Of Love, Ice Cream and Addictions

I am Slao and I am an ice cream addict.

When I 1st saw that Haagen daz had a buffet, I was in Singapore with my husband and our friends.  Immediately, after we (Monica and I) saw the tarp saying it was eat all you can ice cream WITH toppings we decided to have that for dinner.  Everyone else asked us were we sure? Didn't we want to take a look at any of the other restaurants and we were only half listening to them as we were already ordering our 1st of many scoops.  When selected Haagen Daz branches started having the buffets here we also went.  I went 3x.  Best days of my life.  I ate around 15 scoops one time.

To say I love ice cream is pointless, obviously I love ice cream.  People say "its just ice cream", well, maybe to YOU its just ice cream.  To me, those are just shoes or its just a bag.  I don't go crazy for cheese nor do i like wine.  I know there are more important things in life, like world peace or my children.  But of all the non living things there is in the world, yes, even my cellphone (I can lose my phone and not notice but you can't make me lose ice cream), ice cream is the most important to me (especially right now).  We realize how important things are when they're gone.  Well, it's almost gone and though I did not take Haagen daz for granted I did make the most out of the time we had left.  When I love/ want something I do everything in my capacity to get it.  So, what do we have?  This is what we have...

cups

cups and a pint

more cups

pints

more pints

bars

more bars

my stash in my freezer and my brother and I! pic in pic in pic

These are not for sale.

They are also no longer complete.  We have already finished around 10+ bars and 2 pints.
To each his own addiction.

May you find your true love and be with it for all eternity.

"In a world of disorder and disaster and fraud, sometimes only beauty can be trusted. Only artistic excellence is incorruptible. Pleasure cannot be bargained down.  And sometimes the meal is the only currency that is real."


Have a sweet cold weekend everyone!

Haagen Daz, Goodbye

Goodbye Old Friend

Around a month ago Haagen Daz bars went on sale at 100pesos each.  I only told a few of my closest friends to keep the hoarding at a minimum.  I told my parents and my dad asks the Moa branch if they were on sale and they weren't but that they were closing in a few days. Then weeks later someone posted on my wall that Haagen Daz is going on sale everywhere and that it is leaving us.

I have relatively early childhood memories of Haagen Daz.  Walking around in Hong Kong pouting ( I was a sulky child) and only ice cream would make me happy again.  I remember being in High School sitting on my bed eating a pint of Choc Choc Mint while reading a book.  I forget what book it was but I do remember the taste of chocolatey mint goodness.  I also remember the 1st time I tried Cherry Vanilla in my BFF's house, there are no words to describe it.  The 1st time I tried macadamia nut, how subtle and eloquent the taste was.  How eating too much Coffee kept me up all night.  Then years later they came out with Cappuccino Truffle and I knew it would keep me up BUT I could not stop myself.  Yes, I stayed up and it was worth every spoonful.  I remember tasting strawberry cheesecake, cookie and cream, midnight cookies and cream... I remember each and every moment I tasted them for the 1st time.  Now, as I recall I just keep closing my eyes... These flavors I mentioned were my favorites, to me they were the best of the best.  I almost finished a quart of Melon Haagen Daz in one sitting.  I am happy I ate at the Haagen Daz buffet 3x in this lifetime.  They were calories worth eating, time well spent, memories to last a lifetime.

Haagen Daz, you will be missed.  You were not the 1st ice cream I ever ate, you will not be the last that I try BUT you truly have everything that can make me happy. See you when I fly abroad.

Take Me Back To Paradise City

As we grow older the problems seem to grow bigger.  Bills never stop coming and money seems to evaporate like water.  When I was young, in High School to be exact, I thought all the problems I had were the end of the world.  I thought I had gone through so much already that I could write an epic novel about my supremely devastating life.  More than 10years later?  I realize now how lame I was.  That having a bad report card was nothing.  That cutting classes was an adventure I now remember fondly.  My parents were furious to say the least but every now and then my best friend and I mention that fated day and we laugh about it.  I wonder now if all the problems I am going through I can laugh about in 10 or so years.  


