We were planning to spend our 3rd wedding anniversary in Virginia but since we had an early trip there last July, the excitement of going back this time was not as intense anymore, besides, Ontario Canada is a way nearer than Virginia but we are definitely going back there maybe next summer to taste the beautiful Atlantic ocean at the waterfront of Virginia Beach and to eat yummy fatty crabs again and so we planned a Niagara Falls trip last Labor day weekend and I got so excited about it that i forgot several things that i needed to bring, like the sweeper for cleaning the tent, our vitamins, my extra comfy shoes, and some others. Anyway, our trip turned out great, as we expected It took about about 4 and half hrs drive going to our prospected campsite at Rock Point of Ontario Parks but it was already fully booked, and we proceeded to Long Beach Conservation Area and thank God, there were lots of vacant campgrounds and we were able to set up the tent before sunset

    Niagara Falls was 40 mins drive from our campsite and we started the adventure at the Victoria Park, where we could view the beauty and wonders of the Niagara FallsIt was truly magnificent and amazingly beautifulwith the rainbow flashing, what a wonderful scenery! and we made sure not to miss the beauty of Niagara at night or the illumination that shows everchanging colors of the fallsof course, with the magic of the spotlights We saw flashing of cameras from people taking pics at the other side of the falls which is in Buffalo, New YorkWe also had some spray of water during the day while viewing the falls and lot more water spray at night like we were walking in the rain. We did not see that coming!It was already midnight when we just walked all the way from Clifton Hill to Table Rock because we parked our car there and as we were passing by the falls, surprisingly, there were nobody else walking that time and there came the big shower from the fallsi told hubby that, that was a lot of blessings from above what a one unforgettable experience

We went inside the Table Rock to explore the Welcome Center there and got some souvenir stuffs. I thought hubby would just get a ticket for the Maid of the Mist boat ride but he bought the 4 top Adventures package such as, the Maid of The Mist, Journey Behind The Falls, Whitewater Walk and Niagara's Fury

First Stop is the Niagara's Fury. It was cool to travel back in time 10,000 yrs to experience the Creation of the falls, and witness the power and beauty of nature. We were inside the dark room with big screens of the water allover, as if we were riding a boat and sometimes we experienced total darkness, thunders and rains. There were moments that i felt that i was actually therethat was really cooland some some kids were screaming and cryingby the way, we were not allowed to use cameras inside, so these were just the few we taken outside the dark room

Second Stop is the Journey Behind The Falls we took the journey below and behind the heart of Niagara and stood right in the mist and spray, the sound was like thunder, i thought it would be chilly since it started to get dark, but not at all, although we were soaking wet up close and personal with the falls was an awe-inspiring sight!

Maid Of The Mist here we come! The boat took us to just a few feet away from the bottom of the falls. Water rushes all around as we "soak" in the excitement of this thrill of a life-time! what would you expect when water and wind combines, it was like going out of the house in the middle of the Typhoon signal no. 3 in the Phils.I noticed, we were the only one using the camera when the "hurricane" blowed ushaving a waterproof case for a camera is really a cool idea

Unfortunately we were not able to make it to the Whitewater Walk We headed right after we were done with the Maid Of The Mist and we were just surprised when we found out that it was closed and it was only 5:30pm anyway, we had enough and we surely had the thrill of a lifetime, an ultimate and authentic falls experience with those 3 Falls adventure, we could not ask anything more

More pics to share taken from our campsitewe thought of swimming at the lake before heading again to Niagara

and strolled at the busy downtown of Clifton Hill, with Wax Museums, Theatres, Fun House, Sky Wheel and a lot more attractions. We just dined out for a couple of nights and Niagara is definetely not a cheap place

   Niagara Falls is indeed the world's famous falls because there were lots of people and tourists from all walks of life, of different races and nationalities. Who says that we have global economic crisis?In fact i also saw several filipino families and friends strolling around. I did not get to meet them but i just heard them speaking tagalog 

