nummmmies

K, for serious... I would love me some Channing Tatum.

I don’t think that he needs an introduction, but for those who don’t know him… Let me fill you in.

He started out in the fashion industry modeling for noted clients such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Armani, later scoring campaigns with American Eagle Outfitters, Nautica and Dolce & Gabbana. He then made previews on television commercials with Mountain Dew and Pepsi and was later casted as a dancer in Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” music video.

My crush with him, actually began in 2005 when I watched ‘Coach Carter’, he later starred in ‘She’s the Man’, ‘Step Up’ (dancing movie – LOVE!!!), ‘Stop Loss’ (love love love) and just recently he was on UFC 97 to promote his new movie ‘Fighting’…

Synopsis:
Fighting is a rough-hewn heroic tale about realizing dreams of glory, putting audience’s ringside at high-stakes underground street fights. Tatum stars as Sean Arthur, a young man who scrapes up a living hustling counterfeit merchandise in NYC. With family tragedy in his past and his father keeping him at a distance, this outsider has little to motivate him. A chance encounter with veteran street-fighting coach Harvey Boarden (Terrance Howard) leads to a whole new career for Sean. The ensuing bouts get tough, especially with the criminal element horning in, so Sean gets tougher. He will fight to win, not only the prize money but also the unexpected new relationships that are strengthening him.

I don't care how gay this movie may sound... I'm soooooooo watching it!

Another thing that I love about him, is how he linked up with his co-star from Step Up (see attached).

When I watched this movie, Derek at the time was working up north... and there's this scene where he picks her up, with the sun somewhat setting in the background, and starts spinning in circles with her in his arms... I recall saying out loud how I wanted to do that with Derek, and the girlfriends that I was with started laughing... but I was so serious!

Anyways, sorry for getting off track there... to my knowledge Jenna and Channing are still a hot item and going strong. I just hope, if they truly love each other, that they can withstand the pressures and itches that might come while working in their industry and make it just as long as Will Smith and Jada Pinkett.

Who's down to watch "Fighting" with me?!?!

slacky slack slackness - with good reason

I’ve been slacking on the posts… I know, but rightfully so, I think. The last few days I’ve been scrambling to prepare for a presentation for a course I’m in; in fact I just presented yesterday evening, it went ok. I get super nervous when reading or presenting in front of an audience… so nervous I have to practice deep breathing and it feels like I have to pee! I’ve been doing readings at my church for quite some time now, so you’d figure I’d be use to it… but I’m not, I figure it’s because I don’t read that often that I still get nervous.

Another reason for my slackyness is Derek and I just got back on Friday from a weeklong trip to Mexico. We went for his cousins wedding and like any other Filipino, of course, I had to bring back pasalubong…

Pasalubong is very popular among Filipinos as it keeps the bond with friends, family, relatives or someone who has a close relationship with you. The gesture of handing out "pasalubong" conveys that loved ones are being remembered while away. Pasalubong can range from food items such as fruits, imported confectionery goods and other sweets (i.e. chips, canned goods and the most common are chocolates). Pasalubong can also be other items such as shirts, novelty items, knives and toys among others. Pasalubongs are often not wrapped and given to someone as it is.

My pasalubong for my niece and nephew were sweet luchador masks… check it!

Fighter Profile Pics:

Toe to Toe:

*DING DING* - fight on:

Best Thing Ever!!!

Lately I have been fighting to stay on the treadmill and finish my workout at the gym, so last week I decided to run my ass to the gym... My own husband didn't think I was going to do it... but I did and I beat him there!

I found this sweet site where you can measure the distance of your run or walk, just type in the "Edmonton" or the city were you live and start tracking!

It's great - you can get an accurate reading of the distance even if you run through trails and side streets in your neighborhood; another sweet option is switching to satellite mode, I started mine right from my driveway/sidewalk... hahahaha you can honestly see our ferocious van parked outside our house! - check it out!

my life...

I’m leaving in FOUR days for Mexico! ... and when I told my nephew that I would be missing his 11th birthday… to say the least he was upset and so I planned a whole day event to make up for my absence, which actually turned into a whole weekend celebration.

I kicked off our Saturday by making breakfast for my little monsters and Derek, the kids requested chocolate chip pancakes and I whipped up some frrrench toast for the hubby. Then we made our way to Justin’s Tae Kwon Do promotional test… (he's the one in the red).

His promotional tests usually last around 2 hrs... this time, however, it was more like three! I started to worry that we wouldn't meet our timeline and do all the things that I had planned on doing... we quickly grabbed a bite to eat and made our way to our first destination, the Edmonton TELUS World of Science to see the art of the brick

As you can see, everything was pretty sick, it's quite unbelievable that everything is made out of LEGO... I thought that there was going to be more pieces, but then again it was all made by one artist.


