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Forgetfulness is one of my flaws. Just tonight, I misplaced my husband's umbrella. I will have to replace that bit-expensive piece of an umbrella. Yesterday, I also had a memory lapse and forgot to retrieve my ID from the building concierge. I will have to go back for it tomorrow. Very inconvenient. My most painful memory yet of forgetfulness is misplacing my iPhone in Singapore last year. I blame the anesthesia from giving birth and my recent odontectomy, but even before I had those surgeries, I was already forgetful. Or could it be just inattentiveness on my part? I have tried to address my forgetfulness by jotting to do's and important events in my calendar and it worked. But I still fail in simple things such as remembering where I put the umbrella or the keys. There is this one pointer I read which I think would be helpful - try to be more attentive and say what you're about to do out loud, "I'm putting down the keys here". This allows our brain to pay a...

I missed a day! Day 24 was just too full for me so I wasn't able to post a blog, but let me play catch-up. Saturday is almost over. Our family spent most of the day lounging in bed and catching up on sleep. The toddler is still keeping us up at night. I wouldn't say the day is wasted because it's good to be rejuvenated but I wish I could make the day last longer. I'm sure my son would make it possible by sleeping again past midnight tonight. It has now become a vicious cycle of intermittent sleeps on weekdays and sleeping in on weekends. Not good. We're definitely going to the pediatrician tomorrow to put an end to this. Hoping for the best! I'm hopeful (and realistic) of the decision I'm about to make over this weekend. It's a choice between treading unfamiliar territory or going back to an old turf. I've been doing some calculations, both qualitative and quantitative but at the end of the day, I know my choice would be made by heart. It does not al...

25 days to go before my 30th and i'm in a bit of blog drought. I'm disappointed that the Azkals did not win. I never got this involved in sports in a while, except of course for Manny Pacquiao's bouts. I have had my share of disappointments - more than enough to keep me grounded and realistic, and at times cynical. I've got to admit that disappointments really get to me sometimes. I allow the big WHY? to momentarily haunt me. I embrace the pain, taste the bitterness and cry a bucket of tears. Nobody said life is fair. It is so unfair! Hang-ups? Insecurities? Worries? I do have them all. I am not perfect. I have no plans to be. What I want to do in my 30s is to get to know myself better, discover and rediscover what makes me happy and excited, and tap into my innate talents and skills so that I may maximize my human potential. I'll try my darnest to shake away my inhibitions, conquer my fears and be a better version of myself in my multiple roles. Ambitious but are...

Let's just say that the events of today will lead to a turning point in my life soon. I am fond of second chances and new beginnings. If I look back at my previous blogs, I would note a number of posts on new chapters and "i'm-back moments". It's true, I have made mistakes. I have had my share of failures and disappointments. I am not the best decision maker because I am not rational, I go by my emotions. But my leaps of faith, no matter how risky or foolish, have led me to where I am now and I have no regrets. God is good all the time. We just got to believe and listen to our hearts. Go, go on and jump! "It's yours, take it Leap like a lunatic Over the chasm below Erupting as you go Your true self awaits you Now, you will know." - The great leap of faith by Jane Evershed

I am not feeling well today. My body is crumbling from the past sleep-deprived nights and I can feel my emotions near breaking point. Being a working parent is indeed not an easy role to fill. I'm grateful I have my husband to share the responsibility of child-rearing with. I remember when I was in high school and my parents would complain of how rambunctious I and my siblings were. Me and my big-mouth countered, in my knowing way, that if they wanted to have a quiet life, they should not have conceived seven kids. Witty and so shrewd! Now I understand more than ever that caring for a houseful of active kids is no bed of roses. Growing up, I have had my moments of rebellion to and resentment towards my parents and our situation. As a teenager, I couldn't fully comprehend then why I couldn't always have my way or the things I wanted. I remember moments where I would lock myself in my room, wallow in self-pity and swear at my parents quietly. There were times we argued and I ...

