MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

Homework Schwomework

November 25, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 11 Comments

As I am writing this, my little boy is answering math drills. He is now in the process of learning division with 2-digit divisors, and to be honest it’s driving ME crazy. I’ve never been friends with that nasty subject called math.

While I have it easier now because I’m armed with my handy dandy pink calculator who does the adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing for me, I still have to walk the kiddo through each excruciating step until we get to the correct answer.

The thing with being this guys official tutor is it really feels like I’m having to go back to school. I read what he has to read. I solve the problems he has to solve. When he needs pictures from magazines or the internet, I look for them, too. It’s stressful, ha!

Malapit na kami mag away dahil sa division. #MommyMode #HomeworkTime #3rdGrade

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:41am PST

Despite all of my complaints, though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I may not be the best in math (or in Filipino, for that matter), but I want to be the one to teach this kid when he’s at home. I just really try to make it fun for us both. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

After these annoying math drills we are moving on the penmanship. This is one of his dreaded tasks, but one of my favorites. The good thing about having to practice writing is that we end up with letters to send his aunt and grandparents in the US. I like that my son is learning to write and send letters on paper and not via email. Anyway, that whole topic is for an entirely new blog post all together.

So, I think my 5-minute mini break is now over because the kid sitting next to me is starting to whistle, sigh loudly, and talk to his pencil and paper. Manang naman lang sa nanay. Back to work, tutor mom!

Do you guys help your kids with homework or school work? What is the tutoring experience like for you?

Have an Amazing Christmas with the Taiwan Excellence – Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest

November 22, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

You know you’re Filipino when you are excited beyond comprehension about the coming of Christmas. Agree?

I feel that Christmas really puts everyone in a giving mood, and that’s why most people continue to brave the holiday traffic and the crazy crowds just to find the perfect gifts to give their loved ones. I say ‘most people’ because I really am not one to subject myself to the Christmas rush. I honestly prefer to DIY, shop online or give gift cards. Regardless, though, if you are a Christmas shopaholic or an antisocial holiday shopper, the point is that we all want to give our dearest friends and family nothing but the best.

Enter, Taiwan Excellence, a campaign organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade of Taiwan together with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), a non-profit, semi-governmental trade promotion organization in Taiwan.

Check out all of these amazing products!

I recently wrote about this campaign, whichaims to recognize high-quality Taiwanese brands, thereby guaranteeing their superior quality and value. This was just introduced in the Philippines, featuring innovative products that help in simplifying everyday tasks at work and at home. In a way, it helps us Filipinos live excellent lifestyles by giving us access to these superior products.

But wait, there’s more! (Lol, festive mode nga, diba?)

The Taiwan Excellence campaign has officially invaded Christmas in the Philippines in a really good way. The Taiwan Excellence – Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest is ready to help you grant your special someone’s Christmas wish. This special person could be your mom, your spouse or your child, basically anyone whom you would like to share the spirit of Christmas with.

Taiwan Excellence - Made to enjoy Christmas — Taiwan Excellence – Made to enjoy Christmas

All you have to do is visit www. M ade T o E njoy T he L ife.ph to register, and select a Taiwan Excellence gift for your loved ones. No strings attached, no purchases required. Simply upload your photo, then say why you want to give that Taiwan Excellence gift to your selected recipient.

The Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest runs from September 28 until November 23, 2014. Ten winners will receive the chosen Taiwan Excellence product chosen for them this Christmas. One lucky winner will have the privilege of having the gift delivered by no less than Taiwan Excellence Celebrity Endorser for the Philippines, Iya Villania-Arellano. That’s almost like two gifts rolled into one!

So, go and spread Christmas cheer as early as now. You have until tomorrow to join the Taiwan Excellence – Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest, and (hopefully) make someone’s Christmas wish come true.

7 Tips for a Happy Married Life

November 16, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 32 Comments

Ah, newlywed bliss. Would that it could last forever. I always feel extra cheesy and lovey dovey after coming from a wedding. I think it’s a girl thing. Or maybe it’s a wife thing. It’s definitely a MrsC thing.

