Monthly Archives: June 2011

Quotes to live by

Whether it’s a line from a song, words from a guru or a dialogue from a movie, memorable quotes can help ease whatever you’re feeling. If it’s to boost your already happy day, there’s a quotable quote for that. If you need encouragement as self-doubt engulfs you, there’s a quote for that too. What follows are sets of quotes that I go back to again and again, depending on need or desire. These wise words have helped me out a lot. I hope they help you too.

When your belief in yourself is wavering

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss

“The more you know who you are, the less you let things upset you.” – Lost in Translation

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” — Joseph Campbell

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” — George Elliot

When you’re scared of making a change or taking a step forward

“It’s the most unhappy people who most fear change.” – Mignon McLaughlin

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face.”– Eleanor Roosevelt

“If you wait to do everything until you’re sure it’s right, you’ll probably never do much of anything.” ― Win Borden

“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” — Van Gogh

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” — Woody Allen

“No wind favors he who has no destined port.” – Montaigne

“She went out on a limb, had it break off behind her, and realized she could fly.” — Kobi Yamada

When you’re tempted to be mean

“We have to work to be good people…goodness always involves the choice to be good.” ― Liv Ullman

“If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” — Conan O’Brien

“Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato

When you’re trying to (re)discover yourself

“You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day.” — Katherine Center

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” — Anaïs Nin

When you’re uninspired

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” – William Wordsworth

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”-Maya Angelou

“I want to write things that people want to feel.” — Thomas and Lola

When you feel others are dragging you down / When you don’t know whether to go forward or not with others

“When someone tells me “no,” it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, it simply means I can’t do it with them.” – Karen E. Quinones Miller

“The roles we play in each other’s lives are only as powerful as the trust between us.” — Oprah Winfrey

“When you say “yes” to others, make sure you are not saying “no” to yourself.” — Paulo Coelho

When you need to put life back in perspective

“Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have.”

*****

Photo credits: “11-07-10 We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve” by Bethan Phillips, c/o Flickr. “In the end, only kindness matters” by Jennifer, c/o Flickr. “seven thirty bourke street” by Jes, c/o Flickr. “02-06-10 With Chances Taken Hope Embraced And Have I Told You ~ Explored ” by Bethan Phillips, c/o Flickr. “The King’s Game” by Levente Fulop, c/o Flickr. “Heels & Bokeh” by Anna Jarske, c/o Flickr.

This cookie is brought to you by the letter E

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E is for Entertainment. E is for Education. E is for Eating.

Whoever first thought of making alphabet-themed food is genius. Mommies everywhere are super grateful to you, oh wise letter-loving one. This Mommy in particular is extremely relieved such lettered food exists. It makes eating more enjoyable for the picky eater of a toddler.

I got these Earth’s Best Organic Sesame Street Letter of the Day Cookies from Healthy Options. This particular set had a picture of Cookie Monster on the box. I was choosing between this box of alphabet biscuits with Cookie Monster or another box of alphabet biscuits with a generic kid on the cover. Triggered by Sesame Street sentiment and a desperate need to feed my picky toddler healthy food, I went for the organic biscuits sold by the big blue cookie-eating monster. Oh yes, familiar characters do help make the sale.

Well, it worked. My son loves these biscuits. It’s great that he can continue learning about his alphabet while he eats. I also snack on these alphabet treats. They’re yummy!

The boy also loves bunny-shaped snacks, goldfish-shaped biscuits, Cheerios (lots and lots of letter O’s!), and the alphabet-shaped cereal Alpha-Bits. Animal cookies are also a hit.

Really, thank goodness for all these happy-shaped snacks. E is for Enjoyable Eats. E is for EUREKA! My picky toddler is eating!

Do you need to entertain your toddler through the food he eats? Share your tips and tricks! Let’s learn from each other.

Wifely Steps is Nuffnang’s Featured Blogger of the Month

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Nuffnang Philippines has chosen this Wifely Steps blogger to be its Featured Blogger for the Month of June. I am super honored. Thank you Nuffnang Philippines!

Nuffnang is Asia-Pacific’s first and leading blog advertising community. I’ve met some of the Nuffnangers from the Philippine office and they’re one dynamic and enthusiastic bunch! I’m proud to be part of this family.

If you’re interested, you can read my interview with them at their website. Obviously I had a lot of fun answering their questions as my replies were quite lengthy. Heehee.

Thanks again to Nuffnang for this wonderful surprise. To all those coming this way through the Nuffnang site, a big hello and welcome to you guys! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy checking this blog out.

