A Surprisingly Guiltless Afternoon

I made a self-imposed Me-Time yesterday. Partly it was an act of rebellion because of something stressful happening in my life lately. I dropped everything and didn't give a damn. I tried to focus on what I want to do without thinking of my obligations. Believe me, I haven't done this in years and I am a super responsible adult, but there are times, like yesterday, when I just want to be selfish. And so I left the house, went to the mall, bought stuff I want to buy for myself without thinking of pasalubong for anybody, and spent 2 hours inside the moviehouse watching The Avengers. It was a good choice because the guys entertained me big time. I like the stunts, the dialogue were witty, the action was superb, and Incredible Hulk turned out to be unintentionally and unexpectedly funny. When the movie and my mall time was over, I went back home and went back to my chores and obligations without feeling a bit guilty.

Clumsiness

When I was younger, I knew someone in my class who was always bumping into things, spilling liquids accidentally, tripping all over the place... all the time. I remember how irritated I was being around that classmate of mine. When I was working as a junior copywriter, there was a senior copywriter with receding hairline and was single at 30plus years old and was of the same personality as my classmate years ago. Everyday at the office he'd be tripping and bumping and spilling, much to everybody's dismay. But I knew that there was no one more dismayed as I was. I find clumsiness repulsive and a major turn off. This week, I am, with no choice, around someone who, at a very very early age is displaying bouts of clumsiness. And the sad thing is, her mother does not even mind that her daughter is causing trouble, mess and well, ok, repulse in me. Ugh!

Human Nature Products

Been reading about Human Nature products from my yahoogroup for some time now. It's nice to know that there's a dealer just five minutes away from my place. Thus, I tried looking for their store and spent more than Php1,000.00 solely on their products in just one afternoon. I bought the famous Sunflower Beauty Oil, Kids Shampoo and Body Wash ( Tangering Tarsier), Feminine Wash, their Sanitizer Sprays (Juicy, Candy Cane, Bubble Gum), Deodorant (Aloe Vera) and Moisturizing Conditioner. I have yet to see if the Sunflower Oil is as effective as people say it is. Will update you soon, guys!

Malee Veggie Juice

My husband and I have been trying for months to eat healthy as much as possible. We've stopped buying cases of softdrinks, we've limited our intake of processed and canned goods, we try to minimize pork and innards in our diet, and when I cook, I opt for iodized salt instead of the very convenient powdered instant seasonings. I also bought this Malunggay Powder from the supermarket area of SM Megamall, which you can add on just about everything, and try to always remember to mix a teaspoon of it to our dishes. Two Sundays ago, while doing the groceries in Robinsons Galleria, I came across a booth giving out free samples of this veggie juice with Malee as its brand. I liked the taste of the 100% Veggie variety but I bought a carton of the carrot-papaya variety. Last Sunday we bought the Veggie variety and we liked the taste more than the first purchase. The label says it's 100 percent vegetable juice and that there's no sugar added. Since Robinsons Place Cainta's supermarket does not carry this juice in its shelves, I might as well buy in bulk whenever we're in Galleria... hoping this gives us the vegetable requirement we need for a healthier lifestyle.

I am dead tired of multitasking. Seriously. With the all around maid gone for almost a month now, I am never finished with household chores, baby sitting chores, and work deadlines. I don't mind the deadlines, but I hope someone else is there other than my husband to tend to the house. I hate washing clothes and ironing them, cleaning the loo and tidying the house. Ugh!

Not much 3d in Titanic in 3d

My husband and I watched the Titanic in 3d last Saturday, out of curiosity, actually. I was the one who's really interested because the film, and everything about it interests me alot, even when I was younger, even the first time I saw the movie. We left Aliya with my mom and sister while we went on this "date."

Sta Lucia Grand Mall was the nearest to our place that has it on its screening list. And with less traffic, I chose it over Robinson's Metro East. We caught the 2:40PM screening. It costs P275 each and each ticket comes with either free popcorn and drinks. Being mababaw that I am, I was happy.

Hmm, of course the film elicited the same moving effect on us, maybe more. It made me realize how perfect both Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet are for the roles, how charming and engaging they both were, and how proud James Cameron must be about his masterpiece.

However, it only took a few minutes into the movie for me to conclude that there's not much difference with the 2d and this 3d version. Sure, the intention was well meaning, the Titanic's sinking being exactly 100 years ago, but its being 3d isn't fantastic.

But just the same, I'm still fan and will always be.

