Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone got what they wished for this Christmas! Wishing everyone a blessed and bountiful 2011!

zero deductible

Another lesson we learned from the stolen purse incident is when you get a comprehensive car insurance make sure you apply for the zero deductible on glass repairs. For an additional $5-10 a month it assures you that you won't have shell out cash for any damage on your car windows. Without this you feature in your comprehensive plan, you have a $1000 deductible per incident. Bummer, right?

weekend misfortune

I'll get right to the point - our car window was smashed and my purse/diaperbag was stolen last Sunday!

It was a relaxed Sunday afternoon. The sun was out and the weather was great. After playing at the park we headed off to church to pray before the service started. Since we were just going to stay for a couple of minutes I decided to just leave my bag in the car. When we returned to our car after 15 minutes, we found shattered glass on the front passenger seat and saw the whole window was smashed to pieces. Then we realized my bag was missing. That was the only thing they took. The GPS and Ipod were still in the car. Within the next hour they were able to use my check card for a $300 purchase in Target. It's a good thing service is very efficient here in the US and we were able to put a hold on all bank/card transactions in no time.

The moral of the story, never leave your bag in the car no matter what. No place is safe. Not even the church parking lot. It was a costly lesson learned. Hopefully you won't have to pay the same price.

practical design solutions

One of my bestfriends, Anonymous, sent me this message after reading this post that I wrote the other day:

maybe you should help me do some home improvement too! my place is just a toy dumpster...we now have 3 rooms full of toys! F's bedroom, the spare bedroom AND the living room! plus bec we don't want to hang anything on the walls since we're renting, it looks so blah! should i perhaps take pics and send to you then you can come up with some ideas?

I'm far from being an expert in interior design but practical I am and good taste I have so here goes trying to help out a friend in need.

To my dear Anonymous, I have a two part response to your dilema. First, let me introduce you to the renter's best interior design solution - 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips. This allows you to hang as much photos, paintings and prints without having to hammer a nail through the wall! In Manila we got them at Ace Hardware and here in the US we get it at Target or Walmart. I'm sure you have it over there in Switzerland. They also come in hooks for the heavier frames.

Aside from wall art, you can also incorporate character to your space by adding floor lamps, plants, jars and mirrors as seen in these photos.

Now to address your clutter issue, I have three words for you - storage, storage, storage! Let me share with you some of my favorite design ideas that allow us moms to organize and de-clutter without scrimping on style.

use matching baskets or bins to corral your clutter

use benches and ottomans that double as extra storage compartments

giant baskets and chests can be both decorative and functional

I hope you found these helpful, Anonymous.

Happy nesting, bunnies!

photos courtesy of designsponge.com, diyideas.com, ikea.com, apartmentherapy.com

home improvement: bud's room

For the past months I've made a conscious effort to restrain myself from decorating Bud's room. We wanted to keep stimuli in his room to the bare minimum while we were sleep training him. So for months the walls have been bare and the toys out of sight.

Now that he has no problem putting himself to sleep, we've started sprucing up his room with some fun frames and wall stickers. Here's the work in progress...

wall stickers from Ikea and frames from a garage sale

You probably noticed he still sleeps in a crib. I do plan to put him there for as long as I possibly can!

minnesota gurls

Here's an amusing musical parody of Katy Perry's "California Gurls". I can so totally relate! Geez, have I been living in Minnesota that long??

home improvement: toy shelf

I know I've been very deliquent with updating my blog. I can't believe how easily time passes. Even as I am typing now part of me is already going over the other to-dos that I need to attend to after this quick post.

I've been on home improvement mode for a month now and I've been trying to organize and decorate our home one area at a time. Nothing fancy or elaborate. Just trying to make it look more like a cozy home than a daycare. I get surprised with how little things like new rugs and towels could do wonders for a bathroom. Or how a few frames and a vase could change the mood in the living room.

Today I just completed my project for the week which was to decorate our "toy shelf". This particlar shelf in our living room is literally full of toys! Since it's still part of our living room, I wanted it give it a more polished look. Here's how it looked before:

Here's how it looks like now:


I just put 6 new items on the shelf and now it looks like adults DO actually live in this house!

The house is still a work in progress so I'm pretty certain I will be writing more about my home improvement projects in the coming weeks. Feel free to give me your ideas and suggestions, ladies!

closet cleanup

After weeks of procastinating I finally spent some time yesterday to reorganize my closet to make it winter-ready. I bid a sad farewell to my summer dresses and greeted my sweaters with a warm welcome. P thought I was losing my mind when he caught me saying sayonara to my summer clothes while i neatly folded them and tucked them away on the top shelf. Am I the only one who does that?

