As a child, I wrote every single day on my scented diary (with lock that ensured my youthful privacy). My diary was a quiet confidant to whom I shared my views and sentiments without reservations. I’d write about almost anything—my experience in school, my favorite cartoon series, my crush, my friends, my family vacation, my…
Category: Adulting
Quarantine Holy Week 2021
“Why does Jesus have many houses?” This was Tashy’s innocent question during our Visita Iglesia 2 years ago. 😄 I miss going to different churches with the family during Holy Week. 💒 But while I long to talk to God inside the church, I am also thankful to encounter the Lord in many, different opportunities. …
“Emotions create habits” #SunLifeItoAngArawMo
“Emotions create habits.” 💛👩🏻💻 This is my favorite realization among many other beautiful lessons I learned from Sun Life’s interactive workshop “Build Bright Habits to Reach Your Goals”. I always thought that habits can be sustained only by will power. So whenever I fail to pursue a habit, I blame my mind. 🧠 I blame…
BOOK ALERT: “WHY FINANCIAL EDUCATION ALONE DOES NOT WORK” and “THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY”
Finance guru Rose Fres Fausto turns the spotlight on principles affecting money behaviors in her latest book “Why Financial Education Alone Does Not Work,” the second installment in her financial intelligence quotient (FQ) trilogy published by ABS-CBN Books. “It took a lot of courage on my part to write this book. Why? Because many people…
Don’t be proud
This is one of my favorite quotes from J. Donald Walters’ “Life’s Little Secrets”, a book I regularly read for inspiration as a teenager. Until now, I still need this constant, straightforward reminder. When life is well, it can be tempting to think that everything is a result of our own awesomeness. While there’s nothing…
What will she be in the future?
What will she be in the future? I’m excited to find out. ❤️ For now, I take delight in witnessing her discover her interests. I cherish the moments when her curiosity leads to her messy experiments. For now, I try to document her little wins and try to comfort her when she gets frustrated. I…
Grateful to be back inside the church
What’s your highlight of the week? Mine is, after 7 months, I was able to attend mass in our natural habitat. ⛪️ While I’m grateful for online masses that help strengthen our faith during quarantine, I cherish the different kind of peace and joy that come from the rare moments I get to spend time…
Buy beauty and self-care essentials from home and support Filipino NiXYpreneurs
Buy self-care essentials from home and support Filipino NiXYpreneurs. 🛍 😎 NiXY is a multi-brand group that offers world-class beauty products like: 🧖🏻♀️ Korean skincare line Deoproce💄 Australian cosmetics company BYS💇🏻♀️ Kiss New York💃🏻 Greek fragrance group STR8 Just choose the beauty and self-care products you like from NiXY’s Digital Catalogue and contact a NiXYpreneur…
Books about Family Life from Feastbooks
When I was 24, I read this book called “How to Find Your One True Love” by Bro Bo Sanchez. I didn’t care if the bookstore cashier thought I was cheesy or desperate for love. 😅 I really bought the book simply because I was 24…and still single. 😂 While there’s really no one strict…
Not feeling fine today? Here’s why you shouldn’t feel bad about your negative emotions
How are you today? “I’m not OK. I feel sad,” said our 3-year-old. How I wish I can be like my daughter when it comes to acknowledging emotions. 😄 As adults, we seem to have a positive auto response to people checking on us. Saying “I’m fine” has become so mechanical that we do it…
The Library Heiress
More than two decades ago, I was a child growing up in a world with no internet, no fun mobile games, and no video calls. Other than television (Hello Batibot!) and my plastic kitchen toy set, my favorite form of entertainment was my humble collection of storybooks. 📚 Best childhood ever! For decades, my little…
You’ll be safe here
Dear Tash, Mom is scared of the virus that I tell you about. Sometimes, Mom is still feeling weird about our new setup. Most of the time, Mom is tired, trying to balance work and taking care of our home. Despite all that, Mommy will do her best to protect you. Just like Rylie of…
Let your heart design
“Mom, let your heart design,” Tash said to me yesterday while I was busy working. ❤️🖍🎨 I’m not sure if she heard it from one of the children shows she’s been watching, but I really think it’s a catchy tagline or an empowering mantra for the second half of our memorable 2020. 🤓 Surely, the…
Scent of coffee beans and handwritten love notes
Scent of coffee beans ☕️ and handwritten love notes 📝 Whatever it is that makes you smile genuinely, enjoy it. 🧡🤎 Allow yourself to get a taste of those simple pleasures — warm hugs, genuine laughter during a Zoom call, unexpected food delivery from a friend, milktea or that indoor plant you just bought. When…
Coping with anxiety during quarantine
“Motherhood is driving me crazy!” I used to think this statement is an overstatement…until I got quarantined…during a pandemic…with a toddler. It’s been 55 days since the Philippine government declared a community quarantine, which evolved into “enhanced community quarantine” to “extreme enhanced community quarantine” due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Whatever it’s called, this lockdown…
Life lesson from a quarantine summer
This magnificent mango tree is the scenic view closest to Masungi Georeserve that we can enjoy this quarantine summer. 🌳 🌤 Every morning, Tash and I will open our room window, stare at this beauty, greet it good morning, count the birds that fondly nestle on its strong branches and marvel at the many fruits…
Missing my fearless, carefree self
Imagining the adrenaline rush of our thrilling ride in the middle of the majestic Paoay Sand Dunes 🤩 How I wish I can shout my heart out like we did back then, willingly embracing the unseen wind right in front of us, joyfully surrendering to every unexpected bump and turn. Yes, we all want that…
A confident mother is a requirement to raise a positive and courageous child #FilipinaBeautyJourney
Fair and flawless skin. Long legs. Sexy body. Chiseled cheekbones. Let’s be honest. In the Philippines, we were made to think that beauty is confined to these few physical characteristics. What we don’t realize is that, in other parts of the world, there are people who will pay just to have our skin color. Somewhere…
BE IN THE MOMENT: Life lesson from children
In a generation where multitasking has become a way of life, practicing mindfulness is something easier said than done. Though I have read a lot of articles about it and attended quite a few events that promote it, being mindful is still something I find hard to consistently do. As a work-at-home mom, I try…
Let’s do small things with great love this 2020
Can’t believe the holidays are over! 🤭 Time flies when everyone’s having fun, right? Here’s our little family savoring the few hours left of the long holiday break with another family food trip. 😍 While we wish the happy holiday season won’t end, let’s just be excited with the new opportunities to love and serve our…
