31 December 2014

The Finishing Touches: Weeks 46 to 52

Ha! I made it. Alright, not on a weekly basis, though but here I am, about to touch the finish line! *Solid Gold Dancers threw Vilma santos in the air moment* While I was sending the photos from my phone to the computer, I thought maybe I can just post the photos and let it talk since you all basically know what happened then. BUT. It's inevitable. In person and here, I just can't not talk. 

So continuing the past massive update, here's the last stretch of Bebengisms' 52 Weeks Project — 

Week 46: November 11-17

Lost her first tooth.



30 December 2014

Before This Year Ends

... I'll blog galore. 

My current view as I type this. See what's on the left? Videoke booklet, baybeh! 

I've been meaning to do so after I've finished my bulk orders in Bebeng's Kitchen but I think you already know by now what a geographically single mom's life is. It was and will always be crazy! Say, the laundry has to be done in four parts. It makes my stomach churn everytime I think of it. I mean, I left two full baskets of dirty clothes at home and will be making two more here at the husband's camp. If that's not crazy for you, I don't know how you define the word. I also try my best not to look disheveled aka losyang whenever we go out (or at least for photos, lol at my pretending) but I am at my damn worst at home because of my alila duties. You get the drill.

OK. No more excuses.

08 December 2014

Updating the Project: Weeks 38 to 45 of 52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

When I challenged myself to doing this because I love Bleubird's 52 Weeks so much (then later on found out about Practising Simplicity's, which actually started the premier of the now famous project, through Chasing Dreams'), it never occurred to me that I can be 12 weeks late! Gah! I apologize to those may be waiting for a photo of my little girl every week. Well, if you're always here and on my cyber sala (Facebook), you know that I'm super busy with Bebeng's Kitchen stuff. But I'm letting the Royal Help do some things for me first so I can do a massive update on this then maybe, just maybe, my brain cells will have the adrenaline rush and function super good that I can write more pending articles. I have soooo many kwentos to share with y'all, actually.

Anyway, let's start with — 


01 December 2014

Sophia Turns Six: Cupcake School Party


It's December 1st today - more than two months after this was held - I can finally share with you the photos of Sophia's simple party at school. You see, I am now breathing normally. I'm savoring the calm days left before the Christmas madness begins. Actually, not days but few hours left. It will be mompreneurhood at its finest. Christmas orders, Sophia's Christmas presentation and party, shopping, husband's holiday break, home decorating, and more. Whew.

28 October 2014

What I'll Be Sharing, Writing in the Next Few Days



Just to keep you in the loop and actually help me remind myself on what I should be sharing and writing here and elsewhere. Above, from left, clockwise ~

1) Collection of my favorite Rayala Dialogues that I posted on Facebook. Maybe some of you have missed it. And for easier archiving, too. 

2) The Pancake Story. This is the latest. In fact, it happened yesterday. 

3) Who are these lovebirds holding hands? ♡

4) Husband's diet and why

5) My article contribution for Make it Blissful

6) Snippets of my royal reality at home -- the answer to one of my readers' question: how do you balance everything?

7) Pia's cupcake party at school last month! What, it's been a month?! Sorry, swamped with lots of business-y and domestic stuff.

8) Raising a reader: Of books and bookshelves

There. Hope you'll stay around, chicas. xx

Hungrily Chasing Dreams, Loving my Craft and Keeping the Faith

I have been in such a high this past weekend. My first bazaar was a huge success! Yes, profit- and experience-wise. I can't believe that as early as 9 in the morning, I was counting money already. And come lunch time, I was at my busiest! My body was not complaining despite having no sleep. I'm not exaggerating but I just had a 15-minute snooze in the car on the way to the bazaar location. Eto yung time na I wished eh ma-traffic. Haha. But hindi, we set up my rustic, shabby chic table around 6am-ish, in between yawns and longingness for a bucket of coffee. 

Please excuse the constipated face.

This newbie mompreneur is seriously, hungrily chasing her dreams. 

20 October 2014

Bebeng's Kitchen's First Bazaar. Ever.

Whew. One major event done for this start-up mompreneur. Like what I orated on Facebook, my virtual food shop was one of the many sponsors of the very successful Mommy Bloggers Philippines' Halloween party held at Fun Ranch Ortigas yesterday. I got a few thumbs up from those who got to taste Bebeng's Kitchen's tasty treats! So fulfilling. The passionate pagpupuyat was worth it. Hihi. I'll tell you all about what Pia and I had experienced there on a separate post, maybe next week. In the meantime, you can check my fellow MBP members' posts on Instagram by using the hashtag #mommybloggersph

Segue lang — I actually owe you a lot of kwento pa pala ano? I think one of those is my little cupcake's 6th birthday party at school. I'll do that as soon as I can, after all my kabusyhan, don't worry. I'm sure you'll like the free printables that I found on the net when I was planning the party. 

Anywaaaaaay. Ta-daaaa!