"Life would be so great if I could just win the lotto! " I think I wasted too much energy of late from wishing I would suddenly become a millionaire. This wishful thinking made me realize that I am getting a little desperate and that contrary to what I should be doing, I am not taking complete rein over the destiny of my life. Did I allow myself to get so absorbed in my career that I got burnt out beyond recognition? Did I overindulge myself that I turned from being a workaholic to a lazy and challenge-averse adult? Did I allow failures and disappointments to disenchant me from living a charmed life? What I know for sure is that I need to focus on the things that make me feel excited, fulfilled, empowered and just a bit scared. Because isn't that what life should be about? Your mission in life is not to be without problems. Your mission is to get excited. Lately, I found myself dreaming again and making plans - not those will-o'-the-wisp kind but tangible dreams and g...

The countdown to my 30th birthday continues. Day 29 - my fears I spent less than an hour today with my toddler in the mall playground for kids. He was so excited to try everything, from the slide to the hanging tube. He was a bit cautious when walking through the hanging bridge but he marched on. He took some time before crossing the tube but he crawled on. Mommy had no choice but to follow suit. And to be honest, I was afraid of crawling through the hanging tube (what if it gives out under my weight?) and trying the kiddie slide (what if I fumble and fall face down). Silly but the fears were real. Most of all, I was afraid my son would get hurt as the zealous kids pushed everything and everyone out of their way. Those kids were fearless (almost) and I envied them. I have a lot of fears. Fear of water I fear any body of water that is taller than my shoulders. I can not swim and have had two almost-drowning experiences as a kid. I remember trying the banana boat ride years ago in Puerto...

I've known it all along but i'm only gonna admit it out loud now - i'm an incompetent mom. I'm not saying it in an i'm-in-self-pity mode but as-a-matter-of-fact so that in admitting the problem, I may be empowered to address it. I had a very good yaya the first year of my baby's life. She was a veteran in taking care of babies and she took very good care of my son. Somehow, that lessened the pressure on me to do good in child-rearing. But she had to go and I had to step it up as a mom. I never caught up. My husband is more conscious as a parent than I am. He would note and research on things such as weaning from the bottle, etc. I, on the other hand, have relied mostly on my rough instincts as a woman. My son is less than a month shy from turning two and is already exhibiting streaks of rebellion. Instead of heeding my 'No', he would repeat them himself, "No-no-no-no mommy!" He has become assertive and protests - a lot! Lately, he's been sl...

I'm turning thirty only once, so let the countdown begin! No, I won't be doing anything grand or expensive. I will celebrate my birthday with my parents and siblings at home in the province. Planning is simple - I texted my mama and well, she'll take care of everything else as she always does. Thank God for mothers. For the days leading to my birthday, I will celebrate the little things and grand things that make my life worth-living. Today is day 30 - me as a Filipino citizen I was going through flipboard on my ipad, when I stumbled upon an article from inquirer asking for more votes for Puerto Princesa underground river (PPUR). There is an ongoing global movement to vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World and the Puerto Princesa underground river has been selected as one of the 28 finalists. Since I have not done much as a Filipino these past days, I decided to go on and vote. Voting via text is easy, just send PPUR or PPUR7 or PPUR15 to 2861 for all networks. I think t...

There is nothing better than picking fresh berries for breakfast or clipping fresh spinach and lettuce in the evening for dinner. They are plump full of vitamins and you burn calories in harvesting your bounty. Growing fruits and vegetables in your yard, on your patio or on a window ledge is good for the environment, good for your health and good for your pocket book. Challenge yourself to eat local and in season. Try adding one fruit or vegetable to every flowerbed. A cucumber trellis is great fun for the patio. Love sweet potatoes vines climbing on the fence. Each hill can stay stored in the ground into the fall - harvesting it when you are ready to indulge. It’s not too late to plan the summer’s second season plantings or purchase the fruit trees on sale for next year’s harvest A great blog to check out is Eden Makers Blog . Likewise, a nice book on edible estates is Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn . For your video viewing pleasure:  Bon Appetite!

