Philippines – The Social Tumbleweed

Black, White and Pink—We’re Having a Baby Girl!

Published on July 12, 2015August 18, 2015 by The Social TumbleweedLeave a comment

My LaVista family decided to throw me a “simple” baby shower/ despedida party for me and Marco before leaving for the US; they opted to do it at home with close family and friends. On the morning of the baby shower the winds were blowing our tents like crazy and the rain wouldn’t stop pouring. Since everything was pretty much DIY except for the food (we had it catered) we had trouble doing the set up, we were scared that the winds might tip over Mita Wee’s crystal stands for the candies and might just blow away Mita Bo’s tea cup collection but I swear as soon as the baby shower started the weather turned out for the best. We didn’t expect the food to be more than enough too so I’m sure that God was with us during this baby shower.

This was literally a “Ramas-girls production” and it was a complete success. To my lovely aunts, Mita Bo and Mita Wee, who planned this entire event, I really appreciate you doing this for me. Thanks to Dada Benj, Mita Bo (tea set up) and Mita Wee (prize table set up) for throwing the baby shower and for allowing me to take part in the execution. Ate Roma and Kuya JJ for helping us with the pink goodies for the goodies table (we had pink fondue and pink kropek that wasn’t food-dyed, mind you), Paolo and Brianna for helping us with balloons and putting up the decorations, Eunice for the cute baby girl yumminess, I mean cupcakes that handed out as giveaways and all the manangs and manongs at home for helping us with pretty much everything especially the set-up… Thank you for this labor of love!!!

Here are some photos from the Baby Shower:

DIY Invitations I made using free printables online, ended up with invitation #3

My DIY Baby Wishes Printable Onesie Cut Out. I made it specifically for this baby shower

The actual onesies cut out we had printed on cardboard

Got some cute baby shower laundry pins to hang the wishes for the baby and placed them in one of those lace cut out cans that were left overs from my wedding last year

(Laundry Pins: from 168; 3 for P100/ Lace Cut-out Cans: from Target; $1.00 per can)

Can’t wait until Cassie gets to read these

Foldable fans for the guests

Our DIY set-up for the wishes/ prize table

How dainty, tea anyone? #TWG

Yes—our “Spriki” is a girl!

Fascinators laid on the center for the guests

Merienda Cena set up at home

The first few guests our the baby shower

My DIY word scramble printable. It was pretty simple, Microsoft Word all the way

With JC, Jasper, Ate Princess and Janine

Pastries and Dessert for the sweet tooth

Cupcakes care of my cousin. They were gorgeous, thanks Eunice!

Strawberry Fondue

Baby Bottle Game

Diaper Game

The winner of the Create-your-own-bag Game

My pretty aunts—the Climaco girls

My younger Climaco cousins 🙂

Our Ruiz de Luzuriaga/ Mendezona Family

Our Odilao/ Bisnar/ Lim Family

Our Climaco/ Ramas/ Sullano/ Ros Family

The “old” UP crew 🙂

My cutie pie god son, Mateo

Have a cupcake, thanks for coming guys!

~Rhea

Destination: Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

Published on April 18, 2015July 3, 2015 by The Social TumbleweedLeave a comment

April 18 – 19, 2015

Since the entire family (The Mendezonas) was present, Mami thought it would be best to go on a last-minute family outing but the question was where. It was a weekend during the summer season so we knew it was going to be fully booked everywhere. We just wanted to go some place near Manila but Papi requested to go to the beach so clearly Tagaytay or Baguio was out of the question. Subic was meh, we already went there the last time so we ended up checking out places in Cavite and Laguna, there really was nothing available and if there were it was either they didn’t have enough rooms to accommodate all 15 of us or the rates were really jacked up.

For some reason Puerto Galera came to my mind, I think the last time my cousins and I were there was during my early college years—maybe 2004? At one point Puerto Galera used to be the “In” beach to be before Boracay became popular, that’s what I was told anyway. I had good memories of Puerto Galera so I suggested the place, mom actually thought it was okay and when we searched for accommodations there were a bunch of hotels that had room availability for a party of 15 so with mom’s booking powers she found a wonderful place for the weekend, Out of the Blue Resort.

The road trip from Alabang to Batangas Port took more or less 2 hours. We had to take a 45 minute boat ride, usually the public bangka takes you to Sabang beach but we arranged for a private bangka to take us directly to the shore of Out of the Blue. The typical cost for a private bangka is P3, 500.

Out of the Blue, we see youuuuu

The view while going up the stairs to our villas

Mom got 2 villas to accommodate all of us and they were beyond spacious, couldn’t take a photo since we were all too tired and we started settling in

Poor Teo was happy to be out of that bangka

Good Morning, Puerto Galera!

The boys room

Our room. I’m sharing with Marco and Pilica

Our neighbor’s place didn’t look too bad either

The view from our villa

After having breakfast in Out of the Blue and and settling in, Mom arranged for a boat to take us to White Beach since the shores in our area weren’t really swim-friendly

Our boat mates for that trip: Camille and Javi

Papi and Marco

Mommy, Diego and Mikel chilling all the way in the back

When we got to White Beach some of us decided to jump right in

And others found it too hot…

Yep the sand texture was perfect but at that moment it was way too hot

Eating by the beach after swimming—the best thing ever!

Look at that smile, Teo’s happy he’s not swimming in the beach

Hanging out with his Ninong Javi

Wondered where Papi was after lunch and this is where he was, just right next to our eating place

… the rest of the boys followed suit. Haha.

