Coming Soon! :-D

It's coming soon!!!! I'm reallllly realllllllllly realllllllllllllllllllly excited! Ryan has been working on a new design for our blog which means photos posted on my blog will be bigger than what I am able to post now! Ryan has been working on the blog design for the past week now, sleeping past 12:30 am... Sometimes I really have to pull him away from working on it so that we can both get some sleep... (I can't sleep well when I know he's working late at night...)

At first I looked at having someone else design it for us... but Ryan was determined to do it himself :-D. This is what I mean when I say, Ryan is my EVERYTHING :-D. He is my IT guy, my video editor, my blog site developer, my website creator, my 2nd photographer, my music composer, my music arranger, my solist, my pianist, my music tutor, my best friend, and most of all my husband… I would be lost without him and life would be a big blah... Hopefully, the next time I need to post on the blog, it'll be on the new one!

THANK YOU RYAN! ILYMYSM! ;-D

Christian Family Organization Night

Our 2nd Annual CFO Night was awesome!  For those of you who took photos at the HOLLYWOOD backdrop, please check the locale Buklod Bulletin board and email me your request for your photo.  Unfortunately, I do not have the photos from the CFO NIGHT backdrop. However, when I get those files, I'll be sure to let you know.

Here are photos of me and my family at CFO Night... in Long Beach.. Long Beach... Long Beach ;)

Just us..

The last wedding we worked on had a rented a photo booth.  The kind where you take funny photos and wait a couple of minutes to get a printed copy of your shots.  Here are a couple of photos of me, Ryan, my brother and cousin.  They help me out so much with weddings and events, I wouldn't know what to do without them.  Just a little thank you to them for all their support! I owe you guys dinner one of these days... maybe after our upcoming CFO Night. You guys are THE GREATEST! I enjoy working with you a lot and I hope we'll get to work together more this coming year.  

I'll be posting up pictures of Lauralee and Steve's wedding before the end of the week! After a crazy busy 3 weeks, I just needed a couple of days...to stop and take a breather...

Ryan and I taking another opportunity to be photographed!

Happy Birthday Johnson!

The Siblings: L-R: Ryan, me, Johnson, Janice and Jordan (Missing In Action = Benson)

My brother Johnson celebrated his birthday today, Sept 29th working on the Area 3 movie poster for the upcoming CFO Night.  It took him 5 hours to complete because he was using such an old laptop. The laptop was a hand-me-down... it came from me when Ryan arrived from PI bringing along with him a faster computer.

Today, Ryan and I decided to buy him the computer he's been hoping for. After work, we drove down to Best Buys in Downey, CA and got him a computer, a flat screen monitor, and a printer. We drove home and left it in front of his bedroom door. I told mom, papa, and jordan not to say anything to him because I wanted it to be a surprise :-D We were all going to the Area 3 taping that Johnson would be directing and editing.

During the taping, Johnson was working hard as director. Afterwards, he planned to go home and rest because his feet were hurting and he was tired.  I kept agreeing that he should so he can ;).  When he got home and saw the new computer, his sleepiness went away and so did his weariness...  He's at his room getting his computer all set up. I guess you can say that he loves his birthday gift :-D

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Johnson.  You're a cool brother..... irritating at times... but you're cool.  You better enjoy the compliment, because you know me, I'm not good at giving them to you.  I know I'm hard on you at times, but know it's for your own good.  I know you'll be successful in life so you need to believe in yourself and most of all our Almighty God.

Seriously, you have so much talent... sometimes I think you don't know what to focus on because you have so much talent! But stay focus and you can accomplish anything you want. I'm thankful to have you as a brother and I hope and pray that your wishes in life come true as long as it is not against God's will.  Keep active always in the faith because you know that it is the only treasure, the only true wealth we have on earth.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS believe in what God can do for you... He is the only reason why we are still alive... and like what your Kuya Ryan told me... EVERY SINGLE BREATH is a GIFT from GOD.

Happy Birthday again! Oh and I need you to finish editing the video in a month please! ;-D

Love Ate Joan and Kuya Ryan

Who's Engaged!?

