Our Darling Daughter,

As you enter formal school for the first time, let me tell you that I am so proud of you and to whatever path you will choose in the future. Mommy and Daddy will always be your Number 1 fan. 

My child, enjoy your school days, your childhood as a whole. Because living life is not easy, some may not have the childhood that you have right now but be thankful that you were born loved and wanted. 

Enjoy every minute of it. Learn to count, spell, read, sing and dance. Color your world with colors of the rainbow. 

Never worry of the future. Let Mommy and Daddy work hard for you. The only thing we want from you is for you to study hard and do your best. We won't pressure you. Because we want you to enjoy every minute of every stages you will have to conquer. 

Learn the basics for it will serve as your foundation. No tree will ever grow without its roots. 

Listen and be heard. 

Be joyful like your personality. Let your smile radiate for the world to see. 

And finally, as you grow, know JESUS. For He is the source of everything. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He knows us, He knows all the desires of our heart. This is our ultimate goal for you Dorothy. 

We love you so much! 

Love,

Mommy May and Daddy Bobet

It's been cold lately especially in the mornings and showering is a bit of a challenge because we don't have a water heater installed in the bathroom. It kind of makes you think that summer is still several months away but hey, in reality, it is just a couple of months away. In fact, for some, summer literally starts next month - March. 

But how do you choose the perfect summer destination when our planet offers so many wonderful places to visit and adventures to discover? 

Most people would probably have booked for their plane tickets and hotel reservations to their favorite summer destinations a few months ago taking a cue on Condé Nast's Best Beach Getaways article while some opt to spend their summer in a colder destination. Whatever is your choice is, do make sure to have fun, relax, and indulge. Summer's don't last and will eventually fade into the lovely colors of autumn or the rainy months in the tropics, case in point - The Philippines! I am an advocate of taking a break from the daily grind once in a while and summer is the perfect excuse to transport yourself into a different environment, a new vista, a change of perspective. 

For a working mom like me with a toddler who goes to preschool and a husband who is knee-deep in his business ventures, my priority is to provide a summer experience that wouldn't only be unforgettable and full of memories to last a lifetime but also an experience that would not require us to break our banks and dent our pockets. 

MY DREAM SUMMER DESTINATION

My dream summer destination will always be Hawaii. This is always #1 in my bucket list of places to see before I die. I dream about frolicking in the red and black sandy beaches of Hawaii, sea cliffs that make other cliffs in the world pale in comparison, volcanic landscapes that evoke the power of nature, clear blue waters in different depths, amazing underwater flora and fauna, and of course the ever wonderful and pleasant Polynesian culture.  

I am willing to bet that Hawaii is part of everyone's travel bucket list because why not? Hawaii's six major islands have a different offering for every age group. You can go to Hawaii with your family and frolick at the beach, explore nature, hike, run the hills, snorkel and admire the variety of sea creatures, and tackle the giant waves among others.

Wouldn't you love to stay in Hawaii and live off wearing no footwear or at the very least just a pair of flip flops/slippers? I'd take slippers any day over the painful scourge of the stilettos. Wouldn't you love to be in your bikini all day long and no one will judge you? I'd raise both my hands to that. Hawaii is indeed a dream summer destination - where you literally kick off your heels and run towards the embrace of the warm water any time of the day.

Hawaii is every water baby's paradise! As soon as you see the glorious beaches, you instantly forget the rush hour madness, the stockpile of paperwork, the clutter of an unkempt home, the hustle and bustle of cramped cities behind you. Hawaii may be God's gift to the Ariel-dreaming humans. Despite its gorgeous and undeniable appeal, Hawaii offers more than what you see with your eyes, it offers so much more that it warms your heart as much as it tans your skin. Nothing is hurried - you take your sweet time as you brush your soles into the fine sandy shores and you swim and get carried away by the waves.

I dream of just packing my bags and going straight to a Hawaiian cottage by the beach. Who needs a career when you can live in a world that seems to exist only in your dreams? I would love to spend enough time around cliffs that are awe-inspiring and spend time admiring powerful waves that tell me that there are strong forces beyond my control and that I should live my life on my own terms.

Indeed, a beach is not a beach when you have to wear a jacket just to walk along the shores. A beach should be warm enough to let you wear the skimpiest beachwear to your heart's content. 