  We also hopped in at the Aerocar station while waiting for the People Mover bus (2 day free ride included when you get the 4 top adventure pass). Niagara Parks has a lot more to offer and explore, such as the Marineland, Butterfly conservatory, Floral Clock and many more tourists attractions but we just did not have enough time

   We headed back home Monday and i noticed we spent more hrs. coming back eventhough we also stopped to have dinner but i think it's because we waited almost an hour from the Blue Water Bridge to the Canada-Michigan,US Border, with long lines of cars and trucks, but by the time it was our turn, it was just so quick, the Custom officer just had a quick check on our passports and my greencard, and asked what we did in Canada

   Well, hubby and I surely had a great wedding anniversary treat that we will never forget

   Below are the videos to share

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls at Night

Journey Behind The Falls

Maid Of The Mist

  and you may want to check a lot more pics here on our Shutterfly Album 

  By the way, we got fancy photos right after we were done with Journey Behind The Falls; it was just one pose but 2 photos for 20 bucks the other background is the Illumination or Niagara at Night

Yes! i took pictures of the pictures

That's it guys! thank you again for visiting and checking me hereHave a Happy weekend

      Yep! it's my 3rd happy marriage years with my hubby Markwe don't have much things to do today or have fancy celebration, maybe a glass or two of champagne tonight, and what i'm excited about is our trip to Niagara Falls, Canada this coming fridayas our anniversary getaway 

      Today, i spent couple of hours outside clearing the grass on my plants, now it does look a real garden again without the weeds but the flowers does not look pretty anymore especially the rose, they are all gone because the bugs or insects keep on eating them, anyway, we already got insect spray and also for the weeds, i hope they works

      The other day, Aug. 31 was my hubby Mark's birthday(just a day away to our wedding anniversary). He had yummy chocolate cake that he blowed but before that he kept on turning on the ceiling fan to blow his cake ordered some chinese Lo Mein or Pancit(for long life) and Pepper Steak, i was just not into cooking that day besides i was craving for Swrimp Lomein, actually there are leftovers and will just have it again tonight

more pics here

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN LOVE AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO USMAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AND KEEP OUR MARRIAGELOVE YAH ALWAYS!

    On the other note, we went to Lanie last Saturday because John(Lanie's husband) invited Mark for a video gaming along with John's other friends. Annabelle and husband with their little boy were also present, and we were able to meet Maso(of WOF, World Of Filipinas) and her husband Jim, they are also from Sterling Height Maso and Lanie met already when lanie invited her for Trish birthday party, but hubby and I were on camping that time, so it was good to meet her and i think she is really cool and nice tooof course, the day would not be complete without picture taking

    Actually it was Lanie & John's civil wedding anniversary(12 yrs) that Saturday and 31st of Aug. is their church wedding anniversary, so our wedding anniversary is just few days away from theirs, how cool is that

Oh! by the way Lanie gave me bunch of tomatoes last Saturday because she said she didn't like the not crunchy tomatoes, yes they are not crunchy but sweet and with real goodness of fresh tomatoes, perfect for Afritada, Menudo or Caldereta and other food I actually cook or use them everyday before it gets over ripe and spoils, dami kasiThanks again Lan, i saved some bucks from our grocery shopping

    I think i had enough chika for today, thanks for reading, your visit is highly appreciated

     Since it's summer time once again means camping time here in MI Actually, i thought we would not have camping this year because usually or our past campings took place early as June or July but i was excited when hubby Mark said that we are camping in August. One more thing that i got excited about was because Tonya and Brad were with us this year, last year they were not able to camp in UP NorthSo we camped at the Interlochen State Park in Traverse City, the weekend of Aug. 14 and drove back home noontime, Aug. 17. It was 4 and half hrs drive with nice music the whole trip because hubby got me a gadget for my Ipod to connect on the car stereo, so that was great and the weather was fine but we had a storm on our first night at the camp, how cool is that! good thing is we were already able to set up the tent and we were just safe inside when the storm came at around 10pm we actually slept well that nightThe camp site was a nice place with the lake also but i would say, i like the Black Lake and the Forest Lake even better, (that we camped last 2 summers), for some reasonsActually it was Rob's birthday on the weekend and he told hubby and friends that we are free to camp at their place, but we just decided to camp at the state park.

