Rest, Not Quit

I said I won't quit; this time, I'm falling into my own trap of emotional mud puddle. Sigh. I closed my door to happiness yesterday. My daughter, ever the inquisitive, asked me why I was not smiling. I told her I'm tired because of housework: finished laundry, cleaned bathrooms and organized closets. You know what her innocent heart told me? "Don't do it, Nanay. You rest in the couch." I almost wanted to bawl out like a pig in slaughter house as I was so touched, but then - "Yesterday, I run and run in the playground and I was tired and I rest in the couch." OK. She did not do that the day before yesterday. Yesterday is her word for earlier or few days ago or once upon a time. But maybe she's right. Maybe I just need to rest. 

source

Rest from what? From trying so hard to become a WAHM.

Hours Spent with Friends

Finally, a day with familiar people without having to call the attention of my active preschooler. See, I only get a day off when I attend bloggers events; and it's just a few hours, not totally a DAY off. Attending such also means you get to meet new faces. It's an exciting experience, I tell you. But sometimes, it can get pretty tiring, too --- putting your best non-fake smile, introducing yourself without brag and air and what, English galore. Hahahaha! It's not that I'm poor in speaking the language, it's just that there are times, I don't have much baon, you know. It expires. Hihi. 

My two sets of college friends: photo above was in 2010, photo below was shot April this year.

OK, just a backgrounder: I have 2 sets of college friends. The first set is an all-girl group --- 3 moms, 1 getting married and 1 single but attached. The second set consists of single boys, a single girl, two moms and a gay.

The Man in Combat Boots

I suddenly miss my husband. Not because it's rainy outside and the weather's perfect to snuggle, cuddle and more, I just miss him. I wanna see him tonight, stare at his face until he sleeps on me. Yes, even without making love; but if he's up for it, why not. Haha!

Seriously, after we talked on the phone tonight, I realized how much time we've lost because of the distance. When we were still living with MIL, she always used to insinuate why I'm always on my phone. She's a military wife, too but no cellphones yet during her time so I guess it's useless to explain. I know my fellow modern military wives will understand how we always expect for a text message or when we're lucky, a call from our solja boys.

The Kitchen Mistress

mis·tress (/ˈmistris/)
- woman in a position of authority or control: "mistress of the situation"
- woman who is skilled in a particular subject or activity: "a mistress of the sound bite".

I found this photo last night when I was trying to tidy up my laptop's folders, which was actually epic fail. This was during my husband's 27th birthday celebration at his camp last year. I was not mom-blogging yet. I was smoking, if you have noticed the cigarette. That's Marlboro Gold, feeling Carrie Bradshaw in distress. I was cooking Pancit Bihon for the troops' boodle fight. I also cooked my very first Kalderetang Kambing, which was the star of party, aside from the birthday boy and the two Lechong Baboy. My hair was still rebonded then. A lot has changed since this photo was taken. But one thing has not, apart from the extra pounds my wonderful body has, I still love cooking --- especially if it's for my Army kind of guy. ♔

Nanaygosyante of 2013: July

I know everyone's been dying (or have already died lol) to go to Boracay and I won't be a hypocrite to say I am not one of those. However, my husband and I have mutually agreed on this: Palawan first before Boracay. Well, not unless if we don't need to spend at least a cent for that Boracay trip no. Why Palawan? 1) It's a separate island if you will base it on the map, so it's like being isolated from the rest of the Filipinos, hehe. 2) All I thought it's in Visayas, but it's actually in Luzon (yes I'm dumb blonde like that hihi). 3) Judging from the photos I've seen from friends who have been there, it's so calm and peaceful there. Yeah, unlike in Boracay that most of the photos I've seen over the net are party photos of almost naked bikini-clad sexxxxxxy women. Hmm. I'm now a family woman with a daughter who would eventually be a dalaga. So we need to veer her away , as much as possible, from the bad stuff this world could offer. Palawan is also where this month's Nanaygosyante will take us.

