Friday's 10 Happy Things 1

May 7, 2015, 11:10 pm

≫ Next: Motherhood and Me: Three Months Down The Line

I used to join the link-up "The Sunday Currently" but I stopped when Lauren, the blogger who started it, decided to end the series after her 100th post. I've been searching for new link-ups that interests me and I finally found it - Helga'sFriday's 10 Happy Things. I am joining this link-up because I like making lists and happy lists are nothing but awesome and inspiring.

Now that I am still adjusting to the jarring realities of my new life as a stay-at-home mom, I know that maintaining this list will help me appreciate my life more and to find meaning in the recent big decisions that I had to make in my life, in our lives. So I welcome you all to my "Friday's 10 Happy Things":

The smell of my baby daughter's freshly laundered clothes and her baby breath too.

I cleaned the oven! And I am mighty proud I did it. Just staring at the gunk that accumulated for a year almost make me hurl but I bravely dismantled the parts, including the screws, removed the glass and other washable parts and just went to town with the sponge. My husband gave me a pat on the back when he saw how clean the oven turned out. I'm turning into a domesticated diva!

Okay, back to my daughter - it makes me happy when I make her smile especially when she smiles with her eyes and her lips. Ahhh the feeling can't be topped!

Making my own sago strawberry milk tea and sugar-free lemonade too. Oh yes, it's summer in the tropics and the sweltering heat of the sun just motivates me to hydrate more.

Finding a folded bill (Php500) inside a bag pocket that I have not used in a while.

Opening my CreativeMarket account and discovering that several of my dear blog readers bought some of the script fonts I recommended.

Pictures of my mom's vacation in the US. I love the ones she took at the Botanic Garden.

Upcycling (is that even a word?). I found my stash of hotel soaps and travel sized toiletries while cleaning this morning. I thought of what to do with it and so I wrapped it using a fruit foam net and then tied a pretty ribbon around it. Et voila! Instant cabinet freshener. Click this link to see how it turned out.

Cooking a perfect sunny side-up egg for breakfast (without using a mold).

Dayre! I just created my account this week and I am enjoying using the app. Check my profile and create yours too. The Dayre community is heartwarming so far.

I think maintaining this list could only bring positive vibes to my life so I am encouraging you to start writing down what makes you happy as well or if you have a blog join us in the link-up. It will be fun to read what makes people happy. I'd love to hear from you...

LET'S CONNECT

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Motherhood and Me: Three Months Down The Line

May 9, 2015, 9:30 pm

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 2

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 1

This year is my first time to celebrate the holiday and I am overflowing with so much love and several other emotions that only a mother feels. I knew having a child would be life-changing and I have for the most part wished to become a mother and so today I consider myself lucky to be ever granted my wish - my self-actualization. Truth be told though, nothing could have prepared me for the massive onslaught of emotions, both euphoric and downright dramatic. But at the end of the day, seeing the twinkle in Summer's eyes and savouring the sweetness of her every smile has given me so much happiness that I only once wished.

I was basically clueless when she came out - heck I was even scared to bathe her, but now things have changed and everything just feels normal (except trying to decipher what her every cry means). Here are a few things that are worth sharing from a 3-month old mommy.

1. Life with a newborn is far from perfect.

It sure isn't perfect at all and is riddled with spit-ups and sleepless nights as well as poop blow-ups. You will catch your self second guessing yourself sometimes or even crying for feeling like a total failure. You would panic every time your baby's breathing sounds different or when her temperature is higher than normal. I am just so glad that I have a very supportive family and friends that are ever willing to help me make life with Summer close to being perfect. Life may not be perfect but it sure is full of memories that money could not buy.

2. Twenty four hours in a day is never enough.

Every one I talked to before I gave birth has told me that time management is key when caring for a newborn and I chalked it all up and claimed that I would ace managing my time but boy I was wrong. I can't seem to fit all the things that I need to do in 24 hours. It just feels shorter now and that leads to me skipping some daily rituals that I used to do, or sometimes even missing shower or sleep. They say I should sleep when baby is asleep but I use her nap time to wash her bottles, hand wash her clothes, iron and/or fold freshly laundered clothes, tidy her crib, clean the house, prepare food among other things. My husband and I have slowly adjusted to having Summer in our lives though and the situation has forced us to strive to be more efficient to make every thing we needed to do fit in our short 24 hours. So far our daily routine, although far from being 100% efficient, is working wonderfully for us. An extra hour wouldn't hurt though.

