Boo’s Party Bus

Once a year, we get to celebrate this guys’ special day. This year was no different, he always knows how to throw a party and it was such a blast. 

The idea is meet up at their place, hop in a party bus, drive 45 mins north to his parents house, they feed is some amazing food and have couple of drinks and then drive back to a Seattle to party some more and dance the night away at Candy Pop in Chopseuy. 

We started the drive with an ice breaker introducing ourselves to everyone just in case everyone doesn’t know each other and share a story how we met Boo. Everybody got their time and one thing stood out, it’s Boo’s love for Beyonce. No surprise about that!

Took awhile til we got people standing up and dancing by the poles but once everybody got warmed up with some drinks together with Boo’s very well known playlist, the party got started. 

We got to the Ozuna’s residence and the feast was waiting for us. Boo’s parents together with Aunt Liz never fails. From the beans to the salad and yummy sliders, I was obsessed!!! 

Of course, it was not a part not unless Janet takes a shot with us with er choice of drink... FIREBALL of course. We may have had a shot or two. 🙈

Of course we would end up at our “home” bar.

The night ended with half of the group going dancing next door and some of us stayed for more drinks. By the time we followed them to dance the night away, everybody was ready to go home.

Happy Happy birthday Boo! Mahal na mahal kita!

not using <b>xoxo<\b>,

ChaCha

Last Choice

Have you ever felt like you were the last choice from something? 

When my anxiety attacks happens, it usually involves somebody I care about. Or at least as of late. I know I am guilty myself from singling somebody out or making them feel like they are the last choice. But damn, it hurts when it happens to yourself, when you are at the other end of the bargain. I know I shouldn't feel this way coz that isn't the case but somebody I can't help feeling like somebody else is better company than you. 

I know I haven't written much from here. But when I do, I know it's coming from a bottled up emotions, which why I mainly started a blog from a long time ago and named it as my diary. this is therapeutic and I hope it helps. I'm not gonna go to any detail, but for future ChaCha, when you read back to this, I hope you were wrong. And I hope that you were just having a moment of feeling as if you were indeed the Last Choice. 

not using  xoxo,

ChaCha

Birthday surprises

First of, here is my disclaimer once again... I know I have neglected my blog once again. But I have a good excuse this time. I finally found the courage (and still working on it) to start vlogging. Now, I just have to make sure I find balance on blogging and vlogging. I know there are some moments that the camera doesn't capture that a blogpost would be able to explain. Anyways... that't that!

I remember when I was younger, my mom once said to make sure that if I'm gonna make friends, I make sure that these friends would be there for me not only for fun times but would stick with me in the roughest days. Up to this day I still remember those words as if she just told me about it yesterday. This guy is one of them.

I met Sai couple of years ago. It wasn't an instant connection but I knew I wanted him in my life. Having a huge circle of friends, it's hard to concentrate on connecting with each person and my story with Sai is no different. Ok maybe it is. Not until about last year when we started connecting more compared to when we just met. It was September if I remember correctly. Seattle hosted a NAGVA tournament and Sai together with couple of my friends stayed at my place and that't when it all started. After they left, I find myself sending text messages with him more than usual and the rest is history.

As months went by, I have traveled to the bay area numerous times either by myself or with my closest friends from Seattle. Fast forward to April which is Sai's birthday month, I thought I would organize a surprise birthday celebration for him. I put everything together from a distance in Seattle and the surprise birthday weekend is gonna be in San Francisco. I discovered that it wasn't hard to put something together like this when it's for somebody close to your heart. Tons of the plans changed last minute but it still worked. One of them was me hiding from him until Saturday when I got in the city on Thursday. But at the back of my mind, Sai would be mad when  he finds out that I've been there for couple of days already and would think I wasted those days instead of us hanging out. Sai's BFF Jennica, who then worked at the same place as him had a brilliant idea of me picking them up after work and that's when it all began.

