off to bed

I promised Arthuz that I am going to sleep early tonight. It's Friday tomorrow and it's Quiapo day. I haven't had enough sleep for the past few days as I was very busy resurrecting my old blog. I made it a conscious effort to post at least a couple of entries before bedtime. Because of this, I have the darkest circles around my eyes and the bags can be mistaken as suitcases already (dibale LV naman! hahaha!)

My mother in law just called and she told me to be ready by 2:30. That means I have to wake up at 2 (I am a no frills, low maintenance person - 10 mins shower, 5 mins to brush my teeth, 10 mins to dress up, 5 mins to put on cream on my face, comb my pair and spritz on some perfume). Tomorrow happens to be a first friday so there will be more people in Church. And the travel time from our place in faraway Cainta to Quiapo is 40 minutes if you are driving at 3 in the morning!(that's no traffic, no nothing). Grabe noh?

It's half past 8. I have 5 more hours for beauty rest. I better hit the sack now. Lizzie is busy watching tv. She is still in her very active mode. I have to turn down the lights now so she can crawl back to bed and close her eyes.

Tomorrow again. Cheerio.

loving crocs.

I haven't really outgrown my fascination for crocs. It all started early last year when I read from somewhere how dangerous it can get especially to kids. Being the non-comformist and adventurous mom that I am, I bought a pair of pink caymans for Lizzie and a sage caymans for Arthuz. Soon after, I got me my own khaki caymans. And for one whole year, we would wear them to parties, sunday dinners, out of towns, beach... They are awesome, comfortable and while molding to your feet, they are nearly wear and tear proof because they are odor, slip and marking resistant. Durable and light are some of its good points too. Never mind if we had to carry Lizzie whenever we have to ride the escalators in malls and buildings. The comfort they give the child is enough for us to be convinced of buying her another pair.

Caymans for Lizzie, Arthuz and me --- Check. Mary Janes for Lizzie --- Check. Prima for me --- Check. Next in line: Sobek for Arthuz, Scutes for Lizzie and Alice for me.

a work in progress

Upon hearing of a friend's 'shaky' marriage because of another friend..

Why should a foolish marriage vow

by John Dryden

Why should a foolish marriage vow,
Which long ago was made,
Oblige us to each other now
When passion is decay'd?
We loved, and we loved, as long as we could,
Till our love was loved out in us both:
But our marriage is dead, when the pleasure is fled:
'Twas pleasure first made it an oath.
If I have pleasures for a friend,
And farther love in store,
What wrong has he whose joys did end,
And who could give no more?
'Tis a madness that he should be jealous of me,
Or that I should bar him of another:
For all we can gain is to give our selves pain,
When neither can hinder the other.

R, marriage is a work in progress. It's all about holding each other's hand and making sure that the other person is secure and loved and happy. This will pass but you've got to make her feel that she is the only one. It'll take time but you will get there. Believe you me. Your daughter do not deserve any of this. Pick up the pieces and move on. We are here.

R, please don't think that you're at fault because you are not. You have a very good soul. How I wish all girls are like you. You've got to move on too. We are here.

Haaaay. Been there, been that. If only wives can be more trusting and husbands can be more honest, this world will be a better place to live in, don't you think?

the wonderful world of blogging

I snagged this from JODY Thanks a lot! Will snag more of your Q&As soon!!!

1. How long have you been blogging?

~ I created my first blog back in 2004 before getting married but I am a very lax blogger and it's just now that I want to try it again so I am resurrecting a blog that's been dormant for years.

2. What inspired you to write a blog, and who are your mentors?

~ My daughter is growing up really fast and although I have documented the milestones in her life through photos, I just realized that it would be nicer if there are stories behind them. My bosom friend Babs is a very active blogger and very articulate at that. I am also inspired by my fellow working moms who gracefully juggle their time with raising children, providing for their needs and writing. I want to be able to keep a journal of my life as a mother, a wife, a careerwoman and a struggling writer.

3.What are the three things that you love about being online?

~being able to interact with virtual friends, getting insights from other people, sharing in their achievements, triumphs, happiness and downfalls, and soon, extra earnings (watch out world!)

4.What are the three things that you struggle with in the online-world?

~identity theft, too much to write about too little time

meet dooney

I remember years back when I would drool over a Dooney and Burke bag. Women my age would dream of having their own LVs somday. But I was into Dooneys. Very much into it. I prayed and tried to be a good person, hoping that one day, a good soul would surprise me with one (lol!).

After almost 3 years of checking out their site and daydreaming and drooling, I had my very first Dooney and Burke Anniversary Bucket Bag in Brown-Amber Trim. I was so ecstatic I'd wear it even on Fridays when I would go to the office in shirt, jeans and flipflops (di talaga bagay pero keri na!). I've had it, used it (to a point of overusing it) for a couple of months until luck strikes again. My mom arrived from the US for Shine's wedding (she is a Ninang). During their final stop in HK, she called me up to let me know that she's got nothing for me. Nothing except for one thing. And knowing how I can be the brattest of the brats, she assured me that that one thing will make me forget that she doesn't have other things for me anymore. When she opened her suitcase, a Dooney and Burke package is sitting prettily on top of her other stuff, the package was neatly wrapped in a white Dooney and Burke cloth bag. To say that I was shocked was an understatement. I have a freakin' new Dooney and Burke bag again!!!