3. It takes a village to raise a child.

And that is not a joke nor an old wive's tale - it really does take a village to raise a child. Every time I get an offer for a friend to babysit Summer, I gratefully say yes. I always accept the offer graciously and never will I ever decline such gesture (if only so I could stay in the shower longer to give my hair a proper lather). I also allowed myself to accept advices (even the unsolicited ones) and then decide which advices to follow eventually.

4. You will feel several aches and pains - I kid you not!

I had water retention after I gave birth and it was not pretty. Good thing, one of my mommy friends shared with me that the best way to cure the bloat is to submerge my feet in icy cold water. I was hesitant to try it at first for fear of hypothermia but I eventually gave in after more than a week of enduring the sight of my bloated feet and when I followed it - it worked like magic! I delivered my baby via C-section so I also had to endure the pains of the incision until it healed. If I sit for a long time, I also feel pain in my midsection when I get up and a couple of weeks ago my right arm felt like I broke it. I had a hard time writing and lifting things and there was also a time when it felt like I've lost all feeling in my right hand. It felt like something I have never felt before. It was scary but it eventually disappeared without me taking any medication.

5. I need self-control.

I sometimes feel like I am over sharing on social media. There's always a new picture everyday on Facebook or Instagram. I don't know how to curtail this because really I don't see anything wrong as long as I exercise discretion in choosing what I share to family and friends and to you my blog readers. I guess I am the kind of mom who loves to document my child's milestones and I won't ever apologise for that. What's your take on this? I may reconsider and reevaluate my social media activity altogether.

So yes, I am a three-month old mommy and although challenged at times, I welcome everything that motherhood will throw my way. Let me know what is the best and worst part of your motherhood - I would love to know.

LET'S CONNECT

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 2

May 14, 2015, 10:28 pm

≫ Next: Best Friends Forever

≪ Previous: Motherhood and Me: Three Months Down The Line

Yay, it's week 2 of my Friday's Happy Things and I am so excited to share what I have in my "happy-ness box" today. Other than adjusting to the loneliness of being away from my husband again because of his work, everything is by far very bright and cheery at home.

Anyway, here are 10 happy things for me this week:

1. Seeing fire trees in bloom around the metro.

2. Booking our flight tickets to Copenhagen. It will be baby's first long haul flight and I am so excited for her. Although she would probably forget all about this when she's older.

3. Nutella! And it's buy one, get one at S&R! Somersaults, backflips and high-fives to all Nutella lovers out there. Correction: It's not buy one, get one, I just checked my receipt. It's buy two and you can avail discounted price for both.

4. Hearing my Baby Summer laugh for the first time. Priceless!

5. Having tea using my vintage bone china tea sets. It's so regal. Lakas makamayaman!

6. Clearing my office pedestal. I am finally free from the corporate world. I am now a full-time mommy and the feeling is indescribable.

7. Thank God for Bio Oil and Vitamin E capsules! Love, Kessa's tiger stripes

8. Aircon! Ah, what would I do without aircon in this crazy summer heat?

9. Army Navy Fearless Chicken. Go and order if you want to know why this fried goodness makes me happy. Haha!

10. Summer falling asleep in my arms. My heart melts for joy!

If you want to join us spread happy vibes all around, click the image below. Cheers to more happy things!

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Best Friends Forever

May 18, 2015, 2:07 am

≫ Next: A Better World

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 2

I think Photobook and I will be best friends forever. Oh and Photoshop too. I've been teaching myself a thing or two about photoshop for the past 2 weeks and so far I am loving it. Yes, I've never made an effort to learn how to use it until I had time on my hands. Summer has her regular naps in the afternoon and I have to keep myself busy otherwise I will be bored to bits.

Here are a few of the pictures that I used in my recent Photobook project. Lined notebooks were on sale and so I decided to hit the order button and design the front and back cover.

Of course, my daughter and my niece will be best friends forever for sure...

Aren't they the cutest?

