something funny

Here's a funny story. As we were getting ready to head out this morning, the little guy pointed at me and said, "Mama look like Dora!". I just had to take a quick shot of what I was wearing to show you. Then he continued to say, "Bud is Boots.". Haha!

If it's any consolation, I'm glad his comment sounded very straight, if you know what I mean.

What made you laugh out loud today?

p.s.
In case you are not familiar with Dora, she's a precocious little girl who wears orange shorts.

simple joys

Hello, bunnies! I realize I have been neglectful of my blog lately. Needless to say, some updating is in order.

Well, the inevitable birthday came up two weeks ago. My boys gave me the priceless gift of having a full day of ME-time which I spent getting pampered. As if that wasn't enough, mother nature also gave me the gift of a glorious summer day in October so we were able to enjoy the rest of the evening with a picnic at the park. 



birthday picnic with my two favorite people

A few days later, the Mister and I celebrated our 5th year anniversary as a married couple. Five years may not seem like a long time but if you add up all the years we've been together, it's more than half of my lifetime. He has been a part of my life for so long I couldn't even imagine how I would've turned out if I had not met him. Everyday I thank God for blessing me with a friend and a husband who continues to inspire me to be better. 

during a shcool project 17 years ago

the night we got engaged, june 2006

5 years later and still happily married

On a lighter note, the leaves have now litterally fallen and Bud was so excited just watching them being blown by the wind. We spend our afternoons playing with the leaves, kicking and squishing and throwing them up in the air. It's amazing how having a child has given me a new appreciation for such simple things.

fall in the city

 I hope all is well in your part of the world. Thanks for stopping by.

would you rather be a mermaid or whale?

A friend of mine posted this on facebook and the message really hit home. 

Live, love and laugh, bunnies! 

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and b...eautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)

By: Delphine Fieberg

would you rather

Bunnies, it's almost the weekend! If you had free time, would you rather...

have a date with the hubby

or have a night out with the girls?

Would really love to know!

photos from someonelikeyou

i am my father's daughter

I realized I haven't written anything for the past week. I still find it difficult to sort through my thoughts with the nostalgia still looming over me. I've been better though. No more tears, just happy memories. For those of you wondering what I am talking about, my family came to visit and it will be almost two weeks since they left.



Everyday, I think about my parents and how grateful I am for them. Just thinking about them makes me tear up. I realized it's father's day on Sunday so I think it would be timely for me to write about my papa.



My papa is a simple man. He came from humble beginnings. And even now that he has accomplished so much and achieved what he could only dream of before, he remains grounded and is the most down to earth person I know. I remember growing up, he was not the type who spoiled us with toys, instead he lavished us with amazing stories of his childhood. He didn't do baby talk with us, instead he talked to us like adults and let us speak our minds. He gave us his time and his attention. Too much attention I thought when I was younger. He taught us that we needed to work hard for what we wanted and that saving money was just as important. He always says, it's not enough that you earn money, you also have to be smart about spending it and learn to save.

My papa is one of the most generous people I know. He always shares what he has. Not just his money but also his time, his wisdom and even his sense of humor. He's not the type to shop for gifts and he never buys anything (except maybe cars and real estate ) and so he never really gave us material presents. But he was never short of showering us with his "words of wisdom" . One of his greatest gifts and most important lesson he taught me that I find practical to this day is, it's hard to wait for other people to change but you have the ability to change yourself and make things better. This is my great secret for staying happily married too.

We don't always agree on things but we agree to disagree. One thing we have in common is our fondness for watching movies. Back when we still lived in Manila, the Mister and I would visit my parents' house at least three times a week for a movie night with papa. While they were here this summer, we did movie night almost every night. My papa has a thing for remembering lines from movies and using them when he gives his "talks". Our top three favorite movies to watch together: 1. Aga and Leah's Sana'y Maulit Muli 2. Meet Joe Black 3. Notting Hill. It's funny how much our lives have been influenced by fictional movie characters.

My papa is also a prayerful man. In his speech during our wedding, he said that he had come to terms with the fact that he would eventually hand me over to another man and so he always prayed to God to send me a wise and loving man. And because my father is a good man, God answered his prayer and sent me the Mister. Another one of my father's best gifts to me.





Papa was such a role model and he had big shoes to fill. I'm grateful that I found all the admirable qualities of my papa in the Mister. Like my papa, the Mister is smart, generous, simple, hardworking, has a wonderful sense of humor and is an amazing father.