Watch my vlog post below to see how it all went down on each day.

 

Saturday came and Sai thought it was the end of the surprise. Little did he know that his "Auntie" Ryan is driving up from LA with Eli and my "daughter" Tatiana. I dropped him off and picked him up at work that day using his car "Olaf". He mentioned earlier that he wanted to work out before all the celebration happens, so that was perfect timing for me to plot a new plan for his second surprise. I hijacked Olaf from him and drove back to my son Nino's place to wait for the Ryan and them. Upon arrival, I went to pick up Sai for his second surprise. I didn't know where to go after that so I did what I do best, winging it! I asked him what he wanted to do and sure enough we ended up at a Korean BBQ place and went out for some drinks and dancing.
   

Saturday came and I was not done just yet. We went to the Castro area early in the morning to play volleyball open gym and went to my favorite breakfast place in Daly city afterwards. (I always, I mean always make sure to eat there whenever I visit). Sai needed to do errands and I made his Inay ("mom") Roel plan a fake dinner plans with him that night. He sure did fell for it. Meanwhile, we were all busy making food at Nino's house. We managed to sneak in some grocery time in between the weekend. Totally had to be sneaky. Jet and Roel drove in from Sacramento that afternoon. Couple of days before the surprises, I learned that Sai sent a text message to them inviting them over the weekend to celebrate his birthday but they made it look like that they were in LA for another friends birthday. Alas, Sai fell for that as well.

My vlog below pretty much sums up the whole weekend of surprises.

That weekend was such a blast. It makes me so happy see everybody smiles and hear their laughs most especially Sai, it was his birthday weekend after all. I have no clue how to top this all off for the next birthdays to come but hopefully I'll figure something out. Thanks to my sisters and everyone who made this weekend possible and so much fun! Miss y'all!

I love you po Chinitoh!

not using xoxo,

ChaCha

Road Trip to San Francisco part 2

I have posted this vlog several weeks ago but I wasn't able to post it here on my blog to share. The rest of out weekend in the bay was quite nice. Nothing majorly scheduled but just playing it by ear. I didn't care much about the sight seeing stuff coz we all know that I've been at the bay for so many times. But at the same time I was with a couple of first timers.
 The first part of the vlog is where I left off from the first part of the roadtrip. And then we went on our day and I finally got to see the new Bay Bridge, had a great lunch at my favorite spot Tselogs that serves some of my favorite filipino dishes and then was at the Golden Gate Bridge look out for quite some time because we all got separated. 
It is not too much content but I just wanted to show how happy I get whenever I am around these bunch of people whom I will get to see again next week. Yes, i'll be at the bay again and hopefully I would be able to vlog again. I need to get on it for the start of my year and hopefully will have a good track through outt the year. not using xoxo, ChaCha

Pottery and Ceramic class with Boo

If there is one person who would take me somewhere interesting besides the normal going out to the club, go dinner dates, movies and whatnot that would be Boo. For my birthday this year, Boo took me to Pottery class and it was so much fun!!! Last year he took me to a glass blowing class and up to this date I never got a chance to make that post. (i have to retrieve pictures from my broken iPhone and still have to figure that one out. lol)

As always he wanted to keep it a surprise. So we kept driving north 'til I'm clueless (which I was already in the beginning) which part of the city we were already. But as soon as we got there I knew what was gonna happen. I couldn't be more excited. I have always wanted to do a Pottery class and what a perfect way to do it with Boo. I have to admit though, I was a bit nervous doing this. As I got older, I felt like my artistic side just kept fading more and more. Haha! But Boo reminded me to just have fun with it and not worry about it.

I barely got any pictures of the whole thing coz obviously our hands was full of clay most of the time. But this is what I've gathered...

Here's the outside view of the studio. I immediately knew that we are doing something artsy as soon we pulled in to the drive way.

    

My obsession with Pottery started when I was younger when I saw one of my ultimate favorite movies Ghost with Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg in it. If you have seen the movie, you would know what I'm talking about. 

