A Dose of Daniela

It was a breezy morning here at the side of my world. The girl doesn't have classes due to Typhoon Lando. We weren't snarling at each other, not in a hurry. We had pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast, her ultimate pick-me-uppers. She was still in her pyjamas (but at some point was a vampire using my black shawl) and doodled her time away while she waited for my work to finish. My last three hours weren't that good. The couch, which is just a few meters away from my table, was calling my aching back and shoulders. Oh, how I wanted to give in to that craving. But you know, I'm okay with my work. It pays okay so I had to feel okay about it. Okay = not so bad, not so great. Anyway, while I was swamped and drowning with the kind of job that I have, I didn't allow it to leave a painful emotional scar on my being. I did all my best to do it the Royal Domesticity way: I played some Daniela Andrade on Spotify. And poof! I'm automatically more than okay. Here's what I had on loop for four times. She's just making me emotionally confused right now, haha. Please watch it and let me know how you felt after.

To watch her covers and more, subscribe on her YouTube channel. ♥

HydraInfusion Jet Peel Date with the Hubster

If you're new to this humble cyber kingdom, I am married to a Philippine Army officer. That means, we rarely see each other. He's deployed somewhere out there and can only come home once in a while. With that said, we rarely go out on dates, too. Heads up, though, dates mean to me as doing things together without the kid and not just dining on a swanky restaurant. 

Alright, now here's the kwento. So he was home few weeks ago and his blogger wife was luckily invited again for a facial treatment at Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines in Greenhills. Remember that I experienced RevLite in 2013? Since then, my face craved for its much-deserved pampering. Double luck, too 'cause the hubster also got to try the treatment! So yes, it was like a facial date of sorts. 

Innocence in Time by Chai Galapon

Right after the Get Hooked on DIY event at Megamall, my fellow bloggy mommies and I went straight to SM Supercenter Pasig for Chai C. Galapon's book launch and signing. The program was already starting when we arrived and was glad to see Chai acknowledged it by smiling at us. I don't know her personally (hi, Chai if you're reading this) but I felt so excited and happy for her. I'm one with her dream to have a book published. I, too, have dreamed and still dream about it. 

Blissmakers Tea Time at La Creperie, New Manila

I used to complain a lot about how things happened in my life. I used to rant almost every day in social media. I used to allow negative people to completely affect me. I used to block blessings because I was a bitch like that. All these had changed when I decided to make my real and royal life blissful. 

Why I Think It's OK Not to be Skinny

I used to weigh 110 pounds 8 years ago; for my height, 5 feet 4 inches, it's normal. When I got pregnant, on my 3rd trimester, during my last weigh in, I saw a whopping 175 pounds in the weighing scale. I was not even the slightest disappointed 'cause I thought it was due to my pregnancy. I sure did feel disappointed when I knew that my baby only weighed 5.94 pounds when I gave birth to her. Tsk, tsk. The rest of the 175 was all me. Whew, numbers and Math, it make me sweat. Haha! If only losing weight is as easy as calculating basic Math problems, I could have gone back to my pre-pregnancy body in a jiffy. It's just that I feel like I just can't do it yet; especially now that I'm passionately cooking for my husband, kid and blog. Ugh, excuses. I have to have plans for my body. La-dee-da.

Oh, I actually have!

Really, I have plans for my body. I have practical and realistic plans for it. I'm not going to lie, I'm still not sure if I can do it but I think, the moment I believe I can't is the moment I quit. So I'd like to believe that I can, even if I know that it's gonna be a tough journey.

My RevLite Laser Experience

There are days when I don't feel like putting anything on my face but baby powder. However, my skin isn't like a baby's anymore that it needs to be covered up with BB cream, pressed powder (or when the occasion calls for it, foundation), tint for the cheeks and lips, eyebrow pencil and light mascara. Also, I have this adult acne marks, which fortunately weren't there during my adolescent years. My skin type is the usual "combination": oily on the t-zone and dry on the cheeks. This type is not so easy to manage since I can't use facial creams too much as it could block my pores and would eventually lead to humongous pimples. I still have to use moisturizer, though since we're not getting any younger (early prevention is better than cure).

