Pagbabago

It was barely a month after my wedding when the news came.

My uncle and his family were enjoying their Christmas vacation in Thailand when the deadly tsunami struck. This disaster claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of lives, including those of my uncle and my 2 young cousins (they were only aged 44, 13 and 10 at the time) plus 2 other members of their party.

My brother went to Phuket to take care of things while we all waited for any updates. At the time, the youngest daughter (my cousin) was still struggling for her life in an ICU. She eventually succumbed after almost 3 weeks, a few days after her 10th birthday.

Imagine. We were still at the height of the euphoric honeymoon cloud that we were riding in when we were rudely brought back to reality. My mother was very depressed that her youngest brother and the 2 young children were so abruptly taken away from us.

With all that was happening, I initially did not realize that there were already changes occurring in my body. I started to get food aversions. I thought that I just did not have an appetite given the extreme situation that we were in at that time. There were only a few things that I could tolerate, and the Goldilocks mamon that my mom's friends brought over was one of them.

Then we began to suspect that my lack of appetite and food aversions were due to something else.

2 pink lines. A new life. Hope.

We told my mother the news that she is going to be a grandmother. I believe that this was the point when she started to slowly get out of her depression.

9 months after we lost our loved ones to the fury of Mother Nature, we welcomed another life into the family. My husband and I were so excited that we excitedly shared the news to family and friends. A lot of them came over to visit. We served them goodies from Goldilocks like ensaymada and mamon and tetra packed juice.

I realized later that my son came at just the right time. He is my mother's first apo, and while she may not be a totally indulgent lola (she can actually be strict at times), she loves him very, very much. We now celebrate life, after death claimed our loved ones.

Life has again changed.

In about 2 week's time, it will be his fifth birthday. We're having a simple celebration at home. No party this year, just a simple family salo-salo, but for sure there will be a cake (from Goldilocks!) and misua. It's been a roller coaster ride the past 5 years, but life goes on, through all the ups and downs, through all the challenges, through all the PAGBABAGO (changes).

Real Leaf Paparazzi

As a working mom, I oftentimes have to stop by the convenience store to refresh myself. My drink of choice is usually not the usual soda but something healthier, like Real Leaf Green Tea. This drink is not only refreshing, but because it's made from whole tea leaves, it contains Theanine which helps reduce mental and physical stress and improves cognition and mood in a synergistic manner with caffeine (from wikipedia). Thus a great pick-me-upper especially when I'm tired.


My little boy is at the age where he wants what the adults are having. So one day, while browsing through the offerings of the convenience store...

Hey, this is what mom usually buys. I wonder why?

Let me try it out myself...

Hey, this tastes great! No wonder mommy likes it so much!

Uh, Little Boy, we'll have to pay for it first before you drink it!

I can't blame him. Real Leaf Green Tea tastes good and really refreshes. It is certainly a much better choice than soda, health wise.

Now my Baby Girl wants a taste of it too!


No baby, not now. Too early for you. For now, it's just mommy's milk for you. Maybe in about 3 years time, you can join us in tasting the goodness of Real Leaf Green Tea!

This 2009, I Am Most Thankful For...

The birth of my Baby Girl!!!

2009 is not a good year for us. There were just too many things that happened: my mom's motorcycle accident, Ondoy, the break in at our house, financial problems, to name just a few.

But through it all, I am thankful for 2009, because it is the year when our little girl, our second child was born!

This makes 2009 a Happy Year inspite of all the other problems!

The other things I am grateful for:

• My family surviving Ondoy. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law stayed on the roof all night, but they survived.
  
• No one got hurt during the break in, except our dog :( Nothing taken either.
  
• While our finances are not exactly rosy, we've been surviving!
• My mom walking again. She had a hip replacement surgery after a motorcycle hit her! But she's ok now, not like before, but still ok.

I am hoping that 2010 will be an even better year for us!

Write about what you are grateful for in 2009 and win a Moleskine Colour A Month Daily Planner 2010 by clicking here.

If I Were A Starbucks Drink...

I'd be a White Chocolate Drink. Not the White Chocolate Mocha, but just plain White Chocolate. It's available as White Hot Chocolate, but I was able to order Iced White Chocolate.

Why this reflects ME:

• It's a very simple drink. No whipped cream, no syrup, at least not for me, just plain hot or iced drink.
  
• It's unique. Everybody else orders fraps or coffee. I look for this once in a while.
• It's white. In a sea of brown coffee. Like a Tsinay in the Philippines -- that's me. :)
• It's not very obvious. Sometimes people aren't even aware of this drink, it's that unobtrusive. Sometimes I don't see it on the menu and just ask for it, especially the iced version. Like me, I usually blend into the background.
• Since, strictly speaking, it's not a coffee drink, it does not contain caffeine. Not exciting. Doesn't raise the heart rate. Doesn't make one palpitate. Boring even, at least for some people. But good for everybody -- kids, preggy women (this is my staple when I'm preggy and find myself in starbucks), hypertensive people and other people who have to watch their caffeine intake.

So, in a nutshell (or should I say, a coffee bean), I'm a simple, unique, white (hehehe), unobstrusive, unexciting person!!! :D Just like Starbucks white chocolate!

If you can answer this question, "If you were a Starbucks drink, what would you be and why?" You might get the chance to win one Starbucks planner from Maver! Click here to learn more. You have until December 12, 2009 to join the contest.

To Maver, if I'm lucky enough to win one of your planners, I think I'll get the "Cherries" version.

I Enjoyed My Century Bangus Fillet at Home

December is a very hectic month for me and today is an especially hectic day!

