how do you do it + more quick takes {sqt}

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I did not make it to last week's SQT. So post this middle of the week and link it up in a couple of days? Yes, that's my plan.

1. Let's get the superficial takes out of the way and leave you with the meat of the post at the very end. So if you're not into outfits and several hundred photos of same outfit, feel free to keep scrolling down.


This outfit is from the beautiful backdrop of AUTUMN! Just look at those beautiful leaves. Different hues of yellow, brown, red.


There is a point why I posted this way out of season outfit. Bear with me and you will see below.

our family word for the summer

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// more block heel sandals in white! //

// outfit at hubs' birthday ~ midsummer //
One shoulder asymmetrical top, ASOS, exact one but only available in a couple of sizes
Midi skirt, turned dress, Zara
Valentino sandals, bought on sale, similar here.
Valentino sunglasses, bought on major sale at nordstromRack (similar one!!!)
earrings, from my grandma, shells from the Philippines

floral leggings + grocery shopping with children

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//shop yellow tops and dresses//

affiliate links are used.

Top, ASOS exact one
FLoral leggings ~ gift, LuLaRoe
Wedges Marc Fisher, gift from my inlaws
Givenchy antigona
necklace, BR
aviators, QUAY via ebay

nfp is not the rhythm method {nfp awareness week}

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Top, WHBM
reef flipflops
aviators, dottie couture boutique
earrings, from the Philippines

Girls dresses ~ Gymboree

let's do this {seven quick takes}

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1. For my first week back at work ~ people have been asking: How are you doing?
As best as it can be for a mom of 5. We are trying to get into a routine. But this routine will change once the children are back in school. Mornings are usually the most stressful. Kids are staying at home right now while I am at work but that will change once hubs drops them off before going to work... and when I have to drop the older 3 to school.

I like my job. I like seeing patients. I am thankful I have a supportive staff and amazing colleagues. It makes missing the babies worth it.

I also like it that I am home part of the time. I get to be a doctor some days of the week. Then some days, I am home changing diapers, sweeping the floor, feeding hungry children, clothing and chasing children who don't want to be clothed.


2. Lucas is not loving the bottle. He made it to 9 hours of crying until he gave in and took 5 oz. The successful person who gave him the bottle was ---------> ate Isabel. She felt so empowered and happy that she was a big helper!





3. Boy scouts camp ~ my eldest enjoyed his week at BSA camp. He hit a bullseye during archery and the BB gun station. They created a toolbox, made candles, cooked pigs in a blanket. They kayaked. They also swam everyday.

surviving a 16 hour flight with a toddler and preschooler

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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 Rosie, Sarah, Doranda, Leanne, Elena,  Jaymie,  Sydney, Ada, Brooke.

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cry room or not?

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top, anthropologie, last year's sale

skirt,  exact one here

flats via zulily

LV in mon monogram

lipstick

watch, exact one here

We are not the family who stays in the cry room during Mass. However, we do take the rambunctious, misbehaving toddlers/babies at the back of the Church.

We used the cry room before... but the move ended up backfiring on us. It's as if the children are given free pass to play or read aloud or even walk around with their bag of cheerios. (FYI, we stopped giving children snacks, even the toddlers... they abused it so that privilege for the babies is gone).

We sometimes go to another late morning Mass at a different parish. If we are running late, which is most of the time when we go there, we end up staying inside the cry room instead of trudging along to one of the side pews.

I am not against cry rooms. They are a good resource for crying babies (obviously), for nursing moms who don't want to feed in the main room or for even babbling children who love to hear their voice so they talk and babble nonstop.

I just think I am worse at managing/watching my children when we are in the cry room. Hubs also think that we are "rewarding" them when we take them there... so we just avoid it at baseline.

what highschoolers are doing nowadays

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A mom told me *this (see convo below) and I about slipped off my chair. I know things like this happen all over our highschools nationwide/worldwide. But I refuse to believe the statistics. 

She said: "I was driving my son around with his friends to/from a party. He must be oblivious but I told him afterwards that his friends were high. He was surprised."

progress is slow and other victories {wiws}

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On me:

top, BR, exact one

skirt, BR

Flats, TB   

I am selling mine, if interested, email or comment below.

Shoulder Bag, Gucci

lipstick

on Lucy:

dress via hautelook

 

on Bastian:
Pique polo shirt, Gap
Shorts, Carter's
Saltwater Sandals

on Isabel:
dress c/o
sandals c/o lolo and lola
band aids x 3

 

This skirt finally fits me. YAAASSSS!!!

I got this skirt with my BR $15 off birthday coupon last year. I was 8.5 mos pregnant with Lucy. I was tired of buying loose clothes. I saw this lovely  white highwaist pencil skirt. With the40% off sale and my birthday coupon, I could not pass it up. Even though it was not even going past my big hips. 

By the time my uterus shrunk to its prenatal size (notice, I said uterus... not my actual stomach or mommy pooch), it was already September and the skirt still won't zip! October, November, December came. I placed the skirt in my summer pile. Who wants to wear white when it's dark and gloomy and snowing?

impromptu lunch date

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Shop using pictures above or links below.

Thanks for using my links! I may make a few cents, but it's at no extra cost to you. 

Cardi, old || similar ones above

Top, sold out  || similar

Jeans 

Flats, from nordstrom rack || more here 

Watch 

old bangles || cute ones for less than $70 or even better when it's half the price
Louis Neverfull MM

Lipstick Candy Apple

Linking up with Holly, Sarah, Doranda, Morgan, Leanne, Elizabeth, Elena,  Madeline,  Jaymie,  Sydney, Danielle, Grace, Brooke.

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all saints day {wiws}

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It's already DST and we had an extra hour this morning, yet we were still late! why? we have done so well attending Vigil Mass arriving EARLY. But what is it about going to Sunday morning?

we could not make it to our parish's 1030a Mass because we all slept in.
Yet we were still scrambling to get to 1130a.

I don't like the stress. I don't like being late. I did not earn any saint points this morning. I lost my temper. I yelled. I was not patient. I was stressed.

It's all God's grace... I heard the Holy Spirit during the homily.
The saints we celebrate today were all men and women who made mistakes, lost their tempers, got upset with the Lord (and regretted it) and there they are, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  {Rev 7:9}

Someday, I too want to be standing before him whom I love.
In the meantime, I better take care of the man he gave me and the children he lent me.

So when you see photos like these, do not be fooled. The struggle is very much real. These OOTD posts are just one area of my life. The rest NEED a lot of work.

When I let God work in me, the stress melts away. 

I forgive them... I forgive what happened. I forgive myself.

And then i see them doing this........ and all (almost all....) is forgotten.

outfit deets

(thanks for supporting this blog and using my links)

Top || thrifted

Skirt || anthro also thrifted

Wedges, mine are sold out || similar

LV neverfull || use code DISISD please

Watch

Bangles from my grandma || less than $30 or less than $55 options

Necklace from my mom || similar

Sunnies || similar

Lipstick

Headband

Linking up with Holly, Sarah, Doranda, Morgan, Leanne, Elizabeth, Elena,  Madeline,  Jaymie,  Sydney, Danielle, Grace, Brooke.

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Thank you for reading! I can be found on:

Facebook ::::::  Bloglovin' :::::: Twitter :::::: Instagram :::::: Shop My Closet