Like a typical male, my papa is not very vocal about his emotions but he has his way of "telling" us he loves us. While they were here, he carried around a bottle of virgin coconut oil in his pocket at all times. It's his cure all oil, one of his few favored possesions. He puts in in his hair, his face, his red itchy spots and his sore muscles. When they went home, I was surprised to see that little bottle quarter-full still in our bathroom. He left it. When I talked to him on the phone he said he left it for Bud. He knew Bud got a lot of scratches and bruises from playing so he said I should use it to heal Bud's bumps. Just remembering it makes me teary eyed.

I was not always the easiest daughter but when I got married I found a new appreciation for my parents. When I became a mother, I was even more grateful for them. My papa has always been a great father but now he is an even more inspiring grandpa. I love my papa to pieces.

So here's to my papa and the Mister, my two favorite fathers in the world! Happy Father's Day! Cheers!

bittersweet

Reunions with loved ones are always bittersweet. I'm really grateful for the four weeks that we spent with my parents and the few days that my brother and SIL shared with us. To top it off, there was even a bonus visit from one of my best friends just before my parents arrived. I am truly lucky! But I still can't help having that feeling of longing and nostalgia in the pit of my stomach everytime I remember how far away they are from me now.

the grandparents with their favorite grandson

touring the city with my brother

savoring the scenery with my sister-in-law

photo op with my bestie at the curbside check-in

It wasn't so long ago when my whole world revoled around my parents, brothers and my best friends. And now, we're in totally opposite time zones. Ah, such is life....

our only complete family photo for this holiday

(missing in the photo are my youngest brother and my 3 y.o. niece)

Don't get me wrong. I love my life now. I'm blessed that I get to spend everyday with my two favorite people in the world! And I wouldn't have it any other way.

simple joys

I've really been taking advantage of the extra sets of helping hands we currently have on deck. Like the other day, my mom and I went out on a shopping date and left the little boy with the grandpa. It felt very liberating to be able to browse the racks without a little person tugging at me or daring me to run after him. An afternoon of bonding with my mom over shopping was just what I needed to recharge. It also gave me a good enough reason to finally wear the statement bib necklace that my SIL, Jack, gave me.

What has made you smile today?

my symphony

thatkindofwoman

i got told by a six year old

Yes, I just got told by a six year old at the playground!

We brought Bud to the playground the other day. Usually it's just me and the little guy who go but that day the Mister went with us and so I brought a bag of Cheetos to snack on while I watched them play.

I admit, I really have low EQ when it comes to food. We haven't even been at the park more than 10 minutes and I already brought out the bag of Cheetos. Naturally, Bud saw the bag and wanted to have what I was having. He was climbing up the slide and I told him "I will give you some when you slide down". Because I always follow through with what I say, I gave him a piece when he reached the bottom of the slide. I didn't realize there was a six year old boy watching us and I got surprised when he blurted "You give your baby Cheetos?".

I suddenly found myself looking for the right words to justify my actions to a kid. I said "It's his first time to taste Cheetos", which was the truth. It was the first time I let him taste Cheetos and now I wish I could take it back. You should have seen the look on that little boy's face. I felt so guilty!

I felt even worse was when he said "Our baby only eats fruits." I got a lecture on nutrition from a six year old!

But wait, look who else is giving her kiddos Cheetos.

profession: stay-at-home-mother

I wanted to share with you this article about the Stay At Home Mother and Her Brain.

It's true, often times we stay-at-home-moms question the value of what we do day in and day out and fret over the lack of a "real" job with adequate monetary compensation. But just because we're not getting paid to do what we're doing doesn't mean we're limiting ourselves in terms of intellectual stimulation and activity.

In my opinion, we all have different roles to fulfill in this world and what really matters is how we challenge ourselves to do our best in every task and be our best in whatever situtation we find ourselves in. We can't all be lawyers, doctors, or aerospace engineers. Some people are meant to be professional athletes or fashion designers and by no means are they using their brains any less, don't you agree?

Parenting is no easy feat. It's an emotionally, spiritually and intellectually challenging job for everyone who has children. The only difference is working parents get some help from professional educators and caregivers when they leave their kids at school or in daycare while stay-at-home-moms have to take on the role of being the educator and caregiver every waking minute while juggling other adult responsibilities.

Stay healthy and happy, bunnies!

ignorance, stupidity and greed

I just saw this controversial video yesterday. Boy oh boy, was it upsetting in so many different levels! First of all, what kind of parents, in their right minds, would even encourage a child to dance in a lewd way? It's really concerning that they would find it amusing to see their kid dancing like a sexy male dancer and have him perform on primetime television. It's just utterly irresponsible and stupid. If parents can't protect their own children, then who will?

