What A Collection!

Theme: COLLECTION OF TOYS

Play-Dohs!

I am not sure if I could call these play-dohs a collection "collection" because when I got them, they were all ready in packs. Well, we are not really into collecting a particular kind of toy; Jose would not allow it. He would always say, "Mayroon na ata si Mia niyan." or "Manika na naman? Ang dami-dami na niyang manika." But when it comes educational toys like puzzles or Legos... I am not sure if being practical would still be an issue. :D We'll see...

To see actual cool toy collections, go here. I am telling you, it's worth the click!

~o~

Speaking of collection, I have more multi-title book sets to share. (The rest can be found here.) We can't get enough of them!

Read at Home -Floppy's Phonics / Poppy and Max

And I just discovered the power of audio books through these fabulous finds:

The Ballet Collection / Charlie and Lola (We've fallen in love with them big time!)

When my throat is not very cooperative, I could just pop 'em on the player and Mia gets her regular book reading dosage! :D

Charlie and Lola with Cds!

They say every child should own these... Now, I know why!

And since we welcomed Mia in our SPECStacular family, I am sure she'll enjoy reading and playing more. :)

My Lovely Daughter

Always the Apple of Daddy's Eye :)

Look how much she has to have...

I hope I could raise awareness of how much important it is to have your child's eyes checked even at a very young age. If you'd like to know what to look out for, go to my post entilted A Brighter World. Have a fantastic day!

There She Goes # 14

It's been a while since I last posted Mia's musings under There She Goes. And I think this week's theme under Mommy Moments is a sign that I must catch up...

SILLY MOMENTS

I have a very weak back obviously due to obesity. I don't do my advised exercises anymore and that in itself is silly more in the negative mark. Every morning I am dragging myself to get up and Mia found a good way to help waking my lazy morning bones. And this is how all the fun silliness starts...

Humpty Dumpty

Mia: Mom!!! Good morning! I LOVE YOU!!!

Me: Good morning. I love you too.

Mia: Can I be Humpty Dumpty?

Me: Huh?

Mia: I'll be Humpty Dumpty and you'll be the wall.

Me: Uh Okay.

Mia walks on my back while singing Humpty Dumpty and I AM ENJOYING EVERY STEP then the song ended...

Me: Mia, please do it again.

Mia: Mom!!! You're not supposed to talk! You're a wall!!! Hmpf!

More Humpty Dumpty in the Afternoon

Mia: Mom, can I sit on your lap please? Your lap will be the wall and I'm Humpty Dumpty.

Me: Okay but I want you to be ticklish Humpty Dumpty. (BAD IDEA).

Mia: Oh yes yes yes! I like that!

While I tickled her and she laughed while singing, she inched and fell on the floor just like Humpty Dumpty!

Me: Mia!!!

No movement from Mia for two seconds...

I cried hysterically while I scooped her then cried some more...

Mia: Mom, put me down now. Hmpf! You're not the best Mommy in the world anymore! Hmpf!

Me: Sorry anak! Are you hurt? Sorry na. (Still crying).

Mia: Stay away from me, Mom!

Me: Mia, don't call me Mom if you'll talk to me that way. I said I'm sorry. And if you think that I'm not the best Mommy anymore then fine!

Mia moves away from me then after a few minutes...

Mia: Mom... I was mad because... you let go of me on purpose!

Me: WHAT? (Seryoso ka ba talaga?) Why would I do that? Mia, what are you thinking? That was an accident!

Mia: Accident? What's a acccident? (She's not into using a vs. an yet).

Me: (You know purpose but you don't know accident?) It means no one wants what happened. It means, I did not make you fall on purpose.

Then a few seconds more, it was Mia's turn to cry hysterically...

Mia: Mommy!!! I am sorry for saying that you are not the best Mommy. That's not true. You are the best Mommy for me even if Humpty Dumpty had a accident.

Me: That's okay Humpty Dumpty este Mia.

Mia: Mom!!! You're kidding me!

Me: What did you say? (Kidding? Kailangan ba talaga na kidding?)

Yes, Mia is just three. Make that and a half. ;)

Wall Doesn't Cry Over Humpty Dumpty

So much for bravery, Jose did not level the bike's stabilisers on the floor. According to him, it would be better so Mia can learn balance asap. (This is why "Fathers know best" did not make it!) First things first, she can't even freaking master pedalling! Why one earth would she care about balance?