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A Better World

May 21, 2015, 5:49 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 3

≪ Previous: Best Friends Forever

I found this quote in my Facebook feed and I thought I would share it to parents like me:

It just hits home...

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 3

May 21, 2015, 6:43 pm

≫ Next: Life With Summer: 3rd Month

≪ Previous: A Better World

Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Clic the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Savoring the 150 degree view of Metro Manila from the 70th floor of one of the tallest skyscrapers in Makati City. The wind against my face, the flickering lights at night, the cotton-like clouds and the numerous taking off and landing of planes were beyond wonderful.

2. Knowing that my daughter was not injured when she fell from our couch. I thought she was already sleeping and so I got up to get myself a glass of water. When I turned my back, I saw her on the floor face flat and about to cry so I scooped her up and said sorry to her and my tears started to fall. I am happy because she is out of any danger now.

3. Receiving an email from Creative Market informing me that free goodies are out and ready to download. The Serendipity font is free this week. Check it out! Who doesn't love free goods?

4. Completing my Royal Albert Serena trios. I can't wait to have friends over our house and serve them tea and some cookies too.

5. Knowing that it will be flea market season in Copenhagen when we travel there. I am so going! Who wants some Royal Copenhagen teacups, saucers and plates?

6. Successfully cooking black tapioca pearls - the one you normally get when you order pearl milk tea (30 minutes in boiling water and 30-40 minutes covered = perfect chewy yummy goodness!)

7. Opening the May issue of Smart Parenting and finding out that the editor chose my letter as letter of the month. Yay!

8. Discovering Daiso Japan. The store is a wasteland - my favorite kind of waste. Haha! Colorful notebooks, mugs, cellphone covers, bolster pillows, shabby decors and a whole lot more. I can't wait to go back.

9. Bath and showers! Anything to make me feel refreshed this hot hot summer.

10. Having a lot of time in my hands - I didn't miss any chore this week. Being a stay-at-home mom is a whole new ballgame for me and I think I am getting used to it.

What are the things that made you happy this week? I would love to know. Join the link-up!

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Life With Summer: 3rd Month

May 26, 2015, 9:33 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 4

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 3

Holy Moly! Summer is almost 14 weeks old as I write this. I have tried to sit down a few times and write this post, but my errands and daily mommy chores have kept this post as a draft. If you want to read about our daily adventures, head on over to my Dayreaccount.

This month is shaping to be the best month of being a mommy so far. I am so happy to be this little munchkin's mom no doubt about that. I love that she showers me with unlimited smiles and it's incredibly adorable and heartwarming when she giggles when I entertain her. Each giggle and gummy smile and every toothless grin is like a medal to me. It's a very rewarding feeling. I feel so accomplished. Even though we are nowhere near any routine, our bond is simply something that makes me happy - something that always reminds me why I quit my corporate job. I feel more confident being Summer's mommy compared to how clueless I was when she was born and I shared my realizations in this post. The weeks are flying by quicker than I anticipated it to be. She will be 16 weeks old sooner than later.

After she fell from the couch, I became even more paranoid. I sleep so late because I wanted to make sure that she is breathing normally. Every grunt, gasp and grimace makes me get up and observe her. I am just so glad that nothing bad happened to her after the fall. She's such a strong "viking" baby. I say a prayer with her before she sleeps and she pays attention (keeps quiet and looks at me intently). I wonder if she ever understands a word I say (well maybe who knows).

Summer is very social. She likes it when you talk to her and she always has a ready smile when you smile at her. She smiles even to strangers or to just about anyone she meets for the first time. She also loves to stick her tongue out when coaxed to do so. I guess she copied it from me because I always do that when I try entertain her.

Summer is no milk monster. She only consumes 4oz of milk every feeding. She feeds at an average of six to seven times every day so that means she gets 24 to 28 ounces. For her current weight, she's supposed to consume 2.5oz for every pound of her weight. She's currently a little over 13 pounds so she's supposed to consume 32 ounces at least. Then again, I only feed on demand so I am not really worried about it.

Summer loves her nap and sleep. She naps whenever she's carried and swayed. Her naps are an hour at least every time. She can also sleep through the night already. Such a trooper!

