Saturday, May 3, 2014

A Simple Gal's Journal: Nutella Week!


Hello. Friends!

I forgot how good it feels to record your daily lives in a journal. Well, not everyday, of course, because some days you are just simply too busy to bother writing anything, and there are some days that you can't think of anything to write.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

At 5.30 in the morning my son awoke and refused to go back to sleep, so I took him out of his crib and took him to sleep with us on our bed. Well, he didn't sleep actually, he just cuddled and cooed and hugged and kissed Mommy and Daddy in turns. It was so cute. I was still sleepy, both of us were, but Hubby and I considered it an early morning blessing. Such a warm feeling to start our day!

After work, I planned to go shopping for some staples of undergarments and nighties, because I needed some new ones, but Hubby called and said he was going to be home earlier than usual.
The conversation went on something like this:
M: "I plan to go buying some new underwear, remember?"
H: "Oh,"
Silence. 
H (disappointed tone): "Well, that's OK. I'll just play with the baby." (Hubby always called our son "baby" eventhough Michael is a toddler now.)

I guess that man of mine wanted to spend more time with me by coming home earlier. So, I finally cancelled my shopping trip for another day and went straight home.

"You don't need to do that." Hubby said sheepishly. "I don't mind your going shopping."
"Yes, but I know you. You will call me every ten minutes or so. It won't be a fun shopping for me," I said, and he laughed and did not argue.

Anyway, last year for our wedding anniversary, Hubby got me a pink egg-shaped mini speaker for my laptop. I was so happy, because though it's not the most romantic anniversary gift of the year, it was thoughtful. Hubby knew I love "listening" to YouTube videos, ALL THE TIME. Including when I'm in the shower. My old speaker broke, and he noticed, so he got me a new one in my favorite color. Well, one year later, again, the new speaker broke, so for this year's anniversary, again, he gave me a white doubel speakers! I hope they won't break again by next year, so I can expect something else for anniversary present. Haha! Nevertheless, I'm so happy with my new speakers. Thank you, Hubby! ^__^


There are so many cute and fun mini, portable speakers available nowadays. Some of them are unbelievably cute and affordable, too! These are some of my favorites. Aren't they totally adorable?
House of Fraser Kitsound Ladybug. (find it here)
House of Fraser Kitsound Owl. (find it here)

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

After work, I went shopping for undergarments and sleeping wear, and I got the most exquisite sleeping wear ever! You can read about my finds here.

Thursday is of course, Labor Day, so I don't need to work and can spend the day just playing with our son. That little dynamo is so active now that he needs constant supervision. I don't really childproof my house to the extreme, such as covering every nook and corner edges of my furniture, because the real world is not childproof afterall, but we did some in moderation. Luckily all the power outlets are located high up so there's no way he can reach it. The only other thing we did is install a gate in front of the stairs area, and that's pretty much it. As naughty as Michael is, he understands that when Mommy says no, she means no. He knows that he can chew on things to pieces, but he's not allowed to put little things inside of his mouth. And somehow he knows how to be careful with Mommy's crystal knick knacks, though up to this day I don't understand how he's supposed to know that some things are breakable and he can only touch but not play with them. God is really amazing.

Nevertheless, parents can do only so much, and the safety of our children is in their own hands and in the hands of The Lord. Michael is only allowed to climb the stairs under adult supervision, where we would stand by behind me to avoid falling out, and he complies with the rule very well. Still, accident happens.

Michael cannot walk up the stairs yet, he crawls up. I'm teaching him to walk up the stairs, but he still hesitates and prefer to crawl up. Today, he crawled up too fast, his little feet missed a step, and his head dived down to the corner of the stairs. I was behind him, so I didn't have enough time to help him. It was only like several inches "dive" but he got hurt anyway. His eye area got swollen and he got bruise under his eye socket up until today!


After a quick checkup and medication, he stopped crying and again asked to climb up the stairs. I was like, "Enough stairs for today, buddy! You look OK, and Mommy thank God that you are, but Mommy's nerves cannot take another stairs climbing today. We'll do it again tomorrow!" I'm so thankful that Michael's guardian angel was watching over him. I mean, it's near the eye, and eyesight is extremely important! Thank God.

