Getting-To-Know-You Qs

Snagged this Tag from N@W online group. Interesting and fun to answer.

1. Name: Jacqui Co-Soriano
1a. (If you're a lady) Did you change your last name, hyphenate, or keep your maiden name? YES, I hyphenated my married name to retain my maiden name. Since I've established my name in the telco industry, for easy recall.
2. Spouse's name: Mike
2a. Your spouse's nickname when he/she was 6 years old: Glenn
3. Child/Children' s name/s and age/s: Ico (13 years old) , Samantha Gabrielle ( 4 years old)
3a. Pet's name/s and breed/s: NONE.
4. Wedding date/s: February 21, 2004
4a. Your wedding colors: Spring Color - Shades of Yellow to Orange
4b. Your best wedding present: Rustan Gift Checks
5. Your birthday: June 14
5a. Celebrity ka-birthdays: Che Guevarra, Boy George
6. Spouse's birthday: February 4
6a. What you'll give your spouse on his/her next birthday: No idea yet. iPhone perhaps.
6b. What your your spouse REALLY wants for his/her next birthday: new cellular phones ; an iPhone.
7. Address / General location: Pasig City
8. Your job / company / line of work: Sales/ Telecoms Company
9. Your spouse's job / company / line of work: Carrier Relations/Telecoms Company
9a. On a scale of 1-10 (highest), how much your spouse enjoys his/her work : 10
10. Your school & course (& batch if u like): UP Diliman, Hotel and Restaurant Administration
11. Your spouse's school & course (& batch): DLSU , Business Admin/ Political Science
12. Your interests: Blogging, Surfing and Shopping
13. Business: (if you have): Part-time Retail Business
14. What part of the Philippines/ world are you from? : Mandaluyong, Manila
15. What part of the Philippines/ world is your spouse from?: Pasig, Manila
16. Social networking or blogging chuva you're part of? Facebook. Blogging, Twitter, Flickr
17. (Got this from a NaWie's Twitter) Favorite mushy or bagabag song: There's no easy way - James Ingram
18. Ever sent a text message to the wrong person?: Yes. Several times. Mostly work-related.
19. Any body parts which are aching right now? None
20. What's for dinner tonight?: Dinner with the family tonight. Not sure if Cyma or Sumosam.

This is an open tag ... feel-free to snag f you like! :)

MBAPs June Party Treat

The MBAPs June celebrants had a birthday treat last Sunday at Jody's residence in Cainta. Though the party treat a month late due to conflict of skeds and our demanding Mommy work duties, it was finally celebrated last Sunday of July. Anyway despite the rain, the MBAPs came in full force together with their husband and kids. The Mommies had a grand time with chika and picture moments at the dining area, the Daddies busy drinking beer and playing poker games at the grage area while the kids ... the kids busy playing inside the playroom. Ideal set up don't you think so? Over all, the MBAPs ladies had so much time bonding together. Shared so much wifey stories, shopping wish lists, weight loss pill secrets and laughter. Believe me, it was a great Sunday spent with fab ladies!

The MBAP ladies in our relaxed and oh-so full of dessert state

Striking a pose a.k.a family picture with the MBAPs

The Pretty June celebrants : Jane, Jody, Joy and moi

property buying at NC

I received email today from my cousin in based in US about a North Carolina property they are interested to buy. She told me that they found a great deal from The Dean Agency offering, Outer Banks foreclosures on the net. They've been considering getting a quiet place to relax, preferably an oceanfront condo-type of property as their retirement retreat from the hustle and bustle life in the city. I think they found the perfect place for them at Corolla NC at Whalehead Beach complete with golf course and shopping malls to suit their lifestyle. Based on the description and picture of the place, it looks heavenly and very relaxing. Truly happy for them and I hope their bank loan will get approved soon so they can move to their dream house.

