Friends are Treasures

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     Throughout our lives we meet different kinds of people. Some are what we call cliche friends; others, friends whom we could really count on , no matter what happens. I have my high school barkada, whom until now we still keep in touch.

my high school BFFs (Best Friends Forever)

     

     I have my college friends and thank you to Facebook, we are all still in touch. Since I got married, I have met friends, who turned out to be good friends of mine too, because my husband introduced them to me. They treated me as one of them. 

these ladies are my
friends introduced by my
hubby, Francis.

     I have my mommy friends too. These are my friends because our kids are classmates since Junior kindergarten here at LCC Silvercrest.

the mommies and grandmoms
who are my friends because
our kids are classmates.

   And I have found a new friend whom I became close too because of the social media, TWITTER. Yup. One could make good friends via social media. And through this that I have met and known Chaye. She was introduced to me by Marife (the sexy momma, my term of endearment to her). Who would have known that because of twitter, a friendshop or barkada was formed. Our barkada includes Chaye, Marife, Rachel and me. 

     And last January 9, 2014 we had a post Christmas get together at Starbucks here in Lipa. Since there is no one to look after my youngest, she came with me. It was a happy, super enjoyable afternoon. We talked anything, as in anything under the sun. Up to the point already that I don't know what topic we're talking about. Hahaha!

my new barkada
(left to right)
Chaye, Marife, Rachel

we still have one thing in common
our love of Yosi Samra.
(hehehe)

     One can never have too many friends in their lifetime. I am so blessed that I have met these wonderful and beautiful ladies, have formed a different kind of bond and friendship to each group and individuals. I know there are the people whom I could really count on, no matter what.

     Thank you ladies for being so nice to me. Accepting me for who and what I am. Cheers to GREAT FRIENDSHIPS. 



*most of the photos posted are from my personal Facebook and Twitter account*

Yosi Samra: My First Pair

     Ever since I saw a pair of Yosi Samra in Instagram worn by some of the mommy bloggers I follow, I wanted to own even just one pair. I am not the high-heeled type of girl, even when I was single. Though I appreciate any high heel shoes I see. It's just that I am not comfortable wearing them. I am a sneakers and flat shoes kind of girl/mom. So far the love of flat shoes, Yosi Samra is one of my "dream" flat shoes. So when hubby gave me the go signal to buy one, I got so excited that I just can't hide it (huh?! did I just sing? hahaha!)

   So last November 23, 2013 while I was with my family, I went off to Yosi Samra store at the new wing of Alabang Town Center, also known as ATC for us from the South. To be honest, I can't choose, it was difficult. The first 3 types I liked was out of stock for my size, imagine how frustrated I was. Until I saw this...

The flat shoes I liked.

     I asked if they have it in my size (7) and finally they have it. I can't contain that big smile on my face. My brothers who were all teasing me to wear it already. And I yes I gave in. Ako na ang excited. Hahaha!

I am wearing it already here.
(hahaha!)

     I tell you, it is very comfortable. I love the fact that this flat/ballet shoes is foldable. you cold just pack this cutie in your bag. And when you're tired from wearing your heels, you could just pull it out from you bag. 

here are my Yosi Samra pair,
placed inside the plastic

 

here is the pouch where you could
put the flat shoes then
just placed it inside your bag.

     And if you're travelling somewhere and you want to bring this along, it is so easy to pack because it will not occupy too much space. This is one kind of flats/ballet shoes that I am willing to save up and buy another pair. 

Poems About Love

     Happy Valentine's Day my dear readers. Today will be a different Valentine's for me and my girls. It will be the very first time that we will celebrate it without Francis, hubby and tatay to girls. Although he is not around, I don't want this day to go on without giving something to the girls. To my older girls, I gave each of them a red balloon with 3 pieces of Ferro Rocher. To my youngest, though she is not fond of eating chocolates, I bought her a red balloon too. As for me, I bought myself some chocos, never mind the calories. Hahaha! 

