Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Moving on to a New Career While at Home


It's been a while since I was able to write again. Me, my husband and little angel moved to the far south almost 2 months ago and so far I can say we're managing quite well. I have good and positive vibes in this big move and we've been planning this for a few years already.


Now that our little angel is two years old, I thought we really need to work double time and earn extra income for his educational needs in a few years time. Since about three months ago, I've been busy doing some online shopping and it occurred to me this is my line... I LOVE IT!!
 

Being somewhat vain, I've been so much into apparels specifically dresses, rompers, jumpsuits, bags, jewelries and many more. Being a housewife and mom, well, didn't stop me from getting what I want but it helped me realize the value of hard-earned money especially now. Seeing many options (not to mention "so much cheaper" options) from online shopping, aside from the convenience gave me the chance to be more open-minded, conservative and business-minded. Knowing the flow and how to go about it challenged me.

 

So now I decided to put up my own online store which I’ve been setting up for about a month now. Most of my contacts, the merchants I ordered from, encouraged me from the start to do some online selling for extra income. Most of them are housewives and moms as well. At first I thought – maybe; then later on – can be; and now – DEFINITELY!!

 

To my readers, I might possibly have lesser posts as expected from this new path and career I’m pursuing. Thank you very much for allotting a few minutes of your time to take a glance at this blog site cause I never expected many readers not only locally but internationally to even bother and thanks so much for that.

 

My online store is soon to open hopefully no later than next week.

 

… Remember, there’s always something to smile and be happy about. Let’s all be thankful, look around and count our blessings.


Have a blessed and happy day!!




Visit and Like us on Facebook:
==>  http://www.facebook.com/pages/D-Pink-  Bow/345112472237527                       

Your Online KIKAY Store
Shop Apparels, Bags and Accessories
 
 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Our Weekend Time Out… So This is How it Feels like to Have a Family of Your Own


A few months ago I posted an article on the adjustments and tips on being a full time mom and housewife. Well, this article is kind of related to that. Just last week I suddenly felt so exhausted from the endless household chores and at the same time taking care of our super naughty 2 yr old. Not to mention the excruciating heat of the summer. (My hubby can’t help me at all since he’s so busy with work for the past few weeks.)

So before the weekend I asked my hubby if we could go out. Sort of like a “date”… a time out from work. I started my weekend with a 30-minute jogging in the park-like place near our area where a lot of joggers spend their mornings. This is one of my fun and tiring “me” time which I get to do at least once a week.

Later that afternoon we dropped by my parents’ house to leave our little boy with them after which we went on to our “date”. The few hours that my hubby and I spent together taking our minds off things and having our own private time for ourselves were so much fun. We hang out in my favorite place, bought some new things for ourselves, ate in an eat-all-you-can Japanese grill, saw a famous celebrity who looks good even if he’s wearing a sando-like shirt, smoked a few sticks of cigar after eating too much, and before the day ended we still took a sip of our fave milk tea.

The following day I was so, so sleepy. My hubby woke me up early morning to eat breakfast and again I slept for extra long hours and woke up mid-afternoon already. I woke up a few times hearing our little boy playing with his daddy. I was surprised to find out my hubby took care of my to-do’s as I was sleeping including bathing our little boy. Later that afternoon we did some grocery shopping for the week and had dinner out eating kare-kare with bagoong and fresh buco in a shell.

So yesterday, Monday, I started the week feeling so relaxed and recharged. I was able to do a lot of household chores including the so tiring laundry and even cooking one of our favorites, beef pares (I’m planning to post this in My Recipe Book section soon), which takes a few hours of preparation including marinating. Now I have everything planned for the week and tomorrow I’m spending the day with my parents in celebration of their upcoming special day.

