On a Sunday

As you may know now, Sunday is the loneliest day for me because after a joyous weekend, I am again all by myself. huhuhu.

However, Sunday also is the day where I can spend more time watching TV because there is ASAP, The Buzz, GGV, The Voice. These TFC shows make me forget the loneliness and the "alone-ness"at least for a time. :)

But today I decided to be happy because I have a one full week ahead of me. So just like any day of the week, I began my day with my all time buddy (after my morning short nap, hehehe) --

 Coffee!

then I went out and it was still a little bit chilly.
I smelled my jasmine. My two potted jasmine plants are again starting to bloom. How immaculate you are! I wished I had a nice camera with me so I could capture your beauty.

and then I walked a little more to check the other beauties around the house

 my Gumamela seems to forget how to flower. Or are you shy because of all the yellows around you? :) Don't be, coz you are amazingly beautiful like them.

these flowers are in full bloom. even my husband yesterday was happy to see these lovely creations of God.

Now I don't regret firing our first gardener. Our current gardener indeed has a green thumb to make these flowers bloom in such a short period of time.
There is a growing tomato plant too.

Now I know. Next year at the onset of winter, I am going to buy more flowering plants of different kinds and colors. Until now, I see a lot of villas with potted flowers hanging on their gates. So beautiful.

Now I am hoping a less sad week for me. I think I started it right. I just need to be more thankful, grateful and appreciative.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Thursday

Thursday here is like Friday in the Philippines. 

Thursday for me means thorough cleaning because it's my day off the next two days. Galit galit muna kami ng walis na yan.
Tulad ng CR ko, naka floor wax pa yan. I'm not OC, but I am a bit particular with toilets. 
Good smelling bathroom with shiny floors, clean shower glass doors and mirrors.

But during weekends, I stop myself from cleaning no matter how stinky it gets. I just pour chlorox or Mr. Muscle for temporary cover up.

Inspiration everywhere.
Thursday also means putting up new sets of my inspirational posters. I'm making it a habit now to place something new every Thursday (in preparation for Sunday, the beginning of school week).

Printer area. This quotation applies to everyone.

Boys' room.

Their bathroom. On the mirror is strategic. Can't avoid seeing this in the morning and evening.

Closets.

 DJ is in a stage where he sometimes questions the authority of my source. So I decided to print out the direct quotation with the photo of Einstein. No more question now.

My children easily find humor in everything. They laugh easily at anything funny. They laugh at me too. So I chose this not so seriously written poster. :)

Anjo doesn't like me putting anything on her wall. She has her work of arts mounted on it. But she told me I can post on her door. Ok. One of these days.

So now I'd like to wish everyone the warmest and most memorable weekend! 
Take care.

the fallen 44

Nowadays, I refused watching TV Patrol. Aside from the news links, Facebook is so flooded with flaring opinions and angry emotions and really, I feel that watching the current events on TV is already too much for me to handle. 

I think even without discussing the issues, my relatives are torn. I have a first cousin in the Phils. who is very expressive with her disgust towards the President's reaction (or non reaction). I understand where she is coming from because her brother is a young and promising member of the PNP, it's just but natural for her to worry about his future. But I have an uncle who happens to be her uncle too and he is a staunch supporter of the President. Good for the both of them because he lives in the US. Me? I am just a silent "reader" of their respective FB.

My silence doesn't mean I have no opinion. But I choose to read in order to have an in depth understanding of what had happened. Until now, there are still lots of unanswered "whats", "whys", "whos" and "hows" in my mind. Even the AFP and PNP are blaming each other. So giving an opinion at this point for me is risky. Yes, there is no right and wrong opinions, but I think there is such a thing as an empty opinion, one that is bereft of knowledge and logic.

I am not only careful with my words nowadays but also with my actions and nuances. Ever since we began living in a Muslim territory, I have always reminded myself and my children to be sensitive and respectful of the culture differences. With my husband now assigned to work in a war torn country, my prayers now is to help mankind attain peace around the world. Conflicts in the name of religion or ideologies may not be avoided but may all of these be resolved peacefully.

Back home, I am also favor of the ongoing Bangsamoro Development Plan. But of course we already know that because of what had happened its future in the Congress may now be uncertain. Despite that, still I am hoping for the best for our country.

For now, my children and I are dedicating one mystery every night for the souls of the 44 heroes and their families. May their journey to the everlasting life be as smooth and peaceful. May their families have the grace of acceptance and courage to let go and move on. And may their bravery inspires everyone of us to live a meaningful life, in our own little way. 

Reunion ready

Our high school batch (I'm not saying our year hehe) is holding our reunion this April. Coincidentally, our family is also planning to go on a short vacay to the Philippines this April during the kids' spring break. So with crossed fingers and toes, I might be able to join.
Of course comments like,"Ay parang tumaba ka compared nun last reunion natin", "Hiyang ka sa Dubai ah, taba mo, pero bagay naman", are the things I want to hear last from my batch mates. Pleaseee. So I am trying very hard to lose some pounds, if I could.