Summer has a jam. She likes Watch Me Whip and Nae Nae a lot. She would flash a gummy smile whenever she hears the song or when I sing it to her during our playtime.

Summer loves the mirror. Mirrors are her favorite. She would stare at her reflection and smile and sometimes even giggle. Even if she is crying, she would stop and smile.

She loves to roll - from her back to her tummy and from her tummy to her back. She's advanced as her pediatrician noted. As much as she loves to roll, she also loves to practice standing up.

Summer is not a crybaby. She is just a happy baby and I am very thankful for that. She's so generous with her smiles and giggles and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Summer loves to listen to music. Thank you Spotify! I have a playlist of classical music that we both listen to before bedtime. She almost always stops wriggling or trying to roll over when she hears the first note.

I am thinking of buying her a rocker but she's growing up so fast that I am afraid she will outgrow it fast too. I have not introduced reading to her yet but I have shared stories to her about my pregnancy and her birth and daddy's work and that stuff and I love that she looks me in the eye and appear really interested. I am looking forward to every single day that I spend with her and motherhood just keeps getting more and more exciting each day.

On that note, let me go back to bed so I will have energy to spend with the little one tomorrow. Thank you for reading my update.

LET'S CONNECT

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 4

May 28, 2015, 8:56 pm

≫ Next: Hey June! You've Come Along...

≪ Previous: Life With Summer: 3rd Month

1. Meeting friends from the office where I used to work before for breakfast. A moved to Germany to be with her husband and she's in town so we made plans to meet.

2. Finding a fitted crib sheet with anchor design - a homage to my husband who works as a navigation officer in a tankship.

3. Ginza Bairin - I love their kurobuta rosu katsu. Oh and yes their ice cream trio (black sesame, green tea and vanilla) is also a must try.

4. Receiving a call from a diaper brand informing me that they will be sending me three months worth of diaper supply for my little one. Yay!

5. Free goodies from Smart Parenting magazine and Pond's. I have a bag filled with products now that I will try and probably review.

6. Receiving orders for the organic soaps, lotion, body oils and scrubs that I am selling (shameless plug). If you want to try organic products, please check out our humble online store through Instagram and Facebook.

7. The Picture Company - love photo sessions. We will be back again next month so I can avail of their anniversary offer (buy 1 take 1 on prints).

8. Tucking my daughter into bed every night while whispering "good night" and "I love you" and kissing her softly on the forehead. Warms my heart.

9. Credit card annual membership fee waived. That's Php2,250 back to my pocket.

10. Xiamara Sophia Vigor - the little girl in the milk commercial and the winner of a noontime show's Mini Me contest. She's so smart and oozing with confidence. I hope my little Summer will be full of spunk and confidence too when she grows up.

What made you happy this week? I would love to know. Join the linkup!

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Hey June! You've Come Along...

June 1, 2015, 2:46 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 5

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 4

It's the first day of June.

The first thought I had when I woke up this morning was how different my life is right now compared to my life was last year. I still was clueless that I was pregnant last year on the first day of June. I am undoubtedly astounded with all the changes that are unfolding right before my very eyes.

Motherhood has been quite a game changer for me and it has taught me to live in the moment. I can still remember when I gave birth to my daughter but the newborn smell is slowly fading in my memory. I worry about losing and forgetting memories. I worry about not living up to being a good mother. I feel like I have to document everything, every step, every smile, every grin, every grimace. I count the hours in between feedings. I plan on so many things and I catch myself losing more time worrying.

Time for sure isn't slowing down and the only inevitable thing is that Summer is teaching me how to slow down instead. Whenever she greets me with her endearing smile when she wakes up in the morning, I am reminded to soak up the moment in her presence and not worry about anything else. Take one day at a time, just enjoy the present and cherish the past.

Matthew 6:34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I spent May adjusting to living without the hubs at home and establishing a new routine with the little one. I spent May acknowledging the things that make me happy. I basically lost track of focusing on my goals. I am not sure if I should maintain a list of goals yet again. Maybe I will free myself from any goal this month and focus on each day that comes. I don't think I should be hard on myself on my birth month anyway.

Let me know your thoughts about the verse I quoted above. I would love to read and exchange ideas with you my dear readers.

