Addicted to diamond painting

Hello! I apologize for 'abandoning' this blog for the past three weeks. I became so busy kasi with diamond painting haha!

You see, I got so stressed out with the idea of house-hunting in BC so I deliberately searched for a new hobby to keep my mind off it. At para na rin malibang ako dito sa Pinas kasi sa totoo lang, bored na ako. Sakto naman na nakita ko ito sa posts ng isang IG mom that I stalk. Yep, whenever I am left with free time, I stalk people in IG. Mga random, ordinary people lang, because I am curious on how they conduct their daily lives. Siguro I will always be a Sociologist kahit hindi na ako practicing.

Anyway, I originally wanted to go back to cross stitching so I can produce some works that I could hang in our future house. Kaso wala ng nagtitinda ng cross stitch materials dito. Hindi na yata uso? I actually have a lot of unfinished projects pero nasa Canada naman, pinadala ko when I was pregnant kaso hindi ko naman nahipo. Pero yun nga, I learned na itong diamond painting (or rhinestone art) na pala ang "in" ngayon.

I had no idea where to buy a kit so I googled. Ayun, sa Lazada pala may mga nagbebenta. Naka-experience na akong bumili sa Lazada last year so alam ko na how to order. Cash on delivery naman. For my first diamong painting project, I chose a small but colorful design. Baka kasi hindi ko magustuhan kaya subok lang muna.

My package had arrived in less than 2 days. I was so excited that I started doing it right after I opened it. Finigure out ko pa nga how. It was only after finishing it that I realized na hindi ito ang design na inorder ko. It's a "spring" tree and I ordered a "summer" tree.

Tsk, nainis talaga ako. Kasi there are sellers na nagbebenta nito ng Php399, sa ibang seller ako bumili kahit mas mahal ng Php10 kasi nga may summer tree siya (na wala sa ibang sellers) tapos iba naman pala ang ipapadala. Out of stock na malamang kasi siya na lang ang nagpo-post ng summer tree eh. So there, lesson learned pag nag-order online -- icheck talaga ang item kung tama ba.

Anyway, I finished my first ever diamond painting in less than 3 days (pasingit-singit lang yun ha). They say I was fast, pero siguro sanay lang talaga ako magcross stitch kaya madali na para sa akin. Diamond painting is definitely so much easier, super addicting din. Talagang naaliw ako.

I immediately placed another order for a bigger design. Sobrang big nga, in fact, 4 feet by 2 feet siya. Namurahan kasi ako, Php1,169 lang (free shipping pa) eh ang mahal nyan sa iba.

I was so happy when I received it kasi nasa magandang box talaga at kumpleto sa gamit. My mother was so skeptic na matatapos ko. Ang dami ko raw kasing sinimulan na cross stitch na malalaki na hindi ko tinapos. I assured her na kaya ko, pero malamang na sa Canada na. Tamang-tama kako para sa bago naming bahay.

But because I knew na mahilig din si Mamoosh sa mga ganyan, I told her igagawa ko siya ng mas maliit (at realistic tapusin agad) ng konti. Ayaw daw niya kasi nung pink tree ko (the first that I made) kasi hindi niya maintindihan. So I showed her several designs so she could choose. Inorder ko uli sa Lazada (Php598, including shipping fee).

Kaso ang palpak naman. Hindi pala siya fully beaded. Yung four flowers lang ang lalagyan ng beads. Waaah asar-talo kami ni Mamoosh, sayang ang pera! Dapat ipapa-frame ko na rin ito tulad nung pink tree kaso I couldn't force myself to pay for another Php500+ para sa pangit na diamond painting na ito.

Another lesson learned -- make sure to know all the details of what you're ordering. Hindi ko kasi inalam kung fully beaded nga ba ito o hindi. Walang nakalagay sa site so I should have messaged the seller, tsk. Saka sana inalam ko kung pwede pa bang isoli. Ginawa ko kasi agad hoping na maganda pag natapos.