    In time for this day, one of the books that I really like (and worth buying) is the book entitled LOVE & MISADVENTURE by Lang Leav. When I saw the ratings of this book via GoodReads, I decided to buy a copy and see what it is really all about. It is a book consist of poems divided into 3 parts namely:

 

               - MISADVENTURE

               - THE CIRCUS OF SORROWS

               - LOVE

the book
(got this from my Instagram)

     In every poem that you will be reading, for sure you will be able to relate. Love of what happened in the past, of what is going on right now and what is your feeling as well. It just took me an hour and a half to finish this book. Even my eldest daughter loved this one. This is one book I could really recommend to you. Let me share with you my dear readers, some of the poems/lines from this book. 

"Love is a game

of tic-tac-toe,

constantly waiting,

for the next X or O."

"Love is good,

it is never bad-

but it will drive you mad!

When it is given to you,

in dribs and drabs."

CLOSURE

"Like time suspended,

a wound unmended-

you and I.

We had no ending,

no said good-bye.

For all my life, 

I'll wondery why."

"She thanked him for his gift of music

and poetry but above all else -  for showing

her sadness because she had known

neither of these things before him.

But it was now time for her to go away - 

to find someone who could show her

what happiness was."

LOVE LETTERS

"Every letter

that she types,

every keystroke

that she strikes - 

To spell your name

again and again -

is all she ever wants to write"

     These are just few of my favorite lines or poems from the said book. For a change, why not give a gift of book to someone today. 

     Happy Valentine's Day! 

All Moms are Loved

     It is the love month already, time LITERALLY flies so fast. 10  more months and it is Christmas once again. Hehehe! Anyway, as I was reading all the feeds on my facebook, a friend of mine shared a link about a letter of a WORKING MOM to a STAY AT HOME MOM (like me) and vise versa... So let me share this link with all of you...

here is the link:

http://carolynee.net/a-letter-from-a-working-mother-to-a-stay-at-home-mother-and-vice-versa/


     So to all the moms out there, always remember YOU ARE LOVED... Have a great day ahead of you....

My Favorite Song: Say Something

               
  The first time I heard this song was during the AMA's and I fell in love instantly with the song. The music and the song itself. The sound of the piano and all. Watching the video made me teary eyed especially when I saw this 2 old couple, the woman is (I assume) dead while the husband is crying and just looking at her wife. Here is the video, in case you haven't seen it yet.

Here are my favorite lines from the song:

     

"Say something I'm giving up on you

I'll be the one if you want me too

Anywhere I would've followed you

And I will swallow my pride

You're the one that I love and I'm saying goodbye

I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you.... "

                  

A Different Christmas

     For 15 years that Francis and I were married last Christmas was the very first time (as well as New Year's Eve) that we celebrated it far from each other. As our respective families, relatives and friends know Francis left early this year to try his luck to be an overseas worker. It was difficult for us, especially for the youngest Amaya, to comprehend why Tatay (as we fondly calls him) have to work abroad.

     The first 5 months were the most difficult for us, especially for me because I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING, no one can "substitute" for me anymore. The transition from a 2-parents in the house to a "single" parent household was difficult as well. Since Francis' schedule of work is very erratic, most of the decisions that have to be made now falls on my shoulder, meaning before I give in to the girls, I better think it a lot of times before I say yes or no. So far, so good.

     I am just so thankful to the good Lord for blessing me and Francis 3 beautiful, intelligent and VERY UNDERSTANDING daughters, especially my 2 older ones - Arielle and Joie. Though there are still some questions on  their minds, every now and then, as much as possible Francis and I tries to give them honest answers.

     Last Christmas, each of my girls, made a love letter to their tatay...

this is from Ate Arielle

from Ate Joie

From Amaya

     Hoping (and crossing my fingers) that in a year or 2 (or 3) we will be one complete family again in celebrating Christmas and New Year.

