Working in the Next Five Days

Working for the next five days will mean time to earn, time to learn, time to glorify and time to rest from activities I usually enjoy and feel blessed to be doing. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (NIV) Colossians 3:23

Me and My World

To be me and to be of the world are hard to put together. I like so many things that harm the earth. So far I have managed to keep my want of harmful things to a minimum, but I feel it stifling me now.

I like paper in different forms. Paper from trees that take decades to grow.

I like notebooks 

Sometimes I don't even use them. They've become a collection. I do try to make sure they have a use.






I like magazines 

  


There are seasons when I buy a bunch of new ones. Expensive, I know! But most of the time I buy back issues for reading and scrapbooking purposes.  

I like craft paper

I have so many of them. Although I do keep even if it's been cut down to an inch already. 





I adore party decorations too!

 

I adore balloons

So I just keep it to a minimum. If I can get away without them I would.




I adore paper plates, paper tags, paper bags and anything paper for birthday parties.

Like these paper bags. Good thing they're recycled paper. Expensive but worth it in terms of decoration theme and of course for mother earth. 




 

It's so difficult to like so many things that are harmful to Mother Earth. 
 

Smiling with My Kids

Last time I ended my blog with mentioning that http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/tags/smart-parenting-magazine

January-February 2013 issue is the right read for me, especially the article about photographs. It's Treasured Finds by Bambi Sy. She starts the article with "How often are you photographed with your child?" I relate to what she said about wanting to look good on pictures, but for me it's also about when, where and who to take the pictures. 

One of my dreams that will remain a dream is to have a photographer with me all the time so he can snap pictures away for me to put in my scrapbooks. Parang reality TV on print :) Ha! Ha!

Anyway, being a mom, I really want to capture everything so that my children can look back to their happy childhood. There are days when it's simply a torture to choose for me like when we're at the park. There are so many adorable and fun moments I want to take pictures of, but I also want to spend those moments with them. I also want pictures of us together, but there's nobody else to take it. 

 

Wouldn't it have been nice to just join them here.

I suppose I will just have to trust that my children will vividly remember these moments with a smile. 

Photographs

I remember first taking interest on taking pictures when I was about 12 years old. I remember asking Papa for a camera as pasalubong from the US. When he got back from his yearly PPSA (Philippine Practical Shooting Association) competition in, he brought home for me an Olympus. It was the most "high tech", beautiful, sleek gadget I have ever seen. Of course I was only 12 at that time :) 

I started clicking away.

I remember taking pictures of nature. I wasn't interested in people or things back then except for when there was an occasion. However, somewhere along the way of adolescence I forgot my love for taking pictures. 

After college, when I had Zivv, I started taking pictures again. Pictures of him sleeping, eating, bathing, pooping, everything!  We had so many cameras during this time, my Olympus, husband's family's camera and our first family camera from my Mom in the U.S.

Sleeping on daddy's hotdog pillow on the floor at mom's old home.

Playing in the tub at mom's old home.

Since becoming a work-at-home mom of two adorable children, I've been so obsessed with taking pictures for their captured memories. I have had to stop myself many times and remind myself to simply take in the moment. 

I remember a conversation with a relative who hardly takes pictures of her children and told me she'd rather enjoy the moment. I agree, but if I can take a snap of it, why not. 

I'm not a big fan of posed pictures, but I'm not good at catching really nice moments too. So I have resolved to just take what I can at a given moment. I'm enjoying it very much. I like taking pictures from my phone and uploading it on Facebook; and from my tab and posting it on Instagram. Although I wish I had the right tools and I could curb my obsessive compulsive behavior of having everything in two's or parallel.

That's why it's so fitting that I bought Smart Parenting's January-February 2013 issue and read it just the other night. I read an article about photographs, will share and give my thoughts on it some other day. 

 

Life of a Freelancer - Unpredictable

Funny how different yesterday was with today. Yesterday I said "Since I'm a freelancer, there are days when I'm full, and there are days when I'm not full." and  "This week was supposed to be full, but projects' schedules have been moved. I still have a couple of work to do, but not as heavy a load as I expected." 

Well, now I say, "Life of a freelancer is unpredictable." Busy day today. Busy means doing planned and unplanned activities such as family errands, disciplining children and orchestrating project schedule. Fun! 