To cut the long story short, Mia fell in the thorny bushes...

Thank goodness for her safety pads!

Me: Mia! Hit your brakes!!! (Too late! Nalito na kasi ako sa english ko). :D

Mia: Mom!!! I'm okay. (Stands right away.) Are you going to cry?

Me: Huh?

Mia: You have to remember, you're not the one who fell...

Oo nga naman! Pwede bang past is past? :D

Humpty Dumpty Dreams

Mia: WOW!

Me: Where's my good morning?

Mia: Oh! Good morning Mom! (Then holds my face with her little hands.) I had the most fantastic dream!

Me: Fantastic ei? So what was it about?

Mia: My hair was so beautiful! It has colors like of the rainbow's and it floats in the air like my bike's streamers! Isn't that wonderful?

Me: You are wonderful. (And amazing and... makapag-bike nga rin ng may streamers!)

Mia: Aw! Thanks Mom! That dream made me really hungry. Breakfast please?

Ah... siya nga. Now tell me what can be sillier? :D Go on and share it here.

Meanwhile, I'd like to end this with videos of Mia (when she was two years old) that are really silly. You have to view both videos to find out why... or who. :)





So much for being a stage mom... Aren't we all are? :D

Our Comfort Food

Ideal Food

Banana Cake

Everyone in our family likes Banana Cake most especially my husband and father-in-law. That's why when we moved very far from the comforts of my mother's baking prowess, I had to borrow her precious but simple recipe... Then we're like in Malabon again. ;)

Come and make us hungry by clicking this.

Mommy Duty Calls: Exception to My Rules

This year, Mother's Day in England was March 22. Jose and I agreed that we have to celebrate according to where the celebrant of an event is at. But last weekend, we tried make an exception. Our conversation went like:

Jose: Babe! Nakita mo ba mga bumati sa'yo? Next year May na natin i-celebrate Mother's Day ha!
Me: Oo, nakakatuwa nga e! Bakit May? Akala ko kung nasaan ang mother, dun dapat binabati?
Jose: E nakakasabay ng birthday natin e. May na lang para solo mo at mas ma-celebrate.
Me: Ayoko, pwede naman parehas e! Kahit nakakalito, masasanay din ako. Speaking of, ano pa-Mother's Day ninyo sakin ngayon? :D

If you'd like to know how we celebrated Mother's Day last March, you can see it here. Otherwise, this is what I got for the May celebration:

Coraline: Our first 3D Movie Experience

Big supply of my favorite tea and chocolates!

So more on exception... I am not into writing sweat stuff but I can't help but share what happened before we watched Coraline.

The movie starts at 7:40 pm. After attending mass (and feeling oh so hungry), Jose told me to wait for the bus in the nearest stop. Unfortunately, I had to pee. We went back MK Centre then made an exit to a different bus stop around 6:45 pm. That's all fine since we still have a good hour. Thing is, the buses got weirdly stranded. The usual 10-minute wait turned to 30! At 7:15, two buses arrived but Jose decided to ride the other bus which according to him was more convenient because not too many people are going to ride it. So what's next? Dingdingding! You guessed right! The bus he chose was not going to Xscape which by the way, is just 15 minutes away if we walked. Around 7:00 pm, I was telling Jose to just walk but he decided against it since we have an all day ride ticket. He's got a point but time isn't really going our way! Argh! At 7:20 pm, Jose agreed (no choice really) to just walk. We were so mad because we were both so hungry and Mia was also screaming , "I'm hungry! I'm hungry" (meaning she REALLY is hungry) and Jose would not let us eat chocolates because he doesn't want to "spoil" our dinner.

To make matters worse, when Jose almost decided to just watch the next screening, I quipped that the movie doesn't really start at 7:40 so he was still all eyes on eating at KFC (located on the the other end of the mall.) I gave him false hope. Because by the time we reached Xscape, the only thing on my mind was for him to get tickets and I will buy food through the cinema's. We even passed by Mcdonald's and Jose made a funny remark that there's no way he's not eating KFC. (Funny because I know that he's making a big mistake of ridiculing Mcdo). :D

7:45 pm, he's got tickets and I bought two large hotdog meals. I only bought two because I don't have the appetite anymore and one hotdog meal (sandwich and soda) costs £8! When a full KFC bucket meal (8 chicken, 2 sides, 4 chips, and a litre of soda) is just a tenner... I can't believe how sad our most anticipated meal experience unfolded.

