Dearest Sofia,
Merry Christmas, my darling! I wish you were here to see the lights and to hear the sounds of Christmas. You would have loved this time of year, just like Mommy does. Do you know that it's my favorite time? It's during this time when Mommy and Daddy got married and it's also during this time when we first learned you were growing inside me! Christmas became more magical that year. We were so happy and so filled with hope. How I wish I could bring back those moments when you were here and probably do some things differently, so that that this time, you could stay.
I have been in toy stores thrice this month. During those times I saw toys I would have bought for you...so many cute toys you would have loved!
Daddy and I always think of you, always talk about you. We often make up conversations where you are included. Daddy always tries to imagine how you would probably react and how you would probably try to defend him every time he feels I am being unfair to him. It's funny sometimes. Anyone who overhears our conversation would surely think you're alive. In a way, you still are and forever will be in the hearts of those who love you best-- Mommy, Daddy and Kuya.
I love you, baby.
Flying kisses to Heaven.
Mommy
Monday, December 26, 2016
Monday, December 5, 2016
Celebrating Four Years of Happy-Ever-After
We celebrated our wedding anniversary on the 2nd of December. We initially promised to have a yearly celebration in the city where we were wed but I could not leave school last Friday due to the fact that another teacher in my area resigned from work and it would have been harder for the school if I filed a leave of absence.
We had a simple dinner after school instead.
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| Lunch buffet at the Veranda, Taal Vista Hotel |
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| Four years, three angel babies and ten pounds heavier , here we are! |
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| This is the church where we were wed, less the white building in the background. |
We went back to the church to pray for more happy and healthy years together, for a healthy and normal baby and to be more financially stable.
And while we were on our way home, we saw this rainbow.....I took it as a sign of HOPE, a sign of God's promise.
I look forward to a happier year, with many beautiful surprises and answered prayers, to a brighter future and to many more happy wedding anniversaries.
God is good all the time!
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
High School Reunion: Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present
It's funny how some things can change in a blink of an eye and how some can stay the same for decades. I have not always been as confident and as self-assured as I am today. When I was in grade school, I was super shy. I was one of the most well-behaved girls in class. I hated speaking in front of the class. My teacher used to say, "louder" all the time whenever it was my turn to recite. I stayed with my small circle of friends, who, like me, were also quiet and well-behaved. We were the good girls in the front row and we didn't like mingling with the "cool" crowd who were usually the tall girls at the back. We were intimidated by them. They were confident and popular. We were short, quiet and maybe, to the tall girls at the back, we were dull. I was more or less the same in high school.
It was only when I entered college when I decided it was time I stopped acting as if I was inferior to these type of girls. And since, it was a new school, a new environment, I took every opportunity to create a new me. A new Claire was born. As time passed, I grew in wisdom and confidence. Since then, I have accepted my height, embraced my flaws, and have taken pride in what I know and in what I can do. I have long stopped being intimidated by tall girls and bullies. I am proud to say that I am one of the strongest women I know.
Last weekend, I attended our batch's Silver Jubilee Homecoming. It's been 25 years since our high school graduation and it was time to "come home". I was excited to see my batchmates but the feelings of inadequacy that left me a long time ago, suddenly came back and prevented me from joining the cool girls in the dance performance that I so wanted to join. Somehow, I doubted if I would enjoy practicing with them-- girls I never even exchanged more than one word with when I was in high school.
The homecoming turned out to be fun. Many of my batchmates were surprised at the way I spoke and laughed. While I was different, many of them were still the same. There were still the bullies who would push you when they thought you had to move or those who rolled their eyes at you every time they thought you were too slow to understand them. There were still the bright girls who thought they had the right to order you around and reprimand you when they thought you were misbehaving. And there were still the girls who didn't know anyone except for the girls in their own clique.
Homecoming was really like going back to high school except that the faces you see are older, and that there are so many faces and names that you don't remember anymore.
Even though my closest friends were not able to attend the homecoming because they were abroad, I am still glad I made the right decision and attended the event. I am now in the process of rebuilding old relationships and it feels so good.
There is so much wisdom to be learned in the past, so many childhood memories to be cherished and preserved. These are the things that made me who I am. It's because of the past that I have so many victories and so much to be thankful for and to be celebrated in the present.
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| Look for the shortest. That's me. |
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| with my best friend |
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| our senior class....I'm the one on the second row, second girl from the right |
Last weekend, I attended our batch's Silver Jubilee Homecoming. It's been 25 years since our high school graduation and it was time to "come home". I was excited to see my batchmates but the feelings of inadequacy that left me a long time ago, suddenly came back and prevented me from joining the cool girls in the dance performance that I so wanted to join. Somehow, I doubted if I would enjoy practicing with them-- girls I never even exchanged more than one word with when I was in high school.
The homecoming turned out to be fun. Many of my batchmates were surprised at the way I spoke and laughed. While I was different, many of them were still the same. There were still the bullies who would push you when they thought you had to move or those who rolled their eyes at you every time they thought you were too slow to understand them. There were still the bright girls who thought they had the right to order you around and reprimand you when they thought you were misbehaving. And there were still the girls who didn't know anyone except for the girls in their own clique.
