Photo Hunt - Reflection

While strolling with a friend, we passed by the train station with lots of mirrors engraved with different demographics of stuff around Vienna and the world.

Verliebte in Wien heute - Fell in love in Vienna today.

(that's a lot!)

I (in red) was not standing directly in front of the mirror but this is what my camera caught. My friend has her own copy of this, two different reflections from 2 different cameras of 2 people.

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It is sometimes nice to reflect upon friendships one has in life. I recently found out that having a 60+ year-old friend has its advantages. Having more experience in life, this friend of mine (not in photo) has lots to tell and laugh about. In her stories, there will be regrets, sure, but along with it will be lessons she had learned. She had hours to spend listening to my complains, time that no one of my friends my age would have for me. I am thankful for such friendship!
-Posted for Photohunt.-

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My "Healthy" photo on Current TV!

You've surely seen this photo more than once, because its one of my favorite portrait of the trio, I've used it a lot of times here, in multiply and allowed for its print in a parenting magazine.

Yesterday, I got a message from JPGMag.com saying they used it as an example for the Health/Diet category to be shown on Current TV. The episodes could be viewed online or of course, on TV. They have also included the channels to catch on TV.

Forgive me, it's the stagemama in me on cloud 9!

Litratong Pinoy - Madumi

Today's theme Madumi/Dirty.

Ang lamparang ito ay hindi naman gasera, makikita ninyo sa loob ang bombilya, (energy saving pa!). Pero sadyang madumi ang loob nito kahit ang poste na itim ay madumi naman talaga...mukhang may kalawang pa.

Ang lamparang ito ay matatagpuan sa parke ng Maria Theresien Platz na kung saan matatagpuan din ang kambal na museong pangsining at pang-agham, ito ay nasa unang distrito ng Vienna. Ang parke at ang mga museo ay itinayo noong 1819 bilang pagkilala at pag-alaala kay Maria Theresa, ang kaisa-isang babaeng namuno sa 650-taong dinastiya ng Habsburg sa emperyo ng Austria at Hungary.

Ngunit kahit na ang parke ay itinayo mahigit 100 taon na ang nakaraan ay hindi naman ganoon katanda ang bombilya nito, siguradong pinapalitan naman iyan kapag napupundi...talaga lamang sigurong pumapasok ang dumi sa loob ng bolang salamin (?) na ito.

Ibang mga litrato ng parke dito.

Happy LP!!!

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The glass lamp surely is dirty. This lamp is at the park of the Maria Theresien Platz, a square with the Science and Art Museums on each side. The park is located at the 1st district of Vienna at the Ringstrasse which is readily available for tourists to see. The park and the museums were constructed in 1819 as a memorial to Empress Maria Theresa, the only female to rule during the 650-year-long Habsburg dynasty.

Even though the place is more than 100 years old, surely the lamp is not as old. Perhaps dust easily gets its way into the glass ball...

See more of the Maria Theresian Platz here.

=)

Lastly, here is a description of dirty, one that you can't think actually exists.

Toilet training

I started toilet training my little boy shortly before he turned two years old. Since I am a SAHM, it was easier to devote time and attention to his call; "Mommy; klo! (toilet)" Little boy is a little late in this department, but hopefully he'd graduate from wearing diapers soon.

Just a few days in training, he was eager to go by himself. I would constantly remind him to "go to the toilet," or "you should pee in the toilet, don't wet your pants."

Then he started attending daycare, his training was to put a halt. However, I did continue training him at home, we changed him to training pants already, and let him watch toilet training videos...like the one below.

It really is important for you to devote time with your kid when toilet training. Some things we could do to make it easier to toilet train a child, show them how one uses the bathroom. Wash hands together, let them flush the toilet. If you have a potty trainer, let them sit on it regularly even with clothes on, so they can be familiar with it. It may take at most 3 months before a child could be trained, so patience is the key for a successful potty training.

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Sleepyhead

My youngest son is a sleepyhead, no doubt. He suddenly falls asleep while eating, playing and in different places and position. He falls asleep at different or odd times of the day too. At one time, his kuya (older brother) told me that during lunch at the kindergarten, he slept on an empty plate while waiting for food to be served.

It is but normal for kids to sleep at different times of the day, however, if it is excessive sleepiness there could be a possibility of a disorder, Narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy in children, as well as in adults, is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness even after adequate night time sleep.

My little boy gets adequate sleep, 9 -10 hours at most. So I have been wondering why when I look for him, I'd see him lying down on the floor, or sitting on the sofa, eyes closed.


