Status: Married!

It has been 13 days since I married my niccolo. All I can say is that so far, this has been the best 13 days of my life!

My Happily Ever After Is Near

EXCITED! I can honestly say that I am now feeling excited on our wedding day! Can't believe that it's 10 freakin' days to go!

Definition of Stress

Stress is a biological term for the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined.

It is also a constant state that most Brides-to-be are in. This also refers to the hardship in dealing with the following (but not limited to):

• Grooms-to-be who keeps saying "That's nice, baby. Too bad we're over our budget already" to all your suggestions.


• Parents who keeps inviting people you don't know or you haven't seen since grade school


• Suppliers who can't seem to keep their end of the contract


• Bridesmaids who can't find an hour of their time for the scheduled gown measurement and fitting

Common sources of this condition are as follows (but not limited to):

• Your fiance's parents didn't like the food selection of your caterer and wants to replace them with less than two months away from the big day


• Engagement session that is yet to be scheduled


• Music selection that is also yet to be discussed


• Cake flavor and design that is yet to be finalized


• Guestlist that seems impossible to finalized

My Typhoon Ondoy Story

September 26, 2009. 12:00 noon As usual I clocked out on time. This time I was really anxious to go home since I don't want to get stuck in a traffic. On my way home, I can't believe that some of the streets were already flooded. I knew that I'll have trouble on my way to Zapote. That place is so notorious during rainy season. And I was right. So damn right! No vehicles could pass by that part of Las Pinas. It was submerged!

I was starting to panic. I don't know what I'll do. I was contemplating on calling my niccolo, to go back to the office. I don't want to get stranded on my own. On the hand, I was thinking of braving the flood. Bahala na si Batman, lulusong ako sa baha! So I called my papa, who told me he was on the way to Zapote to get me. So there, I was feeling relieved.

But not too soon. When I saw my father, he told me that we'll have to walk from Zapote to our house since the streets were flooded at least waist-high. We needed to get home as soon as possible because my mama was home all alone and the flood was raising higher. I was scared to continue because some people were almost washed away due to the strong current. So hand in hand, we continue to set through the flooded street of Zapote, when a strong gush of flood almost washed me away! Pardon my cheesiness but all I could think was my niccolo. I don't want to die before we could get married. *Sniff* *Sniff* I will forever be thankful to the men who cross the flooded street until I was able to find a safer spot. I never though I'd feel grateful being passed around like a ball. At the back of my mind, I was cursing the city government of Las Pinas for failing to extend any help. Anyone could have died there!

5 hours later and dead tired, I was finally home. As expected it was also blackout. Our house is pretty much higher than most of our neighbors but it was also caught by the flood. First time it happened to us. Hanggang binti pa! When I got home I could still see the wheels of our car but less than an hour later, it was almost near the window.

Hay... of course we really can't do anything but pray that it'll be okay in the end. My parents also told my brother not to come home anymore for fear that he'll just get stranded. So after checking my dogs and helping my parents transfer things upstairs, I was able to listen to our battery-powered radio. I guess we were still lucky since most of Metro Manila were flooded up to their second floor. One just have to think of the other less fortunate to be able to still appreciate life.

Barbara Millicent Roberts: the Bride

I don't want to turn this into a wedding blog but I can't help it., I salivate this wedding related stuff. I was browsing the latest issue of Wedding Essentials magazine when I saw tiny pictures of barbie in a wedding dress. The little girl in me got sooo excited when I saw these Designer Brides® Barbie dolls. Designer gowns no less! Hmmm... I think I want to start a Barbie collection... I wonder if it's available in the Philippines?

Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie® Doll. My favorite! I can just imagine myself in this gown. Stunning!

Vera Wang™ Bride: The Romanticist Barbie® Doll. I love this too! Same silhouette with my gown.

Vera Wang™ Barbie®. Uhmmm... I'm not into colored gown but it's still Vera Wang!

Monique Lhuillier™ Bride Barbie® Doll. I've seen this Barbie before, it's nice as well but I'm not really into ball gowns.

Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie® I've always been a fan!

Reem Acra® Bride Barbie® Doll. Not familiar with the designer but the gown is beautiful nonetheless!

Barbie is indeed ageless!

Cory 1933-2009

Will be wearing black and yellow this week. Goodbye fellow Scholastican.

