Ladies Who Lunch

Two years in a row that we have celebrated our Christmas Party with girlfriends who work in the same office but belong to different functions. What gels us together is our usual lunch and penchant for playing board games and sharing stories during our daily one hour break. We usually congregate in my cube as it's big enough to provide elbow room for all eight or ten of us, as we eat. 

Last year, we had a grand time in Mamou Too (Rockwell Power Plant) and in Barcino (Greenbelt 2). For this year, we shared a sumptuous dinner at Stella in Bonifacio High Street Central. Some of us -- Sandra and I mostly, had a bottle of wine to go with the succulent ribs we ate. 

Me-an and Mars arrived late (work stuff). Nonetheless, the conversation just picked up as if they were already there at the onset. I think it's one of the reasons that this group just rock. 

Everyone is heard. You just have to fight your way to getting everyone's attention. All extrovert women with stories to tell, yapping away every chance we get. But no one minds because at the end of the day, we all have a grand time. 

Beautiful women. Sandra & Dawn.

Equally beautiful set -- Mei, Mara and Erica (Mrs. F!)

In their model's pose: (L-R) Sandra, Dawn, Mars & Mean

A group shot before the exchange gift

Just like last year, we continued the tradition of exchanging gifts. We exchanged views on Twitter, sent DMs for the wishlist and did the confirmation through social media. This year though, the general theme hands down is Gift Certificate. The store varied but the underlying tone is each is just too happy to walk into the store and buy an item using the gift (GC) given.

Mean & Mei

Mara & Erica

GC galore. Look at the faces! Pwede.

Wish granted. Starbucks tumbler to add to Mei's collection.

We found a new lunch buddy and friend, too. Dawn, a gifted writer but on the shy side started joining us for lunch a few months back. And we love to keep her in the group. We gained not just a companion but a friend we wish to have for life. 

I think that years down the road, we would still have our annual get-together to bookend the in-between dinners in swanky restaurants or newly-discovered hole-in-the-wall/quaint resto and the occasional wine and cheese night on Dawn's roof deck. 

2012 has marked another milestone for us. Some got promoted, got married, having a baby and traveled. We look forward to more years of stories, book swaps and travelogues.

Mr & Mrs Flores. Handsome couple, eh?

The couple needed to bid adieu early. Obviously, the preggers might pop anytime.

Here's to a more vibrant 2013 wherever we may be. Cheers! To Kat, we missed you. We know though that you are having a grand time in the big apple -- from Manila to New York, cheers!

Tradition lives on. My Christmas wish is for these lovely people to be chums for life.

XX

Sheng

The Big Red Party

I was in my freshman year in High School when I attended my first grown up Christmas Party. It was also my first foray into the world of Catholic school. I can still vividly remember the theme that year, Red Christmas. 

Strange as it may seem but I decided against wearing one even if I had a perfectly nice tiered red dress hanging in my closet. Spell deviant. Instead, I came in black and white. I was totally having a blast until a classmate, a boy at that, told me why my outfit looks like am off to the gym. That sent me crashing to earth. Ouch. 


And so through the years, I danced around themes on Christmas parties. If memory serves me right, there were only too few occasions that I have followed the theme. Only when it suited my peculiarities. Or if the outfit can be put together based on my basic black wardrobe. 

This year's theme was The Big Red Party. So, naturally I came in...

 

Black in a sea of red :-)

Luckily, there was no scrooge to burst my bubble. There were quite a number who opted to come in their color of choice. It didn't mean though that we were less thrilled with the red theme. It's just the way it is. 

The Photo Booth by the foyer is a nice touch, as always.

Year after year, I think our event organizers aim to outdo the year before. We've always set the bar high. Last year, we were in Republiq. The clubbing scene has considerably evolved over the years. It was quite a party, at the most happening club in the metro. For this year, it's at Hotel Intercon's, Icon. 

We definitely had a great time. And we were floored when Gino (Gigi) and Fran of RX Monster Radio appeared; they were our hosts. We were on a fan mode the whole night. So, we just had to have our picture taken with them. Most especially Gino. teehee. 

