Ibyang
Ibyang

Charmed Life of a Mrs

Hello 2013!

I was supposed to blog during the Christmas week but I couldn’t be bothered. The Husband and I went out with family and friends and spent some lazy days in between so I decided to just take the whole week off blogging. I will be sharing our Christmas week holiday in the coming days but in the meantime, here’s how we said hello to 2013.
Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!

This is probably our most non-fussed NYE preparations. I usually have a lot of things up my sleeve during NY celebrations because the event calls for an abundant table. It is Filipino tradition to have a lot of food on the table such as fruits (should be at least 12 different ones to signify each month of the year), something sweet and sticky, something noodly (for long life) and some meat (Lechon or Ham). For this year, we went on the minimal side of things. I’m so relaxed from our Christmas week holiday that I wanted to continue being one til New Year.

I baked Turkey Ham. Compared to my former baked hams, this was the smallest but definitely the fastest one to bake. Saved us time and electricity.

Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
The plan was to cook Spaghetti but my Mom told me that since 2013 is the year of the Water Snake, she was told that a dish with soup is more auspicious. So I cooked Beef Pho instead as it had noodles and soup at the same time.
Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!

For something sticky, we bought Leche Flan instead of cooking Biko (which I did last year).

Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
For something sweet, a round Japanese Cheesecake with fruit toppings.
Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!

And of course, the fruits!  We’ve got 15 different fruits that completed our simple but abundant table.

Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
My Mom also sent us some Prosperity Candles that we lit at 11:30pm. 

_MG_8Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
At the stroke of midnight, we watched the Sydney fireworks on TV and then said a prayer before we ate Media Noche.

Thank You 2012, Hello 2013!
The traditions we have at home is not so much about superstitious beliefs. We do it for fun and it is always cheerful to welcome the new year with table laden with good food.


Happy new year to all of you! I hope we all have a great and abundant year ahead. Always be blessed! Live, savour and be grateful.

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2012 in Review and My Thank You’s

If you want to go back on some of the significant moments of 2012, here’s a video that show the great achievements and sorrows of people around the world.
You amazed and inspired me, 2012. I’m grateful for…

all the blessings that poured into my life and and my loved ones’ lives.

the adventures, surprises, milestones and little treats.

teaching me how to let go of things and habits that make my life unproductive.

having learned the “art of filtering”.

the seasons of sunshine and rain, both reminding me to enjoy each moment. 

the life, love and friendship I share with my best friend and better half, Chris.

the gift of knowing myself better–what matters to me most and what I cannot tolerate.

the peace that forgiveness brings, that even with no apology I’m able to forgive sincerely.

the simple and laidback lifestyle that we have in Sydney.

Thank you 2012! 

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Memorable Shows and Exhibitions of 2012

Last year, I was fortunate to have watched and seen more shows/exhibitions than I expected. Big thanks to friends who gave leads and invited us. There were so many wonderful shows and exhibitions last year but the Husband and I carefully chose what we’d like to really experience. Here’s a list of memorable shows we watched in 2012.

Musicals


Annie. My childhood dream to see “Annie” came true when it showed in Sydney during the first quarter of 2012. The musical that made songs such as “Tomorrow”, “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” and “Fully Dressed” famous. I enjoyed every minute of this heart-warming story of an orphan named “Annie” as she dreams a home to call her own.


Love Never Dies (Sequel to “Phantom of the Opera”). The continuation of Phantom and Christine’s tragic love story. If you have seen “Phantom of the Opera”, this is a must see. It’s as fabulous as the its predecessor but more dramatic and poignant.


Legally Blonde. A fun and entertaining show that will remind you how great it is to have girlfriends who will always be there to share the highs and lows of your life, get over the man who broke your heart, fall in love again (with the right man this time) and celebrate the uniqueness in you. Read about my story here.


Exhibitions

Harry Potter. An exhibition which made me appreciate and love the film series even more. It was a treat for movie enthusiasts to see each character’s wands and outfits worn in the movie, the flying car, the Horcruxes, the Twizard Cup, pieces from the Wizard’s Chess, the Invisibility Cloak and the full version of Buckbeak. Read my story and see more photos here.


Love Lace. Lace is one of my favourite fabrics (next to silk and satin) because of its intricate and meaningful designs, the details and hardwork that goes into creating them, and the romance and mystery it brings to those who wear them. The exhibition showcased the things one can do to lace, may it be in the form of dresses, boots, gloves, jewellery and artwork. It was a small exhibition but it was a beautiful showcase. See more photos here.


Picasso. The most significant exhibition of Picasso’s art ever held in Australia. More than 150 important paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings created by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) have come from the artist’s personal collection – works he was determined never to relinquish. It was amazing to see his work and admire his style in art. 


Madame Tussauds. Enjoyed this fun exhibition with our family. Each Madame Tussauds is unique in every city as 60% of the wax figures in Sydney are composed of famous Australian personalities such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, Rod Laver, Lleyton Hewitt, Julia Gillard, John Howard and Mary Mackillop. Read my article on Madame Tussauds here.


Narnia. A short but fun exhibition for kids. I enjoyed seeing this exhibition because it showed the costumes used for the film. Made me appreciate the huge effort and cost in filming this kind of production. 


Ballet

Sleeping Beauty by the Imperial Russian Ballet. One of the most watched ballets in history. The music was written by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the original scenario was conceived by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and the choreographer of the original production was Marius Petipa. My first time to watch ballet and it was good. Read my story here.


