Hello 2013!

I was supposed to blog during the Christmas week but I couldn't be bothered. The Husband and I went out with family and friends and spent some lazy days in between so I decided to just take the whole week off blogging. I will be sharing our Christmas week holiday in the coming days but in the meantime, here's how we said hello to 2013.

This is probably our most non-fussed NYE preparations. I usually have a lot of things up my sleeve during NY celebrations because the event calls for an abundant table. It is Filipino tradition to have a lot of food on the table such as fruits (should be at least 12 different ones to signify each month of the year), something sweet and sticky, something noodly (for long life) and some meat (Lechon or Ham). For this year, we went on the minimal side of things. I'm so relaxed from our Christmas week holiday that I wanted to continue being one til New Year.

I baked Turkey Ham. Compared to my former baked hams, this was the smallest but definitely the fastest one to bake. Saved us time and electricity.

The plan was to cook Spaghetti but my Mom told me that since 2013 is the year of the Water Snake, she was told that a dish with soup is more auspicious. So I cooked Beef Pho instead as it had noodles and soup at the same time.

For something sticky, we bought Leche Flan instead of cooking Biko (which I did last year).

For something sweet, a round Japanese Cheesecake with fruit toppings.

And of course, the fruits!  We've got 15 different fruits that completed our simple but abundant table.

My Mom also sent us some Prosperity Candles that we lit at 11:30pm. 

At the stroke of midnight, we watched the Sydney fireworks on TV and then said a prayer before we ate Media Noche.

The traditions we have at home is not so much about superstitious beliefs. We do it for fun and it is always cheerful to welcome the new year with table laden with good food.

Happy new year to all of you! I hope we all have a great and abundant year ahead. Always be blessed! Live, savour and be grateful.

2012 in Review and My Thank You's

If you want to go back on some of the significant moments of 2012, here's a video that show the great achievements and sorrows of people around the world.

(Video Source)

You amazed and inspired me, 2012. I'm grateful for...

all the blessings that poured into my life and and my loved ones' lives.

the adventures, surprises, milestones and little treats.

teaching me how to let go of things and habits that make my life unproductive.

having learned the "art of filtering".

the seasons of sunshine and rain, both reminding me to enjoy each moment. 

the life, love and friendship I share with my best friend and better half, Chris.

the gift of knowing myself better--what matters to me most and what I cannot tolerate.

the peace that forgiveness brings, that even with no apology I'm able to forgive sincerely.

the simple and laidback lifestyle that we have in Sydney.

Thank you 2012! 

Embrace 2013: Sydney's New Year Message

"Sydney is the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World. 

There is no better place to countdown a New Year." 

- Lord Mayor Clover Moore

(Video Source)

Happy New Year from Sydney! 

This year's theme is EMBRACE.

"Embrace" reflects a positive attitude of openness and connection. It is about acceptance and tolerance, the past and the future, warmth and love. It is the bringing together of elements, where each is influenced by the other, yet all still retain their individuality and integrity.

In a city of great diversity, we come together at NYE to embrace the future in a unified celebration of all that we are and the potential that tomorrow holds for every one of us.

Whether it’s embracing new ideas, change and opportunities or just giving a big hug to our family and friends, it’s an inclusive theme that everyone can get involved in.

From this overarching theme stems four subthemes, each representing a facet of the grander design. Locals and visitors to the city on New Year’s Eve are encouraged to Embrace Love, Embrace the Moment, Embrace the Possibility and Embrace Sydney as part of their celebrations. These subthemes reflect the positive spirit of the New Year, the opportunities that the future holds for everyone, as well as the warmth and generosity of Sydney’s people.

Photo from www.sydneynewyearseve.com

Memorable Shows and Exhibitions of 2012

Last year, I was fortunate to have watched and seen more shows/exhibitions than I expected. Big thanks to friends who gave leads and invited us. There were so many wonderful shows and exhibitions last year but the Husband and I carefully chose what we'd like to really experience. Here's a list of memorable shows we watched in 2012.

Musicals

Annie. My childhood dream to see "Annie" came true when it showed in Sydney during the first quarter of 2012. The musical that made songs such as "Tomorrow", "It's a Hard-Knock Life" and "Fully Dressed" famous. I enjoyed every minute of this heart-warming story of an orphan named "Annie" as she dreams a home to call her own.


Love Never Dies (Sequel to "Phantom of the Opera"). The continuation of Phantom and Christine's tragic love story. If you have seen "Phantom of the Opera", this is a must see. It's as fabulous as the its predecessor but more dramatic and poignant.

Legally Blonde. A fun and entertaining show that will remind you how great it is to have girlfriends who will always be there to share the highs and lows of your life, get over the man who broke your heart, fall in love again (with the right man this time) and celebrate the uniqueness in you. Read about my story here.

Exhibitions

Harry Potter. An exhibition which made me appreciate and love the film series even more. It was a treat for movie enthusiasts to see each character’s wands and outfits worn in the movie, the flying car, the Horcruxes, the Twizard Cup, pieces from the Wizard’s Chess, the Invisibility Cloak and the full version of Buckbeak. Read my story and see more photos here.


Love Lace. Lace is one of my favourite fabrics (next to silk and satin) because of its intricate and meaningful designs, the details and hardwork that goes into creating them, and the romance and mystery it brings to those who wear them. The exhibition showcased the things one can do to lace, may it be in the form of dresses, boots, gloves, jewellery and artwork. It was a small exhibition but it was a beautiful showcase. See more photos here.

Picasso. The most significant exhibition of Picasso’s art ever held in Australia. More than 150 important paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings created by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) have come from the artist’s personal collection – works he was determined never to relinquish. It was amazing to see his work and admire his style in art. 

Madame Tussauds. Enjoyed this fun exhibition with our family. Each Madame Tussauds is unique in every city as 60% of the wax figures in Sydney are composed of famous Australian personalities such as Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, Rod Laver, Lleyton Hewitt, Julia Gillard, John Howard and Mary Mackillop. Read my article on Madame Tussauds here.

Narnia. A short but fun exhibition for kids. I enjoyed seeing this exhibition because it showed the costumes used for the film. Made me appreciate the huge effort and cost in filming this kind of production. 

Ballet

Sleeping Beauty by the Imperial Russian Ballet. One of the most watched ballets in history. The music was written by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the original scenario was conceived by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and the choreographer of the original production was Marius Petipa. My first time to watch ballet and it was good. Read my story here.

Sports Event

Australian Open 2012. Another dream of mine that came true! We got to watch the best tennis player in the world, Roger Federer. And this all happened on my birthday which made me so happy. To watch a legend like Roger Federer is a gift.  For someone like me who's far away from any Grand Slam or Masters venue, it is a once in a lifetime blessing.  The minute Federer walked inside the court, the crowd was in awe.  One will feel the air of royalty alluded to him by many but he didn't look intimidating at all.  He looked relaxed and down-to-earth.  He has this certain grace that only a Master exudes. For more of my Australian Open 2012  experience, please read here.

In my books, this was a great line-up of shows and exhibitions. I hope the shows we see in 2013 will be as entertaining. We also look forward to learning new things as we experience a different set of shows and exhibitions in the coming year.