15 October 2014

Bebeng's Kitchen Warriors


Any kingdom's queen has to have her royal crew. This domestic queen has a few. Say —  a menopausal washing machine, a dirty old man refrigerator, four bragging bachelor electric fans, a geeky mop and a battalion of hardworking kitchen warriors. The thought of giving them character and name and profile started when I bought a stand mixer last weekend. I don't know with you but I'm someone who can fall in-love with a KitchenAid Artisan mixer. I want to sleep with her. LOL. I asked y'all to vote for what you think is the best color to buy among the choices I gave, and I was overwhelmed by your giggly responses. I really felt that you guys are so happy for me! Can't wait to show you what I've got. Sad though, that my old kitchen loyalists do not have names. But yeah, if you'd ask me who they are in my story, I can give you an impromptu brief about its character. And maybe come up with a name right then and there. Just please don't ask me to name each spoon and fork in my kitchen drawer. 

Is this making you think that my long list of to-dos have made me gone haywire? 

37/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This 20-plus-year-old Barbie supermarket playset she was playing with was given to her by my twin cousins, V&V, who now live in the States. It was just one of the many toys and treats that were in the balikbayan box that they sent over (she got an authentic "Jessie of Toy Story 2" doll that one twin got from Disneyland in Florida, My Little Pony figurines and lots of chocolates). They passed this on to her because they are her godparents and I think they love me that much that they love Pia so much, too. I'm glad that my getting-more-like-a-grown-up-six-year-old is taking care of these toys. Sometimes, she cares for it so much that she'd rather not play with it. LOL.

Btw, I've seen the other twin last February and she treated us to a kickass party at Republiq for her birthday. Yes, this stay-at-home-mom, who wanted to channel Martha Stewart partied like a bachelorette that night! LBD, painful high-heeled strappy shoes and vodka. Ooh. 

Next month, I can finally get to talk to the other V in person! We send updates of our every days to each other through Viber. I can't wait to let her taste my #BebengCooks dishes. And I can't wait for her and Pia to play this toy together. *sniff-sniff*

Rest of this project here: 52 weeks of the pink-lover punk

Gary Valenciano Hijacked a Plane

Yes, he did... with a song number minus all the "hataw na" moves and beats! It was a simple in-flight feel-good entertainment for our kababayans from Los Angeles who were coming home to Manila. If you know someone close to you who works abroad, please share this video with them. Sending virtual hugs to my two best girls, S who works as a video editor in Singapore and C who works as a physiotherapist in Florida. I miss you both! ♡

14 October 2014

The Little Bebeng is in Mommy Shorts!

I'm an extremist. When I want something, I make sure that I'd get it no matter what it takes. Kinda sound like I'm a brat, no? Well, when I was younger, I don't take no as an answer. Ha! Guess what, this little terrorist surely knows that, too. She really is her mother's daughter. LOL.

My then three-year-old terrorizing toddler
And speaking of being an extremist  when I like someone, I show it. I do the "PDA stuff" by existing, by communicating, by stalking, by supporting, by being there all.the.freaking.time. You see, in my journey as a regular mom blogger, I became a fan of really famous mom bloggers; not just those who think they are ha! As in like, NYC-based-who-reply-to-her-followers-and-earning-from-her-blog-kind-of-famous. I'm talking about Mommy Shorts. Try to read one post and you'll understand why I like her.

10 October 2014

I have a problem!

Daz me right durr. [source]
A good problem. A problem I can't solve yet but I'm happy to think about. 

I told my husband that I really want to take Bebeng's Kitchen seriously, not that I'm just playing since I started it on July. As in, I was dreaming of its expansion for weeks already. You see, I can't bake a lot, can't try other breads and cakes aside from the regulars I made because I only own a few kitchen tools. 

1) My table top oven's still in the appliance hospital so I borrowed my mom's. It's rusty and old. Surprisingly, it delivers but in a slightly different way. The muffins were a little denser and brownies were softer. It's okay but not the best. Ask those who know me well, I always want the best in everything I do. I then asked my fellow baking mommas on FB on what oven I should get — electric or gas, Elba or La Germania. Gas and La Germania won for the best practical reasons. So I'll be hugging my own La Germania real soon! I can't wait to share with y'all how my new kitchen buddy would look like. One thing's for sure, he's kinda big. He's German. Teehee.

2) I don't have a mixer. I do all the stirring, mixing, whisking manually. Hello, macho arms! Not. I super get tired just to get the right consistency of whatever I have to mix. Sometimes, I don't quite get it. So to further inspire me to become the next big thing in the food commerce (claiming it makes it true I believe), I am buying myself a KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer. Did I hear you mumble a "woot"? Or was it a "yay"? Hahaha! Isn't this a big deal in any domestic queen's life? This is the Rolls Royce of all mixers, right? Before anything else, I'd like to let you know that I'm getting the most affordable model, not that one that costs twice as much as my daughter's tuition. I'm still sane and sober. And financially-challenged

But like what the title suggests, I have a problem.