I Crave

I know that I should be watching my weight since I have my wedding gown to consider, but I can't help it, I love eating specially sweets. Oh well, I guess I still have more than a month before my second fitting.

Crepes. Been craving for this thing like a pregnant woman (but I'm NOT!) My Niccolo had a taste of what it may be like if I am one. We drove around the south for hours looking for an open store that sells crepes in the middle of the night. We didn't find one and I was so disappointed. He promised we'll go Cafe Breton or MOA the next day to buy one, and we did. I was a happy camper! (picture below was from Tokyo Cafe, I wasn't able to take picture of Cafe Breton but it was my favorite so far!)

Twister fries and Coke float. I'm happy that they've brought twister fries back. Wait, someone told me it has always been available? I'm not sure though... but I love it anyway.

Ice cream. I guess this is what I've been craving for the most. Notice that crepes ans coke float includes ice cream? I love Oreo blizzard.

What's In A Ring?

I've always wanted to have wedding ring that is identical or at least similar to that of my husband to be. I've always thought that choosing a wedding ring is easy as 1,2,3. Well, I guess it wasn't.

We've been looking for a ring that we would both want to wear for the rest of our lives but we really can't decide on a design that both of us would want. He wanted something thick without diamonds while I wanted something thin,with a lot of diamonds, and would compliment my engagement ring. So say the least, we both got what we wanted but I'm not really feeling it, if you know what I mean.

That's why I suggested that we get ourselves an identical pair of rings. Excuse my lack creativeness, I call it our pre-wedding ring. Hahaha! I'm happy now. =)

A Well-Deserved Vacation

After six painstakingly long months, I was able to use my vacation leaves for a trip to Boracay with my friends and a friend's officemate. It was one of those trips where I wasn't with my niccolo so I was excited (not in a naughty kind of way okay?) I think (hopefully not) this will be the last time I'll be travelling as a single woman since in less than 6 months I'll be married to the man I love. So this is actually my last hurrah.

Day 1

When we arrived in Caticlan via Cebu Pacific, I was wishing it would rain since it was too hot for my skin to bear. I won't want to go home looking like an Aeta. We reached Recidencia Boracay at around 11:00 am so we unpacked ur things, had lunch at D'Mall, and lounge a little till it was 5:00 pm. Went to the beach, took turns posing and picture taking on the beautiful scenery of Boracay. Went back to our rooms and had an eat-all-you can dinner at D'Mall again. I was thinking of my niccolo. He would loved it here. Anyway, tomorrow will be a busy day.

Day2
This was the day we did all our planned water activities like island hopping, snorkeling, para sailing, banana boat, and fly fish ride. I love the weather since it was raining a bit and so sun to burn my sensitive skin. I wasn't able to do para sailing since I promised my niccolo that we'll do it together. Despite that, I loved everything except the fly fish. I don't even want to talk about it since I myself was surprise that I cried. Maybe sue to exhaustion and the near presence of typhoon "Feria."

Day3
Woke up early to the sound of strong wind and rain. "Feria" was in Aklan! I know I was wishing that it would rain in Boracay but I never wished for a typhoon. As they say, "Be careful what you wish for." But typhoon or no typhoon, nothing can stop us girls who just wanna have fun! We found fun playing with the waves but it was a bit tiring though. Mother nature is really powerful! We spend the rest of the day at D'Mall afterwards. By this time, all the flights from Manila to Caticlan and vice versa were already cancelled.

Day4
I am so smart! *Sarcasm* I forgot to bring my camera's charger so I have no more pictures to share. Hahaha! It was our last day. I was anxious since we're not sure if flights going back to Manila had resumed but we still packed our belongings just to be prepared. Three hours before our flights, we were informed that it was, so "Bye Bye" we said to Boracay. At the Caticlan airport, it was announced that the runway can't be used since a plane from ZestAir was damaged when it landed. We were instructed to proceed to Kalibo, Aklan so we an fly back home to Manila. We were actually stranded for 6 hours (I know it was too much.) Finally at 5:30pm we boarded the plane and flew back to Manila.

I missed home. I missed my niccolo. And I missed my Farm Town. Hahaha! A lot more had happened, I'm just too lazy to blog about everything. I'll just post more pictures soon.

