my3lilprinces

IAYC ink update

2011-11-01T03:00:00.002+08:00

I noticed color fading on the sides of the photos I printed using the generic ink after less than a year. It is especially obvious to prints that has sun exposure. I'm concerned about my 2010 December album, some pages are also has the signs of fading. The cheap paper I used could also be the factor. Now, I'm thinking twice if I will still continue using the ink for future projects.

IAYC is like a lot of hassles already.

Justin is such a SWEETY

2011-09-05T22:08:00.003+08:00

I was lying on a bed watching SITC (Sex in the City) on my laptop, he came up with 1 stick of Stick-O. I reminded him of the general rule in the house - "no food upstairs". To that he replied "eat natin sabay, Mommy". He bit the other end and he let me had the other, then we both bite on each end until naubos ang stick-o. Di ba ang sweet?!!

As I watched him went out of the room, I realized that Justin is already big, hindi na baby, he's already tall. One big factor sa face nya ngayon is his big front tooth, more mature na syang tingnan. He can also speak in full sentences na, di na masyadong bulol.

Because, Nestor and I are in challenging times right now, Iam somehow don't have the energy to note life details. How many more sweetness I a missing?

What's In MY Name

2011-08-17T10:56:00.004+08:00

Before marriage I am known as

Ma. Venus Chio Ricahuerta

It’s not a very cohesive name as far as I know. It’s a mix of English, Spanish and Chinese, in short it’s like chopsuey. Let's break it down.

Ma is short for Maria. My elder sister, me and the sister next to me all have that in our names. I think that was a fad at that time. My father’s side has a Spanish blood so it could also be another reason or it’s simply taken from the first two letters of my father’s name-Macario. It often causes confusion in my legal documents. My Baptismal certificate has Maria but my Birth Certificate is Ma. In school I often just drop it especially on quizzes. I really thought it has no purpose. If dropping it from my name is easy as buying a movie ticket I would have done it long ago.

According to my mother my first name Venus was chosen by my Auntie Luz, her younger sister. It was taken after the English mythology goddess of beauty. As I was told when I was born, I was so fair and so cute and beautiful (all babies are, right?) that my Aunt readily thought of naming me Venus, fresh from her mythology class I suppose. Anyway, Americans say it like “vinus”, while I often call myself ve-nus, sounding each letters. Very Pinoy.

Chio is my mother’s maiden name. She has a full blooded - Chinese father.

Ricahuerta according to my Spanish 2 teacher in college means rich orchard or garden.

So there. If I will put some kind of logic into my name it would be

"A beautiful goddess in a rich orchard."

Now that is more cohesive. Yay, me!

(written: 11/17/2008)

Here are more Scraps

2011-08-16T21:33:00.004+08:00

Scrap. Scrap. Scrap. That is what I have been doing quite a lot lately among cleaning, organization, washing, simply being mommy in one month that I am on vacation from work. I'll be back to work on Monday...Sigh! I don't know what is that for..relief or sadness. LOL. Here are my layouts.

First, the hybrids. my scanner is not giving me good quality copies. These really looks so much better in real.

Boys in Shades

Here's a an old photo of Jerome and Jason monkeying around with Daddy's shades.

Credits: layout lifted from Tina Cockburn

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Oh Cute

I like the simplicity of this layout inspired by the clean look of Beth Proudfoot's scraps.

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Sisters

A favorite one. Love the colors and the photos.

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Chillin'

Here is a layout that I haven't put the title yet. Plan to cluster it with the drink at the bottom.

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Now the digis. I'm cleaning my very old stash so after using I delete it immediately or just keep those that are really versatile that I know will use again later.

Be Loved

Wanting to use the word art, this is the result - sweet layout of me and hubby.

Credits: Floral frame by Michelle Coleman; With Love kit by Cinnamon Design; bad me; word art by Katie Periet

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Read

Surprisingly, I love how this layout turned out. I think the alphabet did it.

Credits: Memory of You and Miles Kits (very old one also): yellow BG paper and alpha-Christina Renee; tab and single X-stitch- Jessica Bolton; ruler tape and yarn star - Tiff Brady; blue BG paper - Amy Knepper; x-stitch by MJV (freebie from RAKS years ago); edge template - Atomic Cupcake; fonts -Trebuchet MS, Trojan Pro, Vani

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Bunny Love

Credits: Rabbit's world quickpage by Xyreena

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A really productive last week of scrapping for me. More than finishing these layouts I feel that I am getting my groove back after not doing this for quite a while. I especially liking the hybrids - at least I am slowly using my supplies that I earnestly organized earlier. I'm planning to really create more paper scrapbooks so I can free up space in my small home office, and those supplies have been with me for quite a long time already.

So long for now!

Scrap: Portraits

2011-08-09T10:16:00.006+08:00

I'm so glad that I made a page for Jerome and me. He loved it also when I showed this to him. Me and Jerome has that special first born and Mommy relationship. He's not my favorite but knowing that all experiences with him will be the first for me is somehow makes it unique. But of course, the excitement to go through it all again with the younger two is different.

Credits: Font - Nyala; Happiness journal and swirl overalay from Cabaret kit -Rohanna Farrer; BG papers, J alpha, grocery tag - Miss Mint; Orange BG paper -Shabby Princess;

I am trying to use my old digital supplies before I finally delete it. I've realized I am holding on to many old stuffs already and it doesn't inspiring me anymore to scraps.

Right now I'm Loving

2011-08-03T22:58:00.001+08:00

...my vacation at home or should I call it work-free days and staying at home. It's not entirely a relaxation thing because I am continuously cleaning the house.

But still I'm loving...

the relax phase of doing things
being at home, just like that
the chance to appreciate my life as I spend the day without rush
a new appreciation of the long bath after cleaning the closet today, it's been so long since I enjoyed my bath tub
experiencing the ordinary days with my family, seeing and going with the kids to school and being there when they get home
time to organize, think, plan, create, inspire, laugh, sleep, get lazy... just living the day without work

A Call to Declutter

2011-08-03T20:33:00.006+08:00

I'm feeling the stress of having too many things around the house, and worse than that - my things are not organized. More and more, my heart is leaning towards "Less is More" in my life. And so my pursue to decluttering and purging and sorting begun. I don't know where this will lead me but I hope to my ultimate goal of everything in the house has a purpose.

Home Office

I started with my home office/scrap room last week. It took me 2 days to go through my scrap stuffs, books, gadgets, files, bags, etc. to turn it to look like this.

This is one of the 3 cabinets in the room. This holds my scrap magazines and books on the upper left, a box of old photos (sorted), photo albums and scrapbooks, archived photos and scraps in DVDs; photo papers, bond paper, scratch paper, and my idea binders and more photo albums.

The name box is bought from India on my last business trip and the bird cage canvas is bought in Singapore. On top are some trophies and foreign coins in bottles of mayonnaise. While cleaning this hanging cabinet, I found 5 broken eggs of lizard on the top shelf behind the albums. Eeww!

I have purged the standing bookshelf that not holds my cameras and paraphernalia, photo albums, scrap supplies and selected books.

The last cabinet are my 4 filing drawers. I only managed to clean one drawer that holds my daily office essentials - pens, notebooks and sticky notes.

But even then, these are what I've brought out of the office. Already, my office don't feel cramp anymore. I put most of my books in a plastic bin, many of it I plan to give away.

Master Bathroom

Here's the truth - I haven't been using my bathroom for quite sometime now because it is simply disorganized. Toys are all over the dirty tub, toiletries are everywhere and worst the loo has seen better days. Honestly, it seems like a dumping area of sort. Even Justin who loves to play in the bath tub has lost interest as well. Until the past Sunday.

It all started with just wanting to clean the toilet bowl so I can at least use it. Armed with my cleaning agents and brush I am posed to tackle the job. But I guess I was on the point of I can not take the situation anymore. Instead of just the bowl I overhauled the whole space, from ceiling to floor.

I followed these 4 steps (from Leo Babauta)

1. Collect everything in one place - as in everything out of the door. There's only 1 cabinet so it is fairly easy, but it is way up there that taking out all what's in there is like an exercise.
Choose the essentials - only what I will use inside the bathroom, anything else is either thrown or moved somewhere else.
Toss out the rest - the truth is 50% of the things I put out of the room went to the trash can. Yeh, figure it out, half are unnecessary baggage.
Organize the remaining stuffs neatly and nicely - I easiest part.

So, here's the transformation.

Before: it seems not so bad from the photos above. I just need to really sort the many things scattered around. What was not so obvious from these photos was that I almost lost my arms scrubbing the tub (I already thought of removing it and just have plain shower area. I dusted the ceiling and the window - cobwebs a plenty; then scrub the tiles and same with the mirror.

In-progress: Before I break for lunch, this is how it looks like. Not so bad right? Can I just have it this way. I don't want to put anything here coz I know it will easily turn into mayhem again. Look at all those things I need to sort (top left photo). Maybe the photo is smaller, but that is a big basket full of toiletries.

The finished look: Only the important are put back. Now I know I have to buy cotton balls already. The small basket contains the toys of Justin. I just kept it there knowing Justin will surely ask to use the tub again. I will make him put it back on the basket after use or no using my tub anymore. And don't under estimate the impact of the lacy window curtain, it really makes the bath cozier. Even Jerome thought so, too. I also put aromatheraphy burner to perk up the relaxing ambience.

On my list to complete the make-over:

Install the towel rack that I bough on my birthday last year (whaaat?!). Yes my bathroom has no proper place for towels. My last helper broke it and it was never replaces since.
Buy new floor mat - DONE
Renovate the overhead cabinet from L-shape to straight.
Declog the drains of the sink and tub.

My bath is looking so much better now, and my oh my...I was flat tired. I finished around 4 in the afternoon. It's a whole day affair with minimal breaks. And I don't want to go through that again.

Closets and Vanity

So inspired with the transformation of the bathroom, I tackled the closets and the vanity table the following day, Monday. I'm on a row - cleaning lady on my vacation from work.

I skipped taking photos and focused on completing the work. Cleaning closet is totally a different challenge than the bathroom. Sorting the clothes, which one to keep and which to toss. I tossed out quite a lot if I may say, mine and Nestor. Just believe me that I can now see all my clothes and my cabinet can breathe. Though I still have to transfer some of my skirts and pants to hubby's cabinet. He's such a low maintenance guy and has a lot of extra space. Excuse me but I need to buy half dozen of seamless undies. My personal perk.

And look at my little beauty bar. A simple kikay touch and throwing cosmetics unused for a long time are all it needs. But not to say that it's not mind- boggling. End point, I love the girly look. If there is one place in the house where I can be totally pink - this is it.

It looks like this an hour ago.

And look what I found from doing all these cleaning. I only have one missing molar but I have these two that used very little then kept to darkness. Found them but thrown them, too. Just not my thing to have a metal inside my mouth.
And look at these trashable and the don't know piles after all these laborious activities.

It's stressing me really. Honestly. Can I just throw it all?
I have quite a number of learning, reflections and things I want to do and change but save it for other post. One thing that stands out - I want to live with less.

ICANDOIT. I believe I CAN.

Health Log 1

2011-08-02T01:01:00.006+08:00

Right now...

My vision is becoming poor. I find it hard to read small prints already. I can not read clearly on close range anymore. Farsighted ako. Need to see a doctor and upgrade my eyeglasses.
I always have this uncomfortable pain in my left ankle that sometimes go up to my knees. Medyo matagal na to, I even have it x-rayed about 4 years ago. Pero I can feel the persistence lately. Not sure if it is due to my diabetes.
I haven't visited my diabetologist for a year already. I just recently bought and taking my medicines again after almost a month.
I've started a 15-minute stair climb today with the intent of gradually increasing it to 30 mins a day. The thing is I don't want to force it at once since I haven't been doing any exercise in a long time. And I'm watching my left ankle also.

Make it a habit...

Daily exercise in the morning - GIVE it TIME!
1st week - 15 mins stair climb; 2nd week - 30 mins walking; 3rd week - 30 mins walk/jog
Night regimen - clean and moisturize
Drink at least 8 glasses of water

I am adding health as priority in my life right now...It is actually been a known MUST for a long time but I haven't really did a continuous action to support it. I am determined to make it work this time. My goal is to get to 115 lbs and 27 inches waistline by December.

ICANDOIT.

I know I can. I believe I can.

I {heart} U Jason

2011-08-02T00:38:00.004+08:00

I've noticed that I have few pages for Jason when he was still a baby, so I did this page last week- traditional scrap. I felt that something is lacking on the top part, I may add a border to ground it in the future, but for now this is how it is.

I {heart} you

I've also started to complete "my life" album using the digital quickpages of Ali Edwards that I bought online years ago. So far I have printed 5 pages. Plan to complete it this week.

Some thoughts on scrapping

Scrapping is my creative and emotional outlet. It combines my love for craft and photos. It grounds me to love my life, whatever it is. It makes me more aware of the things that are important to me and to really look into the quality of life that I am living. It makes me appreciate the blessing abound me, big and small. I strive to become a better storyteller. I love that I am recording bits and pieces of my life and of my family which otherwise would be forgotten.

I have inventorized my scrap supplies lately, it is very minimal in comparison to regular scrapper but I noticed that it is slowly filling-up precious storage in my small home office. The thing is I kept on buying but I seldom paper scrap. That has to change...I will do traditional layout more intentionally. I have to use my supplies to free up space.

I have a plan before to completely transition to digital but not able to maintain it. I can resist buying eye candy stuffs especially that scrap supplies are more accessible now than 10 years ago. I've accepted the fact to accept both worlds but that may change as I am inclined to go with less stuff in the future...as in declutter my house and my life.

I'm balancing it all at the moment.

Jason's Love of Eating

2011-07-25T23:08:00.002+08:00

Hi Jason, never thought you'll really get big like you are today. Some would mistakenly thought you are older than Kuya though you are an inch smaller. It's because of your body built, that chubby cheeks and the bulging tummy. Your weigh around 95 lbs now. It's no question you love eating. I've noted some fun facts about your eating habits.

your run away favorite is fried chicken
you want your fried chicken crispy (KFC, Max's, Yellow Cab, Shakey's, and Daddy's own version)
you don't want the chicken shredded for you, you want the skin intact
you can eat chicken without touching it with your hands, just by using your spoon and fork you can eat the piece of chicken down to the bone
you eat sa bahay with your feet up on your chair
after eating the meal sa bahay, you'll look for cookies in our grocery cabinet
if you don't want the ulam, you can eat with rice and cookies lang or sky flakes
you would always get the tira ni Kuya na fried chickec (he doesn't like it like you do)
when we eat at KFC and I ask you what you want, you will reply - "ano pa e di chicken"
you don't eat a variety of food but you eat a lot of those you like
you will say - more rice - after one serving

I just wish you'll pass the big tummy phase coz I really like your body when you were not that big.

Love hugging you tight! Love you lots.

Movies Around Here

2011-06-20T21:45:00.006+08:00

The kids are starting to appreciate the big screen, We've watched movies twice already and they have both enjoyed the experience. Since cinema is quite expensive treat for the five of us we normally stack on DVDs at home so the kids can watch as many times they want. And here are the current movie craze around here...

My3lilprinces laughed, sung and danced with Blue and the rest of the characters. They've watched Rio too many times since we bought the DVD last week. They can already sing along with the songs when it played in the movie, they can say the script of their favorite character, they would talked about it after watching...they simply enjoyed the movie. Admittedly I also like the soundtrack that I wanted to buy the CD but can't find in music store near us. So, I downloaded it from aimini, presto I sing along with it while scrapping this weekend.

Justin's especial request; at first I don't believe that he wanted a Mickey Mouse DVD. I don't know when and where he started watching MM. Anyway, this is a runaway winner this summer. And like the true Justin that he is, he kept on watching it over and over. The Hotdog Song is his current theme, he knew the lyrics already that you can hear him humming or plainly singing it while playing. Nakakaaliw na alam nya na yung sinasabi ng mga characters, the part of mickey clubhouse and all the characters. I asked this afternoon how many times na nya napanood ang MM, he said "20 times". Really?! 20x in span of 2 weeks. He's busy. He's not alone by the way...the older boys are also digging the Hotdog song and dance.

This is something that needs a little more focus. The guys did not get the whole story the first we watched it so they have to watch it again and again and again. I guess they really like video games.

Justin's Stick-It Arts

2011-06-20T03:46:00.004+08:00

Two things about him that really evident in these photos...

1. he likes to poke into my knick-knacks especially the little items, in this case my sticky notepad

2. he's very much into drawing, sketching, coloring

I'm talking about mylilprince3---aka Justin Patutin.

Hey Justin, I want you to remember this...

I was cleaning my office room of its usual clutter and you saw my stack of sticky notepads. You asked for my coloring pens then get down to business. Every little page completed you stick it to the office door. I just noticed my sticky notepad is thin and these interesting little arts. I thought it is just ones of your daily doodles but it's more than that.

I asked you what each drawing means and your answers give me an insight of what is going on inside your mind. Pretty amazing how you express it in your arts.
This one just makes me mushy (what have I done to deserve you?) Love you, too darling.
Later in the evening as I am relaxing in my office chair feeling the change in the room after the whole day cleaning, your little arts inspired me to scrap. Scrap your arts, preserve your thoughts and capture the memories of this special everyday moment.

You saw me laying out these pages and offered to add mini stickers. I just let you. And I just enjoy you.

