I spoke too soon, hindot na yan.

Anika brought out her Filipino Mastery Test last night during dinner. 20/30 ang score niya. 70% passing (ikr) so it means she failed. Lekat na yan. How can she fail? We have been reading Tagalog books!

When I went over the test and started asking questions. She can read the sentences alright but she doesn’t know the meaning of the words!!!!!!! Ano ba naman ito?! Magmigrate na daw kami sa Canada kasi dun daw walang Filipino subject. When I was going over her test, nakita ko tumutulo na luha. She’s sorry daw for disappointing me. Partida, wala pa akong sinasabi niyan. I was just quiet. Na-guilty naman ako. I told her I wasn’t mad because I knew that she did her best.

Nakakaloka. I asked her to read a Tagalog book right there and then and asked her randomly what a specific word meant. Biik, hindi niya alam meaning. Humagulgol, hindi din niya alam. Wala, olats. Bawal na English speaking in the house now.

ME: Simula ngayon, bawal na magEnglish sa bahay.

KA LYDIA: Never mind Anika. It’s okay. I will teach you Filipino. I am good in Filipino.

I looked at my mother-in-law.

KA LYDIA (laughing): Ay oo nga pala! English pa din yun! Tuturuan kita ng Pilipino. Magaling ako diyan.

Hahahaha!

It’s very different during our time. Panghila ko pataas ng average yang Filipino subject. That and P.E.. I always get 98 in P.E. because I was part of the varsity team. Pambawi ko ang mga yan. Ngayon baliktad. Anika’s Filipino grades pulls down her general average. Akala mo lumaki sa Amerika eh.

There’s no one else to blame but me and Alvin naman. Napapa-English na din kasi kami ng wagas when we’re home. Akala niyo ba, mahirap din ang may English speaking na anak noh.

ANIKA: Tatay, I want Yakult.

ALVIN: Then get one in the rif.

Rif. As in rifrigerator.

Yung “don’t be road!” na yan? We are always like that at home.

Lalo na pagpinapagalitan mo.

ME: Anika, stop doing that!

She doesn’t stop.

ME: Anika, I said stop doing that! One more ha!

She still doesn’t stop.

ME: Anika!

Hindi pa din tumigil.

ME: Anika I said! If you!! I said!!!! Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo!

Ganyan.

Wala. Malapit na ako magconcede sa Filipino na yan. Anika’s prohibited in watching English cartoons. Ito, wala siyang choice with the Princess Sara cartoons na Tinagalog.

Bahala na nga si Batman.

So today, Alvin, Anika and I were supposed to spend the day together. However, the electricity at home kept on fluctuating. We had no choice but to go without Alvin so he can fix the house. Nakakainis. I was looking forward to this family day. Anika and I went to the pedia first.

This is what I wore:

Dress: LIALOVEPH

You know, until now, I can’t wear heels or wedges. It still hurts my sprained ankle. Kelan ba gagaling tong ankle ko na ito? Before, 1 week lang okay na. Ngayong matanda na, magwa-one monthsary na ito, painful pa din. Grrrr.

This is what Anika wore.

Shirt: PRIMARK; Jumper: SM KIDS; Shoes: CONVERSE (thanks LT)

It’s been two year already na ayaw na magpa-pakiaalam si Anika with her outfits. She chooses what she wears. It frustrates me because she doesn’t wear the girlie girlie clothes that I buy her. Alvin told me na hayaan ko na daw so she can express herself well. Buti kako cute si Anika kaya okay sa kanya whatever outfit she wears. Lelz.

Anika has asthma daw now, her pulmo pedia said. She’s taking PED 20 in syrup. This is new to me so I googled it. It has steriods =c Kalungkot and scary but Alvin said to trust the pedia because he will not give it daw if not necessary. May wheezing sound na kasi again na narinig sa lungs niya eh. If one family member has asthma, it’s inevitable to inherit it ano? I’ll make Anika do sports para exercised ang lunchs. I wish she continued her swimming lessons.

After the pedia, we went to visit Isabel and LT. The two looked adorable.

Kakigil talaga tong si Isabel!

We had lunch at Friday’s in Glorietta after. I got Anika a lego set for her high test scores. Ang kapalit naman ng low Filipino test score niya is no gadgets again until further notice. Last week, Anika saw Toots’ collection of lego toys in his condo. Na-addict ang bagets. She wants to build legos all the time! Ang mamahal pala nun! I told her that I can buy her whenever she has good grades as long as the lego is on sale. Pero she should take care in keeping it after niya pagsawaan. I wanna give it to the cancer patients in the pedia ward of PGH. They give it to the kids kasi as reward for every chemo treatment. Kaysa nagkakalat kalat lang di ba?

Wait speaking of toys, in Rustan’s pala, you can create a Christmas gift wishlist for your kids. Parang gift registry. They will give you a number and if you buy toys for that specific number, less 10%. Okay din.

We went to Pineda’s house afterwards because they weren’t done yet finding why the electricity was fluctuating. I went meat and chicken shopping afterwards. We were home by 430pm and Alvin and I watched Lord of The Ring while Anika assembled her new lego. Chill na chill naman. Alvin’s at the bar again tonight. Ganyan talaga pagbar yung business. Need mo tuunan ng pansin. Sana naman madami dami customers tonight.

Daan kayo there ha and let me know. I’ll try my best to go pagnandun kayo =) Dun na tayo magMommy Fleur Day!

Happy weekend everyone!

Look at my baby girl in this photo.

She’s a swirl of candy colors and funky outfits. Ang laki na niya. In the way she speaks and with the impromptu ideas she blurts out, you will think you’re talking to a grown up. If not for still toting her 8 year old stuffed cow she named Moonique, hindi mo aakalain bata pa eh.

Nagsesenti ako for the nth time because last night, I was teaching her how to go to confession.

Yuh.

My baby girl will be having her first confession this Thursday to ready them for their first Holy Communion on January.

I feel old suddenly.

ANIKA: Nanay, I cannot sin from this Thursday to January.

Tama.

ANIKA: Nanay, my teacher said never to tell anybody else my sins and that includes you. It will only between me and God.

Wait.

ME: Really? You cannot tell me your sins? I’m sure I’m exempted because I’m your mom.

ANIKA (in a very solemn face): No, Nanay. Not even you. I’m sorry. Teacher told me never to tell anyone my sins. By the way, we missed mass the other week. That’s a sin right?

ME: Yup. It’s a sin to miss mass.

ANIKA: Good thing I added it to my list.

Silence.

ANIKA: Kayo kasi ni Tatay hindi nagmass, hindi tuloy ako naka-mass! It wasn’t my fault!

Sorry! So no more missing Sunday mass from now on, I guess!

ME: Anika, can I see your list?

She gave me a look.

Fine.

But I would not give up.

ME: Sweetheart, your sins will be the only one you will keep a secret from me, di ba?

ANIKA: Of course!

Good!

Parang kailan lang she was only crawling like this.

Ngayon, magcoconfession na!

Hahay!

I’m happy because she’s taking this confession prior to her first Holy Communion rites seriously.

ANIKA: Nanay, I should not sin from this Thursday until January.

ME: What if you sin?

ANIKA: Teacher said I can go to a normal confession.

Gosh, she’s so cute!

ANIKA: I’m quite nervous about the confession. What if the priest gets mad at my sins?

ME: He won’t get mad at you sweetheart because he knows that all people sin. He’s there as a representative of Jesus so that he can absolve you from your sins.

They know the meaning of absolve, mind you.

Me: What are your sins ba?

ANIKA: Nanay! I said I can’t tell you!

Fine.

I wish there’s a video or at least a voice recorder. I’d love to hear her first confession! Ang cute eh! =)

Dress: LIA LOVE PH

To say that I had a difficult day yesterday is an understatement.

Walang tumama kahapon mga mare. On top of it off, nasira yung blog for a while. It couldn’t be accessed. Kung hindi ka ba naman talaga masiraan ng bait.

Work was extra toxic. When I say this, please don’t get me wrong. Hindi ako nagrereklamo sa trabaho ko. I love my job. It’s just that minsan, nakakapagod pag sunod sunod yung things that don’t go like how you want them to go. Pasaway. Gusto ko makipagsabunutan sa inis.

Winner paguwi ko ng bahay kagabi.

For three weeks, we had problems with the service entrance of our electricity meter. Inabot kami ng long weekend kaya tumagal lalo the coordination to have it fixed. The electricity flickers inside the house. So for two weeks, we couldn’t use the hot water sa shower and no air conditioner at home. Alvin, Anika and I had to sleep in the sala with two electric fans para presko.

You have to know, hindi ako natutuwa sa electric fan. I feel sad pagtinatamaan ako ng hangin ng fan. Hindi ako masyado makatulog. Ganyan ako for almost 3 weeks. Yes, I was able to sleep but hindi maayos. Alam niyo yun? Pero tiis because we were still applying for a new CEI which is a requirement of Meralco for them to fix everything.

Okay lang in the evening na electric fan. Girl, on weekends, pasakit. It was so freaking hot! Kahit na 2 electric fans na gamit mo, mainit pa din. Emergerd.

