This is one of the major reasons why I had been so busy the past few days...

We are having our little house in P8 renovated.

While everyone is busy decking out their halls with boughs of holly, well not really but while everyone is busy Christmastifying their homes, we had been busy with the demolition.

Not that we had to do the demolition ourselves, haha but we had to run around buying what we need, checking on the workers, etc etc.

The old kitchen and ceiling all gutted out

They are almost done with our floor and I couldn't be happier! The house looks remarkably lighter and more spacious. I'm excited to redecorate my work/office area and the living room.

I just wished though that I was able to take the "before" photos. This house is evolving with us. "She" has been through so many changes over the years.

The first time my family moved here was in 1986, I was still a baby. This is the house were all four of us sisters shared one bedroom--- now in retrospect, is one the best parts of my childhood. It used to be a bustling, busy space.

Now, its just us three.

I love this house so much and I am just so happy that I am able to do something for "her" and "she" is now made over and still evolving with the newcomers. I can't wait to see Hunter running around.

More photos soon!

Charmed.

I did a private sale today and all the items are bought, thankfully.

There are times that I get a bit more attached with some of the items that I personally make. I always do a mental note that I will make a similar one for myself but never get around doing that because I'm always running after a deadline or busy with little event projects.

But a little part of me always goes with each handmade item. When you are a creative entrepreneur, the business is more personal and at times a bit of emotion is involved. =')

Goodbye, my pretties. I hope you will be loved as much as I loved making all of you...

Third post in a row. Early in the morning.

I've been finding myself awake as early as 4 a.m. these past few days. I'm not a regular coffee drinker, but now I down in as much as 3 cups a day. Hunter is now taking formula milk and solids so now I can shoot up as much caffeine as I want.
We also caved in and got him a yaya. Although the arrangement is still the same.

Its just us three whenever we go out. We bring Hunter along in all our trips and I still take care of him most of the time. We just needed someone to look after him during the days when I'm caught up with the itty-gritty details of my Charmed Life.

I'm not a morning person, really. Paolo is the peppy one at the start of the day that is because he works like a well oiled machine. He clocks out by 10 p.m., its automatic.
It's both amazing and annoying at the same time.
We will be talking for hours and hours and then I just hear steady breathing around that time. Clockwork.
Whenever I have to do a lot of things, my mind will not stop racing and I wake up earlier than usual, much earlier than my usual. :/ Been this way since I was a student. I guess my body prepares more for what's ahead.

Anyway, where am I going with this post? Wala lang. I just wanted to post some updates about how our lives are these days for my folks back in Illinois.

Time to start my day. Good morning!

Hello, again.

I've been blogging sporadically because I have so many things going on right now.

Aside from the fact that this is the busiest time of the year when it comes to my business, we decided to tackle major home projects as Christmas is nearing. Crazy, I know. But this is the time, it's now or we'll always put it off later.

I was excited to put up Christmas decors around the house since this is Hunter's first one but I guess we have to put that off for now since all of our things are piled up in the garage. I'm thankful though. I am more excited to update our little, old house.

Hopefully, everything turn out as planned.

Dream/ Peg

White Kitchen, Black countertop. ❤

The Long Weekend

The second sign that you are getting old is you don't like taking much photos as before, save for your food when you eat out. *Sigh. Anyhoo, what is the first sign you are getting old? You don't like texting as much as before. I use my phone more for emails and calls and taking pictures.

Yes, sadly I wasn't able to take photos of all the fun things we did last weekend. I'm thankful for my Iphone though since I'm able to snap some shots here and there once in a while.

Hunter was a Pumpkin last Halloween. I'm the type of mommy who likes to dress up their babies funny costumes. I mean, they will be superheroes, princesses, astronauts, etc., etc for the rest of their childhood. Why not dress them up cutesy-funny while you still decide what they are supposed to be during Halloweens?

Hunter was supposed to be Uncle Fester. Perfection.

But since the weather doesn't permit us to dress him more than the occasional pants and polos, I let go of my wonderful plan. Hunter is a winter baby. He can't take the heat for a long time.

Solution? Onesie, a bib and some DIY leaves hat.

My pumpkin!

Thanks Mamazel for my bib!

I made his leaves hat of course, with some construction paper, oil pastel, gold ink pen and mod podge.

My nails matched!

We went to Manila Memorial Park to visit both the Perez and Yason Mausoleums. 

Then spent some time with our Yason side of the family.

Papa with cousin Tacio and Hunter with Lola Betty

Our twin cousins

The rest of the days were spent running around the Metro, doing some errands and gathering all the things we need for our major projects in the coming weeks which is a different post altogether.