I scanned the layouts and used it to cover your 2 notebooks for summer. It's really a hit baby Patutin. Love you!

[memories of summer; may 8, 2011]

my3lilprinces...right now

2011-06-17T22:51:00.003+08:00

Jerome

he's one big boy now

he likes badminton

he's in grade V and feeling it

he's adventurous in foods

he still likes to play that make believe sword (toy) and make swooshing sounds

he likes to stay late at night

he's into Pokemon comic books

he's reading teen boy books

he really wanted to be circumcised last summer

he don't like washing dishes

Jason

very big tummy and round face than i can imagine

he's afraid of horror movies and dreams about it at night

he cries watching movies

he's into computer games

he's in grade 4 and first time to wear pants uniform

he likes badminton

he eat so fast

he still makes simangot face

he's still what you see is what you get

he loves pajamas

Justin

feels like he rules the world

he's in prep and still don't like writing

he hurts his brothers and dada now

he likes taking a bath

he likes brushing his teeth

he opens the aircon at night

he sings that one rhythm song whenever he's playing

he can watch a video or movie so many times if he likes it

he loves wearing pajamas

he likes kissing me on the lips a lot

love love my3lilprinces

Everyday Clutter

2011-05-16T19:07:00.005+08:00

It is really amazing how clutter accumulates in our house. The effort of cleaning and organizing our things is so much more than the time it takes for clutter to take over. Here's how mad it is right now.

I've taken this out of the office the weekend before I left for Singapore. And it is still untouched a when I arrived. This is the sight right outside the home office. Piles and bins of papers and what-nots. I really need to make a dent on my to do cleaning list.

The sure sign that Justin lives here. His wooden blocks on the floor of their bedroom. The boysare now outside the house playing with the kids in the neighborhood.

I'm thinking he left this here in a hurry to go out of the house. I mean Justin. That is his toolbox book right on the stairs mid landing

Looking down from the stairs this is what I see. Slippers, my dirty clothes in a plastic bag still unsorted in the laundry, my luggage, my laptop bag, Justin's bag and Drakey all cluttering the living room.

And in the kitchen, our travel bag with extra clothes of the kids and the toy bin so out of place on the floor when it can be stashed into the mudroom. The yellow plastic is for trash.

Top of the ref.

My bags inside the home office.

Without a househelp and with three boys who have no concept of organization, this becomes of my home.

A Family Valentine's Day

2011-02-16T02:49:00.006+08:00

I have to accept that in our house, more often than not the celebration is a family affair - and the heart day is no difference. Nestor and I really have not planned anything. We're sweet-bunchies, don't you think? But I don't mind at all - if no flowers, or sweet chocos, or any shenanigans associated with v-day coz honestly speaking we're not really into it since pre-marriage. Anyway, we didn't just let the day passed without really acknowledging the occassion. I worked at the plant so just asked the Nestor to fetch me up so we can have dinner out. Sure they came, in their most adorable house clothes with traces of sweat all over their faces and in rubber slippers. Well, like I said we didn't planned anything and this is just last minute decision. Even Nestor is looking spent and me in uniform t-shirt and jeans - we look like we are just at home. Medyo nakakahiya especially nung makita namin yung mga porma ng mga tao sa loob ng Racks at Paseo. Anyway, we want to eat and we will pay naman so we went ahead.

The series of photos were taken using my mobile phone Nokia E72. I'm testing how reliable is the camera so I can use as back-up on those days that I simply don't want to lug my other cameras around. And these series of events happened backwards - I forgot again that first one uploaded appears at the bottom in the post.

He's an adorable German Shepherd, so well behaved while the owner is inside the pet store. Jerome wanted to go nearer but of course afraid he'll be bitten.

PLaying with the votive candle after finishing his food.

Here's Justin playing magician - like waving his hands and trying to put out the light without touching it. Magic indeed.

How my plate looks like about 3/4 way into my order. The fish is actually order of Jason pero hindi nya maubos so I ate. I ordered Honey Smoked Chicken with House Mashed Potato for side dish. Love Racks' mashed potato. (the best photo quality from E72 so far)

Nestor had quarter Pork Ribs and side dish corn and carrots. This I think is his staple at Racks.

Justin just ate half of his Bolognese. The rest was eaten by Jason.

And the winner of the night - he ordered Fish and Chips (his standard order in Racks). After eating the chips, he ate the Bolognese of Justin, then asked for a rice to go with his fish. This kid can really load that much in his tummy!

And Jerome also ordered the quarter Pork Ribs but I think he's more excited with his side dish - Macaroni and Cheese.

There he is, playing hide and seek while waiting for our orders to arrive. It's good that we were minutes earlier than the others, coz not soon after mahaba na ang waiting customers outside . In fairness mabilis ang service sa branch na'to.

I was really full especially after eating the fish from Jason. We walked around the place before calling it done and head home.

Happy V-day!

Pinkish Decors for Valentine

2011-02-13T10:49:00.004+08:00

It's heart month again. I am trying to infuse the pink and love motif in our house decors without being to girly for my boys.

Saw this download from Becky's blog the other month. I love the simplicity of the design and the honesty of the message. I printed it on matte paper and make use of a light bronze satin finish frame that has been lying around unused for years (it was actually in the giveaway box already) in our house. You know one of those things you buy just because it's on sale and sounded too good to be true at that time. The framed print is sitting pretty on a side table in the living room, really nice reminder for everyone in the house.

Here is another frame that I bought on sale (again) 2 years back and never really got changing the photos. I love the crackled china look and the lovely pink color, very girly. I meant to put my old photos -as in pre hubby - but never got doing it. (Yes, again!) I do that a lot, putting things aside for awhile until I totally lost interest. I did this back in January when cleaning and organizing was still on its peak.

Instead of pre-hubby pics, I decided to put photos of me with my Nanay and Lola Awang. One during my wedding and the other was when I was ready to burst with my eldest son. And of course a photo of me - still single. Kinda sweet collection. It is currently displayed in my office book shelf.

And the last one, just completed this morning, a lovely print by Beth. And I just know the perfect frame for it. For soem reason, this photo shows the prints in red when it's really hot pink.

And here it is, sweet and adorable in a scroll-y white frame I bought last December.

And see those baby pics, my 3 boys had a blast guessing which one is them.

Happy Valentine'S Day to everyone! Spread the love!

Blooms and Greens

2011-01-29T15:44:00.004+08:00

My little thriving garden is full abloom this month. Took photos 2 Saturdays ago.

This orchid never seem to get tired flowering even though I very seldom take care of it.

I love little white flowers.

Here's a variety in red.

And another of their kinds.

This little cactus is one of the 5 types that I have. Interesting plant.

Here is the other cousin. I didn't able to get photo of the others.

Now, this pathetic looking bush is a Rosal. My favourite flowering plant in my garden. It has grown beyond controllable coz I rarely trim it. I can't seem to cut the plenty smelly flowers that makes the garden really smell sweet. BUt last Christmas I can't take it anymore, I cut one branch, then another, then another until just few leaves left. I can see my fence again. It will easily go back I know but I kind of miss my white rosal.

Oh, look. My pandan did not survived days of no water.

Yes, that's how I take care of my garden. I rarely go out there and talk to them. But I like them.

Hope they like me, too.

Break the Bank

2011-01-29T15:33:00.002+08:00

Almost a year of saving his money in Picachu coin bank, the boy was excited to know how much he's accumulated. It's Php485.00 in all. He bought a gameboy game worth P547.00. Of course Mommy has to shoulder the balance. Hope Picachu and Jerome get back together soon.

We also opened the 2 piggy banks that were with us for years now. The one contains 1 peso coins and the other 5 pesos. I've decided to open it even if it was half full as I am purging things that do not go well in the house and these piggies got to go.

It all happened on morning of Jan 9, 2010.

There's Something About Jason

2011-01-24T20:52:00.004+08:00

He has his own very unique charm. I can't quite pinpoint it but I think it's a combination of his honest demeanor and light take on life.

There is no gray area with this boy when it comes to shopping for his things like shoes or bags. When he liked something, 95% he won't be persuaded to change his mind. I know better than to waste time looking for other options. He likes simple to plain designs in his bag with manly colors or muted tones- gray/black, black/white or gray/red combination mostly catch his eyes.

He's very much a video/computer kid. He can forever play PSP. He can surf the web for games easily. He's no whiz kid but like I said when he likes it - he really likes it.

He knows too much about guns (for his age). It's not something I'm comfortably proud of, in fact I am a bit concerned on this interest but I can't help but be amazed also. He and Nestor understands each other on this topic.

He said he quits the "Boy Scout". Yes, just like that. And he told it to his mate not to his club teacher.

He really gained so much weight. He's over over weight for his age.

He only eats crispy fried chicken with either KFC or Jollibee gravy. He don't want his fried chicken to be cut to pieces. He eats it by just putting in his spoon or tusok ng fork then little by little bite on it. He won't pass up the skin. At the end of the meal, what is left of the chicken is the bone intact, not one piece is broken.

He's a junkie: Shakey's mojos, hotdog, meatloaf, chips, chicken noodles (no other flavor) and Jollibee burger steak. I'm really concerned of this habit.

He still makes me nuts with his extreme mood swings: easily get mad and make tampo when hindi napagbigyan but he's a joy to watch and listen to when he's laughing.

He easily gets teary-eyes watching sappy movies. Really! He looks toughie and biggie but he's really a softie.

He can not sleep well after watching scary movie. Mostly, he'll insist on sleeping beside me.

He wants his shirts tucked in just because he don't want the buttons of his pants hurts his bulging tummy.

He can wear his Daddy's brief.

We have the same shirt size, his even bigger sometimes.

He is our main leader in meal prayers.

His favourite shirt is - striped purple/black T-shirts bought 3 years ago.

I can go on forever but let me stop here for now.

It's worth repeating over and over...I love this guy! My huggable!

Happy 9th Birthday Jason

2011-01-23T10:46:00.004+08:00

Meet the celebrator...

Took this photo on the morning of his birthday before he left for school. This is his basic smile.

With Jan 10 falling on a Monday, we went out a day before to treat Jason.

Lunch in Shakey's SM Las Pinas.

Toy Kingdom for some toys but the boy wanted DS Lite which we're not ready to give him.

He think it's cool that the store greeted him and a b-day song played thru paging system.

HE got conscious when everyone seems to be staring at him.

Then we spent most of the evening in video arcade at Festival.

Dinner at Teriyaki Boy.

Evening of Jan 10, we have the cake ceremony.

Conti's Mango Bravo.

Can't wait to taste his cake. The photo taking and singing taking some time to finish.

And the highlight of the evening - his gift...Pokedex.

One of the toys in his wishlist.

Love you my huggable!

May you find happiness in your everyday little things!

Little Kulit and Mr. PSP

2011-01-08T20:38:00.007+08:00

One fine morning of Jan 2.

We were enjoying the last day of holiday break.

I have my new Canon 500D SLR with me, exploring its features.

Little Kulit just emptied the choco spread.

He likes to eat it without bread,

using the bread knife to scoop then lick with gusto.

I remember my teen days licking peanut butter right from the bottle. yummy!

Oh, there he is.

Watching TV comfortably lying on his bed

I mean on top of Mr. PSP who's busy playing...what else?

He shifted positions.

I bet he has other plans looking where his hand is.

Mr. PSP is serious on his mission.

TV commercials...

Theride begins

hi ho ya ya ya

Mr. PSP is busy playing...still?

Another shift in position.

He likes exhibitions.
Mr. PSP is still busy playing and can not be bulged...yes he won't!

Even with Little Kulit's WWF fly move.

Mr. PSP is oblivious to it all.

Even with a shiatsu/swedish(?) massage.

Guess, Little Kulit realized he will not get Mr. PSP to play with him.

He changed his tactics then.

Mr. PSP is in the middle of his mission. Can't you tell?

(Oopps, caught me taking pics.)

He took the pillow from Mr. PSP

not really a pillow but the back cushion of the sofa.

No problem with Mr PSP.

He seated on the sofa while holding the cushion.

Mr. PSP is still busy.

What is he up to now?

Mr. PSP paused a moment from his mission to get the other cushion just near his leg.

TV commercial finished.

He's pulling the other cushion from Mr. PSP.

This time he'll not have it easy.

Mr. PSP won't give it just like that.

He knows there are no other cushion as big.

He put on his weight on the cushion...

without leaving his mission.

Little Kulit has to pull

pull hard he did

while Mr. PSP is very much into his mission.

Hardship paid

Mr. PSP let the cushion go

just like that

sending Little Kulit fell on his back.

Up on his knees now.

while Mr. PSP held his position.

And what Little Kulit is doing now?

I'm sure Mr. PSP is continuing his mission.

Yeh, right.

Little Kulit went inside his makeshift house and closed the door.

While Mr. PSP is still busy with... you know?!

And that is the story of Little Kulit and Mr. PSP.

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Starring: Justin as Little Kulit and Jason as Mr. PSP

Location: Living room

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Capturing these actions on pics and seeing it over and over kept me smiling that often breaks to laughters. Who wouldn't?

Loving the comfortable bond between them.

Loving their unique selves.

Loving the playful mood of Justin.

Loving the unbelievable focus of Jason.

Loving their happy beings.

Loving the story behind these photos.

Loving that it happened right before my eyes.

The quality of the photos is secondary to what I have captured.

But this also makes me want to learn this camera more and more!

Perfect shots of precious moments... coming very soon.

Ma, Mom, Mommy

2011-01-08T19:30:00.007+08:00

Preparing for dinner out on New Year...

He was the first to take a bath, put on his clothes (I did it), he went downstairs to wait for everyone to finish. He later came up and asked " Mommy, socks ko?"

He took a bath by himself, toweled then went to their room, came out again and asked, " Mom, san ang damit ko?"

The last in the shower, very quick one, toweled himself then came direct to me and asked, "Ma, ano'ng isusuot ko?"

That's the way things here with my3lilprinces. I usually prep their clothes ready for them to wear after bath, but on this particular day I was resting after cleaning something in the house. I felt like shouting coz I can't even have a moment of peace for myself instead.... I took several deep breaths and told myself..."Mommy, savor it while you still have control over what they want to wear., while you can still put them on same colored shirts all at the same time without them feeling embarrassed. It's just a stage. Rest will come later.

Peace here!

Me, the Clutterbug

2011-01-05T11:27:00.002+08:00

One of the things that really speaks to me loudly latter part of 2010 was to work on my organization. Organizing the house in general. So many areas in the house needs cleaning but then again, just days after doing so here comes clutter again. Cleaning is not the answer but a sound method to be organized in this house with 4 boys (including the husband) and only me who seems to be the interested person in making it clean and lovely and inviting and most of all a little stress free.

So, I am making organization, home decorating, and clean house a priority this year. I think it always has been for years, it's just that I never equipped myself to achieve what I want. This year, I promised myself that it will happen. Something will happen.

I have to start somewhere. One that makes sick of late was the dirty kitchen cabinets, in and out. I spent 1 whole day scrubbing the doors to remove the grits and dirts that many a hands that held it over a year. Honestly, I don't remember anymore when was the last time I did clean the cabinets. I dusted the overheads, swiped the cobwebs and spiders that found home in there. I washed the trays and plates, utensils and glass drawers. I scrubbed the sink to it's shine-ness but nothing I can do to make it look like original. And the whole day cleaning made me so tired until the following day. Really, my body was aching and I have to call for a massage. But I'm happy with it, so totally happy. I can feel that my kitchen is inviting again.

Next and I'd say a real awakening to myself was - - cleaning my small home office. Three days it took me to almost declutter it the way I want it. I really wanted it done by Jan 1 so I religiously do it everday. That small space can packed so much scraps. Here are my take-aways on the whole process...

I am such a clutterbug.
I have several notebooks and notepads (cute ones and those taken from hotels -shame) that I don't know when I can deplete.
I have lots, and I mean lots (3 jars currently) of pens and colored pens. I love colored pens and I tried to justify the number because I do scrapbook and those are handy with the kids' projects. But the pens - and to think sometimes I can't find a pen in my bag when I most need it.
I've unearthed and thrown a lot of receipts - which means I shop a lot.
I realized that I have many papers and documents left here and there that should be filed. That's when clutter starts, leaving to put away papers for later, and later and later until it's all over the place.
I have many photo albums without photos, my tally is 12. Awks! Not to mentions scrap albums to be filled.
My scrap supplies are accumulating. I used to have 1 caddy and 1 filing box to hold my elements and papers, not it's 4 plastic storage for the elements and tools and there are cardstocks on the shelf that don't fit the box. Gotta use those!
My trash is mostly papers, receipts, old notes, planners. How easy for me to throw those notes after a year of not knowing I hid it somewhere. Wonder why it took me 1 year to throw it.
I collect so many scratch papers, left over notebook pages of the kids and training materials with no prints on the other side. I can't make myself to just trash it coz I want to recycle and reuse. So, I'm keeping a bunch.
I collected ephemeras and souvenirs from my travel and the kids school work that I need to know fast how to store it creatively, otherwise it will just be useless again in my office.
I have several frames without photos.
I found to do list from 2 years back with same items in my list now. ha ha ha. Just imagina how long it's been in my plan and never got to doing it.
Looking at my old notes, kind a nice to see my state of mind, my life and work in the past years - and then comparing it to the current especially Wella days. I have filled 2 notebooks cover to cover with that project. That busy ha! I'm such a a notetaker - so I don't see myself going paperless.
This thought constantly comes to mind during the purging... stay away from the mall, no more additional scrap supplies, use whatever is in my stash and use it now, stop buying pens and notebooks. Can I really do that?
I need space for my books. A number of books I bought along time and haven't read yet.
I completed my cleaning with my computer closed the whole time.

