Santa Claus on Sale

If you have been to the Philippines, then you surely know that Christmas from where I am starts as early as September. Chistmas songs are played on the radio and malls starts to dispose their previous inventory via big Sale. You would see a lot of christmas decors everywhere. Speaking of decors, the kid and I went to a bookstore last weekend and we saw these paint-your-own Santa Claus set. It comes with four Santa Claus porcelain figures, a brush and a paint set. I want to add a different flair to our Christmas tree this year and thought that this could be what I wanted. And the kid was really bugging me in getting them. He said he wants to paint them and that it would be a good bonding moment for us. Makes sense, right?

 So this is how they look like inside the box.

Once they were out of the box, I found out that they seem to be heavy for something to be hanging on a tree. I guess, I better find a different place for them instead. On top of a side table perhaps?

And here they are after they have been painted.

Pardon the fourth one, it was not fully painted yet. My bad, i got all sleepy when we were painting them. I guess painting porcelain figurines would help me in my sleeping habits, too. And, did I tell you, these are really cheap deals? This stash only cost  P 169.75 (around 4 US dollars). Another thing is that it's on sale, you get to have another box for free when you buy it. So that means eight Santa Claus figurines instead of four. Good buy, isn't it?

 I still wish I have enough money though because I would really like to buy this Santa Claus.  He will surely be a great addition to our garden come Christmastime.  Hmm, perhaps next year?

An Afternoon at Nuvali

Have you been to Nuvali Park in Santa Rosa, Laguna? We went there last Sunday as part of the itinerary of my kid's school field trip. We had our lunch in one of the tents that was sprawled on the grounds. Had I known that there were a lot of good restaurant choices in the area, we wouldn't have carried boxed lunches with us. What we really enjoyed in Nuvali was the Koi Fish Feeding and the boat ride. Seeing a lot of koi fishes was really overwhelming. It is our first time to see these much of koi fishes in one place. At a glance, we really think that they are over crowding the lake. But during the boat ride, we realized that there really was a lot of space on the lake and that the fishes are just on one place because they know that is where the feeds will be.

You get to feed the fish when you buy a pack of fish feeds which is just 15 pesos. I was actually afraid that the fishes are overly fed but my husband said that if they were then they would not mind the people throwing the feeds. Fishes unlike human know when they are full and would stop from eating. Well, that is the theory of my husband but I haven't really checked if there are scientific basis to that. The boat ride is also a must try! You have to pay 30 pesos per person to enjoy the ride. We paid the boat in full (360 pesos for 12 persons) and then what we did is ask my kid's friend to enjoy the ride with us. Did he enjoyed it? Oh, you be the judge.

Not only did I enjoy the ride but I also enjoyed the view from the ride.

And after the scorching heat, we headed to Starbucks to grab our favorite coffee concoctions.

Red is my Favorite Color

Red is my favorite color. If you check my closet, you will definitely see how red is favored as most of the shirts and blouses that I have are in that color. It was actually a late love affair for me and the color red. As a kid, I was not into this color, mainly because I am a "morena" and during those times, I don't think that it fits my skin color. The love for red started when I realized that it is actually a very powerful color and that it can really boost one's personality. It had always been associated with confidence.

Wearing two of my favorite red outfits.

And the love for this color is also visible on other things.

Me and my brothers having fun with our red curtain as the back drop.

And then, I realized that a red bag is all you need to level up a drab outfit.

And whenever I am not feeling right, all I need is a dab of my favorite red lipstick to change my mood.

Now can you guess my favorite superhero?

Trick or Treat for the Young Once

Admit it or not, all kids are into sweets. Chocolates, lollippops, bubble gums, candies, cupcakes and every thing that's sweet, give it to them and they will surely devour it in no time at all. When my kid was smaller, we dreaded Halloween. Not because we are afraid of ghosts or the supernaturals, but because the kid had recurring bouts of tonsillitis (which led us to decide to have him undergo Tonsillectomy last April 2010). So my kid never really enjoyed "Trick or Treats". This year was different though. Hubby was appointed as one of the officers of our subdivision and we cannot resist joining in the fun.

We invited my husband's nieces to join the party, and they came in costume,too. That's my kid as Dracula, the one in the middle is a Pink Fairy and the other niece is a Kikay Witch!

It was actually a family affair for us.  We all get to dress up (in my case, have some make-up) our part.

Since we are not at home, we decided to just bring in the treats on the place of the event. And boy, did they really love the Halloween cuppies. 

 This is one of my favorite picture of the night!

