Vlog 12: Riverside Cruise in Laughlin, Nevada (A short vlog)

Hello earthlings!! How has it been? I hope you're all doing good as always. I took a short break from uploading on YouTube because I had a very tough time last September. Life took an unexpected turn and went downhill from then on. But I'm doing okay now just taking things easy and working on bettering myself. 

When we were still living in Northern Nevada. I wish we had booked a cruise in Lake Tahoe because Tahoe is the best lake I've ever been to and I would always recommend it to anybody. PERIOD. Last July a few days after my husband's birthday. He decided to take me on a riverside cruise. It was so sweet of him to even plan on taking me during the pandemic. Although I was a little nervous to go because I was scared that we might contract the virus. Fortunately, we didn't and carried on with our lives. Our overall experience was great. There was a live band, food selection was good, and their service was excellent. I would recommend this to family and friends :-) 

This vlog is short but I hope you guys will still enjoy. Till next time and be safe! 

Vlog 12:

Valentine's Date (our first ever)

Hello sweet earthlings! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Whether you are alone or with someone. I hope that you enjoy the time of your life and do not feel less loved just because you are not with someone. Just remember what matters the most is giving love to people around us. I know loving a person can be difficult and makes us feel like we are not enough sometimes. I'm not expert about "love" and even I fail about understanding it.

Through my own experience all I can say is that no matter the distance, circumstance, trials and everything that makes us doubt love sometimes, they are nothing. When love is pure and the person is patient, faithful, and prays to God. Love will always win. Love will always find a way to you. 

I still remember back in college seeing my batch mates receiving chocolates, flowers or being asked on a date and while I stand on the side and think about when my time was - when mon amour and I will have the chance to go on a date. He lives in America and I was in the Philippines that time. So it was too impossible, physically. So we Skype, idd call or FaceTime when we have the time.

It was only last February 14, 2017 was our first date ever. We were able to celebrate Valentine's Day last 2015 when I was on an internship but it was not on the 14th and last year 2016 he messaged my close friend and asked her to surprise me and they were successful. I will never forget that.

I really enjoyed our date, that morning mon amour told me he was not going to work I was little upset and guilty because he skipped work just to celebrate Valentine's Day with me. We can do it on the weekend but I just went on and told him to never do it again unless it is really important. Mon amour gave me presents like tools for the kitchen, furniture for our bedroom and a little make-up stuffs. We spent our whole morning looking for things to set up with our room since we just moved to a bigger room. After that at 5p.m., I got ready and felt really happy and quite nervous I would say.

We had a reservation at 8, we had the full course meal and I loved the lobster and the bruschetta. It was a simple dinner date. After our date we went to the movies and watched Fifty Shades Darker. It was my first time to watch Fifty Shades in a movie theatre. I'm not a fan of it actually but it was the last movie that night so we had no choice. Funny thing happened after the movie, we went to the parking lot already and mon amour got something at the trunk and to my surprise he got me a box filled with make-ups. I'm not good at putting make-up nor very knowledgable about it but I use a little of it and he knows what I need and love. He told me, a lady with his boyfriend saw him getting me the gift and she said,

"How sweet! Where is mine?! (asking her boyfriend)",

It was cute. Lol.

I can't wait to spend more dates with mon amour. It was indeed a very memorable date! I kept telling him the next day that we should do it again. Hehe ;-)

Here is the list of my February favorites:
Music - Waking Up On A Picnic Blanket by Lullatone
Lipstick - Smoked Almond Lip Intensity by Mac (I usually pair this with Spice lip liner)
TV series - Good Morning Call in Netflix
Movie - Moana ;-)

Welcoming 2017!

Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope you guys had a fun-filled holidays and that you finally have enough energy and positivity to welcome 2017. 

For me it went very great in fact I never thought I can get my family and his altogether for holidays knowing we both are long distance ever since and I cannot wait to spend holidays and special gatherings with him for a life time. Yes, you just read it. Mon amour asked me to marry him last December and I might write a short blog about it in the future. We also plan to go back home and have a wedding so our whole family can attend. 

I would say 2016 made me a better and stronger individual and partner. There were a lot of challenges and good times but I made it through that is why I'm here writing this short blog. Lols. 

