Who is she?

She was made to walk on grass
She was made to move mountains
She was made to conquer battles
She was made to wish on a rainbow
She was made to see the beauty of life
She was made to appreciate art
She was made to shine like the stars
She was made to act like a lady
She was made to taste the wine
She was made to love truthfully
She was made to test the waters
She was made to reach the sky
She was made to defeat anger
She was made to spread joy
She was made to give hope
She was made to make others laugh
She was made to help humankind
She was made to embrace kindness
She was made to touch souls
She was made to praise God

For I am she and will always be

My New Blog: Where is IamSuperIstar?

Hi Dear Readers,

Kindly visit the new blog that I created today 🙂 https://whereisiamsuperistar.wordpress.com/

The new one is as special as this one where I have made numerous friends all over the globe, however, I badly need a fresh start to create a brighter and a more effective blog.

Happy 2016 and I am wishing you all the joy wherever you go. – Joycey

I can cook (ehem ehem)

Eating would always be part of one’s lifestyle. Pretty much, I have decided (in my own world) that eating and/or trying different kinds of food would top all of my hobbies in real life.

Do not get me wrong, I am not a chef, far to be one. I am not a lifestyle host though I really want that. I am not a food blogger since like my sister, my qualifications would put me at the end of the list since almost anything I eat tastes great! Maybe there is something wrong with my tastebuds but I’m not sure what. 😉

My family and friends are well aware that I don’t cook much. Cooking, for me is on the north pole while ‘eating’ I’d say is like the ‘tropics’ where I’d gladly stay at. So why did I start cooking? One simple reason: I got married.

Suddenly it dawned on me that cooking is a skill that must be learned, capitalize the MUST. I am sure the ladies out there prefers their husbands to sit at the table and have them savor the well-prepared-cooked-food-where-you-exhausted-all-your-energy-hoping-and-praying-it-turns-out-to-the-yummiest-thing-he-ever-tasted. That must be too much but yeah, hearing someone say that “ang sarap ng luto mo” (your cooking tastes great) is like heaven!

So I say ladies! Cook and be merry like me. I still have a lot to learn but when I say I CAN, I CAN.

From Dagupan to Bataan, with my beloved relatives! (LPT)

This blog entry is part of my “Late Post Travels”, geez! I needed to quote that since my backlogs are piling up.

So, these photos were taken last April 20 and 21, 2013 – our Sta.Ana Family Summer Reunion. We visited our Lolo and Lola at Dagupan before heading to Bataan. It was a long road trip but of course one of the happiest. My family from both sides (Aralar and Sta.Ana) have this insane sense of humor and we had a long list of topics to laugh and talk about while on the road.

I can’t recall when was the last time I visited my relatives at Bataan, maybe ages ago? Now, I have cousins taller than me and my oh my our family has grown bigger. Since it’s summer time, where else did we plan to go? The beach of course! That’s a given!

The photos below showed how we enjoyed our time as one big happy family. We arrived at midnight at the island, pitched the tent, ate a sumptuous dinner (Spell SEAFOOD!) then rested. Honestly, it was hard to appreciate the place since because it was pitch black except for our flash lights and torch.

Dawn came and the skyline was filled with tiny bits of sunshine until the sun finally made it’s way out.

Now who wouldn’t appreciate the place when you see its full glory? See for yourself 🙂

One of the happiest couples I have ever seen 🙂

Meet my relatives from my Mother’s side, the STA.ANA clan.

Ready to ride that boat?

Boat ride

Pitch that tent

They won’t stop playing

Dinner time

Yes? Survivor!

Dad checking the morning water

My parents ♥

Small, medium, large

Family relatives

Book handy

Sis in action

I was here

Caitlyn and Rose with the stones

Caitlyn and Thania

Hello there Mr. Sunshine

Jelly fish

Low tide

Can you see me?

Swim swim?

Collecting stones

Nature at its finest

Kids playin

Mom and my titas

Family shot

Wacky family

Everyone enjoying the beach

Siesta time

Lovely cove

Chillin at the beach

Beach must haves!

10 Things about Love and Marriage

The Durr Durrs at Puerto Galera (January 2015) photo taken by Ivan Cabales

Someone said to me “Marriage is hard, you have to work on it”. I didn’t actually reflected on that since at the time I was single and carefree. Now that I wear a ring on my finger, it’s all different.

My husband and I have not celebrated our first wedding anniversary yet but I am learning a lot of things. So far here’s my Top 10:

1. Love is a magical thing and one should be happy when he/she finds it.

2. One must pray that Love stays.

3. Choosing “sleep” over “let’s talk about it” is not a good thing. You will feel worse the next day when you wake up.

4. There is no turning back when you say “Yes, I am ready and I want to marry!”.

5. Both must be brave enough to jump over their comfort zone.

6. “I” simply turns into “We”, no explanation needed.

7. Couples must spend time apart, like jogging together but different routes to have some cool space in between.

8. Eat and be merry.

9. Forgive.

10. Love daily and have 10 – 20 minutes of cuddle time together. Please no phones during cuddling/sharing time!

February Purple Hues

February. Love Month.

As I back track the items on my phone (because I am running out of memory), I chanced upon this Purple Day Album. Seeing this, I knew exactly what to blog.

Most of you know that I love arranging parties for friends. I do not have any background on handling events be it informal or formal but I find it exciting. Best feeling in the world is when you see the main person of the event really happy just because created an event that they can cherish forever.

Last year, same season, Karen our dear friend is about to get married (February 19, 2014). Of course as bridesmaids, Ami and I took charge in making sure we give Karen the best Bridal Shower of all time. I admit it was hard, especially the ‘inviting part’. I got in contact with her friends by asking the ladies list from Jeremy (his soon to be husband at the time). Schedules don’t seem to meet but good thing we were still able to pull it off. We ended with 5 guests, Ami, Sai, Benny, myself and Xave (Karen’s best bud and my husband now, who’s not really invited but we needed someone to drive us so we have no choice, lol. Benny is the only one who’s supposed to be exempted).