08 October 2014

The Daughter of a Soldier


Sophia was around three years and something months old when I finally felt that she knew what her father does, why he's away most of the time and why a lot of men call him "sir". 

It was December of 2009 when she first rode the plane and traveled with me and her nanny to the South to spend the holidays with her soldier dad. Unlike today when nails can already be a subject of a beautiful photograph, this momma-in-the-moment forgot to have a photo of her in front of or inside the plane for posterity. Oh well. 

The journey with my then chubby 15-month-old baby girl was a breeze. She slept the whole time, giggled to everyone who said "hi", and when we arrived, her father lovingly held his unica hija. Was the feeling mutual? Did she reciprocate the affection given? She did nothing and said nothing (of course). Ha! Our tiny trooper just smiled showing her 8 (or was it 12?) milk teeth and remained her cute bubbly self the entire vacation. We did not complain. For us, it was more than enough.

Earlier was totally a different scenario, though. 

07 October 2014

36/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This was two days before my birthday. And just like some of the people I know who feel the same when their birthday's near, I kinda felt sick. So most of the time, I was in bed then the couch... or couch then the bed. Surprisingly and fortunately, Pia was utterly well-behaved! She just had these little cute kicks that were inevitable for her age; like waking me up when I dozed off while watching her cartoons with her or telling me that she's hungry. She's hungry like every 5 minutes, this kid! But most of those times, she was a cool kid. She is, actually, even if I don't feel sick. She just gets easily bored so she gets mad when she's not doing anything fun or creative. There went my make-up brush and pink blush-on as the sacrificial lambs to cure her boredom. 

**
The rest of the photos from this project... HERE! xx

05 October 2014

Foodpanda Delivery saved the day!

Unabashedly, I want to let you know that I'm one of those moms, who can make you feel inferior about your domestic skills. I brag about and am proud of that on my Instagram's #bebengcooks posts so yes, you can roll your eyes as long as you like. Heehee. Anyway, I may not know all the bourgeois cuisines as I am a big fan of Filipino foods but yes, I incredibly know my way in the kitchen. However, there are lazy days. Many lazy days, to be honest. 


When that inevitable feeling happens to this self-proclaimed domestic queen, I don't fight with it. I'm too lazy to even argue with my conscience. Sometimes, I pop out some meat loaf from a can, dice it, saute it with tomato sauce and mix it with cooked pasta. If I have extra budget, I dial-a-friend. My bff's name is Ronald, the one with the big red shoes. I love the nearest branch's fast service and the flat rate delivery charge! We love Ronald and his world. In fact, my daughter loves him than the bee. OK, not the actual mascot, though ('cause R's kinda scary haha). BUT. One day I decided to dial another friend. 

04 October 2014

Two Women

Oh why, hello there.

To you who comes here often to check if I have a new entry, big hug! Thank you for not getting tired of me, for sticking around despite my sweet shortcomings. Do you know how many times I have been on hiatus? I've lost count, really. I sometimes wonder if there's a cure to this — this some kind of a disease that enveloped me these past few weeks. No, I'm not sick or anything. I just got really, really lazy to even go to my Blogger dashboard and check the pending comments. I actually wanted to quit.

Say what?!

MARTINE. It is true when my blog and writing mentor, Martine, said that our blogs must be connected to how we live our lives. OK. A little honesty here — I've gone through a crisis. Let's say, life slapped me with a harsh reality. So instead of just sulking in sorrow, I tried to solve the problem. The solution had something to do with a start of a new beginning and that new beginning includes an end. Did you get it? You see the connection between that and this? Whatever it is that you're thinking of right now, let it be. What's important is, I'm back. I.am.so.freakin'.back.


How will I not be inspired to go back to my cyber kingdom and bleed words again? See ladies, Martine gave me a Ree Drummond book! *virtual chest pop a la Maja Salvador lol* Wow, just wow. I felt like I'm on chocolate dextrose when I opened the package last Thursday. The Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite kitchen goddesses since I started my blogging journey two years ago, and to have her book is like cooking her food in Oklahoma, without smelling the manure-infested air.

18 September 2014

I'm still here!

source
That's me. A lazy, beautiful cat.

To those who asked where I was and why my blog and its annexes (FB, Twitter and IG) are too quiet... here's why — I am sleeping a lot lately! LOL. Really, I feel so tired all the time. Whenever I feel like I want to share something here or on Facebook, I just get really lazy doing so. As for my Instagram, I just don't have something worthy to share there, as of this moment. I want my posts to be more on the artsy fartsy side or at least have a story to tell (because not all of my photos have great composition and lighting); and not something forced (yung basta may mai-share lang na photo, hindi man lang lagyan ng arte, gets mo yun?). So that's why.

And most of all, I am living my life so I have something to blog about.