It was a blast! Seeing neighborhood kids in costume and the moms too.

Needless to say, we had fun but I still wish we could pass on some real Filipino Halloween traditions to our kids.  Sad to say, that no one in the neigborhood knows what "Pangangaluluwa" is all about.

And now, we are looking forward to the Homeowners' Christmas Ball!

Q is Quiet Time

From the moment that I had started to read, I had always been a bookworm. I find solace in reading than in watching TVs or listening to the radio. Reading brings me to places I have never been and makes me experience things that are most of the times out-of-this-world. And this is the very same reason why I am such a sucker for book sale! Yesterday, we went to one of our favorite bookstore and these are the books that I hauled.

Reading is my me-time, my quiet time and I enjoy every moment of it. And I am glad that the kid seems to inherit the fondness for reading. He has his own collection of comic books to brag about.

A large, still book is a piece of quietness, succulent and nourishing in a noisy world, which I approach and imbibe with “a sort of greedy enjoyment,” as Marcel Proust said of those rooms of his old home whose air was “saturated with the bouquet of silence.” – Holbrook Jackson

Songs that Make Us Sing Saturdays: Let's Get Physical

Two weeks from now my kid is going back to school. That means, we won't be together and I will be having more mom-Me time, teehee! As early as now, I am already planning on doing a lot of things while the kid is on school. Perhaps, its time to do some gardening again or perhaps time for me do some exercising. Oh, exercising!, that's one thing that this mom needs nowadays especially since I am not getting any younger. Time for me to go get the sneakers and head on to the gym or perhaps just get a aerobics video that I could follow at the comfort of our home. This song will be my everyday companion then. I am getting excited at getting fit!

My Kid and His Food Choice

My kid is real foodie at heart. A lot of times, he stays with me in the kitchen during food preparation time. One day, he asks if he can cook for us. Since it was just a very easy omelet dish, I give in to his desire.

the kid cooking his version of Tuna Omelet

A lot of other mom friends are asking me how I make my kid eat vegetables and other healthy foods. Well, as early as he can start on solid foods, I introduced "true" foods to him. He grew up on home cooked mashed potatoes, mashed carrots, and other fruits or vegetables that can be mashed. He never tasted baby foods from the supermarkets. And I guess that is the reason why he has a very good choice when it comes to food. I did not even have to bother asking him to take on healthy snacks like salads and healthy breads over junk foods. Well, not that he does not take some chips or those fat-laden burgers but its just that he knows he can only have it in certain times and not everyday.

He even does the plating of his dish.

To date, the kid normally favors vegetable salads (and even makes his own vinaigrette), he loves fish dishes and most of the time asks for his favorite Chicken Caldereta  ("and Mama, please add in some paprika and some chili pepper for the kick!", he always asks).  For his baon, he wants Vegetable Wrap or Baked Potato with Cheese and Bacon.

another favorite of the kid, Ensaladang Talbos ng Kamote

I guess, it's all about introducing your kids as early as possible to healthy options. And we are both reaping it's benefits. My kid rarely gets sick and if ever it's almost always the usual cough and colds. That makes me a happy Mom!

The Real Dreamgirl

Everything started out as a dream. And she worked hard to attain that dream. And now, the votes have been tallied and America had named a new Idol. Honestly, I have already predicted that another WGWG (white guy with guitar) will make it to the top. But, yes, I hoped that my prediction will be wrong. I have always believed in the talent of this 16 year old Latina-Filipina-American that is Jessica Sanchez. How could you not be impressed with such a powerful voice and awesome talent framed in her petite bod? A lot of people actually rooted for her, but the prestige of being this season's ultimate American Idol is just not for her. Let us just wait until they both work on the real music world. After all, it's not the number of votes that defines the true winner but it is the way how one will be remembered after the competition is over. And I heard Tommy Mottola is already signing her up,right? Meanwhile, you might wanna checkout the highlight of American Idol season 11 results show.
She might not be lucky to win the coveted title but she will be truly remembered thru this performance and perhaps should there be another remake of "Dreamgirls", the producers might even consider her. But for the whole Philippines, Jessica Sanchez, is truly an Idol. You are never to far from attaining your dreams, girl!

S is for Strawberries on Nails

I am loving memes nowadays perhaps because it gives me ideas on what to brag blog about. This week, while hopping in from one blog to another I was able to come accross a nice meme, hence I am joining in the fun.

S is for my strawberry shortcake inspired nails. I am so loving nail arts recently and have been bugging my sis-in-law to do them for me.