That's the reason why I have neglected this blog for a while. I'll be posting more on that once the ball starts rolling. =)))

Happy birthday, my house elf!

I know you get embarrassed about us being "too sweet" in facebook. Hahaha. So I'm just going to write this in my blog.

I love you so much. I miss you so much. And I'm proud of you. You are smart and talented but most of all you know how to emphatize with what others are going through. I guess being with more "older" people all your life than kids your age made you more understanding and sensitive and I love that about you.

People would always say what they want, people will have always have opinions.
 The fact that your situation is a bit different, having much older doting sisters, one would think you'd be a spoiled brat. BUT YOU ARE NOT AT ALL (and continue being that way). You are our little Kuya, well maybe not so little anymore.
One would think having much older siblings is an advantage you get to have four times more people to buy you stuff and take you places but its also four times wrath when you do something wrong. Hehe.

You are fast becoming the other man of the family makes me the proudest sister.

Can't wait to talk to you soon, Kuya. Enjoy your day. Happy birthday!

My pocket-size Pao

Although people keep saying he looks more like me, Hunter is a little Paolo. He is the most patient little baby I know, his smiles come by so easily, he is a sweet little cuddle bug and most of all he is a funny little guy! He cracks his mama up so much, all the time. =)  

The past few weeks...

 I get a bit nervous every time October rolls by because it hasn't always been a good month for me. Good thing the past few weeks had been relatively quiet.


How our few weeks had been:

My boys test driving their new car. =)

Trying to eat healthier.

Banana, Basil and Honey

Macaroni Salad recipe from my favorite mommy blog: The Pioneer Woman

Eating "Damo-damo" =)

And eating healthier didn't stop me from getting sick and being confined at the Medical City for 5 days...

At least I had a nice view from my hospital room. =)

And Hunter turning into a little boy right before my eyes...

Who are you, little guy? Where's my baby?

I can't believe our little big guy is 8 months old! Goodness, I was just writing pregnancy posts a little while ago! =)

I haven't been posting a lot because this month proved to be my most unproductive month of the year. There is still hope though because of some days left in October. Understandably, I got sick and I'm still recuperating. There are days that I'm raring to go and a million to-do's are swirling in my head but I just feel so lethargic and end up doing nothing.

Less than three more months left for the year. I'm halfway done with my projects and hope to finish them all before Christmas. More posts coming soon!

x hello blog

I had been sick.

I was down for a week recuperating at Medical City and shut off from the world. I missed my little corner, I missed doing my everyday routine, I missed my boys. I miss Hunter the most.
Now I'm back and taking things slow.

Oh, and I miss blogging too. I mean writing-blogging and not just random posts of pictures of whatever 's in my next to-buy or random nonsensical reviews and I know that you must know by now I'm not the best reviewer in the world. I don't even know why I even bother. Sorry. :/

I promise to write more. I promise to post more of those lengthy, even sometimes cryptic entries. And I promise to drink more fluids.

Goodness gracious, being a mommy has turned me into a sap. But then again, I have always been one.
I must admit I got a bit teary-eyed reading this entry from one of favorite parenting blogs: New York Times' Motherlode.

I guess what tugged on my heartstrings more than the usual is the reason that I can relate--- I have my own "Ah-Ah." I call it "Moti" which I've had since I was four years old. And yes, I still have Moti.
But what makes me relate to this even more is now I am both a daughter and a mommy.
As a daughter, you will never appreciate and love your mother more than when you become one yourself.

I love, love, love what Dell'Antonia wrote:

"...Patches is a concrete reminder of the reality I always have trouble getting my head around: that once, my mother and I were as entwined as I am with my own children; that once, I could not sleep without her good night kiss and a recitation of her good night mantra; that once, she held me to her heart as I hold my babies, and wished that I would never leave, while working hard to teach me to go. My memories of childhood center around me — whose don’t? — but as a mother now, I see some of them filtered through some idea of how my mother might have felt, giving me that first Patches, frustrated and tired of endlessly sewing him up and finally both wanting him back and wanting to send me off well-equipped for my fresh start..."

Read more here. =)

baby food chef! ;P

I've been preparing Hunter's food for the past month now and I can say, it is the most fulfilling thing ever. 

Thank you, Baby Bullet, You make me feel like I'm such a good mommy. Hehe.

When we travel and need to store food for a longer period of time, we bring organic baby food from Healthy Options which Hunter loves so much.

