Feast day of Mama Mary

Yesterday was the feast day of Mama Mary, my own town celebrated it.

It was our tradition to celebrate it, but my family doesn't have a fancy meal like it used to.

Before, there are always a lot of people in our house
I remember having a lot of playmate then, my mom’s visitor usually brings their children with them. A faces I still remember, but their names are already forgotten.

I remember having my childhood best friend with me, I remember sneaking cupcakes and eating a lot of quail eggs. Me and my best friend used to go to a carnival and ride the Ferris wheel. We used to walked around the street vendors and admire the things they're selling.

I remember bringing my high school classmates with me and we'll eat lunch at our home.

I remember going home alone from college and a lot of visitors are there.

I remember my high school best friend visiting me with her son and her hubby.

I remember introducing my hubby to my family three years ago.

I remember meeting my in-laws two years ago.

A lot of things to remember, a lot of things happened then.

Now, we only celebrate it with close family. Now it’s just a simple meal and a little celebratory drink, just enough to celebrate mama Mary’s birthday and to share a happy feast.

tiger cake

My mom turned 50 last July 15. My dad gave her the newest model of Samsung galaxy. My elder sister took care of buying accessories for it. My youngest sister and my niece went to the mall and search for their own little surprise. So I end up thinking for that perfect gift.

My mom already had everything she wanted, a whole set of wardrobe, the newest cell phone model and she can buy a whole bunch of accessories for herself. So what's the perfect gift for her?

Then it suddenly occurred to me, a cake. What is a birthday without a cake right?

Since my mom see herself like a tiger (ferocious and tough), I search the web for a tiger motive cake. Lucky for me, the baker was great she made me a perfect replica of the tiger cake.

We ended up the dinner with a tiger cake for a desert. The cake was long gone now, but I know it made the day quite special.

my silver year surprise

    I am 25 years old now and I never thought it will be a significant year for me. It didn’t even occur to me to celebrate my silver year. But this year was significant in its own way.

   I was the youngest of almost happy family. I live my life the way it is.  But mind you, I never really felt like I was the youngest. I have a niece and nephew whose living with us, so technically I felt like a big sister not an aunt. My daughter is already two years old and that was also a part of it. Technically speaking, I’m only youngest by birth status.

   

  But few days before my 25th birthday there was news that turns everything into a joke. It was not actually a big surprise because my mom knew it from the very beginning. I had a step sister from my father side, she was living somewhere in Dumaguete that time. I was really not sure how to react, I didn't felt pain and I didn’t even felt angry. Believe me I always felt angry. Anger is part of who I am and it suddenly defines me. But not that time, it only left me in daze for a moment.  I had a few days to accept reality, before I finally see it.

   Few days after the news, she went to visit us to meet my father. She was not like the person I pictured in my mind, it was relieved and disappointment both washed over me. I guess, I just expected too much.

   She looked fragile and she's smaller than a typical seventeen years old, my 12 years old niece is even bigger.  How could I feel hatred to someone who is so fragile?

  Me and my big sister toured here around the place. My dad shopped her around and she met her new dentist. It was only three days when she visited us, few days before she finally say goodbye to high school. Maybe meeting my dad was her greatest graduation gift.

   Now, she's spending college here, in one of the best school in this place. Her life suddenly changes, so was ours. She is part of the family now and our small family suddenly felt so big.

  

   Not everyone had a life like those in the movies but my life felt like a movie. It seems too late for us to know about her. But when I look back to my life and if I suddenly knew her when I was younger, maybe things will be different. I know how I would react; there is always a rebel inside me. But now, having a daughter to think about, the issue doesn't seem so huge.

   Maybe growing up made me see things better or maybe I'm gaining my own wisdom (I hope so). I felt lonely when I think about that incident but I’m still proud that my dad accepted the responsibility even though it is 17 years too late. See, happy ending do exist and she was my silver year surprise.

night out

   I was once a part of the crowd called “party people’ but every since I gave birth to my daughter, I never had the time to party like I used to. Now, every single night out is a privilege to me. It still reminds me how to be young and happy.

   Last Wednesday, I had the time to spend a night with my friends. I had a great night; I hope my friends enjoyed it as much as I did.It was good to have a night with my friends; I can talk about my qualms, my hope and my pride. I hope that they do understand because when I turn tipsy, I really blabber non stop. Having friends to hear me out was one of the best things in life.

   But no matter how I miss those night outs, those drink till you drop and those party till dawn I have to admit that my time is up. I have more responsibility now. I just grew up ahead of my friends and sometimes it is better this way.

   I tell you, I miss being single and free but cuddling in bed with my daughter is still the best moments in my life. I enjoy night outs and girl bonding time, but mother and daughter time is still priceless to me. After all my little daughter will refuse cuddles when the time comes,better grab lots if it now.

my little beauty secret

   Being a mom made me thrifty with everything, especially with those things that are not that important anymore.  But no matter how I wanted to be thrifty, there still some things that I just can't put aside. Like a body massage, hot oil, foot spa and stuff like that. These things I called a 'woman thing' are somewhat  unavoidable. But spending time in a salon makes me anxious, because it's quite expensive. I feel guilty after and wish I just saved up the money for my daughter’s behalf.

   But searching the internet often, gives me an idea on how to be able to save money. So, I engage myself to some homemade stuff. It's really easy, and it saves me more money. Now I can still enjoy beauty in not a very expensive way ;)

Hereare some of the homemade stuff I use regularly.

HOMEMADE HAIR SPA

Combine mayonnaise and vinegar.

Apply on your hair and leave on for an hour.

These conditioners will make you feel as if you just had a shampoo blowout at a salon!

Some people say putting an egg works better. But those two agents work perfectly fine with me. These suit me very well, since I have my hair colored and according to my resource, ( I just can't remember if its something I read on magazine or internet) these stuff is better for colored hair. And believe me when I say, I love the way it works.

HOMEMADE FOOT SPA

Soak feet in lemon, rock salt and warm water for at least fifteen minutes

Massage feet (optional)

Exfoliate using foot scrub or just soap and scrub your feet with lo-fa /brush

*at dry and put some foot lotion.

I usually do it by night and I recommend that you use petroleum jelly instead of lotion. Cover your feet with socks at least overnight and feel the difference.

HOMEMADE FACIAL:

Wash your face with water and facial foam.

Steam in five minutes

Scrub your face with facial scrub and rinse

Moisturize it with your favorite moisturizer

I usually skip the second one. I'm fine with just the three steps.

   

BANANA FACIAL CREAM

You will need:

Ripe Banana

Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy. 

Spread all over your face and leave for 15-20 minutes

rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold water. 

Then gently pat dry.

This recipe is for supple skin as well as maintaining the skin’s natural glow. Banana is also wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment. I haven't tried this though, but I’m planning to try it. I'm just too stubborn to grab myself some of those bananas

These are some of my little beauty secrets I’m sharing with you guys. I hope it works with you just like it works with me. It saves me money more than half of what I spend in the salon.

Enjoy!

***credits to the original owner of the photos