The First Fitting: Ayen in Wonderland

Four months after booking my couturier, I had my first fitting yesterday. Like a little girl, I was giggling the whole time while they were putting the gown on me. I was pricked every time I put my arms down since there were pins everywhere. Deadma. Giggle. Hehehe. I really can't help but admire my reflection in the mirror. The narcissist in me was up to its maximum level! Wow! Ang sexy ko. Ang ganda ko. Did I mention, ang sexy ko? Hehehe. All of them complimented me in my gown. The silhouette was perfect for my body type. I was beaming of course. I love it sooooo much. More compliments please. Too bad my parents wasn't able to receive my SMS to bring the camera, I would have taken picture of this fitting.

Since my parents accompanied me with the fitting, my mama had her measurement taken as well. She knows what she doesn't want but can't decide what she really likes. So my couturier made sketches for her. I'm posting the pictures below since I hate a blog without pictures.

Hay... I was in my happy place far far from earth. Then reality comes in. See you, it wasn't really easy as it seems. The assistants had a hard time putting the dress on me since I gained weight. I wasn't able to wear the gown with the petticoat because my waistline was almost 2 inches bigger. They were able to zipped up the gown but they really had a difficult time. Oh boy, I never thought I'll have a problem with my weight since I've been slim my entire life. I guess I really have to start working out and be conscious of my food intake.

Addicted to Scrapbook

I've always wanted to start a scrapbook, my niccolo also encourages me to do so, but I've never found the initiative to start one.

Fast forward to our wedding preps, an online group recommended http://www.scrapblog.com as a tool to create Save The Date cards, table numbers, invitations, etc. Oh boy! Not only did I made numerous versions of our STDs, but I've transformed a lot my favorite pictures to create my very own online scrapbook. Ha!

Here are some of my favorite pictures. What can I say, I'm hooked!

Got Ink?

I've always wanted to have a tattoo but have been afraid my papa won't allow me to enter our house. So what I did was to get body piercings. It's the next cool thing (for me) after getting an ink.

First started piercing my ears when I was in high school. Then got my tongue pierced after my ex died. It was liberating! Soon after, I had my navel pierced because I thought it looked cool. I didn't mind the pain. I actually have a high tolerance. Parang kagat lang ng langgam eh.

I think I'm done with body piercings (for now) and I want to try getting my first tattoo. I'm not sure when but I always tell my niccolo that I'll have mine once we're married so my papa won't have any hold on me anymore. I'm so excited that I actually have an idea on what my second tattoo will be.


Some will think it's a crazy idea, some will say it's cool. Is it a sin to get an ink? Only God will judge me.

May Sixteen

I woke up smiling despite the big zit on my chin. I was looking forward to a nice day ahead.

He's suppose to pick me up at 9:00 am but decided to show up two hours and thirty minutes later.

Went to Blue Wave, had lunch at Gerry's since we're both hungry, when I was really craving for Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack Pasta and Bucket of Trash (or something that sounds like it). I don't look so happy here...

We then started the long drive to Trinoma, which looks like Glorietta lang pala. I was thinking of checking out the shoes that I really liked at Solea. Guess what, it was available at the Rockwell branch only.
Lakad, lakad, tingin dito, lakad uli, bili doon, lakad, bili dito, lakad ulit. We decided to go home since we're dead tired. What to do if it's a looong drive home? Picture! Picture! Now I'm having fun!

Went to SM Sucat to buy a box of pizza to take home. Told the cashier I'll get it later so I followed Nico where he was buying some wifebeater to use for his company outing. After he's done, I got the pizza and demanded for my change. Apparently I was wearing my taray looks again so the cashier hesitantly gave me the 500+ change.

Yey! We just got home! As usual, the doggies were excited to see us. Happy to see my favorite obese dog, Bambi.

Nico went home, prepared my things for tomorrow, checked my money and whoa... I made a mistake. Poor cashier, I didn't know that I already have my change. Salary deduction. I'm so sorry miss. I guess you were intimidated by me.

And that's how I spent my birthday, the cheap way. Surprisingly an ordinary day but with my special someone.

Behind The Name

Believe it or not, one of my requirements for entertaining a suitor is his surname. Call me shallow, I don't care but I'll be the one carrying his surname in the future. So if I'll have the option to choose, of course I'll choose something pleasing to the ears. It's for my children's future as well.

I've always loved my surname, Cuevas. It's Spanish for "caves." I'm thankful that I don't have a funny Filipino sounding surname like "Mangasim" , "Bagongahasa" or God forbid "Pecpec." No offense to people with those kind of last names but I've heard some stories that this greatly affects the psychological being of a person. (Hmmm, I should have done a case study of this topic when I was in college.)