HE'S ENGAGED!? 

I had heard through the grapevine that Kuya Richard De Castro got engaged but I didn't believe until I got an evite to an engagement party from him...It was hard to believe because Kuya Richard is always kidding around!  Sometimes I don't know if he's telling the truth!  So when I finally met his bride to be, it hit me! HE'S ENGAGED!!

L-R: Me, Mimi, Kuya Rich, Ate Yolleta, and Karen

Mimi and Kuya Rich are wonderful together!  They met through a friend he had visited in North Carolina.  I was asking Mimi so many questions, that I started to feel bad because it was as if I was giving her a job interview... Sorry Mimi!  I just wanted to know all the details... how they met, how he proposed, when the wedding would be, where the wedding would be, the color theme for their wedding... but she was sooooo nice and answered all my questions... 

I found out that Kuya Rich had set it up to propose to her during her birthday.  He gathered friends and coworkers to meet at her parents house.  When Kuya Rich and Mimi arrived to her parents house, she thought it was some sort of surprise birthday party. When they started singing the happy birthday song, he brought out a cake for her. However instead of the cake having the usual Happy Birthday greeting, it read, Will You Marry Me? It was sweeeet! ;)

This evening while we were watching the video, Kuya Mel and Ate Leni were asking Mimi to come over to the kitchen. There was another cake!  Mimi came out of the kitchen and she started to sing Happy Birthday... she brought the cake out to Kuya Rich.

The delicious cake from Kuya Mel and Ate Leni

They are so cute together!!!

You two are so right together! Congratulations! I can't wait till your wedding day! 

Welcome To The World Little One!!

Congratulations to Myke and Vanessa!  Maia Angeli Caasi was born on August 23, 2008.  She is so adorable! Every time I see her, I just want to eat her up!  She's so tiny and did I mention adorable!?  

Myke and Van: You two are going to be awesome parents!  We're so happy for you both!

Maia: Welcome to the world! I pray you grow up to be an active member of the church! When you grow up and happen to read this post, I hope you see how much your mom and dad loves you through the photos you will see below... oh and don't forget your aunties and uncles as well who were so excited to meet you! ;D

Here are some photos taken a day after she was born.

Driving behind me...

I just needed to blog this to remember how Ryan shows his sweetness to me. First of all, although the things he would say makes me roll my eyes because of corniness, I have to admit that it does make me smile and laugh in the outside and makes my heart happy as well..

On the way home from work last week, I decided to drive. Not sure what day it was, but its really rare that I drive home from work. Ryan usually does all the driving while I get to rest and nap from a long day at work... So while I was driving, I kept encountering drivers who just wouldn't let me get through the next lane.. some would speed up, or other cars from the other lanes would change to the lane that I needed to be on without signaling so of course if I was not the careful driver, they would have hit me!=P (Note To All: ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE CHANGING LANES - ALWAYS SIGNAL)

I was getting really frustrated with those drivers and so I started to vent out to Ryan... After venting out and a couple of minutes of silence, he says to me, "I wish I could always drive behind you."  I didn't understand what that meant, so I was like, "Huh? What are you talking about?"  Then he repeated it again and explained, "I wish I could drive behind you, so I can always let you get through to the next lane."  

Like I said before... first I rolled my eyes.. so he starts laughing cause he saw I finally got what he was trying to say... and then I suddenly realize... this is my Ryan being romantically sweet to me! So I joined him in laughing, but had to throw in a, "you're so retarded"... =P 

Ryan is like my stress reliever.. He does so much for me that sometimes I wouldn't know what I'd do without him... He's truly a gift...  a blessing from God that at times I don't know how I could have been so lucky to have him as my husband...

Anyways... enough of the mushiness from me... I just wanted to record this moment because I think it would be nice to remember these "simple joys" that God gives me in my life...

God Will Provide For Her Absence

Yesterday, we laid our beloved aunty vivian to rest at Cypress Forest Lawn.  It has been one of the most hardest two weeks ever... and I know it'll always be hard no matter how many days, months, or years pass...