To make it up to Mamoosh, I told her I'll finish this na lang tapos iiwan ko na dito sa bahay. Kaya kinarir ko na talaga. Sabi ko alagaan nila si Nathan para matapos ko haha!

And here it is, done in two weeks (from February 24 to March 12, may days na hindi ko nagalaw). I am so happy because it turned out really nice. Mas maganda at makinang talaga siya sa actual. I can't wait to see it framed and hanged on the wall. We'll bring it to the framer later today.

Kaya yan po ang dahilhan ng kabusy-han ko the past days lol. The thing is, nagwi-withdrawal syndrome ako ngayon. I am itching to start another project again but I want to rest my eyes muna. Saka hindi ko pa alam kung anong design ang gusto kong gawin next. Sadly, walang masyadong choices sa Lazada. Maraming maganda pero hindi nga fully pasted. I researched and may mga sellers naman sa Facebook kaso out of stock din ang mga gusto kong designs tapos super pricey pa. Oh well, bahala na nga. Relatively new pa lang kasi ang diamond painting kaya  konti pa ang suppliers and designs.

O siya, I have so many kwentos na naipon. Stay tuned ha!

Love affair with Master Siomai

My addiction with siomai started when we ate at Jumbo Dim Sum Dining (in Edmonton) on Christmas day 2015. Noon ko lang talaga na-appreciate ang siomai as in. Sobrang sarap naman kasi.

And since then, di ko na siya makalimutan. Palagi akong nagke-crave. But a cheapskate that I am, namamahalan naman akong bumili. Around $5 kasi ang 4 pieces, imagine that! Buti na lang meron daw ok na frozen siomai sa T&T Supermarket kaya yun na lang ang ini-steam namin sa bahay.

So isa sa mga plano ko sa pag-uwi ko dito sa Pinas ay ang magpakasawa sa siomai. At dahil hindi nga ako kumakain ng siomai dati kaya hindi ko talaga alam kung saan masarap.

I learned na uso na pala dito ang cheap siomai. As in 3 pieces for Php10.00! But of course, you get what you pay for. Hindi kasarapan syempre.

Then one time, when we were at Trinoma, I noticed in the foodcourt that a lot were eating siomai. Ayun hinanap ko, Master Siomai pala. I asked Ford to buy from there at ayun nasarapan ako.

One time we went to Robinson's Place Malolos (to bring Nathan to Kidzoona), me kiosk ng Master Siomai. Lafang galore kami ni Lani (our ex-househelp who also likes siomai a lot).

Akala ko sa "malayo" lang ako makakakain ng Master Siomai, yun pala meron din sa SM Marilao (which happens to be just an extension of my house haha!)! Kaloka, no more reason para ma-deprive! Gusto kong magtatalon nang makita ko siya as in! Sorry, mababaw lang talaga ang kaligayahan ko.

Master Siomai in SM Marilao

Four pieces for Php35.00 -- not bad at all! Sa ibang  branches (like the one in Marquee Mall), 4/Php30.00 lang. Sarap na sarap talaga ako. I even influenced my mother, favorite nya na rin haha.

I super like Master Siomai to the point na kino-consider kong mag-franchise haha! Sobrang lakas naman kasi. Ang dami palaging bumibili. Naa-out-of-stock pa nga sa SM. Kung dito lang talaga ako based sa Pinas, kakaririn ko talaga ito.

Hay, I will surely miss this when I go back to Canada. Ba't nga ba kasi we can't have everything noh?

The fear is real

It may seem shallow, but one of my greatest fears right now is 'losing' my Instagram account.

You see, my cousin's IG account recently got hacked and she couldn't retrieve it anymore. What if it happens to me?! Good for her, all her IG posts are linked on Facebook. Yung sa akin, konting pics lang ang shine-share ko sa FB.