Our friends and relatives are (finally) tying the knot one by one. We went to a wedding last month and another just yesterday. We have another one happening soon, and a few more after that. So much love in the air. I lovette!

Congrats @theallanlazo and Daine! By @paulvincentcuyugan “Best wishes, newlyweds. #allananddaine2014” via @PhotoRepost_app

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:00am PST

Being the old married couple that I feel we are (I mean hello, 3 years of marriage, 6 years of living together, 8 years as parents and a total of 15 years as a couple), we most definitely have had our share of heavenly highs and hellish lows. Even so, because none of my siblings or super close friends have gotten married yet, I’ve never had the chance to share any marriage wisdom at a wedding. I realized this last night.

So, I have decided to share what I’ve learned about love, relationships and marriage here on the blog just because I can. Also because these are things that we have tried and tested throughout the years, and they have worked out well for us so far.

Here are my 7 tips for a happy married life

1. Happy wife = happy life. Happy husband = happy wife = happy life

99% of the time, MrC gives me what I want. Whether it’s an ice cream sundae late at night or a new Samsung Galaxy Tab (yay, thank you, MrC!), if he can find a way to get it for me, he will. Happy wife, check. But see, it doesn’t start and end with him spoiling me. Ladies, we have to do our part, too.

Breakfast for two. #CornedBeef especially requested by the sick boy @paulvincentcuyugan. A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:38pm PST

I firmly believe that your husband will spoil you if you deserve to be spoiled. And really, it isn’t hard to keep them happy. Surprise them with their favorite meal. Let them go hang out with the boys every once in a while. Let them pick the movie or TV show to watch for a change. When your husband is happy, he will want to make you happy, too. And if you’re happy, you should want to make him happy, too. Then comes the happy life.

2. Keep a scorecard of good things, not of bad ones.

One thing that is sure to trigger an argument between MrC and I is when one of us brings up the other’s mistakes or shortcomings. It’s hard not to be a nag, and it’s hard not to say I told you so when you turn out to be right. But sometimes reverse psychology is in order.

Remember, some fights are just not worth getting into

What I mean is, there are ways of saying things that resonate better. Option A: “Hey I don’t like it when you forget to flush the toilet after you pee”. Option B “Hey, I really appreciate it when you flush the toilet after peeing. Please keep doing that, ok?” See? Choose wisely.

3. It’s okay to go to sleep angry. But start tomorrow with a hug and a kiss.

Unless you are the type who doesn’t mind arguing until the break of dawn, I say just go to sleep angry and allow yourself to cool your head. Just make sure that as soon as you wake up, brush it off and make peace. Hug it out, kiss it out, or do whatever it is you do to make peace in the morning.

4. Forgive and forget. Or if you really can’t forget, fake it til you make it.

Let me make one thing clear, this doesn’t mean lying to your spouse or pretending to be ok when you aren’t. It only means that you should forgive wholeheartedly, and move on from whatever issue you guys just overcame. It’s not easy to get over hurt. Believe me, I know. But when you commit to forgiveness, moving forward comes with it.

Look for the rainbow after the rain, and know that things will be ok

Take as long as you need to forget, but while you’re at it there’s no need to keep bringing up the issue. Sometimes all you need to do to really get over the hurt is to get over yourself and start seeing things from a different perspective.

5. Be embarrassingly silly together.

MrC and I have been together for so long that he’s had to wash my butt after pooping (before an operation, I was strapped on to an IV tube, okay?) and I’ve had to cut his crazy toe nails more than once. We use the bathroom at the same time, and no it’s not for sexy time. We basically have nothing to hide from each other, so much so that we can be 100% silly together.

We dance, we sing, we meow at each other, even. We fart in each others’ faces as a joke. True story. Sometimes we act like even bigger kids than our child, but that’s what keeps our marriage fun. Guess it helps that we basically grew up together, so we know and remember how much fun it was being carefree kids together.

6. Be on the same page.

Being on the same page, for us, means heading towards the same goal. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we employ the same means, but we do aim for the same outcome. Basically, it doesn’t matter if you’re on different paragraphs, as long as you’re on the same page. Makes sense?

