I Don't Know How She Does It

I'm not going to tell you how I do it. 

I don't think I'm that great enough to give advice on how I do my mommy stuff on a daily basis. Though there are moms who tell me that they wish they're a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) like me and that they wonder how I budget my husband's salary; I still believe that what I do is nothing compared to moms who bring home the bacon. Well, as far as this society is concerned, I am no good if matched to them. No matter how I show people that my daughter behaved more when I chose to stay at home with her, there will still be some who'd say that modern moms should earn for the family. I'd love to earn, of course! But I just can't leave my daughter to just anyone anymore. That's why I think work-at-home moms (WAHMs) are the modern day heroes of this generation. They are present for their children and at the same time, can contribute to the family's financial stability. In fact, I know some WAHMs who are solo parents. Special creatures, they really are.

I wanted to be a WAHM, too, in the first few months of my SAHMhood but I guess it's not for every mom. I get sick when I do too much. Yes, even with Sangobion. I remember being so stressed in preparing Sophia's 4th birthday party at school that I got hospitalized and eventually undergone a major medical operation. From then on, I decided to take things slowly but surely. I'd rather enjoy the moment with my 5-year-old preschooler, who's growing up soooo fast I can't blink, than be a career-driven mom who's always stuck in traffic. Haha! Choz lang. Honestly, I miss working. Especially now that it's almost Christmas. I miss getting a salary, Christmas bonus and presents from colleagues. I miss being commended for a job well done. La-dee-da. 

Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala Finale

I don't know if I have a reader who's "alta" or who doesn't like Pinoy teleseryes, but allow me to be showbiz muna ha. After all, faney talaga ako ng teleseryes - one of my many guilty pleasures in life. Kebs. Well, I have said before that I used to work in ABS-CBN for two years. And sa loob ng two years na yun, 8 hours akong nanonood ng TV. Saya noh? Saya din ng sweldo, pambili ng kendi ni Jeane Napoles. Hehe. Karamihan ng favorite serye ko aside from where Thalia starred in ay gawa ng ABS-CBN. At isa sa mga yun ay itong pagbabalik ng kalokalike ng bestfriend kong si C, ang Wit Ka Lang Mawawaley. ;)

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It's a story of Anessa, a mag-aasin from the province who fell in love with Eros, a bulol rich guy from the filthy wealthy Diomedes family. The Diomedes family has shipping lines as their physical business pero in reality eh diamond smuggler sila. Here's a more elaborate background story if you are interested: click here. So eto na nga, earlier eh knows na ni Eros ang pagka-beki ng pudrabelles niyang si Romulus, played by Tirso Cruz III, who I think portrayed the role very well. Tomorrow na ang ending mga teh! 

Review: Regent Foods Products

Decades ago (okay, weeks), I received a big plastic storage box of products from Regent Foods Corporation. LB was so excited she opened it immediately as soon as I finished taking a photo for my Instagram. I like that LB can somehow understand how my blogging life works. 

Hey momma, we are all WORKING!

I decided to write this post not to pick a fight with my fellow mommies who work away from home, but to try to shed a light on some mommy matters I consider trivial, but very controversial.

RESPECT. 

Recently, there has been a buzz that somebody raised an argument that modern moms MUST get a job to be able to provide for the family and not just be contented on waiting for their husband's salary. At first, what I saw in that post was not the ridiculous character of the author, but the wrong usage of words and/or grammar. Hehe. I thought it was too embarrassing to rant and have said it in such a lousy way. I hoped that the person just wrote it in Filipino. Anyway, I was not affected at all; not until some mommy friends gave me their opinions on this. Says Camille of Lollies and Lipsticks, "iba-iba tayo ng household and the way we do things might not work with other people. Respect na lang, tutal being a housewife is a decision made not by moms alone. I believe our partners agreed..." 

I felt that I needed to make other mommies aware, especially those who might be thinking the same way like the "assaulter", that our decision to be at home with our children doesn't mean we are just pigs waiting to be fed and bathed. Like what Vivian's (aka D of The Soshal Network) favorite quote by Jane Sellman said, "The phrase working mother is redundant." True. A mother works, regardless if she's at home taking care of the kids or away to earn extra money for the family. 

Labor Day 2013

Today, we honor construction workers, janitors, farmers, drivers, electricians, painters, carpenters, manicurists, vendors, firemen, policemen, nurses, teachers, bankers, doctors, lawyers, soldiers, etc. They really got tough jobs. All of them. And most are ruled by men. But there's one they can't.

Motherhood.

