This Laptop is a Blessing

Closed eyes and with a grateful heart, I uttered "Thank You, Lord for this life". I never thought I will be this happy and contented despite giving up my job as a Sales Training Specialist. I thought that I will get depressed and will feel emotional being stuck at home. Actually, I feel more fulfilled being at home now than when I was at the office. Right at this very moment, I just told the helper to prepare all the ingredients, but I'll be the one cooking for dinner. Later, I'll teach my daughter her own pre-bedtime beauty regimen and will lull her to sleep with some Lenka music. Bliss, isn't it? But we are not living in a land of milk and honey. I still have to do something that could help my husband with regard to our financial needs. Sadly, my preschooler can't appreciate this yet. All she wants is for me to stay at home and do everything with her.

A close family member asked me if I'm earning from this blog, I said no. Some bloggers do. Uhm, I'm taking baby steps. Slowly but surely. ♥

July 2nd is Mother's Day

Whenever I have a hard time making my little girl follow my instructions, I think of my mother.

Lola L's Pride: M, N, Queen B and A.

See, we were four growing children when she was widowed at the age of 37. She was a house wife. I grew up in a very clean and orderly house. I witnessed how she can turn my younger brother's muddy shirt from too much rough play into an almost-brand-new-looking top. Her kitchen was the busiest. The aroma of her famous dishes temptingly surrounded our cozy apartment in Kamias. My father's long-sleeved collared shirts were ironed neatly --- sometimes too stiffed because of almirol. Perfectly domesticated, I must say.

I think Mama doesn't know how to pose appropriately. :p

As the third kid and youngest girl, I was a KAREN --- kaladkarin. She used to tag me along to her weekly wet market trips in Nepa Q-Mart in Quezon City. She haggled, yes and can be very ruthless to vendors who refused to give her discounts. Now that I am a mother myself and who handles the family money, I realized the intention on as why she had to do that then.

New Year 2007. Mama watching her crazy kids.

She is a fighter. Yes, seriously and literally. I remembered one time we all rode a rusty orange ordinary bus, my second sister, who was the most unsteady and weakling among us, went down the bus last and almost stumbled when the driver suddenly took off. Oh, I could just imagine right now how Mama shouted at the top of her voice to the bus conductor and driver! She even kicked the side of the poor dirty bus, so much that some rusts fell from it. I was so embarrassed. Really, we were in EDSA, come on! What the heck, I have a little precious princess snoring just a few meters away, I can do so much better than that if anyone will try to harm her. Well, I might do it with a bit of grace, but still shouting perhaps. It's hereditary.

Summer Swim '08: N with Raf and Gab, Preggy Queen B, M with Rovic and Richmond, and Lola L

Lola L with her youngest "child", the first-born apo, Adrian. 

She can be very, very strict. Okay, this is one of my most favorite childhood stories! I think it was just a few months after my father died. So basically, she was mourning and she needs space. She went to the wet market alone. Ahh --- freedom, at last! While she was away, I noticed my little brother escaped from my two big sisters' guarding eyes. So I did, too! But hey, I saw my crush there playing with my colds-prone brother. My eyes twinkled with delight. I was in 3rd grade. I hurried back to the house and changed my sweaty sando and shorts combo to my Sunday's best dress --- frilly, sparkly and yellow. I came to where they were hanging out and saw that they were catching dragonflies. Mmm, I thought I was really good at that, steady hands and all. My goal was to make my crush notice my yellow sparkly dress but much to my dismay, he complimented how great I was in catching dragonflies. Dingbat. Disappointed, I looked away and as if the world stopped spinning, I saw my mama carrying all her wet market goods with both hands going towards my way. Even if she was still like six houses far, I can see her eyebrows met. I heard my own heart pounding. I was right, I'll be sentenced. I won't tell you what happened. Let's say, that was the day I stopped catching dragonflies in a dress. ;)

With the smart and pretty boy, Richmond. | 2008

Much like any other good daughter, I idolize my mom. I think what I only wished as a kid then was to become a mother. Maybe because I saw how she took care of us, struggling but never complaining. She did everything to make all ends meet. At a young age, I knew that we were living a tough life. We were four, all studying in a private school and all very hungry all the time. Because I can't financially help her yet, the best thing I did was to not complain and went to a state university after high school. Even if she was trying to tell me to go to an exclusive school-for-girls college, I didn't push my luck. I know it could have been a difficult time if I did. I just proved to her that it would not depend on the school I went to, but to my own performance as a student. You know, there are people who went to a so-so private school but they are, to be brutally honest, such lame individuals. Satisfied with mediocrity. I can't be like that. I pursue superiority 'cause I know I can. That's what I inherited from my parents, especially from Mama --- passion.

