Some interesting developments and exciting news.
BOTH of my parents have booked their tickets! Along with aunts, uncle, cousins, my grandpa and very close friends! Hooray!
The wedding guest list is up to 45. SERIOUSLY?!
Turns out my mother saved her cord and veil that she used when she married my dad. And is giving it to me.
:D
Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Me. Show all posts
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
A little bit of Bridal Crazy
More often than what maybe is healthy, I think about what I'd do if I won the lottery. Not big sometimes, like, if we won an extra $5,000 or $20,000 in the work pool, and today I thought about $100,000. I'd put half of it towards a downpayment on a house, and put 25k in savings, then add 25k to our wedding budget. With that extra 25k, I'd pay for everyones accommodation and some flights for some family and friends who can't make it because of that cost. I'd probably add a little extra to my dress. Then probably spend $5k on Rodney's family home, and another $5k supporting organizations in the Philippines. Maybe donating the full 5k to a hospital?
Should money occupy the thoughts of the bride, a mother, or any woman like this? I don't feel like its abonormal, but its something on my mind a lot lately. I guess because the wedding/trip budget has explanded a good $7,000? Maybe due to the realization that not my parents, nor his parents would contribute at all to the wedding, out of sheer not wanting to.
When my aunts were over from the U.S., we had this really fun night out at a Café, where we all got yummy desserts and drinks, and great conversation that you can only have with family, as you laugh about your own disfunctionalities. Anyways, I didn't realize the type of misconceptions my family has about me. (Actually, it hurts a little to think that my family might think of me a certain way) I guess because my parents appear to have money, and manage their money well, they assume my parents help us out with money. I clarified that, no they did not give us that Jeep, I paid money from my savings to buy it off them and only because I hated taking the bus with the baby with groceries. I clarified, that yes, I worked part-time throughout university, because I didn't have an allowance. And yes, I drained my savings to pay my mother rent during the first and second year. I guess, everyone had this illusion that I was some spoiled brat that was being kept a float by my parents. When it’s the complete opposite - I did it all by myself and really, I get no credit for doing things on my own.
Yes, we currently live in their property, but we still pay rent that covers all the expenses. So the only thing, is that they're not making any additional income, since the property is already paid for, and we're living in it. Maybe people think that our wedding in the Philippines is getting help from our parents, too. Doesn't the bridal family typically pay for at least a portion of the wedding? (As an aside, my parents did offer to give usonly $10K IF we got married in Toronto only. I said no to the conditions, as well as the amount that wouldn't even scratch the surface of a wedding here. His parents offered us 100k PESOS, or about $2K. They have since changed their mind.. for no reason.)
Thinking back to this night with my aunts, one of them invited me to the U.S. for my younger cousins graduation party. We went on to talk about typical celebrations that are to occur - debut, graduation party, wedding. When I was 18, my parents didn't give me a debut because they said they would give me a car. I never got the car, but was allowed to live in the condo where we live now when I went to University, as a consolation. (But they would have to pay for my residence fee if I didn't live there, but that's just a side thought). They never celebrated my graduation from University and my honours degree from one of the best and most challenging school's in Canada. I don't remember getting a party for High School either because our graduation was in September, and awkward time of year, and my dad was away in Mexico. Despite coming out of highschool with awards and scholarships. And now the wedding. No celebrating that either from my parents.
The only way we can live our life and have the wedding we want, is to do it ourselves. I don't receive a monthly income, or even gifts from family to help us. We work hard, try to budget and manage our money, and work a lot of overtime to make this dream a reality for us. I wake up at 6:00am and wait in line at the library to get a free pass to the Zoo and other museums, so that we can save some money but still enrich our daughter's experiences. I guess its easy to blame your crazy on your parents, but really, isn't it the case with my money preoccupation? Or maybe they're just crazy, and they don't really want to celebrate their oldest and only daughter. Maybe that's not crazy then. Maybe that's just mean.
Should money occupy the thoughts of the bride, a mother, or any woman like this? I don't feel like its abonormal, but its something on my mind a lot lately. I guess because the wedding/trip budget has explanded a good $7,000? Maybe due to the realization that not my parents, nor his parents would contribute at all to the wedding, out of sheer not wanting to.