16 September 2014

35/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

On this year's 35th week, I managed to 'gently prod' (if there is such) these girls for a photo op. Pia's with her bestfriend here. S is her favorite classmate since this pretty petite transferred last year. They hit it off easily because they both converse in English. Like any relationships, their friendship isn't perfect. TS (their teacher) once told me that these two often argue over the simplest things. You see, my unica hija is a sweet but very possessive friend. It irks her to see other kids playing with her bestfriend. She must have gotten it from me. LOL. 

However, when TS talked to me during this school year's first Parent-Teacher Conference, he told me that Pia's now reaching out to other girls. I was so happy to know about it! Actually, I also like the two other girls she's getting close to lately, M and A. But if you will ask her who her bestfriend is, without batting a single eyelash, she will nonchalantly tell you that it's S. 

How 'bout you, do you know who your child's bestfriend is? 

11 September 2014

Bacon and Broccoli Bowtie Pasta

When I was a kid and my mom was a SAHM like I was (feeling more like a mompreneur/freelancer lately), I always see her in the kitchen making rice and fried chicken, rice and hotdog, rice and fried fish, rice and tinola, rice and anything that her four children liked for lunch or dinner. I didn't see anything wrong with it. In fact, I loved how she made sure that we still ate healthily while she gave in to our juvenile palate. She aimed to please us. Thank God for Mama! However, why rice all the time? Hmm... Perhaps, it's in the culture. Most, if not all, Filipinos can't live without rice. I am not an exception. I can't eat my pork adobo or beef sinigang without it. It's really best paired with rice. You know what I mean. But now that I'm a grown-up and a mom myself, who's a self-proclaimed kitchen goddess by the way, I realized that rice is not just the answer to our hunger.


There is pasta. 

It's a little more expensive than rice but has the same 'filling effect'. It's very versatile, too. It can be paired with any meat... and vegetables! Yes, veggies. Any mom's ultimate challenge to feed to her kids. The preschool popstar has those she can't even look at, what more to eat, but she also has favorites! One of those few faves is broccoli. It's green and not so appealing, I'm happy that she likes it. So I was like in nirvana when I discovered that. 

08 September 2014

34/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This was a Saturday. Since I do most of the housework during weekdays, it was a staring-at-the-ceiling-kind of weekend for us. No malls, no playgrounds, no visit to any of her grandma's house. Nothing. Feeling the guilt, told her we'll go to the nearest 7-11 for some icecream. Isn't this photo enough proof of how excited she was? And this cute photo with her choco berry Cornetto sealed the joy. She also had a big pack of Clover Chips. Like what I said on my Instagram, "I hope she realizes that I'm the best mom, ever."  ;)

P.S.
P, if you get to read and understand this, I am the best, right? Right, babe? xo

Stay Alive


Taking a break from my 52-week project posts.

Have you seen The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? I did on Friday. Like most of Ben Stiller's movies (not that I've seen a lot), I loved it. That kind of movie's my most favorite (aside from what Marvel does hihi). I'll try to write about what I personally think about it for those who haven't seen it. Soon!

33/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This particular photo one Sunday made this week in August a very special one for my baby girl. Her father came home and was with us for 19 hours. We attended his youngest nephew's Catholic baptism. Well, we just went straight to the reception since none of us, Cpt R and I, were godparents. My SiL ordered cupcakes from me, too. So I found it practical to just skip the church and deliver the cuppies to the restaurant.

Pia wore her dress from Kiara Shoppe that matched mine. It got so many likes from you when I posted it on the page. So if you're into wearing matchy-matchy with your little ladies, too, go and get a pair (or pairs) of dress from Kiara Shoppe!

Back to the photo. Found this wall outside the function room in Max's in Blue Wave Mall, Marikina. While most of the guests were lining up for the photo booth, which we already did when all of them were busily eating (hihi), we had our own photo sesh outside. I don't know what's with this girl that day. She just kept on doing that pose with her face and hand! If we're friends on Facebook (not the page, the personal account), she also had her hand covering half of her face on one of our family photos. So crazy! But cute, still. Yes, she hoarded balloons. That's her "party" thing.

She's growing up way too fast! I really should not blink.

32/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Hellooooo, my dear, and fellow royalties! So I'll be trying my best tonight (err, midnight) to flood my blog with photos for this project until it's updated. I've been neglecting this feature and I feel utterly disappointed.

Okay.

This photo was taken after her class. It's always her "drill" to relax, unwind and just do anything she wants to do when she arrives home from school. It was a Friday and the students wore their Filipino costumes for the country's Buwan ng Wika celebration. You can see what she donned that day here. And guess what? She got a best in costume award again this year! The price was worth it.

Alright, next. 

05 September 2014

Cute Kitty Sweatshirts


So I turned 30 yesterday, right? But I think my love for the whimsy, quirky stuff hasn't ended yet. I came across these cute kitty sweatshirts over at RoseGal.com and I super adore 'em! I really like the light gray kitty hoodie best. What sold me was that purr-ty print on the inside. How adorbs. It's perfect for the coming breezy season, too. What do you think? Which one do you like best?