Oh, petty problems of a girl. I know, I know. So I'm lucky to have been chosen to try the new RevLite Laser by Aesthetic Institute of the Philippines two months back. Royal thanks to Mommy Practicality and our friend from Spectrumed who made it all possible. Anyway ― the whole procedure was done around 12-15 minutes only. Would you believe? And after those exciting minutes, I instantly saw a matte-looking, fresh-feeling face that was not-so-fabulous earlier. 

Are you a woman of substance?

You don't need to answer immediately. I'd love to know about that later, in the comments. Let me tell you a story first.

Few days earlier, I spent one beautiful weekend afternoon with two of my current favorite women in my life -- Martine and Louise. Yes, ze Dainty Mom and Mommy Practicality. I'm a loyal reader of these powerful blogs, so to say that I'm happy being offline friends with the authors is an understatement. The happiness didn't just stay inside me. It was seen, heard and felt that day. In fact, if you had passed by our table in Cibo, where we had our lunch, you can even smell it -- it smells like vagina. Hahaha! Okay, not literally. We were just sooo woman in what we were, were talking about and all that jazz that happened. Like what Louise said in her post about our Mademoiselles' Day Out, "What happened or talked about on that table, will stay there and will remain sacred to us three." 

I know it sounds intriguing. We actually just shared a little about ourselves with another. And being with Martine, my numero uno bloggy momspiration, and Louise, who has the strength I so admire, I have absorbed much-needed wisdom that could be a foundation for one to become a woman of substance. 

Review: Casa de Lorenzo Castile Soaps

All work and no bath makes Queen B a stinky mom. Haha! One of my favorite relaxations is to take long showers. I usually do this when the little girl is already asleep; because if she's not, I'm very sure a 5-minute bath is long enough. So yes, I make sure she has this baby snores already before I could really take my time. Don't you just love scrubbing your body with loofah after what --- cleaning, dusting and just polluting yourself the whole day?

A Mom's Life 28/48

I got pregnant with LB out of wedlock and it honestly didn't make me feel that good. However, I realized that it didn't matter as long as she was healthy and normal. When I gave birth five years ago, Rhambo was not at my side; I even had a really bad experience the day after that, which I'm trying my best to forget. Filing for her birth certificate took me long 'cause I originally didn't want to name her after her father. My mom told me to forget about my pride and do whatever it takes to give LB a family she deserves. Yes, I did it all for my Sophia, my wisdom. Until now, whenever my husband and I will loathe each other to death, I can easily forget that because I need to keep this family for her. Some people have admired me for being so strong despite all the hardships I've been through but I guess, there are stronger women than me --- the single moms. And one of them is my 28th AML mom. 

source

I'm Beautiful and I Know It

These thoughts have been in the deepest corner of my brain that eventually traveled to my heart so I'm letting it all off through this post. Uunahan na kita ha, if you are a hater in disguise and plans to roll eyes the entire time reading this eh tigil na. Click the x now. Exit. Shoo-shoo, bawal ang nega vibes sa aking palasyo.

Alright, game.

There are times when I'm #GGSS; for my non-nakikiuso readers, it's gandang-gandang sa sarili. It usually happens when I'm freshly showered and fascinatingly admiring my face in the mirror. Hehe. Aminin niyo, you have reached that point in your lives din minsan. Yung iba nga madalas eh: may isang album sa Facebook ng selfies. Haha! Iiwasan ko na silang i-judge, promise. Pero nawiwindang talaga ako sa mga kabataan ngayon. Kahit saan masandal eh aanggulo at magse-selfie with super duper pa-cute face. Oh well, dumaan din ako sa ganung stage --- even in my late 20s. Eto ang ilan.