It really is a big help to take some time out after a long week of work and responsibilities… and it’s a lot better spent with someone special. Every morning I have a lot of to-do’s lined up, some of which I get little or no help at all and at the end of the day I have a strange habit of not sleeping until I see both my little and big boy all tucked into bed. Just recently I felt so fulfilled seeing my little boy and knowing I have my hubby by my side. I guess I’m finally kind of passed the adjustment stage of being a full time mom and housewife. I realized I’m really getting old and a lot of things have changed but I’m so thankful to be able to experience this feeling of fulfillment – SO THIS IS HOW IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A FAMILY OF YOUR OWN. It’s not perfect and in fact most of the time full of challenges and responsibilities but it’s a whole new experience which I hope you, my readers, will get to experience as well. I cannot exactly put it into words but one thing to describe it is… PRICELESS!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

My Recipe Book: A Taste of Healthy Italian – Chicken in Olives


Good day readers!! It’s my pleasure to share with you one of our favorite dishes which is not only easy to cook but healthy as well.

Ingredients: 

½ kilo chicken (breast meat; skin peeled off is the best)
¾ cup olive Oil
1/2 tsp. rosemary

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 cup black olives
1/4 cup green olives
2 pcs. peeled tomatoes (seeds taken off)
1 big white onion cut into 4
salt and pepper to taste

**optional add-ons for side dish

     1 peeled carrot (cut into small portions)
     1 cucumber (cut into small portions)

Procedure:

1.       Pour olive oil in the pan with chicken, rosemary, Italian seasoning, black and green olives and cook in medium heat for 15 mins. or until the chicken is tender. (I noticed that olive oil cooks better than the regular cooking oil so expect the chicken to be tender in lesser time.)

2.       Add in the tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper for about 5 mins.

3.       Add in the side dish – carrot and cucumber and cook for 5 mins. (We like the other ingredients to be half-cooked only so we put them in last.)


… and that’s it!! We usually eat this with a few slices of wheat bread along-side.


Enjoy and bon appétit!!


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Journey to the Way We Were


I'm so excited coz in a few hours my hubby and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary. Tomorrow will be a special day for us as we go back to the places we visited a few years after our graduation. Most of all this one very special place where we officially became a couple -- while sipping our favorite frappe.

A few weeks ago I was browsing through my files and came upon my saved collection of Friendster blogs which I like to share with you as we revisit the days when we were just starting to enter into the best thing that ever happened to us.




Happy 5th Anniversary Honey – Hao Ma!! As I said before… Let’s stay together, forever. I love you so much!!




(1)  He's Somewhere Out There   2007/01/20


As I start the year I begin to think --- its 2007, I’m already 26 and time really flies fast. I start making plans... For myself… but somehow can't manage to come up with long term plans as I used to. I begin to worry--most of the time think of the future. I don’t want to grow old alone and stay here. I used to foresee my future as a happy and rewarding one--of course with my own family by that time.
 
My friends who know me best are asking -- when are you going to have your special someone? I guess they know it really takes a long time for me to get over a break up and enter into another relationship coz it’s been like that ever since. The last time took 3 years. But not because I’m not yet over my ex… I guess it's because when I’m ok I tend to enjoy life more---alone---but with my friends of course**u know what I mean by alone. I become choosy in a way. I easily lose interest in someone I thought I like especially when I sense he's not that interested anyway. I’m not really sure what I’m looking for in a person. But one thing's for sure -- no matter how long it takes, I believe there's someone out there for me... my better half **future better half, shall I say. Maybe our paths haven't crossed yet, or maybe he's someone I already know. But one day when the right time comes... we both will know and realize >>> YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME… THE ONE I WAITED FOR, FOR A LONG TIME. Now isn’t that the nicest thing that could happen to someone? And that's definitely worth waiting for.
 
>>>In the end it won't matter anymore how long you've waited, how painful life has been--- It will be worth everything. When you find your happiness all will make sense. You'll see the fruit of your labor. You'll never know how it feels to be truly happy unless you experience pain. And you'll just remember all the bad things that happened and realize you've been thru the worst and you survived.