I was in such a hurry to grow up.  If marathons were the thing then, I would have been at the finish line seconds after the go signal.  I wanted to grow up and be an adult not realizing that adulthood SUCKS.  I wanted to get out of my parent's house because I wanted to be "free".  Free to do what? Free to go out with my friends anytime or day I wanted to.  Free to do whatever my heart desired.  Now I am "free" and I truly LOVE spending time at home and I see my friends no more than once a month.  


What I would give to live in my parent's house again, to be woken up for lunch that is already prepared.  Then lay down in bed to read or to talk on the phone.  I would watch tv, eat junk food and ice cream like there was no tomorrow and like it cost nothing.  I'd turn on the cd player and take a long bath singing my pains away.  Then dinner would be ready and I would eat again.  I would complain and whine that I didn't like the food and I refused to eat my vegetables.  What a difficult child I was.  I was a brat.  We would travel during the summer and I would sulk and pout if I didn't get to buy what I wanted.  I remember buying an unreasonable pair of Doc Martens, 8 holes and cherry red.  I thought I deserved it, from the bottom of my heart I really thought I did.  Even if my parents had already bought me 2 other doc martens.  If I could go back in time, i'd slap myself.  In my recent trip to hongkong I realized how much a pair of DMs was and since I am now using my own money, I couldnt bear to buy that same cherry red 8 hole pair.  (my old ones were donated to the poor).  My only problems then was where we would go next, what I would buy and what we would eat.  


Today, I wake up to no food prepared, I can no longer take long baths because the water bill is extremely high and the ice cream I like costs more than 400pesos a pint.  My tastes have not diminished, I still long for the finer things in life but now they taste a bit less yummy because I have to pay for them myself.  I have been living in a bubble.  My last trip to Hong Kong was the 1st trip I have ever had that I had to pay for my own food.  My childhood favorite restaurant serves vietnamese spring rolls for 100++ hkd.  WOW for fried veggies rolled in wrapper.  Ridiculous.  Everyday I find myself feeling grateful to my parents who worked hard to give me the life I had.  And at the same time I am annoyed at myself that I wasn't grateful then.  Today I never complain about food.  I eat whats there because if I don't I would have to cook something else.  


What I would give to be able to live in my parent's house again.  What I would give to be a child again.  I want to experience the freedom that a child has that no adult will ever have (unless you win the lottery or rob a bank).  What I would give to be able to watch a movie with no one talking in the background or with no work that needs to be done.  What I would give to not be in a hurry in the everyday things I do.  


I hope my kids stay young, stay as young as they can for as long as they can.  I hope that somehow they get the most out of their childhood and never be in a hurry to grow up.  Because once you're grown up, there's no going back.

The Help - A Movie

More often than not we complain abt the Nannies we have.  I know for sure I always complain, I miss the yayas we ourselves had growing up.  They took care of us not only because it was their job but they did it because they cared.  You won't find help like that nowadays but that doesn't mean we shouldn't hope anymore or be as nice and as kind as we can be.

I just finished watching The Help and I highly recommend the movie.  Though I don't know any people as cruel as the women in the movie nor have I had any yayas that loved my children as much as the help in the movie did, the movie shined a different light on what we take for granted everyday. 

My new year's resolution (which I will start now) is to be kinder to everyone that comes my way.  Even annoying cops, sales people and customer service people.

Johnson Park

I hate getting stuck in traffic so instead of going to our usual park (the mall near it is on a 3 day sale) I opted for somewhere closer and that is Johnson Park.  When we got there M1 immediately went to the slides.  Though they were too small for her taste and left no thrill she still had a lot of fun. So much fun that she didn't want to leave an hour after playing there.

She made me promise to bring her back there before she agreed to leave.

World Of Fun

My parents take M1 to rockwell a few times each month.  They go early to avoid the crowds and they go straight up to the top floor and let her wild.  She rides on the piggy, car, giraffe and skater.  I have yet to find out what these things really are because I've only been there once or twice with her.  It costs P50 for one ride that lasts around 1-3 minutes (i'm only assuming).  She absolutely loves the place.  She loves rockwell and she never wants to leave.  You have to buy a card and have it topped up with load to be able to get the rides going.  If you put in 500php you get an extra 200php.