Finally, yesterday morning, after more than 2 weeks of sleeping in the sala and de-tabo ang ligo with hotwater, bumigay na talaga our electricity. Hindi na pwede gamitin. Ang sakit sa bangs. Halos magsigawan na kami ni Alvin sa phone the whole day because of the stress of thinking of ways how we can have electricity that night. Imagine me stressing about that the whole day plus sobrang daming hindi din tamang nangyayari at work. I wanted to scream.

I cried on my way home out of frustration. I was able to find a way how to fix it pero hindi talaga kaya magkaron ng electricity last night.

So last night, probinsya without electricity ang peg namin. My phone was low bat and everything kaya naman wild.

Alvin didn’t want to stay in a hotel. Pineda and Faye offered their houses na to us. Ayaw pa din ni Alvin. I couldn’t understand him. Feeling ko, gusto lang niya ipa-experience sa amin ni Anika yung ganung very, very simple na life. I didn’t want to go anywhere naman without him so we stayed.

Good thing this happened during this time of the year. Presko ang hangin. Malapit na kasi ang Christmas. Good thing also talaga that I designed our house na tagusan ang hangin. That was what the big windows were for. Ayun, even though we were sleeping in the sala, hindi naman kami jinabar last night. Except for Alvin na init na init sa mundo niya (hindi ko kasi alam bakit siya naka-comforter noh), okay naman kami ni Anika. I just wasn’t able to sleep well. I have not been sleeping well for three weeks already kaya I shall sleep early now.

Finally, our house was energized this afternoon. Good mood na agad kami ni Alvin haha! Parang yesterday lang, we wanted to strangle each other. But you know, it’s all about partnership. Okay naman last night despite ang dilim sa bahay tapos walang kahit electric fans. We were making kwentuhan. Nakaka-close din. I cannot imagine how single moms go through with their lives without partners. Kahit na gusto kong sabunutan si Alvin because we were arguing how we were going to fix this problem, I am still thankful he was there so I can share the problem with him. Okay pa din may katuwang sa buhay.

When I got home kanina, I opened all the lights and I laid down on our bed. God, I missed our bed.

I was telling Anika a while ago why we had to go through that. I told her kasi maybe God wanted us to experience not having aircon and electricity para we can appreciate these things. Small learnings even during tong mga times na nakakainis. I want Anika to learn that in every difficult situation, there’s always a lesson.

Osha, super antok na talaga ako.

Kita kits!

Christmas is just 39 days away! Can you believe it?! Paulit ulit na lang ako pero ang bilis talaga ng panahon. One year na din kami here sa new house namin. Looking around, I feel that the house still looks like we just moved in. But that’s for another blog entry.

Anyway, we set up the tree last week. I’m sticking to my white and gold Christmas tree theme. Do you remember that since Alvin and I got married, I change color theme every year? Magastos mga bakla and it takes up so much storage space. Two or three years ago, when I tried the white and gold theme, I fell in love with it to a point na pinaulit ulit ko na. It’s a color combination na hindi ako nagsasawa. Okay din because at least Anika has something to expect every year. I’ll just buy new decors to update the borloloy that I have now. Si Anika may hanash ng slight.

ANIKA: Nanay, I want to feel as happy again as I was in Christmas when I was 4 years old.

May ganun?!

ME: Why? Where were we when you were 4?

ANIKA: We were in our old house near here and there were a lot of Christmas lights and a lot of Santa Claus in the house. After that kasi, no more decors na masyado eh. Parang hindi happy.

Oh, she meant the Christmas before that big shitty thing that happened to us.

I didn’t realize gaano ka-grabe that affected us. Pati pala yung holiday decors ko naging matamlay. Anika was feeling it all this time. After hearing what she said, I called Alvin immediately. I told him about what Anika said and told him to install those freaking Christmas lights immediately! The more, the better. Alvin agreed. I hope he gets them up before the actual Christmas day. Lelz. Sobra niyang busy. This weekend I plan to shop for more Christmas decors. Maybe we’ll get a new parol. I’ll make our house as festive as I can. Abangan niyo ha?

Speaking of Christmas, have you started gift shopping already? Ako konti pa lang. Puros online purchases because alam niyo na, #WorkIsLife nowadays. I seriously cannot find time to have a facial or a pedicure much less pa a trip sana to a mall. The free time I have from work, I spend with Anika and all the errands that needed to be done.

To help other mommas who can relate to me, I listed down some of my suggested gifts for this year. Sana makatulong. Check it out baka may feel kayo diyan. Just click the link to be able to go to their online store.

YUMBOX FROM BRIGHTBRANDS.PH
For your kids, favorite nephew or niece or for your inaanaks.

This is my and Anika’s favorite lunchbox #alamniyonayan. Even though I don’t post the #AnikasBaonToday everyday, I still prepare Anika’s school baon every morning. Hindi na siya kasing arte like how I do it when Anika was in first and second grade, but it’s still made out of love. Ikaw nga, gumising ng extra early to prepare a baon even though may help naman to do it, I think that’s really love. I don’t decorate Anika’s baon that much anymore because hindi na siya mahirap pakainin (puwera usog). The quality of the baon is more important now than how it looks. Nevertheless, patok pa din this lunchbox because it’s cute and because of all it’s compartments.

MYKA LIMCHOC TOPS
For your sisters, bestfriends and fashionista titas

I placed this on my list because I am positive that you can never go wrong with a cowl neck Myka Limchoc top. They’re perfect for the office, weekends, casual, formal and for your travels. Given that everything is free size, you won’t get stressed anymore in finding out the sizes of the person you want to give it too.

CHEESECAKE ON STICK BY CAKES BY K
For your officemates

This New York cheesecake covered with chocolate with almonds and marshmallows is so good! Ang creamy ng cheesecake. Hindi masakit sa throat yung tamis ng chocolate. And the almonds and marshmallows complement this dessert well. Perfect gift ito sa pang maramihan. You can order it by box too if you’ll be giving it to someone extra special =) You can message Alvin’s cousin Nessie in Instagram (@clumsynessie) or through their Cakes By Karlo IG as well =)

SWIMSUITS FROM LITTLE KOKOMEEE
For your cute nieces or goddaughters

Adorbs di ba? I’m wondering nga why they don’t have it my size sana so Anika and I can go twinning on the beach. Lelz. The best part about these cute swimsuits? They’re really affordable so you can get a lot of different designs for one little girl. After ng Christmas, favorite Tita ka na nila. Hehe.

DRESSES FROM KOKO AND VAN
For your girlfriends and all other fashyon girls you know in your life

I hoarded already so why don’t you? Hahahaha! Ang cute ng mga dresses and tops nila eh. You have to know that the style, color and quality were carefully checked before they sell it. Okay yan because I have a lot of bad experiences with some online sellers na talaga naman mapapakamot ka na lang sa ulo pagdating sayo ng orders mo. Koko And Van has styles of dresses for every kind of body type kaya parang one time shop na din siya. Ang pangit lang dito, the clothes that they’re selling are so nice na instead of buying for my friends and family, pati ikaw mapapagastos for the clothes you’ll buy for yourself. Lelz! =))

HAIR PIECES FROM M + K = A
For your daughters and kikay nieces

If you are to ask me what I want you to gift Anika, it will not be toys. I want her to be gifted with pajamas, underwear, small bags, cute water bottles, DIY stuff that she can do, game boardcolored pens, art stuff and hair pieces. Since Anika was a toddler, she has been wearing pretty ribbons from M + K = A. The quality is really good. Malalaman niyo that the clips were made by a mother kasi safety was incorporated in the design. There are no sharp edges and hindi siya masakit iipit sa hair nila.

SALSA DIP FROM MY SWEET FAIRY
For the amigas and titos and titas

You have seen the video. You’ve watched paano namin nilantakan tong salsa dip of My Sweet Fairy. Hahahaha. Ang sarap eh. It really does goes well with the nachos. I eat this with my favorite Doritos. Wala. Fly away ang diet after.

EARRINGS FROM FRANC & ANDIE
For your mom, sister, cousin, bestfriend, aunt, grandmom

Gaganda di ba? I wore a kabog pair when we watched ballet last year.

I have to stress the impact of wearing a nice pair of earrings. Kahit na white T-shirt ka lang and jeans, suotan mo ng bonggang earrings, it instantly ups your outfit. This is the reason why any kikay girl will appreciate earrings as gifts lalo na if it’s from Franc and Andie. Ang affordable pa niya so you can give more than a pair. Saya!

That’s it for the first part of my Christmas gifts ideas for this year.

I need to get more ideas for baby boys and men naman. Do you have recommendations for my part 2? Let me know ha because sharing is caring! =)

Humada ako, mga bakla, last Saturday! Bitbit ko ang Alvin, Anika and Lyn.

