Blogging, Losing and Gaining

Friends and family seem to be second-guessing my authenticity as a blogger. Perhaps, they're thinking if this blogger and the person in flesh are just one because it's not what they see in real life. Others have suddenly become distant because they thought you are not the same they thought you were.

This is a true story.

I have friends who I think are no longer my friends. I know nothing about them anymore, that's one of the many reasons. Also: we don't text, talk and see each other; not even occasionally. No communication at all. I tried to reach out to them more than I reply to my readers' comments but I didn't want to be the narrow-minded-bum-mom who would nag them for not spending time with me. So I didn't do it again. 

My life is here. No, not saying that this IS my life. Literally, you can read my latest daily mundane what-nots here - or at least a glimpse of it. So I thought that when I meet them, I have nothing to share with them and that I should be the one asking them instead. Right? Guess what? It was not the same as it used to be, where I get the most personal stories of their days. Maybe we're just growing up? Well, that's perfectly fine. There's no way but up. Sadly, we're all growing up apart. I felt like they're avoiding to share juicy details about themselves with me as if I'm a cheap showbiz tabloid columnist. Not funny, actually. I felt like I cannot be trusted anymore. 

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Triste réalité: I'm gradually losing friends.

What an eventful weekend!

My Samsung S3 Mini's battery was sick this past weekend; hence, lack of photos that serve as microblogs on my Instagram account. I bought a new battery earlier after doing some errands. The battery was so swollen kaya pala it's not working. A blogger with no camera in a bloggers' event is like a soldier in a battlefield without a gun. Yes, epic fail. I brought my point and shoot camera but guess what? Battery's low. Why?

Anyway, my mantra lately? I am too blessed to get stressed!

I'd be doing separate posts for each of the events I've been to but these are some snippets. I had my most-awaited hair makeover courtesy of Cynos Inside Hair Care. I love my ash blonde crowning glory. Really. As in, this is my #ggss moment. Hehe. Then I went to see TriNoma's Merry Musical Nights launch. Was I tired? A bit. But I didn't forget Sophia's bilin: donuts for pasalubong. I bought Krispy Kreme. She wolfed down one with sprinkles before we went to slumberland.

Rayala Dialogues: The Sorority Girls

Earlier at school, LB and I were in a serious talk because she hit my face! She was running around and getting messy. I told her before we left home that she can't do that before class. After class, pwede. That's how she got pneumonia kasi --- sweating like a pig then will go inside an airconditioned room. Of course, she got annoyed that I was telling her to stop and sit. Perhaps, she felt embarassed. Actually, I still don't know yet. I will ask her later when I pick her up. Anyway, I was really furious but still trying to keep my cool because I didn't want to make a scene. As I was talking to her, her classmates, all girls named Ar, Al and Sh, surrounded her. It was like her support system, they are actually her "bestfriends". She always mentions their names here at home. They were like a sorority bullying me. Hahaha! Chos.

Clockwise from left: LB, Sh, Ar and Al.

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.

Ford Philippines Baby Shower

Blogging has brought me many things --- freebies, a bit of fame, confidence, something to do, getting invited to events, etc. But there's this one thing I really like most about blogging --- gaining friends. 

I was very fortunate that Kim of Mom on Duty, whom I have featured in A Mom's Life on its 7th episode, invited me to one of the well-organized events I have ever attended; not that I have attended a lot. But yes --- it was an intimate lunch with fellow mommies.

So you ask, what happened lately? Well, blessings galore!

My last post was only 3 days ago but I felt I didn't blog forever. If you've been seeing my Queenstagrams (which go directly to my Twitter and Facebook fan page), you most probably know where I am. It's an Army wife blogger's favorite place to be --- the monobloc chair inside the bunks. ;)

Yeysterday muthers, LB and I were fetched by our soldier to spend a few days with him at his post. It saddened me when I realize I won't be able to attend Dainty Mom's Blog Inspired seminar so I emailed them right then and there and told them I'd be giving my slot to another mom blogger in the wait list. Hay. My blogging "career" is important to me but these opportunities are very rare so I chose this instead. This is what a military family, who values time, looks like. Of course, we're not just going to bury ourselves in this land where the brown crayola came (dust everywhere!), Rhambo and I have plans to visit the nearby town: Pangasinan. I told him that I want to see Hundred Islands. Some said it's not that breathtaking as we have learned in HEKASI in gradeschool, but I just really want to see the place. Imagine, I was like 7 or 8 years old when I learned about it; and here's my 4-year-old, my little budding traveler, will actually get to step on it. Isn't that a great experience? Life gets better everyday, you know. I'm just so blessed. ♥ 

