Category: Family

Marriage, Motherhood, and Everything in Between

You’ll Always Be Our Babies

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“You’re my baby,” I would say.
“I’m not a baby anymore, I’m a big girl,” Rain would reply.
“But you’re my baby,” I’d repeat, part joking, part serious like ‘I don’t care what you say, buddy, you’re mine!’
“No, no, Mommy, I’m not! I’m a big girl. See, I’m 5,” she would insist, raising her hand up and showing all of her 5 little fingers.
“Mommy, you have to listen to Rainy,” Dawn would chime in, taking her sister’s side.

There are two ways this conversation can go.

One, I’d ask them to pretend they’re still babies, and if they say yes, I’d tickle them and kiss them and carry them like babies and tickle them some more. “Just pretend, okay?” Rain would confirm, and I’d reply with a quick “ok, ok!”

Two, I’d agree with them and affirm that yes, they are indeed big girls now. (Music to Rain’s ears, by the way.)

The truth is, while the four of us enjoy teasing and disagreeing with each other (it’s one of our favorite pasttimes), I sometimes feel like the twins are not joking too. They really want to be treated as big girls na, to act like it, to be called such.

And don’t we all, have these moments growing up?

It’s an interesting phase. Also, it’s humbling, crazy, intense, entertaining, beautiful, tiring, stretching—all at the same time!

And just like my babies (who I’m going to refer to as “my babies” for the rest of this post because I say so, hah!), every day I can feel in my bones that years—and growth—are being added to my life too.

Note to self: Try to be more conscious about not calling them “babies” as much, even though I know deep inside they’ll always be mine.

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Since we’re in the subject of growing up, these two are literally outgrowing everything so fast.

Clothes, toys, TV shows, songs, books, even places. That playground in the mall they labeled as the “best place ever” just last month? Yep. Not anymore.

Sometimes I catch myself holding on to things a little too tightly. Like that dress they loved to wear when they were 2 years old which now falls about 5 inches above the knees; or that worn out baby blanket that held so much memories.

There’s a box of toys they don’t play with anymore, a pink doll house we got them for Christmas that they already want to trade for a bigger one, a plushie (or two) gathering dusts under the bed. 

I know we need to let them go at some point but I thought, maybe, if I keep them a little longer, time will slow down a little bit too.  (Or fine, I’m just a busy mom who doesn’t want to deal with the wrath of two feisty 5-year old girls just yet.)

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Excuse the puffy eyes. We took these photos in the morning and they.. (hashtag) wokeuplikethis.

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Few weeks ago we received a crate of goodies from Johnson & Johnson and the smiles on the girls’ faces were priceless.

They’re familiar with every item in the crate because they literally grew up with these J&J products—always included in the grocery list, present on the bedside table, stashed in the side pockets of their diaper bag.

From the time they were babies until now, each product represents a season, a favorite time of day, a treasured memory.

Like the sweet scent of baby lotion that reminds us of co-sleeping and bedtime cuddles. The handy dandy pack of baby wipes that takes us back to those diaper days. The bottle of baby shampoo that makes them want to dive into a tub of bubbles. The baby powder we still carry in our purses 20 years later.

Time flies, babies grow, and kids outgrow stuff, but some things do grow with us.

Thank you, Johnson & Johnson, for being one with the village and helping us give our babies only the best—from then til now.

This story was written for Johnson & Johnson. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Investing in Good Children’s Books

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Just the other week I had a random chat with Paula about how hard it is to find good children’s books in this side of the world. For me, “good children’s books” ones that are first of all well-written, have beautiful illustration, preferably not based on popular cartoon characters, and with content that sparks creativity and opens a child’s eyes to the world. Plus points for stories that parents will enjoy themselves. ;)

We do have a few Peppa Pig and My Little Pony books lying around the house but only because these character books can’t be avoided in local bookstores. Every now and then I give in to the girls’ requests for a Peppa Pig activity book or that My Little Pony Busy Book that’s famous among little girls.

But oh how I long for a wider selection of children’s books here in the Philippines! I know I wouldn’t mind splurging on children’s books more than I would spend on toys.