Here's the little boy, looked as happy and joyful as can be, though he looks like someone has punched him in the eye. Look at the bruise! The bad experience didn't discourage him from trying climbing up the stairs again, more carefully this time. I'm glad that he's shown such brave character and learn from his mistakes at such an early stage. Yet my heart is constantly beating with worry. Oh, the bittersweet of being a mother! Mommy also learned that human can only do so much, God will take care of the rest. ^__^



Other than that, the week has been pleasant enough. Hubby just heard that a childhood friend of his moved back from out of town, and he and his wife just welcomed a baby girl, so we are happy and excited for the good news.

Today is Friday when I'm writing this, so I'm excited for the weekend, though yesterday was an off day.

Work has been extremely stressful for the past couple of months. After some roller coaster, ups and downs, high and low, I finally decided to do the best thing I believe one could do in similar situation: do my best, and let God takes care the rest. Hubby said that we should trust the Lord, because He wants what's best for us, and He knows what He's doing, even if we don't. Also, I have a natural sunny disposition and positive outlook. Hubby always says that I am the sunshine and the pillar of stability in the family. I am determined not to let what is going on in the work place influences me to be negative or moody. It's just work, not family, not life.

I often say this prayer over and over since I was very young:

"Dear God, please let my life be like a sweet song, a sparkling jewel, a breath of fresh air, a warm ray of sunshine, a beautiful scented rose, a warm comforting tea in the middle of a cold day, and a glass of refreshing iced lemonade in the middle of a hot day, to the people around me.

Let me share joy, happiness, hope, friendship. laughter, positivity and love to the people you have placed in my life.

Let me be more and more become the woman that You want me to be: a gift of love and a vessel of love.

Let me live the right and happy kind of life."
 
I always believe that is my role in life. And if I turned sour and sarcastic and negative, I cannot live according to that role. So I am determined that I will not, with God's grace, let bad and stressful situation get to me. Sometimes it's very difficult, but I have The Lord, I have family, I have this wonderful blogger and YouTuber community (that's you all, Friends!) who got me inspired and refreshed everyday.

And, thank God for Nutella! That's a splurge that I don't often have in the house, perhaps only once a year, but this time I let myself indulge and got a pot of Nutella that I finished - with a teaspoon - in just three days. All of it. And that's THE ultimate comfort food of all.


My, that feels good! ^__^

What is your ultimate comfort food that you let yourself indulge from time to time?




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Friday, May 2, 2014

Fabulous Is... Sleeping In Silk, Satin N Lace

Hello lovely Friends! Friday is only a day away and I hope you've been having a great week so far.

Let me share with you today about sleeping wear. 

Lovely housedresses are staples in my wardrobe. Once I get home, I always change from my go out outfit to something more comfortable such as a housedress. Considering that my family will be seeing me wearing a lot of these, I always make sure that my housedresses are reasonably attractive and clean and nice looking. I mean, look at these! Aren't they just lovely and festive looking to be worn at home? I want my husband to come home and find the house presentable AND me looking presentable.


I love wearing housedresses at home, because, well, they make feel at home. They create a distinction between the outside world and the little refuge my family called home. They are comfortable to wear, sturdy, feminine, and enable free movements because they are long enough to cover my knees and have short sleeves. I can run after my toddler, kneel down, pick him up, clean, cook, and do any other things with relative ease in one of these. They are much more comfortable than wearing jeans or tights and very low maintenance, too. You can just throw them in the washer with some laundry soap, and they will turn out clean and nice smelling. Besides, they are reasonably inexpensive, so I can wear them out without afraid of spills and housework. When a particular housedress has become dirty or shabby looking beyond any cleaning, I just cut them into pieces for rags, and get some new, fresh, pretty ones. Of course, when I have company or guests, I would change into something more appropriate!

However, a housedress is a housedress. Though I try to wear housedresses in cute tiny prints and cheerful colors like the picture above, with all the piping and the trimmings and the detailing, they still look like a plain, shapeless, knee-length dresses. Fyi, I also use them as sleeping wear. I only wear new, fresh, clean ones to bed, of course. 

Still. They're not enough "eye candy" for the man whom I'm married to, I guess, because one evening he said to me: "Honey, why don't you wear something a little bit sexier to bed?" 

I was flabbergasted. 

"What do you mean sexier? Like lingerie? Honey, you know I cannot stand the cold of the AC, and you always want to sleep with low temperature. I will catch cold if I wear something skimpy for sleeping in!"