Anyway, if you have read from my previous blog my family came here for holidays and my wedding. It was intimate which I love because we both know having a big wedding in America was quite impossible for us at that time. Before that, we had no plans to get married we once talked about it but we both know we were not ready and we had our personal plans/goals for 2017. We wanted to focus with our careers and by the time we are ready we will have our dream wedding someday but I guess plans changed and sometimes we have better ones. At first I was scared because in my mind I was here for a grand holiday after all my hard work and money earned from my internship. I deserve a break and enjoy my savings before I work. But here I am sitting and sharing this to you which I'm totally happy with and I'm really enjoying my life right now. I have more exciting plans ahead and adventures to share with mon amour. 

S t a y  t u n e d! 

So our family met and we were able to spend a lot of time - I really miss being with them. Sooo much! Even before this, my sister have met his parents when she visited me during my internship and last 2015 my family met his mom. So this was like my family meeting his dad and elder sister. So much fun and I felt a little nervous you know? Has anyone felt that?

I was a little disappointed because the weather didn't comply with us. Most days it was either raining or snowing which made driving unsafe so we just spent driving around Lake Tahoe, Virginia, Olympic Valley and many other places. But it still better than not having them here, right? :-)

We went to food buffets, did sight seeings, ate sushi, more shopping, movie marathons, playing games and more eating and drinking. Hahaha. I wish we can do it again.

Sadly all holidays has to end. Last January 14th they left and I tell you the first two nights I was crying in bed but mon amour was there to cheer up :')


For 2017 I hope our plans will turn out as planned. We have many goals to achieve like going back to school, start saving up for our wedding in the Philippines, house, new car and hopefully having one baby soon.


Here are some of the pictures I took:

The first snowman we made :-P

P.S.

Sorry I sound weird or plain. 

December 14th : San Francisco aka hello family!

After Thanksgiving hubby and I did nothing but cleaned the apartment every weekend and bought few things for my family's room. We prepared everything from the room, food, clothes and the car that we rented on the day we picked them up in San Francisco airport. It was also our first long drive before we got married. It was 14th of December when my family arrived here. And we thought we weren't able to make it in San Francisco because it's been snowing even before Thanksgiving. I actually felt dizzy throughout the travel because I didn't have enough sleep and driving through the mountains wasn't my thing too. 

Unluckily, we got hit by a car. For a moment I thought we were going to spend the rest of the day worrying about the rental car or if the man will call someone up. But we were able to fix it and we enjoyed the rest of the day and we had spare time to do side trips while waiting for their arrival. Thought one thing I don't like about big cities is that there is always traffic. Coming from the Philippines, I'm used to being stuck in traffic but this was different. Driving for four hours and having to deal with traffic - I didn't like it at all. But I didn't let it get into me. I just slept through it. Lol. 

We went to Ghirardelli Square and of course, the Golden Gate bridge. We were supposed to go to Fisherman's Wharf but we had to leave early because of traffic. But it's okay I've been there once. I was just happy I get to revisit these places with hubby and his dad. Sadly, it was cloudy/rainy day in San Francisco. I told hubby the next time we are going to travel somewhere I want to try the best foods in the town we are visiting or anything that is nice to visit besides those tourist spots. I want to explore and experience the place by visiting the heart of it and know its history. 

So there, after Golden Gate and Ghirardelli we headed to the airport and while stuck in the traffic I couldn't help but think how it's like to live in San Francisco. Besides the busy and fast pace life in San Fo, I wondered what it feels like living there. I saw many cafés, museums, the list goes on and some of the streets are narrow or uphill and the cars are parked outside I mean, even in our place but it's very close to the main streets. It's different from what I saw in Los Angeles and Carson. I like the houses that is for sure and the city during the night. I think that is when it is more alive! So long San Francisco, I will be back again to explore more of you! 

If you any thing to suggest on where is the best food, store or things to do in San Fo please comment below! I would love to visit them someday! Thank you!

Thank God, we made home safely! We waited for almost two-three hours in the airport. I believe we left San Fo at 10 pm and got home at 2 am. It was windy when we reached Carson city. Good experience for my visitors. Haha. Lol ;-) 

Never is an awfully long time.