I started instagramming in May 2013. Medyo late na nga kasi late na ako nag-Iphone. But since then, I have put everything (as in my life!) in IG. Mas gusto ko kasi ang Instagram kesa FB because I love taking pictures. I love posting too kaso ayaw ko namang maging overexposed ako to everyone, including former students/colleagues, insignificant people, enemies (lol!), etc. Instagram is perfect for me kasi I get to document my everyday nang konti lang ang nakakaalam.

I really can't imagine losing my IG. I sure have copies of all my pictures posted there pero syempre iba yung nakapost kasi may captions, dates, likes, at comments. Lalo na sa mga #NathanJamesLevin posts ko, na documentation ng buhay ng anak ko.

Up to now, I still don't know how to back up my IG. I tried 'Instaport' but it seems to be not working. I don't want to link din naman all my posts to FB kasi nga hindi ko ma-private ang IG album dun. I tried linking it to Flickr pero di naman din gumagana.

To be honest, I am tempted to screenshot all my posts na lang (including the comments) kaso I have 5,645 pics as of today, makaya ko kaya? ang hirap pa naman mag-start from the bottom. Tsk.

That's one thing with free social media accounts, wala kang control talaga. I wish makahanap ako ng solution soon. Basta sa ngayon, mananalangin muna ako na sana walang masamang mangyari sa account ko. =(

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NOTE: I've experienced losing all my posts in Multiply dati (I was quite a popular hello kitty collector/blogger then) kaya alam ko ang feeling nang 'mawalan.' Kaya nga may trauma ako. Hope it doesn't happen again.

Random Chika # 1

1. Ligo Sardines. I never expected that one day I will get addicted to Ligo Sardines! Never nga akong kumain nito sa Pinas dati (except when we had a retreat in high school and they served it for breakfast, tinikman ko lang).

But because wala na akong maisip kainin dito, dagdag pa ang sobrang pagkamiss kong kumain ng isda, sinubukan kong tikman uli. Ayun, nagustuhan ko naman!

I've been eating sardines for several days now. Ako kasi yung taong ayaw ng isang ulam lang kaya perfect ito na second viand haha! I will try other variations next time (masarap daw ang fried sardines sabi ni Joy). By the way, a small can of Ligo Sardines costs $0.78 at T&T Supermarket. Mura na by Edmontonian standards.

2. Ice Cold Water. I am back to water huhu! Sad to say, may UTI na naman ako and the cause is my addiction to pop (pop ang tawag dito sa soda o softdrinks).

I couldn't drink water that's not super cold. That's why I am thankful that our refrigerator has an icemaker. Sahod lang ng sahod sa dispenser hehe. Hay, super init pa naman ngayon dito!

3. Pinoy Grill's Crispy Pata. The husband had no ulam last night so we ordered crispy pata from Pinoy Grill. Medyo sunog siya at hindi gaanong masarap. It's $14.95 + 5% tax.

Hay, if only I can imitate mamoosh's delicious crispy pata. Kaso wala ring mabilhan dito ng harapang pata ng baboy. Siguro pinapakyaw na ng mga Filipino restaurants.

4.  A UP graduate with 1.004 GWA. It's all over the internet -- a UP student with a near perfect grade average. I am not surprised though. I've studied and taught in UP Diliman for so many years, nothing surprises me anymore.

Anyway, I graduated with a "laude" title too (hindi nga lang summa kasi bobing ako sa math and natural sciences). And where am I now? Eto yaya ni Nathan haha!

Bag downgrade

I saw a yellow bag at Guess (WEM) and I instantly liked it. Perfect for spring, I said to myself. I was hesitant but the husband insisted that we buy it. It's only $115 (plus 5% tax), after all.

Haha, I never thought that it will happen again. That I will think so hard before buying a bag that's not even that expensive. I started buying designer purses a couple of years ago and akala ako tuloy tuloy na.

But then you see, motherhood happened.