A Wonderful White Forest Cake

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White chocolate isn’t one of my favorite things in the world, but this cake just made me rethink that.

This White Forest Cake from Red Ribbon was my sister’s special request for her birthday. I’ve tried Black Forest — that’s a delicious classic. I’ve heard of White Forest too but haven’t tried it as I’ve had an aversion to white chocolate since I was a kid. I find it cloyingly sweet and too milky. Blah.

I change my mind about white chocolate though, at least with this cake. The chiffon was quite moist and had a delicious cherry filling. Topped with whole cherries and decorated with premium white chocolate, it was a pretty spectacular dessert. Mmm.

This regular-sized cake costs P595.00 at Red Ribbon bakeshop. The junior-size costs P390.00. I think this cake will make lots of white chocoholics really happy!

Five stories about my father

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He worked late a lot. I wrote him notes to ask for textbook money, put the note on his bedroom desk and went to bed. The next morning there’d be an “OK” beside my request and the required school money under the note. This was how we communicated through most of my schooling life — through Post-its in the evenings.

*****

My first job was in the same building where he worked. We’d go to work together (with me asleep in the backseat) and go home together (with me asleep in the backseat). It made for nice bonding time (in between my snoring) until I found myself a nightlife and went home with other friends instead.

*****

He got a clubhouse sandwich (his favorite). I got buffalo wings (my favorite). We saw a movie after lunch, Mr. Bean (our favorite). He laughed in all the right (and wrong) places. It was a happy father-daughter date. I remember thinking that we should have more of that. We didn’t talk much, but that’s just the way we are. The quiet moments speak more than words exchanged.

*****

He drove me to the clinic to get check-ups when I was nearing my due date. Now he drives us to the pediatrician when his grandson goes for check-ups. Grandfather a.k.a. chauffeur. Then we’d all go for lunch after if the baby wasn’t crying too much from his immunization.

*****

“You know what I’m drinking, Timmy?,” he asked my then five-month-old son. The baby gurgled from his high chair. The grandfather was drinking some kind of herbal concoction. “It’s so I can have a long life! I’m drinking this for you!” The baby gazed at him, not really getting what he said the way his mother did, who was choking up invisible tears — the happy, sentimental kind.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! I love you very much! Thank you for everything.

To all the fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day! Enjoy your special day

You don’t do much all day, do you?

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This post was first published on philstar.com’s Unblogged. I’m sharing it here in my blog for my Wifely Steps family. This is for all the work-at-home and stay-at-home Moms who feel they’re misunderstood. Cheers!

We were having a quiet lunch and I was complaining to my friend how I didn’t have time for myself anymore. She looked at me square in the face and asked, “But aren’t you a stay-at-home mother?” I nodded, raising my own fork instinctively as she put hers down. “Then you must have at least some time for yourself,” she insisted. “After all, you don’t do much all day, do you?”

It took every amount of energy I had not to hurl my fork across the table. I calmed myself down thinking silently to myself that no, she didn’t understand because she’s not a mother. No, she didn’t understand because she doesn’t run around all day chasing a toddler. Her words stung. There I was relishing what little time off I had from Toddlerville when that question was, well, innocently, thrown at me. I realize now that her question was borne out of curiosity more than sarcasm, but at that very moment my fork could have made quite the weapon.

The corporate world was my life for twelve years. When motherhood came my way, I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mother, especially during my son’s first years. It’s been six months since I’ve resigned, but every day I am challenged in a totally different yet still dynamic setup. I tell you: Nothing compares to the challenges a stay-at-home mom faces every single day, every single hour. It’s just as (if not more) dynamic, tedious and tiring, only you can wear pajamas and go barefoot all day.

“I take care of the baby,” I replied in a tentative tone. How else could I answer the question? Do I tell my friend a typical day in the life of this mother? Waking up when the baby does. Playing in bed before we go down for breakfast. Preparing breakfast. Having breakfast. (Have you tried feeding what could be the world’s pickiest eater? If that doesn’t drain your energy, I don’t know what will.) Cleaning up after breakfast. Washing poop. (Have you tried washing the cute butt of what could be the world’s wriggliest baby?) Cleaning up. Bathing baby. (I repeat: Wriggliest) Nursing baby. Teaching baby with building blocks, crayons, cars, crumpled paper, empty tin cans and old socks. Chasing baby around the house (repeat at least ten times throughout the day). Wiping away drool. Wiping away sweat. Fixing the laundry while he stays still for ten minutes watching a DVD. Picking up the toys he throws on the floor so he doesn’t slip on them while running around the house. I haven’t even gotten started on what happens right before lunchtime.