    So we attended Rob's birthday on the 15th of August, Saturday and i noticed he had a huge backyard and they even had a portable toilet at the yard. Anyway, Scott and Greg camped there Scott put up this huge Gorilla balloon that the kids got crazy about. I like it too

     The following day, Sunday afternoon, we visited Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located on Lake Michigan near Traverse City. It was awesome to see those dunes on the fields and forest. Several stops includes the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, this driving loop overlooks some of the Lakeshore's most unique scenery. We checked on the Dune Climb but we actually did not climband explored Glen Haven on Sleeping Bear Bay which dates back to the turn of the 20th Century, there's a Blacksmith Shop, hopped in at the Maritime Museum although it was closedand what i like most is the beautiful crystal clear Lake Michigan there, although we did not have the chance to swim and i will never forget the Sleeping Bear Point, the panoramic view of the shoreline, dunes and islands, with 450 feet drop to Lake Michigan, that was amazing! I learned that the colors of the Lakeshore change with the seasons. "Summer brings the melting of blueberries beneath our tongues and yellow grains of sand stuck between our toes as we struggle against the Dune Climb" (i quoted from Visitor Guide) yes, true! and even we did not climb, we felt the sand in our legs due to strong breeze and i missed the breeze when we got back in the car 

you may visit our Shutterfly Photo Albums for more pics and here's some video to share

     Hubby and I was able to meet a Filipino family when we were strolling down at the Maritime Museum small world ha!The De los Reyes family from Sterling Heights,MI. They got 2 girls but the other one was busy at the beach

       So that's all folks about our camping trip They say that a picture paints a thousand words but i tell you, it was more worthy and fulfilling when you are actually there you will surely love it most, especially if you are a nature lover like me 

    Since i'm in the blogging mood today, I'd like to brag about this photo in a frame that hubby Mark got from work This is the picture that he submitted when they had a photo contest last year,(we actually already forgot about this) so he is one of the winners. He said there's no other fancy prize except that we can keep the photo and i'm glad because i was thinking to print one of our sunset pics taken from our camping 2 yrs ago. I got the idea when i saw similar photo of this at my lolo Romy's house when we went to Virginia. So now, we have it and no need to spend for the printing and the frame, cool!

     Thank you guys for hopping by hereTake care and Have a fantastic day!

      Former Philippine President Corazon"Cory"Aquino was laid to rest today Aug. 5 at Manila Memorial Park, beside her assassinated husband Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. , after long hours of funeral cortege, with bunch of yellow balloons and confettis and thousands of people gathered just to get a glimpse of Cory's convoy. She died early morning of Aug. 1 after months of battling from Colon Cancer, at the age of 76.

      Pres. Cory was installed as President by the peaceful 1986  People Power Revolution that ousted a dictator who ruled the country for 20 yrs. and restored country's freedom and democracy, thus she was known as the mother of democracy. With the 7 coup d'etat attemps during her presidency, She managed to be calm yet brave and courageous, was not afraid to fight for our country and for the Filipino people. Even before she was diagnosed with cancer she was still around participating in public discussions on national issues. She continued to help preserve the country's democracy, the legacy left by her six-year administration in 1992.

