A Night to Remember ( New Year's Eve )

I have grown up with the tradition of starting the year with a bang. And with a bang, I meant a huge celebration and all that fireworks and stuff. In the Philippines, New Year's Eve is one of the highly celebrated holidays aside from Christmas. But since I am 7,000 miles away from my dear family back home, my hubby and I decided to throw our own party with some of his family members and our very close friends. Although we can't celebrate it ala-Filipino style (again, with the fireworks and all that noise) but I guess I can say we definitely welcomed the year filled with food, fun, laughter, pictures, drinking, mingling, and a whole lotta music!

New Year pull-apart cake

finger foods ala carte

hubby, friends, & family by the bar

the crowd waiting for the NYE countdown!

OMEOMY band playing in our basement

snapshot with friends

CHEERS!!!!

This is by far, the biggest party we've had since I've been here in the US. There were a lot of preparations but then again, it was all worth it. I managed to be sober the whole night (as what a good hostess would do) and by 5am, we were off to bed. Seeing all their happy, smiling faces and their laughter filling up our house is like the cherry on top of this last holiday of the year. Now we are ready to brace for what 2012 has in store for us and hoping for those yet to come.

Another holiday away from home

     When I was in my teen years, I have always desired to get away from home. It has been my rebellious spirit to try new things and explore different places. Being here in America for about 3 years and 2 months, I learned and realized a lot of things. That sometimes, we get more than what we bargained for. Holiday season is here again, and yet I feel that melancholic breeze. I lived in the Philippines my whole life (although I had to be away for 3 years to work in Singapore) but even so, my heart longs for the only place I called "home". Good thing, I made some really nice friends here and they help me get through the forlornness of the atmosphere. And so last Sunday, we gathered together for our very own Fil-Am Christmas party. I want to be able to look back and reminisce the fun times I had with them, so I brought my trustee camera and took some shots!

yummy appetizers and desserts

homemade prosciutto

a bountiful feast

prizes for the games ( I got one!)

a fun eggplant game!

a Filipina's day is never complete without Kodak moments!

     The day was filled with fun, laughter, tears (from laughing so hard), food, and camera flashes. I almost forgot that I wasn't in Philippines at that time. Next thing we know, it's already 9pm! Time really does fly when you're having so much fun. I wished I could have this moment with my family. All I can say for now is, life's moments are well-spent when you know it is shared with the people you love.

--☺☺☺☺☺--

Live Concert

Guest post from: Natalie Walter

We told all of our friends to visit http://www.ExpertSatellite.com/ and upgrade their television package to get HDNET. All of our friends like a pretty popular band from our hometown, Widespread Panic. They were playing at a venue, the Georgia Theatre, which had been rebuilt after it burned a few years ago. We knew that the concert was going to be a good one because the venue was small, was in Athens ( the band’s hometown), and was at the theatre that they had played in some twenty years before. We try to go to every concert that we can when the band is near us, but we live out West and would not be able to make it home to see the band. A lot of our friends didn’t get tickets either or couldn’t make the concert. We got HDNET and were able to watch the concert live on television from our house. A lot of our friends were able to too. I was happy that it was going to be broadcast live. The concert was up close and personal, I almost felt like I was there in the crowd!

My favorite Xmas commercial :)

      

     Most of us hate commercial breaks specially when we're in the middle of our favorite movie or show. In my case, I've had fond memories of myself since I was a kid watching tv commercials - and believe it or not, I've had my favorites. With the holidays just around the corner, I always remember this cute commercial from Coca-Cola which was famous in the Philippines around  the 90's I guess ( I forgot what year it was played) but the memory of the colorful trucks still puts me in a festive mood and makes me say "Holidays are coming!" 

     This year's commercial also makes it to my list of favorites. I am a huge Kim Chiu fan and that's another reason why I liked it. It fascinates me the way they made a Philippine version of this commercial ( the original version is longer and it doesn't show Kim Chiu and Enchong Dee) and still make it look like it was the same one. This time they put a reggae-ish upbeat vibe to the tune of "Shake up Christmas" by Train. Just in time for Santa's snow globe trick :)

♪ ♫ Holidays are coming..... so shake up the happiness!!! ♫ ♪