I can say this works really well for a breast-fed Hunter. We have yet to experience tummy problems. He never had digestion issues and constipation. I say, try this first before buying baby food from the Grocery. =)

Candle Favorites

I've been obsessing about this certain seasonal scent from Bath and Body works' Candle collection. The scent is called Leaves and from my understanding, this only comes out during fall-winter seasons. I've been reading and hearing so much about it from my favorite bloggers and vloggers.

Now, I love Candles and scents and always stock up on my favorite scents whenever I'm in Illinois so I can have a year-round supply while in Manila. Naturally, I get really interested about candles with a certain cult following. :/

My collection as of the moment

My favorites are Yankee Black Cherry, Lavander Vanilla, Snickerdoodle from Swans Creek Candle Co. and Anything that smells like Fall and Christmas but somehow all the rich scents that I bring back here don't translate well in our humid weather. They smell sickeningly sweet that makes me rather dizzy.

Now, after obsessing for quite sometime looking for this particular Autumn scent, I was able to find a lone local seller in ebay. I wasted no time buying and trying the Leaves scent---I love it! It is just so perfect, smells like a lighter yet just as yummy version of my (and my sister Marivi's) favorite soy candle bought in a specialty shop in downtown Downers' Grove. This particular soy candle is so expensive at $25 plus tax for a mere 12 oz.

Some of my favorite fall scents from Swans Creek and Yankee Candle Store.

Leaves is just the perfect alternative. I would stock on that scent next year. The scent is described as "Like an afternoon spent playing in a pile of freshly fallen leaves, this fragrance embodies all the richness of the season and features a medley of ripe delicious apples, red berries and golden nectar." But somehow I smell some Vanilla notes in it.
Love, love, love.

Fall and bags

Its officially the start of Fall in the States and most of the people I follow in Instagram are in the US so I am reminded everyday the past days how everyone is so excited for Fall!

I'm so jealous! Fall is my favorite season and my favorite time to go to Chicago but of course we have to miss it because we are scheduled to fly again next Summer.

I love everything about fall most specially the weather and the colors. Speaking of colors, I am noticing a change in my taste in bags.

I never liked black bags. Less than two years ago, a black bag was never an option, I always go for girly, light colors and browns. But the past few days were a revelation for me. I was looking for a new work horse bag, a new mommy bag and realized all my choices now are black nondescript ones with classic, clean lines. Such a drastic change!
Bags are somewhat a minor passion for me =) I am no baghag and only have a few but lovingly selected (and worked for) pieces. Most of my "investment pieces" are in bold colors. Looking back, I should have invested on more classic shades. My next bag would be a quiet, black one.

I guess the past months, with having Hunter around, my lifestyle has changed and now I am craving for an everyday, classic, nondescript  but polished bag.
 I must say I'm liking this acquired taste for cleaner, quiet, classic pieces. =)

Since we are on the subject of bags, I wanted to share these adorable bag charms I made. I've been working on new materials to add in my shop. Please visit Charmed Life for new collections. Will be adding more in the coming days! =)

Eating time! =)

I can't believe its been two weeks since I started feeding Hunter solid food!

I knew I would be very particular about this. I breastfed exclusively for his first six months and I must say, it was hard, you have to be really committed to it.
Breastfeeding in itself takes a lot of effort more so, breastfeeding exclusively.

There were nights and days, I wanted to give in and give him formula thinking just this once.
Good thing I have a very supportive husband who made everything easy for me.
Strong support is a requirement to be really committed.

Of course, to each her own. For some mommies, its better to mix the feedings or give formula entirely. 
I say just like with everything else in raising a child, it depends on your choices and convictions.

Anyway, two weeks ago was like a graduation of some sort for me and Hunter. I was a bit emotional for a few days, feeling as if I was letting him take his first step of independence by eating something other than his mommy's milk. Pardon the first-tima mama dramas.
I was excited for him as well and just as enthusiastic to use all of my feeding props!
For the last six months and up until now, we are yaya-less but complete with all the basic baby helpers you can buy.
I had a big Medela Pump, the portable one, nursing covers, boppy pillows, substantial entertainment props, carriers and a stroller that has more features than our old car.  =/

This time, our baby bullet and high chair take the center stage.

No fuss, easy to clean high chair from Ikea. =)

We also opted for a no-fuss, no-fabric high-chair for easy clean-ups. I must admit though, the main reason also is for the aesthetic purpose. I don't want an eyesore in our dining area.

For now, I am feeding all-organic food for Hunter. I prepare all his meals but still not particular with keeping schedules since I fed him by demand the last six months.

Who knew coming up with recipes for baby food can be so exciting and fulfilling? Haha.
Every stage is just so exciting. I feel fortunate I am there all the time, front and center witnessing every little thing. =)