Jose was all quiet the whole time he ate his hotdog. When I asked if it's worth to give the silent treatment, he just replied with, "Tama na, isuot mo na lang yang shades mo." So I did. And you know what? Our first 3D movie experience wasn't so bad after all. As I look on the brighter side... Mia was the hero of the day. She was so well-behaved in the theatre (devouring her poor hotdog sandwich) and she was so engaged in moving past the 3D objects. She was sooo funny! Coraline of course left us with a handful of life lessons.

When we got home (and ate a decent meal), I cooked fries (as soon as Mia fell asleep) to somehow compensate the doomed taste of a bucket meal. As you can see from the picture above, the gesture somehow worked. Jose has recovered from a series of unfortunate events and was all game to do what I love most... take pictures! What else? :D

Biz Pairs

On Celebrity Marriages

My top three:

1. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip - Why? Because she's powerful and her husband is very submissive supportive of her decisions. :D

2. Victoria and David Beckham - Why? Because they kept themselves attractive for each other, (and they are the smartest in monetizing their beauties).

3. Angelina and Brad Pitt - Why? Because they have "mighty hearts". They definitely defied the norm and just went for it. All for love ika nga.

More chikas? Please go to Wifespeaks.

Calachuchi

Marriage That Inspires You

After 50 years, my Lolo Daddy and Lola Mommy are still happily married and in love.

Fantasy World

They make sure to go out every week on dates by watching a movie or just walking hand in hand looking for plants and more plants. :D Last year, during their 50th wedding celebration, I shared a story about how Lolo loves Lola in the simplest but most beautiful way I can understand. You see, we lived with our grandparents since we were born and there was never a time I saw them fight. But this one afternoon, some 15 years ago, I saw Lolo pick a Calachuchi flower from the garden and gave it to Lola without saying a word. That's definitely action speaking louder than words for you and me. :)

Lola on the other hand will always claim that it was Lolo who cooked better and with that she was pressured to learn her way to his heart (as if it was really needed).

So Happy Together!

Lolo has been driving to Manila from Malabon also some 50 years now since all my six uncles studied in San Beda, my mama in Holy Spirit; and my Lola worked as a nurse in Malacañang Clinic. He knew all routes possible like the back of his hand. But three years ago, my youngest sister and I got so worried because the usual two hour travel time passed and yet he was still in the streets. After a couple of hours more, he was finally home looking confused (more on blank) because he claimed that he got lost. That day we were on shifts in USTH because Lola had mild stroke. A heartwarming remark Lolo made that I will always remember during those trying times is this, "Jean, nag-iisa lang ang Mommy mo. Nag-iisa lang yan." Because it is true. Benny has always been the only one for Danny.

Malate Church

They are the most compassionate, loving, and inspiring couple I have ever known and for me, theirs is an ideal marriage. Wouldn't you agree? :)

For more kilig stories, please go to WifeSpeaks.

Am I Xtraordinary?

Yes I am!!! And this is why I think so...

Mia at One...

Two...





Three...





No guts, no glory. So I made sure to I build her guts. :D These videos are dedicated to Lola Mommy, Mama Jean, Nanay Uday, Ate Twinkle and to all Mommies in my blog lists. You all inspire me. Thank you.

And thanks to Enchie for coming up with this fantastic idea thus the proud opportunity. :) Happy Mother's Day!

Long Life

Theme: BATTERY OPERATED TOY/S

If there's one thing that I love about exchanging an iPhone over these... it's got to be the battery life. We can play with them for days and we wouldn't worry a bit.

Mia's Pink Nintendo DS Lite Pack / My Red Nintendo DS Lite Pack

I was due for a phone upgrade sometime in January and had a change of heart because I can't throw all our saved budget over one gadget. For Jose to have an iPhone is a necessity, but for me who spends most of my time at home, why would I need mobile internet?

Now, did I make the right decision... A Nokia N95 8GB that includes unlimited same network calls, 1000 text messages and 600 other network and landline calls (like to whom will I spend all these?), game consoles for me and my daughter, and SOME change OR a 16GB iPhone that costs way more than what I got?

Can't decide? Let these pictures help:

DS...

iPhone...

DS!!!

