Dear Mama,

You are a workaholic, you always spend sleepless nights working. You are strict, you are a disciplinarian, you are a worrier.

I will always remember the time when you are still asleep when we got up for school only to find out that you were up all night working on those gowns, costumes or uniforms. Your hard work has put us to good schools despite being always financially challenged. I will always be grateful for all your sacrifices as a breadwinner and a mother.

You are strict especially to Ate and me because you are protective of us being girls. You instilled in me the value of a woman and to have a different kind of respect for my sexuality and how to protect myself from those who may take advantage. Thank you for that because I learned how to discern the jerks of this world.

You are a disciplinarian because you want me to grow up grounded, self sufficient and diligent. Yes, we get a lot of palo sa puwet and luhod sa harap ng altar but now that I’m a mom I know it’s not easy to instill discipline in children. I, too, am pushing that my kids will become brats and I now understand how much effort it is for mothers. I just hope that I will not have to succumb to palo sa puwet but your apos are quite a handful J

You are a worrier because you’re always after our best interest. May it be our health, the food we eat, the friends we have, the activities we engage in. You are such a loving mom.

Thank you for bringing us to church and closer to God because you believe that if God is with us, no one can harm us. Thank you for the spiritual guidance and nourishment, this is something that I will treasure forever. I promise to instill this in my family. 

Thank you for encouraging me to attend a beginner’s theater workshop. I had no idea about acting and never really wanted to attend but the disciplinarian in you scared me so I went anyway. I would say that it was love at first try. Orientation pa lang I know that I’m hooked to theater. It also helped me to decide on Comm. Arts as a major in college. Consequently, I found a career that I truly deeply love. I know from the beginning that I got my humor from papa but I know that I got my fortitude from you.

Thank you for bringing me to your baking and cooking classes. I have become an expert at cooking home-cooked meals at the age of 17. You also told me to marry a guy who appreciates the art of cooking, so I did. Yun lang, si Bam medyo malusog na kaya I rarely cook for him na. I will forever appreciate that you taught me the ins and outs of Divisoria and teaching me to sew. I now have a discriminating taste for quality fabric and clothes that fit perfectly. I now know how to choose fabric that will not shrink and easily fade. Most of all, I have become an expert at tawaran, Divisoria style! :)

I’m a proud mom and wife because of you. May God continue to bless you and give you good health so that you will nejoy your grandchildren and enjoy life. You deserve it.

                                                                                                                       Love,

                                   Dot

http://www.mommyjourney.com/

The Little Boy is a Dragon (and a Frog, a Painter, a Metro Aid)

Sam is a lot of things these days: 

He is a frog who goes ribbit-ribbit as he hops

He is mommy's handy helper. He sweeps the house, the street, the garage. He cuts the grass, cleans the bathroom among other things. Lately, he shows interest in cooking like Ate.

He paints with Ate

He loves to kiss mommy :)

He, er, we are part of a choo choo train

His most fave character is the dragon. Lately we call him dragon because when he is in this character, he doesn't respond when called by his name. When he's called dragon he communicates with a roar or growl. What's amazing is that he can consistently stay in this character for hours, even eating like a dragon. He puts his plate on the floor and eats with his mouth only. 

He is a super talkative 2 yr-old with a temper of a someone going through menopausal period. When he refuses to eat or do a task, he makes himself stand in a corner even if not being told to do so. He seems to tell us, 'parusahan 'nyo na ako ngunit ako'y manindigan'. An activist at the age of 2?

Food Share: Empanada Ti Ilocos

A new discovery that's truly yummy! Authentic Ilocos empanada along Sct. Rallos, near 11th Jamboree St. When looking for this place, don't expect a resto as the place is just a kiosk much like the setup of our turo-turo carinderia. 

Just a tarp and that's it

Empanada is consist of green papaya, egg and longganisa Ilocos. I asked why the dough is orange and found out it was the achuete that gives the color.

after folding the flattened dough, he trimmed the  sides with the corner of a plate

down it goes into this hot oil

the place is basically equipped with a table for the ingredients, a kawali and gasul tank.
They also have a couple of table and chairs for those who want to munch al fresco.
Best served with sukang Ilocos! Yum for just P40 each! :)

Sophie as Masters of Ceremony

When I read the programme for Sophie's culminating activity the night before the event, I didn't see her name in the opening prayer or any of the intermission number. The stage mom in me felt sad, baka hindi siya ganun ka bibo sa school kaya walang participation. But lo and behold, at the bottom of the program is her name and teacher Cat's:

Catherine *something* and Sophia Gabrielle Garcia 

Masters of Ceremony

Sophie is host, er, co host to teacher Cat! Well, whad'ya know?

Here are some pics of her very first hosting job. 

calling on the names of the students

receiving her certificate as well

with teacher Cat

proud graduate of reading readiness class

of course, mommy and daddy can't miss this event

'Daddy, stop! you're embarassing me.' Proud daddy doesn't care :0

Her voice was very soft during the stint. After the event, we all complimented her but I told her that her voice was like a whisper, we can't hear some of here words. 'Sumisigaw na nga ako eh', she said in defense. In fairness, um-effort naman pala ang bagets :0
Sophie wanted to bring her little brother to her event but with the summer heat, we decided not to bring the little boy.

