I never thought that one day I could actually say “EAT ME!” and actually have someone literally do it! I have been blessed by the fact that I get so many presents during the Christmas season but this gift coming from my bride Anna Sandejas was too cool for words! She had my face from my blog printed on tiny white M&M‘S!!! How cool is that! I was beyond thrilled! It came with my name and my company name of some candy as well! This gift really made my day! TEE HEE!
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HUGS!
RAJO!
Christmas day for me traditionally a whirlwind of activities visiting my parents and generally over feeding my self. This year I was determined not to over indulge and really watch what I ate ( so help me God! ).
The Christmas festivities begin on Christmas eve with a lunch at my Dad’s house. The menu is always the same and this is something we all look forward to. My step Mum prepares a really yummy Boiled Chicken. It’s really my personal favorite. It is like my comfort food. Then we open the gitfts for my nephew and nieces.
What I love about Christmas is that so many friends from all over the world come home to celebrate Christmas. There is nothing like a Filipino Christmas! We just know how to celebrate this important holiday like no other race on the planet!
I recently had the pleasure to join a super chic homecoming dinner for one of our dearest friends Noel de la Rama! Noel has not been home for more than a decade. He resides in New York and is a personal chef for super famous people. Currently, he is the personal chef of Mr. Dustin Hoffman! Noel is like my own personal Zagat guide, giving me tips on the latest, hottest, best eats in New York City! Apart from that, Noel is really one great guy! We all love him!
He decided to surprise his best friend Junie Rodriquez with his home coming! Tita Fe (Junie’s Mom) was in cahoots with the whole surprise! The evening was an immense success! The meal was lovingly prepared amidst the most chic environment! Tita Fe & Junie are really my personal lifestyle heroes!
The Rodriguez's Christmas tree!
Junie was visually surprised with Noel's arrival.
Each year I look forward to Divine Lee‘s Christmas Party! I love going to her Christmas parties because it is always fancy dress up and everyone, as in, EVERYONE is game!
This year, the theme was Cowboys and Indians! It was a riot! Divine and her angels transformed her apartment into the wild wild West! OMG! The details were incredible, cactus plants, play horses and a gigantic TEEPEE! I came in as Boss Hoggs from the Dukes of Hazzard while Nix came as an Indian Chief!
Divine as the ultimate Bingo girl! Here she is channeling a modern version of Mae West! LOL!
Indians and Cowboys galore!
It has been a tradition for Nix and I to host a cocktail party at our apartment. It has to be small and intimate because we live in a very small apartment. This year, we decided to have a reunion of my House of Laurel girls! We invited past, present and future team members to our house for an evening of fun and a few games. It was also an opportunity for us to relax and chill as this is the most toxic season for our business. I was so happy to be able to have all the girls in one room. It was also a chance for all of us to bid Yoya farewell as she will be migrating to Canada in a couple of weeks!
It was a really wonderful party, filled with lively chatter and reminiscing of all of our collective experiences working in the company. We played one of my favorite guessing games! The winner gets to win a DIAMOND RING! LOL! I was so happy to see everyone, as they are like sisters to me. I am certain that you are in the thick of the Christmas season. Enjoy the parties!
All my girls in a row! I really have the best team in the land!
We manage to fill up the Architectural Center, which is conveniently located 5 minutes from our office.
These are our outstanding employees from various departments of our company. From administration, production, finishing department et al.
Christmas season in The Philippines is really the best! We start hearing Christmas songs on the radio as early as September and most of us keep the Christmas decor till February! LOL! It is almost tradition for me and my friends to attend Tessa & Dennis Valdes‘s Christmas party…or should I say EXTRAVAGANZA!
Their parties get more festive and over the top as the years progress. One year, they had a machine that would snow inside their house. This year’s theme was an underwater Christmas! They transformed their home into an underwater world worthy of Nemo and Ariel!
The foyer of the house had beach balls that we were all instructed to write down our wishes for next year.