Here is Boo's initial work. 

And here is mine that looked like crap. lol!

And then the whole artsy ditsy shmanzy happened. I'm gonna admit it now, I failed on this big time! And this is why...

Boo basically made something epic and made a drinking mug with a freaking mustache.

Meanwhile...

Mine ended up looking like a Chalise mug where all the vampires drink blood from.  How creepy and sad is that? Haha! All I was thinking off was making something where I can put my make-up brushes since I just started setting up my make-up room.  I finally had time to take pictures around the studio after washing my hand from all the clay.

Some of the work from previous classes

After drying your work couple of weeks later, theres an option if you want to color it as well. Not sure if we are doing it but that would be more interesting than what it was already. Haha!

Boo and I goofing around with clay after molding our work. Here are some of the instructors work around the studio. 

Not something that you would see around my house. I am too scared of these creepy faces.

Once again, Boo nailed it! I love doing things like this. I don't know if i'm just getting old or what but it's fun doing things besides our normal whatnots. Check out Dahl Arts Ceramic/Pottery Studio website if you are interested. I hope I get to do this again. Thank you Boo for the birthday gift! I can't wait to see the final product and can't wait for more adventures with you.  Mahal na mahal kita Boo! not using xoxo, ChaCha 

Road Trip to San Francisco

What happens when a group of adventurous Filipinos decide to do something spontaneous? With my friends and I we ended up in San Francisco.
Originally, the drive was just upto Portland, OR where there is a volleyball tournament happening on the same weekend but because of the lack of interest weeks before we decided to just go somewhere else since we are already off for the weekend. The decision making was pretty easy but not as smooth. All we had to figure out is who among us are in for the fun, the car plus gas money and a place to stay.
Everything fell into the right place and all we had to do is leave. Haha! I was so excited for I was missing my friends from the bay already after their visit in Seattle weeks before.
Had a blast like always with a lil rough patches here and there but all in all I would do it all over again. Maybe in another city or something but the memories we made that weekend was definitely worth the 12 hour drive.
not using xoxo, ChaCha

Chinito koh!

I feel like I always start my post like this but seriously though, it has been forever since I've posted something. Summer has been so crazy and I barely even have time for anything else besides what was pinned for that day. I don't even remember having a weekend for myself but I am not complaining. A busy summer means a fun summer right? Anyways, I just wanted to share this song (for all who those will understand it). I have been super close to a friend and we both loved this song. I would translate everything here but it might just complicate it more. Haha! The point of the matter is that this is just my feel good song at the moment and I couldn't stop listening to it. not using xoxo,
ChaCha

Camping @ Daroga State Park

With our busy schedules not connecting, it was hard for us to set a date for our camping trip this year. We wasn't able to go last summer coz of this conflict but we made sure that we would do at least one this summer. Like usual, our friend Eye was assigned with looking for a campsite for us since she knows more about it and probably has more patience amongst everybody.

We didn't do much while we were there. We just wanted to relax and have a good time. We wanted to rent a boat at Lake Chelan but the winds got a lil crazy and they stopped rentals for the day. We got to visit Leavenworth as well but that vlog is in the process of editing.

Anyways, here's our camping adventure for summer 2013. I had a blast and I hope we can at least put 2 camping trips next year! Enjoy!

not using xoxo,

ChaCha

Huge thanks to Mark Tyler for the music

Mrs. Carter Show in Dallas,TX Vlog

Here is the final blog from our Dallas trip to see Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Show Tour.

I know it took forever (like always) for me to post it. But with all the editing and gathering of things to edit, I had the struggle putting this together. I finally was able to clean up my phone a little bit so I have more room for exporting. And I also tried to transfer the exported file to my computer and uploaded it from my pc. Phew!

Anyways, hope y'all enjoy this vlog. This one is really special to me since I was able to have the Beyonce experience together with Boo. 

