GT - Most Memorable HS Moment

Most memorable high school moment? Nothing else comes to mind but that of my first exposure to the arts. 

I went to an all girls school, experienced all sorts of characters, even got courted by female classmates (which I found really weird) and cut class for the first and last time in my life. In high school I also got to know so many friends which still are my dearest friend to this date.

But nothing beats doing my first theater play in high school. It was my first exposure to the stage; experienced for the first time how much exhilarating, nerve wracking and fulfilling theater arts was. It was also very tiring since we had to do 3-4 plays a day for several days. Nakakapagod talaga ang showbiz! hehe. From that experience, I knew what I wanted to take up in college, the Arts. Buti na lang kasi I might've ended up as a bad medical practitioner,hehe. Thankfully, I ended up in a course (and career) that I love up to this moment. 

http://beautyqueengene.com/

One Day At A Time

Lately, I feel so out of my elements. I easily get affected by work and personal innuendos and what nots. I'm so emotional right now and has the tendency to get hurt over matters that I wouldn't give a crap if I'm lucid. 

Yeah, so I guess I'm not normal right now. Last week, some part of me have come to accept the fact that I'm going through depression. Or could it be mid-life crisis? Waaah, what's this?! All I know is that I am so out of my wits. Tried to talk it out with hubby several time because they say it helps that people with problems talk it out with their family or friends. But at some point, it doesn't seem to help much. Sometimes, I just cry out of desperation :(

Of course, I try to fight it but after a while, just when I think it's over, it bounces back in and gives me that, 'hello, i'm still here. back to haunt you!' 

What could this be? What's causing it? Is this really beyond me now? What do I need to do to address this? 

Haay, the worst of it all is that I have to act normal like everything is perfectly fine when it's really not! I have kids who depend on me, household staff to manage, office staff that I need to mentor and supervise and a family to take care of. How can looney me get through the day? 

I don't know, I just do by some Divine intervention I believe.

That's the only thing that helps me right now, prayers. Wherever I am, when I feel down, I talk to God and tell Him to help me through this. Give me the strength to get pass all these hurdles and let tomorrow be better than today. 

One day at a time, that's how I'm taking it. 

GT - Class Picture

 This is my class picture in grade 3 (St. Mary's Academy, Pasay City). I'm that shy little girl on top right, beside the boy with the glasses. My batch in grade school has been in constant communication since our first reunion in 2005. The whole batch that means 7-8 sections (or whoever is available) get together for basketball or badminton game, videoke night, coffee or, our favorite of all especially the boys, bonding nights over SMB! It's nice that almost everyone make the effort to continue to communication. Some created an FB account and a Yahoogroup so everyone's updated even in emails.
One thought on reunions, it's amazing and amusing to see how faces and characters change over time especially seeing them again after 10-15years of no nothing. The bullys and matons are now the sweetest and funniest guys (although still naughty) while the girls have become moms, entrepreneur, educators, etc. We are all grown up but still go back to talking about the good 'ol days when we get together :)

first grand reunion with our wonderful teachers

one of those SMB nights at Grilla :)

bonding over coffee in Greenbelt 

The Importance of One Letter

Sophie and Sam were doing pretend play yesterday while Mommy was busy finishing a puzzle. The two kids pretended to be on a boat, trying to steer clear of worms (why worms? heck, I don't know). They used our folding mattresses as boats and pretended that the small toys and puzzle pieces were worms.

Sophie: Mommy, Sam dali umakyat na kayo sa boat andyan na ang mag uod! Come on, let's go! Yuck worms! Ayan ang mga uod!
Mommy: (...deadma. still busy with the Spongebob puzzle...)
Sam: Dali, adyan na Uo! Ate Tsopie, dali Uo!
Mommy: (stopped. Looked at Sam and laughed so hard! Sophie joined in the laughter :0)
The little boy was oblivious. He kept saying Uo! Haha :)

Movies to Watch

You have to visit this link to see trailers of upcoming great movies. I particularly love the The Muppets. I guess these guys will always crack me up no matter how many sequels, prequels, whatever they do :) Just Love them!

http://movies.eventful.com/trailers

I Swear By: Etude House Massage Peeling Mask

This product is so surprisingly good. I used to go to the derma for my regular facial and cleaning. I have a combination skin type and my T zone is really oily so I need deep cleaning by the experts. So imagine my amazement when I tried this Massage Peeling Mask one night.

Okay, so I’m not one of those who show their before and after for tutorials in their blogs. Heck, I don’t think I can pull that off (I need training) but I swear this product really works. The off-white cream has a sandy texture to it but not totally rough on the face. You have to gently massage the cream on your face; in less than 3 minutes the cream will eventually turn into chunky, clay-like texture. By the color of the cream after the massage, I know how much dirt it has sloughed off from my face! haha :0

The effect? a soft, smooth skin. It’s an exfoliant that’s easy to use and no sting at all. An effective facial right inside your bedroom. 

The massage cream I got is from the MiniSize U pack and comes with an emulsion, toner, serum. Forget about the toner, it did not bring any help to my pores. I haven’t really found my toner, yet. I have yet to try witchhazel from Healthy Options. The serum and emulsion and, of course, the peeling mask from MINISIZE U are worth recommending J

http://www.bbcreamboutique.com/item_288/Minisize-U-Massage-Peeling-Pack.htm

Active Ingredients: Fermented Rice Wine Lees and Glycolic Acid

Mommy Moments : Daddy Dear

Stephen is a proud dad to his two witty and jovial kiddos. He loves to shower them with kisses and give them bear hugs until they say stop! :) He gets tampo sometimes when the kids cling to mommy all the time. He would complain to his kids, 'magulang ninyo rin naman ako ah? bakit puro mommy lang?' :) 

This man is a funny man so I believe my kids got their humor and kakulitan from him.

