Christmas Gifts

Here are some of the gifts I got this Christmas. Most of them are from my sister who was visiting from Canada.

Here are some super special ones that I want to share with you.

#1 pretty fur vintage style jacket from Forever 21 (from my sister)

I wore it on New Year's Eve. I love the vintage look.

#2 This insect ring from my sister (again)

#3 This tiny journal from my youngest daughter. She always surprises me with gifts on Christmas. Last year she gave me a heart necklace and this year, after everyone was done unwrapping presents, she came to my room with a huge gift bag! Inside it, was a big make up set (why a make up set because I always get upset when they get my eyeliner!) and this pretty journal. She said she bought them at a museum field trip's gift shop, from the money she got selling things she made to friends from school. How clever! Like mama, like daughter!

#4 Betsey Johnson watch from my sister (yet again)

and who doesn't love anything Betsey makes?

#5 This Kurt Cobain Book from my Mister. Why is it so special, you may wonder. Well, first of, my mister is not a gift giving person. He gives us a lot of things but not on special occasions. I never understood why but I eventually got used to it. My mom would always tell me not to feel bad because he makes every day my birthday by giving us so much. So after every Valentine's Day, every Anniversary and every Christmas that passed without getting anything special, I finally accepted that it is how he is. This Christmas was different. After everyone settled down and were cleaning up, my daughter handed me a badly wrapped present. I was expecting a handmade gift from school as my daughter gives me that every year. Not that I don't enjoy it but it was expected.

There was a card and on it was a handwritten note from all my kids, a doodle from my 3 year old son and a paw print from the dog. So funny but tried my best to hold back my tears. The card was enough but there was still a gift to open.
And it was this book...

Why is it so special? Well, it's a well thought of present. It's not like a shirt or an expensive purse. It is something which shows that my mister knows me too well (sniff). This book shows that he spent time looking for something that I would really, really love. And this is not an ordinary book, it has a cd of his journals, read by him and a lot of inserts like this...

He made up a story of finding this gift with the kids, one day that I was out. But I asked one of my daughters and asked where and how they bought it and she said "we didn't go with him, he came to our room and asked us to sign the card". That was when I realized that my too tough to be mushy mister has a romantic heart after all and that he does love me. And that is why, this gift is so special to me.

100 years of rock

Today we went to my kid's school (rockdale elem. school) to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. A hundred! Unbelievable. I was in awe of the performances of each class. They talked about the inventions, music, trends and fashion of each year since 1910 to the 1980's. It was so much fun seeing little kids dressed like James Dean or someone from the 80's and so on. I almost cried because I was so proud that my kids went to a school with so much history. Their school is one of the best in L.A. and is focused on art and music. The teachers and principal are all amazing. So amazing that when I was still a single mom many years ago, raising 3 girls on my own, they gave me an entire Thanksgiving dinner for 2 consecutive years. I will be forever thankful for that.

This was how the school looked like a hundred years ago. (now the school is a modern looking building)

Here are some photos that I took photos of from the archives/memorabilia that were there today.

Circa 1955

Indians! How cool is this? ( I think these were before the 1920's)

How magical is this photo?

I love, love these old photos. These kids are so adorable and yet they are way older than all of us

It's amazing what cameras can do. They preserve moments like this.It's the best invention I think.

I call it the time machine.

I even saw my kids photos from the archives, preserved forever.


Part 2 coming tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Dad

Yesterday! I'm a day late. I've never been a day late. No wonder mom kept talking about you when we were out with her yesterday. I wonder why she never mentioned that it was your birthday. I wonder if she even knew, maybe she just remembered you out of the blue.

I miss you Dad. I don't miss you as much but I do think of you every time I cry. I wonder if you see me crying. I wonder how you feel, if ever you do feel anything. I wonder if you're happy with how my life turned out. I wonder how you think of my sacrifices in life. Are you proud of me? of how I've become? I'm no longer your spoiled little princess. I've learned so much in all the hells I've been through and I've accepted the fact that I am nobody's princess anymore. I miss being someone's princess but that ended when you left and the hopes of feeling it again vanished into thin air when you died. I remember you whenever I see a little girl and her dad, I close my eyes for a minute and I become your little girl again. It makes me happy even for just a little while.