Homecoming was really like going back to high school except that the faces you see are older, and that there are so many faces and names that you don't remember anymore.
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| with one of the nicest girls in class....she had the most beautiful singing voice I have ever heard...I was her biggest fan in high school |
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| with some of our teachers |
Even though my closest friends were not able to attend the homecoming because they were abroad, I am still glad I made the right decision and attended the event. I am now in the process of rebuilding old relationships and it feels so good.
There is so much wisdom to be learned in the past, so many childhood memories to be cherished and preserved. These are the things that made me who I am. It's because of the past that I have so many victories and so much to be thankful for and to be celebrated in the present.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Currently I'm....
Celebrating: Teacher's Day. We were actually pampered by the parents and students today by providing spa services for us. Lunch was also free. I heard tomorrow would be another celebration. I hope it will be fun.
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| Add caption |
Craving: for a kind of rice cake from the province of Negros. Hunnybed and I went to a trade fair three weeks ago and it was there where I tasted it. It was so good specially with muscovado sugar.
Hoping: for another relaxing time playing archery with my two favorite boys.
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| We went straight to the archery place from our Saturday make-up classes in school, hence, the outfit. |
Wishing: for more time to do this
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and this, |
and this .....
Loving: this layout
Waiting: for my period. I'm one month late and it's causing me a lot of stress.
Hoping: Things would change for the better soon.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Twenty-first Letter to Sofia
My dear Sofie,
It's been quite a while since you last received a letter from me. You know that's a good sign, don't you? That means Mommy doesn't need to write letters to feel better as much as she did before. But although I feel so much better now, you should know that Daddy and Mommy still think and talk about you every day. We always talk about you, and try to guess what kind of personality you have. We think about how you would react if we did certain things. We wonder about who you look like and we actually always argue about that. Daddy thinks you look like him but I keep insisting that you look a lot like me.
Mommy is not yet pregnant so please help me ask for a healthy and normal baby girl from God, ok? I just need another baby to love and take care of. Kuya needs someone he can be with in the far away future when Mommy is gone and Daddy needs someone who will love him the way little girls love their daddies. She will never replace you. Nobody can.
I hope to see you in my dreams, my sweet Sofia.
Flying hugs and kisses to Heaven,
Mommy
Friday, August 19, 2016
42 Favorites
I'll be turning 42 a week from now. I thought I could write something fun in relation to my birthday so I decided to come up with this post.
Here are my 42 favorites in no particular order.
1. Tagaytay
I fell in love with this place 30 years ago when I first visited it on a field trip with my classmates. Countless visits after that, I am still in love with the place and I still cannot help but goggle at the scenic Taal Lake. If you want to make me happy take me there. I just hope people would just stop building new infrastructures and high rises in the city. The high rise buildings are slowly taking the charm off the city.
2. Song de Chine by Crabtree and Evelyn
This is my most favorite scent. I discovered it in 2000. Unfortunately, they don't carry it anymore.
3. Crema de Mangga
This is the dessert I love best. I love making it. I sing in anticipation of eating it. I can actually eat it all day. There's something heavenly about the sweet Zambales mangoes and cream. If you want to make some but don't know how, you can check out my recipe.
4. Zambales Mangoes
This variety is one of the sweetest in the world and I'm lucky to have been born with a small Zambales mango farm. Zambales mangoes are so sweet I thank God I'm alive everytime I eat one.
5. Hongkong
I have visited this place thrice and compared to other Asian countries I have visited, this is the place I want to go back to everytime I think of taking a trip.
6. Jean Valjean
He is my favorite male protagonist. To me, he is the best example of human transcendence. I just love him!
7. Les Miserables (novel and musical)
I first heard the songs 25 years ago and read the novel after a few months. I fell in love with the novel and fell in love with the musical. I loved how the music and songs were able to express exactly the sentiments of the novel (except for the character of Marius whom I hate).
8. Victor Hugo
He had a deep understanding of man, his motives and intentions. Without him, there will be no Les Miserables and therefore, no Jean Valjean.
9. Wuthering Heights
This is the only depressing story that I love. I wish the one who borrowed my copy would return it to me...wishful thinking.
10. Scarlett O'Hara
She is my favorite female protagonist. I don't know why I love her because many people hate her. She is actually really hateful and while reading the book I hated her too but afterwards I loved her character. Weird huh?
11. Gone with the Wind
I love history and culture and this book has a lot of both.
12. Pesto
This always tops my list be it a dip or pasta sauce. It's very easy to make too!
13. Christmas
Who doesn't love this holiday? Christmas just fills you with joy and nostalgia. Each Christmas tune or decor or even just the weather brings you memories of Christmas past and hope for what's to come. It's my favorite day of the year which makes December my favorite month.
