Hello there!

I can't believe it has been nearly a year since I last posted here. I feel like I have evolved physically, mentally and emotionally countless times from the moment I became a mother up to the present. The evolution continues as being a mom is a learning experience that goes on all throughout the years and beyond of a child's' life. Each turn of events contributes priceless and beautiful moments to my being. 

I cannot promise that this is the jump start to my blog's come back. And, anyway, I have only but myself who'd hope for that. :)

So, onto the first photo of 2013. 

Here's what I wore to a reunion in December 2012, celebrating a decade of college friendship. 

 

 top & bottom: betty [sm gtw]

cardi: just g
shoes: sugarkids

necklace: sm accessories

 Although incomplete, we had tremendous fun!
Nobody went home empty-handed. Literally! There were too many

gifts/prizes raffled off. Thanks to our donors, local and overseas! :)

Until the next post. :) 

Hope you had a great weekend. Start the next one with the right and good attitude and all else positive will come about. Stay +

Kaori

It was around 45min past 12mn of 8th March when my husband and I hailed a cab along the corner of our street to arrive at the hospital for the most anticipated momentous milestone in our lives.

Believe me, my mind was overflowing with thoughts, mostly horribly exaggerated, on what would and could happen the moment I stepped into the hospital's entrance door. I didn't have an idea. My heart was pounding as if it wanted to be released from my chest. The instructions were pretty basic. Be there by 1am and inform the nurses/resident doctors that I was experiencing contractions and already 3-4cm dilated. My doctor said that everything should just follow from there. And yes, it did.

The resident OB obviously came from a slumber. Her eyes were half-opened when she appeared before us. And her hair? Her hair was slightly disheveled. Despite that, though, she was very accommodating and pleasant. When she returned with papers/forms and started asking questions about my pregnancy, I realized that her eyes might already be half-opened but her consciousness was still asleep. A couple of questions were repeated as her memory was not yet ready to absorb the event. But I like her. And for that, I won't forget her last name. For its uniqueness, and, for being a look-alike of a college friend. 

Several minutes later, she called my OB to report. I heard her talked to my husband about admittance and got back to me to announce the same. I felt the doctors' and the nurses' concern when they left me with my husband for a few minutes. They made us feel understood. That as first-time parents, the few minutes in order for us to hug, kiss and say our prayer together before the long hours of waiting [birthing] was a meaningful moment they need to allow and respect.  

Skipping the details of my 12-hour nasty experience and the underrated pain of giving birth, here's the greatest gift of God to me and my husband after almost 4 years. 4 years of undying hope and remaining faithful that one day papa Jesus will send a stork toward our marriage. Meet Kaori. ♥

♥ ♥ ♥

My husband and I had a Valentine's lunch after my check up. And what better news one could ever receive than to hear that in as early as 5 days from today I could give birth to our first born, Kaori. Isn't that just what love is all about? ♥ 

Just want to share with you some photos of me and our gastronomic adventures earlier at a mall in the neighborhood.

 Currently 112lb and 9 months

Just couldn't let a photo opportunity at this valentine setup pass

 

 Can't be a complete meal without the greens

I love the dressing and the satisfying deliciousness it creates with the fruits and everything with it! :)

 Definitely NOT my plate!

 Fillet Mignon, tiny but super heavy! Half of this slab was enough, believe me!

Mango Bene by Mary Grace

 I wanted this photo to be bigger than the rest because it just deserves to be so! 

Like I always say, Mary Grace never disappoints. I can select anything on the menu in the dark 

as my order and still be confident I won't regret. ♥

 

 Brewed coffee with Almond

 I had to completely cut caffeine out since I tested positive. Although some friends were

given consent by their OBs to just limit intake to a cup or 2 in the latter half of their pregnancy, 

I just couldn't risk it. Anyway, I had given it up 10 years ago so it shouldn't be at all a problem. 

Except that.. this coffee smells terrific! I really really wanted to beg for a sip! 

This is it for now! Hope you enjoyed the food photos as much as I enjoyed them in actual. Did you enjoy your valentine's day? :)

Oh Hello!

It's been a long time, I know. 