Sports Event

Australian Open 2012. Another dream of mine that came true! We got to watch the best tennis player in the world, Roger Federer. And this all happened on my birthday which made me so happy. To watch a legend like Roger Federer is a gift.  For someone like me who’s far away from any Grand Slam or Masters venue, it is a once in a lifetime blessing.  The minute Federer walked inside the court, the crowd was in awe.  One will feel the air of royalty alluded to him by many but he didn’t look intimidating at all.  He looked relaxed and down-to-earth.  He has this certain grace that only a Master exudes. For more of my Australian Open 2012  experience, please read here.


In my books, this was a great line-up of shows and exhibitions. I hope the shows we see in 2013 will be as entertaining. We also look forward to learning new things as we experience a different set of shows and exhibitions in the coming year.
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Aussie Boxing Day Sales

Boxing Day (26th December) is the favourite day of shoppers in Australia where all retail shops offer great sales to buyers. The sales range from 20%-70% off on all or selected items. The Husband and I look forward to Boxing Day because we really wait out for the prices to go down before we buy anything. When shopping in Australia, the tip is not to buy full price–just wait for the item to go on sale because it will.  

Every year, the Husband and I make a list of things we need, both personal and for the home. From Boxing Day onwards, we have a look at the shops for the prices. If we get good deals, we buy them.

It is always better to have a list. During sales, it’s tempting to buy one thing after another because it’s on sale. Having a list serves as a guide and reminder that we only buy the things we need. In case we find some thing on sale which was not on the list, we think about it first before buying.

This recent Boxing Day sales our goal was to find a new suitcase for me (my old one is slowly dying with every travel), a set of Corelle plates, Nespresso coffee pod dispenser, work clothes for the Husband, gift wrappers for the next Christmas season and cosmetics for me. 

Since the biggest item on our list was the the suitcase, we went to the Travel Section of Myer first thing in the morning. Before Christmas, we already looked at options and prices so we knew what we were looking for when we got there. I chose a red Antler 72cm suitcase, on sale at 40% off, which cut me back $111.00 (big discount!).

We got what we needed and more! The Nespresso coffee pods dispenser and Corelle dining set at 20% off; Christmas gift wrappers at 50% off.   Maxwell Williams Flower Power Collection, set of 4 mugs, at 50% off (will give to my Parents).

Boxing Day sales extend til the first few weeks of January. We don’t buy everything in one go. During one of our lunch dates with friends last week, we had a chance to check out Westfield Parramatta. That’s where the Husband found a few shirts at 40%-50% discount.

As for me, I was able to buy a few cosmetics and nail polishes. I usually buy my supply of beauty products at the end of the year and use them for the next 6-12 months (depending on expiry). I do this because it’s easier for me to track their validity. Plus, I don’t want to bother myself buying them from time to time. The only exception would be when we travel because I shop for cosmetics when overseas. 

I got Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara for $10 and Sally Hansen nail polishes, 3 pieces all for only $10 (A Sally Hansen nail polish cost about $7 each).
We were at Strathfield last weekend and we found a store that has Missha products on sale. I had no plans of buying BB Cream at this time but it was such a great deal. Also, I’ve one BB Cream tube that’s nearly empty so I took this chance to buy a new tube. It was also an opportunity to try a different Missha BB Cream. 
I visited kikki.K, a stationery and gift shop. Their products has this sweet and dainty designs that women love. I found a book called “Happy” which compiles inspiring quotes and beautiful artworks on happiness. They were on sale at 30% off. The minute I saw them, I instantly thought of my dear friends in Manila so I got them a copy each and bought one for myself too.
Boxing day sales shopping, sorted! The Husband and I are very happy with our discounted purchases. 
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Christmas Celebrations with Family

Our Christmas week holiday was as balanced as I hoped it would be as we had time for ourselves, family and friends. We are so grateful the Husband’s office shutdown coincided with mine. Our last day of work was on the 21st December so we welcomed the holiday by partying with friends the following day and watching “Les Miserables” on Sunday.

Dates with the Hubby. If we’re not hanging out with people, the Husband and I spent time at home, catching up on sleep, movies and episodes of American TV series. This is the most relaxed of all our Christmas holidays as we didn’t do any major de-clutterings at home (just a few mini de-cluttering of this and that). We went to the nearby mall and had gelatos as we window shopped and do grocery. 
We were able to watch “Les Miserables”, a movie I’ve been waiting to watch. I love it! I have got to say that this I was in awe of the direction of this movie. I admire director Tom Hooper for turning a musical into a wonderful film. Hugh Jackman, Ann Hathaway and Sacha Baron gave stellar performances.

Christmas Party with Relatives. Our family get-together on Christmas Eve was doubly special because we celebrated the 50th birthday of my Auntie Bess. It was a busy but fun day surrounded by family. We left the party feeling very blessed from all the love of our relatives.

Christmas Day was rainy and gloomy. To us who were partied out, it was the perfect weather to stay at home and catch up on sleep. With less than three hours of sleep, we woke up early on Christmas morning to attend mass. 
Our Christmas morning breakfast which consisted of Baked Ham, Egg and Rice, Puto Bumbong, Kutsinta and Ripe Mangoes. So delicious! 
Spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day at home but on the 27th December, we went out to do some shopping. After dinner, we went to see “The Hobbit” with our relatives. We all loved the film! It was three-hour long but we didn’t notice and all of us are now looking forward to the next one.
Koreatown with Family. Shared our love for Korean food with relatives over the weekend. We met up at Strathfield, had BBQ lunch at Won Jo, coffee at My Sweet Memory, shopped at Morning Glory and even had our photos taken via their funky photobooth and had yogurt dessert at Yogurberry. We had so much fun!!! Can’t wait to do something like this again.
Now this ends my Christmas 2012 series. It’s been a love-filled Christmas. The Husband and I are grateful for everyone who’s been a part of it.
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