Rockwell, is not near the house and if it's traffic it can take more than an hour to get home so I opted for the SM mall nearest my house and went to World Of Fun where it costs 5php for 1 ride!  What a GREAT DEAL!  We stay for an hour and she rides on the same rides the whole time.  I only spend 100php for that full hour.  The only negative side is that when it gets to around 5pm there are too many people in the place.  It is literally packed with kids and adults alike.  So we have to leave because when all the rides and games are being played it becomes too noisy for my ears.  We went there twice this week.

Kids Workshop At Shoppesville

My parents are away so my mom's driver is all mine.  I have listed down all the places I want to visit with the kids.  Our 1st stop was the nearest indoor playground to our house.  It's been raining alot so the parks in the villages are sure to be wet.

Kids Workshop in Shoppesville Arcade in Greenhills was a great hit on the kids.  And a definite big hit on my wallet.  I paid almost 1,000php for 2 kids and 3 yayas to play in an area as small as a classroom for only an hr.  (I brought 2 yayas bec M1's yaya is leaving and so I had to bring the new one along to let her get used to going out with the new yaya)  They have 2 slides that are relatively small, a climbing wall for toddlers and and art area.  They have 3 versions of the little tikes cars and 3 rocking horses.  There is also a reading area and a sort of dollhouse area.  Though for me the place is really underwhelming the kids seemed to love it.  M1 has a thing for slides so thats where she stayed for the 1st 30minutes.  M2 rode on the 3 horses and 3 cars and then ended up reading books. 

We went on a tuesday afternoon so there were only 2 other kids there.  They were rowdy enough for the small space.  I can't imagine going on a weekend or letting the kids play if the place is packed.  The really good thing about the place is its security,  you have to ring the doorbell for them to let you in.  They tag the kids with serial numbered bracelets and the corresponding adult are given ids.  Whoever is picking up the kids are given a hard plastic thing where your pick up time is written. 

It costs almost 300 per hour and if you add around 100 more you canget unlimited play  which is more applicable to bigger kids.  You HAVE TO BRING SOCKS!  If not you can get them for 30php each.  An additional yaya costs 60-70pesos per person.  So, that is how I came to spend 1,000 in an hour. 

Will I go back, maybe not. But it all depends on how kulit M1 is about the damn green slide.

A Slideshow Of Pictures About Where Children Sleep

I came across this in Facebook.  Read on.  Click here

What She Wore

Thanks to Aku for my Top

Every Sunday before the school week starts I ready M1's clothes for the whole week.  A big thank you to all her clothes donor.  Keep up the good work!

thanks to Gwama and Gwakong for my shirt and achie for my skirt

thanks to Auntie Tricia for my shorts and achi for my shirt

thanks to Auntie Tricia again for my overalls

Thanks to Tita Tring for my top

Thanks to Achie for my Shoes

Thanks to Ninang Oche for my whole ensemble

Grateful & Happy

I wonder where along the road of my life did I become a workaholic... if 15yrs ago someone told me I'd be a stay at home mom and working like crazy I wouldn't have believed them.  Yet here I sit on my computer chair with calloused hands and severely damaged fingers from all the work I have been doing.  But I'm happy.  The BFF sent a link which made me realize this.  Let em share it with you too.  LINK  To be honest, I didn't bother understanding #1, I've consciously done #2 in who I spend my time with and what I do.  So speaking of doing what makes you happy leads me to talk about becoming a workaholic again.  I LOVE WHAT I DO.  I love making clips and bows.  

Everything has been going my way the past few weeks. I have been working almost non stop to meet deadlines and deliver orders.  A lot of this has been due to friends or people who have pushed me to just take one more step.  Even something as simple as making a new design.  Ordering more ribbons or just plain old getting off my couch potato ass and make something.  I have to thank my manager, ASB.  She has been the support system and driving power behind the rusty oiled machine that is me.  She pushes me like no one else does, she almost literally unlocks the door, swings it open and shoves me into the room to do more.  She is the 'I' in my initiative.  Kat who practically forced me to make a new bow because she's already bought most of what I have.  And for future project ideas and where to get them, ILS.  There's always a reason why we meet new people so even if there are only a few moms who sit and wait in school with me, I'm glad they're there sitting and waiting with me.