With the  amiable Gabriel Ian | 2008

With the youngest boy in her grandkids, Rafael Sean

She was a passionate bookworm. We have tons of book. From heavy encyclopedia to a one-sitting-read Gilda Olvidado pocketbook. She used to tell us that she was a topnotch student during her time, that it challenged me to be as good as her. Bragging aside, I was a consistent first honor student when I was in gradeschool. Things changed badly when I laid my eyes on a cute boy during my 2nd year in highschool, who, after several years became my husband. No, he wasn't really the reason, but I just really didn't do well in HS. So I made sure to make a name once I get into college. I think I did a bit of awesome-ness. I smoked pot but got into dean's list twice. Those were the times Mama gave her trust in me that she didn't ask what time I will go home. So I didn't break it. I finished college and later on worked in a broadcasting company for two straight years. I might have given her a bit of a heartache when I got pregnant out of wedlock. But I know she immediately had forgiven me especially when she knew she'll be having her first granddaughter. She took care of me when I was pregnant and awaited outside the Delivery Room when I was giving birth.

LB, Lola L and two other amigas. 

I know I wasn't a perfect daughter. I couldn't give her expensive gifts. I couldn't treat her to a salon. I couldn't dine with her in a fancy restaurant. I know I love her and for me, I think that's enough. Enough that when she needs someone to talk to, I'm just a text away to listen virtually. Enough that the ways I run the house were her ways. Enough that her laing is now my laing. Enough that I wish when I get old, my daughter will care for me as much as I care for my mom.

I wouldn't work hard to be a good mother if she was not. ♥

P.S. I can't find a picture of her with my other nephew, Rovic. :(

My Love for Cooking + Pork Stir-Fry Recipe

I am an above-average cook. So fab moms who can't, forgive me for bragging a bit. Your kids will still love you if you choose delivery or take-outs. But this is my take.

Cooking kalderetang kambing at my husband's camp

A way to a hungry man's heart is definitely through his rumbling stomach. I'm one of the gifted wives who has kitchen skills. Modesty aside, I can definitely cook & it tastes good, actually. But I do have days when what I prepared didn't even look like food. Cuisine-wise, I'm still in the beginner's level. Conceptualizing on what to prepare for the family is one big task, considering that my husband comes home only on special occasions and that my daughter is a little picky-eater. So reading a magazine's food section helps me a lot. It has tips on how to prepare food for kids; should be healthy and visually-enticing at the same time; like what I have written in my previous post about the Sotanghon Bunny. It also has sample dining table setting or proper food plating, that I try all my best to copy. You know, the feeling of being an "expert". The reason why I love watching Top Chef and other cooking-related TV shows.

Orange Away the Colds at Bay

One of the most "natural" ways for colds to go away!

Philippines has only two weather conditions --- rainy & sunny. Yes, right? A smart 5th-grader can disagree if typhoon is another type of weather. But whatever it is that the country has, we are prone to having colds due to allergens (which are due to pollutants that are in default settings with our lovely Republic). No, I am not here to advertise any non-drowsy allergy-relief medicine. Though I will if they will ask me to do it. Of course, let's talk if the medium is Php. Hahaha. As if. Well, I may be a modern mom, but I make sure that we will not depend on drugs whenever we feel sick. I have this sort of "barrio lass" inside me, going organic. Like, I used to try on boiling oregano leaves and making my little daughter drink its juice when she has cough. But I just can't make her get used to it. 'Cause I can't even drink it myself! So I concede, I just make her take a Lagundi-based cough syrup, a lesser evil than something so drug-ish. So when she has colds, her usual sickness (thank God!) aside from bruises & burns (LB is a little Parkour athlete), I just tell her to drink lots of water and I encourage her to do her own OJ. Mmm, yes, I finish all the tasks of doing so but I make her feel she did it all by herself. Fellow parents, Nido Milk is true to their words that the time you say YES to your children is the time they start learning. 