Question no. 3 in Martha Beck's Yours for the Asking article is: Why worry? I worry. I worry every now and then. Especially when it comes to my son. I worried and cried and prayed so hard for each time he fell off the bed or bumped his head or he was sick and brought to the hospital. I worry that I am not a good mom and that my shortcomings will affect his growth and maturity. I worry that my husband and I will not be able to provide for him well. I worry about my health and my husband's and my parents'. I worry that I might come down with a disease that will handicap me and that will make me a burden to my husband. I used to worry about client complaints and quality of work. I used to have sleepless nights wondering how i'll resolve a conflict or issue at work. I'm glad I have rid myself of the job and consequently, the sometimes unfounded worries. Of course, I can not apply the same solution to the other aspects of my life. I most certainly cannot get rid of my s...

I drafted this post about a month ago but never got to finish it until today. Something came up last week that left me wondering which is more important, time or money. Keen to find a good answer to my dilemma, I turned to my laptop and googled "which is more important, time or money?" and was led to a number of blogs discussing the topic. Not surprisingly, most answered that time is more important because as my practical husband puts it, time is money. I am not fully convinced though by the general answers and points that were raised to give time the upper hand. I remember an argument I had with a cousin when I was in grade school. We were waiting for the jeepney and I asked my father for extra allowance. He said money was tight and had nothing more to give me. In my disappointment, I said half-jokingly," Bakit hinde ka na lang kasi mag-abroad?!?" My cousin who overheard me countered that I shouldn't utter such nonsense and be glad instead that I am enjoying my...

My baby just turned 23 months old! It's unbelievable how a newborn weighing only 2.7 kg (with length of 49 cm) can grow into a 13 kg toddler in nearly 2 years. I had a lot of fears in giving birth which prompted me to choose to have it in the province, with my mother holding my hand during labor. She gave birth to 7 pesky kids so I must say she's weathered and wise and knows the stuff giving births are made of. She did try her best to be by my side as I shouted and cursed and begged Ma, ayoko na!!!! Please. Please. Please!!!! Then she couldn't take it anymore... and left me, during my last moments before actually giving birth, to my sister, a certified nurse who held my hand as I writhed in pain, praying more than ever that I get through it as quickly as possible. I began spotting before midnight of August 10th. I called my ob-gyne and she said that it is normal and I should wait until my contractions come at near-intervals before going to the hospital. I woke up at dawn fe...

Let me say it out loud and with much conviction - I hate going to the doctors! Most importantly, I should be more mindful of my health - the food I eat, lifestyle in general and fitness regimen - to avoid visits to the doctor other than for mandatory annual physical exams. I've just spent precious 4 hours on a Sunday waiting for and having a consultation with the doctors. Apparently, both of them had a change in their schedules on short notice. I got very pissed off with the nurses for not putting my form in queue at the internal medicine doctor's room, wasting another 30 minutes of my time. This prompted me 1) to write a formal complaint in their suggestion box and 2) berate the nurse at the nurse's station for such mishap. I am normally a tolerant person but I've long learned that in this city you have to demand respect and customer service in order to get them. Otherwise, you will just be ignored, an unheard voice. I felt a bit bad afterwards because the wrong person...

I'm reaching a big milestone in my life this August - I'm turning 30! - and I've decided I want to blog more. I'm starting right now. I will be posting on this blog at least once a week for the rest of 2011. I know it won't be easy and I might come up with a million excuses, but it will be fun, inspiring, awesome and simply wonderful if I could just do it. Therefore i'm promising to make use of The DailyPost , and the community of other bloggers with similar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can. If you already read my blog, I hope you'll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way. Signed, merryli

It's been more than a week since I posted question no. 1. Now, we're off to question no. 2 from Martha Beck's Yours for the Asking article in the February 2011 edition of O, The Oprah Magazine. Is this what I want to be doing? Time is precious because it is limited to 24 hours a day. This second question aims to foster mindfulness of the here and now. Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routine that we just let time pass us by and we forget about the things that matter. I personally find this question helpful as I try to schedule and maximize my weekends. I try my very best not to work on Saturdays and Sundays unless absolutely necessary. I also surf facebook less than I used to. I have long let go of my plants and zombies. I read somewhere that 'poor' people spend on entertainment while 'rich' people invest in themselves. Point taken so I try to squeeze in more time for reading and self-help, learning to cook, menu planning, finding ways to be a bet...