Thanks for the memories Dad. For all the good times you have instilled in my heart and memory that even if you were never perfect, in my eyes, you were.

I love you Dad, wherever you are. I promise I will make you proud.

I will make our dreams come true.

Happy Birthday.

Black Friday

Let me just say that the word Black Friday sounds very sad. Like it's the day for the dead or something. Anyways, I was very good today. No, I didn't line up in the wee hours of the morning. The weather this month is terrible, I don't think I'd survive an hour standing in line in very cold temperatures. I didn't plan to go out at all but mom invited me so I went with her. We only went to Target and Macy's. I really didn't like to buy anything because I have way too much stuff already and you know what I've learned from past experiences? All the cheap things I buy on Black Friday gets thrown out so it's just a waste of money. So I was very careful with my choices today. Oh, and I didn't bring cash (because I didn't have any) and just brought gift cards.
Here's how Black Friday looked like in our house about 3 years ago...

We bought so many things
flat screen tv
dvd recorder
mp3 players
3 cellphones
lots of toys
bread toaster
waffle maker
coffee maker
Mixer
dslr memory card
and many more
We spent over $2,000, I'm not really sure about the numbers but definitely more than 2k. And guess what 90% of these things were either thrown out or broken. We're still using the same tv and dvd recorder but almost everything else are non existent. Waste of money right? Ah, consumerism in America!
I've learned my lesson so today these are the things I got...
from Target I bought red and white striped santa knee high socks for my 3 girls ($5 each)

A $1 coloring book for River, a ball toy set for River for $2.49, 4 Hello kitty notepads for a $1 each, gift wrapping paper for $1 a roll.
And from Macy's I bought a stainless steel tea kettle, originally priced at $69.99 and I got it for $24.99. Awesome right?
Stress free too bec. I didn't stay up all night plus I didn't spend so much. I'm so proud of myself!!!

Thanksgiving pics

Memory card got corrupted! Argh! Here's what I saved...

Mommy's hit na hit turkey

At least there's evidence

River loves ice cream, yeah!

Mr. R's new hair!

Playing Ispy
Sad over gone forever pics but at least there were some left.
Happy Thanksgiving guys!

I'm the Cupcake Goddess

Perfect cupcakes every time!

I love this cupcake oven! I can't stress that enough!

Homemade cupcakes with homemade buttercream frosting

May we have many years to enjoy each other!

True friends are hard to find

But I am thankful that I have them. I may have a few but I have the best that this world can offer.
First, Thanks Leslie because the cupcake maker you bought for me came yesterday!

I love it! And I can't stop staring at it. It makes me smile every time I look at it not only because I love it so much but because the thoughtfulness, the kindness and the love that came with it just makes me melt. Thanks for your friendship that surpasses time and distance.

Same goes with my friends back home that never fails to lend a shoulder to cry on, in the countless times that I needed one (or more). Special thanks to Michelle, for your friendship all these years, to Julie Ann who never fails to find me every single time circumstances come between us--I know we'll find each other again, to Maya-for all the love though we rarely speak I know you are always there for me. My friends here, Jannet who gives me strength when I am too weak, even though she needs some herself but she willingly gives what she can and more. To Joyce, who never fails to lend a helping hand, not just for me but to everyone around her.To my cousin Zenith, who is not only my relative but one of my bestest friends. To George who I only see on my kid's birthdays but what matters is that he never forgets those special days. To Mr. Mike Brunt for treating us as your own family. To Norman and Rose who I know remembers me even if I don't see them a lot anymore. Thanks for all the love that you have for me and my family. To all that I didn't mention here, you know who you are. I am thankful for you.

And to all my Facebook friends who are reading this. I know you care or else you won't be spending precious minutes of your life reading this. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Now, let's all have some cupcakes!
* Special mention to Zarah Alaan. Sorry, I didn't forget about you, I was just in a hurry when I was writing this. Thanks to you of course, your my twin sister I never had, we always seem to be at the same place, napansin mo di ba? Same city, same Architecture course, same class and now we are both in California. What are the chances? But I am thankful that we always find each other and always rekindle the friendship we always have had since we were cute little girls hehe, kahit na we rarely see each other (in the same city). Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry for all the typo I was in a hurry when I was writing this. lol. So funny.