A Good Friend

For new moms like me, I think it's nice to have some fun from time to time. Not that I'm not having fun with Caleb and at home, but there's a different kind of fun where you get to spend time with old friends and just talk about life. It's like bringing back your old lifestyle and just simply going with the flow without having to think about household chores. 

I'm happy that I was able to spend some hours with my good friend whom I haven't seen for a long time. We talked about each other's current life status and I'm glad that she's at a better state now. She used to visit me and cry herself to sleep, but today she was like the same person back in college - happy and contented. 

Yanna is a friend who despite the distance and time apart, we remain friends. You know that she's being sincere when she tells you she's happy for you, no judgements, no backstabbing. That's what I like about her. She's like a sponge that absorbs all my stories whether they're good or bad. :)

I'm lucky to have found a friend in her and I know that we'll remain friends until we get old. Until our next bonding, Yanna! :)

THE Date Night

Like others, Valentine's Day is something I look forward to. It's because I know that it's supposed to be a day spent with your partner. I fancy any kind of 'date' as long as Vincent and I are together. I'm not the kind who prefers (although I'd be glad to have one) a formal, candle lit dinner, or a surprise getaway. Vincent is not that type so I guess I just got used to it aside from the fact that that isn't really my personality as well. But who doesn't want a romantic, all-in date right? :) 

Last year, we managed to ask my mother-in-law to look after our two-month old Caleb. We had an expensive Japanese dinner at Mr. Kurosawa. The part that I got really smitten was when I received a bouquet of flowers from Vincent via email. I was smiling the whole day. He isn't really sweet by nature so little acts like this makes me really 'kilig'! 

This year was a lot simpler. No bouquets, no cards, no surprises. We had the night to ourselves and celebrated the love day satisfying our Mexican craving and strolling around the mall just like what we used do when we were still boyfriend and girlfriend. It felt really refreshing to be alone with my husband even for a short time. No baby to look after and finally, a decent and peaceful meal (no baby to try to control his tantrums).

Thanks to my reliable sister who took care of Caleb that night. She knows hat I've been waiting for that 'date night' so she was really very supportive about it. 

Married life is new to me as well as parenthood. But one thing's for sure, couples should always have time for each other. It's important that we don't lose that spark just because we are preoccupied with household duties and responsibilities. There's no harm in asking your relatives from time to time to look after your kids even for just a couple of hours...or more! :)

Much Needed Message

I have this odd attitude that I tend to cry when things get out of my hand - things that make me mad, happy, tired, fed up. My emotions get too strong that my body's number one reaction is to cry. 

Now that I have a one year old, there are times when no matter how much I try to keep things on track, there will always be instances that situations drive me crazy. One example is when Caleb decides to play and play and play during his bedtime, or worse at 4 in the morning. It usually happens when I am tired for the whole day or I still have tons of things to tick off my to-do list. When all I want is to have a shower and sit on the sofa comfortably. When I want some time to just even brush my hair or to poo peacefully. Yes, motherhood is tough and I'm supposed to be tougher. 

Yesterday, we went to Church and the homily was just perfect. It's like talking to God. 

"Be happy to know that you are needed."

It's true. I felt that I realize my purpose more. That my family wouldn't be able to stand tall if not for my contributions. Contributions that may look simple but are essential such as preparing food, giving Caleb a bath, preparing his clothes, cleaning his bum when he poos, providing clean bed sheets for a comfortable sleep, etc. I myself see these things as irrelevant and just a tiny piece compared to what my husband provides. But today, I have a better perspective of myself, my routine, my duties, my PURPOSE. 

It's great to know that what you do benefits other people especially your family. To all new moms like me who sometimes feel like life is hitting them with stones, always remember that it's a always a FULFILLMENT to SERVE your family. Having downtimes and stressful nights are just part of the drama! :)

A Day Full of Energy

Today, my husband had a heavy feet and decided to work from home. I was ecstatic because these are rare times that Caleb and I get to bond with him on a weekday. 

