What I wear on my first experience as a guest to a Thai wedding

When I received the wedding invitation of our school manager's son and knowing that they're well-to-do families and the wedding is to be held in one of the best hotels in the heart of Hatyai City-Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel , the first thing I asked (in my mind) is what should I wear? You see, it's my first time to attend a traditional Thai wedding . We attended the wedding of our church mate 2 years ago and it's kinda informal, just like re-affirmation of vows because they were in their 60's already and they just wanted to be married in the church. I even blogged here the choice of dress I plan to wear but black Cheetah Print Waist Belt Dress wasn't materialized because I remembered that it's considered unlucky to wear black at a wedding (or any celebrations), so this means no black dresses or tops for women and no black shirts or ties for men, although it is OK to wear black shoes and black trousers or slacks. So what do I wear? I wear something sexy but not too revealing dress and something that looks sassy!

I go for a bit of a retro-style fashion, and this black dress with red apples print is cute n’ retro without looking too much like a fancy dress costume. I love the red waist belt that go with it. I just accessorize it with black woven strings collar necklace with sparkling blue stone to match with my pair of sequined shoes from Illusions by Reflexion in blue. It has the classic peep-toe platform style and plenty of sparkles in front, but it’s toned down nicely with the casual effect of the wooden heel. The red purse which I only get for 290 baht (about $9) really shows up and is hard to miss. I love how it looks bold yet classic.


Take a look of what my co-teachers (foreign teachers' dept) (except the man in suit and tie - he's our school manager) wore on the night of October 29. The men wore long/short sleeves with a pair of plain trousers or slacks to be on the safe side. We girls wore dresses- an orange boat neck tie-waist dress for my preggy co-teacher,a sleeveless button front short dress for the other and me with the dress I featured above.


Get invited to a Thai wedding (usually we're only invited to turn up for the wedding reception in the evening) ? Fret not on what to wear. Just decipher by only considering the local, the restaurant or the wedding set. During the wedding, I noticed that the young wedding guests wore shoulder dresses, portrait dresses, off the shoulder , halter dresses, sweetheart dresses, A-line, ballerina or bell shaped skirt and any kind of dress you can name of. The wedding has no theme or motifs like we have in colors so the dresses vary and the the trendiest ones are: light violet, champagne, beige, hot pink, coral orange, fuchsia, deep purple, gray, teal, lime green, aqua blue, navy blue, pale yellow, magenta and burgundy.

Can't wait to attend more Thai weddings!

"What appropriate wedding gifts could I give to Thai couples? " will be tackled on next post.

See yah!

Keep us safe, Oh God!

We'll be back in school next week and I'll be back riding on a motorbike with my hubby. I hope my hubby isn't sick and tired of my everyday reminders to him to drive slowly and safely especially now that it's rainy season. Driving a motorcycle in the rain can be very dangerous if the necessary precautions are not taken. I always told him that he should be aware of his surroundings, especially of other drivers around him (coz most young Thai drivers are reckless). I knew that he knew what's the best thing he should do more than me but I just can't help reminding him. About 64% of vehicular accidents in Thailand are caused by motorcycles since 2006. Some were badly hurt in a collision and some lost their loved ones as a result of another driver's negligence. I don't witness or even heard about the availability of personal injury lawyer here that works like the personal injury attorney Tucson , who provides hands-on legal help for accident victims and their families.

It's my daily prayer that God will always safeguard my family especially my hubby's travel to and fro hatyai and Songkhla. I ask God for that car we've been asking for to be delivered as early as possible.

Goodbye October, welcome November!

October is filled with so much fun. It's filled with so much celebration-celebration of love and life. We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, Hyzyd's 2nd birthday, my father's 52nd birthday, and my niece, HJ, 1st birthday! It seems that our semestral break ends in just a wink of an eye because of so much celebration, frolic and fun! Four more sleeps and we'll be back again to our old routine- wake up early, send Hyzyd to babysitter, school, fetch Hyzyd, sleep early. But before I forget let me remind myself that we need to visit Hyzyd's pediatrician for his scheduled vaccine. I'm sure Hyzyd will be delighted to meet again his gorgeous pedia in her fun, colorful, and Cherokee scrubs patterned uniform.