If a stay-at-home mom of one experiences this crazy scenario everyday, what more a mother of two? Three? What more a mother of preschool children, of tweens and teens? What more a mother of all of the above? I don’t want to imagine what their reactions would be when they are thrown the question, “You’re a stay-at-home mother? Then you don’t do much all day, do you?” Let me clear the table of all cutlery before World War Fork begins.

I looked at my friend and repeated, “I take care of the baby.” This time I said it without any trace of apprehension. It filled my heart just saying it again. The day is all about the baby. The days are all about the baby. I’m a stay-at-home mother and proud of it. The few moments I have to myself come when midnight strikes. Call me Cinderella. Midnight is when I begin writing freelance or getting into the shower. The little one consumes majority of 24 hours and I am immensely happy about it. True, I am crazy tired, but it is what it is. We stay-at-home moms are quite the misunderstood lot, aren’t we?

You don’t do much all day, do you? Maybe I should ask my friend to come join me for a day in Toddlerville. For lunch we’ll eat with our hands the way the toddler does. I don’t trust myself with forks just yet.

Ten life lessons from kindergarten days

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Re-reading “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum is stirring up a lot of memories. Mr. Fulghum shares some awesome advice such as “Play fair.” “Take a nap every afternoon.” “Wonder.” “Share everything.” Solid tips, right?

I don’t think that all I need to know in life I learned when I was four, but those years make for some good reminders to enjoy life a little bit more. Here’s my take on life lessons inspired by kindergarten days:

Punch boys who pull on your braids. Inspired by my little sister who did punch a boy who pulled on her braids, a.k.a. standing up for yourself kindergarten style.

Always put a hanky in your pocket. Pocket-sized tissues nowadays.

Run up and down hills more — those soil stains will come out eventually, but the playful thrill of running in the dirt lasts forever.

Eat aratilis while they’re not yet extinct.

If you see your reflection in your black shoes, they’re shiny enough.

Always ask permission before borrowing anything.

A chocolate drink and a small portion of spaghetti is the best recess snack ever.

Don’t jump around with your wallet in your pocket. I’ve lost my allowance many times because of this!

If a classmate laughs at you for peeing your pants, throw your wet pants at him and he’ll run for cover. Okay maybe that’s not a life lesson, but it sure did teach that guy not to mess with four-year-old me.

Imagine, imagine, imagine. Playing pretend, wearing costumes, putting on shows with dolls — you’ll never get bored with a healthy imagination.

What life lessons have you learned from your kindergarten days?

Look what I found in the laundry

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Okay, correction. Look what I put in the laundry basket. He wanted to get in! After squatting on the bottom of the hamper, he got settled with one of his favorite books.

Just another moment to be cherished in Toddlerville.

Coloring with big boy crayons

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You say “Mongol” and I say “#2!” Mongol pencil #2 is my all-time favorite writing instrument. The crisp sound of a freshly sharpened #2 on paper is blissfully cathartic. That and the brand carries a lot of nostalgia for me. Every time I see the yellow-orange pencils I’m reminded of the days when my family would troop to the school bookstore to complete our back-to-school checklist. When I learned that Mongol was carrying crayons, I was so excited. Perfect! My toddler has a budding love with coloring so it was the perfect time to try out these crayons.

“I’ll color your world if you’ll color mine…”

“Every color and every hue is represented by me and you…”

Mmmm, don’t you love the smell of new crayons? This is Timmy’s first “big boy crayons”. The current crayons he has are the chunky ones, so I was a bit worried that he wouldn’t be able to hold these thinner ones properly. I was also a little apprehensive that he would start breaking them. Ah, what a worrywart I turned out to be. Timmy immediately got started on his artwork. No broken crayons or handling issues. Timmy handled the crayons with, uh, flying colors. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun!)

“Hmm, do I crosshatch or try some etching exercises?”

This is Timmy’s first artwork with his Mongol crayons. I’ll call it “An Experiment in Cerulean and Orange.” I’m sure you can come up with a better title!

“I found the masterpiece in you…”

While Timmy was busy with that piece, I was checking out the different shades. It’s been a long time since I’ve played with crayons! My favorites were these shades of red and blue.

Choose your lipstick shade!

Cerulean on the left, blue green on the right. Which do you prefer?

Check out the crayon box and you’ll notice the trademark Mongol band at the top. I really loved this touch. The band is such a strong branding property that there’s no mistaking this box of crayons is Mongol. The advertising geek in me super loved it.