(2)  To Wherever He Will Lead Me   2007/03/08

Many people make many different plans for their future -- how to spend the years to come and who to spend them with. I used to be one of them. Not that I'm saying I don't have plans anymore but after spending many years of setting my mind to something and almost living it, it just came to a point where I suddenly woke up and found myself stranded---in an isolated place where no one can reach me. After the trials I just had to fight then realized I've been thru the worst--thru the lowest point of my life… and I survived!! Now I have everything (**almost) =)... But one thing's for sure. I know I'm stronger... been thru many trials… experienced a roller coaster of emotional turmoil but managed to surpass them.

Now I'm in the stage of my life where I'm still finding myself. My happiness maybe. Serenity --- I used to pray for my dreams and plans to come to reality but now I pray for Him to guide me---to wherever He will lead me--- now I can say it's up to You. My decisions are not my own anymore but Yours. I still believe in my destiny and now I can fulfill it though I don't exactly know what it is yet. I thank Him for the trials that made me stronger and a better person. Each day I learn to appreciate the things and people I used to take for granted. He gave me a new beginning. Many years have been wasted but still... As the saying goes -- Better Late Than Never.




(3)  -= the ‘one’ for me =-   2007/04/06


Nothing feels more fulfilling than finding your one true love amongst all the people in this crazy world we live in. I spent my life trying to look for him and realizing in the end I made a mistake, falling for the wrong persons. Just when I'm about to give up... there he was... I found him at last!! Now I'm complete. My life couldn't get any better. I found the one person for me---my destiny--- early yet to say but I've never been this sure about anything. All the pain, trouble and tears I experienced before are worth the wait and if I had to go through the worst again to get to where I am now, I would. He's my 'perfect' better half and this by far is the happiest I've ever been. I couldn't ask for anything more... I love you honey… Stay with me forever


 

(4)  I found him at last 2007/05/18

This year started good for me. Before 2006 ended around October, I came to many realizations after getting thru a lot in the past months. Trying to find myself, looking for answers, feeling alone despite many people around me... Then I started praying for my destiny. I start to ask Him--Is there really someone out there for me? Or I’m "doomed" --to live my life either being alone or waiting for someone who already belongs to someone else like I used to do many times before. After a few weeks a big sign came right in front of me... At first I didn’t take it seriously and thought it was just a coincidence but after a few more weeks I started dreaming of someone -- someone I already know from my college days --- a very good friend whom I haven’t heard from for a few years. Again I didn’t want to take it seriously but the dreams came so regularly so I thought, these are not just coincidences, these are definitely SIGNS!

So I started looking for him. At first there was a bit of hesitation coz there were so many questions bothering me like what if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore or he's already committed to someone or we were really meant to be just friends...things like that...but I thought it's worth the risk... he's worth the risk... and if there was someone I could trust it's definitely him. Knowing him for many years now, he's a good person (as I remember). He never made me feel bad. He was the one person who has always been there to cheer me up, looking after me from a distance. Then after asking around (asking almost everyone possible) just to find him… After almost losing hope coz he's nowhere to be found, as if he literally disappeared, I found him at last!! Here in Friendster... hehe. A lot of 'kamustahan' came. I was so surprised to find out he's working in China (at that time I thought, this can’t be, wala na talaga, I’M DOOMED!!!)... But then DESTINY found its way... NAKS!!  Just last month he came home for a few days vacation... we met... then there was magic!! --- DEFINITELY MAGIC!

Now I'm complete. He completed my life. Now we take things one step at a time, making plans, trying to make China and Philippines as near to each other as possible =)  I never thought this is possible, we never did... but what can I say--DESTINY WILL REALLY FIND ITS WAY NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE OR HOW LONG IT TAKES.




