Yes, its expensive but...

I woke up from my deep sleep this morning around 3:00 am with a loud sound. When I looked around, our corridor light was off and there was no sound coming from the A/C. Brown out! I woke up Dar and we immediately went down to check our electric cabinet, but when I looked at our window, I saw the DEWA (electric and water supply company) car passing our street.  After a few minutes of figuring out what might have happened with our electric supply, I checked the surroundings outside through our window and there I saw the substation across our house being inspected by the DEWA staff. We went out and this kabayan informed us that one of the cables caused the power outage. Ok! Relieved that it was not only us.

Around 4:00 am, I saw 4 white SUVs across the road and inspecting the substation. Around 5:00 am, my husband told me that there were trucks outside all lined up on our road. Around 6:00 am, temporary power was supplied to the household with these powerful generator sets:

I told our helper that if something like this happened in the Philippines at an unholy hour, I am sure we all have to wait all day before we could be attended, and power supply will depend on the extent of the damage. And NO generator sets will be provided to the consumers. Yes, services here are not cheap. In fact there was a time when I almost went crazy (that's exag, of course) because we were informed by my husband's company that our monthly water and electricity consumption had gone up to 7,000 AED. But now, I realized that if this is the quality of service that one would get I don't think consumers would mind paying that much. 

Well, this is just one of the "comfortable things" you'll find when living in Dubai that's why I don't wonder anymore why there are so many expats from Europe and US who don't like to leave this place anymore. Me too is getting used to the comforts and easy life, not to mention the safety and security Dubai is quite known for. But sooner or later, we will have to say goodbye. :)

Anyway, power was restored before noon and roads were cleared now. Back to normal programming. :)

Have a blessed Sunday!

hands off from gadgets

But only for a while. 

Yesterday was the beginning of Eid holiday in school but as early as Saturday, I had to fix the "schedules". Tuesday is assignment day and if there is no homework, the two boys had to play their violin, and after that they have to do something productive. 

They started their homework Monday night and woke up a bit early to finish them off. I promised McDo delivery for lunch (the smile on their faces!) and in the afternoon they could tinker with their gadget (wider smiles came).

While waiting for lunch, they busied their hands with these:

Anjo made this painting for me. Obvious ba na para sa akin talaga to? I asked her if she could do LV because currently it's in my wishlist. But she said Chanel fits me more perfectly and it has been in her mind for quite sometime already. Thank you Anjo! Now it's on display on our bedroom. I told her it would surely gives my handsome roommate nightmares because it is a reminder of my expensive "passion"and his much detested one. Hahaha.

I have my playlist in my Samsung tablet, but you see, that damn tablet has been a headache for a month now. It's automatically shutting off when battery reaches 60% and to think that we bought it just several months ago. My husband was even proud when he gave it to me because he said it's the latest and it has the best camera resolution ek ek. Ok fine. Now, he asked me if I wanted to buy another one! Not Samsung anymore. If ever, that would be my 3rd Samsung tablet so please... NO!

So I asked the two boys if its possible to download songs to iMAC (without charge) and they said yes. So there you go. I have 22 songs for my bebe boy. Thank you Kuyas!

And now and until Friday, these guys will be on their gadgets all day long. Not willing to be disturbed. haha. 

Oh tomorrow is Thursday. I love Thursday! It's like Friday for the rest of the world.

Keep smiling!

Just today ..

...when the day was so much better than yesterday.

I went downstairs a little past 1pm because I felt my tummy grumbling. And I was thrilled to see this for lunch.

Paksiw na Tilapia. I wished it was a little more sour but it was already a delight. I just requested the angel to add a little apple cider and it would then be perfect.

And since I am feeling comfortable today, yes, every day is different, I decided to prepare our dinner.

Grilled salmon in oyster sauce. A guaranteed hit sa mga bagets.

Then I went a step further. I made brownies.

And made a milky banana smoothie minutes before the kids arrived. It's their favorite.

That's how my Monday went. Hope you had a beautiful Monday too.

Cooking , eating and a little emote

If you want me to wake up and start a day on a wrong note don't bother to clean the kitchen the night before. I love seeing an organized kitchen first thing in the morning. When I didn't have a helper, I would never leave my kitchen stinky. Although my kids would dishwash, I still made sure that everything in the kitchen was in their proper places. And yes, this was also the primary instruction that I gave our helper now. And she religiously follows. I'm glad.

Our place is relatively new and I am so relieved that not a single cockroach (no eggs, no poop, no baby cockroach) is seen in our house. It's true. And I would like to maintain this squeaky clean condition until we have to leave this house.

Our kitchen is also my place to go when I feel a little melancholic. I cook whatever I could find in our cupboards. 