I Am Home... Again

     Last December 24th, one of my agendas as to why I decided to come home to Calamba earlier than the usual is to pay a visit to the place where I spent most of my childhood. To visit my second home. To show my 3 girls, particulary, my 2 older girls, the family who, one way or another, let me feel part of their family.

this is the driveway,
where kuya Warren and I
used to play. 

this use to have
bermuda grass, but since
my Lolo Cano got sick
it was difficult
for them to maintain it.

that huge mango tree

this huge tree
gives sweet indian mangoes
during summer

my girls and their cousin
are so lucky to have
seen this place, still intact

my Amaya playing with Ela, my
brother's daughter

     Mr. Canuto Pabale, DOC to the veterinary world, but Lolo Cano to me, was my god-father (ninong) when I was baptized. Lolo Cano and his wife Lola Ellen, became my second parents. Since I was an ONLY child then (it took my parents 7 years before I have my 3 brothers) and so is their son, whom I call Kuya Warren, so in our hearts we consider each other as siblings.

     I can't recall how young I was when I started sleeping every weekend at their place. My dad usually brings me to Lolo Cano's place on a Saturday and picks me up the following day. It was Lola Ellen who taught me how to fold the blankets and fix the bed as soon as I wake up. If my memory, serves me right, to earn some money for my school allowance, I usually pick the leaves that falls off from this huge mango tree. As my dad told me and my brothers, Lolo Cano is also called MR. CLEAN by his colleagues, close friends and relatives for he doesn't want to see any dirt on his backyard, not even a leaf. I guess the acronym OC (obsessive compulsive) applies to him as well.

     But January 19th of 2013, my Lolo Cano passed away. I have to admit there were guilt feelings cause I wasn't able to visit him especially when he was at a critical condition already. That when I learned of his passing, I cried, buckets. As one of my older cousin, Ate Tina Francia , said to me at FaceBook, I WAS THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER HAD.

     So going back to a place where most of childhood was spent was bittersweet for me. Missing my Kuya Warren who is in the States and has a family of his own already. Lolo Cano't not there anymore. Though it was nice seeing Lola Ellen, who is doing fine and trying to be strong despite the face that she still cries. She was busy preparing some snacks for us. It was so nice to Walter, the youngest brother of Kuya Warren, who introduced us to his pet, Belly.

Lola Ellen and I were updating
each other about
our respective lives. She was
busy preparing some snacks for us. 

"TITO" Walter. hahaha!!! hey
brother!!! 

Walter's pet, a pot-belly pig
whose name is Belly. hahaha!!! And
we miss her already.

     Before I left, the girls and I have a photo-op with Lola Ellen. I have a photo also taken beside the ashes/urn of my Lolo Cano.

Moi and my Lola Ellen. Susme!
parang ndi natanda ang
Lola Ellen ko

My girls, Ela and Me with
Lola Ellen.

Miss you Lolo Cano.

     To Lola Ellen, THANK YOU for the warm welcome you gave me and my girls. Be strong. I know that it will take you awhile to really MOVE ON. But I know that Lolo Cano is guiding you, Kuya Warren and Walter from up above. Take care of your health as well. Thank you for the aguinaldos you gave the girls.

     To Walter, THANK YOU for allowing my girls to feel at home in your place. Take care of Lola Ellen. Whether you like it or not, WE'RE SIBLINGS too. Hahaha! Thank you for introducing Belly to us. We miss your pig so much too.

     To Kuya Warren, I know you're in the States already, but I would still like to say THANK YOU for being a good older brother (kuya) to me. You're the older brother I never had. Thank you for being so patient, kind, understanding and loving as well. Hope to see you soon here at home.

     To my Lolo Cano, I know words are not enough to say my heartfelt THANK YOU for everything you have done for me and for my family. I know that wherever you are I know you're guiding us, especially your family. Thank you for all the LOVE you've showered on me. Thank you for ACCEPTING me as part of your family. My heartfelt THANK YOU. I love and miss you Lolo Cano