TOPAZ HORIZON

Back to school this week! It's the busiest time of the year (okay, the busiest one after Christmas) and just when I'm getting into the rhythm of things, I broke my foot. Literally. I'm stuck at home with my right foot swollen and throbbing. Yesterday, my two younger kids were intent on killing each other (no joke) and I ran to them to separate the critters before tragedy ensues, and in my haste, I ran into the bed post. I think my scream was heard all over our building.

So now I have a broken toe. Apparently, it's a very common injury and nothing to worry about as long as I don't use that foot. So no walking! Never mind that I have kids to settle into school and my husband is a bit annoyed at the inconvenience of a wife with a broken toe. So I'm hobbling about, in pain but not entirely in misery.

For one thing, I'm finally forced to slow down. Literally. I can't go to work. I can't go to the school. I can't do housework. I can't line up at the bank (kumusta ang mga readers ko na may BPI accounts???). So what have I been up to? I've been napping! Wow, it's soooo good to sleep. I've been watching sappy shows on Netflix and crying deliciously. I haven't brushed my hair (and my teeth hehe). I'm just eating chocolate-covered raisins while I watch TV. Oh, and while I shop online!!!

I've been needing new things, you see. New undies, new clothes, new wallet. My wallet is disintegrating. But busy working mama me syempre, I buy stuff for my kids first. But now, with nothing to do, I logged into my Zalora account (always a dangerous thing) and shopped for wallets.

I CAN'T DECIDE! Help me!

Okay, so I'm on a budget (because #workingmama) but I did find nice wallets anyway for less than P700! Hindi nga lang ako makapili because I want them all. Paktay. Check 'em out:

This is the Keisha wallet from My Everyday Fashion. Two reasons I love it: It's orange and it looks like an Hermes bag hahahahaha. Oh, oh! Third reason: It's just P699!

Here's an even cheaper orange wallet from Cava Bags. It's the Saffiano, yes, in Saffiano-like leather, which is a texture I love. I like that their logo is V, too. I love two guys whose names start with V, you see!
The pink Saffiano wallet from Cava Bags is pretty, too. Which one should I get? Pink or orange? Both are my favorite colors! It's just P599!
Now, I also want to get a gray wallet to match my Tod's D Bag. (I still get gooey inside saying that. I own a Tod's D Bag after wanting it for years!) This Emma Wallet from My Everyday Fashion is a nice and mega affordable choice at just P399. Super mura!
Another gray find is this Emily wallet from My Everyday Fashion again. It's really cheap at P349. I like that it has sooo many slots for cards.

Which one? Which one? Help me pick one!

P.S. Now, I don't need coin purses but when I saw these Pink Tequila coin purses, they made me so happy. However, I'm not buying any of these because... I dunno, because I'm 40? Ugh. I'm having a mid-life crisis where I don't know what's appropriate for my age. On one hand, I've always believed that as long as you can afford it, you should wear and buy whatever makes you happy. And yet, now that I'm matrona age, I don't know if that still applies if what makes you happy are the cutest things like these! Maybe because they're vintage-themed, I can get away with it? What do you think?

TV, P359. Because I actually know what this is. In my childhood, at midnight, the TV hangs haha. It stays colorful like this until early morning, which makes the colored bars give way to the national anthem, a prayer, a TV station manifesto, and then entertainment!

Cassette tape, P359. Because I had mixed tapes! I got one from a guy who liked me but that I didn't like but I kept his tape because I liked the music he curated for me. I made lots of mix tapes, too, waiting for the radio to play my favorite songs and getting really upset if the DJ is still talking when the song starts or when it hasn't ended! And I also like it because I'm a writer and I used to do interviews with all these tapes! I have a stack somewhere of tapes with celebrities' secrets on them. Now I have a sophisticated recording machine, but I still prefer the old recorders that used cassettes.

Brick game, P359. Because I'm really really REALLY good at Tetris. Like crazy good.

Cupcake, P369. Okay, cupcakes aren't vintage but this makes me happy because when I was a kid, I collected and traded stationery and one of my favorites was a scented pad of cupcake designs. I loved that!

Pink bottle, P359. Well, this isn't vintage-themed anymore but because I'm a mom of boys and my foot is throbbing in pain now because of said boys, this one made me gleeful. Heehee.

Okay, will mull over the items I put in my basket. Then if my foot is better tomorrow, I'll buy buy buy!

Today is the first day of school! So just a quick blog post for my fellow working mamas before I dash off. As a work-at-home parent, some of the only time I have to myself will be found in the times my kids are at school. So you can bet I'm so excited that the school year is here! The summer's been a bit crazy because my family's schedule changed every day. I feel lots guilty because I couldn't focus on work and I couldn't focus on family. It was easier when the kids were at school because I could work and play when they're away!

