Oh Brian! Oh Bryant!

first, this brIan.

Same time as Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement brouhaha, another engagement happened along.  More discreet, but transpired amidst the alluring lights of fabulous Las Vegas.  Absolutely an awesome venue for an engagement which I think signifies the couple's endearing decision to GAMBLE on the "forever" life known as marital bliss-ter.  Just kidding! But to think that the sweet  YES came before the question popped, that folks is what I believe gambling is all about.  HaHa!

Back in college, Lilet was declared as the group's "goddess" because of her knack for beauty products and collection of colorful contact lenses.  The world did turn upside down on days she faced us with green or blue sparkling eyes.  A mirror was, and continues to be her bag's primary staple.  So when we both watched Devil's Advocate in the 90s, I just had to bluntly blurt out that this famous line was aimed at her ...

VANITY is my favorite sin.  Hahaha!  Sorry for bringing back the memories, Lilet.  On a serious note, Lilet was my spur-of-the-moment out-of-town buddy when we hit our "tumultuous" 20s.  We paddled our way towards beach resorts without any planning, most especially when heart concerns troubled us.  Our trip to Coral Reef in Cebu was by far our most memorable trip.  It was  there  where we both vowed to leave our "boy" woes behind and wished hard that they be drowned down under the deepest, darkest pit of the sea and be feasted upon by sharks. We haven't returned since then. I'm sure the lost-"boys" are still there. Buried. For life.

Today, the group is celebrating Lilet's engagement to Brian.  Despite the doubts and foolishness thrown her way by us, her so-called real friends, we are genuinely happy for her.  We have long since come to terms with Lilet's manicured eyes.  But I'm sure, the green or blue eyes sparkle a 100 times more these days. 

Hey Brian, are you sure??? There's still time ....

Best wishes to the both of you!

Lilet and I at Tagaytay Highlands, our last out-of-town trip together before she flew to California.

And then, this brYant.

I avoid posting personal comments on By Beaded Story's facebook page.  But when Dad2 recently mentioned about a Christmas shopping spree at Bryant Park with Mom, I could not help but post my wish-to-buy list on facebook.  All I want is another one of this ring anyway ...

Ayayay!  I wish I was shopping in Bryant Park right this moment.  Here are some shots taken 4th quarter of 2009.

Browsed around Bryant Park literally almost everyday.

Taken on the day after I arrived.  Haha!

The Angels of Dad2 and J. Bond.  Cheers!

Now back to reality,  see you at the Alabang Hills Village Bazaar tomorrow.  As I've said in this blog, this bazaar is the final leg for the  year :)  Then, I'm off to celebrate Christmas!

Why OKRA for Christmas? ...

...because of my involvement in bazaars that began mid-October. And, because it will finally come to an end this weekend.

The Alabang Hills Village Toys and Gifts Bazaar will run from December 10-12, 2010, with lots of fun activities and cool shopping finds. This is it -- the final leg!  So I hope to see you there. 

Since 4th quarter revolved around bazaars that entailed locking myself up during non-bazaar days for the sake of bead work, there was just no time to shop (for others).  Not even to get going with my Christmas list!  So when December 4 came along, the day when social gatherings began, I faced panic. 

First,  I had a bazaar on that same day. 

Second, I was not ready at all for any gift giving. 

And third,  I wondered  how in the world can I produce "instant" gifts for the 16 or so members of the crazyplanets without having to go through the nerve-wracking Christmas rush/traffic. 

Then, a light bulb moment came along.  Reason why crazyplanets was brought to life was the fact that we have been bound by one common appeal ... craziness ... lunacy ... or in our own concocted linggo, KA-OKRAYan!!!

Ergo, I give credit to my Mother-in-law and her backyard OKRA Farm ...

Entrance to the Okra Farm

   

Okra-galore found at the side and back of the house

Harvest is on a weekly basis.  Think abundance of Okras. 

In fact, I had to beg off at one point. 

December 4's harvest produced a hundred Okras. Enough for the crazyplanets -- for consumption purposes and getting my "OKRA-Y" point across.  Haha, it did have an impact!  By the way, remember the brown paper bags from South Supermarket I talked about in this blog?  Well, here they are now, cut into small pieces, and wrapped around the Okras ...

Apparently, Okras are itchy.  It was with major difficulty bundling and wrapping them with bare hands.

16 scratched out from the list -- instantly. Problem solved.

TL Ako Sa Yo!

Another typical absurd breakfast chat with J. Bond ...

ME           Whatever happened to Kitchie Nadal?
J.Bond      (no reply). (a minute after) Watch this.  I'm sure you'll like it.

A revival of that hit song by "Cinderella" in the 70s, I thought. Listen to its original version here. And yes, I did like the video because of its popart/comic book treatment.  J. Bond got it right.  Then, we continued on...