14. December
This is such a happy month for me. First it's the holiday season so there are lots of events to go to. Second, this is the month of our wedding anniversary and the the month when we first learned I was pregnant with Sofia.
15. The town of Taal
As you have read above, I am a lover of history and culture. It is for this reason that I love the heritage town of Taal. Unlike other parts of the country where people have no sense of history and old houses are demolished to make way for modern ones, the people of Taal have found a way to preserve their old houses and keep an old-world charm. To preserve this feel, atm's, McDonald's, Jollibee are nowhere to be found. The heritage town is also famous for their balisong, longganisa, tapa and cheap hand-embrodered barong Tagalog.
16. Taal Basilica
This is the largest Catholic church in Asia. Each pillar, each stone speaks of history. I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight. I've always wanted to visit it and when I finally did, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was amazed beyond my expectations.
17. lace
There's something about lace that makes me feel so feminine.
18. August
This is the month of my birth, the month of my mom's birth and the month I first became a mom.
19. buko salad (strips of young coconut meat, with grapes,cherries, pears, condensed milk and nestle cream)
Of all the salads, this is my favorite. I can eat kilos of it in a day!
20. musical plays
My dad used to take us to musical plays when I was a teenager. This made me fall in love with the theater, most specially with musical plays.
21. Daughtry's Gone Too Soon
This song is just perfect for parents who have angel babies.
22. The Accidental Hero
This movie which starred Dustin Hoffman, Andy Garcia and Geena Davis was a very funny movie. I watched it in when I was still in college and never forgot it. I loved it so much that I bought a copy of it four years ago. In a funny way, it showed the sad reality that we judge by appearances, and the inspiring truth that all of us, even the unlikely ones, can all be heroes if life catches us at the right moment.
23. Ever After
This Drew Barrymore movie was the best Cinderalla movie for me.
24. Legally Blonde
I fell in love with Reese Witherspoon in this movie....one of the movies I love watching again and again.
25. April
This is the month of my Sofie's birth. Though it was also the month she went back to Heaven, I will always look forward to celebrating her birthday.
26. Makati City
As a young girl, working in Makati had always been my dream. To the young impressionable version of me, Makati offered a world of modernity and sophistication which other cities lacked, specially in the 80's, so when I finished college I never entertained calls from companies without a Makati address. I accepted an offer from a multinational financial company three months after graduation and Makati became my home for almost ten years--- the place where many of my most memorable memories were made, where most of my lasting friendships were built. Today, so many things have changed, I can hardly recognize some of the streets but it will always be special to me as evidenced by the feeling of nostalgia that I always have whenever I visit.
30. White pearls
The simplicity and elegance of pearls have always been beautiful in my eyes.
31. Crystals
Who wouldn't love how they sparkle in the sun?
32. Carnation and Gerbera
These are really pretty flowers that can stay pretty for a long time.
33. Ronan Keating
A handsome man with a beautiful voice
34. Christopher Reeve
He will always be my Superman.
35. Smallville
Loved this show...thanks to my husband who introduced it to me.
36. MacGyver
He formed many of my ideals and inspired some of the decisions I made in my younger years.
37. Monk and Psych
These were really funny TV series. My son introduced them to me and my Hunnybed and we had a lot of laughing-out-loud moments watching them.
38. Michael Jackson
Well, he's the King of Pop. Need I say more?
39. Body Shop's Vitamin E (day cream)
It's the best moisturizer for me -- very light, easily absorbed by the skin and leaves no sticky feeling.
40. Cheetos Jalapeno
Cheese and jalapeno are just the best combination.
41. My son's first story.
He wrote it when he was six years old. You can check it out here. On second thought, maybe it was his second because the title reads "Johnny English Part 2".
42. A post I wrote about Sofia.
This is the story of her birth and her flying back to Heaven. Check it out here
What are your favorites?
Here are my 42 favorites in no particular order.
1. Tagaytay
I fell in love with this place 30 years ago when I first visited it on a field trip with my classmates. Countless visits after that, I am still in love with the place and I still cannot help but goggle at the scenic Taal Lake. If you want to make me happy take me there. I just hope people would just stop building new infrastructures and high rises in the city. The high rise buildings are slowly taking the charm off the city.
2. Song de Chine by Crabtree and Evelyn
This is my most favorite scent. I discovered it in 2000. Unfortunately, they don't carry it anymore.
3. Crema de Mangga
This is the dessert I love best. I love making it. I sing in anticipation of eating it. I can actually eat it all day. There's something heavenly about the sweet Zambales mangoes and cream. If you want to make some but don't know how, you can check out my recipe.
4. Zambales Mangoes
This variety is one of the sweetest in the world and I'm lucky to have been born with a small Zambales mango farm. Zambales mangoes are so sweet I thank God I'm alive everytime I eat one.
5. Hongkong
I have visited this place thrice and compared to other Asian countries I have visited, this is the place I want to go back to everytime I think of taking a trip.
