Love, Love Weekend! ♥

I’m always looking forward to weekend. Saturday and Sunday are really sacred in our family calendar since that’s the only time where we spend super duper quality time with our Xian since Allan and I are both working and hubby only go home every Friday night since their project is Manila-Subic lately. Usually our Saturday and Sunday routine is like this:

SATURDAY

6:00 AM -                                 6:15 AM  - wake up time.stays in the bed for a couple of minutes for early morning kulitan and pillow fights with my boys.

6:15 AM - 7:00 AM - prepare and eat breakfast together with hubby 

7:00 AM - 7:15 AM - prepare Xian’s needs for bath time, vitamins. Xian's food etc

7:15 AM                                  7:15 AM-7: 40 AM - bath time and prep up time for me since I also have work on Saturday (Halfday)

The next couple of hours of mine is spent at work hoping that time flies so I could go home!

1:00 PM                            I’m home again with my 2 boys.happy!

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM       lunch / outdoor playtime with kiddo/snack/siesta time household chores

5:00 PM – 9:00PM       dinner then bonding time with Xian (read him a book/doodle session,watch his fave cartoon then lots of playtime and cuddle time before he go to sleep)                                            

9:00 PM- 11:00 PM     tv time with hubby, conversations and beyond :)

SUNDAY

7:00 AM – 7:15 AM             wakey.wakey bunch of three!

 7:15 AM – 8:30 AM            breakfast time/ bath time and prep up time

 8:30 AM                              off to the church

10:00 AM onwards, well we have three (3) options:

1. it's either Family Day Out wherein we usually go to the mall to eat, shop, and do our weekly grocery and of course, Xian’s playtime at the mall’s play land.

2. visit my in-laws in Bayanan after going to church and we usually have our lunch there plus a time for Xian to bond with a bunch of girl cousins from hubby’ s side of the family (Xian is the only boy na apo and the youngest so far )

3. have our Family Day at home and spend our lazy Sunday eating, lounging around, watching tv, playing with Xian till we doze off then have our “Sunday Food Trip: Name what you want I’ll Cook it” Day wherein we cook whatever we crave.yummy! (i think I'll have another blogpost about this one of these days :) )

5:00-6:00 PM family stroll at the vicinity, literal na lakad lakad lang then visit relatives

6:00 PM-7:00 PM cleaning time for Xian / cooking time for me (or hubby)

7:00 PM- 8:00 PM dinner then afterwards I’ll wash the dishes or do other chores 

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM bonding time with Xian before we put him to sleep

9:30-10:30 bonding time with hubby naman (it’s either watching tv or just basically having our sweet moments together.more snuggle time for us! lol)

10:30 pm after we kissed Xian, then have our hubby-wifey goodnight kiss and hug  ^-^ we’re off to dreamland na kase Monday na ulit bukas and I usually wake up 4am every Monday to prepare hubby’s needs before he go to work.

Then Monday is here again…………………………………………………………….

So more or less that’s how we spend our sacred weekend. really a quality time that we always look forward to! Til next weekend :)

 

Xian's All Prepped Up for the Simbang Gabi

My little man minutes before going to church

Xian and our red and gold themed Christmas tree :)

Safari Themed (Instant) Diaper Bag

Few days ago, I was with my friend Kai when I stumble upon this bag in a newly opened store in Lipa on our way back to LCC after our lunch out. The moment we enter the store to look for few good finds, I saw this bag and instantly like the print because it reminds me of my fave jungle-safari inspired ballet flats few years ago.  Flashback just last week, I was on the lookout for possible diaper bag to replace the bag we’ve been using every time we’re out with Xian and we need to pack his stuffs on his ever reliable baby bag that’s why we always end up having two bags in tow – mine and Xian. Eversince, I don’t want to splurge on diaper bag/baby bag that costs too much. well, unless it was given to me but me buying it, no way! There’s a lot more baby stuffs to invest on rather than a diaper bag :P

Being a savvy shopper that I am, I definitely think that this is a good find although it’s not really a diaper bag in the first place; I just intend to use it as it is. Why? well, why not! because it can perfectly accommodate Xian’s things (extra shirt and towel, diaper, feeding bottles and milk dispenser, toiletries, extra toy etc.) and at the same time, I can also put my other belongings here.perfect! 

It’s also foldable and comes in a very cute packaging and can be use as instant shopping bag or beach bag or even bag on casual days. It’s cheaper than I thought, probably because they’re still new in the biz that’s why everything is at a very affordable price, but I guess the P80 I shelled out for this bag is not bad at all! 

