La Mesa Ecopark

We went to La Mesa Ecopark recently to do a second pre nup for my sister. It's my first time there and I must say it didn't disappoint. It's perfect for budget friendly photo shoots. Entrance fee cost P50.00 only. Perfect for a shutterbug like me. There are flowers, trees, lush green grass everywhere. In between taking pictures of my sister and her groom-to-be, I took photos of the surrounding as well. My time there would have been perfect if only my son Riley is with me! He would love horseback riding and feeding the koi and biking and rolling over the grass. And I would have love to photograph him doing all that and more. We will definitely go back in there. I love nature! Nature has a way of calming the restless spirit in me and just basking at its beauty brings peace to my heart. Speaking of nature, here are some of the flowers I saw there. Sorry I don't have names for all of them. If you know their names, you can educate me. :)

  

Poinsenttia

 Birds of Paradise

Gumamela

 

Commuting to La Mesa Ecopark
1. Take a bus or FX bound to Cubao. Alight at Quezon Avenue.
2. Ride a jeepney or FX with the signboards: SM Fairview. Ask the driver to drop you off Winston St. in East Fairview Subdivision. Jeepney fare costs P18.00.
3. From there, ride a tricycle going to La Mesa Ecopark.

Scarf to Halter

I have this scarf that has been in my drawer for God knows how long! I don't know how I got it. Ate, sayo ba to? I really have no idea how it end up in my possession. I have no use for it whatsoevah! It's so silky it can't be use as a handkerchief. A cover up? Cannot be too!  So came the help of Pinterest. 

Before

After

Sorry for the lack of tutorial. You have internet? Just googled it! Just type how to upcycle scarves. You'll be amazed at the creativity of some people!

A Healthier Year

You know how I always like to make New Year's Resolution? Well, this year is no different. I believe that whatever we throw at the universe will eventually return to us a reality. That's what scientist called "Law of Attraction." I truly believe in that. Last night, while we were facetiming (yes that's a word!) with our sister our conversations lead to what is our new year's resolution. In the past, I've listed a lot of resolutions but this year I only have ONE! It looks easy to fulfill but having lack of determination and low self esteem, I know it will be a challenge. The one thing that I wanted to be for so long is:

To be healthier!

That's my goal this 2014. To be healthier. In all aspects of life. Whatever that's unhealthy I will cut, stop and change. I will unfriend people in my Facebook who brings negativity. If you can still see the link of this blog in my FB wall, then positive ka sakin. I will eat more fruits and vegetables. I won't sleep at 2AM. I will run often. I will not stress myself over unimportant things. No junk foods! Basta, whatever I will do this year, iisipin ko muna if it's healthy to me and my son. Kung hindi, then stop stop stop. It's time to put an end  to my unhealthy lifestyle. I'm not getting any younger for crying out loud! That's one thing I learned last 2013. (Parang antagal na e khapon lng naman ang 2013 e ano?! hehe) Seriously, I want to be healthy for Riley. I want to live a loooooong life for me to enjoy and watch Riley to grow up to be a handsome man. And I'm 100% sure he will be one handsome man! He got half of his genes from me! ^__^

Starting off with this resolution - I decided to write all the good things that will happen to me this year - daily blessings, LOL moments, unforgettable experiences, accomplished goals. Then I will put it in a container and at the end of 2014, I will read it and look back at all the amazing things. And I will blog it here for you, my dear friends, to read! If you think this is a healthy thing to do, please make one for yourself too! I would love to see what you have written by the end of this year.

This jar be filled with wonderful memories.

2014 will be an amazing year! I claim it!

I am most thankful for my family especially Riley. 

What are you most thankful for?

Christmas Must Go On.

This is the first for our family. Every year we always have Noche Buena. But this year I don't feel like celebrating Christmas at all. No gifts  for my son to open. No new clothes to wear. No extra special things. I am sad actually. Last Friday, 4 days before Christmas, my tita who lived three doors away from us died. Unexpectedly. She was still alive when we went to market that afternoon. Then in the evening, she was rushed to the hospital because she suffered a stroke and was in comatose. The next day she was pronounced dead. Just like that.

