Philippine Fashion Week

Matt and I were invited to attend Philippine Fashion Weeks last show at 10:00pm Sunday at the SMX. Wendy our friend invited us to go with her because her best friend was one of the top models. It was so great to get out of Quezon City and see other parts of Metro Manila. Matt and I really needed a night out. We took the MRT and then a taxi to get there, it was a real adventure, especially since some girl scared me and told me to "F" off, when we got into the taxi, instead of taking her jeepney. Yeah I was freaking out. Anyway the fashion show was so awesome. The show featured top Filipino designers, super hip and up beat music, top models, and some pretty crazy formal wear. It was so much fun to have seen a real run way show and see real fashion. I loved it, and Matt really liked it as well.

Philippine Fashion Week Pics.

Our New Filipino Friend Pics.

Our New Filipino Friends

Since we have been here in the Philippines we have made some new friends. Ones that we have been so sweet and kind and willing to do anything for us, even though they haven't known us long. It is such a blessing in our lives to know these friends. Ren was the first girl we met once we got here. She has a cute little boy, Ichi that is 7 years old. Ren has been there for me especially and has been the best friend here for me. She really is so amazing and so funny! Sheryl, Wendy, and Michelle, have been our other good friends. These girls are just the sweetest ladies ever. They all have one child except for Michelle, she has 2 beautiful girls. Thes Ladies have befriended Matt and I. We have hung out with them on many ocassions. They are all fun and giggly. Matt and I are so lucky to have met everyone we have. One of Matt's old companions in our ward is so nice he work here at the call center. His wife is so sweet. She always makes time to come and talk to me at church. She is so sweet as well. And their little daughter is by far the cutest 1 year old ever! There are other people that have been just so nice and welcoming, that it makes this country really specially to me, and I know its the same for Matt.

Going on One Month in the Pines

I almost didn't write about what we're doing right now because I didn't want to miss a moment of it. We're in one of those moments in life that you stumble into, but are what you thirst for deep down through all the attacks on boredom and bills. We landed in what we thought would be a small coffee/gelato shop, just to use the internet. A small talented acoustic band of 2 guitars and a violin/percussionist were playing some really entertaining music. Then a filipino singer/songwriter took the small 4 by 3 foot stage. Her voice is amazing. I just had a banana split with 3 flavors of gelato and marshmallows on top, and am sitting next to my sweetheart. Life is good in this moment.

By Matt

The 16th of September 2008

September 16th is a well renowned date in my book. It was the day I was born, 21 years ago. Now I was thinking, in most American minds, when they think of a 21st birthday, they think of drinking, partying and clubs. When people of the Mormon faith think of it they think of just another birthday. Well to be honest when I was younger I thought of 21 as this crazy magical age. I did not think about any sort of night life or anything but just something bigger. I guess I thought of being 21 as an official adult. It is the final age a person needed to get to, to be old enough to do everything legal and everything else. Well that day has finally come. I am 21 and pondering on how I really feel about it now compared to how I used to feel. I really don’t feel a whole lot different. I feel so young still. I do not really feel like a mature adult that should be able to do just anything. Wait, I am just doing whatever I want. This is really a confusing feeling. I don’t feel young enough to not be married though. I love being married to my best friend. Matt is so much fun I would be sad if I didn’t have him around me all the time. But anyway I am excited that my life is progressing and age is seeming to become more of just a number to me rather then something that defines me.
Okay so now that you got to read my thoughts about the whole age thing, now you can read about what happened on my big 21st birthday.

I had a usual morning. Nothing too special for breakfast just an egg, rice, and topsilog (some kind of seasoned beef), with a Coca-Cola lite. Matt and I were eating in Fior Café, a café that is on the bottom floor of our Condo building. We are there everyday to use the free WiFi on our laptop. Anyway during breakfast my mom called me. This was the best part of my whole day by far. It was the first time I got to spend a few minutes talking to my mom. I used to take advantage of talking to her everyday, and its been over a week and a half since I have been able to hear her beautiful voice. It was so great. Later Roy, Matt and I took a taxi over to Green Hills Mall and went shopping. Matt bartered for my birthday present. He bought me a Louis Vuitton jacket and scarf. They are so cute, I love them so much, it just sucks because there is never a time in the year you could where this kind of jacket because it is just too hot here, so I have to save it until we go back home to visit in February. We had lunch at Kenny Rogers, it’s a rotisserie chicken sort of place, it was good. We looked around the mall some more then went back home. Once we got home Matt and Roy went across the street to look at some call center and while they were there I was in the same building just upstairs at a day spa looking at prices for a massage. When Matt met me up there we decided on a body scrub/massage package. It only cost $30 each for two hours. I will tell you, Matt and I both agreed it was the greatest two hours ever! A quick over view of what happened. They made us take a shower (we were not together at all) then they scrubbed our whole bodies down with oil and exfoliating beads. It was amazing, but I will say this you can not be self conscious because they are not quite as private as the US is. This is funny, I will just say they scrubbed our bottoms! The whole thing felt so good though. Then we took another shower then sat in a steam room then had another shower then had an hour massage that was amazing, then they stretched us out. It was so cool. I would recommend it to anyone. Matt was so awesome for doing it with me, he said he would go again for sure. How funny, I think he liked it more then me. LOL. After that Matt and I went to dinner at the Outback Steak House, yeah they have one here, and I did get a free dessert for my birthday! That was pretty much it. That was my whole birthday day. I really enjoyed myself, and I know Matt was happy cause I was so happy.