My Labor Day on September, 5 years ago

I am now jobless, technically speaking, but I think is the most unfathomable kind of labor. No days-off (unless you beg anyone to look after your little one), literally on-call 24/7 (doctors can call their relievers, soldiers have R&Rs) and unable to join a union (we can't rally against our picky-eaters and gadget-addicts) . By the way, our job started with nausea and morning sickness. But the most death-defying situation I've been into was something called like Precipitate Labor. It was painful, fast and divine (like Candy Crush lol)

Rayala Dialogues: Busted!

I don't know, for some unknown reason, LB asked me what my job is. So I answered her in a form of a question, too. This was how our conversation went:

B: Oh, what do I do ba everyday?
LB: Mmm... Cook.
B: What else?
LB: You bat-bat me. (bat-bat: our term for bathing)
B: That's it? That's what I do lang everyday?
LB: You watch Ina, Patid, Anak. (it's not a typo error, she pronounced it that way)
B: Haha! Eeeh, night pa yun eh. How about in the afternoon?
LB: Ooh! (got excited) You wash clothes, Nanay!
B: Right ---
LB: (butts in) And clean room and toys and stairs.
B: So that's what a mommy does everyday. And that's my job, I'm a mommy.
LB: Mmmkaaay. And you play candies in the laptop? 

Uh-oh. Time to hide your affairs with Candy Crush Saga from the kids, alright? ;)

Getting Cozy with Cuarto atbp.

Ironically, when we're too drained from mommy/wife duties; we sometimes forget to relax, which we should be doing. Good thing there are women who care enough to open a business meant just for that. 

Taken for example is Celeste Goco's Cuarto atbp. I knew about the store when I attended the first Babypalooza Bazaar last year, which roughly was its opening date as well. 35-year-old Celeste started selling room and linen sprays, scented oils, scented candles and bath salt with a capital of Php5,000. As a housewife, she needed something to keep herself busy and found a part of herself with Cuarto atbp. Yes, just a part because she's also one of the people behind the success of Babypalooza Bazaars, which will have its 3rd event on August. Like any newbie entrepreneur, her goal is to be able to market her products to a wider audience that could eventually lead them to opening a physical store. 

Well, let's wish nothing but the best for Celeste and Cuarto atbp as she promises to continue innovating their products so she could serve and satisfy customers. I'm sure you're as curious as a cat that I will soon adopt (that's another story!) and would like to experience affordable relaxation right at the comfort of your own homes. I will soon have a giveaway in this blog (yay!), but in the meantime, below are their contact details.

Cuarto atbp

Website: http://www.cuartoatbp.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cuartoatbp

Mobile #: 09176091472

The Peacock Project

As a SAHM, I am blessed with time. 

I can scrub the bathroom tiles at 2am and have lunch at 3pm. That's how blessed I am, yes? No, I am bounded with house chores all throughout the day, bombarded with demands and weird questions by the getting-taller-as-ever preschooler and hooked on my social media thingamajigs. But as an educated woman who knows better than enslaving herself with her own hook-ups, wearing unwashed hair and oily face, I still find time to relax. I do it by drinking coffee or tea, just lying down with Sophia when she's watching TV or I do crafts.

And because I'm blessed with time (a little skill, too) and I have not set aside a budget for things like these, I made a DIY PEACOCK COSTUME for Sophia that she used for her Moving-Up Day days earlier. I promised I will make a tutorial of sorts; but like recipe-writing, I think I'm not that good in finding words to make my readers understand how it should be done. Let's make the photos do more of the talking, shall we? 

Les Multiples Visages de la Redevance

"The Many Faces of the Royalties"
Learning the French language is in my bucket list!

My Thoughts on Lent As a Parent

I am not a very religious person. I honestly do not go to church every Sunday. I am not proud of that, fyi. But believe it or not, I'm a very faithful woman. Yes, in all of its aspects; to God, most especially. 

I have a very, very personal relationship with Him. I can feel His presence every time I call unto Him, even if it's as simple as waiting for a cab during peak hours. All of a sudden, a nice and new cab will arrive after a silent prayer. How miraculous. My faith has been tested and shaken when I got pregnant with LB out of wedlock. It was not a smooth 9-month journey but during the 1st trimester, God made me realize how important prayers are. I almost lost my now snoring little lady on my 2nd month of pregnancy. She almost wanted to go home to Him. Feeling the excruciating pain all over my abdomen and back, I prayed unceasingly. I told and asked God to lend the baby to me. And true to His words, He lent me a ball of energy --- my wisdom, Sophia. 