P.S.
If you will use this coupon code upon check out, joeyCgil, you'll get 8% off from the total amount of your order. Go, shop now. ♥

04 September 2014

The Tale of the Broken Birthday Cake


Thanks again, Google! 
Okay. This is my first post for this month. 

Guess what, it's my birthday today, too! So it's sort of a birthday post. Well, while doing so, Chef's popped up on the right side of my computer screen. I just decided to blog and watch because I broke my birthday cake. *bawling like a cow scheduled for slaughter* Broke means, as in split into two; worse, kinda diagonally (insert sobbing kittens here). I was transferring it into the plate when... like how Hulk smashed skyscrapers in New York... there, the soft sorrowful sound of my shattered dreams — er, crumbled dark chocolate cake. 

I don't freakin' know what I've gone wrong. It just happened. Just.like.that. 

29 August 2014

Writing is My Bliss

So my dream to own and manage a food business is slowly coming true. When I made Bebeng's Kitchen happen, leaving my life as a "storyteller" has never occurred to me. I just took some rest to give way for my other passion that is food, that is cooking, that is fulfilling a basic need. Writing may now come second after my love for the kitchen but I think, I am still a writer.


Thanks to Martine for inviting me to write for Make it Blissful. Whenever I get to see my article published on her beautiful e-zine, it thrills me to bits. As of this post, I already have three blissful write-ups about food and relationships (See how they can be connected? Amazing!).

28 August 2014

31/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

I had a hard time looking for a photo for this post! Owmaygahd, this is already a month delayed. Can you imagine the negligence that happened here? I'm not going to argue with you. I admit, I kinda made my blogger self rest for a bit first since I felt that I don't need to blog on a daily basis since I'm almost always online. Have you followed me on Instagram yet? That's where I post regularly. I'm such a visual person. I love how I can write a few sentences with a square of a photo and that already speaks a lot to how I spent my day. 

Speaking of, this was the only photo of my daughter that I have on my phone's gallery during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. Sadly, the latter was full of my food biz's. I know, I know. I kind of focused more on that when I started it that my attention for Pia went down 5%. Don't worry, I realized that after a few days. So I came back to her as a mom and not just as a caregiver. I don't remember why I took a photo of her in her school uniform. But I know that it was a Monday. I think she looks really sweet in it. Don't you think? ♡

24 August 2014

A Disney Princess Medley by Kevin Redrico Featuring Gabriella Marchion


I don't know why there are moms who don't like Disney princesses for their little girls. I've read from their comments and blog posts (yes, they were so not busy they had time to ridicule and go against Disney) that it somehow gives these innocent bubbas a twisted hope on marriage and happily ever after. They also said that these beautiful Disney princesses define beauty in such a shallow way... that success and happiness and love can easily be attained if you are wearing a stunning ballgown. It's funny, really funny. I'm wondering... do these moms know that THEY are the ones raising their girls and not these Disney movies? I have nothing for that. I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy watching these princesses, especially now that I have a preschool diva, who loves them to bits.

Moms' Night Out


Alright. I decided to watch the movie because I had a slight meltdown earlier before my daughter's bedtime. I felt like I needed that push, that little soulful encouragement that I am doing this right, this motherhood thing. I'm not going to talk about the meltdown here because it kinda happens regularly and I don't intend to flood my cyber kingdom with so many dilem-moms... that you know what, might scare the single ladies away from family life.

That brings me to the movie. 

16 August 2014

30/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

My life as a stay-at-home military wife and mom is not so easy. You see, I've already started a small food biz but I still don't have a helper/nanny to help me with house chores and in taking care of Pia. I do everything by myself! So yeah, I need to tag the girl along with me whenever I shop for Bebeng's Kitchen's needs to wherever. One day, when we were at the supermarket, she hurriedly rushed to this poster of Derek Ramsay and said: "Derek is everywhere. I hope Teacher L is proud of him." Teacher L, her first teacher in preschool, joked one time that DR is her boyfriend. And my innocent baby girl believed her since then. Hahaha! 

P.S.
That's it for now. Sorry if there are some of you (hello, do I still have readers?) who are kinda waiting for this every week and find no new post. I'm catching up, panting and still finding time to breathe through blogging amidst the never-ending list of to-dos as a geographically single mompreneur. ♥ xx

10 Filipino Costume Ideas for Buwan ng Wika

Oh moms, I know you know how it thrilling it feels to dress up our little ones, especially on special occasions! But we also know that it can be expensive and tiring. Huffing and puffing just by thinking about it? I know, right? Sometimes, we don't even know which one to get or where to buy. As a stay-at-home, hands-on mom to a preschooler (graduating already woot woot), those little events in her school are special to me. So I research (i.e., to Google or visit all branches of SM), take notes from other moms or practice extortion to my daughter's godparents, haha.