6. Jean Valjean
He is my favorite male protagonist. To me, he is the best example of human transcendence. I just love him!
 |
| with 2016 Production's Jean Valjean |
7. Les Miserables (novel and musical)
I first heard the songs 25 years ago and read the novel after a few months. I fell in love with the novel and fell in love with the musical. I loved how the music and songs were able to express exactly the sentiments of the novel (except for the character of Marius whom I hate).
8. Victor Hugo
He had a deep understanding of man, his motives and intentions. Without him, there will be no Les Miserables and therefore, no Jean Valjean.
9. Wuthering Heights
This is the only depressing story that I love. I wish the one who borrowed my copy would return it to me...wishful thinking.
10. Scarlett O'Hara
She is my favorite female protagonist. I don't know why I love her because many people hate her. She is actually really hateful and while reading the book I hated her too but afterwards I loved her character. Weird huh?
11. Gone with the Wind
I love history and culture and this book has a lot of both.
12. Pesto
This always tops my list be it a dip or pasta sauce. It's very easy to make too!
13. Christmas
Who doesn't love this holiday? Christmas just fills you with joy and nostalgia. Each Christmas tune or decor or even just the weather brings you memories of Christmas past and hope for what's to come. It's my favorite day of the year which makes December my favorite month.
14. December
This is such a happy month for me. First it's the holiday season so there are lots of events to go to. Second, this is the month of our wedding anniversary and the the month when we first learned I was pregnant with Sofia.
15. The town of Taal
As you have read above, I am a lover of history and culture. It is for this reason that I love the heritage town of Taal. Unlike other parts of the country where people have no sense of history and old houses are demolished to make way for modern ones, the people of Taal have found a way to preserve their old houses and keep an old-world charm. To preserve this feel, atm's, McDonald's, Jollibee are nowhere to be found. The heritage town is also famous for their balisong, longganisa, tapa and cheap hand-embrodered barong Tagalog.
 |
| a bird's eyeview atop the Taal Basilica |
16. Taal Basilica
This is the largest Catholic church in Asia. Each pillar, each stone speaks of history. I couldn't help but fall in love at first sight. I've always wanted to visit it and when I finally did, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was amazed beyond my expectations.
17. lace
There's something about lace that makes me feel so feminine.
18. August
This is the month of my birth, the month of my mom's birth and the month I first became a mom.
 |
| a young mother at 25....(a few weeks before my 26th birthday) |
19. buko salad (strips of young coconut meat, with grapes,cherries, pears, condensed milk and nestle cream)
Of all the salads, this is my favorite. I can eat kilos of it in a day!
20. musical plays
My dad used to take us to musical plays when I was a teenager. This made me fall in love with the theater, most specially with musical plays.
21. Daughtry's Gone Too Soon
This song is just perfect for parents who have angel babies.
22. The Accidental Hero
This movie which starred Dustin Hoffman, Andy Garcia and Geena Davis was a very funny movie. I watched it in when I was still in college and never forgot it. I loved it so much that I bought a copy of it four years ago. In a funny way, it showed the sad reality that we judge by appearances, and the inspiring truth that all of us, even the unlikely ones, can all be heroes if life catches us at the right moment.
23. Ever After
This Drew Barrymore movie was the best Cinderalla movie for me.
24. Legally Blonde
I fell in love with Reese Witherspoon in this movie....one of the movies I love watching again and again.
25. April
This is the month of my Sofie's birth. Though it was also the month she went back to Heaven, I will always look forward to celebrating her birthday.
 |
| Sofia's 1st birthday celebration - picnic in the mountains |
26. Makati City
As a young girl, working in Makati had always been my dream. To the young impressionable version of me, Makati offered a world of modernity and sophistication which other cities lacked, specially in the 80's, so when I finished college I never entertained calls from companies without a Makati address. I accepted an offer from a multinational financial company three months after graduation and Makati became my home for almost ten years--- the place where many of my most memorable memories were made, where most of my lasting friendships were built. Today, so many things have changed, I can hardly recognize some of the streets but it will always be special to me as evidenced by the feeling of nostalgia that I always have whenever I visit.
30. White pearls
The simplicity and elegance of pearls have always been beautiful in my eyes.
31. Crystals
Who wouldn't love how they sparkle in the sun?
32. Carnation and Gerbera
These are really pretty flowers that can stay pretty for a long time.
33. Ronan Keating
A handsome man with a beautiful voice
34. Christopher Reeve
He will always be my Superman.
35. Smallville
Loved this show...thanks to my husband who introduced it to me.
36. MacGyver
He formed many of my ideals and inspired some of the decisions I made in my younger years.
37. Monk and Psych
These were really funny TV series. My son introduced them to me and my Hunnybed and we had a lot of laughing-out-loud moments watching them.
38. Michael Jackson
Well, he's the King of Pop. Need I say more?
39. Body Shop's Vitamin E (day cream)
It's the best moisturizer for me -- very light, easily absorbed by the skin and leaves no sticky feeling.
40. Cheetos Jalapeno
Cheese and jalapeno are just the best combination.