 Those instant puto are yummy. Cravings satisfied!

This chocolate frosting is for that cheesecake. It's a new product that we saw from Nanay Betty Crocker. I got pasado award from my employers. :)


Oh, these are not pan de sal pipol! These are my chicken cordon bleu.

It wasn't that bad, but not that good either. It's tasty but dry. Also, I think I should have followed the recipe by using Swiss cheese. I used cheddar because I have lots of it inside the fridge. Adik sa cheese. Next time, bawal na ang pasaway at pag eeksperimento. But the kids loved it anyway.

And I still have some biya here from Pinas. During my first trimester, I would cook dried fish and pusit. 

But not anymore now. Too salty for pregnant woman.

Ohhh foods! 

Today is Saturday, but I am forced to stay home because the discomfort of walking is already too much for me nowadays. Kids and their Papa are having their flu shots. 

I must admit I am becoming emotional the past few weeks. Perhaps because of being unable to enjoy going out, esp. buying those little happy stuff. My husband said if not for my bump, my weight loss will be a lot evident. I am excited to have another bundle of joy to cuddle and take care of, but the pain, the difficulty of sleeping, the boredom are already taking its toll on me. 

But this is just temporary I know. Six more weeks and I will be going to be slowly physically normal again. 

Oh well. More injections of happiness and positivity, and everything will be fine.

I wish everyone a happy weekend and a blessed Sunday.

Back to quotes

Here we go again!!! I am back to being "pushy" parent. Well, in a good way I guess. Hope so.

I am expecting their academic schedules will be finalized by next week, but I could see that homework (yes, now my two younger kids have their "mandatory"homework!) are already piling up. DJ is no longer alone in his struggle. Haha

When I saw Abi and Anjo's subjects, I shook my head in disbelief. Humanities, Designs, Spanish/French (and there is Arabic). I told them that those are university subjects. Now, they can empathize with their Kuya. No more easy life, right guys?

So, I am also in the look out for quotable quotes. Have to put a little humor, though. Life must not always be serious.

Harry Potter may set the tone.

Or they might find Natalie Portman beautiful and be captivated by her wit and intelligence, coz I am. If I had to be born again, I still want to be me but I would like to go to Harvard too.

Oh, to be a mother of growing kids in a complicated environment. Definitely, not easy. That's why I try to keep the house simple, silent and orderly. Somehow, kids need to find sanctuary and solace in their homes. 

Tomorrow is Thursday, meaning the next day is a weekend. Thank you Lord.

He looks like who?

This is the latest photo of our utoy. Can't wait to see this little munchkin.

Pretty much on his own and can survive if he chooses to be born now. But I prefer not.  Let's wait a little more baby boy! Shooo pre term labor.

Weight under control

I am 32 weeks exactly today and yes, seven to eight weeks before finally seeing this active baby carrot inside me. I have to be honest, I am wishing that tomorrow is my 40th week so I could go back to my old routine, move normally without pain and aches, and yes to be allowed to eat chocolates and ice cream again. But I have to tell myself to be patient and to be optimistic about everything.

Since controlling my sugar intake, I have become more attached and more experimenting on fruits. In fact, because of my change in eating habits, my weight is going down, from 59.8 kls. I am down to 59.3 kls. And water in my placenta has improved and is now within the normal level. My personal goal is not to exceed 60 kls. by the time I give birth.

Last weekend, I bought peaches. Funny, but I didn't know how to eat this fruit- should I peel it or eat it with skin? Our angel here said I just had to wash it thoroughly and I could eat it with skin. I chose to peel it instead. I ate it with yogurt and a peanut butter sandwich for my lunch.

Surprisingly, peaches were delicious. Crunchy like apple but a lot sweeter. I love it. Gotta buy some more this weekend!

Maybe I should try making peach smoothie too instead of just having apple, strawberry and kiwi for my afternoon snack.

Talking more about the coming baby, last weekend we also decided to buy some baby furnitures because baby shops were on sale.

This is a pack and play crib. Ours before was just a simple crib, we didn't even buy it because it was just a gift to us by a kind soul. This one has additional features like changing bed, toys and music.

Dar was having a hard time putting parts together since this was his very first time to buy stroller, car seat/ carrier. Never had one like these,though. Life for us was a lot simpler then. But it was just perfect.

I also decided to keep these biggies back to their own boxes. It's impossible for me to carry them around anymore. It weighs me down. Bye for now. Praying that hubby will heed my prayer for a smaller purse :)

Excuse my maternity underwear peeping though my maternity pillow, the pregnant woman in me is so clumsy and careless. Although, I am secretly wishing I'd stay in that bust size forever!

Today is Monday, hoping everyone out there will have a gorgeous week ahead!
Positivity everywhere please!