There are pockets of adventure everywhere you look - swimming holes that require adventurous souls to brave the depth of the sea and the hyperactive waves, caves to explore, beaches to soak in the summer sun, and waterfalls and rainforests too. It's like the Garden of Eden described in the Bible. It's simply paradise here on Earth peppered with tall coconut trees and lush pineapple fields. Maybe when Hawaii was created, the Creator was actually thinking of creating a Paradise on Earth - a priceless gift to the human race.

In fact, if money is not a question, I would want to move to Hawaii and make summer happen all year round. But for now, Hawaii will stay in my books as my dream summer destination.

MY FAVORITE SUMMER DESTINATION

Because in all honesty, I don't have a visa to go to Hawaii and a passport, it will stay on my bucket list for now and remain as a dream. So, I'm ready to declare that my favorite summer destination is none other than BORACAY - our very own Boracay.

Every single time I think of relaxing on a vacation, I think of Boracay. The place gives me a different kind of excitement. I literally have butterflies in my stomach when I reminisce on my most memorable trip to Boracay. It was several years ago, on our honeymoon. It never fails to give me that giddy feeling, that warm and comforting feeling.

Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints.

I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

HOW TO DETERMINE THE BEST SUMMER DESTINATION FOR THE FAMILY

Although planning a vacation that will please everyone in the family is not an easy feat, choosing the right destination is the key. If you have chosen the right destination then you're almost guaranteed to have only the best time with your family.

1. Determine the needs of the youngest members of the family first.
Infants, toddlers, and school-age kids have different requirements for entertainment and fun. When you have an infant you need to consider their feeding time. When you have toddlers with very short attention span then you have to make sure there is enough entertainment to make them busy. For curious school-age kids who have so many questions, then you can bring them to a place that would satisfy their curious minds.

In our case, our toddler loves to be active - run around, play, jump on trampolines, swim using her floaties and everything Disney. She's not keen on food trips and meditation sessions. She wants to be up and running most of her waking hours.

2. Consider your budget.
Choose a hotel that offers many inclusions - like free wifi, free towels, free breakfast among other things. Although all-inclusive hotels may be more expensive but if you calculate the comfort and all the inclusions, you will see that you have saved. Some hotels even have free playrooms as well as free swimming pools.

3. Check the weather. 
When you travel with kids, it is best to check the weather so you can prepare rainy weather essentials or stormy weather necessities. Also, it would be best to overpack than to under pack when you have kids in tow. Bring a poncho or an umbrella, sundresses or shorts and sleeveless shirts as well as extra change of clothes - especially when you have an all day activity scheduled.

4. Remember, you can never take enough photos.
So click the shutter, capture every move. Choose a summer destination that is pretty in itself. Bring OOTDs that would match the location of your destination. You would not want to bring thick fur coats on a beach destination and vice versa.

Of course, you would not want to bring along a humongous DSLR or your precious mirrorless camera on the beach with you. Bringing your expensive camera is just too risky because of the risk of sand getting in the nook and crannies of the lenses. So what better way to document your wonderful fun in the sun than to bring your trusted mobile phone that can take beautiful photos.

The Oppo F1s should be a perfect part of your summer adventure because:

1. It packs a storage space that will not be a part of your baggage allotment.
The Oppo F1s has a 3GB RAM coupled with a 64-bit octacore processor that ensures the possibility of multitasking. The phone allows a seamless operation that lets you play games in between swim or surf sessions, browse on the go so you know where to eat or go next, store photos of all your summer adventure, capture and play videos among other things. The additional memory card slot is a perfect feature as well and the storage allows up to 128GB expansion. The current ROM is 32GB. You have all the space you need to capture photos and videos of your summer destination. What more could you ask for yeah? Maybe filters?




2. It has available filters that would surely complement your photos. 
You'd think summer has all the natural lighting you would need so you won't settle for a filter to prettify your photos but hey filters can make your photos pop in the sea of photos in social media today. You just need that little bit of advantage to stand out. I'm also in awe of the watermarking feature. The phone imprints the photo with time, date, temperature and other information about the specific shot.


3. It has camera features that are at par if not more advanced than entry-level cameras.
The 13MP rear camera would give mobile phones in the same class a competitive advantage. The aperture is slightly higher than the front camera and is at f/2.2. The rear camera is best used for landscapes, sceneries, action photos - basically all pertaining to summer destination adventures and practically anything you want to photograph. It's not touted as the Selfie Expert phone for nothing for sure!



OPPO F1s Microsite

Where do you plan to spend your summer? Wherever it is, I strongly suggest bringing your Oppo F1s with you on your summer destination. I'm sure I will!


