Christmas 2013

Here is a picture diary of our Christmas 2013 and Zach's first Christmas. Time is just so fast that it's been nearly 7 months since I gave birth to this plump chubby handsome guy. Our Christmas is well spent with family and friends and a whole lotta food. 

This is baby Hannah with Zach, too bad ate Monic's phone didn't capture it well but this one's funny though because both babies were finding their balance.

LOL

SMILE honey!

Instagram Sunday

Took these random photos for this month of December. Been really busy with work and study for the last two months. 

Zoe's new glitter shoesies and bag from Mel's US vacay

Zachy's New carseat! Got it for 50% as one of Best Buy's deal of the day. Lucky us. 

Zoe's first hair braid. 

Getting ready to brave the freezing cold

Made my own Macarons for the first time and I nailed it! LOL

Rosy piggy!

Selfie before work!

My first Christmas gift. Winnipeg is a Coach city! 

You read it right! It's official. I am now eligible to go through the process. I'm almost there! 

Tis the season to be jolly!

This photo was taken at McPhilipps Casino on it's annual employees Christmas party. The event started at 7:30 am that it was freezing cold outside the parking lot but good thing there was a shuttle going to the casino. The place was jam-packed with families. The place was transformed into a children's haven. There is a salon for kids wherein they can have their hair coloured and their nails done. As usual my Zoe was in line for the nails. She was so cute that she to open her hands for awhile to make sure her nails were dry. 

Zoe was most interested in the Mad Science corner because she is just so excited for school and until now she remembers all the experiments showed by the Science teacher. Aside from that, there was a long queue for the face glitter tattoos/painting and the Star Wars show. Zach, on the other hand, was just being his adorable and cute self and overwhelmed by so many people. 

We get to try making the Snowman candies and cookie designing. There was so much to do that we weren't able to document them. LOL. But at least we have this one remembrance of how fun filled the day was. Kudos to the photographer for capturing my cute babies and sadly didn't get hubby's angle (he hates this because its unflattering) yet my babies are so gigil here that I'd have to post them. We were all  wearing stripes too except hubby. LOL.

My Christmas wish was granted too! I can't spill them yet but it's a step closer to my dream.

Help the Philippines

Last November 8, 2013 the largest typhoon/hurricane ever recorded in the world's history hit the Visayas region of the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda was unbelievably strong that it was hurricane Sandy and Katrina combined. The most affected area was in Tacloban City, Leyte because it was geographically situated along the ocean. The place was 95% washed out by the strong storm surge that is comparable to a tsunami. Other parts of the country affected are Samar, Cebu, Palawan, Capiz, Iloilo and rest of Leyte. The aftermath has left thousands of casualties. Lives and homes lost and the trauma it has left on the people who were unfortunate to experience this devastating tragedy. Here is a video from CNN that will break your heart.

This aerial photo is the before and after scenario of Tacloban City

I don't want to post more pictures of this tragedy because it crushes me especially thinking of the lives taken and the loved ones left behind. But you can help the victims through your donations thru different international organization. 

Here are some of the links that you can visit to help/donate

Philippine Red Cross

World Food Programme

Save the Children

UNICEF

Habitat for Humanity

ABS CBN Foundation

No Help is big or small, what matters most is that you made a huge difference in someones life. 

Throwback Thursday: Macau 2011

                  I haven't really finished my blog post on Macau and thus I am taking the opportunity of the Flashback Friday trends in social media. Macau is also a part of China  which was earlier on colonized by the Portuguese which explains why their language has Portuguese translations as well. We stayed day for one whole day just to visit famous places and of course take pictures. We took a ferry boat from Hong Kong to get there and I am still looking for the remaining pictures. (boohoo) I travelled with my two close friends - Jap and Anne.

Made a wish on this Church that we visited

We had to wear our jackets since it was 12 degrees that day.

We were just roaming around the places and surprisingly met a lot of Filipinos working. 

This is how the streets usually looked like

Finally after a lot of walking and uber tired feet, Here is the famous Ruins of St. Paul Cathedral
FACT:  The cathedral was built in 1602 and destroyed by fire in 1835. Only the southern stone facade remains today.

Thank you to fellow Pinoys who were generous enough of their time to snap some shots of us.

Overlooking Macau from the top of the RUINS.

I was kinda missing my Zoe and took a photo of this little tyke :)

The trip to the Ruins was sure tiring because we got lost a few times and had to walk back and forth just to get there. The place is somewhat similar of Hong Kongs. Honestly, the travel was longer than the time we stayed in the place LOL. Moreover, the short trip was fun with all the street food just about everywhere and so you'll never get worried getting hungry or thirsty. This is also the first place where I tasted the infamous milk tea :)

Instagram Sunday

Playing Jingle Bells and yes it's Christmas at home!

TBT! Circa 2006 Mom and Bro

OOTD: Top, OLD NAVY, Leggings, GAP, Boots, H&M, Sunnies, COACH, Bow, ETSY Find

Chubby Nerd

Freshly baked Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Have a Blessed Sunday Everyone!

xx,

Joyce

Halloween 2013

          Last 2012, October 31st wasn't a good time for trick or treating because it was snowing with rain drizzles hence Zoe wasn't able to wear her costume and enjoy the candy feast. Here in Winnipeg, everyone are dressing up from babies to adults walking everywhere around the city. Children mostly were accompanied by their parents in different villages. Houses, apartments and establishments are decorated with spooky stuff which are really far from where I grew up. In the Philippines, halloween isn't that celebrated as how it is here except for the middle class and above in exclusive villages or malls with specific fees for your child. Apparently, that set up is the opposite in Manitoba, everyone can go trick or treating anywhere. 

On our way to Garden City to get Zach's costume. Zoe was already giddy to wear her princess dress.

Tadah! My Batboy who got a number of hypes from the people around especially from the Wendys staff. 

Here are my bundles of joy. Zoe as a medieval princess and Zach my batman

Trick or treating only in one street because she was too tired. We just want her to experience it at least she has a good memory about her first experience.

Zoe with her Auntie Criza, giving out treats and look at those chocolate stained mouth.

If Zoe was a little more hardworking she could have gotten three folds of this. The Reese's are mine and all the peanut stuff because Zoe (unfortunately) has peanut allergy, too bad! :(

I hope everyone had a good halloween!