Here are some inspiring closet ideas from Apartment Therapy

and Real Simple

Las Vegas for the family

Las Vegas would probably be the last city you'd want to visit for a family vacation with a toddler. You're probably thinking, they didn't call it the Sin City for nothing. But despite all the cautionary tales from countless CSI reruns, we still went ahead and celebrated my birthday and our anniversary in Las Vegas early this month. P and I have always been curious about The Strip and wanted to experience the excess and grandeur for ourselves. As it turns out, there were other adventurous parents like us who were brave enough to bring thier kids along to a weekend in Vegas.

I would say the trip was a success. We were able to see what we came to see while making it as enjoyable as possible for the little one. If you're planning a family vacation in Vegas here are some kid-friendly tips that might come in handy:

If you're vacationing with minors, only walk the strip while the sun is out. Once it gets dark the crowd gets rowdy (probably because by this time most people are drunk) and all the sex peddlers come out. Not even a stroller will stop them from handing out their flyers.

The hotel buffets are a good choice for dining with toddlers. For one, they eat for free. Secondly, there's a variety of food to choose from so you have options for your picky eater. The buffets are very casual so you don't have to worry about your little one making a bit of mess during meal times.

the buffet at the Paris Hotel

Entertain yourselves for free by touring the different themed hotels. The lobby at the Bellagio is something you wouldn't want to miss. While we were there their lobby was transformed into an enchanted forest - enchanting both young and old. Other must-see free attractions are the water show at the Bellagio fountain which starts at 6pm everyday and the lion feeding at the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand everyday at 4:30pm.

enchanted forest at the Bellagio Hotel lobby

Choose your accomodations wisely. I recommend the Venetian for families for several reasons. One, the suites are very spacious. Two, there is a food court in the hotel, convenient for buying food especially since rooms don't have microwaves. Third, they have heated pools so you have the option to just have relaxing family time in the pool area. Fourth, there's a Walgreens in the hotel if you need to get supplies. Believe me, that's a real consideration if you have a toddler in tow. The next closest place you can get water and other miscellaneous items are from Walgreens and CVS near MGM Grand (which is like a mile away). Another family-friendly hotel that we want to try on our next trip (if there will ever be one) is Mandalay Bay. The hotel is situated at the end of the strip so it's close enough if you want to join in on the action but far enough so you can also enjoy some peace and quiet. Plus they have a great resort with a wave pool.

Last but not least, relax and enjoy each moment together.

cold season

We caught the cold bug that's been going around. Buddy and I are both feeling lousy and congested, not to mention sleep deprived! My mother-in-law's arrival couldn't have come at a better time. I'm so thankful for the extra set of helping hands especially since P working in Dallas again this week. With that said, I bid you adieu and I will be heading off to bed for a mid-day nap while the little boy is asleep.




p.s
The cold didn't stop us from shoe shopping yesterday. Gap flats were on sale. Who could resist?

photos courtesy of gap.com

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?

jollibee!

It just occurred to me that we've been living in the US for almost a year now. This is the longest we've been away from home since we started moving around. In the previous assignments we would fly home every 3 months but now it's a different story. Oh, how I miss those regular fly backs!

That's why I was super excited for our Las Vegas trip. Aside from admiring the man-made marvel that is the strip, I was looking forward to visiting the Jollibee store to have my Chickenjoy and Jolly Spaghetti fix. And indeed I did! We even rented a car on our 3rd day in Las Vegas just to go to Jollibee (after our quick tour of Hoover Dam).

I know it's sounds cliche but being inside the store really felt like we were back home again. The store interior looked exactly like the stores in Megamall. The crew were speaking Tagalag. Even the show on their LCD was TV Patrol World! Of course, as expected, the food was langhap-sarap! Even Bud loved the chicken and spaghetti. And you know what else he loved? The mascot! He was smitten as soon as we walked in the door. What is it about this big red bee that makes it so lovable?



All this reminiscing is making me hungry!

If you're ever craving for Jollibee (like me), check out www.jollibee.com.ph for a list of their international stores. You might get surprised that there's one near you.

weekend highlights

The past couple of days have been unusually warm for fall so we took advantage and spent the weekend outdoors - swimming in the lake, apple picking and shopping! Okay, so the last one wasn't exactly an outdoor activity but it still got us out of the house.

A gorgeous Friday afternoon at Bryant Lake

An enjoyable Saturday picking apples (and feeding ponies)

step #1: Taste the different variety of apples and choose which ones you want to pick.

step #2 : Once you have decided, pay the corresponding amount at the cashier to get your plastic bag. Each bag is approximately 10lbs worth of apples.

step #3: Get a map of the orchard to locate your apple trees.

step #4: Start plucking and fill up your bag.

step #5: Enjoy!