Let me say that I am not the type who will let go of my personal luho just because I am a mother now. To be clear, I am not buying Louis Vuitton bags FOR NOW because I am jobless (because I have to take care of my son) and we solely rely on my husband's income.

When I was still pregnant, a friend told me that I will change after I give birth. That I will lose interest in shopping blah blah. Four and a half months after Chicklet's birth, I can affirm that I am still the same. I still salivate over expensive bags and hoping that someday, I can afford them again.

As I am not working right now, many will ask why I need a new bag while I still have tons inside my closet. My answer: "Bags are my thing. Just give it to me." I don't splurge on cosmetics or clothes or parlor services, I really am just a bag person. I will hoard as much bags as I can. I don't want to bury my real self just because I became a mother. That's not healthy.

I am just financially limited at this point so I have to downgrade my bag choices. Ok lang, I realized that I was still happy and excited when the cashier handed to me my Guess purchase. Same euphoric feeling kapag may bago akong mamahaling bag noon. =)

Hello Kitty Happy Meal

I was at West Edmonton Mall for almost the whole day last Friday (November 7). I went on my 10th weekly ultrasound at 10am and I asked the husband not to pick me up anymore during his lunch time. I wanted to walk and walk (my cervix is still closed) and do a bit of shopping hihi.

I had my lunch at T&T (as usual), shopped a little, and read a book while resting. At around 3:45pm, while lounging on the mall's couch, I saw a little girl carrying a McDonald's Happy Meal box. The box has a hello kitty print on it.

Sabi ko na nga ba, hello kitty ang toy ng happy meal ngayon eh! Parang may nakita kasi ako sa Facebook na ganito, I just wasn't sure kung available ba dito sa Canada.

My heart palpitated, I am always like this whenever there's a hello kitty happy meal on the market. You see, I was (still am) a hello kitty addict. I have one room in our Philippine home that's filled with kitty (no kidding!).  There's really something about this sweet feline that makes me giddy.

And so I went to the foodcourt where there's a McDonald's to verify if they indeed have a hello kitty happy meal.

Upon confirming that they do, I had a three-minute self-deliberation:

     Bibili ba ako? Haler, bawal sa akin ang fast food kasi may gestational diabetes ako.
     Eh sayang naman, yan lang ang hello kitty souvenir mo para sa 40th birthday ni hello kitty.

I haven't eaten fast food since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes so I was really hesitant. In the end, my love for hello kitty prevailed.

     Sige na nga, minsan lang naman. Hindi ko na lang uubusin ang fries, saka maliit lang naman ang cup ng orange juice. 

After paying $4.50 (tax included), or approximately Php180.00, I was one big happy girl carrying this!

The big cup was just water.

It was my first time to buy a happy meal here and I didn't know "how." Basically, you have to choose an entree pala (and that would determine the price), then the side, then the drink. Unlike in the Philippines, ginawa nilang "healthier" ang options dito, ni hindi nga rin pwede ang softdrinks (or pop as what they call it here).

I was also happy that they put everything on this box. Namimiss ko ito eh. Sa Pilipinas kasi madalas wala ng box, naka-paper bag na lang.

The complete meal -- 4 pieces chicken nuggets, small fries (I only ate a few), small orange juice, strawberry yogurt (na hindi ko din kinain kasi ayaw ko nun)...

And the toy!

Too bad I wasn't able to choose the toy. Maliit lang kasi ang McDonald's sa foodcourt at maraming tao, nagmamadali ang mga crew. They just asked me kung for boy or girl ang toy and that's it. Wala rin silang display o poster man lang ng happy meal toys.

Buti na lang I got the one with a cake. Here's the complete set pala:

Picture taken from the internet (credits to the owner)

There are eight designs. Tsk, if only I can buy them all, just like what I always do in Pinas. Kaso ang mahal din kasi, saka hindi ko na siya priority.