This post, however, is not an assurance of a come-back.

There was just a sudden kick that lead me to write here again. I read a story, which was shared with my husband a few hours ago, that could completely change how you conduct yourself around people whom you deem as "inferior individuals".

From Paulo Coelho's blog, a 30-second reading:

The Black Man (a true story)

We are at the restaurant of a German University. A red haired student, and undeniably German takes her tray and sits down at her table.
She then realizes she has forgotten her cutlery and gets up again to pick it up.

Coming back, she sees with astonishment that a black man, possibly sub-Saharian by his appearance, is sitting there and is eating from her tray.
Straight away, the young woman feels lost and stressed . But immediately changes her thought and presumes that the African is not familiar with European customs concerning private property and privacy.
She also takes into consideration that perhaps he does not have enough money to pay for his meal.

In any case, she decides to sit in front of the guy and to smile at him in a friendly manner.
The African responds with another dazzling smile.
The German girl starts to help herself, –sharing the food with the black man with genuine pleasure and courtesy.
And thus, he took the salad, she ate the soup, both took their share of the stew, one took care of the yoghurt and the other of the piece of fruit,
All this peppered with numerous refined smiles – timid from the man and smoothly, encouraging and kind by the girl -.
They eat up their lunch.
The German girl gets up to get a coffee.
And it is then that she discovers, on the table behind the black man, her coat placed on the back of a chair and her food tray untouched.

This story is not new. It is a classic. It happens every second somewhere out there in different versions. I am positive that you have experienced something similar to this, yourself. It's not supposed to stop and make you analyze deeply. Because the lesson is unveiled as soon as you read the last sentence. It wakes up your sense of humility.

Stay +

I will forever remember this month as the happiest of all 2011 months.

August 13, I tested positive.

August 14, the OB confirmed "definitely, pregnant.."

To this day, I still can't believe that we're going to have a baby. People ask what we did to make it happen after 3 long years of waiting. Believe it or not, we did not do anything. My husband and I even thought one of us was barren. This is not a miracle but 'surprising' is certainly an understatement.

I don't know how to describe it but 'mixed-emotions' would suit it best, I guess. I cried and cried happy tears. I didn't talk when I delivered the news to my husband because I didn't know how to. One thing I remember clearly was whispering "Thank you, papa Jesus!" upon seeing the positive result. I didn't know what else to say because I had so much going on in my head. I started to fear for my baby's health. I thought of ways to bring the good news to my parents. I anticipated friends' and workmates' reactions. I thought twice [or more] about quitting my job. All of this and A LOT MORE rushed through my head. 

But one thing is more clear now than ever, you may always know what you want but only God knows when you deserve it. 

I will always have faith in Him because He has never failed me. Positive things really do happen to positive people. :)

Stay +

 

SM San Lazaro Manila Day Sale & Redhead Model Search

Hello guys! Bringing you some good news from SM City San Lazaro! Drop by and like the FB page here. :)

DO NOT forget to visit SM Accessories Department, who just had a grand media launch this month at 1Esplanade! Discounts await you beginning this Friday! :)

And, if you think you should be one of the 3 Redhead ambassadors, click here or visit their website here for more info on how to sign up. 

SM City San Lazaro will hold their search starting today, 22nd June. See you in your Redhead outfits! Mini make-over for candidates will be provided by Maybelline.

 

Ciao! Have a happy Wednesday! :)

Coral

It's been a looooong time! 

My laptop is not yet back in good shape but my husband let me use his work computer [now that he has a new toy to fiddle with] that has a HUGE display that outdoes the sun in radiating UV rays directly onto my face! :(

We have been sweltering in the summer heat of 34deg (or even higher). Most of this season, I stay home. If I ever have to leave the house, I do it in the late afternoon when the sun's about to set. 

This was one of those summer days I left home for the mall. And hopefully, you could see what I actually wanted to show you: the coral nail polish on my fingers and red violet on my toes. :)

 top: celine

shorts: bayo

belt: yrys 

bag: gifted

shoes: ipanema

sunnies: forever21 

 bangle: robinsons dept store

Rain, please come again. And come soon! :)