The Bangs

If there is one thing my daughter and I keep on arguing about is it's her hair. Her hair! I don't like the way she seems to cover her face with all those hair. She's fond of putting on her headband on the mid part of her head and let all the bangs fall over her face. It doesn't look neat at all. Why even wear a headband? And why even make your life difficult by having all your hair cover your eyes? These things maybe only a tweener/teener can comprehend and makes mom in her midlife like me dumbfounded.

Is this scene familiar? Did this happen between my me and my mother when I was my daughter's age? Maybe not the hair but something else. So history repeats itself. I know that that is why I always trace back how my mother and I dealt with our differences when I was in my teens.

Or maybe it's Justin Bieber's fault? You tell me. But at least the Bieber boy's hair does not cover his face. My daughter and I agreed that we will have her bangs trimmed to a reasonable length. She does not want it above her brows. That's fine with me.

We attended her cousin's debut last week and we both had our hair fixed. That was the time I had her bangs managed. I really like it when her face is clearly seen. She also feels so refreshed. But still she tells me the bangs should not have been that short. It will grow back again, honey.

This is the weird part. Now that her bangs is shorter, she takes it away from her face using an elastic band. Kids...(facepalm). I have no complaint though because I like it that way. Her face, her aura just looks so clear.

Children have their own fashion sense I know that. I even encourage that because it speaks of her creativity. But as her mom, I will make it known what looks nice and what makes her look like a child wanting to grow up fast. What, eleven is the new fifteen? You tell me because I don't know. I'm a modern mom but there's a limit to everything. And count that bangs in my watch list. Grrr. Haha.

I Have a Strong Fascination with the Grocery

Doing the grocery is one of my favorite activities in the world. Yes, I do this mostly with the family every week, on a Sunday, after church. Sometimes I have to do some groceries too during the mid-week when there are stocks which need replenishments. I do this alone after work or whatever activity I had during the day. This means I have to rush, beat the traffic, carry the grocery bag(s) all by myself, line up on the taxi lane and take a cab (if husband won't be able to pick me up which is what happens most of the time). I don't mind at all. The level of anticipation is like I cannot wait to get myself a reward after a long day.

The excitement builds up from listing the things we need (and well, yes, also a few things we want). I also get excited when I read a recipe I would like to try from my favorite foodie magazine. It makes me want to leave whatever I am doing and head to the grocery pronto.

I am trying to "analyze" a bit why I have this weird fascination about going to the grocery and picking/choosing each item with passion. I think it's because.....

* I feel so much a family woman when I am in the grocery and choosing food for my family. I feel so much like a mom and a wife. I get to attend to their needs, nutritional and otherwise.
* I am always on the look out for good buys which my family could use.
* More often than not, this is a family activity so it's time for bonding.
* I get to prepare and choose what they need for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner.
* I read labels up to the minutest details. One of the ways of educating my family of what's in the food we are eating.

Coming from the grocery, the first thing I do when I get home even before I change clothes is I neatly put up all the groceries in their proper places. It has to be FIFO for one (first in, first out). I want everything organize - in the cold storage, in the cupboard, in the breadbox.

I feel so fulfilled doing all these - listing the grocery items, grocery itself, organizing the items, planning the menu. And then I mentally account when I should replenish. Weekend or mid-week? Sometimes I still go to the grocery even if there is no urgent item that is needed. Maybe in my past life I was a supermarket mogul?

Family, friends and colleagues I have close encounters with know that it's my dream to own a grocery shop. Let me start with a mini mart, hopefully soon. For now, I am enjoying my trips to the supermarket.

*Picture from Getty Images.

Rhythm of the City + Brandon Boyd

I am a member of several pages in Facebook. These are the pages which I want to read updates in my news feed. Examples - Time, CNN, Michelle Obama, The Today Show, Colbert Report, The Onion, LesMills Body Pump among others. I have to admit though I rarely visit these pages unless I am very much interested with their updates.