I hope your days are just as busy - busy with the things you like to do. Enjoy :D

In-Between Projects

When I have work I always say "... time to rest from activities I usually enjoy and feel blessed to be doing." 

Since I'm a freelancer, there are days when I'm full, and there are days when I'm not full. There are more permutations to that, but I'll stick with those two for now. 

Last week was full because I had work that required me to go on site.

This week was supposed to be full, but projects' schedules been moved. I still have a couple of work to do, but not as heavy a load as I expected.

Now time for activities I usually enjoy and feel blessed to be doing. Time with children and time for yoga and walking. Yesterday was the first day of yoga after two weeks; and today is the first day of walking after four weeks. Now my body is aching and I feel tired. I feel bad not being able to play with the kids, still I'm here with them - perks of being a work-at-home mom :D 

Papa Lolo

I never really had a relationship with my grandparents. Papa's Tatay Pato who said I looked like him died when I was a baby and Mama's Daddy Oca I knew as an old and weak man. Both my lolas passed away just recently, but I was never really close to them. Maybe because I didn't grow up with them, and I was a middle grandchild, so the older ones and the younger ones got the best of them. However, I did get to talk to them and know them. 

I remember Papa's Nanay Peleng telling me stories and exact dates of pictures from her album.  

I think I got my love of scrapbooking from her. 

She did the conventional way of putting the pictures in the album, but she had for each of her sons and for the whole family. 

I remember Mama's Mommy Nanny telling me stories of her family's happy and activity-filled past. 

I think I got my love for family from her. 

I think I got a lot from them, and it would've been great to have known them even more. 

I'm glad that my kids get to spend time with their grandparents from both me and my husband. Although they only get to talk their grandmother from my side because she resides abroad. 

My sister and I make it a point to visit Papa with the kids and even though he just sleeps in front of the TV most times. Ha! Ha! The kids still enjoy being at his place. They get to do their favorite activity - swim, eat their favorite food - pizza and ice cream, watch cartoons and play on their Papa Lolo's bed. 

It's good that they're making memories with him. I hope one day they'll have more stories (than me) to share with their family about their grandparents. 

   

I'm That Kind of Mom

I have always been hesitant to leave my children with other people whether family, friends or caregivers. I never liked the idea of passing on my mommy duties to anybody since I feel it's my sole responsibility, and at the same time I know nobody will ever treat my children the way I treat them. The "it takes a village" saying isn't much help to me. 

But then a good and wise friend once said to me that...

My children are not my children, they are God's, and He loves them more than I can ever love them. 

That's when I had my "a-ha!" "light bulb" and "Holy Spirit" moment. That's when I learned to let go. 

Of course there are still days when I feel it, but all I can really do is pray to God, not let circumstances paralyze me and live my life to the fullest. 

It's such a comfort knowing that a God is there who loves your children more than you. 

It's not a guarantee that my children will always be safe, but it's a guarantee that their lives will be stirred by someone as good as He. In all this my responsibility is to let my children know this, and let them surrender themselves to His greatness. 

Activities with Kids

Work isn't actually over yet. Just wanted to slip in my schedule a little writing before I get ready. 
 
These activities were made for me :) I absolutely love them. I'm not very creative (as I have openly declared in my previous entries) nor do I like doing complicated things. 

Plate Painitng

When my son was younger I was a pre-school teacher so it wasn't very hard to find ideas for  us to do. All I had to do was replicate the activities we made in school. 

When I had my daughter I was already in a different profession. A very adult profession! 

Now, I work from home. More time, less ideas. Sure I have a collection of books, and sure there's the internet, but it's different when you already have all the materials in your hand ready for putting together to create something wonderful. 

I may have frowned upon this at one point in my life as mom, but these ready-to-make activities are just great! Even my son and I have activities to do. 

I simply adore these. They make my life as mom not only simple and easy, but fun too. 

Going to Mega Mall today and hoping to buy more activities for me and babas.

Work Away from Home

My work normally let's me stay at home with the kids, but other days, I have to go the client's office or venue of choice.   

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (NIV) Colossians 3:23

Working for the next four days will mean time to earn, time to learn, time to glorify and time to rest from activities I usually enjoy and feel blessed to be doing.  