thankful with the happy news

Another happy news for the family ... and more reason to celebrate and thank HIM for all the blessings. Just had my ultrasound result and I am happy to say,so far I am doing well with my pregnancy. Everything ok and ... the best part, we will be having a baby BOY this time! Oh a baby boy! Just what the husband had wish for! Now, he's uber excited and can't wait to see his little chum. He started browsing the net for sample birth announcements and so far, he's keen on getting these themed samples below. Really cute, don't you think so? Well ...few more months more, and Daddy will be happy to see his champ. :)

To know more about the happy news, read here .

good news for the family

Received good news from my aunt based in NY that her research paper was selected for oral presentation in the Gerontology Congress in Paris this July. We are really proud of her! Imagine, not only she'll be able to do some sightseeing and shopping in Paris, she'll do her case presentation in the study of Geriatrics (for the elderly) which she truly loves. Really, wow! I was told geriatrics is a booming field in medicine in the US. This is one of her reasons why she decided to focus her studies on elderly. As per my aunt, the US government prioritizes the health care benefits of the senior citizen's or elderly. As a matter of fact, they even encourage individuals, not only elderly to avail social security disability in preparation for their sickness or retirement. Like Allsup,a leading provider of financial and healthcare service to people with disabilities. It boasts a record of 98% proven success rate for individuals who comppleted the SSDI process. Wish our government and private health provider be as active with the geriatrics and disabilities benefits like in the US.

Anyway, congrats Tita Glo! Really proud of you ....

The HongKong Trip : Day 4

Our fourth and last day in Hong Kong went like a breeze. Ico and I woke up past 8am and we went to Mc Donald's (along Hankow Road, back of our hotel) to get breakfast take-out for us. Since most of the shops were still closed by that time, Ico and I enjoyed walking at the streets of HK with less hustle and bustle of the city. Love Saturday mornings here.

As soon as we finished our breakfast and after packing our things, we then went out for a little pasalubong shopping at the side streets of Nathan Road. We bought few items more at Giordano kids for Sam (jackets) using my Giordano discount membership card. I was able to buy three (3) items at 40% off. Really good deal. I earned my membership card from my previous day shopping for the husband and Ico. Then we bought pasalubong foodie (chocolates/biscuits/pudding/candies) at one of the wholesale grocery store near the Chunking Mansion and some Chinese-inspired items like bags and wallets for helpers, friends and relatives. We were able to accomplish a lot of pasalubong items at the side-streets of Nathan. Laavveet!

We had lunch at one of the small restaturant along the streets offering Authentic Chinese Food. Don't know the name, it was written in Chinese but the food was really good. Serving size bigger compared to Cafe de Corale but priced a few HK dollars higher. Really good as we are tempted to order one whole Roasted Peking Duck for pasalubong here in Manila. LOL.

And since Kowloon Hotel was kind to accommodate our request for late check out at 3pm, we had enough time to rest and re-pack our things before we head for airport. Instead of taking the hotel shuttle to airport which was HK $130 per pax , we decided to take the city cab instead. Much cheaper and convenient since we only paid HK $220 for the four of us. More than half savings compared to airport shuttle.

We arrived at the HK Intl airport with more than 3-hours time to spare, so we had sooo much time to eat at Cafe de Corale again and shop for more pasalubong items. The husband chanced upon on sale jacket items from the Disneyland shop. He was able to get Mickey Mouse cotton jackets at HK $349 for 3. Good buy. He bought blue Mickey Mouse jacket for himself, pink Minnie Mouse for my MIL and red Mickey jacket for my Mom. Bait na manugang! LOL. (actually, he was forcing me to get one jacket for myself but I am not in the mood to get one, thus I sugested to get instead for my mom and MIL instead...which he happily obliged!)

Anyway, flight back to Manila was on time. Weather was good with no glitches. Even the immigration process went like a breeze. Our flight (Sam, Ico and me) was one hour and a half ahead from the husband. So we opted to wait for the husband to arrive at Shakey's resto near the airport. We craved for pizza this time after eating all those Chinese food for 4-days.

