I have tons to do (it's finals season!!!) but I just have to post my birthday blog before my "birthday month"(as my Kuya calls it) ends.
First of all, I have to say that this is one of the happiest birthdays I've had. Happy.. not in a sense that I partied the whole day, or got a bunch of gifts, but happy in the sense that on my birthday, I felt that I was in a good place, because I was surrounded by the people I love, and because I felt that I had so many things in life that I I'm thankful for. :) So, to all of you who are part of my life, THANK YOU! :)
What made my birthday extra happy was that I got to spend time with my family. I thought at the start of this semester that I would be able to go home to Laguna more often because I managed to clear my weekend of any classes. Sadly, my super combination of professors has prevented me from doing so. As for my other relatives here in QC, well, our schedules just don't match so we don't really get to spend quality time together, even if we live in the same house. (HAY. For that, after finals, I promise to exert more effort to spend more time with them) Anyway.. this is how I celebrated my 23rd birthday:
The weekend before my birthday, I went home to Laguna. This meant that I wouldn't be able to attend the last weekend of Barops, but I thought it would be sad if I wouldn't be able to spend time with my Mama and celebrate my birthday somehow with her. She has work and I have school during weekdays, and the following weekend is crunch-time for me, since my dreaded Nego exam is scheduled early on Monday. I just had to go home. Thankfully, my Kuya made it easier since he went to QC before going home that weekend :)
Mama, Kuya and I went to church on Sunday, 2 days before my actual birthday. The homily was about sharing one's blessings. When I go to mass, I usually do a lot of thinking and contemplating about my life. I usually try to picture how I could fit a certain gospel or homily into how I live. As to this one.. well, maybe I'll write about it later. I have my issues about being helpful vs. being tolerant of laziness. Anyway, during that mass, I also gave my thanks to Him, for blessing me with my family, my friends, loved ones, law school, opportunities, etc. I also of course asked for guidance and enlightenment.
After that, we had lunch at home, and then we went to Southmall, and then to ATC. We bought my birthday present: a pink ipod nano multi touch! :) AYLAVET!!! I asked for an ipod because the one my Mama made pamana to me had an "unknown error" and I couldn't put songs in it anymore :( This one is so much better! It's like ipod shuffle wit a screen, and far less complicated than the usual nano. (Yes, it's complicated for me. Don't judge me!)
My new ipod :)
We then watched Legend of the Guardians, while munching on some Taters snacks.I loved the movie! :) Nice story and nice effects. It's one of the few movies that didn't disappoint me this year. Before leaving ATC, I had my ipod Gmasked. I just don't want to worry about scratching it and then scratch it anyway and then obsess over the itty-bitty scratch mark. Hehe.
We went back to Laguna, where we had dinner at Conti's Nuvali
With Mama
Kuya: "Ang onti ng rice.."
What can I say about Conti's Nuvali? MEH. They were not accommodating, and the food was so-so. I had the crab salad, watermelon shake, and tsokolate ga. Ayaw pa maniwala nina Kuya na yun lang. Ang hindi nila alam, nabusog ako sa onion rings na kinain ko nung movie :D I didn't feel bad about not ordering more since Mama and Kuya didn't enjoy their food that much. I still enjoyed myself, though. I always love it when I get to eat with my Mama and Kuya. :) I love getting to chat with them, and really, just getting the feeling that I have my family, even if we don't get to spend much time together.
Fast forward to Tuesday, my birthday itself. :) There were the usual text and Facebook greetings, thank you to everyone who greeted me! :) I ate my packed lunch with Doron and he gave me a gift : A stuffed cat toy :) When he asked me the day before what I wanted as a gift, I told him anything that would remind me of him and would make me smile. I'm looking at it now and.. yes, I'm smiling :) CHEESY. Thank you sa gift Doron! :)
After lunch I had to go to PIL class. In the middle of it, I got a surprise from Harmy :) He gave me a birthday cake, and even sang for me :) AWWW.. Harmy, thank you! Wag ka mag alala, tama yung flavor na nabili mo :)
Doron's gift and Harmy's cake :)
Later that night, my Ninang treated me to a birthday dinner at Chili's :). It was just supposed to be Me, Ninang, Alvianne,my Kuya and Doron, so I was extra happy when I found out my two cousins, Alvin and Arwin were coming too. :) I waited for Doron, Alvianne and Alvin in UP. We met with my Ninang, Kuya and Arwin at Chili's, Tomas Morato.
Taking pictures while waiting for the others.. Alvianne
Alvin
Doron
Me!
Doron and myself
They're here!
Boy talk
Alvianne, Ninang
The girls
The boys
What to order?
Waiting for our food..
I like it at Chili's. The staff was very friendly, and I like the overall look of the restaurant. It's like I'm in the HIMYM set. :) As for the food, I loved their appetizers, but their burger was quite hard to finish. The patty was a little dry, but the toppings were yummy :)
Mozzarella sticks
Burger
Ultimate mushroom burger
Bacon burger
Appetizer platter
We had a great time :)..
..even if most of us had a hard time finishing our burgers :D Si Kuya,nag steak, at walang kahirap-hirap niya yung inubos. :D
Lamon shot
Ninang sliced her burger in half to make it easier to eat
Lamon shot sana pero ambilis pumose ni Albian :))
Canned lamon shot
Kaya mo yan Doron! :)
The burger is so big!
Time out muna
Kaya pa!
Kakayanin pa..
To top things off, I finally got my long-time wish to have restaurant staff sing to me on my birthday :)
They also gave me a birthday.. uh.. dessert! :D
It's not a cake
It's ice cream on top of some pastry. It was delicious :)
Fun fact: "Doron" means "gift" in Greek. :)
Some pictures before we go
Again, thank you everyone for giving me the happiest birthday so far :) In particular:
Mama for bringing me to this world, raising me well, and supporting me in whatever endeavor I undertake.. and for the ipod :)
Kuya for.. being my Kuya :D
Ninong and Ninang for being my second parents and for spoiling me :D and of course for the dinner
Alvianne, Alvin and Arwin, my quasi-cousin and cousins, for being there on my birthday dinner
Doron for the gift, and for being my "gift" :)
Harmy for the birthday cake :)
Everyone who greeted me! :D
Happy birthday to me! :)
