Wednesday Wish list

I'm actually excited about turning 30 soon. I think I'm one of the few who actually look forward to that. I guess its because they always say the 30's are the more stable, quiet but still best years of a person's life.

I just realized I always stay here in the States with my family right before a big change in my life: Graduating, getting married, giving birth and now turning 30! It is a great opportunity I guess since I'm able to acquire the things I want and need to get me ready for a change in my life.

I'm in the process of purging old stuff and building a new and better collection that represents me well. A more streamlined, yet better representation of who I am.

My 20's was a great decade but I really never felt I had a distinct style. I was more concerned about accomplishing goals and chasing after dreams to really invest on my closet. Not that I didn't acquire a substantial collection, I did. But it is more of acquiring things for the sake of "investing" and not really a reflection of who I am and what I really like.

Wishlist Wednesday will be a new regular in my blog. Just a sort of style journal notes to know what I really like and who I really am style-wise.
I am no fashionista, I'm just a regular girl who loves pretty things. Bear with me.

Kate Spade Beau Bag

 I am starting to like, really like Kate Spade. I guess my biggest influence is my sister Hazel who loves the brand. 

I have a jewellery/Accessory business but I still can't stop pinning for other pieces and designs. I particularly love these two because they would look good layered with my Charmed Life bracelets.

I only shop for cosmetics whenever I'm here but boy, do I hoard! Probably because they are much cheaper than in Manila.

Coral blushes are my must-have. I can never get enough. I particularly love this shade from Chanel: Le Blush Creme de Chanel Presage 62.

And my ultimate in the wish list is this beauty:

Someday Mi cheri, someday. 

Monday Musings

Just Start.

This applies to anything in life. I’ve been slacking off, putting off doing things. Always thinking I deserve the break and there’s ample time. I was sadly reminded that that’s not the case.

My dog died today and it was the saddest I’ve been in a long while. I wasn’t expecting it would hit me as hard because although we’ve had pets before, I’ve never been this attached and invested to a dog before. My golden lab was the sweetest, most playful dog in the world and when Paolo called to tell me about the bad news, I just bawled for the whole morning. I realized I was crying also because I took for granted the time he was with me, thinking we had more.

So now, I am reminded of something I’ve always known, have always worked for me and yet I keep on forgetting: Just Start.

Start writing again, start on my projects I’ve put off, start on Hunter’s lessons, start on my workout regimen, JUST START and keep moving forward.

I’ll miss you Bullet. Thanks for all the happy times.

Hunter is 2!

 Just a dozen posts ago was my entry about Hunter's first birthday. I can't believe we just celebrated his second one last Sunday!

We really planned on celebrating his second birthday here in Chicago with family since I didn't have anyone from my family last year except my sister who flew in to celebrate with us.
This year though we didn't have Paolo with us since he had to fly back in Manila right after the holidays. Something's always gotta give when you are far from family.

Since I'm on a work hiatus, the Type A in me got a little carried away preparing for Hunter's party. It was 80% handmade and homemade. I did all the decorations: the pompoms, pinwheels, paper letters and paper flowers.

Mason jars always give a nice vintage touch to any occasion. Will be selling soon in my shop!

Mini Candy bar was just an assorted of our favourite treats for the little ones. 

I also cooked the Prosciutto Pasta, Bruschetta, Bacon wrapped in Asparagus, Waldorf Salad and Chocolate-dipped strawberries. I made a mock-tail of Citrus, Pineapple juice with Rose Grenadine. The rest are generously given by family.

I love Ree Drummond's blog The Pioneer Woman. I get most of my cooking inspiration from her recipes. =)

 Bruschetta is topped with an assorted of Salami slices or Prosciutto with basil and my favourite Brie, I also added a thin slice of apple and a dollop of honey that really works well with the tanginess of the cheese.

That's what I loved about celebrating here, everything can be DIY since its easier to look for the right materials. Doing much of the work without Pao and my house help were relatively easy. But then I also have the most gracious and generous hosts, the Lorenzos who made everything so much easier.

Seeing Hunter enjoy his party is all worth it. He is beginning to realize the importance of birthdays. 

And I am becoming more and more into this mommy business. =D Sometimes we think we do these things for our children, but the thing is we do these for ourselves too. 

There's a different kind of joy seeing my little boy happy not because of expensive toys but the pompom wands that I made. But then they are almost always happier playing with plain boxes and thingamabobs than toys anyway. But still.

Goofing around with his other mommy, Mama Vi.

He loved seeing our guests sing him a happy birthday! The look on his face  was priceless. We had to sing "Happy Birthday" numerous times!

Enjoying his new ride

Birthday cards from the little "Ate's"

              "Banderitas" and cupcakes by his Mama Zel

Celebrating with Auntie Michelle

All the details have something to do with family and I love it! Its so personal and special which is what birthdays are all about. =)

My birthday wish for you is to be always healthy, safe and happy. 

