"Tips From Your Everyday Experts"

Good morning! Before I start the daily grind, let me share a site which might interest you, the MOMs specially. I contributed a short article, "Keeping Up with the Demands of School", as part of the Tips from Body Builders of sustagen.ph.

I am sure most parents can relate. Isn't it that school is getting more demanding as years go by? It was "simpler" during our time. It's more competitive now as the world keeps on advancing. This is to be expected but still, the work load in school still overwhelms me most of the time. I attribute this to the fact that we have to compete globally, our children need to be more equipped in facing the world so to speak. I have concerns concerning curriculum in school but whatever my concerns are, still, my top of mind is how I can support my daughter.

In our busy lives whether we are working parents or stay-at-home-mothers/fathers, our foremost concern is still the well-being of our children. Like what I have said in my article, "a great part of my support is in ensuring that she manages herself well and that she has the stamina to do all the activities she participates in."




We look after our children - from the activities they are involved, the shows they watch, the sites they browse, the nutrition they get from the food they eat to the company they keep - the best way we know how.

If you have time, have fun with your kid and find valuable insights in raising or sustaining a stronger, healthier child.

"A site where moms and kids get to bond with fellow moms and child care experts for the latest tips in building a child's strength, stamina and immunity so he or she can better explore the world that is expanding beyond his home." (Part of the welcome note from sustagen.ph)

Dragons, Toys, Vampires and A Kid

I am excited for today's Mommy Moments. I knew right away what to share when I checked the theme last night. My family loves watching movies. My daughter is in her tween years and she is already keeping up with the movies I like...Or is it the other way around? I am keeping up with the movies she likes.

So far this year, there are four movies we both love. One is How To Train Your Dragon which is a movie about the transformation of a boy named Hiccup who wants to slay one of the most feared dragons in their land. Eventually, the goodness in his heart overpowered his desire to kill but instead a friendship between him and the dragon unfolded.



The whole family also watched Toy Story 3. We all loved the first two parts, it's but natural that we watch the last installment of the movie. Sad that this was the last of Woody, Buzz and the rest of the company. WE LOVE THE MOVIE TO BITS! This is what I posted in my Facebook status after watching it:

Watched Toy Story 3 tonight with husband and daughter. All fun! A very engaging movie with honest sentiments - leaving and letting go, adjusting to a new environment, trusting, friendship, togetherness. We love it just like the rest of the world. It's a movie with heart and humor. Good night and sweet dreams! Good morning and have a great day ahead!

Of course, this movie is included in the list - the third of the series of the Twilight saga - Eclipse. Just that I am a true-blue Team Edward and my daughter is a hardcore Team Jacob. My husband does not care one bit. In fact he never joined us watching any of the Twilight films. Haha.


I intended to watch Karate Kid with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan just so I can compare how it is the same or how it is different from the Ralph Machhio/Pat Morita's Karate Kid. It was one of the movies of my time. My friend and I lined up the movie house and sat on the stairs just to watch Karate Kid back in the 80s.

I once loved Ralph Macchio. I'm following him in Twitter now, ralphmacchio. It's good to know he is still good looking, leading a good life and seems to be a family man often tweeting about his family activities. I digress.

I was surprised to see that today's Karate Kid is also very engaging. The casting was perfect. I love Jackie Chan in the movie as well as Will Smith's son, the bida in the movie - Jaden Smith. But it's Taraji Henson whom I love the most. She played the Karate Kid's mother.

I can identify so much with her whenever she has to repeat instructions for his son. My daughter and I kept nudging each other whenever these scenes are shown. She can relate too. Every single day, I have to say the same things all over before she does them. Hmmm.


Noticed how we love posing in front of each movies' standees? Haha. We do that even before the movie is shown. As soon as we see a promotional standee, we strike a pose. Shallow fun for mom and daughter. :)

***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.

Something Orange

The picture below was taken three years ago when The Simpsons Movie was shown. I asked my daughter to stand beside the movie's life-size standees. I love the dominant colors here - yellow and orange. I love these two colors because they are so full of energy and they make a place or a thing looks so happy. I love the orange sofa too. I'm thinking of getting an orange sofa to replace our dark blue one.