LB posing with her almost-full glass of fresh OJ
(which is actually a sunkist. ;p)

So here, even if it's a bit messy and there's more juice that'd gone to waste than what she actually poured in the glass, I'm proud of LB. That means, she really wanted to get well the soonest and that she trusts me. When I tell her to finish her milk so she'll become taller, she does. So when I told her to drink her OJ so she'd get well immediately and that I won't be there to take care of her 'cause I'll be at the office, she drank it in one count. I couldn't utter a better phrase to praise her, but a modest & uncool "Great job Pia!". Oh shucks, perks of motherhood. How about you?

Sotanghon Bunny

Based on the magazine articles I read, like ones I see in Smart Parenting, it's advisable to prepare food that are enticing to the kids' eyes. I once served the family buttered veggies, in which I told my little foodie, three-year-old Sophia, that the broccoli is a tree and baby potatoes are mountains. She didn't like the baby potatoes. Maybe it looks dirty. But she really did impress me with broccoli. So to enhance her palate, I'm slowly introducing her to different viands that a usual adult eats. I think we have the "Ground Pork in Tomato Sauce with Potatoes, Carrots, Green Peas & Raisins", like, every week. So yesterday, while doing my grocery-shopping in Rustan's Supermarket in Gateway, I found a really cute fish cake used in Shabu-Shabu. So because I know Shabu-Shabu won't be appealing to my daughter, I made a SOTANGHON BUNNY instead!

You basically saute garlic, onion and carrots. Put in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Salt & pepper to taste (Yeah, it sounds I know a lot!) then drop the bunnies! Once the bunnies are cooked, you can put in the sotanghon (aka Chinese Vermicelli; blanch it first in water). Voila, you made a Sotanghon Bunny! Best served hot. Indulge.

P.S. I apologize for my instructions. I'm not really good in recipe-writing.

Sophia Ballerina

Today is my daughter's 2nd session of ballet class in Primemont Science School. And well, because I have to go to the office and can't file a leave all the time, she was accompanied by her nanny and nanny's cousin (who is my mother-in-law's go girl). Before I left for work earlier, I made sure that the nanny (N) understood all my instructions. But lo and behold! When I called them up at 12 noon, my little ballerina (LB) was already dressed up. The ballet class starts at 2 pm! Didn't she think LB would have gotten dirty before going to school?! Ugh. So instead of getting more frustrated (which I already was, by the way), I told all my instructions to the nanny's cousin (NC). When I texted NC by the time they were done, she said they were already home. So I called them up and N answered. N said LB was more well-behaved than when she attended her 1st session. I'm happy to know about that but it sort of pinch my heart a bit, that I was not there to witness it. Sigh. I just thought that it's a stepping stone to eventually making her go on her own. Shucks. She's only turning four and she can now do well without me. Sniff-sniff. Ohh-kaay, cut the drama.

My Little Ballerina a.k.a. Little Bebeng

I Will Be Mrs. Matilda Mouseling

Now that my daughter's soon be turning four, her being in school is the family's top priority, and one of the many things that causes me sleepless nights. Not that I don't want to spend much but I'm still unsure if my little popstar is ready. So to test, I enrolled her in a once-a-week session of ballet class in Primemont Science School, just-a-trike-away from our place. I haven't read reviews over the net from other moms about it but seeing from the photos in their Facebook page, I think it's a good school. What my worry is if their curriculum would match my little girl's attitude. You see, she's a mini-me, somewhat hard to handle, but generally sweet.

Adamant as to where to buy ballet paraphernalia, I posted in FB asking my friends about it but to no avail. Getting hopeless and scared that I might not be able to buy come my daughter's first ballet session, I texted my mom. I asked where she used to buy us ballet shoes when we used to dance for church. She said it was in COD, a department store in Cubao, Quezon City which is now unfortunately closed. Another she mentioned was Yvonne's, which can be see seen in SM Department Stores nationwide.

You can check their Facebook page here

Trusting her faithfully, that's where Sophia and I went to yesterday. Some sales ladies made me a bit annoyed but that did not stop me for looking for Yvonne's. Lo and behold! They have all what we need - leotards, tights, wrap-around skirts and even dancing shoes! All comes in different colors: black, nude, navy blue and well, PINK. My own Angelina Ballerina won't be complete without pink leotard and pink dancing shoes. ♥

I will be posting soon about her first day at her ballet class on the 28th. As a working mom, having a preschooler isn't an easy feat. I have to file a leave and instruct the nanny on what to prepare prior the d-day. Nevertheless, I'm super excited about this new experience for both of us.