Gold fishes in aquariums, dotted the entire home.
I just met Shalini and Surabhi (Don’t you just love their names?! I just love saying them!) Well…They brought me the most deliciously sparkling evening bags for the store! Your eyes just light up when you see them! They create their bags with pure SWAROVSKI crystals from Austria! Meaning they just sparkle so perfectly! I cannot stop looking at them!
I find it strange to feel Christmas in the middle of SUMMER! My goodness, it’s so hot outside now! However, I did have a really great surreal moment to be surrounded by all things holiday at FAME! This is the second part of my FAME series where we had to choose the best product design in the Holiday Decor category.
I loved this part of the show because it makes me feel like a child again. I mean, Christmas is really for children, so I went back to the time when I was 6 or 7 as we were choosing the winner. There were quite a number of fantastic ideas, and I am so glad that they allowed me to take photos so that I can remember them come Christmas time!
I loved the booth and products of TOPA of Manila Inc! They had a fantastic theme and they ran away with it! The collection of these paper-mâché based items were SOOOOO cute! This is their SNOWMAN series.
I adored TOPAS' Santas! They reminded me of peppermint candies! I love that SANTA came in all shapes and sizes. Thin, fat, tall, short Santas were all over. You can email TOPA at topaworks@mail.com
I adored these bunny rabbits! I really loved the old fashion appeal of these stuffed toys. I wanted to buy them for my nieces! They are made by BenJoy Inc. You can contact them through their email add: benjoy@mozcom.com
These items were also so strange! They reminded me of creatures from my old fairy tale books! They had this scary but cool attitude about them.
These lambs were also made from paper. The wool on them is actually coiled newspaper! How cool is that?
I was really impressed with this company! These fairies are from the Accent pieces. I found the fairy series really wonderful!
These wreaths won the KATHA 2009 award for Best Product design in the Holiday Decor category. They are made from recycled paper and paint. Congratulations to ACCENT Pieces! You can get in touch with them through accentpieces@i-manila.com.ph
I loved this reindeer suite! They are made from driftwood pieces. I liked the natural ease of the design and its ecological appeal.
HUGS!
RAJO!
I received the best Christmas present ever! Ever since I started blogging, my friends have commented that my photos are kinda bad, LOL! I attributed this to my idiotproof point and shoot camera. I then wished for a new camera and asked around what I should get. Everyone said that getting a Canon G10 would be my best bet! I thought about it and said to myself will get one in Hong Kong as I would be going there soon.
I did not have to wait any longer as Nix surprised me with one! I was jumping up and down like a 5-year old! I was so happy! I am still learning how to use it but instantly, my photos are turning out to be so much better! I mean, come on, this camera has like a whopping 14.7 MEGA PIXELS! LOL!
I visited my good friend Joey Campillio who is holing up in Tagaytay. When I got to Tagaytay I was so surprised at how cool the temperature was, I mean wow, it felt really good! We decided to have brunch in Antonio’s Breakfast and it was GOOD!
Joey had eggs benedict and I had chorizo and fried eggs with garlic rice! COMFORT FOOD! I can never get tired of going up to Antonio’s as it’s probably the best restaurant in the land! We had a lovely table facing the fish pond and had a 3-hour brunch!
I shot this fruit stand while in traffic!
Everyone has to have lots of round fruit on their NewYear's table! Check out how lovely our local fruits are! The mangosteens look fabulous!
Antonio's is looking more elegant than ever, love the black and white scheme! It looks like a Cecil Beaton stage set!
Joey relaxed and enjoying the cool air in Tagaytay.
My dessert: a trio of guava, watermelon and calamansi sorbet! This was really refreshing!
Loving the foyer! It's so old world rich!
I want this foo dog sculpture!
Our table was the one with the umbrella! It was such a lovely afternoon!
Now that is what I call decadence! I am leaving for Thailand in the morning, as I decided to spend my New Year there! Wishing you all the best that this new year has to offer!
See you soon!
HUGS!
RAJO!
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