Sweet Tricks

One of my favorite midnight snacks is in season now :P Melons!!! I always have them in bite sizes, dunked in a glass of cold skim milk. If I'm really hungry, I'll have it served in a bowl. Never fails to make me smile:

I first learned of this combination when I had them during our trip to Australia.  I was served melon cuts with vanilla ice cream—yummy!  Thought of a healthier alternative with the help of skim milk :)  Try it

Kris' Top

Wore this top to one of my many meetings with Kris Aquino---she told me that she loved the blouse.   For those of you who don't know, I was her editor-in-chief for a while.  This was around 2008.  It's a FLY NOW top my mom bought for me in Thailand; and  I gifted her with the exact same top when we went back to Bangkok.  

With me from left to right: my brother Jones, his equally tall fiancee Tippi, me and hubby.

Hubby and I usually just leave the telly/TV on at night. We tune in to ABS-CBN (I'm super kapamilya haha...) and watch the teleserye/soaps. Seeing Kris Aquino wear the top I bought for her made me smile. Good thing I was ready with my camera, and was able to take a photo:

Nothing beats seeing someone use/wear your gift ;)

Star Sightings

Had to go to my old office in ABS-CBN (one of the big TV networks here in the Philippines) to pick up some items yesterday, and decided to bring little JJ along.  It was a spur-of-the-moment decision I made.  Our yaya (nanny) didn't even have time to change into her uniform.

Of course, since we were there, I gave our nanny/yaya a tour of my ol' office.  We ended up in ASAP (a hit musical variety noon time show), and found the stars doing their rehearsals.

We stayed for a few minutes, and were lucky enough to have chanced upon their break time. The pretty Maja Salvador exited our way, and we got to spend a couple of minutes with her. She thought I was there to style some celebrities—that was one of my "jobs" before.

Being a mommy... I asked if I can take a photo of her with little JJ. Hihi... but it was blurred :( Oh well...

What made me giddy: In between catching up with Maja, Vina Morales (also another celebrity) couldn't resist asking who little JJ was and planted him a kiss. She found him so cute! She was in a hurry, so wasn't able to take a photo. Got really kilig/happy over that :D

And speaking of ASAP, they are celebrating their fifteenth anniversary. Wow, how time flies right? They've released some cool and colorful graphics shirts under the BUM brand. I must say that these shirts are tastefully done.

On another note: I wonder why all the celebrities wear shades, even in enclosed areas?! Is it because of the stage lights? D0 they (always) lack sleep?

An Inspirational Talk

Hubby and I are really blessed to have a really nice and caring set of godparents for our wedding.   I paid a visit to one of our godmothers yesterday over lunch break.  It was worth the trip—I'll post that next time :)  For now, I want to announce a talk that our godparent, Uncle Wyden King.  This is him, leading the prayer at our wedding reception:

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He's cousins with my dad, and the man who used to handle Anito Lodge.  He is very vocal about how he was before, and how and why he changed and found God.  And he's giving a talk today, this is the text I got:

What would make a man give up earning millions?  Find out as Wyden King, owner of former Anito Lodge shares his story: 8 p.m. at UECG, 18 J. De Mesa St., San Juan

Now, for those of you who do not know... I'm still very much a Catholic, but I embrace and am very open to other teachings.  After all, we all believe in the same God right? :)


So, if you still don't have plans for tonight, and are interested in hearing him talk. Do drop by :)

What we're thankful for: Uncle Wyden for being an inspiration

From Russia, With Love

Ever since I can remember, I've always spent Holy Week and sem breaks with my mom.  We travel a lot, and the boys in the family would rather stay home.  So, it's usually the two of us.  But for the past two years, I stayed home.  I was pregnant the first time; the second time(this year), I started work :( Sigh, great timing right?

So, my mom dragged my brother along with her for their Russia trip.  I felt a bit sad, but I'm happy that my brother got to travel and see another part of the world.  I've always been the luckier one when it comes to that.