ME              What does TL stand for?
ME (again)      TULO LAWAY? (in english, drool)
J. Bond       *looks at me with disbelief and says* TRUE LOVE!

LOL! Now I know.  But ain't TRUE LOVE make a person "tulo laway"?  Whatever! I'm just grateful for the fact that my True Love does know what TL truly stands for. Unlike me. HaHa!

Hope you enjoyed the weekend as much as I did :)

Nutcracker at the Ayala Malls

Huge chunk of my childhood years was ballet.  Aside from the hanky-panky, I was taught and trained to do splits, pirouettes, plies, arabesques for five years with twice a week sessions,  plus!!! 1-2 times a year recitals and an annual muscle-wracking practical exam orchestrated by Russian ballerinas.  But then, I quit.  Ballet somehow got in the way with other extra-curricular activities like swimming and bayanihan.

After having watched snippets of Nutcracker at the Ayala Malls, I wish at this moment that I can still dance ballet. The toes can still manage a point, but the rest of the "stretchy" and "balance-stricken" moves is beyond imagination. I remember watching the full-length of Nutcracker at the Cultural Center of the Philippines with Mom and Dad decades ago. Back then, I faced boredom. Today, I am inspired by ballet and the COLORS that came with it.

The show began with a fusion of interpretative dance moves. In my own terms and observation, ballet combined with hip-hop(?) and jazz(?). 

The use of popular Filipino Christmas songs during the first part of the show had made me finally feel the spirit of Christmas.  At this point, to get going with my shopping was what I thought of while watching the show.  21 days to go!

 The start of Nutcracker.

 My favorite colors, turquoise and gold.

These colors too, red and black.

Come to think of it, I never reached the stage of dancing with "toe shoes". 

 Yikes!  I don't think I'll manage any longer. Not even a jump.

Looks familiar. I posed this way before.  HeeHee.

A cute yellow-green segment.

With or without past ties, only Ayala Malls can mount and bring such world class events ... and for free! 

A BIG kudos to my ex-"Mothers", "Sisters" and "Belyas".  Not only did I think of ballet today.  My not-so past life bugged me as well.  Missing all of you!

For more details about Nutcracker at the Ayala Malls, click HERE.

Tree Hugger

I love trees!  In fact, I climbed many trees when I was a child ... to steal  pick fruits, to closely watch my brother catch a sleepy spider from its treetop abode or to just simply  HANG  loose. But come to think of it, I haven't had any hugging moment with a tree yet.  I guess this is the closest I can get...

Treehugger pens had me at hello before lunch today.  It is known that I am addicted to all kinds of pens.  So this pen made from old newspaper won't definitely pass me by.

Writes well, according to my liking. Way better than the recycled pens I talked about in this blog, but surprisingly still alive and kickin'.

It works as a highlighter too.  Really cool!

Also, Treehugger's got pencils made from perma-bound newspapers.  Proceeds from purchasing a pack of 5 pencils contributes to the restoration of the country's indigenous trees through Haribon Foundation.

Got a pack for Patti J. who had scratched off another  must do from her bucket list... HUG A BIG TREE :) 

Yay, another one deleted from my Christmas list.  99 to go!

St. James the Great Bazaar 2010

How's your Christmas shopping coming along?  I'm dilly-dallying on this task.  Been feeling too lazy due to the rush and traffic that has been going on.  Really stressful!  Or, are you  one of those who have turned Christmas shopping into a career that by now you're pretty much sitting pretty?  Hehe.  Bummer! Talk about Christmas SPIRIT!!! 

Ok, I was all geared up to jumpstart my shopping at the St. James the Great Christmas Bazaar over the long weekend. Apparently, everyone else thought and did the same...

Think maze with hurdles, obstacles and stopovers.

The food area, at 11:00 AM!  Yikes! 

The shopping RUSH is officially here.

Santa's nook.  My favorite part of the bazaar - Locally-made Christmas decors, interspersed with stalls selling houseware stuff.

Scene from my favorite part of the bazaar.

Wood carvings:  Holy Family and Mother and Child. After 30 minutes of overtaking shoppers and jumping over hurdles, I finally found something to buy.  Bought these for two loving aunts.  Yay! 

Ceramic ducks.  Their ugliness grew on me.  I now see them pretty. Haha!  I swear, these ducks made me laugh out loud.  I'm sure the sales staff thought of me as cuckoo. Better yet, quack quack! Of course, something that makes me laugh is worth bringing home.  Mother duck and  3 ugly ducklings are now all on-display.

Stalls along the field.

The soccer/firsbee field converted into a  rest and play area. 

Parking was a major problem.  We parked really far far away.

I'm not so done yet with my Christmas shopping. To sum it up, only two were scratched out from the list.  Hopefully, I finish the remaining 100 this week.  Ha!Ha!

Mother's Heart Bead Necklace #4

First 3 Mother's Heart Bead necklaces posted in this blog.  Here's the 4th.