And that you will always have that sweet smile in life. I love you so much.

Ready, set, GO!

Happy New Year! 

Holidays 2013

I can't believe 2013 is almost over. It went by so fast. I wrote only a total of 15 entries for the whole year here. It went by in a blur because of the flurry of activities. We are back in Chicago for family and the holidays. Its been two weeks but It feels like its been just 5 days. Time goes by so fast.

Coming here was almost impossible, a day before our flight, we were still at the Immigration office in Manila, waiting for Hunter's exit clearance. I thought we will not be able to make it on time. *Whew. For now I am on a much needed hiatus from all the concerns back in Manila.

Some Holiday Snippets:

holiday activities with the munchkins

Hot chocolate on a snowy morning

My little family

On a hunt for a good shabu-shabu. We craved for one because of the weather!

Beautiful Christmas tree in the heart of downtown Chicago

Holiday Staples: Prime Rib and Ham! Yum.

Hunter waiting for Santa

I think we did a good job with our ginger bread houses

Hearth and Home

Holiday activities with the girlies

Somebody knows he's been a little naughty this year!

Motherhood and Holidays

I’ve always been conscious about not turning my blog into a “tutorial” of some sorts. I will feel embarrassed to do so. Sure, I can share some items that I’m loving, a few recipes here and there but not a “how-to-do-this” blog, especially about motherhood. Never that.

The reason for this is because I am also learning and I will be forever learning. I’ve read something when I was pregnant about that mommy guilt that automatically gets built-in, the moment you give birth and I couldn’t agree more. No matter how hard we try, at the end of the day we always ask ourselves: are we doing it right? Are we giving enough?

I’ve been feeling this way, the past few days months. This year has been a really busy year for my business and although I am so thankful for all the blessings, there’s always this small voice at the back of my head nudging reminding me that I am a wife and mom first. No matter how far we’ve come as women, doing everything, being everything, I guess there will always be that “mommy guilt” when you get too busy and juggle everything and justify that’s its all for your children.

Heh. Anyway, I’ve been reading so many articles about how different it is raising a boy. Hunter is now at that age when his personality is really emerging and he is now a big ball of energy bouncing all over the place.  I’m trying my best to keep up. I know there is no right formula about parenting but it won’t hurt to read as much as we can and just apply whatever works for us.

From all the articles I’ve been reading girls generally follow rules easier, stay put longer and focus on school and excel academically. Sometimes the challenge is not to fall into the trap of comparing our son to the girls in his class/group. Everyone develops at their own pace—and it all evens out in the end.

Personally, I am happy that I have a boy as my first child. Growing up with three sisters, I know how girls develop and mature earlier than boys. I like to think that him being the first child automatically makes him more responsible because he is in-charge. He will have that “first-child” personality.

“You may think you’ve birthed a baby boy, but you just gave the world another man.”

Anyway, my body clock is all messed up right now. I have less than two weeks to finish my big projects and all Christmas orders as well as finalizing all the details of the new store. After all this hoopla, I will slow down and enjoy the rest of the holidays. I promise.

Speaking of holidays. Yes, we celebrated Thanksgiving. I cooked everything! I’m proud to report that this mommy guilt does have its advantages if you wield it properly. After days of being so busy with projects and such, I was able to whip up Pumpkin Soup, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy from scratch together with Roasted Chicken and Apple pie. Nothing too fancy.

It may sound pretentious, celebrating Thanksgiving in the Philippines, I know. But I just want Hunter to grow up being aware about the basics even though he lives here. And really, we don’t need any holiday to be thankful everyday for all the blessings.

Our Charmed Life these days...

I can’t believe I have written only less than 30 entries this year in my blog.

The thing is, I have never worked this hard in my life than the last few months. Since I opened my shop, I have been running around so much I didn’t have time to log in my little cyber home. I missed it.

November 6 was supposed to be the grand opening of my shop in a new location, but because of the recent fire that happened in the east wing of Robinsons Galleria, we had to close shop for the next few weeks.

I was thinking of doing a blog about my new store as my “blogging comeback.” I was really excited about this new store. It’s not a lot bigger than the old one but there will be more display shelves for more options.

I still have to clean my display racks and jewelry holder due to the smoke from the fire that stained most of our furniture and displays. *Sigh.

For the holiday season we scheduled a weekly meet-up at a hotel near Paolo’s office to meet up with clients and resellers.

Makeshift shop. Do what you gotta do.

Holiday season is exhausting enough as it is, hauling stuff every week to a new location on top of meeting deadlines is just so physically draining. I can't wait to have a vacation.

I'm not complaining though. I love what I do, I think part of why I really push myself all the time is because of that love. I don't do it because I have to but because I want to.

I also do it all for this little guy here.

He makes it all worth it. 

I love you more than ever.

So much has been said already, all I can say is I've never felt I love this country more than the past few days. I'm in awe of the Filipino spirit.