Our twins, at 5 years old, love it when we read to them and with them, and that’s something I will never take for granted. I always look forward to reading time because I know we achieve a couple of things just by sitting down together to read: It develops reading and comprehension, it widens their creative imagination, it deepens their vocabulary, it develops their appreciation for the arts and the written word, and it’s also an opportunity for parents and children to bond in a different level.

On a personal note, I do get inspired reading children’s books myself. The very nature of children’s books—that they’re simple enough for kids to understand and creative enough to capture attention and encourage imagination—makes them a great source of inspiration for adults too.

I find myself having profound realizations whenever I read children’s books, especially as they allow us to see the world in the eyes of a child. It takes us back to our younger years, even for a moment, where everything is simple and magical and possible. It inspires us to dream big, not for ourselves anymore but for our children and future generations.

And these are the reasons why I consider children’s books an investment. The ROI is beyond measure.

Our children’s book haul from Big Bad Wolf, Manila

When the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale came to Manila last February, we specifically went for the children’s books. Normally I would check out the Christian literature section or maybe business/self-help books, but there wasn’t a lot of those at the Big Bad Wolf. What they do have PLENTY of are children’s books! (YAS!)

We spent not more than 5,000 Php for everything. Not bad at all! I mean, if you see other people’s hauls, ours is very conservative in comparison! :D

Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links, read my full disclosure policy here.

Bible-based Board Books

We got a few bible-based titles— My First Bible Words by Sarah Vince (this is a good supplement to children’s Bible as it shows illustrations of individual names and elements of popular bible stories); The Plans I Have for You by Amy Parker, and God is Watching Over You by P.J. Lyons.

We got these easy-to-read board books that Dawn loves taking out with her because they come with plastic handles— The Story of Jesus, My Very First Prayers, and All Things Bright and Beautiful, which is Dawn’s absolute favorite! The words on the last book are exactly as on the hymn, so we taught her how to sing it and she loves it! She calls it her Bible song book. (Can’t find reference for the first two.)

These adorable board books from the My Little World series are literally everywhere you go at the Big Bad Wolf. They’re along the isles, on random piles, by the counters, you name it. These were easy picks by Dawn and Rain themselves, who are just starting to learn to read on their own. There were more titles from this series but we got these three: Love, I Love Mummy & I Love Daddy.

Reference Books / Activity Books

I was happy to come across some of these familiar covers (I see them a lot on trending lists, Instagram accounts, and blogs). Inside Out New York by Josh Cochran is a seek-and-find book that spreads into a wall poster. Rain is currently into seek-and-find books so I got this one for her. Hello London by Marion Billet is a cute board book for younger kids, but I got it anyway because it’s.. cute. And London, of course. Dawn loves this!

Picture Books

I also picked up these fiction books that have adorable illustrations! Stanley the Sock Monster Goes to the Moon by Jedda Roboard, Whisper by Joe Fitzpatrick, and Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills. Although the girls are not yet into reading these types of books, they do love looking at the pictures and listening to us read them aloud. I know in a year or so they will appreciate them more. Their Mommy enjoys reading them, though. :D

The Crayon Box, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

My personal favorite (and by “favorite” I mean I was jumping up and down and screaming at my husband’s ears when I found it)… is the Crayon Box, written by Drew Daywelt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. I’ve read reviews about these books, and they wouldn’t be best-sellers for nothing. I have Oliver Jeffers titles in my Book Depository wishlist forever so I’m very happy to have snagged them at a discounted price!

So yes yes yes! Definitely ecstatic to find, not just The Day the Crayons Quit, but The Day the Crayons Came Home too—all in one happy Crayon Box! :)

These crayon books speak to both kids and adults, and my husband and I had a good laugh with these two! (Like, hysterical laugh.) So maybe the twins don’t appreciate the humour yet, but I’ll be happy to keep these books until they do. In the meantime, they’re mine. The girls can borrow if they want. LOL.