Hey, banyo shot! May batang tulog pa sa background. Lol.

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 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?

The Day I Saw Sarah Jessica Parker

In the photos, that is.

If someone will ask me when was the last time I cried, I will answer in a heartbeat --- "every night". Every night, from Monday to Friday, around 8:30 to 9:15pm. I cry because of Ina Kapatid Anak, a soap opera in ABS-CBN Channel 2. I cry because I easily get carried away. Hehe. Yes, that's how I am!

Tonight was different. I cried earlier, around the time TV Patrol was aired. 

@annecurtissmith

Ballad of a Politician

Halalan 2013 is almost over. The partial and unofficial results of the senatorial bid disappointed most of us; including me, a non-voter. Nancy Binay got in. 

photo source

Ma'am, since you will be declared a Senator soon, I hope you won't waste the trust the people who voted you into darkness (no pun intended). And please, please attend the future senate hearings and face Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago should she has questions for you. It will delight your supporters (and shock your detractors) if you CAN answer her with grace. Emotional outburst at first may be called stage fright but a second time is definitely called cowardice. We don't want to use harsher words for that.

Halalan 2013

Sadly, I am not a voter in this year's election. I am lazy forgot chose not to register. Sometimes, my deviant self will reason out that my vote will lose its value because the one who wins actually doesn't deserve it. But hey, I am in no position to complain because I'm a stubborn citizen of the country. :/

Bebeng in 2004 with Tanay kids.

So, there. For those who will be going out to vote today --- I hope you'll choose those you feel and think who really, really deserve it. We don't know yet if they can help the country; but great mommies have great instincts. Do not vote for them not because they were being endorsed by a hottie artista or their commercial jingle is LSS-worthy; vote for them because their qualifications are enough for the position. 

Review: Cynos Argan Oil Thairapy

Exactly a month ago, I received hair care products for review that contain Argan Oil. It is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco, that is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and numerous medicinal properties. It is also known in cosmetic use as moroccan oil. 

I was very fortunate to be able to try Cynos Argan Oil Thairapy, because argan oil worked wonders in my dry skin and hair. I think that's what I really don't like about my physical features - my being dry; that's why I love lotion so much. When I got to try the shampoo, I was not expecting that it'll do magic to my hair instantly. It also smells really, really good. Amoy-mayaman, hehe. And then I followed it up with the conditioner, which smells super fragrant! The instructions say that you have to towel off the wetness from your hair first before you apply it. I did.

We are all created in God's image and likeness. We are beautiful.

I saw this first at Dainty Mom's site earlier then now at Patty Laurel's blog with a shorter version. I must be spending some QT with husband and the girl (who are now driving around town for some daddy-daughter date) but I just felt the need to share this. Because this video is very inspiring. I hope you'd learn a thing or two, as I did. ♥ 

I Want.

Suddenly, I became a materialistic whore that I felt I want to go shopping. Oopsie, I'm a woman. I'm entitled to feel that. Hihi. Here are what I found over the net that if I have extra moolah, I'll rush to the nearest SM and get the look.

Cute slip-ons!

Yes, umbrella included.

Breezy, fresh, love.

Not the earrings though.

No to the fedora hat.

You like it, too? Sigh. Blessings, come to momma and let's go shoppiiiiiiiiiing. :)

All photos are courtesy of Ellen Arandallo's summer outfits board on Pinterest.

Gotta Love the Army, Gotta Love my Hubby

R and I had a short talk about this couple who are very close to us when he was home last Sunday. This couple has a tampuhan/fight/issue. We don't know the real score but they're obviously not okay. Then earlier while doing the laundry, I realized that I'm blessed to have my husband.

Clockwise from left: Cadet no more, first time to hold his baby, one random day in the bunks and Sophia's 1st Simpsons-themed party.

Don't get me wrong, we're not a perfect couple. He's not a perfect husband. He is actually somewhat an a-hole.

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?