Out of the blue, I took my digi cam and took pictures of the back of my officemates head including mine.  For no reason at all, I wanted to have my pictures different this time because the usual photos are face front.   Today, we have seen how much our hair has grown.  My officemate- Ana has a way past shoulder length  which she neatly clipped while Maureene just had hers hang loose.  It is past the bra line and growing and getting longer.  While mine,  something did not quite feel right.  I am quite worried that the one who did my haircut doesn’t have that “magic touch” because my hair seemed to grow slow.  It is still short , layered and colored.  The highlights are now fading and I believe that I have to visit the salon for a hair make over.  I am giving my hair daily dose of shampoo and deep conditioner hoping it will help make my locks grow faster.  

Our hair is our crowning glory.  Bad hair day affects our mood.  But today, I had achieved the blow dry and perfect volume of hair I like, so I had this aura of calmness and feeling sexy when I report to work.   Before I knew, I was taking pictures left and right and took shots even the back of our heads.

Nowadays, more and more people are entertaining guests at home to save money.  Well, of course, it depends on the number of invitees.    It is a dilemma for any host/hostess if there will be an overflowing  friends and families and not enough space for everyone.  So, we should be very careful when planning for a party. 

One tried and tested solution is to put up a buffet table  in the center of the room where people can help themselves and will encourage more mingling amongst the guests and would allow the host/hostess to enjoy the party.   The ever dependable chafing disks will save you from all the troubles.   The food stays warm during the party-the source of the heat is that from the spirit lamp or gas flame beneath the metal dish. 

We attended the  Birthday celebration of a friend the other day and it was held in their flat.  The tables were elegantly decorated and my friend’s wife was saved from all the hassles because they ordered from a local caterer.  The food was tasteful and inviting that is why we were not able to resist the temptation to try almost all of them including the desserts.

Well, we jokingly are telling friends that we are on “see foods diet” we eat when we see food.   Oh well, tomorrow is another day- to start thinking of our diet.

The temperature marked at 47 deg. C (116.6 deg. F) at 4:15 this afternoon as we travelled on  an almost empty road to meet a couple friend who are in a very stressful situation.  We received a “distress” call so we are out for a rescue.  Actually, this is not what we called a life and death situation but off we went to know how badly they need us.  It is Ramadan and Friday being a week-end, most are at home are having their afternoon naps.  Shops, restaurants and malls are all closed during daylight and will open after 9pm and it’s only then that most people will start going out.    The activities usually starts after sundown after they break their whole day fast.   

Our friend recounted to us their ordeal and we listened and offered our advices being their elders.  It is hard really to figure out how we can help them because they are entangled in a situation that also involved another couple friend.  In some ways, we believe that my husband and I had given them sound and well-meaning advices.  They were thankful that we came to listen as they poured their heartaches out. 

We trust that they will start to communicate more and will map up plans for any eventuality that might happen in the days to come.  

Going out of our comfort zone might be hard at first but the feeling that you did a good deed for a brother is uncomparable. 

We are mission ready!

A friend put up a contest for best baby name we could suggest to them.   Choosing a baby name is hard so they are asking help from us.   Maybe they are looking for something different but have not come across the right name and now our couple friend are  asking us to share the trouble of coming up with names.  Whew!  Tough job! 

Before, I also had the same dilemma giving my 3 children their names.  But I got the inspiration for my daughter’s name from combining the first name of me and my husband’s while for my 2 boys, we took the first name of his father and combined it with a foreign sounding name while the other one took his  from his maternal grandfather’s.  But all of their nicknames start with letter “K”.

 Baby book with list of possible baby names are abound or you may  get inspiration from your relatives, pop stars, Presidents, heroes, saints, cartoon characters, what have you.  If you want a unique name, go ahead.. just make sure that your child will not blame you later on for giving him/her that out of this world first name.

Barracky? Britney? Dyesebel?  Oh well, it’s good I am past that stage with babies!