Not in the pictures are a couple of activity books (writing and math) that we can use for their homeschooling. There are many general reference books and arts and crafts books too, and I can’t wait for Big Bad Wolf to come back, they say, in July.

Something for the parents

Children’s books aside, my husband and I got ONE item each from the sale. We would have bought more if we found something we really really like for ourselves. I chanced upon a single copy of Jeff Goin’s Wrecked, so I picked it up without a doubt.

And my husband got himself a Juggling set haha. He’s obviously inspired by Patrick Demsey and Harry Styles’s juggling abilities, so okay babe, you can get that one.

And there you go, our Big Bad Wolf book haul that’s made up of children’s books mostly.

Did you go to the Big Bad Wolf book sale too? What are your most favorite finds? And don’t you wish we have more Children’s book selections in our local bookstores too?

Discovering the Book Depository

Finding a place to hoard books is a treasure, especially here in the Philippines. One time, a friend of mine who’s in the book business, told me about the Book Depository. It’s a UK-based online book seller founded by a former Amazon employee, and was eventually bought by Amazon.

If you’re a book lover in the Philippines, y’all know how unreasonably expensive it is to buy books from Amazon because of the shipping costs. And isn’t that the deal breaker when shopping books online?

But what if I tell you that Book Depository does FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD? (Sorry for the caps guys, but yes, consider me screaming when you read that one.)

You’ll notice that their items have higher price points but, FREE SHIPPING? Anywhere? That’s quite the deal. So next time you’re dying to get your hands on book titles that have not yet reached our islands, the definitive answer is Book Depository. You’re welcome. ;)

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When in Baguio with Kids for 36 Hours

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Sometimes, you just have to go for it. Even when the idea crossed your mind just 24 hours ago and you didn’t have a clear plan or Baguio itinerary.

In fact (as we all have proven time and time again), the trips that usually push through are the ones we didn’t overthink.

This was the story of our quick Baguio trip and our loosely planned itinerary.

My brother, who was celebrating his birthday (coincidentally a day before his wife’s birthday), blurted out while we were chatting about something totally unrelated, “we want sana to celebrate our birthdays in Baguio.” Without much thinking, I replied, “So why not? Sama kame! Let’s go!”

The next 24 hours looked like this: An excited approval from my husband. Hitting my Agoda and Airbnb apps to find and book accommodation. Quick trip to the nearby supermarket to buy some snacks and toiletries. Rummaging our closets for long-sleeved shirts, scarves, and knits. Getting the girls all hyped up for the trip, and then forcing them to sleep early. Packing up clothes for 4 people. Alarm clock at 3am. Up and running just before sunrise.

We would figure out where to go and what to do when we get there, but I’d really like to accomplish a few simple things:

  1. Eat strawberry taho
  2. Have some strawberry cake at Vizco’s
  3. Maybe get some strawberry ice cream too, if there’s time
  4. Take home some fresh strawberries

Spoiler alert: I got everything in my simple strawberry bucket list checked!

Here’s our loosely planned, anything-goes Baguio itinerary

DAY ONE

  • 4:30 AM – Start trip from Manila. We drove a private vehicle so we had the luxury of time, leisurely taking pit stops whenever we need.
  • 10:00 AM – Arrive at Baguio. First stop, Camp John Hay.
  • 10:30 AM – Brunch at Pizza Volante at Techno Hub.
  • 11:00 AM – Drive around Camp John Hay, get coffee.
  • 12:00 PM – Check-in at Azalea Residences, drop off bags.
  • 2:00 PM – Botanical Garden, find strawberry taho and take photos (annnnd we stop taking photos at this point).
  • 3:30 PM – Off to SM Baguio for snacks, and the first round of pasalubong shopping. (We lost so much time waiting for parking space, tsssk!)
  • 5:00 PM – Early dinner.
  • 6:00 PM – Coffee and dessert at Pamana.
  • 7:00 PM – Back at Azalea to rest for a bit.
  • 8:30 PM – Leave the kids at the hotel with their Lola so that the adults *ehem* can double-date. Off to Session Road to buy some drinks and take home some strawberry cake from Vizco’s.
  • 10:00 PM – Take out some Korean beef and noodles from Samgyeoppocha for midnight snack.
  • 11:00 PM – Back at Azalea in time for birthday eve celebration.
  • 12:30 AM – Lights Off.

