New Mimco Acquisition

Since I have been good lately (decreasing my impulsive buying habit), I decided to reward myself with a new Mimco acquisition. Of course, I seeked approval from my Hubby first. :)

Here is my purchase.

I love that it is a good size and is simple as well.

I was able to purchase this leather wallet at an excellent sale price (because of Mimco's mid-season sale). Check out Mimco's website, you still might be able to grab a bargain! :)

GMA in Australia

Hubby and I took a short stroll at a shopping centre the other week. It's one of our ways of unwinding, especially during hectic weeks. While sitting at the food court, look what we saw on the computerised Directory.

GMA Cable TV being advertised!

It was really strange seeing it being advertised in an Aussie shopping centre, but it was definitely great to see!

I'd love to see TFC (The Filipino Channel) being advertised too! :)

Japanese Goodies

Machiko, my former Colleague (my current Colleague's [Mark] girlfriend) came down to Melbourne from Japan for a one week visit. I didn't get to see Machiko much, except for a 5-minute hi and goodbye at Max Brenner. During the week she was here in Melbourne, Mark took the week of to spend time with her.

When Mark returned to work the following week, he asked mt to check my drawer. Look what I found!














Yipee! My favourite lollies from Japan! [Take a look at the cutely-shaped lollies]

It became my favourite Japanese lollies earlier this year when Mark brought some to work from his Japan trip.
Thanks Machiko for the yummy (and dearly missed) lollies from Japan! :)

Nuffnang Australia

I have been converted. I saw a post from my friend, Ate Jigi's blog about Nuffnang.

Nuffnang is a blog advertising community. Their ads are seen on 100,000 blogs by 3 million people daily. For more information please visit the Nuffnang site.

Glad to be part of this growing blogger community! :)

Revisiting Sydney

Spring has arrived, yay!

There are lots of things I'm looking forward to this spring - warmer weather (seems like we've had cold weather all year), beautiful flowers, birds chirping. But one extra special thing I'm really looking forward to - our visit to Sydney!

I haven't been to Sydney since November 2007, which was with my family and my hubby (fiance back then). This is the first time that hubby and I will visit Sydney on our own (well, almost. My cousin and her bf are also visiting Sydney same time as us). This is our birthday celebration for hubby. :)

We're so excited, we have already booked accommodation, dinners and a performance for our stay.

We'll be staying at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn. Basically, we were sold by the amazing roof top view of the harbour bridge, the harbour, and the Sydney Opera House. It is located at The Rocks, which is an ideal location - close to shops, restaurants and the famous landmarks.

One of my pressies to hubby is the performance we will be seeing - "The Taming of the Shrew" by Shakespeare at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House. When I purchased the tickets online for the performance, I also purchased the Gold Show Plus Package, which gives us the below:


A 2-course pre-theatre meal (per person) at one of their Gold Partner Restaurants:
Aria
Bilson's Number One
Cafe Sydney
Kable’s (Four Seasons)
Wildfire

2 x interval drinks (per person) at their Theatre Bars,

and our choice of:

1 x voucher for The Essential Tour (per person) OR
1 x Parking voucher (per transaction)

We chose to have supper at the Aria Restaurant (because Matt Moran is our favourite chef on Masterchef Australia), and selected The Essential Tour of the Sydney Opera House. Hubby has already gone for a tour of the Opera House but I haven't. I really want to take the tour, and hubby doesn't mind going again.

We have also booked at a couple of restaurants which my Colleague highly recommened - The Guillaume at Bennelong, and at the Cafe Sydney. I really can't wait to dine at these places because not only am I excited about tasting their meals, but seeing the magnificent view! All restaurants have the views of the harbour and the Opera House.

Another thing we are thinking of visiting is the Taronga Zoo. Although hubby has already been there, he doesn't mind visiting again. Maybe combine the Zoo with a cruise back and forth? We'll see as the date comes closer.

Hopefully we are able to meet with relatives and friends during our short stay in Sydney. It will make our visit even more special. :)

I'll end this post with some images of the locations we are visiting. Thanks for putting up with my excitement. :P

Old Sydney Holiday Inn

Cafe Sydney

The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare play)













Aria Restaurant

Guillaume at Bennelong

Loving Our Dates

I really gotta get back into blogging religiously. Gotta find the time, gotta find the time.

Last Thursday, 14 May 2009, hubby and I went out on a date again. It's not a date where you do numerous things, but just a simple date. Just how I like it. It's nice to just go out with hubby, just the two of us, relaxing and spending time together.

I might not have mentioned before, I barrack for the Carlton Football Club (in AFL) - and I am VERY proud to announce that we have a new recruit. My hubby! My hubby has gladly joined our team. Now watching footy when the Blues play is so much funner. lol :P

As a "welcome to the team" present for hubby, I got him a CFC beanie. Oh, I also got one for myself. :D

We walked through the shopping centre and walked past the Body Shop. I had remembered that my hands were starting to crack (always happens during the cold seasons coz I love washing my hands in somewhat hot water) and I misplaced my cream, so I bought another tub of Almond Oil Hand Rescue Cream. If you have hands that are extremely dry, try this, it's really good and the smell isn't strong. Perfect.