Unlimited Soup and Salad

Some deals can be really good. I like groupon sites, ensogo especially, since I have purchased some really sulit deals from them and never had a problem. But one of the nice deals we always avail of is the unlimited soup and salad buffet of Cravings Restaurant. When you buy any of their main dishes, you can go back and consume of their soups and salads nonstop. In this age of unhealthy fastfood eating, what Cravings offers is not only sulit, but healthy, too.

Mr Choi and Delicious Kitchen by Eat Well

I'll never pass by Mr Choi and Delicious Kitchen without remembering Papa. Actually, I'll never be able to look at a Chinese restaurant without thinking of my father, the late Ka Ming Po Lam. He's a good judge whether a dish is prepared the authentic Chinese way or not.

On second thought, I'll never be able to eat without remembering him, because he's the one who gave me the love of really good food.

Sigh, I miss papa so much.

Mommy, I Want to Watch Mama Mia!

So I've been blogging about Aliya's penchant for watching the same movies over and over again. Today she woke up and just suddenly wanted to watch my DVD of Mama Mia (starring Meryll Streep). Since I need her to stop following me while I do household chores, I said yes.

Oh my, it's so aliw to see her so into the musical numbers! She'd rewind them over and over and dance with the music! Most times she'd even choreograph dance steps by herself! It took me a long time though to get her to go to the bath and prepare for church. The whole day she was humming Mama Mia and Dancing Queen!

Hmmm, looks like my daughter's into musicals!

Easter Monday, Oops!

I've stuffed the plastic easter eggs with treats already last Friday because I know I won't be able to do it on Saturday, but because it's been a hectic weekend, I haven't had the time to hide them for Aliya to hunt down. Hmmm, looks like it's gonna be an Easter Egg hunting activity on a Monday this year.

She gotta go to bed now so I can place the eggs in strategic places around the house. Ho-hum, and I'm the one who's already sooo sleepy!

The new baby dillema

Before this blog's title gets misinterpreted, let me tell you right off that I AM NOT PREGNANT. But it's been bugging me for months, for almost a year, if we should try for another baby or not. I am in my late 30's and is not as energetic as I was in my earlier years. I've posted about this and asked my n@wie sisters for their opinion, but of course, the final decision lies on me and Romy.

You see, there are alot of factors to be considered. Finances, physical ability, health, work, conditions at work among some. We live a very comfortable life now, but I'm afraid that if I get pregnant, I can't spend late night working and writing scripts. And I know myself, I write better at night, or early in the morning. But how can I do that if I'm not allowed to be puyat, plus the fact that I don't have a maid now.

Aliya, though has been asking for a baby sister for months now, on and off. I keep buying her na lang baby dolls (from the expensive ones like Baby Alive, to the not so-dear ones), basta baby doll. She loves taking care of them, but also tells me that when we have na a real baby in the house, she'll be in charge of baby-sitting.

Oh, I don't know! I know myself kasi, I'm not the energetic type, and I don't know if I can still pull off the late nights, breastfeeding, burping, nappy changes, and of course, yung pregnancy mismo.

God, please send us your wisdom in the next few weeks.

Over and Over

I know for a fact that kids thrive on routine, and that when they're fond of something, they tend to do it over and over again, like watching a specific cartoon and/or movie.

A couple of months back she watches The Sound of Music almost everyday, all 3 discs of the VCD set. Then she moved onto watching The Little Rascals. In between she'd watch our copy of Sineskwela and Epol, Apol.

I observed though that she's not much into Lion King, E.T, and Angelina Ballerina. I wonder what she'll spend time on in the next weeks.

May I also mention that there was a time when she was hooked on Tom and Jerry, because it's playing almost the whole day on Cartoon Network! Ugh! It indeed affected her mood swings and her temper! True that when a kid stays glued on TV, and on something violent, he/she tends to be more short tempered and moody. Thank God she obeyed (with much effort, though), when I told her she can't watch Tom and Jerry anymore.

It's Sinking In...

Tomorrow, our yaya of 3 years is leaving. And it's finally sinking in. Not that I didn't see it coming, but now that she's leaving in less than 18 hours, it's making me realize how much adjustments we have to go through in the house. You see, she's not just a nanny, but also a bit of an all-around. She doesn't do everything at home, though because I am a WAHM (work-at-home-mom) and I also do some chores, but it's still different and more convenient if there's someone else I can ask to do the chores I don't like doing. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

Holy Week 2012

For this year, we just intend to stay home, visit some relatives perhaps, and go to Tagaytay on Black Saturday. I look forward to spending time with my family, watch a movie with a bucket of popcorn, do a little "spring" cleaning (though I've started some major cleaning and organizing since last week), and just lounge around.

The fact that the all around maid is leaving tomorrow is sinking in. :(