A Short But Sweet Getaway

Jan

26

My One Word for 2012

Last December, I thought of starting the New Year with One Word. It is a word that I’d live by, remind myself of often and be happy about just pondering. My one word for 2012 is FREEDOM. Last year has been a tough yet rewarding year in so many aspects in my life. I will never ever forget 2011 and how it had made me a better person. At least that’s how I see myself now.

Why freedom? I have read in one of my favourite author Barry Neil Kaufman’s writings that “we are born with many beliefs”. That as we grow older, these beliefs, wrong or right, form part of who we are and determine how we will live our lives. For example, growing up in a province in the Philippines and having a very simple mother and a very strict father, I believed that I should dress up and present myself a certain way. A way that will never hurt my parents’ ideal image of me. Hence, I never wore nail polish. The first time I did, as far as I can remember was during my wedding. I was already two weeks short of turning 30 years old then! But last year, I broke away from this belief. I painted my toenails red. It felt good. During our Christmas vacation in the Philippines, I had my fingernails painted red, too. Oh, sweet freedom! It was like I had set myself free from my own judgments. Judgments that have put lids in all of what I wanted to do in life.

It does not stop there. I have been “unearthing” these beliefs in me and slowly but surely changing my perspective and totally turning my back from them. So long as these newly-formed beliefs do not go against my faith in God, they don’t hurt the people around me and they make me happy, I’m totally there.

How about you? What is your One Word?

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Jan

26

Instagr.am Love – Week 5

Family / Instagr.am Love / iPhone / Life in the Philippines / PP: PS CS 5

It makes me feel a bit homesick looking at these photos taken last Christmas. ((sad face))

Taken at Power Plant Mall, Rockwell.

At Toys R’ Us at the same mall. Love, love my little boy’s smile here.

The dynamic duo.

Had dinner here at the Ayala Triange branch.

While waiting for the light show to start.

Watched this the 2nd time.

All sweaty and tired but happy to have seen this attraction the second time around.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Jan

26

Instagr.am Love – Week 4

Family / Instagr.am Love / iPhone / Life in the Philippines / PP: PS CS 5

My husband and I agree that our last Christmas vacation is by far the best we’ve ever had. This only made us look forward to our next planned trip back to Manila, God willing. Here are a few more catch-up photos from my iPhone.

Visits to this bazaar has become an annual thing for me. Hee.

Along Macapagal Highway.

It was my first time to use this shade of nail polish last year. I heart red.

Not really a big fan of polvoron. I bought this though because I was intrigued by the new flavors.

Eng Bee Tin goodness.

My ‘pasalubong’ for the kids when I went out for some “me”-time.

While we were waiting for the fireworks display at the Mall of Asia, the kids stopped by at Burger King for sundae treats.

With her cousin, LA.

Just a minute before the fireworks started, I took a photo of these cuties.

The kids were all in awe.

It was so crowded, I couldn’t move to get the roof out of the frame.

My little tornado stopping for a minute to pose for me.

Ahh, my little lady looking so mature and beautiful.

The following photos were not taken using IG but the standard camera functionality of my iPhone.

Unique deco at SM Mall of Asia.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Jan

25

My Little Munchkin

Canon 5D MII / Family / Life in Australia / Love Notes to Isaiah / PP: PS CS 5

Just like that my little boy is almost 28 months old. He is one happy, cranky, fun-loving, sweet, moody, outdoor-sy, tiny person. He loves to play kick ball, run around, watch and dance with the Wiggles, play Angry birds, watch and sing abc videos, doodle with his sister’s markers and listen to Bruno Mars.

He still loves his milk and still does not sleep through the night(!) but we see incremental developments in the sleep territory. He eats much, much better and has outgrown being uber-picky. I keep telling myself that we should enjoy his toddler stage because before we know it, he’ll be going to big school just like his big sister.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Jan

07

Here, There and Everywhere

Canon 5D MII / Family / Life in the Philippines / PP: PS CS 5

I took out my “Mark” for a brief walk outside one morning. The sun was up and it was very hot. I couldn’t stand walking around lugging my heavy dslr with its strap rubbing against my nape. (Or maybe I should’ve worn a collared shirt. ) So in the end, I took about just ten shots.

Then while I was processing the photos on my computer, I remembered how excited I was when I first used my first ever dslr — a Canon 30D in 2004. I took photos of just about anything — food, street signs, shells on the beach, fallen leaves, etc. I didn’t care then if people will like my photos or not. I had fun.

And then I discovered many photography blogs. I have my favorite reads to this day. But little did I know that while I expose myself to these wonderful blogs, the more I got conscious of my own photos. I began to post less and less on my blogs. It killed my joy.

It is entirely my fault, really. Photography is a highly subjective form of art. I should care less what people will say and should never compare. And with the rebirth of this blog, I vow to nurture the joy I once found in taking photos.

Just like that, the Christmas season is over.

The “bahay-kubo” (nipa hut) in my family’s compound.

My daughter watching the other kids play. The chair behind her belongs to my late grandmother. It’s still very sturdy to this day.

