Much Needed R&R

the closest I could get to a solitary confinement: waiting for sunset :)

DIY: Pressing Mineral Pigments

The sunny-windy weather today got me inspired to do something, well, sunny.

I was reorganizing my make up stash and feeling a little crafty today. I saw some unused MMU in my kit and decided to have them pressed. I’ve been planning to do this a long time but can’t seem to find the right moment, because; a) I’m too lazy, b) I’ve lost my MU mojo and c) I’m just not in the mood. Thank goodness for the nice weather, I’m back on my feet again. Time to reduce, reuse and recycle! :)

 what you’ll need:
 minerals, spatula, cotton buds, isopropyl/ethyl alcohol, sheets of paper

You just need to mix the minerals with alcohol. I used ethyl alcohol because it’s plant derived (isopropyl alcohol is more drying than ethyl), although I know the alcohol will evaporate eventually so none ever touches the skin, it’s just the OC in me. :P

I prefer to use cottonbuds (for mixing) because it’s more sanitary. Snip off the tip and you’re all set. (Again, it’s just me. You may also use spatula or toothpick.)

I’ve read from beauty forums that pressing minerals with alcohol is not a good idea because the finished product tends to be flaky, making it more susceptible to breakage. Ellana (a local MMU brand) has added Kaolin clay in its new formulation. Kaolin clay has oil absorbing properties and also works as a binder. (and it works!) :)

Leave it overnight to dry.
The thinner consistency, the longer it takes to dry. Mix thoroughly to avoid clumping.

This is great for recycling those (pretty) empty make-up palettes! Just make sure to clean and sanitize correctly to avoid any bacterial growth. (great for custom colors too!) :)

waiting for it to set

tada! the finished product!

after drying overnight: all set and ready for usage
no more spills and messy MU stash! :)

Sunny Wednesday

my cruelty-free brushes: taking advantage of the sunny-windy weather! :)

Solitary Confinement

Had it not been for hubby, I think I’ll lose it. My sanity, that is.

I have these depressive episodes for no apparent reason. It started when I was five. To be honest, I haven’t given it too much thought until just recently. You see, hubby graduated with a degree in Psychology, had a brief stint as a teacher for special kiddos with learning difficulties. Don’t laugh now I’m not that insane, neither with ADD. :P

While we were on our way home, hubby blurted out something out of context.

my birthday flowers from mom :)

T: I shouldn’t be doing this. It’s not right.

Can you guess what other words he had blurted out? It seems that hubby dearest has been running a psychological evaluation of some sort on me. This is just a phase. It’ll be over soon.

Thank you, Tatay, for making it easier for me. I know the universe has conspired for us to be together and I am forever in debt.

Hey, Jealousy!

It was minutes before my birthday ends and I was already crying over a stupid fight. While checking for messages on my FB account, minutes before the clock strikes twelve, a friend, tagged me in a wall post. And what do you know, it made me cry more buckets.  

People close to me knew about how I depressingly celebrate Christmas, New Year and my birthday. There’s something about these occasions that makes me overly sad. But three other people (besides my boys) made me the happiest on my birthday. Three people who wrote me a blog post and made me smile, cry and cry some more.

Paul's

Paul is my sister’s boyfriend and a dear friend of mine, wrote me a birthday poem. 

Ms. Gay's

Ms. Gay, a fellow hippie mom or popularly known as the Pinay Travel Junkie, wrote me a blog post.

This is really unexpected. I’ve known her through her blog, Pinay Travel Junkie.

 She’s a mom to a beautiful daughter, Luna and a Pseudo-hippie like me.

Judy's

Judy is my friend/officemate’s sister (Erin). She’s a fellow Stephen King fan and the ExCommunicado.

 The hopeless romantic, whose writing makes me grin like a silly schoolgirl and the person

who made me cry buckets minutes before my birthday ends. 

Thank you so much, guys. You have no idea how these posts made me the happiest.