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I remember, whenever I learn that hello kitty is featured on the happy meal, my Mamoosh and I would rush to McDonald's Bocaue or SM Marilao and we would buy all the designs at once! Haha, those were the days!

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Happy meals do doubt will become part of my life here in Edmonton as I will soon have a child. Kaya lang boy kasi sya, magkaiba kami ng preference sa toys haha!

Finally, My Hello Kitty Santa!

Last year, we saw this big Hello Kitty Santa at Walmart. I (of course) wanted to buy it but we were still living in Pod's tiny studio suite then and I had no choice but to content myself with "minimalist living."

Yesterday, while I was 'strolling' at Walmart Stony Plain and browsing through their still raw Christmas shelves, I saw this Hello Kitty Santa again. Just one piece, mind you.

I clearly remember last year' design and I knew it looks exactly the same. "Tira lang kaya ito last year?", I asked myself. I looked at the tag and it states 2014. So they just replicated last year's Christmas design? Parang hindi naman nag-uulit ng design ang Hello Kitty. I doubted din naman kung tira lang ito kasi sobrang in-demand ang Hello Kitty (meron din silang Valentine version na ganito kalaki) at siguradong nauubos.

Oh well, enough of my questions. The plushie looked clean naman so I grabbed and gave it to Ford para bayaran. That  might be my last chance na na makabili nito this year kasi malapit na akong ma-house arrest nang matagal.

Kitty and the Beast

POD -- O ano na naman yan?

BIM -- Hello Kitty Santa Claus haler! 

POD -- Eh aanhin mo naman yan, lalaki naman ang anak mo?

BIM -- Para sa akin yan noh. Pagbigyan mo na ako sus. After ko makapanganak eh hindi na nga ako makakapag-shopping eh. 

POD -- Hay naku, gastos naman!  

That's my husband, makasalita lang haha!

Anyway, the stuffed toy only costs $21 (+5% tax). Not bad for a huge and authentic Hello Kitty item!

I am so excited na picturan si Chicklet sa tabi ni Kitty. His mom is a die hard Hello Kitty fan so he better learn to live with it haha! 

Going nuts with nutcrackers

Whew, I couldn't contain my excitement. Why, it's only 99 more days before Christmas! Christmas mode na talaga ako haha! I was even listening to Christmas songs yesterday.

Anyway, I think I made up my mind. I am done with Santa Claus. I will now be collecting nutcrackers!

My interest in nutcrackers started last January 8, 2014 when I saw these "Nutcracker Fashionistas" at Shoppers Drug Mart in WEM. Haha, they look "ugly" and "gayish" I know but I was really drawn into them! I asked Ford to buy one for me (the one with the red bag and beanie) tutal sale naman.

Nutcrackers are not that "uso" in Pinas. This is my very first nutcracker item.

And then we were at Michaels (South Edmonton Common) just last Saturday. I found these nutcracker stuff in the $1.50-bin and I felt so happy! Gusto ko pala talaga ng nutcrackers!

Ayan, nagsisimula na naman ako! Sabi ng ni Pod, ang lahat ng equivalent ng ideas ko ay gastos haha! But what can I do, I have a manic tendency to collect anything and everything I fancy. It gives excitement in my boring life eh. But again, with limited budget (and now that I am about to become a mother), I know it will take time before I could build a nutcracker collection.

Share a Coke in Canada

We were at Cross Iron Mills Mall (in Calgary) yesterday and I was surprised to see this queue...

My husband, who's quite oblivious to pop culture, cluelessly asked me:

POD -- Ano naman yang pila na yan?

BIM -- Eh for sure yan yung magpapa-personalize ka ng name sa bottle ng coke. Uso rin pala dito yan. At may pumipila in fairness ha! Sa Pinas ko lang kasi nakikita yan, sa Facebook.

POD -- Libre lang?

BIM -- Hindi noh. Bibili ka ng coke, may required amount of purchase, tapos pwede ka ng magpa-personalize.

