I’ve been trying to be a better wife lately by learning new things… you know.. the usual stuff like, learning how to cook, learning how to bake, learning how to knit … okay maybe not knit, YET, but I have been trying to do more wifey things lately.

One of the things that I’ve been trying to do is organize! Yes, after 7 years of marriage, we have collected so many things and it’s driving me crazy!  So during these next few weekends, I’m going to dedicate most of my time as a “housewife” and figure out what to do with all our things.

Today, I found a video tutorial that I thought I could share with all of you.  It’s from the www.ehow.com website and it’s about “How To Properly Fold a Fitted Sheet”.  I was extremely happy when I found this video!! I always had trouble folding those sheets that I would roll it up and stuff it into the closet! :oP Why didn’t anyone share this information with me before?? 

Oh well, now I know how to fold those sheets and if anyone else finds this information useful, let me know so I don’t feel too bad about not knowing this information beforehand…

How to Properly Fold a Fitted Sheet — powered by eHow.com

About two weeks ago, my friend Kristi was celebrated her 18th birthday. She was no longer the little girl that I had come to know. She was now a woman and a beautiful one, as a matter of fact.

My family, (the Endique’s) have known her parents for so many years.  They’re really good family friends that I have grown up to know as uncle Ramon and aunty Amy.  When I found out Kristi was planning her party three weeks before the event, I offered my services to them and I was so thrilled when they decided to have me as their photographer.  I really do love this family.  They are one of the sweetest and kindest families you could ever know. Her brothers, Kevin and Michael, are wonderful too! They are so supportive to their little sister.  You could really feel the love they have for one another. I’m really happy to have been a part of it.

Kristi, Aunty Amy, Uncle Ramon, Kevin, and Michael: Thank you all for being so wonderful! Not only are you considered family friends to the Endiques, but you’ve always been: family. period.

Special thanks to Natasha of NTME Photography for helping me out that day! She took photos of Kristi getting ready for the event. THANK YOU TASHA! :)

Kristi waited in the ladies room before her grand entrance, so we decided to take some photos of her in there.  Who can make a ladies room a cool place to take photos??? Kristi can…

Kristi and her grand entrance :)

Aunty Amy worked really hard on every detail used for Kristi’s birthday. From the program below, to the giveaways, centerpieces, etc.. She wanted her daughter to have a memorable debut.

With her parents :)

Her BFFs

Make a wish…

Family portrait

To view more photos, please click on the play button below to play the slideshow.

12 years ago, Ryan decided that he wanted to be more than just friends with me. 12 years ago, Ryan told me he loved me.

We had never met in person and at that time we only communicated through chatting on the mIRC channel, #iglesia. Occasionally, we would send emails to one another, but that was it. Yet, I knew he was a special guy that I also wanted to get to know better and so 12 years ago, I told him over one of our Internet Relay Chats (IRC) that I loved him too and I wanted to get to know him better as my long distance boyfriend. It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life :)

Truthfully, we didn’t know where our relationship would take us especially since we lived oceans apart and we’ve NEVER met in person… BUT we had devotional prayers for one another. We had faith that if it was God’s will for us to be together, then God will help us with our relationship no matter what we had to go through and no matter how far apart we were from each other. Now, 12 years later, we can see how much God has helped us in our lives. He has never let me and Ryan down. To Him, we are forever grateful!

Ryan: Thank you so much for being here with me. I REALLY LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH! :) Happy 12th Year Anniversary as Ryan & Joan!! Here’s a picture taken of us during our FIRST Anniversary as a couple! I’ll never forget that day because it was our last day together before I had to leave the Philippines for the US! My oh my! We’ve certainly changed a lot, huh dear? I’m looking forward to many more years of changes and growing old together :)

Taken today at 1:39 p.m. with our built in camera on our computer monitor. :)

Below are more photos of us.. just because I started scanning some old photos and might as well post some up for memories sake :)

Taken after the worship services of the Kabataan (Children’s Worship Service) in Evangelista. I was a CWS Teacher and Ryan was a CWS Chairperson.  I performed in the CWS in the Philippines. I didn’t get to teach CWS in the Philippines, but I helped as a CWS Officer :)

The following picture was taken during our 3rd Year Wedding Anniversary. We went to San Francisco :)

I know this Thank You is 5 days overdue, but it’s better to be late than never saying thank you at all!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who had taken time to wish me a happy birthday! I really appreciate all of you for the messages, the phone calls, the voice mail singing the happy birthday song (Gavin) heheh, the electronic birthday cards, and for the gifts! I’m so blessed to know each and every one of you, my dear friends and family.  I pray to God that all your prayers and wishes come true and I hope for more years of friendship with one another!

I came home today to find a nice surprise! I got a gift from the Beltran family and it was so unexpected, I wanted to cry! I know, I’m too emotional and sensitive.. but really, I have the best clients-turned-friends that a photographer could ever have! Thank you Woji, Amy, Ethan, Eian, and Elle :) Looking forward to photographing your growing family as the years come…

Here’s the package I received today.

I confess. I ate half a truffle. It.Was.Delicious!

I haven’t posted a Happy Friday Video for a while. So here’s another segment of it :).

I’m not quite sure if this would fall under “Happy Friday Video” because it’s about a bride suing her wedding photographer, BUT today is Friday; I am happy; and this is definitely a video I must share with all of you! A must watch for all brides/grooms-to-be and also for wedding photographers too!

When I first started doing weddings, I admit I couldn’t afford to buy a professional camera or lenses. So what did I do then? I rented them!

If you’re wondering where you can rent equipment, check out Borrowlenses.com or Lensrental.com.  If you don’t feel comfortable about borrowing lenses online, look for a locale photograph company that rents out equipment.  It’s just for the best!

I guess we can all learn a lesson from the video above.