This month, we celebrate Buwan ng Wika. For everyone's information, it is now buwan and not linggo, which was what we used to celebrate when we were kids. It was in 1997 when ex-President Fidel Ramos signed Proclamation No. 1041 that sets the whole month of August for the celebration of our national language, Pilipino. Okay, I'm inadequate with these stuff so I'd stop here. Let me just share with you what my fellow moms have chosen for their kids' Filipino costume for Buwan ng Wika.

05 August 2014

29/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

The main goal of this project is to document the preschool popstar's what-seemed-to-be-her-milestone on a weekly basis. With that, when we look back, we will remember what it was. And for this year's 29th week, it was all because of Typhoon Glenda that hit the Metro. There was no electricity, we didn't have courage to go out to buy food 'cause it was stormy and it was just the two of us. Imagine how my babe felt. In fact, this was what she said minutes before this photo was taken: "This is the worst day of my life!" Everybody now... awwwww. ;)

02 August 2014

28/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

On this week (July 7th-13th), my kulit-but-manageable turning 6-year old baby girl, got a pet kitty. It was actually my idea. I want it to intimidate Mickey's friends, which used to bully us with its presence. Yuhh, I'm hella scared of them. Aren't you, too? Haha! We named this half Siamese, half native (hihi) Rebecca Flower. I thought of Rebecca/Becca because of Pitch Perfect, the movie. I'm so excited na to see its sequel next year! And then when I Googled its meaning, I'm glad it means "animal trap". So yeah, she will trap our fiends. As for the Flower, you know who gave that name. Haha! :)

29 July 2014

Bake, Make, Cook and Sell


I was super busy lately. I haven't blogged and it made me sad but I don't regret it.

16 days ago, I finally got the courage, drive and will to bake and sell. I baked my first banana loaf and asked my SiL to sell if for me at her office. It was well-received (devoured?) by her colleagues and gradually, humbly, continually got orders from them. There were negative-bordering-to-discouraging comments made by some people close to me but I did not let it affect me. I am so into this that no one can stop me; not even the Typhoon Glenda. OK, she won as I am using an electric oven so no electricity means no baking.

15 July 2014

27/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

The hubs came home for two days, July 1st and 2nd respectively, and he has a new toy! It's a Samsung Note 3 and my two babes were taking selfies forever, like this one. They super look alike noh? I should have used a different photo but unfortunately and surprisingly, the photos in my phone gallery were deleted. Huhuhu. It could have been Pia's fab pose with the How to Train Your Dragon 2 backdrop. Sayang talaga, she looked uber cute there pa naman! Btw, we watched the movie after picking up Cpt R's new phone and had dinner inside the cinema house. There were unnecessary movements by ze girl but we all enjoyed the movie! It was really, really good. I actually liked it than its prequel. Hiccup became more gwapo na kasi. Haha! 

Anyway, who knows how to retrieve deleted photos in Samsung S3 Mini? Please tweet me @bebengisms. Tia. ♥

11 July 2014

A Super Relaxing Pampering Day at Banahaw Heals Spa Marikina


We rarely go out on dates, my husband and I. It's usually sad for other married couples but it's an inevitable fact that we have learned to accept. If you are new here, it's because I'm married to a military officer, who was called for duty out of town and is currently assigned somewhere 7 hours travel-by-land away from us. So whenever he's home (and that is, luckily, one to two days per month), we make sure we're physically ready. Yes, we need strength to do a lot of catching up! *wink, wink* However, there are times that I've been drowned with house chores that upon his arrival, I can't even lift a finger. How more my hips! LOL. 

Seriously, it is when we have spa dates that we feel we're one. You see, we find more love, more bliss when we're silently enjoying being pampered. We always get the room designated for couples but we actually do not even utter a word once the session starts. We just do a lot of after-activity review (AAR in the military); something like a blogger like me does after a service. No, we're not hard to please. We just want to get what we primarily looked for in a spa ― a relaxing massage. 

I'm very happy I found out about Banahaw Heals Spa!

06 July 2014

Somebody wants to join The Voice Kids Philippines!


My little girl has been singing ever since she knew what her throat and tongue and mouth can do. I think she actually learned how to hum first before she said her first word. Music runs in the family, my family. I got my love for singing from my father. He has this Rey Valera going on in his voice when he used to do some karaoke with us. As for me, I can hold a tune but I know I tend to get flat or sharp or off-key. Sometimes, I have too much of the vibrato, all depends on the song. LOL. 