41. My son's first story.
He wrote it when he was six years old. You can check it out here. On second thought, maybe it was his second because the title reads "Johnny English Part 2".
42. A post I wrote about Sofia.
This is the story of her birth and her flying back to Heaven. Check it out here
What are your favorites?
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Random Thoughts on a Rainy Monday Morning
I just can't understand why some establishments have their people check receipts of customers at the exit. I mean, I do understand that they're doing it to make sure nobody is leaving without paying but what I don't understand is why they risk offending paying customers by asking to check their receipts. I mean, why not install cameras and tighten security at the check out counters to make sure everybody really passes through the cashiers? I don't know about other people, but my husband and I get irritated when security guards at the exit ask for our receipt.
What happened at Landers yesterday was worse. We applied for membership on the same day and went on to have a crowded shopping experience. That was fine. After paying for our items, we were stopped by one of their staff who was standing a few meters away from the cashier. She asked for our receipt and then started rummaging through our bags, taking some items out, counting the items and checking the items off the receipt, one by one. I mean, what right did she have touching the things we paid for and therefore OWNED without asking for our permission? I calmly told her, "Alam mo Miss, hindi niyo dapat ginagawa yan kasi nakaka-offend ng customer. Ano bang gusto niyong palabasin, na kumuha kami ng mga items na hindi namin binayaran?" (You know, you shouldn't do that because it is offensive. What are you trying to imply, that we got items that we didn't pay for?) And what really irritated me was the way she sarcastically grinned as she went on checking our items. She didn't even stop to look at me and my husband while we were talking to her. I felt all my blood going up to my face. I could only imagine what my face looked like. Usually, I don't go back after such lousy treatment from an establishment but I already paid for a membership card. I just wouldn't renew next year. These membership stores check receipts to ensure accuracy of all transactions ( so they say). If that's their goal then they have to train their cashiers properly and let them be the one to ensure everything is encoded properly in their machines. After that, items I paid for are mine, and therefore cannot be touched or unpacked without my permission. I just can't understand why nobody else is complaining.
The only thing that made the day better was the wine ice cream we bought.
I'm sitting on my bed, hoping I didn't have a pile of laundry waiting to be washed. It's a rainy day. Classes in Metro Manila have been suspended and all I wish is some "me" time under the covers while watching a feel-good movie on DVD.
I would probably have to postpone the laundry til after lunch. Then I'll force my son to watch a marathon of Flash or Hawaii Five-O (or any of the series that he likes) with me in the living room while the machine helps me with the laundry. For now, I'll have to do a little organizing in the bedroom.
What are you up to this rainy Monday? What irritates you as a customer?
What happened at Landers yesterday was worse. We applied for membership on the same day and went on to have a crowded shopping experience. That was fine. After paying for our items, we were stopped by one of their staff who was standing a few meters away from the cashier. She asked for our receipt and then started rummaging through our bags, taking some items out, counting the items and checking the items off the receipt, one by one. I mean, what right did she have touching the things we paid for and therefore OWNED without asking for our permission? I calmly told her, "Alam mo Miss, hindi niyo dapat ginagawa yan kasi nakaka-offend ng customer. Ano bang gusto niyong palabasin, na kumuha kami ng mga items na hindi namin binayaran?" (You know, you shouldn't do that because it is offensive. What are you trying to imply, that we got items that we didn't pay for?) And what really irritated me was the way she sarcastically grinned as she went on checking our items. She didn't even stop to look at me and my husband while we were talking to her. I felt all my blood going up to my face. I could only imagine what my face looked like. Usually, I don't go back after such lousy treatment from an establishment but I already paid for a membership card. I just wouldn't renew next year. These membership stores check receipts to ensure accuracy of all transactions ( so they say). If that's their goal then they have to train their cashiers properly and let them be the one to ensure everything is encoded properly in their machines. After that, items I paid for are mine, and therefore cannot be touched or unpacked without my permission. I just can't understand why nobody else is complaining.
The only thing that made the day better was the wine ice cream we bought.
I'm sitting on my bed, hoping I didn't have a pile of laundry waiting to be washed. It's a rainy day. Classes in Metro Manila have been suspended and all I wish is some "me" time under the covers while watching a feel-good movie on DVD.
I would probably have to postpone the laundry til after lunch. Then I'll force my son to watch a marathon of Flash or Hawaii Five-O (or any of the series that he likes) with me in the living room while the machine helps me with the laundry. For now, I'll have to do a little organizing in the bedroom.
What are you up to this rainy Monday? What irritates you as a customer?
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The Power of Writing
I have never been a planner girl. I have never liked listing to-do's. I was the type of person who just kept all her to-do's and to-go's in her mind. And for years I have struggled trying to make sure I remembered everything. I even used to describe these things I kept in my memory as cobwebs because they were like that -- webs that intersected with one another, keeping my mind from thinking clearly, or from relaxing because everywhere I went, whatever I was doing, I was always making constant reminders to myself to do this and that.
When Starbucks started coming out with planners, Hunnybed gave me one and every year after that. I tried using the planners but I would usually stop after a month. I don't know why.