I welcome the month of November with much anticipation. Hope we'll have a fruitful month to come.

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Behind the scenes of Hyzyd's 2nd Birthday Celebration

NO matter how you wanted to celebrate birthdays in a very simple way, still the task of planning and preparation (right from the kids' birthday party food, decoration, to the birthday invitations) could be overwhelming if you don't have help. Good for me, I have 4 of my friends who helped me in decorating the venue, blowing the balloons, preparing the food , arranging the things in the house and even washing the dishes! Without them I'm sure I'll be stressed out . When I'm stressed, I usually suffer from acne flare-ups . Because of them I was spared of buying the best treatment for adult acne. Nobody want a zit larger than a breadbox to have its ugly head reared on your face when you least expected it and when you needed most to look your best!

Thank you Belle, Sugar, Grace and Ate Ren

As for my Hyzyd, I don't really have a specific theme. On his event tarp, I just want it to be bright and have the cartoon characters that he's familiar with like Mickey Mouse, Spongebob and Lightning McQueen! I only have 4 kids invited in the party and only two of them at the right age (3 and 5) to truly enjoy the foods and party favors. The other two were just 11 months and 1 year old.

the event tarp

Designing my 2 year old birthday party tarp and invitations becomes pretty easy because I found Innové Grafx in Facebook. They do the designing, send the big file to me and I printed them here in Hatyai City. As for the invitations, I just send them via Facebook and email to friends.

the party invitation

I set the party to start at 3:30 pm so I prepared light snacks such as cake, spaghetti and ice-cream for the children. We have grilled fish, grilled pork, fried chicken, spaghetti, cake, pizza, macaroni, sushi, letchon-kawali and fruits for the adults.

the party food

I prepared party favors for the kids (remember I only have 4-1 boy and the rest are girls) but I forget something...my zip bag is Hello Kitty! I should have choose something neutral like Winnie the Pooh or the Cars because the birthday celebrator is a boy! Forgive your mommy son, it's just that I love anything in pink!In each zip bag, I have goodies and useful item like wallet for girls and a sand-digging toy set for the boy.

the party favors

Celebrating Hyzyd's 2nd birthday

The birthday celebrator woke up at 8:00 o'clock on his BIG day while we're downstairs. He knocked on the door upstairs to let us knew that he's awake already and what greeted me was his super-duper happy smile. He surely knew that it's his BIRTHDAY!

He spent his morning playing with balloons that his Titas (Aunts) made for him. He jumped and down on the bed, dived on the balloons and whisked them to every corner of the house!

Hyzyd's special smile on his birthday!

under the balloons!

even mommy who hasn't put her face cream yet doesn't mind taking photos with the celebrator

But something happened! Hyzyd fell over the edge of the bed! He dived on the balloons while mommy is busy taking photos not knowing that Hyzyd is already at the edge of the bed! Bad, bad mommy!

But thankfully, Hyzyd was fine and we give him his favorite "sandwich kiss".

Before I'll post the other details, let me extend my warmest thanks to my friends- Belle, Sugar and Ren ( remember girls I'll make a separate post about your ingenuity, inventiveness and innovativeness in making Hyzyd's day a memorable one!). They surely made the venue, decoration and food , the event of Rajuthit Road! Thanks to my bro. who took the video and photos and friends who come over to celebrate with us especially those who brought gifts to Hyzyd... !

the day before the birthday, the ladies with me (L-R) Sugar, Ren and Belle

are one of the reasons why Hyzyd's 2nd birthday is truly a marvelous one!

The time has come for Hyzyd to blow his own candles. Hyzyd is uber ready for this event as he blew other candles on few occasions already. We choose magic candles that will lit up again after being put off so that Hyzyd's blowing would be so much fun! It was, indeed!

More posts to come about the preparation, the food, the visitors, the designer, the cook, the runner, our entertainer-Uncle Kato, Hyzyd's gift and many more!

My family give thanks to God for the provision, fine weather after it rains right before we start and for the friends who shared the joy with us.