DISCLOSURE: This is my entry to the Nuffnang PH x Oppo F1s Summer Destination Blog Contest. I was not paid to write this blog post but I have a chance to win my very own Oppo F1s. I own a few of the photos featured in this post and some were copied from the Oppo F1s website, PicJumbo, Unsplash, and Stocknap. There is no affiliate link included in this blog post.

Read last edition of spontaneous blabber here.

Miss Universe 2016 finally wrapped with the declaration of France as the eventual winner. Overall, I am personally with the result but I was a little bit disappointed that Brazil did not make it to the Top 6. Anyway, I love France and she's one of my European picks so all is well that ends well I suppose. 

Miss France is Iris Mittenaere, a dental student who loves to cook. She wore a very stunning golden gown at the coronation night and she deserved the crown. She looked like a vision in her gown matched with her pleasant aura and undeniable gift of gab. She spoke like a true beauty queen. This 23-year old beauty was crowned by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines. 

Miss Haiti came in close as 1st runner-up followed by Colombia's Andrea Tovar as 2nd runner-up. Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines round up the Top 6 while USA, Mexico and Canada complete the Top 9. Peru, Panama, Indonesia and Brazil filled in the remaining spots to complete the Top 13. Thailand won the popular vote so the finalists were increased to 13 from only the original 12.

Congratulations to the Department of Tourism, ex-Governor Luis "Chavit' Singson and everyone who had a hand in making the Miss Universe 2016 a success. The beauty of the Philippines, as well as the warmth of the Filipino people, were truly showcased this year. 

May you have a wonderful reign Mademoiselle France! Toutes mes félicitations! 

PHOTO CREDITS: Miss Universe Facebook Page

I don't know where to begin today's blog post. Pretty much a heavy cloud is hanging on every shoulder in the family because of what happened to my sister and her baby earlier this week. It is sad to lose a family member especially a little being that we haven't really met yet. How can we be so attached to someone we just saw printed on the ultrasound paper? I know only families who lost someone to a miscarriage/stillbirth would understand what I am saying. 

Anyway, I hope and pray that my sister and her husband will be okay and for now I will let them grieve over their loss, our loss. I could not imagine what I would do if this would happen to me. I've seen my sister get up after every fall but by the looks of it, she's really torn and hurting and the only thing I can do now is to listen to her and to pray for her. I know healing would come eventually but she will never ever forget her precious little one. 

I will try to convince her to write about her story. I know writing is therapeutic for her and when she's ready to share I think she will. 

Poppy, you will always be remembered! Tita bought a Norfolk pine to memorialize your existence. You are and will always be a part of our family. We love you! We will see you in heaven one day. 

Read last week's spontaneous blabber here.

I had to sit down and reflect for a bit and ask myself if I am an Urban Jetsetter, a Modern Dapper, a Business Class, or a Sporty Hipster and I too was surprised because after carefully evaluating myself I turned out to be an Urban Jetsetter. I had to pinch myself a little bit though because I would not really consider myself a jetsetter - I had to meditate to come in to terms with it. What a realization! It took me 29  years. Hooray! 

WHAT IS AN URBAN JETSETTER? 

Well, an urban jetsetter is someone who loves travelling and who loves going out of town. To take that a notch higher, an urban jetsetter is someone who loves travelling and who loves going out of town complete with Urbanize gears - bags, totes, carry-on set, heck, even a travel French press system! It is such a good time to be alive yeah? 

Before we got married, my husband and I loved driving around town and cities nearby. We love exploring and discovering new places, new joints, new restaurants, new spots to conquer. We love the concrete jungle just as much as we love our developing town. We don't have skyscrapers yet and so we revel in the moment when we get lost inside the concrete jungle - the urban jungle. 

We enjoy exploring even the mundane, like the colorful "perya" in the middle of the concrete jungle.  I feel like I'm going around places as the horses gallop round the carousel. 

We travelled to different cities and provinces in the Philippines and I have a ton of pictures to look back to. I always find it heartwarming when I talk about my travels to other people. I take pride knowing that #IAmUrbanBrave to have explored the unknown and dip my foot into the wonderful world of travel. 

When I was a bit younger, I told myself that I would explore my country, venture into the big big  world, collect stamps for my passport, book  a two-way-ticket, see the world and go back to the welcoming arms of my beloved country - the Philippines where I would then spend some more days daydreaming and reminiscing my travels. 