Our Christmas list keeps getting longer and longer. Since today is no-work day for me and hubby's clinic is in the afternoon, we decided to do our shopping today to hopefully complete our gift list. Although it was a good idea to shop during a weekday as there was much less people, it still was very tiring.

Hubby had to go to work right after our shopping trip. I had to bring our little boy to school in the afternoon and wait for him to finish his session.

All through this, our little 5 month old girl also tagged along since she doesn't take anything but mommy's milk. It was simply more convenient.

We finally headed back home at around 6pm. My sweet little baby girl (she's usually very good-natured, except when she's REALLY hungry!) decided at that moment to cry her lungs out. It turned out that she was hungry! Not only that, her diaper was soiled! I couldn't breastfeed her at that point because I was driving. The yaya couldn't change her either! I was cursing all the red lights and all the vehicles that do not want to let me pass!

When we finally got home, I had the yaya wrap the little girl first with a receiving blanket and breastfed her first. The yaya then prepared the stuff needed to clean the baby while I was breastfeeding. After breastfeeding, the little girl slept for a short while but soon awakened, probably bothered by the uncomfy feeling on her bottom. We had to endure another round of wailing while we cleaned her up and gave her a sponge bath, after which she demanded for more milk. When she was satisfied enough, I looked at the time. Oh no! It was already past 7 pm and hubby will be home any minute now! I do not have the luxury of time to cook!

Fortunately, I remembered the cans of Century Tuna Bangus Fillet I bought last week. I figured now is a good time to try it out.




I picked the variety with Tausi and shared it with my hubby, son and brother. Hubby actually loved it! And he's somebody who doesn't really like fish in any form!



I realized that it would probably be a good, go-to dish whenever we couldn't cook any ulam. I'm considering having this as a baon for workdays. It's so easy to bring along, and I don't have to worry about the ulam spoiling, even without refrigeration. And with the easy open can, no need to bring along the can opener at all!


I am so glad I discovered Century Tuna Bangus Fillet! It certainly saved the day for a harried wife and mom! I am pretty sure that it will continue to be a lifesaver!

Our Nuffnang "Date"

I was so excited about being in the top 20 of Nuffnang's shopaholic contest that I literally dragged the hubby to Heaven and Eggs in Glorietta 4 to claim my free tickets. And maybe, just maybe, if I'm lucky enough, I just might walk away with the Gucci bag!

Well, that was a little too presumptive of me, I suppose. My entry is not really very reminiscent of Rebecca Bloomwood-type shopping obsession. But, hey, it's never outlawed to dream, right? At the very least, my husband and I get to go to see a movie TOGETHER after a long spell! That would be a nice (and cheap, hahaha) post Valentine's gift!

It's a pity that I'm quite a shy person so I didn't really get to talk much with the others. I finally get to see the people behind the blogs, and all I manage is a weak "hi" and smile. Oh well, this is the first blogging event I've ever been to. One suggestion though...maybe we could have the resto turn down the music a bit while the event is ongoing? It was very difficult for me to hear what was being said. But then, I was a bit late and seated at the back.

The movie itself was a fun movie! I could relate to the part where Rebecca covets after some particularly lovely designer piece. Good thing I was never so compulsive as to actually rack up such a huge credit card debt! Even my husband, who really thought he won't find the movie interesting, laughed at some parts!

After the movie, while we were filing out, I was surprised to have a microphone shoved near my face and a lights shining in my eyes! Somebody asked me how the movie was and I could only stammer...it was, it was good... Gad, I hope nobody I know gets to see me on ETC. I mean, I could have been wittier, I could have dressed better.....for my few seconds of TV (I think) appearance!

All in all, I enjoyed myself. It felt like a date again, with food and a movie, thanks to Nuffnang.

Oh, did I win the Gucci bag? No, I only managed to win the tickets. But that definitely encouraged me to continue writing and blogging, coz, hey, somebody out there actually LIKES what I write (hindi ako ilusyonada!) Congratulations to Frances, who got the top prize, and to all the other winners!

My Shopaholic Confession

Hi! My name is Joey and I'm a Shopaholic!

...window shopping, that is.

I think I love new clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry as much as another girl BUT I am NOT an impulsive buyer. When I look at the price tag, I think of my son's tuition fees, I think of owning a house someday, and then I know that if I give in to the impulse of acquiring these tempting stuff, I'd have to forego or delay the more important things that I want.

It cannot be denied, however, that there is so much pleasure in looking in the shop windows, trying on clothes and shoes. But many a saleslady must have been frustrated that they cannot convince me to buy, even if I do look like I really, really want to.

I believe in delayed gratification. If I don't buy it now and the desire is still with me after 1 or 2 weeks...and the item happens to be on sale...then maybe it IS meant for me. But if not, maybe I shouldn't add anymore to my already overfull closet!

Now, shopping for my son's school is another matter altogether. I would try looking for the best school for my child, even if it's expensive. But I would also like to emphasize that it should be about "value for money". Good education does not come cheap, but I don't have to go into debt in order to finance his education. Now, that's something that would be priceless, and won't fade with the seasons.

Now I only indulge my impulsive spending tendencies in the grocery. :P

Catch "Confessions of a Shopaholic" in cinemas on February 18, 2009!

Try Your Luck!

If you're a Pinay blogger like me, you should join pinaybloggers.com , the online forum for Pinay bloggers, started by a Pinay blogger. It's free to join, and you get to meet and interact with your fellow Pinays online. Now there's more reason to join since there's a cool contest ongoing right now! Want to know more about it? Click here!