Last year, I got introduced to the traveler's notebook and to bullet journals. I started watching people on YouTube, planners who talked about their inserts, their systems. Pretty soon, I was also already making my own fauxdori and my own inserts. I have also experimented on different systems and layouts and am now just trying to see which ones I like best.
I don't know why, but ever since I was the one making my own notebooks and layouts, I have been religiously writing things down. And I am amazed at how clearer my mind has become since then. I can't believe I did not start writing to-do's earlier in my life. Writing down my tasks and appointments has lessened my stress level and now, the cobwebs in my mind are gone. I feel so much lighter.
Now, I have a planner that stays at home and a planner that goes with me wherever I go. I have also started another journal. It's called a pray rain journal. I discovered this kind of journal only last week. It's a tool for manifesting your wishes. You take any notebook of your choice and in that notebook you are going to write about your wish or dream as if you already have it, you describe how it feels or how you feel, the way it looks, etc. You write every day and they say that when you get to the last page, your wish or dream would have come true or you would already be well on your way to making it come true. If you want to know more about it, check out Jeanette's blog. This is where I first read about it.
I hope this pray rain journal works for me.
What about you? Do you like journaling/planning?
When Starbucks started coming out with planners, Hunnybed gave me one and every year after that. I tried using the planners but I would usually stop after a month. I don't know why.
Last year, I got introduced to the traveler's notebook and to bullet journals. I started watching people on YouTube, planners who talked about their inserts, their systems. Pretty soon, I was also already making my own fauxdori and my own inserts. I have also experimented on different systems and layouts and am now just trying to see which ones I like best.
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| my current weekly layout for this week |
I don't know why, but ever since I was the one making my own notebooks and layouts, I have been religiously writing things down. And I am amazed at how clearer my mind has become since then. I can't believe I did not start writing to-do's earlier in my life. Writing down my tasks and appointments has lessened my stress level and now, the cobwebs in my mind are gone. I feel so much lighter.
Now, I have a planner that stays at home and a planner that goes with me wherever I go. I have also started another journal. It's called a pray rain journal. I discovered this kind of journal only last week. It's a tool for manifesting your wishes. You take any notebook of your choice and in that notebook you are going to write about your wish or dream as if you already have it, you describe how it feels or how you feel, the way it looks, etc. You write every day and they say that when you get to the last page, your wish or dream would have come true or you would already be well on your way to making it come true. If you want to know more about it, check out Jeanette's blog. This is where I first read about it.
I hope this pray rain journal works for me.
What about you? Do you like journaling/planning?
Thursday, June 30, 2016
How I Spent My Summer Break
It's been quite a while since my last post. There have been some life events that I wanted to write about here in my blog but I was not able to do so because there were tons of stuff I had to take care of.
I had to send our helper home because she was constantly not feeling well. And with two dogs living with us, blogging at night was just something I didn't have the strength to do anymore.
Vacation is almost over. Three days from now I will be going back to school. I am not happy at all about that. I'm already contemplating of retiring from teaching. Let's hope that will happen in the very near future.
What's for certain is that this summer has certainly been wonderful and productive. No, we didn't go anywhere this summer except for the time Hunnybed treated me and Toots to a staycation at a hotel in Alabang for Mother's Day.
I think it was one of the most memorable Mother's Day that I have ever had since I became a mom.
We also celebrated dad's birthday this summer. I thank God for giving me one of the most hardworking, loving fathers in the world, I thank God for his rich accomplishments and I pray that God will continue to bless him with good health and many more happy birthdays spent with us and soon, with our future child.
Since our school's opening was a month later than most schools', I got the bring my nephew to school on his first day. We were all there ---full support!
This summer, I also had a chance to meet two other friends, one of them was my best friend in college, Jen. Too bad we were not able to take a pic, we were too busy catching up to think about taking a selfie!
I had to send our helper home because she was constantly not feeling well. And with two dogs living with us, blogging at night was just something I didn't have the strength to do anymore.
Vacation is almost over. Three days from now I will be going back to school. I am not happy at all about that. I'm already contemplating of retiring from teaching. Let's hope that will happen in the very near future.
What's for certain is that this summer has certainly been wonderful and productive. No, we didn't go anywhere this summer except for the time Hunnybed treated me and Toots to a staycation at a hotel in Alabang for Mother's Day.
I think it was one of the most memorable Mother's Day that I have ever had since I became a mom.
We also celebrated dad's birthday this summer. I thank God for giving me one of the most hardworking, loving fathers in the world, I thank God for his rich accomplishments and I pray that God will continue to bless him with good health and many more happy birthdays spent with us and soon, with our future child.
Since our school's opening was a month later than most schools', I got the bring my nephew to school on his first day. We were all there ---full support!
We also celebrated my husband's birthday in June. I bought him an ice cream cake afterwards and put Sofia's name in the dedication part.
