Fishy. Fishy.

A few minutes after I published the entry about our house pets, I found Red Star lying on the his tank on one side. He died.

I was not devastated. I just had to re-live my failed attempts at taking care of an aquatic animal. My little boy, JG, was not sad but was quite scared - it was his first time to see a dead pet. And it did not help that our dinner that night was fish.

I went through a very short period of mourning while I tended to Red Star's vacated tank the next morning. I fixed the plants, cleaned the small cave, brushed the sides of the tank in and out thoroughly.

While I was at it, I realized that it was time to be serious about having a pet fish... thanks to my son's friend who gifted the fish, Red Star the fish and his therapeutic effect during my fish watching time.

That evening, we went to the Pet City in Bonifacio High Street. It has become my favorite store actually - very helpful and very patient to my endless questions and my piecemeal purchases.

We got five -- 3 Pink Danios and 2 Neon Tetras.

Aren't they cute?

And yes, I finally bought a tank filter.

When Red Star was around, I also found out that aquarium planting is relaxing. So I got myself into it. It does not take a lot - pruning and re-planting here and there. Sometimes, I re-position the plants and then, I think about the next plant to add into the small ecosystem.

The tank filter made the water quality even clearer -- I now have a nicer view of my pets and plants.

Coloring Books.

I love coloring since I was a child. I secretly stole a page or two from my younger siblings' coloring books and colored them. Good thing that kind of 'stealing' was not an issue to them so there was no shouting or hair pulling about the coloring books.

Until now, I would color some pages of my son's coloring books. I'd use his used crayolas and at one time I even used his watercolor.

I was ecstatic one afternoon when my boss told me about the latest trend - adult coloring books. They are for the very busy and stressed people who needed zen moments.

Off I went to the malls to get my own books. Here are my books and what I have done so far.

It's amazing how we now "adultize" kid activities. Just goes to show that it is indeed fun to be young.

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.

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.

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.

Almost A Year.

Indeed.

I have never thought I would be this busy. From trying to conceive to being pregnant.

Yes, I am pregnant again with my second child. It has been a six-year journey... filled with ups and downs. Finally, the baby is coming very soon -- and she is a girl!

God works in mysterious ways.

The boy is now going to a big school. Hubby is enjoying work. Things are okay now. I am thankful that I am blessed.

In the next few weeks, I will be busy prepping the house... making it baby-ready and, at the same time, maintaining the 6-year old's space. Tricky.

To start with.

My boy's hand-me-down crib still looks like brand new. This was purchased six years ago - at half the mall's price. Thanks to my good friend from my former office.

The first purchase at Php 6,000 is an old school rocking chair from Market Market's Home Market. Made in Vigan. Something very useful for sleepless nights... and for a not so sleepy baby (oh, please be sleepy!).

 

Slowly getting back into the groove and revisiting my creative side. I miss it a lot.

I will see you a bit often again.

How Things Are Lately.

Hello, blog.  It has been a long time indeed.

The break was good and I missed you.

I figured you might want to catch up... I have been doing a lot of things these past months.

I went to Tokyo.

And London.

Leveled up my cooking.

                   

Became domesticated.

Did a bit of gardening.

And bought a bag!

Of course, I continue to be a mum and wife.

Sorry, I have been distant for several months.  I will be visiting you more often again.  I think there is even more to chat about now.

Life Lately.

It has been four months with my less stressful job.  And I have had three monthly visits - the most frequent that I had since four years ago.  There was a moment of normality with my monthly cycle after I gave birth to my little boy but things went back to abnormal mode because of stressful work. Now, I am normal again!

Sorry, too much information above.

But yes, I am slowly realizing that my hypothesis is correct... that there is a certain level of stress that the body can sustain.  The mind may be strong but the body has its limits.

And how can stress be just right?

I spend 8-10 hours of intense focus at the office.  I run from one 30-minute meeting to another, take lunch on my desk, write business cases and ideas papers, and troubleshoot issues.

And then everything stops.  Just when I have had it.

Next, I get a life.

