occupation: SAHM

My husband and mom have been encouraging me to go the gym for ages, but I always say no. I must be the laziest person around when it comes to exercise. I don’t like sweating, and going some place else to do it. I don’t like changing into gym clothes. Buying them, even more so. And isn’t exercise exhausting?

But I’ve been thinking about the need for exercise ever since I saw an old episode of Oprah. In that episode (which unfortunately, I can’t find in Youtube), it was discussed that at my age, exercise is imperative.

Since I am already in my 30s, my muscle mass decreases, metabolism slows down, body fat increases, and bone loses density. Physical decline begins as we bid youth adieu. So in order to age beautifully and gracefully, I would need to have a good fitness program.

Continue reading ‘Because Oprah Said So’ »

I am not online all the time for the past couple of weeks. It’s a huge adjustment at first because I used to just turn on the PC as I go about my daily chores, while I take a peek every once in a while at my blog, my fave blogs, email and Plurk.com.

The internet is a God-send, but can become a problem if one is not careful.

I have noticed that I have become more and more dependent on the internet. I cook while blogging. I do the laundry while plurking. I sweep the floor as I compose an email in my mind. It seemed perfect at first. I could work and play at the same time.

Continue reading ‘Offline, On Purpose’ »

*Picture from AllPosters.Com

It feels great to be back home. You see, I’ve been out everyday for almost a week now- errands here, papers there, work work work, here and there- that I have neglected my home. I’m glad to have this day to get back to homekeeping, finish my chores, and make home feel like home again.

Continue reading ‘Back Home’ »

I was in the backyard this morning when I saw something on the ground that I had not seen in days. My shadow! I looked up and saw the sign peeking behind the clouds.

The storm is gone, the sun is out. “YAY!” I shouted. I jumped. I swear! I was so happy to see the sun I couldn’t contain myself, I had to let out a whoop of joy.

There was plenty of still-damp laundry, so I hung them out to dry. I hummed a happy tune, knowing that in a few hours, the clothes would be all dry and sweet-smelling.

I love hanging clothes in the backyard to dry. Hanging the clothes on the line, securing them with a pin, watching the rays of the sun do its job from the kitchen window while sipping a glass of juice. Hours later, I’ll have dry clothes with the fresh smell of sunshine. How very relaxing.

But I was not the only one enjoying the weather.

I have never seen such an interesting bug. It had lovely colors of gold, green and pink. But it must be a shy bug because it walked away quickly as I took some pictures.

Right now, I have plantain bananas simmering in sugared water on the stove. A simple sweet snack which I think is just perfect to celebrate this fine, sunny day.

The original title of this blog, when it was created in May 2004, was something like – This Mommy in the Kitchen.

It was not intended to be a food blog though. I thought it was a nice metaphor for the life I had. I was a newbie in the kitchen, and also a newbie in balancing my responsibilities as a wife, a mother, a career woman. My life felt like an experiment after another, just like my attempts in the kitchen.

There was already a lot of thinking whether or not I should be a stay-at-home mom when my son was born. But I hemmed and hawed and thought it best to try juggling parenthood, homemaking and a fledgling career.

But eventually my husband and I made the crucial decision* that I would be a stay-at-home mom. And believe me, it was and still is the wisest decision we have ever made.

But just like any one who is facing a new job, I had some adjustments to make. One of these was – what should I write in those forms? Application forms, survey forms, all sorts of forms.

Continue reading ‘About “occupation: SAHM”’ »

I haven’t been updating this blog nor visiting yours as often as I would like to because the family is still adjusting to new routines. My son has begun his journey in Grade School, and it begins with me waking up at 5 in the morning.

And thus, I have this uncontrollable urge to nap with the kids in the afternoon to catch up on my sleep. The cup of coffee that was more than enough to keep me awake back then cannot do the job alone of getting me through the evenings.

And then of course, there’s homework. There are piles of responsibilities that I have to do in a day that my son’s daily homework can make me feel overwhelmed sometimes. I came across this  article by the renowned Queena Lee-Chua which I would like to share with you, fellow parents,  as it emphasizes our roles in our children’s performance in school.

This article has inspired me to just carry on, and be there beside my son as he studies. There are things just as important that I have to do pronto, but I am encouraged by my vision that he will reap the benefits and rewards of my being his tutor. 

One of my favorite parts of the day is sometime in the late afternoon. After a long busy day, I make a cup of hot coffee and go outside, sit in our small porch and  savor the cool afternoon breeze while I check on my little pots of plants. If it’s raining, then I sit by the window. A waft of fresh air always rejuvenates me and preps me up for the things to be done in the evening.

And these are just a few of the reasons why I am almost always away from our desktop. But all things do settle down, and I know I will eventually be able to squeeze in more time for blogging.

How about you? How is the beginning of the school year for you? I’m sure that even for those of you who don’t have kids at home, the beginning of school has affected your day somehow.

You all know the fable about the ant and the grasshopper. The ant diligently stored food during the summer, thus he didn’t starve when the rain came.

Well, I’m sort of an ant. As early as last August, I have been buying bottles of olive oil and liquor, cans of cream and tomatoes,  during my weekly trips to the grocery - in preparation for Christmas.

I got this from my mom, my model ant. When I was a little girl our cupboards would suddenly be filled with  cans of fruit cocktail and packets of spaghetti noodles. “Pang-Noche Buena,” she would explain, while preparing the candles for All Saint’s Day.

Continue reading ‘I’m an ant’ »

We went to see a professional for advice, who inquired first about our family.

My husband works in this company. He has  a college degree. I’m not working, I’m a housewife. Yes, I have a college degree.

Yes, I used to work for this company, and later in this company. Yes, I had enormous responsibilities, there is nothing wrong with filing but expectations of me weren’t close to that. Yes, I chose to stay at home and take care of the kids.

Continue reading ‘the housewife and the fish’ »

I must always have a steaming mug of coffee around 4-5 in the afternoon. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of summer, I still must have one. It has become a major habit such that as soon as I get hit by a craving for coffee, I could tell what time is it without looking at the clock on the wall.

This began during the early days of my being a housewife. I was so tired at the end of the day I was already cranky at 6, and was about to fall asleep by 7.
Continue reading ‘afternoon delight’ »

My nose is clogged, my throat hurts, my head feels like an elephant took residence in it.

It’s just that my hands have a mind of its own, so I sorted my mountainous pile of papers. While at it I decided to re-arrange my dresser, and threw out just a couple of empty jars of goo.

And I noticed that it wouldn’t hurt to wipe some glass cleaner on the full-length mirror. While at it, might as well swipe the one in the bathroom too.

That made a mess of the floor, so I decided to sweep a little. But before sweeping, I had to get the toys and books out of the way. I’d just put them back on the shelves, but not before just a bit of dusting.

Ah yes, I must rest. But folding clothes while sitting on bed shouldn’t be strenuous. And so is straightening up the closet.  

But really, I’m sick. I really am.