Songs that make us Sing: Just the Way He Is

 I revisited my VoiceBoks account this weekend.  I was not surprised about the messages and group invites.  Maybe because I know that I am a very lame member but I have promised myself that I will seriously blog this time. My attention was caught by one bloghop that goes on every saturday.   It was almost the same time that my brother had posted a video where he sings for his girl.  Now, being his number two fan, (I don't want to take the number one fan spot from her girlfriend), I decided to share it with all Songs that makes us Sing bloghoppers.

 

Aint he so sweet?


If you wanna check out what other songs makes other moms sing, please head on to Ginger and Becca .  Or you may just simply click on the button below.   Happy Saturday singing!

I Love Being a Mom Because...

A few days back, GMA News TV was re-airing most of its motherhood related documentaries.  One of which was a feature on how a mother gives birth.  As we were watching,memories rushed in.  I remember how it was for me during those days.  It was almost ten years ago but everything is still fresh in my memory.  I could still talk about all the details as if they just happened yesterday.  I was awaken from my trip to memory lane when my son suddenly said, " Mahirap pala maging manganak,Mama, eh bakit gusto mo pa magkaanak pa ulit?...saka ganyan ka din ba nung nanganak ka sa akin?"  I answered his questions with a smile.  But as usual the kid was not contented with that.  So I said, " Ang pagiging nanay ang pinakamasarap na parte ng buhay ko."  In my mind, I began to enumerate why I love being a Mom, and these are what I was able to come up with.

Jian and me, eight years ago

I love Being a Mom Because:

• I was able to give back to my mother for all the hardship of bringing me to this world.  And for me, it is a privilege given only to women because fathers won't know how it their moms feel while they were still in their womb.
• Motherhood brought out the best in me.  Prior to giving birth, I don't think I can love someone unconditionally.
• I learn a lot as my kid grows because motherhood does not come with a user manual.
• My kid is a gift from God (and all kids are).  I was a diagnosed with PCOS as early as I was in college and I never imagined being pregnant after six months of marriage.
• Together with my Hubby, I was able to be one with God by being a co-creator of another life.
• Just seeing the kid happy and healthy is more than enough happiness the mother's heart in me can ever contain.

no, that's not his cake, it's her cousin's cake

Yes, indeed, motherhood is never an easy task.  We don't get paid with cash but with smiles(and hugs and kisses).  We are not allowed to take our day-offs nor resign, because it will mean that we will miss out on more happy time with the kids.  And yes, if I will be given another chance on motherhood, I will gladly obliged.

Now fellow moms, why do you love being a mom? Comment away, I'd love to read your reasons.

I Heart Faces: Hey Girl

I could not helped but be in awe for all the wonderful pictures of girls from I Heart Faces photo challenge for this month. I wanna share an image that was taken just a month ago. This is my niece who I adore so much. I love how her eyes conveys the beauty of this day. 

 For more photos, kindly click the button below.

Motherhood and Me

Mothers' day is just around the corner. This is going to be my tenth year celebrating this day as the Mom. Kidding aside, I actually have a hard time celebrating it when I was still a kid. I was not raised in a family that is vocal about how we feel. We were not raised on hugs and kisses and words of endearment. Maybe, because my Mom and Dad, grew up like that. But it does not mean that we did not feel loved. Mama has her own way of saying all those things. It is on the baon that she prepares for us every single day. It is felt on the crisp, clean, well-ironed clothes that we wear every day to school. It is on the long walks that we share when he brings and fetches me from school. It is on the food that is always waiting for us whenever we went home. Mama may not be very vocal but we felt all the love in all the things she did for us.

Motherhood changed me a lot, so to speak. I became more vocal about my thankfulness for my Mom. I look forward to this day every year. Though Mama is no longer with us physically, I know that she feels how grateful I am being her daughter. I know that she sees all my moves and that she is still guiding the mother in me. Now that I am a mother, I see to it that my kid not just hear the words of endearment, but also feel all the love day in and day out. Happy Mothers' Day!

A Person Fit for be Called a "Mother"

Accept it or not, not all who have given birth are fit to be called a Mother.  To be fit for the title, one has to be strong yet mushy at times.  One has to be firm yet willing to kiss away the pain.  One has to know how to see serenity in the middle of chaos.  To give birth is let's say a quarter of the trick, the other three quarters is for the lifetime duty that is tied to being a mother.

