Showing posts with label christmas eve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas eve. Show all posts

Jan 16, 2015

In This Moment Now. Capture It...Remember It.


“And somewhere along the way, amidst all the loss, tears, triumph, tragedy, joy, pain, laughter, transformation, restoration, lessons, love, and life, you realize that the true meaning of it all isn’t to settle for merely a Happy Ending, but to hold out for a Happy Everything.” 

 I think it is a nice thing to begin the year and my blog posts for 2015 with a lot of color and from the balloon post from the last time to this very colorful Graffiti wall post, I am thinking I've got that whole thing covered. Seeing things in color is a really big deal...for someone who tends to see things in black and white (most of the time)...aka., me. Personally, I don't think that the things I go through are unusual. I have learned time and time again that we are all going through something... it just varies from person to person. I think the most important thing is how we handle the situations and how well we play the cards we have been dealt with... and that's why there are happy people, who go along life with so much optimism and hope that better things are yet to come and then there's unhappy people, who tend to prefer to regard life as chaotic and their situation dire and hopeless. I used to be the latter but then I decided that it was just so tiring and inevitably, unhealthy to always be so negative that I traded my jersey and joined the other team... and so far, I think I've made the right decision. I absolutely love the side I am in and finally, everything is more colorful, brighter and more interesting. I know that I have so much more to learn and discover. I am happy for the things I have gone through- both the good and the bad- as I think these experiences have shaped me to become the person that I am today. I consider myself blessed to have gone through storms because it proved how strong I was and when I look back at everything I have gone through (and managed to get out of alive), I am reminded that I've managed to survive so many things and that no matter what curve ball life wants to throw at me, I know I will survive it just the same. I think everything that happens to us happens for a reason and for me, I think that it has made me the person that I am today and now that I can finally see clearly, I refuse to stray away from what is good and right and real.

Dec 29, 2011

The Night Before Christmas...








It's tradition that I glam it up for our Christmas Eve dinner. In memory of the Link4 Christmases I have been blogging (here in blogspot and in Chictopia), here's a link to the past years' dresses:
2010's Dress
2009's Dress
2008's Dress (I had short hair then....)
2007's Dress


Channeling my inner Jessica Rabbit in this red high slit sequined gown for our traditional annual Christmas Eve dinner at Old Manila at The Peninsula Manila. It was a great night of scrumptious food from the new chef, good wine and champagne and of course the best company of loved ones and family and of course, my expat boyfriend Inigo. Happy Holidays!!!














xx,JL


The menu for the night was:
(Thanks to Manila Pen's staff for accommodating a special menu for us since I have so many allergies. The German chef was genius! One of the best dinners EVER!)

Amuse Bouche

Salad of Green Asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh Parmesan, truffle dressing

Spiced Foie Gras wrapped in Prosciutto w/ melba toast, buttered head leaves

Pan Seared foie gras with caramelized apples and pears

Mushroom consomme with Brunoise Vegetable

Mango Sorbet

Pepper crusted tenderloin, ratatouille, potato gratin, thyme jus

OR

Oven roasted olive crusted lamb chops, ratatouille, gratin potatoes, thyme jus

Layers of raspberries and mango coated panna cotta


Coffee or Tea and Christmas Cookies

Chocolate Pralines

(+ champagne/ wine for every course!)


































Followed by a yummy noche buena of MAJESTIC HAM, QUESO DE BOLA, RICE, BEEF BELLY and LECHON DE LECHE from Cirkulo at Home!!!!!



I love shopping at Multiply.com
_______________________________________________


Visit my CHICTOPIA: http://www.chictopia.com/joannaladrido


Visit Deal Dozen, a lifestyle and deals site I am writing for,
http://www.dealdozen.com

____________________________________________


______________________________________________

_______________________________________________