Our day started out very early because we had to be at Anika’s school before 7:30am for their recollection. This is a “requirement” daw before she can have her first Holy Communion. I didn’t have to drag Alvin’s butt out of bed because nagkusa ang lolo niyo bumangon. He got home very late from the bar the night before. Puyat. Eh ang usapan namin, wapakels kung magpuyat siya diyan sa bar niya basta he has to make sure alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic siya pagmay need puntahan the next day.

He’s fulfilling naman his end of the bargain but I can see that #TheStruggleIsReal for him.

Hahahahaha! Bahala siya. Ginusto niya yan.

We were running late. I wanted to be at school early so we can eat breakfast muna bago the recollection. I drove because I drive faster than Alvin. I must have driven fast because we were in CSA in 15 minutes. We were able to eat breakfast and then left Anika with Lyn at the school grounds because the kids were not allowed in the recollection.

The recollection was from 7:30am to 11am. We left at 9:30am. Yung ADHD ko hindi uubra anymore sa ganun kahahabang naka-upo lang. Besides, Alvin was already sleeping beside me. Nagyaya na ako umalis before he started to snore.

After the recollection, we went to the Kids Ink event at the Bonifacio High Street mall in BGC. Bago yung mall. Fantastic kasi ang ganda! It’s beside Shangri La BGC. You should check it out though there are still a lot of stores that are not open yet except for the Kids Ink which I will blog about very soon.

While looking for the Kids Ink store, I asked Alvin to take my OOTD photo. I wanted to have that wind blown effect. Since walang wind, sariling kayod kami.

I asked Lyn to throw my skirt and run away as fast as she can.

Fail.

Anika offered to do it since she said she can run faster than her Ate Lyn.

Top: H&M; Skirt: STYLE ANA PH; Shoes: TORY BURCH; Sunglasses: RAYBAN; Bag: BALENCIAGA

PAK.

Perfect shot!

Galing ni Anika. It really does take a barangay to create that perfect OOTD shot. Lelz.

After that, we went na to the event. There was a part there where they had to interview me for my favorite finds. Naconscious ako ng slight because everybody else was ayos na ayos. Ako, since we were running late nga, I just put my hair up in a ponytail. I wish nagplancha man lang ako ng buhok. Anyway, past is past so let’s move on.

Ayun na nga, when they were about to shoot me na for the video, I saw Alvin outside tinkering with his phone. I asked him to come inside. Paki picturan kako ako for the behind the scenes photos. Sabi ko isama yung camera.

Hindi ko naman sinabi na angguluhan naman ako ng maganda so ito yung mga photos that I got from him.

Wait there’s more…

Ito winner eh. Ganda ko dito.

Lalo naman dito. Kamukha ko daw si GMA.

Sarap lang talaga sakalin ni Sombrero. Saya di ba?!

Sinita ko while we were having lunch and tawa lang siya ng tawa.

ALVIN: Sabi mo picturan kita. Pinicturan naman kita di ba?!

Mapapa-iling ka na lang talaga eh.

Anyway, we had lunch after that and then I brought home Alvin. Baka masakal ko talaga ng tuluyan. I drove because sleeping beauty ang peg niya all the way to the house.

After that, I just changed clothes and then Anika and I left to attend the birthday party of one of her former classmates who is the son of one of my CSA amigas. Si Anika okay because she was asleep all the way from the mall to our house and to the party. Nakapag-power nap.

After the party, I brought Anika home and met with Pineda and our high school classmate, Billy.

Hay naku si Billy. He is quite a character and you have to love him to be able to like him. But that’s for another blog entry. Maloloka kayo promise.

It was a very busy day and yet I felt it was a productive one. I took advantage kasi of that Saturday because hindi nagset ng meeting yung boss ko. I was able to spend some time with Alvin and Anika.

Osha, it was quite a Monday so I’ll pour myself some wine, open a popcorn and watch Netflix. Tulog na ang Anika and wala pa si Alvin. Alvin said he’ll go daw to the bar sandali. Kakausapin niya daw yung tenant sa taas ng bar nila kasi may konting problema. Kanina pang 5pm yun. Alas-diyes na ng gabi now. Talo pa nila ang senate hearing sa tagal magusap. Kaloka.

Good night peeps! Have a great week ahead of you!

Good morning, guys!

I have pa pala one last blog entry about our Amsterdam trip a couple of months back. I was too lazy to post it na but looking at the photos now, it will be a pity not to share these extra pretty places called Edam and Volendam. Para kang nasa loob ng isang postcard when you’re there.

During the last days of our stay with Papa, he took Peachy and I too see Edam and Volendam. After ito niya mag-swear in as a Dutch citizen. The ceremony was held in the morning. We had lunch and went na to make pasyal. It’s around an hour’s drive lang from Amsterdam.

Edam is a village in the North Holland province of The Netherlands that has a community of 7,000 residents. When you’re there, it’s as if you’re transported back to the 17th century! You have to know also that Edam is the original source of the well, Edam cheese. Lelz.

Outfit of the day first.

Yuh. Namasyal ako ng naka-semi formal attire. Good thing the weather cooperated at hindi ako nanginig sa lamig while going around.

I saw the Edam Town Hall.

This Town Hall was built in 1737. It’s still in in active use for marriage ceremonies daw.

Check out how pretty this little village is. Parang Instagram worthy kahit yung mga canals nila. Pero iba naman kasi ang canals in Amsterdam compared to the canals of Manila.

This is the St. Nicolas Church. It’s also known as the Grote Kerk and it was built in the early 15th century. It was rebuilt in the 17th century after it was damaged by a fire caused by a lighting that struck it. I wish we were able to go inside that church. Astig siguro bilang it’s mega old na.

When you’re at Edam, you can just walk around and around and around following the cobbled streets. Don’t wear heels dito or wedges if you don’t like to sprain or twist your ankles while walking. Hindi flat yung streets.

Before going to Edam pala, we went to Volendam first. Papa already took us here when were younger. We were forced to wear the Dutch traditional costume and pose for the camera. Papa still has that photo with him somewhere. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, naka-frame and display pa ata yung sa house niya. I’ll show it to you when I see it again.

In Volendam, we brought Peachy to a wooden shoe factory. I cannot imagine using wooden shoes pero Papa said that according to the locals, they’re really very comfortable. Once you get used to using it, hindi ka na daw babalik sa normal shoes.

Volendam is also in the municipality of Edam-Volendam. This is a fishing village with a population of 22,000. We went straight to the harbor where you can see the old fishing boats.

Volendam is famous also for their Herring…

And Papa showed us how to eat it.

The weather was perfect when we were there.

On our way to Edam, we passed by this dike. I was curious because a saw a bench on top so Papa pulled over.

Ang ganda sa taas mga bakla. You can see that the water on the other side of the dike was much higher than the land on the other side.

Happiest birthday to my long time bff, Peachy!

Yeah, everyone had to have their photos taken on that bench. Hahahaha!

It was like a scene out of a movie. Parang ang sarap din magjogging dun sa taas ng dike. It was hot, cold and windy at the same time. Ang sarap din tumambay there ng may ka-holding hands and magkwentuhan until sunset. I’m going to bring Alvin and Anika here when we go back next year. Matutuwa tiyak yung dalawa.

Ang sarap magbaksyon! Let’s work more so we can vacation harder.

Parang baliktad?!

Hahahaha! Have a great day guys!

Top: MANGO; Pants: COTTON ON; Sandals: ALDO; Bag: KATE SPADE

May 13th month pay na mga guys.

Wala pa ang 13th month pay ko pero ubos na siya sa mga things to buy ko na nasa isip ko pa lang. Don’t worry, I’m not buying a lot for myself except a new pair of Tory Burch flats and maybe a new Christmas, New Year and birthday outfits. Lelz.

I’m buying things for the house. Yung bahay ko na hanggang ngayon hindi pa din na-lalandscape. Kamusta naman kasi yung landscaper na kinuha ko. 20 years bago mag-ocular! I want to buy a new chair for the corner of my mini library. I want to buy paintings. Magkano na ba ang isang Amorsolo ngayon? Okay. Hindi naman ako bibili nun. Yung mga sa SM lang siguro. I want to buy a new fridge. Gusto ko yung malaki. Yung kasya kaming dalawa ni Alvin. Gusto ko yung madaming pinipindot and madaming kino-close open. I want to buy a bigger dining set. I want to buy new curtains. Alam niyo ba na may shortage ng PLAIN DARK GRAY curtains dito sa Metro Manila? I have been all over almost all department stores pero walang stock ng plain dark gray curtains. Kaloka. Lastly, I wanna get big indoor vases and plants for the house. Ang mamahal na ng halaman ngayon ano? I think they only increased their prices nung na-uso a

Speaking about gastos, how’s your Christmas gift shopping? I’m starting mine pakonti konti. I figured that when I buy in advance, nakakatipid ako more compared sa cramming shopping. How I wish there’s a one stop online shop where we can order nice gifts for people ano? Here are 12 more Christmas gift ideas (just click on the link):

1. Personalized insulated lunchbox from Esheartph

2. Reusable straws from Yani Espiritu

3. Citrus Grapefruit Sanitizer Spray from Botanicals In Blooms

4. Christmas cookies from The Little Whisk Ph

5. Turn your kids’ drawings to necklaces by La Real Jewelry

6. Photobooks from Fire Tree Designs Ph

7. Wowa’s cookies! Message her through her FB account

8. Me-anne’s cupcakes (0917-3075907)

10. Happy Inc Ph jar

11. Sunnies specs for kids

12. Lia’s avocado cheesecake

Next naman, food ang ilista natin here! =) Christmas get together food ideas! =)

I had this really scary and creepy dream last night.

