Week In The Life 2012 / Day Two {Monday}

"When you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, "Certainly I can!"

Then get busy and find out how to do it." - Theodore Roosevelt

Every word from President Roosevelt's quote came to life today. A couple of days ago, I asked our VP for Marketing if I can work on a product  we are about to launch and as they say, "ask and you shall receive!" I spent the day on the road today meeting movers and shakers. They talked. I listened. We discussed. I learned.

ANTE MERIDIEM

• A quick breakfast in bed for my hubby who's nursing a severe back pain {yeah, wife duties are my favorites}
• A power suit for my appointments
• A train ride to downtown Union Station
• A productive first meeting in this bulding in Torornto
• A nice walk towards the subway station for the next appontment
• A short subway ride to Queens's Park

POST MERIDIEM

• A small window of opportunity to appreciate art  - "Women in Modern Times" - very appropriate
• A working lunch
• A quiet train ride back home
• A time to reflect the blessings and challenges of 4.24.12
• A healthy dinner
• A moment to be a wife again .... fulfilling, rewarding and lasting.

Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

Mei Ann

Thinking Out Loud

I found this I STATEMENT prompts on Becky Higgins' blog at lunch today and it challenged my mind to write down my thoughts on that precise moment. 

No deep thinking required. 

Just be real.

Try it.
 

It's fun!

Week In The Life 2012 / Day One {Sunday}

Okay here we go!

This is my first time to join the fun over at Ali Edward's "Week In The Life Project". At first I was debating if I will have the time to do it for 7 straight days.  But hey, I love chanllenges in any form and after a day of doing this, I am loving it!

I decided to make Sunday as my starting point since April 22 happened to be our sixteenth wedding anniversary. I thought it would be extra special to capture the memories of today in photos.

Word of the day: BLESSED

BLESSED to have a husband who loves me unconditionally and can make a killer vanilla hazelnut coffee

BLESSED to be able to worship freely with our vibrant Catholic community

 

BLESSED with a sold-out PRO-LIFE bake sale fund raising program

BLESSED with an "OK" singing voice to be able to lead the community during praise and worship

A truly BLESSED married life. Sixteen years after, we renewed our vows today.

No trace of sadness. Always with gladness. I do. Forever.

BLESSED to be living in a place were there are plenty of choices. Yes even cheeses are plenty!

BLESSED to treasure moments like this

BLESSED to find joy in simple things {This was our wedding anniversary dinner}

BLESSED with surprises even after sixteen years

BLESSED to be able to look back at the memories of yesterday and know that tomorrow will be a better reflection of what transpired today. {Looking at our wedding album, an anniversary tradition that makes me feel so blessed and loved and yes, older and a bit heavier *-* }

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

Sixteen Years Ago ....

.... I was dressed in ecru serpentina gown embellished with lace and tiny pearls. My veil was long, lovely and delicate. In my hands  was a simple bouquet of white orchids.

.... You waited for me in front of the altar as I walked down the isle with a radiant smile on your lips. Then we said I DO. Forever.

Sixteen years after ....

.... no fancy dresses or flowers or pearls. Just you and I with radiant smile on our lips.  In front of the altar silently renewing our vows. Again we say I DO. Forever.

We are blessed with sixteen wonderful years. This is our heaven on earth. If not asking too much, I pray for more years ahead of us. Until we are old and grey.

Sakura in Bloom

No we were not in Japan recently. Not even Washington DC. We were exactly at High Park, just a few kilometers west of downtown Toronto where Cherry Blooms were fussed upon by anxious sakura enthusiasts who waited  for a year for the buds to show its delicate beauty. 

It was worth the wait. Oh the promise of spring ....

.... just like true LOVE.

Happy Weekend!

Thinking About a Lovely Weekend

Trees along the roads are slowly but surely dressing up in green while our feathered friends can't stop chirping excitedly. What a sight to end the work week. I don't know about you but I am thinking about a lovely weekend ahead!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Mei Ann

Jane's Not So Secret Garden {Part 2}

A couple of months back, I shared here some of my sister's miniature gardens. She just unveiled her spring and summer "collections".....