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 5

June 5, 2015, 8:00 am

≫ Next: The Drawing Board

≪ Previous: Hey June! You've Come Along...

1. Receiving almost one box every day filled with porcelain goodness. I am running out of counter space. I need a huge china cabinet soon.

2. Receiving the high resolution files of Summer's latest photoshoot. I adore my little princess.

3. Renewing my love for calligraphy. I just started practicing again. If you want to follow my calligraphy journey, look for me in Instagram. Be warned that I am not a pro yet so what you will see are works of a beginner. Yes, still a beginner because I never advanced before I stopped.

4. Nutella. Yes, Nutella. Again...

5. Flip or Flop on HGTV. The show revolves around a husband and wife tandem who scours the real estate market for houses that are on auction and then flipping the house for a profit. Encouraging! I watch even the reruns. It's addicting!

6. Smelling D&G Anthology L'Imperatrice 3. I remember my wedding day every time I smell it.

7. Washi tapes. Oh the myriad of creative things you can create using it.

8. Discovering that roasted ordinary squash is delicious. I tried roasting it in the oven for the first time and I liked it. I thought only butternut squash would taste good - I was wrong!

9. Finding cheap tickets to Iceland from Denmark. Reykjavik get ready! I hope this plan will really push through.

10. St. Ives Naturally Soothing Body Lotion (Oatmeal and Shea Butter). It's one of my skin staples this summer. I love how it soothes my dry skin especially this summer.

What made you happy this week? I would love to know. Join the linkup!

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The Drawing Board

July 12, 2015, 8:16 pm

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 6

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 5

Oh dear! June has been a busy month for me and I have had no time to update my blog. It was difficult adjusting to a new routine and timetable at home because I am left at home with Summer almost all day. I initially planned to apply for my visa to Denmark last month but I had to put it off because I had to attend to Summer's needs first and going around with her alone is something that is not easy for me to do yet. I sometimes catch myself just staring at her for hours and hours.

I am currently in the process of drafting our itinerary and I tell you that an itinerary of two months is not at all an easy undertaking. Honestly, I would rather we wing it but I don't want to waste hours and hours of discussion between me and the husband. I want to be able to work on a schedule because I am OC like that. Speaking of OC-ness, I am also drafting a list of clothes and things to bring and as I was scouring through my cabinet last night, I realized that I only have a few season-appropriate clothes to bring to Denmark (it will be summer when we arrive and it will be fall when we leave).

I've been to a few shopping trips but almost always end up with bags containing clothes for the little miss and nothing for me. Haha! I am sure many new mommies can relate to me and what I have become. Not that I am complaining but dressing up the little one is so much fun and I love living vicariously through her. Good thing, I have online shopping to save me and I can scour through the web for clothes that I can bring to Denmark. One website I frequent is Zalora. Zalora carries incredibly pretty dresses and other apparel. Check them out here to find out what I am raving about. I can shop at the comforts of our home and I wouldn't be as guilty to leave the house and leave Summer to the care of another person.

I hope I'd be able to finish writing the itinerary, packing our bags and doing all other chores soon because August is almost here. The excitement is unbelievable and the fear of traveling long haul with an infant is palpable. I really hope Summer cooperates and behaves and I really hope I could fit in clothes and milk cans in all our luggages. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, let me plan my outfit (at least for the gatherings that we will attend and already written in the itinerary - still clueless for the rest of the days)!

If you want the original copies of the watercolor illustrations I used above (above photos were already edited), you may go to CreativeMarket which is currently my best design friend. I have a few days left to plan my wardrobe, so I will leave you for now and I gotta get started on shopping while the little one is still asleep.

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 6

July 17, 2015, 6:16 am

≫ Next: What's Cooking?

≪ Previous: The Drawing Board

Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Free fonts from CreativeMarket and HelloBrio for the Paperweight font. I was able to download the July Big Bundle and I am soooooo happy because I have so many new fonts to play with as I learn my way around Photoshop. I am definitely crushing on Glamour Brush.