I was in my car daw and I was caught in traffic at the west service road in Paranaque northbound. There was an accident pala dun sa South Super Highway southbound. The accident scene was very detailed in my dream. May white na car na parang yuping yupi na. Nobody survived the accident daw and they were all brought na to the hospital. It was traffic because the cars were slowing down to make usi. When I slowed down, I saw a guy in a car in the accident scene who seemed to be sleeping. Sabi ko, may naiwan na accident victim. I thought he was dead but then he regained consciousness. Dinala siya sa hospital. And then right then and there, I noticed I had a huge lump on the upper right side of my chest. Apparently, I was in the accident too and I was looking at the scene on a third person’s view. Creepy di ba? They brought me to the hospital then I zoned out.

When I regained consciousness, I saw Wowa standing over me beside my hospital bed. She said that I was in a coma for 24 hours na. I asked if I was dying. She told me yes. She told me that I have a hemorrhage in my head and I have only 24 hours to live. She told me that ng walang ka-emotion emotion na para lang pinaguusapan namin ang weather. I was wondering why she wasn’t crying. Analyzing my dream now, I cannot remember when I saw my mom cry so wala sigurong basis yun kaya hindi ko nakita sa dream ko.

I looked around the hospital room but I didn’t see Alvin and Anika. Parang wala sila dun sa life ko at that moment. My mom asked if I wanted to see this guy, one of my ex-boyfriends. Apparently, in my dream, nandun kami sa period na siya yung boyfriend ko. I said yes and then he went inside the room. He wasn’t crying either. Parang normal na normal lang that I will die in 24 hours. I think that was what bothered me more than dying. Walang umiiyak.

I asked for my phone and called my dad in Amsterdam. Bakit kako wala pa nagsasabi sa kanya? I tried calling him but couldn’t contact him. I thought to myself, I cannot die without my papa by my side, heller. I called Pineda too. She asked me how I was ‘coz she heard I was in an accident. I think akala niya hindi major kaya chill lang siya. That was when I started to choke up. I told her to come to me na because I’m dying in a while.

That was the last thing I remembered before I woke up.

Gumising ako na ang bigat bigat ng chest ko. I transferred to where Alvin was sleeping and tried to make siksik sa kanya. He spooned me and wrapped his arms around me. Things felt better after nun. I tried going back to sleep but I can’t anymore because I was bothered bakit walang umiiyak sa dream ko.

It was a creepy dream.

One of our kasambahays when I was young told me an old wives tale what to do when you dream about something that you don’t want to happen. Ikwento mo daw ng ikwento para hindi magkatotoo kaya eto todo kwento ako ngayon. The details were very vivid in my dream. Parang when that happens (knock on wood), deja vu talaga ang lalabas.

Thinking about it now, I realized I wasn’t able to pray before I slept last night. May lagnat kasi si Anika and I fell asleep na minamassage yung back niya. That’s why. It always happen. I have bad dreams whenever I don’t pray before sleeping.

Scary.

I’ve always thought that life is short. As morbid as it sounds, I’ve always had this feeling na early ako mamamatay eh pero I’m not prepared to go yet. Anika’s very young. She still needs me and ang dami ko pang gustong i-experience with her. But because of that, ako si seize the moment. Travel! Experience ano mga pwedeng experience. Kaya ako maligalig. Hahahaha. Sabihin ko nga yan kay Alvin mamya para ma-gets niya ako why I always want to travel or to go on vacations with them. Kaya nga ganyan yung picture na nilagay ko for this blog entry eh. I want to remember the happy times. I want to remember yung mga panahon na pwede pa ako magsuot ng ganyan. Time will come na hindi na talaga keribelles mag-ganyan outfit kaya samantalahin.

Osha. It’s a gloomy outside and I think it’s going to rain. Stay dry and safe everyone! Happy Thursday!

Dress: MYKA LIMCHOC; Shoes: NINE WEST

After a super long time of not posting anything, Chuvaness, one of my all time favorite bloggers, blogged again last week. Tuwang tuwa ako when I saw it. Chuvaness, along with Frances Sales, Saab Magallona, Tina Tagle, are some of the very few blogs na natutuwa ako basahin because real siya. These are the blogs that are both informative and parang nakakachismis ka sa buhay nila. Masarap basahin because may wit, may humor and hindi boring.

That is the reason why I got really sad when I thought CVS stopped blogging. Nabawasan ang binabasa ko.

In her recent blog post, she mentioned that Instagram killed blogging. She’s right. Everybody’s in Instagram na. Even ako, I find myself writing mini blog posts in Instagram. It’s an instant kwento which is easy to do and easier to read ng mga followers. Pa-instant ng pa-instant na ang preference ng mga readers ngayon. Hindi ko nga sure if may mga tao pa out there na nagtiya-tiyaga to read personal blogs on a daily basis. Baka lahat nasa Facebook na nga and Instagram.

Also, I noticed, ibang iba na the blogs nowadays. Eight years ago when I started blogging, ang mga blogs out here are personal blogs. Wala masyadong advertisement. Raw sila and ramdam mo talaga from the heart ang articles. Sadly, nagbago na the blogs ngayon. Parang naging commercialized yung mga blogs. Ang sad. Hindi mo na tuloy alam if authentic ba talaga the things that they are endorsing. Bihirang bihira yung blog na balanced yung pagka-real niya and yung pagadvertise ng mga kung ano ano. I know a few bloggers who still have integrity in writing about products that they really like lang. They don’t blog about the products because binayaran lang sila. Ginagamit talaga nila yung produkto. Yung iba kasi “may-ma” eh. As in may masulat lang.

A few days ago, I received a message from a friend who sells stuff online. Sabi niya, “Anong isasagot ko sa mga ito?”. One lady was asking if nagbibigay ba siya ng discount pagblogger. Another lady was messaging her to asking her for products so that she can endorse daw her online store.

OKAY. I WILL GIVE MY OPINION ABOUT THIS PERO BATO BATO SA LANGIT, ANG TAMAAN WAG MAGALIT HA?

This is my blog and walang pumipilit magbasa sa inyo nito. If tamaan kayo, reflect kayo ng slight bago kayo mag-amok.

Number 1, I don’t understand why some “bloggers” feel that they are entitled to discounts. Baket?! Business is business. You can buy or not buy. May mga puhunan din ang mga yan and need nila kumita. Bumili ka muna kung gusto mo talaga. If kilala ka ng seller, she will give you a discount.

Number 2, I also do not understand why some “bloggers” ask for products para “ma-endorse” nila. Hiyang hiya ako sa ganyan. Not unless for a charity event, I do not ask for free stuff from brands.

People, we are not entitled to discounts. We are not entitled to free products. These are given to us ng kusa ng sellers IF THEY FEEL NA MAY MAHIHITA SILA SA ATIN.

MAHIHITA (verb), meaning: may mapapala.

Meaning, you need to establish yourselves first. Magtrabaho ka muna. Grow your blog. Pagandahin mo. Build your credibility. You need a following. You do not need to have a huge number of followers. Ang kailangan is influential ka. Your readers need to trust you. The brands need to see that your readers trust you enough to try out the products that you write about. You need to prove this first and this can take you years. Walang instant sa credibility, mga bakla. Bini-build yan.

If you have already done this, kusang lalapit ang mga brands sayo.

If feeling mo credible and established ka na, dun ka magstart i-alok yang sarili mo sa kanila.

Remember guys, these sellers have a businesses. May mga puhunan ang mga yan and siyempre ayaw nila malugi. These business owners also have evolved. Natuto na ang mga yan all these years. They do background checks sa mga bloggers/”influencers”. They look at your social media accounts. They check the engagements. They check the comments. They read your blogs. Tinitingnan nila how ka magsulat.

If inalok mo ang sarili mo and the brands see that you have not established yourself yet, mapapahiya ka lang. Remember, first impression lasts.

I also learned that naguusap usap these sellers. They share among themselves who the bloggers they like and who they don’t like. Sino yung nakaka-deliver and sino yung hindi. Remember that.

So my point is, LET YOUR WORK DO THE TALKING. Ayusin niyo muna your own branding. Work on it. Brands and income will follow. Trust me.

I know that some of you, ang gusto lang din is makatulong lalo na sa mga local sellers. If that is your goal, hindi niyo kailangan humingi ng libre. Buy something from them if you really like their products then post it online. Mararamdaman yan ng seller if marami kang referrals. Dun ka nila bibigyan ng products ng kusa so you can advertise them.

I have a suggestion too. If you are serious about all of these, get yourself a manager para sila yung magaalok ng blog mo sa brands. With this, you can concentrate on your blog while the blog manager works on getting advertisers for your blog.