But there's one page I never fail to visit these days everytime I log on to Facebook. It's the Vintage Sound of 99.5 RT (Rhythm of the City). I am just so glad to have seen the page in one of the updates from a network list. Most of the people are like me, someone who grew up listening to the music and the jocks of this radio station. The 80s were the glory years of RT. Always the first to play new songs. They play it even before it becomes a national anthem. There is some kind of exclusivity when it is played over at RT. A clique? Not really. Just satisfying a craving for some good, fresh music before the airwaves bleed them to death.

One great example I can remember is Lies by The Thompson Twins (neither Thompson nor twins by the way). Eat Bulaga's dance contest made it soooo popular. Back then, record companies promote a song, a danceable song, by way of a dance contest in noon time shows. Creative ha. I can still see on my mind the moves and steps and the sometimes out-of-this-world costumes.

Here is an example of those dance contests. 2:51, Lies but Flashdance here is the clear winner! :D


Anyway, like what I've posted in my FB status the other day, the Vintage Sound of 99.5 RT made me dig from my archive of songs and find the others in YouTube. Songs from the 80s and 90s. It's great to watch and hear the songs being posted at the page.

But well, this is not a vintage RT sound, but the fan girl in me (like what I've said in my Twitter) is alive again. It's THE BRANDON BOYD! Great, great vocalist. I love his rendition of Drive in this particular video, acoustic version. Suave, effortless, easy to listen.


I love the solo whistling. Brandon Boyd, may you reach greater heights in your life and career.

Agree!

Yes, I agree with this, 100%! Things change, people change, times change. We have to adapt, change if we have to and need to and want to. We have to want it, if I may say that. Work on improving ourselves and further enhancing the talent, the skills and knowledge we already possess. All these without compromising our values.

*Post-it notes left to their fate in public places.

My Diet Staples

I shared a few entries ago that I feel guilty whenever I eat. It feels like I'm getting back the pounds I have already lost. It's psychological most definitely. I have that fear of gaining weight whenever I eat no matter how small the amount is. I was even worried I might be developing an eating disorder.

Husband's words calmed me down, "you are managing your weight and not trying to kill yourself. So it's alright to eat." My daughter on the other hand will tell me to watch what I am eating so I won't bug her if I have gained weight or what.

I keep on reading success stories on proper weight management and I realized I am not alone in this kind of feeling. I was able to manage this feeling like what I have mentioned before by following the proper guidelines on the right kinds of food to eat side by side exercising.

I would like to share with you what mostly constitutes my daily meal or at least several days in a week.

Aside from fruits, it's wheat pasta. I toss in lean meat and crushed tomatoes or some vegetables like asparagus or broccoli. I just blanch them and mix in my cooked wheat pasta. Quick and easy. It makes me feel full. It serves as my lunch and my meal after working out.



I still eat white rice but very minimal. Just to satisfy a craving, half a cup a few times in a week is enough.

I take tea twice to three times a day and coffee, just once a day now. I would like to talk more about tea in my next posts as I have learned quite a number of facts about it. I prefer decaffeinated black tea and oolong tea.

At the gym, I look forward to my slice of banana bread and my oolong tea.


I also munch on cereal bars instead of chips and other junk foods. I do take a pinch of potato chips from time to time but it's very regulated, like five small pieces at the most. Just so I won't feel deprived. Haha.

I love chocolates so I chose the chocolate brownie flavor. A very good substitute. :)

***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.

I Chased the Sun

I have a lot to be thankful for today but the top three would be: 1) I was able to join my very first run - Chase the Sun, Neutrogena Run, 2) I was able to attend my church duties after, 3) Hubby and daughter were able to accompany me in my run. They served as my official photographers. :)

Yes, I did it! I am so happy. I am still waiting for the results of my running time but looking at the watch at the finish line, I guess I did almost 45 minutes for a 3km run. That's slow I know. I walked when I reached 2km, slowed down and run again when I was almost half of the 2km course. I also made two short stops to drink water. But I am so happy I finished it.