When my aunts were over from the U.S., we had this really fun night out at a Café, where we all got yummy desserts and drinks, and great conversation that you can only have with family, as you laugh about your own disfunctionalities. Anyways, I didn't realize the type of misconceptions my family has about me. (Actually, it hurts a little to think that my family might think of me a certain way) I guess because my parents appear to have money, and manage their money well, they assume my parents help us out with money. I clarified that, no they did not give us that Jeep, I paid money from my savings to buy it off them and only because I hated taking the bus with the baby with groceries. I clarified, that yes, I worked part-time throughout university, because I didn't have an allowance. And yes, I drained my savings to pay my mother rent during the first and second year. I guess, everyone had this illusion that I was some spoiled brat that was being kept a float by my parents. When it’s the complete opposite - I did it all by myself and really, I get no credit for doing things on my own.
Yes, we currently live in their property, but we still pay rent that covers all the expenses. So the only thing, is that they're not making any additional income, since the property is already paid for, and we're living in it. Maybe people think that our wedding in the Philippines is getting help from our parents, too. Doesn't the bridal family typically pay for at least a portion of the wedding? (As an aside, my parents did offer to give us
Thinking back to this night with my aunts, one of them invited me to the U.S. for my younger cousins graduation party. We went on to talk about typical celebrations that are to occur - debut, graduation party, wedding. When I was 18, my parents didn't give me a debut because they said they would give me a car. I never got the car, but was allowed to live in the condo where we live now when I went to University, as a consolation. (But they would have to pay for my residence fee if I didn't live there, but that's just a side thought). They never celebrated my graduation from University and my honours degree from one of the best and most challenging school's in Canada. I don't remember getting a party for High School either because our graduation was in September, and awkward time of year, and my dad was away in Mexico. Despite coming out of highschool with awards and scholarships. And now the wedding. No celebrating that either from my parents.
The only way we can live our life and have the wedding we want, is to do it ourselves. I don't receive a monthly income, or even gifts from family to help us. We work hard, try to budget and manage our money, and work a lot of overtime to make this dream a reality for us. I wake up at 6:00am and wait in line at the library to get a free pass to the Zoo and other museums, so that we can save some money but still enrich our daughter's experiences. I guess its easy to blame your crazy on your parents, but really, isn't it the case with my money preoccupation? Or maybe they're just crazy, and they don't really want to celebrate their oldest and only daughter. Maybe that's not crazy then. Maybe that's just mean.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
New Buddy
English is my first language, while French is close behind. In fact, for me to progress in my career, I need to ramp up my French and get an Advanced level (I have an Intermediate level now). So with that in mind, I joined a "Lunch and Learn" session at my work, where once a week for 8 weeks I meet up with other people who are looking to improve their French and have a casual conversational class. Today was my first class, and low and behold there is another lady there who is Filipino...or maybe she is mixed but she said, "ma famille maternelle est Filipino". Anyways, another interesting fact about her is that she got married in Cebu two years ago! Oh Em Gee!! So now I have a new friend, I'm going to chat wedding in Cebu about! Horray!
Isn't the world a tiny place?
C'est formidable!
Isn't the world a tiny place?
C'est formidable!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friends Will Be There as Best As They Can
Wedding planning has slowed down a bit, so I haven't had much to update for a little while. But this week, I was lucky enough to meet up with two very dear friends (separately), one who I've known for 9 years, and the other for almost 18 years. These two friends, I unfortunately, do not get to see everyday, but in all honesty, my real friends I actually don't get to see that often. In all honesty, there are multiple times that I feel lonely and miss my friendships because I transitioned early to family life, and haven't gotten the hang of balancing it with my friendships. There have also been times, that I have hung out with people, that maybe aren't really my friends. But thats a whole other weird layer in the character roll of my life's show.
So again, I am very lucky to have girls like these, still in my life because meeting up with them really makes me happy. Although my relationships are very different with each of them, even though we haven't kept up in each other lives, sometimes for months, we can always pick up where we left off. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.
Of course, the topic of the wedding came up. Note, we haven't exactly announced it officially quite yet. We've made whispers to people, but because it was poorly received in 2009, we are a little more cautious in our plans this time and now that it is indeed here. So I let my two girlfriends know that, yes we're getting married and set a date, and its in the Philippines.
Now, I knew, when we decided to get married in the Philippines, alot of people wouldn't be able to come. I said, I didn't want people to feel pressured into coming to our wedding; I didn't want anyone who couldn't afford it, feel bad they couldn't afford it/get time off, etc. I also thought, that maybe some people just wouldn't want to come because its too foreign of a place, or out of a comfort zone.