2. Michael Bublé's music.

3. The wonderful environment in my IG now and knowing new friends because of "teacups".

4. Learning how to apply gold and other masks using a photo editing tool. I am so overjoyed!

5. Creating pinwheel ribbons to add to my daughter's accessory arsenal.

6. Receiving accolades for my name wreath creations. Browse #NameWreathByKT in IG to see samples of my humble work.

7. Nicky Laatz commenting on my IG post. You have to check her out. All her fonts in CreativeMarket are soooo pretty.

8. Coptic binding. Thank you to Odette for teaching me.

9. Homemade pizza. Delish!

10. Another food entry - bacon bits and dark coffee!

The end!

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What's Cooking?

July 23, 2015, 10:19 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 7

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 6

I dabbled in digital design on my spare time but now it is quickly taking over almost all my free time. I have accepted commissions for custom design and I can only be happy to have extra money to renew my editing tool subscription as well as fund my purchase for additional premium fonts.

If you want one of these, let me know in Instagram.

These are all too much fun to make. I will be back later for my Friday's 10 Happy Things. Ciao!

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 7

July 24, 2015, 5:38 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 8

≪ Previous: What's Cooking?

Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Receiving my Schengen visa!!! Yay! We're traveling next month and the excitement is indescribable.

2. Spotify. I cancelled my premium subscription last month and it's just right on time because now you can choose the song you want to listen. Bye shuffle play!

3. Steady stream of orders for the name wreaths that I am creating. If you are curious about it, browse #NameWreathByKT in IG to see samples of my humble work.

4. Guilty pleasure - Pasion de Amor. Don't judge me. LOL!

5. Hubby's coming home. Next week. Exciting! After more than 10 weeks onboard he will be flying home to us again.

6. Rhodia pads. I love using Rhodia pad for my calligraphy drills.

7. Nestea Honey Blend iced tea powder. You should try it. It tastes like the tea from Mann Hann which I really love.

8. Receiving care mails from IG friends (food, teacup, teapots, among other things). I feel like it's my birthday every day.

9. Making strangers who become instant friends smile when I send them their free name wreaths. It's amazing how positive my Instagram feed is right now. Even if I want to lash out against this specific clothing brand so bad.

10. Talking about no.9 I am waiting for their (clothing brand) written explanation because they have avoided many times my request for a note from them explaining the reason why they had to disqualify my daughter in a contest we joined after the contest period. It was a relief that today they assured me of a written explanation. So that's a bit of a sunshine after the storm. Let's see where this debacle goes because really this is not about the prize anymore but about our tainted integrity and pride. I will not back down!

That sums up my happy list. Hope you enjoyed it!

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 8

July 30, 2015, 10:45 am

≫ Next: I Waited For You Dear August

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 7

Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Today is the last day of July - that means there's only a few more sleeps before we start our longest vacation ever to my husband's neck of the woods.

2. Hubby came home from his almost three-month work overseas. It was so heartwarming to see his face and Summer's face when they met again at the airport.

3. Coffee. I thank God for coffee everyday. Oh and Big Bang too. Big Bang is that cheap gooey chocolate bar that costs less than a hundred for 12 bars. Yum! Every bite brings me back to some happy memories.

4. The smell of Lancome Miracle. It's heavenly. The smell is a little mature and potent but I like my perfume that way.

5. Summer's swollen eye healed a day after I brought her to her ophthalmologist. I am beyond thankful. Not sure what happened but I am glad my worries are over.

6. Getting more than I expected. I just claimed my last pay from my previous company and I got more than what I expected. Yay!

7. Ending the month with zero balance in my credit card bill once again. It is really gratifying to pay on time. I feel like a legit adult!

8. The smell of Summer. Her smell makes me happy. Any mum's happiness can be shallow.

9. Happy care mails. I am so thankful for all the generosity from the "teacup sisterhood" in Instagram. I will always be thankful that I am a small part of the community.

10. Sleep. I've grown to love sleep and naps too.

That sums up my happy list. Hope you enjoyed it!

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I Waited For You Dear August

August 1, 2015, 1:13 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 9

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 8

Hello! Hello!

It's now the first day of the 8th month of the year and I can't even begin to believe time just ticks by so fast. I can still remember how helpless I was around this time last year - waking up and puking bile, throwing up every time I eat just about anything and the comforts of my bed is just what I needed (did I mention I hated shower and make-up?). Yep, my pregnancy wasn't easy - I can say with conviction that I did not enjoy my pregnancy one bit. But the tables have turned and I am enjoying every bit being a mother. Believe it or not, I even enjoy nappy changes.

