Making Bliss and Lovin' It

Have you been in that happiness-beyond-measure moment that you always don't want to end? We call that bliss, right? Guess what? We can choose to stay in that moment, despite life's most challenging situations. It's not easy, to be honest. Sometimes, all you want to do is to rant away and curse and just let your inner Hulk swallow you whole. I was that and more before I met Martine, who we all used to call the Dainty Mom. Yeah, yeah. If you are a reader since I started blogging, you know who she is in my life. She is one of those few, who encouraged me in her own little ways, and unbeknownst to her, how to follow my bliss. When I attended her workshop a year ago, I said that I'm gonna blog my best that year. I did! When she picked me to be on her team of blissmakers, I just didn't contribute articles — I followed and lived my bliss — I started Bebeng's Kitchen on July, joined the WAH Expo on October, and was invited to attend the Blissmakerie. In Martine's words, "it is an event that is a culmination of my lessons this year as I’ve been cultivating the community here at MakeitBlissful.com."

New Year's Afternoon at Children's Island, Pangasinan

When I wrote about our Hundred Islands trip two summers ago, I was aware that the story was OK but the photos aren't. So I made a mental note of taking better snaps the next time we go there. It was the New Year's afternoon when my husband R and I decided (more on him granting my request) to give the islands a second chance. 'Cause like what I said, "I think if there were less people, the trip was close to perfection." Well, we chose Children's Island, smaller than where we stayed at the first time we went there, just so we'd reach that less-people-more-bliss beach vibe. It's a holiday and most vacationers think pretty a lot like we do so the island huts were still mostly occupied. I'm fine with having crowds in beaches, it's the feels I'm really after. I'm glad that the people I see this time were dressed (or not) more appropriately. Rash guards, swimsuits, board shorts, those stuff. Yup, not a salmon short pants with side pockets that made an appearance on my previous post, haha! It was half a day of holiday leftovers, snorkeling, laughter, getting a perfect tan and lovin' it. xx

Three Promises for 2015

It's been a week since this year started and I still couldn't figure out how I'll start it over here, until today. I wanted my post to be as welcoming, as clever, as extravagant as possible. It's kinda a trend in the blogging world, you know. But then I thought, I can just be myself and type away! Obviously, that's what I'm doing now. At this point, I have so many things in mind that I can't single out what to share first. Hmm. Let me see. OK. 

See my new header? You like it? Blog's back to its clean and simple look and I'm loving it. I love how photos, mostly Pia's, can put colors on this site. That's one of my blogging promises (to myself and this blog's readers) that I hope I can keep — take better photographs. As a starter, my point and shoot's not kept and its battery's always charged. It's placed somewhere where I can easily grab it whenever I see something photogenic. Second blogging promise would be to never forget to write about our family's special moments, such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, trips and laugh-worthy stories. Down my blogging journey, I knew and felt that apart from sharing with you the life I have and lessons I learned, with the hope of inspiring and helping my readers, this is my online diary. This is where I can easily go back to memories. And I do that especially when I miss my husband or when I think I'm failing this so-called parenting thing. My own past posts are empowering me to go ahead and move along. To stay happy is my third and last promise. It's easier said than done, I know. I also know that I told you before that I will keep it real in this blog. Newsflash! Being real doesn't mean you have to be sad, controversial and too public. 

I'm aware of some people who don't like bloggers, who post nothing but beauty. I get them, totally. In fact, I get jealous of those bloggers. They're gorgeous, they wear the nicest clothes, they eat the finest food and what, they travel a lot. It's easy to say that maybe when you strip off their signatured clothes, they are actually miserable people at home. That's judging and it's not right. Perhaps, these bloggers only want to share sweet vibes with their readers. And I'd love to take that road where they traveled. You see, the more you post negativity, the more you attract toxic people hiding behind animosity. Sure, it makes one feel she's reached that certain level of fame when she gets to receive haters' comments. Oh well. I'd rather be a nobody than piss people off, really. At this phase, I'm not craving for attention anymore. I don't need too many friends. I'm fine with spa dates and practical gifts. Gone are those days of pretense and fake satisfaction. I can count my friends with my fingers (in one hand?) but I know I can count on them. Cheers if I can count on you. That means we're friends.

Happy 2015! But wait, as my royal reader, what do you want to read and see here?

The Finishing Touches: Weeks 46 to 52

Ha! I made it. Alright, not on a weekly basis, though but here I am, about to touch the finish line! *Solid Gold Dancers threw Vilma santos in the air moment* While I was sending the photos from my phone to the computer, I thought maybe I can just post the photos and let it talk since you all basically know what happened then. BUT. It's inevitable. In person and here, I just can't not talk. 

So continuing the past massive update, here's the last stretch of Bebengisms' 52 Weeks Project — 

Week 46: November 11-17

Lost her first tooth.

Before This Year Ends

... I'll blog galore. 

My current view as I type this. See what's on the left? Videoke booklet, baybeh! 

I've been meaning to do so after I've finished my bulk orders in Bebeng's Kitchen but I think you already know by now what a geographically single mom's life is. It was and will always be crazy! Say, the laundry has to be done in four parts. It makes my stomach churn everytime I think of it. I mean, I left two full baskets of dirty clothes at home and will be making two more here at the husband's camp. If that's not crazy for you, I don't know how you define the word. I also try my best not to look disheveled aka losyang whenever we go out (or at least for photos, lol at my pretending) but I am at my damn worst at home because of my alila duties. You get the drill.

OK. No more excuses.

Updating the Project: Weeks 38 to 45 of 52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

When I challenged myself to doing this because I love Bleubird's 52 Weeks so much (then later on found out about Practising Simplicity's, which actually started the premier of the now famous project, through Chasing Dreams'), it never occurred to me that I can be 12 weeks late! Gah! I apologize to those may be waiting for a photo of my little girl every week. Well, if you're always here and on my cyber sala (Facebook), you know that I'm super busy with Bebeng's Kitchen stuff. But I'm letting the Royal Help do some things for me first so I can do a massive update on this then maybe, just maybe, my brain cells will have the adrenaline rush and function super good that I can write more pending articles. I have soooo many kwentos to share with y'all, actually.

Anyway, let's start with — 

Sophia Turns Six: Cupcake School Party

It's December 1st today - more than two months after this was held - I can finally share with you the photos of Sophia's simple party at school. You see, I am now breathing normally. I'm savoring the calm days left before the Christmas madness begins. Actually, not days but few hours left. It will be mompreneurhood at its finest. Christmas orders, Sophia's Christmas presentation and party, shopping, husband's holiday break, home decorating, and more. Whew.