Shoe shopping on Sunday

Finally, after weeks of searching, I found the one! Let me introduce you to my Water Row booties from Clarks. I know, Clarks sounds so granny-ish. I was also pleasantly surprised when I found these darlings in piperlime. And because comfort is really top priority for me when it comes to shoes, I had to go to Mall of America to try it on before purchasing. True to it's promise, it was amazingly comfortable and the silhouette is very sexy. I'm so excited to strut in style (to the grocery) this fall!

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

we're all amazing

Good morning mommies! Here's a great pick-me-upper when you're feeling a bit frumpy.

just the way you are by bruno mars

Wouldn't it be amazing if our husbands greeted us with this song everyday?

video courtesy of youtube.com

celebrations

I have so much to be thankful for this week. For one, I just turned a year older. Not that I claim to be any wiser but I am definitely feeling my metabolism slowing down and my wrinkles getting more visible, haha! But seriously, I think more than the age, it was motherhood that made me more mature (and gave me all the wrinkles).

Also, P and I had just celebrated our 4th year anniversary as a married couple. It feels like we've been together forever. I guess there's some truth to that considering we've been boyfriend-girlfriend since 1995. Yes, we were college sweethearts. And yes, we waited 10 years before getting married. We were young, we wanted to focus on our careers and save for the future. I am so glad we waited until we were really ready. Marriage is a decision and a commitment and I couldn't have chosen a better partner than P. He's reliable, generous, thoughtful, smart and funny. Not to mention a great cook!

The last four years has been quiet a journey. We've had our share of adventures and challenges, more than enough to keep our children and grandchildren entertained during story time.

October 6, 2006

p.s.
As my birthday resolution, I have decided to shun away all pastries and sweet treats in the hopes that it will help me get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. How I wish I could look the way I did on my wedding day.

uninvited guests

Remember when I wrote here about the wasps that we found in our house when came home from our first Dallas trip? Turned out they were not wasps but yellow jacket bees. Mr. exterminator found a hive in one of our air vents on the ground floor, yikes! Good news is they're gone now.


Bad news is we have new guests. We were greeted by a swarm of boxelder bugs when we arrived Thursday night from our latest Dallas trip. We were told they're harmless but still they're a nuisance. We couldn't open our windows and sliding doors because of their sheer volume!


Hay, life in the suburbs....

fall inspiration

With the temperatures down, I'm packing away my shorts and sandals and making room for my fall staples: cropped boyfriend chinos and oxfords. Here are some looks that inspire me.





Yes, they're photos of men! I gravitate towards the androgynous look for colder weather. It's comfort dressing with character.

photos courtesy of streetpeeper.com

fall boots

We're flying back to Minneapolis in a couple of hours. Just checked the weather forecast and temperatures are down to the 60s. It's official, summer is over! One of the very few things that's got me excited about the change in season is the excuse to get some new boots. I'm very optimistic about my chances of getting the right pair what with stacked heels and rubber soles being in fashion this fall. As you know, comfort and practicality are key considerations when you have a toddler in tow (all the time). Here are a few pairs that I've been lusting over.





I'm really embracing the utilitarian style. It's the look best suited for active, hands-on moms like me. I know these booties will go well with the pieces in my closet; cargos, boyfriend pants and skinny jeans.

What do you think?

latest obsession

You want to know what I've been obsessing over lately? Halloween costumes! Aren't these just the cutest?

photos courtesy of marthastewart.com

weekend in dallas

Hi y'all! How was your weekend? Ours was spent getting to know Dallas. We started with a visit to the Dallas Museum of Art. Lucky for us it was Museum District Day last Saturday so admission was free! After spending time appreciating art, we drove to Galleria Dallas, the so-called fashion epicenter of the Southwest. It was impressive but I was not in awe as it looked very much the same as the high-end fashion malls you would find in Bangkok or Singapore. For dinner, we tried Blue Mesa Grill for some Southwestern cuisine which proved to be a good choice. As it turns out, Blue Mesa is one of the top 5 Southwestern Restaurants in the DFW Zagat survey. We capped the night with some gelato from Paciugo, a quaint cafe down the street from Blue Mesa. I wasn't really planning on having any dessert after chowing down a plate of Mixed Grill Churrascaritas but the gelato display was just too enticing to resist.

at the kid's room of the Dallas Art Museum

I got myself a small cup with Amaretto Chocolate Chip, Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel and Pistachio

Sunday afternoon was spent at the Texas State Fair sampling all sorts of Texas-style food. We were surprised at how they can deep fry any kind of food, even drinks!

fried food paradise

enjoying every bite of the Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly and Banana Sandwich

Have a great week everyone!