 

 

Panda Bow

Best Friends

The fab 4 eating Jobee from Uncle T

With Achie talking

Wearing a kimono from Achie when she went to Japan

My sister in law K visits every week.  I don't remember how it all began but she came here with her bf once last year and after that they came every week since then.  I have wondered why she decided to visit but we can't really remember why but I'm glad she did.  Once a week, Poppabear has a meeting in the afternoon and comes home late, that is the day K visits.  She has been a great reliever for me.  When I gave birth to M2 and when M2 was admitted in the hospital she came to visit everyday to keep M1 company.  M1 has a picture of her "achie" on her wall by her bed.  She loves them so much it's like they were meant to be.  She is spoiled rotten by them, she gets everything she asks for from them.  But as I told my sister in law, no need for gifts, their presence every week is more than anything M1 could ask for. 

Toy Review: Leapfrog Violet

It's been awhile since I wrote a toy review and the 1st toy that came to mind was violet because M2 loves her puppy oh so much!  Want a toy that says your child's name?  This is it!  You choose the songs, you type in the baby's name and you enter what she likes.  I haven't updated the information in Violet but so far the toy is still a hit.  We got this for her when she was 2mos old.  She started playing with it when she discovered it played music if she kicked the paws.  I highly recommend it to everyone with newborn children. 

What she learned:  A bit of cause and effect.
Durability:  She is still working even with a lot of baby loving.  You just need to be ready with batteries.  3x 8mos.
Fun/Entertainment Value:  It helps keep her distracted when changing her diapers of giving her milk.  Those are the only times when she isn't moving around these days.
Age:  0mos to 1yr

Preschool at 2yo

Alot of parents or non parents who hear the prices of tuition fees for preschools, complain and whine that it's a waste of money.  I've talked to a few who really choose to put their kids in preschool at an early age (1.6 to 2yo) because they really see the value for it.  One mom said that it's better the child is here than wasting time watching tv with the yaya. I chose to enroll M1 for the same reason, she was getting bored at home and I didn't want to waste her formative years learning to dance "nobody nobody but you"  from the household help. 

When you look at what they do in her class, things are simple enough and yet you cannot just copy that same scenario at home.  For 1, M1 is now more open to strangers, she has learned to trust other people because she trusts her teachers so much.  She has learned a wee bit of independence and that life will not end without mommy in the room.  She has learned to share, coexist with other kids and pay attention when someone is talking.  Oh and that she isn't the center of the universe.

They say it is at this age that the child's brain is most open to learning.  My dad shared this article with me today about the benefits of entering your child in preschool.  Read on!  Article

Still Sick

I don't know of anyone who likes getting sick.  I hate getting sick.  I hate it when my kids get sick.  I hate seeing them cough, vomit and unable to sleep.  This virus is everywhere.  Looking at Facebook updates from fellow moms I know I am not alone in my misery.  The thing about kids getting sick is they spread the germs so fast.  M1 got sick last last week and 6 days ago her shobe got sick.  Now I am sick.  I have a fever and a gosh darned (thats not what I really wanted to say) cough that won't go away!  I have been stuck at home since Saturday, wishing that rest would help me fight against this virus... EPIC FAIL!  After ingesting so much meds and what nots I am still sick.  I HATE IT! 

Thankfully a miracle has happened and the tornado that is M1 has been calm the past few days.  She has learned to play by herself or with me just on the bed.  We read books, watch Barney (the same damned episode for 4days straight), and keep ourselves busy with the IPhone.  Yes, i've given up on the mission of not letting the kids play with the phone.  I downloaded games recommended by a friend.  Word's World is a great hit.

In the mornings we go to school and she loves it.  All is well when we are together in the afternoons, she lets me lie down in bed but forces me to open my eyes when she catches me dozing off.  What a demanding child.  M2 is so cute and cuddly and has started to say "Kk" too.  Still trying to record it.  M1 sings all day and is back to being the happy child that she is.  This Friday was the 1st day I was supposed to leave her the whole afternoon since her old yaya left... but since i'm sick I don't think I can. 

