Christmas 2008!

My boys celebrating Christmas Day

with their lolo and lola, all in bluelove!

oh yeah VIVA!

I am such a spoiled little cousin! Just 10 minutes ago, my 2.5yo went off in his afternoon nap when Dadi handed me a big bag that says VIVA. My heart stopped about 2 seconds there... could it be...oh-my-gulaaaay! It really is a COLDPLAY canvas tote bag from their Viva La Vida concert tour. I got my camera, self-timered myself, lazy edit in photoshop... here I am composing my big THANK YOU 'te MAUDE!!!

I can only drool in all her concert hopping that I think is becoming a habit. But a good habit even for people weeping in fake tears "suyaaaaa koooo!" because she would never forget them especially ME. She has already given me TORI AMOS stuff because she knew I was heartbroken in envy and now... she's at it again. How insanely cool is this? I love being her cousin, I feel so special :P Hehe. I love you 'te Maude!!!

And fyi, my little boy loves the song Clocks (not from Viva La Vida album) and can actually sing some lines :)

Sunday Funday!

We took the kids out today for an afternoon play at the mall. Knowing that malls at this time of the year are full house, we went to the least crowded mall, Parkmall. My 3mo enjoyed the ride in his stroller and was wiggly excited in feast of the moving things and colors he saw. While my 2.5yo ran around, discovered new tricks and going back and forth to Akii's stroller to check on his brother.

Before we headed back home, we parked to an open lot at the back of Consolacion Market. There, Zaiid tried a flipping trick for himself as he watched some skaterboys' stunts and while his brother watched him with delight. 

It sure is a sunday funday for us! 4 more days to go and it's Christmas! 

light 'em up!

Haha can you believe it? You read it right: Glow-In-The-Dark Thread! These wonderful bright threads are just in time for Christmas. But I will have to skip buying for now, but will definitely get them when I'm ready to stitch something new.

You guys can find these glowy threadies at Sublime Stitching. Happy glowing!

what makes a family

We love hanging out in our backyard and just enjoy the cool morning breeze. My 2.5yo can be busy collecting stones or munching his morning snack or running around playing chase while my little 3mo sunshine can observe his brother or sleep like an angel in our local hammock or outdoor duyan. If I'm lucky at some days I can catch him in my camera chasing dreams in his sweet sleepy smile. 

These are my babies - the sole key of our happiness in the family - whom I am beyond-lifetime proud. They are not pefect beings and they can crush my heart unintentionally but that's what I love about them. They come crashing into me like thunder and I can only give my sweet surrender. At times I hear myself cry in frustration and hopes of me doing more for them. But truth is, I can only give myself. And I am a bit scared that I might never be enough. I am just their mother.

I have decided to not have another baby, even if people are begging me to have "one more, a baby girl this time". Well if it were as easy as laying eggs, why bring it on! People often misjudge couples who settle for one, or a dozen, or decide not to have a baby at all. What makes a family anyway? Is it the number of children you have or how well you do as parents? Is it the place you come home to or is it how complete your family is?

Raising my boys alone - physically - is a hard game. Having my husband work abroad is the biggest sacrifice we've been in so far. Yet, everyday we become stronger and our bonding has been twice thicker than yesterday. Because we know that this is only temporary and hopefully next year, we will be together in Dubai again. I know we are still young in this children-parents relationship and there are tons of things yet to be experienced and learned. That's ok, each day is yet another adventure and we just can't wait. 

For HOLGA.

This is my gift for my bestfriend. 

She found a new love in lomography so I had to find something that relates to it. 

I didn't want to settle for a typical title that says "PHOTOS" in front of the album, 

so I had my scribbles handy again. 

Yes, she looooved them!

(Told you I couldn't wait till Christmas!)

if the price is right... they're yours!

You won't believe that despite my busy schedule (visiting my kids' Pedia, doing the grocery, meeting a client - all in one day) I did manage to shop at the Night Bazaar in Colon for my Christmas gift list. 

It was a good walk but of course there was my favorite part - the ukay-ukay overload! Toting and I had teary laughs here and there - knowing us, we always take advantage of the silly details that would only cause us to crack hysterically! But anyway, that's another story.

So we went shopping like normal people do (except that you have to insert the laughing hysterically part!)... and then we found these! Just look at how yummy they are for your ears. What's more to this treat is it's price. I bet you can't guess how much these darlings cost. Go ahead take a good guess. And if you can guess it right, I'd give you a pair (that is if you are here in Cebu hehe).

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas gifts for my boys' Grannies

I didn't have a hard time thinking of that perfect christmas gift for my parents and in-laws. It's a little keychain of a book that keeps the memories of my boys. They're called Mini Leather Photobooks and they are genuinely handmade with love by my very talented friendTschai.