Pasukan na bukas!!! I am so looking forward to my Vito and Iñigo going back to school. As I said in a previous post, I finished my shopping for school supplies at National Book Store. Some readers pointed out that I bought more stuff for myself than for my kids. That's because my sons' school provides nearly all of my kids' supplies. This is to ensure that all students have the exact same stuff and walang inggitan na mangyayari. Yes. Their school is very thorough—one of the many reasons I love their school! But I was still able to grab a few art and school supplies for our home because a working mama like me needs to stock up on those for projects and assignments!

Anyway, who says back-to-school is for kids only anway? I definitely can't wait for school to start (isang tulog na lang hooray!) because school gives our days a rhythm. As a working mom, I need that predictability. Now, many moms may think back-to-school means chaos, so I'm so grateful fellow mommy blogger Rochelle Rivera shared with me her tips for a more organized and more relaxed life. She should know because she has three kids in school, the eldest is in high school pa so she definitely is much wiser than me!



If you haven't seen this yet, here's a video summary of the stuff I got, which I blogged about na last week:


Pwede na ba akong maging vlogger? LOLs

Okay, this isn't a sponsored post. I just wanted to share my National Book Store videos and photos with my readers. Yes, photos! Please let me do this kasi sayang naman yung mga photos that the official photographer took of me!

Must say ang ganda ng ilaw sa NBS Glorietta.

With the convenient shopping cart—slim to fit the aisles but deep enough for your stuff!

And that's it! A quick blog post this Monday! Enjoy the week, mommies!

Just before the last day of this month slips into the second half of the year, I want to tell you about my second son, who celebrated his 5th birthday this May.

Iñigo loves me the most. I'm sure his two brothers, Vito and Piero, will contest that but I know in my mama's heart that my second boy is the one who feels most tender towards me. That makes me feel a lot guilty, to be honest, because of all my boys, he's the one I don't really get to focus on. His older brother, by virtue of being the first to experience everything, and his younger brother who is a baby, get all of my time and attention. Iñigo doesn't seem to mind. Or maybe he's learned not to mind and has taught himself to be content with whatever's left of me.
I know this. I'm not unaware of the little heartbreaks my sweet Iñigo goes through every day, and I try to make up by asking him to help me with the chores or just sit by me while I work. And he's happy with the morsels of my affection. He's thrilled just to be beside me. He doesn't demand for me to listen to his stories like Vito does. He doesn't demand for everything like Piero does. He just sits there beside me, happy.

"I just want to hold your arm, Mama."

"I need to write, Iñigo, so you'll have to let go."

"Okay, Mama. I'll sit here, Mama. Is that okay?"

And of course it's okay but I feel bad I couldn't even give him my arm.

All of his five years, he's the sweet and silly one. He was the quiet baby, so quiet we forgot he's there sometimes because Vito was always a huge presence and Piero refuses to be ignored. So Iñigo learned to shine in other ways. He's the most gifted when it comes to art. He's also the only one who can cook. He's the one with the most hilarious quips. And he always wears red. He must've instinctively realized that red draws so much attention.

Tonight, as we cuddled in his bed with the Spider-Man sheets (he now wants Iron Man), he talked about his birthday because I told him it's the end of May so we'll finally take down all the party decorations. He asked why being 5 means going to a big school when he doesn't feel so big. He was in a chatty mood and then he said, "Mama, are you already sleeping?"

"I'm falling asleep, baby," I replied. "I had a long day and tomorrow I have to go to work early."

"Okay, Mama, you sleep na. Good night, Mama. I love you. I'll sleep beside Vito so you can sleep better." And before I can protest, he crawled over to Vito's bed and was asleep in minutes.

And I woke up because I didn't want him to go and that I liked his chattiness even though it made me drowsy. But that's Iñigo, my sensitive boy, the tender-hearted one, and the one who loves me most.

Dearest Iñigo, thank you for loving me and your Papa and your brothers so much. Thank you for always buying stuff for your brothers even though they don't do the same for you. I don't know who taught you to be so generous with your life and why you are so gentle and kind. While your Papa and I are good parents, we can't take credit for the purity of your soul and the hugeness of your heart.

May you always have this kindness and generosity. May you always be full of contentment even as I wish you better and grander things, all of which such a good boy like you deserve. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I count you as one of my biggest blessings, the one who taught me to be a more mindful, more compassionate mother, all because you love me so so unconditionally. I am a better mama to you and your brothers because you taught me to be generous and kind.

God bless you, my dearest sweetheart. You will always be my darling boy, the one I look on oh so fondly. Happiest of birthdays to you and for many more years to come. We love you so very much!

We ventured out of the city twice this summer! Imagine that! Since realizing a few out-of-town trips ago that three kids and corresponding luggage outnumber two overwhelmed parents, we've been doing staycations. But we ventured out of the city twice this summer!!! And it was crazy, yes, but it was also fun so I think we can do vacations again. Hooray!

That's why I downloaded the Traveloka App. Yes, I now have an app that will help me book flights and hotels on my phone. It's really rather nifty. I like it! Let me tell you why with these screencaps I took with my phone—just to show you that it's so easy and convenient to do the searches and bookings on your mobile!