I think Caleb is aware that his father is around too because he refused to follow our daily routine. He's excited that he was up from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. He usually takes his afternoon naps at around 12 NN, but now that Vincent is around, I think he wanted to spend time with him. 

I could see in his eyes that he's starting to get tired and sleepy but still opted to play. I had to carry him and make him sleep or else he'd end up taking a nap at around 5 PM and would wake up at 8 PM, which usually is his bedtime. 

I believe that setting a routine for your baby is helpful because you get to plan your day. I'm a control freak and I always want to have a set plan for the day. Just by seeing that Caleb and I are able to follow our daily routine makes me comfortable (at least I get to know the times when I can relax and have some time for myself). 

Although that routine changes as he grows up, it still is a good idea to set one. I find it a healthy tool to make sure that my baby gets a balanced sleep and play activities everyday. 

Sizzling Bangus with Gravy Sauce

My love for food makes me imagine different types of anything edible. Out of nowhere I thought of asizzling bangus that's overloaded with gravy. It's actually the gravy that I craved for not the fish itself. 

I think I'm becoming a great cook as time goes by because there are times when I don't follow recipes, I just try to imagine how it's done and then I'm able to come up with a delicious dish. It really makes me happy especially for someone who doesn't have any background in cooking.

Last night, I decided to give this dish a try. I was so happy at how it turned out that I took a photo and posted it online! My husband loved it too and that's the best part. :)  

Gyoza

I was craving for gyoza one time, but I knew that eating out would be costly. Of course, I'd end up ordering not only gyoza but other stuff as well. Hehe.

I scanned different recipies on Pinterest and I encountered some with hard-to-find  ingredients. Good thing I found one that has ingredients that I already have in the pantry. 

Making it was easy (with the help of a foos processor) because you just need to mix everything together. But assembling them in dumpling wrappers took most of the time. I also figured that the secret to the gyoza was the taste of cabbage and sesame oil. Once I put those two it instantly smelled like a legit gyoza! 

I have my family to give it a try and they loved it, especially my sister. Unfortunately, my husband is not a fan of gyoza so when I asked if it was delicious he said that he doesn't really know the taste of a real gyoza but he thinks it is similar to what I made. 

Experimenting on food is a great hobby to satisfy not only myself but the entire family as well. :)

Baking Sets Me Free

Baking always has a special spot in my heart. I don't know why but, somehow I find peace when baking despite all the mess it involves. I started baking when I got pregnant in 2013. I didn't have a job to pre-occupy myself so my husband and I decided to give baking a try. Who knew I have a talent for this that I was able to start an online business for desserts. I thank God for this talent. :)

Now that I have a 1-year old, 90% of my time is alloted for him and baking is my least priority at the moment even though I find it as a stress reliever. Maybe, when my kids already go to school would be the best time to start exploring in the kitchen again. 

This is the latest creation I did for the second time. Luckily, my sister was free to look after Caleb so I had enough time to do all the clutter. It's tough though, to work fast paced because I didn't want to bother other people in taking care of my child. In short, baking is one of those "irrelevant tasks" that I can leave undone. 

Anyway, I'm just glad that even at second try, my cupcakes were a blast! I used a better tool for the frosting compared to the previous one, so it looked way better this time around. 

My husband even wanted me to look at the costing for possible addition to our products. 

I see myself working in the kitchen again with my apron on and oven preheating in the near future. It's something that I wouldn't give up even when I get old. :) 

New Beginning

So I've been wanting to remake my previous blog, but I can't seem to make it work the way I want it to be. Creating a new blog makes it so much easier, it's like a fresh start! This blog is dedicated to the new chapter of my life - motherhood, marriage, being a wife and all sorts of grown-up stuff that I needed to write about. Sometimes, putting things into words is like saving thoughts in a hard drive. It also is a great way to clear my mind off things. :)