Category Archives: mommy matters

Need some inspiration

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New keycaps. The keyboard is cuter now. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

To inspire me to type long passages today. LOL. As if.

This arrived late in the afternoon. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

The keys feel much better than the stock keycaps that came with RK61, less clackety but still has this satisfying clicks since they’re blue switches.

However nice my keyboard looks and feels like, I’m still not inspired enough to finish what I need to finish as I’m not done with the things I needed to write and publish today. TOO MUCH ADMIN WORK! Then a reporter got stuck; couldn’t access our system and I had to act as a go-between her and our IT guys in HK and Mumbai. Then an application for our job ad in Bangkok came through so I need to schedule calls…

It’s already 7:03 pm and I’m not yet halfway through with the digest I need to publish soon.

Some cuties to keep me company during this bed weather day…

These fluffies refuse to leave my side. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Entrance exams

My kids and I are preparing the entrance exam requirements today. We’re filling up our applications for Philippine Science High School as it turns out their grades have qualified them to take the entrance exam (above 85%). However, we need to wait a little bit because we still need to submit their 1st or 2nd quarter grades by November before they can take the exam in December. Our target school’s exam will also be in December.

I was also looking at the requirements for Quezon City Science High School and it looks like we need an endorsement from the principal to certify their grades will qualify them to take QSci exam.

The girls are complaining that their classmates in their review school could keep up with the advanced lessons because it seemed like they have already taken up those in regular school (and their school is based in my hometown). In contrast, my girls said most of the lessons/concepts tackled in the review and practice exams were alien to them at first—they only encountered those for the first time in review school. That was why before I left for Singapore, I had to help them answer the sample tests to supplement the lectures given to them by review school.

Just as I suspected, the schools in my hometown are advanced compared to Metro Manila counterparts. This was first observed by my bff C, whose niece first went to an elementary school in our hometown. After her parents split, this niece transferred to St. Paul Pasig to live with her mom. She later complained that the lessons in St. Paul were late–they have already tackled those in her old school in our hometown. So when she passed our high school’s entrance exam, she went back to live with her maternal grandparents to study there. I think she already graduated college from UP.

I don’t know why this is so. Maybe because we are a university town, thus, basic education around the area had to be competitive? Maybe because of the existence of my high school, so other competing high schools had to level up? I will know later when we transfer there. All I know is that the kids there have more school days than their counterparts in Metro Manila as class suspensions in my hometown are not as frequent compared to Metro Manila. We didn’t have to contend with epic floods and horrendous traffic then. Kids here in the city have to wake up at 4:30 am so they can leave for school at 5:30 am and reach their school at 7 am. Imagine that horrible commute everyday. The kids are always tired.

This is the primary reason why I chose to live where I am now so my children will just be within 2 km radius of their school even though it would make my own commute for work horrible. I want them to be less stressed about the commute so they can stay awake in school.

I remember in elementary we only had to wake up at 6 am so we can take public transportation at 6:30 am and be in school at past 7 am. But in high school, our family transferred to a new house within the university campus so our school was just 100 meters away from our house. LOL. Living near our schools made a huge difference in terms of our scholastic performance and participation in extra curricular activities. It was just I had different priorities in high school. Hahahaha! Well in the end it served me well since it was the arts that saved my ass.

Hit by a bug

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I don’t know what happened to me while my girls and I were in SM Marikina. My head was pounding and then I felt like I was going to have a fever. When we got home at almost 10 pm, I just ate a quick dinner of smoked salmon and rice and I fell on my bed immediately. Still in my “outdoor” clothes. I knew the girls were going in and out of my room while I was sleeping and I remember telling them not to turn on my fan or aircon because I felt cold already. Now it’s 5 am and I am wide awake 👀

A basic phone for my Starhub sim. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I bought this basic phone from SM Marikina yesterday so I can have my Starhub SIM constantly on roaming. You see, I have forfeited the dual sim capabilities of my Oppo Reno 7 Z by having a 400GB micro sd card occupy the slot that could have accommodated a second SIM. My storage is more important than my dual SIM. Because I have 8k photos that aren’t in the cloud.

Why have the Starhub on constant roaming? This way it won’t expire like the last time. If I have this sim always on, I will remember to top up when it is nearing the 180-day expiration. I also have some OTPs sent to this number. I also have this number as an alternative mobile so that my Singapore contacts can use this to reach me.

Same thing when I’m abroad. I need my Smart SIM to be constantly on roaming because of OTPs and sms that I should pay attention to.