My son enjoying his time under the sun.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Dec

17

Instagr.am Love – Week 2

Family / Instagr.am Love / iPhone / Life in the Philippines / PP: PS CS 5

One of the important values we (my husband and I) want to instil in our children is love for family, immediate and extended family that is. As much as we can, we try to open up opportunities for our kids to have close relationships with our relatives even if we are a gazillion miles away from them. We’re grateful that we can visit the Philippines every Christmas, we also have periodic Skype sessions while in Sydney and I try my best to update my Facebook account. They all add up to bridge the distance.

Growing up, I feel so blessed that I have good ties with most of my relatives. We may not see them often but when we do, there is that “connection”, love and respect for each other. I should thank my parents for instilling this important value in my siblings and me.

Below is my second installment of my Instagr.am Love posts. I’m so enjoying this and it motivates me to pick up my phone and capture life as it happens. I have only brought out my dlsr once since we arrived over two weeks ago but in the coming days and weather permitting, I will be practicing with my “Mark” again. Toodles!

My mother-in-law took this photo of me and my eldest. My kids got so tired and sweaty running around their condo unit in Makati so here, I was up tidying up Amelie’s hair. I love this photo.

Here is my Isaiah, posing for a second before he started running again. It really takes lots of energy and will power to keep an eye on this little boy. He really is my “little tornado”.

Amelie posing for me for the nth time after our dinner at Amici. Good sport, you are my dearest.

We’ll be back at Amici for sure!

Dancing lights at the Ayala Triangle. I should share the video I took that night as well. Even if it rained hours before and the ground was wet, there were still lots of people really “wow-ed” by this. The dancing lights start at 6, 7 and 8pm and runs for about 15 minutes.

We’ll see you again tomorrow, weather permitting!

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Dec

16

Holiday Updates and IG Love

Family / Instagr.am Love / iPhone / Life in the Philippines / PP: PS CS 5

Over two weeks to our holiday and I’m feeling great! The first week was an adjustment period especially for the kids — with the weather, the time zone, the food and our routine. The second week, the kids and I are having the time of our lives just being with family and for my kids, with their new friends! Oh, I wish I can freeze time so we can all stay here for a wee bit longer.

We have a few out of town trips and meet-up with friends lined up after Christmas. So, as soon as the hubs get here next Friday (weee!) our schedule will be full to the brim.

I can’t thank the Lord enough for this chance to take a break and to catch-up with family and friends. Being with the people who mean to us the most is the best way to end the year and usher the new year.

So, in light of this latest and greatest update, I will be posting weekly photos that I took or process using Instagram (IG). I am so inspired by my new blog find, FindingNana.com that through her beautiful IG photos, I realized I’m not maximizing this wonderful app on my iphone!

Here are the kids during our Singapore stopover. Even if the Singapore Airline (SQ) flight adds 3 more hours to the usual 8 hrs, going from Sydney to Manila, the excellent service we get more than makes up for it. We’ve had bad experiences flying via Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Qantas with the kids.

It helps that Changi aiport is a huge mall/indoor park in itself! The kids were so entertained with the Koi fish pond.

We have a mental checklist of the places we’d like to visit and food we’d like to taste again. We visited Shakey’s and Savoury in Cavite (but unfortunately no photos!). In this photo, we stopped by Red Ribbon to get mamon (cake) and chicken empanada (chicken turnover).

My parents-in-law and I decided to bring the kids to a charity show for kids hosted by Nickelodeon. The requirement was to bring toys that will be donated to the children of Gawad Kalinga. So before going to the show, we bought toys at this shop in Filinvest. While I was busy going through the shelves, my son quickly picked up a balloon ball and played soccer in the small open space. Lucky the staff at the store didn’t bother asking him to stop although he hit a couple of boxes (and customers!) a few times. Ha!

Lunch at Max’ Restaurant at Filinvest. The place was so crowded, I had to yell out for service! Spring chicken, check!

My daughter while at the Nickelodeon show. As expected, the venue was packed. We had to leave early though to make it to the light show at the Ayala Triangle.

These days, it is very rare that I get to have my eldest pose for me. She often makes funny faces or frowns whenever I aim my camera. I wish lighting was better though. I like her very natural pose.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Dec

11

Committed to Memory

Family / Life in Australia / Love Notes to Amelie / PP: PS CS 5

I am getting sentimental over Amelie missing her preschool graduation this week. It would have been an exciting day that I will document with photos and all other details committed to memory. We had to start our holiday early here in the Philippines and missing that event is the lone downside. But with the happiness and excitement evidenced by my kids, I should move on. I should focus on the now and make memories where it counts. — Although, I’ll probably get sentimental one more time when I receive the school’s newsletter about the graduation day.

Below is a photo Amelie’s teacher sent to me by email. This was taken during her very first Kindergarten orientation day. Oh, Amelie my love, you’re growing up way too fast.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 1 comments

Oct

27

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Canon 5D MII / Family / Love Notes to Amelie / PP: Lightroom / PP: PS CS 5

Just like that, our eldest child is going to big school next year. She attended the Kindergarten orientation day last week and it went really well. I wish I could take photos, she was amazingly well-behaved and didn’t get overwhelmed with the new faces and environment. I was even able to leave her for a while to go to the admissions office.

I know it’s too early to tell how she will be in big school but we are seeing good signs. We continue to pray that she will enjoy this new phase in her school life.

Posted by mrsmarikit | 0 comments

Oct

11