(5)  TEN YEARS AFTER 2007/06/01
 

1997... Section B118 - SW403 - MIT IE 1st year block section... It was the first day of school that he claims when he saw me sitting in front of the classroom. He was among the pinakamagulong boys sitting at the back making fun of our profs and classmates laughing at almost anything possible (yes, that's definitely him!!) We became friends talk for hours over the phone, then we parted ways almost 3 years ago. I dreamt of him (almost every day late last year) and I decided to search for him. Surprisingly he's in China!! But love came through (wink)… Whoever thought after ten years we'll be a couple? A "perfect match" most people say. He says he's lucky but I think it's the other way around. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have someone as 'perfect' as him (perfect na sana manginginom lang… joke lang**pero half-meant** sigh)

So why after ten years? Why only now? We've been asking the same question over and over (but it feels so good - the thought of the one for you is someone you already know many, many years ago) After coming across many signs then later on realizing he's someone I would wanna keep for the rest of my life (how I wish), then searching for him almost anywhere possible (while at the back of my mind ang tanga tanga ko dati nandito lang sya palagi), I’ve proven he's really my destiny.. THIS IS IT!!! I LOVE HIM. .. I REALLY DO. I love him with every inch of my being... from the smallest thing he does to the biggest... no doubt... I love him.. Coz he loves me with all his heart  (feeling!! =) ) he makes me laugh, he's caring, sweet, overprotective, paranoid (na rin gaya ko), smart, good looking, tall, understanding, full of life, optimistic, responsible and not to mention patient (ten years ba naman) There's no reason for me not to fall for him. Ever since he's always been there watching over me... I do believe he did love me ten years ago, he still does now, and he always will. He's someone I want to grow old with and have a family with… someone I could trust... who will take care of me. I feel safe when I’m with him. His love is more than enough for me. God lead me to him - my missing piece - and our feelings will stay this way ten years after and for the rest of our days...




(6)  -I LOVE YOU-   2007/08/19


i love the way you smile... the way you laugh

the feeling of your hand against mine

my head against your shoulder

the way you stare at me as if you're looking through my soul

the feeling of security when im with you

i love it when we kiss.. when we hug

i love the thought of you silently loving me since college

i love watching you sleep like a baby

i love it when we talk about anything & everything til we fall asleep

i love the moments we share when we laugh at the simplest things

i love the feeling when you're being insecure coz it shows how much i mean to you

i love your face, your height, your eyes, your built, the way you dress up

i love the thought of us growing old together

needless to say... i love everything about you. Now i know you're my missing half coz you're the only one who made me felt this way. I know my heart's finally in the right place. I love you now and I will love you for the rest of my life.




Saturday, April 7, 2012

Reminiscing my Preggy Days


Time really flies so fast and today our little baby is already two years old. I still remember the days when he was still in my womb. I have so many memories which I like to share with you; most of them were the challenging ones.




-= When we Got the News =-

It was August, 2009 when we learned I was pregnant. It was a mixture of every bit of feeling coz we were in the midst of taking care of all the preparations for the big day (church wedding) set in December. I had so many doubts that time. I wasn’t sure I’m ready to have a baby yet. The exact day I took the pregnancy test, my hubby (fiancé that time) was promoted… which we took as a very positive sign. We thought immediately – this baby would bring us good luck. =)  



-= During the 1st Trimester =-

My early pregnancy signs were – spotting which lasted for two days, dizziness (kind of the feeling when riding a bus, or any vehicle where the driver hits on the brakes every now and then), frequent urinating, very strong sense of smell (I was irritated in the smell of garlic and some perfume)… well those are some. Big no-no’s were coffee, iced tea and dark soft drinks / soda, smoking and alcohol, high heels, make-up (I had to switch to mineral foundation), salty and sweet food, going to the parlor (haircut is ok but any treatments that use chemicals weren’t allowed). One of the hardest things I had to do was to drink 8 to 12 glasses (2 liters) of water every day. I never got used to drinking enough water. My OB gyne saw that the amniotic fluid (water inside the womb that surrounds and protects the baby) was not sufficient and I also had urinary tract infection since my body didn’t get enough fluid (when I had U.T.I., I always had fever, thanks to biogesic, it’s the only OB recommended OTC drug I can take). During this period I had spotting at times too so my OB suggested a few weeks bed rest. I had to take 2 types of medicines for weeks and suppository for a few days so I could flush out the one-inched blood clot seen in the ultrasound. During my 3rd month, we also visited the hospitals where my OB was accredited… checked the room we were expecting to get, the facilities and of course compute the expected finances that would go with the soon to be delivery (this is very important so that you know what to expect).