It may be just a small thing, but we can never decide what to order. Eventually, one of us will have to take charge.

7. Put your spouse first, even for just one day out of the week.

It’s not easy finding time to put your spouse first. That’s the truth. After the wedding, it usually feels like there’s the two of you, and then there’s the rest of the world. Well, it didn’t work that way for us. Even on our wedding day there was Little MrC to think about. And realistically speaking, once you become parents, that’s how it’s gonna be.

As a compromise, make one day husband or wife day. For just one day out of the week, put his or her needs first. Trust me, your kids will be fine with it. They may even cooperate with you and join in on daddy or mommy day. And I promise you, your spouse will appreciate the extra attention, or the extra hour of sleep.

After 15 years of being with the same person whose mood changes just as quickly as mine can, I now believe that newlywed bliss can last forever. It just needs a bit of work. It’s hard but not impossible. You both just have to want it and work on it. No. Matter. What.

How do you keep the newlywed bliss alive in your marriage?

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Plus Snacks) at F1 Hotel Manila

November 13, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 13 Comments

So, last month the boys and I went on a staycation at F1 Hotel in BGC. During our stay, we were eating about 80% of the time. I’m not kidding! It even started with food. As in, there was food laid out at the Premier Lounge when we arrived.

This boy was the most excited over the cookies and pastries that were laid out!

After a short welcome program, we were sent off to the hotel’s restaurant, F All Day Dining, for lunch. We were treated to a preview of their Christmas menu, and I was excited about having holiday food in October. I love to eat and I love the holidays, so when you put those two together, you make one happy me.

Just a tiny peek at the selection of viands at the F All Day Dining lunch buffet

I started out with the usual suspects: soup, salad and sushi. I remember my friend Jane asking why I was having a salad, and I told her that it was just the beginning. Best to get the vegetables out of the way early on. I also can never skip sushi and sashimi at buffets. Those are must-haves for me, and I really enjoyed the sashimi at F1. I was happy to see they had molo soup, which is also a favorite. It was good, but needed a pinch more of salt and pepper for my taste.

And then came the holiday goodness. There was stuffed turkey, glazed ham with pineapple, cherries and candied fruit, beef morcon, lamb caldereta, chicken galantina, and roasted salmon with orange and rosemary beurre blanc. There were also dishes being served that weren’t part of the holiday menu, but I chose to dive into the Christmas feast and pretty much ignore the rest.

Caldereta, beef morcon, chicken galantina and roasted salmon

The star of the holiday feast, for me, was of course the stuffed turkey. I love, love, love turkey, and this one was pretty good. I also enjoyed the glazed ham . No matter how simple this dish may be, ham gives me this Christmas morning feeling and that’s why I love it.

Round 2: My plate filled with holiday cheer

Yes, I still had room for dessert after all of that. I was eager to try all the small cakes that were laid out, and also the chocolate fondue. I don’t know about you guys, but those things make me feel like a kid! There was also churros and tsokolate, which I love! My friends, Jane and Joei and I played around a bit at the tsokolate station, as you’ll see in the next photo.

Fondue, churros, cheesecake, chocolate cake, black forest cake – Dessert Heaven!

I think I liked the cheesecake best, and also the tsokolate. I wanted to get some fruit but I had absolutely no more space for it. And that was why I went straight for the salad before anything else! Habang may space pa.

I really would have wanted to nap after lunch, but we had to leave to catch a party in my aunt’s house nearby. We tried our best not to eat so much at the party because we knew we had a dinner feast to look forward to at the hotel that night.

Originally, the plan was for us to have an outdoor barbecue at the poolside Canary Lounge but the weather just refused to cooperate. So instead, we had our meal at the restaurant again, but this time we were served yummy grilled meat and seafood at our tables.

Dinner was EXCELLENT. I really loved the grilled squid with the steamed vegetables, and the grilled sausage with the corn salad. There was also a buffet, similar to what was served at lunch, and so I picked up some sushi and sashimi (again!), russian salad, bread, crackers and cheese (my happiness!)