This only costs PhP 1,299 and is the basic phone brand of Realme, that Shenzen, China-based phone maker. I could have gone for the cheaper ones but I read their battery lives are short. If I were to waste money on something I could live without, then might as well waste it on something with higher quality.

Another piercing. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I granted Twin I’s wish of having another set of ear piercings so she can have multiple earrings in one ear. I just let her be; as long as I have money, I let them express their individuality. They’re good kids anyway. My younger sister had multiple ear piercings when we were in high school so…

I also wasted money again on eyeglasses. I bought a second pair because I no longer want to be in that place of insecurity, with the fear of losing my only pair. My eyesight is that bad that I cannot function without it. I realized that I can no longer wear contact lenses for the entire day. I dunno why.

I could have gotten cheaper frames but those mean ugly shapes or they’re very thin and wouldn’t support my lenses that are already heavy and thick even if they’re the “ultra thin” variety. I checked out Lenskart in SG if they had decent frames at the price I’m willing to pay, but of course they don’t. And they bought Owndays a month ago or so. For the price of frames and lenses that Owndays offer, they’re pretty expensive compared to the branded ones on sale (30-40%) from EO here in Manila. It also includes the lenses.

Vera Wang. I initially was going for Zac Posen but this matched my face better

I got a Vera Wang pair. Very Vera Wang if you ask me 😂. I could wear it with her USD 10,000 gowns. I could have gone Cath Kidston but my girls said the floral prints on Cath Kidston bags don’t translate well on eyeglasses. They were right. The Ann Taylor ones on sale aren’t different from my current one, so what’s the point?

Grocery shopping at SM Hypermarket, SM Marikina. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

And I went overboard with my grocery shopping last night. Was almost 2x over budget. 😑 Oh well, as long as my echoserang froglets are well fed, then it’s money well spent.

While waiting for our turn at the counter.

I’m sleepy again.

Floating

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We had our weekly call yesterday and I was trying to recall my leads that I got from the conferences last week…and OMG I really couldn’t say something coherent. My notes and my thoughts were all scattered because there were so many! I mean everyday I was talking non-stop from morning until evening and throughout all that, I couldn’t take down notes lest I scare or offend the person I was talking to. I had trained myself to be a walking encyclopedia but I guess age is catching up on me.

Singapore River at daytime viewed from Raffles Place. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
A small portion of the financial district. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I just edited today and did some small admin stuff but the brain cells to write all the stories I needed to push out this week have died last week. I still don’t have the capacity to think lucidly because I am attending to a million things: poaching people, trying to interview candidates, emailing people I met last week, connecting my reporters to sources.

I borrowed Twin A’s lunch bag so I can buy and bring my lunch to the office. Ph
It has insulation inside

If I were going to a regular office, this would have been a lovely lunch bag for myself. I was tempted to buy my own but I knew if would just be a waste because I wouldn’t be using it.

Tada! Lunch. Soy chicken noodles. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Couldn’t help myself. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I played truant later in the afternoon. At 3 pm I went to Raffles City to check out some bag styles on 50% off at Desigual there. Well, I didn’t like the ones that were left there so I went to Challenger to check out some things. And I saw some mechanical keyboards that are cheaper than Razer. I called up Twin A if she wants to replace the Royal Kludge that she bought because it has connectivity issues that I couldn’t resolve. Apparently it is a known bug according to Reddit; the 2.4G dongle doesn’t work well since it gets in conflict with other wireless devices. Anyway, Twin A said she’s happier with a membrane keyboard as she finds it easier to use when she’s playing Minecraft. Which is weird.

Of course, I cannot buy one twin without the other having the same. So I asked Twin I if she wants one as well because her cheap keyboard that she bought from Shopee is already falling apart. She says pass because she doesn’t have money. I said no, this is a gift from me because her keyboard and mouse are already not working properly. Yey, she exclaimed. She said she is happy with any keyboard that looks cute.

So there, I got one white and one pink and a pink Logitech Pebble mouse to match. Twin A already has her own new Logitech Pebble that she bought with her own money. Logitech lasts forever so better to pay premium for keyboards and mouse. My own Logitech slim keyboard and mouse combo (grey) are already a couple of years old. If I’m not mistaken, these are already 7 years old.

And I would be getting the Royal Kludge mechanical keyboard and try to solve the connectivity issues. I think I would buy new key caps because white will not remain white with my sweaty hands and obnoxious cats who love sitting/lying on my keyboards.

On my way back to the hotel. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I went back to the office at 5:30 pm and continued to work while having my dinner at my desk. I got out of the office (the last person and I had to turn out the lights AGAIN) at around 8:45.

It was already too late to swim so I just stayed a bit at the pool area of the hotel.