Hopefully, I learned from this experience. I don't want to do it again coz it's just nerve-wracking. I should be enjoying the holiday and not tiring myself out.

I resolve to

1. File docs at once.

2. Put back items to it's place after use. DOn't wait for later.

3. No more pens and notebooks pls.

I think these three are enough to keep my sanity for the meantime. Hopefully. Let's wait and see after next purging time.

Jan 4: This Isn't a Dress Rehearsal

2011-01-05T09:49:00.003+08:00

"We hold back. Perhaps you save the pretty china for when company comes; perhaps rarely dress up when home alone."

If we are not playing to an audience, does it really matter?

That is a good question to ask ourselves as the New Year begins and we examine the quality of our real life journey.

------

Make an effort to set an inviting table... enhance the joy of eating.

Make an effort to fix hair and dress up even if staying at home... you will feel better and act differently.

Use your special jewelries... if that is your heart desire, there is no special occasion to use it but now.

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Cast yourself to be the leading lady of your own life.

Jan 3: The Inner Journey

2011-01-05T08:49:00.003+08:00

Simple abundance = the inner journey

Simple abundance = a spiritual and practical course in creative living

Simple abundance = a tapestry of contentment

At the heart of simple abundance is an authentic awakening -- you already possess all you need to be genuinely happy.

Invite the Spirit to open up the eyes of your awareness to the abundance that is already yours.

Six Threads of Abundant Living

Gratitude, when we do a mental and spiritual inventory of all that we have, we realized that we are very rich indeed.

Gratitude gives way to Simplicity - the desire to clear out, pare down and realize the essentials of what we truly need to live well.

Simplicity brings with it Order - both internal and external.

A sense of order in our life brings us Harmony - that provides us the inner peace we need to appreciate the Beauty around us. And beauty opens us to Joy.

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Let me see the beauty around me. All I want are within me today. Open my eyes to these abundance.

Breakfast

2011-01-02T22:55:00.000+08:00

Jan 2: Loving the Question

2011-01-02T22:07:00.005+08:00

"You only live once - but if you work it right, once is enough." Joe E. Lewis

That a year from today you could be living your most creative, joyous and fulfilling life you could imagine - what would it be? What changes would you make?

Live the questions now...

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Why do I feel my relationship with Nestor is unstable even if we are happy?

Why we seem not to meet eye to eye on very petty matters?

Why I sometimes feel that we are going nowhere?

When will we ever learn to stop the silent war that seems to seek us out during special occasions?

Why is it that our house gets cluttered right after I cleaned it?

Why I easily lost my patience?

Why my son said I have bad spirit and why I cried when I heard it even if I knew it is a joke?

Why my kids lack the focus in their studies?

Why do I feel I need more when I gave out lots of things I don't need anymore?

Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.

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Credits: photo from Oberazzi at Flickr

A Transformative Year of Delight and Discovery

2011-01-01T21:18:00.003+08:00

"This year instead of resolutions, write down your most private aspirations - those longings you have kept tucked away."

Today, carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream...

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I dream of a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord. Something I haven't really prioritized in a long long while and in my quiet moments I tried to find the reasons why. I believed I found some answers and have acknowledge my shortcomings - the next step now is to put myself and my family in correct spiritual bearings. It's not that bad. We have our faith it's just that we lack the action.

I dream of a more meaningful relationship with my husband. Looking forward to a year full of "just two of us" dates, lots of talking and hugging, getting to know each other better. I see the two of use fully understanding each other without ever saying a word.

I dream of being in the moment with my kids. They are growing so fast and I don't want to be in the catch up mode just because I am busy tending other things. Work or money is not a reason to not enjoy their innocent happiness. I want to be in the moment with them.

I dream of a stronger body and healthier lifestyle. A kind that need not worry on what will be the bad effect of diabetes on my body. I can control it and live a normal life. I dream of healthier mind and a peaceful glow in me. That aura of confidence that inner peace radiates.

I dream of an organized home amidst the chaos of my three boys and my clutterbrain. This year I will fulfill that home with all the faucets working properly, a dining table for six that have enough space for the 5 of us to enjoy the feast, a room that resembles the comfort of hotel but full of warmth of lived-in space, a kitchen sink that sparkles before I go to bed at night and greets me shiningly when I wake in the morning, cabinets doors without hitches and bathrooms that feels like zen. Oh, yes I dream of a lovely home sweet home that reflects the personalities of its occupants.

I dream of a more creative expression of an artist in me - photography, scrapbooking and recording our everyday lives. I want the proof resonates on the four walls of four home.

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It feels liberating to dream of happy things, good things.

Dreaming is good for the soul.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T00:08:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time since the last post. Things were pretty busy, in a beautiful way. I intentionally put blogging to rest as I curved a time for myself and for my family and for other important things in life. I will not try to cover the lost grounds, I will not stress myself to do that instead I shall move forward and just wish the best for this year may bring... and in between I will try to include more blogging, hopefully.

So to finally close 2010... I'd like to mention highlights of the past year.

January: we celebrated Jason's 8th birthday in the video arcade - Pixie Forest and Conti's the following day. Very simple, just us family.
February: the cutover of Wella 2 project. Both a relief and uncertainty for me. I am relieved because I felt that this work has stressed me more than ever and I'm glad it's done but it also brought uncertainty on what is my next work then.
Jerome and Jason's KAB Scout Investiture
March: I turned 38 and promised myself I will be "fit and fab in 38". We rented a resort overnight in Pansol for my relatives summer and my b-day celebrations. Swimming galore.
May: series of beaches the whole month ; Laiya, Subic and Munting Buhangin
June: back to school for the kids, Justin is now Kinder
June: family trip to Intramuros
July: my youngest boy turned 5 years old (huhuhu, is he really that old?) at he same day they had Kiddie Scout Investiture at school. It was a 3-part celebration: dinner at Racks on July 29, Tagaytay on the 30th, candle blowing at home on the 31st
August: simple celebration for NEstor's b-day, Conti's cake at home
September: Jerome turned 10, we gifted him a cellphone
October: Boy Scout Investiture - again
November: Jerome's KOA Investiture
November-December: Family trip to Hongkong, first time for the kids to ride an airplane
December: big improvements on home decorations
December: celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary, same night I also have my first dSLR

That's it 2010. It was a good and blessed year!

Welcome 2011. This year I will strive to focus my efforts in these areas:

family and relationships
spiritual development
health
organization at home
my personal interests (photography, scrapbooking, blogging)

I don't want to make resolutions as I normally lost steam midway. I would like to approach my goals with baby steps - one change at a time. Focus more on the improvements however big or small rather than measuring myself with some preconceived standards. I will try to be more in tune with my feelings and the people who matter most.

I started to work on some of my goals and I'm really excited to see how it goes. One thing I'm learning - attitude is a big factor.

Jerome Now

2010-12-28T23:39:00.001+08:00

hey big brother, some random things about you now.

your current crush is Ezeth, your classmate
you collect Pokemon kracks (I wonder until when the interest will be)
you collect Pokemon comic books
you still want "playing in your own world while making sound"
you starting to cook simple food - like frying egg and sausage, cooking century tuna
you're into music now - current like "I wanna be a millionaire" by Bruno Mars

Love you Kuya!

So Many Things

2010-11-25T04:42:00.008+08:00

So much so many things are happening around me everyday that sometimes I need to remind myself to be in the moment. So just to capture the moment and the memories, I'll make a rundown in a random order:

11/16 - P&G 75th year gala night at Sofitel Hotel to culminate the year long celebration or the diamond year of P&G in Phils. Our CEO Bob McDonald and PNoy were the special guests. And then there was an almost 3-hr show hosted by Boy Abunda, Charlene Gonzales and Bianca Gonzales and performances by ABS-CBN talents. I bought my gown like 3 days before the event on sale at Okasyon boutique in SM Sta.Rosa. The theme was Filipiniana but it's hard to find one at such short notice so I opted for beaded gown and a shawl to have a touch of the theme. The catch - the back is braided tie so it shows a bit of flesh.
week of 11/15 - marathon all day meeting for the new project I'm leading. It's draining and tiring but at the same time fulfilling.
Setting up the Christmas tree because Justin wants to have holiday decors already. But even before we put out the tree, we have to sort all the toys cluttering the living room, rearrange the furnitures so I can put the big tree where it will shine.
Sorting the kids' toys - that felt good. Also glad that my boys are willing to let go of it. This reminds me again that I have to be choosy in buying things for the kids, quality is important so I that it will last longer and saving money in the long run.
The weekly laundry - don't get me wrong I like the domesticity but it's tiring
Organizing, decorating and cleaning the house - it is a constant battle. I need to start purging my personal things and carve that impulse buying.
Preparing for our trip to Hongkong on Sunday. We'll be gone for 4 days. The prep and itinerary almost done. I made teaser of the places we will be visiting to hype up the kids for the event since we haven't told them that for the first time they will be riding a plane.
I am disappointed that I can not buy the things I want to buy online just because of the shipping. My MIL don't want to handle the receiving and shipping to me. Gosh!
I'm making a list and checking it twice but I am no Ms. Santa.: stuffs I want to do for the holidays, stuffs I want to do around the house, work, crafts, and things that I want to do next year.
I'm excited to do my first December or Holiday Album
I already converted my Canon printer to continuous ink system. Ink cost hurting my pocket already.

My Date with Jerome

2010-10-28T22:32:00.004+08:00

My eldest son, on his 10th birthday last Sept, he wanted to go to a Japanese restaurant to eat sushi. He still have this vision on his mind of one Japanese resto we saw at MOA where sushi are running on conveyor. We can not eat as a family there since the other boys have no interest at all. Fast forward to 1 month, it finally happened. We went out, just the two of us.

My once little boy is really growing up and I'm really looking older faster that I wanted. Can you see the crow's feet? Anyway, back to this boy. He wore a jeans and a yellow short that brought out his youthfulness though I am not liking the hair in this photo. I think our color combo is awesome.

We took a pedicab from our house to the gate of the subdivision. Oh, look we are pretty getting cozy. From there we took a bus at the Pulo JAM station, just a 2 min drive from the gate. I would have wanted to take a photo with Jerome getting up the bus but the boy is shy and I don't want to embarrass him and later he don't want hanging around with me especially in public places. So I forego it.

But I really wanted to document this day as much as I can for him. This photo is a real proof that he's not comfortable with what I am doing.

We were both hungry at that time, past 2 pm already. I can only think of Sakura, nearest Japanese resto in G4. I think he's a bit letdown that there is no rotating sushi and was a bit doubtful that it was serving sushi. Anyway, after a couple of minutes this boy has his sushi and the crunchy maki roll. I don't think he liked the maki very much because he opted to ate my order -chicken don. The sauce of maki a bit spicy.

After the filling our tummies, we spent most of our time in NBS. I bought books and he read Naruto comics at the children section. He also requested to buy their 5th Naruto comics book. Then we bought toys at Toy Kingdom and ate dinner at Chowking before heading home. It was already about past 8pm. Our hands full of plastic bags of what we bought I opted that we took the bus to ALabang and then an FX that would stop in front of the subd. Other option is an FX to Sta Rosa then call NEstor to pick us there but that would be too inconvenient for the other kids. And so we rode the bus. It was raining lightly when we reached Alabang and we need to walk across the street, go up the overpass bridge to the FX station. All this time my boy, I didn't hear any complain from him. A am very conscious of this and I'm realizing that he's maturing already. Even the masikip na FX he did not complained though he said something about the rough driving. We were joking about buti na lang di kami nasuka.

I think it was already 10pm and I joked the maybe better if we should just walk home coz Daddy might already be asleep. The kiddo was tired so he texted his father on his mobile.

What I learned from this experience:

1. I should be doing this with my 2 elder sons. It makes them feel important with all the attention focus to each only.

2. I'll say it again, my boy is turning into an adult when he is not with his brothers who are still so kidfully playful.

3. This is a good time to have pep talk with them without them feeling being reprimanded.

The Scenes in Royal Plaza on Scotts

2010-10-27T21:44:00.009+08:00

This is where I am staying. I don't know if this is a popular hotel but I just learned that it is an independent 5-star hotel, whatever that means. It is located in the center of Singapore's shopping mecca.

From the outside, it is just an ordinary building, not at all worth the second look. I'd say the high-end cars that usually parked in front are more interesting (though not the night I took this photo).

This is the lobby. What a candle display right in the middle. It's getting interesting, right?

I'll skip the reception and the elevator and take you directly to 7th floor where my room is. This is the view from the elevator alley which is midway the left and right wings. And that hallway is what I need to walk thru everyday. Well, it's not really that far. Along the way there are pastel artworks on the wall that makes the solitary walk not so boring.

Here's a closer look of the hallway's end. My room is tucked there on the left side. I missed it on my check-in. I wouldn't suspect there is still another accommodation in this part of the building, but there is.

There you are, my room finally. Okay, I'm being sarcastic, apologies. It's just that I don't remember having a room so far out like this one. Anyway, there are lovely surprises inside like the bathroom I blogged yesterday that makes this room interesting.

And this is how the door looks like minus the glare of my camera flash. It is flanked by the wall on the right where the very highly noticeable hosereel is located.

Before I even open the door and let you in how about a look at the hallway from my room's end. That's the hallway I did walked with pajama and flimsy shirt...braless but wearing hotel slippers when I was locked out on my first night here. That still makes me laugh.

And here is the view that I see the very moment I open the door. There's the blank wall, the hosereel and fire extinguisher signs. I never bothered reading the whole sign but I think both are inside the wallpapered square door, as I notice now there is a small handle there. And then midway the wall is the red fire alarm pull, should never ever dare to touch it. Look further up there is the very red fire alarm bell. You can not miss all of those reds. It's the most visible color in the hallway and they are really designed as such to serve a very important purpose. See, it's not the best sight outside, I'm greeted with it before entering and when I leave the room. What else is there?

Wait a minute! What is that black thing uuup theeeere? I have a feeling it's not ...

OH MY GOSH! Oh my gosh!!! OOH my GOOOSSH!

This black thing has been there all along, the sole (or the security officers manning it) witness/es to my foolishness when I thought nobody in the empty hallway can see me what I was doing. Nobody saw me I was locked out and walk the hallway to the lobby and all the times I was taking these photos. NObody but this surveillance camera. I am the foolist of the fools.

I discovered about it last night. And I better be behave since then.

OK. To quote the famous Bugs Bunny line, "That's it folks."

More scenes tomorrow.

I found my bathroom

2010-10-26T23:13:00.007+08:00

I am now in Singapore, Royal Plaza on Scotts hotel. I am in room 701, not very nice location as it is on the farthest end of the hallway but I am willing to hole it out here for the duration of this business trip just because, because it's here that I found what could be my future bathroom... if I have my way. I have been wanting and dreaming and fantasizing a bathroom that shows function and beauty in a tight space. I have been looking for inspiration that I could apply into the current layout of my bathroom. In short, I want a bathroom make-over with minimal changes but a lot of impact. And here in room 701, I unexpectedly found what it will look like. Let me walk you through....

This door is to die for. The sliding mechanism had me at hello. I've wanted this type from the time our house was being constructed, maybe not the door panel itself with hazy glass but I wanted exactly how this door function in a small space.

When I opened it I am not that impressed with what I see but I am so interested. I see the possibilities. I like the simplicity of the whole place. Nothing really elaborate but it consist of well-chosen bathroom fixtures and calming color tones. Nothing so elaborate to impress the user but looking into the details much more closer, I can see the elegance.

This is the vanity, the square sink adds unexpected twist. I commonly see a rounded or oval type. I love the big wash area and just the right depth. The countertop is made of black granite.

The big beveled mirror that extend just right above the sink faucet up to almost touching the ceiling helps make the space looks a lot bigger. It is flanked by two long sconces on both sides.

The wooden cabinetry under counter consist of open cubbies on both ends and a towel holder in the middle. As simple as it can be.

I don't know if I will put something like this in my bathroom but it sure will come handy.

A closer look of the mirror lights. The shape of this lamps guides the eye from eye level up to the ceiling. I think it also helps de-emphasize the low ceiling of this bathroom.

Very simple hot and cold faucet. The height and size is just so right that it does not get in the way when using the sink.

Another look of the square sink. It's big and I like it. I am already thinking if there is a way to make Nestor agree that we change our bathroom sink to something like this.

Right on front of the dresser just a feet away, left side of the door is the toilet bowl. Again, its big size seems to just fit the small area. It's very comfortable and with dual flush. There is a ledge behind it that holds my toiletries but I am thinking that it would ideal for magazines or greenery. I normally saw framed artwork hanging on the wall in other hotels but this one is all bare. Maybe so not to distract the eyes when using the mirror. A towel bar is attached on wall near the shower door.

Another thing that I'm sure I can not afford to put into my bathroom, plus I won't have the time and energy to keep it this spanking clean. I can imagine it splattered with hardened soap suds. I'll make do with a shower curtain that I can throw once the grimes sets is way past decent.

The shower is for sure going to my list of must haves. It's big and fun and very modern. I can imagine the kids asking to install the same in their bathroom. Probably this would inspire Jerome to bath more often. The shower almost touched the ceiling, just to show that beside the small square footage this bathroom also have a low ceiling but the overall efficiency was not compromised.

And then here comes this clean looking set of hot/cold faucet and removable shower. I really don't know why it's needed to be installed at all, the shower.

Two mounted shelves on the corner to hold the bath essentials. I prefer the metal tray than a glass, again for the same reason that I know I can not keep it spotless for long.

This is the towel rack inside the shower.

And a very nice touch, something to sit on for so many reasons.

The wall tiles in beige with minimal darker wavy lines are large size 24x12 inches put horizontally obviously to make the space wider. The vanity is in the same granite tone but more very minimalist design that really adds interest amidst the monologous hues. Even the floor tiles is in the same shade but non-sheen and non-slip.

Overall, this bathroom is not the grandest I've seen in a hotel, it doesn't even have a bath tub but I simply like it for the well-thought function and design elements. And of course, I want to make it real for myself - I can apply the layout and design to my master bath.

I'm already excited.

All in a day's flight

2010-10-25T23:20:00.003+08:00

It's another day of travelling for me, to Singapore this time or should I say, again. This post is all about what happened in this day.

Morning

8:30 - woke up and packed my luggage, half undone

9:00 - breakfast

9:30 - went to Reyes Haircutter's for manicure

10:30 - back to complete my packing with the help of Jerome, coz my nail polish still wet

11:00 - kids bath, I took bath and get dressed

11:30 - headed off for the airport, the whole gang

11:50- lunch at KFC

Afternoon

12:15 - driving to the airport

1:00 - NAIA 2 Terminal

1:25 - all checked-in

2:40 - scheduled boarding, heard from paging system, our flight is overbooked and they are requesting for volunteers to give up seat for tom flight with extras of course

3:00 - boarding call

3:20 - supposed to be departure time, a passenger that brought an oxygen tank into the plane has no documents and the crew was not informed

3: 41 - take-off

Evening

7: 15 - touchdown at Changi airport

7:40 - out and boarded the taxi

8:15 - checked in to the Royal plaza

Forgot my money, forgot my Amex pin, I can not withdraw from ATM. I am totally penniless.

And here I am trying to complete a blog post.

The BIG events of the day:

While at KFC, Nestor just brought our lunch to the table, I noticed Justin looking like he's about to throw up. When I asked him he confirmed it, so I hurriedly asked him to the sink. Midway, from our fast steps he started running while covering his mouth with his left hand to make pigil his suka and yet, it happened. He threw out. I saw it all, the suka came out like a plastic with water that burst, and it scattered all over the floor in front of Justin...and he was running right on it. Then it happened, he slipped on his own suka, he fell hard on his butts and slid about 2-3 feet. I was speechless for a moment but I easily got to my senses and helped him to get up on his feet and we walked to the sink. One family eating saw it all. My poor boy was covered with his own puke. I washed him in the sink and let him sit on the nearby chair. I can feel that he's a bit shaken. I gently asked him to stay seated while I get him new set of clothes. I went back to our table and ask Nestor to get the clothes from the car. I'm keeping my calm all the way, went back to Justin and remove his clothes, wiped out the last traces of suka. Buti na lang Nestor came back fast with the change of clothes. And in no time, Justin is all cleaned and dressed. We went back to the table and had our lunch.
The big delay of our flight PR501- 40 minutes because it was overbooked and there were several announcement over the paging system for 2 volunteers to give up seat. We boarded and waited again because of the missing documents for a passenger that brought an oxygen tank inside the plane.
And then my AMEX pin is not working. I have no extra cash and only relying now on my card.
Safely tucked in my room, ordered my dinner, ate my dinner of chicken rice, took a shower and dressed for bed (sweat pants and a shirt...braless). I don't want the smell of the ginger sauce inside the room so I took it outside of the room. While I was putting down the tray on the floor, I heard the door closed behind me. Oh, sucker! I'm locked out of my own hotel room, in my sweat pants and hotel slippers...and braless. Not to mention my shirt is a bit thin and my nipples are obviously...obvious. Moments of panic, but I thought I saw a table near the elevator with a house phone. Did I mention that my room number is 701 and that is on the farthest end, as in the last room in the hall. I almost missed it because the door was tucked right after the emergency exit and the fire extinguisher. As in it's hardly noticeable there was still room there. Anyway, I walked to the elevator to call the reception to realize that there was no house phone, only a table with newspaper. Aagh! I went back to my room trying to avoid people that might see me in my very private state. But I have no choice so I decided to go down to the reception. Quickly got a spare key and went back. The first time this happened to me was in Japan with Hilda, we were wearing the japanese robe then. I just wanna laugh!!!

Spray Painting

2010-10-25T01:58:00.022+08:00

Remember this dresser clean-up that I did last week? Yes, things looking up better after the organization but I felt the space needs more perk-me-ups and I can only think of the mirror being the center piece. Somehow that the mirror has lost its charm and looks dirty already. I been reading Becky's blog for awhile and I liked her spray painting projects. With that inspiration, I gathered my supplies went to attacked it very early Thursday morning after we drove the the boys to school.

These are my primer and acrylic paint that I bought from Ace. There were no many color choice so I chose the one that I think would work- metallic violet.

Nestor said it was the expensive brand, but how do I know?

I worked in the garage. It was a bit cloudy and windy due to storm Juan the previous but I don't want to further delay the work.

This is how the work area looks like. I made sure I put enough newspaper to cover the floor coz I know that paint will travel far especially on this weather. I also covered the area that I don't want to paint which in this case is the mirror. Rather than removing it from the frame I just inserted newspaper into the crevices. Faster.

Here it is after the primer. It was a quick dry one so I only waited 15 minutes before I sprayed the acrylic. Looking good, but it is a bit tiring on the forefinger from pushing the nozzle.

The wind is getting stronger and a hint of raindrops so I have to move location near the wall and also put the mirror on stand so less dust going into the piece. As you can see, I just get anything I can see in the garage to use as paperweight.

Here is the close up of the frame. It turned out that the color is more pinkish than violet. Nestor said it looks like a color of the Honda car that we once planned to buy for myself.

After 4 hours drying time...the mirror is prettily sitting on the dresser.

I even have this tin can painted with leftover paint to hold my knick-knacks.

So, here it is...my newly painted mirror that matches prettily with my orchids.

Compare with the old look, I think I'm liking the pink one a lot better. It really makes the dresser so girly.

Something I learned from doing this:

1. Always wear gloves when spraying. I did not put my gloves when I sprayed the finishing touches and had to use thinner to remove the paint from my fingers.

2. Do not spray too near the object, it will look flaky.

Daily Something: Oct 11-17

2010-10-18T03:41:00.001+08:00

Oct17. Chacha. after almost a year of putting off mending the tear in the left leg, I finally did it the moment I woke up. Justin added it to his "pets" and named Chacha.

Oct16. Little helper. Got to give it to this kid, he likes helping me with laundry only I know he loves to play with water. Today he surprised me by hanging those socks to dry all by himself.

Oct15. Baking. Justin helping me mix the brownie. He asked me to bake it that afternoon because he wants to measure the ingredients.

Oct13. 177. Went bowling with my GO colleagues, and after years of not playing, I still have the touch or the throw of it.

Oct12. Swollen eyes. Jason woke up yesterday morning with eyes almost closed. According to their school doctor it was sore eyes and was advised to go home. On exam week!

Oct11. Clutter. Just another footprints of Justin, his milk bottle thrown in with his toys then left behind to work on another tableau in another part of the house.

Oct 14> Missed a photo, lunch with Sarah Sy at Sbarro.

Where is the vane in vanity?

2010-10-17T01:03:00.005+08:00

Pls don't judge me, I am not a book :)

This is my vanity table this morning. It didn't happened overnight, as I remember it's been like this for...ehem, (trying to recall here)...okay...months? Geeh, I should be ashamed of myself. I was telling the kids the other day that their toys and things are cluttered all over the house and yet here I am, the very small place that I totally own is just as messy. The fruit will never fall far from the tree, is it?

Okay, judge how much beautify-ing I am doing here? Not much, really. Those things are just for show and to clutter my vanity.

As if the front is not enough, look what's on the other side of the mirror.

Can I say because I'm a busy mom? Aside from work I have to teach the kids and blog and do laundry and surf the net clean the bath room, watch TV and then eat. And by the time I come to this area, I am exhausted and just want to sleep in the nearby bed. Enuff excuses. Admittedly, I just let it turn into that although I noticed that it's really getting messier everyday. Our room has no other tabletop to put odd and ends, so this becomes like a dumping ground for everything that you carry inside the room, save the pillows and blankets. Anyway, I can't stand looking at it like that anymore, so I changed my clothes to something preppier, prettify myself and get to work. I took everything away except the mirror because it is tied to the wall; change the mantle (I'm using wallpaper) and put the things I need back one by one. All others I either throw to garbage or just simply put to their right places. I'm not surprised that the waste basket is full. After about 30 minutes, I can breathe a lot easier and wanted to use my beauty products again.

Speaking of beauty products I don't really have much on my vanity, just the everyday essentials. Let's see, I have cotton balls, alcohol, deodorants, cotton buds, petroleum jelly (one for me and Nestor) which we put on our feet before bed, Olay night cream, Nivea cream, Olay moisturiser and lotions. Notice the deodorants, I actually have 4 brands right now. Awhile back, I tried to use other brands aside from Secret so I bought Rexona - didn't like it at all. Then I tried Nivea - well, it's good enough on normal days but I am not comfortable using it on clothes in which sweat is so obvious. In the end, I go back to either secret or Safeguard. And then, I bought a lemongrass deodorant from a friend. Don't get me wrong I am not really that much into deodorants, I don't actually used it everyday but like shampoo or conditioner I want to check other options. And then lotions - I have several kinds. My everyday lotion is Jergens. I bought in big sizes and keep one in my room ( Jergens Skin Firming, I swear it works in reducing the dimples in my legs) and then an original scent downstairs. I bought Belo whitening lotion because I was intrigued on good reviews I read in the magazine. It is the one I bring when I am travelling. Maybe because I am not using it regularly so I don't notice that much change in my complexion. The last one is Lubriderm which was given by my mother-in-law. I use it when I ask the kids to give me leg massage in the evening. It's not greasy and good for daily touch up over the day. Then there's Body & Bath given by a friend which I use in the office.

Then of course what is vanity without mirror. What I have is a gilded, I really like it but the color is making me lonely. I have bright plans to turn it to something more fun. The small cubby on top holds my bling-blings and jewelries. And that violet thing with 100ml prints - that's my air freshener. It's not to be used on face or body for any reason. It's there because it's the most convenient place to put it. And that orchids, it will soon be gone.

There, a little glimpse of my kakikayan. I'm not really that vane, right?

Lounging

2010-10-17T00:30:00.008+08:00

I just took a bath after cleaning our room the whole afternoon. Jason caught me sitting on the stairs while watching the chaos around me.

Nestor setting the table for dinner
Jerome and Justin playing and cluttering the sala with toys
Justin running around the "round-about"
Nestor asked the kids to help prepare the table
Justin took the camera and try to photograph his kuyas
Jerome and Jason evading the camera
Justin running after them
Hysterics
Nestor again asking to get water
Jerome get water from ref
Jason get the camera from Justin
Justin get tea cup
ME - amazed!
Click!

That's life around here...

10/16/2010@7:44 p.m.

Ang Babyback Ribs ni Robot

2010-10-16T22:05:00.003+08:00

Tayo nang kumain.

It was Friday (Oct 8) and I worked at the plant. Robot have prepared a lunch at their house to have a taste test of his latest putahe-baby back ribs. He has a home-based business selling packed fish products (tinapa, pusit, etc) and now venturing into food catering. He's starting small by inviting colleagues to his house, foods prepared by him and his angels sa kusina. Everything is ready, kakain na lang. His business is very mabenta among officemates. With Robot's friendly charisma and the cheap patak for a feast in their very homely abode, who wouldn't want a chance to get away from the daily offerings in the cafeteria? It's not advisable though if you have a meeting right after lunch coz the maganang kainan at kwentuhan will exceed more than an hour plus the drive.

There were 6 of us in Robot's Avanza, 2 others were not able to join because of lunch meeting. Kwentuhan, tawanan and hungry and all excited for lunch during the 15 mins drive to Robot's house. We set the table when we arrived and then, kainan na!

The Menu:

Baby back ribs (with RObot's very own timpla)

Sinabawan na Maya-maya with tanglad

Adobong Pusit

Hilaw na mangga

Coke

Unlimited rice

I can't remember the last time I went to Robot's house but there were significant changes in their home. Noticeably is the table in the front porch where we ate. I think he intentionally put it there to serve this kind of salu-salo. It's kind of odd to see dining table greeting you upon entering the gate especially if you don't know the reason behind it, but it very well blended with his modern country style house. And of course mahangin kaya lalong napapasarap ang kain. In fairness, masarap ang ribs but I like the Maya-maya with tanglad. I can really taste the lutong-bahay. We're all busog to the max to say the least, but it was a kind na hindi nakakaumay. I enjoyed the food and the company of my colleagues. I really miss this kind of things when I moved to Makati office.

Cheers to Robot's baby back ribs. Cheers to happy friends sa kainan.

And he writes and sing

2010-10-16T09:29:00.002+08:00

Something I observed about the way Justin writes lines, he do it from bottom to top of the lines. Like when he writes the letters h, f, t, etc. It's a kind weird. COuld his being a left-handed a factor?

ANd while writing, he's also singing

"Look at me, look at me I'm a mommy A, A sounds a, same as baby a."

And he'll sing same for all letters.

Eat, sleep, live & love all over again

2010-10-15T21:01:00.002+08:00

It's 3:23 a.m. and I am exhausted and running a fever because of a bad cold. I am watching CNN and its bumper music, something I first consciously heard 12 years ago when I was a very young new bride, brings me back to those languid days when I had so much free time before me. Back then I was looking for things to do, finding creative ways to fill my days while waiting for Richard to come home from work. And then the baby came and life and TV and dancing happened and things shifted. All of a sudden I was thankfully busy, far from being a bored housewife. And just when I thought I could not get busier, politics dropped itself into my lap while I was happily looking elsewhere.

Now my days are packed to overflowing. I have to make a conscious effort to keep my head above water lest I get overwhelmed and drown. Today, after the most hectic three weeks of my life so far, I am too tired to sleep even, if that is at all possible.

I've been gone from writing for so long now and it does not sit well with me, only because I do not want to fall into the black hole where undesirable habits lead. If I let yet another deadline pass, I might just get used to that. I optimistically look at where I am now as a space where I am still just trying to get used to the new hours I keep and hopefully when I settle into that my rituals, the very things that makes my days what they are, will resurface even if they must come in new shapes and forms.

How o I feel right now? Honestly, like I have been chased by a thousand peacocks. I miss reading, I miss writing handwritten notes, I miss the time I used to spend wrapping little presents I like to give out for no reason at all. I think our house misses me, too. I miss lounging around doing... nothing. Not that that happened very often before. But it is a rare luxury now, almost as precious as gold and any good manners. At best I picture myself under a tree with a stretch of blue water before me and the gentle kiss of the wind lulling me to sleep. I miss that and I need that so bad I can almost experience it just by closing my eyes.

I looked at my daughter sleeping peacefully, wrapped in cushy pink blankets on the large sofa by the end of our bed she has tucked herself into like a cocoon. I worry about her. I worry about many things now. I worry that I will become so busy I will wake up one day and find out she is all grown up and I did not see it happen. My days have always had so much of her in them and now that I all set to become even busier, I am wistful, and yes, feeling guilty about spending less time with her.

When I really think about it I get teary-eyed so to ease the tightness in my chest I hug her ans squeeze her until she giggles in delight because she thinks it is all just a game I like to play with her. Sometimes she squirms away, sometimes she stays in my embrace as long as I listen to her bauble on and on. I wish I could write down all the funny things she says but I don't and I won't because then I lose being in the moment. I just try to remember as much as I can, when I can.

Every morning before school she wakes me up so that I can give her my morning blessings. I feel 10 feet tall when I cozy up to her to bedtime and she summon me (yes, it is a command) with her chubby arms, rewarding my obedience with a hug and a sleepy "Come Mama, I want to hug you more than my pillow" (she has a giant chorizo pillow that she hugs every night). Sometime I ask her to read a book to me, any book, and I listen to the innocent tilt of her little girl's voice, my heart beaming with pride as the words roll effortlessly from her mouth. I relish how she leads our nightly prayer by reciting out loud Psalm 91, which she already knows by heart.

Our room has no design, It hasn't had in years. It has ceased to bother me. There is a tent on one side and she pushes and rearrange things around as she pleases. I let her be. My own mother allowed me to turn over the chairs and tables of our living room before so that I could pretend they were mountains I had to climb, just like Maria in The Sound of Music, while I sung on the top of my non-singing voice:"...The hills are alive with the sound of music..." I choose to be as indulgent with my daughter now that I am a mother. It is how I give back. I get sentimental when I think of my childhood and I wish I could bring it back even for just one day. I miss the innocence of my youth, when I thought the world as my grandfathers and grandmothers knew it had no color because all the pictures I saw were black and white. Julianna probably felt the same way for me because she once told me"Mom, I wish we met when you were little still then we could have been playmates!" That thought delighted her so much it made her face beam.

