A REUNION OF GREAT FRIENDS

​When true-blue friends meet after a”long time passing”; it feels like nothing ever changed; like we just met yesterday. 

Today we met up for brunch with my former office colleagues who through the years became good friends. 

They are like family now that we share milestone celebrations together; be it a wedding, an anniversary or a birthday, we can count on each other’s presence. 

It was a happy reunion and as always we felt the same closeness and warmth we always have. Helen S. who migrated to Vancouver and currently vacation said: 

: Deep down in my heart, I thank God for the blessings of being friends forever. We treasure every moment of being together like this, sharing wonderful moments, laughter, reminiscing the past ……till next year. Well, she has to go back. 

 The beauty of our get together is sharing our personally prepared food,  well..,, except our host, Helen Conti, who used to head the HR of Conti’s restaurant before the family sold the whole enterprise. She ordered their signature baked salmon and chicken barbecue. 

There was baked lasagna, lapu lapu salad, pork barbecue, Vietnamese rolls and veggie paella. 

For dessert, we had Nathaniel’s buko pandan ice cream and mango cheese cake. 

There was also Leche flan as a party favor. 

I was pleasantly surprised when our host came out holding the cutest strawberry cake while everyone started singing happy birthday. I failed to take a photo of the cake but they took a video. 

I can only say that true friends are hard to find and lucky to have.  To quote my friend Nina:

“A real friend walks in when the rest of the world walk out. Let’s not let age change us …let’s change the way we age.  Our time is too valuable to be wasted on people that can’t appreciate who we are”.

MY UNFORGETTABLE BIRTHDAY!

​My advanced birthday celebration wouldn’t have been a million-fold happier were it for the presence of my walking friends, the Sweet Magnolias. 

I was surprised that they went out of their way to come up with a gift I’d truly love. It took them half the night to decide which design I’d like best out of all the beautiful collection of dinner set from:   At Home With Maria. 

At least they did not go far since one of us,Maria Claire markets all those exquisite, colorful and beautiful wares that a good homemaker who knows quality home wares would love to add to her a collection. 

To compliment the dinner set for 12, Claire gave me 12 of those modern transparent chargers and colorful placemats. 

I received other equally interesting gifts but I’d like to tell everyone that the At Home With Maria collection is worth acquiring. 

Wait, there’s more!  This 3-tiers cake with a garden theme of the most decadently moist chocolate; fully decorated with edible plants was a surprise. 

Im happy that my sister and niece drove all the way from the other side of town to grace my party. It turned out that they easily mingled with my friends before i knew it they were exchanging contact numbers.  

Me with my sister and niece 

It was a happy event. I thank Jim who entertained the husbands. It was his idea to hold this party and he made it happen. 

Thank you everyone for coming, I had a great time. 

FEELING GREAT AT 78

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What an incredible gift to be alive! It’s a wondrous feeling  to be lucid with all my mental and physical faculties intact. Moreover, isn’t it awesome that I can still walk 7 kms everyday sans any pain. 

                      Wonderful blessings

I draw inspiration from past experiences and my present circumstances to appreciate my life better. 

Professionally fulfilled in an institution educating children for 30 years; 

Happily married to a gorgeous, dependable and supportive husband who sings love songs to me everyday.  

For bringing into this world three wonderful, generous and thoughtful children with whom I'm beyond proud to tell the whole world about them and what they have made of themselves. 

I gained 3 professionally accomplished children in law;  an amazingly stunning daughter and two handsome, responsible and family-oriented sons. 

Add there our treasures;  two beautiful and loving grandchildren who keep us current in this fast-paced digital world. 

Grateful as well to find myself finally embedded in a community of like-minded and supportive friends. 

       WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR

 Do the above photos say exactly how I feel: “What more can I ask for”?

                THE REAL SCORE

Having lived more than three quarters of a century, I know that there were more years before and less years ahead to my life.  Time is running out. Oh my! Where did the time go?  It flew like a tornado. 

I need a plan to make the most of my remaining days; I can’t just let life pass me by.  In Costa Rica, a Blue Zone country, they call it “plan de vida”, a lifestyle aligned with a purpose; one that is totally opposed to a stressful fast-phased lifestyle; like “getting things done as much as possible and as soon as possible”. 

I feel inclined to follow the lifestyle of people in the Blue Zones; the five regions of the world where the longest- living people reside.  It is said that they  integrate “healthy natural foods, social connection and natural movement”. 

They say that the Japanese concept of finding one’s “ikigai” is directly link to longevity; ikigai being the motivation or inspiration in one’s day.  Walking with my friends first thing in the morning is my ikigai for it gets me out of bed and makes me look forward to each new day. 

What else shall I do then but enjoy life’s simple pleasures; walking, gardening; socializing, laughing, making new friends, and engaging more with my family, my friends and my community. I must savor the small pieces of heaven that each day brings. 

