Rock 'n' Roll madness

I have this "thing" for rockstars, skulls, stars and tattoos. It started back in the 90s when I couldn't get over MTV back in the 1st Grade. Thus I got to know Blind Melon, Nirvana and such. My fondness grew when I stepped into 5th grade and was introduced to Alanis Morissette. The list just went on and on up until highschool and yes, college.

The moment I knew I was pregnant, I let Wan listen to my kind of music on my fone's playlist. We listened to Jeff Buckley, The Carpenters, Copeland, Sepultura, Everytime I Die to light and bubbly Feist, Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson. It amazes me how he responded to these while he was inside my tummy.

I remember Pachuca Sunrise by Minus The Bear, whenever he hears it he either kicks or he calms down. Its actually one of those songs that puts him to sleep and one of my personal faves.

And until now I carry that "thing" with me although I am not as updated when it comes to music nowadays. I started collecting these only last year, thrifted and brand new. One of my wishlists was to buy Wan band shirts. And yeah, bit by bit I am now starting these collectibles from shirts to onesies and some of it has been worn by Wan yet. Oh well, my guilty pleasure. =)

Like Saturday never ends.

Saturday! Finally its the weekend! Yay! We woke up late and I couldn't blame the bed weather. Rainy Saturday morning and cuddling under the sheets. Nice, eh? Definitely. My day started with my shop's inbox with queries about the posted items. Then advertise and updating the reserved items. I did some meet ups with two Mummy buyers and a few mummyhood chat. Pretty much my day was smooth and I liked how it started even if I had a thousand thoughts inside my head. Never ending budgeting and figures, more figures. Went home with a Yogart Delight on my hands and hoping that at least it can help me forget about the figuring out for a moment. Little naughty one was wide awake and screaming when I came home. Hyped up as the usual.

I ordered Lasgna and some Pizza Fries for a "lite dinner". He gobbled up the pasta like there's no tomorrow. I even thought he didn't like it all. The fries were gone too.

Wan is eating like a pig and I like it because he's becoming heavier. But the bad part is that he doesn't get chubby at all. Instead, the fats go to his thighs and his tummy. He even looks like he has got a beer belly. Hehehe. After attacking the pasta, he ran to me saying, "Mama, Mama!" and signaling me to get up. He held my hand and led me to his high chair. He finished it all up in a clean slate and all by himself. He didn't sit on his high chair but instead he made his high chair his table while he sat on the sofa. Neat, huh? Although with a bit of mess on the floor and on his face. But he did just fine. The cleanest mess to date. =)

Then he laid on the sofa and finished off the remaining ounces of his milk. Grabbed his cars and played before we hit the bath.

Cleaned and washed up, we tried on some get ups before going to bed. And this is the outcome of it. Wearing his uncle's basketball shoes with his glasses and new hat. He kinda liked wearing these fancy glasses. I dunno why. Its just amazing how he poses spontaneously at the camera these days. I don't have to pressure him anymore. Hehe. He's becoming a camwhore!

Friday bliss and jitters.

Friday is my busy day. I finally found the time to ship all the 10 packages for my excited Mommy buyers. I had my first six packages picked up by AIR21 while the four remaining I have to bring personally to JRS. Somewhat I am thankful that I left while Wan was asleep on the sofa with my brother.

After the scheduled shipping at JRS, I stumbled upon these lovely beauties in Book Sale at The Atrium. All these babies for only P350! Neat, huh?! I was actually looking for another addition to out Eric Carle collection, but I haven't found any so I got these instead.

I found some more Curious George books to make up for the fact that I haven't found some Eric Carle books. =( Four more Curious George books to add up to his collection. And he is actually slowly digesting it step by step. Although I should say, Curious George stories have more narration, a bit longer but with vibrant colors! Plus, I found two Dr. Seuss books!

I have already noted Dr. Seuss on my list for books to collect but yes, often times I forget about it whenever an Eric Carle book comes into the picture. =) I read at a site that Dr. Seuss books are actually helpful to children when they are starting to talk or learning more words. And yes, I have read a Dr. Seuss book when I was a kid. I used to envy my cousin for having a Dr. Seuss collection. When I got home, he quickly rummaged through the white plastic bag I was bringing. The moment I got them out, his eyes glowed and he said, "Waaaaaw! Book!". Amazing, isn't it? Wan loves books as much as he loves crab and corn, cars or Jollibee's Chicken Macaroni soup. We watched the news about the Intensity 8.9 earthquake that just hit the Central part of Japan at 3:00pm this afternoon and how a ferocious tsunami later affected the Eastern shores of Japan as an aftermath.