I'll Be Blocking Cartoon Network Tonight

My little crazy preschooler's current favorite cartoon is Adventure Time. At first, I see nothing wrong with it. Its graphics were not for kids though but Sophia likes it and actually helps her with her own doodles. Today was a little different. I watched it with her intently. Yes, I do my best to be with her during all her cartoon times, so I could answer her questions in case she has. But usually, I do my domestic duties whilst she's glued on TV. (please don't judge!)

Source

So we're watching an episode where there was a destructive monster frog. It was already ridiculous for her age and gender. I mean, for me, monster visual stuff is more of a boy thing. Is that sexist? But yeah, I'm not making her stick to Barbie and everything pink-y all the time. I'm cool like that. Hell no was I tried to be cool when there was a scene of Finn having flashbacks with words in repetition. What words, you ask? 

SHY, FIRST BASE and MAKE-OUT.

Why in that series?! I was mortified.

I feel like a bad parent for putting malice in the situation. But you can't blame me. She's a four-year-old pretty girl! And I can't afford to be the one pushing her to worldly deeds. 

I am to study Sky Cable's Digibox manual. Let's block that channel tonight when she sleeps.

Share me your thoughts on this, please.

The Peacock Project and Other Updates

I'm almost done with LB's peacock costume yesterday. I bought flats in the palengke earlier worth Php50 that I will adorn with gold sequins to complete the outfit. I can't wait to show you my simple but chic creation! Chos, chic pa?! Basta, it's DIY kasi kaya hindi naman Rajo Laurel levels noh. But I promise to share with you how I did it and how much ang na-spend ko. Cute naman and pang-batang beki. Hihi. 'Pag teenager na siya, mas lalakihan na natin ang palong. ;)

Day 1

Going DIY with Xai Ribbons and Craft Store

When I was younger, I really like abubots na. As in, I was teased by my sisters na I'm a rat daw 'cause I have too many anik-anik. I remember giving Lola L a letter for Mother's Day made from an old diskette. Remember niyo yung colorful diskettes dati? Yun. Grabe, we're getting old na talaga. Haha!

Anyway, I have started loving crafting and doing DIYs because we can't afford to buy everything that was in trend. But siyempre, we have to be resourceful. And it was tested more when I became a mom. Actually, from the baby shower pa lang, I went DIY already --- the backdrop that looked like a highschool project, 10 pink balloons that I inflated by myself and the Hello Kitty souvenirs that I wrapped using colorful sandwich bags. Now that LB is already a preschooler, mas dumami na ang chance to exercise my crafty hands. Eto nga, I have this peacock costume project na hindi ko makatulugan sa pag-iisip. We can have someone sew a costume naman for her, kaso mahalia, mothers! I'm a SAHM naman so I can do it instead. 

Rayala Dialogues: Little Kolehiyala & Bathtub

I woke up 2:30am and realized I was still wearing my contact lenses. I really need to buy eyeglasses na talaga. Anyway, nakatulog kasi ako sa pagpapatulog sa bagets. Pero paggising ko, yung pinapatulog ko, gising pa! Actually, nasa CR siya ngayon and may ka-meeting. Hay. Wawa bebetoy.

LB: Nanay, can I go to the CR first?
B: Yes, why?
LB: Sakit my tummy ko...

Masakit ang tummy ng little kolehiyala.

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See, 24/7 ang trabaho ng isang mudjey! Lalo ng isang servantless SAHM na katulad ko. Kaya sana may bathtub kami para magawa ko ito when LB's in school. Pak.

PrimeMont Science School's 12th Foundation Day

So that's how it should be written: the letter M in -mont is in upper case. Found that out and realized I was typing it incorrectly the whole time I blog about LB's school when I saw this tarp at the school gate. And it was also a slash-Family Day-slash-Sports Fest.

The Little Bugger: Where Little Divas Belong

Yo, all the mommas with little girls, put your hands up!

When I knew I was pregnant with LB, I actually felt since day 1 that it's going to be a girl. And it thrilled my inner senses that I would have like a real life-sized doll that I can prep up for any occasion. My guts didn't fail me. On my 5th month of infanticipation, an ultrasound confirmed my baby's gender. I started to hoard pretty things for her --- Hello Kitty, pink stuff and everything for my little diva. I never thought that my diva treatment to her will make her such though. Haha! Now, let us not be mistaken that I am totally raising a spoiled brat here. Say, diva in a 19th century definition but with a modern twist. Something like a princess of the new millennium. Alright?

