22nd Travel Tour Expo 2015

I always volunteer to take duty for our booth every time our hotel participates in Travel Expos. Why? Because of two main reasons: One, I love interacting with people who travel. I love how they are knowledgeable about places I've never been to and after, I wanted to go where they went. I am also overwhelmed by the people who join Travel Expos. I am amazed how much they wanted to travel and I am one of them! Though I'm not considered as a legit "traveller" because my travels are limited to my budget and my leaves (9-5 work sucks! - KIDDING! I love my job *vomits after* Hahaha!)

I've been to: Ilocos, Baguio, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Batangas, Corregidor, Tagaytay, Puerto Galera, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Kidapawan, Surigao Del Sur, Sagada, Hongkong, Singapore and Vietnam. (Will go to Bacolod on March for our first year anniversary! So excited!!!) And for my travel bucket list? I want to go everywhere!!! Yes. If time and MONEY permits me, I wish I could explore the world like Trisha Valermino of P.S. I'm on my way blog. She traveled all over the world! I wish I could leave my husband at home and travel. Hahaha! Napaka selfish ko kapag ginawa ko yun. But no, I want him to experience traveling, I want him to see what I'm seeing. I want him to want to travel. Anyway...

Back to the Travel Expo, second reason I volunteer is the perks of being in a travel expo! Being inside for free, seeing low travel packages and low air fares. There are international and local airlines, hotels, resorts and travel agencies. I am drooling over travel packages for Japan, Bali and Korea!!! But I didn't book anything due to limited budget. Ali and I are planning to buy a car this February so we're cutting down budget for travel. HUHUHU - but of course this is for a good cause. Parang charity lang kami. Hahaha!

So now, let me introduce to you to my hotel: Astoria Plaza Hotels and Resorts!

Located in Ortigas Center, one of the Philippines' progressive business and commercial districts, Astoria Plaza, a hotel in Pasig, offers you a private niche in the heart of the city.

It is the new standard in urban living with all the space and comfort of home combined with the modern convenience of a deluxe hotel. With rooms ranging from a minimum of 60 sq. meters to a maximum of 130 sq. meters, Astoria's spacious suites give you the freedom to enjoy your living space separate from your workspace. Astoria Plaza is only within walking distance to leading shopping centers, malls, hospitals, universities and electronic railway transits.

We also have resorts at Boracay, Bohol and Palawan. Events Place: Chardonnay.

Astoria Bohol

* Astoria Palawan *

I love how Astoria Resorts have beautiful, comfortable, unique and spacious rooms. Astoria is known for having spacious rooms both for their Ortigas and Resorts.

* Spot the difference? Haha! *

* My bekky in crime - Robin *

* With Rooms Sales and Events Sales Manager - Ms. Cora and Ms. Belle *

So dear friends, if you're a sucker for good and comfortable vacation on tourist destinations around the Philippines, please visit our booth (156-172) for the best deal ever! at the 22nd Travel Tour Expo 2015, SMX Convention, Pasay City!

<3 Mrs. D

Future Babies

 Every gatherings we go to, either family, friends or office mates' gatherings, demanded us to explain why we don't have a "plus one" yet. All of them told us stories of how hard it is to have late pregnancies, how convenient it is to conceive in an early age para daw magkabarkada kayo ng anak mo.

Well, for Ali and I, we decided to stick to our life plans, which is first, enjoy a two years marriage without a baby and in those years is have our own little home, to have a car, have a business and lastly, to have a baby after two years. (and because of the demands, we decided to make it one year of marriage nalang.) Its not that we don't want to, but we still have plans and we think that were not ready yet.

When we talk about having a mini me/mini Ali, we feel so nervous! Usapan pa lang yun ha, what if kung andyan na. Ali's cousin told us that we should check with our OB first before controlling. So last January, we went to Dra. Shie for consultation. She told us that were not going to have a problem with baby making. So yey! Let's control! (LOL)

I posted a "joke" ultra sound, and inside my fat belly is a whole chicken, pasta, cake, pizza, beers and ice cream. Hahaha!

I came across this site where you can morph you and your partner's face and create a "future baby".  See ours!

* This one is my mini me *

* I want her!!! She's the cutest! *

* This baby looks like my cousin. Haha! He got Ali's nose *

* Little toddler Dionisio. HIHIHI! *

Hoping to have two cutesy chubby babies! Maybe in the 4th quarter of the year. (feeling excited and nervous at the same time!) If God will give our little ones soon, we will accept it gracefully, but if God is okay with our plans, then we are truly grateful.

You? What's you and your partner's baby plans?