I visited my favorite city...Makati. I have always loved Makati and when I was young it was my dream to work there. It is for that reason that I turned down all job offers without a Makati office address when I graduated from college. I got my dream. I was a Makati girl for 8 years. Leaving Makati to work in a school is another (quite long) story.
And of course, if I visited Makati on a weekday, you'd be sure I'd drop by the first company I worked for. I haven't been with them for a long time, but every time I visit I still feel I belong. I have always said that most of the people I consider to be my true friends are the ones I met here in this insurance company.
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| I've always liked then and now photos. Here's one with me and my friend Lalaine.We have been friends since 1998 and though we seldom see each other, it's like nothing has changed when we do. |
And aside from all this lunches, dinners, coffee meet-ups, I was able to make a lot of pre-ordered notebooks, sewed some other things like totes, laptop sleeves and made water color projects.
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| I love these TN inserts here! They're ready for shipping but I am absolutely jealous! I love pink and I just love these patterns. I am certainly going to make one for myself! |
So you see? I really have been productive. However, I still was not able to make the more pressing projects that I had in my list. Oh well....I really have to look at my schedule and see where I can squeeze them in.
What about you? What kept you busy this summer?
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Twentieth Letter to Sofia
Dear Sofie,
I have been pretty busy these past couple of weeks. Mostly because I have been experimenting on some crafts and artworks. Your mom has been learning how to paint with watercolors. I'm not really good at it, but I am proud of my work.
I made this card for your Dad. It was his birthday last week. I also gave him a bottle of perfume which he didn't particularly like :( and a gift certificate to facial and diamond peel.
And here are some things I've sewn for my growing business.
I started sewing a year ago some two months after you went home to Heaven. I was so devastated back then and even thought I would never smile or hum a tune again. One day I found something on the net called traveler's notebook and I thought that making it would be a good diversion for me. Sewing my first notebooks and writing letters to you have done so much for me. I can't say I am completely healed because there is a big hole in my heart that will never heal until I finally have you in my arms. But at least, the notebooks and the letters I write have helped me cope with my grief.
I have also sewn a laptop sleeve, a tote bag and I'm happy I have found a productive way to spend my spare time. But you know what? I'd rather have no spare time just as long as I get to spend my time with you and Kuya together. But that's impossible now, my only wish is for you to ask God to give me another baby girl, a healthy, normal and strong baby girl not to replace you but just to be bring cheer, joy and love to our days here on earth. Can you do that for me little one?
I love you dear Sofie. And I miss you.
Love always and lots of flying hugs and kisses to Heaven,
Mommy
I have been pretty busy these past couple of weeks. Mostly because I have been experimenting on some crafts and artworks. Your mom has been learning how to paint with watercolors. I'm not really good at it, but I am proud of my work.
I made this card for your Dad. It was his birthday last week. I also gave him a bottle of perfume which he didn't particularly like :( and a gift certificate to facial and diamond peel.
And here are some things I've sewn for my growing business.
I started sewing a year ago some two months after you went home to Heaven. I was so devastated back then and even thought I would never smile or hum a tune again. One day I found something on the net called traveler's notebook and I thought that making it would be a good diversion for me. Sewing my first notebooks and writing letters to you have done so much for me. I can't say I am completely healed because there is a big hole in my heart that will never heal until I finally have you in my arms. But at least, the notebooks and the letters I write have helped me cope with my grief.
I have also sewn a laptop sleeve, a tote bag and I'm happy I have found a productive way to spend my spare time. But you know what? I'd rather have no spare time just as long as I get to spend my time with you and Kuya together. But that's impossible now, my only wish is for you to ask God to give me another baby girl, a healthy, normal and strong baby girl not to replace you but just to be bring cheer, joy and love to our days here on earth. Can you do that for me little one?
I love you dear Sofie. And I miss you.
Love always and lots of flying hugs and kisses to Heaven,
Mommy
Monday, May 23, 2016
Watercolor and Me
After finishing my lesson plans for the first and second quarter of the next school year, I am now officially on my summer break. This makes me so happy!!!
Our family doesn't really have definite vacation plans this summer so I'm sure I have a lot of time for movie marathons. But aside from that, I have listed down some projects that I have been putting off for quite some time now, which I hope to finish before the end of my break.
One of them is learning how to paint with water colors. The last time I worked with water colors was when I was in grade school. I remember using threads, screens, and blowing the water in different directions but I never really got the hang of it. In fact, I didn't really know what to do to make my art work look nicer. Decades afterwards, water color calligraphy has become quite a fad. And I want to make my own to decorate my living room or our bedroom with.
Today, I had my first water color practice. It can be quite frustrating, I must admit. Writing letters with loops using a brush is something I didn't imagine could be difficult.
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| I know this is far from good but it was my best this morning. |
After several attempts, at calligraphy, I finally was able to paint popsicles which looked decent enough and one word which would not have earned a passing grade if I were a calligraphy teacher.
I do find the popsicles cute for a first timer. I am so happy with them...I think I am going to make more! They're the only things I can make for now. Hahaha! Anyway, if they look familiar, it might be because you've seen them on YouTube. I watched Art TV by Fantasvale and thought the popsicles were simple enough for a beginner like me to try. And I was right.