Family Day Out

After my halfday of work one Saturday,hubby and xian (together with inay dear) fetched me from the office. I've been bugging hubby since last week to have our family portraits taken before Christmas to the photo studio who took Xian's pre-pictures for his baptism and first birthday and although it's kinda expensive for a few shots,it's all worth it naman. I will make it a point to do this every year as our family tradition :)

Anyway,after they went to our office,we initially headed to SM Lipa few minutes away from my workplace.Here are the photos for that day.

on our way to SM.good thing di traffic!

 

ang mag-wowa :) 

we had our lunch first @ Mang Inasal, Xian kept himself busy while we're waiting for our orders by playing his cars (which he urged his dad to buy for him instantly after we enter the mall)

 

@ Great Image during the family photoshoot sneak peek

Xian had his usual play time accompanied by daddy,this time riding the rented kiddie car while inay and i buy stuffs for Xian.my little man enjoyed his "instant ride" :)

 

Before our day end at the mall,we get our family pics and I just love it! next year ulit :)

Xian's Wishlist 2010

Dear Ninongs and Ninangs, Lolos and Lolas, Titos and Titas:

Mommy forced me to make a wishlist this Christmas (you know how she is!). We made eye contact and now she knows what I want to receive this holidays and hopefully she can relay it accurately to you. That's how close I am to my mom. We have extraordinary powers.But as usual, I think she will overdo it. Well, it's just a wishlist anyways and like what the saying goes, "Libre lang naman ang mangarap."

Please feel free to browse and pick but whatever gifts I'll receive, I will love them anyway because they came from you =)

Advance Merry Christmas!!

 Love,

Xian Allen 

 Race Car - Mighty Builders

F1 Racing Remote Control Car

 Fastlane Truck Carrycase

any Lighting McQueen stuffs - he's really a fan :)

Disney Cars Lightning McQueen Toddler Bed (paging daddy allan!! :))

Ode To All The Wonderful Hubbies Out There

Daddy Allan, this one's for you…
To every guy that’s said, "Sex can wait."
To every guy that’s said, "You’re beautiful."
To every guy that was never too busy to drive across town to see her.
To every guy that gives flowers and a card when she is sick.
To every guy who has given her flowers just because.
To every guy that said he would die for her.
To every guy that really would.
To every guy that did what she wanted to do.
To every guy that cried in front of her.
To every guy that she cried in front of.
To every guy that holds hands with her.
To every guy that kisses her with meaning.
To every guy that hugs her when she’s sad.
To every guy that hugs her for no reason at all.
To every guy who would give their jacket up.
To every guy that calls to make sure she got home safe.
To every guy that would sit and wait for her for hours just to be able to see her for ten minutes.
To every guy that would give his seat up.
To every guy that just wants to cuddle.
To every guy that reassured her that she was beautiful no matter what.
To every guy who told his secrets to her.
To every guy that tried to show how much he cared through every word and every breath.
To every guy that thought maybe this could be the one.
To every guy that believed in her dreams.
To every guy that would have done anything so she could achieve them.
To every guy that never laughed at her when she told him her dreams.
To every guy that walked her to her car.
To every guy that wasn’t just trying to get laid.
To every guy that actually listen

To every guy that gave his heart only to have it shoved back in his face.

TO EVERY GUY THAT PRAYS THAT SHE IS HAPPY EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT WITH HIM.

This one is for you…

Not all girls appreciate nice guys. There’s not many left out there….

...(and may I add) I thank God everyday that I married one!

I am proud to be your wife, Allan A. Caldo! I love you yen ko.. =)

 

 

 

"7 Helpful Hints to Keep the Love Alive in Your Marriage"

I am a regular reader of SP website since they provide helpful tips and articles that caters most especially to mommies and wife then I read about this interesting article by Martine which is ideal to strengthen the relationship with our spouse.

Here are some of the helpful hints cited by her to keep the love alive and burning :)

1.    Make your spouse your top priority. You’re a mom, but a wife first and foremost. Your duty is to make your husband believe that he is the king of the world! Do acts of concern and love that communicate to him that he is your top priority. For example: Make sure he has the largest closet, the most convenient space. This practice testifies to him that you’ve put his needs first, without you having to say a word. Or, make sure that when your hubby gets home from work, everything in the house is tuned into one thing: making him feel comfortable. On romantic interludes, seek to meet his physical needs. All the while, you say without words that you care for him.

2.    Date each other often. Set aside an evening each week to go on a date. You don’t have to make reservations at a fancy restaurant; coffee and donuts or a frozen yogurt joint will do for some meaningful conversation! Of course, make time and set aside budgets for more special dates (which don’t include birthdays and anniversaries!). Dating each other lets you relive the days prior to your marriage, and allows you to talk one-on-one about more than just your financial problems or the kids’ schooling. Relive your dates past and hit your favorite hotspots before the kids came along. Reminisce memorable dates; they make for great conversation. And declare an embargo on talking about work, kids, school—these dates are just for the two of you.