Original plan was to have brunch at 14 Four Cafe in Taytay Rizal however, it was closed for a personal event. Plan B here we come! Ami and I talked for a while and decided that we can have Xave drive and we can just visit Regina Rica then do the mini program at a nearby coffee shop.

Regina Rica would always be one of the top places to visit when you are in Tanay Rizal. Since the big day is coming up, we want Karen of course to be spiritually ready. Praying helps, all the time. 🙂

Afterwards, we headed to The Daily Beans Coffee Lounge and Restaurant that was suggested by my sister-in-law. To date, I have been in this coffee shop for more than 5 times, that’s how I loved their coffee plus, they serve good pasta, believe me since I am not a pasta lover (that means it’s really yummy for me to like it) 🙂

Felt like this was our lucky day! Fortunately the closed area was vacant so we were able to use it for a our short surprise program. Ami searched for a few games online and I tell you, they were pretty fab! We had a game where in we needed to create a wedding dress out of tissue rolls. Guess what? Our team didn’t win! Haha! We also suprised her with a scrapbook full of messages from her female friends and loved ones. Gift giving and short message giving for the soon to be bride bought the house down. It was a day full of laughter and tears as well.

A successful day for our first Bridal Shower Party but we are not yet done for the day. For our last activity, we headed to Binangonan Recreation and Conference Center and challenged ourselves – Bowling time! After that, we called it a night!

Closing my 2014

12:02 AM and there is nothing left to want. 2014 is a big year for real life realizations. In a few days time, we are all going to close it. How about summarizing each month with few words to describe it? Here’s mine…

January came and so did my love.

February turned purple.

March taught me to love Italian cuisine for a day.

April opened the vastness of sea.

May offered her fruits of love.

June and family connections.

July married.

August took me back to my childhood days.

September prayed.

October granted my wish of wanting to be a mermaid.

November was a new start.

December was full of celebration.

So how was yours? Did you became rich by appreciating what you have? Never too late to reflect. 🙂

Love,
IamSuperIstar

The day I became Mrs. Aquino

July 25, 2014 was a memorable day for me, not only did I turn 29, I also tied the knot to the man whom I promise to love each day. Who would have known I would settle down this year? That was out of my plan though I joke about it at times. Truly, God created this miracle and I will always be a believer. I met Xave late last year, last week of December 2013 to be exact when I was helping out a friend for their wedding. Well, I actually met Xave a few years back but I just can’t remember it even if he recalls the story of him offering me a burger and I declined. Haha! Was I that snob? All I can remember was that I was so busy with the photoshoot. Anyway, our relationship was quite different from the rest I guess, we didn’t have that cheesy and long courtship type. Not even flowers and chocolates and endless movie dates. All we felt was that time was on our side and you know that feeling when they say “Once you find true love, that’s it and there’s no turning back” and yeah, this was IT for both of us.

Enough of the intro, I am excited to share with you all the photos during our civil wedding.

 

A few weeks before the wedding, I started preppin’ up for the big day. I asked friends for empty wine bottles since I have been wanting to create our own table centerpiece. Luckily, I was able to collect around 20 bottles (as you can see from above). My friends and sisters also assisted me in making colorful paper pompoms that will be used as the main decor. Thanks to Youtube and Pinterest for the easy to follow DIY’s.

Of course, Pinoy food will always be my choice. Super thanks to everyone who assisted my Mom and Tita Tek in preparing and cooking all these viands. We were so full and everyone enjoyed the Hamonado, Pancit, Menudo, Imbotido, Lumpiang Bangus, Chicken, Mixed Veggies and Lechon!No cupcakes this time but this tasted better, believe me!!! Who can go wrong with Puto Flans? Thanks Tita Tek for the gift, I enjoyed it so much I finished two. Photo quotes are all from Pinterest, yep my fave app after Instagram.
The serious yet happiest civil wedding I have ever attended (not being biased here since this is my own wedding, but I think the feeling is similar to a Church wedding). I was crying and laughing the whole time, I cannot control my emotions, grateful isn’t enough, it was more than that. Thank you to our parents, Mommy Lily, Daddy Lebong and Mommy Mila for being there the whole time. Big love to our witnesses Tito Al, Tita Malyn, Tita Edith and Jhoanne.Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

I got great girlfriends who literally laugh and cry with me (even photo’s can’t hide it). To our witnesses and parents who all gave a heartwarming message, thank you. Though I noticed that most of them said “Go and have babies”, lol! We were so happy we couldn’t even speak, I should have written down a poem instead 🙂“The KISS that would last a lifetime.” There’s no turning back, we both signed it! Officially Mr. & Mrs. Aquino. From L-R Gonzal, Dad, Mom, Jhoanne, Tita Malyn, Tito Al, Tita Edith, Mommy Mila and us.Yep, the biggest family of them all.
Xave’s Mom, Jhoanne, Tita Edith and us. We enjoyed our cake, until the day after the wedding. Tastes real good with coffee 😉 Thank you thank you thank you to all who came, sorry I was not able to invite all our friends. Tito Oyet and Tita Ting, thanks for the booze! Do not worry, we still have a Church wedding planned 2-3 years from now. We will ensure that all the important people of our lives will be able to witness us exchange vows before the altar. To my niece who also celebrated her birthday last July 23, 2014, a very happy birthday Caitlyn. May you receive more blessings from our Lord above. We love you!A quick question to my girls… “Who’s next?”.
The biggest smile ever, happily married.

Love, Joycelyn Aralar Aquino