-= 2nd Trimester =-

Luckily this period was almost no hassle at all. My hubby was so mindful of what I ate and we really watched me and my baby’s weight so I can have a normal delivery. I ate mostly fish, vegetables and fruits. Very less and almost no salty food and sweets (but I sneak out eating halo halo and chocolates sometimes…hehe). I cut my rice intake since I immediately felt full every meal. Of course, I had to take enough water daily and fresh buco juice too to avoid having U.T.I. again and they say it also helps in cleaning the baby inside the womb. By the way this was the time my hubby and I got married in the far south… a very happy moment (I remember feeling our baby kicking when we were in front of the altar) =)


-= 3rd trimester and Giving Birth =- 

Well, this was the most challenging stage. By this time we had to prepare ourselves for the delivery and the sleepless nights to follow. We already prepared the baby bag (this includes everything that baby needs when in the hospital for delivery like clothes, diapers, baby blanket, feeding bottle and formula milk **this is a MUST to all soon to be moms so when that moment comes, you’re all set to rush to the hospital with the baby bag to go. On my 7th month I did regular walks in the morning and late afternoon, usually after office, in preparation for the delivery. Later on my check-ups were on a weekly basis. Unfortunately during my last month of pregnancy, I again had U.T.I. so I had to take a high dosage of medicine. I had to be treated before giving birth so our baby won’t get it as well coz if he does, he also needs to be treated (imagine that little infant taking meds? – usually through injection!). 

Two days before giving birth while having dinner, I got those stomach aches. I couldn’t move for about a minute because of the pain and this went on until the following morning every 5 hours at least. So we went to the OB the day after and I was advised to take a rest since I’ll be giving birth within the week. After a few hours I had a few reddish discharges and so after a few hours again we already went to the hospital. In my I.E., it was then only 1 cm but my OB instructed the hospital staff to admit me already. My labor was induced--every 30 mins., 15 mins., 10, 5, 2, and later on every 30 seconds until it was fully dilated. It was a painful 15 hours of labor and I remember there was a time I asked my hubby for a C-section instead coz I can’t take the pain anymore. When I was ready to give birth, 2 men had to assist me so the anesthesiologist can inject the epidural somewhere in my spine. When I was in the delivery room, my OB didn’t have a hard time at all. The epidural immediately took effect which was a very big relief after those 15 long hours.  She had 2 assistants and they were chatting about something else (luckily, this took my mind off the pain). It only took me about 3-5 pushes before our little angel came out. And there he was… crying. It was a very moving experience which I really can’t put into words. The doctor handed him over to me and I called him out and said – BABY!! – and he tried to look at me. 


Those were the days and the experiences that go with it. Most of what I had gone through were not easy. But being a mother and seeing my little boy smiling, laughing, running, even shouting... every little thing he does is a miracle. Having him was not at all easy from the start but I’m lucky that I have my hubby, our loved ones and of course our Creator beside us to help and guide us along the way... and having a family of my own is a miracle in every way, every day.

Happy 2nd birthday to you, our Chinky Winky!!! You are and will always be our little angel… Mommy and Daddy love you very much!!!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Adjustments and Tips -- From a Working Mom to Full Time Mom and Housewife



It’s been 7 months since I left office to be a full time mom and housewife. It wasn’t an easy decision to make for me and my hubby considering the endless factors but so far I can say we’re managing well. It’s really hard at first, and is still a continuous process – managing my time… taking care of the baby and doing household chores since we don’t have a helper or nanny. There were and still are those depressing days, I should say. It’s hard to stay at home and think of my to dos from the time I wake up… and not to mention staying at home with me and my baby alone almost all the time.