Bebengisms Turns One: My Own Domain

March 27, 2012: I gave birth to my second baby inside my chilly office using my laptop issued by the company. After a decision to be a SAHM, I continued my stay here. I never thought that I would be celebrating its first year with all of you. I am very blessed to have survived 11 months of living in this crazy self-gratifying blogosphere. I may have basher(s) here and there, someone even called me a high-tech chismosa (I wonder what she will call Fashion Pulis); but I didn't let it get through my senses. My pink cyber castle continued to accept chikamates, royal subjects and fellow queens inside a hot pink walk-up apartment, and I was renting from a landlady called Blogspot. 

The Metamorphosis

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. 

Cotton Ball's Jollibee Party

It was MBF's baby's 1st birthday last January 22nd but the party was held five days later at Jollibee in Festival Mall in Alabang. My friends and I were late and came there in time for a dance number by Jollibee, Twirly and Hetty. Too bad LB didn't get a chance to join in the games. Competitive pa naman 'to. We were so hungry 'cause we traveled from Marikina to Cubao to meet up with my friends, then off we altogether traveled to Alabang. Jollibee Alabang has put off some lights already when we were eating as to make us leave. Jusme, ang chicken joy ko hindi ko naubos. Pati yung sundae ni LB. Sayang kaya. Haha! 

Oops, she did it again!

What have I gone wrong?

We went to MBF's baby R's 1st birthday party today and LB's dead tired now, snoring. I got a bit tired, too, but I had so much fun being with my friends: MBF, J, P & Y. Baby R, my godchild, is such a happy, calm one-year-old. We NEVER heard her cry the whole time we were with her. Her cheerful disposition is contagious. However, there was one who had to kill the joy. Sadly, it's my badass preschooler. :'(

During the party, I didn't notice any sightings of mean girl blood going on. But, yeah, smartypants manipulated me again at some point. Still forgivable, though. 

We then transferred to the after-party location. Things went so fast and the worst had happened: LB slapped Baby R's face. 

I crushed. 

The Ant Who Wears Pink Dress

I was searching my notepad {that I got from TSN} about something I wrote for a new series on this blog; when I stumbled on this. That's LB's drawing, obviously. And I suppose, that's her imaginary friend, Rekeli. Hello, glad you met her.

Rekeli, according to LB, is an ant --- a girl. An ant who wears a pink dress and whose dad works in the office. When water spilled on the floor, she blamed Rekeli. When she cut her finger with her scissors, she told me Rekeli pushed her. By the way, Rekeli has a bestfriend. Her name is Perchi, from Prensi. Whatever.

ERRATUM:

LB saw this and I asked her if this is Rekeli. She said "NO! Don't say that. It's a crocodile in the river, and there's food. Rekeli will hear you." My bad. 

Wanted: Furniture and Appliances

I now have guests here in the house. Remember my fellow army wife kumare that I featured here and here? Her, baby Y and kumpare are now blissfully sleeping inside our room. Yup, LB and I are co-sleeping with them. As much as I want to give them privacy and VIP treatment, we only have one mattress (no bed frame!) and one electric fan. I know it sounded kawawa but hey, we're bonding as a family! Haha! Well, despite the love-hate relationship of my 4-year-old jealousy-stricken preschooler and kumare's 15-month-old innocent toddler, you can never question the friendship.  