Yun lang guys. To the newbie bloggers who are reading this, I hope hindi niyo masamain. You just need patience, the right attitude and passion in what you’re doing. Your blog will grow. Promise.

Happy weekend =D

“Hustle until you no longer have to introduce yourself.”
-anonymous

It’s Book Character Day at Anika’s school today.

Ang Anika, you can’t dictate to her na what to wear. She decides by herself. For this year, she told her Tatay and I that she wanted to come as Rey of Star Wars. It’s not even a book, I told her. Kinuha yung binili kong book na movie guide to Star Wars so quiet na lang ako. Lelz.

Alvin DIY’ed her costume. Yan ang bonding ng mag-ama ko. Nagkakasundo sila diyan. This is what they came up with:

Ang cute di ba?

They just cut pieces of tela for the outer wear. Anika has a white shirt naman and hindi ko alam san galing yang cute na jogging pants niya. Alvin wrapped her arms with a bandage that we use for our sprains and muscle hanash. She chose to wear the boots I got her a couple of months back.

ME: Anak, di ba masikip na yang boots mo?

ANIKA: Okay lang, Nanay. Hindi ako magsocks. I can handle it.

Marunong na magtiis ganda ang bagets.

Anika was so excited last night when she fitted the costume. I was so excited also kagabi because my new swimsuit arrived. We’ll be going to Punta Fuego this weekend. Sinukat ko din yung swimsuit ko.

So there we were parading around the house: Anika in her Jedi costume and ako in my swimsuit. Tawang tawa sa amin si Ka Lydia.

As expected, Anika woke up immediately this morning sa sobrang ka-excitedan. Sobra niyang excited that she forgot to wake me up after she took a bath.

ANIKA: Nanay, my school bus arrived na. I thought you were bringing me to school.

I opened my eyes and napatayo ako bigla. It was 5:45am already! Pakshet. I took a half bath and brushed my teeth in 5 minutes.

7 minutes after I woke up, I was already dressed and out of our room. Hindi pa tapos yung mag-ama ko magbutingting ng kung ano ano sa costume niya! Adjust dito, stapler dun.

ME: Guys, wala pa talaga akong diwa pero ready na ako. Hindi pa kayo tapos?!

It was so sulit to bring Anika to her school today. Everyone was dressed in costumes. Nakakatuwa tingnan yung mga kids.

I can’t wait to go home later to hear her stories how her day went =)

Happy mid-week guys!

I finally gave in and got myself the starter kit of the Young Living Essential Oils.

To tell you honestly, dati, I roll my eyes at those essential oils. I have seen posts and testaments of my friends and other people about the magical effects of these essential oils. Gumagaling daw yung mga anak nila, pinahiran lang nila ng oils. Madami daw napapagaling ng mga essential oils. Before, parang ako, heller, in time naman talaga, gagaling ang cough and colds ng mga batang yan eh whether you put oils or not. I thought fad lang siya.

When I had my anxiety depression bout late last year, some of my concerned friends sent over essential oil blends for anxiety and sleep. At that point I was like, fine, wala naman mawawala if I try. Eh ako si dapat may concrete proof and evidence para maniwala. So I monitored myself. For a week, I put the anxiety blend sa wrist and chest ko. Hindi naman nawala yung anxiety depression ko like instantly but I can say that humuhupa siya afterwards. It’s still there but I feel a lot better. Ang combi ko whenever I have impromptu anxiety attacks (which I still have until now despite “graduating” from my meds), is the anxiety blend and prayers. It soothes and calms me. I don’t know ano connection niya sa heart ko because hindi ko naman iniinom, pero humuhupa talaga yung palpitations.

I was given also a blend for sneezing due to allergic rhinitis. Ito kasi si Alvin, bahing ng bahing every freaking morning. One morning, I applied it to him. Hindi na siya maka-sneeze. As in nawala.

ME: See? Effective di ba?

Inis na inis ang Alvin. Gusto daw pala niya yung sneeze ng sneeze in the morning.

Kaloka yan.

Do you know that whenever you sneeze, your heart stops beating for a millisecond ata yun?! That’s why they say “Bless you!” whenever you sneeze! #superstition

Anyway, I recently discovered also that if masakit ang puson mo, you can put 1-2 drops of Lavender oil to the area. Giginhawa feeling mo. Proven ko yan like in three different times kaya sabi ko pwede ko na ipagkalat.

The one that I am testing now, which I have yet to confirm, is the the effectivity ng mga respiratory and immunity blends. Anika always has cough and colds. I put the respiratory blend on her chest and back every day. I also put the immunity blend on the soles of her feet every night. Hindi ko pa nakikita ang effects. Dadalang daw kasi ang mga asthma attacks and yung cough and colds. I shall report it back to you if effective.

I told Alvin about these blends because he saw me one night mixing oils.

ALVIN: Albularyo ka na ba ngayon?

ME: Yes. Gagawan kita.

ALVIN: Ayaw ko niyan! Wag na wag mo akong papahiran niyan! Okay na okay na ako sa Katinko ko.

I can’t convince him to let me put the respiratory and immunity blends on him. What I do is pagtulog na lolo mo, pinapahiran ko yung chest and back niya. Nagagalit. Sometimes, I put also sa talampakan niya while sleeping. Gumaling na ako ngayon umiwas kasi naninipa when I put. Lech.

The thing lang when you start with the essential oils, magastos especially if you’re maarte and OC like me.

I bought rollers and tags and pouch.

Naubusan na ako ng pretty tags so yung DYMO label maker na lang ginagawa ko.

I also created a recipe book from my personalized notepads.

I wanna buy more 5mL rollers and tags. I just ordered additional oils, especially the Thieves, because paubos na mine. Exage, ang mamahal! Ang gastos pala talaga nito amp! #WhatDidIGetMyselfInto

Kahit na mahal though, I’m enjoying making blends for people.

My mother-in-law is staying with us now. Hinihika si Ka Lydia so I made a blend for her. Sinamahan ko ng note ng when and where i-a-apply. Tawa ng tawa. Doktora na ang tawa sa akin. So in our family, we have a real doctor (Tin who is a cardiologist) and a doctor quack quack (me, an albularyo wannabe).

I made a blend for Isabel for her colds. I told Faye to apply it on the soles of her feet. I also made a blend for LT for her tummy aches. I also made a blend for Wowa for her allergic rhinitis. I gave all of them these when we met up last weekend at The Grid in Powerplant Mall.

ME: Basta may kailangan kayo for sa mga sakit niyo, let me know. Gagawan ko kayo ng blends. Meron ako for everything.

“Meron ba diyan pang headache?”

“Meron ba diyan para sa mga iniwan?”

“Eh meron ba diyan para sa mga nang-iwan?!”

HULAAN NIYO SINO SINO NAGSABI NIYAN!!!!

Hahahahahahaha!

Anyway, if you are asking me if it’s worth it to get the starter kit which costs around 8-10k a set, I suggest you get samples muna from your friends and try it before you buy. Mahal din kasi siya and the oils are expensive. The RC oil that I just order costs Php 1,190! Maliit lang yun ha? Therefore, you need to be sure talaga. I was told by one of my mommy friends na may binabagayan daw the blends. If compatible siya sayo, kita talaga agad ang effects. I’m not sure how true but based daw yun sa experience nila.

How about you muthers? Kamusta mga EOs niyo?

Also, please recommend pa where I can buy other blending paraphernalia. Yung inendorse ko na bilihan ng rollers, dine-deadma ang mga inquiries ko eh. Thanks super!!!

Top: I forgot where I got this. San nga ba ito ulit?! Pants: UNIQLO; Clutch: TORY BURCH

Are you guys mindful of how your Instagram feed looks like? I mean, have you seen the instagram of people na talaga namang may theme and uniform sila? Ang gaganda di ba? How I wish my Instagram’s like that too. I had at least 3 attempts to post photos with a theme. I edit the colors in a way na pare-parehas siya. Ang problema, dapat yung pinopost na photos pala, dapat may pattern din. For example, you can post the OOTDs lang every after 3 posted objects. Or alternate like, post an object, then a person, then an object, then a group of people, then object then OOTD.. gets niyo what I mean? That’s apart pa dun sa pagedit ng photos na dapat uniform sila.

Check out the instagram accounts of

The Misty Mom 
Vern Enciso
Nadine Lustre
Camille Co
Melissa Gatchalian

Ilabas na natin na ang gaganda ng mga babaeng yan kaya medyo effortless na maganda din their IG. But if you look at their feeds, their photos look uniform pero hindi pareparehas. Parang pinagiisipan talaga ang edits and ang pagpost. I want that. Kaso I’m trigger este post-happy eh. Hindi ko macontrol what I post. If I feel like posting something at that moment, I post it! Hindi ako napapakali if hindi ko ma-post. Wala ako patience to wait for the right time to post photos if timing lang and pattern ang paguusapan. Grrrrr. Parang if I mind it sobra, ang dami kong photos that I won’t be able to share agad or not be able to post at all (hindi pumasa sa theme standard).