I help my son with his homework.
We play trains after.
We sometimes go out and have fun on a Friday.
Saturdays and Sundays are spent with more energy.  I do day sleep less.  And my outlook has become more positive... far more positive.

The Lord has finally called me to slow down.  And slow down I did.

I do not know how long this will last.  I hope it does for a while.

I Am Entitled To A Sad Post, Right?

This space is dedicated to the one who should have been born sometime this September.

We could have been four by now.

It would have been one of the greatest times of my life.

I'm sorry.  I just could not take the baby and pregnancy declarations now.

While they are all happy and giddy, a part of me is still stuck in the dreams and plans of eight months ago.

I did move on.  It's just that September came and I remembered.  Sigh.






Oh, get a grip.

It's going to be alright... promise.

Alone For A Week.

It has been a long time since I last traveled alone... Alone as in no Hubby, little boy or family.  When I learned that I would get back to the "business trip business" with my new job (yes, I have a new one), it was a welcome thought for me.  And I would be traveling within Asia so this it would be a good break-in.


I try my best to travel light, not because I would want to be business-like.  I do it... just in case... I... buy a lot.  All in one medium-sized bag for a one week trip.  I never forget my goodies for overseas contacts, of course (Curly Tops and Mango Balls!).
First time to travel with another airline from Manila.  I have been a loyal PAL fan because of family... but this time, I flew Cathay.  And because of that, hello again to Terminal 1.
I never remembered Terminal 1 having tissue paper in the Ladies' Room.  They have now.  They even have bidet!  Hooray for airport surveys!
The Boeing 777 liner is a nice plane.  Each seat has their own touchscreen TV and has a port to charge the Apple stuff.
Food was not as great, though.  I still like the hot meals of PAL.
Hongkong, finally.
But, I was not done yet.  I took the Airport Express to Kowloon Station.
Took the Airport Express Complimentary Shuttle to Hung Hom Station.
Then, took another intercity train.
All the way to Guangzhou... my first time in China.
The photos, I took inside the cab.  Ended up in the hotel at around 9:30pm after a 12-hr journey from Manila.  It was a great adventure but glad that was done. (More to come in my next posts!).

Frustrated MUA.

I have always been fascinated with make-up.  I remember watching my mom prepare for office, her sitting in front of her dresser applying make-up.  My most favorite part then was when she was putting her lipstick because it made her made up face complete.

Then, thanks to Ricky Reyes and "her" Beauty School Plus show in RPN9, I got even more interested.  I was no longer interested with the lipstick... I was hooked more on coloring the eyes.

While I was growing up, I never had money so whenever I needed to put color on my face, I would raid the collection of my Mom.  I did put into practice Mama Ricky's lessons so I do not remember having to go out with a disastrous mix of colors.

I started to work and it was just unfortunate that the world I was in is boring finance.  Boring in a sense because this part of the organization is not into make-up... unlike marketing, sales or customer service.  Make-up was, thus, not part of my budget... not even a lipstick... well, okay.. I did include a lip gloss.

Fast forward to now... weddings have become super commercialized, YouTube is here to stay and people have insisted on trying to find themselves.  Make-up is now a form of art and a source of passion.  Make-up in my budget has now more than ever been validated.


Presenting my loot.
(Plus, the Suesh Brushes from hubby.)


But no... it's not a loot of expensive make-up.  Remember, I am from Finance so I watch my budget closely.  I stick to the Maybelline/Cover Girl level.  My MACs are courtesy of my generous cousin Joy D, who is, by the way, a guru in make-up.


And, as they say, one slowly builds up her make-up loot.  So, here are my latest additions.


Make-up primer from Missha.
Another lipstick from Face Shop.
Eyeliner from Face Shop, I think.
Hello Kitty mascara by Maybelline.

My next step is to deal with my frustration.  I hope to enroll in one of the make-up courses.  I just need to find the time and save up for it since the classes are pretty darn expensive.  Who knows... I might have a second career as a make-up artist.  Loving what you do and earning from it is a very nice combination.