Have you heard of Mildred Kirschenboum, the most instagrammed centenarian?  This is one recipe of living active and healthy at her age. She said: 

“I focus on what I have, not on what I don’t have and be grateful for all of them.”. 

I’ll continue learning new things; prepare healthy cuisine  for me and my husband and for the occasional visits of my children.  And  I’ll do the most wonderful thing that old folks do; 

“JUST LIVING!”. 

As I celebrate my 78th birthday, I am so grateful for the countless life lessons I learned,  the good days with all the blessings, all the opportunities to live my best; maybe much more than I deserve.  I won’t change anything even if I can. 

FEELING GREATAT 78

What an incredible gift to be alive! It's a wondrous feeling to be lucid with all my mental and physical faculties intact moreover,isn't

THE STORY BEHIND THE VIETNAMESE PHO

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A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST WITH FRIENDS

​We had a sumptuous and joyous breakfast yesterday! Thanks to our gracious and generous  host,  Carol who prepared this delicious breakfast. 

Thank you as well for this elegant table setting. 

Welcome back Cheska and Claire! We are happy that almost all the Sweet Magmolias are home now except Tess who is pressntly touring Vienna with her better half. 

Claire, from the photos you shared, your Jacoboys indeed had a blast in Singapore and Legoland in Malaysia. 

Likewise, Cheska’s family had a great time bonding with the elders and cousins in India. 

Her teenage son even celebrated his birthday there. Look how tall he is and still growing taller. 

              

                  Back to our breskfast

As usual, Carol’s breakfast fare was over-the-top. At first I didn’t know where to begin but Carol handed me this delicious buko still in its husk, the juice is sweet and fresh. 

There were fruits galore! Mango, apple, pear, dragon fruit, papaya, orange wedges, sweet sampaloc and banana. 

This ceviche in my bowl eaten with crispy papadams from India was amazingly fresh and crunchy.  

Here’s where you can have a refill. 

          And on to the main course

What to choose?  What to eat first? Shall I eat them with rice or bread?  I enjoyed them more with rice, like the majority did. 

            

             But wait,  there’s more!

I could’t pass up on my favorite, the suman sa lihya with a yummy white sauce. 

And there’s that soft and fleshy macapuno in very light syrup. Yummmm! 

Of course we always finish off with the most delicious cooffee that all of us serve in our own homes. Great coffee is a must, i guess we all expect it.  At Carol’s there’s monk fruit powder with stevia but I only put cream in my coffee, nothing else. 

Wait, i need to include this. Jim and I went out to see Carol’s dipping pool and jacuzzi at the back. We had our photo taken 

We thank Claire for these chocolates from Singspore. 

Thank you Carol for this wonderful breakfast. You really outdid yourself again with your over-flowing spread, beats some hoteks in town. 

We had a lot of fun ! 

WISHING CLAIRE AND FAMILY GREAT ADVENTURES IN SINGAPORE

​When one of us Sweet Magnolias embarks on a trip abroad, we are happy for her as she sets out to see new places and gain new experiences. 

With Claire, it could be bittersweet since she is the youngest bubbly one who always make everything light and happy. 

Today we wish Claire the best of adventures and enjoyable moments as she makes happy memories with her family. 

This is just the right time to bring her Jacoboys along; Caleb is 5 and Karl is 7. At this age, they will surely appreciate and remember every adventure that they will cherish forever. 

Here are Caleb and Karl: 

Singapore is a tourist-friendly country, very safe with many places to see for the young and the young at heart.  Since they are bringing the Jacoboys, they planned to visit the Universal Studious, and other interesting adventures in Sentosa. Then they will cross the border to Kuala Lumpur to Legoland Malaysia Resort. 

Today, Mel hosted the sendoff breakfast. 

This box of cookies is a souvenir from King Charles’ coronation in May brought by Carol for our host. 

The husbands had their breakfast in the veranda. 

Thanks a lot for the sumptuous breakfast Mel. For starters we had fruit compote and the charcuterie board of cheeses, grapes and nuts. 

Followed by Muesli of oats, nuts and dried fruits with yogurt dressing. There’s this yummy lychee juice along with it. 

This was followed by grilled cheese sandwich, sunny side up and chips. 

As if that wasn’t enough, there’s macaroni salad which I failed to take a photo. Of course we finished off with coffee, lots of laughter and interesting stories. 

Our get together always culminate with a group photo. 

We are missing Cheska who will be back soon from India. I’m sure she is having a great time with her family. 

And Tess is still in Rotterdam, busy now training for another 10-km run early next month.  We are proud of her for having finished a marathon earlier. 

Claire, we are sending you well wishes for happy times with your family. We hope you will carry them in your mental backpack and make the most of your vacation. 

May your flight be smooth, your journey be safe, your experience be rich and your memories be great. 

Send us lots of photos and come back safe.