It was an easy job for me: pick out photos

of my boys, a lazy edit in Photoshop, and they're off in my sent items! After 2 days, they were ready for pickup. When I had them in my hands, I thought Christmas was yet too far to be keeping these treasure... So! I gave Momi and Dadi their gifts last night. No doubt, they were amazed by it's creativity and how beautiful their grandsons are. *wink!

Of course I have to get one for my own - but I don't own a key - so I made it into a cellphone chain and replaced the silver key with my key and lock from my scrapbooking collectibles. Weee! This is actually and endless creation - you can give this as giveaways for whatever occasion, or your own personal poem, or... you tell me!

Submit your photos and order here.

For more information please click here.

Hooray for mini things!

The Woody-Woop Gang

I found this colourful proud gang in its most bending silliness.

They are clown, zebra, dog, and pig - the bendable happy friends!

And they each hold a secret talent.

This is how it works:

Press the bottom part of the platform...

and you'll be surprised to see how twisted they are!

They're not much but they made me smile. I did not give these to my 2.5yo because I know they wouldn't last a second. So I'm saving them for future decorating purposes. Who knows I might have my own shop that needs a touch of kiddie maddness (or something to that effect). *wink!

Zoe Angelou is here!

we love you baby Zoe Angelou.

Welcome to the club, Zie!

A SewMachine that is made of yum colors...

...and a book that teaches me how to sew - properly.

All I want for Christmas.

Cebu's Night Bazaar

I have to go! I have to go! I bet it's going to be a long walk and a sweaty one, but who cares?? I have a good feeling about this. I can just imagine all those little miscellaneous non-sense that you know you got to have anyway. It's going to be a trippy-trip trip! 

iCan iPod iRace!

This is my little sport, mastering the art of iPod car racing. 

Oh, the kids these days.

My faeries caught by HOLGA!

This is me and my faeries eaten and pooped by Holga.

(Taken by my bestfriend's new toy, HOLGA, a lomo camera.)

I have to admit that I was delighted the first time I saw Holga. She's not like any camera I've seen... well, fact is she's not. She's like a... TOY! I wanted to try it already but Toting had to do an extra overly complicated procedure - yes, like how to close her body with an electrical tape. A very sensitive toy that is but a real beauty. I'm not a master of photography - or lomography (yep, it's a new word to me!) - but I believe I have an eye for a good picture. And this for me is a perfect capture of my faeries. Pure enchantment!

I would love to share to you other poopies by Holga. See more here.

photocopying

This is what he's been up to. Photocopying his hand and car using our scan-copy-print-in-one printer. Thanks to me for this crazy idea, he is now interested in photocopying almost anything. We stopped until my Momi finally said, "you guys have to stop now..." She was more concerned of the ink.

The Christmas List

I just realized that Christmas is just around the corner and I still haven't started buying presents for my godchildren. I think it's a perfect time to panic. I can't just leave the house and go shopping because everything just depends on my 2.5yo boss. 

Well, I better get myself started or else I'll drown with the other shoppers. The secret to shopping for presents is having a list. Not just name-list, but what stuff to buy for each name too. In that way, you know what shop to go so it'll save you big time. So I think I'll start with my Christmast List soon and maybe I might just take my boss along.

a surprise visit!

We got a surprise visit from my best buddy Fyns who just got back from a short HongKong trip. She was all over Zaiid... hugging and kissing him, and trying to carry him (but failed haha!). She couldn't believe how he's gotten so big alreaady! She was also amazed at Akii's big smiles and hearing him "talk" made her scream in delight! 

Thanks for the visit Fyns, although our home was a mess - well it's acceptable I got kids - we really had a great short time with you. Huuuugs!

Happy Birthday Dadilo!

Today is my daddy's birthday. My kids (well, kuya zaiid did) made a card with a little help from me. He drew the car's body while I held his hand to do the wheels. My 2.5yo son ran to his dadilo and gave him the card. And to our surprise, my dad bought him all 10 of these toycars as his birthday present to his grandson. I felt like I was his little girl again, only that this time the cool cars are for my son. How crazy-sweet is that? Happy Birthday dadi, we love you.

i love to read!

This is a picture of my 2mo son enjoying his first read. He excitedly moves his hands and feet as if wanting to grab the colors he see. He gives out little coos as if following every word I'm saying. Well, I'm glad his brother's books won't go to waste :)

an extra busy day

My 2.5yo son did not take his daily afternoon nap today. He was extra busy with his toys. I'm not worried though, because I know he just need this. He was lining them up and started counting with the help of his new Brilliant Baby - Numbers CD. 

After awhile, I put off the TV and told him it's time to sleep. But he left me to take my nap instead. He was extra silent this time so I thought he might sleep beside me sooner or later. But to my surprise, this is what he did to his - or my - toy car. 

