Ibyang Sanchez, Author at Ibyang

2011 in Review and My “Thank You’s”

3 January 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 3 Comments Category: Deep Thoughts

Thanks to my Husband who found this heartwarming video online that I can’t help but share with you. I meant to blog about this last week but I’ve been busy de-cluttering at home. We’ve been on holiday the whole of last week and took the opportunity to get the home organized and sorted out stuff we don’t need.

Anyway, back to this video. I really hope you find the time to view this. 2011 was a big year for the whole world. A lot of stories of adversities, calamities and achievements. Stories that broke our hearts but renewed our hopes. A mix of the good and bad. Most of the things I learned in 2011 came from what the universe is telling all of us. In 2011, I opened myself to what the universe’ messages instead of just rely on what is happening immediately before me. I was deeply affected by the calamities that happened in 2011, especially with what happened in Japan. It broke my heart and became an eye opener.

(video source)

Personally, 2011 had been a challenging year for me. Some moments were difficult and I’m relieved to have surpassed this year’s most trying times. But my greatest personal learning is to never give up. Never give up what I’m dreaming for, my aspirations and my faith in God. Never give up on the people I love and believe in.

For 2011, I’m grateful for

…the everyday chance I’ve been given to do the things I’m passionate about: be a wife, have a career, write, take photographs, travel and explore.

….the chance to love and spend time with my loved ones.

…the opportunity to meet old and new friends, kindred spirits and strangers that turn into angels in my life.

…the gift to go back home to my motherland, the Philippines.

…the joy of falling in love with a place and culture: Seoul, Korea.

…knowing who my true “Hanes” are; I have always known I’m loved by my friends, but last year, some circumstances in my life have evidently shown me the friends who genuinely cares for me.

…the insightful lessons I learned from my mistakes and the challenges that pushed me to be creative and resourceful.

…little and big things that put meaning into each day, may it be milestones or disappointments.

Thank you 2011! You were a big adventure for me. It was not the best year but it was meaningful and still beautiful. As I face 2012, I shall bring forth your lessons on humility, simplicity and gratefulness.

Sydney Welcomes 2012 : Time to Dream

1 January 2012 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Deep Thoughts

The first 12 minutes of 2012, our eyes were glued to the tube to witness Sydney’s fireworks display worth six million dollars and 15 months of preparation to cater to 1.5 Million people on the harbour and millions of viewers around the world.

This year’s show was spectacular more than ever. It was the best I’ve ever seen that Sydney can come up with. They have more colourful and creative fireworks this year. They have also synchronised the fireworks in Darling Harbour. From the organisation, safety of the crowd and the amazing show, nobody does it better than Sydney. If you are travelling to see the NY fireworks in Sydney, it is always worth it.

And this year’s fireworks theme is about dreaming and thinking of endless possibilities.

Discover the inspiration behind the theme for 2011 Sydney New Years Eve.

Dreams are interpretations, aspirations of our desires and hopes. Dreams have the fluidity, richness and depth that simple rational thinking doesn’t.
Australia was built upon dreams. From the dreamings of past millennia to the dreams of recent settlers. Whether day or night-time, dreams are our minds in free-flow, uninhibited and reflecting what we truly aspire to. From little babies to old people, we all dream. New Year’s Eve is when fantasy and aspirations flow. A vision for the coming year, with designs on a better life. The moonstruck and lovestruck may dream of fulfilment. The stargazers dream of the worlds beyond ours.

Australians dream every day, whether that’s by buying a lotto ticket, reading of the lives of celebrities, or planning a trip. Every NYE midnight is a blank canvas for us all. Like a white sheet of paper that stares back at a writer, artist or designer, the possibilities are infinite. And in the reverie that swirls around us as midnight approaches, it is a Time to DREAM.

(If you can’t view here, click this video source)

(image source)

(image source)

Happy New Year! May we never cease to dream of endless possibilities. May 2012 inspire us to make our dreams into realities. Let’s us all shine with positivity today and always.

Snippets of an Aussie Christmas

27 December 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 4 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories

Even though I miss being with our family and friends in the Philippines during this time of the year, I love spending Christmas in Australia more. Since I moved here, I intentionally don’t go home for the Christmas festivities as I don’t want to spend my holiday in the Philippines stuck in horrible traffic. In 2007, I went home on the 26th of December because somehow the Christmas shopping and parties had settled down a bit. Maybe someday, when I’ve mustered enough patience to wait in hours and hours of traffic, I would go home again on Christmas. But for now, I’ll come home on a different time and make my family and friends feel like Christmas anytime of the year with my presence.

I love how simple and laid-back the celebrations are in here. Christmas in Australia is not as commercialized compared to countries in the west. The city and malls are not big on decors and lights but more on events that will entertain people.

I love that the Christmas rush and traffic here are not as terrible compared to other countries. Even if malls only extend their business hours on the last week before Christmas, traffic in and out of the malls still prove to be a bit of a breeze.

I love that Christmas celebrations here are spent in the comforts of our home or in parks and beaches, instead of the malls. Shops are all closed on Christmas Day and some open on Boxing Day (26th December). Shopping in all states resume on 27th December.

I love the simple way of gift giving–at work, most gifts were chocolates and pastries baked by my workmates themselves.

I love that we get to spend the whole week from Christmas to New Year on a holiday. We get to balance our time for family, relatives and other things we’d like to do during the Christmas Holidays because the Husband and I always have the week off.

Some very personal snapshots of our celebration with relatives:

Snippets of Christmas with Friends and Family

Hope you all had a lovely time spent with family and friends during this time of the year!

Season’s Greetings from AWCL!

25 December 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 4 Comments Category: Charmed Life of a Mrs, The Married Life

Dear Family and Friends of AWCL,

Thank you for the love and support you have given me and my blog. Thank you for inspiring me to write what I share. Thank you for the generosity of giving tips and leads. Thank you for the precious time you spend in my little home in the blogosphere.

From my family to yours….a very happy Christmas!!!

Ibyang

P.S. A special “Thank you” to my dear Husband, Chris, who plays an integral part in making it possible for me to maintain this site. Other than being the genius of the technical backbone of the site, he is mainly the reason why I am able to write no matter how busy I am. When my world seems all very hectic, he generously becomes the “charmed house husband” taking care of chores at home so I can concentrate on writing for AWCL.

Fuji Pan Japanese Bakery

23 December 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 4 Comments Category: Food

This year’s Best Bread Discovery goes to….(drumroll) Fuji Pan Japanese Bakery! This is just according to me and the Husband.

Walking around the streets of Chinatown, we chanced up this small Japanese Bakery called Fuji Pan. “Pan” in Japanese means “bread” and Fuji Pan’s bread and pastries are so much delicious than other Asian bakeries in the metro. Whenever we are nearby, we make sure to bring home some goodies from this bakery.

Our favourite from their breads are the Nicky Lawson (Pork Floss Bun) and the Sausage and Cheese Bun. We usually have them for breakfast on Sunday mornings.