Willie and the production team are just as much to blame as the parents. If Willie really is a champion of the poor, as he claims he is, then why didn't he stop the child from demeaning himself? Willie even asked the boy to dance over and over as if once was not humiliating enough. This is clearly a case of child exploitation. For what, TV ratings? I can't, for the life of me, understand what Willie's appeal is. Why do the masses adore and revere him so much? Is it because they seem to think he carries wads of cash in pockets all day? He's so sly they can't see that underneath that fake facade is a greedy and manipulative a**hole? Pardon my language.

Then there was the studio audience who were cheering and getting a knack out of watching a little boy in tears gyrating in front of them. We've definitely hit rock bottom if this is what people find entertaining. To think most of the people in the audience are mothers and fathers too. Have we been so desensitized from all the sex that's being flaunted in our faces on TV and in billboards?

Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. - PJ O'Rourke

So to my dear PNoy and the rest of our public officials, please give serious thought and consideration to the RH Bill. Clearly there are so many ignorant and irresponsible parents who are living in poverty forcing their children to do desperate acts. Let's not underestimate our youth. They know what's going on and all they aspire for is a better life for them and their families. If we educate them properly and give them access to the proper tools (ie. contraceptives) I am most certain they will do the right and responsible thing.

And to my dear Cardinals, Bishops and Priests, I ask this with much respect, please lay off the RH Bill. Religious men who vow to be celebate and have no financial responsibilities have no business meddling in matters that concern reproductive health and family planning, don't you think?

pessimist or realist?

I was so shaken when I first saw the news about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan early Friday morning. I was heartbroken for the Japanese. I was sobbing while Bud and I watched the news together over breakfast.

The footage of the raging water engulfing everything in its path looked like a scene from a disaster movie. It was overwhelming. I could only imagine how devastating it must be for those who were there to experience it.

cnn.com

Hours after I heard he news, I thought to myself, I probably shouldn't worry so much. Japan is probably the most equipped country to handle this type of calamity. First of all, I was confident they had the funds and logistics for relief and rescue operations. Secondly, I assumed they have state-of-the-art infrastructure that could withstand earthquakes of such magnitude. Most of all, they are a nation of people who are very resilient, motivated and innovative. If they were able to grow their country to be the second largest economy in the world (until recently when they were overtaken by China) after Hiroshima, they could survive anything.

But days after the tragedy, I still could not stop myself from worrying. This time I worry that I am starting to believe the doomsayers. Maybe we will witness the end of our modern world during our lifetime. There are so many different scenarios being presented by the prophets of doom, all of which are plausible. Now with Japan struggling to contain a possible nuclear crisis, the more I am convinced that it's not a question of IF but WHEN.

Am I being a pessimist or a realist? The even more important question I ask myself is, can I survive?

p.s.
Dear Bunnies, I hope my negative vibe doesn't dampen your mood. I just had to get this out of my system. Thanks for bearing with me.

P.E.T.A.

While I have great admiration for those people who support more sustainable food alternatives, I personally go by the rule eat in moderation and don't be wasteful.

Live, love and eat, bunnies!

want to look like pepper potts?

If you have been following my posts you probably know by now how much I want winter to be O-V-E-R. One of my biggest winter woes is not having enough exercise. You see, finding time to workout is a real challenge for me especially since P is out of town most days of the week. The few quiet hours I get when Bud is napping I spend attending to my homemaker duties. By the time he goes to sleep at night, I'm too exhausted to even think about moving about.

When it was a lot warmer outside I brought Bud along with me when I ran. He would be sitting comfortably in his jogging stroller while I pushed him uphill and downhill. But since it got too cold and the sidewalks now all buried in snow, I have resorted to getting a membership at the community center.

One of the perks of going to the center is that they have childcare where you can leave your little ones while you workout (assuming they cooperate and not throw a fit when you leave them). The staff at the childcare are great! They engage the kids in play and are very patient with the ones who need more cuddling time.

As you might have guessed, Bud is one of those kids who need the extra cuddling and comforting from the staff. The first day I left him he did great, no crying. The second day and the consecutive days thereafter have been unencouraging (if there is such a word). I only get 20 minutes of running time on the treadmill because I know he is in the childcare crying and just waiting for me to come get him. Most days he would cry on and off but there was a day or two when he just cried non-stop.