I was facebooking last night when I saw a video posted on one of my friend's wall.  I never actually liked clicking on links for a video because I know that most of them (especially the ones that have a description in a different language) contains nasty things.  But the description of the video really caught my attention.  So there, curiosity has taken over me and I clicked on the link to the video.  It was a video of a mother holding her baby while she flashes papers with writings.  She was telling the story of her life.  She started with how she met the father of his son and how they got married.  She tells the story of how she knew that she was pregnant and how happy they were.  You can see how happy she was each time she shows the papers.  But the happiness was actually shortlived.



When the news always speaks about fetuses being left here and there or children beaten by their own moms, it is such a relief knowing that there are women out there that has a pure heart which bears the essence of being a mother.  She was told she should have aborted the baby but she didn't.  She chose to bring him into this world.  But his birth is not the end because he was ridiculed, laughed at and sometimes feared by others.   But she continue to be the strong mom that she is.  She made sure that his baby feels loved and she assured that even though he is born blind and with cleft palate, he is still beautiful and he is a blessing from God.

It is not always that I am deeply moved by what I see over the internet.  But, to say that I wept a lot while watching this video is an understatement.  I wanna share this to all of you because I believe that they will also touch your hearts.  She does not beg for money, not even a cent.  All she asks is for us to look at our own blessings (our children ) and continue loving them.

Being a mother is one of the hardest profession in life, but it is something that I would not trade for anything else.  Just seeing my kid with a smile or a glimpse of happiness on his eyes, 'yun lang, quota na ko!


To my Mom in heaven, thank you for showing me how to become a good mother.  You are the most beautiful (syempre carbon copy mo ko eh!), most patient, most kind and most forgiving mother of all.  I would not be the mother I am now, if it wasn't for you.  To all the mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day.  Let us continue building a better planet by nurturing our family well.  Cheers to us all!

My Latest Addiction

I am not the type of person who frequents the salon to pamper myself, that is just not my way.  I'm more of the foodie type.  Drag me to one foodie nook to another and you will definitely see me smiling.  Not that I am not kikay, it's just that I don't want others to do the make-up, manicure and all for me.  But my sister-in-law insisted we try nail arts.  I was very hesitant because I do not want to get hurt with the cleaning tools.  What she did though, was to try to do everything for me.  Yes, she did not drag me to a salon but instead we went to Divisoria to get all the tools.  She already owns a basic manicure set so what we really need where the special ones.  It's more than six months now since we first tried nail arts for our own and I am really glad with all the outcome.  My sister-in-law is now making a living out of this. She now services most of her neighbors.  As for me it has become my latest addiction, I ask her to do my nails at least twice a month.  And this is what she did just recently.

We went to a party after my nails were done and they were a big point of conversation. Everybody seems to love my teddy bear nails. And whenever I tell them that they are made freehand, the next thing they are asking are the contact numbers of my sister-in-law.  Looks like, we are heading for a new business here.

The Four-eyed Kid

I was not able to join Mommy Moments last week; not because I do not have something worthy to share but mainly because my schedule was so hectic I was not even able to tend to this blog at all.  But needless to say, I am now back.  I have a new internet connection which I so adored , but that will be another story.  

A few weeks back, Jian was complaining about headaches.  At first ,we shrugged it off and we were telling him that it is because of the weather.  But the occurrences of his head aching became frequent and we noticed that it always happens after he reads or watch TV.  Since Hubby needs to go to the optometrist to get his eyeglasses fixed, we decided to let Jian join with us.  After hubby got his eyes checked, we asked the optometrist who is a good friend of ours if she could perhaps check Jian's vision.   

After checking his eyes, using this equipment, his eyes were dropped with some medicines to dilate his pupils.  And then he was asked to read the Snellen chart to further check his visual acuity.

Yes, the kid will have to wear corrective glasses.  The left eye was diagnosed with mild astigmatism while the right one is hyperropic.  I am definitely not so happy about this at all.   Hubby even asked if we could perhaps delay the use of the eyeglasses but the optometrists said that delaying the use will also hinder him to enjoy on a lot of things.  The astigmatism could cause him to have frequent bouts with headaches which could further evolve to migraines.  And we don't want that for our kid.

 So, yes, a few days from now the kid will be getting his eyeglasses.  We will have regular check ups with an optometrist and an ophthalmologist.  For other moms out there, I'd like to tell you that visual problem can be easily corrected as long as it is detected earlier.  The doctors said that we should get our younger kids to have eye check ups, too.  They said that as early as five or six, they can already run visual acuity checks for kids.  And another thing, it does not necessarily mean that if a kid is diagnosed to have visual problems at a young age that they will forever be tied to using eyeglasses.  Some visual problems (like astigmatism) can be corrected if diagnosed and treated early in life.

As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure."