From Stilettos To Ballet Flats

Time For Wonder

2012-02-27T06:17:00.002+08:00

BFFs and Proposals

2012-02-24T07:00:00.005+08:00

Earlier this year, over the span of 2 weeks, 2 of my bestest friends in the whole wide world got engaged to their loves. Even if I try, I can't tell you how genuinely happy I am for them!

Patty said yes on New Year's Eve, in a glow-in-the-dark DIY proposal that has gotten so many hits on YouTube already. I won't go into the details of the event -- I feel that the storytelling should be reserved for the bride and groom. I will also not gush about Patrick, her fiance, because Patty has a blog for that already. Hehehe.

Eight days later, Chesa got her own bling amidst lush greens at a Mactan resort. I had known about Gian's plan a week before and it took all of my self-control not to talk to Chesa that week for fear that I might slip. Ang bilis pa naman ng pick-up ng babaeng yon. As with Patty, this post is not to announce how wonderful Gian is (albeit he really is) and how sweet the proposal went -- Chesa has more words in her vocabulary to tell that story. Hehe.

So, sorry, this isn't about the love they share with their lovey-doveys.

This is about the love between girlfriends. (Insert *awwwww*)

I met these two at vastly different points of my life -- Patty when I was in 1st grade and Chesa when I was in my 1st year of law practice.

Grade 1! I'm the little girl with big hair na parang alalay nung naka-upong prinsesa sa gitna. Patty is the girl with ~~unkempt~~ untied ribbon standing at the far right.

On one of our many work lunches together, 2009 :)

In that sense, hindi ko alam kung sinong mas swerte sakanila. Patty who has had me as a friend since a kid but suffered the visual pain of my almost-forever ugly duckling stage? Or Chesa, who was spared that horror and befriended a version of me na ume-effort nang maging presentable? Hahaha. Oh well. Kanya-kanya silang tiis saakin.

But while the circumstances of our beginnings couldn't be more different, with these two, I've always felt that there have been years, possibly a lifetime, between us already. My theory is that they were my sisters in my past life. So the affection, trust, and the inexplicable "gaan ng loob" are all there with absolutely zero pretentious effort.

They are why I treasure having girlfriends :)

I had only one prayer for these two, and that was for them to find the men who will adore them and appreciate their worth and value. Everything else was gravy. (But of course, I still always prayed for lots of gravy! :P)

So when they got engaged to their respective dashing darlings, I was -- very possibly -- the person outside their families to be over-the-top ecstatic. Walang biro, feeling ko ako mismo o kapatid ko ang ikakasal. You know when you're so happy and your mind just couldn't process it well and you just cram it with the standard, "I'm so happy!!!", even though it really doesn't sum it up that well? Parang ganung level. With Chesa, since I learned about the planned proposal before it was executed, I can safely say that I cried tears of joy WAY BEFORE she did! Ang OA, right? See, that's why kanya-kanya talaga silang tiis sa akin. Hahaha.

The happiness stems from knowing we all wanted to get married someday, and the Lord made it beautiful for my friends by preparing Gian for Chesa and Pat for Patty :) Congrats you guys!!!

I can't wait for the weddings!!! :)

One Night

2012-02-21T22:57:00.001+08:00

My hyperactive toddler was unusually wide awake at 10pm. We had retreated to our bedroom a good hour and half before. Since then, he refused to stay put on the bed, and preferred walking around and turning our room upside down.

Every time I asked him if he wanted to sleep yet, he'd answer me with a definite "no".

After many rounds of enticing him to climb up the bed and just listen to our bedtime story, I finally got so tired myself and used my final card: Elmo. Hindi matitiis ng anak ko si Elmo!

Me: Jaden, Elmo is sleepy already. Maybe you should both go to sleep now.

Jaden: Mommy, no.

Me: But Elmo's sleepy...

Jaden appeared to think about this. He then proceeds to the bed, gets Elmo, puts the red toy on his pillow, and kisses him goodnight.

Then he goes back to the floor to resume playing.

Natameme ako ;)

Fun at Timezone

2012-02-20T10:25:00.002+08:00

At almost 18 months old, Jaden is enthralled exploring the world outside our home. He absolutely loves going out! We call him "Mr. Pasyal". I think he likes the monicker because he'd always echo "pa-sha!".

We make it a point to take him out once a week. Weekends are for his Wowos and Wowas, so there's a real effort to free one weekday afternoon just for Jaden, Julz, and me. Normally, we'd go to Gymboree or the nearby malls. Lately, he is most psyched when we visit Timezone.

Yes. My 1 year old son is already fascinated with the world of arcades and games. Good luck talaga saamin. (But in fairness, mas mura dun kesa sa Gymboree! Haha)

Take note, though, that this boy doesn't like the usual kiddie rides. He gets bored! What truly gets his delightful screams is this:

Basketball games!

He can spend one whole hour doing this! No matter how bright the lights of the other games are, he'd always choose the shoot-the-ball games. The rule is, when there's no ball involved, FORGET IT! So yung mga zap the lamok games? Zero appeal, guaranteed!

Jaden: "More of this, daddy!" Julz: "Mommy, help!"

It's not a breeze taking Jaden to these places. For one, the place is noisy! Then we have to take turns lifting a heavy Jaden so he can shoot the balls into the hoop (you can't shoot the ball for him -- the boy has to do it!).

But it's all good. The glee in Jaden's face makes it all worth it! :)

Happy baby = happy daddy & mommy!

Julz and I are extremely grateful that we can give our son occasional treats like this that really make him so happy. He's a little boy only for a time, and we intend to enjoy these years!

How We Spent V-Day

2012-02-17T08:16:00.007+08:00

Parts I, II, and III of our "love story" are up already. I know I did the right thing by posting them on valentine season because it's been getting a lot of hits! Haha. Mushy talaga mga tao ngayon! :P

I'm still on the fence about writing about what came next -- the wedding and all that shiz. It's a nice way to "complete" the story, right? But I have soooooo many wonderful memories of our wedding that THAT story might have to be broken in parts too! Nobela na ito. Whaddayathink?

In the meantime, here are snippets of my Valentine's Day. We did nothing OA -- Julz and I agreed that we'll have time to celebrate later on (we're going on our 3rd honeymoon!). So chillax lang kami last Tuesday.

After work (major undertime to avoid horrendous traffic), I picked up my other handsome date. We went to the most romantic place EVER. SM Supermarket. Hehe.

He didn't last long in this cart

He wanted to pick his own goods for himself! (Take note of his kalat!)

He dropped his Doritos and smiled when he saw I was taking his photo. Hehe.

It was backbreaking to be running after him the whole time we were doing the groceries! To think I had his yaya and our househelp with us! Three adults and just one kid! And we were EXHAUSTED. Jaden kept running...and so we kept running too. Eh kung ma-hit and run sya ng mga carts don?!

Whenever he'd stopped for stuff that he wants to get (like Doritos, candies, Minute Maid juice, diapers, shampoo, etc), he'd make a mess first before digging up the item he fancies from the innermost shelves. Don't ask me why -- di ko rin maisip bakit yung nasa dulo pa yung gusto niya!

We got home a couple of hours later. Para naman masabi na special din ang v-day namin, I decided I myself should cook dinner! Not that I'm great in the kitchen... minsan lang kasi ako magluto, kaya special ;)

I whipped up Julz's favorite white chicken with ginger sauce, and made his trademark order mango smoothie. Jaden had his usual sinigang.

I think the 3 of us were pretty satisfied :)

Happiness!

Soon-to-be Mister & Missus: Our Story (Part III)

2012-02-15T09:26:00.001+08:00

Julz and I were together as boyfriend and girlfriend for over a year. It was a time in my life that I was perfectly happy and content (and so not worried that this boy might just break my heart).

We were as steady as steady can be. We had our fights, yes, but not of the kind that would make you feel that World War 3 was imminent. There was never a time that either of us considered or threatened to break up the relationship -- and to my mind, that is a testament to our maturity and the quality of our relationship.

So it made a lot of sense that when Julz asked me to marry him, I said yes.

I wrote about his proposal a few days after it happened. To give you the unadulterated story, I am re-posting it here, unedited :)

To my fiance, it has been exactly ten days since your proposal in Boracay. It was magical in a way that I could never have imagined, and I simply cannot think of a single moment in my life that can measure up to the happiness I felt that night.

You were right: I never saw it coming. I used to think I will be able to tell when you’re about to pop the question because… well, let’s just say keeping a surprise is not your forte ;) You’d always have that “prelude” that eventually gives away the surprise (it doesn’t help that I’m too quick, too ;P). Don’t get me wrong though – I find that endearing about you.

But of course, it’s not as endearing as the fact that of all the surprises you’ve spoilt, you chose the right one to preserve :)

Weeks before flying to Bora, I thought that being there with you and our friends was going to be the best thing about our Valentine’s weekend this year. The timing couldn’t be better as you and I both know that I was finding it increasingly difficult to be spending less and less time together. I vividly remember crying to you the weekend before Valentine’s while I was writing that sad entry in your journal. Parang OA na tuloy yung drama ko nun!

When I woke up on Valentine’s Day, all I really expected was to have a nice dinner with you by the beach. And okay, I wanted flowers too. So much so that I even asked you outright to buy a bouquet for me. Haha. Tinawanan mo lang din ako nun. You were probably thinking, “bulaklak lang ba talaga gusto mo?” Nakakatawa na sha isipin ngayon.

I found it funny too when, on the morning of your proposal, I jokingly blurted out, “Pakakasalan mo ba talaga ako, Julis?!” in the most nagging girlfriend tone I could muster (which, for the record, is NOT my usual tone… uyy defensive).

Later in the afternoon, you convinced me to swim with you, X and Lulu in the resort pool. I didn’t want to at first because I preferred watching the sunset by the beach (and also because the pool water was very, very cold). Buti nalang I am such a sunud-sunuran girlfriend, so I went :)

We got back around 5:30 and you told me to write you a postcard.

Seryoso! You made me buy one of those 20-peso postcards in D-Mall and asked me to write you a V-Day letter so we could swap. While I found it a little out of character, I obliged. I figured that, at some point, I had to let you realize just how happy I am to be with you.

I believe it was no coincidence that in that particular letter, I told you for the first time about how my Papa always told me to look for a man who will respect me and love me with a love that is true, pure, and unconditional, and about how glad I am that I found that man in you.

That letter was by far the one that took the shortest to write – no drafts, no second takes, no revisions. Yet somehow, I feel that it is most real, most honest and most natural of all the letters I’ve written.

Still, you managed to move me to tears with YOUR letter. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing that you want to spend all your tomorrows with me and that someday, you will ask me to begin our life together.

It could have well been the highlight of my evening.

As we walked towards the beach, you held me extra tighter than you normally would and began telling me that you’ve been thinking about “someday”. Although I was puzzled by how we didn’t pause for our friends who have been waiting for us, I continued walking with you and hung on to every word you were saying. After all, the sentimental gene in you comes out only once in a blue moon. ;)

You were still telling me about “someday” when you guided me towards a candle-lit sand structure with rose petals strewn all over it. At first, I thought it was just one of those sand castles built by the locals where we could have our pic taken in exchange for a tip. But then I read the engraving and finally realized, without really believing, what was happening.

As I turned back to face you, I saw you down on one knee with a ring in your hand. With tears welling up my eyes, I heard you say, “Will you marry me?”

It was all it took to overwhelm me with love, joy and excitement as I was reduced to exclaiming, “Oh my gosh!!!”. I embraced you for several minutes, embraced you again and again, and at last, coming back to my half-senses, I said “Yes! Yes pala!” (just in case a question like that needs an express answer like this) Hehe.

I was floating the entire night in my own cloud of happiness. I didn’t think it was possible that I could be happier and more content, as I am now. As I recall the events leading to your proposal, it dawns on me how real it is – that you and I are getting married soon – and how overjoyed that thought makes me. Finally, our “someday” has begun.

Julz, you are my best friend, my happiness, my wonder, and my tomorrow. But above all these, you must know, you are God’s answer to my prayers.

I love you.

Feb 14, 2009, Boracay, Philippines.

Kilig diba? :P

Why February the 14th Matters To Me

2012-02-14T13:57:00.001+08:00

On the night of Valentine's in 2009, we were engaged :)

When The Pot Found Its Tea: Our Story (Part II)

2012-02-10T10:09:00.002+08:00

We became a couple, officially, on December 17, 2007, while we were driving along Imelda Avenue to go to my block Christmas party. How un-romantic! But so typical of us -- to this day, many of our significant conversations happen while we're on the road. It's probably something about the car aircon. Nakaka-talino siguro yon :P

Anyway. Like most couples, before that fateful night, we were "unofficially" together.

Thank God the traffic was horrible that evening, so we got the chance to talk about our status (the proverbial "Ano ba tayo?" question), once and for all. It went something like this:

A: Uy guess what? Nakausap ko si Jess kanina!
B: (Excited) Talaga? Ano sabi?
A: Tinanong ba naman ako kung tayo na!
B: Ano sabi mo?
A: Edi yes.
B: Ah ok... (Tameme pero halatang kinilig)

O diba. Mejo unilateral agreement ang dating. Parang na-estop lang si B! :))

12.17.07: It's official!

By this time, my family and friends knew who Julz was, and his side knew who I was as well. In fact, I'm convinced some already "knew" we were a couple even before we ourselves knew!

More importantly, we knew a lot about each other. We've pretty much learned the good and bad about ourselves when we made it official. He knew I wasn't a meek girl and that I had the capacity to infuriate him. Hehe. Me, I knew he wasn't the type who'd say sorry at the first drop of (OA) tears.

But we clicked. We always had so much fun together and, well, with him, the world seemed to make a lot of sense :)

Before The Pot Found Its Tea: Our Story (Part I)

2012-02-08T08:23:00.067+08:00

Since it's the month of lurrve, I've decided to indulge my husband (and some readers too) by writing this cheesypaloozah post!

It must be said that I intend this to be the most candid account of our love story. Okay? Are you ready? :P

Julz and I met in 2006 while we were both studying to be lawyers. How we had time for flirting, I don't know. We both claim to have started wanting to be just friends. In truth, I really think Julz was enamored by me from the beginning. Kasi, kung kilala niyo ang asawa ko especially during his "heydays", aba, allergic siya sa mga less-than-pretty girls! :))

Anyway, although we were in the same school, we didn't exactly know each other. I was your typical goody-two-shoes who went to school from home, and home to school. I kept to my small circle of friends and didn't go out a lot. In short, limited exposure!

It so happened that one of my classmates was friends with Julz. He asked her if there was someone in her block na, and I quote, "Single na maganda". Mabuti nalang at ok ang taste ni Friend and so she brought my name up. Naturally, being in the age of information technology, Julz looked me up on the net. No, not Facebook. Friendster! FRIENDSTER!!! Hahaha. So last decade.

And there he saw his girl of his dreams. Nyahaha. Ok. Ok. Since this is a candid account, I will reform: And there he saw this very attractive girl. *AHEM* With his friend request, he sent a short message (something about how it's weird we don't know each other considering how small the UP Law population was).

The seredipitous Friendster photo that piqued Julz's interest.

I approved his request several days after. The lag wasn't because pakipot ako. Dahil iyon sa wala kaming internet sa student condo namin. Hahaha. Backward lang ang peg.

I also sent a reply to his message. Little did I know that that exchange would start a string of emails about law school chismis :P

This all happened during the Christmas break. Before school resumed, we already saw each other once (He traveled to my favorite neighborhood mall in Alabang from Antipolo. Dahil assuming ako, in-assume ko na para sakin yun effort niya. Haha. AKO NA!). We also became regular textmates. Yes, again, BACKWAAARD!!! Wala pang BBM and Globe Duo nun.

By the time we went back to school, we were like old friends. For the next several months, that's what we were. Though Julz pretty much kept his chickboy activities from me, my eyes were wide open with the truth that he wasn't obsessively focused on me. Ang dami kaya niyang girlaloos nun! :))

For the record, I didn't take issue with that. Ang motto ko nun, "Kung ayaw mo, wag mo!" Hahaha. But the attraction and chemistry were there... and so eventually, we kinda fell into the When-Harry-Met-Sally philosophy: A girl and a boy, together, cannot be just friends.

Gradually, I noticed the mounting attention thrown my way. Julz was always oh-so-thoughtful, but this time, I thought the concern was extraordinary. This was FULL attention he was giving me. So I reciprocated. We found ourselves exclusively dating for a few months.

In December, after a year of being "just friends" and about 3-4 months of exclusive dating, we decided to put an official label on our status.

Kami na! :)

Ventosaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

2012-02-06T06:44:00.002+08:00

I just had my 1st session of ventosa treatment! It's so darn good!!!

Hindi po ako ang nasa photo. Hehe.

Ventosa treatment is a therapy that uses glass cups that create suction on different accupoints on the back. Traditionally, candles are set on your back to be covered by the cups (like in the photo). In my case, my therapist used modern cups which didn't require heat for the suction. (I wasn't sure how I felt about this. On one hand, I was looking forward to getting the traditional treatment; but on the other, I was relieved that there's no fire involved anymore.) Anyway, the vacuum created inside the glass lifts the skin and increases blood circulation. It supposedly removes muscle spasm and tissue congestion.

I've been meaning to try this for the longest time. Like, since law school. But I was too sissy. The treatment always came with a "warning" that I'll be sporting circles on my back days after. So I thought it was painful!

But then my back has been clamoring for an intensive therapy already. Ang yaman ko na sa "lamig"! I felt I needed a treatment that went beyond deep relaxation. That criteria took my favorite hot stone massage out of the picture. Oh well.

I booked a 1.5-hour ventosa session to done at home. (I used to be picky with spa ambiance, but now, keri na kahit saan ako magpa-masahe!) My therapist came on time, plugged in the music (bonggels!), lit the aromatherapy candles (bonggels again!), and started the treatment.

She put the cups on one side of my back. I was surprised that the suction didn't hurt. Not at all! I actually liked the sensation of little points of pressure on my back. She then left the cups for about 10-20 minutes (lost track of time!) and proceeded to doing a swedish massage on my right leg. After that, she released the cups and... MAJOR MUSCLE RELIEF!!!

She did the same to the other side of my back. Haay, heaven! I felt 1 million times lighter! And I'm not exaggerating. Talagang gusto kong ipaulit yung procedure. Pero baka OA naman diba? The rest of our therapy time, I was given a lovely, relaxing swedish massage. Winner! That night, I slept wonderfully!

My back did get the circles, but it's nothing to keep you from trying ventosa... well, unless everyday ka nagba-backless! :P

So now ventosa is on my favorite spa treatments next to hot stone massage! Yay, at least mas mura ito. Hehehe :) They say i should try the traditional hilot too. Bilang masunurin na tao, i-ta-try ko talaga yan. Abangan!

Soda Boy

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000+08:00

At Dinner

2012-02-01T09:25:00.002+08:00

And someone was so happy to have peking duck! :)

Wowo John, Boss Jaden, Wowa Lisa

After a trip to Timezone, Jaden gobbled up his bowl of peking duck 3rd way

Then played peek-a-boo with the table napkin

He's on a big chair na! *sigh* how time flies!

Happy birthday, Papa! We love you!

The mandatory couple shot! My handcrafted jade-and-amethyst necklace says hi! :)

It's My Papa's Birthday!

2012-01-31T13:31:00.000+08:00

I will always be my Papa's girl.

Even now that I'm old and have a baby of my own. He is still my hero and, contrary to what I thought when I first penned this short story, he isn't and will never be just "the other man".

He's my father, THE MAN who brought me up, taught me love, and allowed me to grow into the person I am today.

THE OTHER MAN

“Do you, Issa, take Michael as your lawfully wedded husband?”

Issa shifted her gaze towards Michael, his eyes gleaming in anticipation. Then her eyes darted over his shoulders, over to one guest seated on the second pew.

He was looking straight back at her, bravely hiding the pain that was ever so slowly gnawing at his already bruised heart. He thought he had prepared for this day, but the tears that were welling in his eyes only proved him wrong.

∞

Issa was his true love, the most beautiful thing in his life. From the day he laid eyes on her, he knew that he was going to love her unconditionally. Forever. He promised her his heart and she promised him hers. For years, they were inseparable. He stood by her side and jumped from one milestone to the next, hand in hand. He assured Issa of his faithfulness and constant presence yet made it a point to give her enough space to grow and explore the world on her own. Issa, in turn, loved him just as much. He was her best friend, her man, her hero.

Then Michael came along. Since then, all changed between him and Issa. She started going out more often and arriving home late. Her weekends suddenly became full, too. On rare dinner dates, she would casually mention Michael to him, but upon seeing the less-than-pleased look on his face, she’d dismiss Michael as “just another officemate”. He believed her. After all, this is Issa – just one smile from her erases all his fears and doubts.

As it turns out, though, his gut-feel was right. Issa and Michael were an item. He confronted her about it; she tearfully confessed. He wanted to lash out at her, but instead he found himself calmly asking her, “Does he love you? Are you happy?”

“Yes,” she meekly responded.

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, he let her go.

Two years later, she called him to break the news of her engagement. “It’s important to me that you’re there on my wedding day, okay?” she said.

“I promise,” he answered, even though he knew that seeing Issa walk down the aisle towards the arms of another man will only tear his world apart.

∞

“I do”

Tears streaming down his face, he looked away from the altar and silently prayed that Michael would take care of his girl.

∞

As the newlyweds made their way out of the church, Issa paused and in the midst of the frenzy, searched for the man in the second pew.

He was now standing by the huge church doors, looking at her in quiet admiration. Despite the heart-wrenching pain, he was happy to see Issa so beautifully radiant and blissful on her wedding day.

Upon spotting him, Issa let go of Michael’s hand and slowly squeezed her way towards him. She was grinning when she came face to face with him, yet in her eyes were tears that were flowing freely, unstoppably.

She took his hand, kissed him gently on the cheek, and embraced him warmly, just like before.

Then she tiptoed and on his right ear she whispered, “I love you, Papa.”

To the epitome of a good father

and an honorable, Godly man,

my PAPA,

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Christian weds Lulu... again :)

2012-01-30T13:00:00.000+08:00

Julz's brotha' from anotha' motha' married his lady-love last Thursday! :)

Short background lang: Christian, or "G" or "X", is my hubby's BFF, although neither will acquiesce to such title. Something about being emasculated. Ewan. Basta deny to death sila. Pero kita naman na super bffs sila. Minsan nga, natatawag pa ako ni Julz na "G", tapos natatawag niya si Christian na "Aims" (our pet-name for each other).

O diba, tapos ide-deny pa nila. #weird

This is Christian's 2nd wedding. To the same girl, of course :) He married Lulu back in 2008 in civil rights, and as he promised, he said "I Do" to her once more, this time in a beautiful church with a choir and a long aisle and errthing!

My 2 boys were part of the entourage, and so naturally, that made me the official stage wife/mother of the event :))

Here are some photos of the wedding. I purposely limited them to a few shots, out of respect for the couple who are very private people. (Same reason for why puro kami lang din halos ang nandito sa photos! Hehe)


Excited to walk as coin bearer for the 2nd time!

What Jaden wore: barong from SM, black pants, Florsheim Kids shoes

Beautiful wives with their, uhm, kind hubbies. Haha.

He wanted to run! Buti nalang hawak ko siya, so brisk walking nalang! :))

Lulu :)

Huli! Jaden refused to give the coins; he wanted to keep them for his alkansya.

The happy bride and groom!

The happy coin bearer and cord sponsor!

Lulu and X, and their pretty daughter Nadine

My best shot of the event. Bawal kumontra :))

So...sinong kamukha ni Jaden?

What i wore: brandless black tube top, Forever 21 skirt, Charles & Keith satin peep-toes (with silver heels!), licorice JellyBean, LV purse. Hair and makeup by... me. Hehe.

I love weddings!!! Please invite me to yours? :D

Scratching the travel itch: Bangkok Diaries

2012-01-27T11:26:00.017+08:00

First things first. My heart is overflowing with gratitude and excitement just looking at our travel plans for this year. Summer is especially lookin' awesome! I can't wait!

The next trip is scheduled a month away. It'll be super special because it's our 1st getaway as a couple since becoming parents! Weee! :)

Meanwhile, I can't seem to take my mind off new adventures. So here's a flashback of the last trip I had as a single lady! Presenting, Bangkok!

I traveled to BKK in October of 2009, just over a month before tying the knot. I went with my officemates-turned-girlfriends Byosh, KC, and Chesa.

Bright and early and NOT in the office! Me, Byosh, and Chesa at the Centennial Airport

Can we be more touristy than this? :) KC, me and Chesa arrive at the BKK Airport

KC got a really good hotel deal online. If I remember right, I think we paid only Php1,000 a night (with complimentary yummy buffet breaky). It's a steal because the The Palazzo Bangkok boutique hotel was not just clean (my only requirement), it was also super duper nice and chic!

Promise, mas maganda ito in person. Every room had a different theme & design!

On our first day, we explored the area of our hotel and landed in an excellent restaurant, Somboon Seafood. We feasted on our first Thai meal featuring the star of the lunch, the original fried curry crabs! I also had my 1st try at sticky rice with mango. Ang sarap lang mga, teh!

I will never be a good food blogger; I always dig in before thinking of taking photos.

Winner.

We then took the train to the city for our first jab at shopping!

Central World Plaza, BKK.

After hitting CentralWorld, off we went to the real hard-core shopping place: MBK. We don't have photos of this place anymore because the 4 of us got lost in between haggling and buying. Divi ang peg nito! I was exhausted after the whole experience. To think we weren't there too long because stores were about to close. OA!

Still, our day didn't end yet. After depositing our loot in our hotel, we walked the streets of BKK to get a taste of some Thai nightlife.

The 4 us with our Pinoy friend, Sir Atoy, who gamely took us around.

Day 2 was reserved for tours outside the city. Our first stop was the Summer Palace in the Ayutthaya Province. Being a fan of everything royal, I loved the palace tour and gobbled up trivia (and gossip) about the Thai Royals :P

According to legend/trivia/gossip, this tower was where the King would check where all his 100 children were. Pagbigyan. Di pa uso CCTV nun.

The Ayutthaya Temples and Ruins were next.

Buddha Head in a tree. Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya.

Of course, the tour won't be complete without stopping by the famous Thai elephants. Mejo naawa lang ako coz they were there as circus animals, far from living in their natural habitat. So I fed one of them.

I was frightened.

We asked our tour van take us back to the city before sunset. The package actually included a tour of a jewelry factory but we begged off, knowing well enough that it was just a ploy to sell us jewelry at exorbitant prices. We'd rather shop for clothes! And so we trooped to the hugely popular Chatuchak Night Market.

I bought a few items here and there, but my feet hurt a lot from all the walking so I opted to spend a couple of hours having the world-famous Thai massage.

I dragged Sir Atoy and Chesa with me. Buti nalang pagoda cold wave din sila, so massage was perfect.

After Chatuchak, we dared go to Patpong, the red light district of Bangkok. I was flabbergasted just being there. Within minutes, umatras kami at kumain nalang sa kalye. Haha.

I had duck noodles. Not fantastic, but worth the try!

No evil!

On our 3rd and final day, we went to the heart of Bangkok to visit the Grand Palace, the Reclining Buddha, and a couple more shopping centers. Wala talagang kapaguran mag-shopping!

Had to rent these hideous clothes because I wore a sleeveless top and leggings!

Lost eggplant in the Grand Palace

Byosh and the Reclining Buddha. This was flooded during the 2011 typhoon that hit BKK :(

Finally, it was time to go. We packed our bags and caught our evening flight to Manila.


BKK Airport, waiting for our flight back home.

...

...
PS: Dear Universe, sana maulit ito with my girlfriends :)

Happy couples make happy friends

2012-01-26T22:42:00.000+08:00

8 Reasons Why I Chose To Be A Working Mom: The FLIMSY Edition

2012-01-26T10:08:00.004+08:00

Choosing to be a working mom is one of the most challenging decisions I've made. It's been a year since I re-joined the work force but the truth is, it remains a struggle for me to leave my son at home so I can go to the office. Especially when he reaches out, says "ama" (sama -- or "go with you" in our language), and then makes his pity face. Might as well put a dagger through my heart.

I don't know if there will ever come a time when I'll get used to this. Until then, I will always try to justify my choice. I don't want to be philosophical or too sentimental about it (I can really wax poetic about this topic), so this post on my reasons for being a working mom will be purely just for FUN :)

I choose to be a working mom because...

I want to dress up every morning, wear nice shoes, and put make-up on.
Conversely, I don't want my husband to come home to a frazzled housewife, which I was before I returned to work.
I like driving my car.
My husband's generosity notwithstanding, I want to earn my own money so I wouldn't feel guilty about spending for myself.
I suck at being a housewife, mostly because I'm such a bad cook!
I like talking in legal jargon. Haha :)
I like writing "Lawyer" in the forms where my occupation is asked.
A lot of my friends are lawyers. I don't want to feel out of place when we hang out :P
There's got to be a reason to buy corporate wardrobe.
My back can't take the physical toll of running after and lifting a heavy 17-month old toddler ALL DAY! :P
I love how Jaden squeals in delight when I get home.

This post is inspired by Mama Kat's Writers Workshop!

Body Talk

2012-01-25T07:41:00.033+08:00

A reader suggested I talk about post-partum body changes. I thought it's a great idea, so I played around it and... here we go! :)

First, let me show you how I looked like before I got preggy:

August 2009. Look at those malnourished arms! Ugh.

As you can see, I was very skinny. I'm so thin and small, I'd pass for a college student! I say that with more cringe than pride because hey, I wanna look like a WOMAN!

And that was exactly what I got when I became pregnant! :)

1 month preggy: I got cleavage! Hehe :))


4 months. Pati ako nagagandahan sa sarili ko. Chos! Haha


6 months! I was getting lots of compliments by this time :)

7 months: more of these photos here

8 months. Big and beautiful :)

Nearing my 9th month

August 23, 2010: Right before I gave birth to the boy who made my beauty bloom for 9 months!

There. I did feel beautiful while I carried my son in my womb. I thought I looked healthy, happy, and glowing. My skin and hair were oh-so-goody! Not a zit or split-end in sight! My face and arms filled out, and I went from cup A to cup C! My wish then was to keep my "curves" even after Jaden is out. I'm probably the only mother in the world who ever wished that! :P

Well, I'm happy to share that I got my wish... for about 3-4 weeks! I lost all of 18lbs barely a month post-partum. I still ate a lot, but thanks to the inevitable sleepless nights and exclusive breastfeeding, I was down to my ideal weight... and I was still losing a lot. I didn't like it!

Me at 2 months post-partum: Already lost 90% of my pregnancy weight!

I was still wearing a cup C, but that was solely attributable to my breastfeeding. I doubt if there was still body fat residing there. At 5 months post-partum, I knew I was back to my pre-preggy shape when even my tummy had shrunk without need for a single sit-up. (Kung sana ang abs ganon din edi ang saya ko na!)

By the time March (6 months post-partum) came along, I looked like this:

Preggy weight wiped out.

And finally, this is how I look now:

Back to being tiny.

So yes, I'd say I'm in a totally weird place by loving my pregnant look and weight. Obviously, most moms want theirs eliminated fast. Me, I wanted the fat!!!

People ask me how I lost all that weight in a flash. Most of the time, I just say "Payatin lang talaga ako" -- and really, that makes up a huge part of it (the rest being exclusive breastfeeding and no yaya for 6 months). But I don't explain further because, well, if being fat is problem to others, being too thin bugs me. And I don't really want to dwell in it by telling everybody about it, right?

So please don't hate me for being thin. I realize most of you were looking forward to an entry that screamed how big I got when I was pregnant, and how I'm struggling to go back to my pre-preggy weight. Like I said, I'm in a very unique place. I just look at it this way: all women (save for Heidi Klum who is now reportedly separated from Seal... WAHH!!!) have different "issues" about our pregnancy weight -- I struggled to keep mine while most battled to shed it off. In the end, it helps to re-realize that it is my body, no matter how flawed, that created the most beautiful little boy in the world: Jaden :)

...

Cheers to being big, small, and in between! :)

Jaden's best bud

2012-01-22T19:34:00.001+08:00

Last October, my mom gave Jaden an Elmo hooded towel. The hood featured Elmo's face with his big, bulging eyes and his equally huge orange nose. The rest of the towel was in his signature red color.

Jaden knew about Elmo from his Elmo ABC's app on the iPad, one of his early favorites. That's prolly why he quickly took to the Sesame Street puppet. Now in the form of a towel, we would use Elmo as a sort-of bribe to get Jaden out of his tub: "Jaden, bath time's over! Come on, Elmo's waiting for you." And we would display the Elmo towel in all its very red glory, hoping to entice my little boy into "surrendering". The trick almost always worked (about 95% of the time).

The thing is, once he is towel dried and ready for his mid-day nap, Jaden didn't want to let go of Elmo. So the very damp Elmo would "sleep" beside Jaden. We don't put away Elmo until after Jaden wakes up because I feel I am betraying my baby if I snatch away his toy while he's napping :P (Although there was one time that his yaya took Elmo the towel after Jaden fell asleep. He woke up an hour later and seeing no Elmo beside him, he went off to frantically search for him under the pillows, saying "Mo, Mo". As in panic mode siya ha!)

After a while, Jaden started looking for "Mo" even during playtime. That's when it occurred to me that I really must get him a real Elmo stuffed toy.

I picked up a small Elmo at Toy Kingdom one December day (in the midst of the holiday rush). I had planned to give it to him as a Christmas gift, but relented at the last minute to my absolutely low (nearing zero) EQ. I wanted to see his reaction NOW.

Elmo!

Jaden was delighted upon seeing Elmo -- with a 3-dimensional tummy, 2 hands, 2 legs and 2 feet!!! Jaden gleefully yelled "Mo!!!" and rushed towards me to embrace his new toy. I really wish I took a photo of his reaction. It was priceless!

Since then, Jaden has been such a great "friend" to Elmo, and the red toy a loyal buddy to my son. I would always see Elmo "watching" Jaden play basketball in his room. Yun pala, inuupo talaga siya ni Jaden sa tabi niya... In other words, no choice si Elmo kay Boss Jaden. Hehe. In fairness, sometimes, Jaden gives him a ball to shoot, too. But then Jaden would get frustrated because his buddy couldn't even hold a ball! To which Elmo said, "Sorry na, puppet lang!" :))

At meal times, Jaden would selflessly share his food with Elmo -- even if it's his super favorite sinigang! Then he'd make Elmo drink "mamam" (water) and some vitamins too.

But the cutest thing between these 2, I think, is when Jaden would offer Elmo his nighttime bottle of milk first before chugging it down. No matter how sleepy he is, Jaden would get his bottle and put the teat end into Elmo's mouth, and make suckling sounds. After a few seconds, he'd put Elmo down and only then would he rest his head and feed.

I really can't say that Elmo has become Jaden's security blanket, because my boy can forget all about him at will. Hehe. There are times we point out to him that he forgot to bring Elmo, and Jaden will just shrug and say "Mo, no more" with matching hand signal for "no more".

So there, Jaden's first best buddy is Elmo! Thank God it's not Barney. Hehe.

Like Father, Like Son

2012-01-14T10:17:00.006+08:00

Jaden is turning 17 months old next week. At this age, he's already got a personality all his. At the same time, he exhibits a lot of traits that we think he got from either me or Julz. For the most part, I think he's more like his Daddy. But maybe that's because they're both boys.

Like his "Da-deeeeee", Jaden has an unabashed obsession with basketball. Actually, balls in general. Football. Plastic ball. Rubber ball. Even the humongous exercise ball! Look:

Trying to lift a ball that is bigger than him

I really don't know how it started. All I remember is that he learned how to play catch-and-throw, how to shoot balls into hoops (or trash bins, bags, bathtubs, etc) and kick a ball a la David Beckham even before he learned how to walk.

Jaden (11 mos old here): "Catch the ball, Ma!"

He won't let go of his basketball and prefers to pose gamely with it!

Not just that. While Jaden can barely sit through baby TV without getting bored, it's an altogether different story when NBA Premium is on... Ha! He sits like a well-behaved boy beside his Daddy. Meron pa yang "Essss!" ("Yes!") pag may nakaka-score!

It was obviously a close game. (Jaden at 6 months old)

And then there's the iPad. Mine has become Jaden's repository of basketball and bubble-shooting apps. In fairness, it comes in handy when he gets restless and we wanna make him sit still :P

The only other things that can win Jaden's rapt attention are chicks. As in chickens and girls. See, I told you he is more like Julz. Haha :)

Buti nalang, Jaden also got his father's loyalty and great love for me :P (Serious ako!)

Ayaw na ayaw akong pakawalan, diba? Haha

Moving on, I think Jaden also got Julz's loud voice. Seriously. Ang lakas at buong-buo ang boses ng anak ko. None of those squeaky baby voices for this fella. Tipong pag tinawag ka niya eh mapapakaripas ka talagang lumapit!

Jaden is naturally assertive, too. If he wants something, he's gonna get it -- and always as if there's an urgency for it. So much like his Daddy. May gigil factor.

The same goes for the things that he does not want. This is one baby whom you cannot force to do anything, even if you bribe him. Not even flash a smile if he doesn't want to (or doesn't like you! haha).

"Eh ayoko nga ngumiti eh!"

Jaden rarely cries, too. Very Julz. Me? Oh, I cry as a hobby! :)) Since birth, Jaden has really been a good boy. He was never difficult to care for. Never a crybaby, never colic-y. Mabait na bata -- a description which, funnily enough, I always hear from Julz's maternal grandparents and aunties about how Julz was as a kid.

In my opinion, though, the best thing Jaden got from his dad is his resilience :)

In time, I know I'll discover more traits and quirks that my boys share. More than being amused, I'd be so proud. I married a good man, after all.

Two smiles and a whole lotta love

My Little Bearer of Joy

2012-01-12T08:48:00.000+08:00

photo by kai and/or lauren pastores

Tiger Mom

2012-01-10T07:04:00.001+08:00

Just got me an ebook of the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Looking forward to reading it to finally satiate my curiosity about this controversial title.

I'm a big fan of attachment parenting, so for now, this is the closest I can get to being a Tiger Mom:

Drooling. Again.

2012-01-07T08:05:00.000+08:00


Crimson Resort & Spa, Mactan Island

Shangri-La Mactan

El Nido, Palawan

Traveling with a toddler? No problem-o!

2012-01-05T13:38:00.011+08:00

Before I got married, part of me had wanted to get pregnant about 6 months after the wedding. I told Julz I wanted to travel with him first before taking it slow.

But Julz had different plans, and lo and behold, so did God. A month and a half after our wedding, we found out we were pregnant! Woohoo! For once, I couldn't be happier and more thankful that my plan didn't work!

And so we were blessed with the love of our lives, Jaden. As a bonus, we were also given varied opportunities to go around. Thus, lesson #1: Having kids doesn't mean you can't travel anymore. It'll be very different, but it's just as fun, enriching, and a whole lot worthwhile!

After four trips with Jaden, I am now able to round up my top 5 tips for traveling with a little one :)

1. Plot an itinerary. Gone are the days when you can "throw caution to the wind" and just go where your feet will take you. With a toddler, you HAVE to know your 3 Ws: what, where, and when. Tailor your itinerary as much as possible to fit your kid's daily routine. For example, if he naps after lunch, try to go to a place where he can rest. (On our Singapore trip, we went to the Art Science Museum where it was quiet, cool and dark. Jaden fell asleep easily while Julz and I took in the Titanic Exhibit.) The point is to keep to your child's routine (meal time, milk time, bath time, nap time, and sleep time) as much as possible. Being in a new place can be too overwhelming for kids so it's essential that he can still have some predictability somehow. That said, you have to be ready to cross out plans for the day when you feel that your toddler is already too tired. So, plot your itinerary but don't expect to stick to it no matter what.

2. Reserve your seats on the plane and check-in online. You can do so much on the internet these days! These include being able to choose your seats and check-in from the comforts of your own home. This way, you won't have to queue for a long time at the airport counter. You just have to go to the lane dedicated to those who have checked-in online, present your luggage, then ta-dah! You're done!

3. Pack early. In all our trips, I made a list of what to bring and started packing 2-3 days before our departure date. Make sure you bring:

enough clothes (little ones need a clothes change every now and then).
vitamins, medicines and first-aid stuff (paracetamol, antihistamine or other anti-allergy meds, betadine, band-aids, anti-itch creams, etc)
toiletries (toothbrush, flouride-free toothpaste, shampoo, bath soap, lotion, sunblock, and mosquito repellent)
1 or 2 of your child's favorite toy (to keep him amused when he gets restless)
food, i.e. water, milk and familiar snacks. If you're travelling with a baby (less than a year old), then pack bottled baby food too. The familiarity of the snacks will entice your little one to munch on something while he takes in new sights and sounds. Don't forget to offer your toddler water, too. Do it often so he stays hydrated.
Baby wipes & Ziplocks. Honestly! They're the most useful things on the road. The wipes are perfect for any kind of mess, be it on the face, the hands, or the butt :P You can use them to freshen up, too! And those Ziplocks! You don't have to worry about mixing your baby's soiled clothes/bibs/what-have-you's with his clean ones -- just stash the dirty ones into your Ziplock and off you go!
Baby bottle cleanser and sponge. Keep those baby bottles clean! I do the washing before I sleep, leave the bottles to dry overnight so that by morning, they're ready to be used again.
Sterilizer bags. If you're lucky enough to get a hotel room with a microwave, these sterilizer bags will come in handy. Just put the bottles and teats, add water, and pop in the microwave. Voila! Sterilizing made easy!

4. Book a nice hotel. I used to be a budget-hotel traveler (at least whenever I traveled on my own money). My theory was that I'll be out sightseeing most of the day, so all I really need is a bed and a clean bathroom. When traveling with a kid, however, this theory won't hold water. For one thing, you won't be "out sightseeing most of the day" -- trust me, you'll come back early! You'll want to either nap in the afternoon, or call it a day at 7pm. Either way, you will spend a lot of time in your hotel. So don't scrimp on your accommodations! Get a nice, big room so that no one feels cramped :)

5. Have fun. Don't overthink your plans for the day. When you're stressed, it rubs on your toddler so take pity! ;) Let the whole family enjoy the trip! If your kid wants to run around instead of watching a show, let him be! At the end of the day, you are after his happiness. And if you haven't heard it yet, it's the simplest things that make a child happy!

The night I went out to partey

2012-01-03T10:21:00.002+08:00

I seriously felt like a fish out of water! I'm already 28 and a mom to a 1-year old, so it felt a tad weird that I was on an honest-to-goodness gimmick... at Opus no less!

But I had fun! I was glad I was there for my sister-in-law's posh birthday salubong.

Flanking the birthday girl :)


Would you believe these are just SOME of the cousins we have on my husband's side of the family?!

The 3 "quietest" ESQ boys and their lawyers ;)

Sibling love:)

Ang daming kuya na nakabantay that night

Yun nga lang, I was tired by midnight. (Cinderella lang ang peg!)

Cinderstella.

The Manong & Manang award goes to... :P

Still, we lasted til 1:45ish. Pero talagang pagoda cold wave na ako by then. Wala na ang magic ni fairy godmother... as in pag tingin ko sa escort kong si Julz, eh balik mouse na sya!!! Hahaha. Joke lang, Imbs! :)

*All photos courtesy of our hunk of a cousin Joaquin Esquivias (who has the hottest gadgets in town).

Chickboy

2012-01-02T16:05:00.000+08:00


"Help me, Mama!!!" (photo by Tita Angel)

2011 Rocked!

2011-12-31T18:00:00.001+08:00

But 2012 will be

A W E S O M E.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

My Top 5 Feel-Good Blogs

2011-12-29T10:27:00.005+08:00

I love blog-hopping. It's one of the things I like doing right before I sleep at night. The iPad makes this activity so easy and hassle-free. Touchscreen is a big winner in my book, plus I can just put it on my nighttable when I'm sleepy. Unlike a lappy na close apps, shut down, fold, and store pa!

(Note to self: Must stop raving about the iPad! Talagang best in iPad promotions na ako.)

Anyway, I go to blogs that are happy and light. (philstar.com, cnn.com, and abs-cbnnews.com are enough sources of bad vibes! hehe!) From mommy blogs, my reading list has expanded to include style blogs, travel blogs, humor blogs, and personal blogs. I discovered a lot of good ones this year, so... allow me to present to you, my favorite blogs of 2011!

1. Jenni Epperson's Live Style A true-blue lifestyle blog that came home with the NAPBAS' Best Lifestyle Blog! It carries posts on fashion, family, food, beauty, lifestyle and even gadgets! San ka pa! It's everything important to me! Kaya siya na ngayon ang peg ko! Hehe. Jenni came out with a book on fashion and food. I hope someone gives me a copy *wink wink*. If it's signed, I will even sing for you!:))

2. Daphne. Again, a lifestyle blog. I like Daphne's style of writing. Short and sweet. Never complicated. Methinks it's at its best when she's talking about being a mom, her kids, and home design.

3. Frances Sales' Topaz Horizon and Topaz Mommy. A personal blog and a parenting blog. If I like Daphne's writing, then with Frances' style, it's love! I forgot how I landed in these blogs, but I'm glad I did! Her son is almost the same age as mine, so I can totally relate to her!

4. Patty Laurel. Patty has been my friend for ages! She's too adorable that even if friends kami and I can ask her anything, I still stalk her blog. Hahaha. Who wouldn't love her posts that range from fashion to food to travel?! One visit and you'll be hooked! Plus, she gives away the most AH-MAZING things on her blog! Lumelevel talaga ang sponsors! :)) I won't be surprised if one day, she'll give away a trip to Paris. Sasali talaga ako and I will NOT spread the word para ako lang ang entry. Hahaha.

5. The Professional Heckler. Humor with a generous serving of wit! :)

Happy birthday, Jesus!

2011-12-24T17:10:00.000+08:00

May the joy of Christmas fill your home!

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

- Isaiah 9:6

Language Lessons

2011-12-23T09:19:00.007+08:00

There is a certain amusement when I hear my son say Filipino words (and he can say a lot now!). Unlike many parents, I find it cuter and smarter when he talks in Filipino than when he talks in English. Is that weird?

It wasn't always like this. Before Jaden uttered his first words, Julz and I had initially resolved to raise Jaden using English as a primary language. We figured, he will surely learn Filipino from others anyway. And so we talked to our son in English. (Nosebleed.)

Eventually, we warmed up to the idea of speaking to him in Filipino. I don't care what James Soriano thinks about this. I feel that when I talk to Jaden in our native tongue, my words carry with them implicit expressions of love, fondness and affection. In Filipino, we have an all-encompassing term for this: lambing.

Thus, before we sleep, I always say "Tabi si Jaden kay Mommy" or "Tabi tayo, Jaden" rather than "Sleep beside Mommy." Saying it in Filipino, I feel, better captures my intentions, which is not just for Jaden to fall asleep by my side, but for us to feel each other's closeness and warmth as we drift off to dreamland.

In the same way, Julz and I take tremendous joy in telling Jaden, "Mahal na mahal kita, anak" because the love we have for him is just so overwhelming that "I love you very much" simply doesn't do the job.

Don't get me wrong. We still talk to Jaden in English, though not exclusively anymore. I continue to make it a point to have him listen to and talk with this language. My new-found sentiment with Filipino notwithstanding, I still believe that being confident with English is, and will for a long time be, a powerful advantage in... well, everywhere.

But today, Filipino is freely used around our boy. And I like it like that.

Our bilingual baby boy

And He's Off!

2011-12-20T16:01:00.000+08:00

Marching to the tigers

Park hopper indeedy!

Catch me if you can!

Barefoot and still walking

"Hello, cow! Bye, cow!'

Pasyal while eating

Using his charm to get free cotton candy (sugar floss they call it)

"Ma, may I walk around while I chew?"


shopping for chips at the convenience store

Our boy discovered the fun in wide open spaces while we were in SG. Daddy and Mommy, in turn, discovered exhaustion.

Perspective

2011-12-19T12:05:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, the two most beloved gadgets I've had -- my MacBook and my iPad2 -- were stolen. More than anything, I mourned the loss of our photos and videos that I kept in them. I especially feel broken about the pictures of Jaden's birth, his 1st year, and our 1st trip out of the country. Those photos were the best representations of our memories as a family.

Two days ago, hundreds of families lost their loved ones in the tragedy that was Sendong.

Perspective.

I can always replace my gadgets, and I am beyond grateful that I still have my family with whom I can create new memories.

Thank You, Lord, for Julz and Jaden, my two most beloved.

Roaring in the Lion City

2011-12-15T23:59:00.156+08:00

My boys and I flew to Singapore last week to jumpstart our 12 in 2012 Faith Goal! :)

We flew in Thursday afternoon. We went straight to our hotel, rested a bit then hied off again on Orchard Road to have some Skinny Pizza with one of our Sg-based friends.

Hungry boys on SG's famous Orchard Road

After a good night's rest (the 3 of us slept for 10 hours!), we crossed the street to catch the shuttle to the Singapore Zoo... then hopped on the WRONG bus. Nyahaha. Shuttle fail! So we ended up taking the train.

(L) Our little traveler waiting for his train to Ang Mo Kio. (R) Daddy buying train passes!

Note on public transport: I always make it a point to take the MRT/subway/underground train whenever I am in a different country. I personally believe all tourists should do this to get a feel of what "everyday" is like in that place. It may not be as obvious as when you're in a museum, but there's a unique kind of culture in these places :) On that note, how I wish our own MRT is as efficient as the ones abroad. I love taking trains!

Anyhoo. A train and bus ride later, we found ourselves in Singapore Zoo! Yay!

Jaden: "Where are the animals? I'm bored!"

The zoo is fantastic! Just as advertised, the animals weren't caged so it was like watching them in their natural habitat. I wonder how they get trained not to jump on humans...


Top: (L) Jaden and I by the safari mobile (R) Winnie the White Tiger. Bottom:(L) Jaden had a toy giraffe we named Giraffe Recto...here we finally saw a real one! (R) Jaden pointing to where the monkeys were playin'

It was great seeing Jaden "meet" animals. I really want him to grow up with an appreciation for nature and the wild, so visiting the zoo was really something I looked forward to.

L-R: (1) Park Hopper Jaden (2) Jaden and Mommy (3) Jaden watching the hanging monkeys with glee (4) The little senorito and his slave pushing his stroller

Julz and I were pleased especially when we got to the White Tigers. They're easily Jaden's favorite! He even learned how to do his own tiger roar!

L-R: (1) Also called Bengal Tigers, they have blue eyes, a pink nose, and white fur (2) posing beside a fake one because I will never risk going near the real thing (3) Jaden "reading" about the tigers

Mesmerized by the white tigers

We were so tired after our trip to kingdom animalia, so we kissed all our other plans for the night and just had dinner at a steak house beside our hotel.

We woke up bright and LATE the next day. It was Saturday and I had planned to go to Marina Bay and then Sentosa Island. Check! Check!

(L) The Mommy Look! The huge ferris wheel behind them is the SG Flyer (R) Fantastic city view! Can you see the LV Island Miaison? Its design and architecture is uber chic!!!

Top: (L) The Marina Bay Skypark, where one can take in the skyline of Sg. Best if you're a hotel guest so you can enjoy the view with the infinity pool and gardens (R) Outside the Art Science Museum. Bottom: (L) Julz and I saw the Titanic Exhibit! Lovely! (R) Ferragamo shoe!


Marina Bay from afar. The lotus-shaped structure is the Art Science Museum in the foreground. The 3 towers form the Marina Bay Sands hotel.

The mandatory photo with Singapore's storied icon, the Merlion.

(L) Jaden goofing around while Daddy's not looking. (R) Baby Jaden meets Baby Merlion

In Sentosa, we made sure to go to Vivo City to have those famed Singaporean Chilli Crabs at No Signboard Restaurant. SAAAARRRAAAAP!!!!

L-R: (1) Paired this with 2 cups of rice. My most memorable meal in SG! (2) Sentosa, Asia's favorite playground (3) No Signboard Restaurant (4) Jaden enjoying the park at Vivo City

I was uber excited about this trip for many reasons. This was our family's first time to travel without anybody else. Just us! No lolos/lolas and certainly no yayas! It was also Jaden's first chance to travel out of the country.

More than that, this trip was our family's celebration of two big blessings we got lately: first, our 2nd wedding anniversary and second, the miracle of healing. Hmm... might I add a third -- a fabulous year ahead!

All in all, I'd say, what a way to celebrate! :)

When we're together, it's always Christmas!
(Photo taken in the lobby of Marina Bay Sands)

Off to the Lion City!

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000+08:00

See ya soon!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

2011-12-06T15:33:00.000+08:00

Beijing, China

Bali, Indonesia


Barcelona, Spain

Pisa, Italy


Venice, Italy

Mykonos, Greece


El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

Batanes, Philippines

Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed! :)

...

Because Jesus came to give us life and have it to the FULL. (rephrased from John 10:10)

Weaning

2011-12-03T07:09:00.010+08:00

So I finally bought this BlogPress for iPad. I got tired of mentally storing my drafts whenever I can't (or choose not to) reach for my MacBook.

I had to pay $2 for this. Ugh. I complain only because at Wordpress, their app was free! Oh well. I hope sponsors will return the investment a thousandfold! *ahem* ;)

Anyway, for this app road test, I want to talk about weaning Jaden from the bottle. I've been toying with the idea since he turned 1. Literature is almost unanimous that 12 months is the perfect age to wean. Despite that, I was very hesitant about it. It didn't feel right. Ako pa naman, I highly depend on my mommy instincts and my son's cues. I felt that 1 year was too young; Jaden was thriving on his milk. What I was sure about, though, was that Jaden will be weaned before he turns 2. Ideally, by 18 months.

He's 15 months old now. I just have 3 months left! Omg. Pressure.

The plan is to begin the weaning process in January. We have a lot of things lined up for the remainder of 2011, so I doubt it's a good time to initiate a change as major a bottle-weaning. (Mommies, keep in mind that your baby will want the comfort and predictabilty of his routine while you wean. That's why it's important that you do it when there's the least possible stressors.)

My son is an easy kid. I'm certain he won't have a crying fit or throw a tantrum when we decide to wean. I am also sure he won't have a very stressful time learning how to drink from a cup because he has long mastered that, as well as drinking through a straw. (Jaden never liked the sippy cup)

The one thing that concerns me is his milk intake. I still want to maintain the amount he's currently taking (6-8oz x 4/day). I'm quite worried he'll drop a quarter to a half of this amount when he switches to a cup. I hope not. What happens after a baby is weaned anyway? I mean, aside from not needing bottles anymore (duh)?

Anyone care to share their experience? :)

- Posted by a sneaky Mommy Teya while her baby boss is asleep.

Loving this sexy video!

2011-12-02T12:37:00.001+08:00

Three kilig moments:

When Orlando Bloom gave his wife, the drop-dead SEXY and breastfeeding mom Miranda Kerr, a standing ovation when she sashayed on stage. The pride in his eyes was palpable!
When Adam Levine escorted and sang to his girlfriend on the catwalk! He couldn't take his eyes off her (and it's not too hard to know why!).
Two words: Adam Levine.

Haha. Yes, methinks this Maroon 5 frontman is hot!!! (Oops, may kaartehan na nagaganap sa MOMMY BLOG! Erase erase! :P)

Ok fine. I just love their songs!!! Yay Maroon 5 + Victoria's Secret Angels!!!

Birthstones

2011-12-01T10:15:00.007+08:00

Ever since I had Jaden, I developed a fascination for colored gemstones, especially our birthstones.

The May birthstone is Emerald. I was never a fan of green, so my emerald collection is rather sparse -- a grand total of 2 pieces (one as pendant from my childhood, the other as earrings given by my mother-in-law).

Emeralds are said to bring good luck and well-being.

Julz's birthstone is the Ruby, said to be the "king" of gemstones. Wow, so apt naman. It's supposedly among the most valuable because of its very fine qualities.

Rubies, because of their powerful hue, are expressions of passion & love

Jaden was born in August, so his traditional birthstone is the Peridot, a very uplifting lime green stone. It was nicknamed the "emerald of the evening", because its brilliance and hue does not change even under artificial light. How serendipitous, right? My stone is emerald, my son's is peridot! Now I know I said I don't like green, but I am really drawn to this stone (even before I learned it is Jaden's birthstone).

Peridot is for purity and simplicity.

Because we were married in November, the Citrine (and its alternate, the topaz) is also a special stone to me.

Citrines symbolize hope and strength.

Though it isn't a birthstone of mine or my boys, Amethyst is a favorite. They say it represents love, peace and calm. Personally, I just like the purple hue of the stone. Babaw ko! :))

According to myths, amethysts keep one away from intoxication and attracts peace & calm.

I hope to have a piece of jewelry that has all these stones. Maybe something like this:

There are more here and here.

Do you know someone who can do it for me at a "friendly" price?

Two Years Today

2011-11-28T16:00:00.000+08:00


Laugh as much as you breathe...


...and love as much as you live.

Happy Anniversary, Mister Teapot!

I love you forever :)

My Field in the Middle of the City

2011-11-28T00:01:00.003+08:00

How lucky am I, that two years after this most blissful day,

I am still the happiest girl
knowing that you are the one God handpicked for me.

I love you, Julius :)

Proud Mama

2011-11-26T12:08:00.000+08:00

At 15 months old, Jaden's vocabulary is getting wider everyday. Ever the stage mother, I am of course over the moon!

He can say Dada and Daddy (to refer to Julz), Mama and Ma (to refer to me, duh), bo (ball), Eda (our help), Yaya/Yayi (his nanny), nana (banana), no, esss (yes), babo (bubbles), boo (balloon), do (dog), Wowo (lolo), mamamm (water), dede, baby, men (Amen), dun (as in doon/there... to point where he wants to go), mmmbace (embrace)... and a few more that escape me right now.

They say most boys his age are able to say an average of five to six words (apparently, motor skills get a headstart with these little men). So... that makes my boy developmentally advanced!

Gosh, MYMP talaga ang motto ng anak ko! Hehe :))

His pediatrician, the lovely Dr. Rita Dolendo of MakatiMed, is perennially impressed with Jaden. On every visit, she would always exclaim how smart my boy is. Jaden has this grave, curious look that makes you feel like he's analyzing something... like who you are, what you're saying, and what you're about to do with him. He's very responsive, too. When asked, Jaden is almost always ready to give an answer whether by talking or doing an action! *clap*clap*

This boy is a pedia's dream patient! He's not like other kids who dread doctors and nurses, and cry at the mere sight of them. In fact, this Jaden, pasikat pa siya lagi pag check-up nya. It's as if he wants to tell his pedia, "Look what I can do now, Doc!" :) He enjoys being listened to via stethoscope (he knows it's time to keep still and breathe deeply when it touches his chest). He says "AAAHHH" when the doctor has to check his mouth. And the most unbelievable thing is, he rarely cries during vaccine shots. (When he does, it's just a little whimper and more out of irritation that we're holding him down.)

Have I mentioned yet how proud I am? :P

To think we're not even talking about his many tricks yet!

12 in 2012

2011-11-25T11:35:00.003+08:00

I've been catching myself daydreaming about my big 2012 faith goal lately... No, no, scratch that. I don't just daydream. I spend a lot of time planning itineraries, hunting for good hotel deals, and looking out for seat sales.

I've also thought of refining the goal. Travel is a big concept, so I broke it down: By faith, Julz, Jaden and I will visit 12 new cities in 2012! These places can be local or foreign, and by "new", I mean cities that we've never been to as a couple.

We'll begin 12 in 2012 as early as December. (I know it's still technically 2011, but the 'Stellar year' begins on November 28). It's Jaden's 1st trip out of the country so I had to make sure the destination is child-friendly! We're flying to Singapore! :)

I've actually been to the Lion City once. I didn't like a lot then, but that was mainly because I didn't know what I wanted as a teenage tourist. I was too old for zoos, but too young for any nightlife. I haven't developed a sense of history then so I stayed away from museums and whatever it was where Sir Raffles was mentioned. I was poor so I didn't go shopping. Basically I just hopped on the tour bus and tried to listen to the guide who had such thick accent I could barely understand him. Bleh.

Since it's been more than a decade, I'm hoping there's more to see and do in Singapore now. I'm looking forward to bringing my 2 boys to the zoo. I think it's a good idea to expose my son to kingdom animalia. They say the animals in Singapore Zoo aren't caged and I'm really counting on that! I've also put Sentosa and the Marina Bay Skypark on our IT. Any other suggestions?

Yay! Now, all I have to do is book a hotel :)

Anniversaries, New Years, and Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T11:35:00.000+08:00

Before anything else... I MISSED BLOGGING!!! I've been delinquent in updating my blogs for the past 2 weeks. Forgive me. There are just some very important things I need to attend to before the year ends.

Which is on November 28. HAYMSOEGZAYTED!!!

Yes folks, since I got married, I've decided that our wedding anniversary is the "official mark" of my new years! I like the sentimentality of it. The date, special as it is, makes for a most perfect occasion to look back and be grateful for the blessings of the closing year. (Incidentally, we got married on Thanksgiving weekend 2009, which makes gratitude all the more apt!)

Besides, things can get pretty busy around the holidays, so in order not to lose myself in the gazillion celebrations to usher in January 1st, I figured... November 28 is a much more sensible, infinitely more meaningful New Year's Day for me.

Since it's 'round the corner already (*gasp* I have no gift for the hubby yet!), I've begun to draw up a list of the things I am most thankful for, for 2011. Let's see...

Always my best blessings, whatever the year.

Good health of my family & loved ones. This year taught me never to take health for granted. A couple of illnesses infiltrated my family in 2011. Believe me, they were heavy blows. You never expect sickness. At times, it's baffling why it chose you. But in the end, you simply have to realize that many things are out of your hands, and that you just have to surrender yourself to God's healing power.
My successful breastfeeding story. I breastfed Jaden until I felt we were both ready to move on. This chapter of motherhood is oh-so-precious to me. I really hope all moms breastfed their babies!
My fab day job that lets me go home early and be with my baby. And while I'm at it... I'm also thankful for bosses and clients who don't demand 24 hours a day from me!
Jaden's 1st birthday party! It was one great day with the people who have welcomed and celebrated our prince!
Jaden's milestones. He knows a lot at just 15 months old! He can walk, talk, dance, watch TV, play the iPad, imitate his parents, make paawa when I get mad, flirt with pretty girls... yup, definitely has the makings of his father. Haha!
Our family adventures. We went to Bicol, Bohol and Boracay last summer. It was exhausting but considering the major bonding time we had, it was worth it!
Julz's trip to the NBA Finals & JKidd's championship ring. Because it made my husband happy.
Julz's law practice. I am mighty proud of my husband's work. He's a good manager, strategic thinker, and my goodness, his well of positivity is just bottomless! When I'm already shaking in fear, this is the only guy I want on my side to make me brave.
Our 1st Christmas tree! It screams of simplicity, but I adore it!
My blog and its readers. I never thought other people would care to type my URL or click my link, but hey, here I am getting a little shopping money because YOU dropped by!
Girlfriends, old and new. No matter how reliable my hubby is at being my best buddy, I will surely drive him insane if I talk to him about makeup, waxing, IPL, accessories, and Eat+Pray+Love. 2011 was a year dotted with few but absolutely wonderful girl talks with my girlfriends!
My daily life with Julz & Jaden. I know it's such a vague, big concept, but it's really what I'm most thankful for. We live a comfortable, happy life. We've got everything we need and more. Of course, we're still bursting with dreams too! And that makes our life even more colorful. We're living and dreaming!

2012 Faith Goal

2011-11-16T11:22:00.000+08:00

I declare 2012 to be our year of seeing the world.

Okay, maybe not the whole world... But it will definitely be a year of travel for me and my two boys.

I put a lot of premium on family travels. The best childhood memories I've had are those when my family and I went on trips. Looking back now, our destinations were amazing, but they didn't matter as much as being able to spend real quality time with each other.

Back home, we've had to "share" our parents with their patients. During trips, they were all ours! Papa was the ever-makulit photographer (when you're a kid, you really don't see the value of taking photos...you just get annoyed that you have to pause and pose). Mama was as domesticated as she could get... she was the one feeding us, collecting our laundry, packing our clothes and newly-bought stuff, making sure we took vitamins, etc. And my sisters become my best travel buddies! In short, away from Manila, each one of us is 100% present for the other. Zero distractions.

That's what I want for my family, too. I want my kid/s to enjoy being with family. I want them to see the wonders of God's creation. I want them to experience different cultures. I want them to be comfortable with adventure. I want them to celebrate diversity. I want them to embrace the world... and also long for home.

This is what travel means to me.

So, in 2012, we will pack our bags and start making memories!

Jet-setting to Bohol at 8 months old

Who Ate My Chocolate?

2011-11-08T07:26:00.005+08:00

Guilty

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2011-11-07T11:58:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was a fun Sunday because we put up our family's 1st Christmas tree!


Jaden wasn't too happy when told he can't take out the Christmas balls... yet.

I wasn't able to get a tree for our home for the past 2 Christmases. So this year, to compensate, I vowed to get a fabulous one and spruce it up real nice!

I'm ridiculously happy about our first tree because our entire household was involved in putting up! All 5 of us trooped to my favorite department store. Julz chose the tree, while I chose the theme and decor to go with it. Jaden and his yayas chose Christmas balls and then ended up in the rice cooker section (go figure).

When we got home, I asked Ate Eda to put up the tree. Then Julz and I looped the Christmas lights around it while Jaden made so much noise saying "Mama" and "bo's" (balls). After testing the lights, Jaden and I hung the glittered golden balls on the tree. When he got frustrated that he couldn't play catch and throw with the balls, he gave up and then proceeded to make more noise elsewhere in the house. He came back for picture time!

Our tree is no designer tree but it sure holds, and will hold, grand memories not only of this Christmas, but the entire year that preceded it. 2011 is FANTASTIC! Thank You, Lord! Advance happy birthday! :)

Laws every woman should know: Your Name

2011-11-04T00:01:00.018+08:00

What's in a name?

The New Civil Code is pretty straightforward on the rules governing the use of surnames of married women:

Art. 370. A married woman may use:

(1) Her maiden first name and surname and add her husband's surname, or

(2) Her maiden first name and her husband's surname, or

(3) Her husband's full name, but prefixing a word indication she is his wife, such as "Mrs."

Art. 371. In case of annulment of marriage, and the wife is the guilty party, she shall resume her maiden name and surname. If she is the innocent spouse, she may resume her maiden name and surname. However, she may choose to continue employing her former husband's surname unless: (1) The court decrees otherwise; or (2) She or the former husband is married again to another person.

Art 372. When legal separation has been granted, the wife shall continue using her name and surname employed before the legal separation.

Art 373. A widow may use the deceased husband's surname as though he were still living, in accordance with Article 370.

When I was a kid, I thought that once a girl gets married, she automatically becomes Mrs. So-and-so, and her maiden surname will all of a sudden be tucked as one inconspicuous initial between her names.

Well, thank God I was wrong! Women have the OPTION, not obligation, to take her husband's surname. According to the Supreme Court, this is because when women marry, they are changing their civil status, and not their names (Remo vs. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, GR 169202).

So, as an illustration, let's say your name is Angelica Panganiban and you married Derek Ramsay (I said illustration...wag kayong OA. Haha joke :P). You can be known as:

Angelica Panganiban
Angelica Panganiban-Ramsay
Angelica Ramsay
Mrs. Derek Ramsay or even either of the following: Lady Derek Ramsay, Madame Derek Ramsay... (the article doesn't say you must use "Mrs.", right? Hehe.)

In my case, I chose to take Julz's surname. I think it's important for a woman to carry her husband's name. It's symbolic of many things, paramount of which is your decision to be committed to and forever identified with your husband. I also believe it's the first step to obeying Ephesians 5:22 ("Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.") Yes, despite the independent/empowered woman era, I adhere to this Biblical wisdom.

It's a practical choice, too. I didn't want to explain to my kids why my surname is different from theirs and their dad's. We're one family!

I must say that while I carry my husband's name, I did not completely drop my maiden surname. I've got 2 equally compelling reasons for this. First, it's my maiden name on the Roll of Attorneys. (I still have to petition the Supreme Court for change of name). Second, and more sentimentally, I feel it's a way of respecting my father and mother for the years of hard work and sacrifice to rear me. Keeping their name is a token of my love for them, as well as a reminder of their love for me. That, and the fact that I want to honor my father's name when I make it BIG ~~someday~~ soon! :D

As in picking your hubby, be very careful in selecting your married name too. Once you do, you won't be allowed to revert to your former name sans justifiable basis. Say, you chose to be "Angelica Ramsay". You cannot, by whim or caprice, just announce that you're going back to being "Angelica Panganiban". It's a matter of consistency to avoid confusion. I mean, unless you're the REAL Angelica, most people won't know that "Angelica Panganiban" and "Angelica Ramsay" are one and the same. This is especially true in the case of official documents like the passport.

The law provides 2 instances when a reversion to a woman's maiden name is allowed and/or mandated: Annulment and death of spouse. Both sad events. Sigh! I hope none of you will ever find herself in a place when name reversion is required!

Playback: When A Picture Is Worth More Than A Thousand Words

2011-11-03T12:33:00.001+08:00

One of my first love letters to Jaden. Though we've picked his name by the time this was written, Julz and I decided to keep it between us first. Hence, the very creative "baby boy" and "our son" references to Jaden :)

First posted on May 19, 2010 :)

My baby boy has been so active lately, it makes me yearn to see and hold him already all the more. I also find myself wondering more often how big he is now and what “tricks” he can do inside my womb (he has definitely perfected kicking and punching at 22 weeks).

I’ve begun counting the days til I see him again via ultrasound and today, my calendar says “12 days to go”. I can’t wait :)

Here’s the love letter I wrote just after I first saw him during our 2nd trimester ultrasound, exactly a month ago. I can no longer imagine how much more overwhelmed I’ll be when I see him again, and then when I finally hear his first cry.

Our baby boy at 20 weeks :)

I finally saw your photo today!!! And just as I requested, you made it easy for me and Daddy to see whether you’re a boy or a girl, and that you’re okay (complete fingers and toes!). Thank you for cooperating, my baby boy! I’m proud of you!

You’ve been inside Mommy’s tummy for 20 weeks now, and wow, how much you’ve grown since your last “photoshoot”! You can and actually did SMILE for the “camera” this time! Not just that, you showed us you can throw a mean punch, do some ninja kicks, and thumb-suck like a real live baby too!

Yes, honey, you gave us a little show this morning :)

I almost cried when I saw your tiny body on the screen, moving as usual coz it was your playtime then. It’s amazing, unbelievable, and heartwarming all at once to know that you are alive and well, that you’re liking life inside Mommy’s womb. God must be giving you extra time and attention there, huh? And He must really love Daddy and Mommy so much to give us such a precious gift that is you.

I’ve always known the all-day sickness, my recent job resignation, the impending travel hiatus, the ever-present backaches, and the coming labor pains are worth it because of you. You affirmed it today… by just smiling at me. How a 20-week you can assure me of so much love, I am not so sure.
What I know is that I will go through all that I have to go through for you, a hundred times over.

While I cannot wait to hold you, I cherish this time when only I can feel your every movement and talk to you anytime, anywhere. This is bonding like no other, and I promise to give you the best time.

I love you, my son.

22 Things I've Done

2011-10-27T10:00:00.004+08:00

At 28, I have...

1. seen and loved all 10 seasons of Friends
2. studied in a foreign country
3. seen Les Miserables & Phantom of the Opera in London
4. been to Tour Eiffel and cruised the River Seine
5. gone river-rafting in Davao

Hanapin ang hindi nagpa-paddle! Haha.

6. had braces
7. jumped off the Tali cliff to the sea
8. seen the British Royal's Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, and Buckingham Palace
9. played basketball for 2 schools: Ateneo (college) and UP Law

Tali

Who would think that a tiny girl like me can play basketball?!

10. trekked Linon Hill, played at the Cagsawa Ruins, and gotten a magnificent view of the Mayon
11. gone fish-feeding in Amanpulo
12. watched an NBA game live

Cagsawa Ruins

American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

13. eaten authentic Gambas in Seville
14. gone on a cruise in Alaska
15. won 1st place in an Extemporaneous Speech Contest
16. passed the UPCAT, ACET, LAE, and the Philippine Bar
17. stepped on the spot where JFK was shot

Dealey Plaza, Dallas, TX

18. worn my hair short and long and the awkward length in between
19. jogged around the Sydney Harbour, saw the Harbour Bridge, and watched a play at the magnificent Sydney Opera House

Short-haired moi with Mama, Angel and Papa at my cousin's wedding

Julz and long-haired me. Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Opera House

20. shopped in Bangkok with girlfriends and ALMOST entered Patpong!

We chickened out. Bangkok, Thailand

21. married the love of my life
22. given birth to an amazing little boy

This post is inspired by
Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writing Prompts

Dolce Gusto Para Dolce Vita!

2011-10-25T23:00:00.001+08:00

"Sweet Taste for a Sweet Life!"

Several posts back, I blogged about the Nespresso and how badly I wanted it. Went about my days thinking of it, trying to come up with ways I can get a machine and a good supply of coffee capsules without making a gaping hole in my pocket. Alas, there was no way. Unless Santa really did grant my wish #AsaPa

But I'm smiling and clapping and being all kilig. Why, you ask? Well, I may not have a Nespresso but I just got me and my hubby this:

The Dolce Gusto Piccolo Coffee Machine

I chanced upon the Dolce Gusto booth while doing groceries at SM. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry that they've actually brought to Manila a sorta-kinda-like Nespresso coffee machine, at around the very same time I have been pining for one! I mean, is the universe really THAT good?!? :D

Dolce Gusto is very similar to Nespresso. Both lines use capsules and make quality coffee! Nespresso, however, caters to a very specific market -- espresso lovers. Dolce Gusto, on the other hand, takes care of those who like coffee variety. With Dolce Gusto, you can make espresso, macchiatto, cappuccino, mocha, and lattes... HOT or COLD!

Dolce Gusto capsules. A box of 16 costs Php400.

I asked the guy behind the booth about the machines and sampled the coffee. They're pretty promising, if you ask me, especially the Circulo. The design of that baby is award-winning, and methinks it's for good reason! Just look at it!

Isn't it such a beauty?

The Piccolo costs Php 3999, while the Circolo costs Php6999. Not bad, huh? Both machines feature no mess, no fuss coffee making! You'll feel like a real barista!

I settled for the Piccolo because I had no more space for anything bigger. Besides, I really just wanted a personal coffee machine. Most importantly, di hamak na mas mura eh! So yeah, for this, I opted for practicality over aesthetics. No regrets. Our Piccolo now sits perfectly beside my son's sterilizer :)

Now, to the coffee. Like I said, you can make all sorts of gourmet coffee with the Dolce Gusto machine. I've tried Caffe Lungo (basic & strong coffee), Cappuccino (froth + coffee), and Chococino (froth + hot chocolate). All are so good! Two thumbs up, Nescafe! :)

I still stand by my judgment that Nespresso makes the best coffee in the whole wide world (let's be honest lang! hehe). But, man, for a fraction of the cost, Dolce Gusto comes close! And it makes the loveliest, most frothy-licious cappuccinos (better than Starbucks!)! Di kaya ng Nespresso yun! ;)

I'm so happy! And it's not just 'coz of the caffeine ha! Hehehe!

Dolce Gusto makes the best cappuccinos!

PS: Santa, if you happen to read this, please know I'll still be so glad to get a Nespresso Pixie + Capriccio capsules :D

When Jaden Said "Mama"

2011-10-25T08:00:00.000+08:00

The very first time I heard my son utter "Mama", he was 10-11 months old. He had been saying "Dada" and "Papa" and even "Daddy" by then. At that time, "Mama" would be only baby babble... I mean, when Jaden tried to get my attention, he didn't exactly call out "Mama". That's how I knew it hasn't really stuck to him as my name.

I was fine with it, except that I couldn't help but feel like I missed a heartwarming milestone. My mommy friends told me I will melt when he says "Mama" for the first time. Well, I didn't. What a bummer!

I seriously thought I was losing my emo-ness when suddenly and finally, at 13 months old, Jaden called me "Mama". As in ako na talaga tinatawag niya! Woohoo! Just to make sure, I asked him, "Jaden, where's Mama?" My prince charming pointed his cutie little finger to me :D

Haaaayyyy :)

I'd have to disagree with friends who say the first time your baby says "Mama" or "Mommy" is heartwarming. To me, every time he calls me Mama, I melt and melt and melt...

Maybe the warmth will wear off in time. I don't care. What matters to me now is the love I'm getting every time he says "Mama" :)

Jaden learned to do the "Mommy Look" way before he could say "Mama"!

Makeup Must-Have: The Laura Mercier Undercover Pot

2011-10-24T12:05:00.002+08:00

If you know me and have seen me up close, you would know that I wasn't born with the most flawless skin in the world. My pores like to be very visible. I have that totally unenviable shine on my T-zone. There's my uneven skin tone, too. And yes, the occasional zits here and there.

Which is why it's been such a big Miss Universe moment for me when lately, friends and acquaintances have been complimenting my skin. That it's brighter, smoother, prettier! Most of the time, I feign nonchalance like it's no biggie, but really, inside I go, "OMIGOSHHHHHH TALAGA?!? THANK YOU!!!!" Hehe.

With close friends, the mandatory follow-up statement is: "How did you do it?" Since they know me well (read: have scrutinized my skin), there's no way I can say it's completely effortless without going to hell. So I spill my secrets: regular facials, sunblock and...

The LAURA MERCIER Undercover Pot! :)

The pot, which is no bigger than the smallest Vicks VaporRub jar, houses 2 kinds of concealers -- your undereye concealer and blemish concealer -- as well as setting powder. These 3 are the essentials in Laura Mercier's line of Flawless Face products. And lookie, they're in one tiny, super travel-friendly pot

My face rebels against full-coverage foundation, so this is the PERFECT everyday make-up for me! The concealers are highly pigmented, which means that a little goes a long, long way (like all day!).

The undereye concealer is the creamier side and glides on ooh-so-smoothly to cover those annoying dark circles (that add 10 years to your age). I absolutely love using this. In fact, I dab on a bit even on days I've had a good night's beauty sleep! It brightens up the area around my eyes, which gives me that happy and pretty and young vibe in an instant! (For dressier occasions, it's perfect for eye makeup base too!)

After the eye area, I put some blemish concealer over... well, blemishes. I also put some around the nose to take care of the redness and even out my complexion. I use Undercover Pot #3 and I'm really digging how it effectively covers the blemishes while blending very well with my skin tone. This can be tricky with a lot of other brands, especially those not meant for Asian/Malay skin. I must add that I really like the texture of the blemish concealer. Neither oily or flaky, just right! It suits my combination skin! Thank God for Laura Mercier!

Now, to set the concealers, I dust off some finishing powder all over. Result: "flawless" canvas! Then I put on some cheek color and lip balm. And ta-daaan! I'm off to wherever!

With these super simple steps, VOILA! I get an enhanced natural look :) Best part is, the makeup doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It's so light, I feel like my skin can breathe. Plus, I don't have to worry about rubbing off foundation on my baby's ultra-sensitive skin.

The pot easily fits in your smallest purse, so you can literally bring it around everywhere for touch-ups. You just have to have a nice concealer brush to go with it. (I recommend Suesh brushes!)

Methinks this product is worth your hard-earned money! It costs about Php1100-Php1300... I'm not sure anymore. That's a good sign, right? It means the item is good enough that you forget all about the price! :D

The Laura Mercier Undercover Pot and its other products are excusively available at Rustan's. I wish I can try the whole line of Flawless Face makeup... who wants to help me get them? Hahaha :)

Law 101 by Misis Teapot

2011-10-19T13:03:00.002+08:00

I always like to say that above all else, I'm a Christian. Then I'm a wife and a mother. And then I'm a lawyer.

Even though I always wail, "Gusto ko na mag-retire!!!", I know deep in my heart that I do love my work. The stress, the adrenaline, the satisfaction of a job well done, the sense of fulfillment & purpose, money (not gazillions though. hehe)... I get all these from my job. Really, being a lawyer has become more than a way to earn my keep.

(That doesn't mean I adore everything about it. Like the arrogant, know-it-all companeros, the power-tripping honorable judges, the very poor state of our courts, the endless dockets, the jibber-jabber in court pleadings and motions, etc etc... I digress. This is for another post.)

Perhaps the boon and bane of lawyering is that people expect you to know the law. And know it by heart! I say it's a bane because, well, I don't know every law! But for the most part, it's a boon because the "Atty" before my name generally evokes respect (and fear sometimes. hehe) and people readily think I'm doing the right (or at least the legal/lawful) thing. Even better, I'm convinced that I actually am doing the right thing more often than not. (For that, thank you law school!!!)

I don't mean I'm better than non-lawyers, okay? All I'm saying is that it's an edge to know the law. And hey, let's not forget the rule, "Ignorance of the law excuses no one".

That said, I thought of launching a series in in an effort to make my blog useful to you (read: to make it more than a depositary of my ramblings). I'm guessing my reader demographic is mostly female and under that category, young moms... so this series will be on and about practical laws that affect you and your daily life. Laws that every woman should know.

If you think this sounds interesting... Yayyyy! That makes 2 of us! Hehehe! To those who think it's boring, don't fret... I will still post fun, pointless stuff here!

Stay tuned!

Signing the Roll of Attorneys at the Supreme Court in May 2009 (just so you know I'm not faking my profession haha)

Scratching the travel itch: AMANPULO

2011-10-18T07:19:00.028+08:00

I beg your indulgence for these frequent travel posts. I am aware that this is not a travel blog, and some of you might raise your eyebrows and think, "Nasaan na pagka-mommy nito?!?" :P

I hope you can all bear with me as I go through this "itchy" phase. There's a reason for this. You see, Julz and I were planning to go on a trip to my dream destination in November to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. But but but. Between this and that, we figured that traveling that far, that long, and at that time, may not be very wise. So we're putting it on hold for now. *sigh*

To soothe my disappointed travel bug, I'm now hunched in front of my laptop to "travel" with my eyes! Hello, PICTURES!!! :)

Since I've shared with you photos of my most memorable family trip (so far), I decided to likewise share those of my most memorable couple trip (again, so far. I'd like to believe there'll be more)!

And what could be more memorable than our stay at one of the world's most romantic destinations... Amanpulo, Palawan? :)

Julz and I were very (unbelievably) blessed to have been gifted with a 4-day vacation in this paradise of an island. We couldn't wait to get there so we scheduled it as part of our month-long honeymoon! (Now you know why Jaden was a honeymoon baby! Haha!)

Amanpulo is breathlessly beautiful. The beach is gorgeous. The sunset is spectacular. The casita is charming. The food is heavenly. The staff is discreet and gracious. Best of all, you feel like you own the island because it's so private, serene, and tranquil. It's honeymoon destination at its absolute BEST.

But don't take my word for it. Here's what TravelSmart has to say:

Amanpulo is an escape from the markings of mankind and is a dive into island life where nature has been unashamedly boastful. The island is secluded, being private, and offers a variety of sea, sand and tropical island-retreat–pleasures, in exclusive comfort and in traditionally styled accommodation. Amanpulo or, ‘peaceful island’, honours its island host, respecting the natural elements with a profoundly ‘South Seas’ interpretation. The 40 Beach, Hillside and Treetop Casitas are modelled on authentic bahay kubo dwellings, each with its own golf cart for island exploration.

This romantically remote island caters for those who wish to ‘hammock’ and beach comb their days in paradise, and for those who seek an active agenda, involving a myriad of maritime adventures as well as tennis, a high-tec air-conditioned gym, and taking languid lengths in the resort’s 30m serene pool. The open-air Garden and Beach Salas are discreetly secluded for pleasurable holistic body treatments.

Hmm.. kulang pa rin! Maybe the photos will do a better job describing it...

(L) We had a portrait just like this when we got engaged in Boracay so I insisted on doing it again (R) This native woven folder was on our desk when we arrived... I so wanted to bring it home. Buti nalang I had some decency to resist. Hehe.

(1) sugar cubes are LOVE! (2) the huge pool and lounging area (3) moi with my complimentary hat which i adored to bits (4) the sand and sea and the big green pompom-like plants!

(1) hello little crabby (2) my fave photo of my hubby's legs & feet! (3) the Amanpulo sunset that took our breath away (4) a special gift from the staff! don't you just enjoy 'little acts' and 'little things' like this?

(1) the gift came with a handwritten letter too! they called me "Ginang Esquivias". It sounded weird then. Hehe. (2) at breakfast.

(1) having our merienda of grilled ensaymada. (2) i like this candid shot, walang kokontra! (3) our big bed! it was so hard to get up in the morning! to think there's an awesome beach just outside... hehe

(1) by the pool. hmm... i miss that native bag! (2) spices from the italian resto (3) we were given bikes to ride around the island! i rocked mine and surprised julz that i could actually ride one. di niya alam all my scars are from my BMX! hehe (4) me and my hat again

(1) one of the views from our casita: lots trees and an inviting peek into the beach (2) newlyweds. i miss my long hair!

(1) and then i had two! my crazy engagement ring + my understated wedding ring. (2) brown is beautiful. period. (3) another view from our casita (3) unlimited espresso!

Because it's such a beautiful bookmark to a wonderful time of my life, Amanpulo will forever hold a special place in my heart. Someday, Julz and I will go back to that island. I claim it! :)

o0o

How to get to Amanpulo:

You'll need to be in Manila, Philippines before anything else. (While you're here, explore the city! If you've got no time, just make sure you drop by our malls. We have the best shopping deals in the world! Read: SM SM SM SM!)
Amanpulo bookings include the accommodation and air fare. Yes, you'll need a private jet to take you to the island.
Departures and arrivals are at the private hangar. You'll be ushered in a very cozy lounge where you can sit, wifi, and have coffee while waiting for your flight.
The flight is about 30-40 minutes. The jet seats 18-24 but the staff says they usually fly just 4-8 at a time.
You'll see the entire Amanpulo from the air before landing on its airstrip. It's already breathtaking from up there!
When you touch down, the general managers themselves will welcome you. Then, they'll seat you on your own golf cart and whisk you to either the clubhouse or casita (your choice!).
When you get there... live your heaven on earth!!! :) Don't forget to join the fish feeding and all other nature activities! :)

Please take time to visit this site for more awesome photos of Amanpulo. Here's a sample:

from romanticplaces.tumblr.com

Let's Grow Money!

2011-10-17T19:31:00.001+08:00

image from money-top10.com

Our MoneySense September issue came in the mail today. I spent a good hour and a half on it because it was all about making money online! Whoopee!

The issue boasted of several pages of successful online entrepreneurs and bloggers. By golly wow! Look who's inspired now! I'm so pumped up about the whole thing! I hope I can make good headway and an even better follow through with my so-called pet project. *wishwishwish*

For the longest time, I've been looking at earning some moolah out of a hobby or passion. I really wish I was blessed with entrepreneurial instincts and marketing finesse. Alas, I am not! I get all clammy when I have to pitch something. In fact, I'd take a cross-examination any day over sales talk! Swear. I have zero business gene in my body.

I think I ought to try, though. (Or do, for all you Yoda faithful.)

image from pixmule.com

My parents then, and Julz now, have given me a life beyond my wildest dreams. As a wife and mommy, I know it's my obligation to take care of the resources given us. I'm very happy with the life I have now. It's the best motivation for me to work hard and save up to build on what we have so we can give Jaden an even more awesome life.

So, what to do? I've begun reading up on forex trading, stocks trading, various investment products... I hope I can do at least one of these. And do it well! The forex trading sounds interesting, don't you think? Must write about that soon :)

Then there's also the potential earning power of blogging. Ahem, ahem, any sponsors and advertisers out there? I'll give you a darn good deal! ;)

This brings me back to making money online and out of a hobby or passion. Can someone give me blogging (for ~~dummies~~ ~~mommies~~ ~~dummies~~ dummies and mommies)? I'll never compromise blog integrity and personality, but wouldn't it be nice to get a little shopping money out of it? :D

This is probably one of my bigger life challenges: to be a savvy money earner-keeper-grower AND stay grounded in the wisdom that the "love of money is the root of evil". I hope I do a good job! And YOU too! :)

PS: I just realized how useless my post is for those who want tips for growing money. Argh. Must get my act together!!!

Dear Santa,

2011-10-16T16:10:00.001+08:00

I have 5 reasons for writing to you this early:

I've been a really nice girl from January to October, and I have every intention to stay nice til December (and beyond).
Christmas in the Philippines starts in September (so technically, I'm a month late).
No disrespect to your elves, but the one thing that I will ask from you this Christmas is something I don't think they can make...
That said, you may need more time to travel to some other country to get it... like Singapore or HongKong.
Lastly, I want to be the proverbial early bird... that catches the ~~worms~~ gifts :)

That said, here is what I want for Christmas:

Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine

I would really, really, really, really, REALLY love to have one of these. In whatever color! All because it makes the most delicious coffee I've ever had in my entire 28 years!!!

I swear, George Clooney doesn't have anything to do with it! ;)

Please, Santa!

And while you're at the store, can you get me some of these too?

Then if you have a bit more space in your sack, would you throw in an extra pack of the Capriccio cups? Please? It's my favorite :)

Thank you very much!!!

Love,
Teya

Jaden's 1st Haircut

2011-10-15T12:52:00.000+08:00

Two days after he turned 1, Julz and I brought our little boy to Cuts 4 Tots to have his first haircut! We've been wanting to have his ~~mane~~ hair trimmed for the longest time. For a 1-year old, he has a lotta hair! And they're always standing up... Nah, gulo-gulo is the right word. Hehe.

Jaden & Daddy at the mall

at the salon where Jaden was mesmerized by his reflection... vain! hehe

Playing with bubbles to make him comfy

Hair cut time! Jaden wanted me to carry him while he got his hair cut.


Now more comfy: "Am I getting cuter, Dada?"

Lucky for us, Jaden is such a well-mannered and very manageable kid. He didn't fuss or make a scene crying at the kiddie salon. The "stylist' had a breeze cutting his hair :)

Look at him and his new semi-barbers cut!

I knew it! I'm a lot cuter now! :D

"Uh-oh, here we go with the paparazzi led by Mommy"

flash dito, flash doon!

Jaden: "Can we go now?"

After his 1st hair cut, it felt a little weird (sentimental weird) seeing Jaden looking more like a big boy than a baby. For a moment, I had to pause and just cherish the sight of him, lest time overtake me. He's growing so fast I almost can't keep up! :)

Here he is now, with his Dada! His hair is growing oh-so-nice! My Jaden is soooo gwapo! :)

Methinks the son is more handsome than the dad. Hehehe! :P

Scratching the travel itch: ALASKA

2011-10-13T13:19:00.003+08:00

Thanks to the hard work of our parents, our family lived comfortably. We have a nice house in the south and we went to good schools, in private cars no less. But I think my sisters would agree with me that we didn't grow up with very expensive things. Often, we would share and be content with hand-me-downs (luckily, as eldest, I normally got 1st dibs on our sisters-stuff! nyahaha).

But if there's one thing Papa and Mama splurged on, it was the gift of travel.

I rode my first airplane to the US when I was 8 years old. I could still remember what I was wearing -- blue Hello Kitty overalls! My gawd! NOT CUTE! Not just that, matching pa kami ni Kai! Haha. Anyway, that year, we went to see Mickey Mouse and the gang in Disneyland and the Hollywood stars in Universal Studios.

At 12 years old, we were back in the US. But we did more touristy and educational things this time. We went to see the Grand Canyon, which is nothing short of magnificent. Then we went to Washington DC to see the White House, the Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial and all those imposing public structures over there. We also went to New York to say hi to the Statue of Liberty. Finally, we rode the train to Orlando, Florida to see Disneyworld!

Since then, my parents have taken me to a handful of other countries, notably Spain, France, and England (my favorites!). We've also been around the Philippines, too. We've taken a road-trip around Luzon (from Manila to Ilocos Norte, baby!), gone back and forth Baguio, Subic, Clark, Laguna, Tagaytay, and flown to Bohol, Cebu, and Boracay.

By far, however, my best-loved of these trips is our 2007 Alaskan Cruise.

Aboard Vision of the Seas

To sail on a ship as beautiful as the Vision of the Seas is a wonderful experience, more so sailing to a glorious destination.

(L) My sis Angel at the Mendenhall Glaciers; (R) My girls on Captain's Night onboard

Clockwise from top-left: Mendenhall Glaciers, shops at Juneau, KLAS at the glaciers, Vision of the Seas


My 24th birthday at Skagway, Alaska

Life at Skagway

Look how chubby my cheeks were. And look why...CHOCOLATE BUFFET!

I thought I was going to die of sheer joy

Alaska gave me a peek of how truly awesome God is, who can create the sun, sand, sea... and then snow-capped mountains and glaciers... all in one breath.

The cruise was unforgettable. Every morning, we would dock in a different town or city. By dusk, we'd change into our pretty dresses for dinner and after-dinner shows. In between, we ate, ate, ate, and ate deliriously good food. Super family bonding!

Can't wait to experience this again :) Hopefully, soon! ;)

*Some photos taken from kaipod.multiply.com

Finally, a brand to beat skin asthma!

2011-10-12T09:00:00.004+08:00

I've been on a constant search for the best soap and lotion to manage my son's skin asthma ever since he turned a month old. I must have tried everything from super-gentle non-soap cleansers to all-natural products! Still, my poor baby would get stubborn, dry, itchy patches on his legs and in his arm folds :(

I tried to control the causes of skin asthma in our home (dust and other allergens) and in Jaden's diet (seafood, eggs, etc) -- the best I can do since one can never really cure skin asthma. I also diligently searched for products designed for hypersensitive baby's skin.

Unfortunately, and to my great frustration, nothing worked! Ok, fine... There was one brand that worked for a while. I was so happy, I had at least 3 bottles sent from the US! But after a couple of months, the dry patches were there again. Grr! I was getting desperate because Jaden started to scratch the dry patches and then he'd have wounds :(

Then I discovered MUSTELA on one of my trips to Rustan's. My first reaction was, "Uy sounds like my name!" Haha ang babaw! Second reaction, "Wow mahal!" That usually turned me off, but because I was desperate, I picked up a brochure and read through it. Minutes later, I was marching to the counter with a Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream.

Image from pharmamundi.com

Lemme tell ya, THIS THING WORKS! After just 2 or 3 baths using the cleansing cream, Jaden's skin began to smoothen out and the dry patches were significantly less! I held off my excitement (for fear that I might be speaking too soon), but after a month... it's confirmed! I LOVE MUSTELA!

I emailed Mustela Philippines for their complete product line. (Yes, I'm a brand loyalist like that!) They were so accommodating! Shane took care of all my inquiries (and I had a lot!), offered me samples, AND delivered my orders right at my doorstep! How convenient is that?! I felt like a well-pampered client!

I'm exclusively using Mustela on Jaden now. From the cleansers to milky baths to lotion to no-rinse cleansers! So far, so good!!! His skin asthma is way easier to manage now, and I don't have to worry about aggravating it by using the wrong skin care products.


my favorite Mustela goods! image from easeeczema.org

Just recently, my boy had a bout of bad allergies all over his body -- including his supergaduper gwapo face! I held off putting the steroid cream prescribed to us (so scared to use it) and instead applied the Mustela Stelatria Purifying Recovery Cream on the affected areas. After a few days... Ta-daan! Not a speck of rash or dry skin! :)

image from leguidesante.com

The Mustela Stelatopia line has been such a good friend to me and my son. I particularly love the Cleansing Cream (body wash), Emolient Cream (lotion), the Milky Bath Oil, and the Purifying Recovery Cream. I use the first 2 everyday. The Milky Bath, once a week or during flare-ups. The Recovery Cream, for really dry patches, rashes, and insect bites. These 4 are must-haves for me! The No-Rinse Cleansing Water is a nice bonus :)

After 9-10 months of desperate search, at long last, I found the brand that effectively manages Jaden's skin asthma! If you're a mom and you have a baby with the same skin condition, this is worth a try. The price is a bit steep. But really, you'll forget all about it when you see your baby's smooth kissable skin! :)

You can read more about Mustela here. They have a host of products for pregnant women, newborns, and kids with sensitive skin. When you've picked out your goods, head out to Rustan's or their little kiosk at Glorietta 4 (3rd Level) to get 'em. You can also email mustelaphilippines@yahoo.com or text 0917-8959988. :)

Written With Endorphines

2011-10-11T13:21:00.000+08:00

From stilettos to ballet flats... to running shoes :D

For the first time since August 20, 2010, I finally went back to the park to exercise! Woohoo! Achievement! :P

I remember the date so clearly because that was the last time Julz and I did our walking rounds before I gave birth 3 days later. (I was walking every night to will my baby to come out!)

This morning, I went with my new date -- my little boy Jaden (now out of my tummy of course! hehe)! We went walking and jogging together (ok, only me for jogging), and it feels darn GOOD! I got to loosen those super mega tense muscles all over my body and got my heart and lungs a-working! Yay!

I always knew exercise was good, but... well, I tended to shelf it at the back of my mind as a sort-of "yeah-I-know-okay!" tidbit. I'd even use my healthy metabolism as an excuse not to work out. ("Pag nag-exercise ako, mas lalo ako papayat!" = big lie). People are always healthier with exercise.

Hopefully, today will be a start of a good habit! Best part is, I get to do it with mah boys! Jaden is my my official walking partner. He also switches to being my de facto weights when he wants to be carried ;) Julz, who will join us 3x a week, is my jogging/running partner! Hehe.

Those 2 boys should be more than enough reason for me to stick to this routine. *crossing my fingers*

Now if I can just get me some pretty workout clothes... :P

What a Treat!

2011-10-09T23:00:00.030+08:00

You all know what they say about accessories making or breaking your style, right? Well, I just discovered a brand that carries only style-uppers! :)

Enter Kandi Treats. One click into their website and I was instantly happy to see the pretty accessories that flashed on the new tab of my browser. The first batch I saw were Kandi Treats' signature Jelly Beans.

Yummy Jelly Beans!

These Jelly Beans come in an array of colors -- just about any shade you can imagine! So far, my hands-down personal favorite is Chili Mango, a rich classy orange hue, that is such a happy pill to me! :) You can use these sweethearts as a necklace (choose your length!), headband, ponytail, belt, bracelet, armband... or whatever way that makes you feel that you've got the oomph! You can even use it to add a little fun to your bag. Like so:

Its versatility is remarkable, even my 13-month old boy found a use for it...


This is how he makes sure Mommy can't escape while he's napping ;)

Aside from these Jelly Beans, Kandi Treats also has their Taffy collection. This one, I wanted to HOARD. Because look how fabulous they are!!!

*drool*

Lucky for the early buyers, Kandi Treats doesn't make too many of these Taffies... which means those girls got such one-of-a-kind artful pieces! *envy*

Guess what? YOU can get lucky too!