Happy Chinese New Year!

Zivv with cousin Tala

 

Happy Chinese New Year!

Valentine's Day Card for Sending

I'm done and the cards are ready for sending. 

Some will go as far as the U.S and Hong Kong while others within the Philippines. 

I must say that I not only delight in the thought that the recipients will be happy, but I too am happy when I make and send these.

It gives me a sense of fulfillment to put out in the world my little but appreciated creativity. 

I also remember the author Alexandra Stoddard advising in her book "Living Beautifully Together" that sending and receiving mail in this day of technology is a novelty and a genuine act of love. So what more fitting way of showing my love than sending cards through snail mail.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

May this message reach you by February 14.   

Beginning the Love Month with LOVE pictures

Some of the many nice things I saw during the wedding

Caleruega, Nasugbu, Batangas fit for an intimate wedding.

Lovely place to have a sunset wedding.

 Entourage Bouquet in autumn colors

Taal Vista Hotel Ballroom Table Setting was not only beautiful, but also spacious. 

Korean Coffee and yummy Cookie Give-Away.











My family and I have attended a total of three weddings in the span of six months. The next one will be next year and I already have an idea of what I'll wear. 

Perks of being a girl! 

 

Valentine's Day Card Design

Made the card simple.

I wanted to highlight the obvious design that it was cut from my adorable baby girl's painting.

Glued it on red, pink and purple paper. 

Red for grandmother; pink for aunts and purple for cousins. Wrote a simple note too:

"Happy Valentine's Day! We love you!"











Soon it'll be ready for snail mailing.

Beginning the Love Month with LOVE for son

There was no other date but Zivv. Going up to Tagaytay again I was thinking of staying at a less expensive hotel, but I just couldn't leave without any of my two babies with me. So I decided to bring Zivv for a couple of reasons, he can amuse himself long enough for me to attend the wedding, he can join me since he's buddies with the bride and groom's son, and he loves hotels! With that last note in mind, I decided not to scrimp on the place we were going to stay at.

  

I love how he loved spending that Saturday with me. 

Handsome boy got his wishes - to stay at a hotel, eat fast food, play, and swim.

Played with Lio the whole evening.

  

Second cold swim.

 

Thanks of course to his Ninang Pia who treated him to a cold a lounge drink and whose back he used to put his Tab on while he watched himself to sleep; and Lola Maeve who helped by bringing him to the playroom, his first swim and fixing him up  to follow mom at the reception. 

It indeed takes a village and I'm glad I had the best neighbors that day. 

 

Valentine's Day Card Materials

It will be Valentine's Day soon and I am preparing for the cards I'll make with the help of my little ones.  

I'm not yet sure how I'll go about it, but I'm sure these will be the materials I'll use. I'll know what to do when I will have sat down and looked at all of them. 

Traea's paintings, colored paper and sample envelope.

"The art of love... is largely the art of persistence." -Albert Ellis

Beginning the Love Month with LOVE.

I just realized that my son and I began the love month with a celebration of love - Wedding and our date! 

It was a really nice wedding. I cried the whole time! It was so lovely and touching. The emotions go back to when we were young and the stories behind every detail of the wedding.

Here are some pictures I took of us. I don't want to  post pictures of the couple. I think they have the sole right to post those themselves. 

After pictorials with the bride. Picture taking at the lobby with good high school friends. 

Caught a heart warming moment with groom and one of his groomsmen fixing his bow tie. 

 Friends since high school. Redid the picture exactly like the one below taken in neoprint when we were in college.

It really was nice to begin the love month with love!

Off to Tagayatay We Go

Today's the day. We're going up to Tagaytay for my friend's wedding. I just realized, we'll be celebrating love at the beginning of the love month. Nice! 

 “It is such a happiness when good people get together -- and they always do.”-Jane Austen

Speaking of nice, I stumbled upon http://www.realsimple.com/ and I've fallen in love. Since I don't have my own home, shared it with two good friends who can do these with their places.

Off I start my weekend and off my son and I go to a happy place.

   “cozy+smell of pancakes-alarm clock=weekend”

-Amy Krouse Rosenthal, This Plus That: Life's Little Equations.