It will be hard not seeing my aunty vivian. 

It will be hard seeing her family without her.

It will be hard having family parties without her and her specialty dishes...

It will be hard... but like I told Joy this evening.. it'll get hard.. but it'll just make us stronger. It's when we are weak that we are strong because God is all the more closer to us.  My uncle Jojo emailed me a short message that keeps popping up in my mind and would like to post up on this blog... It was the last sentence in his message that read, "God will provide for her absence".  

I thought that was one of the most perfect thing that anyone could have said in a situation like this...  God will provide like what He always does for His children... so Joy, Fred, Jodick, Tasha, and uncle Willy, I pray that with God you will find the strength you need to go on because God will provide you with the comfort you and the rest of our families are needing at this moment in our lives...  Everything will be "okay" we just have to "always pray" because He will never give us anything that we can't handle...

This song is dedicated to your family as well as all our loved ones who are still grieving...

Aunty Vi: We miss you so much!

This was the last photo I took of my aunty vi.  Taken on August 24, 2008.  She passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2008... :(.......  We'll see you again one day....

Aunty V

I'll miss her greatly... my aunty vivian or what we call her as "aunty V". She was always positive about everything and nothing could keep her from being in a good mood.  Even when she was in pain... everything is always "okay". 

I'm going to miss you a lot aunty v.  How can we ever have another camping trip?  You were always the cook! I don't think I'll be able to plan one.... for a very long time.... a very very very long time. It would hurt to go to Mammoth without her there... 

Even when I was getting married in the Philippines... she was excited to go!! When I first told her that I wanted their family to be at my wedding, I remember her saying, "Of course!" without any hesitation.  She was even more excited when Fred and Natasha got married 18 days ago in New Jersey... Now here I am looking through the photos during the wedding... searching for my aunty V.

She definitely lived a full and happy life... raising three successful/faithful/active children that I am proud to say are my cousins...  and through them, I'll see a part of her always...

I miss you aunty and I am grateful to God for giving me an aunt like you...  Until we see each other again... and yes, I'll be sure to take care of Joy ;-D as well as Jodick, Fred, and Uncle Willy too.

East Coast Weather and Esguerra Wedding Preview

The weather in the east coast was the reason our flight out yesterday was cancelled and the reason why we had a 6 hour take off delay going back home this morning!  So for now, here's a preview of photos taken during Fred and Natasha's wedding. I'll try to get the slideshow out by tomorrow night because after 12 hours being inside a plane, I just want to crash... in bed that is...

For now, please enjoy these photos of the newlyweds!

Statue of Liberty to South New Jersey

Our morning started at about 5:30 am. Ryan, ate Peachy, and I were running really late!  We were suppose to meet everyone at Battery Park by 7:30 a.m. but because of the traffic and overall craziness of NYC, we ended up meeting my brother, cousins, and friends from Long Beach, CA at around 8:45 a.m. They waited for us for over an hour so our apologies to you all and thank you for waiting for us as well as picking up our tickets!!

As soon as we got there and had our tickets in hand, we went directly to the ferry boat that takes us to the Statue of Liberty.  This was our view from the boat.

Since we were all rushing in the morning and did not get a bite to eat, we decided to get some brunch at the refreshment area when we arrived at the Statue of Liberty island.  Ryan, Johnson and I ended up sharing two orders of fish and chips! YUMMY!! Afterwards, we headed off to line up to go inside the statue... AND it took about an hour to an hour and a half!! 

There are so much more photos from our trip to the Statue of Liberty, so to view them, please click HERE. 

We were planning on eating some NY Pizza but we were running late and had to get to South New Jersey (SNJ) for the wedding rehearsal! So we ending up getting some fast foods at a service/rest area on the way...

