what i've been up to you ask?

well, i've mostly been telling cheryl that she's making more work for herself than she needs to, and if she complains that she doesn't have enough time to finish everything that i'm going to have to beat her senseless with a shoelace.

or something to that effect....

the final stretch

Well, I have finally gotten a chance to catch my breath and write this blog. The only time I get to rest is at work. Ironic, don't you think?

So, things have been busy. It is all the small details such as programs, table arrangements, favors, and such. I have been running around like a chicken without its head and it is might ugly scene. Of course, alot of the anxiety is created by myself. I could make things easier for myself but I don't. Such as the programs. I could have completed them last month but I didn't. I could have choosen a more simpler cover design but I didn't. So, alot of my own anxiety is self-induced. I have no one to blame but myself.

There are still other things to do which I haven't touched upon. Such as packing my stuff to move into our apartment. I am thinking maybe I should pack after the wedding because then it would be less hectic. Yet, I think it might be me procastinating on leaving my families' house. It is such a great house and I will miss it dearly. I will miss my family dearly.

Soon, there will be a dozen people staying at my house. 5 of them will be flying in from the Philipppines. It is nice to know that the last night I will sleep in my house as a single woman I will have lots of family surrounding me. It is a pleasant thought.

Well, thanks to my family, I have been able to make it so far without admitting myself into the hospital. My cousin Ayee who came in a month ago has been very helpful and understanding and patient and incredible. There are more great words to describe her but I think you get the picture. She has been such a help getting things together, designing things, organizing and doing prep work. I have to thank her immensely. I really don't know what I would do without her here. Also, my cousin My is also lending a hand or two in finishing the programs. My dad is helping out with favors. My friend Terry also helped out in making table numbers. You really find out how many hands it takes to make a wedding. And I appreciate all these hands.

I am not sure if this will be my last blog. I might find some small increment of time to update you on the wedding. If I am lucky. If not, I will see you all at the wedding.

thank you roehl

i had a great time this weekend, and it was all due to roehl, so thank you very much. and thanks to jeff, steve, julman, barney, pat, and joel for coming by.

i learned two things this weekend:

1. roehl does not like it when you put on the heat,

and,

2. never, ever, let steve order anything over the phone. ever.

again, thank you all very much, especially you roehl.

and a shout out to libby for his assistance in all of it. thank you.

Bridal Shower Part II

(this is really cheryl's post. i just added the pictures and then published it, so it looks like my post, but it's not. sorry.)


This weekend was pretty hectic. The second bridal shower was this past weekend and it was held at my house. Well, that meant a lot of work and preparation to make the house presentable. My dad has been working really hard on the outside of the house for this party and for the out-of-country guests that will be staying at our house for the wedding. He has repaved the driveway, reseeded the lawn, painted the door and the garage. The house looks great.

We were going to have about 40 people in our house, basically friends of my parents and family members. So, that also meant alot of food. Some of the food we had catered and some of the food my mom made.


If people don't know before, my mom is a great cook so we had alot of good food to choose from. My future mother-in-law also offered us her great Italian cooking. We also had lechon, a roasted pig, that is common for big Filipino weddings. You can look at the picture of my dad carving it up.


Despite the diet that I was supposed to be on, I eat to my heart's and stomach's content.

Of course, Vin and I received a lot of gifts . We were lucky to get some great stuff for the house. Vin's mother brought a truckload of gifts. Bags and bags galore of gifts. I guess she must like me ; ) Vin's mom is just such a generous giving person. I guess Vin got that trait from her. I am just lucky to be marrying into such a great family.

Another very generous person or rather people are my aunt Luth and my uncle Hermie. They are the ones who made this whole party possible. If it weren't for their generous and loving spirit, I wouldn't have a second bridal shower; I wouldn't have all these great gifts; and I wouldn't have another chance to celebrate our upcoming nuptials.

So, I am a pretty lucky girl. I have a great loving family and extended family. I have great loving friends. I have a great and loving fiance and now, I will be getting another great and loving family. I am indeed blessed!!!

for more pictures, please click here. thank you, and good night.

some shower photos

here are some pictures from cheryl's first bridal shower (sorry it took so long, i lost the original disc she gave me).

clicking on a photo will take you to our flickr.com account so you may see the photo in a larger size.

Self reflection on stress management

I have noticed an inverted relationship between the number of days left before the wedding and my stress level. As the number of days before the wedding decrease, the greater level of anxiety increases. It is reflected in the less hours of sleep I have been getting, the increase in the number of acne I have been getting and the increase in sweets I have been craving (fortunately, I haven't been gaining the weight. I am only maintaining).

I have also noticed how I handle my stress level. Not so well, in fact. I have noticed that I am getting very defensive and jumpy when it comes to every suggestion thrown at me. I have unfortunately been taking it out mostly on Vin and my parents and I have to apologize. I realize it is a reflection of my own insecurities, my own need for perfection. I really have to check myself nowadays and make sure that I don't take it out on the people I care for the most. I think the next time I get those feelings again. I am just going to have to breathe slowly before I respond to anyone.

Many people have given me the advice of taking it one day at a time and remember what it is all about. It is hard to be mindful of that when you are caught up in the details of many things. Many expectations are thrown your way and I am such a people pleaser that I have a hard time not trying to meet those expectations. So, here I go breathing in and out, breathing in and out. Practicing my mantra: "It is just one day. Enjoy it." I hope to, God willing ; )