time out!

Can i have this yummy yema cake after my very tiring but still unfinished morning linisan at labahan?

I'm sure I need a second slice later.

Balik Bukid

this is definitely a late post, but better late than never. I have been swamped with a lot of "to do's" for next year's moving out and when I say a lot, it really is a lot. We had documents that we had to unearth from our maalikabok files like baby books, ID's, ToC etc. etc, plus tons of forms to fill out. We had our medical check up last week and perhaps next week would be vaccines. aw! We even had to visit our pediatrician in Batangas who  never seem to age; we retrieved vaccine records and updated the vaccines of the bagets. This week when medical results are out we are expected to coordinate our school preferences (location, curriculum etc) and our house and possibly we will begin also the processing of documents for our site preview trip, which means we have to prepare ourselves and all the things we need to get our family visa for that five day trip in January or early Feb. I have no idea how we would go through that in the embassy but if it's the way things are then so be it.
Anyway, I still try maintain normalcy in our routine despite the mounds of  to do lists - attend parents/teachers conference, enroll and watch DJ in football, go to the mall, eat out and last month I managed to bring the kids to Sta. Elena Countryclub all by myself for their Balik Bukid festivities (www.balikbukid.com). Nakakapagod but I know it's my only way to let my children experience the joy outside ipad,TV and malls.
There we were greeted by a flock of sheep.

 they were blocking our way causing a long but happy traffic :) A guard came to our rescue.

 In Mindoro, we called this paragos. when we were young, my cousins and I had a blast riding paragos during summer.

There was a huge horse here; i was told that it was given by Former Batangas Gov. Leviste to this countryclub but Anjo was too scared to ride her.

 you can actually hop into the cage if you want.

 I forced them to join this yoga session. I told them that " if it's not now then there might not be any opportunity to experience yoga". T'was great.

Fishing reminded them of their grandfather. they stayed there while I did my window shopping.

Anjo is an adventurer. always. Usually, I let her do whatever she wanted to do as long as I can see that the activities are character building.

i wish i took time to take better pictures, but I was careful not to lose my children from my sight. The pavilion that you can see there was full of people watching Manny Paquiao fight :). There rest of the visitors were at the back of that pavilion having their lunch.
Too sad we wont be able to make it again next year for their Balik Bukid but that's fine I guess. Our Balik Bukid this year was already a memorable chunk of joyful memories.

shhhhh

i have a confession to make. But first let me show you my lunch today. This is my second serving and I still have a small boiled kamote in the kitchen.

 I remember tuloy the camote fries of Ms. Franz back in the site. Oh :(
I received a plastic filled with sweet potatoes yesterday from a co mother who lives in Westgrove (totyal, kapitbahay ni Mega) but since I was in a hurry I forgot to ask where she got it although I have an idea that those were homegrown. They live in Westgrove and from what I know Westgrove offers orchard living. I think I have to ask Garrett to be sure. Also, I will ask him to offer me a lot there but with 50% off.  :) I will rob a bank Garrett, just give it to me half the price.

Ok ok, stop dreaming. This is what I have to confess.
I am addicted to soft monay and speculoos cookie butter every morning, without fail for almost two weeks now. Soft monay is bought from a local bakery in the market in Paseo de Sta. Rosa. Can't stop myself craving for this duo.
the snowman is just to fill the empty space, don't mind it, it's not edible.

I expect to gain weight because of this addiction.
:)

just grateful

today i say thank you Lord for every good things you have made possible for me. thank you also for the good people who are with me throughout my journey, though they are few and far in between. As i have said before and I will never get tired of saying this - I don't think I am deserving of those but Thank you very much.

today i say thank you Lord for the not so good things that happened to me in the past. Though I got angry that time you managed to show me to just look at everything and everyone as sandpaper.they may have scratched and rubbed me the wrong way but eventually I ended up polished and smooth. and the sandpaper? :) ... I can only thank them for coming into my life.

today I say thank you Lord for the good things that did not come despite my fervent wish and prayers. Just when I was about to feel hurt and disappointed, you would always find a  way to redirect my focus to something more important for me. Your unseen hand has always led me to my Direction. Ever since, even when I was a child. I would never know how to thank you enough.

today I say thank you for the good things that are yet to come. They say there are seasons in our life. what is necessary for us will come in its own perfect time. 

Life is good despite all its imperfections, humps, bumps and crossroads, 

Just live it. truthfully.

Today I celebrate life as I leap into another year.