So after dinner, since kumpare was really sleepy and tired from the long travel, he was sitting in our plastic chair, trying to relax when... BAM! He fell off as one of its feet broke.  Now I realized that we really have lots of things to buy for the house (note that these are not just luho, we really need them to make this home a "normal" place to live in):

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When Rhambo Met Bebeng Part 2: RhamBeng

I know some (or a lot) of you have been waiting for this --- the second installment of how I met LB's father. In the first part of When Rhambo Met Bebeng, I highlighted about our HS puppy love shenanigans, including that of a story about Bagfull's owner. But this time, it's all going to be about him & me. Naaaaks. So where was I nga? Okay, let me start this with thanking the people behind Friendster then, who helped built our relationship. As what I have mentioned in my previous post, I GAVE HIM MY MOBILE NUMBER. Ha! I know some ladies here will find that a bit of ka-cheapan. Haydowntkurr. Eh wala naman akong constant textmate nun, sayang ang load allowance from the office. Char. Actually, there really is something about men in uniform. Watchatink?

Or maybe, it was a naudlot love team kaya I grabbed the chance of pursuing it na? Hay naku, whatever it is, I'm happy I did it. So yun, hindi pa naman siya kaagad nagtext. So nawala din sa isip ko na may pinagbigyan ako ng number. Akala ko nun hindi ako type ni Tinyente! So sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, kiber. Aba after a few days (or weeks ata --- momnesia, sorry naman), may tumatawag! Suplada ko eh, hindi ko sinagot. Pag hindi naka-register ang phone number at walang text prior the call, sorry talaga. Choz. Pero hindi ko nga talaga sinagot. So, nagtext siya: "akala ko ba..." Naku, nakalimutan ko na exact words. Ayun, takang-taka ko who that was. Mga 3-4 messages, nahulaan ko na siya nga yun. Kasi naalala ko na siya lang naman pinagbigyan ko ng number ko lately.

Babypalooza Bazaar: The Aftermath

This is by far, the most swabe bazaar I have been into. Having this as my 3rd mommy-baby bazaar made it like a comparative study of such. Well, I will not go into gory details though because they all came from a different perspective. Let us only focus on the good things. Good vibes, baybeh. I will just be a bit biased here because I will label this bazaar as my favorite! Ooh, what an announcement. Well, I may not have received a hefty number of  freebies but it made an impact to my lakwatsera spirit because it's nearer and it was the time I got to meet (and had a photo op) with my favorite fellow bloggers. Sweet.

So attending a mommy bazaar wouldn't be complete without my MBF, ME. We met at the LRT-Katipunan station and took a jeepney ride to Arrneyo (Ateneo). I wish we just rode a trike. The 5-minute walk to Walter Hogan Conference Center gave me a tearful armpit. Letch. And ME & I pa were wondering why walang people around. We thought we're lost. And then we saw the signs! Hurray!

Mommy Mundo Bazaar 2012: The Aftermath

I first knew about Mommy Mundo (MM) late last year. I immediately applied for the Privilege Passport when I saw it on their website. But busyness, lack of chance and laziness happened that I didn't get to pay for it, which resulted to prolonging the processing to start. Procrastination, I knooow. Don't judge! But when I have already embraced my SAHM life, I made sure I'll be a part of at least any of the many MM events they hold every year.

Ta-daah! My first is the Mommy Mundo Bazaar 2012, which was held at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City on November 24-25. Together with my Mommy Best Friend (MBF) Mommy Evie (ME), we got high over freebies, Priscilla Meirelles-Estrada, new finds, and of course, the most wanted MOM 24/7 PLANNER! Cheers! :)

What Hat Should I Wear Next?

Well, aside from wearing hats of being a wife, mom and blogger, I am at an urge to wear another one. No, I don't want to feel like I'm Wonder Woman (single pa siya and wala naman atang anak) and all, but I want moooore. A new hobby? For extra income? Self-worth? To secure my daughter's future? I'm still deeply thinking about it.

Photo courtesy of Pink Hat Sport

I was with my mommy bestfriend, ME, at the Mommy Mundo Bazaar earlier and while looking at all the booths, we noticed that most of the bazaaristas are pretty. So I was like "nakikita mo na ba tayo diyan, Bez?" And we giggled. We had this daydream one time we were texting (or was it FB chat?) that it's should've been a lot better if we live next door. Or at least live in the same city. We could've open our own business. She could've quit her job in Smart Communications, Inc. to focus on her baby Raine (who will be turning one on January 2013!) and just be a full-time mom like me. But things aren't as simple as that. She lives in Laguna and I'm from Marikina. That's one BIG challenge. But I won't take that as a hindrance. I pinned a note on my mental cork board that I have to schedule a sit-down meeting with her to talk about this vision. We got to brainstorm. 

