Jose’s birthday (190309) even if he worked from home turned ok. As I’ve said, he is indeed a simple man who gets satisfaction from simple things like the AVP I made for him, the food I cooked all in three hours: sinigang (his favorite among favorites), buttered shrimp, tacos, spaghetti with red birthday sauce and the banana birthday cake that Mia thoroughly helped me with. READ: Licking the whisk while smashing the bananas... And when I saw her doing it, she innocently replied with, “Mom, I’m just checking if the bananas are delicious!” Aba’y ang hirap nga naman ng ginagawa niya... : ) I thank Ate Pinky for giving me the idea of making banana bread but I got so tired that I decided to make a cake instead para isang gawaan na lang. Luckily, I still had my Mama’s recipe saved in yahoo mail drafts. But I will definitely give the banana bread a try soon.
Banana Cake with Betty Crocker's Vanilla Frosting
Well, his day was nothing but laid-back... I didn’t make him wash the dishes for one! :D Kidding aside, I really felt sorry for him that he had to work on his birthday and with the meetings he attended via teleconferencing, he said that no one made a greeting. Sad noh? Anyway, if he doesn’t care, why bother? He’d always tell me that having a job during these times is enough to smile. Besides, he got warm birthday wishes from family and friends naman and that’s what really matters. (Tight hugs to all of you).
The Birthday Boy with his "Gifts"
Mia, did you like Dad's cake?
Banana Split
Happy Day
We also had great fun when Jose made a reservation at the nearby Holiday Inn come Mother’s Day (220309). He was after the indoor pool and I was after relaxing on bed without being conscious about... the dishes. Hehehe! And I had the sweetest, longest sleep in months. Maybe it’s the mattress or maybe it’s the thought that I don’t have to do anything but chill. Either way Jose’s platinum membership came in really handy. He was able to book an executive room with breakfast all for free!!! That's £150 worth of compliments. Oh, this is the life!
Welcome to the Executive Room! : )
So glad we didn't go to Legoland... Look at the clouds the morning after!
Breakfast Time!
When we got home, we had beer and videoke over my pc. Now who needs Wow Magic Sing? :D
Mia, busy with Oreos, Mom and Dad busy with singing. :D
Then came our birthday (Twinkle and Twinkie’s 250309)... Jose was supposed to take a full three day leave but he had to cancel. He needs “to go the extra mile...” Thankfully, his manager let him work from home again. For me, that’s better than celebrating only with a cheeky toddler. (Not that I complain. It’s just that I do that everyday and I’d really feel happier when I have a cheeky husband with me too.) Anyway, the only wish that I asked was for me not to cook. And what do you know, my day started with this:
Jose's Breakfast Specialty: Sunny side up, Binagoongan rice and tostadong SPAM. :)
And a plastic bag sat on the table with a beautiful cake inside. I can always settle for a Betty Crocker fix but Jose would not hear any of it. After all, it’s not only for me but also for Ate Twinkle.
Our Dainty Fondant Iced Birthday Cake
Then all these parcels were delivered one by one...
The first came as a real surprise; it’s from CheChe and Tantan, a very nice and sweet couple I’ve known through blogging. (Hopefully, Mia will become bff with their soon to come out Baby G.) We got a Mickey Mouse waffle maker and a birthday card was enclosed inside the pretty polka dotted wrap. The birthday card is really special because the last time I got one was on our 18th birthday pa! Thanks a bunch once again!
Now if posts make Jose’s heart skip a beat (Oh he enjoys getting posts! Simple nga eh!), my heart was overjoyed every time the doorbell rang as I signed more deliveries. Jose got me a bag (which I’ve seen the tag...) and a pair of trainers that I have been eyeing for a long time.
Matching pa yan! Haha!
I thought that was it. Then our PinoyMiniMall grocery came too! Bagoong and hopia galore na ito! :D
May Pinoy Dyaryo pa!
Then I thought that was the end of doorbells... but this came by a really sweet blow:
Jose's Gift of "Love" : )
I was annoyed. I knew how expensive this was and I even asked Jose to have the appointment cancelled. He said he saw that coming that’s why he personally went back to Holiday Inn to pay for everything. NO REFUNDS. He also said that if only he could tick all the boxes, he really would because I truly deserve all the “love” in the world... How’s that for sweetness and thoughtfulness huh?
Holiday Inn MK's Treatment Room
The ma-drama person in me almost ruined the experience when I suddenly shed tears... I remembered Ate Twinkle, that’s why. And Becky, short for Victoria Beckham got emotional too... Nah! Becky’s the nickname of the lady who did the treatments and I still can’t get over the fact that a Victoria Beckham look-a-like did all the pampering for me. (Nice one Hun!) In my opinion, that was THE best full body massage I’ve had. I was booked at 4:15 pm and came out by 7:15 pm. That would be three hours of caressing and feeling like a queen! And all the Decléor products used smell really good! That’s aroma-skincare specialist for my birthday literally from head to foot. ;D
Then when I came home, we had to gobble all these up:
Domino's Pizza and Chicken Kickers, Spaghetti with Jamie Oliver's Green Pesto Sauce (Mixed with Grilled Chicken and Roasted Garlic), BJ & HD, and Our Birthday Cake.
Blue Candle is for me, Pink Candle is for Ate Twinkle
With the Cheekiest Duo on Earth - Daddy Jose and Little Girl Minnie Mia
My beautiful niece, TJ (Ate Twinkle's baby girl) pushed it a tad more by remembering me through this:
Estrel's for Ate and me!!!
Sana maakap ko rin ang akap mo Ate! Thank you so much for my beautiful cake!
I’m quite relieved that even if our Lola Mommy’s only brother, our beloved Lolo Iyo passed away at the age of 83 and his burial was scheduled on the morning of our birthday, Jd (my BIL) still threw a feast at Tagaytay’s Pamana restaurant after... Maybe they remembered how much I “Heart”, Happy Ongpauco’s sibling that they decided to tease me a bit.
Heart-ing Pamana (I am a big fan of Heart Envangelista)
My (Ignacio) Family - Sean, Mama,Tj, Tito Dong, Tito Glenn, Lola Mommy, Lolo Daddy, Tita Ching, Alli, Ate Twinkle, Angeli / Jd
To have a wonderful family (be it immediate or extended), kind thoughtful friends and unexpected cool treats all rolled to one... What more can a birthday girl ask? Again, thank you so much to everyone who took effort to leave comments in our networking sites (Friendster, Multiply and Facebook), in our emails and here in my blog. God bless you all and may we share more fruitful years together.
Posts