Maybe that can be my theme instead siguro: Labo Labo Theme

Ang laki ng problema ko, no? Hehe. Magconcentrate na nga lang tayo sa world peace.

Anyway, because of work, I’m not able to spend much time with Wowa and the rest of the gang. I’m looking forward to the holidays para walang pasok. Magyayaya siguro ako lagi ng get togethers (if hindi ako tulog, that is!). We like eating at the Japanese restaurant in Makati where Faye lives.

WOWA: Kain tayo dun sa masarap na Japanese restaurant sa may Makati Cinema Square.

ME: Ano name?

WOWA: Pokenifuji.

ME: Ano po?!

FAYE: Tita, Kukifuji po.

Kukifuji pala. Masarap dun. They said authentic daw talaga the Japanese food kaya lagi siyang puno. You need to make reservations to have a seat especially during lunch and dinner.

Hopefully also this coming holidays, I will be able to blog more. I know the moms reading this is laughing at me right now. Good luck siguro sa akin because holidays are very busy especially for mothers. Moms need to buy gifts for the kids. Moms need to buy gifts for her family. Moms need to buy gifts for her in-laws. Moms need to buy gifts for her godchildren. Moms need to buy gifts for her husband’s god children. Moms need to buy gifts for the husband. And I need to buy Alvin’s gift for me too. Tama di ba? =D

I wanna blog more sana. I will try my best to find time. Especially the Sombrero Sitcom. Naipon na eh. Katulad last week while we were driving to a kiddie party.

ME: Babe, si Ninang Lina pala na-operahan!

ALVIN: Bakit?

ME: Ang bagal ng heart beat niya. Nilagyan siya ng peacemaker.

ALVIN: Peacemaker? Bakit may kaaway ba siya?

Natigil ako.

ME: Hindot. Pacemaker!

Tawa ng tawa ang Alvin. Ang patola talaga nitong asawa ko hahaha!

It’s a long weekend and I’m wishing you all a fun and restful one.

Ciao ciao!

It’s December already!!! Ang walang kamatayang tanong is, “Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?!”

Ako din hindi pa.

Nakaka-palpitate!

It’s not easy to look for gifts when you’re restricted to look for them online lang. Wala kasing time magroam around the mall. Yesterday, we had lunch with my boss. I was the one who reserved tables at the restaurant. While I was waiting for everyone to arrive, nag-ikot ako dun sa stores that were in the perimeter of the restaurant. I was able to buy a few gifts for the male classmates of Anika. Gusto ko pa sanang magikot and magpanic buying kaso dumating na ang mga ka-lunch ko. I thought to myself, sa sobrang hirap to find time to buy gifts for people, I’m ending up squeezing a short gift shopping time in between the things that I have to do.

Kaloka.

The gifts for the kids are easy. Madali makahanap. Ang hirap ako is to find a gift for Wowa, Alvin and my boss. Wowa has almost everything. What can you get somebody who has everything and can buy almost anything? My boss is the same. Ano pa kaya need niya in life that I can afford to buy? He always borrows my power bank. Power bank kaya? However, I gave him na one two Christmases ago eh. I know na! I will buy a lot of power banks para he can leave one in his car, leave one with me, leave one at his office. O di ba? Parang Katinko lang ni Alvin. Merong naka-tago kada part ng house =) As for Alvin, yan ang taong walang gamit but when you ask him what he wants, wala daw. The only thing that he wants is a new motorcycle which I will buy over my dead sexy bodeehhh!

Apparently, ganun din ang tingin nila with me. My MIL complains that she has a hard time finding gifts for me. I don’t understand. Napaka-dali kong bilhan ng gift kasi ang dami kong gusto! One time, my mother-in-law and her sisters told me that they have a hard time looking for gifts for Anika too. Parang daw kasing she has everything.

Well, hindi naman true that she has everything. I don’t also agree that it’s difficult to buy something for her.

Anika is a very simple girl. It doesn’t take much for her to be happy. Mababaw ang kaligayahan niya and you don’t need to get her anything expensive. Bigyan mo ng malaking box yan and some colored felt tip pens, contented na contented na yan.

Nope. I do not want you to buy her toys. She has a lot. As in, I am continuously purging her room for toys that I donate to the less fortunate. Maaayos pa kasi eh. Besides, hindi cool to open a lot of toys during Christmas. Nakaka-umay. She doesn’t get to play with a lot of them kasi ang daming bagong bubuksan.

So no toys.

No stuffed toys either.

Anika gets attached easily to stuffed toys. Wala kasing kapatid so she treats her stuffed toys as baby brothers and sisters regardless of the size. Sinasama niya yan lahat to bed when she sleeps. Hindi na kami kasya sa kama at night. Promise.

So not stuffed toys.

Like I said, she doesn’t need extravagant gifts. I’m going to list down some of the things that you can give her. This might also give you an idea what to get your nephews and nieces.

She will appreciate a nice set of pajamas.

She will appreciate a nice pair of house slippers and rubber slippers.

I will appreciate it if she gets underwear and those white shorts from SM that she wears under her school skirt. It saves me time to shop for it hahahaha. If you are asking why Anika wears white shorts under her school uniform, si Alvin ang tanungin niyo. I never wore shorts under my uniform skirt ever so hindi ko gets.

She likes colored pens and pretty notebooks. She likes writing and drawing and I’m happy when she’s doing that instead of watching TV.

Anika wants a telescope but Alvin’s getting her that already. She likes stuff na interactive like a chemistry set. Yung may natutunan siya.

She likes Lego and Toots already is giving her a boxed set. Ngayon lang na-iinto Lego building ang Anika. It’s great in developing her fine motor skills and honing her creativity. Pagna-buo na niya, idodonate ko na.

Anika likes backpacks. She uses them to school and whenever we go out. Hindi ko naman alam sa batang ito bakit ang daming dala every time umaalis. Dala yung mga notebooks niya, a book, her change of clothes etc etc.

Like Faye, I will appreciate if you gift Anika with GCs to Kidzania or Kidzoona or to anywhere she can have playdates with your kids. Kung may nabibili lang na kalaro, I would have bought her like mga tatlo so she can have someone to play with. Nakakaawa din siya pag tinitingnan ko sa bahay na mag-isa eh. Parang loner. Inaaliw ang sarili.

Lastly, I think she will like board games. She likes playing board games with me and Alvin. As I said, wala kasi kalaro kaya pinagtiya-tiyagaan kaming mag ina.

I saw Anika crying nung isang araw.

ME: Why are you crying?!

ANIKA: Nothing.

ME: Anong nothing?! Don’t nothing me.

Don’t nothing me, amp.

=D

ANIKA: You keep telling everybody kasi to give me notebooks and pens eh.

ME: Bakit? Di ba gusto mo yun?

ANIKA: But I like other things too.

ME: What are they?

May listahan naman pala lola niyo. Hahahaha!

Yung last item, she wants a personalized ring. Faye and I were telling her kasi that we both had a ring with our initials on it (MF). Siya din daw gusto. Baka ipagawa ko na lang kay Ms. Tina Tagle of Willow Jewelry yan. Or baka, i-Pandora ko na lang siya muna.

I know baka kumpleto na kayo but I have yet to start shopping for the gifts for Anika’s classmates. Ano mga ibibigay niyo? =D #CrammingForLife

A couple of weeks back, Anika and I were invited to the grand opening of Kids Ink in Bonifacio Global City.

Kids Ink store offers a curated selection of educational kids toys, games, art supplies and books.

As soon as we entered, Anika made a beeline to the toys section. I was about to roll my eyes because she has a lot of toys at home — as in tambak tambak, but paused when I saw the different toys that were displayed in the racks.

The collection of toys that Kids Ink has is almost all educational ones! I love them because these kind of toys contribute well to the children’s skills such as cognitive, problem solving, fine and gross motor development, creativity, imagination and hand and eye coordination.

Ang akin lang naman kasi if we will give our kids toys for entertainment purposes or just as so they can be preoccupied while we can have time to be updated with our chikas online, might as well give them toys that are productive and can prepare them for the skills that they need in their future life.

Make sense, right?

I am at awe with the different educational toys the kids have now. Walang masyadong ganyan nung mga bata kami. Kids are definitely luckier now. Galing.

They also have nice party favors. Soshal. Maganda. Unique.

There are also choices of bags and lunchboxes.

There’s also a good selection of books for kids of all ages.

And of course, the stationery and arts and crafts supplies.

Anika hoarded squishies!

Here are some Christmas gifts ideas that you might like.

Slime DIY ingredients galore!

Anika was able to catch the slime workshop at the back of the store.

A lot of my friends in Instagram asked where Kids Ink was so that they can bring their kids there to point which toys or books they want Santa to give them.

Kids Ink is a one stop shop actually. It’s a toy store, bookstore and stationery store rolled into one!

You can find the Kids Ink store at the 2F , One Bonifacio Hight Street in BGC.

And until December 31, 2018, you can get a free surprise gift with every single purchase! Happy! Happy!