3.    Honor one another. “That quiet mutual gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or refuge from a great weariness or a great danger,” said author George Eliot (who was a woman). Every time you go on a date, start the meal or whatever with a single act: Praise. Praise your spouse for something that week that you appreciated: Taking out the trash, washing the dog, taking care of the kids with no yaya, even picking up clothes. The point of honoring each other is to find one thing in your spouse to be thankful for. 

4.    Don’t dwell on faults or flaws. Marlene Dietrich said “Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.” Nothing chips away at a marriage faster than hurtful words, wrongful judgments and a record-keeping of faults. Never use blanket statements such as “You never” or “You’re always” when you’re upset with your spouse; these communicate that you have a particular negative outlook on your spouse. If you need to deal with a misunderstanding, tackle that one issue and only that. Don’t be “historical” and dig up past faux pas and mistakes. Keep the love alive in your marriage by forgiving all hurts, faults and mistakes. 

5.    Designate a day away from the kids. Once in a while (say, once a month), pack the kids up for a day or two to their grandparents’. During this day or weekend period, go out with your spouse and do something you both really love. It could be as extravagant as a trip out of the country, or as simple as taking a long drive out of town to the beach or the countryside for some R&R. Stick to this day religiously so that you can both look forward to it, plan for it and set aside money for it. See these days as investments in your love life.

6.    Give each other room to breathe. Have your “girl time” with your friends, and let the hubby have his guy’s night out. When you permit each other to do you own thing and hang out with your own friends, you show that you respect each other’s needs for friendships with others.  

7.    Pray with each other. Whatever your faith, prayer works: It works by allowing you and your spouse to commune on a purely spiritual plane. Pray about your marriage: Begin by giving thanks to God for each other, for all the blessings bestowed on your family, and then pray for the strength to be able to get through your current problems. Finally, forgive one another’s faults. “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers,” said Ruth Bell Graham, wife of the famous Billy Graham. Remember: Through marriage, you and your husband are one, something which can only be understood in the spiritual sense. Prayer helps you get centered on this spiritual state. 

 Click here to read the whole article 

My Product Review on Smart Parenting’s Mommy Rated

My first ever product review that came out in a parenting website last August 23, 2010 together with my fellow SP moms. I received a message from mommy jazz of SP regarding her website article about personal review for must have baby gear and why I think it's a baby essential. Assigned to me was the stroller. I was more than happy to share my review because in the first place, it’s really helpful for me especially during Xian’s first year.

Here's what I have to say on 'stroller' for your kiddos:

1.  Stroller
Must have: 13 votes
Nice to have: 7 votes
It depends: 3 votes

Research staff Joy Ann Z. Caldo aka Mommy Jo relates: "Choose multi-purpose baby gear like a stroller that comes with a car seat.

"Strollers like these are very practical for my son Xian because our family loves to go out. You can practically bring it anywhere and it's easy to fold and store. The stroller serves as his instant, comfortable “ride” beside Mom and Dad’s arms and shoulders. It's adjustable so it can also be used as an alternative to high chairs when dining out.

For quick trips to the grocery, we use the basket underneath rather than getting a separate basket. He enjoys the mobility and the rocking effect sometimes makes him fall asleep.

In getting a stroller consider the safety features like the seatbelt, if it's easy to fold and maneuver, and see if the handle is foam-covered for comfort. We got the four-wheel type with a canopy to protect my son from the weather.

Another great feature would be a basket underneath for storage and to organize his other baby stuff. A good braking / wheel lock system can ensure that it will not roll down. Also, be sure it's made of washable fabric for easy cleaning because babies tend to get messy. Xian is now 17 months and our stroller is still in good condition. He will still happily use it throughout his toddlerhood."

Check out other Mommy Rated Baby Gears by SP mommies on Smart Parenting online.

My First Ever Blog Entry

the birth of Sapphire Mommy! :-) seriously, after reading a lot of blog posts from my favorite blogger, I got really inspired to join the blogging arena (again) after all writing is also one of my passion when I was in college although I wasn’t able to nurture it.since i'm not that serious about blogging just merely to express my thoughts as my online journal mostly about my college life. My last post was from my friendster account’s blog and that was like 3 years ago? there are so many beautiful things that happened in my life for the past years that I wasn’t able to put into writing and honestly, that's one of my regret.But I guess, it’s never too late and this is the time! :)  

Why Sapphire Mommy in the first place? Been thinking a lot of options and came up with it since Sapphire is my precious gemstone being a September celebrant and I'm already a mom. that's it!

This will be the official blog to document my family life, the joys and happiness of being a wife to my dear husband Allan and as a mom to my little tyke Xian and everything in between like my raves, my rants, my screaming thoughts about anything because I know I will never run out of something to write about.