I slept super soundly that night with a happy tummy and a happy heart. The next morning, I woke up earlier than the boys did. I wanted coffee but I was too lazy to make some. Then I remembered that there was an uneaten quezo de bola cheesecake sitting in the living area of our suite! So I happily ate that all by myself, first thing in the morning on a Sunday. What a fun way to wake up!

My idea of happiness is having breakfast that I didn’t have to prepare myself. That, for me, is such a luxury, and one of the best parts of any staycation.

One of the little luxuries that I enjoy as a mom is being able to eat breakfast that I didn’t have to prepare myself. Yay for making my morning, @f1hotelmanila 🙂 #F1HotelManila #breakfastbuffet #bacon #eggs #bread

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:47pm PDT

Back at the restaurant, I finally got my coffee. I also had a glass of apple juice. I wasn’t very hungry so I only had a small plate (yes, small na yan for me!) of with waffles, a pandesal, a cinnamon roll, puto, bacon, the yummiest, fluffiest scrambled eggs ever, and vegetable gratin. I wasn’t able to take photos of the breakfast spread because the stations were due for a refill while we were there, so they wouldn’t have made nice photos anyway.

I may have been full, but I wasn’t satisfied. I had been eyeing the champorado all morning, and finally I decided to give in. I’m glad I did because it was the best part of my entire breakfast. I would have regretted not going for it.

You complete me. Or at least my breakfast.

We didn’t try the other hotel facilities because we really just wanted to relax and rest that weekend. F1 does have a nice gym and spa, and 3 swimming pools! After breakfast, Little MrC and I went to check out the pools so I could take photos. There were a lot of people swimming, though, so there was more kiddo than there were pools in my pictures. Oh well!

And just like that, he decided that since I kept taking photos of him, he would start taking photos of ME

We slept well, ate well, enjoyed the company, and had fun in general at F1 Hotel. All in all, it was a great staycation. Those of you who are planning a visit should come during the holidays because there is a lot to look forward to then – special room rates, Christmas and New Year’s Eve mass, Christmas carols, and that Christmas buffet.

Lunch and dinner buffet at F All Day Dining costs PHP 1,399 nett. The special lunch and dinner buffet on December 24, 25, 30, 2014 and January 1, 2015 costs PHP 1,999, and comes with a glass of wine. Special lunch on December 31 is PHP 1,999. Special dinner on December 31 is PHP 2,999, inclusive of one (1) New Year’s Countdown Party Ticket.

Again, THANK YOU so very much, Mr. Tony Co and Pau of F1 Hotel for having us. We enjoyed our stay. Thank you also, Spanky and Jane, for including us in your guest list. We are truly grateful.

F All Day Dining at F1 Hotel Manila
32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City
+632 928.9888 / +632 908.7888
inquiry@f1hotelsandresorts.com
www.f1hotelmanila.com
facebook.com/f1hotelmanila
Instagram @F1Hotelmanila

Taiwan Excellence: Excellent Lifestyles in the Philippines!

November 8, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 11 Comments

Here’s a question for you guys: What do you look for when you buy something? Does the brand matter? Do you check to see where the product was made? Do you count on referrals and recommendations from friends and family?

I have one simple standard when I choose to buy something. It must be of great quality. I’m not at all brand conscious. I am also not the type who only shops imported, after all not all imported products are of high quality. Instead, I go for what I know to be a good product that lasts long, and does what it’s supposed to do well. I count on recommendations, and those ever-so-important seals of excellence on the stuff that I buy.

Because I shop that way, you’ll see why I appreciate the campaign organized by Taiwan through its Bureau of Foreign Trade of Taiwan and Taiwan External Trade Development Council, which should help Filipino consumers identify the best from the rest. The campaign is called Taiwan Excellence, and it aims to recognize high-quality Taiwanese brands thereby guaranteeing their superior quality and value.