So here's a little update about our little one:

She thinks mommy's voice is funny especially when I say "meow". LOL! She gets tickled pink and giggles so much that my heart melts. I'd meow all day every day for you my dear Summer.

She likes to grab things now. She even dipped her hands straight to my ramen when we ate out. I still finished my ramen up to the last drop and no she didn't get burned. Two points! She also sometimes gawks at us while we eat our grown-up food with mouth wide open. I feel so bad that I can't feed her with what she could be thinking as wonder food. She'd attempted to grab my placemat when she sits on my lap while I ate. She needs a little more patience at this point as we plan to give her solids only when she's 6 months and that's about a little less than 2 weeks from now. I tried letting her lick grapes and she liked it but I stopped doing it after reading that grapes are a big choking hazard (unless cut in tiny pieces). She'll have her first taste of vegetables and fruits in Denmark and I am sure she will enjoy it. I have a feeling that it will not be hard to feed her because she's just a curious cat.

I think I died a little bit when I saw her suck her thumb for the first time! Oh no baby, just no! I don't want you to have teeth like your mommy. I sucked my thumb from birth (maybe even when I was still inside my mom's tummy) until now (occasionally) so you could just imagine what my monster thumb did to my teeth. So no Summer, you CAN'T suck your thumb. I will do everything I can in my willpower to distract you. I'll buy all the Sophie the Giraffe teething toy for you to chew on to spare your thumbs.

She discovered the awesomeness of tummy sleeping. She rolls over like a pro and just zones in to her comfort zone. She hates her crib with passion and she prefers sleeping beside mommy.

She has adorable chubby thighs!

She attempted to do some push-ups (of course not the full regulation push-ups). She can do it and I can't! Ugh! How can a 5-month old baby have so much upper body power? Can someone explain this to me?

Happy news! I received an offer from an online seller requesting if Summer can represent their brand. How could I say no? I think this is a blessing and I would be a hypocrite to say no. Thank you very much!

I have 8 more days to plan to the last detail on how we could efficiently survive our long haul flight with a baby and luggages in tow. This will be our first ever long haul flight with Summer and anything could happen really and so I better prepare and not forget to bring one less bib or one less pacifier. Because this is so true - the smaller the baby, the bigger the bag!

And the last item here would be an update about me - yes, about me! My husband asked if anyone has cancer in the house. I was dumbfounded! Well, he asked because he sees lots of hair on the floor especially when I comb my hair. Not a good joke but yeah I get scared to see clumps of hair. My hair fall is really bad and what makes it worse is that it is normal for someone who recently gave birth. To address this, I only wash my hair 3 or 4 times each week to minimize hair loss (because most of my hair fall in the shower).

So that's what is on the home front from me. I may have another update before we fly but depending on how good my internet connection will be, I will for sure share pictures from our vacation. Exciting!

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 9

August 7, 2015, 5:44 am

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Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Hubby being home means a lot more free time for me to do other stuff for myself. I had my nails done at home (huge thanks to Celebrity Nails for always being available when I call). I was also able to cross out a lot of items in my to-do list before we fly out on Sunday.

2. More packages arrived this week. Thank you for the hankies and baby onesies and porcelains that were sent to me by thoughtful IG friends. It truly means a lot!

3. Winning the Instagram giveaway of Nicky Laatz. Nicky has awesome fonts for sale in Creative Market and DesignCuts and I was so stoked to win one of her new fonts - Amelia's Quill.

4. Learning how to install PSD styles in my MacBook. LOL! I know I know it's so shallow to be the reason for being happy but I am happy and that's why it's in here. Haha!

5. Summer is growing up to be really social and I love how she can flash anyone a smile. I feel that she will grow up to be a friendly little girl.

6. Finding Perla Blue in the grocery shelves again. Haha! I overheard merchandisers in the grocery a few weeks ago that Perla's factory have been sold already and that is the reason why stocks have been flying out the shelves. I don't know if there's any truth to this but the supermarket haven't had any stocks for a couple of weeks so I panicked. I use Perla to hand wash my little one's clothes because it's gentle enough for my skin and her skin.