Sabi ko na nga ba, tama desisyon ko e! BwITTERahahaha! Come and share some battery operated toys by clicking this.

Who's Your Momma?

Commitment: What Made Me Say YES?

The picture of my Mama Jean and Jose's Nanay Uday last year at Sonya's Garden is a giveaway. They are a huge part of what made me say YES with everything about being a MRS. and a Mrs. Golosino just like that.

Jose and I falling in love is no longer a question. We were so sure about our feelings and what we want from each other. It may be true that what we see after being married is a different story but like most of you, I will not exchange those differences for the world.

Now about our mothers, we are also both lucky to have them as each other's mother-in-law. In short, we never had major problems adjusting to one of the most important beings in our lives. Whenever I try to think about packing my suitcase, the first person who crosses my mind is Nanay. I know that Mama would understand whatever my reason is but making Nanay wonder what "her" son has done makes me think twice and just laugh my silliness away. Jose, on the other hand, has only high praises of how good of a job Mama has made in bringing me up. So there.

I remember during the pamamanhikan of Jose's family, it was Nanay who cried. She was so sorry for having everything the unconventional way. In her words, it went like, "Jean, pasensiya na kayo, hindi ko naman din ginusto nang ganito. Oo gusto ko na sila pero ilang beses ko naman pinangaralan si Jose na gawin ang lahat sa ayos. Kung baga tapos naman na sila mag-aral, parehas na may trabaho... I-enjoy ba muna nila. Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensiya pero ano pa nga ba ang magagawa natin, andiyan na 'yan." And Mama told me after, "Si Ludy talaga, napapaisip ako tuloy na 'di ba dapat ako ang umiyak dahil sa akin ang babae? Pero tama naman ang Tita mo, dapat nag-enjoy muna kayo."

E yun na nga, tinodo nga ang enjoy. :D Isa pa, enjoy pa rin naman hanggang ngayon e. :)

In time for the celebration of Mother's Day in the Philippines on Sunday, I'd like to share a secret recipe of our successful relationship... They who have nurtured us, they who have guided us, they who have set us free to become the responsible, loving, and faithful married couple that we are... they are our mothers. The best mother-in-law for me and the best mother-in-law for my hubby.

What about you? Care to share some secrets too? Speak out every Friday at WifeSpeaks.

A Brighter World

Happy Mommy Moment

This entry could easily pass last week's theme but what mother would be happy to have her child brought to the hospital?

Well, I am. Because finally after months of waiting, I have proven myself right once more... Mia at the very young age of three, needs prescription eyeglasses. I am also happy to be in the perfect place and perfect time because we did not spend a pence for the £64 bill of her spectacles and her eye check up in the hospital was also free. (If we are to stay here, all her quarterly eye checks and prescriptions until she turns 16 is also free!) Lastly, I am happy because my daughter will now be understood why she kept going strangely very near to things she wants to see and when she gets her "Barbie accessory", she does not have to do that anymore.

Besides, who would not be happy to see and experience how she was taken care of and treated really well by the eye professionals? She underwent procedures that I haven't seen in my 20 years of short-sightedness coupled with astigmatism.

These are just four of the I-lost-track-how-many-steps of eye tests she had:

Mia trying very hard to recognize the letters 1 1/2 yards away / Her left eye is worse than her right (Just like mine!)

Last two steps...

You may say that I am just trying to see the brighter side of this situation but yes, what more is there to do?

I'd like to share the checklist used (NHS Child's Eye Vision Information) when I decided to call the experts. If you checked one or more of these, please don't hesitate to follow what I did.

* Has a squint - one eye turns in or out, especially when tired

* Has unusual eye movements

* Has a dropped eyelid

* Has poor vision: (a) For distance, e.g. sits very close to telly (b) Often holds books very close to their eyes (c) Seems clumsy/bumps into things (d) Avoids looking at books and drawings

* Has a habit of closing one eye

* Rubs eyes often

* Says they have a headache regularly - especially at the front of the head

* If there is a family history of poor eyesight and if any of them (a) needed glasses (b) squint (c) had patching for lazy eye (d) suint surgery before the age of 8 years.

** Those in bold letters are the symptoms I found in Mia. Almost everyone in my side of the family wears eyeglasses and my twin sister started wearing one at age 6 while I started at 7.

For more happy stories, feel free to click this.