Everything is BIG in Dallas (day 2 in Dallas)

I know this is 2 weeks past due but I've been having problems with my editing app which is Splice for iPhone. But surprisingly, this one exported in High Quality after deleting tons of pictures and videos on my iPhone. But I'm super happy that I was able to upload it on my YouTube page in HD!!! So exciting! Haha! 
We didn't do much on our second day in Dallas. For one, it's too hot and I understand if everybody just wanted to stay in air conditioned places. With that said, nobody was in sight while driving around. Weird enough in Seattle, when the sun comes out, everybody is out enjoying it for sure. But as we all know Dallas heat is so different with what we have in Seattle. 
 Anyways, here is the vlog of our 2nd day in Dallas. Thanks again to the the people who took care of us down there. From the people who fed us and let us stay at their place and most especially to my Poppa for some great memories! 
 ENJOY!

not using xoxo, ChaCha

Grilled Cod & Brown Rice with Broccoli & Red Bell Peppers

I don't know how many times I've mentioned that I have no skills in the kitchen but I do what I can.

Lately, I've been doing tons of cooking at home on whatever I find or crave for. I am surprisingly getting into red bell peppers and broccoli a lot. Perfect timing that there was a frozen Black Cod that I can grill and added some brown rice. Nothing fancy but it was good. I just added some seasoning to it and it was ready to grill.

not using xoxo,

ChaCha

My First time in Dallas,TX

Finally!!! I got to visit Dallas,TX and I finally get to visit my Poppa Twinky who moved there 2 years ago around this time. I can still remember the day he left Seattle, exactly on his birthday. It was a win win visit coz at the same time it was our girl Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Show (separate vlog).

As expected, Dallas was so hot compared to Seattle but we made the most out of it. Nothing much happened on this vlog besides us being in the aiport and kept saying that hopefully on the next clip we are in Dallas, repetitively. Haha! Got to Dallas, ate some Mexican food and went out for drinks and dancing.

Check it out!

not using xoxo,
ChaCha

Road Trip to Priest Lake,ID part 1

Boo and I got invited by my friends parents to visit their resort in Priest Lake, Idaho.  Of course, who are we to say no to that? I mini get away and relaxation sounded really good coz the next few weeks will be so busy for Gay Pride in Seattle and as we leave for Dallas the weekend after.
I filmed a lil but here and there but mostly its just the sights on our 5 hour drive Idaho from Seattle. Also as we arrived, drinks just started pouring so again, who are we to say no? Haha!
Enjoy! And I apoligize for my poor editing skills.

Greenlake Sunday

Hiyee!!! Since I attended Vlogger Fair, I wasactually pushed a lil bit more on trying vlogging. So yesterday, I decided to turn my phone camera on (actually my friends phone since mine is full already). I was looking for music to come with it too and I thought my find was pretty nice by Slakah the Beatchild.
Some of you might think that my style of vlogging is very newbie and yes I agree. I have no clue how to edit and just use my phone to do it with the Splice app from iTunes. My inspiration of style is Fun for Louis but of course I can never top his filming and editing skills. 

Well there goes my stab on trying to vlog! Hope you enjoy! Rate, Comment, Subscribe!
not using xoxo, ChaCha

Vlogger Fair Seattle

Finally! I'm able to write this entry. To be honest, I was still fan girling a day or two after the event. I never thought I would be able to attend a YouTube event since i'ts not really popular to have one here in Seattle.
On June 8 and 9, the first ever Vlogger Fair was held in Seattle Terminal 5. I was hesitant to go in the beginning coz 1. I am not a YouTuber (eventhough I've been wanting to but a huge fan off tons of YouTubers) and 2. I am not a Vlogger and consider myself more of a blogger. I immediately thought of my friend Jerome who has a YouTube Channel called ohitsROME. He is the perfect person to go with not only because this is his chance to network and vlog around vloggers like him. And I'm glad that he said yes coz we had so much fun!!!