We attended the other day a Baby shower of a friend who was childless for more than 7 years and now she is already ripe to harvest the  fruit of her union with her husband.  The first 7 years of their marriage became a trial to them but they held on to their faith that they will be blessed with a child.  They stormed heaven with their prayers to grant their request and not long enough she conceived.   We were all very happy for our couple friend and we were had a great time in the party.  I organized baby shower games like guessing the measurement of thet full cirmcumference of the mother’s tummy by using  rolls of tissue paper.  We also had the Multi tasking game for Dads like hanging the laundy with clothespin while carrying a baby doll on the other hand and the laundrybasket on the other hand.  It was a riot!

Soon the baby will be out next month and we are all eagerly awaiting for that big day!  Indeed! It is a shower of love and blessings!

Our meeting with friends is not complete without coffee to boost our senses.  We had a coffee session last night as we conducted our one to one talk with a couple friend.  We talked about life, family, relationship over cups of coffee and a chocolate fondoue with marshmallows, apples, melon to dip.  We had a great evening!

Care for coffee?

A friend of mine surprised me with gifts; 2 shirts actually- 1 for me and 1 for my husband.  It was a Filipino designed shirt we spotted in Greenbelt Makati  one time we went for a movie date.  I was planning to buy that shirt but did not have the chance to pass by the stall again because we were rushing to get out of Makati area  because traffic will start to build up after 4 pm.  So, when she came over to our house and handed me the gift, the feeling was good,  she bought the same shirt I would love to buy for myself and my husband.  Unknowingly, she took note of what I liked. 

I love the shirt!   Thanks friend.. till our next meeting.

A get-together with my High school batchmates took us as far as Tagaytay City- 2 hours drive from Manila.   We wanted to get the feel of the cool weather in that hilly city so we trooped there for a change.We  particularly liked  the lunch served in a Spanish inspired restaurant and we enjoyed the  clear view of the Taal volcano from afar.  We had been talking about and were excited to see the well  known Zipline attraction which promises a rush of adrenaline to those who will dare tried the ride.  I’ve been telling my friends that I had this fear of heights and trying it is unthinkable.   Due to much prodding, I was challenged!  I haven’t made up my mind yet but a buddy had already purchased tickets for both us.  So, no more backing out!  OMG, while we are getting prepared and harness safely strapped around me, I can’t help but feel the loud pounding of my heart and my mind kept dictating that I have to speak out that I can’t do it! I wanted to run away in an instant but how can I?  I was tied up.  So, when they pushed us away, armed with prayers as we descend through the forest up to the other side and 300 feet off the ground, I  pretended that it is not scary.  In the long run,  I  enjoyed the experience of flying like Superman.  What I did was to look ahead, open my arms like flying wings and did not look a the bottom for the more it will scare me.    It was an exhillarating fun ride as we glided along a suspended steel cable and I will never forget the experience.  Whew!

I was perspiring all throughout when we reached the other side of the cliff bu at it was a relief that I made it… Yehey!  I was so proud to have conqured my fear!

Will I try it the next time around?  Nah!  Not anymore… I had tried it once… please no more….

The recent pictures we posted in Facebook bothered me no end.  It was a pool party and we girls wore our swimwears.  I thought I looked good on my spandex shorts and spaghetti strapped blouse but I was wrong.   The pictures confirmed that my arms and legs are really big !!!  I know it will generate a lot of unwelcome but friendly comments from my FB friends.  No choice but just welcome the comments and I will just psyche myself that I will be fine soon, I just need to exercise and eat sensibly and I will be back with a vengeance.

I come up with a bright idea to entice my friends to join a “Biggest Loser” contest I thought of.  I told them that whoever loses weight after a month will receive prize from me and whoever gain will give me gift in return.   I am part of the contest but since it is my idea, I would gladly give monthly prizes.  I have this fighting spirit that I would win anyway, so I am not worried at all in giving away prizes lol.

Hopefully, this will encourage us with this challenge.  Afterall, this is a good chance for us to focus more on making ourselves healthy and fit.  I don’t mind the prizes I have to give away… I will be giving it to my friends anyway.  I love them you know!