BYOB: Bring Your Own Bayong

Puregold Molito, Madrigal

There's a new ordinance in Muntinlupa City banning all plastic shopping bags (styros included) starting January 18, 2011. Yes, it’s tomorrow! Hooray for reusable shopping bags and kudos to Mayor Aldrin San Pedro! What a great way to start the year! :)

Random Poetry: Collapse

I died

The existence of the human soul wandering

Searching for beyond the obscuring

Waiting, a strange thought of leaving

dragonfly
photo credits: Steven Stahlberg

A burden

The furious relentless storm ceasing

Piles of rocks for marking

Seeking for something pleasing

Existence

A feeling, a fleeting feeling

A terrible proceeding

A numbness that soothes the bleeding

Leaving

Abandon the unpleasant feeling

Discern, it’s oftentimes concealing

I died, succumbing to the succoring

Thoughts on Religion and EX Issues

Whenever I pray and I want answers, I would always ask the Almighty, to give me a sign. Be it a consent or a twist of fate to forbid it. It would always be like that. 

I’m not a religious person, but I have a close relationship with God. And I have high respect for people who value their personal faith despite of being ridiculed and stereotyped (e.g. Muslims, Iglesia ni Kristo/Ang Dating Daan members, etc). I’m not being self righteous here, but I believe the world would be a better place to live in if we could just respect each other’s belief.

RESPECT. Do you know the meaning of the word? Or do you want me to google that for you??

I used to be a skeptic. I used to bash my college professor that Christianity’s not the only way to live a meaningful and moral life. I hated going to Sunday mass because I find the church full of hypocrites. But despite of being a skeptic, I never questioned the existence of God. I can’t. Because despite all the arguments and life’s unanswered questions, I know deep inside, we can’t live a moral life if we don’t believe that there’s a higher being above us, that we need faith so we can rely on each other and hope for a better tomorrow (so I still go to mass, but not on a Sunday to accompany hubby). 

Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in karma?

This is one reason why ex-lovers can’t be friends. No matter how hard you try to be nice, or civil with each other, it’s all bullshit. The reason why the two of you broke up in the first place is because you can’t stand being together as a couple. What difference does it make when you have your own lives already?

So please stop making lame excuses and blaming other people for your misfortunes.

 Stop stereotyping people for your ignorance. You claim to be such a smartass? 

Then you better brush up your vocabulary/comprehension skills! You can have all the money in the world, but you’ll still be miserable. Do you know why?

 Because you’re mean and one heartless prick.

Again RESPECT. It’s how you build human relationships.

my prayer/gratitude journal c/o Judiya of ExCommunicado :)

Random Poetry: Deliquesce

image taken from google

The moon shines, an empty space fills me

Staring confoundedly at the gloomy sky

Anguish has been kept inside me

And I ache, I would crave to weep   

Tears flooded beyond my cheeks

Unhurriedly enjoying the nostalgic feel

Like a stream flowing through the earth

Like a life flowing and crashing in front of me

A Nasty Nappy Rash and Birthday Thoughts

Cezanne's developmental milestones for the year '10
POLIE'S FIRSTS:
from top left: photo-opt when he's still in mommy's womb, birth, bath,
sunny day, grocery shopping, cerelac meal, biscuit day, bottle day,
banana day, trick or treat, mall day & first to stand upon his own     

It is often said that it's mandatory to have a grand birthday bash on the 1st year of age. It's customary, especially in our culture (and you know how we, Filipinos, put so much effort in planning celebrations). But do you know the medical reason behind it? Infant mortality rate is defined as the number of infant deaths (one year of age or younger) per 1000 live births. Just the thought of surpassing the most crucial stage of an infant's life is reason enough to have a big celebratory event. Makes sense, eh?

This was after telling Polie's pedia that I don't see the point of having a grand 1st birthday bash. Personally, I think that the 1st birthday is more for the parents than the child (your one year old isn't going to remember anyway). But then again... Oh well... 

Rotavirus on Day 6: So I've read that the incubation period for Rotavirus is about two days. Vomiting and diarrhea may last from three to seven days. It's a good thing Cezanne only vomited on the first day. His poop is almost close to normal since yesterday. We're still waiting to see that his poop passing frequency lessens. But, he's now suffering from a nasty nappy rash. Because liquid poop spreads over a wide area of the skin, it makes the skin more susceptible to irritation and bacterial growth. Now, I regret not using a barrier cream as a preventive measure. I can see from his face how agonizing it is to have his bottom cleaned. :(

Important reminders when taking care of a child with stomach flu:

1. Make sure your child is properly hydrated. Especially if there's a recurrent vomiting.  

2. If you're using cloth nappies (lampin), stash these away as it will inhibit nappy rash. Use disposable nappies for the time being until the diarrhea subsides. 