Here is Jerome and I at the red carpet. Nothing too fancy, just staff asking for our cameras and camera phones and they will take a picture of us instead of us taking a selfie. Haha! Those coffees on our hand were free and who doesn't want free stuff? 

Let's get into who met on the first day of Vlogger Fair...

One of the main reasons why I wanted to attend this event is because of Joey Graceffa. I've been following him in forever and he is such a funny guy with tons of personality. He was recently in the Amazing Race but unfortunately didn't win but by far my favorite amongst the other competitors.

Joey was definitely one of the favorites that day. As soon as he came in the warehouse, he had tons of fans following him going to the VIP booth but not too long he came out from the curtains and everybody started screaming for him. 

Security had to send him to another location by the stage where he can sign stuff and take pictures. He was probably there for 3 hours and entertained every single fan in the line including Jerome and I. After his Q&A he continued signing and taking pictures with everyone again. 

Check out this vlog filmed by Jerome:

I also met Catrific arriving with Joey that day and she also had quite of a following. I spotted her on a perfect timing on her own so I didn't have to wait in a line or anything. She was such a sweetheart and immediately said yes when I asked for a picture. 

And then there's itsjudytime/itsjudyslife. Jerome and I are both fans of Judy. Not only she is local, but  I've met her cousins Kate who is one of the Sistersof604.I was supposed to meet her a year ago when I was invited for lunch but didn't make it :( (You'll see why on her vlog). Jerome and I was outside when they arrived. To my surprise, as we approached them, Judy was like "OMG! ChaCha?!?" and lil dorky me replied "OMG! Judy!!!" I told her that I was surprised that she remembers me even if we haven't really met but she only saw a picture of me from her cousin Kate. Judy is super nice and she is just like her in her vlogs.  I'm hoping to see her again on another event.

I couldn't stop myself but apprach Benji who was carrying #juliannabear on the side while Judy was signing and taking pictures. Judy was a super mom though, she would excuse herself from the fans and do mommy juties almost at the same time. Jovelle who is Judy's bestfriendwas there too. She just started vlogging couple of weeks ago and her vlogs are super entertaining and she is super funny. Looking forward for her future vlogs for sure! Check out Judy's vlog...

Another perfect timing when Jerome and I was outside and Landon Austin and Luke Conard arrived. They were pretty much in the groove or mood yet coz they just literally gotthere when I asked for a pic. Haha! But I was able to talk to them again inside and they are super nice! Love these guys music and I was pretty bummed that I wasn't able to go to their concert the next day.

This is Louis. He is best known for his crazy appetite for weird stuff on his channel FoodForLouis but I found out about him on his vlog channel FunForLouis. This guy is so free spirited and easy to love. He enjoys his life so much and it's so contagious whenever I watch his vlogs. When I found out that he will be at Vlogger Fair I was for sure wanting to attend more! And the picutre above just totally made me happy. I spotted him from a far coz he is so tall and you won't miss his dreadlocks. You can even see his smile from a distance. I got to chat for a second with him and asked how was his recent travel from the east side of Canada. I've watched his Vlogger fair episodes and I'm glad to hear that he likes Seattle :).

Now this is the master of it all, Chris Pirillo. He is the genius behind Vlogger Fair.  I can tell that he was getting overwhelmed with all that's going on but the guy is so nice. I'm really hoping that he keeps Vlogger Fair in Seattle so I can attend each year. And from the attendance over the weekend, it looks like it will just keep getting bigger and bigger. Great Job Chris!!!

Thanks again Jerome for going with me at Vlogger Fair. I had a blast all day! It's funny how we said that finally we can talk about YouTube with somebody without getting the weird vibe. HaHa! I know you have been pushing me to start vlogging and slowly I might just get there.  Btw, Congratulations with your 2,000 subbies!!!
Can't wait for Vlogger Fair 2014!!! not using xoxo, ChaCha