Trademark Mongol band on pencil and crayon box.

Like pencil, like crayon.

But the box was put aside because I prefer putting Timmy’s crayons in a recycled tissue box holder. This way, Timmy gets quicker access to any colors he wants.

Use a tissue box holder as a quick and easy way for a toddler to get crayons.

A box of Mongol Crayons 24′s goes for P44.75. Hey, that’s not bad at all. These crayons are of really good quality. They’re also non-toxic. Check them out at National Bookstore and at other bookstores and department stores.

It’s Day 8 of Timmy’s crayons and he hasn’t broken a single one yet. Woohoo! It also looks like I’ll be attaching more nostalgia with Mongol, this being Timmy’s first “real” crayons. Holy cow, my toddler’s using big boy crayons. Sniff. Before I know it he’ll be getting from my stash of #2 pencils and sketching in his journals. How blissfully sentimental that moment would be but wait a minute! Not so fast! Today, crayons. Tomorrow, pencils. One colorful, artsy growing up step at a time.

Happy snacks: Triangle-shaped popcorn and nutty nuggets

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Are you a popcorn lover? If yes, keep reading. If no, keep reading as this may convert you. I’m a big popcorn fan and really enjoyed this snack: triangle-shaped popcorn! Well, they’re popcorn chips in triangle form. Cool huh?

These popped corn chips from Popcorners are so delicious! First bite, you immediately taste the popcorn. Mmmmm. Since my pack was Cheesy Jalapeno, I felt the heat rush into my mouth a few seconds after the first bite. It was quite spicy, but not so much that you don’t taste the popcorn anymore. Loved it! For the health-conscious, it’s all-natural and gluten-free.

I think I’ll try the Kettle variant next time. After eating this, I realized I prefer my popcorn light and sweet. Popcorners also comes in Sea Salt, White Cheddar and Butter. I got my pack from Healthy Options and one pack costs PHP139.00.

As for my happy snack of grainy nuggets, this was also very good that I’d do cartwheels for it. Somersaults! They’re crunchy nuggets with sunflower seeds and toasted grains. So delicious. My sister and Mom commented that Somersaults taste like the outer covering of Nagaraya peanuts.

Each piece is about as big as a one-peso coin. I love the nuts and the grains. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Doesn’t this look healthy?

For the health-conscious, this is a good source of fiber, is protein-packed and organic. Reach for this instead of that bag of chicharon if you’re craving for something crunchy and flavorful. I got the Somersaults Sea Salt variant. I loved it. Other flavors are Santa Fe Salsa, Dutch Cocoa and Salty Pepper. Shall we try the chocolate one next time? Somersaults is also available in Healthy Options and sells for Php195.00.

So that’s what’s been keeping me munching during snack time. Yummy, right?

The Baby Blanket from Bulgaria

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Beautiful memories can make any object more valuable than it actually is. Baby things are so much like that. I can’t throw Timmy’s first pair of shoes away. I’m still holding on to his onesies from his first year. Then there’s one very special item I know I’ll keep even when he’s outgrown it — a soft, baby blue banket with cows and a cottage.

When my friend from Bulgaria learned I was pregnant in ’09, she sent me a wonderful baby package. There were clothes for the baby, Bulgarian treats for me, and this cozy blue blanket. This friend isn’t just like any other. Her name is Spaska, and I have yet to meet her in person. We were penpals when I was 14 years old. She was my favorite penpal because I loved her beautiful handwriting and she told wonderful stories. The correspondence carried on for many years until we lost touch. We picked up on our correspondence again a few years ago via e-mail, and now we keep in touch once in awhile through Facebook. Amazing, isn’t it?

Maybe the baby has picked up on how special this blanket is to me because he loves this blanket more than the other ones he has. It’s got cows! A Mommy and Daddy cow! With ears you can pull! He also loves nibbling on the blanket corners. He reminds me a little of Linus Van Pelt when I see him do this.

When he’s older I’ll tell him about the story of that blanket — how it traveled many miles to comfort him, how it arrived from Mommy’s old penpal. He’ll probably wonder what the heck a penpal is and how I could wait for months on end before getting a letter from a stranger. When he understands the magic of friendship though, I’m sure he’ll realize how special the blanket is.

The blanket serves its purpose. It keeps him warm and cozy. It keeps him entertained. Still, beautiful memories can make any object more valuable than it actually is. You can get a fluffy blue blanket anywhere, but you can’t get one that carries with it the story of a twenty-year friendship between two women who trust each other well but have yet to meet. Even if it comes with two cows and a cottage.

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