When I told my friends about our wedding in the Philippines, their reactions really warmed my heart because they both expressed their desire to be there. It wasn't like a, "I hope I can come", but it was an honest discussion on how they could be there because they genuinely wanted to come. Isa even said something along the lines of, I'm inviting myself to your wedding, where I said, OF COURSE you are invited!
This whole time, it has been unclear at who out of our friends would come/are coming. In fact, I've had to put a lot more effort into asking people, or convincing people, to come than I thought. So it just made me really happy that my two long time friends thought about how they could come to the wedding. When I imagined the wedding, I didn't think these girls could make it there, and some people who I pictured there, I don't think will actually put the effort to come. So it makes me immensely grateful that I can add these ladies, potentially, to my dream day.
Just goes to show you, that after a decade of friendship, your real friends will always show you
immense honesty and love, and will always continue to surprise you.
(Note: Dear Isa and Tamara, if in the end not everything aligns and you can't actually stand at the beach with me, I'll remember how I felt when I knew you'd try to come to the wedding in the Philippines. I'll always keep you in my heart, and that way you will be there. )
So again, I am very lucky to have girls like these, still in my life because meeting up with them really makes me happy. Although my relationships are very different with each of them, even though we haven't kept up in each other lives, sometimes for months, we can always pick up where we left off. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.
Of course, the topic of the wedding came up. Note, we haven't exactly announced it officially quite yet. We've made whispers to people, but because it was poorly received in 2009, we are a little more cautious in our plans this time and now that it is indeed here. So I let my two girlfriends know that, yes we're getting married and set a date, and its in the Philippines.
Now, I knew, when we decided to get married in the Philippines, alot of people wouldn't be able to come. I said, I didn't want people to feel pressured into coming to our wedding; I didn't want anyone who couldn't afford it, feel bad they couldn't afford it/get time off, etc. I also thought, that maybe some people just wouldn't want to come because its too foreign of a place, or out of a comfort zone.
When I told my friends about our wedding in the Philippines, their reactions really warmed my heart because they both expressed their desire to be there. It wasn't like a, "I hope I can come", but it was an honest discussion on how they could be there because they genuinely wanted to come. Isa even said something along the lines of, I'm inviting myself to your wedding, where I said, OF COURSE you are invited!
This whole time, it has been unclear at who out of our friends would come/are coming. In fact, I've had to put a lot more effort into asking people, or convincing people, to come than I thought. So it just made me really happy that my two long time friends thought about how they could come to the wedding. When I imagined the wedding, I didn't think these girls could make it there, and some people who I pictured there, I don't think will actually put the effort to come. So it makes me immensely grateful that I can add these ladies, potentially, to my dream day.
Just goes to show you, that after a decade of friendship, your real friends will always show you
immense honesty and love, and will always continue to surprise you.
(Note: Dear Isa and Tamara, if in the end not everything aligns and you can't actually stand at the beach with me, I'll remember how I felt when I knew you'd try to come to the wedding in the Philippines. I'll always keep you in my heart, and that way you will be there. )
Monday, January 31, 2011
Bridal Progress
I had a post sometime ago about Operation Hot Body. Well I am happy to report, because of all of Apple's amazing apps, I have lost 7lbs since Christmas! Woo hoo!
Some of the things, I've been doing:
Rodney's P90x-ing it and started running, yes, in this winter weather. He's even more of a maniac, since he gets up at 4:00am to squeeze in these workouts before work.
Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive with my goals. And maybe its the endorphins but I'm like happy and in a good mood all the time. Cheers (with water) to all the brides getting in shape before their wedding!
Some of the things, I've been doing:
- focusing on the wedding and the wedding dress!
- used an app called MyFitnessPal, which also has a website, to track my calorie consumption. It took me a little while to adjust to 1200 calories a day, but now, it doesn't seem that hard (as long as I work out).
- Watching what I'm eating and packing healthy snacks. For treats, I've packed my office with 100 calorie snack packs.
- got my gym membership back and started going to the gym 5 days a week during my lunch to get at least 30 minutes of cardio.
- started using an app called Nike Training Club to really push myself at home. I initially did this on days that I didn't go to the gym, but recently started doing them in the evening so that my gym time is completely dedicated to burning off calories through cardio, and I strengthen and tone at home. I've also did one of their work outs when one of the workout rooms was free to really ramp up.
- increased my water consumption by buying a pretty Sigg bottle and downloading the matching app. 2L a day is now my norm.
- Isabela and I are having dance parties in our living room. 20 minutes of dancing burns 92 calories (sometimes I jog in the spot, or pedal background or do walking lunges). The hard part is keeping up with my little girl!
