Let's Perm It!

If you're going to look at my life as a housewife, 'sacrifice' is one of the things I greatly portray, which leads to being selfless. Well, that's the reality if one stays at home while the other one works. Usually it's the wife who gives up things that seem less important. But...but... the payback? An ideal relationship within the family resulting to a happy disposition and a simpler, healthier lifestyle. Not that I don't take care of myself, it's just that I've placed family on top of my priority list, especially now that I have 2 kids. Over the weekend, I spent some time contemplating on whether I should get a perm. A little make-over.

I just thought I needed some change. I realize that my family is getting bigger and being the only girl and I just felt that as I age and as my responsibilities expand, I should treat myself even more. Besides, the inspiration came straight from the very same people I take care of everyday---my 3 boys.

To begin, I have been looking at various magazines and actors who's been rocking a permed look and one of them is Kate Bekinsale. I love her wave perm. Very simple and chic. I heard it's easy to maintain too.

It's best to research on different types of perm before hitting the go signal and one should also know if her hair is healthy enough to carry all the chemicals of the whole perming process which is usually done through a strand test. Feeling so inspired, I did a little experiment. Being a 'sigurista' I want to make sure that I'll get the curls that fits me. With the help of my sister Les, we were able to come up with my hair as seen in this post. It's exactly the perm I want and I'm ready!

Bundle Of Gifts

Well, when our close friends from work found out that I was scheduled to give birth last December, gifts started pouring in as if a baby shower was given and that we didn't have to buy so much for the baby. ANd the recent one started with a phone a call from my husband last night all the way from work to share with me a wonderful news. The latest gift set that we received was from one of my husband's superiors based in their New York office. She sent a bag full of gifts for our baby Mikee.

Bundle of gifts for our bundle of joy...

Let's take a look at what's inside this paper bag...

We really dig the whole Rock Star theme. Perfect for our little boy...

My eldest son's going to be happy for his baby brother too...

To the Youngs, thank you for the lovely gifts you sent. We are truly grateful and it's such a blessing to have friends like you who's already part of our lives. Thank you...

Pieces Of Our Christmas and New Year's Eve Celebration

I gave birth 21st of December. I went home immediately the following day. The remaining days before the holidays were spent cleaning the house and preparing for Christmas. Good thing that my younger sisters were both on vacation that's why they were able to help us, especially with all the adjustments needed to be made. As for me, it's been quite a challenge, because I was also undergoing post-anesthesia effects (as to what my doctor told me). My husband and my sisters were convincing me to stay in bed. But I told them that this year is way too extraordinary for me, I can't just sleep it out. It's a blessing to have Mikee around as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Our second child's coming was the most awaited for 2011.

Thank you Lord for giving me strength to make other people happy and full on Your special day. With our hectic schedule, I wasn't expecting that we will be able to fill our simple Christmas Tree, but look! :D It's piling up little by little.

Thanks to our ever-thoughtful and loving friends. More gifts were added as Christmas approaches. To be honest, my husband and I weren't able to get each other gifts on time too. After Christmas, we went out for awhile just to get presents for each other. Hehehe! funny!

Joining the pack, my husband requested for a set of Nerf guns. It's a toy not only for the little ones, but for the big boys as well. It just so happen that my brother Ver bought the very same toy too and we didn't even talk about it. So now, every boy in the family has one.

His presents for me: A Logitech speaker system Z103 "more bass, less box" with a control pod, which I badly need for my pc. I always sneak his laptop speakers, so finally now I have the perfect sound system for my computer. A 2012 planner from Fully Booked. He knows what I want: from the simplest design and the size which is easier to carry around. And a book for Beagles! They say that if you finish the whole manual on how to train a Beagle, one should be considered an expert :p

Christmas Eve was spent in our house in Quezon City. The following day, we drove to my parents' to celebrate Chritmas Day with the whole family including my grandmother and relatives from my mother's side. Our Christmas celebration was filled with so much laughter. .

We arranged some games for the kids and the adults joined to play Pinoy Henyo. It was a whole day affair and it was fun.

Welcoming 2012

Another colorful year ended and yet another one graced us with it's presence last December 31, 2011- January 1 2012. New Year's Eve, we spent it at my parents' house. My mom prepared requested dishes such as: turbo broiled liempo, chicken penne, pork menudo, siomai, fresh fruits and I made some leche flan for dessert. As we went through the night, we talked about our life as a family from the previous years and the accomplishments we made that got us to where we are right now. And then my dad shared that it's the prayer he's been saying year after year working. Of course, with faith, trust and hard work coming from our part wonderful things will happen, most of them are the least expected moments.

The Priestly Blessing

God has been gracious and kind... my family, my dad being the head of the family has a passage from the Old Testament to share--- Eversince, this prayer's been recited as we bid farewell to a good year and as we embrace a whole new beginning, various blessings started pouring in our family. Most of the time, we're given peace, good health, happiness and just being able to get by with our everyday lives as individuals, as partners, and as somebody who's able to lend a helping hand to others.

2011 has been a great year for me and my husband. December 21, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. We have been praying to celebrate Christmas at home not in the hospital.  And for us, the timing was perfect. We were even given a few more days to prepare and rest for the holidays. I was able to regain my strength back in no time. For every year that's about to end, it never fails to grace us with a rewarding feeling of the things we have accomplished as parents. Together with my husband, we are very grateful for this role given to us. We're very thankful and humbled with another year that was made colorful for us. 

Now, another year to embrace, and I want this blessing for everyone else... It has been years... so I am handing over this family tradition of ours... for every meal shared with the whole family, a gathering... say this short prayer.

Numbers 6: 22-27

The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:

The Lord bless you and keep you!

The Lord let his face shine upon you (us), and be gracious to you (us)!

The Lord look upon you (us) kindly and give you (us) peace!

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."

Happy 2012 Everyone!