Can I relate to the characters of The Simpsons?



Homer Simpson is overweight. He is lazy and sometimes lacking in intelligence. What endears him to most viewers is his love and devotion to his family. That I believe is my husband's similarity to Homer.

I can relate somehow to Marge Simpson. I wouldn't have a hairstyle like hers but I will always be the guiding light and the great equalizer in our family just like Marge. :) I like her maiden name by the way, Bouvier.

I only have one child so let me see who she can relate to among Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

She is sometimes naughty but not as mischievous as Bart. She tends to ask a lot a little when things are imposed to her without her understanding why. Well, who wouldn't. So that gives her one striking resemblance with Bart.

Lisa is involved in a lot of advocacies and plays a musical instrument. My daughter plays the guitar and is a member of their music club. I wish she could be like Lisa loving vegetables more.

Well what can I say about Maggie? She does not talk. My daughter talked a mile a minute when she was a toddler but gradually lessened being talkative as she grows up. Maggie does not grow up. Haha. But Maggie is quite advanced for her age having been able to write her name in one of the episodes. I guess that's one thing my daughter has in common with her. She is most of the time ahead of her classmates in terms of what is new in books and music. She is also a wordsmith which her classmates love.

So maybe my daughter is a little of everything - Bart's steadfastness but a little hard headed, Lisa's love for music and Maggie's inquisitiveness.

Oh well, this was fun. I was only looking for something ORANGE for today's Photohunt. :)

Morning Calmness

Let me find time to squeeze blogging about a happy thought or feeling I had (and still have) this morning. Good feelings like these should be shared and post without delay (at least I've post it within the day, haha). This is nothing big but I just felt extra-ordinarily good from the moment I wake up. There's this sudden sense of calmness in me. I usually wake up rushing, hurrying to start the day.


This is what I have put up in my Facebook status four hours ago:

"It's great to wake up at the right side of the bed for no apparent reason. You just feel everything is right and you feel all light just because. That rhymes. :) I just thanked my Boss above for this feeling. Good morning. Off to my daily grind. Have a great day!"

That best summarizes what I'm feeling.

I searched for a happy image and then I thought of googling images of cupcakes. Cupcakes are so much fun. Just looking at them is happiness for me. I am on a diet you see. Haha.

I chanced upon this Cookie Monster cupcake and thought this surely represents this happy feeling. I love cupcakes, I love Cookie Monster, next to Ernie and Big Bird. :)

I pray the ripples of happiness never ends and the echoes of joy go on.

*Picture from this site, vi.sualize.us.

Cillian Murphy

Finally I was able to watch the very much raved about movie, Inception. I love it just like how I loved the first Matrix. But let me discuss about Inception in succeeding posts. For now, all I want to talk about is CILLIAN MURPHY (Robert Fischer in the movie). 

He was the Scarecrow. He became a transvestite. He was Red Eye. He had breakfast in Pluto. Soft, blue eyes. Wavy, short, clean - any way his hair is cut, he carries it well. He's a rock star, he's evil, he's nice, he's a nerd. His accent adds to his appeal. Pouting lips. Melancholy look. Cillian Murphy is beautiful. I feel like singing James Blunt's You're Beautiful.

I can't agree more with the article's title.  I see him as a refined Johnny Depp.  Like Depp, he is an actor who takes every role a challenge, does not mind how he will look on screen but gives depth to the character he portrays.  Every angle of his face and the way he looks at you speak volumes of character and experiences. He is such a good actor.

A quiet man who does not live like a Hollywood star - no bodyguard, no stylist, no publicist. He keeps his private life private. "I haven't created any controversy, I don't sleep around, I don't go and fall down drunk (from Cillian Murphy, Personal Life, Wikipedia)." He is married to his long-time girlfriend and they have two children.

Recognized for his talent, not just sheer beauty. Look here for his credentials.

I wish to see you more in the movies, Cillian!

Yes, I am in fangirl mode. :)