Looks inviting. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Here’s the thing: I always book hotels with pools but I couldn’t find time do laps because I’m too busy. I just assure myself that I’m getting plenty of exercise with all the walking I do around here.

At the pool area for some fresh air (I took off the mask when no one was there. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I started packing at 11 pm-ish. I finished past midnight. And I barely made it to the 30kg weight limit.

I’m hungry. Need to sleep this off.

And the Ms Universe pageant begins

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Going up Westin Singapore’s main ballroom. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I was late. My room is so damn dark even if it’s already 7 am so I overslept. I have huge windows but it’s just one of the quirks of Singapore: it’s 7 am but it still feels like 6 am; it’s already 7:30 pm but it still feels like 5 pm and there is still daylight. 👀

So the conference already started when I arrived. Had to listen to the sessions because the topics being discussed are the same things that I write plus I needed to keep an eye on the big guys and network to death. And of course I got the big guys 😬

Fierce.

And as usual, my Malaysian colleague and I closed the open bar. We were chatting with a very jolly Indonesian real estate guy who works for a big conglomerate in his home country when another colleague of mine from the organizing team had to tap us to say they were already literally closing the venue 🤣.

One for the road. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I was walking out of the building complex where the conference was held when I called up my girls to check on them and the results of their midterm exams in their review sessions.

At Asia Square. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I looked really tired.

The twins said they sucked at Math and abstract reasoning. Errrm, I was good at abstract reasoning because of Tetris (and my older sister credits Tetris as well) so I told the girls to download the game and play it. Basically it’s logic and the game teaches you to flip images in your brain. I would have to help them review and quiz them when I get back home.

Meanwhile, my exhaustion today didn’t stop me from going to Maxwell.

Maxwell Food Center. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Because I wanted to eat chicken rice from Tong Fong Fatt. It’s better than that overrated Tian Tian.

Photo by CallMeCreation.com

When the Maxwell Station (brown line) opens, it would be easier to go to Maxwell hawkers center and go food tripping.

The yet to be opened Maxwell station on the brown line. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Changing stations. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I’m tired, I’m aching all over. I want a good bone cracking and muscle kneading session. 🤕💆

Bonding before going

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Hot tub after 1.5 hrs of massage. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

There were sooooo many kids who watched the Red Velvet benefit concert that it took us almost an hour to get out of the parking area. Too many cars. We arrived at around 11:30 pm. The girls took their time in the bath while I had massage. When it was my turn, the girls just plopped on the bed and I took my sweet time in the bathroom. I was just aching all over because I was carrying a backpack with a laptop and clothes.

We slept in and had our brunch at 10:30 and we had a leisurely meal.

Of course she went for the bacon. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Had to get her greens. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
They want to come with me. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Did my last minute packing before I took a nap. My cats want to stuff themselves in my luggage 🤣 . I decided to drive my car and just park it at the airport at Park’NFly instead of spending for Grab+toll+gas for my mom’s car+pay for mom’s driver for three trips. It will turn out much cheaper if I just use my own car and park it there. I can also charge it to my office since this is part of my business trip.

Nap time!

Nowhere to park myself. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I book Philippine Airlines for the bigger seats and legroom but OMG I’ve already forgotten how terrible Terminal 2 is. No food, no money exchange kiosks inside, only a few seats.

This administration should prioritize the redevelopment of NAIA, which the previous Duterte admin conveniently put at the backburner to favor San Miguel’s Bulacan airport.

Now that Marcos vetoed the economic zone status of the Bulacan Airport, this project has been rendered financially unviable. Now the question is how will San Miguel proceed with this?

And the dutiful mom is waiting for her Kpop fans

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Working at Single Origins. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I’m now finishing my editing backlog so I don’t have to revisit this next week. I still have to finish my own articles and heaven knows when I can sit down and rake my brain for functioning cells needed for writing. I’m waiting for my best friend and the girls who are watching the Red Velvet concert.

We left QC at around 1 pm and checked in at Hotel Jen – Shangri-la at 2 pm. Good that Shangri-la was able to improve the old Traders’ Hotel that was badly in need of an overhaul but you can already see the age of the building and its facilities.

King bed. I hope the three of us can fit. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
A peek at Manila Bay. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

At around 3 pm we met my best friend and her nephew (with the girlfriend). The couple went to Ikea and bff went with us and we had an early dinner while the girls attended their online review class.

At Lugang. Dimsum and congee. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

My brain is already fried. I’m dead. I just want to have a 2-hr massage and a long bubble bath and tuck in between those sheets.

Oh. I have kids with me in that delicious-looking bed.