You can like the Kids Ink Facebook Page here and follow them on Instagram (@kids.ink) for more details.

Dress: FOREVER 21; Wedges: NINE WEST

Last week, one of my friends told me ang pessimistic ko daw. I paused for a while because I was looking for a way how to be able to explain it.

Hindi naman ako actually pessimistic. I can just think of a lot of things that can actually go wrong. Ayoko kasi ng umaasa eh. And at a very early age, I went through things na hindi magaganda so I know hindi lahat ng bagay that will happen to you will be in your favor. Good things naman daw happen to good people. I know, but I also know bad things happen to good people. How can you explain kids going through their parents separation? They don’t deserve it di ba? But they go through it. That’s what I mean. At this point of my life, aware na aware lang ako sa mga things that can go wrong. Hindi ako nag-eexpect masyado because we all know that when things don’t go the way we expect them to, masakit.

However, we should not revolve our lives on pessimism. Mali naman yun. It’s okay that you are aware of the things that can go wrong pero para lang ma-ready yang feelings natin. Also, okay din yun kasi prepared tayo sa mga plan B to Z natin.

Are you like me?

We need therapy ata. Hahahaha!

Natatawa kasi ako eh. Sometimes, when I’m not able to control it, I get so affected by it.

For example, when I’m in a new place, say in Europe, I get all agitated because iniisip ko, “Naku! Ang ganda ganda dito! Kelan kaya ako makakabalik dito? Baka hindi na ako makabalik! Sayang naman.”. See? I have just arrived and yet I’m thinking about kelan ako makakabalik.

Another example is when Alvin embraces me out of the blue. Or biglang kikiss ng wala lang. Yung biglang magiging sweet? Sa sobrang dalang niya gawin yun and sa sobrang sabik ko sa ganun, parang gusto ko maiyak eh. Iniisip ko agad kelan niya ulit gagawin sa akin yun?

Wag niyo akong gayahin.

I’m trying to find a way to work around the way I am. I don’t want Anika to be like me when it comes to overthinking things. I know I won’t be able to change myself anymore given I think naka-embed na yang personality na yan sa mga buto ko. But I can always improve and yun yung ginagawa ko now. I give myself pep talks many times a day. I pray. I exert effort to be more positive.

Naalala ko si Anika.

ANIKA: I’m sure I’m going to have low grades na naman.

ME: Don’t be like that. You studied naman. Be positive!

ANIKA: I am positive that I will have low grades na naman!

Kalokang batang ito! Hahaha!

Bottomline is self awareness is the key to self improvement.

Tara. Balik na tayo sa milyong milyong things to do natin ngayong Pasko.

Top: KOKO AND VAN; Pants: LEVI’S

While waiting by the office elevators last Monday, I found myself laughing. As in tawang tawa ako, men. If you have seen me, akalain mo nasisiraan ako ng bait.

I was laughing because I was thinking about all the things that I had to do.

I had to prepare the weekly reports for the Operations Meeting meeting that afternoon.
I had to study the reports prepared by my staff for the Operations Meeting that afternoon.
I had to set the RFO walkthrough of 3 projects.
I had to check the status and output of the call brigade for the 6 projects that I tasked my staff to do.
I had to do the reports for the Mancom meeting the next day.
I had to think about and arrange who would be picking up my dad from the airport because his schedule changed.
I was mentally fixing my schedule for the week so I’d know when I can do the groceries.
I had to ask my kasambahay what to buy in the grocery store.
I had to ask someone to wrap the Christmas gifts for Anika’s classmates.
I had to ACTUALLY BUY the Christmas gifts for her classmates.
I-che-check na daw yung First Holy Communion attire nina Anika this week. Wala pa siyang white shoes.
I had to think about the potluck food that Anika has to bring for her Christmas party.
I don’t have an outfit yet for our Vogue themed company Christmas party this week.
I have yet to complete my gifts for my officemates, staff and family.
Wala pa din akong makitang landscaper for our house. Anong petsa na?!
I had to make the practice tests for Anika’s final exams.
And then I went back thinking about work if mainit kaya ulo ng boss ko ngayon and kung papagalitan ba niya ako today.

Ang dami eh. Hindi ka ba niyan matatawa? Partida mga bakla, the other things that I had to do, I have delegated already. So salang sala na ang mga yan as my things to do.

Very timely naman, I chanced upon this article entitled The Mental Workload of a Mother. Have you guys read it? Lahat na nandun, girls. If you are a mom, you will be able to totally relate to that post.

Generally speaking, alam ko naman na lahat ng nanay ngayong holidays ay ngarag. However, for this particular post, allow me to dwell sa mga working moms.

I salute the stay at home moms kasi hindi ko alam how they do everything that they do — on a daily basis. Pero nowadays, parang gusto kong patayuan ng shopping mall este rebulto ang mga working moms. Wagas ang challenges that I encountered these past few weeks. Ramdam na ramdam ko na isa nga akong working mother.

Like with the stay at home moms, working moms have different levels of difficulties that they face. The SAHM’s daily load depends with the number of kids or if may yaya or wala. Isang level of difficulty yan. With the working moms, the degree of difficulty that they face is like that of the SAHM plus the demands of their work. If hindi that demanding and very flexible ang schedule, heaven yun. But if you have a job like mine na 8am-6pm with pasok sometimes on the weekends tapos medyo toxic ang trabaho, it can be really challenging.

I know all mothers need to mind their kids. They worry about the family’s health and safety all the time. Sasabay pa diyan yung husband na late uuwi na nenerbyosin ka kasi hindi mo malaman if makaka-uwi ba ng matiwasay sayo. Like what the article said, mothers think about so many things like doctor schedules, extra curricular schedules, meal planning, kids’ school and how they are faring, running the household and making sure may stock ng soap, food, cooking oil, socks and briefs ng mga asawa. There is also the minding of the emotional needs of everyone in the family (including ours).

For the working mothers, take all of those things a mother thinks about and add to the additional things we think about and do outside the house.

There’s waking up super early in the morning to get ready for work despite being up all night taking care of a child na may lagnat. Or waking up super early to go to prepare the baon and then go work despite coming home very late kasi nag-overtime.

There’s coming home super late na tapos laspag na laspag ka na sa pagod but then you still have to check your kids’ school stuff if ginawa ba nila yun. I’m telling you, mas nakaka-bobo yung pagcheck ng 1 + 1 na simple math after a very long day in front of all the formula you needed to do in Excel.

There’s the very long drive to and from work. Lecheng traffic sa Metro Manila yan. Nakakadrain. Grabe lalo those who are commuting and nakikipag-agawan ng jeep in heels just to be able to come home in time for dinner.

There’s the guilt of working instead of staying at home. It never goes away.

There’s dealing with a boss. A boss na hindi mo ka-ano ano kaya hindi mo pwedeng deadmahin. My boss is mabait and he understands that I am a mother first and foremost. Kaya naman whenever Anika’s sick and I tell him that I have to stay home, wala ka na maririnig sa kanya. However, he is also demanding. He demands from us our best. Mahirap magrelax kasi hindi pwede yung tatanga tanga ka. Alert lagi. You need to focus in what he’s saying para hindi ka mapagalitan but at the back of my head sometimes, namemental list ako ng mga need ko bilhin after work sa grocery.

There’s yung aasikasuhin mo ang mga hanash ng 40+ na office staff mo. Can you imagine having 40 kids? Ganyan din ang may 40 pax na staff.

There’s yung gumagawa ng mga reviewers kasabay ng mga reports. Come on, aminin niyo na yan that you’re doing that. We do that because there is simply no more free time to do it.

Nandiyan yung tatawag sayo yung school clinic in the middle of a very important meeting kasi pinapasundo your sick child. Larga ako niyan after apologizing profusely to my officemates.

Get the picture? =D

Those are just some of the things that a working mom experience that is different from a stay at home mom.

Para kang may dalawang klaseng mundong ginagalawan: being a mom and being a career woman.

It’s definitely not easy. If you are at work, iniisip mo yung bahay. If nasa bahay ka, iniisip mo yung work. Sa sandaliang na-relax ako kasi wala ako ginagawa, I feel stressed because baka kaya walang ginagawa kasi may nakalimuta akong gawin. I feel that bawal ako pumetiks and dapat alert lagi because I am scared I will fail on one or both (being a mom and an employee).

Obviously, kulang na kulang talaga ako sa time. Saan nga ba ako pwede bumili ng time at magho-hoarding ako?! Despite Alvin being great at helping out, kulang pa din ang oras eh. The weekends are not for relaxing anymore. They’re for errands na lang that you were not able to do during the weekdays.

May short kwento ako. I passed by the grocery store near our office because I had to buy something for Anika. It was lunch time. Inside the grocery store, I saw a mom na fresh na fresh: nakashorts, sleeveless top, Tory Burch shoes and ang bango bango niya. She was leisurely doing the groceries aisle by aisle. Hindi nagmamadali. Samantalang ako, I was running around looking for where the bread was because I had to go back to the office by 1pm. May meeting pa kasi ako.