*segue* What I wore to this event: remember the skirt in my Ukay Finds entry? I wore it as a tube dress here, braided bronze belt from Esprit, Old Navy denim polo, and brown wedge shoes from a cousin in Japan :)

Why I Love Barney

This entry is my tribute to the greatest purple dinosaur ever lived. My kids are growing up and are going through withdrawal phase from Barney addiction. Simply put, the little girl has moved up to Barbie dvds while the little boy transitioned to Thomas and Friends and Elmo. Sam still watch Barney but he doesn't demand for Barney marathon anymore.

As a mom, Barney has helped me in a lot of things. Masasabi kong he's really a partner in life (sorry hubby, you're still my number one, hehe). The song I Love You helped put my two kids to sleep when they were babies. Recently, that song is in medley with Rock-A-Bye-Baby and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and still works, er, sometimes.
Okay, so now that they're older, the kids sometimes give me the look that says 'Mom, shut up. We can sleep by ourselves.' Nevertheless, I will still sing my kids to sleep until they're eighteen and realize that mommy is not a good singer pala haha! I love to tuck them to bed and sing to them, it just brings a certain solitude in my life after a day of chaos.

I actually found out Barney benefits after reading some local parenting magazines when I was pregnant with my first child. In one magazine, I read an interview with Maricel Laxa and she shared that singing the Barney brushing song to their kids helped them as parents to make this task easy. Another celebrity parent sings the Clean Up song when it's time to put away the toys. Until now, these two songs help me when I need my kids to do some things. Because I sing brushing song all the time, I end up singing it in my thoughts while I brush my own teeth. LSS (last song syndrome) to the max!

I love you Barney, I'm a fan! I have to confess that before we were parents my husband and I swore that we will strangle or trip you when we meet you in person, we were totally annoyed by you. But when we became parents, we understood why you are a hit to kids generation after generation. We love BJ and Baby Bop too!

Watery Wednesday: beach view, two ways

For today's Watery Wednesday, I am sharing some beach pics.

I shot these two scenes from the same spot. I sat by the shore, took in the beauty around me and captured as much scenic view as I can.

was shooting up

 was shooting down

I was just too lazy to get up, nothing beats just lazing on a secluded beach :)

The Mommy Diaries Expo for Moms

The Mommy Diaries will be holding a two-day expo for Moms! Yay! :0  If you want a free entrance to this exciting event, copy and paste the link below. :)

http://www.bebooth/71583775economic.com.ph/deals/metro_manila/free-entrance-to-the-mommy-diaries-lifestyle-amp-wellness-expo--free-items-at-the-groupon-7/.nakOhR

Lunch Break - Kozui Green Tea

Okay, so the first time I went to Kozui in T. Morato I didn't really enjoy the experience. I ordered a sandwhich and my hungry tummy didn't get it's fill. So when my officemates invited me here again I was a bit hesitant but, well, it's always more fun to eat with the company of friends so I went anyway. 

That time I got the guidance of the regular Kozui goers on what to order and they suggested these:

Takoyaki, P100.

If you've tried P35 or P40 Takoyaki from the stall in the malls and groceries, Kozui's version is really the hundred-peso version of that. The texture is crispy on the outside and really soft and flavorful inside. I always enjoy watching those bonito flakes dance on top of the takoyaki balls :)

Ebiko Yogurt and Fish Pasta, around P200

Just from the title itself, you know it's a healthy eat (yet very filling!)

Lastly, I tried their Lemon green tea and enjoyed the bittersweet and organic taste of this healthy drink. 

The tomato, basil quesadilla is something I tried on a different day. I really can't count how many times I've been to Kozui. It's just totally addicting!

Kozui Green Tea

258 B Tomas Morato cor. Sct. Fernandez

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 413-2705

Fashion: Ukay Finds

Got all these stuff at an ukay store in Fairview Center Mall.

black and white shirt, P80. cute right?

 close up of the kikay design

full length gauze skirt with lace patterns

pretty patterns and lace quality, that's why I bought it. P80.00

cotton vest with lace patterns, pretty and girly. yep, P80 too

shimmer silver shirt, still P80

Not in photo, black cordoroy knee-length skirt. I happily went home with my ukay finds. I got these stuff the same day I found out I had kidney stone so this was like a cheap thrill for me. When I got home, I got a basin and personally washed the clothes, soaked them in hot water with laundry disinfectant, rinsed and soaked in fabric conditioner after. The thing with ukay finds, you have to soak them in Lysol and hot water just to make sure their bacteria-free.  

