Spokening Dollar...

As far as I know, if there's one person responsible for teaching my kids how to speak in English then that would be me, especially since they are all home schooled.  Speaking of home schooling, they are enrolled in the Philippines in a regular school under the homeschooling system.  Their curriculum is under Basic Education Curriculum of DepEd but they are also under the American Curriculum integrated in the school system.  That means they are following the American English pronunciation of words or in pinoy lingo, slang (tama ba?).  Although our accent is still pinoy english, my kids are very particular with certain word pronunciation and most of the time, ako na ang kino-correct nila! Imagine having 3 boys na as if nakabantay with every word I say.  Here are just some examples...

     Me: We will pay twenty (twen-ti) riyals for the toy.
     Sammy: Mommy, (tweny) po...

     Me:  We have to bring you to the doctor (dok-tor) na, Matti.
     Matti:  (Duc-ter) po mommy...

     Me:  Boys, look at the table, you didn't clean it, there are lots of breadcrumbs (bred-krumbs).
     Paolo: Mommy, (bred-crums) po, silent 'b' po...
     Me: ay, sorry, I forgot!

Naloko na!

I remember when I was still young, my brothers and I would usually correct our mom. She's a lawyer and while she's very good with speaking and writing in english, most of the time she interchanges the use of p and f and b and v.  And that really bothers me, lol.  I remember she would just laugh it off and tell us to mind our own business but I wonder if there are times when she got annoyed at us, hehe...Looking back now, I couldn't help but wonder, karma ko na ba ito? hahaha...

shuriken...

I was supposed to change our beddings and fix our room because my head's starting to throb like crazy - I want our bedroom, especially our bed, to be completely fixed and neat.  But the kids won't leave our room and kept on bugging me.  At first I thought they just wanted to hang around (what is it with kids and big beds? hehe), then they started getting construction papers and scissors..they wanted me to cut 8 squares with the same size for each of them.  Not for a project or anything, but something they saw  in youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IzUXJSvB_g) and they wanted to make their own. And so, with whatever's left of me, I gave in and helped them.  It was worth it though 'cause I really had fun. 

Dydy couldn't concentrate on what he was doing so he stood up from his table and got his camera...

    

Me: dydy, join the fun! He just smiled and took another photo. Paolo: tumawa lang si daddy then back to base again! (base being his working table, lol)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tadah! the shurikens or ninja stars (from the cartoon/psp game Naruto pala 'to)

I really enjoyed making them and was amazed at our finished product.  The blade opens and closes, hehehe...

Guilty...

This is a totally shallow post. 

In my last post I've mentioned that I'll no longer buy anything (major) this coming 2012 mainly because I felt like I have been so materialistic this year.  In a span of 11 months, I bought hubby bought the following (add to that the occasional shopping for clothes and shoes and other stuff):

lv speedy 35  (plus a long champ le pliage tote in old rose)

white blackberry bold 9700

swatch full-blooded caramel

My husband is the sweetest because he's very malambing but he's not the type of guy who'd surprise you with gifts.  With that in mind, I have learned to just ask, hehe.  But we always talk things over first - hindi pwede yung basta na lang bumile kasi gusto.  With the LV bag, I bought it because of practicality's sake (chos!).  I have always been a bag person and when I was younger I have collected a number of bags which I realized are not really for keeps because of the not-so-good quality.  So I've decided that it's okay for me to just have a maximum of 5 bags but would last me a lifetime.  Although I still have 10 bags left, I think. As with the BB, I have never bought a celphone for the past 4 years or so..all the phones I've used are hand-me-downs from my mom.  And it's actually hubby's treat for me for being a good housewife =).  Now with the watch, in as much as I'm a bag(not anymore) and shoes person, I'm also a big fan of watches.  I feel naked without it.  I have quite a few watches but most of them are my mom's.  I asked hubby for the swatch full-blooded because of it's size and I thought it would be good enough in place of the Michael Kors oversized runway watch I was eyeing.  But I felt like it was parang pang teenager.  Then I learned that yun nga, there's a newly opened MK shop here in Riyadh so I begged hubby to give it to me as a christmas gift na lang. But if there's one lesson I learned, it's to never settle for anything less than what you've dreamed of.  Just like with the watch, my husband asked me, "Baket mo pa binile kung di mo pala talaga gusto?" I wasn't able to answer kasi tama naman siya.  So there, instead of saving money (swatch is only $126 compared to MK which is $250), napadoble pa tuloy ang gastos.

So in closing, I want to share what my husband always tells me, "Hindi tayo nandito sa Saudi para sa mga sale!" Korek!

Welcome to the Kingdom, Michael Kors...