05 July 2014

26/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This post is definitely one of my favorites! It makes my being a stay-at-home mom and homecook more special. You see, after she volunteered on washing the dishes, she now shows interest in helping me out where the real kitchen battle happens: in front of the flames! She's very brave that even if there's tilamsik from the pan, she would just continue sauteing. It's so fulfilling! I'm sure 5 or 10 years from now, there will be a #littlebebengcooks hashtag on my social media accounts. Exciting times! ♥

04 July 2014

My Preschooler's Reading Apps

I don't know about other 5-year old kids but my daughter loves reading. She even has this quirk of turning on the bedside lamp and pretends she can actually read a book on her own. Of course, she has learned to memorize the story that it looks like she really knows how to read it. Hihi. Adorbs! Don't get me wrong, I do teach her to read but I also know that it must be according to her pace. I always believe that she will learn best if she is ready for it. And is having fun while leaning, too! So to teach her to read and have fun at the same time, I downloaded some reading apps from Google Play Store.


Intellijoy's Games for Kids Under 6 Years

I like how it gradually aims to teach techie kids how to read 3- to 4-letter words. It has the walking stick, running shoes and skateboard that represent reading level stages. It shows pictures of the words that help the kids on determining the correct missing letter. It has a 4.1 rating so I guess a lot of moms like me trust it in teaching their children to read.

28 June 2014

The Longest Distance on CinemaWorld


When I was in college, our Film Aesthetics professor made us watch movies from all over the world! It definitely was one of my favorite moments as a Communication student. Imagine, we attend our 1 1/2-hour class just to watch and well, write our review. Through our professor's connections, we also were given the chance to watch a few German silent films. During its showing in Mega Mall, I saw my late uncle (my father's brother) Elmo Redrico with his colleagues. He invited us to join them in a film sesh one Saturday 10 years ago. I was not expecting though that we were to watch a bunch of Korean x-rated films. Haha! Oh well, it was tastefully made so I didn't feel titillated. So yes, I'm more than grateful for my friends from CinemaWorld Asia for sending me a preview copy of the Venezuelan film, The Longest Distance. I can watch movies all day, if possible; my husband can attest to how I can do it. Anyway ―

25/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

This was taken the week of 16th-22nd. It was one of her OOTDs to school. I just like how her hips looks so feminine and delicate. I wish she will still have it when she grows up. I have curves, too but it's more on its voluptuous side. I'm happy she's tall and healthy and active. However, our floor pisses me off big time. Since it was abandoned for a long time, the dirt got stuck in its crevices and corners. I guess I need to focus on that than PvZ2. LOL. Oops, it's all about the girl, not the floor. ;)

25 June 2014

Wherever


When I finally got myself back to writing/blogging again, I also got a newfound realization that I should just do what I want to do, wherever I want to do it. Of course, there’s the routine stuff ― preparing breakfast, bringing my kid to school, dishwashing, etc. These aren’t really in my 'favorites list' but I still need to do it ‘cause I’m doing it for the person I love; the small person I call my daughter. But if we will set aside the routine and the life we’re already living, I’d rather be in a small town somewhere near a beach and has lots of trees. If it won’t be too much of a rustic experience, I’d love my girl and I to pick flowers in the afternoon so our table set-up for dinner looks fancy despite our house’s simplicity. Then my husband will pull up on the driveway and we’ll all spend the evening together like any normal family would do. Ah, this mom can dream. I just really, really want us, the three of us, to always be together.

But I know we can’t.

23 June 2014

Arroz Caldo


Oh, this rainy season makes me want to eat and eat, post it on Instagram (lol) and eat again. Aside from snuggling and cuddling, my daughter and I enjoy sharing good food together. I'm not sure with other moms who can cook but it's my pride and joy when my daughter loves whatever I serve her. Lately, she's also been showing interest on the process of preparing it. Earlier before lunch when we arrived home from her school, I immediately set up my kitchen for one of my favorite comfort foods when it's rainy and cold ― arroz caldo. 

21 June 2014

Frugal Shopping at Robinson's Metro East


When I decided to become a stay-at-home mom two years ago, I also accepted the fact that shopping will be inevitably elusive. That's fine with me; after all, I'm not that of a bag-dress-shoes woman. Believe it or not, I'd rather spend money on food and books and travel. However, my chromosomes are kinda kicking me inside and are actually telling me that my clothes are worth a throwback post already. LOL. I will soon do myself a favor and have a wardrobe makeover but for now, I have a kikay preschooler to mind.

20 June 2014

24/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

The super highlight of Pia's week last week was definitely her pixie hair! Like what I said here, I finally made her say yes to short hair. She's now rocking it and not caring if it looked like it's been jostled, brushed or whatever. Her only condition is for her to have a cute hairband or pink bow on it. This photo was taken the next day and I was preparing breakfast when she woke up and asked for my old phone. I think she was texting her Tatay here. Hihi. See how messed up her 'do here is? I don't think she cared, she was wearing her pink hairband anyway. ♥

19 June 2014

Healthy Cooking for Happy Kids

I was a kid when I learned how to cook, turning 11 to be a bit exact. Modesty aside, it was not fried egg or hotdog or instant noodles. It was similar to what I posted on my Instagram today. My mom didn't really teach me how; I'm a visual learner and just watched her cook. Fast forward to now that I have my own kid, I don't only cook to feed my passion for the kitchen. I need to feed my kid healthy food that makes her happy. 