DAY TWO

  • 9:30 AM – Late breakfast buffet.
  • 11:00 AM – Pack-up and early checkout.
  • 12:00 NN – Bike at Burnham Park and pasalubong shopping at the Baguio City Market.
  • 1:30 PM – Late lunch at SM Baguio.
  • 2:30 PM – Back at Camp John Hay for one last round of photo sessions, plus a visit to the old picturesque Starbucks.
  • 4:30 PM – One last drive around Baguio to hunt for strawberry taho, and strawberry ice cream.
  • 6:00 PM – Drive back to Manila, stopover at NLEX for dinner.

It’s been more than a decade since the last time I’ve been to Baguio but, other than the massive existence of SM City on top of Session Road, Baguio doesn’t really feel different all that much.

When we were kids, our parents took us to Baguio frequently. To them, Baguio trips were part of church ministry; to us siblings, those were some of our most treasured childhood memories. So it made me happy to have Dawn and Rain experience some of the things we loved about Baguio growing up.

First stop, Camp John Hay (of course)

Our first stop was Camp John Hay Techno Hub, had brunch at Pizza Volante, dropped by Vizco’s for some pastries-to-go, and then some coffee-to-go from Starbucks. We also stopped by the butterfly sanctuary for the kids. Needless to say, we drove around Camp John Hay with our windows down so we could feel the cool Baguio breeze.

We know there are a lot of things to do in Baguio but we kept it chill and familiar for this trip. :)

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Off to find those stawberries.

Found strawberry taho at Botanical Garden.

There are a lot of taho vendors on the streets of Baguio, but that’s the challenge right there—they’re on the streets, roaming around. We didn’t know specific spots. They say there’s a hub of taho vendors near the strawberry farm in La Trinidad so we had that in our list. But as we drove past Botanical Garden (which wasn’t really part of our itinerary), we spotted a taho vendor by its entrance. Score! We didn’t need to go to La Trinidad after all.

Happy camper. ;)  Strawberry taho, check!

And since we were already at the Botanical Garden, might as well take photos. Of course.

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We thought of going to Ben Cab Museum to get a bit of Baguio art and culture. But obviously the strawberry taho could not wait, hence the Botanical Garden became the closest thing we got to some Baguio history. It was also very close to Azalea Residences—our homebase for the duration of our stay.

Stayed at Azalea Residences, Baguio

It wasn’t the most affordable choice you’ll find in Agoda, but we didn’t want to risk on budget accommodations in such short notice. You do get what you pay for with this one. We were very happy with our 2-bedroom unit at the Azalea Residences! :)

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Plus points for having a 24-hour Korean restaurant just outside the Azalea compound! We went to get some takeout Samgyeopsal and Ramen for midnight birthday salubong snacks—just what the birthday celebrants ordered. ;)

Earlier we also got some strawberry cake from Vizco’s because that’s just what you do if you’re celebrating your birthday in Baguio. (Strawberry shortcake, check!)

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Happy birthday Kuya Nikos and Ate Kaye!

We loved waking up to pine trees and mountains by our window, and the natural Baguio cold inside our aircon-less room. Also, a big breakfast!

Thank you, Azalea Residences for that memorable stay!

Loved this quaint Starbucks at Camp John Hay

Ahh, one of the cutest Starbucks I’ve seen! I love how Starbucks—with its hundreds of branches around the world—preserves a city’s unique culture and tradition through the architectural and interior design of select shops (like this one in Kyoto).

I mean, even the electrical wires are very telling of its location! (Only in the Pilipins haha.)

Kidding (and electrical wires) aside, this Starbucks branch maybe a little worn out around the edges but still very charming and picturesque. If you’re in Baguio for the quiet, or you’re in a reflective mood, the old Starbucks at Camp John Hay is worth the trip!