M1's newest thing is hiding stuff,  she took a lozenge and hid it the other day.  I found it today only because ants were devouring it already.  I find crackers in the towel cabinet, toys behind the dvd player and spoons in her bed. 

Diet. Fever. Vomit and More...

M1 still has fever and is still vomiting at least once a day.  She cries when its time to eat or drink milk.  She's only happy when she's on the bed with us.  Today is the 1st day we've ever been absent this school year.  But we are in no hurry to go back.  I'd like for her cough to go away by tomorrow.  We are now on antibiotics and hopefully 1 day of them will do some help.  She hasn't been sleeping well because of the coughing. 

M2's yaya is going on her dayoff on Wed.  Good luck to all of us.

On another note, I've come to realize how fat I've become and dieting really isn't my thing.  So when a friend messaged me about these T4 tomato pills that Chuvaness blogged about I immediately asked my friend who was going to HK to get for me.  I started taking them today and I think that my appetite has lessened a bit.  I only ate a cup of rice for both my lunch and dinner.  I also weighed myself today and I won't disclose howmuch I weigh BUT I do know how much I want to lose and that is 22lbs.  Wish me luck!!!

2 Weeks Later

Tomorrow Maxine's new yaya will have been with us for 2 weeks.  The old yaya has been hiding in the room for more than 24hrs already.  Today was the 1st time since school started that I felt it happy that classes were suspended because at least she doesn't have to see the old yaya anymore.  They old yaya goes with me to bring Maxine to school and I don't want to put her to any more unneeded stress so I planned for old yaya to leave on Thurs because we don't have classes on Friday.  So, that's 3 days of no school.  But because classes were suspended I decided to let her leave tom.

Today she decided she doesn't want to be tapped to sleep anymore.  She's been forced to grow up and it feels bittersweet.  Another step away from being a baby.  From being rocked to sleep to lying down in bed and being tapped and now to nothing.  She lies there and closes her eyes and just talks til she falls asleep on her own.  At least she didn't cry anymore, she wanted to but she stopped herself.  I know that in a year or so all this will mean nothing to her and that when she's all grown up she won't even remember who her yaya was, but today she feels pain and cannot understand why. 

Maxiebear,
It's okay.  This too shall pass, sooner than you think.  Mommy will always be here and no matter how hard I try or want to I cannot keep you from feeling pain.  Life goes on, memories fade and all things will seem better in the morning.  Take your time in growing up and yes you will always be mommy's baby. 

P.S.  try not to sing too loudly when mommy is still sleeping.

P.P.S.  Oh and pls learn to share your toys with Shobe and stop taking her food from her.

I love you.  Goodnight.

Cute Kids? Read This Article.

I am always on the look out for interesting articles about parenting and kids.  As a parent I am 100% sure I have a lot to learn from experts.  Also as a parent who has 2 cute little girls we always get compliments about how they look and adorable they are.  This article is for everyone with good looking children who are getting used to people fawning over them and always complimenting them on their looks.
Article

So Far So Good

Its been 3 days since the new yaya came to the house and things have been going well.  My 100 prayers have been answered, the yaya I chose, M1 immediately liked.  She can spend a few minutes in her room with the new yaya without the old one.  Which is a really good sign.  They read books alot and play with her toys.  I just let them get to know each other.

On other news, Toys R Us USA is having another 2 day sale on Leapfrog toys and Vtech toys for babies.  The bad news is (as my friend S discovered too late) that they don't accept credit cards that aren't from the US.

Gap is having a 1 day only 40% off sale!  I get M1's jeans from them and some sandals and shoes.  I always get one size bigger since she's really tall for her age the american size is just right for her.

Lastly, Kk's been so funny, making new faces everyday and becoming friendlier too!  Don't you just love her new facial expression?? :)

Perspective.

The past few days I have been so focused at solving the problem at hand and felt so down about it that today something even worse came along.  When it rains, it pours.  Kk had a slight increase in temperature the other day so we immediately went to the doctor.  She had a check up and was diagnosed as fine but the doc said to be sure lets get a Urinalysis.  So we did.  She gets the results today and lets me know to get a Urine Culture.  I worry.  I keep calling up Cardinal Santos asking them to email me the results and I get the results at 10:30pm.  When there's nothing I can do about it anymore but wait til morning to buy new meds for M2.

