step by step DIY invitation procedure. I would refer to her site from time to time to check if I'm still doing it rightly. Thanks much sis! You're a star! ^_^

And of course to my fiance, who by this time of writing is already sleeping (no skype convo today, he needs to rise up early for his 7am call time at work :-( ... ), for having a great faith in me, and for being my entertainer, listener and cheer leader while doing the design, while nagging and complaining that it's too difficult and I couldn't do it, when I told him I am so stressed out and I really couldn't do it, while checking for the possible invite supplier, when suddenly I popped him and told him I'm changing my mind of getting a supplier that we will just stick to the original plan, while doing the design again, while printing, while cutting the invites... and the list goes on..the task is really made easier if your fiance has an overflowing sense of humor.  :D

And after lengthy introduction, I'm happy present to you our DIY invitation... :)

 

On Paper Requirements - Part 2

Finally our CENOMARs (and Jay's NSO authenticated Birth Certificate) are already in our moms' hands. We ordered it via e-census online and paid thru BDO online banking. Jay's mom received the copies after 3 days while mama got mine after 5 days. We're all set for our marriage license application in October! Yey! =)

Updates! Updates!

Hi friends! It's been so long (2 weeks?) since my last post. I've been busy with work and preps but anyway i'd like to give some updates. Just a quick one, my boss might catch me. :D

1. July 6, 2011 - Some rashes appeared and my right hand had been excruciatingly painful. I went to the clinic right away and the GP told me I've got shingles (reactivated chicken pox) this is due to my weakened immune system. But thank God for his grace, the rashes dried up before I flew back to Philippines. Anyway I've got one cool blister in my hand. I love how it was shaped. It seemed my nerves knew i'm inlove :D

I'm now into religiously taking vitamins everyday to boost up my immune system.I won't let my body get sick again especially my big day is getting near!

2. July 13, 2011 - I flew back to Philippines. While I was in the plane I was contemplating on whether to hug Jay or not.. :D shingles is contagious and I didn't want him to feel what I have felt. But the moment I saw him,  ahhh.. I just wanted to hug him! So there.. haha! Anyway I was in a long sleeve + jacket and I had my rashes covered with a band aid (shingles can only infect when being touched directly).

3. July 14, 2011 PM to July 15, 2011 AM - we went to my home province for our scheduled counseling with the pastor the following day. It was an 8-hour journey, imagine how exhausted am I! But I've got Jesus, He had me sustained :) I was happy to finally see my mom and my little brother who didn't want to skip his classes just to be with me..LOL. Anyway Ron, my younger brother had to travel 2 hours from his dorm just to catch me. (i'm touched). We chatted for only about 20 minutes since we had to leave for the counseling. :(

4. July 15, 2001 PM - we met mommy Mercy (my auntie)  at Jollibee (Santiago City) and had our lunch at hmmm..i don't know where..hehe.. since we didn't know the way to the church she had to accompany us. Thank you mommy! And oh, thank you for the red eggs too! We loved it! :)

Ptra Quincy Bonus-Fermin was the one who did the counseling. It took only for about an hour but I was happy, I've learned so much and gained so much wisdom from it. One of the things i've learned is that Love is like a triangle -- with God at the top, and Jay and I at the bottom sides. And as we draw closer to God, we also draw closer to each other.

Er wait..! Prior to the counseling, Ptra Quincy gave us a 2-page questionnaire. The questions are written in Tagalog, but mind you, they're mind-boggling. We had to answer them all, else Pastora would think we are not ready to settle yet. :)

Jay won't show me his answers! :(

5. July 16, 2011 - We went to Laguna to visit some of our principal sponsors who happened to be Jay's relatives. Was happy to finally meet some members of his clan :)

6. July 17, 2011 - I finally checked my salary letter. Was having troubles opening the zip file before. I was really really happy with the result (and increase). And yes, I was promoted! I am now a Senior Application Developer. Yehey! God never failed to surprise me. Thank you Lord for this early wedding gift! =)

We also dropped by in La Castellana to settle the 50% down payment of the wedding package we availed.

Here's Jay waiting for the printed contract =)

There was an event and the crews were in Hizon's uniform so I decided to peek and take a photo of their set up.

7. July 18, 2011 - I arrived here in Singapore safely. I was really tired but I had to work since I've got a lot of catch ups to do in my new project. 

There done! Back to work! =)

On Paper Requirements

My mom sent me an SMS last night telling me that she already received my NSO authenticated birth certificate. I ordered 2 copies from NSO website last June 20 and paid thru BDO online banking. I received the payment confirmation after 2 days. It took them another 8 working days to get the requested papers delivered. The cost is quite pricey, i paid P630 for 2 copies, but it definitely saved me from so much hassle of personally going and queuing at their branch office. It's really convenient and reliable.

You may want to check their website for more info: Click!

Swollen Right Hand

I wanted to start our invitation design tonight but my swollen hand doesn't permit me to do so. I also have no idea how did it swell. I just felt a sudden pain last friday. I went to the clinic an hour ago and the doctor gave me some painkiller and cream. I pray the meds will take effect soon.

Isaiah 53:5 said 'But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed'

...and I claim that I am healed