It really is hard and challenging. But for the past months, I came up with some good strategies on how to lighten things up a bit. It’s some of my solutions to the boredom and stress I have to face at times.

ü  Make a weekly schedule/list of chores having aside an option when to do it – A perfect example would be doing the laundry… I do it at least twice a week for about 3 hours but I have the option to do it on a Tuesday and Friday or Monday and Thursday (setting aside the weekend for some relaxing and grocery shopping).Remember you don’t have to make a strict schedule all the time. A variety of options and at times straying from the usual routinary work can drive away boredom. 

ü  Do some rearranging – aside from the regular cleaning, it’s fun to do some rearranging of things like furniture, etc... It’s like being in a new house every time. 

ü  Read materials that can be helpful to you – I usually buy magazines like Women’s Health and Good Housekeeping. And of course aside from those you can also read articles from the internet. Sometimes knowing that others are experiencing and feeling the same way as you are makes it more understandable and acceptable – that you are just a normal human being like everybody else. And best of all you get to know what to do based on other people’s experiences.

ü  Have a “me” time – Set aside time for yourself and do the things you love. In my case I have my “me” time when my hubby’s here to take my position as nanny or sometimes I ask my in-laws to keep an eye on baby for a few hours. I go out with my friends, go shopping or visit my parents. Another perfect “me” time is when baby’s sleeping during the day. That’s when I get to do the other things for myself like indulging on a cup of ice cream while watching my favorite movie. 

ü  Listen to good music while doing chores – needless to say, this is one of the best advices I can give 

ü  Watch a movie (at home or out) – takes your mind off things, remember what they always say – relax, see a movie!! 

ü  Go out with your baby and/or hubby –As simple as going out and walking a few blocks away not only kills boredom but exercises your muscles. Plus, it’s also a good bonding time with your baby and/or hubby. 

ü  Exercise – Aside from its good health benefits, us – moms, have to take care of our bodies. Remember that you still have to love yourself. Let us try our best to be fit. Isn’t it nice to look at the mirror and see a beautiful, fit and sexy you? 

ü  Beautify yourself – This kinda goes hand in hand with exercise. If you find yourself really not being able to get some exercise, try putting on makeup, or having a nice hair cut, or a manicure and pedicure perhaps. These are things that can make you feel more beautiful. 

ü  Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep – of course these one of the basics 

ü  Learn new dishes – it’s a very fulfilling experience to be able to cook good food – sort of an accomplishment (especially for me who never learned to cook until recently)

ü  Plant – Some people really enjoy planting. Be it flower plants or veggies or any kind of plant you think you can grow. It’s another accomplishment… and gives you a relaxing and fresh feeling being surrounded by plants. 

ü  Join your baby while watching his favorite cartoons / movie – this is a very good bonding time. Plus, your baby learns more seeing your reactions and at the same time you can take this opportunity to teach him things. I myself especially love watching cartoons. I guess there will always be a child in all of us.

ü  Pray – as humans we have to go thru different phases and experience difficulties in life. But there’s always that hope that our Creator has a plan for us. Remember to thank Him for each day and ask for forgiveness and guidance, you will see that things will be better, brighter and A-ok.

 All right, so these are some of my tips on how to make being a full time mom and housewife easier and more fun. Remember, happiness is a state of mind. You always have the option to be happy or sad. You just have to choose and work on it. For me, being a full time mom and housewife is a very big leap. It’s a very big responsibility… but at the same time the feeling of accomplishment is the best. So to those who are planning to take the big leap as well and those who already did, I hope this helps you in a way. Enjoy motherhood =)