3. Wash your baby's bottom with lukewarm water and a mild soap every time he needs a nappy change. And make sure the skin is completely dry, especially in the creases (while baby wipes might come in handy, it's not enough to clean your child's bottom). 

4. Make sure to replace bedding everyday to avoid spreading the virus.

5. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after giving your child a nappy change.

6. On the onset of diarrhea, put a barrier cream on your child's bottom to protect the skin from irritation. Calmoseptine is a multi-purpose moisture barrier ointment which protects, soothes, and helps promote healing of skin irritations. Effective and very cheap.

7. Sanitize, sanitize and sanitize some more!          

And remember, prevention is always better than cure. It seems that my OC-ness isn't enough in keeping a germ-free and healthy household. Have your child vaccinated to avoid the dreary Rotavirus disease. Believe me, you wouldn't regret it.

An Early Morning Stroll

I overheard my eldest and his Dad talking last night about (planning to buy another) NERF gun (and mind you, it’s not cheap!). I immediately went to my son’s room and blatantly told them that I won’t be allowing it.

Yes, I know it’s hard to be a disciplinarian (especially for people who hates to be disciplined, I am referring to myself) and after seeing him teary-eyed, I felt like I’m the meanest mom in the world. Theodore’s not the type of kid who asks for things we couldn’t afford to buy him. Asking his Dad to buy him a new toy is reasonable enough for him (and for hubby as well). But, he already has FIVE NERF guns to date!

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

It would be very hard to reprimand him if I had been attached to material things. And to a certain extent, I’m grateful because he understands what I’ve been blabbering about.

REWIND

When I was still living with my parents, and because they could afford to buy me things, I depended on shopping splurges to make me happy (even up to the time I was still working). It’s a never ending cycle and eventually, I got tired of it. There’s no thrill anymore, and even after shopping for clothes and shoes, it made me (more) sadder and I feel (more) shallow and empty. It made me reevaluate my priorities in life.

FAST FORWARD

It changed of course when I became a full time mommy and lived in our own house. Because we have our priorities, we slashed off things we don’t “exactly” need. Like the leisurely trips, signature clothing and gadgets.

FIND THE BALANCE

I would be full of mockery if I say that I don’t need material possessions to make me happy. I believe it’s more like “knowing your priorities”. I’m not a techie type of person. Our desktop is just a year (or two) younger than my eldest. It’s an old beaten up desktop that my Mom gave me so I won’t have to buy a new one. It works just as fine and enough to make us enjoy unlimited internet connection at home. We don’t have cable TV so I guess having an internet connection is justifiable. And in exchange to that, we buy a lot of DVDs so we could improvise our very own HBO channel. And for heaven’s sake, my mobile phone has a built-in flashlight! But I love it because it’s very handy especially when searching for the keyhole of our front door when it’s dark already.

I still enjoy our occasional food trips, but not from over the top restaurants. I used to hoard cosmetics, I still do (sometimes)—but I just buy what’s needed and I make sure I’m buying from companies with a cause (for its people and the environment).  

There has been a religious structure that in order to follow a spiritual path, one should no longer need material or earthly possessions in life. On the contrary, if a person is connected to the spiritual self, there is AWARENESS that you don’t specifically need those things. This is such a cliche, but what the heck, I’ll still say it anyway! :P

Happiness comes from spiritual wealth, not material wealth. 

It is important to learn not to be too strict on oneself (or others). You just need to do everything in moderation. Oh my, this seriousness is killing me!