To top it off, we went to our favourite place, Max Brenner.  This is my favourite part of our dates, when we get to bond and talk about anything - plus of course, the yummy drinks and desserts. :)

Love you long time babe. Heehee. :*

First Date

Yesterday (12 May 2009) while at work, hubby sent me a text message saying that we will be going on a date that evening by watching a movie. I was thrilled to hear of this as we barely get to go out with just the two of us.

I replied to his message saying I was very excited about our date. He then replied saying he was excited too, plus a question "do you know why we're going out on a date?". I got stuck. I had no idea that there was an occasion. Minutes had passed and he hadn't told me why, so I gave him a call. He still refused to tell me, but gave in after a while.

It was the day - 9 years ago, we had our first date. :)

I was surprised to hear this from hubby because normally I am the one to remember dates - anniversaries, birthdays, you name it. But this time, I had failed. I was so proud of hubby for rememebring!

We had dinner at home with the family before we went off to Hoyts. I was the one who drove as hubby is not yet used to driving on the left side of the road. We had the best parking spot! It was like it was reserved especially for us. Woohoo.

We settled for Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

Of course, we cannot watch a movie without popcorn and choctops! Hubby had the banana choctop, and I had butterscotch.























It was a feel-good movie, somewhat a chick flick. But we enjoyed it anyway. Well, I enjoyed it. :P

On our way home we drove by McDonalds and decided to pay a visit. Hubby had a standard long black, I had a small hot chocolate, and we shared a slice of double chocolate cake.

















Before we headed home we bought some Maccas for Papa and my brother. We love our snacks after dinner. :)

Thank you for a wonderful date my love! I truly enjoyed it. :*

Mother's Day Present for a Non-Mother

Last Sunday, 10 May 2009, was Mother's Day. We started the day by attending mass, then having an unplanned brekkie at Maccas. :D

After that we headed for the Cemetery as it was also my Grandfather's birthday.

Soon it was time to go to my cousin's place, as we were going to celebrate Mother's Day there, as well as her birthday and her son's birthday. All 40+ of us immediate relatives were there to celebrate this special day.

While mingling with my relatives, we came upon a well-known (and loved) topic in the family - shopping. :P My Aunt shared with us her newest acquisition - an uber gorgeous Mimco bag. All of us were going gaga, as it was a nice bag and it was on sale! The original price was around AU$245, but it was on sale for only $80!

It was sold out at the branch in the City (where my Aunt got it from), and was also sold out at our nearest shopping centre. So, we dialled the outlet at Bride Road and BINGO, they had stock there. Without hesitation, I reserved 2 - one for me, and one for my other Aunt.

Upon hearing that, my other Aunt also said she wanted one so I rang the outlet again and requested then to place 3 bags on hold. Minutes later, another one of my Aunts heard about it and wanted one as well. Again, for the third time, I rang the outlet and reserved 4 of the same bag!

Since I am now a "Mrs", I had to inform my hubby of my soon-to-be purchase. Lucky for me, hubby wanted to pay for it! I insisted that I pay for it myself, but he wouldn't let me. I obliged. :D

Not long after, four of us headed off to Bridge Road to collect our bags. Good thing we rang before going there because after we purchased our bags, there was only 1 left.

Funny thing is, the travel time took longer than the time we took to buy the bags. Haha.

Here are a couple of pics of the much loved bag.





The Mimco bag from the front.

The view from the bottom of the bag.












This bag is extra special because hubby gave it to me, even if I'm not yet a Mother. :)

Thanks be! Mwah! :*

Returning Blogger

I have been absent from the blogging world for too long.

I missed blogging about the significant events in my life.

I missed blogging about my shopping finds.

Most of all, I missed all of my blog sisters! :)

Fingers crossed that I will be able to continue my blogging like I did before I went on holiday.

I am Home

Many things have happened the past six weeks - majority I have failed to blog.

Among the many wonderful things that happened during that time, I would say one event was a miracle.

My husband got his migration visa approved!

We had always wanted to come back home to Melbourne together, for good. However we really weren't expecting our prayer to be granted.

At precisely 2:03PM Manila time on the 20th of April, a very important letter arrived in my husband's email inbox. The letter which would change our lives forever - the approval letter.

I was in the Philippines visiting my husband during this time, and this letter was received five days before my flight back to Melbourne. Upon receipt of the approval letter, we tried all channels to be able to grab a seat for my husband, so that he could fly home with me.

Once again, with God's help, the day before I was due to leave, we were able to secure a seat for my husband on the same flight as me.

Thank you all for your wonderful support, most especially for your prayers.

It is true that whatever is meant for you will be given to you - when you least expect it, at the perfect time.

Now, My husband is here with me.

Now, I am finally home. :)