Rodney's P90x-ing it and started running, yes, in this winter weather. He's even more of a maniac, since he gets up at 4:00am to squeeze in these workouts before work.
Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive with my goals. And maybe its the endorphins but I'm like happy and in a good mood all the time. Cheers (with water) to all the brides getting in shape before their wedding!
MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Operation Hot Body
What the hell am I talking about, I know exactly what I gotta do next! Get in shape!
For years now, I've been going to the gym and trying to get to a body image I like. The only time I really wasn't working out and not watching my weight, was when I was pregnant and in hindsight, really wish I had been one of those fit prego ladies. So now that there is a wedding looming, it's back to Operation Hot Body version 2011.
The Goal: Lose at least 10 lbs and 10 inches all around
The Plan:
I have excellent support so I think I can do it. Luckily, Rodney is very supportive. Actually he has his own Operation going on. He started doing P90x and was looking at body suits so that he can jog in the winter time (which I think is crazy). Plus, my besties Camaro and Karleen are also very supportive and have signed up for MyFitnessPal with me. It's the app I'm using on my iPod to count my calories. It's a great tool that you can use offline too and it has been really helpful for me to log my calories. I'm still waiting to see if the girls will use it too. Finally, my work buddies are pretty body conscious also so I'm not going to big out with them. They are also generally pretty interested in health related stuff, and we used to go to the gym and yoga and lunch with them too.
So far after a week and a half of Operation Hot Body, I've lost 3lbs. An awesome start so far, but I don't have such easy access to the gym anymore. I guess we'll see how I go, and worst comes to worst, I can also try and cast for Bulging Brides! I just want to make sure that I keep in mind that I'm doing this for me and my health, and not because Filipinos are generally skinny and I will feel huge when I go to the Philippines. I have to try and not compare and also, prepare myself so that I don't have a freak out when I can't buy clothes or find clothing is in XL that fit me. I don't know if repeating it over and over again will be enough.
For years now, I've been going to the gym and trying to get to a body image I like. The only time I really wasn't working out and not watching my weight, was when I was pregnant and in hindsight, really wish I had been one of those fit prego ladies. So now that there is a wedding looming, it's back to Operation Hot Body version 2011.
The Goal: Lose at least 10 lbs and 10 inches all around
The Plan:
- Count Calories : Reduce my calorie intake to 1200 calories a day (to lose a pound a week) !.... or at most 1430 (to lose 1/2 a pound a week).
- Drink hella water : I counted and I drank 2 L today, and according to Wikipedia, the U.S. standard is 2.7L for women. However, my cleanse book said we should be drinking 1L for every 30 lbs, so I'm looking at 4.5L!
- Workout : So this is where I have a little problem right now. One, I am exhausted when I come home from work and two, utter exhausted. In warmer weather, I can run outside, but right now I am at a loss at what to do. Last winter I had a gym membership and was going on my lunch and doing 30 minutes at least 2-3 times a week. I think as the month goes on, and if I'm really not adding enough at home or on the weekends, I think I'm going to have to get a month-to-month gym membership.
- Yoga: There is this one class I absolutely love on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:50 - 10:00pm. Yes, its a little late, but it is worth it to be flexible, meditated and leaner. My goal is to go to this class at least every other week until March, and then go every week.
I have excellent support so I think I can do it. Luckily, Rodney is very supportive. Actually he has his own Operation going on. He started doing P90x and was looking at body suits so that he can jog in the winter time (which I think is crazy). Plus, my besties Camaro and Karleen are also very supportive and have signed up for MyFitnessPal with me. It's the app I'm using on my iPod to count my calories. It's a great tool that you can use offline too and it has been really helpful for me to log my calories. I'm still waiting to see if the girls will use it too. Finally, my work buddies are pretty body conscious also so I'm not going to big out with them. They are also generally pretty interested in health related stuff, and we used to go to the gym and yoga and lunch with them too.
So far after a week and a half of Operation Hot Body, I've lost 3lbs. An awesome start so far, but I don't have such easy access to the gym anymore. I guess we'll see how I go, and worst comes to worst, I can also try and cast for Bulging Brides! I just want to make sure that I keep in mind that I'm doing this for me and my health, and not because Filipinos are generally skinny and I will feel huge when I go to the Philippines. I have to try and not compare and also, prepare myself so that I don't have a freak out when I can't buy clothes or find clothing is in XL that fit me. I don't know if repeating it over and over again will be enough.
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