Here is one photo of the couple during the rehearsal.  They are so cute!  I think...no... I know I'm going to get teary eyed when I see these two get married... I still CAN'T believe that my cousin is getting married! After years of seeing him grow up... I know I'm going to get emotional... Good thing I have the camera in front of my face... I can hide it ;)

Everyone from the rehearsal left for Natasha's house where food was prepared.  It was really nice to have met some of the brethren in SNJ.  They're soooo friendly!  It's really a blessing to be members of the INC! No matter how far we live from each other.. whenever we meet, it's like we've known one another for a long time.. because we share the same faith :-D

ANYWAYS... Natasha and Fred surprised me and Ryan with beautiful personalized/engraved gifts! Fred and Natasha, thank you for everything! We are sooooo happy for the two of you!

Applebees! Finally!

After worship service this evening, ate Peachy, Ryan and I went to Applebees to get some dinner.  This is the FIRST TIME Ryan and I tried the restaurant so it's a big deal and should be blogged about! ;-D. Here's a picture of Ryan and Ate Peachy (two of the Arellano cousins - represent!).

We ordered 2 appetizers, the spinach artichoke dip and buffalo wings. I got an apple walnut chicken salad as well. I think ate peachy got a California something salad and Ryan got a Chop Steak with a baked potato. The food was deliciouso! (or what they say in tagalog: ANG SARAP TALAGA!!) We will definitely go back to an Applebees in California! Sorry if my pictures aren't large enough to view the food.... I didn't want any of you to get hungry and start salivating on your computer screens heheh ;-D

Okay goodnight/goodmorning! It's now 1:16 a.m. and I have jetlag! 

We have to wake up in 3 hours to visit the Statue of Liberty!

We're In NY!

We landed at the JFK Airport at around 5:40 am today. Ate Peachy picked us up and took us to this really cool restaurant called "Maureen's Kitchen" in Smithtown, New York. I was looking for a website but could not find any.  Just do a google search and it'll pop up reviews. Inside the restaurant looks like a herd of cows exploded because there are black and white cow patterns all over the place and cow figurines everywhere! Really cute! Here's a picture of the signage outside:

Regarding the food....All I can say is, DELICIOUS!  When ate Peachy says she has found a really cool place to try, I believe her to the fullest! The staff was really friendly and the food was yummy! Ate Peachy told me to try the French Toast Croissant with Cream Cheese stuffed with a kind of Rasberry Jam, so I did.  I'm going to use this blog as a means to spread the word on this place because I would definitely come again and try that french toast!

We're still a bit jet lag.  It's 12:36 PM east coast time which means it's only 9:36 AM west coast time.  Ryan is still napping and I'm just relaxing :-D  We'll be attending worship service today at the locale of Bellmore, NY. Tomorrow we'll be meeting up with my brother, cousins, and friends to visit the Statue of Liberty!   Ryan and I didn't get to see it the last time we visited NYC (which was 2 years ago) so we definitely have it as a TO DO this time! 

I'm actually enjoying the day doing nothing but just relaxing here at ate's home.  She has a cool collection of magnets from places she's been to.  I think my favorite one is the "good friends" magnet. It reads: "good friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they're always there." And of course, I need to focus on the Statue of Liberty magnet cause we're in NY!

Here are some photos I took here at ate peachy's home :-D. I need more stock photos for my use... I intend to take more during this trip!

More pictures to come! Signing off, unless I find something awesome to blog about again!

Fred & Natasha's Wedding Guestbook

I received Fred and Natasha's Guestbook today! I asked Fred if he could pass by the house, but it was too late so I told them that I would take a couple of photos of it to show them. It contains images taken during their engagement session from May. So here it is Fred and Natasha! I hope you both like it! Oh and it came with 2 pens too! How cool is that?!? I ordered another one as my "sample" to show to potential clients!

Brother Roque Blanco

I've known him since childhood. I've grown up seeing him as one of the leaders in our locale. I can't believe it's true... but friends have already confirmed of the news that he has finished his race...

Although Ka Roque will not get to read this, I'm going to continue anyways for his loved ones to read.. to know.. how much I appreciate his care, support he has given not just to me, but to the locale of Long Beach.