Hello earthlings! How are you all doing? Winter is finally here and I'm quite excited for new year. Well, in our city it seems like winter arrived very early. It's been snowing even before Thanksgiving unlike last year. 

So for the month of November I didn't blog so much because I didn't have the energy to sit down and write everything has happened. There was so much anxiety and stress but you know I think of it as a challenge for me to be a stronger person as I can ever be. There is just so much people around me that I think judge me for something I am not at all. I don't know I just feel like every time I speak to them they trash talk me behind my back even the adults. That's one thing about me I always worry about what other people would say to me. But you know, everyday I'm fighting and doing the best I can to be kind, respectful and still loving to them. 

November 13th

Mon amour and I drove to Virginia to witness the supermoon. We wanted it to be special because according to my research the next supermoon will  be on November 25, 2034. So we packed our dinner, chairs, hot cocoa, blanket and to my disappointment when we arrived to our spot I found out I brought the wrong camera bag. I was so frustrated with myself. It was too late to go back and get it. We just went ahead and ate our dinner. It was still a romantic night with him. Ahhhhh, I will never forget that night ;') After our dinner, we headed back home and grabbed the camera and went uphill to capture the city lights and the supermoon too of course. I tried my best to capture the city lights.

Winter is finally here

November 20th

Most of our weekends were spent cleaning the front yard. But you know it was actually fun and someday we will have our own yard to maintain buy ourselves. After our chores, we drove to the lake and to our surprise road was packed with snow. It was pretty freezing up there. It was a fun road trip to the lake, we just went sightseeing and take more pictures. As always! 

Thanksgiving dinner set up

Sweet Potato casserole

November 24th

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! This was probably the best Thanksgiving dinner yet. It was my first time to spend it with his family. I was so honoured to help his sister prepare our dinner. It was also my first time to make these dishes. Haha. Really delicious dinner. My favourite was the corn, turkey (lol), mashed potato and the stuffing. We spent our night at his sister's house and went Black Friday shopping (well more like window shopping) with mon amour's nephew and his girlfriend. We watched Fantastic Beasts. I will never forget the experience I'm the type of person who likes to watch movie from afar because I tend to have really bad aches when I watch very close but you know surprisingly, I even liked it more! Or is it because it was a J.K. Rowling movie? We got the love seat. I really like the movie. I wanted more of the movie! I can't wait for it!!! Great movie and story! 

November 26th and 27th

So this time mon amour and I brought gifts to our families. Not so much though just enough to make them happy. And we woke up to a very cold morning, it snowed all night. We attended the first advent mass. I cannot believe we are only a month away before 2017. What?!!! GOSH. I wish and pray that everyone will have a great year. I know we all have problems and trials never stops but what is life without them, right? It makes us learn about how to play the game called life. I think that's what makes life beautiful. Let's hold on and don't give up especially with our dreams. Never give up until you reach your destination. Problems and trials are temporary only. I hope your December will be filled with more love, faith and happiness. 

Faves for this month:

Song   - Atlantis by Bridgit Mendler

Movies - Dear Frankie and The Letter Writer
Gadgets  - Fujifilm SP2 printer and Sunpak TravelLite Pro Tripod
Make-up - Sonia Kashuk Eye On Neutral Palette

Miss Peregrine's Date with Mon Amour

"Let me glimpse inside your velvet bones."

- Edgar Allan Poe

What is more exciting thing to do than to start the month watching Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children with mon amour? I started reading the first book five years ago and was jumping out of joy to find out Ransom Riggs was publishing the second sequel and the same year they announced Tim Burton was directing the film. Oh myyyyy! What caught my interest to read Miss Peregrine's were the vintage pictures and the peculiar children. I love children. They never lie and they speak through their hearts. Always happy! I also like stories that took place during the war time. It's when you see how people or the characters develop and get through hard times of life. Just like today. The world is facing big problems and it's sad that one of them are the children they are the ones who have to deal with these terrible things. They deserve a great childhood memories not these bombings, terror and guns. 

