Old faces. New Year.

What better way to spend the last day of the year than with the family that you hold dear.

From the Morales family, Happy New Year! (In a few.0

Hello Sunshine!

After almost a week if cold, damp,weather, it's so good to feel the heat and sunshine on our faces!

Hello Florida! You definitely deserve your title as "The Sunshine State!"

Lolo Love

Being Lolo to this adorable little boy is one of the best feelings. Ever!

Hope to hold you again soon, Baby Noah!

FMM: That's where we want to go...

Since we're heading off to Florida tomorrow, let me play this Friday Magic Madness song that begins with "Off the Florida keys..."

That, of course, is the 80s classic from The Beach Boys.



Yup, that's where we want to go.

With the mostest!

No kidding.

I can just stare at the Hostess rack the whole day.

'nuff said.

We meet again, mi amigo...

During my time in Mexico, I had a super favorite, go-to snack.

It was such a favorite that it became a joke. Whenever people would ask me what my favorite Mexican food was, my instant reply would be "Pinguinos!"

And, a few days into my US visit, look what I found!

Good to see you again, mi amigo Pinguino!

Holiday Surprise

During our Christmas dinner in 2017, we talked about our plans for this year's Christmas celebration, and they were pretty clear.

We were celebrating it in Manila. Tita Evelyn would fly in from Barcelona and would spend the holidays with us again. Biboy would try to come home. So, they were pretty standard plans.

Then, November happened.

Last November, there was a collective decision to just spend the Christmas holidays in GA. My parents and Biboy and his family are here, Ate Lissa would fly in from Utah, Kuya Marv already booked their flight.

The only missing links were Ate Bullet and me. By the 2nd week of November, Ate Bullet and her family had their US Visa renewed and their ticket booked. So, they were all set to fly to GA, too.

Which left me. And the rub was, my US Visa expired in November.

So, I scampered to get an appointment for a visa renewal. Hopefully with enough time to book a flight and fly to GA in time for Christmas.

And by December 14, a mere 11 days before Christmas, I got my visa and flight!

So, despite the plans made last year - surprise, surprise - the entire family is now celebrating Christmas in GA!

Sometimes the best plan is to not plan at all.

ATLast!

From our family in ATL to all our families around the world...

The gang's all here!

This finally happened!

From MNL to GA, wherever we may be, family is priceless!

Time to be complete!

Finally arrived at the first leg of my trip to GA!

Hello again, Doha!

FMM: Mind you!

Starting Sunday, Georgia won't just be on my mind, it'll be part of my holiday routine.

Time to bring out this Friday Magic Madness song from the 70s, from the great Ray Charles.



See you, Georgia!

Gonna shake it up!

Here's something I'm looking forward to next week!

After 2 years, I get to eat at Steak and Shakes again!

I'm shaking with excitement!

Full in so many ways!

Our annual Christmas lunch with the creative team left more than just our tummies full.

We were also filled with laughter, good cheer, stories, jokes both millennial and Tito in nature. And it also left me filled with gratitude for having an awesome team to work with the past year, and the year to come.

Merry Christmas team!

Baby in da club!

Another adorable photo of my adorable grand nephew!

I don't know what he was doing when this was shot, but he looks like he's ready to hit the club.

Can't wait to see you again, Baby Noah!

Hotdog!

There's a new addition to my "so cheap but so good" list.

This!

'Nuff said.

A toast to tradition!

Traditions do more than keep the spirit of the company alive, it also binds us together with a common experience that we'll cherish for the years to come. Just like what we do at the office before Christmas.  The management team gets together for a traditional toast with Finlandia Vodka, and a wish for a better, brighter year.

Kippis!

Angelic

While I'm not a fan or follower of Netflix, there are some trailers that make me want to sign up immediately.

One of those trailers is for this animated feature entitled "Angela's Christmas."



The trailer is super intriguing. It's one of those trailers where you don't know what the story is, or where it's going. But it's something that's definitely worth watching.

Maybe it's time to sign up for Netflix now.

FMM: Togetherness

And just like that, it's confirmed!

Our Christmas will be spent together in GA!

This calls for a song from "Grease."



Yes, we'll all go together this Christmas and New Year. And I couldn't be happier.

De-light!

Someone adorable can't get enough of the street lights in Clearfield!

I swear, that smile just lights up my day!

Heads up!

Here's a random - and interesting - photo I found from last week's party.

Three heads are better than one!

Three generations of greetings!

Happy birthday to the best Dad, Grand Dad, and now, Great Grand Dad!

We're all lucky to have you!

Chicken it out!

Random runs to 7-11 often leads to interesting discoveries.

A few months ago, I came across Frabelle's Salted Egg Fish Skin which was a clear winner.

Today, I found this!

Flavored Chicken Skin sounds deadly! But we had to try it!

It was good. Really, really, R-E-A-L-L-Y good!

Lauded!

On today's edition of "I'm definitely growing old!"

My niece, Kai-Kai, is not just graduating from University, she's graduating Summa Cum Laude!

Way to go, Kai! That's an accomplishment worth lauding.

What to bring?

No, Lawson, that isn't the plural of "Food."

Proofreader, please!

FMM: Dancing with the Stars

Still on a "Stars" hangover, the Friday Magic Madness song I chose was a staple during the 80s.

Dad had a few cassette tapes of this, and we'd play it occasionally whenever we wanted to just stand up and jump around. (Our version of dancing as kids.)

The song, of course, is "Stars on 45."



Doesn't it make you just want to stand up and dance around?

In a Galaxy not so far away...

The Guardians got together to party!

Presenting the Creative Department's team costume for 2018. We're a combination of Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Infinity. This is our interpretation of this year's "Outer Space" theme.

Well played, team. This is out-of-this-world!

Goldi-good grief!

You'd think that "Chunky" would be easy to spell, right?

Apparently not.

I'm quite shocked since this came from Goldilocks.

Proofreader, please.

WATN: Where's all that?

In the 90s, everyone knew Rachael Leigh Cook.

And everyone knows her from her iconic "going down the stairs after the makeover" scene in "She's All That."

Fast forward to 2018, and I'm wondering where she went.

WWe need to see her again. Stat!

I'll follow her!

Yes, I just can't get enough of Julia Roberts! And I can't get enough of this segment on Ellen where she talks about joining Instagram and Ellen trying to get her more followers.



Heck, I'll follow her anytime. (Though I don't have Instagram, so I can't. Harhar.)

Precious Diamond

It's Mom's diamond year! Just like the gem, Mom is multi-faceted, sparkling and is someone super precious to all of us.

And yes, she's our family's bright bling!

Happy 75th birthday, Mom!

Let's get ready to RomPol!

It was a wedding that people waited a decade for. That's why when it happened, everyone had to be there to witness as Apol and Romeo sealed the deal with the sacrament of marriage.

The ceremony and reception was very intimate, light, heartfelt and authentic. Pretty much like the couple.

Congratulations, RomPol!