I worry about that day when I nozzle her neck and cheek and she will already smell like perfume instead of milk and rain as she always does. I worry that she will no longer want to tug along as I do. My chores, that she will choose to be with her friends more than with me and her dad and that she will stop bugging me to bring her out to buy frozen yogurt.

I worry that one day she will not be so little anymore and have a life all her own. I know that time will come but please, dear Lord, not just yet.

So now while I am still taller than her (not necessarily bigger for we can already borrow each others tops) I hug her and smother her with kisses and I tell her always and always how much I love her. I let her know I just have to hear her little feet coming up the steps and already my day is brighter than it already is, how it becomes instantly better if it isn't yet. She has that much positive power over me. She know she is boss anytime.

My little chipmunk, my bundle of joy, she is not so little anymore. "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world," she says, "and even if God lined up all the mommies in the world I would still choose you, Mama." And that is that. After she declares that with aplomb she leaves me to find time to deal with her own pink busy-ness, only coming back to me when she gets tired of it or when she needs a partner. Once the craving for munchkins starts.

What did I do to deserve such beautiful love?

It's now 4:34 a.m. and I am exhausted. I will sleep soundly so I can wake up and live and love all over again.

from The Philippine Star, July 4, 2010; by Lucy Torres

Bowling at MOA

2010-10-14T21:19:00.002+08:00

One of my colleagues at the GO celebrated her anniversary, after the pizza merienda at the office we went to MOA for rounds of bowling. Humility aside, I am the top scorer. Never thought I still have the strikers touch which I just magically had back when we had bowling tournament at Cabuyao (if I remember it right, 7-8 years ago).

It was a fun night and I'm glad I joined even if the venue is far from home, nakisabay naman ako ako kay Cesar who lives in Sta Rosa.

Justin and Jason

2010-10-12T20:15:00.001+08:00

Around 5 in the afternoon, I was in my office when Justin came in.

"Lika dito Mommy, surprise ako sa'yo" he said while holding my hand prompting me to go with him.

Then he showed me this with so much pride...his creation in the stairs. On the onset it is like a simple kid's play and yes it is indeed, but having seen how he tried to tie the ropes on the posts and balusters, for this kid is a "big" thing. He's proud and fascinated with the outcome that he went upstairs to show it to me. I am glad that I went with him when he asked me, I am happy that I played along with him. Sometimes a simple kids imagination is all we need to lighten up the load we are carrying.

Earlier today, he wrote his stick drawings on my work notebook and it is a delight to see it in between my notes.

----------

Jason's left eye is namamaga when he woke up this morning so hindi na sya pumasok sa school. I think he likes it kasi hindi sya mag-take ng quiz today. I don't if this boy really knows what he's saying.

Daily Something: Oct 4-10

2010-10-11T08:26:00.010+08:00

Oct4. Happy Teacher's Cards. Jason and I created greetings cards for his teachers. Scraps put to good use.

Oct5. Animal Stamps. Bought these pig and cow self-ink stamps at Fully Booked Glorietta for Php75 each. One animal has two stamp designs.

Oct6. Dirty Ice Cream. Had lunch with my officemates at Crisostomo's in Nuvali. It's a Filipino resto and it is selling the truly Pinoy dirty ice cream in authentic ice cream kariton. I miss my childhood.

Oct7. Toys on my desk. A sure sign that someone invaded my home office while I am in my real office. Who else but Justin.

Oct8. Lamps and candles. A quaint setting in Robot's house.

Oct9. My customer number and LOA for blood tests. Part of my being diabetic.

Oct10. Random letters on the table. Justin still loves letters and he is fond of putting it anywhere around the house, this time on the side of dining table.

Scraps Scraps

2010-10-10T09:38:00.001+08:00

Weekend means scrapping for me this time.

My Dancing Aladdin. Very seldom I did a 2-pager layout. A bit of challenge for me. This is about Jason's first public performance when he was saling pusa in nursery.

Credits: BG papers- 2Little Pixels DAM and AD, KSKDesign; gel alpha - Marie Stones (marie@freedigitalscrapbooking); paper border - Corina Nielsen Design; fonts- Tahoma and Pea Jean Script
~~~~

Cuddly Moment. Older photos of me and Justin and our bonding time when arrive from office. Those are the days of pure baby joys.

Credits: BG paper-Mitia Assef; cluster frame-Miss mint (Lilac Garden); ribbon - RPENN (Express Yourself); buttons- Miss Mint (Party pants); fonts - Orator and Prestige Elite

Games We Used to Play

2010-10-04T21:37:00.003+08:00

Do you remember the games you used to play as a child a long time ago (in a
galaxy far, far away) when there was still no Internet, cable, television, PS2,
and other video games?

"How do you play tex, Daddy," my son asked me the other day,"...do you use
your cell phone?" Sigh. Am I really that old already? My schoolmates and I used
to collect tex cards in the hundreds (some of my friends in the thousands) and
stored them in shoe boxes. The tex card was essentially a wallet sized piece of
cardboard with comics scenes printed on one side (Superman, Batman, etc) and
blank on the other. I recall playing two kinds of card games with them. In the
first you simply try to outguess the "banker" by placing bets ( using tex cards
as currency) on which of two hidden cards has higher number of value. The second
game was a variation of heads and tails. Two player each chose their own card
which is then mixed up with a third. The three cards are then tossed in the air
with the flick (pitik) of one's fingers and allowed to land on the floor. If I
recall correctly, the winner was the one while card landed differently from the
other two (either face up or face down). I suppose you can say that tex is a
form of "kids' gambling." Nevertheless, it did teach me how to count cards
quickly and efficiently in two. When we counted the cards, we counted
them in twos by dividing the numbers in Tagalog into two syllables. (i-tsa,
dala-wa, tat-lo, a-pat, li-ma, and so on). Li-ma is 5x2=10. If there was a
remainder then we called it out by ending the count with tsa! And so wa-lo tsa!
meant *x2 + 1= 17. My son got a kick out of hearing that one.

Although I was not particularly fond pf it, another game that we used to
play was holen or marbles. I remember etching circles on the ground with a stick
and then placing our marbles inside. We then tried to knock them out side the
circle by hitting then with our respective cue balls. I guess it can be compared
to billiards except that you used your fingers and knuckles instead of a cue
stick. You also play it in a dirt while on all fours. It was not an easy game
for many though. I, for one, could never quite master the proper technique of
wrapping a holen with your index finger and then accurately shooting it out with
your thumb as the trigger. I remember one quirky classmate who just decided to
smash his marbles into several pieces, put them in jewelry boxes and tried
selling them as diamonds! I guess you can sat the he lost his marbles!

A game that I was relatively better at was sipa. The kind of sipa that we
played was not the Olympic Sepak Takraw version but the schoolyard one. Our sipa
was just a metal crusher that was tied to multicolor strips of cloth or plastic
straw. A player kicks the sipa into the air with his foot as many times as he
can. When the designated number is reached, he then boot it out as far as
possible. Another player who is "it" scrambles to catch the sipa with his foot
before it hits the ground and tries to kick it as many as times in the air as the
previous player did. Some people today will view the game as feminine but it
really requires a lot of speed, agility and control. The better one amongst us
could keep the sipa in the air for even a hundred kicks.

If I had a favorite childhood game , however, it has to be shato. Why it
has a Japanese-sounding name, I do not know. The game has similarities to golf,
horseshoes, tennis, baseball and trap-shooting. It could be played either
one-on-one or in teams. To play, all you needed was a hole in the
ground and two sticks. The sticks that we used were typically fallen branches
that we found in playground. The first stick is used like a bat and was normally
a foot or two long. The second stick which we called pato was around six inches
in length. We use the same stick to dig a shallow hole in the ground that acted
as home base. Just like in baseball, each sides took turns batting and in playing
offense and defense, Scoring is based on how far you can hit the pato away from
the home base without it getting caught by the opposing side. There are three
levels of play or at-bats. The third level is the most exciting one since it
involves a very intricate batting maneuver. The batter places the pato in the
hole with one tip at the bottom and the other end sticking out. He flips the
pato upwards into the air by hitting the exposed tip. The batter then tries it
slam it as far as he can with with his bat while the pato is still in mid air.
The game was subject to a lot of variations. It was crude, dirty, but most of
all a lot of fun! Shaaaaato!

I don't know if kids today still play shato, sipa, holen or tex. Like many
other playground games, their popularity faded as open play areas dwindled over
the years and with the advent of electronic games. While it's true that many
children now participates in team sports like basketball, football and
baseball, I do think that sandlot games add a different dimension to kids' play.
Somehow, somewhere, I think something gets lost for the child when the
games they play become too formal or organized too soon. They need time to also
fool around with pieces of fallen branches, cheap washers, fake diamonds and
cards the aren't used for cell phones.

Kindergarten Dad by Tony Montemayor - July 27, 2010, The Philippine Star

Book Shopping

2010-10-04T12:28:00.014+08:00

I am in book buying vibe lately. I have been surfing Amazon for books in my list but the shipping makes me think twice. Some of the books I like is hard to find here in Phils. Anyway, I'm craving for some really good books.

Here's what I bought last Saturday at NBS during my date with Jerome.

How To Behave So Your Children Will, Too! by Sal Severe

I really need a boost in my parenting skills. Guts alone is not enough. I've started reading this already and I am hooked, line and sinker. Honestly, I can very well relate.

One lesson I already learned...
“Many parents fail because they are inconsistent.”

OUCH! That alone is my biggest problem right now, having 3 boys with extreme likes and dislikes and personalities, it is harder and harder to be consistent. I used to handle it well when they were toddlers.

Painless Writing by Jeffrey Strausser

I guess aside from reading, writing is an old love that I never get to nurture well. I know I can write something understable but it lacks the oohmp and interest that I used to create back in grade school and high school. The way I write now you will never believe that I used to join and won feature and editorial writing contests. Yes, I did!

Photography for Scrapbookers by Tracy White

This is my find of the day! Something I am eyeing online but again the shipping stopped me. It is available also in some online scrapstore here in the Phils and I almost click the buy button but the price is still a bit high than I expected. So I procastinated and for once I'm really glad I did...procastinated.

It's not easy to find scrapbook related books in local bookstores. This is the least I expected to see among the wedding, home, crafts, fashion and beauty idea books section. Probably because it says photography so it is also placed near the the photography books. But it was still separated from the pack. Anyway, local o nline price is Php600+ shipping, bought it for P365.
~~~~

I also purchased books for the kids at Booksale, Sta. Rosa.

I know that Justin will love this. Who doesn't like the silly monkeys? Especially this one with dimensional heads. The ABC book is actually a complete volume but also available by piece. I bought "j" and "g" only to check if he will like it. I think I bought a lot at once, coz the ABCs are overshadowed by the monkeys.

In preparation for the holidays, I am stacking on christmas books to put my kiddos to holiday mood without always associating it to gifts and toys.

Jerome bought a Pokemon comic book also last Saturday. It takes an effort to make my older boys read the real book but if comic style will somehow distract them from TV and video games, good enough for now. It is Justin that I saw has liking for reading. Though he still can't read now.

Venus here.

Daily Something: Oct 1-3

2010-10-03T22:55:00.008+08:00

I have several creative projects in mind going to the last 3 busiest and merriest time of the year. And those projects mostly requires a lot of photo taking. To warm up, I'm going to join the many people around the world documenting everyday lives through photo-a-day. This time I am pushing myself to complete for October. Wishing myself "you can do it, girl".

I know it will be hard to download/upload my photos daily so I'll make it a weekly thing, on Sundays. And to start it off, here are the first pics.

Oct.1. New blog look. New blog title, header, color, etc. I think my blog design and title reflects my current state of mind - it is ever evolving.

Oct2. Ebi Sushi. Jerome and I went on a date and he specifically requested to eat sushi with shrimp. This is at Sakuya Restaurant in Glorietta.

Oct3. Lunch out with my sons. A very rare occasion. Justin wanted to eat in a pizza parlor with spaghetti. I know he really meant Shakey's, the one we frequent as a family at Paseo Sta.Rosa. This time it's in SM Sta. Rosa.

Updated Blog Look

2010-10-02T03:13:00.003+08:00

This is how my blog looks since April. I kind of got tired looking at my photo on the header so I changed it to something more artsy. And then since I am at blog designing groove again, I changed the background color to match the new header. Then I added blinkies and buttons. I think I am able to update the blog look that easy because Blogger has made it easy to do all these stuffs. No more HTML to sort. (Note to self, I better update my post as frequent as I change the look :)) I am trying.

Hybrid Scraps

2010-10-01T10:19:00.004+08:00

Got a couple of goody layouts for my eyes to feast and hope yours, too.

You Are Truly Amazing. This is about Justin's unique traits as of now.

Credits: digital template by CZ; alpha-Jan Crowley ; font- Courier

It is a hybrid page and here's my steps.

Open the Amazing template by CZ in PCS4. The canvas size is 7.5 x 10.
I rearranged the elements to suit my need; move the title to the top since my photo has blank space on that part and change the color from white to blue so it stands out from the background. Now changing the color is not as easy as recoloring it coz when I did that the result looked flat, it lost that stamp effect of the original version. To get the cool icy look in my page, I overlapped the blue recolored and the original CZ element.
I cutout a half circle at the bottom of the photo, layered with a red plaid paper and a brad letter.
Save and print the layout.
Round the top corners of the printed layout.
Paste on the tan color cardstock.
Type the journalling in my computer and printed on blue paper. Cut to fit on the layout.
Handwrite the "you are truly" to complete the title and one strip of journalling. I like using my handwriting in the very few paper layouts that I do to add personality.
Adhere the red ribbon on the right side to complete the triangle design principle, which in this case are the reds in the paper on the bottom, the red line in the title and the red ribbon.

This layout further emphasize my love for big photos in layout. Big photo=big impact.

The 2 of You. Jerome and Jason during their toddler days. This is from days when shouting and boxing were still not the "in" things in our home, the days when there were hugging each other a lot. Love this page as simple as it is but mainly because it's quick to complete and fully handscrap. And having said that I can not give the credits since my supplies are all out of their packaging.

Cool Carseat. The story of the Jerome's carseat which was very useful on those times that we used to travel a lot. This is hybrid mainly due to the title which I created in CS4, printed and then hand-cut.

Credits: Cool wordart by ShabbyPrincess; alpha -? (I really suck this TOU thing)

DAD. First photo of Nestor and Jerome. Loving those younger photos simply because everthing seems fresh and light. There is white space on top of the title but my scanner is auto-cutting it off so my scan copy looks very edgy. Whatever that means.

Credits: Brushes downloaded from net; DAD alpha and bracket by SP

Another hybrid page. I created the title, the brushes in the background paper and the black journal strip in CS4 and printed onto off-white cardstock. Then I distressed the sides with light brown ink to achieve that overall aged look.

My takeaway in doing hybrid pages...

I like the feel and the look of traditional page but I think the biggest challenge for me is creating the title. I don't have enough alpha stickers to go with the layout. And honestly I don't buy multiple alphas because I end up not using everything. My other option is to print digital alpha and then handcut which is tedious especially the middle parts like in A or R.
I wanted to move to digi long ago and have promised to stop buying traditional supplies but know what, I can't. Whenever I see scrapbook shops, I still spend from time to time. I'm really weak when it comes to this hobby.
Also one reason I can not fully go digi, I want to use my handwriting in my layouts which I can't do in my computer unless I buy a tablet. NOT in my budget.

So, I accepted to myself that I can live in both worlds-traditional and digi scrapping.

Scrap Shopping In Singapore

2010-09-12T15:07:00.002+08:00

I was in Singapore for business trip last week and really took time to go to this scrapbook store in Plaza Singapura - Made With Love. The largest one I've seen so far. It's full of eye candy that if I am no careful I'll end up really poor. Anyway, for about 15 minutes I spent SGD93 for a square punch, 2 sheets of alpha stickers, 5 sheets of elements stickers and 2 rolls of decorative tapes. Now, all I really need to do is put those into good use.

New Layouts

2010-09-12T14:31:00.006+08:00

I did something creative over the weekend, 2 new layouts of older photos of the kids.

Baby Steps
This is about Jerome learning to walk in Bicutan. This is a hybrid page. I created the title and the journalling in PS and printed onto a cardstock. The scanning is quite off. The mint green color of the title is hardly noticeable and the background paper is actually light brown.

Credits: tape measure paper - Cosmo Cricket; fonts -Scream Outline and Slyfaen

Journalling: It’s a normal scene in Ricahuerta St. to see Tatay Jun pushing the big green stroller with a cutest chubby baby boy every morning. That’s been like that for months until the baby boy started to learn walking. There’s still the big green stroller but now a mestiza baby girl sits on it. From afar it looks like it was moving on its own. The size of the stroller blocks the boy who is pushing it. He doesn’t want anyone holding the stroller but him. Tatay Jun is just behind him to help anytime. The stroller alone is heavy already but the boy is revering on his newly discovered power – the strength of his legs and arms to push and move forward. Slowly but surely he is taking baby steps to another milestone in his baby life.

I am a happy witness to everything, standing in front of the gate waiting for the cutest chubby boy to come into my arms, sweating and tired after thirty minutes walking. He deserves a big big hug.

And that cutest chubby baby boy? He’s my 1 year old baby Jerome.

