White Elephant Exchange Gift

Among all the Christmas gift giving traditions, one which I've been enjoying ever since it was introduced to me is the "white elephant"...
This is where you bring along something as your exchange gift but it should be some "junk" or "recycled" gift or something that's been with you that you haven't used (even opened) and won't be using anymore - in the hope that someone else can find your "junk" or recycled gift useful :)
For us though aside from this recycled gift, you should also have a "regular" exchange gift and when I say regular, it's something new that you bought for the purpose of the... You get it right?

So to briefly explain the mechanics (which incidentally we've argued and modified the last time we had it) all the participants randomly choose the "sequence" of how you're picking your gifts...
We have all the gifts piled at the center... The 1st person chooses 2 gifts and opens both for everyone else to see... The 2nd person gets to choose whether to pick his gifts from the pile or STEAL the gift of the 1st person! and if your gift is stolen, you can pick again from the pile or from the opened gÍfts "at play"... The gift can only be stolen "twÍce"!...
and so whoever is that 2nd person stealing that sÀme item will be the final owner...gets? Are you still with me? Haha

Can you just imagine...
It's bad if you're the 1st person... Or even the last person... Or esp if someone else stole the gift you're eyeing!
It's hard to explain and more fun to experience firsthand!

And in the 3 years I've had the "whÍte elephant" with the "Óld gang" we still keep modifying the mecHanics! FÓr sure next year... Iba na naman gagawin nÀmin at mabubuhaÝ na naman si "Mr. Inday" hahaha - sorry insiders' joke :)

And this is what I STOLE!!!
I may not be a "geek" but gosh I couldn't resist them!
So thanks for these!

Oh and...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

My Week(ends) in Photos

One of the many gossip sites I go to is www.omg.yahoo.com
and I know that they usually post celeb photos there
and title the blog... week in photos...

So I'll do one of mine ...

Next are just a few of the photos I grabbed from others' fb accounts...
Account of the recent partiesand gimiks I've been to in the past weekends...

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December 5, 2009
Jetsetter2 Open Photoshoot

Dense Modesto - this great dj turned photographer - invited his online friends - that included me - to an open photoshoot one Sunday morning... and I thought why the hell not?!
(I brought along Tinsel with me and she dragged along her friend Harvey)

He hasn't uploaded the photos yet but I bet you and I will be surprised at the results!!!

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December 12, 2009
3 Parties in One night!

One of the many full weekends I have this December...
After helping out during the parenting seminar @ Seton South
that afternoon/evening I attended 3 parties...

The first I went to was of Mayen's son Cyrus - 2nd bday party!
Loved the cupcakes! No photos of this stopover party though since I haven't seen Mayen uploading them haha...


With Jayson at the wheel, togehter with Sheila and Emma we headed off to Imus, Cavite...

for
soon-to-be-councilor-of-Cavite-Pat Villena's Birthday Party!
Wohoo!

Squeezed in with Jayson, Pat, Sheila and Emma

No costume change needed but after spending a few hours in Cavite for Pat's party...

I headed off to the batch reunion of my former students - hs batch 2005 - @ Balcony Bar & Grill at the cluster of restos right across Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Pinas

I was standing almost the whole night - they kept on asking me why won't I sit down - and I just told them that I don't want to monopolize a barkada and would simply wait for people to chat me up and it will prevent them too from calling me "Ms." which I vehemently told them not to haha... Well old habit i guess...

This was fun! I enjoyed myself immensely! Kudos to the organizers!

There simply were lots of photos that night and you can search through my facebook account to see more...

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December 17, 2009
Guidance Christmas Party

Enjoyable part of any party is the eating

The annual Guidance Unit Christmas Party was different this year since we didn't have strenuous games for apparent reasons - 2 officemates are infanticipating - tho it still was FUN! esp since we have a new resident mascot - Maia Ladybug! haha

with Michelle's daughter Maia

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December 19, 2009 The busy weekend before Christmas

Had an early meet up with my Psychos barkada - Gutz, Misty, Chi and Jojoyce - @ Chili's Greenbelt 5... we had our little exchange gift too - thanks Gutz for the tumbler - surprised much?! haha... and ended our afternoon as usual @ Starbucks Greenbelt 3...

(click on the photo above to see more)

before we all headed off to other parties and gimiks....
which for me was... heading off to Megamall...

for the TCP's ABSolutely Merry Christmas Party 2009

Twilight Coven PH admins - daene, mabelle, meanne and sheila were all present to celebrate and give lotsa prizes to the forum addicts and Twilight fans and friends present

@ KFC Megamall...

It was a smaller group this year but I still had fun esp since I had my sister to tag along this year...

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I ended my day with a GLEE and Vampire Diaries marathon - not done watching them all though...

watched Lea Salonga @ Alabang Town Center - she is sooo great! have to watch CATS! - and overslept after watching more shows of GLEE haha...2pm! Goodness! No wonder my head hurts haha

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I just realized that despite the busy busy weekend of parties and reunions and eating...
Christmas really is a season of family and friends... so grateful...always grateful for these!