Cozy Friday

A long absence indeed from blogspot. We were busy with the documentation process of our angel and  and orienting her as well in the house. Now, I think she is starting to get the hang of it. We got her a 30 day visit visa (extended from her original visit visa) to check whether she could be our angel for the whole contract year. So far, so good.

But she is not my topic today. 

Last Friday, Mr. Kyu Byeng Hwang had organized a sumptuous lunch for us and other two families. It was held in a hotel which served really really delicious Filipino foods. That time I thought I was in the Philippines. Yes that good feeling! Definitely, that Manila Grill restaurant deserves a another visit. 

But more than the foods, its seeing familiar people again that made me look forward to that Friday lunch. Although, nowadays I am not excited to go out because I don't have clothes to wear anymore. Parang naka uniform ako every time aalis. I resist buying new clothes because it's like spending unnecessarily. Anyway, let's not deal with my problem.

So! Together with us are Maie and Elmer Tolero and their two cute growing kids, and Ria Baes and her Architect husband with their babies. I didn't have photos of our Manila Grill lunch, I guess I was too engrossed with the chikahan. And I thought everyone was heading to our house for the afternoon tea time, only to find out Ria and her family had to beg off due to their appointment with their pediatrician. Perhaps, next time we'll see. 

I prepared two kinds of tea, jasmine and apple tea flavor, but Lo and Behold! Mr. Hwang asked for coffee. I almost fainted because I doubted if I had my coffee mate. I have been using Anlene for sometime already as my creamer for health purposes. So I literally "dug"in my cabinet and looked for any evaporated canned milk. Thank goodness, there was one hiding behind the chips. I served my brownies (thank you Mareng Betty Crocker) and banana cake (courtesy of a neighbor)

I truly appreciate my guests for spending their precious weekend with us. You see, life in Dubai is so fast paced that every day off is considered gold. It should be a time rather spent for family and for self relaxation. But they chose us. So thank you.

beautiful family

this is the only "nice spot" for picture taking because the rest of the house is just space. :)

Mr. Hwang's idea. 

Hope to see you again soon!

Just sharing

Last Monday, Anjo told me she was one of those who volunteered to be a class representative in their coming graduation ceremony. She, if selected, will deliver a short speech on that day. She asked me if I could help her come up with a short message. I said yes of course but under one condition: she has to give me an outline of what she wanted to say. I told her the speech must be her own message and not mine. She said sure she'll do. And also, I reminded her that if she doesn't get to represent her class, she shouldn't feel bad. She just replied with a short, "I know".

I got the piece of paper the morning after on our working table and as I went through her outline, I was so delighted to see the parting lines.

"Don't be afraid to fail because you learn from your failures." 

Oh, I never thought this girl who just dreams of going to a fashion school in Paris has already something deeper swimming in her mind. So I patted her on the shoulder and told her "Yeah, this is how you end a speech."

As I was putting her thoughts together I tried to recall any incident when I happened to impart some wisdom about failures. Surely, she must have picked it from all the books she has been reading all this time. Or maybe at one point, she had experienced failing but had remained optimistic about it. 

Or perhaps, she must have remembered when we went bowling last year and I got a bad fall in front of everyone while doing my turn. Dar then asked me if I still wanted to play because he knew I was awfully embarrassed. I was tempted to say No and just settle on my seat, but I knew my kids were watching me and waiting for my reply. So I said, I would still play. I was thinking that if I would stop it might mean to my children that I backed out because of embarrassment.

A couple of months ago, Anjo told me she wanted to audition in a talent show in her school by dancing but she said she was not sure if she'd qualify. So I reminded her of my bowling incident. I told her, if you fail to make it, it doesn't mean you have to stop yourself from doing it. You just go on until you become better and better. She passed the first elimination. Next week she'll go through the Grade 5 audition. 

So maybe, just maybe, I was able to impart an important lesson to her. 

As parents, I guess, it's really necessary that you become your children's example. Yes they live by your words, but they also look at your actions and emulate what you do. Nowadays, I am cautious of my judgment, of my tone of voice, my words, my outbursts (!) etc etc. My children are fast growing up and I have noticed that they are sensitive and they tend to absorb everything around them. I don't think they have the time to process everything that they see. So their discernment of what is wrong and right will come later in life and it might be too late for me to correct them.

It's easy raising kids. Feed them, clothe them, give them gadgets...  But now I am starting to feel uncertain if I am doing everything right. It scares me to think that I won't be to able raise good citizens in the future. I fervently hope I could. All other parents hope too. 

how I check on my kids

My life as parent in GEMS World Academy, my kids' current school has been upgraded. I can easily check their academics through my own account. I would know without sweat if they are able to submit their assignments/projects on time or if they are late late or if they don't submit at all. And  most of all, I can track their progress on each subject without the need to talk or email their teachers. But based on my experience, their teachers are very accessible too. During the earlier part of the school year, I needed to communicate with DJ's teachers a lot of times and not even once did anyone fail/ ignore me. They were helpful, encouraging and optimistic.

Anyway, we call this access ManageBac. Parents have their own Managebac account and students have their own too. For Middle School, all their homework, projects etc are accessible through Managebac using various applications. That's only how far I could explain it. Oh :(

So, I'd like to share how my being a parent has become easier when it comes to monitoring my kids in school.

This is the "first page" that serves as a "menu" for me.

This the page where I have a general view of what's going on with my Grade 5 on the current term.

