Publishing a yearend blog post is something I do every year so I wanted to continue the tradition this year, despite being busy and sleep-deprived. However, this time around, I’ll keep it short because now, I have a needy newborn who requires my attention 24/7! (I am nursing as I type this)
2017 has been incredibly wonderful for me! Sure, things weren’t always bright and merry, but for the most part of the year, it was abounding in happy memories and thrilling milestones. 2017, at least for me, was the year when a lot of my dreams came true!
So many colorful and memorable events transpired last year, but I’d say these are my top 10 favorite moments from 2017:
1. Being a legit food writer
Free food + getting paid to eat the free food + seeing your byline published on a website. Hey, I can’t complain! I started becoming a contributing writer for Spot.ph, one of the biggest online lifestyle guides in the country and through this, I have combined my love for food and writing. Check out the yummy food finds I wrote about for Spot.ph last year.
2. Being featured online and in print
If you’re a wedding supplier and you get featured in Bride & Breakfast, THAT IS A BIG DEAL. So you can imagine how elated I was to be featured TWICE!!! Here are the featured weddings that I was fortunate enough to host for:
I also got featured in the September 2017 issue of MoneySense Magazine! wherein I shared about my work as a freelance event host, singer, voice-over artist, and writer. My mom used to read this magazine so you could say that she was proud that her daughter made it to its pages!
3. Hosting events
It’s really so rewarding to know that you contributed to the success of other people’s events! Some of the most noteworthy events I hosted this year:
Baby shower of Pauleen Luna & Vic Sotto:
Baby shower of Bangs Garcia & Lloyd Birchmore:
This surprise marriage proposal and wedding in one:
The debut of Sorsogon Governon Robert Rodrigueza & his First Lady, Grace:
This gorgeous and unique wedding:
This grand Gatsby party:
This Doctor Who-themed wedding:
This dreamy wedding held at Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort:
Block screening of Fifty Shades Darker:
4. Going to blogger events
Blogging not only fuels my love for writing, but it has also taken me to places last year! I had a lot of fun, and that was the most important thing.
Read:
Moderne Culinaire Academy Launches Partnership with Malaysia’s KDU and Berjaya Universities
Zalora Philippines Celebrates 5th Anniversary with the Zalora Style Awards
Glitz and Glamour at the 2017 E! Bloggers Ball
Breastfeeding and Newborn Care Class at the Parenting Emporium
7. Babymoon in Palawan
Last year, I was set to go on three international trips: a spontaneous Taipei getaway with my best friend (we had already booked our tickets), a 45-day stay in Macau where I was supposed to work as a gondolier at The Venetian (a job I held in 2011), and a trip to Bali for my mother-in-law’s birthday. But when I found out that I was pregnant, I had to scrap all those travel plans because I didn’t want to risk the baby’s safety. Luckily, I had previously won a 3-day / 2-night stay in Astoria Palawan, so Mike and I went and celebrated our babymoon there, just relaxing and living it up before our tiny human took over our lives and our schedules! We had an amazing time! Though an international trip would have been fun, experiencing the warm Filipino hospitality and service and discovering a lovely retreat in our very own country was also a fantastic experience!
Read: Babymoon in Astoria Palawan
8. Baby Parties
So many fun (and pretty) celebrations were held to welcome our baby! We had a simple Gender Reveal wherein Mike and I found out together with our family if we were having a boy or a girl (it’s a girl, just what Mike wanted!). Then, my sister Alexa and my friends Aspe and Alessa threw us the cutest baby showers. The amount of preparation and effort that went in to mount these events for our little girl was proof that she is special and immensely loved.
Read:
It’s A Girl! (Our Baby Gender Reveal)
Baby Shower #1 with Family for our Fluffy Space Princess
Baby Shower #2: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
9. Maternity Shoot
I know it’s totally unnecessary to have a maternity shoot but this was my only indulgence during my pregnancy. Who knows if and when I’ll get pregnant again? Pregnancy was one of the most beautiful things that has ever happened to me and I wanted to preserve this part of my life forever.
10. Having my own family
On December 21st, 2017, on her exact due date, we welcomed our healthy baby girl Andromeda Eve Smith into the world, and our lives were never the same again. I have always had a soft spot for babies and have always known that I wanted to be a mom. Now, I have a loving husband and a precious daughter, and I couldn’t ask for more, really. I am complete.
2017 — it was life-changing. I am eternally grateful to God for this blessed and wonderful life and am positive that 2018 will be just as great!
Happy New Year!
Andi’s like the cherry on top! 🍒 Kyuut!!! When did you get time to compose this? Hehe. What an eventful year 2017 was for you. May you shine even brighter in 2018. Hugs!
Andi is definitely the star of my 2017! 🙂 I started composing this last Jan 2 but only got to publish it now. Haha! Happy New Year to you and Marco! Here’s hoping 2018 will be a great year for all of us 🙂
This is truly amazing and impressive. A super fantastic Mom, great achievements by the year 2017.
Great post, thanks for sharing
I’m so happy for you. I’m wishing you and your family the best! 🙂