Hulas.

How I wished maka-experience din ako ng leisure grocery shopping. Yung titigil ka to smell the mangoes. Mga ganung levelz. Siguro ngayon holidays magagawa ko yun. 24 hours nang bukas ang SM Hypermart. Maggogrocery ako ng 3am and hindi ako magmamadali. Pak.

Kasama na din diyan na there is no time for facials, manicure, pedicure, waxing, shopping, chikahan with friends ng walang time frame kasi may need pang gawin afterwards. Alam niyo ba that I need to have endoscopy but I never got around having it done? Need ko siya ipagawa mga 5 years ago pa. Hahahaha! I’m sorry, I know it’s wrong. We need to prioritize our health. I promise to have it done asap, it’s just that parang walang time lagi to do it. If magka-free time, nilalaan ko kasi yun sa check ups naman ni Anika. Or if walang check ups si Anika, wala naman yung doctor ko. Wrong timing always.

Don’t get me wrong. Nakakagimmik naman ako sometimes. I am able to stay up late and have some drinks.

You just have to pay the price the next day. Hahaha! Have you experienced having a hangover and acting like you have none para wala na masyadong mga taong ang mga bagets?

High five to my fellow working moms. I get you. I feel you. We’re the same. Kaya natin ito. I know I have a lot of advice for time management and about work life balance however may mga panahon talaga na punyeta, hindi mo maaapply na yun.

This is the reason why I am amazed when I see a full time working moms who look put together. Ang galing. Sana magpaseminar sila. I shall attend!

Why do I do it? I am often asked that question. Well, despite all the chaos, I love what I do: both being a mom and a working mom. It completes me. Angelina Jolie sums it up on point:

“I think if you love what you do, and the choice you’ve made in your life, somehow that drives you forward to enjoy it all. Even the chaos, even the exhaustion of it, and even when it seems out of balance.”

In short, kahit nakaka-hibang, if you really like what you’re doing, push lang mga ateng. Kakaiba din kasi yung fulfillment.

Ariba!

I super love the dress that I wore last Friday to our company Christmas party. The theme of the party was Seasons Of Vogue. Hindi ko gets yung theme. They said parang Fashion Week daw or something you can find in the runway. Ang hirap pa din mag-isip ano yung so finally they said basta kahit anong fashionable. Ah ganun ba? Mas mahirap. Lelz.

You know me, I didn’t have time to go to the mall to find an outfit. I was browsing and browsing Seek the Uniq but I wasn’t able to find The Outfit. Ang daming magaganda kaso wala nagpatibok ng puso ko ng extra eh. You know what I mean.

It was destiny yata that Pineda sent over clothes from Koko And Van for me to try. One of the dresses there was this black side boob dress. Two days before the party, I fitted it and showed it to Faye and LT. Maganda daw. Sabi ko ito na nga lang. Lalagyan ko lang ng katakot takot na double sided tape.

I did my own hair na make up and this is what I looked like that night.

Kabog yung likod eh. I made sure I put some foundation on my back. Gusto ko din sana magkaron ng back muscles which are the equivalent of abs ng likod but there was no make up for that. Haha!

This dress made me feel to go back to the gym more. Mas maganda talaga the fit of the clothes if you’re fit. Time to go back to exercising.

I’m super happy because naka-tipid ako with my outift. The dress costs Php 600 only. My hair and make up was free. Kita mo yun. When I was online shopping, the dress that I was looking at was around Php 2,500. Buti na lang I waited the last minute. I didn’t buy it agad. Risky but it turned out okay naman, don’t you think? =)

Anyway, it’s only 9 days to Christmas, kamusta kayo?

I’m okay but a little terrified. Our trusty kasambahay made paalam to go on a vacation for the holidays.

I’m dead.

Anika still has school next week and I also still have work.

I’m so dead.

Yesterday, I asked Alvin to teach me how to cook rice. I mean, I know how to cook rice but it’s been years since I last cooked it. I just needed a refresher. And besides, wala kaming rice cooker. Ayaw ni Alvin. Mas masarap daw kasi yung manual na sinaing. It doesn’t matter. Kahit naman sa rice cooker nasusunog ang sinaing ko eh.

Good luck talaga sa amin.

OMG magNo-Noche Buena pa. Order na lang! Where do you guys order food? Yung masasarap ha like tried and tested na.

Pa-abang sa instagram my journey as a working mom without a kasambahay. Journey amp. Hahahaha! Parang 3 weeks lang naman wala si Ate namin. But I know it wont be easy so please pray for me. Charot.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has been working abroad. He was one of the country managers of an airline company. This meant that he was always assigned to different countries. When he was still with the airline company, he was able to go home often, sometimes twice a month pa. So even without the technology that we have now like viber, Facebook or Facetime, we don’t miss him that much because he comes home regularly. Thanks to his airline benefits.

However, when he retired from that airline company and stayed in Europe which was his last assignment, dumalang na yung uwi niya because mahal ang pamasahe sa plane. His first year was the most difficult one for me. I was used to him going home often. The most difficult was this particular Christmas when he told us that he couldn’t go on leave because he was still new sa work.

I remember feeling really, really sad. Emote levels.

I was preparing to drag myself to go through the Christmas holidays without him. Hindi same ang Christmas when you don’t spend it with your loved ones.

Come Christmas Eve, I was really down.

So imagine my surprise at around 7pm yata yun, a car parked outside our house and out came my dad!!!!

Tuwang tuwa talaga ako!

He was able to book a flight the last minute. He didn’t inform us anymore because he wanted to surprise us.

It was the best surprise ever!

I learned that we shouldn’t take things for granted talaga. I thought about the families who spend Christmas away from each other. It’s really not the same. May lungkot factor. So guys, cherish the time spent with one another ha? Swerte na kasi kayo if complete kayo pagPasko =)

Speaking of suprises, check out Puregold’s Panalong Sopresa Ngayon Pasko video.

Ate Vi and Lucky for the win!!!!!!!

Wala pa din kupas si Ate Vi! =) I love their mom and son tandem. When I have a son, I wish ganyan din kami =)

MagPuregold na tayo mga mare. I have seen their Christmas packages and complete na complete na ang mga rekado that we need for Noche Buena.

Advanced Merry Christmas, guys!

Today was Day One of our no househelp holiday.

Alvin and I woke up at around 4am. I was a bit groggy because I came home a bit late from my staff Christmas party. Alvin started to cook rice (thank God, hindi ako lelz) and cooked breakfast and baon for Anika. I made him coffee then started on washing the dishes from the night before and putting them away.

Isa lang narealize ko ngayong umaga, parang hindi ka matatapos kaka-hugas ano? After washing the first batch of dishes and glasses, I went around the house fixing it. Kada daan ko sa isang spot, may used na baso! I ended up washing 2 more batches of hugasan kasi nga kaka-ikot ko ng bahay, I find used containers, glasses and small plates. Buti hindi naloloka sa amin yung kasambahay namin.

I woke up Anika so she can take a bath. I fixed the 2 rooms and our living room. Naglinis na din ako ng floor. Sabi ni Alvin tigilan ko na daw ang kakaligpit and kakalinis. Ang aga daw.

ALVIN: Babe, wag mo na muna linisin lahat. Unang araw pa lang na wala si Lyn, pagod na tayo niyan.

Nagluto lang talaga siya eh. Hahahahaha!

I asked him to wash the remaining hugasan and the stuff he used in cooking before he leaves the house. I asked him to take out the garbage too for the garbage truck. Ikot ako ng ikot sa bahay. When I went out, wala lolo niyo. I found him in our garden. Nagdidilig. Naks. My husband who likes sleeping in everyday was watering the plants at 5am. Yessssss…

So that was the first morning.

For this post, I’d like to show you this cute package that The Little Whisk Ph sent us. It’s so adorable and fun to do!

It’s a Do-It-Yourself Christmas cookie decorating kit =)

It includes 5 cookie icings (in piping bags na) in different colors.

There are two kinds of delicious cookies.

There are also small packs of sprinkles.

There are also a list of ingredients for each cookie, instructions how to decorate and store them.

Anika started on her cookie immediately. I just helped her cut a small portion of the piping bag. After that she just referred to the instructions and did everything on her own. I love that the decorating set is very kid friendly.

Here are the finished products!

Kamusta naman yung Rudolph cookie ni Anika parang may chicken pox? Hehe

So cute!!!! I cannot imagine how Maggie of The Little Whisk can decorate hundreds of cookies everyday! Okay siya if you do it like ng ganyan lang ka konti. Fun na fun ang peg. Pagmadamihan, parang nakakaloka!

We ate the cookies afterwards and they’re soooo good! I paired it with my afternoon coffee and they were perfect!

I’m not sure if Maggie is still accepting orders for DIY cookie decorating for this month because I’m sure she’s swamped with lots and lots of orders but maybe you can inquire for your future parties? Magandang libangan kasi ito for kids.

For inquiries and orders, you can check out The Little Whisk Ph Instagram account here or email her at thelittlewhiskph@gmail.com