7. Mom lent me her luggage so I need not buy a new one for our trip. Score!

8. The possibility of a week-long trip to Iceland. Please please travel Gods! Let this happen. But of course, rejection is God's protection so yeah whatever will be, will be.

9. Vitamin C. Lifesaver!

10. My sister and her family arrived yesterday. It's a whole lot of family fun in our little abode again. I love how our home is filled with laughter and baby shrieks once again.

That sums up my happy list. Hope you enjoyed it!

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 10

August 21, 2015, 6:56 am

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≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 9

Welcome to another round of Friday's 10 Happy Things where I jot down ten things that made me happy this week. Keeping this list gets easier every week. Click the image below this blog post if you wanna join us spread happy cheers all around.

1. Crossing the Øresund Bridge from Denmark to Sweden and back again. The trip was a little pricey because we paid around DKK700 but it was all worth it. I was amazed by the design and effort put into the megastructure construction.

2. Seeing most of Christian's family members in our first week in Denmark.

3. Finally indulging on leverpostej and all the summer berries I could get my hands on. I love Danish food and the fruits of the season. I can live here forever!

4. Finally removed the adware in my Macbook just a few minutes ago. I am so happy, I can do cartwheels now.

5. Flowers! Lots of flowers in our garden.

6. Visiting the Royal Copenhagen porcelain flagship store in Copenhagen. If you have some extra money and you want fine Danish design porcelain, buy every set in the store I say.

7. Denmark summer weather is L-O-V-E! Summer at 22C is amaze balls!!! I only sweat when we hike and make-up stays put and lasts until you remove it.

8. Internet in trains. When I am not roaming, which is very expensive, the free wifi anywhere I go is heaven sent.

9. ErgoBaby Carrier - Summer loves it and I love it too.

10. I am still alive. I almost burned down the house because of the microwave fiasco. Sigh!

That sums up my happy list. Hope you enjoyed it!

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Friday's 10 Happy Things 11

September 11, 2015, 3:18 am

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I am really sorry for the drought in my blog. I just couldn't find enough time to squeeze in blogging in our ever so busy schedule. If you wanted to follow our vacation though, head on to my Instagram - @ktnielsen. I promise to get back to the rhythm of things when we are back in the Philippines. To make up, at least, for my blog absence, here's my happy things this week:

1. Seeing thousands (yes thousands) of deers at the Deer Park in Denmark. The park is an enclosed 1,000 hectares of sprawling fields, golf course, castle, an old castle and running/walking trails. It's a fantastic place to visit if you love the outdoors.

2. Hiking the Gurre forest near the Gurre lake. We initially thought that it was only around 5-6 kilometres but it turned out to be 13 kilometres including our detours. We got rained on also so that made the trail a little bit more exciting. I'm turning into an outdoorsy person I suppose.

3. Summer ate sweet potato puree for the first time and she loved it!

4. Visiting the outlet store of the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain.

5. Managed to do the grocery alone. Yey! So much win!

6.   Loveletter Script is on sale. Hurry! Click the link so you can also get it for cheap.

7. Quinoa! Yes quinoa. I just managed to try it now and I love it. I'm on a rice withdrawal for a month now and quinoa is the next best thing there is. Of course, quinoa is the healthier choice.

8. Perfecting my Danish meatball recipe. The hubby loves it so much that he has requested for me to make it several times.

9. Curbing on my shopping whims. I'm having a ball shopping for friend's requests instead.

10. Summer is almost over and I am excited for the leaves to change colors. I have seen a few yellow trees already.

That sums up my happy list. Hope you enjoyed it!

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Jægersborg Dyrehave Experience

September 16, 2015, 2:11 am

≫ Next: Friday's 10 Happy Things 12

≪ Previous: Friday's 10 Happy Things 11

Have you seen a deer? How about a hundred deers? Wait, make that one thousand or more deers?

We did! Our little family did! And we are still so excited about it until now. In fact, we can't wait to go back and experience the moment again. I am still at a loss for words until now.

NOTE: This blog post will be updated when we have better internet. I am now just tethering using my phone.

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