Urbanize products were indeed made for urban adventure. It is made for urban dwellers like my sister, weekend warriors like my husband, the multitasking expert and urban jetsetter just like myself. Each and every product made and manufactured have fashion, function and style infused in it. Urbanize is like the skyscraper turned into a sturdy bag, a bridge turned into a functional everyday necessity, and the busy disctricts and metropolis transformed into the combination of colors and aesthetics. 

I'm glad to have stumbled upon Urbanize because I am able to choose the best products/gear to bring with me as I indulge my wandering feet and insatiable love for travel. What is on top of my list is the famous brand PACSAFE. I love the anti-theft technology. Pacsafe can take my money anytime! I'd love it to be my forever travel buddy. 

This bag will be perfect when I need to carry my gadgets with me when I travel including my laptop. Bonus that it comes in red too! 

This water bottle is a must-have! I would recommend it to anyone. I would actually buy my daughter this too as it would be perfect for any ages. Hydrate using a Hydrapak for a better lifestyle!

Visit Urbanize Stores to see the different products that you can equip your self as you fuel your wanderlust. 

Hello, everyone! Thank you for spending your precious time to visit my blog. While it is clear that I don't have much content yet, I am going to make a little promise that I intend to keep - I promise to update my blog as often as I can so I can grow my blog as I continue to find the balance of being a wife, a mother and a nurse. 

Today is the first day of this series that I am going to start. I've seen The Sunday Currently and Friday's 10 Happy Things and I want to start something and hopefully, you would join me. My goal is to share spontaneous things to you while eventually making this a link-up between bloggers especially working mothers like me. Of course, anybody is welcome to join.   I've never made something like this before so this will be a challenge that I hope I could fulfill. 

So essentially, this list will be a summary of what transpired during your week (Sunday to Friday), interesting articles you have read, noteworthy hacks or tricks of the trade you just found out and you want to share, random conversations with your toddler or husband and even your house help or coworkers for that matter, funny experiences, basically just about anything. You can share at least one up to 100 items or even more. Just be spontaneous! 

So, let me get the ball rolling: 

1. I finally overcame my fear and joined a blog contest. Check it out here and let me know what you think? Should I keep joining? 

2. It has been especially hard to wake Wooty up this past week. I guess we need to train her to sleep earlier. Or maybe she's just scared of a cold shower. We really need to get a heater methinks!

3. I joined The Misty Mom's Johnson's Bedtime Range Instagram giveaway last month and today she tagged me and that I am one of the winners. Wooot! This would be perfect to achieve my goal of improving Wooty's sleep routine. 

4. I am fixing my family's passport renewal requirements so we're ready when an opportunity to travel will come. We plan to renew at the DFA-General Santos City satellite office. I just need to determine the date and set up an appointment so the process could be seamless at least. 

5. I watched the inauguration coverage of the new POTUS and the formal introduction of the new FLOTUS and I think it was a well-organized event. I loved that Joe Biden went home to Delaware and took the train with his family. I didn't quite like the facial expressions of Michelle Obama though.  The POTUS sounded like he was still campaigning but nonetheless, I wish the citizens of the USA all the best. 

6. I read a meme going around which really made me laugh. I couldn't find it again so I'll attempt to write whatever I can remember. I may be butchering this so credits to the first person who came up with this funny fictional conversation: 

Joe Biden: "Barack, I will bring all the pens and I'm not leaving a single one when we leave the White House. "

Barack Obama: "Oh why so Joe?" 

Joe Biden: "Ahhh Trump, has his own Pence!"

7. My daughter imitates the Disney vlogger. She tries to copy the dialog, the mannerisms. Kids these days!

8. I'm still at a loss on how to convince my daughter to eat vegetables. She calls vegetables "flowers". LOL! Not even leaves or anything but flowers. I'll probably try feeding her blended vegetable soup. Good thing her weight is still within the acceptable range. 

9. I was present at work all day this week! Pat on the back for me. Yay!

10. I'm also so proud that I made bento boxes using the Yumbox Framboise Pink for my daughter's nibble box at school. I plan to make better food choices moving forward and reduce the sweets and crackers. Wish me luck! 

I guess I'm blabbering so much already so I'll put a stop at 10 for now. I'll see you again next week for the next edition of Spontaneous Saturday Blabber. If you want to join, please leave your link in the comment box below so I can visit your blog as well. 

Enjoy the weekend with your family!