*******************

These 2 Boys

While looking at my photo files, I came across these photos of Jerome and Jason.These are some of the very first digital pics I have taken from my Nokia camera. The resolution is very low but I really don't care. I love the memories and want to capture that in a layout.

Credits: template - paislee press; ricrac - Gina Miller; alphas - Shabby Princess & Miss Vivi; background paper -saab; fonts - Tiger and Minion Pro

Journalling: Far from their cousins in Bicutan they do almost all things together - from playing to eating to sleeping to bathing. They are the best of friends and at times each others worst enemies. They hug a lot but they also fight a lot. They are the cutest and the funniest. They are huggable and kissable. They share everything except clothes and shoes because the older one is obviously bigger. They are inseparable, where the other goes the other follows. When one is away to sleep over with cousins, the one left is noticeably sad. It is simply not fun without the other.

Back in the times when there were just two kids in the house…Jerome and Jason. Back when they were 4 and 2 year old toddlers.

While I was Away

2010-09-10T20:13:00.000+08:00

On my last trip so Singapore I came home with the dozen didi of Justin burned to blackness. It was the kids who told me about it. Nestor was no tin the house and Justin asked for didi but Jerome told me it was burned while being sterilized. I saw the sterilizer and yung mga nanigas na plastic sa loob. Mabaho pa rin ang amoy. It would be almost 2 weeks na.

Nestor said he fell asleep while sterilizing the didi, and when he woke up wala ng water yung sterilizer. 10 feeding bottles ang di na magagamit. Buti na lang meron pang isa na hindi nasama sa pagpakulo.

We never bought a new set of feeding bottles for Justin after that. He's already 5 years old and is already due to stop using bottles. It is probably a blessing in disguise. Buti na lang mga bottles lang ang nasunog.

Jerome's 10th Birthday

2010-09-03T22:23:00.003+08:00

Red eyes and all but you still got the swagger to be the life of your party.

Nanamba, Mama Lhing and Kuya Joel, Julianne and Joelle visited us on Sunday evening with cake for you. We had a short celebration then.

On the day of your birthday, we had our real celebration at Shakey's Paseo. Your eyes were still red but almost healed na.

You been wanting to have a celfone of your own. Daddy and I still not sure to buy you the one you like (E63) so I wrapped the chinaphone that I bought in January this year but I only used for a month coz I bought the real thing. Anyway, I can sense your excitement when we showed you your gift. Your face are all smiles. Sabi mo pa before opening the it, "parang alam ko ang loob nito, sana ito nga yun". Kissing the box before opening it. And when it's finally out, your reaction was priceless.

"Teka lang, nagsisikip ang puso ko, bumibilis ang puso ko" were your words. You would have shouted if were not inside a restaurant. You can't believe you got what you wanted - E72. With your happiness medyo na-guilty naman ako na Chianfone ang binigay ko sayo.

I video taped your thank you words but the heck of me, I did not able to push the record button on my camera. So it's like I lost most of your thank you message. But still captured a good deal.

Then we requested for a message relay on the restaurant for you because the waiters can not sing the usual birthday song for you dahil maraming tao. It was a simple celebration and yet I hope something that you would remember when you grow up.

Love you Kuya Jerome!

The Spread of Sore Eyes

2010-09-01T17:59:00.004+08:00

Jerome started it last Saturday, his eyes were reddish. And then Jason and Justin has it the following day. Now the three are like vampires.

Wacky vampires.

It is Jason who really had it bad, his eyes are so maga and he already got sick the following day. Justin not so much. But they were absent at school for a week. Luckily it just after 1st quarter exam.

The Vampires Chronicle

2010-09-01T04:56:00.003+08:00

That's how they looked on 8/30 afternoon, all have red eyes. Jerome is the host started on 8/28 then evening of next day, the younger boys showing signs of redness already. Jerome's 2nd-3rd days were the worst, so red and puffy eyes and maangal talaga sya. Sometimes I thik OA na nga. Typical Jerome when sick, he wants attention.

Jason I think has the worst case. His eyes are teary and almost closing already. He can't bear the pain anymore yesterday evening so he asked to be taken to the doctor. He's looking groovy in his pajamas wearing shades at night. One thing I like about him is he's really cool and sweet when he's sick. He got fever at some point pero he's so easy to handle and his left neck ay maga because of colds. He'll do whatever I told him, don't scratch your eyes, put damp clothes on your eyes to cool the hot feeling, sleep to rest,etc. He likes to lye down on the sofa just outside my home office and from time to time he would ask me to hug him or kiss him or just stay beside him. Then in the midst of the pain he just blurted out I want ice cream and never really stopped asking for it until we bought him one after the doctor's check-up.

Then Justin is the mildest case. His eyes nto so red but there was some point when it was starting to get puffy also and the baby that he is, he just come to me all the time. But he's very easy to handle, he won't scrath his eyes. Cute nga pag blink-blink lang sya when itchy. He also has fever. I think he wants to do what his brothers are doing, put damp cloth on the face but he stopped doing it coz he can't watch the cartoons. He can tkae the pain but not the eye drops.

In the middle of the red eyes and medications are the falling off teeth. I have to play dentist again with Jerome's molar yesterday. Then Jason kind of do it on his own, two teeth he pulled off in span of 10 hours.

And so that's the weekend in our house. Lucky that no classes on Monday so they saved one day absent. Jason was advised by doctor to lay it off for a week. Don't know with the other boys. Hopefully Justin can go to school tomorrow since he's been absent since Wed last week.

'Til next time. I'm going to the office, it's cutover time of my project and my internet at home is not cooperating. Here's to bright day ahead!

Justin Kid Scout Art

2010-08-31T00:44:00.008+08:00

What would you feel when your kid came home from school with this cutest art ever? My first reaction was, how CUTE is that face, and that smile just makes me smile a hundred times. Seriously, I don't care about how he colored it, knowing Justin he will not follow instruction if he has his way. It's supposed to copy the Kid Scout uniform. The shirt's piping and logo should be blue, the short is khaki, and the shoes black.

This was given to them during their Kid Scout Investiture

exactly on his 5th birthday- July 29 (which reminds me to blog about it). I put this on the fridge for weeks and enjoyed looking at it everytime I passed by. It is now tacked in my home office corkboard. I noticed from the start that the hands are awkwardly not proportioned to the whole body. And as I keep looking into it, I realized that it could be Justin's hand. So I asked him to lay his hands on the art's hands, and that confirmed my thoughts. Justin said "this is left hand and ito right hand ni Justin." Even his brothers got a kick in knowing that.

I really hope that they will do more arts/crafts at school.

Productive Weekend

2010-08-31T00:00:00.000+08:00

in terms of decluttering and organization:

sorted my piles of magazines, tore off the articles I want, filed in a binder and then the rest I put the recyclables. love love love the feeling of less clutter
printed some digi layouts and created a hybrid page. the printouts are really good using photo quality ink jet paper. it is only 12 gsm but I really like the outcome. Now I am having second thoughts about buying generic ink.
uploaded photos from memory card and organized my pictures - this is big and very much overdue.

Try Smiling

2010-08-27T22:57:00.013+08:00

Try Smiling. This brought a whole new change to my attitude. This story happened on August 24th.

It was 10 o’ clock of Tuesday evening. I just arrived home from the office after almost 2 hours travel. And it was not an easy one. The queue at the FX station was long and the arrival of the FX was far in between due to the afternoon rains that cause heavier traffic than the already usual bad one. I decided to take alternative transport – the public bus going to Alabang and from there transfer to FX at Festival station which stops right in front of the subdivision where I live. It was still raining when I reached Alabang. I have no umbrella so I have to brave the walk from bus stop to FX station which means crossing the street, going up the overpass and down to the FX queue. With me are my heavy laptop and shoulder bag. The queue was not that long and there were FX on stand by. And so I got home. The kids are already sleeping. After putting down my bags I checked the school diaries of the kids to see if they have homeworks and there in Jerome’s diary the note that added to my already bad temper (caused by misunderstanding with Nestor the past days and the stressful stage of the project at work and the tiresome transport). I was mad but I tried to control my feelings and action. But I guess this really has to be dealt with that night, that time.

To put more context to my story let me rewind things from Monday.

Monday.

1. Justin’s exam results were handed, not really impressive – 77, 79, plus 2 80+ scores.

2. Some of Jason’s exam results were noted on his diary, not really impressive – one subject is 78.

And then here comes Tuesday on the night this drama happened.

1. On Jason’s diary are the rest of his test results – really depressing – Music score- 70.

2. On Jerome’s diary was a note

To say I mad is understatement. I am so disappointed that this project thing happened again.

I contemplated on my next action. I wanted to wake him up but then thought of leaving it up for tomorrow. But I am mad and I want to understand this CLE project. This can’t wait to morning. I went upstairs and woke up Jerome. I picked up this plastic baseball bat on their room floor. And the drama begins. I learned that the CLE project was the candle decoration which he said before will no longer be allowed late submission.

I asked why this was overlooked again, he answered but I was not impressed. Very shallow reasoning. I hit him several times on the butt with the bat which I know mildly hurts. I know when it was time to stop.

I next asked him about his homework – memorize a poem. He said he already knows it. And just to be sure I let him recite it. I am still mad. My eyes were still like angry beast. My temper still up to the head. Then he started reciting the poem…

Try Smiling
When the wrath suits you not, try smiling.
When your coffee isn't hot, try smiling.

At this point I already turned my head to the side so he can not see my face expression. I am starting to laugh and as he continue with the poem, my body is already shaking from keeping myself laughing out loud.

Midway to his poem he stopped coz he’s already distracted. I don’t want to give in to the irony of the event and how his poem aptly fits his situation. His poem struck a chord. But I don’t want to loose my ground that I am really not happy with that note after all the discussions we have the past weeks.

In the heat of the moment, I cried. I cried because of desperation. I cried because I am disappointed with his behavior. I cried because I feel so heavy hearted not only with him but to other areas of my life. I cried because his poem made me realized that confronting him with hot temper brought no good at all. Of course I knew that all along and have consciously avoiding it but I failed again. And then I cried even more because his poem is like a cold water thrown to my face that immediately reduced me to pieces, to shameless admission that my act is so way out.

It only elapsed for several minutes and wanting to stop the drama before I worsen the situation, I let Jerome go back to sleep. He said “I’m sorry, Mom.”

And I was left on my own in the dark sitting on the sofa in the hallway.

Empty. Shallow. I was not able to sleep well that night.

And just so I will remember to look at the positive side… here is the poem that brought me to tears and at the same time bring home the message ...

"IT IS NEVER GOOD TO CONFRONT YOUR KID IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT".

Try Smiling

When the wrath suits you not, try smiling

When your coffee isn't hot, try smiling

When you rneighbors don't do right

Or your relatives all fight

Sure it's hard but then you might

Try smiling.

Don't change the things, of course

Just smiling.

And it seems to help your case,

Brightens up a gloomy place,

Then, it sort o' rests your face,

Then, it sort o' rest your face,

Just smiling.

-From Crossing Boundaries through Reading 4

by Batac, Himongala, Arcos-Surot

Ang Alaga Kong Lovebirds

2010-08-26T17:34:00.006+08:00

This is Jason Filipino project - make a short story. I need to give him prompts to complete the whole story and Jerome helped him complete the sentences. What I like about this though is his illustrations. The scanning may be off but those lovebirds (that looks like mosquitoes) are really cute. My favourite is the one with birds on top of the house.

Things like this just makes me smile since none of my kids I would consider that artistic. Sometimes I just have to give to kid's imaginations.

Scrap Cards

2010-08-26T00:38:00.002+08:00

I am cleaning and organizing my things in my small home office. I am such a packrat and clutterbug person. I noticed that however I tried to organize my things, it still easily go back to clutter. In my attempt to simplify my life and only keep the things I really like I am slowly purging.

I have a box of old mails and cards that I I received since grade school. It's really nice to look into it from time to time. I have been keeping it for almost 3 decades already in that old shoe box (as in GIBI shoe box in muted green) and it's taking a precious space in my small office + aesthetically not pleasing to the eyes. I got this inspiration from Ali Edwards and turned my christmas cards into something similar. Ali used square punch which I don't have (why it's so hard to find one here in Phils?) but I have 2-inch circle punch.. and so punching I did. Here is the result.

Thank you friends for such wonderful thoughts and greetings that allow me to create a treasure like this. Once again I feel blessed.

I received less and less greeting card thru the mail every year, in fact none from friends for the last decade. NOt that nobody greets me anymore, many do thru e-card. It's practical, faster, and cheaper. Neither I seldom sends one also. I was somehow sad when I saw greeting cards on sale last holiday. That's the effect of the digital age. This is one of the reasons why I treasure my cards even more now and wanted to showcase it in a more enjoyable way. The idea of punching the cards and throwing the written notes gave me second thoughts though but at the same time I don't think keeping it hidden would further give it justice. And no way I would let other people see my personal mails and cards if it's kept in original mails. So, in the end turning it into scrapbook is the next best thing. Everytime I open my album, I remember my friends and their generosity. Whatever is written in the cards not maybe every words of it, but the thoughts will forever be in my heart.

Plus I am purging but still keeping a memento. I still have the other cards for other occassions and will tackle that later. I am wondering what to do with all the old letters I've been keeping. I'm thinking of scanning it but let me sit on that idea for now.

Justin "No Thanks"

2010-08-24T00:07:00.002+08:00

Me: Justin study tayo.

J: No, thanks.

Me: Justin eat tayo.

J: No, thanks.

Me: Justin school tayo.

J: No, thanks.

That seems to be your favourite reply to these three things you least like doing currently.

These 2 Ladies

2010-08-10T07:28:00.001+08:00

They are the best of friends from the time I met them, and they are 2 of the very few people outside my family circle that are close to me. Aside from the fact they are both petite, their personalities are completely opposite. One is a wallflower and the other is a fireball. Take that in. They are both my kumare’s. Successful in their careers and yet remained humble and simple. And for that, I truly adore them. I am thankful to be in their company, though get together is far in between.

Thanks for the friendship, Belle and Leklek.
-------------
Photo taken in Singapore, I don't know what place. This was my last night in SG during the Wella cutover in Feb 2010.

Written this at NAIA Terminal 2 airport while waiting for my boarding call yesterday.

A day of Venus 8/9/2010

2010-08-10T00:12:00.001+08:00

5:30 AM | woke up to help prepare the kids for school, do homework of Justin

my stomach aches due to poo-poo

6:30 AM | packing my luggage, I'm going to SG and I'm bit uneasy because it is my boys 1st quarter exam week. I onlymanaged to review them for 4 subjects

9 AM | almost done packing

10 AM | listing my to dos at work

10:10 AM | I can hear Justin's voice arriving from school

11:55 AM | left the house via car rental. I'm glad that the kids are already at home. Nestor said "hindi ako happy". Ouch!

1:05 PM | airport na ko (traffic is light)

1:14 PM | done with check-in process, eating lunch at Delifrance almond croissant and brewed coffee

2 PM | in the laptop area, sorting my photos. less crowd than usual sa airport

3 Pm | closed my laptop to ready for boarding at 1505, I was ugraded to business class. Really!

16:30 | on board meal; grilled bass with curry sauce, apple juice

18:15 | just finished wacthing One last song by Nicholas Spark starring miley Cyrus and Bobby Coleman

I'm sitting beside an old guy who looks Caucasian in full suit.

8:30 PM | hotel

9: 30 PM | dinner, noodle soup

10: 15 PM | blogged and surf

12:10 Am | ready to sleep

g'night!

I Am Blessed

2010-08-09T22:30:00.002+08:00

I can feel it, I am surprised by the series of blessings that came my way in small packages this past weeks. Really, when I start to reflect on it, the issue I have with my kids studying habits just like a burst bubble.

1. Thank you for Matthew (PAL Makati employee)who entertained my flight reservation last August 2. Here's the story...

PAL has this Miles Getaway Promo that got people of all levels- as in all levels flock the office and brave the queue. I mean you won't have earned miles if you're not a frequent traveller. I think I am one of the few who earned my miles due to my business related travels. And so I was there at 9AM on Monday, I thought I was early but to my surprise the line was up to the buildings entrance, and PAL office was in second floor. I got my number - 5171...and the number on board was 5021. Really- 150 customers ahead of me! It was that crowded! And some of the customers have multiple transactions. I was a bit letdown that I was downgraded from Elite status to just basic membership coz the queue there was much much shorter. But I won't dwell on it. I stayed for 30 minutes and by the rate of service 40 numbers in 1 hour, I have about 3 hours of waiting to do. I went back to the office and decided to came back on lunch time. And guess what, the number on the board says 5101, it was really moving slower that I have calculated. Then I saw Matthew sitting in front of the computer, he has PAL ID though not wearing uniform so I know that he's an employee. I asked her a casual question of "Can I check if there is still open seats in this flight?", well he checked, and the bad news is no, no, no. I almost want to leave. I already have a ticket for myself but I can not buy any seats using miles for the kids. NO way! To make the long story short, after several inquiries I was able to make a reservation for the kids, though I have to choose another schedules. The thing I am most thankful about the whole experience, I didn't have to sit it out there waiting for my number which would took me until around 5pm or worse. I have reserved 3 seats for the kids + my original reservation moved. I was out of the office at about 230pm. And also the ladies whom I've left there in the morning and waited it for almost 5 hours left without success. I have until August 5 to buy the ticket, still need to get tax discount for the kids. Nestor processed it the following day at DOT.