For the family album

Lastly, a quick photo session by the pine trees. These are the photos that will make it to the family photo album, for sure. ;)

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Photographs by the pine trees, check.

On our final stretch, we went for a quick bike ride at Burnham Park (because, as my brother says, every child needs to experience biking at Burnham Park), dropped by the public playground, and did pasalubong shopping at the Baguio market. This is also the part where we stopped taking photos, haha.

On the way home, we kept our eyes open for strawberry ice cream vendors. It was already getting dark and the chances were very slim but just before we made it to Kennon Road, we got the final item on our list checked!

One for the road! Strawberry ice cream, check.

I’m fully aware that my Baguio bucket list mostly involved strawberries, but where else can you find an abundance of strawberries in this country??!

The Quest for Strawberries

Just to review my strawberry bucket list (because there isn’t enough info about strawberries on travel blogs):

  • Strawberry taho. There is a stall in SM City Baguio that sells all sorts of taho, and we tried that too. HOWEVER, there’s nothing compared to the ones being sold in the streets. We found a taho vendor at the entrance of Botanical Garden. We hear there are some taho vendors also in Ben Cab Museum. Of course, if you don’t mind making the trip to La Trinidad, the strawberry farm is a sure hub for all things strawberry, so I’m certain there are taho vendors there also.
  • Strawberry shortcake. Vizco’s Restaurant and Cake Shop is the only place in Baguio I would buy Strawberry Shortcake from. They have a branch at Ayala TechnoHub, Camp John Hay. We got ours from their branch along Session Road.
  • Strawberry ice cream. Sorry I couldn’t say an exact spot for this one. Keep your eyes open for manong sorbetero!
  • Fresh strawberries. Again, if you don’t mind going to La Trinidad, that’s the place to be for all your strawberry needs. :) But the Baguio Public Market is also complete with every pasalubong you can think of, including fresh strawberries. That’s where we got our stash.

Hope this helps!

Today as I was looking at these photos, I couldn’t be more grateful for strawberries, family, and childhood memories we can share with our kids. Til now, Dawn and Rain still thank Jesus for taking them “to the mountains” in their bedtime prayers and tell us “we should go back to the mountains!” every now and then. We really should. :)

Baguio 2018, in the books!

Our First Airbnb Tagaytay Experience

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I’m a late bloomer when it comes to AirBnb. It was 2016 when I downloaded the app out of curiousity, but it wasn’t until 2017 when I started actually using it.

I’ve read articles about how using AirBnb isn’t fun anymore, and how the whole concept of apartment-sharing has lost its appeal. I wouldn’t really know the difference to be honest. As someone who’s only started using AirBnb recently, I’m happy with all of our AirBnb experiences so far and will keep on using it for sure!

We recently stayed at this AirBnb Tagaytay 3BR Penthouse Suite with a nice view of the Taal Lake, which would have been so nice if we were able to take photos of the view. Lol. Saving the photo sessions for last, we couldn’t have predicted how much fog there would be in the morning of our last day!

Still, the feeling of being on top of the clouds (no visibility whatsoever) was an otherworldly experience we will never forget too. All is well. 😉

We sure love the hotel-like amenities of our AirBnb—the crisp sheets, the coffee (French press and freshly ground coffee ftw!), the board games. The space was big enough to accommodate all of us, 7 adults and 3 kids. Three bedrooms, 2 baths, and a kitchen with basic utensils and equipment.

Don, our host, responds pretty quickly and knows well how to take care of his guests. (Thanks, Don!) 

Although Don’s place is located within the vicinity of everything Tagaytay has to offer—the tourist spots, restaurants, nightlife, etc—you wouldn’t really mind staying in on this one if staycationing is your thing.

A quick guide at booking an AirBnb

  1. Photos matter! When choosing an AirBnb, I like choosing interiors that fit my aesthetics. Just keeping it real guys. I’m most definitely going to take photos after all. If I don’t like how the place looks like in photos, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like it all that much in person.
  2. Take time to read the fine print. Because of AirBnb’s apartment-sharing nature, every host has his own house rules that you’d want to be aware of beforehand. Be responsible enough to read through everything before booking.
  3. Past customer reviews are there for a reason. Let actual customer reviews be the judge!