Inside the train at HK Intl Airport on our way to our Terminal ride.

Sam goofing around at the gates of HK Airport, waiting for our boarding call

At Shakey's resto ... just few minutes after we landed in Manila.

All in all, the four day trip to HK was truly a memorable and enjoyable one for the family. Really quality time family bonding. We are hoping to do this yearly ... hopefully, if budget permits. But probably next year it'll be much, much more fun with a new baby addition in our family. Just can't wait to bring the little baby to our next trip. LOL.

Now the husband is complaining. With all the yummy Chinese food dining we had in HK, he gained few pounds after the trip. Of course he was surprised to see the numbers on the weighing scale. And the numbers don't lie. Hehehe! He's seriously thinking of losing those excess weight by doing some Kettlebell work-out excersises. He was told by one of his colleagues it is an effective way to get lean and firm muscles to better tone and sculpt his body. Hmmm...now the husband is very much eager to start the program asap. Hope it'll work for him.

The HongKong Trip : Day 3

June 12: Friday

Again, the little girl woke up with a happy smile on her face. Think the hotel room has something to do about her good mood. It must be the non-stop Disney cartoons cable show or the Mickey and Minnie picture on the wall. Or the idea of waking up with Mommy and Daddy beside her, and Kuya on the other side of the bed inside Disney room.

Anyway, our day started with swimming again at the hotel pool. The weather was good for swimming ... sunny compared to our first day swim. This time, Kuya Ico joined us for swimming while the husband ... the husband went back to sleep. Hehehe.

It's our last day stay in the hotel, and the hotel was kind enough to accommodate our request for late check out. We left Disney hotel by 2pm and decided to take the free shuttle bus back to Disney MTR station. Before leaving Disneyland premise, we had couple of shots again to re-live the magical experience.


Instead of taking the cab, we took the MTR going to the city. Much cheaper and faster alternative to go to Tsimshatsui, Kowloon. Total MTR fare spent for 3 adults and1 kid to TST station at HK $49 compared to HK $250 taxi fare. Big savings, huh! Once inside the MTR, we again took some precuationary measures by wearing our disposable masks and by dabbing alcohol in our hands. Check out our MTR pictures below.

At past three pm, we were able to check in at Kowloon Hotel. It is strategically located near the malls (Ocean Terminal) and shops along Nathan Road. I soo love the location. I can see the Peninsula shops like Chanel, Tiffany and LV from my hotel room. Hehehe, lavet!!

We again had our late lunch at our fave fast-food Chinese resto, Cafe de Corale along the Nathan Road. The husband ordered so much here ... kasi nga this is his favorite Chinese fast-food. Graabe! Together with Ico, they indulged in Roasted Duck, Roasted Pork, Chicken in Soya and Baked porckchop. OA talaga! Sadly, I wasn't able to take the picture of these yummy food. Left my camera at the hotel.

After eating at Cafe de Corale, we went shopping along the Nathan Road. The husband bought his office attire at G2000 while Ico shopped for school clothes at Bossini and Giordano. After two hours of shopping along the area, we all went back to hotel for rest.

Of course, the low EQ in me skipped the time to rest. Instead, I went to Canton Road to visit the biggest LV, Chanel and Gucci store in HK. But frustrated and sad ... went back to the hotel empty handed after few hours.

By night time, we all went out for dinner. Still at to our fave resto of all time ... Cafe de Corale. We ordered almost the same food for lunch. Roasted Duck and Pork. Can't get enough of it! Bwahahaha!

After dinner, enjoyed walking at the Avenue of Stars, Kowloon Bay. We were supposed to watch the Symphony of Lights but again, we missed the show. For years we missed this particular show. Hehehe! We never had the chance to watched it ever, either we are late or too tired from shopping to watch it. Perhaps, next time again. LOL.