 Big Red Party Hosts: Fran & Gino (RX 93.1 Monster Radio DJs)

The night was amplified more by the production numbers prepared by each floor. We supported our teams with gusto. So much that the next day, I had a really bad voice. 

the 7th floor team on their interpretation of Mama Mia

The Little Mermaid complete with bubbles that almost made me trip on the sidelines :-)

The 10th Floor's winning rendition of FAME!

The 11th floor's version of the Sound of Music was hilar!

 Of course, the branches didn't come unprepared. Everyone's in fun competition mode. 

The Taft Branch.

Before our hosts' bid adieu, we girls are in ultra fan mode.

Never mind if it's hazy. At least we have a memory to dwell on :-))

Adding to the night's excitement was the announcement of raffle winners -- big and small. Pre-drawn and on the spot. Just like any raffle event, this a non-event for me. Didn't win any. Never mind, the dancing that came after just lifted the fog of momentary sadness out of me. 

The music was really great for dancing. And I've seen those who were really smooth on the dance floor. And we had a jolly good time. Although, the DJ's playlist kinda confusing at times. 

beat or no beat, everyone danced the night away!

What's a party without a li'l booze? This party just had the right ingredients; good food, good music and open bar!

with our watered-down mojito :-)

they've got the killer moves!

With Djinji, the glowing bride-to-be

And a Christmas Party wouldn't really be complete without the requisite snap shots. 

Beneath the sweet smile is a grumbling belly.

nice to party with good friends :)

Ridiculously long queue to the buffet station! Just goes to show there is really no pa-sosyal to an empty stomach. Or are we office rats not just the party-phile we aim to be one night in a year? So, we pose for the camera to distract ourselves.    

When the party was over, I thought there were some really nice individuals that rocked the red color. Color blocking becomes them. Then, I saw a series of pretty pictures of the Creative Girls. I just had to include them in this post. Here's one for a taste test.

                          A winner in my book! Mira, Tin, Mau, Joanna and Aza. You girls look glam!

The Barrio Girl has gone a long way... from the nondescript school gymnasium to the most happening clubs in the city. Yes, I've assimilated in the big city but I still get intimidated at times especially in big gatherings like this. They just don't know it.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Mamou Too!

My girlfriends and I have a rehearsal of sorts. Our Christmas dinner would be on 7 December yet. But last Friday, 2 December, we had this brilliant idea of a Friday pampering night slash bazaar trek. Come night time however, we discarded the nails session as we were all famished. 

We didn't make any prior reservations but we have already made plans to eat at Mamou Too at Rockwell Power Plant Mall. I just can't get enough. You see, I had my first Christmas Dinner with my former roomie Judy at Mamou in Serendra in Bonifacio Global City. The food is just so great that I didn't mind coming back with just a few days in between. 

Girls' Night Out. (L-R) Me-an, Erica, Mara, Armin, Moi and Mei

 
We really don't like to cam whore but we want to look back to this night with fondness. And so we snapped away. To us, bonding means either coffee, food or both interspersed with hearty conversations. Here's what we've partaken.

Linguine Al Nero (P325). Never mind the black ink that may coat your teeth jet black. 

Lamb Tapa with Salsa Pina (P395). Still Erica's order. She doesn't eat much, actually. Lol.

Venison Curry with Buttered Parsley Rice (P395). Mara's scrumptious choice.

Adobo Flakes with Bettlenut Red Rice (P295).

There's a long list of choices in the menu but we just have to order the same -- Mei, Armin and Me. Ha ha.We're crazy like that. 

Then, I had this bright idea of ordering a bottle of red wine. It made the night more festive. And I must say, it made me so buzzed and woozy. I couldn't stop laughing all through the night.

California Red (P1150). Chilled, eh?

All through the night, our dinner was peppered with anecdotes of our life in the office, the latest in showbiz as disclosed in twitter and what have you. It's really good to be spending the night with people you respect and you want to be friends with. 

After dinner prettiness.

We closed the restaurant that night. But the night was still young so we head to the nearby bazaar at the Rockwell Tent. We roamed around, tried some interesting jewellery, checked out some knickknacks and bought some gift stuff. 

As I've said, this is just a prelude. Tomorrow night is our real Christmas dinner complete with exchange gift, the works.

Cheers!