Life Sabbatical: Thoughts and Ponders

On yesterday's paper, I read an article from Cathy Babao-Guballa that talked about Life Sabbatical. Among all other news and features on the paper, this is the one that I just really read to end mainly because I have been contemplating on taking a break. In the article it was cited that people who go through this phase feel like they need to do something that they have not done at all or to go back into doing something they haven't done in a long time because of daily life's demands. Life sabbatical is a breather from the chaos of daily life.
I'm certainly too young to qualify as middled-aged, unless my life span is only until 70, but I feel that I need some kind of a break. Every time I have a medical condition and go to the doctor for check up, I always get that 'wear and tear' reason of sorts. All the time. It's like my body is older than my age. I think I must have overworked my body and my mind.
I go to a non-9 to 5 work five times a week, I run a household especially on weekends, I raise two toddlers who are a handful, I am a wife, I am a cook, I am a runner, I am a daughter, a sister and a friend. I guess I am so many things all at the same time. I guess I have been so hard on myself for so long that that the need to take a life breather came early on me.
The thought of leaving work and becoming a full time mom has been lingering in my thought for weeks now. However, I know that there are so many important factors that I need to consider before this life changing decision even get my final vote. Financial is top of the list. Second would have to be, 'what do I do then'? I love my work. I love to dress up in the morning, pick up my fave bag and go to work. The need to be busy is essential in me. I get depressed when I do nothing.
I know that there are so many things that I can do aside from working - I love to cook, I want to sew again, I love to do arts and crafts, I am fascinated with travel but none of these equates to earning as much as I am earning now. Thus, what about the bills and the comfortable life we wanted for our kids? To think that my first child is just about to start school. The contradictions in life is really astounding.
However, writing this now makes me realize that maybe I'm not just ready yet for that life change. That maybe I am just going through a phase that is still uncertain even for me. Maybe I need a short break but not really a life sabbatical.
Lately, I have been doing a lot of arts and crafts at home, somehow trying to reconnect with painting, sewing and creating all sorts of knick knacks. I have also been cooking like crazy, again. Cooking like crazy is actually my cue that I am depressed or stressed and whipping or chopping something in the kitchen is my outlet. I am also contemplating on going back to dancing. Lastly, I know that I need to reconnect with God. I have been looking for a church near our place where I could offer my services. I feel that I need to give back something to the Maker for all His blessings and I feel like, as what I have experienced in the past, He holds the key to my peace of mind.

Edmark Smart Cube

Sophie, being the older child, is already taught that whenever we go to the mall, going to the toy store is okay but it doesn’t automatically mean they will bring home something from the store. Especially if the price of the toy is not cheap for an impulse buy and if mommy says, ‘too expensive’ or ‘not in our budget’, she knows that it will never be purchased for her and that it’s time to look for something that mommy will pay for. She never insisted because it never works for the thrifty mom.

However, one weekend while we were looking for a gift for an inaanak, Sophie saw once again her most desired toy, the Smart Cube. She is so amazed by this toy that she would visit the booth everytime we go to a toy store. But I never bought her that toy because it was expensive based on thrifty mommy’s point of view. Until-

“Why are you carrying that”, the thrifty mom asked

“Buy ko ‘to”, the little girl replied while clinging dearly to a box of Smart Cube.

“We don’t have budget for that. I said no buying today, di ba? Return that”, I insisted

“eh, binigay sa akin ‘to ng mama (referring to the promodiser)”

“Not because he gave it to you means you’re not gonna pay for it.” I replied.

I was supposed to go to the promodiser to give him a a piece of my mind but then again I thought, this is the nth time that Sophie asked me to buy her that toy and I think it’s a nice toy. So I finally gave in. The thrifty mom who wouldn’t spend more than 100 bucks for a non-occasional toy finally gave in.

Anyway, I’m glad na rin that I bought cubes. Even Sam enjoys the cubes and can already create different figures on his own (if he is not destroying Ate's work). Sophie, of course adores her new toy. I think she was able to finish all figures that the basic set can create.She wanted to move on to the more complicated figures but we need to buy another set for that. 

This toy is really educational, enhances the thinking and imagination skills of kids. Very ideal for toddlers to practice their motor skills. If they're tired of building, Sam make it into a basket where he shoots his small rubber balls. 

the christmas tree

the ring, her own version

Sam's freeform

Watery Wednesday : A Simple Life

These photos I took in Guimaras reminds me of a story a friend sent through email. 

A Little Story

The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.
The businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor."
The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman laughed and said, "That's the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions, señor? Then what?" The businessman said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

-Author Unknown
http://www.lifeprinciples.net/SuccessatLife.html


See more watery posts in Watery Wednesday :)    
http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/       

Girl Talk: What's For Summer?

 

Girl Talk time! and the topic for this week is fave summer outfit.

So, this used to be my fave summer outfit, triangle tops! :) Yes, used to be, when I can still wear them sans the cover.

Now, it will have to be this blue Terranova haltered shirt with Tweety design. Why I likey? The color is so summery and it's very versatile. 

I can wear it in layers; here I wore it on top of a striped shirt

I can also mix it with brown jacket when I want to wear it to work

I also love to match it with pink sweater for some color blocking. 

Watery Wednesday # 20

Oh how I wish to be out there

to enjoy the serene nature

or take on an adventure totally tempting

But for now I will be here sitting

behind the door that waits for me

to exercise my will to be free