"No, I don't mean lingerie, " Hubby explained. " I mean one of those cute, modest nighties that they sell at the department stores. You know, the silky looking ones in pretty pastel colors?"
Oh. He meant THAT kind of nightgown! The thin, beautiful, flowy, satiny, sleeping nighties with ruffles, laces, and bows. The ones you see in Victoria's Secret catalog, but in longer versions with short sleeves instead of spaghetti straps. My husband really meant something to sleep in, not to... well, you know, lingerie kind of things newlyweds usually bring for their honeymoon! *blush blush*

Something like these... No, not lingerie. Just something... sexier. And much more beautiful than my usual sturdy housedress that I wear to bed.
Find similar pink nightie here.
Find similar nightie with ruffles here.

Find similar baby blue nightie here.

Now, THAT is something I can imagine myself wearing on a daily basis! My son always goes to bed at 8 pm every night. Then I have a shower and change into a clean housedress. I just need to acquire a new habit and change into one these pretty nighties instead. I can still wear my beloved, sturdy housedresses for daytime and evening before 8 pm. ^__^

Rummaging around my dresser drawer, I found three pairs of nighties in beige, coral and lavender colors. Well, that's a start. The next day, I went shopping for some new ones, and I got three in these lovely pastel colors and cute patterns of polkadots and flower garlands. A side note, these are not expensive. They cost just similar to my cotton housedresses. 


Find similar lavender nightie here, baby pink nightie here, 
coral nightie here, baby blue nightie here, and polkadot nightie here.

I started to wear them everynight after 8 pm to go to bed, and boy, I should have acquired this habit a long time ago! The nighties are actually not silk, just nylon material but with subtle sheen finish to it. They feel nothing like my common cotton housedress! The material feels silky satiny smooth, cool and nice touching your skin. I wore one, and suddeny I felt feminine, delicate and girlie. It makes me feel special to wear something so fabulous and beautiful to bed. I felt like a glamorous 50s movie star! It's such a delightful and luxurious sfeeling. 

And my husband? Boy, he just loves it! Totally. He said the material feels cool and nice to touch when he holds me before we both falling asleep. He said it gives him such a good feeling to wrap his arms around such a glamorous woman prior to sailing to slumberland. Haha!
Now I keep my nighties tucked in safely with a scented soap to keep them smelling sweet and lovely. I am determined to wear them everynight. Not just for my husband, but also for myself. I now realize why I had only kept my good sleeping wear in the dresser drawer for years and continue to wear housedresses to sleep in. I felt like I needed to justify myself to be wearing something so beautiful and special for everyday occasions like sleeping. Well, don't you think that life itself is special? Don't you think everyday, each day, is a special gift from God, a special opportunity to live and work and breath and laugh and love for yet another 24 hours? I don't need to wait for something really special to warrant such fabulous, pretty nighties to bed, because everyday is special!

Do you have a beautiful china tea set that have been sitting in your cupboard, collecting dust for years? A special branded purse that you have rarely worn because you are afraid you will spoil it? An exquisite leatherbound journal that still sits empty in your stationery station on your working table that you think is too pretty to use? Well, wear them, use them, enjoy them. Because everyday is special. Because YOU are special. Because God wants us not just to live, but to live abundantly.

Sometimes when I were at Church and get bored during the sermon (shame, shame, but yes, it happens!), I would people watch and noticed the clothes people wore. Then I would think to myself that the clothes were not only of a variety of colors, but also rich in different textures, patterns, and style. God made fabrics not just as something to cover us up, but also to beautify. God loves beauty. That's why He created such a beautiful planet for us to live in, with all the glorious mountains and rivers and oceans, all basking in His glory and beauty.

What about food? If it's only something to sustain us and give us energy, why not just an energy bar or a tablet? Why there are different textures and spices and herbs and enticing smells and colors and textures? God does not just provide us with bare bone necessities of what we need, but He gives what we need in generous, bountiful abundance. 

Same thing and analogy with the nighties, I guess. I could choose to wear some old, tattered, baggy T-shirts to sleep in. They would be extremely comfortable, I imagine! I could choose to wear sturdy, practical, cotton housedresses, like I usually did. I can go further and wear these lovely glamorous nighties and feel fabulous and luxurious and exquisite while having my beauty sleep! 

Of course, it's all up to our preferences and circumstances. So please don't go out now and spend a ton of money on Victoria's Secret silk pajamas! And please don't wear nighties if it's not something that you are comfortable wearing or your husband won't like seeing you in! However, if you do have some pretty things in your house that you rarely wear, I urge you to make use of them. They won't do anyone good just sitting there collecting dust!

Have a fabulous day, Friends!

"I came so that they might have life 
and have it more abundantly." 
(John 10:10)

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