Aussie Life Archives | Page 3 of 42

Easter 2014

21 April 2014 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories, The Married Life

Over the years, we’ve somehow made a few family traditions during Holy Week and Easter celebrations. It all starts with Palm Sunday mass which we attend on Sunday morning. This year, our parish priest, Father Peter’s message was, “As we begin the celebration of Holy Week and place a small palm across our homes, let us be aware of the need to weave the cross through our experiences”.

Good Friday was devoted to attending the Stations of the Cross. After that, we got together with relatives and had lunch together. Once lunch was over, we went back home and spent the rest of Friday and Saturday at home. The time spent at home was a chance at rest, reflection and some quiet time.

On Easter Sunday, we left home early to hear the Sunday mass at St. Peter Julian’s Church. It was our first time to celebrate Easter in the city. To celebrate, we had breakfast at Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe.

For lunch, we met up with our friends at Chinta Ria where we had a sumptous Malaysian lunch. We spent a few hours sharing good food and great company.

In the evening, we met up with relatives once again and had dinner together. Easter Sunday was a long day for us but we enjoyed it with people we love.

Easter Monday is still a public holiday in Australia. We stayed at home just resting and getting ready for the work week ahead. Easter won’t be complete without Hot Cross Buns so we had a bun each for afternoon tea. We got our hot cross buns from Adriano Zumbo this time and it was very thoughtful that they included a small block of Lurpak butter with our purchase. Zumbo’s hot cross buns had a lot of raisins and apricot bits but quite heavy on cinnamon flavour.

It was an amazing four-day Easter break. One of the best we’ve had. A time for God, family, friends and myself. All I have is gratefulness in my heart.

Hope you had a great Easter break too!

March on Ibyangram

6 April 2014 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Ibyangram, Photography, Travel

Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

March seemed to passed me by so quickly. Maybe because it was a month of transitioning back to our normal routines in Sydney. The month of March was filled with unpacking our stuff, sorting things out in the home, getting my rhythm back at work and seeing loved ones too. Then there’s getting over our wonderful Japan adventure. We miss Japan. We miss travelling. Instead of daydreaming, the Husband and I used our time creating photobooks out of our Instagram photos (I’ll share them soon).

A few highlights on my Instagram feed:

Art inside Narita International Airport. The first day of March meant the end of our two-week holiday in Japan and going home to Sydney. Our flight was scheduled at 2pm but we went to Narita Airport in the morning. We had breakfast and lunch there and went around the shops before we boarded. The flight back home made me a bit sick because it was stuffy (something must have been wrong with Korean Air’s plane’s airconditioning) so when we had a layover at Incheon Airport, I was kind of out of whack and can’t wait to arrive home.

Back home in Sydney on the second day of March. Loved ones welcomed us with a delicious lunch and then capped it off with Tim Tam & Adriano Zumbo collaboration flavours.

Going thru a few keepsakes from Japan as we have coffee (we missed our Nespresso!) and biscuits.

A little treat in the middle of a workweek. Marshmallow Pops in Nutty Sea Salt Caramel, a delicious find in Hunter Valley.

Received our first IG photobook which holds our Kyoto, Nara and Osaka photos. Here’s the Husband who’s very happy to see the results of our creative efforts.

Tried to be creative by turning this pretty washi tape into a border and pasted a “happy birthday” cutout in the middle.

Australia celebrates Harmony Day – a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. The message of Harmony Day is Everyone Belongs – from the traditional owners of this land, our first people who represent a continuous living culture of more than 60,000 years, to the 300 cultural groups who have recently made Australia their home.

Phoenix dinner with the Husband. My fortune on top, Husband’s fortune at the bottom.

On a Friday off from work so I get to have proper breakfast: Chicken & Spinach Arrozcaldo, Omelette & a cup of Nespresso Decaffeinato.

The best way to get rid of travel blues is to see dear friends. So glad that our social calendar were pre-occupied due to special people having their birthdays.

85th Birthday of my Grandma. A whole day of celebrating the life of my Grandma with family.

We’ve done well, month of March. Hello, April! 🙂

My Autumn Sunsets Are Back

31 March 2014 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Deep Thoughts, Photography

A thought that I shared in my facebook page when we arrived back from Japan at the start of March:

Left Sydney in Summer, Arrived in Japan in Winter.
Left Japan in Spring. Arrived in Sydney in Autumn.
Four seasons in two weeks. Amazing.