      Thank you Pres. Cory for the love, sacrifice, sincerity and purity of your heart in serving our nation, Paalam at Maraming Salamat Po I know you are resting in Peace because of your deep love and devotion to God and Mama Mary. You are gone but will never be forgotten

       HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY BELOVED DAD IN LAW, MR. PAUL GRISMER (STILL OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW CAMPING WITH MY MOM), TO MY LOLO ROMY IN VIRGINIA, TO MY BROTHERS IN THE PHILS. MY BROTHERS IN LAW, MY UNCLES AND COUSINS, FRIENDS, FRIEND'S HUSBANDS AND ACQUAINTANCES, AND TO ALL THE DAD, TATAY, ITAY, PAPSY, PAPA IN THE WORLDGOD BLESS YOU ALL

    HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY BELOVED MOM IN LAW, JOANNE GRISMER, MY SISTERS IN LAW IN THE PHILS. AND HERE IN MI MY AUNTS AND COUSINS, DEAR FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES, AND TO ALL THE MOMS IN THE WORLD I SALUTE YOUMAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALL

      Thank you my friends for visiting here even you did not get any news from me as i was not just lazy but my own little way of fasting or abstinence also aside from not eating too much(especially meat) during the Lenten Season Well, i think, avoiding too much sitting infront of pc is good for me also because i notice i lose a couple of pounds and now i am really watching my diet here (except when i am having lunch or party at lanie's) plus exercise. I just thought that it would be nice and great to get back to my previous weight again and this is my inspiration right now, the new pretty and sexy swimsuit that hubby got me during our shoppingwhat do you think?

    I am thinking to do some walking also around the subd. but the weather here in MI is not that stable yet. It's just weird and crazy, sometimes nice or very hot and the following hrs or day, it's raining and cold again 

I repot my mini rose, yes the mini rose is still alive and blooming and so i put the pot outside but it was raining and windy this morning so i put back indoor again this afternoon we're getting some sunshine so i took it outside again I will just take it back inside again before dark tonight, just in case there is frost night and morning again

at least it's not snowing anymore, unlike the holy week before Easter Sunday, (Palm Sunday to Wednesday)we had pretty serious snow

       But it was a nice spring day that Easter Sunday the snow completely melted after couple days of hot sunshine. Hubby and I spent the day at my parents in law's together with my other family inlaws and it was just nice to eat outside(backyard garden)again after the long cold weather and played with my lovely and makulit niece-in-law Bailey

more pics here

hmm.. i was able to hunt for Easter baskets again that bunny hubby hidHe hid it hard this time, but it was fun anyway, hubby said that i was more excited of hunting than eating the chocolates, and he's right(just avoiding too much calories)mom gave us some sweets too

      Hubby and I also attended a party a day before Easter at Lanie's. The kids with their mothers enjoyed the egg hunting at the huge yard We did not stay longer because we were thinking to attend the anticipated mass but we found out that there was no mass scheduled that Saturday, instead there would be an Easter Vigil mass at 9pm, so we catched the 9pm Vigil mass and because it was my first time to attend, never thought for it to be that beautiful, ended over 11pmThere was also a Passion Play reading during the Palm Sunday mass and we thought of watching the Passion Of Christ on dvd again but we were not able to do it for some reasons So that's my Lenten story here, of course i was thinking also about the Holy week in the Phils., especially that we have San Pedro statue in our care(from our grandparents) and the Pabasa or Reading the Passion of Christ. Anyway, i know my siblings there did a good job even without me

   Right now, we are preparing for filing my 2 yr Removal of Condition(for 10 yr greencard). I know it will just be easy because as you all know that our relationship is real and trueSo happy together and forever will be

   Have a good day everyoneStay happy too and have fun!