Comments on weight are usually said on your face through jokes, but observations like how much you have aged or how drastic you have lost your youth are usually talked hush hush. I should know because I am guilty of that.
But you can't really defy gravity unless you are willing to spend your fortunes to do this and do that to your face and body. Everything is possible at this time, you just have to have the moolah. But for normal people like me I can only go as far as what I can afford, or correction, what my good husband can afford.
I can only rely on my moisturizer and my other beauty routine.

For almost 5 months now, if I am not mistaken, I have been using Estee Lauder for my day and evening moisturizer.

My first bottle which lasted almost 5 months.

I am about to start my 2nd bottle.

Because I am suki in Paris Gallery in a nearby mall, I have become familiar with the ladies there. There is one nice lady, I never get to ask her nationality but she is wearing the abaya, she attends to me every time I visit Paris Gallery. She always gives me my one month supply of skin care from estee lauder, shiseido and sisley. See?

When we went to Singapore last year, 

I just brought with me my Sisley facial wash and moisturizer in sample packs, 

also given by this nice lady. Very light.

She also told me I can go there for free facial services too. I am just too lazy.

The age correcting serum from Estee Lauder is so powerful. 

I swear. In fact, I am saving money to buy one. Someday. :)

You know in Dubai, services are expensive. I have never been to any facial treatment, nor to any parlor nor to any nail spa. I just do my own facial mask twice a week.

My DIY masks from a local grocery.
It's better than not doing anything. Try it. On your me time.

:)

toothpaste

This morning, I heard Abi calling me from the powder room. "Ma, do you have a new toothpaste?" I knew it. I saw yesterday the almost empty Colgate but I intentionally didn't dispose it because I was planning to cut it and show the kids how to consume it thoroughly. So I did.

"Was that how you were doing it in Mindoro?", he asked me enthusiastically. I said, "Yes and No. Yes, we cut the tube to get the last paste inside and No, we never had Colgate then. We had Maxam. Colgate was too expensive for us." When I inserted the toothbrush inside the tube through the cut portion I saw the amazement on his face while saying "Ohhh!".

Life now is too easy for our children, don't you think so? Take for instance my two Grade 5 children. Their teachers almost do everything for them in school. In fact, the teacher assistant is doing all the cuts outs for their class activities (she is perhaps scared that the son/daughter of an ambassador or a CEO will go home crying with a cut on his/her little fingers). They are also required to bring gadgets for research (trip to the library is a thing of the past?), their school projects are done in the computer and send to their teachers' prezi (no more print out materials supposedly fastened in folders) no notebooks, no books etc. My kids are in a school environment where competition is also downplayed because I was told each one has her/his own phase of development.

So different from our days then.

That is why my husband and I talk about it constantly. How do we motivate the children to dream higher, to study harder? How do we tell them that what they have now does not guarantee a good future unless they realize the value of excellence. Mediocrity is not the name of the game in this world.

Every time I am asked about how it is to have kids enrolled in an International School with an IB curriculum, I cannot give a 100% satisfaction in my reply. Blame it in my being an Asian, or being schooled with competition always in my mind, but I still prefer sending my kids in a traditional school back home.

Yes, it would mean stressed weeknights and weekends,  real projects, graded recitations and endless
assignments but on the other hand all these hard works would translate to perfect grammar, sharp mathematical skills, creative and resourceful hands and minds. And for me, this kind of system (stressful as it maybe) in the Philippines allows their student to develop strong character, strong person inside who will know eventually how to survive regardless of the circumstances.

Of course, i can also see positive traits in my children since entering an IS. They speak more confidently, they argue/discuss with facts and good logic, they can navigate well the internet and its applications, they can draw sound conclusions and it has also become apparent to me that their social skills have improved tremendously.

For now, I am just weighing things. I can't do anything. I just try to balance things at home. Hoping that I am doing it right. Hoping that I am raising them well. Hoping they will be good citizens of the future.

so funny

When the gardener came for his watering routine this afternoon, I showed him the drying leaves of my white flowering plants. He told me through action that it was because of lack of sunlight. He said he will transfer the plants outside my lanai. I said ok.

I was in the kitchen fixing my snack when to my surprise, I saw my five potted plants proudly fixed in the middle of my pocket garden.

I hurriedly went out and yes indeed, all of them have joined my flowers and calamansi plant. OMG

 My two tall plants and behind are my two white flowering plants.

See, my tomato plant was also uprooted.

And look at my empty pots now neatly aligned on my barbecue place.

But what can I do? My gardener is a non English speaking Pakistani and it was my fault that I did not clarify what he was telling me. I thought we had the meeting of the minds. Oh well. Anyway, I still gave him my pound cake for his effort of planting by himself. Let's just hope those plants survive the cruelty of the summer season or else I am dead to my Boss Dar. :)
Now my lanai is bare again.

Maybe this time I will consider nice artificial plants. There are lot of them in the Garden store but as expensive as the natural ones. Well, everything here in Dubai is expensive. Lalo na ang halaman, parang ginto. But we have no choice. A little semblance of home is all we can have as of the moment.

On this note, I'd like to wish you a wonderful weekend. Bless you. :)

wiped out

This is what happens when a hungry hippo has only this bowl of strawberry as her main food for lunch

in just a matter of minutes

Ubos. that one left is for her dessert. :)