I know that Dooney and Burke is a far cry from LVs or Chanels but for now, I'm happy and content.

post birthday entries

My birthday celebration, I figured, didn't just end with the helluva parteh which my husband threw for me last Saturday. With a little sleep from that night, I woke up with my mum'm sumptous breakfast waiting for me (and Arthuz of course) on the table. It was a feast of my favorite food, from dried pusit to bading abo to eggs and fried rice. My own version of starbucks coffee completed my meal. Yummy! After brunch, my mom taught me how to make a 'to die for' leche flan. Unlike all the regular ones in the market, what makes hers special is the fact that she separates the whites and concentrate on the yolks alone. 8 eggs, 1 can of condensed milk, 1 can of evap, sugar, a dash of vanilla and voila! a super creamy leche flan for you...

My birthday dinner took place in the default birthday dinner place of the Dela Rosa family. Tong Yang at the 4th level of Mega Mall. It was a dinner hosted by my in laws since this is also a send off for my parents who were leaving for the US (after a 2 month vacation) the next day. Double celebration. Double whammy! Check out some of the photos below:

This morning, my officemates surprised me with a pretty marble cake from goldilocks. Both my office emails were clogged from the numerous well wishers who werent able to text, call or come to my party

Finally, my current team (who happens to be a bunch of wacky, playful yet loving and smart people) gave me this for my birthday. My, was I so ecstatic to see it. To say that it was very pleasant surprise was an understatement. Thanks guys, abswelto kayo sa lahat ng mga late at absent nyo wehehehehe!!

Big Three - 0

Big Three 0. That's what they call when people turn 30. I turned 30 last Sunday and unlike all my other birthdays in the past, when intimate dinners or lunch for a few friends were already perfect celebrations for me, my husband prepared a party for me. It was him who wanted that and he for the first time in our lives, he was the one who organized it (not to mention financed it!). My only task was to invite all the people I wanted to see on my special day. We had the party on the eve of my actual birthday - the 26th.

Since I only started inviting friends in the evening of the 25th, a lot of them had prior commitments for the weekend already. Some turned my invites down. But most of them (and I love them all the more!) showed up. I was expecting, apart from my family, just a handful of guests (10 to 15 perhaps) but almost 40 people came! It was indeed a blast.

It was a blessing in disguise to have my only brother in town during my (or should I say our?) birthday weekend. You see, he just happens to be a really good cook. Muy excellente that everyone who tries any of dishes are always left in awe. This is a very special talent he got from our mother who was running a catering business before she migrated to the US. He whipped up his signature barbecued spareribs, beef and mushrooms, tanigue steak, fried chicken extraordinaire and buttered vegetables. My mom, because she can't live without cooking, wowed us with her trademark palabok and 'to die for' leche flan (Kat - the secret here is to separate the whites from the yolk). Dad, because he loves me so much resurrected his talent in making the best fried rice in town, complete with chinese sausage, ground pork, green peas, onion leaves and oyster sauce.

There were a lot of laughter and good conversation. Beer was overflowing. It was a night of fun.

My girlfriends whom I am more comfortable calling my forever friends left at half past 11, my TNY (taktakan ng yaman lol!) friends followed shortly, around 12mn. All the others stayed til 3am and you are right, I was already half asleep and I left the hosting job to my hubby.

For someone who never really enjoyed parties, this was one for the books. It was unimaginably great to have most of your friends and family gather in one place to wish you a good life ahead.

* * *

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the people who have come and gone and left some footprints.. people who have touched my life in more ways than one.

My husband Arthuz, who has always been my constant source of strength. When things go wrong and I lose focus, I just turn to him and somehow, I am revitalized. He brings me back to life. I have a job and my job obviously pay well, but most of the time, he shoulders everything just so I could enjoy the fruits of my labor. He always tells me that I work not for the money but for my own personal fulfillment. He makes life really easy for me. With him, everything is within reach. He is indeed, my Dante. My reason for being.
My daughter Lizzie, for being a source of inspiration. Her giggles perks me up in the morning and her sweet voice lulls me to sleep at night. No day can be tiresome and wary with her on the door on welcome you home.
My family -- 2 dads, 2 moms, 2 sisters in law, 2 brothers in law... I know that come hell or high waters, you will always be there. Wherever I may go -- in Cali, in Marikina, in Antipolo or in Naga -- I know that we can always come home to you.
My very big collage of friendships. My Amber friends whom I fondly call my forever friends (Mareng Chovange, Elai, Kristel, Ging, Sally, Tessa, Lizette, Marie, Jayme, Mickey, Xtine and all the other rest I fail to mention for now). My Sitel friends (Kayfer, Janice, Coox, Dee, Den, Jordan, Inkee, Vee, Noreen, Roanne, Mafe, Ktine, XM friends, my team -- past and present). My high school friends (Stelz who is now based in Singapore, Tokne who has recently migrated to Virginia, Jet, Glends who just got married, Dang who just gave birth, Leah who is also based in Singapore, Rachel, Jenny, Tetet who is now in Canada, etc). My PB friends (Kumareng Lai, PDR, Jenny, Jowette, Daisy). My UP friends and my dear bestfriend, Janet. You guys rock!
My mentors, teachers, critics - all those who help build my strong character.
And to PHN, for making sure that all my prayers are answered, not when I want them, but when them supposed to be answered. Never in my time. But in His.
I have always been a very grateful person and opportunities like these don't escape me. It has been a grand, exciting 30 years of my life. Such a roller coaster ride. But it was all worth it. With the friends I have met and the wisdom they shared, I know that the next 30 years will be even grander =)