"Nathan Sawaya is based out of New York, his creations are constructed from nearly one million pieces they were built from standard bricks beginning as early as 2000… Sawaya’s art form takes shape primarily in 3-dimensional sculptures and over sized mosaic portraits…"



We then went to our city's famous tourist hot spot for a round of mini golf and to get the little guy some birthday presents... he's quite fond of reading so we let him pick up a few books to fuel his mind and expand his vocabulary. I'm all for the gifts that get used, I'm the aunt that gives clothes at Christmas and books for Birthday's, I've learned my lesson through the years... the TOY may get played with for a few days, but they get bored and a new and better toy will be released... clothes are my favorite gift to give because it'll get worn for a good year or two, and how can you go wrong with a good book? I had planned to also catch a movie at the mall but while we were playing mini golf... Derek couldn't resist to get a little competitive and wager a bet; it worked out that if Derek won, he could lay on the couch and watch the Oil game or watch a movie with us... to cut this story a lil short, Derek gave our hometown team some luck and the Oil had beat the Canucks 5-3... I didn't lose our bet that bad either... Derek had won by two points too!

The kids and I did end up watching a movie -

This 3D movie was pretty awesome with a star studded voice cast of Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, and Stephen Colbert. Watch it... I promise you won't be disappointed!


So that kicked off our Saturday Events... Sunday was a little more relaxed with some Jesus time, a little indoor Soccer Mini World Cup action and some fantastic family dinner time at the Wokkery.


***
FYI - even with the lack of soccer skills I have... I think I could play for the women's Filipino team... my niece could too... they SUCK!!!! it's kinda embarrassing...

*personal goal... play on team next year, at least it'll be good exercise!

“And Such Is Life…”

In the recent passing of my godfather; when extending my condolences to his family and my godmother, she so eloquently put this horrible ordeal in a phrase that eased my mind and my heart… “And such is life”.

I have been to handfuls of funerals throughout my life, I remember being dragged to funerals and prayer services when I was young to whom I didn’t even know or recognize… my parents would tell me ,”oh, you know Lolo/Lola/ Tito/Tita (insert name here) they are so and so’s aunt, cousin… relative”. And it was always a big thing for Filipinos too… there’s the prayer service continued by food, and then the funeral service also continued by food and then the 40 days celebration... again continued by food and you would always see people from the Filipino community that you haven’t seen in months or years; all who are there to commemorate the life of the deceased.

I recall the first funeral that I went to... that I actually knew the person, my Grandpa Santiago, Ago for short; we drove all the way to Seattle, WA. My Aunt, whom I consider more like a cousin, because she is so young, was super upset when my parents and relatives started taking pictures… and making us stand by the casket and took more pictures… I think it’s a Filipino thing… anyways I was in Jr. High and ever since I was a toddler we made constant trips to the US and Seattle was more than often a stop that we would make. I remember my Ate Sonya brought us to where they sell the caskets and urns and such, and I vividly remember the cheapest casket of them all – a cardboard box – I don’t think they would bury people in that, more so for cremation… or at least I would hope so! They also had little containers/viles that could be worn around your neck, which holds a lock of your loved ones hair. Just recently I have seen the handprints or finger prints that can be set in a pendent which also would be worn around the neck, the latter idea I think is neat.

My Grandpa Ago had served some time in the US Military and just like in the movies they had the Trumpet playing “taps”, preceded by the 3-volley Salute and then they presented my Grandma Corazon, or Azon for short, the American Flag that laid across his casket… it was beautiful and has a left an impression in my mind and heart till this day.

Derek, my husband, hasn’t had the privilege or the desire to attend very many funerals. I’m actually glad that my parents brought me along and that I got to experience every single one of them; I’m not saying that it makes it easier… because it doesn’t, by any means… I still cry at every single one that I attend. I think, however, that it helps me to accept what’s happened and has helped me to learn how to deal with the uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable situation.

Which brings me to the words of my Godmother, Ninang Linda, “and such is life”… everything is given life, sometimes it is certain how long that person, animal, organism has to live, but it is the circle of life that one day that person, animal, organism will meet its demise. For us that believe in a greater god, we will live in a kingdom among all that we have survived…

rest in peace.

love love LOVE…

Life has its ups and downs… yesterday; however, was a definite UP!

My godsister, Mary, chose me… only because her husband was working, but I gladly took the silver… to go to the Beyoncé concert with her. She scored free tickets through her work, and SCORED is definitely the operative word, we had to pick up our tickets from the will call where there was already a line forming to get in at 6:30, an hour before the start of the show. We had no idea what seats we were getting hooked up, we both figured somewhere close but not that close… its funny because Mary had mentioned to me earlier in the week that she was going to bring her camera – given – and binoculars… I thought the girl was crazy and figured that we would probably get decent seats and be at least in the first bowl. The anticipation must have been killing Mary, because as soon as she got them, I mentioned that we should probably wait in the already forming line, she stopped and said, “Wait, I just want to see where we’re sitting… OMG effing FLOOR SEATS!!!” we both started screaming and I was jumping in joy it’s like we won the lottery. Out of all the concerts I’ve been to in arenas or stadium seating I’ve never ever been on the floor before… omg… omg… OMG!


To say the least the concert was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, Beyonce was looking fierce, thanks to the creative French avant garde designer Thierry Mugler, who is the creative advisor and costume designer for the "I AM..." tour.

“The duality between being a woman and a warrior.” That’s the spirit Thierry Mugler wanted to capture with the costumes he designed for Beyoncé’s upcoming world tour, and from the look of these illustrations, he succeeded"

Sadly, this is where my photos stop... my camera died half way through the show... thank goodness for Mary and her camera! Thanks again for everything Mary!!!