finally home

one day pancit will come

Ever since we got our beloved aloe vera, I had been thinking of what would be next for us.  

We wanted to pace ourselves buying plants--like everything we have in our home right now.  It would be too easy to suddenly have a forest.  

I wanted a plant that would contribute to the kitchen; and look good too.  Chilli and Calamansi were the finalists.   

The Calamansi won.  For not only does it look and smell good, it is also my favourite Filipino ingredient!  I kid you not; when my cousin who moved to Canada told me that the thing she misses the most from home was Calamansi; I FELT THE PAIN.  Truly.  

What is pancit without calamansi?  SAD.    

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We are looking to welcome another plant into our home--when I find it.

There is a particular orchid variety that I WANT, but can't find to purchase.  There are a lot of VERY similar ones, but I am truly willing to wait for the one that takes my breath away.  I'm patient that way :)

'dine in'

In the Philippines, when you order in a fast food restaurant you are expected to state whether you are eating in the premises or you are having it to go.  

The question would be, dine in or take out?  

In Singapore, the term to have food to go is tabao.  The english version being, take away.

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To end a very exhausting-but-productive-and-exciting Saturday, we headed to our future home to fix up.

My fiancé is yet to move in, but this will be his very own flat until after the wedding--when we start living together.

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We had our first meal.  At the terrace.

It was beautiful.  

I was consciously memorising every detail, feeling, sight, sound--how it felt the first time we experienced the view.  I anticipate summer nights spent talking, dinning and enjoying being together. 

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Dinner was tabao japanese skewered chicken and pork with seaweed rice from a place we frequent--a stall, really.  We would eat standing up, only to taste the soy soaked rice and charred meat.

Today, it tasted extra good :)

glorious take away

Everyday brings us closer to our wedding day, and more importantly our new life as husband and wife.

I truly can't express just how excited I am.

Everyday, I would ask my fiancé how much longer.  He would say we are almost there.  

ALMOST.  THERE.  

SOON.

first in

My mom told me that when moving to a new house, the first items you must bring in are rice, salt and water.

As these are the essentials for survival, I believe the act is to symbolise that the home will not run out of the basics.

Included also is a small religious image that my sister in law brought back from a retreat in Rome. It is now situated at our future bedside.

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More photos (and not from my mobile) of our first home on the next entries.

signed

Today is a very happy day for my me and my fiancé, we have officially secured our first home.

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It won't be till after the wedding that I am moving in, but it is ready for him to move in anytime he pleases.  He jokingly said that he wants to take it slow--as if in a relationship, but later this evening he said he could hardly wait to start staying there.

He has one more month on his current lease and I think he intents to stay in both places the month of September.

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I used my engineering skills today!

I was able to download a scaled (with no dimensions) floor plan of the unit, and on that I wrong the measurements as I took them.

In all honesty, it was a lot of fun.

Next step is to see if the furniture we are eyeing would fit--and deciding the best set up to make the most out of our space.

could it be our first nest?

We had our first ever home viewing day last Saturday.  After seeing the second one, we didn't want to look at another.

I know.

That would seem premature, but it felt right.

I always (I try!) listen to my gut and this time it was telling me go.

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After discussing amongst ourselves, we decided to make an offer.

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 We did come prepared.  My fiance had been wonderful reading up, checking for available flats, shortlisting maybes, reviewing travel routes, visiting forums and talking to agents.

So it isn't like we went in blindly.

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I love how after leaving the unit we smiled at each other knowingly.

He felt it too.

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It was emotional for me because I imagined our married life unfolding in that setting.

I imagined long talks, silent evening, lazy Sundays and hurried mornings.

I pictured trial recipes, afternoon drinks, movie marathons and domestic chores.

I pictured us, discovering each other with that as backdrop.

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His thoughts were the guy version of mine, which was simply this looks to be the one.

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I can't wait to get that message from the agent saying you just leased your first home.