Almost Over

Summer's almost over.   I speak of summer break of course, as it is basically "summer" here in the Philippines for 80% of the year.   In case you're not from here, summer holidays start sometime mid to end of March, and last well until around the second week of June.   Come June, school and the rainy season begin.   We have at least 1 more quick getaway to look forward to before my son goes back to school in June. 

It has been a very eventful summer for my family.   We traveled, were in and out of the hospital, and enrolled our son in various summer activities.  The past few months have tested our love and patience with each other - my little unit of three - and I feel that now we are tighter than ever.  Like peas in a pod.   The next half of 2013 will inevitably involve even more hospital visits, but lest this post sounds too cryptic, let me just clarify that it is actually all good.  I am looking forward to the second half of this year.

Spent a glorious week in The Bellevue in Panglao last month

Stellar

via Instagram

The highlights of what turned out to be a really epic weekend for us:  

01.  My son's new silver aviators from Babiators.  (The blue pair is going to be a gift).

02.  Visited a dinosaur park with really great animatronics.  My son, a huge dinosaur freak, had the time of his life.

03.  Sting in Manila.  My husband and I were blown away.

04.  Another item to check off my list: flat sandals - I have been hankering for a white pair for ages.

Seeing Sting perform live was a truly amazing experience; unlike any concert I have ever seen.  Such an elegant, elegant performance, with such a gracious and talented musician.  His band was equally fantastic - no outrageous antics, no special effects.   Icon is an understatement.

I hope everyone else regularly has weekends like the one we just had - full of family time, a bit of shopping, really really great music, and generally just making the most of one's offline life.

*Dinosaur Island is in Clark, Pampanga (also check their Facebook here).  You can order Salt-Water Sandals in the Philippines via Sun San Salt Water Sandals.  Babiators is available via Zalora PH and in Rustan's Department Stores.

Prepping

We had another 3-day weekend last 30 November until 02 December.   The first day of that long weekend was devoted to putting up our tree and decorating for Christmas. Our son celebrates his birthday in November, so we usually wait until the 1st weekend of December before we put up anything Christmassy at home - that way, November becomes his "special" month, and he gets to look forward to Christmas after the birthday thrill wears off.

My husband splurged on extra decors for our tree and additional Christmas lights - and even the cutest little CD player - so the three of us were in a very festive mood as we put up our favorite ornaments, with carols blasting in the background.

My favorite Christmas decors at home, sitting on our low shelves.

I always look forward to bringing out these things every year.

Our tree comes from a box.
It's a tropical Christmas, after all.

I couldn't pull it off this year, but next year I promise to prepare an advent candle and calendar for my son.   We had those when I was a child and really looked forward to that part of Christmas.   I found these advent calendars very inspiring (here, here and here), and this blog here goes over the true story of Christmas, as shared to your child through the advent calendar (beyond the toys and candy).

It may not be too late to find an advent wreath though.  I'll try this weekend.  We have only missed 1 Sunday so far, and I think it's a lovely tradition.   I find these country/modern advent wreaths/candles/holders inspiring - with moss in clay pots, bottles, ceramic dish, and a bunch of modern advent candles in this blog here.   I don't want to rush out and buy our wreath/candles/calendar just for the sake of having everything in place for Christmas.  Every single ornament we have right now was carefully selected, and dearly loved.   I am holding out for a wooden nativity set (I have fallen in love with this set, and am hoping to find something similar one day).  Last: this "sticks Christmas tree" is adorable.

*While browsing through Christmas decors online I stumbled across, and fell in love, with this design blog, Hege in France.  The blogger's home is lovely.  And I really love her Christmas labels (here) and her Behind My Door series (here).

STAYCATION: Manila Diamond Hotel

In Manila

As with the years before, All Souls' and All Saints' was tacked to a weekend, and my family fully intended to make the most of our 4-day weekend.

And so we did.  We gobbled up donuts, stayed in a gorgeous suite with an amazing view of Manila Bay, went swimming, visited some malls which weree not our usual weekend destinations (Uniqlo at last!), had dinner in a magical Japanese restaurant, brought our boy to see penguins for the first time in his life, got to meet a beautiful pair of baby boy twins, spent time with the grannies, discovered lambrusco blanco, touched base with dear old friends, caught up on dvd tv series of Poirot and Castle sitting at home, stumbled across some beautiful finds for our home, and got to simply enjoy being together.    It was wonderful.