Personalized Shirts

It is not everyday that birthdays are celebrated. For someone who is in the pink of health, it is a time to give thanks for the healthy year. For someone who is stricken with a terminal illness, it is a time to give thanks because you get to live another day or year for that matter. My mom's sickness taught us how to be thankful not just for birthdays but for each day we get to wake up alive. When she was sick, there were times that we celebrated birthdays in her hospital room. We would dress up the room and bring in all the food there. We would gladly share the food not just with the hospital's staff, but with other cancer patients as well. Not too long, we would see other families doing they same thing. Some families even exerted great effort making sure they are wearing breast cancer t shirts. It is a great way to show support and empathy to their patients. We were wondering then where they were getting those shirts. Not until recently, while checking out another friends' Facebook profile, I was able to bump into the Facebook page of a design your own shirt company, CafePress.com. The possibilities are endless when you create your own item. It made me think that if mom was still alive, she will be elated to see us wearing personalized shirts on her birthday. It would be nice to capture that moment on pictures, too. However, mom is no longer here. I will have to think of creating personalized shirt for another person, then.

I have been to a lot of Oncology Departments of different hospitals during the times that my mom herself was a cancer patient. She battled Primitive Neuro Ectodermal Tumor, a type of cancer that attacks the bones of the afflicted. She had been in and out those rooms in the UP-PGH Cancer Institute for almost six years. During those years, not only are we able to create good relationships with the hospital's staff and the doctors, but we also manage to make friends with other cancer inflicted patients and their families. I have seen how cancer makes their body weak, but not their souls and the will of these people. There were families that went to visit their patient wearing breast cancer t-shirts. Long before there have been statement shirts, they were already wearing shirts that echoed their support to their cancer stricken patients. We were wondering then where they were getting those shirts. Not until recently, while checking out another friends' Facebook profile, I was able to bump into the facebook page of a design your own shirt company, CafePress.com. The possibilities are endless when you create your own item. My son will be celebrating his birthday in two weeks time and I am thinking of giving him a unique item as a gift, something personalized. I am thinking of either a shirt or perhaps an apron, something that will show support on his love for cooking. I do hope it will get delivered on time. Knowing Hubby, he will surely ask me where I got the item from.

Mom-Me Time No. 8: Foot Spa

Do you know that the your feet could be your most overworked part of the body? Imagine moving from one location to another without the use of your most trusted appendages. For the last couple of weeks, my feet (as well as my calves!) feels tired with all the heels and the walking perhaps. I have been telling Hubby about how my lower appendages felt tired and that the usual exercises not relieving the stress. It's a good thing that Hubby treated me to a footspa. We went to this really nice salon in the heart of Valenzuela. The owner of the salon was one of his friends. After about an hour of cleaning and massaging, I could feel that my lower extremities are smiling and thanking heaven Hubby for the treat. Perhaps, in the future I could go for an all out whole body massage. Hmm, might tell Hubby my body is envy of the treat and is requesting for a massage, too. Oh, well, I hope he will give in to that.

I wonder how you Mommies out there spend your time alone. Go ahead click

Mom-Me Time No. 7 : My First

I received an invitation from RJ's Mom to join in her hosted meme, Mom-Me time. The idea is that mommies have to share their my-time-alone time for the week (forgive the redundancy!, you know what I mean) I cannot pass on an opportunity like this specially if it involves having time for myself. Oh, well, I then contemplated on what I have done for the week that I can say my time alone. I supposed all mom's would agree that it is really hard to find time all for ourselves. As I read on the mechanics of the meme, mommies can also post on how they would plan to have their Me-time if given the luxury.

For me,I would definitely appreciate an hour at the tub, specially if it is milk or lemon infused water that I am soaking at. Ah, precious bath time. When I was still single, my bath time is a hurry if it is less than 20 minutes. After being a Mom, it is a luxury if my bath time is at 20 minutes. Perhaps, being pampered at a saloon is also a great time for myself. Oh, you know what? This list could go on and on and on. This is a good meme, I will have the reason to having a Me-Time afterall.

Happy 4th of July

A few years ago, 4th of July was celebrated all throughout the Philippines with a blast. Yes, it was originally celebrated as Independence Day until August 4, 1964 when historians urged that it be changed to June 12, 1898. looking back at our history, some may agree that it was indeed the correct date of our independence. The Spaniards never recognized that we are free from them when our flag was raised in Kawit, Cavite. They even transferred us as their colony to the Americans via the Treaty of Paris. To be honest, my mind has been bugged by our so called Independence even when I was just a kid. During my elementary grades, we were thought about how we won our freedom when the Katipuneros waved our flag to the tune of Marcha Filipina Magdalo (which later became Marcha Nacional Filipina). I was also taught then that July 4th is the Filipino-American Friendship Day. Is the United States really an ally of our country? Oh, this could perhaps launched a debate, but I will leave it up to your opinion. Personally, I have gained some blogging friends over the last week thru an online community called Voiceboks. Most of them are based in the US, so I could personally say that I have allies in the United States! (LOL!) Right now, I will just content myself in greeting Happy 4th of July day to everyone, whatever your opinions maybe. Anyway, everybody deserves a happy day not just on this day but everyday.