Parting Ways.

I had her for the last 35 years.

Many people told me to get rid of her but I just could not. Either I did not have time or I thought it would be bad luck to let go of her.

How do you ever part ways with a little mole friend of 35 years?!?

See her resting on my nose.

I must say that she grew up not really as beautiful but I am sure she made me different.

It just felt right and I knew the timing was now. So four days ago, I said goodbye to her (and her twin on my back!).

Still have the stitches on my nose but I can't wait to see the finished product.

Goodbye, Mole/s. Thanks for making me stand out from the rest.

Open Spaces.

I recently went on a trip to London. I {heart} London. I think it is one of the amazing cities in the world, if not the most. With so much history and character, a first timer will always be in awe. Actually, I have been there twice yet I was still in awe.

London has a lot of parks and open spaces. They do not run out of greens. And this is one of the things that I appreciate in this city a lot.

On a sunny day, you will find everyone out enjoying the sun and the grass. They spend a lot of time in the park but make sure that they keep it clean.

During my visit, I tried it for myself. Walked to St. James's Park. Grabbed my coke and phone. Sat on the grass. Watched the passersby and relaxed. It was nice and peaceful.

How I wish we have the same here in Metro Manila. The only one I know is UP. We have Luneta but is it still as grassy and clean? It's been years since I last visited.

I saw High Street yesterday. I think it is the next best thing. And while it's a compromise between concrete and grass, I am happy that most of the time people were allowed to step on the grass.

I have seen parks with cordoned grasses. It's such a shame.

High Street greens welcome everyone... even the pets.

I still think Metro Manila could do better parks with less structures and retail area. But this is fine for now... somewhere where AC can practice walking.

Yoga.

Believe it or not, I have been doing yoga lately.

It all started with a bad back which I had way back. For a while, it has stopped but carrying a baby has helped pave the way for its return.

The overreacting side of me has caused me to panic a bit so off I went to the an orthopedic doctor. He fully supported my then just thoughts about yoga.

My friend Faye was the real yogi in all of this. I always thought that she does not really need yoga as she is super skinny. She was happy to accompany me to Yogaplus and 'ninang' me to my very first yoga class.

Of course, the first yoga experience was not easy. The 90-minute class seemed forever. I am the most un-flexible person I know and the laziest when it comes to working out so lasting the whole class deserved an A for effort.

I learned that yoga is not only for people for who want to lose weight. It is primarily for people who want to be healthy in mind and spirit. I particularly liked the purpose building at the start where the instructor points out that each one of the participants has their own reason to attend class and so be it. Mine were the bad back and a chance to work out after giving birth.

After 12 yoga classes, I am still at it. I am doing Hot Yoga, mind you. My back is not as bad anymore -- could have been better if I do it more often in a week but nah, I do not have the time. My reason has leveled up - I REALLY want to be more healthy and I have put to heart that some kind of activity will be of great help.

No, I do not do the hard poses. I have not graduated from the basic ones. I cannot and have not attempted to do the hand stand (not the correct yoga name for it). I do not do my practice apart from the once a week class. And my favorite pose is still the savasana or the pose of total relaxation (think lying down on your back, feet apart, hands freely on the side).

Someday. Who knows. I never thought I would go beyond my trial class.

*For more details about Yogaplus, please check this link.

'Like' Notes.

I can't believe notes like these have been written by a Grade 2 girl. And I am amazed that the notes were personally given by the Grade 2 girl to a boy classmate.

While I was proud that this was given to my JG, I was scratching my head... confused that kids, actually, LITTLE GIRLS nowadays are capable of professing love or shall I say like to boys they fancy. 

I was trying to remember if I had the same kind of fondness for a boy when I was 7. There were flashbacks where I was being teased to random boys and being so mad about it. But I do not recall having the courage to give a note of sweet nothings to the opposite sex.

Now, JG is talking about having his first girlfriend. Ha! I was speechless for a few seconds.

What a brave little girl. I hope to see her soon.

Aftermath.

2014 was all about the pregnancy and having AC. It was no surprise that shopping for self was the least thing in my mind.

It is now 2015. Just a little over the half year mark. And I just came to realize that I have busted my shoe shopping budget big time.

Here is the first of the series. Quite expensive Tory Burch so I was thinking back in January that this would be my last shoe purchase for the year.

I was doing great. No purchase since January. Then came the walking shoes which I bought at Aerosoles in May. Something that I said to myself I needed given the amount of walking I was about to do in my business trip to London.

July. Sale season. I have been wanting to purchase another Kenneth Cole as it was the only shoe my feet love dearly. I did not dare getting a pair for the longest time because they cost almost P8,000. But shoes were 50% off this month.

And last but not the least, another damage caused by the July sale season. Reason was to support the British economy through Dune. And oh, I never had any sandals for so long.

I guess things catch up pretty fast. You thought you have lost but no. A shoe shopper by heart will always be a shoe shopper. 

I must point out, though, that I never ever buy shoes that are not on sale - it just does not make sense to buy at full price.

That is it. I am done for this year - let's extend to next year.

Oops. I still need to buy one more for my sister's wedding. Shucks.

Two Kids. Several Roles.

I know that having two kids is difficult. But I never thought it would be THAT difficult.

It is really literally juggling different roles on a daily basis. I am not only a Mom, I am also a:

• wife
• a boss at work
• a subordinate at work
• a colleague at work
• a chief operating officer at home
• a teacher to my 7 year old

Let us not forget that I, too, am a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, an in-law. Thankfully, those roles do not take much of my time but, of course, I need to be where I should be when necessary.

And then there is myself. I do need to do a cameo regularly, don't I?

Oh, I do not want to be glorified for my superhuman-ness. I really have no time for that. They say it is a choice I made so most definitely I have to swallow the consequences of it - and yes fully aware of that. But sometimes, whenever I am in my most sacred alone time (short but sweet nowadays), I do think why things have come to this. Not my choices, but the fact that there needs to be choices between home and non-home stuff.

And that is a bigger question that I do not think will have enough answers. So I carry on as usual and look forward to the time when things get easier - I am sure they will.

Changes.

My life changed all of a sudden. I am now a Mom of two. My sweet boy (let's call him JG) and my new pretty baby girl.

Hubby and I were blessed with a second baby six years after. Imagine the years. I feel like a new Mom. Good thing my boy can fend for himself... and is even another hand when my two ones are not enough.

Honestly, I wanted another boy. I did not believe that I am a Mom fit for a girl. And I love the way boys adore and "fear" their Moms -- oh yes, selfish reasons.

But my girl is so adorable. I cannot believe I wished for a boy. Never mind how cranky she becomes when sleepy. Never mind how hard it is to bottle feed her -- she likes my boobies more. Never mind that she mostly does not sleep long during the day. She makes up for them with her numerous bedimpled smiles, her interesting goo gaa stories, her 7-8 hour sleep at night and many, many more.

Blog, meet my AC. You will hear a lot about her.