I do better in the treadmill. I can make more than 4km in 30 minutes. Maybe not as fast as your average runner but that's an achievement for me at this point when I am only starting to run. Who knew I will be running in the first place?

I just hope running events will be on a Saturday and not Sunday. We have church duties on early Sunday morning that's why and also to have ample time to rest before another week starts. But I will definitely be joining a lot of runs not to compete but for the sheer pleasure of doing it. Maybe I'll compete with myself, break the time record on the last run perhaps. The adrenalin rush is a reward in itself.

We arrived at Bonifacio Global City at 5:45AM. The 15k has started. Gun start for the 3k group where I belong is at 6:05AM. I claimed my shirt and singlet after and had some picture taking with the hubs and daughter. We left the area at 8AM, went home, rest for a few minutes, took a shower and headed to church. My husband proceeded to his business while my daughter and I stayed at the church till 11:30AM. Talk about being hyper. I am really thankful for a supportive husband and a daughter willing to share adventures with her mommy.

While I was running, someone is busy in the trampoline.


My daughter definitely is not afraid of heights. She said she had goosebumps but it was tolerable. She enjoyed jumping here. You know what, she was talking about bungee jumping after this. No way. Haha.

I did some preparations for this run. Nothing over but I needed to prep myself because definitely running on the treadmill is different from running outdoors. I only had one run at the UP oval a month or so ago and after that, every run was done on treadmill. I'd be posting in my succeeding entries how I psyched myself up for my very first run.


I am proud to have chased the sun this morning. I love the wind on my face, the smiles of strangers I ran with and the sun shining as the day unfolds. Now the heat is a different story. :)

***Check out more weekend sharing at Pixel Bug Weekend.

No, I Did Not Take Anything

I am quite proud of my efforts in managing my weight. From February of this year up to this month of May, I already lost a lot of unwanted pounds, 2-digits, baby. I still need to lose some more to achieve my desired weight. My body fat decreased considerably. What I am so happy about also is that my BMI is just a hair's strand away from being normal. Yes! I'm jumping for joy! :)))

People do notice how I am getting slimmer. Modesty aside, I am flattered by their compliments. People who knew me when I was still very slim tell me that I am back, my body is back to how it used to be, slim and curvy. I am getting there, friends. Not still as slim as I used to be but getting there.

The thing is a lot also wonder what I did or have been doing. One even asked me pointblank what I took. Is there a slimming pill that I can share? NONE. NADA. Because I have always been wary of taking anything even if it means I will lose the fats in just a couple of weeks. I am afraid of the side effects they could bring. No way. I could have taken them years ago when my friends where all drinking this and that pill. But I am scared.

I got slimmer naturally. It's true for me - NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

* I sweat it out! I am focused on the end goal of achieving my desired weight that even if I am tired and feeling lazy going to the gym or do aerobics at home, I get over that feeling and proceed.

* Conscious effort to diet and eat the right kinds of food. I take at least two spoonfuls of food that I want but bad for the diet just to satisfy my craving and then I stop. No back sliding please. I maintain lean protein, wheat, oats, tea, energy bar and fruits in my diet.

* I am aware of what I need to do and how to do them properly. I read a lot about the right kinds of exercise, ask the trainers in the gym and do the exercises properly. I level up. I am starting to do weights now. I am definitely enjoying body pump.

I hope to join my first fun run on Sunday. :) So help me God and let this push through. I want to enjoy this. :)

I've been updating my wardrobe for the past weeks. I have been buying a few tops and bottoms since my old clothes are just too big for me now. I would like to keep a lot of gym clothes too. I thought of joining POC Sportacular's contest, Win a Nike Shirt for Women. Winning them will save me a few hundred pesos. I really hope I'll get them. Please, luck, be on my side and let me win, haha. :)