Just seeing the video on the news gives me the goosebumps. I just saw how cars are literally floating and hug waves swallowing the towns and house in less than a minute. It was such as bad sight to see. =( I pray for the lives lost during this tragedy. And I pray that nothing like this will happen to us here in the Philippines.

After the news, we read the new books as I let him chose the ones he like. He started with Curious George and then Dr. Seuss. But yes of course, he still stood up and got his Eric Carle books, all six of them. After that we read his all time memorized, favorite book, Where The Wild Things Are.

After our reading marathon, my poor little Wantonball slept atop his pile of books. I found him asleep with a fire truck on his hand. =) It was a tiring day, indeed. And we pray that tomorrow is better than today. Keep safe. Good night!

Me as a Shoeaholic Mum!

As a kid, all I can remember was owning a pair Adidas Samba back in '87. It was a pretty much a big deal especially when your parents are OFWs in Saudi. Yeah, I was an OFW kid. Raised in an average household and eldest among the brood of three. The only girl, to top it off.

During my teens and around college, I collected Chuck Taylors and Vans Slip-ons. I was always fond of guy's shoes especially skate brands and the likes of Nike and Adidas with rare designs. Bit by bit I started to own a few slip-ons and sneakers. I remember diligently saving my allowance for quirky pair each month! When I had my "career" I then began buying different styles of ballet shoes, flats, wedges and of course, killer heels. I had a favorite store back in the Emirates that I constantly check every week -- Stradivarius, H&M, Spring (ALDO's cheaper counterpart) and yes, ShoeMart. Stradivarius offers the best VINTAGE looking kicks with only one pair each design. Amazing! Then you have H&M, Spring and ShoeMart for designer replicas at a very affordable price! Each pair I owned was in the most vibrant color possible. After all, I am a fan of the VINTAGE Era.

If you ask me now where they are... they're gone. After giving birth I decided to get rid of them cos I wanted to get rid of the bad vibes. It was a "new life, new things" drama. I dunno how to explain myself but well, I just didn't like them hanging around anymore. After giving birth, I became a size 7 from size 6 and alot of common Mummy friends have also experienced this "change" too. Although, I kept a few of my favorite pairs but the rest just don't fit me anymore.

Wan's 2011 Collection

I really don't know where I started nor how it all began. Wan started out owning only three pairs of hard soled shoes before he could walk -- his first pair of Chuck Taylors which was a gift from Mama, his Adidas Goodyear Edition and our beloved gold-striped Adidas Superstar which we brought in Dubai back in 2009 when we went for a visit. After his first birthday, we got his first pair of Nike Dunks and then the list went on and on. One pair from the other. I began shoe hunting from Ebay to Multiply to Facebook Sellers. It was like candy. It was heaven! Everything I found was a great catch with each pair unique above the rest -- preloved or brand new, if it fits the budget, why not? And I never knew I'd be a shoeaholic and these pairs aren't even mine at all!

I actually sold some of the pairs that he has outgrown. Athough there are really a few which I found it hard to let go. If I could recall I already sold around 20 pairs of shoes, selling it to Moms like me with whom I share the same sentiment with when it comes to making their little guy to look good through my online shop. These clients have then become my friends in the later part - Sarah, Johanna, Arah, Eyak, Rhiane, Zara, Madeline and Myrna. We all share the same sentiment when it comes to shoes. And yes, they all blame me for making them a shoeaholic! =) This is one reason that I created The Shoeaholic Mummy Club! I found my soul sisters!

Shopping for a new pair actually became my guilty pleasure. I think one reason is that I am compensating on the fact that I am a single parent and raising my son alone is a great workload. I don't want him to be deprived of the good things in life that I can afford. It may be brand new or pre owned, it doesn't matter. As long as I know he looks good on them! Hihihi.

Cheers to fellow shoeholic Mums! ♥

Saying hello to the world of Terrible TWO!

Dear Wan,

Right at this very moment while I write this its approximately about 30 more minutes before your second birthday. I just watch you beside me snuggling close to me like you always do during bedtime. Fast asleep and faraway dreaming. I am just so amazed on how time flies. Its seems like it was only yesterday that you were so tiny and fragile as I held you in my arms. Now I am just surprised on how big you have grown and the new things that you show me everyday. Whenever that smile on your face lits up, it never fails to amaze me.