M2's sickness requires her to drink a small dose of antibiotics everyday to keep the UTI away but once its there the medicine is not enough to cure her.  So we have to make sure that the medicine is still working that is why we get a urinalysis and or culture every month.  It hasn't been a month yet but the signs to worry are her becoming cranky and an increase in temperature.  When I got home from school on Friday I carried her and felt that she was hotter than normal.  We rushed to the hospital and the next day we submitted the urine sample.  We thought she was getting a cough but she didn't.  She has 94.40 bacteria cells when the normal should be from 0-110.  Her meds aren't working anymore so tomorrow we have to give her the newly prescribed ones.  I hope it works fast.  I hope the bacteria doesn't increase anymore.

When I talk about my kids to friends they say that M1 is my obvious favorite but they don't know how much prayers I have made and sleepless nights I have gone through because of my M2.  I don't talk about her much because she doesn't do much yet and when I talk about her i cannot help but worry about her.  I just want her to be the little baby sitting on my bed relaxing, not needing any attention and not caring about the world.  Favorites shmavorites.  M1 and M2 are both my favorites.  To measure who I love more is clearly impossible because to measure how much I love them then you would need (to quote the bunny in Guess How Much I Love you) to go to the moon and back.

Plan Of Attack

These past few days have been filled with calling agencies, ranting to people and asking mommy friends to help me find a yaya.  I've been talking to moms I know asking what the best thing to do is and I've finally come up with the Game Plan that I think is best.

The key to all this is helping Maxine understand that her yaya is leaving.  I have been telling her that her Ate Mae is going to leave soon to go back home to her mommy.  I was careful not to use the word "province" because that is where some maids went and never came back so M1 hates that word.  She is capable of understanding things already and I think mentally she is prepared.  She understands it in her mind but of course when doomsday comes she will still cry.

Once I find someone suitable to my wants (meaning we agree on the salary, numbers of daysoff and my general feel of her voice, demeanor and appearance) I will take her in and let her shadow the current yaya.  She will get to know M1 and play with her as much as possible.  At night she will sleep in M1's room so that M1 will get used to waking up seeing her.  I wish to do this for at least a week,  nearing the end of that week, M1 will be put to sleep knowing that the new yaya is there.  She usually hates this but even if she cries she has to get used to it because eventually the new yaya will be the one to put her to bed anyways.

Step 2 is trying to get M1 to agree to the new yaya bathing her.  This will be easier compared to her feeding her or giving her her milk because M1 loves to play with water and its also easier to be bathed by 2 people.  We will 1st play in the inflatable pool from day1 and then on day3 be bathed by them both and day 7/8 by only the new yaya.  The feeding and the milk, I still dont know how or when to start that.  But the putting to sleep the new yaya can take over mid way, when M1 is already half asleep, this will start on day4.  Until M1 gets used to having a new person putting her to sleep, but im sure she wont let the new one do it on her own with her fully conscious.  That will only happen when the old yaya is gone and she doesn't have a choice.

I think getting to know the new yaya for at least 2 weeks is enough.  It will be difficult but as long as she likes her then it wont be as challenging.  I'm basing all this to her adjustment in school.  She adjusted and trusted her teachers in a week.  As long as she knows i'm outside she's fine.  So that's all we need to do, is to slowly let her know she can trust the new yaya and that the new yaya is her friend.

I will let the old yaya go on a weekend so that Maxine won't have to deal with the stress of her leaving and the stress of going to school without her old yaya.  We can also go out on Sunday to distract her from the pain.  At least when Monday comes she will have had 2 days to accept what has happened.

The only thing missing in my plan is the new yaya.  When I find the replacement the next problem is making sure she doesn't give up during the adjustment period because those will be trying times.  So if any of you see any flaws in my plan or advice then please do let me know.  I am losing sleep and have lost some of my appetite because of my current situation.  I hate waiting.  I like to tackle the problem and get it over with.  But I am enjoying these days when M1 is feeling as happy as she is because she doesn't really know whats coming.