Something like Shiela Baluyot aimed to have when she opened The Little Bugger.

Crybaby + Courage

I just had a terrible night (as of this writing, that night was like 5 hours earlier). 

But before the terrible night happened, LB and I went to SM Marikina to meet my  friend who came home from British Columbia for some vacay. C gave LB Hello Kitty plate, bowl, spoon & fork and a large Ziploc of assorted chocolates and candies. We had some pizza and pasta, and a lot of catching up. LB had pink macarons. My eyes welled with tears while sharing a heartbreak. She didn't give any advice or opinions, but she listened. And I super appreciate that. We parted ways as she still needs to go out with her family. LB and I looked for our blue shirts for their Family Day/Sports Fest in school this Friday. Then we bought food. Then we rolled home.

When I reached our gate, I didn't feel anything bad, except that it's too dark. When I opened the door, switched on the light, WALEY. No electricity! I panicked kasi may kuryente sa kapitbahay. I knocked (ng OA sa lakas) at the landlady's house and asked why. She said may gumawa daw sa post kasi nga it was fluctuating na for like 1 week already. At ako, nagalit. Kasi sabi ko ginawa na eh ba't wala pa ding kuryente. Baka daw sa fuse, sa circuit breaker. Eh leche, kung electrician ako, magtatanong ba ako? I know nothing about what they were saying. I know they were just concerned. But I f*ckin' need electricity for a light and a fan so we could peacefully sleep. Nagalit ako kasi natakot ako for me and LB; kami lang sa house eh. 

I'm a Player

... of Candy Crush Saga, that is! :p

When the little boss is already giving out cute little snores, when done watching Ina Kapatid Anak, when I'm finished cleaning up for bedtime --- I have an online date with the candies. Perhaps, I got screwed up tired of reading the notifications in my Facebook account asking for "life requests", that I gave it a try. There. I'm hooked. But not as hooked as I was when I had Cafe World. Kumbaga sa pakikipag-syota, fling lang 'to. Hindi seryosohan. #gumaganun

If we're friends in Facebook, please give me life. I'm begging you. Ktnxbye. 

My Little Girl Loves Me

Today is a very typical day for me and LB. Monday. School day. Woke up, fix bed, breakfast, argue, clean up mess, argue, bathe, dress up, argue, school, finally some alone time for 2 1/2 hours, back to school for the student who wants to play for extra 30 minutes, argue, went home, late lunch,argue and goes on. BUT! We spent today with less arguments. Yes, like out of 10 usual arguments we have every.single.day, we only had three. Not bad, eh? Disclosure: I am to blame for the arguments half the time. I just don't let her win, that's why. And upon realization that she's indeed growing up fast, I changed gears into how I talk to her. Yup, there's still baby-talk. I can never do that when she turns 13 already. I still smell her kili-kili if I want to (or when she wants to!). However, there's this hint of adult-ish conversation happening around at home once she starts talking. Momma, she's definitely my daughter! OA sa daldal. :D

So earlier at school, I observed how attentive she was during story time; and cheerful the next when she saw me outside waiting for her. She even blurted out a very bonggang "I'm so proud of you, Nanay!" For whatever reason she said that, I'm super thankful she did. Ooh, I'm now teary-eyed. LB's not a baby anymore. But I feel just how much she needs my care and love. That every time she's about to go home, she's excited to see me! Kahit madalas kaming mag-away, she clings to me like a koala bear does to a Mongol pencil (Haha! so 90s).

Back to Basics with Johnson's Baby

Alright, I know I have used different brands for LB's skin as mentioned here & here, but truly, I am a Johnson's Baby fan. Ever since. I'm sure there are a lot of moms who will disagree. Kesyo masyado daw matapang ang Johnson's products and if compared sa brands na gamit nila, eh hindi ito ganun ka-gentle. Oo naman, hindi naman ako makikipagtalo. But you know what, ang mahalia jackson ng ilan sa soshal brands eh. As in ilang bottles na ng Johnson's ang katumbas ng isang bote ng brand nila. Well, if I have the money and the means to buy those brands, why not noh. Kasi I tried na din naman once, and super nagustuhan ko. But whenever bet ko ng bumili at nai-prepare ko na ang budget for that, hala ka, biglang may darating na biglaang gastusin. Example, naubusan kami ng GAS! Eh jusme, they are of the same price na. So ayun, magreresort ako sa kung anong meron sa Mercury Drug or suking supermarket. And that is Johnson's nga. Our trusted brand with an affordable price.