While the boys were out getting a massage, Camille, Jessica and I explored the local tiangges

I find myself getting attracted to the local market—same in the Bahamas, same in Cambodia, same anywhere else. You never know what interesting things you might come across in markets like these, although this one really didn’t have anything extraordinary. I did end up getting braided anklets.

The view while the girls and I stopped to grab some shakes

Classic Mindoro Sling—still the most traydor drink ever

People started coming in during the late afternoon and it was getting crowded. It’s a good thing we had our fill of sand and sea so we left for Out of the Blue and ended up swimming in the pool there.

We started Day 2 by taking a couple photo right by our balcony

Ready to leave for the beach

Paparazzi-d these two love birds. Awww..

Mateo putting sun block on Ninong Javi’s tummy

Off to the bangka we go

Sunnies pic…Jessica, Me and Pilica

Because yay Diday wouldn’t pose for the camera

The beach our boat guy took us to

Swimming was a family affair

Photo credits to Camille. Me and my baby bump.

The kids building their supposed sand castle

The girls and Diego apparently. hahaha

Pauline with teo who refused to swim.

We always have fun with jumping pics, don’t you agree?

Wacky, every single one of us. Photo grabbed from Camille 🙂

After swimming, we packed up, dressed up and had lunch somewhere close by

Ending this family trip with us almost tipping the boat. Haha. Typical.

~Rhea

Chateau Hestia

Published on February 14, 2015June 20, 2015 by The Social TumbleweedLeave a comment

Chateau Hestia,a small hidden garden restaurant nestled in Cavite was where my husband decided to bring me for our Valentines date and the ambiance that night was perfect— just a mixture of quaint and romantic all rolled up into one. Shout out to Jiro for telling Marco to take me here (haha, he told me he asked advise from you).

Had to change into flats, it was really slippery heading to the main dining place since it started raining

Marco reserved a place for us outside with the night sky ambiance while having dinner but it was raining that day so we ended up having dinner inside which turned out to be such a wonderful experience.

The set menu for the night but we were feeling quite adventurous and opted for our own picks from the menu

I just love dating this guy. I’d date him for the rest of my life…haha

The start of our romantic night, candle lit path.

Even the lighting inside was quite romantic.teehee

Yep, we were early birds. No one was there yet.

Something I have to get used to being married to Marco….people constantly messing up our last name. I’ve had Mendez, Mendoza but never a Mendoxa, I’d have to say that this is a first. We were Mr. and Mrs. Marco Mendoxa for the night.

Just outside the loo… I doubt you’ll ever get confused.

A little nook of random things and such

Here’s the set-up downstairs

It’s all in the details

The receiving area downstairs just outside the deli

An alcoholic’s logic..haha

Handpicking wine for dinner

For the love of cheese…

Marco did the handpicking of the cheese

Mr. and Mrs. Marco Mendoxa… I mean Mendezona. haha

They were handing out Hanuta hazelnut chocolate to the women before leaving the place. A good treat to end the night.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines celebration!

~Rhea

My PUN-ny Valentine ❤

Published on February 14, 2015March 9, 2018 by The Social TumbleweedLeave a comment

❤ Happy Hearts Day, Everyone!!! ❤

Here’s a short post just to show y’all how my last minute DIY gift for my husband turned out. To those who know Marco, we know how much he loves to be “Pun-ny” (or corny for that matter) and I figured since the best way to Marco’s heart is really through his stomach, food puns would be the best way to pay him back for all those corny “hirits” in the past. I wasn’t too happy with the way it looked since I am a bit particular when it comes to aesthetics but to come up with this within 10 hours or less is pretty impressive considering that I had to make up the rest of the puns. Forgive the cheesiness.

Thanks to eighteen25 for the inspiration and some of the free printables on your website. You saved the day! The rest I had to do hurriedly through power point, so they weren’t as pretty.

Details about our Valentines celebration coming soon—-for now, I have to date my husband. It’s our first Valentines as Mr. and Mrs. Marco Mendezona.

His Pun-ny package. 😀

Catch y’all later! Hope you enjoyed. Haha. Mwah! ❤

~Rhea

Shed Some Skin

Published on February 5, 2015March 9, 2018 by The Social Tumbleweed2 Comments

(DRESS: Snakeskin Prints; from Mom/ SANDALS: Nude Peeptoes; 168/ BELT: Red Faux Snakeskin/ PURSE: Brown clutch; Valentino/ SUNGLASSES: Dark Brown Kerry; Sunnies, P399/ EARRINGS: Gold Squares; Anne Klein; from Roxi/ WATCH: Gold, New York and Co./ RING: White Druzy Ring; Minted Jewelry)

My favorite pair at the moment—-Sunnies’ Kerry sunglasses.

From Manila to Houston then back to Manila…I can’t seem to part with this clutch of mine

Browns and Golds

Recently got this snakeskin print shirt dress from Mom and it simply is the easiest to wear, the material is light and its a piece that’s easy to dress up or down. I opted to cinch it with my go-to red skinny belt that happened to be made of faux snake skin which gave my outfit some texture and not to mention the pop of color that my bland ensemble needed. I accessorized with gold from head to toe except for the new white Druzy Ring that I got from Minted Jewelry. Shout out to Tiny Salloman, a good friend of mine since Kindergarten, for providing us with such classy pieces. You can check her items on Instagram, IG name: mintedjewelry.

Enjoy the rest of your week guys!

~Rhea