When Paul Walker died, I don't feel sad. I was shocked after all he was just 40? But when someone I know personally died, that's a different story. The death is too real. One day they are here with us, and the next day they are gone. Forever. Sorry is not the hardest word to say. It's Goodbye. The memories are even harder to forget. It's easy to say that life goes on but if anyone from my family dies, I can't even describe the grief I will be feeling.

But that's the way it is. God will take what God has given. When or how only He knows. I was telling my mother when I die I don't want a long wake. Just two days and bury me. I also told her I want to be buried in a memorial park and not in Tawiran Cemetery. Haha. Morbid. But that's reality. I don't want a sudden death. I want time to say goodbye. I want to prepare myself. Sorry. It's not the proper way to write on a Christmas eve. But this is what I'm feeling right now. Maybe tomorrow, I'll feel a bit happier.

But no matter what, Christmas must go on. And please don't post your greetings and I love yous in Facebook. If you can tell them yourself face-to-face tell them! Life is too short.

How to Fix Tshirts That Are Too Tight

Do you have tshirts that are too tight or too small to you? It's either you got bigger or your shirts shrink. Either way, it's a disaster specially if you love that shirt! Well no worries there are plenty of ways to fix that!

Here is a tshirt of mine that gathers around my belly. Not flattering so I decided to give it a make over.

You need an old tshirt or any shirt for that matter. 

Unstitch the side seams like so

Then cut two triangle strips from your another tshirt.

Lastly stitch the triangles you cut to the side of your tshirt!

You can also put pockets to make it a little fun! 

5K Run Now, 10K Soon (or Later)!

Yesterday, I joined Milo marathon and ran with thousands of participants at the SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Blvd. What I love about Milo is that a portion of the money we pay in the registration will proceed to underprivileged Filipino children. Milo will give them shoes. Plus, Riley and I love jogging. When we are in the mood to go to our favorite park, we always jog our way there. To be on the safe side, I initially intended to run 3K but I found out that only 7 to 12 years old are accepted in that category. Dyahe naman tatakbo ako puro bata kasabay ko! So I chose the next category which is 5K.

Riley loves the free Milo drink!

My mother asked me why I wanted to run? Why would I want to subject myself to an exhausting 5 kilometer run when I can just exercise at the comfort of our home. I am not obsess with being fit, in fact I'm too lazy to exercise. But running is different. There is a different kind of high when you finished it. I won't lie that during the race, I wanted to give up! 5 kilometer is not a joke. I keep thinking, ayan malapit na ko matapos, only to find out nakaka 1 kilometer pa lang pala ako! haha. I will also admit that I ran maybe less than half of the race and walk the rest of it. But still, I kept going on, one step at a time. I want to finish it even if I'm the last one to cross the finish line. I wanted to prove that I can do this. When I saw the FINISH sign, my self esteem boosts. My spirit was lifted and my energy was revived. Konti na lang!

Nothing motivates a runner than seeing the word FINISH!

It's unfortunate I left my camera with my friend Nanang. That's why you won't see any photos of me running. Or photos of the surrounding while I'm running. Or fellow runners who took countless "selfies" every opportunity they had. Nanang, Riley's godmother, was the one who took care of him. So while mama is busy running and trying to stay motivated, Riley is having fun with his Ninang Nanang! 

If you remember my bucket list here, one of my to do list is to finish a 10K run. What the eff! Can I do it if 5K is already a challenge? Honestly, I don't know. That's why I have the utmost respect to those who finish 42K run! Seriously, how do you do that? SO now I have a problem. I wrote 10K in my list, so 10K I must do. But please don't judge me if I change my mind later. Hey, I am a woman, I have the right to change my mind! ;)

Can you tell by my smile how happy I am to finish the race?

I am not just happy! I feel a winner too!

Refashioning

Ever since I stumble upon Refashionista.net, I look at my clothes in a different way. Visit her site and I am 100% sure you'll never look at your wardrobe the same again. She bought her clothes from $1 store and turn them into something wearable and fun! Well, when we cleaned up our closets few weeks ago, I saw some clothes that have potential to be refashions or to be repair. I love this new hobby of mine because it makes me improve my sewing skills more! But what I love about this is it makes me save more. Who needs to buy new clothes when you you can sew it yourself! I encourage everyone to give sewing a try.

My first refashioning with the help of my mother!

More sewing project to come!