Because I'm celebrating my 1st week-sary of blogging at Blogspot, I'm giving away this gorgeous necklace from the Taffy collection:

Passion Fruit Taffy

Before you say, "OA naman!", lemme just say that this won't go on every week. OA na talaga yun! Hehe. I'm not exactly a weeksary or even monthsary type of person. (The only monthsary I ever celebrated was my son's monthsaries leading to his 1st birthday). But this time, just to show my gratitude for trooping over with me to my new bloghome, I decided to throw a little treat your way :)

Ok. Now you can say it: "OA pa rin!" Hahaha ;)

Anyway! Back to the Taffy treat! I'm running out of words to describe how nice it is! I can imagine wearing it over a simple white or black top... or beige.. or even red or orange or blue... a host of colors, really... And then looking chic. just. like. that!

By the way, if you're a mom, I can tell you it's made of pretty good material, so it won't give in at the first tug of your kid/s! Now, if you're a dad, well, please get this for her! :)

Here's how you can win the Taffy:

1. Share this post by clicking the Facebook button at the bottom.
2. Answer the question, "Where does the name KAnDi in KAnDi Treats come from?" (Hint: Visit their website or their FB page!)
3. Email your answer, name and mailing address to misisteapot@gmail.com on or before Saturday, October 15, 2011. (The contest is open to Philippine residents only.)

That's it, pancit! :) I'll randomly pick out a winner next Monday, October 17, 2011.

Good luck! :)

Post-script 10/17/2011:

Yahoo!!! We've got a winner!

VALERIE CLAIRE of Lipa City, Batangas, you just won the very pretty handmade Passion Fruit Taffy from KaNdi Treats! Congratulations!!! :) Please wait for my email!

Thank you everyone for joining!!! I was so happy to see all your emails! Thank you! Thank you!

*All images in this post are used with permission from the Facebook page of KAnDi Treats.

A Movie Date and Other Issues

2011-10-07T15:00:00.000+08:00

SPOILER ALERT! I may have bits of spoilers here so read at your own risk :)

Egged on by the raves the movie got from my Twitter friends, Julz and I trooped to Greenbelt to catch No Other Woman (first screening of the day, no less! haha).

I'd love to give you a nice film review here, except that I am no movie critic. My only criterion in judging movies is and has always been: Did I enjoy it enough to stay awake throughout the flick?

So instead indulge me as I ramble on about the emotions that got stirred on our movie date (i.e, why I cried my eyes out). Game?

Being a wife myself and a goody-two-shoes, I knew even before seeing the trailer that I'd be rooting for the wife. And so I cried for her when her husband made that first act of infidelity. I cried for her when she started having suspicions. I cried for her when she tried to fight for her marriage. But the dam of tears came when she heard the truth out loud.

I am a lucky girl to have never been cheated on in my life (as far as I know), but somehow I could feel the wife's pain and anger. Like her, I would have felt that I wasn't even supposed to be battling with another woman for a man who is rightfully mine. I mean, akin nga eh! I would have asked the same question too -- Saan ba ako nagkulang? (By the way, I think Cristine Reyes did a good job of delivering that line. No hysteria. No over-the-top drama. Just a quiet stream of tears and a heart-wrenching, subdued monologue. It somehow made the scene more real and the emotions more raw.)

For some twisted reason, I also cried for the mistress. I know, right? How dare me! I probably thought, since I was bawling right there, itotodo ko na! Hehe. It's always tricky to root for the mistress (unless the wife is really wicked or the mistress is Meredith Grey). It's like condoning immorality (I speak like a true legal wife no?). But then on some level, anyone can relate to the mistress because all of us are really just looking for love. Diba?

But still. Marital infidelity is WRONG!

I have a very strong and uncompromising stand on cheating. I credit my father for it. Papa is handsome, intelligent, successful, and a real gentleman. I'm willing to bet many girls swooned/swoon over him. But I do not doubt, even for a millisecond, his faithfulness and devotion to Mama.

Thus, despite the world telling me that infidelity is in man's nature, I refuse to believe it. Men can be faithful. That is a FACT.

Which is why I married Julz. Anyone less would have broken my heart and gotten himself a Cara.

A peek at my wedding vows

iThank You, Steve :)

2011-10-06T13:46:00.000+08:00

This is a happy blog, and I'd like to keep it that way. So, while I am saddened by the passing of the genius Steve Jobs, I will not mourn or grieve here. Instead, I'd like to celebrate the many ways he changed the world... especially mine. Every Apple product I had stood for something significant in my life :)

1. The iPod. I owned a 2nd generation iPod mini in blue. It was my first Apple baby, a gift from my Papa for doing well in school. It had all my favorite songs, carefully organized into playlists that I patiently put together. I had playlists for driving, working out, getting ready for school, etc. It was perennially jacked to my speakers as well as to my car radio.

image from apple.com

Then it got smaller. Papa bought a 2nd generation iPod Nano in silver. Handing him another sem's grades, I convinced him to trade his Nano with my old iPod. (By the way, that's how we were brought up. We can get nice, expensive things as "rewards", not as everyday entitlements. Pretty good parenting, methinks.) This Nano took me to work everyday. It easily slipped into my bag and I brought it everywhere.

My iPod in Misibis Bay, Bicolandia

After a couple of years, I parted ways with it as Julz gave me an iPod Touch as a pre-wedding gift :) It sits on its dock in our living room now :)

2. The MacBook & MacBook Pro. My 1st Apple notebook was a MacBook which my parents gave me while I was in law school. I was nursing a slightly wounded heart (slight lang talaga! :P) and the pretty all-white thing in its pretty white box cheered me up like a new toy to a kid. It became my bestfriend for the next few years. It was my window to the world while I was tied to a demanding law school life. I watched movies and series in it. I wrote papers in it. Researched with it. Come to think of it, I first blogged using it! My first email exchange with Julz was using it! And... I first saw my name on the bar passers list with that MacBook! Talk about sentimental value!

Can you see my MacBook? :)

Bar Passer #949 on the screen of my MacBook!

Years later, on my 1st birthday as Julz's wife, he gifted me with a brand new MacBook Pro :) Just like the old one, I slave away in it during work and have fun with it when it's time to chill! All my photos & videos from the time I got married are here, like a photo keeper of sorts for this chapter of my life as wife and mommy :)

My MacBooks and my baby!

3. Then of course, the iPad. I got an iPad for Julz on our 1st anniversary. I thought it'll be a great alternative to his balikbayan-box heavy laptop which he uses to read his basketball literature every night. As always, I thought right. Haha :P

Six months later, it was my turn to receive my own iPad2, this time from my generous in-laws :) I've written and tweeted time and again about my iPad, and always, I was raving! I love my iPad so much! I do a lot with it: review pleadings, edit documents, play games, watch movies and videos, take and store photos, listen to music, surf the net, blog, shop online, teach ABC and show kiddie flashcards to a toddler, play cartoons and nursery rhymes videos for Jaden, and best of all, READ! Thanks to my iPad, I am nearing my goal of reading at least 15 non-law books in a year! Yay!

My beloved iBooks library :)

Jaden itching for his turn on the iPad (with Lola Lisa & Tita Angel)

With my iPad, I don't dread waiting anymore -- I just whip out my uber sleek iPad from my bag (I take it wherever I go) and start tinkering with it. Before I know it, I'd get annoyed that my waiting time is up. Hehe :P Really, for a gadget which I first dismissed as "Nye, parang malaking iPod lang eh", it's quickly establishing itself as a "can't-live-without-gadget". Lesson? Never underestimate the vision of a genius! :)

Without exaggerating, I can say that these gadgets changed my lifestyle. When they were first introduced, I didn't think I would ever need them the iPad especially. But I guess, that's how you'll appreciate the brilliance of Steve Jobs. He didn't target a market. He creates it, satisfies it, even inspires it.

Thank you, Steve Jobs!

Steve Jobs. 1955-2011.

A Slice of the Jadencake

2011-10-04T21:39:00.005+08:00

No 2 days are alike. Especially when you have a hyperactive, ever-curious 1-year old boy. But I know how important routine is in his development, so I (subtly) insist on one. This is a sketch of how Jaden's days are like... or at least, how today went like :)

7:30am. Wake up. Cuddle with Mommy for a bottle. Feed.

7:35am. Morning bottle finished. Sit up on the bed, crawl to Daddy (Dada) & Mommy to give one wet kiss to each (Daddy stirs but doesn't wake up), then climb the headboard. The energy begins! I sleepily play with him for a while, then we go to the bathroom to wash and change his nappies :)

8:05am. I hand him over to his yaya while I go back to sleep (or read ebooks). They play in his room.

8:35am. After Jaden takes his vitamins and immune system booster, he's off to the playground of our condo or to the village park across.

9:15am. Jaden and his yaya come back home. He takes breakfast of mango-banana thingamajig with Dada & Mommy!

9:45am. Alphabet time with Mommy. (After Apple, Banana, Cat, Dog, he starts getting his toys and balls and begins playing. Hehe.)

10:00am. Bathtime!

10:25am. Midday bottle and midday nap. As the boy dozes off, Mommy sneaks off to work.

12:30pm. Jaden wakes up from his nap, with a big grin and his hair in all directions.

1:00pm. Lunch! Chicken & rice in asparagus soup! Yihaaa!

1:30pm. Done with lunch... Jaden gets a jellyace :)

1:45pm. Getting ready for Gymboree class! (Other days, he goes to his Lola Carry's office across our place or just stays home)

2:00pm. Gymboree!!! Jaden ups his cuteness for the pretty little girl ;) haha

3:00pm. End of class. Jaden gets juice, bread, Marie biscuits and fruit puffs.

3:45pm. Afternoon bottle, wind-down time on the bed for his nap. (When not tired from Gymboree, he can take as long as 30 minutes to fall asleep. What energy. Hehe)

6:00pm. Jaden wakes up from nap # 2, with the same big grin and disheveled hair. CUTE!!! Plays with Daddy & Mommy! Mommy again tries to teach ABC!

7:00pm. Dinner time with family. Jaden gets potatoes and carrots.

7:30pm. Playtime.

8:10pm. Bedtime routine starts. Clean-up and change into pajamas. Brush teeth. Goodnight kiss to Dada. Bedtime story. Goodnight prayer. Cuddle time with Mommy. Night bottle.

9:00pm. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Wow. I wish I could have this eat-play-sleep-eat-play-sleep routine of my son! But don't be fooled. The boy sticks to this routine but still manages to be quite a handful! His energy is boundless! ANG LIKOT!!!

That said, I'd never trade this time of his life for anything! :)

Playback: Why Not Marry A Lawyer

2011-10-03T09:13:00.002+08:00

*Written in answer to Why Marry A (Female) Lawyer. First published on May 27, 2010, this post is one of the best-loved entries I've written. It clearly hit a soft spot among my circle of women lawyers :)

There’s a dichotomy among guys in law school: those who are eager to date female law students and those who… well… are just not that eager.

Two years out of Malcolm Hall, I now see that the same dichotomy carries over to the so-called real world. Generally, the “Atty” before a woman’s name evokes either a turn-on (“ooohh”) or a turn-off (“yuck pare”). Rarely do men get blase about it.

I don’t know exactly how and when guys start falling under one category or the other. But from my sly investigation (which consists of eavesdropping and squeezing out classified “boy-talk” from my husband) I learned that the boys in the second group shudder at the thought of dating (and potentially ending up with) lawyers because these girls are perceived to be so ingrained in the “right” mentality…

Right, as in mahilig sa rights, e.g. Right to have a bad day, right to get an explanation for a non-issue, right to say my feelings no matter how superficial (legit ‘to — freedom of expression), right to question (different from custodial investigation — rights of the accused thus do not apply), right to be cranky, right to be b*tchy, right to be spoiled, right to whine, right to argue, right to fight, and so on. You get my drift ;)

Apart from (or perhaps because of) the array of rights we like to invoke, there is also the impression that women lawyers are too strong-willed and bull-headed for their own good. In other words, masyadong matapang. There, hits closer to home right? (Aray)

But… are we really that bad a demographic???

YES. We have all the drama of a girl, magnified by our ability to articulate it in legal gobbledygook (innate or developed).

So why marry one of us?

Ah, let’s make my favorite blogger do the talking for this one:

“… [because] being “mabait” should not refer to someone who will always agree to what her partner says. It shouldn’t mean finding someone who is meek or one who wouldn’t speak her mind for fear of irritating the other.

x x x

Ahh, but really, what’s more amazing than someone who has street-smarts and one who can stand on her own feet and be proud of her own accomplishments? What’s sexier than someone who can look you straight in the eye and disagree with you, without being disagreeable? And if any of us would be lucky to find someone who will love us for who we are, then shouldn’t we be more than happy to have that someone in our lives?” [lifted without permission from Julz's 2007 post, "Pride and Prejudice"]

And with that, Your Honor, I rest my case.

So, why marry a female lawyer? Why NOT?

Lucky are the guys who end up with lawyer wives :)

To the guy who was man enough to marry a rights-oriented, strong-willed, and bullheaded lawyer… I love you more than all the pages of SCRA combined :)

Welcome to my new home!

2011-10-02T23:41:00.000+08:00

Hello, everyone! Welcome to MisisTeapot at Blogger!

One year and 4 months at Wordpress taught me how to truly love the blogworld. And guess what? Looks like it loves me back too! :)

To be honest, it's been a hard decision to leave my old blog and make this move. Those were 16 months of big, precious milestones in my life. It saw me going through pregnancy, childbirth, and being a first-time mom. In between, it also documented my joys and struggles as a young, undomesticated wife. So see, saying goodbye to that first blog is a real feat, what with all that sentimental attachments I've had with it.

I have no deep-seated issues with my former host, don't worry. The only reason for this move is flexibility. Apparently, I can do more with Blogger. For a non-techie like me, it's sacred to have a dashboard I can navigate easily. Plus, a big factor is the uncomplicated sponsorships. (Yep, I guess we're growing! :P)

I will try to relive that blog through this one by putting up well-loved posts here. I hope, that way, new readers can get to know more about me and my story better. (And loyal readers, please please please stay with meeee!!!)

I'm Stella, Misis Teapot to my readers, wife to an amazing man, mommy to an equally amazing baby boy, a woman and little girl all in one!

Welcome to my new home! Hope to make you a regular here! :)