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Lunch date with mom

Since mom and I were not able to have some mother-daughter bonding yesterday because of some errands we had to do, we went out for a date today! I treated her for lunch. Just a little expression of thanks to her for all the years poured with her love.

Coco Veranda

Because it's Mother's Day, it's a call for celebration! Mommy's treat! We spent almost an hour deciding where to dine. Our first choice was at Ramboy's but the place was chock-full of people and we did not want to wait until a table is available. We were chasing time! We had to be home by 9. So, I proposed we go dine at Coco Veranda instead. I've eaten there many times already so I am pretty sure their seafood cuisines are so deliciously good to be not loved to bits. And whenever my high school classmates organize reunions, Coco Veranda is on the list of prioritized venues. Also, a friend of mine owns the place, I was hoping to see her and catch up with her.

When we reached the restaurant, I could hardly see vacant tables as well. But the waiter promised that there were. Finally!

The restaurant is located on the seashore so it gives the breezy feeling and the coolness of the night! By the way, I admire the landscape design. I believe this is new. I have not noticed this before.

Being very enthusiastic for the moment, I wanted to go near the shore and take pictures together with my cute little cousins, Pebbles and Liann. They've grown so fast! I'm afraid they'll be taller than me in just a few years or more. Ha ha!

I wanted to wade in the water as soon as we got closer to the shoreline but the chance wouldn't permit me. I forgot to bring swimwear with me here in Roxas so instead of dipping in water because it's summer, I eat, roam and sleep all day! 

Going back, the splashes of waves were relaxing! I always dreamed of going to Bali, Tahiti or Maldives and spend a whole week at the beach, watch the sunset after sunrise, swim with flair and take photographs of everything as much as I can. Also, writing on the sand is a habit of mine in my childhood years. Using the butt of an Turritella terebra screw auger seashell (okay, that's quite a long moniker), I scribble names on the sand. You have never been to childhood if you have not tried that.

However, we did not stay long at the seashore because the food was already served.

I did not have the time to picture each of the menu, I got so shy. Ha ha!

Before we reached home, we passed by Roxas City's Fountain! It stands at the heart of the city. 

I can see it has undergone enhancement again. But I am happy it still retained its historical features. My classmates would upload pictures of this on Facebook and I thought at first color effects were edited! 

I miss my hometown. What a great evening I had!

Mother: An Epitome

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there, seeing their job as building lives for the future!

Sister and I agreed to buy mom a super huge greeting card for Mother's Day. Mom is a very simple person that even just a sweet letter with sincerest thoughts of ours makes her feel special. She delights in little things we give her and is proud of every small achievement we attain. Tears trickled down mom's face while reading our letter to her!

My parents are wonderful gifts God has given me. I thank God forever for putting them in my life. I do not know what words to utter out of gratitude to Him. In the meantime, here is a short, lovely quote from the author of the book I am currently reading:

A mother is the one who fills your heart in the first place. She teaches you the nature of happiness: what is the right amount, what is too much, and the kind that makes you want more of what is bad for you. A mother helps her baby flex her first feelings of pleasure. She teaches her when to later exercise restraint, or to take squealing joy in recognizing the fluttering leaves of the gingko tree, to sense a quieter but more profound satisfaction in chancing upon an everlasting pine. A mother enables you to realize that there are different levels of beauty, and therein lie the sources of pleasures, some of which are popular and ordinary, and thus of brief value, and others of which are difficult and rare, and hence worth pursuing. - Amy Tan

We love you, mommy!

Adieu! Adieu! Adieu!

Will be arriving at my hometown any minute now! I miss you seafoods and liempo! Mommy, sister and I got an enormous greeting card for ya! :)

Chicken + Roasted Beef

I have a flight tomorrow morning and I still haven't started packing my things! Perfect! The culprit of my last minute stowing: my ever on the go and supportive best friend, Leo! Laughs.

We decided to hang out tonight; watching movies while noshing a heap of chips. Just our usual get together routine. But then, Leo suggested we eat outside just so I can have an informal good-by before I leave and because there's a newly renovated Kenny Rogers in our town!

I haven't entered the premises since last year because I normally go eat somewhere else, somewhere not near our house. Hence, I was more than glad to try out the place. I liked every bit of the revamp: brand new comfy chairs are added, the lighting is good for fine dining, the mirrors magnified the space. Plus, there's a coffee shop extension which I'd be really pleased to try out soon! 

What's for dinner? The title has it! Fulfilling plates of chicken and roasted beef, with mac and cheese as side dish and corn muffins which are uber yummy, always! 

Sister happened to come and joined us while we were halfway done eating dinner. For an awesome wacky picture of tonight, I present my sister and Leo! Ha ha ha!

Had a gratifying supper tonight! Whenever my tummy longs for a healthy yet delicious meal whether lunch or dinner, Kenny Rogers is the solution! 

Movie Review: Turn Left, Turn Right

To those young boys and girls, who always thought of love as something destined, something that'll come their way right on their doorsteps one day, this movie is for you.

I grab some bread and make myself a coffee for breakfast. I prayed, turned on the TV and ate! The morning news appears to give me the bad vibes so I switched to HBO, and tadaaa!! I saw this movie! Thank you, morning news, for not being so enlivening.

Turn Left Turn Right is a sweet, refreshing Hong Kong-Singaporean movie that tickles your romantic side. It is based on one of the most charming artworks of best-selling author and illustrator, Jimmy Liao, 'A Chance of Sunshine'. Just like how Liao's whimsical imagination has captured the hearts of most young people, so is Turn Left Turn Right.

To watch the illustration, click here. The captions are in Chinese, so if you aren't Chinese or don't understand Chinese, the pictures can speak for themselves. Watching the movie first would be a great help, too! :)

It is a story of coincidences. It revolves around the lives of two hopeless romantic people who happen to be so near, yet so far. John Liu, is an undiscovered musician who plays violin in a very astonishing way. 13 years ago, he met a girl, whose beauty he admired but he never got the courage to approach her. On the train, the girl waited for 21 stops until she finally asked John his number. John was very happy leaving the train. But, the girl never called. The girl unfortunately left her bag on the train on that same day. That girl was Eve Choi, who becomes a professional translator and loves reading Polish poems. Their path never crossed again until one day at the park when fate seems to be on their side. Events, people, circumstances, all went their way just to delay their love story's happy ending. The quirks will keep you chilled to the bones, rolling back and forth on your bed, leaving you hanging on what will happen next. The movie's peculiar humor also added to its appeal. 

So get your popcorns and hop on to that comfy couch and watch this movie you'll surely won't forget.

If you liked this movie, I would also suggest 'Serendipity' starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. :)