Sauteed String Beans

Here's another home cooked dish that is practical, healthy and easy on the budget. Some of my readers and friends have been bugging me for new recipe posts so I decided to share this with you. I had it with a little sabaw because I have a daughter who doesn't want her rice too dry. So here it is!

Rhamboisms

I pretty much introduced to you who my husband is since I started this blog, right. I guess if you are a loyal reader, which means you follow me on all of my social media accounts, you most probably have an idea of how he is a person. Yes, he is a military officer. He can be stern and serious and a hell snob of a guy but he really is fun to be with. *it sounded like a sales pitch lol*. Well, I wouldn't marry a nerd rock, just so to convince you. Hehehe. OK, to "support" that statement, I have gathered some of his virtual/visual thoughts --- his isms on his own cyberlandia.

He is a 9Gag fanatic. One day he was home, LB and I started singing Rihanna's Diamonds, so he sung it with us, in this lyrics --- in repetition.

Annoying! Perfectly annoying. But when I saw that he posted this on Facebook, it got me laughing real hard. Bentang-benta. Here's another one. I think it finally dawned on him that his wife will never be as brave as those ladies he met in the Academy, that a single crawling creature can make my world go upside down.

source

I scream to my diaphragm's delight whenever there's a flying roach. Enough said. Well, he's not all kalokohan all the time. There are times he can be senti or he makes fatherhood seems easy; because we both know he will have a hard time when LB starts entertaining suitors. 

source

Is that too much? Sorry LB, we don't care if you will hate us but we have an additional rule: no movie dates until you finish college! Unless you will tag us along. Hehe. *high five, Tatay!* And because he's doing a good job despite being away most of the time, this was my Father's Day gift.

I don't know if he finished this already. I hope I can get to read it before the movie adaptation's premiere on cinemas. Hellooooo, isang jebs ko lang sa CR, tapos ko yan. Hehe. I also gave him this, because I know that he truly, madly, deeply likes this design when I told him about Threadless a year ago. 

Uhuh, Tito Rhambo in his late 20s is now wearing glasses with a double chin. Hahaha! 

There, that's Ser Chip, er --- Rhambo and his isms in photos. Next time, if there's really one topic that I'd like to share with you that involves something he's good at, I will make him write it. Naku, matindi kapalit nun. So I have to prepare. Hihi. I love you, my Army kind of guy. Come home and magpagulong-gulong tayo sa gabundok kong labahin. :*

The Pimple Under the Skin (Plus Moringa-O2 Toner Review)

When I was younger, so much younger than today (yes, it's a song! lol), I never had problems with pimples. As in, I only get to have one once in a month when I'm PMS-ing. But hey, my hormones changed when I became a mom. I get my pimples one time big time! Sometimes, it's even too mysterious, it hides under my epidermis. I abhor the feeling as much as how it looks. It throbs so crazy like someone's drilling from the inside. On the outside, it looks horrible. It's a giant pus-filled red mountain of sorts. Sorry. Heehee. I just really need to describe. Hey, you want a picture? This.

Ouch, right?

Her First Film in the Movie House: Despicable Me 2

Technically, my preschooler's first movie on a big screen was Barbie in the Pink Shoes at SM Skydome few months ago. For those who haven't been to Skydome, it's a venue for events; it's not a dark movie theater with comfortable seats. The special movie screening happened in the middle of the afternoon so the daylight roofs of the place didn't make the ambiance dark and we only sat on monobloc chairs. But the girl enjoyed it. She was focused on the dancing Kristin Farraday the whole duration of the film. She only got a little finicky when she was asking for food and I got none. My bad. So, when I told my husband there were two movies coming out at the theaters apt for our daughter, we decided that it's time for us to make her experience the real thing.