Next year, Anjo and Abi are going to be in the Middle Year Program,  so nowadays they are already "practicing" how it is to be Grade 6, and how not be "kids" anymore. 

This is where I would see emails from the teachers. This also serves as a reminder, advisory of the current lessons and future activities. This is DJ's.

This is the Attendance page. If there is a late remark, the parent will be advised to confirm if the student has reason to be late or if indeed he was really late or just a system error.

This is the academic page. To see the evaluation and progress grades, I just need to expand each subject. When I need to call their attention, I use the exact words written  on this page. So I would sound credible.

This is the monthly calendar. I use this to remind them if a major assignment, projects, recitations, exams are coming up. 

Evaluation reports (grades) are sent to parents every term. Nothing escapes.

The most amazing part of this which unfortunately I don't have access with is the "cafeteria expenses" (the non techie me doesn't care to visit it). It's my husband's duty to top up their ID's with loads and every time he does it, he also checks the foods that they usually buy. There was a time when he discovered Abi spent meals for two during lunch. Nanlibre pala because he didn't know his Papa had access to his expenses. He was lost for words when he was asked. Hahahaha. Poor little boy. 

Times have changed and life, to a certain degree, has become easier.
And I am grateful.

Have an enjoyable week ahead!

Yes, I'm on the way

Now that my husband had let the cat out of the bag in Facebook without my permission (I was just thankful he didn't say the gender), I am also sharing this pleasant surprise in my own site. 

I am 41 turning 42 this year and I am having a baby. It wasn't planned but it was a pleasant gift for us. It maybe another turning point for the whole household esp. that our youngest is already 11 by the time we have this little one out. But I guess, this is something from heaven because after two miscarriages last year, this gift still insisted to come this year. 

I originally wanted to "announce" my pregnancy at the end of this month 

after everything has been confirmed, but you know...

Because I am not that young anymore, I decided to undergo a non invasive prenatal test called Harmony, in other clinic they have this Panorama test which I think is basically the same. Through blood sample from me, the test can detect any abnormalities of the baby (autism not included). It was suggested to me by a HS classmate who happened to give birth last year to her 2nd baby. The blood sample has to be sent to the UK and results will be known after ten days. I am not that worried (age also makes a person more accepting I guess) but I don't expect a perfect pregnancy as well since I am already considered to be in the high risk category. 

So, what's happening to me now? I have break outs on my cheeks and foreheads due to the changes in my beauty routine. I have long shifted to a more natural and harmless beauty products since this pregnancy. I have gained weight and this is the only dress that could fit me now (at least I was still able to wear it last Friday, hurray!).

But Anjo told me that the bump is already there. :)

Now I am back to argan oil.

The Vitamin E collagen was bought from the Philippines last month when I was trying to find a baby friendly moisturizer. But I use it as my body lotion. 

I also have to find a way to clean my face since I don't use my exfoliating cream from my derma.

This soft brush from Olay, this Cetaphil and of course Cure are my constant friends two times week. I still use mask but just the one with the coconut product. Oh Boy! The weight, the freckles and the pimples... Haha. Not a joke, really. But this is only temporary. For the time being, I just use my make up skills to conceal those unwanted visitors. 

I still feel normal except from occasional laziness and exhaustion. Nothing extraordinary. I hope it stays this way until the end of the full term. I could only pray.

So for now this is it. God Bless everyone!

my everyday

every morning at 7:30 kids are gone.

and the whole day, the house is like this. Quiet.

So it comes alive only during weekends.

When it's weekdays, our foods are simple.

But come Thursday evening, I have to cook a decent dinner. When I have guests coming during weekends, we either have foods delivered (chinese foods most of the time) or I cook.

This caldereta was for my cousins who came over last Friday. My first time to cook caldereta from scratch. I think it was a success, except that I needed to season more according to my husband. I was cautious not to overdo salt because of its many ingredients. Next time.

This month, my househelp is coming. Hope this time there won't be last minute problem. Crossing my fingers. And praying too.

Bye for now. Have a wonderful week!

Mother's Day

Advance Happy Mother's day!
I'm wishing something. Sorry. I said I'm not dreaming of another bag. But I am. And I know this is something I won't have this year. Maybe next year?

But what's wrong in dreaming?

I want this. Badly.

or this one...

or this

Between my Chanel and Prada bags, I love my Prada more. I don't know why.

Kahit hassle dalhin, keribels.

dream... dream... dream...

Have a super nice Wednesday pipol!!!

new member of my living room

When we transferred to our house in Laguna, I had always wanted to have a grandfather's clock. My justification was the Italian theme of  our house. The main problem was the lack of space. The second was the budget. The third was the question of its practicality. So we just put it aside and waited for the perfect timing. 

Here in Dubai you have to have a sense of self control over your expenses. You'd see a lotttt of nice things, those which are just in your dreams and imaginations. Believe me. Whenever we are in a home center I will just drool over those grandiose sofa, magnificent dining tables, huge and intricately designed beds which are really fit for queens. It was  indeed a good decision that we brought most of our stuff from the Philippines, otherwise we'd be tempted to buy all those that our hearts desire. And those are many! Yay! 

But last week, we gave in. We saw this grandpa's clock on sale. 30% off. Who wouldn't be right? The color is not the typical although there is not much contrast on the wall. But I think it will look great in our Laguna house. Two more years and we are off to my homeland!

It's not the clock that is tilted. It's me who doesn't have the skill. :)

Isn't it lovely? 

And it's worth the wait.