My toddler is becoming clingy to mommy. Ever since he learned to utter the words 'mommy', he's been using it to his advantage. Just yesterday, I woke up earlier than I intended because I can hear him crying and shouting mommy. Apparently, he wanted to climb the stairs and wake mommy up. Yaya was trying her best to distract him but he only wailed and shouted a little louder. This has been a long and tiring week for me and I had to cut back a little on time spent with my baby. We were both crying and frustrated the other day - baby because he wanted to play with mommy, and mommy because she just couldn't play with baby. I had a pressing thing at work to do. Sometimes working from home has its downside. I went home yesterday with a terrible headache. I worked 24 hours last Tuesday and wasn't able to catch up on sleep until last night. I almost cried at work at the thought that the job that kept me up for two nights was not done just yet. I'm guessing my tear ducts ...

I am getting old and close to advocating that health is wealth. I've also become more appreciative of my and hubby's company medical benefits. When I first heard on the MRT in-house entertainment that a left-handed woman can be divorced in Japan because they are prone to diseases and die young, I thought it was funny and unbelievable. But maybe there's a grain of truth to it as recently, I've been sickly and losing weight. Today, I had a checkup with the General Medicine Doctor, the Ophthalmologist and my Obi-Gynecologist - for free! Thanks to hubby's corporate HMO. Because of my almost-blacking out spell last Tuesday, i'm scheduled to take fasting blood test and other laboratory tests early tomorrow, also for free. I have EDED/ Echo(?) scheduled on Friday. Thank God the Ophthalmologist cleared me of any eye disorder even though I've been seeing this tiny gray specks called floaters, but not after dilating my eyes and having me cry a good deal of tears from ...

Summer is officially here and you feel the itch to hit the road and explore. What a relief to see gas prices take a dip at the height of summer vacation time! Other effective ways to save at the pump: Check online sites like gaspricewatch.com , gasprices.mapquest.com or gasbuddy.com for the most competitive prices. Watch your tire pressure. Underinflated tires of just 3 PSI (pounds per square inch) can degrade your miles per gallon by 1%. Keep your car engine will maintained. A properly maintained vehicle will run more efficiently and give you better mileage, which saves you money in gas. Get rid of unnecessary weight in your car. The heavier the vehicle, the more energy it takes to move it on the road. Park in the shade. Gasoline evaporates out of your tank and it does so faster when parked directly in the sun - winter or summer. Drive conservatively and at a steady speed. The greater your speed, the less miles per gallon you will average. Better yet, bike it. :)   

I don’t have self-discipline. I’ve been telling myself to cut back on my personal expenses but the other day, a sudden urge to eat ice cream had me speeding down to 7 eleven in no time. I came back loaded with junk food. Later that day, while hubby was buying Gatorade after his run, I bought myself the latest issue of Smart Parenting Magazine. I tried to hold off buying the mag as long as I can but I couldn’t help myself. I’m into magazine these days. And to think that I just spent 500 bucks eating in Pancake House instead of joining hubby in his run (I was feeling a little fatigued). It’s those little expenses that are keeping me bankrupt. Since I did not win the lotto the other night, I must do something desperately. My technique is to put only P200 in my wallet each day. I’ve got some emergency money stashed somewhere but I vow never to touch it unless absolutely necessary, as in a matter of life and death situation. I have my lunch baon anyway (most days, at least). I’m an Ilokana...