Yesterday, I was ecstatic when I found out from a friend that there's already a Michael Kors store here in Riyadh.

the MK shop here in Riyadh **(taken from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150379772090551&set=a.10150379771905551.613505.200736335550&type=3&theater)

For the past year or so I have been dreaming of the MK8077 runway watch but I always kept on thinking that there's no way I could get my hands on it because 1. I wouldn't be able to go to the US and 2. I don't want to order it online since I don't like the idea of cashing out additional fees for shipping.  But I have already considered asking a friend who is a flight attendant to buy it for me and she agreed, hehe.

MK8077 over-sized runway watch in gold tone

Last night, hubby already gave me a go-signal to buy that watch as his Christmas present for me (smile from ear to ear, plus a funny dance, lol).  But there's a catch...I told him I'm going to make a sworn statement  that I wouldn't buy anything, as in anything, in 2012 ( I'll write about the reason behind it in another post), so help me, God! hehehe.

Now, let the Christmas countdown begin! =)

**Michael Kors shop is in Faisaliah Mall, Riyadh, KSA

Closet Picks

Here's a pic of what I wore last Thursday.  I realized I didn't have a solo shot because we were running late already. Since Sammy's with me, I'll also include his outfit details.

on me: Aiko dress from Iconic, random black pumps, casio silver watch borrowed from hubby plus a boyfriend blazer from UCB I added during the ceremony /on sammy: shirt from Jag, Red Tag jeans, Airwalk shoes from Payless

What We Did

It has been a busy week for the whole family especially last Wednesday and Thursday.  I was stressed out (but in a good way - if there's such a state) preparing the kids stuff.  I was so excited to share the event to our families and friends through photos only to find out during the special event itself that pictures are prohibited to be uploaded in facebook or in any other networking sites...bummer! But I understand, really.  It's for our own protection.  So without elaborating anything, hints are in of the photos (di talaga mapigilan no? hehe)

before leaving the house...

part of the audience...

I feel proud as a mom because my eldest and my second child took part in a ceremony which marks another milestone. =)

No longer a secret...

I have always been secretly shy (secret kasi people who know me would say na maingay ako and hindi mahiyain, hehe) and only gained full confidence during my late twenties.  Growing up with a well-dressed mom, I have always loved fashion and I adore women who get to express themselves well through the clothes they wear.  And since I'm shy nga, i believe it was only 3 or 4 years ago that I have fully embraced my skin and decided that I would wear what I feel like wearing and I won't think of what others might say about me.  Though I love looking at fashion bloggers with detailed ensembles for inspiration, I think I'm really more of a minimalist and mas type ko ang effortless-chic-look.  Well, to cut the long story short and stop you from thinking where I really am heading to, hehe, six months ago I created another blog solely about the things I wear and uhm, shallow stuff like things I want to buy, etc, etc.  But I failed to maintain it since I realized that it doesn't really represent 'me'. Besides, I can always share outfit shots in this blog since I've done it before.   Thinking about it (and sayang naman yung ibang posts ko dun), I thought of sharing some of the photos from that blog, but i won't share the url na.  These are all headless photos kasi nga I'm shy, lol..

There..now that I've shared it I feel like throwing up, lol...

start of istiraha fever...

The months of October, November and December are the busiest months for us here in Riyadh.  Celebrations are left and right.  Last Thursday we attended the birthday party of one of our upper titos in CFC.  It was held in a istiraha.  The party had loads of games for kids and adults alike.  As usual, there were some 'semi-naughty' games for married couples.  I'll let the photos do the talking...

the boat is sinking...

sack race..that's matti in front.  and look at my eldest, paolo, flipping at the background, hayyy..

i told you!  there's a roll of toilet paper  between my legs and hubby needs to shoot the toilet brush within the hole.  afterwards we need to walk in that position towards the finish line, lol..

hehehe...

the very generous and fun-loving birthday celebrant on the right =)

mr. and mrs.
(my outfit details: H&M dress worn as top, mango jeans, unbranded black pumps)

we were about to leave the place that's why i'm already wearing my abaya.  before this pic was taken, sammy, my youngest, was swinging while i look on..then out of the blue he told me "mommy, do you know who my crush is?" then I said, "wow, you have a crush na? who? bulong mo kay mommy." then he stopped swinging and whispered to me the girl's name.  all i could say after was "galing naman, ang pretty ng crush mo." lol..

 I was browsing the pics hubby took and I found this...

that is sammy and the girl in front of him is his crush. Hule! hehe...

 I'm feeling kind of gloomy today... i feel like i wanna go home to the Philippines =(

sick medications...

