3.23.2017

Pangasinan and La Union {photo diary}

Driving north to La Union and Pangasinan is easier now with the North Luzon Express way expansion. What took 4 hours to go to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary Manaog only too 2.5 hours or so.

The children loved the breeze up the mountain. They ran around. It was not as humid up there.

 

  
Here's the Our Lady of Rosary of Manaoag with baby Jesus
We went to Mass at 9a, ate breakfast, got some souvenirs.... then headed north.


  

  


We did not get to swim that day but saw a beautiful sunset. It's so relaxing watching the waves reach the beach over and over. Lucy was not excited {see video below} because I just took her straight to the water. no acclimating at all.


Here's Sebastian jetlagged and woke up at 3:30a asking for food.







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3.21.2017

photo diary {Guagua, Pampanga}

We continue my Philippines photo diary.
-- surviving a 16-hour flight with a preschooler and toddler, here
-- day trip to Baguio City, here 


day 1-2 were spent re-acclimating (or not!) to the weather and country. we went to the flea market Wednesday morning. we found flip flops for the girls and boys. I also got curtains for the new house. I did not take any photos or videos because it was crowded. I was worried about the pickpocketers.

We then had lunch at Luring's BBQ. yummy, yummy place. It was already there when I was in highschool and it was still there 20 years later. I love that place. The food has not changed. everything was delicious.


The next day, we ran errands to town again (where I went to school).... The plaza (centrally located park) had a nice addition:

  
 

Video of our trip to the town center



affiliate links are used. Linking up with RosieSarahDorandaLeanneElena Jaymie,  Sydney, Ada, Brooke.

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3.19.2017

weekend recap + Sunday best



 

 Old Navy sweater dress, similar... this one is maternity.
VS pink leggings
Old Navy sparkly shoes, old, this in gold
Prada handbag
lipstick in rebel


  

 


3.12.2017

bumping with GG and house update {my Sunday best}


Saint Laurent flats, via eBay
Gucci marmont flap bag


 shop this look: 
(thanks for using my affiliate links)




   

It's time for Sunday Best, more  iphone photos next to the door and wall socket. I love our new house. But I haven't found a good outfit background wall yet. There are bare walls everywhere. Problem is there's always an annoying socket visible in the picture.
Now that it's brighter later at night, I will be using more natural light and outside backdrop -- which I prefer. 
click/scroll for more (specially house updates!)

3.09.2017

Day trip to Baguio {a giveaway!}

 
  
 
 
 The travel photo diary continues.

We went to a 3 day car trip to northern Luzon. My hometown is in the big island Luzon. The northernmost part of Luzon I have ever been was Vigan City (post to come). On our way back down, we stopped by Baguio City.

Baguio City is called the summer capital of the Philippines. It's a city on a plateau (up in the mountains). Temps dipped down to the high 50s low 60s. That feels good in the Philippines.

we went shopping for treats, veggies and fruit. We also stopped by Burnham Park. It was very crowded because it was a Sunday. Baguio city, I heard, is pretty crowded now no matter what day. But weekends are the worst... and unfortunately, not as clean as I remember.
 
  
 
 ^look at all the veggies!
 
Glad we stopped by the scenic lookout.
That's the Baguio City I remember as I child. The view, the mountains, all so green and clean.  

 
 
  
^ manmade pond at Burham Park 
 
 
 

 
^fresh fruits for sale



Reason for going out of order on my travel diary is this GIVEAWAY!!!
I thank my friend and colleague, Noelle for sponsoring this giveaway. She is giving away a Carly dress (one I am wearing above). I chose this dress because it's comfy during pregnancy. Perk -- it is nonmaternity! So I can still wear it postpartum.


Enter the rafflecopter below.You have until midnight March 16th to enter. Spread the word.  I hope you win.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


affiliate links are used. Linking up with RosieSarahDorandaLeanneElena Jaymie,  Sydney, Ada, Brooke.

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3.05.2017

practice discipline {Sunday Best}



   

 Dress, ASOS, see bump here compared to today's 30 week + 2 days bump
accessories from Palawan
Cuff bracelet from my Lola W
Prada purse
old flats, zulily
lipstick, in studded kiss

Thankful for this day above 50 degrees. When we were in the Philippines, we missed the 60-70 degree weather. For the past couple of days, there's even flurries in the morning. I thought I won't wear sweater dresses anymore once I get back from the Philippines. My clothes are still in boxes. This one is a repeater because it's on the top. I did not want to keep digging. 
scroll/click below for homily thoughts...

3.04.2017

surviving a 16 hour flight with a toddler and preschooler

I am so thankful that I have been busy with selling the house and preparing for the closing of the new house and busyness of work that I did not have time to *freak out about the long flight to the Philippines.


I took my 3.5 yo son and 1.5 yo daughter halfway across the world and traveled 9000+miles. My mother was there for the outbound trip so I was not outnumbered by my children.

  

We had a 2 hour flight to New Jersey --> 2 hour lay over ---> then the dreaded 16 hour flight from NJ to HongKong --> another 2 hour lay over --> 2 hours from HongKong to Manila. finally.

All in all it was a 24 hour travel time with lay overs.

The traveling was not over because the airport is in Manila -- 2 hours south of where I grew up.


Helpful tips:

-pack food/snacks. I gave in and let Lucy munch on (toxic) junk food Chiz Curls (cheese puffs). I also have cereal. Mom brought apples. FYI: long flights do not offer "snacks to buy". We were offered a meal in the beginning of the flight, mid-flight snack, then "breakfast" just before landing. in between, you're on your own. If you are sleeping, your tummy won't be asking for food. But with my children awake for the first half of the flight, we had to feed them every 3-4 hours.

Snacks also helped with the munching and releasing ear pressure bec of take off/landing. I am lucky the children did not cry during those pressure changes.

-lots of diapers and wipes. If you think you packed enough, add a few more diapers.

-pack medicine! I did not want to go to an emergency pharmacy run if kids are teething (which btw, Lucy was teething during the trip). I checked in the children's ibuprofen and tylenol since they are over the 100 mL carry-on limit.

-bring baby carrier or sling. My toddler who has been so independent for the past months, who gave up the carrier at 14 months, did not complain once she's held or in the sling.


  
 

- pack extra clothes. I did not end up using our extra clothes in my carry-on. I just wanted to be that prepared mom just in case our flights were delayed and we were stuck in a different country without our luggages.

-ipad worked well for Sebastian. Not so much for Miss Lucy.

-deep breathing. This one is for you mamas and dadas. Quick prayer of "I can do this" when your arm is aching from all the baby carrying helps.

-let it go. If the baby wants your hoodie, give it. If the baby wants to be carried, do it. Do whatever it takes to make it through the next terminal or next hour of the long flight... as long as baby is safe!

- don't make eye contact to other passengers during the meltdown. Once we arrived in Chicago (way home), we had been traveling for 18 hours at that point. Lucy was so over it. I had to place her down to reach for my wallet. I could not even pay for her fries because she cried and was all over the floor with a full blown meltdown. I paid as fast as I can (which was still painstakingly slow) and then picked her up.


affiliate links are used. Linking up with RosieSarahDorandaLeanneElena Jaymie,  Sydney, Ada, Brooke.

Thank you for reading! I can be found on: Facebook  Bloglovin' Twitter  Instagram  Shop My Closet
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