<3 Mrs. D

#MelRiestoforeverandalways

You know you're getting older when you are now attending Bridal Showers and Weddings. One of my highschool best friend, got married last Saturday and I was one of her secondary sponsor (I can't be her bridesmaid anymore because I'm now married) Her wedding motif is color peach and mint green. She's the second to get married in our Barkada. (I'm the first! Hehe)

* with the beautiful bride *

* We booked the same hotel for our wedding and we also have the same photo on the same spot. Haha! yeep! Were friends alright! *

* With the rest of our barkada. Who will be the next bride girls? *

* With the groom, before the ceremony *

* Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Larosa! *

Congratulations and Best Wishes Mel and Aries! You're such a strong and beautiful couple and I wish you all the best in your new life together as husband and wife. May you have so many cute babies! And I assure you that I'm going to be there for the both of you forever and always. Love you both!

* Mr. and Mrs. D *

Thank you Sam of Frida Salon for making me all dolled up for my friend's wedding. Sam made my eyes' look so big and I really really loved it!!!

My very thoughtful Mom knows that I'll be extra hungry due to wedding preparations and pictorials so she asked Ali to bring me some of her chocolates. When I opened my first chocolate, it has a small saying:

  "Friendship is the greatest gift"

Very timely. Our barkada started way back in 2002. WOW!!! That was 13 years ago!!! I feel so old. Hahaha! Well, it only means that our friendship was destined to last forever, through ups and downs, young and old and even though were not always seeing each other everyday like the good old days, were still very intact. I'm so happy that I found my soul sisters. My second family. I love you girls!

<3 Mrs. D

Wall Post

Ali and I were living in our condo for seven months now and we still have so much to do with it. The colors baby blue and lavander is what we wanted because it gives our unit a cool and refreshing feel to our eyes. Light colors also makes a small space looks big (plus a gigantic mirror on walls for a really spacious effect).

I also wanted to have a "memory wall" which I got from my blogspiration, lifestyle inspiration and recently home-spiration too, Ms. Patty Laurel-Filart. Their condo was featured exactly a year ago in Condo Living Magazine. (Please Click here to see their home)

I also wanted to have the same feel.

"I love having pictures scattered all over our home. I think photographs instantly convert a house into a home and adds a lot of warmth to an empty space." - Patty Laurel-Filart

I discussed it to my husband and told him my project. We have an empty white space in our divider/cabinet that lacks something. So I decided to make it our "memory wall". Currently, I only have a few pictures printed out.

* Our first wall posts *

I wanted our "firsts" to be in this wall. Our first local trip as a married couple in Surigao Del Sur (Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls), our first Christmas together and with our families, our first trip to Tagaytay as a married couple (we went to Tagaytay a few times pero iba kapag married na kayo. Haha!). I wanted to print so many pictures, but unfortunately we have limited space. Hehehe!

I'm so excited to print more pictures and post it again into our memory wall! You? What's your home project?

<3 Mrs. D

Forty Four

January 30, 2015 was declared by the Philippine Government as "National Mourning Day"
This day is our country's tribute for the forty four fallen soldiers of SAF (Special Action Force) who was fighting for peace in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. 

I was watching the whole eulogy coverage and I my heart was really broken (I was crying all the time) by the look of their Commanders, Parents, Brothers, Sisters, Daughters, Sons and most of all their loving Wives. When Mrs. Pabalinas took the flatform and made her speech, this was the very moment I started to cry. 
I remember some part of her speech:

"Behind every strong SAF troupers, is a brave wife" 

She also narrates the story of their last conversation the night he went to his mission: 

Mrs. Pabalinas: "Daddy, wag ka na umalis?"

SAF Pabalinas: "Ayan ka nanaman, hindi mo nanaman naiintindihan"

Daughter: "Oo nga Daddy, wag ka na umalis, gabi na, baka kunin ka ng bad guys"

I feel for her. I feel for her daughter. The pain, the sacrifice, everything.

I was just getting too emotional because my dear husband dreamed of becoming a Police Officer. AYOKOOOO... Hindi ko kakayanin ang ganong sakit. I thought, if my husband was one of them, paano na ako? Where will I get the strength to push thru with my life? How will I continue? So many questions...

I told Ali about my thoughts and he said: "Alam mong ayoko ng ganyang usapan. Hindi mangyayari yun, matagal na matagal pa tayong magsasama" Knowing my husband, yes, he will not entertain this kind of thoughts, but I can't help it. Lalo na sa panahong ganito. He is a very positive person that he always gets mad at me when I talk stuffs about dying.

My heart and prayers goes to the families and the brave forty four fallen soldiers that sacrificed their life and their chance to be with their families just to fight for peace. 

<3 Mrs. D