Every time I get sick, I'm the type of person who would try to get well the natural way - meaning, no drugs whatsoever, except when my migraine strikes.  I hate taking medicines, especially syrups.  That explains why i have been coughing for almost 2 weeks now.  But for 3 nights in a row, I have been having difficulty sleeping (my husband included) to the point of losing my voice today.  And so I gave up and off we went to see a doctor.

The pic above shows why I don't wanna see a doctor here in Saudi Arabia.  Whenever they give prescriptions, a simple dry cough makes you feel like you have broncho pneumonia, lol... I have a confession to make, I drink my meds with cola.  I know, my bad.  But don't worry, I don't let my kids see me so that they wouldn't have that idea.  Besides, my kids are such angels when it comes to drinking their meds, no fuss whatsoever.

only God knows...

Yesterday was very surreal for me... very sad day.  I just posted yesterday a blog entry about the baby shower we attended last week (http://trililpigs.blogspot.com/2011/11/celebrations.html) and come night time, we received a call telling us that the twins inside our pregnant friend's womb just died.  My husband and I were totally shocked, we couldn't utter a single word.  All we could think of is how  that could happen... everything was fine and things just happened very sudden.  But then, we couldn't question God's plan for us.  I, myself, believe that there's always a reason for everything and God has a bigger plan for their family. 

Happy Hajj...

There's a week-long Hajj Holiday happening in Riyadh now.  Though most offices are closed, hubby still reports for work but for a shortened period only (sayang ang double pay, hehe).  Yesterday, Monday, was the most festive day because of the fireworks and stuff and people were all dressed up to the nines.  And since we could also feel the festive mood last night, this is waht we ate for dinner...

I don't know what they are called, except for the pizza, since the menu is in arabic..but everything was so yummy.

Eid Mubarak! =)

celebrations...

If there's one thing that's keeping me sane here in Saudi Arabia, that is the good company of friends we were blessed with.  We are all part of the CFC community.

Last Thursday night, we attended the birthday celebration of a pregnant friend.  Little did she know that  a baby shower was brewed for her.  It was a fun night filled with laughter, games, and good food.

some photos from the party...

hubby and me during one of the games.  excuse the face, i was really trying hard not to laugh out loud.  =)
(i was wearing a shirt from H&M and a DIY maxi skirt)

the birthday girl and me.  our team won the game in the pic above.

the gang... 

  more often than not, parents here in Riyadh tag along their kids where ever they go so if you're wondering where the kids are, they were in one of the bedrooms making a lot of mess... =)

Life Lately...

Hello universe! I was back from the grave...seriously, i felt like a part of me died, thus, the sudden lack of interest to blog..although I lurk around the web almost everyday.  It seems as if I have been in a cross road where I couldn't decide where to turn my life to.  I have learned the ropes of being a stay-at-home mom through the years (four years to be exact).  But being a SAHM in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a different story - that's why every now and then i get this boredom bug which lasts for 2 months most of the time, hehe..

Anyway,  here's a picture heavy post of what we have been up to lately, err, for the past 3 months, lol..

Camel riding in Othaim Mall.  My youngest and middle child told us they enjoyed the ride..but judging from the way they held on tightly, i doubt! lol..  the young arab girl in front must have felt squashed...

Climbing up the Sky Bridge on top of Kingdom Tower... For 25 saudi riyals for adults and 15 saudi riyals for kids, you can have a breath-taking view of the whole city of Riyadh.  We only lasted about 15 minutes and got bored. 

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Centre) This is Kingdom Tower where the pic above was taken..we were at the top-most part of the mall - the seemingly black line after the inverted triangle hole thingy....

my brother-in-law (left), who is the only family we have here in the kingdom left for the Philippines for good.  this pic was taken at King Khalid International airport.

one of my diversions when I really got nothing to do - hand-sewing.  I bought some cheap fabrics from IKEA and turned them into our pillows.. I was able to make 7, hehe..

picnic at the park.  Hubby took pictures of the greenery, the kids enjoyed playing in the playground, while I entertained myself with songs from hubby's samsung galaxy. When we got home, i was the one dead-tired that I fell asleep as soon as I took off my abaya (the black robe women put on when going out).

this photo didn't do much justice to the park..It was a really nice place.  that was hubby at the left and the three rascals who were already ahead of us were our kids..

trick or treat! They kept on asking me why they can't go trick or treating no matter how many times i tell them that Saudi Arabia does not observe that tradition.  good thing hubby's office mate gave him 3 chocolate bars for the kids.. issue settled! lol..

Come to think of it, life has been good...

I hope I can keep blogging regularly from now on (fingers crossed!) =)