It started out as part of the Ministry of Economic Affair’s 5-year plan in the 80’s to raise Taiwan’s international competitiveness by supporting its local brands. Then in 1992, under the Image Enhancement Plan, the Taiwan Excellence Award campaign was established. It was opened to all Taiwan-based brands under categories such as consumer and business, IT, fashion, sports, arts and culture, transportation, and education, among others.

Products go through an awarding process, where they are scored by an international panel of judges. Judging is based on the product’s R&D, design, quality and marketing efforts, and all aspects need to rank evenly. After careful evaluation, the selected brands and products are allowed to carry the Taiwan Excellence Seal, both locally and internationally.

Among the selected products, 30 finalists are selected. 10 of them will be given the Gold Award, and the other 20 will receive the Silver Award. Sounds like a tedious process, but it’s well worth it if it means highlighting only the best that Taiwan has to offer.

Taiwan Excellence was introduced to the Philippines for the first time in 2014, showcasing 56 top-quality brands, including Acer, Asus, HTC, KingCom, KW Trio, MSI, Transcend and BenQ. Aptly themed “Excellent Lifestyle”, the campaign features innovative products that help in simplifying everyday tasks at work and at home. This benefits us shoppers by allowing us to have an enjoyable shopping experience while discovering all of Taiwan’s best.

To learn more about Taiwan Excellence, visit http://taiwanexcellence.ph and #/TaiwanExcellence.ph

Four-Eyed Family

November 5, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 19 Comments

We are now, officially, a four-eyed family. I always hoped that Little MrC wouldn’t have to wear glasses, at least until he was old and grey. But alas, given our family history with spectacles, I’m really not surprised that he now needs them.

As you’ve probably already noticed, both MrC and I wear glasses. We both have astigmatism, and I am also near-sighted. I started needing mine when I was 7. The husbandry started wearing his in the 7th grade. Several other members of both families have worn, and still wear glasses. So yes, it’s safe to say that bad eyes is kind of in our genes.

A few weeks ago, I started noticing that the little guy was holding his books very close to his face while reading. He was also blinking a lot, going near the TV while watching, and complaining about headaches. I knew it was time to have his eyes checked.

So, before their sembreak ended, he and I visited our friendly neighborhood ophthalmologist, Dr. Peggy Manese, in Healthway Alabang Town Center. The moment she asked the little boy to read the chart, we knew his eyesight was bad. He only got 4 out of 15 letters right. Uh-oh.

Uh oh someone needs #glasses.

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:31am PST

That same day, the boys and I visited each and every optical shop in ATC to look for the perfect frames for the kiddo. Luckily, we have had a lot of experience picking out glasses, so we knew what to look for. If you will take another look at the photo above, you’ll see that my mom’s eyeglasses buying skills kind of matched her hair cutting skills. Sorry, Ma.

We finally settled on a nice red and black frame from Sarabia Optical, after a lot of walking, and after the little guy had tried on about 20 or so different frames. They were on sale, so we got it at a good price, and Sarabia also offers friendly lens rates, so we didn’t need to pay a whole lot. That, of course, is a good thing.

Four eyed boy and cheeky girl #MommyMode #ILoveThisBoy

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:30am PST

We had to wait until the following day to pick up the finished glasses, but that was okay. They were worth the wait. Thing is, I never imagined that my kiddo would look like such a big boy in glasses. All of a sudden, it really feels like he is a baby no more! Waaahhhh.

Why do they grow up so fast??? #LittleMrC #MySon #IAmYourMother Photo credit: Lolo Ricky

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:28pm PST

The good news is that we were able to have his eyes checked early enough that it can still be corrected. So mommies and daddies, when in doubt, go and have your kids’ eyes checked by a doctor. Some signs that might indicate that your kid needs glasses are:

They squint or blink a lot
They move closer to the TV while watching or hold a book close to their faces while reading
They often trip or bump into things
They tilt or turn their head when trying to focus on something, coz maybe one eye sees better than the other
They complain of headaches or eye pain

So far the little boy has been good about wearing his glasses at all times, so hopefully when we go back for a checkup next year, his vision will have gotten better. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that.

Do any of your kids wear glasses, too?