When my cousin was getting married, I told her how lucky she is that she'll have a good surname (sounds rich too) and that I wish I'll marry a man with a good surname as well. Well, it's a relief that my fiance' have a good surname (although I think mine's still better sounding than his. Peace!) or I'll be force to use my maiden name.

See the reason why I was inspired to blog about this name game: http://blogs.gmanews.tv/sidetrip/blog/index.php?/archives/132-Whats-in-a-name.html

The Dress

A wedding dress is not just a clothing that brides wear during a wedding ceremony, it is THE DRESS. Period. Well, at least for me.

When my relationship with Nico started getting serious, I found myself surfing for wedding gowns every now and then. When we finally talked about getting married, I opened my secret folder filed at yahoo briefcase and was surprised to see a looooooot. I had to delete everything since most of them looks something like a costume. Yuck.

Good thing that I know myself now and I have a very clear idea on how I would look for my wedding day. Finding a designer or a couturier for my dream gown took a lot of researching but not really that hard. I though I wanted to have my gown made a certain designer popular in a yahoo group but then I realized that I don't want to look like most of her brides.

Last February, when I finally had a wedding theme in mind, I set up an appointment with one of a designer based in Munlinlupa. The usual getting to know each other conversation and he made a sketch for my gown. An OMG moment for me. I loooove it! I can't even explain but it's so Ayen! I knew he's the one. It took me two weeks to book him since I want to make sure he also have positive feedbacks from past and present clients.

I wish I could show everyone my gown so you'll know what I'm gushing about. But I'm really saving it for my walk down the aisle. I would only allow few people to see it since I'm hoping for the surprise/wow factor on that day. You can send me a message, I'll see if I can show it to you. Hehehe.

Anyway, you may visit our wedding website http://ayenico.weddingannouncer.com/ for more information regarding our wedding. Its not complete yet but I'll try to update it every now and then. Feel free to sign our guestbook.

25 Random Things About Me

I enjoyed reading other people's list so I decided to make one myself. I feel that 25 things is not enough though.

• People thinks I'm suplada and mataray... that is so true, but once you got to know me, I'm all that and more.


• I love everything girly eventhough I don't look and act like one


• My eating rules: dessert comes first


• I'm thankful that I can eat everything I want without worrying about the figure


• I found THE ONE (hello, my Niccolo!)


• I find people who got accounts to ALL social networks as papansin. Why do you need all of that anyway? I only have Friendster, Multiply, and Blogger and that's enough


• Dogs are better than cats!


• I was once (or twice) felt infatuated with a person(s) I met online (we never met personally, buti nalang)


• My relatives thought I'd grow up as a lesbian


• I love the meaning of my name (pure) but at the same time I hate it cause it's too common. Good thing though, my parents chose "Karen" over "Vanessa"


• I still have "feelings" for my ex ( yeah, feelings like bitterness, hatred, frustration to the max!!!!!!)


• I can't help but make side comments to girls with dirty toenails. Ever heard of the word pedicure?!


• I do want world peace


• My real friends are those who accepted me inspite of my kamalditahans specially during the dark days of my life
• I am getting married but I'm not that overly excited (yet) like most brides


• I have a very very bad temper


• Writing makes me happy. Nothing special really, I don't use highfalutin words or discuss the meaning of my existence. I don't write (or blog) to impress anyone. I just want to keep it simple


• I love the agony in Nico's eyes while I watch Pokemon and Hannah Montana


• I want to be a vegetarian but I don't eat vegetables (I'm really trying!)


• My first dream was to become a Prima ballerina


• Having Niccolo in my life is the happiest I've been so far


• I love reading. I wear an eyeglasses/contacts with a grade of 550


• My parents thought I'd make a good lawyer since I always argue and defend myself out in most situations


• Honestly, I once thought of entering a convent but changed my mind when my papa told me "tumigil ka na sa mga kalokohan mo!"


• I never thought I would study in an all girls school. It wasn't that bad at all

Say It With Flowers

Finally! After waiting for 3 years, 11 months, and 3 days, a bouquet of flowers as peace offering of some sort.

It took a day of zero communications (no sms and calls), two days of anger, and three hours of cold treatment.

I won't go into details anymore.

I had enough trouble explaining to my parents why he gave me flowers when he just left our house two hours ago.