I’m fond of the changing of seasons. I like seeing the changes in nature when a new season comes and goes. In Sydney, the Autumn light bring different hues to our sunrises and sunsets. I don’t know the Science behind it but it is what I’ve observed after living here for a few years.

In Autumn, the sunset paints a deep canvas of pink and orange which lasts for awhile until the hues gradually become warmer.

Last day of March today. I’ve got two more months to appreciate my Autumn sunsets before Winter sets in.

Darling Harbour Celebrates The Love Month

14 February 2014 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Photography, The Married Life

A few heart installations can be seen at Darling Harbour this month. Two weeks ago, we had dinner with a friend who was visiting from Melbourne. I was able to spot a red heart in the middle of the bridge when I got there during sunset. Such lovely weather that day. The heart was seen with the blue skies and water as backdrop.

After dinner, we went back out again and the red heart was lighted already. I didn’t have a camera with me but the iPhone 5S captured this night shot below nicely.

Also spotted was a big heart located towards Darling Quarter. We saw a lot of people having photos with the the heart installation.

Can’t help but join in. Here’s me with a huge heart for a halo!

And here’s us, having a moment with this heart behind us.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day, everyone!

January on Ibyangram

9 February 2014 Ibyang Sanchez 0 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Cherished Memories, Deep Thoughts, Ibyangram, The Married Life, Travel

Ibyang + Instagram = Ibyangram

While my instagram photos are shared on my twitter page and sometimes on my tumblr and fb page, I would like to have a monthly dump of ibyangrams on AWCL too. It is thru instagram that I share everyday moments and random finds. I use instagram as my real time mini-blog. Every end of the month, I’ll be choosing a couple of photos from my instagram and share it here because I have something more to say about a certain ibyangram.

My January was about milestones and celebrations. Other than welcoming the new year, the Husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, my birthday and the lunar new year. The year’s first month is always about knowing how truly blessed and how enormously grateful we are for a having a good life together. We know this everyday but rings very true on special occasions.

We’ve gone back to our daily grind of routines. It wasn’t that hard to come back to work because I went straight into it on the second day of the year. The start of the year looks promising. Our January was occupied with the things we care about and we’re very inspired that it will stay that way the whole year.

Here are some of the things that made up my January….

First day at work. Enjoying the silence of my office so I celebrate with a strong cup of UCC Blue Mountain Coffee & Speculaas cookies for morning tea.

Brought the Husband to work so I treated him to an Eggs Benedict brekkie. On the other hand, I had Eggs & Toast with Bacon.

First Friday mass at St. Mary Mackillop’s Chapel. Said a special prayer for my parents who are celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary today.

I found a piano and when I sat down, I realized that I’ve forgotten how to play and that made me sad.

My version of Laing composed of Kangkong leaves, light coconut milk and shrimps.

Stir-fried Ampalaya with scrambled tofu and egg. One of our favourite meals at home.

Shared a Club Sandwich with the Husband during our dinner meeting/travel planning.

Making good use of the our phone’s calendar in scheduling travel itinerary. We note the train we’ll get on, its schedule & other information for easy reference.

Late lunch at Grill’d: Chicken Caesar Salad, Chips & Beef Burger.

Tea time! Chocolate shakes and some Churros at Chocolateria San Churros.

Storm Trooper Cake and Star Wars Cupcakes in celebration of our friend’s birthday.

Will travel. Will write. A wall in Coco Cubano that showcased vintage items.

A Yukata Kimono and a pair of Geta (Japanese wooden footwear). These are old gifts I treasure from a cousin who lived in Japan for a few years.

Anniversary dinner at TGIFridays.

Happy 7th year to us! 🙂

Baked Kale Chips. I snack on these in the afternoon or partner it with soup during dinner.

Hubby’s workmate got us some treats from her Japan travel. It’s like she read my mind! Grateful she got us my favourite Kit Kat Sakura Matcha.

A happy Ibyang Day! Happy birthday to me! 🙂

Australian Open dinner! Korean Fried Chicken & Dokkboki from TwoTwo and a thin-crust pizza I made which consisted of Hungarian Sausage, Ham & Onion. On TV is the Federer vs Nadal semi-finals.