Bring us to Samila Beach, my dear

It's been over two years since we have our getaway at Samila Beach. I would be nice to visit Samila Beach over the weekend or next week while we still have our semestral break. I'm also eager to know what would be Hyzyd's reaction this time now that he's grown up and very curious about nature. Hyzyd was only 9 months when he stepped on the sand and has a nice view of the beach. It's really breath-taking to be back in Samila Beach. I miss the good food there, the historic sites like the Cat and the Mouse statues as well as the Mermaid statue. I miss writing on the sand, looking for seashells and critters,windowshopping in the little seaside shops, watch the sunset and many more (except sun tanning- I'm afraid I'll go back to school with a visible flushing red face as if I needed a treatment for rosacea)!

Going to Samila beach is usually fun no matter what we'll do there because we're getting away from real life and enjoying a scenic travel destination. There are plenty of things to do here besides swimming!

In Samila Beach, you could hike in the nearby shaded trails . This offers great exercise and the water is great for cooling down after the hike.

It's nice to just sit there and relax. We're on vacation after all!

Hyzyd could once again enjoy walking and playing on the sand.

P.S. Dear if you ever read this, please bring us to
Samila Beach. Pretty please, with a cherry on top.

Operation Pigeon Hunting!

On this particular day, my browsers most visited sites are those that talk about different methods to get rid of pigeons rather than the fat burners for women which top my list a week ago . I'm really pissed off these city dwellers pigeons nesting over our roof , messing all over and waking us up at midnight or at dawn!

I told the landlady about this and she told me that today they will send men to knock down the nests over our roof and eaves and to clean the poo they've dropped on our window frames and roof.

Hope they'll totally exterminate these smelly winged-creatures!

Vinyl printing in Hatyai City

I'm glad I've done what I supposed to do yesterday mainly the printing of Hyzyd's tarpaulin and purchasing materials needed for Hyzyd's birthday on Saturday.

For my fellow Filipinos here in Hatyai City, you could have your vinyl banners printed at iPrint, Graphic Next , 152/1 Prachatipat Road, Hatyai City.


that is the place without any English word on the shop's banner


Hyzyd watching the big machine printing his tarpaulin. The result is very OK but I'll just post the photo later because my digicam's battery is still recharging. The cost of printing is only 144 baht (about $4.50) for the length of 4 feetx 3 feet.

This is Hyzyd's event tarp designed by Innové Grafx . They just send to me the big file of the design for me to print it here in Thailand. That's how technology works these days. As for the design charge, would you believe it that the design as cute as this only cost me 200 Php (about $4.00)?

eating here and there

This week I've been into eating spree. It started last Monday. A church mate invited us for a dinner. The main course is pork barbecue with sticky rice.

On Friday, we attended a kiddie birthday party and who can resist these yummy food spread before your eyes!

Who'll not look forward for snacks if they came from S & P Bakery?

Our wedding anniversary won't be complete without celebrating it at Pizza Hut!

Their onion rings and yoghurt fruit dance are irresistible that even Hyzyd claimed one glass of yoghurt fruit dance for him alone!

I am truly enjoying their 12 Cups Pizza- 2 flavors on the crust with Seafood Cocktail and Chicken New Orleans. I think I really need lipo 6 hers- that popular female fat burner I read on the net to burn all the fats I acquired for just a week!

To do list is important for me

There's so much to do this day that listing them is a good start to do the chores/task one by one. Having a to-do list makes me remember all the tasks that I need to carry out as well as prioritizing the tasks based on their importance.

I am a type of a person who frequently forgets important things I need to do, then a To-Do list is something I won't want to be without. I even purchase a "to-do list" notepad to allow me to list important tasks and posted it on our fridge.

Here's what I need to do today:

1. go to a Tarpaulin printing shop to print Hyzyd's birthday banner

2. buy balloons

3. go shopping for spaghetti and macaroni salad ingredients

4. purchase whey protein for hubby and Megawomen for me in our favorite vitamin store, GNC

5. fold clothes

6. iron clothes

Happy 3rd wedding Anniversary to us!

What could we say for year three? It's just that my love for you my dear grows sweeter and sweeter. You're still the Joseph that I married- suave, sexy, smart, and strong. I love you so much dear .

I made this video for us to reminisce how happy we are on our wedding day. We'll always be happy even we both have white hairs .