I know that we'll see him again, but I hurt not for him, but for the family he leaves behind... I pray that our Father will give you all the strength you need, most of all the faith that we will all see him again...

You will sorely be missed po Ka Roque.. so very much!!

Like Vapor

I am looking at a photograph of my cousin and I. It was taken this past January during our short family get-together in the Philippines. I'm sad because I didn't get to converse with him as much as I could have... I can't tell him how much I appreciate him traveling just to be with the family... now, I won't be able to encourage him to return to the church... it's just too late...

Life really is like a puff of smoke... like vapor.. that appears for a short time and then vanishes... I don't think I'll ever be prepared for death... whether it be of a family member, a relative, or a friend... Until now, I still remember those who have passed and I think of them often.. how they've finished their course... how I'm happy because they've kept the faith. They've become an inspiration for me...

But what about those I know who have not? How do I feel?? I'm beyond sad... I'm afraid...

I'm going to miss my cousin... the only thing I have left are the memories I had seeing him and the picture that was taken of us together...

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14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

James 4:14 NKJV

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Happy Birthday Ryan!

Ryan and I celebrated his 31st birthday today. We just came home from watching the musical Wicked and it was so awesome! Of all the musicals I've seen, this is by far the best and would highly recommend you see it if you haven't! I'm not going to elaborate on the story because I do not want to ruin it for the rest of you who haven't seen it... just trust me when I say, you need to see it!!!! Kudos to all the actors/actresses who performed this evening!

Afterwards, we went straight home. Ryan blew his candle and we ate the cake while recalling the events.. Happy Birthday Ryan! ILYVM!

Santa Monica

After a busy Saturday morning going to Olvera Street for Jordan's GATE field trip and meeting with our client who just booked us to do photography and videography for their wedding, some of my cousins and close friends and my siblings decided to go with me and Ryan to Santa Monica, CA to walk around the pier and 3rd St. Promenade. We brought our cameras with us of course and decided to take photos of each other just for fun... Since Ryan's birthday is this tuesday (4/29), we celebrated by eating dinner at this Thai Restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd and Ocean. It was a fun afternoon/evening and the weather was perfect! Here are some photos from today.

Riding the Carousel at Santa Monica Pier.

Ryan reminding us that his birthday is on 4/29

My pretty cousin Joy

Janice doing her sexy pose heheh

Central Libray, Los Angeles, CA

Ryan and I joined Jordan in a school field trip today for the Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) Program. Jordan is a GATE student :). It was an awesome experience for all three of us since we've never been to this library until today! This will definitely be one of my "places to go while we have free time" destinations.

Here are some photos taken from today's GATE trip. Please note that Jordan took most of these shots! We'll be visiting other popular LA Historical sites in the coming months with the GATE kids.

The GATE children with some of the teachers.

At the Tom Bradley wing of the library.

A picture of Jordan taking a photo of himself.

A water fountain sculpture at the library.

Ryan took this picture of me and Jordan in front of the library.

A Day With Ryan

A day spent with my husband Ryan in Pasadena, California. He came with me to attend a seminar for women entrepreneurs.  It was an opportunity to network with other people, however, we didn't bring enough business cards, so we couldn't network much.. (lessoned learned = bring lots of business cards!)

After the seminar, we headed off for lunch at Panda Inn Restaurant.  The servers were nice and that's one thing I always look for... We took our time eating because we had 2 hours to kill before a client meeting at 2pm.  

We headed to Best Buy afterwards and bought me a new SD Card Reader because I lost the one I've been using. I also bought a 4GB SD card as well :).  Then we went to the Starbucks located in the same center to meet with a bride who hired us to do their wedding photography!  I'm so excited to take their engagement photos this March 30th!

After our meeting, Ryan and I decided to go to Huntington Botanical Gardens again since we were close to the area and we finally got our membership card! The only gardens we were able to view were the Children's Garden, Chinese Garden, and the Japanese Garden again because we only had 2 hours left before it was to close.  It started to rain too! Here's a picture of the new Chinese Garden at the Huntington Botanical Gardens