2. August 5 - at PAL office by 130 after lunch with Lhot. My number 5151 - on the board - 5098. 50+ numbers ahead of me. And the service was really very slow since not all counters are manned after their 3 day major seat sale. Almost waiting for over 30 minutes already when the lady beside me gave her other ticket to ME --- 5111 and on the board it's 5106. Are you kidding? She just finished her transactions and she has a spare number. And when I looked into the time in in the ticket it was 11AM and that number was called at 215pm. If isn't that a blessing I don't know what to call it. In return I gave my number to other customers waiting there.

3. The fact that I bought 4 tickets to HOngkong using my miles and only have to pay Php15K in all. Yes, that a real real blessing.

4. Today - from economy seat I was upgraded to business class on my flight to Singapore.

I just closed my laptop with 5 minutes to spare to go to my boarding gate which will open at 1505. I was inside the loo when I heard my name called on the paging system...calling the attention of the following passengers bound to SG on PR501...VEnus Elano + two other names. Wait that is my name. My first htought was.. I was already late for boarding? WOW PAL is more than on time. SO I hurried to the gate which is on the other end of the hall. And to my surprise, the lady handed me the good news. I can only say Thank YOU!

Sometimes, when I feel things just getting very challenging...surprises come out and when I get to reflect on it...my blues just go away. I have so many reasons to be thankful in this life. I may not have a life of privileges like others have, but I have my shares of blessings to smile about.

Jerome's Project Story

2010-08-03T10:32:00.001+08:00

It's on ly the first quarter of the school year but it's very noticeable how the kids are so slacking at their academics especially Jerome.

Last Wednesday while driving the kids to school we saw one classmate of Jerome walking near the gate. He has wooden basket. We asked Jerome what it is and he just passingly answered project for some students. Asked him why he doesn't have one, he said only for those who wants. OK. Fine. It was still early so I walked Jason to his classroom. On the way back I passed by Jerome’s room and peeked. Teacher was not yet in. I saw most of Jerome’s classmates huddled together busy doing the wood basket. I looked for Jerome and found him with blank stares sitting in front of the aircon at the corner of the room. The girl who saw me called him. We were outside the room. I asked Jerome what were the basket about and he said it was their project in EPP subject (home economics during my time). I started to interrogate him and his answers were obviously clear that he has no intention to do it. Mostly the project will be noted on the diary but there was none. He did not wrote it. I am already not liking the situation.

And then there was the case of Math project which he initially told me that they need to bring ½ size illustration board to the class that day but we forgot to buy one. I asked him what is that for and he said they will make a flash card. That already made me doubt about it. To make a flash card you would have to cut the board to smaller pieces and that alone I know will be hard to be done by 9-10 year olds. And I also noticed that none of his classmates brought any. One of his classmates went to us, I know this boy. He is one of Jerome’s close buddies. I asked him to validate Jerome’s reasoning. And what this boy told me was more believable. I asked Jerome to walk with me back to the car so we can discuss it further. The boy went with us and kept correcting what Jerome is saying. To make the story short, we found out that the EPP materials have to be bought from their school bookstore, the project was advised 2 weeks ago and the submission will be that Friday ( and to think that it was already Wednesday) and then the Math flashcards will be cut at home and each student have assigned what operation to use in the cards.

It was near 7am and classes will soon start so I told them to go back to their class.

What I found out just validated what I was thinking already, that Jerome is not really paying attention to his studies, short of calling him irresponsible. He would skip writing notes on his diaries, many of his seatworks are unfinished, he failed to complete some of his assigments. For some reasons, his focus was not on his studies but to other activities at school – and at that time was cheerdancing. He skipped attending his 2 school clubs to attend cheerdance practice in preparation to the incoming intrams.

That evening I talked to him about how I badly felt with his attitude. We talked about how he is not focusing on his studies. Just for now we will allow him to attend cheerdance on the condition that he will maintain good grades.Just to make things serious, I banned him from playing PSP, gameboy and using the computer until the 1st quarter exam, and that is almost 3 weeks to go.

Back to the projects, Nestor helped him finished it during the weekend and submitted yesterday but it was late submission already, 10 pts will be deducted. We had to cut the flashcards twice because he wrote wrong divisions on the first. In short we made it through with lot of pushing which is really becoming redundant.

I thought that was the last of it, that he understood what we are trying to tell him. That the point hits home...and then today written in his diary is this.

What a mom gotta do?

Grocery Shopping

2010-06-02T22:22:00.000+08:00

Thankful to have the means for grocery shopping...

Thankful we have the vehicle to go to the place easily.
Thankful for the family time while doing the activity.
THankful that we can support this basic need...
good food to nourish our bodies.

We went to SM Sta Rosa this afternoon to re-stock our pantry and ref. WEdnesday is "green day" at SM and that means no plastic bag for the groceries. Nice thought on that. We should do our shopping every Weds.

Body Scrub and Massage

2010-06-01T23:00:00.003+08:00

I am thankful for the simple pleasures of body scrub and body massage...

When my body is just weary from stress and tired of everyday goings...
I go for the soothing effect of body massage,
and always as in always, a good and restful sleep follows.
Giving every nerve of my body to recover
My brain to settle
To let the negative energy lift out.
Ad then I feel more revived and relaxed the following morning.
Ready to take in another ongoings of my daily-ness.

And then the body scrub...
Oh, this one is more on the splurgy-vanity kind of pleasure.
After the beach-hopping summer that gave me sunburn all over,
I'm really looking forward to this.
Sea-salt scrub with vanilla scent, lathered all over my body
Removing the sundries on all nitty-gritty
After the scrubs and the shower,
I smile on the sweet, clean and baby-like skin of my body.

Thankful there are spas nearby where I can enjoy on these simple pleasures anytime.

Yellow Milk Basket

2010-04-03T23:31:00.005+08:00

Do you have an ordinary everyday object in your possession right now that has passed usage from members of the family? I think those kind of things have lots of memories, like this yellow plastic that holds my kids milk bottles.

The basket is made of good plastic and the size is just enough to hold 6 milk bottles plus a milk dispenser. Its color crosses from beige to pastel yellow. Just see the photos.

My mother bought it in one of her lazy trip to Sunshine Mall at FTI to store Jerome's feeding essentials whenever he stays at her house for several days. Jerome was only 1 year old then. We already moved to our Cabuyao apartment from temporary stay with my parents' house in Bicutan but Nanay still often requested Jerome to stay with her. Eventually, the stays became less and less until Nanay got over the separation blues and with other 'apos' that came along to keep her occupied, she just gave the basket to us. If my memory serves me right, that was 2003.

The basket since then become a handy companion to us. It is a regular passenger in the car normally holding 3 milk bottles, pink milk dispenser and purple water jug just enough for a day trip like malling. At night, we take it upstairs to our room for kids night feeding and at day it is casually place on kitchen counter beside the ref. It used to be shared between Jerome and Jason, when Jerome weaned it was Jason for awhile and then Justin came. Few months overlapped when Jason and Justin shared it then it was Justin's all along. Looking at the photos above, I realized that it's not only the basket that was there from the start - there are the pink milk dispenser and the purple water jug, too. Naputol na nga ang cover holder ng water jug sa tagal ng gamit.

Justin is almost 5 years old now and I am really trying to wean him. Very soon this basket will have a different use for all of us. The milk dispenser will retire and the jug for sure will still be around. Until that day came, those 3 have seen so many feeding bottles in 7 years. Just for fun analogy, isn't it like a neighborhood where the 3 guys are permanents and the bottles are like borders that come and go? I can imagine their common stories to share to the bottles. LOL.

Enjoy the everyday things around you.

April Desktop

2010-04-02T20:45:00.004+08:00

Look I have a new desktop using SP freebie. I'm not really hot on the design of this one but I like that I was able to use photos of me and Nestor. How cute are we both wearing same colors on these 2 photos? Come to think of it... this is my first desktop for this year. Goodness, where do Jan-March go?

I'm really thankful for the freebies, making my scrapping so much easier and cheaper.

Scrapping Frenzy

2010-04-02T19:51:00.006+08:00

When I say 'frenzy' I'm not taking it lightly. I started Wed night and these are what I finished up to afternoon today. I used the old templates and the digi kits in my stash, hopefully my pages do not look aged at all. I am also purging, purging and purging supplies keeping only those that I think I will still use in the future. My intention is to use first my downloads before I really delete it for good. Since I haven't been digiscrapping in a lon while, I made it easy for myself to use templates.

I have deleted a lot of digi supplies and while working on the layouts below I feel a bit lacking of items to use. So after the scrapping frenzy, I started download frenzy which I haven't done for so long. I kinda miss ikeagoddess freebie list. I am using Craft Crave now. Okay, so here are my creations.

HAPPINESS IS..
this is a 2-page layout of my three boys. I like the muted colors

Credits: template- Paislee Press; paper - Ronna Penner (express yourself kit); photo actions-Pioneer Woman

SUMMERFUN
This is about Justin's first pool swim experience. I had a layout on this in 2006 when I was still new to digi, and the outcome was not that good at all. So, here's the better version.

Credits: template by Emily Ahern; Summertime Kit by Jeri Ingals; notebook journalling- Julia Fialho; floret background paper- Tracy Caudle Allure kit; multicolor background paper- FreshFusion kit by Eva Kipler; button flair (sorry I lost the TOU file); font - GF Ordner and Trebuchet MS

HONDA BIKE
I was not really excited for Nestor to buy a motorbike, but still I want to document how it become a part of our everyday activities.

Credits: Template by Kelly Mize; Fonts - Century Gothic and Rosewood Std

HAIR ACCESSORY
Something about how I sometimes splurge on a a very ordinary daily thing.

Credits: Shabby Princess Promise Collection; photo overlay by Rhonda Farrer (recolored); Font- Prestige Elite

BROTHERS
I love these older photos of my kids, very representative of how our weekend morning was so laid back then. We used to stroll around the neighborhood. I'm not very satisfied with the journalling in this page so I may have to change it later. I really like the background paper I used here. Need to lower the transparency so the original color will not clash with my photos.

Credits: template by Jen Caputo; background paper by Vinnie Pearce thank you kit; border papers from September Glow kit by AngelicaE; heart -Home sweet home kit by Lalpuche; Fonts - Pea Stacy doodle & Century Gothic

NOT A DANCE SHOW
Jerome joining a 'stop dance' game. He obviously didn't know the trick of this parlour game.

Credits: circle journal pad- Jessica Sprague; template-Denise Winkelman; papers - KSK Designs (recolored); fonts-Nueva Std, Pea Donna & Tahoma

REMEMBER THIS
Joining the Ali Edwards bandwagon of capturing everyday life. One of the proofs of the use of the Honda bike. LOL.

Credits: AE template, AE wordart, paper by Studio baers Garten Floret mini-kit

More scrapping to come...

To Bicutan

2010-03-22T12:05:00.002+08:00

Almost two months that we did not went to Bicutan until yesterday

baby Joelle is already big
the cousins are all big
suddenly my mother's house is so crowded
great chats with sisters
late getting back home, 1 AM
justin was not feeling well but still trying to play with the cousins

Jerome's Day Care ID

2010-03-10T14:28:00.009+08:00

When Jerome was 3 years old he joined the Pulo Day Care center 2 months before the school year ended. Since he's sali-pusa lang, he did not have uniform anymore. So just he would blend in the class I bought him the basic pair of khaki shorts and white shirt plus I made this ID. He's really really cute in this photo and this was the year of Jerome's cuteness in full bloom. Teacher Rhea have second thoughts accepting him at first because he thought Jerome is not used to crowded room and no aircon. Humility aside, he's always mistaken for a "rich" kid.
This ID though not official is still part of the growing ID collection I have which hangs just beside the door of the kids room. Fun to look back on how they look like year after year.

Notes to Blogs

2010-03-10T12:30:00.001+08:00

As I am cleaning my external HDD, I came across quite a lot of documents which I've written down and may have been intentionally for blogging. Some could have been posted but no proofs now (coz I deleted my blog, remember?) Some of the docs are dated even before I started blogging. I'm giving my HDD some breathing bytes so I will posts all of those here and delete the docs. Again this is part of my organizing galore.

Cheers to more documented and organized "everyday stories".

I am working from home

2010-03-10T10:06:00.002+08:00

A little past 10AM, whenever I am working at home, I would hear the sound of the car stopping, front door opening, then happy little voice. Sometimes shouting, laughing, asking didi or wanting TV5. Always, always a delight to hear it. It is the sound of Justin arriving from school. Dada always picks him up before 10AM. It's their weekday routine, their connections. The daily flow which they both settled in since Justin started school.

It's extra windy today. I can hear the bustles of the wind and trees occasional swaying. The screen door bangs in the master bedroom, but the sun's heat is pierce as it can.

Justin Sick

2010-03-09T11:58:00.000+08:00

Feb 28 | for a week now Justin is always complaining about his tummy and aching feet especially at night. Very obvious whne he got sick on Monday night.

Mar 5 | Justin has rashes all over his body and with high fever.

Mar 6 | check up for rashes and still with fever. Looks like measles but not sure.

Mar 8 | Justin absent again sa school

Proof of Past Blog - Scrapbook.com

2010-03-06T09:57:00.008+08:00

While I am in the process of transferring blog posts, I came across this entry in which I announced my new Blogger site.

So, all the entries I am transferring here are way back even before I started Blogger.

Since I already mentioned my old blogsite I might as well say more about it.

I came across Scrapbook.com way back in 2002 when I was looking for ideas on scrapbooking. I have no idea of digital scrapbooking then. I readily fell in love with the place especially the gallery as it gives me inspirations and ideas on layout style and techniques. It's goldmine for a newbie like me. It is also a scrapbook store but since the location is US and as much as I wanted to buy items, shipping cost prevented me. In their many featured tutorials I learned the basics of paperscrapping and what supplies to look for - acid free, lignin free, archival. It changed the way I scrapbook and take care of my photos. I became very meticulous in looking for photo albums - "photo-safe" should be plasted in the cover!

Thru the years the site evolved into something more. When blog became an "in" thing it was also introduced in this site and that was also the start of my blogging drama. The blog features of the site improved tremendously since it has started. And when digital became a craze, they magically catered to that as well. One of the best scrapbook site I always go back to.

Why I Don't stick it out there then? I think one of the reasons was, when I blog I tend to add a lot of photos and I like that in Blogger I can post photos directly from my computer, no need to upload into other website and then link the URL. And I noticed that it took me more time to complete a post because there coz I easily distracted by so many things I can see in the site. The neighborhood is something I a missing. I will really take time to be active there again.

Time to move on...

Transferring Blog Posts

2010-03-03T12:15:00.004+08:00

I am really trying to get back into the blogging groove after I have accidentally deleted my blog of 3 years. It's been a year since that late night/early morning fiasco but I honestly lost the steam to get back into it.

I do recognize what blogging means to me so I am doing my best to fit it in my life again. It's more than just being 'current'.

blogging allows me to express myself
it improves my rusty writing and storytelling skills
this is a source of journalling for my scrapbook
it records our lives which I know would be a good thing to pass to my kids and later generation
I become more aware of what is happening to my life and around me
it simply fun to look back into the frame of mind thru the passing of time

So for "getting back into groove" drama and to organize/simplify my netlife, I am transferring all of my old posts in another scrapsite where I used to blog before Blogger. As I plan to use the original posting date all transferred blogs will have this note at the bottom.

Adapted from scrapbook.com My Place; date I created in Blogger

This should somehow gives that feeling that this blog has life from the start and it's not just all dullness.

Gracias!

Blog New Look and Photo Trick

2010-02-28T01:54:00.005+08:00

Okay this site just had a much needed facelift. Since I forgot to take a snapshot of the "before" look (here I go again, memory gap is becoming more frequent nowadays), let me put in writing what changed.

header - see the face of a girl/lady/woman there? She's Venus. The header used to be photo of 3 sets of legs of my3lilprinces.
title - from "everyday us" to a more I feel title now - Venus on Earth. I think mentioning two planets in the blog title is more creative aside from making this blog seems like astronomical saga.
background color - from pure white to a whimsy pink
blog font - it's now sporting Trebuchet from Verdana

And then I finally figured out again how to make the photo appear bigger than the blogger default. And so to ensure I will not get lost again when memory gap strikes, I'll break it down here:

Size the photo 550x550 pixels. This is my preference.
Upload as usual.
Go to "Edit HTML" tab and look for the http source of the photo.
Remove the blogger default size, the one with WIDTH: 400 px and HEIGHT: px information.
Now look for the alternate source http, change the /s400/ to /s1600/.

And before I end this post, again, for the nth time, hope this makeover is the start of more fun blogging and more meaningful posts for me. Cheers!

Edit to add: How cool is that new "Pages" thingy of Blogger. Man that is what I been wanting for so long. Already I have several sections I want to put there. Greaaaat!

Justin says

2010-02-23T20:00:00.003+08:00

"I'm hungry"

said in a sad sad tone and holding his tummy

"I'm scared"

said while holding hiding his face behind his toy Pluto.

I'll never get enough of your unique sweetness patutin. Love you!

Happy V-day, Happy E-72

2010-02-14T23:37:00.000+08:00

And this is what I have for V-day? No, not a gift from anyone but myself although Nestor patiently walked with me, helped me to look and decide to purchase it once and for all. At P19,600 payables in 12 months… it’s a major expense. I could have bought it 2K less if I paid cash. But I am such a card person.