They got back a few days after Holy Week, and this is what we got:

toys for little J, shawl and some accessories for me, and coffee for hubby

This pendant is so lovely.  Very Russian, don't you agree? :)

I just had to share this necklace with you.  My mom is a very impulsive shopper, and she bought this hematite necklace for me.  She got one for herself, and two bracelets for my brother and dad.  The seller told her that hematite can help lower cholesterol.  Really?  We'll see about that haha...  Another reason I found this funny is that we have a lot of it here in Manila.  My mom had to fly all the way to Moscow to get us these.  But, it's the thought that counts ;)

I'm lucky to have a mom who loves to shop ;)

A Parent's Source of Inspiration

I've heard this line a LOT from working parents: "You'll feel energized just by hugging your kid/s when you get home after a hard day's work."  I've never really given it much thought, but I know that's how my dad feels every time he comes home at night.   These are the things you take for granted.

But now that I'm a working mom myself, I can relate to other working parents.  Most especially with my dad.  I remember him telling us siblings that everything he does, he does for us.  We are his inspiration.  And that's how hubby and I feel when we see our very own little J :D

Here are some photos I took of us last night when I got home:

what I'm wearing: H&M beaded cotton top and pleated shorts

What gives us strength: our little bundle of joy, JJ :)

Super Woman

Looking back, I guess I went way overboard with work.  I've always thought I could do everything.  Like for my first day of work... 

- I woke up 6:30 a.m. and pumped out milk for my baby

- Got ready by 7:30 a.m. and had my regular staple of oatmeal

- Played with little J and left the house 8 a.m.

- Got to the office by 8:45 a.m. 

- Met some of my bosses (two of those flew straight from the U.S.) and had an impromptu interview with them. Yikes!

- I got off at 6:45 p.m. from our office in Roxas Boulevard and drove straight to the Shiseido launch at the Ayala Museum for their new Whitening product line.  Click on this link to check out the event.

- It was great seeing old friends and colleagues.  I got to catch up with some of them.

- Got home 10 p.m. with our little J fast asleep. 

- Took a shower; checked my mail; and went to sleep at around 11 p.m.

What a day, right? I think I overdid it for my first day of work.  Out and about for more than 15 hours is not good.  Too much for "breaking in" haha...  and I learned the hard way.  After a week of doing this routine (less the event attendance) and forgetting to take my vitamins, I got sick :( I couldn't take any medication since I am still breastfeeding, so it was really hard.  I was sick during Holy Week, too!  Even our little J caught the bug, so I felt guilty all the more.

Little J and I are both feeling better.  Thanks to our super nice pedia for the prescriptions for little J; and my mom-in-law for wheatgrass (do let me know if you're interested to order). NOTE: only take this with an empty stomach, and use a plastic spoon to mix the water and the powder.  If you use metal, it will diminish the powerful extracts of the mixture.

Thanks also to my hubby for the tons of ascorbic acid supply; and my dad for driving all the way down to Chinatown to buy me 2 bottles of good 'ol Pei Pa Koa.  It's a Chinese herbal/natural medicine that's made of honey extracts, loquat and natural herbs.  Once you swallow, let it stay in your throat. DO NOT wash it down with water.

I've been taking this since i was a teenager, and it's only now that I checked out the paper that came with it. I find it cute that they have illustrations on who can take the medicine and when they need it. So, if you can't read a single Chinese character, you can still understand what they are trying to convey:

The ingredients are found in this sheet, too!

Along with instructions...

So, if you're feeling under the weather. Fight it with Vitamin C, wheat grass, and lots of water. If your throat hurts, try Pei Pa Koa. This name of the medicine is actually pronounced in Cantonese, btw. If it's in Mandarin (our national language), it's pronounced as Bi Pa Gou. It's available in all Chinese drugstores.

What I'm thankful for: my hubby, my dad, and my mom-in-law for taking care of me