Happily. and with contentment in my heart.

joyful

So you think being a homemaker is a walk in the park? It is not. Running the household and taking care of the children will never be an easy task. Plus, as a wife, you have to maintain a certain degree of desirability for your husband. Take for instance one night, I felt hurt because he was so insensitive with his remark about my feet becoming ugly. When I took a closer look later in the evening, I realized he was right. My veins got more obvious, my toes have become dry and my nail polish is already saying its final farewell. oh well, got to "beautify"my feet before he returns next week. :)

Blame it on my laziness to visit the nail salon; you know I already feel tired even before the clock strikes noon. I don't even have the interest to shop for new shirts or to look for new flats or driving shoes. In fact I am happy and contented that I have several pairs of old but reliable Toms for comfy driving.

There are days when I feel so weary. Sometimes being alone in the house drives me into melancholy (if only Sarah could talk). But there are times also when little things become my source of joy that lift my dead tired body. :)
like these:
soft monay and cookie butter dip in coffee in the morning before starting my gigantic duties. Naks! parang construction worker ang drama.

M&M Peanuts in the parking area while waiting for DJ. I can finish their medium size bag

Sarah. She just finished one cup of yogurt here. the plastic cover still clings on her ear.

Cheetos. Not really a fan until a Hollywood actress was interviewed in TMZ and was asked the secret of her svelte figure - her reply: "just cheetos". Joke? I took it seriously.

Everything that gives the home a loving scent is a thumbs up for me. I make sure I always have Gourdos linen spray. My purpose? I want to think that when my children are all grown up they will have fond memories of a fresh scent pillows and blankets and I hope that wherever life may take them, they would always remember the sweetness of being home.

Thank you Annie for being so thoughtful. what's inside? secret.

Sunshine. Proof that God is fully alive.

hahahaha. just sharing. from 119lbs.

one of the secrets.

thoughts of Christmas and the "happy uncertainty" of where we'd spend it and with whom kaya are we going to spend it this time. :)

Bye for now. It's almost BCWMH. got to go up and watch their wedding reception.
Thank you for dropping by. :)

So this is Christmas

On TV nowadays it's Yolanda everywhere and the havoc it left behind in the Visayas. Truly heartbreaking and I'm sure like me, you have offered a prayer of gratitude that you and your family have been spared from the monster like typhoon. We feel a painful throb in our hearts everytime we see those video clips on TV.We do our part, however small and insignificant it may be. I was watching DoE Secretary Petilla last night on TV and I really saw all his over face the seeming hopelessness of the people. I just hope that in the midst of chaos and darkness, they will still find the meaning of rebuilding their lives. The world goes on and life must go on as well.

Yesterday we began buying for Christmas decors for our stairs. Maybe because of the gloomy situation in the country we decided to tone down the colors. Although I know it's not yet the perfect time to anticipate Christmas and to feel joyful but hubby has to go to Palawan for the next two weeks and as a normal family, we don't want to really feel the loneliness while he is there in the middle of the sea. So instead of going for the read, gold and yellow motif we chose blue to be the color for railings this year.

 what is challenging for the blue motif is the limitation of what to put. You have to follow the coordination rule. Not much gold, little red (just to accent) and no bright yellow. I decided yesterday to test the waters first.

Now, I can see that I need to get some more trimmings, perhaps more glittering blue and silver and a little red perhaps. Hope to have a good find later in True Value. 

 Since we don't have a storage area,I gave our 9ft. Christmas Tree to my brother. Anjo wished we have one even just a small tree. So this year, I surprised her with this (from my favorite Vintage Store)! She was not so happy, of course. It looks like a vase more than a tree.But that's the farthest I could go. :) Hubby told me to wait till I have a budget to order a fresh pine tree from SnR. That I don't have to store, just dispose it after Christmas. But mind you, it costs a lot because it has to be shipped from the US. But it smells soo good. Owel! Not really a good time to think about it.

 Christmas decorations won't be complete without a wreath. Our old wreath was really old so I disposed it last year. I found a very nice wreath in National Bookstore, but my golly, it's Php3,000.00. A wreath!!! No way! This one looks good already.

A school house but without its surrounding accessories. I'll go back later this afternoon to my favorite vintage store to get the trees and the animals. I was having second thoughts yesterday buying them but I realized that the house looks bare without them.
So this is it, for a start. Target completion is towards the end of November. Target effect of this tradition is lifetime good childhood memory for the children.
Stay positive!

so good

our home for the next three years. 

indeed, everything has it's own perfect timing. there is always a grand plan for us. One just have to map out her plan carefully, be optimistic, be positive and then claim it.