      I am doing a recap again, which obviously means that i got lazy again of blogging for several weeks or maybe almost a month. Anyway, Hubby and I are just doing fine, so happy together! and last Valentine's day, we just stayed at home, just like last year's Valentine after attending the Saturday Holy Mass(our regular anticipated mass since we couldn't catch up with the Sunday morning schedule for some reasons) we took dinner and had champagne(almost finished the bottle), ate the valentine cupcakes and of course exchanged I loveyous while watching tv and dvds

     I got red hearty soft/warm slippers and a fresh miniature roses in a pot from hubbythe mini roses were pretty and cute until the other day, they're beggining to die. Once again, it just proves that i really do not have a green thumb at allanyway, we found out that it's not that easy to grow a mini rose especially on winter, it needs  a lot of sunshineand i think i water it a lot so more water and no sunshine is bad for mini rose

      cheers to our endless love and happiness!!!

     and these are my personal and special requests for valentine goodies from my hubbythe sweet and funny MARK&CLEO CHEEK TO CHEEK  Fancy Pals ; I LOVE CLEO  Plush toythat arrived more than a week after the valentine, along with the Speaker for my Ipod that he ordered also

  If you think that i just named it after us, you may want to check this out and this one, how cool is that?It was Tonya who found and informed me about it and i thought why not get a souvenir but hubby found other site with lower price/on discount salewhile browsing the site, i also found this Cleo Plush toys,so i asked him to get one too You might wonder why i chose the frog, it's because i already have cute bears and bunnies, so for a change tooand i also like frogs for some reasons

and this dvd, A Very Special Love that hubby and I enjoyed to watch

     I was just curious about Sarah Geronimo who is a Pop Princess in the Phils. (who is actually the singer of my background song hereher own version of this song,"The Gift")and can actually act, particularly in romantic comedy, and became a box office queen of 2008. This is her first movie and her team up with John Lloyd Cruz was just great. I like the message of the movie also so i am not surprise if this has sequel shown last Feb., the "You Changed My Life

    A week after the Valentine, i thought of having a haircut and because hubby offered that i could also have some other treatment like straightening or whatever, and i thought, "why not"so i had highlights also. I know, doing it by yourself is a lot cheaper but sometimes it's just great to be pampered once in a while and how can i resist my husband's treat I met Ida at the parlor, an indonesian who treated my hair and said that there are many who mistaken her for a filipinai also thought that she might be a filipina. I have been to that parlor several times but she was always busy with other customers and so this time i got to talk with her, chika while she's doing my hair. She told me that she stayed in CA for years, met many filipinas there and i found out that among the Filipino dish, she likes the Egg roll or Lumpia so i told her i could make Lumpia for her, she was excited and said she's willing to pay if ever i cook LumpiaSo i think i will try this small business In fairness, she's very nice

    I did not have straightening at the parlor but i got flat iron hair straightener so i can just style and straight whenever i want and i don't use it if i want my curl hair back so nice and better than straightening treatment because it's not permanent,  yes, i still love my natural curly hairbut it's shorter than i expectedanyway, i can save some shampoo, conditioner, etc.

note:highlights are more visible in person than in the photos

        On the other note, hubby and I also attended the Holy Mass during the Ash Wednesday and had the crossed ash on our foreheads, means it's the time for fasting and abstinence again in the Catholic Church. Time to reflect and repent for what we are,to assess not only our spiritual life but the whole conceptYou might want to visit again this entry here in my journal that i thought it's the most inspiring and meaningful post that i've ever made

     This Lenten season reminds me of this teleserye on TFC abs-cbn, "May Bukas Pa" (There's Still Tomorrow), which is one of my favorites tv series now. It is about faith and hope that every problem has a solution, everything is gonna be alright as long as you believe, that there will always be hope amidst trials and difficulties. Miracles don’t just fall from heaven but comes to those who keep their faith

     So girlfriends, watch na! i am sure you will like this show also  

     Off topicFinally, i am glad that i already able to send the balikbayan box that i was preparing since January and after an ultimate stroll at the mall with friend LanieIt's my 3rd box that i sent in my 2 and half yrs here in the U.S, not bad!of course, i am always very grateful to my hubby love for making this possible

        That's all for now! Thank you friends and bloggers for hopping by, will visit you tooKumusta man dyan sa mga tugang, pinsan saka mga amigas ko dyan sa BicolHave a nice day everyone