My Chic Chick Got Chicken Pox

Yup, you read that right. LB got it at this early. My siblings had it during their gradeschool years. As for me, well, I'm one of those very unfortunate adults who never had. La-dee-dah. So... I'm waiting to have it anytime... or not! Waaaaaah. I'm still hoping I won't have it anymore. Say, like a mutant who could never get sick. What a horror to see fine lines around my late 20s eyes and a scar brought by the pox. What the pox. Anywaaaaay, curious as where she got it? I was dumbfounded at first. I even blamed her pop for bringing some bad virus at home. Felt better (not really, actually) when her teacher, TS, told me that one of her classmates recently had. The boy went to school last Monday, no traces of pox blisters. But according to the the pediatrician we consulted earlier, it's more contagious when the blisters had dried up. Sigh. I wish the parents of the boy knew about that and had not allowed their son to go to school yet. 'Cause you know what? All his 7 classmates got it, as of today! Including my one and only. Oh, poor momma's heart. *cry with me now* 

So this is how she looked like last Tuesday, on the way home. She was slightly feverish with colds; hence, the beanie. It's a Dora kind of day. Yuhh, we're Ghetto like that.

Make Time for Your Blog

This is an official entry to Dainty Mom's guest post challenge, on "How to Find the Time to Write or Blog."

~ ♔ ~

source

*clears throat* That's Bebengisms, the cyber palace, insinuating I should make time for her. Haha! I've been on intentional hiatus because I got a bit busy preparing the real-life leased palace for my king's 2 1/2-day homecoming. Oh well, I am now doing my best to make it up to her; hence, this post. 

3rd Babypalooza Bazaar

Hey mommas and poppas who have been here on my blog since Babypalooza Bazaar 1, it's their 3rd wave already! Yes, same thing --- pre-loved and brand-new baby items. But this time, more and more sellers have signed up, and it will only happen on ONE DAY. So make sure you're early to catch the biggest worms --- er --- best strollers and stuff parents like us would love to see on super discounted amount.

The good thing about Babypalooza is they have what they call as Babypalooza Vendor Protection Program or VPP. This is to ensure that no two vendors of brand new items will be selling the exact same thing. It also has Special Function Areas that will be designated for the following: breastfeeding & diaper changing area, children’s play zone and the Daddy Lounge. Isn't that awesome? Here's more to love about this bazaar --- FREE parking and entrance! ♥

I'll be posting the giveaway sponsored by My Study Partner's Play and Learn Center for Toddlers around July 25th so kindly stay tuned. ♔

For more info:

Website: www.babypalooza.com.ph

Facebook: www.babypalooza.com.ph

No One's to Blame, Not Even the Sharpie

Remember the hardwood dining table I bragged showed off shared with you here and here? I was so happy when my husband told me about it. I think it's the most expensive thing (and the heaviest!) inside our house. Look at what my artistic daughter did...

After Cif, toothpaste and prayers.

Not just one. Huhu, chest pain. I need CPR.

Ooh. I'm sure you were thinking: I scolded her, yelled at her and got really mad. Wrong. I wept; not too much but too painful I can't release it. It sounded shallow and materialistic but I longed for this furniture. I love food and cooking that I really, really wished to have a nice dining table to pair it with (aside from wishing to have a spacious airy kitchen with island counter). A table that would be the witness of endless chikahan over the dishes I cooked for my family.

Rayala Dialogues: Remote Control 101

So it's LB's first absence from school today. She has colds; she slept so late and when I leaned over to kiss her, I felt her warm body. Uh-oh, the preschool diva has a fever. I felt sad because I didn't see it coming. Oh well, she's taking new vitamins and she actually has turned to have better appetite because of it, but colds are colds. I haven't make her take meds yet because I don't feel like she needs it. Fluids galore and fresh OJ were her fever warriors. 

source

What makes her fever ironically helpful to me was she's not all over the house and she's extra cuddly. We were on the couch, snuggled, when she wanted to switch channels. I told her she has to switch it on her own 'cause my hands are hugging her. This is how our conversation went ---