It was only last Tuesday when we had a breakthrough. He was crying when I left but when I returned to get him he was playing contently! Even the girls were pleasantly surprised at his new found calm. I'm really hoping that he finally realized that mommy's always going to come back, as I have repeated over and over. Let's see how it goes tomorrow.

One celebrity mom who really inspires me is Gwyneth Paltrow. Here she openly shares her exercise and diet regimen for getting into shape for her role as Pepper Potts in Ironman2.

Here's one of the leg and butt routines designed by celebrity trainer, Tracey Anderson. Very encouraging.



Stay fit and healthy, bunnies!

paper leaves

I am already counting the days to spring. If only weather.com could tell me exactly when it will come. I am done with winter and the bitter cold. Seriously, it's been four months since I last saw green!

she had us at hello

Hanging paper leaves is a clever idea to cheer up a room on an overcast winter's day . Another project to look forward to this week.

Keep warm, bunnies!

books and blueberries

Sunday morning.

Sun is shining, our living room enveloped in its warmth.

Devouring a tall stack of books and freshly baked blueberry muffins.

Cuddling, tickling, and giggling.

Joy!

Don't you just love laid-back weekends with loved ones?

One of my happiest childhood memories is when my brother and I would cuddle with my mommy and papa on the sofa for some "story telling a lie". My wish is for Bud to also remember these simple times with the same fondness.

parenthood

We keep track of our children's development and celebrate their every milestone. We are in awe of how fast they grow and blossom into these amazing little people. But have you ever stopped and looked in the mirror lately? Our little angels aren't the only ones growing and maturing.

I think once you become a parent, you are altered (for better or worse, you decide).

I believe our children are gifts from God and true to His nature, God blesses us with children who bring out the best in us (but who also make us vulnerable to our weaknesses).

our little angel is growing up before our very eyes

There are days when I question why Bud is developing at a slower pace than his peers. Why he was be born at 30 weeks and why he had to spend the first 2 months of his life in the NICU. But instead of getting a straight answer, God assures me, "you and P are one of the most resilient and persevering couples I know. I am confident that you are the kind of parents that Bud needs".

I guess it wouldn't be a crime for us to celebrate parenthood and take a little credit for raising awesome kids.

Cheers!

three stores

While I was vacuuming this afternoon a thought occured, "If you were in a hypothetical world with only 3 stores, what would those three stores be?". Only three stores, really??

Okay, definitely there would be an IKEA. I love Ikea! Lucky for us the Swedish home superstore is only a 20-min drive away. Have I ever mentioned that when we moved to MN over a year ago, all we had was 5 suitcases worth personal items which were mostly winter clothes? The first store we ever went to was Ikea so we could furnish our bare apartment. From our bed to our sofa to our dining table down to our drinking glasses - our home is literally an Ikea showroom. Well, it's not exactly showroom material (yet) but you get what I mean, right?

a peek at our home that is a perpetual work in progress

My second store would be TARGET. Wait, make that SUPER TARGET so I can get the Roast Chicken for those nights when I'm not in the mood to labor in the kitchen.

Third store is still a toss up between H&M and GAP. But I guess when it comes down to price and variety I would go with H&M. But wait, am I a stay-at-home-mom or working mom in this hypothetical world? Because if I were a working mom I would probably just choose GAP for their corporate chic styles that can take you from day to night. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for better quality either.

There, choosing just three stores wasn't so difficult after all.

What would your three stores be?

holidays are over

After hours of playing, feeding, cooking and cleaning I finally get the chance to sit down, drink my tea and open my blog. I know I have been deliquent with the updates. It's mostly because my brother was vacationing with us up until yesterday and P was also on leave from work most of December.

As I type now, I am overcome with nostalgia and solitude. The first few days of being away from family is the hardest and it doesn't help at all that I just put down all the yultide decorations. The holidays are truly over.

a photo with my brother taken on New Year's Eve

I found that the best way for me to deal with separation is through cleaning. It's geat distraction plus all the reorganizing helps me get back to my routine.

How do you deal with goodbyes?

little luxuries

Everyday I treat myself to little luxuries like a piece of pie, a tall cup of chai latte, a scoop (or two) of ice cream, a new piece of clothing or accessory, etc... You get what I mean. Well, today it was a 45minute afternoon nap. P flew in from Dallas earlier than expected so I was able to take a much needed break from mommy duty.

Bird Decoupage duvet set from Pottery Barn

If there's one thing I really miss about my pre-child life, it's sleeping in and taking afternoon naps.

What did you indulge in today?