Yup that's my sister's masterpieces. Gorgeous aren't they?

She's a little bit country and I'm a little bit rock and roll!

Cheers,

Mei Ann

East Meets West

When I came home from work this afternoon, the living room and the breakfast area were bathed in what was left of the afternoon sunlight. All the greens, browns and golds were suddenly vibrant and inviting - vivid reminders of the tropical ambiance I am so used to.

Yes, when we migrated here in Canada 11 years ago, we brought as much furnishings as we can from the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries so that everyday we will be reminded of the best of our culture which we {modesty aside}successfully blended with its Western counterpart.

It doesn't matter where we are. We are thankful that we get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

HOME, is where the HEART is.

God is good, all the time.

Where in the world : {Kapurpurawan} Ilocos Norte Philippines

 

"Kapurpurawan" is Ilocano term meaning "white" - precisely the first word that came to mind when my hubby and I saw this magnificent white rock formation. Situated in a sleepy town at the northern part of the Philippines {Burgos, Ilocos Norte}, this "jewel" can be reached by driving through a rough terrain for about 45 minutes from the main highway and another 600-meter-walk then ....

VIOLA! Nature at its best ....

On the other side, your eyes will feast on this .....

No doubt,  IT IS MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!

 

"Bayan kong sinilangan, hangad kong lagi ang iyong kasaganahan"! 

MABUHAY!

Opposites Attract

One of my favorite color combinations happens to be on the opposite side of the color wheel - shades of lavender/purple and lime green.

That said,  I used these colors for CAS-ual Fridays Opposites Attract challenge. 

Using a sponge, I dabbed lavender ink on Tim Holtz' Postal embossing folder to create the card's background and embellished it with a darker shade of lavender and lime green butterfly.

There you go, a clean and simple card for my hubby who is currently out of the country.

One more day. Can't wait for you to come back!

Cheers,

Mei Ann

Primary Colors

I love love love this color combo! The Play Date Cafe refers to the colors as daffodil, hydrangea, kiwi and cherry. To me they are as simple as THE primary colors - yellow, blue and red. Combine yellow and blue and you'll get green ....

.... brought me back to my elementary days. That's when I knew I love colors. Names may change but the effect is the same. Colors surely brighten my day!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Color combination inspired by:

Bites and Nibbles @ Mazaar Lebanese Cuisine

Location : 372 Ouellette Ave. Windsor, Ontario

Famous for : Shish kabob, shihs tawook, pita bread

My hubby Jayvee and I drove to Windsor a week ago to attend a charity dinner with Al Pacino. The drive was a little over 4 hours from Toronto and we reached Windsor around lunchtime. Since I have been reading good reviews about the food at Mazaar, we decided to have lunch there and see if this is really "The place you must visit", as they claim in their website.

As soon as we entered the place, I knew were in for a treat. The interior was tastefully done, warm, cozy and inviting. The service was excellent - while waiting for our food to be served, our waiter was entertaining us with  stories behind the beautiful murals. 

The pita bread was freshly baked - surrendering its softness to the flavorful hummus.

We had calamari which was tender, crispy and just the right amount of herbs to make you grab for more. I also tried the eggplant antipasto - baby eggplant stuffed with walnuts and red pepper marinated in garlic olive oil.

The main course, tenderloin shish kabob {the beef was so tender!} was served with fattoush salad and beryani rice. I don't think the photos below did not give justice to the medley of flavors that treated my taste buds.

If they claim that Mazaar is the place to visit, I couldn't agree more!

Bil-hanā wa ash-shifā!

Howdy My Dear

Just got back from a 2-day-business meeting last night and this morning it was my dear hubby's turn to leave the nest and attend a convention outside the country. We both love traveling and discovering things far and wide but we hate it when we can't do it together. Although I am feeling blue here at home sweet home, I wish my hubby a lovely time. He deserves nothing less!

Howdy dear, I miss you already! Keep safe.

A Crafty Chick

I was sipping my hot chocolate this morning and saw this funny cartoons ... 

I just couldn't resist to share it here.

 I can definitely relate and I know a lot of my crafty friends out there feel the same way!

I hope you all are enjoying your Easter Sunday!