I wish calligraphy was as easy as painting popsicles.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
April's Joys
April was a month of celebrations, milestones and dreams coming true.
April 2:
My son Manuel attended their Junior Seniors Prom at the Novotel Hotel.
April 9:
My sister celebrated her 39th birthday. She treated us to the breakfast buffet of Balay Dako in Tagaytay. They had a wide selection of breakfast food items and I enjoyed every morsel. Plus, there's the beautiful view. If you haven't tried Balay Dako's breakfast buffet I'm telling you, it's worth getting up early for.
April 12:
I finally got to watch Les Miserables. This is my favorite musical of all times and it has been my dream since I was 17 years old (and that's a long way back) to watch it. My sister and I started listening to the songs and loving them when I was 15 or 16 years old. When I was 17 my dad started taking us to musical plays and that's when I started to wish Repertory Philippines could make another production of Les Miserables (They made one and I missed it because that was before I was interested in the play). I was also 17 when I read the novel and I fell in love with the book. Jean Valjean is my favorite character and Les Miserables is number one in my list of favorites. Reading the novel made me love the musical even more. It really reflected the emotions in the book. Except for Marius: I hate his character but the musical made him likable.
April 25:
We celebrated Sofia's first birthday. Sofia's life, short though it was, was and still is a cause of great celebration and great joy for our family. You can read all about that in this post.
April 29:
My Tootsieroll "graduated" from Junior High. I put the quotation marks because I am still not used to this K-12 system where the seniors in high school do not graduate but merely attend the Moving Up Ceremony. They are not called graduates but completers.
I am so proud of my son! He has brought me so much joy. He may not be perfect but he is God's perfect gift to me and I cannot ask for a better son. I thank God for His many blessings and for making the month of April such a blessed and beautiful month. It was indeed a joyful month for everyone.
April 2:
My son Manuel attended their Junior Seniors Prom at the Novotel Hotel.
April 9:
My sister celebrated her 39th birthday. She treated us to the breakfast buffet of Balay Dako in Tagaytay. They had a wide selection of breakfast food items and I enjoyed every morsel. Plus, there's the beautiful view. If you haven't tried Balay Dako's breakfast buffet I'm telling you, it's worth getting up early for.
April 12:
I finally got to watch Les Miserables. This is my favorite musical of all times and it has been my dream since I was 17 years old (and that's a long way back) to watch it. My sister and I started listening to the songs and loving them when I was 15 or 16 years old. When I was 17 my dad started taking us to musical plays and that's when I started to wish Repertory Philippines could make another production of Les Miserables (They made one and I missed it because that was before I was interested in the play). I was also 17 when I read the novel and I fell in love with the book. Jean Valjean is my favorite character and Les Miserables is number one in my list of favorites. Reading the novel made me love the musical even more. It really reflected the emotions in the book. Except for Marius: I hate his character but the musical made him likable.
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| Here I am with this production's Jean Valjean |
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| My worn out but well loved copy of Les Miserables together with my souvenir program |
April 25:
We celebrated Sofia's first birthday. Sofia's life, short though it was, was and still is a cause of great celebration and great joy for our family. You can read all about that in this post.
April 29:
My Tootsieroll "graduated" from Junior High. I put the quotation marks because I am still not used to this K-12 system where the seniors in high school do not graduate but merely attend the Moving Up Ceremony. They are not called graduates but completers.
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| This was taken during the Thanksgiving Mass which was held a day before the Moving Up. The Junior High completers attended this Mass together with the Grade 6 Graduates. I volunteered my son to offer something for the offertory part of the Mass and that's why he's holding this bouquet of flowers in this photo. |
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| This is one of my favorite parts of the Thanksgiving Mass. It's actually done towards the end of the Mass after the communion. The Basic Education Principal holds a lighted candle and lights candles of some of the students. The light is then passed from one candle to another until all students are holding lighted candles. I think it was very beautiful and symbolic. |
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| This picture was taken the next day, during the Moving Up Ceremony. That's my son facing the camera and there I am with my back towards the camera. That's his dad beside me. We went up the stage to receive his medal and place it around his neck. You can see the theme there behind the nun. It says: Go forth Paulinians: Spread the Word. Share the Light. Transform the World. |
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| My Tootsieroll with his two dads. |
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| We went to Four Seasons Hotpot and Buffet right after the Moving Up to celebrate my son's achievement. It was attended by his grandparents (my side), my sister and her family and his nanny who has been with us since he was in first grade. |
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| And this little boy here was the reason I was not able to enjoy the buffet. He wanted to play with me ALL the time! He's my sister's son, my nephew and my godson. |
I am so proud of my son! He has brought me so much joy. He may not be perfect but he is God's perfect gift to me and I cannot ask for a better son. I thank God for His many blessings and for making the month of April such a blessed and beautiful month. It was indeed a joyful month for everyone.
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