After shopping at Babies "R" Us, Pod left me inside the mall so he could put our loots in the car. He found me sitting on a bench near the entrance where the Coke van was located.

POD -- Sabi ko na nga ba eh!

BIM -- Anong sabi mo na nga ba??? 

POD -- Pumunta ka doon sa coke eh! 

BIM -- Ha? Hindi noh! Dito lang ako nakaupo the whole time haler! Mapanghusga! (I was not even aware that I was just a few walks away from the Coke van. Sayang di ako nakausyoso!).

Coke really is successful in their "Share A Coke" marketing ploy. Too bad the timing of this promotion is not okay for the preggy me. Almost six months na akong di umiinom ng Diet Coke eh. I am a Diet Coke addict and I would have enjoyed seeing my name Celeste on a coke bottle. Hindi naman westernized ang name ko so I doubt if I can readily find my name on those bottles being sold on stores. Hindi tuloy ako makauso. Wala naman akong energy na pumila para magpa-personalize noh.

Two nights ago, we were at Mac's Gasoline Station and we saw these bunch of cokes (na halatang nahalo-halo na ng customers) in their convenience store. I instantly saw a Sarah bottle (my best cousin's` name is Sarah) and I felt envious. Buti pa siya western ang name haha!

Oh well, kahit papano happy na rin ako because my Baby Chicklet has his own Coke bottle na. I'm glad I've chosen a pretty simple (and common) name for him.


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Loots from Michaels

If there's one store that I miss the most in the Philippines, that would be NATIONAL BOOKSTORE. I am a self-confessed stationery addict and I would go to National almost every day (no kidding) just to buy pens and other supplies.

Here in Edmonton, I feel so deprived. They do not have National Bookstore-like store here. Nope, Staples won't suffice. National is different. There you can buy ballpens piece by piece, here in packs. Plus there's so much variety of anik-anik, so many items to choose from -- at affordable prices!

Stationery here costs a lot, I noticed. That I why I told myself that when I go home in Pinas I would hoard as much stationery as I can. I will really splurge!

So for the mean time, I would have to make do with my "cheap" finds here. You can get the cheapest office/school supplies at the following: Dollarama, Dollar Tree, Target (look for the Dollar bins), Walmart...

and occasionally, Michaels...

Michaels is an arts and crafts store that sells anything and everything for one's creative needs. I actually love their merchandise, except that I find them so pricey! I still convert dollars to pesos that's why.

I can only actually afford Michaels if they are on sale. My tip is never to buy their items for a full price. You may subscribe to their newsletter and they send out coupons all the time. You may also check out their clearance bins for items that are up to 90% off.

These were my purchases last Saturday. I was happy kasi parang sa dollar store lang ako namili. At $9.45 or approximately Php380.00, still not cheap though. Pero pwede na.

Someday, if I win the lottery, I will put up a stationery shop here in Edmonton that will sell items na tingi-tingi, katulad ng concept ng National Bookstore. I will import so many Asian stationery which I am sure Canadians will like. Feeling ko deprived din sila eh, hehe.

Ring for Bing-Bing

I love putting on simple silver/white gold accessories but I realized that during winter time, they won't be sulit because of all the layering (of clothes) that you have to go through in order to survive the cold. In fact, I bought a Pandora bracelet three weeks ago and I've never worn it until now. Hindi nga kasi makikita haha!

But then last (Black) Friday, I saw some nice rings from Old Navy at 50% off. And they carry my ring size which is XL! Yep yep, I have uber fat fingers and I had difficulty buying fancy rings in the Philippines.

I instantly tried on many many rings and ended up buying four. This is one of them. Nice noh?

Hmmm, I think I'm into a new addiction. Although I would have to put gloves every now and then, at least makikita ko pa rin hehe.

Hoping for more rings for me in the coming days! Hurrray!

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* Bing-Bing is one of my childhood nicknames