Keyword: BALANCE

“If you tighten the string too much, it will snap,

 and if you leave it too slack, it won’t play.” (a Buddhist philosophy)

Cezanne and Dad having an early morning stroll :)

Rotavirus on Day 4 and Other Random Ramblings

Cezanne’s a lot better now compared to two days ago. But last night, he threw (yet again) another uncontrollable crying fit. It’s 8PM and he’s still half awake, then he started crying at 930PM and this went on for two hours, he just won’t stop. We checked his temperature, temperature’s normal—he doesn’t have a fever. We lowered down the AC thermostat and we wrapped him in layer of blankets (thinking it was the cold), still nothing happened. I rubbed Aceite de Manzanilla (it’s a combination of chamomile and citronella oil which help alleviate gas pain) on his tummy because I’ve noticed his tummy turned rock hard (a sign of infant colic); he stopped crying for a while, but started crying again, now, even louder. His face’s so red from crying and we started to panic. We called his yaya downstairs and to my disappointment, he stopped crying when his yaya carried him. I felt from that moment how useless I am as a mom. To make matters worse, I could hear Manang’s (our older nanny) instantaneous rant about folkloric medicine. I felt so insecure because I’m the mother and I can’t do anything about my son’s condition. So I pretended I was asleep and I let them take care of him. By 12 midnight, Cezanne’s already sleeping. He woke up again at 1AM, again, crying. I carried him in my arms and to my surprise, he stopped crying. He fell asleep in my arms while we were on the bedroom couch. It was a moment of pure bliss. And suddenly, I’m okay, my worries melted away just like that.

This morning as I was cleaning Cezanne’s room, I’ve noticed the back portion of the Lysol can (as I was about to spray it in Cezanne’s room), says:

GEEEZZZZZZ! ;|

Damn it! I guess my trusty Messy Bessy Tea Tree Disinfectant spray is not potent enough to kill those dreary viruses. 

has been a staple household cleanser for years

On a lighter note, hubby got me a heeled Oxford shoes as his (better late than never) Christmas present. I almost cried when I was able to get hold of them. Since we started living in our own home and got caught up with marital and parenting bliss, we seldom buy things for ourselves anymore. I’m grateful for the insights family life had taught me. It made me more appreciative of people, situations and sweet nothings. I am loving this thing called “adult phase” and I think I’m getting better at it. :)

best thing about it: a real bargain! ;)

day 4: better than yesterday's better :)
(w/ lolo Pol)

Manic Monday: A BAD BAD Virus

Remember my Holidazed Twenty Ten post regarding Cezanne being on top of his health? Well, I guess the universe is playing tricks on me again. :(

It was just hours before New Year’s Eve when Cezanne started to pass stool after every feeding. We had him checked by his pediatrician (good thing that she also resides in the same village) and we were told that he contracted a severe type of diarrhea caused by ROTAVIRUS.

image taken from google

I was shocked. How can he get it? I am so wary of bacteria and dirt in our home making sure his toys, utensils and cot are clean and properly sanitized all the time. He uses distilled water for his milk formula and we even boil it! His bath water is purified water. So, how on earth did he get it??

When I was still pregnant, I saw a TV commercial advertising the ROTAVIRUS vaccine. I immediately told myself that I’m getting this vaccine for Cezanne. There are no meds/drugs for infant diarrhea, you just need to monitor your child making sure that he’s properly hydrated every time he passes stool (that’s why it’s very important to look for signs of dehydration).

      

When I gave birth and asked his pediatrician (his first) if he could get a shot for the ROTAVIRUS vaccine (which is normally between 3-4mos), his pediatrician told us that it isn’t necessary, plus there was still (at that time) unruled side effects of the said vaccine that she didn’t recommend having it taken.

At first, I thought it was his erupting lateral incisor (he also had a slight fever on the second day). And it’s quite normal (for some babies) to have diarrhea when a new tooth erupts (as they chew on things to alleviate gum pain). But when he started to pass stool after every feeding, it was alarming already and we decided to have him checked.

It was New Year’s Eve and I was just inside the room (my in laws’ guest room) looking after for Cezanne. I’m still thankful despite of almost non- stop stool passing, he’s still active (although a little cranky)-- a good sign that he’s getting better. 

day 3: a lot better :)

It has been three days and I hope his freakin’ diarrhea stops.
And I’m doing a major house cleaning today with Lysol overdose, just in case.

last night: two more rooms to go! 

Happy Monday, everyone (still staying positive in negative times)! :)