Motherhood: Mommy Bag in Style

Next month will be my birthday; and for that I decided to 'gift' myself with a fancy diaper bag.

Of all the research I made for preparing for motherhood, I forgot to research about choosing a diaper bag. So I just bought a generic Gerber diaper bag worth $14.99. I chose it for the price, the shape (it can stand on its own) and of course, the color - it matches my son's stroller and car seat set. Haha!

On my son's 3rd month, I already started to notice tears on the Gerber bag. As my husband would always remind me... better buy a more costly one that will last you for a long time. Of course he's right. I didn't realize that you wouldn't have an extra hand to hold your own purse once baby is there. You have the stroller, the diaper bag, the car seat, and of course the baby to take care of. So it was about time to find a fancy, fashionable, and functional diaper bag slash purse.

I started researching about the best rated diaper bags and JJ Cole was one of the top rated. I have been looking for a satchel type bag that will look nice as a Mommy Purse and a Diaper Bag in one. Something I can carry or strap onto the stroller.

I love the designs from Gucci (hello?! $900!!!), Tory Burch (maybe wait for one that is 80% off then I can afford it! haha!), and the one from Coach (yes, a little more saving and I can afford one that is on sale). 

But nothing beats the practicality, the design, and the price of JJ Cole's satchels. It is perfect for what I need!!! I LOVE IT! I can't wait to use it. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! :)

JJ Cole Faux Leather Satchel Diaper Bag

What's in the box: The lovely bag, the 'manual', the long and soft shoulder straps,
and the patented "Grips" to functionally attach the bag to the stroller. 

The ingenious stroller grips:

Photo grabbed from Amazon.com.

Watch their video demo on this:

Counting Down

Lots of happenings, events, milestones to look forward to.

1. Count Down to a New Home
It's almost 4 years and originally we're supposed to be moving to a new location by now; looks like we're not. For the meantime, we're moving to a new house - inside the base. We are hoping for a more positive community experience there. Time for a reboot on this sort of mundane island life.

2. Count Down to my Birthday
My birthday is a week after Thanksgiving. So, Thanksgiving, then black Friday, then my Birthday. Enough said. :)

3. Countdown to Christmas
We're spending Christmas here but flying out to Manila right after. Then spending New Year's in Singapore. Reunion with my fam bam and meeting our new niece who's going to be born very very soon!

4. Countdown to the Big One
My son just celebrated his 6th month birthday. Which means... he's more than halfway to his first one! Gotta start the party planning! SO EXCITED!

Prenatal Vitamins

I was cleaning our medicine cabinet and saw all of my prenatal vitamin bottles there (yes, I haven't thrown them away). Most of them empty, one is half full, & one still full.

I started taking them December 2010. Stopped taking them several months ago. I told my husband I was having a hard time "letting go" of the bottles, for sentimental reasons.

Here's how the conversation went:

Me: I am having separation anxiety with throwing away my prenatal vitamins. We've been together for so long. If I throw them all way, I won't even have a remembrance.

Hubby: (Smiled, looked to his left and mouth-pointed to our son, playing in his bouncer)
       THERE. THAT'S YOUR REMEMBRANCE.

:)

Case closed.

Test Drive

I dreamt we went to the car dealership because my younger brother and cousin (who were visiting us here) said they wanted to test drive the Subaru Impreza.

The car dealer looked like a sales lady from SM Mall. She clicked a code number onto a credit card that was attached on a concrete floor; then a part of that concrete floor raised and inside it was a secret underwater shelf - that's where she got the keys for the Subaru.

I went in the car, it was white, looked like a Dodge Charger with two black stripes outside but inside it looked like a Toyota Camry.

When it was time to test drive the car, the car became a red, bulky motorcycle. Yes, a bike. It was my younger brother's idea so I said I will try it out first but he wanted to go too so he sat on my lap. I couldn't see a thing.

Just when we were about to merge with traffic I panicked because aside from the fact I couldn't see a thing, I don't know where the gears/pedals were - it was actually attached on the front wheel - being a short lady, I was having a hard time reaching the pedals so we almost crashed and we stopped. I yelled at my brother to leave and let me try to test drive alone. He did.

The left pedal was the break and the right pedal was the gas. I was finally moving - like a scooter. Haha! My speed was probably 10mph the whole time, I was able to pass by the Guam Chamorro Village rotonda, then onto some 12" wide bridges on top of abandoned buildings, then to a scary Indian village beside an abandoned museum looking building. I was beginning to feel scared when finally I was able to find my way back to the dealership - where I was welcomed by a violent Ton Ton Gutierrez holding a steel pipe. He was shouting about a marriage that took place against his will.

I passed by the comotion and parked. Got off the bike and said:

"No, I don't like your Subaru Imprezza."

:P

Prayers for Your Soul

A friend just died. Cancer.

She's just as young as me.

I have no idea what to say to her best friends or her family. I am sure no words could ever console them of such a sudden passing.

I feel like crying yet we were not that close, what more for those who were? I remember you winning a landslide victory over me on the "Secretary" position for the whole junior class. Then again, I remember you winning for the "Muse" position, again over me. Until now I have no idea why an introvert like me have been nominated to run against the fun, beautiful, social butterfly like you. It was quite a flattering experience.

I remember our little chats along the high school grounds. They're usually about you teasing me about a guy. I even remember you buttering up this certain guy, who 12 years later became my husband.

My heart is saying a prayer for you, my friend. They say those who die go to a better place. It helps a little to know that your pain is gone and you are now smiling with our Creator.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I look out the window and see that it's a very gloomy day. Large dark clouds all over but a little sun is peeping; just enough so we know it is there. I dedicate this day to you.