I originally wanted either white or red but when I saw this color –bronze – we scoured all phone stores in SM North to find the best deal for this unit, we found in almost 2 hours. Geeh, this color is hard to find, really. We almost gave up.

So what I like about it– the office functionality and the cursor. And it's a lot easier to text with QWERTY keypad. I always didn't like texting with the conventional mobile phones.

Junior Savers

2010-02-13T18:44:00.001+08:00

DH opened a saving account for Jerome and Jason yesterday at nearby BDO. They are getting money as gifts for holidays from ninong and ninang and from lolo and lola. Normally we just buy things or toys for them. Jerome is conscious already of the value of money while Jason is just plain cool about it.

Funny to think that they have to sign the application, too.

Teacher's Day Gifts - Pens in Special Case

2010-01-28T19:13:00.004+08:00

This is something I crafted in 2 hours last night for the kids to give to their teachers today - simply because it is "Teacher's Day".

This is the first time that I would do this - give gifts to teachers- in the 7 years that I send my kids to school. In this small way I hope to teach my kids to value the role of teachers in shaping their lives.

Here's the very simple drill. One good way of using remnants scrap papers I have lying around.

1. I bought a set of colored pens- 10 pcs per pack. (cheap but really nice that I also bought some for myself)

2. Put to good use the remnant paper scraps. Cut to 4"x7", or depends on the size of the pen. Fold the sorter side of the paper into 3 with one end just overlaps a bit the other end. I used decorative scissor to add interest to the top edge. With the paper folded I made a V-cut on one end of the longer side. No need to measure I just eyeballed the center and cut. This is how it look so far. I will call it the pen case.

3. Next I made a simple note card in Photoshop using a journalling element from my digi stash. (sorry forgot the designer). I typed the name of each teacher, put a generic greeting "Happy Teacher's Day"- and names of Jerome and Jason. Printed on white sticker paper and cut.

4. And the fun part, assembling the gift. Insert the pen inside the case with the pen hooked on V-cut facing top. This will hold the case in place. Looking good now. Use the sticker notecard to seal the rest of the overlapping sides and close the pen case. And viola! Done.

It was really very easy but the outcome is one that I am sure I will truly appreciate if I am the receiver. Very personalized. My boys had fun looking at it and searching the name of their teachers. They have common teachers in some subjects or was a teacher of Jerome before and now of Jason so knew them both. I told them to hand to the teacher together as much as possible. Greet as loud as they can with a smile. I made about 13 gifts in all.

When they arrived from school, of course I need to hear what happened. They said that they are the only kids with gift. Asked how they felt doing it. Jason replied he's a bit shy to give it because no other kids doing it. That's typical Jason.

Random Life

2010-01-14T11:52:00.000+08:00

I bought "Michaela" bag on 30% off. Good that I did not bought it last week, I saved P300. Not bad.

Downloaded PSP games for the boys and new songs for my iPod. I'm enjoying that little music gadget especially when travelling.

I have extra money today. my SL encashment and meal allowance for 16 months all in my payslip this month. I'm planning to buy the wedding rings supposed to be on our 10th wedding anniversary.

Life is Good.

Jason is 8

2010-01-11T21:30:00.000+08:00

I never have the flair to set-up a party for the kids birthday. Our normal celebration is the going out, buying or doing what the celebrator want and then the ceremonial singing and cake eating at home.

Saturday | We went to SM Las Pinas to buy your gift using the gift cheques from P&G. Then to Festival for video games and grocery.

Sunday | HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON!!!

The simple celebration, Conti's Mango Bravo cake (P950 - the biggest cake ever), Jollibee bucket of chicken and ice cream. We bought you an Avatar DVD.

Something about YOU now

I think your extra heavy for your age
you really like playing computer games and PSP, video gave savvy
loves fried chicken especially with crispy skin, would only eat gravy of KFC, french fries and Ate Lorna's spaghetti
while your shorts and shirts sizes got bigger, you still love to wear the hotwheels sandals bought 2 years ago
you are still that boy na madaling mapikon, mahilig umirap, madaling manakit sa kapatid, mabilis umiyak as if you are kawawa, maangal kung inuutusan

Love you very much Jason! Hope you have more meaningful celebrations to come.

Random Life

2010-01-07T22:01:00.005+08:00

Shopping therapy |

Love perfume - Lucy by Bench; I love the sweet and simple scent, nice for everyday use
undies from Bench
brown blouse on sale at The Ramp
fuchsia blouse on sale at Ensembles

Kids are getting better |> Greeting 2010 with the three boys sick, thankful that it's less stuffy noses, less tight coughs, no more cold washes with face towel and no more fever. They missed the first week of the school days this year already.

Seeing friends | I worked at GO and there I have the usual babbles with Lek, Marion and Mhar. Thankful for loyal friends.

iPod shuffle | Today I also received my project token and it is the first Apple gadget I own.

And so the Tree is Down and much more

2010-01-03T23:09:00.002+08:00

We put down th e christmas tree today. I love the space and the less clutter in the sala. Since the decors will go under the stairs storage, we also cleaned that area. I can't beleive how many crap you can fit inside that cramped area. More purging - LOVE it! Problem now is we don't know how to dispose the items we don't need anymore but are still usable.

Kids are ALL SICK - still. SO bad with the schools starts tomorrow. Extended break I guess.

ME - I'm dreading the next dayto come coz that means I'm back to project grind and stress especially that I left a lot of things open before I tool a holiday break. I gaine a lot of weight and I can feel and see it in my bulging belly.

NESTOR - did a laundry - poor guy, he's really working double since our helper left before December.

JUSTIN right now: very palautos for Pluto and didi, demanding in a not so good way.

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T15:16:00.001+08:00

Is it 2010? Where does 2009 go? I think it went pretty fast.

Getting back to the GRIND

2010-01-02T22:10:00.008+08:00

It feels odd to wear my rubber shoes again. Can't remember when was the last time I did an exercise activity. I played my GRIND workout DVD and look who is doing it with me? My little Patutin. He's really cute when he lay down on the floor beside me to do the abs, following the crunches and the leg lifts and counting too. My baby BOY - really he amazes me constantly!

Nestor's brother and family visited us today. This is something we don't have much at home - friends and relatives visiting us regularly. Nanamba and Papa used to visit us regularly. Gotta have MORE!

We have a home massage in the evening. Even Jerome and Jason had their first taste of a full body massage hoping to ease out their coughs and colds. Jason's cough got worse during the early morning while Jerome 's fever and headache got worse. :(

On the organization front- I purged shoes today. Wow, that feels good!

HAPPY 2010

2010-01-01T22:04:00.002+08:00

Happy New Year! HAPPY 2010!

I wonder what is instored for me and my family this year...

It is year of the TIGER in Chinese calendar.

Top of my list of things I want to focus on this year:

my health
family time
enjoy a beautiful home (organize and decorate)
capture moments and create more scraps

And today starting the new year with ... more cleaning , purging and orgnizing files.

All kids are sick, fever...WAAAHH!

My simple word this year... decorate or fit and fab.

Random Thoughts

2009-11-23T06:49:00.004+08:00

Yeh, that's true. However ordinary life is there are quite a bunch to note but I don't really have the steam to do. Like,
1. My son Justin's class picture. He came from school two weeks ago with this photo, why it's so funny, everyone else are seated prim and proper except for my boy. He was seated in the middle of the top row with his mouth so opened that you know he's the class "makulit" student.

2. I'm a bit happy that my helper left already. It's like I can breathe again in my own house.

3. My Christmas tree is up since late October. Nestor and I bought it at Divi.

4. Lola Diep sent a new package of goodies from US. T-shirts, chocolates, corned beef and sausage. We went to QC last Saturday for the big reveal.

5. Am glad that soon this project I am in will be over. It's becoming a burden of sort especially with another angas.

6. I don't know but I don't have any major inclination to do big shopping lalou.

7. We went to watch the holiday show at Greenhills last Saturday. It was raining a bit and with the kids in tow I can't do any major look around.

8. I am thankful for the ability to pay my bills.

9. I am planning to do a major renovation of the house next year.

10. I still have to complete my christmas list and shopping.

After a long long while

2009-11-07T22:36:00.006+08:00

I finally able to create one digital layout after a long long while. I've been paper scrapping lately having organized my photos. I've created around 3 paper layouts in a week which is really an achievement for me. I miss scrapping.

This is my youngest son who shaved off his hair with a razor he found in my suitcase.

CREDITS: Scraplift from layout by Ali Edwards, BG paper -I think this is from Misty Cato but can not be sure :( ; barcode by CBender; Alpha by Miss Mint; J round alpha by Jan Crowley; word strip by Traci Sims; bug ribbon by Val Barbieri-Endora; fonts are Sylfaen and Alis Writing; staple wires by KSK

Photo Organization part 1

2009-10-20T17:42:00.003+08:00

I 've been desparately wanting to organize my printed photos, sparked by an incident when I was looking for an old photo of me and Nestor and I can't find it. I've been reading the feedbacks on the Photo Freedom book by Stacy Julian (not the book, I wish) and somehow I worked on categorizing my photos. And then started sorting my printed photos first. I haven't touched my digital photos yet.

Categories
1. Travel/Outings/Places - places we visited, sorted chronological
2. School - anything school related to school of my 3 boys, sorted per kids, chronological
3. Birthdays - sorted by family member, by year
4. Events - family celebrations, gatherings, Christmas, anniversaries (not including b-day)
5. Family - anything related to each family member only
6. People - friends, relatives
7. Other stuffs - anthing about home, and things around us.

I first sorted the travel photos, also printed recent digital travel photos. Then the school pics, very few photos on this category. I also realized that there are special events that happened in the school like the 1st communion of Jerome - I'm thinking twice whether to file it in school or events but to simplify I put it under school. Maybe later I will change it to event but the thing is I don't want to over-analyze my categories/sorting.

Storage:
I bought 2 clear plastic CD cases to use as storage for the photos I pulled out from the albums and sorted. I used the excess invites from Justin's 1st b-day as divider (been keeping it that long coz I know I'll put it to good use someday) and labelled it with the event, date, place and number of photos.

I'm seeing good progress in my sorting and am inspired to do something about my photos so that my family can better enjoy and appreciate the memories.

Photo album:
I am still contemplating on whether to use 3-up or 2-up album. I want 3-up for travel since it holds a minimum of 300 photos, space saving and looking at the volume of the photos, I have plenty or took a lot of photos when travelling. But it is more expensive than the 2 up that holds 200 pics. So, I was like should I buy 2 2-up photos so that I have 400 photos to store for the same price of the 3-up 300 photos? The cons of course is that it took more space but is more weight -friendly in the long run. And beside I want to do photo album scrapbooking so I might buy 2-up for specific event, and the rest is 3-up, whichever is best value to my money.

By the way, I also bought a 5R album to hold my wedding photos which I pulled out from it's original bulky wedding album. I really hate my wedding photos and I hate the guys who took it. But nevertheless I'm glad that I finally found an album to organize it although the original photos still have the edges of the paper from the previous album. I hope I can do something with it before my 10th wedding anniversary which is about 1.5 months from now.

Okay, that's it for now.

Who is Who?

2009-10-03T15:48:00.005+08:00

These are my 3 boys now, (left to right) Jason, Jerome and Justin. Jason, the 2nd child has growing spurts for a year now, and growing means more on width than height. He's now oftenly mistaken by others as older than Jerome. They are 16 months apart. Of course Justin is obviously the baby.

At this stage, they are physically distinct. If I am to describe them, here's what I will say:

Jerome: deep- set eyes, nice legs (really he has flawless and nice-shape legs for a boy), has the smoothest skin and fairest complexion of the three, wavy hair, huggable size

Jason: medyo singkit ang mata, hair that grows straight and wild when long, slightly dark skin, more huggable size

Justin: he looks medyo singkit, tall for his age, fair skin, a little wavy hair, lean size

So that is them today, they have some resemblances but still very unique. Now let's look at their baby pictures... Can you identify them?

The photo is really bad that I can not see the detail of the frames. Those are excess of Justin's 1st b-day souveniers. I pulled it our of storage and looked for baby pics that somewhat look-alike. I put it in the display cabinet in the2nd floor hallway and have the boys to identify who ar ein the photos. They obviously know it is them but can not easily point who is who? Jerome knew right away his photo but can not make up which one is Jason and Justin. Jason on the other hand thinks that his photo is Justin and Justin's photo is also Justin and Jerome is Kuya Jerome. Justin thinks those are all "baby jasin" photos.

So fun to be looking back on old photos of the kids. Makes me want to scrap but I am totally in a rut. Cheers!

When The Big Boys are Out

2009-10-01T22:34:00.003+08:00

Photo taken Jan 1, 2009

When Kuya JErome and Kuya Jason were at school, Justin spends or entertains himself watching catoons at TV5. Channel 5 overhauled their shows and have cartoon marathon from show opening at 6 am until 11 am. Literally all of the morning are cartoons. Justin is really an early riser ever since and now he's part of the morning commotion when Jerome and Jason prepares for school. When he wakes up he'll open the TV and wait for the programming to start.

He likes most is Dora and Diego. At 3&1/2 yo he knows the song of Dora. He learned English and some Spanish word (salta!) with Dora. He learned the animals with Diego. He can dance the Dora dance with the tune of "We did it! We did it" and end with a sounding "hurray".

And then there's Cat Dog or DOg Cat, Blues Clues, Jimmy Neutron (which he fondly says - Jimny utron), Bratz (huh did I say that?), Spongebob ( of course he knows Mr Crab), then THomas the Train and Bob the Builder. It's his morning routine. Even if he's not watching he'll just always want the TV on. Before we know it, TV5 is just one of his daily word, like no other channels exist. Sometimes the older boys would rather stay at home and watch with Justin than go to school.

I am a witness to this because I have the privilege to work from home. Sometimes when I comes out of the office/room, he'll take my hand and lead me to sit and watch with him. I would have love to do that all day but Mommy's got to work.

See those writings on the wall, that's courtesy of the boy in the photo. And it is just one of too many murals we have in the house. Love this boy!

I came to Realized

2009-09-30T21:45:00.002+08:00

that I am not really posting any significant things into this blog lately.

I want to be productive s in productive in my attempt to record our lives, but all I have are plans and that is making me frustrated. ANyway, here are those plans:
1. re-organize my printed photos - this was sparked by a project I want to do this morning and I can't find the one picture that would make my photos complete. I have to look into my albums and photo drawers but no success. And while looking at the photos, I realized that no pne is really enjoying those tons of photos I am keeping, simply because they are kept. I want to do something with it really fast.

2. I want to organize my digital photos - so much too many I think. I need to have a real good organization system before it really overtake my hard drive.

3. I want to be creative and productive... pulleeeeez.

Top Secret Friends

2009-09-13T08:29:00.003+08:00

Look at us, after 20 years of not seeing each other, it seems like high school days again. Last August 31, I met up with Jenny, Rose and Grace in CPK Glorietta - 3 of my Top Secret barkada from HS. We were actually a group of 7 girls but the other 3 can't joined, Lolit is already based in US while Haydie and Marisse we have no contacts.

It's really nice to see them again, our looks and lives may be different but seems nothing changed the way we are comfortable with each other. WE have talked topics that we would normally not discussed with current peers. It really felt different, like I am once again connected to my roots, to the stage of my life that somehow contributed to who I am now. High school is undeniably the most enjoyable phase of my studies. ANd these gals constitute 75% of that fun. We were classmates since day1 upto graduation. We did things together: drama club, cheering team, COCC, cutting class, cheating, eat together, overnights, watching movies on Saturdays upto collecting newspapers in Ayala offices for Lolit's campaign. We were definitely a group, as much as we like to have fun we are smart enough to keep our grades in good standing. WE were inseparable. There were times when some members would be in disagreement but as far as I can remember, those times were far and few, can be counted in my fingers. That's the way we were until graduation.

We pursue different paths after then. Rose just is here in the Phils for vacation, she is now based in Italy; Jenny is a housewife who manages a salon and laundry businesses, Grace once a corporate manager is now a full time mom; Lolit is a nurse in US and me - a Proctoid.

But for this particular night, what we are now is not important. What I know I have fun again even for a brief moment with these gals.

Before I was a Mom

2009-09-12T18:53:00.003+08:00

This is based on the layout by Suzu Plentamura from Creating Keepsakes website.

A Quick Quiz
1. The hobbies I enjoyed most were cross-stitching and sewing. I finsihed several patterns while I was pregnant with Jerome and had sewn a couple of pillowcovers.
2. I usually spent weekends going to either Nanay's house in Bicutan or Nes' old house in QC.
3. My biggest dream was to have own house that I can decorate.
4. My biggest worry was I don't remember...
5. The aspect of motherhood I most looked forward to was seeing what my baby looks like.
6. A typical date night with my husband was to eating out.
7. The most defining part of my personality was , this is hard.
8. My cooking skills were really very basic.
9. My friends considered me to be kikay.
10. My biggest claim to fame was no idea.

I am in Japan

2009-09-11T22:30:00.002+08:00

in Tokyo specifically... in Hyatt Regency Tokyo to be precise...ah, room 1123 to be add more detail. So, here I am in my room alone, watching Ghost Whisperer in Sharp Aquous 32 TV. I want to write more but looks like I can not get it into writing. I lost the art at all.