Ohmygoodness! I think my baby's going to be a great auto mechanic someday.

CoffeeNest Logo + Badge

Here they are! My highschool batchmate has ordered badges and a logo design for her group, CoffeeNest. From my giveaway tokens she had an idea to give her friends a friendship badge this Christmas. Brilliant! 

I didn't go with the coffee cup because... well, there are too many coffee cups in the world! So I've settled for a "coffee tree" instead with their lovely group cat beside it. Yey!

Celebrating Great-Grandtatay's 86th Birthday

(photo: TitoJairo + Zaiid running in the streets of Dumanjug)

We headed off to our province, Dumanjug, to celebrate my Grandfather's 86th Birthday. It was a long 3-hour ride so I had to leave little sunshine at home. But it was a great roadtrip for my 2.5yo. Riding on zigzag roads, seeig rich green mountains for the first time is worth staying awake the whole ride.

(photo: litol feet on a trisikad)

He had a great time with his 4yo uncle - playing cars, riding a bike and trisikad, watching chickens, running out in fresh air... He was sweating non-stop and so are his smiles.

(photo: Jairo + Tatay + Zaiid ran out from the picture)

Happy Birthday 'Tay and to our late MamaLola. We love you!

looking a lot like mama

They say he looks a lot like me (except for his bright eyes which is totally from his father's). I agree. This is my latest favorite picture of him. Wide-eyed, dimpled little fella. Isn't he the sweetest guy on the planet? I can't believe I have a mini-me junior!

his first clay car

A new addition to his toy collection.... Tada! A clay toy car. 

I was excited to show him how clay magic works. Indeed it mezmerized him all throughout our playtime. He still doesn't know how to mold them, so he takes whatever molded art I had made (a spider, a lizard, a flower and of course cars.) and reassembles them and puts them all back. It's like he's solving a puzzle or something. He definitely extra enjoyed his before-bedtime-play tonight. 

Aw, my little boy is growing up. I remember collecting Matchboxes and loving clays and Legos back in my childhood days. And now, he's loving them too. His papa would've been a better clay artist than I am. I terribly miss that guy. *teary me. sniff sniff. :)

inlove forever

Being a mother is a sweet roller coaster ride. One minute you're all over their poop, the next minute you are in heaven having eyes locked with eachother giving out unspoken 'i love you's'. 

These are my boys whom I am forever inlove.

Akii, the baby manghud at 2 months old. 

Zaiid, the babykuya at 2.5 years old.

great finds

My mom has a super talent in finding great deals. Yes, I meant cheap finds that's got quality and beauty that stands equally with those expensive snobs! Don't you agree? I would love to weart these myself but I own a doll's feet, too small to walk in those wedges. Argh! 

my little mac genius

He calls our Macbook Pro "Appo!" because of the embeded famous bitten apple. And he knows just how to run his chubby fingers to control the cursor to get what he wants. When I came back from the kitchen, he gave out a big "look ma!" look to me because he had opened PhotoBooth - had taken pictures - and had opened and played a video he wants. Oh my! He might already been blogging his way. Start them early they say! 

do the burdastyle!

I found a great community site where sewing people meet, share their works and techniques - may they be professionals or just a novice who doesn't even own a sewing machine like me. It's called BurdaStyle, an open source website dedicated to sewing. Weeee! So much good stuff going on.

The site offers patterns which are proudly shared by BurdaStylers. With easy-to-follow steps that are copyright-free and easy to download, I got myself smiling with excitement! They also have great How To tips also posted and freely shared by members. Go check it out and become a member. It's good to be part of a sewing family.

Can you see my work up on the BurdaStyle homepage? Not much, but all is full of love! Let's sew away!

crazy over rocks

My 2.5yo has a thing for rocks. He picks them up and throws them... and picks them up again. He carefully selects what rock to pick. Even if he gets his hands dirty, that's not a problem. I only want to make sure he's enjoying his little adventure. 

I think he's found that extra wonderful truth in those dull, blunt things. 

Happy rock picking!

i am govinda.

I am hosting and "renaming" my portfolio site to a new home. Thanks to an old friend, Jeffrey Wong, he rescued the life of my designs on the internet back in 30minutes flat. Genius!

visit www.iamgovinda.com

stitched for love

I made this for my 2 yo when he first joined a playgroup. It was his apron and I wanted to personalize it. When I showed it to Zaiid, he gave out a "wooow!" I'm glad my little boy appreciates my little labor of creative love...

And then I made this for Akii on his Christening Day. I bought a plain swaddling blanket and customized it with his name on it. It just fits him perfectly...

I have always dreamt of owning a small sewing machine so I can sew baby dresses or bags (not for my boys!) or create whatever I fancy. Someday I will find time for that little passion for anything sewn and stitched.