The daddy-yo. He's a rockista. He loves listening to his fave band cds at home so Sophie and Sam got introduced to blues and rock at an early age. I try to balance their musical exposure with classical music and children's music. Sophie now is inclined to learn guitar so she can play like his dad.

The travelin' dad. He always tells me that he wants his children to grow up exposed to different places here and abroad. He wanted the kids to learn, be enriched and enjoy family bonding through travel. We try to do that now and I can see how much Sophie appreciates her experiences from the places we've been.

Stage Mom on the Lose!

I have not been blogging lately. Busy-nezz as usual plus… I never thought how much work it is to put a kid to school. I guess one thing is that I am also excited of my little lady’s new milestone. 

I personally covered her books with plastic, arranged her things for school, her toiletries which I pre-ordered from a friend who sells organic products,etc. The school list of requirements said a box for the personal effects. I think a box (plastic or paper) is too bland so I instead placed my daughter’s personal stuff in a transparent bag with glittered pink and purple design. It’s the bag that used to house her clips and brushes, I recycled into her kikay kit for school. I also bought her a hot pink placemat instead of those cutesy, kiddy-designed placemats. She loves all her new pink stuff, so kikay! J I will always be a stage mom, I think! M.A.J.O.R. J

The yayas offer of help was not heeded, I want Sophie’s new school experience to have mommy’s personal touch. I may not be able to bring her to school everyday but I make sure I can provide for all other things na kaya ng busy-working-mom power ko. Tama!

Siyempre pa, mommy and daddy were there on Sophie's first day of school. We're glad to take that day off from work to bring our little girl to school, we saw how happy and proud she was to go to school with mom and dad :)

Watery Wednesday: Season of Rain

  June spells rainy season here in the Philippines. We only have two seasons from this side of the world and one is summer so if it's not hot, it's raining. 

My watery Wednesday share for this week, rain drops left on my kids' table which they sometimes leave in the garden where they love to paint and play. 

Rizal @ 150 and the NHI

I have been doing some research lately on Rizal's 150th birthday for a project. Rizal is our country's national hero and many of the generation today are not as aware about the life and works of this multi-faceted man aside from their required reading in school. This project were producing aims to tell the viewers about Rizal especially as a young man.

As I browse through the web, I found this site which I would like to share with you:

http://www.nhi.gov.ph/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=495

This is the National Historical Commission's site and what's cool about it is that it has virtual maps of the historical landmarks we have here in the Philippines. Take a trip to Cavite, Bulacan or even as far as Ilocos Norte or Dapitan and visit shrines like Rizal or Luna shrine and other interesting places in history with just a click. This is so helpful especially for the school kids.

My Fave Polish

I can't remember when I started painting my nails but I know I have been introduced to Caronia at an early age. I got so hooked at mani and pedi that years ago I decided to learn how to do my own nails since it's getting a wee bit expensive of a bisyo.
I still go to the salon,though, when I feel I deserve a foot spa before a pedicure. I'm not very particular with spa salons as long as they don't look 'suspicious', if you know what I mean :)

A few months ago, I discovered Kaya Hair Studio in Fairview and found this amazing nail polish brand. It's Konad and it comes in candy colors. Konad is a Korean brand, the best thing about it is that it doesn't stain your nails and it doesn't chip easily unlike some brands (yes, even the expensive brands chip easily, I Wonder why? :) ).

cool yellow :0

isn't white divine?

I always love this blue hue. Excuse the foot hehe :)

Even the little girl got her 'cleaning' and pedicure. She loved mommy's nails and she wants to have hers done too. 

Daddy patiently waited while the girls have their nails done :)

Kikay girls having a good time :)

Mommy Moments - I am Daddy!

My husband and I originally planned to have kids a year after our wedding but we barely got to the one year mark because I got pregnant after 5 months :0 The time I found out I was pregnant, I didn't know how to react, it was so weird and new. Stephen, however, was ecstatic with the news :) He was so proud and excited to be daddy, he was always with me in every check up, ultrasound session, tests,etc. He was strict with what I eat or drink; when I eat something bawal, he was quick to report to my OB. Hmmph! :)

Here he is with our little girl. He was the first one to hold Sophie in the delivery room as I was knocked out after an emergency CS. These two have a very special bond :)

Daddy with our one day old Sam (toknene?). He was more hands on with Sam even with changing the diaper. Being the eldest of six boys, my husband claims to be an expert at nannying boys but is scared to change girls nappies hehe :)

Boy-bonding

Recipe Share: Shrimp Fluffies

Shrimp Fluffies

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized beaten egg

3/4 cup prepared shrimps, coarsely chopped

1 tbsp. parley, chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

1cup bread crumbs

¼ cup chopped carrots, lightly cooked

salt and pepper to taste

cooking oil for frying 

1. Except for the oil, put all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well blended.
2. Place an egg shaper in the middle of a pan, add oil. *I used aluminum round shapes which you can buy from the houseware section of grocery stores.
3. This recipe requires slow cooking to make sure the inside is cooked and the outside doesn't get burned so put your fire in low level. Drop enough amount of shrimp mix inside the shaper when oil is ready and cook each side of the shrimp mix until golden brown.
4. Serve with mayo or tartar sauce.

Easy right? The egg makes it fluffy and soft J

Speaking of egg shapers, I found this really cute egg shapers online. It's Hello Kitty! I wish there is one here in Manila. 

http://www.jbox.com/product/KKU187

Watery Wednesday: Fortune Plants

Getting their nutrition :() Fortune plants are believed to bring good luck to the area where they are placed so I always keep a fortune plant at home ;)