I'm glad that Malala Yousafzai exists (she reminds me of Anne Frank - I love her). She is helping the children get the education they truly deserve and doing her best to give inspiration to people. You may want to read my post about it.

Going back to the date with mon amour.

It was October first. 

We went shopping. I bought sweaters in Old Navy and make-up goodies in Sephora. I got Tarte products. I may write a post about it in the future. 

After hearing a mass I told him if we could have soup for lunch and since it's starting to get chilly. We had viet pho. Yummy!! Though I really wish they serve ramen :'(

After roaming around the mall, we stopped at our favourite store, Whole Foods Market, we love their sushi there. Since we don't want to dine in at Japanese buffet like what we used to do last year. We just buy the $12.99 sushi. Not bad at all. Right? 

And ended our night with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.. I have a love-hate rating with the film. The casting was good and Burton didn't fail to establish peculiar ambiance but the plot was a little off. Downside of it was it felt they were rushing the story. This wasn't the best Burton film I would say. I wish they could have focus on making the story sequence better. I don't know it's just my opinion. The first half was great but the rest was like, "Eh? What?". From the person who read the book, they kind of stepped back with plotting the story. (I don't even know if I make sense at all. Lol.) Overall I give the movie a 7/10. Good thing mon amour liked it. 

Goodbye Summer

Ohh, another month has passed by and you never it's already 2017. Let me just give you the last snaps for summer 2016. Mon amour and I had a last dip in the lake last August. Though I was a little frustrated with myself that day, we were supposed to go hiking at the Eagle Lake which I wasn't able to see last 2015. I only had four hours sleep and woke up very early to watch the sunrise unfortunately I threw up and felt very dizzy in the morning. We slept for five hours and woke up 1 in the afternoon and decided to continue with our day. Since I wasn't able to swim last time. I took this opportunity to swim in the lake. It was my first time and the water was freezing cold! I had to temper my body every six minutes. Haha.

It was fun especially it was my first time with mon amour.

We parked a mile away so we had to walk under the scorching heat. So much fuuuuun though. I got a little darker. Still I enjoyed so much. I never thought I'd be doing these fun things with him after a very long years. There are still days when I ask myself if I'm dreaming or what. I'm very grateful - having someone to go to beautiful places such as Tahoe makes my heart melt. 

I hope everyone is excited for fall though! 

Till next time, earthlings!

Your Hand In Mine

I don't want to forget. I want these special moments to remain. 

I want my future children to read what I wrote here and see photos I took.

I want them to cherish every moment they will have with their special ones.  

---

Two weeks ago the family and I attended a company party. I was quite disappointed because mon amour and I have been planning to paddle board since last summer and I had a period. Ugh, why?! So I just sat all day and waited for the sunset because it's the perfect time to take pictures. Well, we played bingo with his dad and I almost won. I really enjoyed, it's been a long time. 

There's nothing to tell but share pictures with you again.

Sorry for a really short post ;-)

South Lake Tahoe

I cannot believe we're already passed half of this year. Where did the time go?

Besides being able to travel again, spend summer here for the second time and after finishing my internship. It feels great though I haven't been successful with my career but I'm happy and I know this is just the start of another unforgettable journey ahead. After all we deserve a break after our hard work. People these days are busy focusing with work and forgetting that there is another side of life where we can have fun and discover more of the world and ourselves and experience what it really means to live. Let us not forget about that, okay? Though even I is still working on that. 

As the birthday celebration of mon amour and his mom continues and before July ends. We drove to the lake and had a lunch picnic. It was a spontaneous picnic though. We brought Chinese take-out, chocolate cake, crackers and ice cream (let's talk about being healthy?!).

This would be the first birthday celebration we are both together after eight years (no work or whatsoever) Last year, we celebrated it but not on the exact day. So I'm extremely grateful and stoked! I hope we will celebrate more birthdays together in the future. 

I really love weekends.

It's the time to be around with the people you love, try new things and eat good food. Go fishing, go to theatres and what I love the most is grocery shopping all year-round. Haha. There are lots of things to do during summer and can it please slow down because I haven't done most of it. 

As this month ends, I hope that it will all be great month ahead and the remaining months. I hope this time things are better and we will be happier earthlings.