Raising a family, making a home.
One of the best discoveries of my year has been this crafternoon group that I’ve recently become a part of. It’s just a lot of fun getting together with other moms for cookies, coffee and crafting, and I’m really glad that my neighbor and new found friend, Michelle, invited me to join the sessions. I’ve been to two so far, and both times we worked with felt. It was actually a couple of months ago when I attended my first crafternoon with Teacher Maricel, so yes this post is very late.
I’ve had a really unusual week. It all started with being stuck in traffic for two hours on Monday because I scheduled a rare morning meeting outside of Alabang on that day. Obviously the week was already starting off on a bad note, then my computer display started acting up, not showing colors correctly. MrC and I had to take it to the repair shop on Tuesday, and I was told that I would be without a computer for one to two weeks. This obviously upset me, but I wouldn’t let the situation get the better of me. Instead, I decided to make the most out of my technology-free days and fill them with family fun and me-time.
I immediately felt better when I remembered that MrC and I were having dinner at the soon to open Alabang Town Center branch of Yabu House of Katsu that Tuesday night. I won one of those online contests that got us a complimentary dinner for two at a private tasting event before the restaurant officially opened to the public. This was our third Yabu experience, and prior to this we had visited their SM Megamall and Southmall branches. Each time, the entire family really enjoyed the food and the excellent service. I, personally, have yet to leave a Yabu restaurant unhappy.
I took a quick nap before dinner, which helped put me in an even better mood. At 7pm, MrC and I headed to ATC, all excited over our free meal. We were seated right away when we arrived, and were told to order whatever we wanted from the menu. We kinda went overboard and ended up with a P1,300 dinner for two. I mean, really,wouldn’t you have ordered a lot? We got a set of appetizers, a plate of katsu each, Rosu for me and Hire for him, in the larger sizes no less, plus drinks. We also got an extra Layu sauce which is this amazing chili garlic dipping sauce that’s nice to alternate with Yabu’s tonkatsu sauce. It may not sound like a lot, but I will let the photos show you that it actually was.
For the second time this year, I am without a laptop. I am now calm and collected again after spewing out a series of four-letter words and questions like, Why is this happening to me?, What kind of cruel joke is this?, Why can’t I get a break?, and Why is the universe messing with me?
We dropped my two-month Lenny off at the authorized service station earlier, and thankfully the service and part replacement is all covered by warranty. Afterwards, MrC treated me to lunch at Starbucks, a chocolate chip and macadamia cookie, and a red velvet cupcake from My Little Buttercup. I’m lucky to have a husband who knows what to do. Chances are, the sugar is responsible for my sudden mood shift.
The bottom line is that I will be computer free for 1-2 weeks. I flipped out a little bit when I found out, but I am now choosing to see things from a different perspective, that is that I am not laptop-less, but rather, laptop free. Yes, there is a difference. Essentially, one is pessimistic and the other optimistic. Allow me to explain.
If I were laptop-less, I would be panicky and possibly crying right now. I would be freaking out over the work that I need to complete over the next few days. I would be thinking about all of my unanswered emails, the photos to edit and blog posts to write. I would be panicking over the online posts that I have yet to schedule. I would be worried, cranky, feeling hopeless and defeated. I refuse to think that way.
Instead, I choose to see this as me being laptop-free. That means one less distraction and an opportunity to manage my time better. I will be working on a shared computer and that means that I need to work more efficiently and say no to procrastination. I hope that means that I will get things done faster. It also means that I will be forced to take more breaks from work. Having no laptop will mean more time to spend with the family doing things that don’t involve gadgets. It means that I will have extra time for crafting, too. See, doesn’t that sound like a lot of fun already?
Honestly, I’m not sure how difficult the next few weeks will be, and I’m a bit worried about how I will cope. But instead of wallowing on my worries, I’m choosing to see the bright side instead. And suddenly the situation isn’t so bad. 🙂
Wish me luck?
xo Patricia C. via WordPress for Blackberry
After reading, re-reading and re-re-reading all of the wonderful entries for my Taal Vista Hotel giveaway, I was stuck with a 10-way tie for the person who I felt best deserved the getaway. I re-re-re-read each entry of the 10 ladies I had picked, and still couldn’t decide who to choose, so I called on my assistant for some help.
First, we wrote down all ten names on pieces of paper. Scratch paper yan, ha! Save the trees! [Read more…] about Announcing the Winner of a Fabulous Taal Vista Hotel Staycation!!!
Just like that, anniversary month is already over. The good news is that we are thismuch closer to Christmas, the absolute most wonderful time of the year! Yes, I am a kid at heart, and the holiday season still excites me.
Last year, the boys and I culminated anniversary month with an amazing staycation at Acacia Hotel Manila. We spent a super relaxing weekend there, and even though the hotel is literally 5 minutes away from home, the quiet time that the three of us got to spend together made it feel like a real getaway.
I have been happily reunited with my hooks and yarns over the last few weeks. I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to make time for the things that make me happy so that I can manage to relax more and not burn myself out with work. I realize now that one of my weaknesses as a WAHM is being able to properly manage my time, and making sure that there are hours dedicated specifically for family, for work, for errands, for learning, and for relaxation. A Facebook conversation with Dainty Mom, Martine, and some of my other friends over at our WAHM group actually triggered this need in me to allocate blocks of time for different things within the day, and that most definitely includes crochet, sewing and my new-found love, felt crafts, all of which really help to relax me.
Since it’s September, I’m starting to think of Christmas gifts already. Like I said yesterday, I hope to DIY most of our gifts this year, which is gonna be a major challenge. So my crochet hooks and I have been working overtime, making little and big things that might make good presents for the special people in my family’s life. Here’s what I have so far.