Do you ever wonder why some kids - or adults - don't eat vegetables? Adults who don't eat veggies were, most of the time, the kids who were unhappy seeing veggie dishes on their table. I don't know how their parents introduced our dear farm crops to them but maybe they did something wrong in there. I strongly believe that we, the parents, can make or break our children's appetite. 

Yakult Light and Some Fun Facts About Our Favorite Drink


A week before my girl's school officially starts, we were luckily invited to tour the Yakult Plant in Calamba, Laguna. I immediately replied to the email sent to me and said yes! I love Yakult, Pia loves Yakult, it was a Saturday and it was the perfect timing to have a free 'field trip'. I have no reason to say no. I told my little travel buddy days before about it and even showed her the e-vite. She was super excited that there were no complaints and grumpiness when I woke her up super early on the d-day. 

15 June 2014

Kids, we love your dads because...

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It's funny when social media geeks create memes that show how responsible and nurturing and focused moms are in rearing their children and dads are... well... I'd leave the adjectives to your judgment. Hehe.

Last month, when we celebrated Mother's Day, the whole world seemed to be in their toes to make mummy happy. Brand campaigns in momma theme were everywhere! In fact, if marketing experts can relate roofs to motherhood, I think they'd dedicate a whole galvanized iron sheet to one mom blogger and send it to her. It is that commercial! This month, there are campaigns for dads, too, of course. But most I see are a bit hoity-toity and have that snob vibe. In short, expensive. That made me think that in reality, they are the more celebrated parent. I love being a mom, there is no question about that, but if I have to live my life again, I guess I'd like to try being a dad (but please, with less hair, especially inside the nose haha).

So as a Father's Day special treat for the underrated parent, I asked some of my fabulous mommy friends to help me change the way the majority look at the men we call daddy, papa, tatay, pop, dada, pudrabelle, ama and whatever you or your kids call them. I'm sure if not all, most of you can relate to what we love about our husbands as a father. After all, we won't be mommies without the daddies! ;)

12 June 2014

Her Pixie Hair


Ta-da! My little popstar punk now sports a pixie. Or so I said it is. It was a bit tiyahin-ish attending a homeowners' meeting when she woke up this morning. LOL. Anyhow, I still like it. This is her anti-lagkit, anti-asim, anti-tangles 'do! It took me almost a month to convince her to have her hair this short. Although she had this cut when she was two but she was too young to refuse. Anyway. You see, she's my ultimate girly-girl. She adores pink, sparkly, princesses, dresses and anything that screams kikayness. I have no problem with that! There is nothing wrong about embracing her femininity. What I worry though is that these things might control her ideals, principles and faith in the future when I can finally call her a woman.

23/52

"My daughter's photos, once a week, every week, in 2014."

It's funny how a SAHM like me is having a really hard time teaching my daughter to help with the house chores. You see, sweeping the whole house's floor that usually takes me 10 minutes will take her hours and dishwashing in medium load usually takes me 15-20 minutes but might take her a minute. Yes, only a minute because all plates and glasses are broken. LOL. Well, I just got used to doing things on my own that training a donya is a lot more difficult than actually embracing my being a domestic queen. However, last week was different! She INSISTED that she'd help me with every house chore I do. She actually was annoyed one time because she wanted to help me do the laundry. You may read that unbelievable yet adorable #rayaladialogues here. We just finished lunch when she saw dirty dishes began to pile up in our sink. She took her wooden stool, grabbed the sponge and poured a dollop of dishwashing liquid into one plate. Ang gastos sa Joy! Hahahaha! Deadma. I had to take a picture. I told my cousin I was chatting with on Viber that I'll eventually train her to do it the proper way. Who knows, by age 7, I don't need to wash greasy pots and pans anymore. Hello, RA 7658. ;)

11 June 2014

All Smiles for Pinkie Pie

Two days after we moved in here at our new kingdom, I saw on my Facebook news feed that Toys 'R' Us Philippines will be holding a meet and greet activity with Sophia's favorite characters ever - My Little Pony! Remember her 5th birthday party held in school? So of course, hindi na pinag-iisipan 'yang mga ganyang bagay. Hehe. Even if we still have to unpack around 20 boxes and fix our new abode, R and I decided to go to Eastwood on a lazy Sunday afternoon.


I didn't plan to buy anything but because there was no formal program set for the meet and greet, I just bought her a crown wand so she won't feel she was actually waiting. I made her wear her My Little Pony shirt from Babies and Kiddos (aka Bug & Kelly), like what she did when she personally met Sofia the First. I asked one of the salesclerks on what time will the meet and greet happen and she said that the mascot was about to come out. I felt the excitement all over my body when I saw in the backroom that it was a huge Pinkie Pie!