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The downside of living in a small town is having limited places to hang out in. We just decided to check out the coffee shop that's in our family friend's old house.

We love the cozy ambiance. We love the tea and the smoothies!

And the wall artwork is way cool.

What I love about the place is there's a variety of books and magazines that you can borrow.

And my brothers love that there's wifi and of course it's a good getaway from the common coffee shop crowd.

Well hello there, it's been a LONG time! I can't say that I'm back for good, but we'll see.

Life has been swell for me and that probably took a toll on my blogs. One thing's for sure though, we continue to do what we love...dining. It's a first in years since we re-visited this Italian restaurant in Iloilo, and like all things, it had some minor changes, but it was all good.

Tonight, I have two of my favorite boys all for myself. Jason and Jerard.

When you're with the boys, you act like them, eat, laugh and talk like them. It became less about the food and more about of the people you're with that makes you enjoy every bite.

Al Dente

Sarabia Manor Hotel, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City

If I had the power to make time stand still, I would. My daughter's growing up all to fast.

One time when my in-laws were out shopping with my daughter, she brought home a handful. Then she held out one particular shopping bag to me.

Kiara: "Mom...." *teary-eyed*

Me: "What's that?" (I took it and checked out what's inside.)

Kiara: "It's...." (Then ran off to bed and cried.)

Me: "Oh...." (I took out a handful of starters.)

Kiara: *loud cry* "I don't want to wear that! I'm not up for that! I'm too young!"

Me: "There's nothing to cry about. You're not YET wearing these but soon you will."

Kiara: "Please don't say soon mom! Please give me at least 5 more years before I will have to put those on!"

Me: *grin* "Whatever you say."

Now that the horror is over, she'd even go "intimate shopping" with my brothers!

Now it's my time to weep. Please time, go a little slower...please!

One innate thing about our family is that, would love a good excuse to swim. So when someone blurts out the words: "Would you guys want to swim today?" Everybody would be cram-mering to work their schedule and clear it out. I guess it's not only food that brings our family together.

We love the water, we could probably be the lost sons and daughters of Poseidon. And as proof that we could also breathe in the water, we took the liberty to capture our underwater life.

My brother gave us water creature names. I thought he'd give me those cute names, but instead he made mine as a piranha -- don't ask why, or you'll drop dead before the last syllable comes out of your mouth.

And then the water battle begins! I'm not sure how my daughter ever managed to win when she's not all that tough, but what I know about her is, loosing would never be an option to her.

Here's a family of swimmers.

Started with my dad, who at his age could beat me in an endurance swim. All my siblings are swimmers as well, they definitely love the sport but don't want to play the game. And I'm a self-proclaimed retired professional swimmer with the hopes that my daughter would make a good following.

I flew back to Manila just in time for my brother's birthday. Initially I just wanted to visit my little girl since it's been two weeks since I last saw her. Two for the price of one huh?

It was a Saturday so everybody was busy doing their own thing. My brother didn't impose that we should be there but we all tried to. I love family gatherings, and it's quiet notable that food always brings us together. We were so ready to get our tummies loaded!

Our uncle was also in town for a wedding, so it makes him a willing substitute for my dad.

And of course there's my brother's friends who are ever present to support him at any time. I'm guessing they flew in too for his birthday.

Food is served! We had one of almost every kind just so we could taste a little bit of everything. It was divine, we loved it all.

And of course, don't forget the cake courtesy of Sheila. And my brother giggled while blowing his 23rd cake. We love you bro!

Marciano's

Second Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati

I wish I could say that I'm back to blogging for good. Unfortunately a lot of things have been holding me down. Right now I'm working on getting back with my old flame...swimming.

It's been years since I've been doing laps and it's surprising that now that I'm a few years older, my body doesn't react as quickly as before. I guess this is how a retired swimmer would feel after years without training. It's not anymore about speed, it's about how long I could stay in the water. I am my own team now, so it's up to me to train myself. Must. Build. Endurance.

I'm lucky to have a family that enjoys the same thing I do -- plus their uber supportive friends.

I'm SO yesterday -- I know! This event was over the summer and I'm just posting it now, nearly three months in the making. This was the time when my brother's shirt business was shortlisted to provide shirts for an event organized by Sofie Garrucho.

FHM a men's magazine brought its Vixens to the City of Love. And I could tell that men are a little agitated about this. I love how FHM has made money out of men's weakness. What a way to do business, i likey!

Men hovered around to watch these Vixen slowly undress to bare essentials. I love that this night I was one of the boys, sipping some beer, eyes on these women, appreciating beauty and curves in a men's perspective. I completely left my last drop of estrogen out the door. It's so easy to be a man...I love it!

But my jaw-dropper wasn't the ladies barely covered, but the people showing off their love to my hometown through our statement tees.

Initially I just wanted to hear mass this day but dad insisted on dining out . I looked haggard to the last strand of my hair that day, I thought everyone would be nice enough not to mind but Jason did.

Eating out on my date of birth is a living proof that I've probably been binging out pretty bad in the past decade? I wish to just cut off a little bit of the fat I've stored for the past years, even just for this day, but dad wouldn't want me to. Ha! Lame excuse! Oh well, I had flowers! *grin* I have the sweetest brothers anyone could ever have. Dad of course, he's the sweet genes that got into my brothers DNA. And my daughter is and forever will be my muse.

We had fun stuffing in most of what was on the buffet table. And of course, no family gathering would be complete without the messing around and the photo op. Munching breaks were filled with laughs and playing around so when we've had enough of that, we're ready to raid back to the tables for more food.

Then Kiara and my brother finished off the night with a glass of halo-halo and a hug. *sigh*

Best days are filled with these.

My brother and I probably scoured the entire metro just to look for a pair of Toms. And we regret that we had Trilogy last on our list, it would have saved us much of our time and energy mall-hopping.

These are one of the most comfortable pair I had ever tried on. At least this time, it doesn't have to look ugly and it's not hazardous during an elevator ride.

For those looking for Toms, have Trilogy on top of your list.

It was Mother's Day, paying tribute to mothers all over the world. They say that these special days were created by a card company to sell out their products. And I'm most likely inclined to believe so. But gone are the days when one would still buy a greeting card right off the shelf. Or is it just me? I think my daughter's hand-made cards are the sweetest.

Mother's day is also an excuse to shop for myself. Unfortunately I don't want something right off the rack. I want two shiny silver things. This bag and car.

I think I deserve that. But I wonder when that's going to happen! *sighs* Spent the day with my brother, Apple and Felice and have a burp-fest in Sango!

While we were having our rounds I over heard a conversation of a little girl with her mom.

Little Girl: Mom, can we go there?

Mom: *smiles*

Little Girl: Can we? Can we?

Mom: It's mom's day remember? We should go to wherever "I" want.

Little Girl: But mom!

Mom: It's my day, protest are not tolerated.

Little Girl: *pout* Can it be my day tomorrow then?

*sigh* I miss my mom.