Get up to 2,200 PHP discount on your first AirBnb stay using this link! 🙂

And now, some photographs with my favorite people!

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Bag of Beans, Tagaytay.

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Disclosure: This post might include affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

One for the road! Stop over at Bag of Beans to take out some barako and raisin bread because that’s just what you do #whenintagaytay

It sure was a lovely weekend spent with my favorite people.. which reminds me. I could use some staycation just about now!

Get P2,200 off your first AirBnb Tagaytay stay

This is the exact room we stayed in.

If you haven’t tried AirBnb yet, sign up using this link to get 2,200 Php discount on your first trip! 🙂

Save $40 on your first AirBnb Stay

New York, oh New York

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I heaved a sign of relief when our plane landed at JFK after 23 looong hours of travel from Manila to New York. Finally! It’s our first time back in NYC in 5 years, first time to go there as a family, first long flight with the twins.

As we unbuckled the girls off their seats and prepared to step out of the plane, one of the girls, Rain, happily exclaimed, “We’re home Mommy, let’s go!”

The truth is, if you told me 5 years ago that I would be calling New York “home” in this lifetime, I would have laughed in your face and dismissed the idea outright. To me, New York has always been a mysterious city, and sure, one of my favorite cities in the world. It held some of my greatest memories, marked important milestones of my life and our story, and hey, I sure would love to keep coming back! But to call it “home” was, at one point, the farthest thing from my mind.

Nope, not New York City.

But something shifted somewhere, and New York has, somehow, become the very thing in my life I never thought it would or could be: home.

Maybe because I found love in this strange city and we all know how love can make anyone feel grounded. Or maybe because I have learned to see “home” in a whole new light.

Maybe the fact that I didn’t really want this to begin with, that makes being in New York feel.. right. After all, I have known God to work exactly this way. He has a knack for changing hearts and orchestrating circumstances that take us right where He wants and needs us to be, even if it means parting oceans with a rod and defeating giants with a sling.

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It’s been over a month since we landed in New York City and now we’re back in Manila. While the twins weren’t exactly as enthusiastic last week when our plane landed at NAIA Terminal 1 as when we landed at JFK (can’t blame them, it was a long trip and the humid Manila weather wasn’t all that welcoming either), we were just happy to have successfully endured another long flight, to have gained new memories, milestones and answers, and to have spent good quality time with our friends and family.

But most of all I’m grateful that home is not confined to a place, that we can bloom where we’re planted, and the grass is greener where the Lord places us.

He never makes mistakes, nope. And when we trust in that truth, we experience not only the realization of our (personal) dreams but also the blessings of being right in the center of His great, massive, Kingdom-building plan.

I’m still trying to process everything, sifting through photographs, unpacking suitcases, catching up on work and blog posts, making mental notes of everything God has taught us in the past two months. In my mind I’ve already written a book, really!

Hmm. It’s good to be back.

* * *

New York 2015, it’s a wrap

I Wish You All Have Seen Allegiance Broadway

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My husband and I happened to have tickets to Allegiance in one of those rare nights Lea Salonga was down with colds and couldn’t make it to the show.

There was a bit of confusion, even disappointment, upon receiving our Playbills and seeing someone else’s name under “Kei Kimura”, the charming and fierce female lead who was supposed to be played by Lea. After all, I’m sure many of us Filipinos went to see Allegiance because of her. I saw many of our kababayans gathered in the lobby of the Longacre Theater before the show, whispering to each other about Lea’s absence.

But the show must go on and the disappointment immediately disappeared soon as Elena Wang, Lea’s understudy, took Kei’s spot on stage with remarkable confidence and grace, nailing it one scene after another. I was curious to see how she would handle “Higher“, a song that was composed especially for Lea, but oh my wow, Elena totally killed it and won me over.

She didn’t just “fill in” for Lea. She totally owned the role, and it made me happy to have witnessed just that.  Continue reading “I Wish You All Have Seen Allegiance Broadway” →