I remember the first time you said BACKPACK and I almost cried over the fact that you just uttered your first word other than MAMA and PAPA. Then the list just went on... SHOES, FISH, CAR, TAXI, MILK, COKE, DOG, TRUCK, WOW, SEXY, JESUS and TOAST. You love calling everyone at home... PAT, BOK, SA, TITA. I love listening to blabbing endlessly like you're speaking Chinese. Blabbing and blabbing until I hear you say funny words. One day at a time baby and we will get there. =)

Next, you slowly had your favorites and you already know how to choose between two things. I slowly noticed your "new thing"... your love for cars. You love piling them up one after the other and how you would literally stare at them each one as you play. I remember how you would carefully look out the car window and stare at the different trucks, buses, jeeps, and cars that would pass by. The look of awe in your face is priceless. Another instance is your love for Showtime. Seeing you dance and sing is unforgettable and I am happy that I didn't miss any of that.

We have been through alot of tough times, baby. Our 2010 wasn't so good to us. We had five consecutive hospital admissions and I am just thankful for a fact that you are a fighter. For this year, I pray that we don't get to undergo another admission anymore.

Everyday is another new day for us both and everyday I learn new things from you. Mommy is hoping for a right start for us. And I am bracing myself for the new surprises that you have for me this year as you say hello to the world of the terrible TWO. =)

Happy birthday, my little Wantonball!

I love you,

Mum =)

My Little Dragon!

This is Wan's first ever experience on Trick or Treat at SM City Iloilo.

I was actually excited and all giddy with the idea.

We brought his costume 3 months before Halloween after searching almost 20 different sites. We were comparing brands for the right costume from one site to another.

Until finally, here's what landed on our hands

- a DRAGON.

It was supposedly a DINOSAUR but then the prices

were a bit too high and the sizes were out of stock.

So it was the Dragon costume instead.

I was just surprised on how people were amused by his costume.

It surely was a head turner!

After all, Dragons looked like a hybrid type of Dinosaur.

The resemblance isn't that far!

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday round up.

I am now up on my feet. After 2 weeks of looking for a job, I finally landed on one. Well I don't really call it a job. Its a sort of a challenge. I think it's about time that I do something productive for myself. Something that can help my badly injured ego.

My boss J is a supermom just like me. And I quite frankly admire MULTI-TASKING MOTHERS. The past 2 weeks was some kind of a big deal to me because I want to be busy. I want to be around. I want to be at my feet. Besides running an online store, I want to be out and about. I find it therapeutic on my part. It keeps me away from the negativity that slowly eats me up when I am by myself. So this new challenge is a therapy. And I like it.

Today, Wan was at his best. He was a real show off. Wiggling and doing his "Fruit-Salad" shake. It was so marvelous that I got teary eyed watching him. These are the moments I wouldn't wanna miss. These are the memories I can never trade in for.


I read a random FTP (Fit to Post) Blog on Yahoo! Philippines this evening: Beauty is in the eye of the baby by Toni Tiu. And I was deeply touched and can totally relate to it. I specifically quote this line that I loved most...

"The feeling of insecurity lasted the whole afternoon. It disappeared however as soon as I got home. My nine-month-old son was playing with his toys when he saw me come into the room. His eyes lit up so beautifully. He dropped his toys, gave me a huge, toothless grin, and began to crawl towards me. There I was with my messy hair, crooked glasses and rumpled shirt, and I felt like the most beautiful person on earth. As my son smothered me with his baby kisses, my heart lifted. I’m beautiful to this little boy, I thought. That’s all that matters. When your son looks at you with those eager eyes, it feels like you can conquer anything. Every insecurity is squished. Every strand of messy hair makes sense. I try to remember my son’s welcoming look when I’m feeling insecure about myself. Balancing beauty and being a new mom is a toughie. I’ll figure this out along the way."

I feel this exact same way every time Wan sees me as I come home. He'd look up and stretches his baby arms the biggest to give me the best baby hug he'd give. I'd smell him through and through. Its his scent that urges me to fly back home after a long day. There are times that whenever I am glued too much on the computer, he comes up to me whining and wants to be carried. Like telling me:"Mum you have to stop cos I miss you!".



The wet sloppy kisses are the best part above the rest. He'd cup my face with his tiny hands and kiss me a thousand baby times. PWAAAH! PWAAH! PWAAH! And like Toni Tiu, it is true that all your insecurities are squished into million little pieces when your son looks at you. I saw that and its the most wonderful feeling I have ever felt in my lifetime. And I am in love with him everyday.