Well, this meeting of some sort doesn't necessarily mean that it's a hundred percent concrete plan. I'm sure there'll be few bumps on the road, and I bet our friendship would be tested, but I'm very positive about it. So, is a mompreneur hat really the next that I'll be wearing? Oh, let's all pray for that! How about you, what hat do you want to wear next? :)

Provincial Tour Part 1: Nueva Ecija

Two weeks had already passed since LB & I lived the barriotic way, but I haven't shared with you on how we spent it. To make the little girl's sembreak worth it, we went to Nueva Ecija from October 23 to October 27 to celebrate my kumare's daughter's 1st birthday party. Please allow the photos to tell you our story. But wait, dahil madaldal ako by nature, I will make side comments. :D

Super arte. Kanino kaya 'to nagmana?
Thank you Tito Gq (Rhambo's mistah) for picking us up at home.

When Rhambo Met Bebeng

Whenever people would ask me or Rhambo on how our love story started, we would always tell them that we've known each other since highschool. Pwedeng pang Valentine special ng MMK. That's true. But we became a couple when I was already working at ABS-CBN, two years after I graduated from college & he's a fresh grad from the academy, a 2nd Lieutenant of the Philippine Army. We were never friends in highschool. We used to live in the same village & nakakasabay ko siya noon sa jeep pero hindi man lang niya ako nalibre ng pamasahe. Grabe! Now that we're married, he confessed that he can never pay for my fare kasi nga nag-1-2-3 siya. At umamin din ako, I was praying na ilibre niya ako kasi balak ko mag-1-2-3. Haha! I was kilig pa that time kasi nga "crush" ko siya nung 2nd year highschool kami, the time we were classmates, nung makasabay ko siya sa jeep. Ayun, nalaman ko kung san siya nakatira --- now the house where I currently reside (which we will soon leave).

Left: PMA Alumni Homecoming 2007; Rhambo asked his 1st Class cadet-friends to do that for him. Haba ng hair ko.
Right: I wrote that in the sand of Opol, Misamis Oriental beach when I visited him in Mindanao

Baby Carnival Bazaar: The Aftermath

I am very grateful that the event organizer, Ms. Jade Ceres-Dolor, sent me an e-mail few days back telling me about the Baby Carnival Bazaar that was held at the Filipinas Heritage Library yesterday. I was thrilled by the idea that someone really took notice of my blog & invited me. High five! So I came. I tagged along my daughter who will be so kawawa if I leave her at home. And since I know she will be a handful & I'm basically invalid to do super strenuous activities, such as walking around Makati with a hyper kid (to my OB & husband's dismay for sure), I told Ate Maritess to join us.

I am a Mother Packer

OA na kung OA, pero Sophia's clothes for our provincial tour (artista lang?) are already packed. I'm so not prepared. Well, I always pack hers first whenever we travel. She has more needs. I think I can do with a few clothes as long as I will bring the basics. Sophia was a toddling 15 months old when she first rode the plane at ang exaj ng size ng luggage namin. I brought a lot of clothes, akala mo sa Europe ang destination, eh Surigao del Sur lang naman. Ending, we went back home with half of the clothes unused. Now I'm wiser. Since it's really not a fancy vacation, I think I can wash the dirty & used clothes if need be.

The huge pink luggage we used 3 years ago atop our cabinet.

We won't be riding the bus since my kumpare (kumare's husband) will pick up Bebeng the operada & Little Bebeng at home. It gave me an instant thought na 'wag magpigil sa dadalhing gamit bilang may karu naman nga. But of course, baka maloka naman my Rhambo when he sees us with all our things. Baka mag-suggest na 6x6 army truck na ang ipanghatid sa amin pabalik dito. Kaloka naman sa EDSA yun. I remembered nung jowa-jowaan ko pa lang siya nung 2007, we went to Baguio for the Alumni Homecoming of PMA. We only stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights but my packed clothes and other thingmajigs were elope-worthy. Umaasa talaga ako nun na itatanan na niya ako. Hihi.