I haven't told his doctor about this condition until now, I was simply enjoying taking photos of the little boy (yeah, there's a guilty feeling to it). I wasn't aware of Narcolepsy then, thinking he's just a sleepyhead, but now that I do, I'd be asking for advice from his doc.

Litratong Pinoy - Kinagisnan

Today's theme Kinagisnan/Grew up with.

Today's theme was particularly tough, I do not have much photos from home and so I had to scavenge from my archives. Ironically, I should have posted these photos for last week's theme "Would you perhaps remember?" (Kainis bakit ba kelangan ko pang isulat ang post na ito sa Ingles hahahaha.)

I grew up with the jeepney as the main vehicle of transportation. My dad started out driving his own jeepney when he dropped out from college. (He was taking Education back then). After saving up money, he then left to search for greener pastures overseas. The jeepney was left to be 'pahiram' where the driver would get a percentage of what he earned that day.




Laki ako sa jeep, simula pagkabata, eto na ang nakikita ko sa garahe (oo ako yang nasa picture! lol.) Nung magsimula akong mag-aral ay sakay na ako ng jeep papuntang eskwela. Hanggang kolehiyo ay jeep dahil bukod sa tipid eh mas mabilis silang humarurot sa FX! (joke) Hindi ba nakagisnan mo na rin ang pagsakay sa jeep minsan sa iyong buhay? (Kahit me kotse siguro, naranasan nyo pa din ang sumakay sa jeep?)



The Children's playground! If I remember correctly this is near Luneta (guys, correct me if I'm wrong).

Siguro grade 1 ako nito at ang ate ko naman ay grade 2. Habang nagbloghop ako ay nalaman ko nandun pa rin ito.

Happy LP sa lahat! Kahit super late...=D

About Hubby

Got this tag from Toni, saw it over at Cookie's too.
A tag about my man.

I always have something to tell about the kids but never about hubby. It never really occured to me until now, so for this tag its all about the man who my kids got their looks from. =D

Because of his career change (which I had constantly hoped he would eventually do to not waste his talents) we were able to spend more time together, and him more time at the kitchen. I jokingly call him the weekend kusinero...to which my friend Barbs (who is herself a weekend kusinera) said, should only be Sabado kusinero since he cooks only on Saturdays =D


Here goes:

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen?
Playstation games =D

2. You are out to eat: What kind of dressing does he put on his salad?
Anything.

3. What is the one food he doesn’t like?
Eggplant.

4. You go out to the bar: what does he order?
No alcoholic drink, coz he gets drunk easily lol.

5. Where did he go to high school?
Colegio de San Lorenzo, QC

6. What size shoe does he wear?
41

7. If he were to collect anything, what would it be?
Macs and PCs...lol, we have one in all rooms except the toilet!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Anything wihout eggs. He has very low tolerance for eggs.

9. What would the husband eat every day if he could?
Yakisoba.

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Honeyflakes.

11. What would he never wear?
Striped shirts...

12. What is his favorite sports team?
None.

13. Who will he vote for?
He doesn't vote.

14. Who is his best friend?
Wala, can't say na ako since he doesn't call me much to tell me stuff.

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
Checking his cellphone...always!

16. How many states has he lived in?
N/A...cities perhaps.

17. What is his heritage?
Singaporean and Filipino.


18. You bake him a cake for his birthday: what kind?
We don't celebrate...I can't bake anyway lol.

19. Did he play sports in high school?
No, but he had taekwondo outside school.

20. What could he spend hours doing?
Anything on his PC! (Read manga, watch anime, do graphic work, repair)

Yeah, I get jealous of the time he spends in front of the PC huh. lol. Anyway, this surely is a fun tag. Feel free to do this by posting it on your own blog or through the comment page.

Today's Flowers - Tulip

Not one of Flora's brilliant race
A form more perfect can display;
Art could not feign more simple grace
Nor Nature take a line away...

The tulip's petals shine in dew,
All beautiful, but none alike.
- James Montgomery, On Planting a Tulip-Root

To join this meme click icon below.

Litratong Pinoy - Maalala Mo Kaya

Gaano ba kabilis lumipas ang panahon? Ah, parang kahapon lang ganito lang sha kaliit noon, labing-anim na buwan pa lamang. Sa loob ng mga buwan na iyon ay natutong lumakad, magsalita, ngumiti, pumalakpak at kumanta.

Malinaw pa sa aking alaala ang pagsisimula ko sa pagiging ina, na kahit hindi ko naman pinag-aralan sa eskwela, alam ko na ang gagawin ko...kapag siya ay umiyak, pagkatapos niyang uminom ng gatas, kung paano siya paliguan, kung paano siya patawanin, kung paano siya mahihimbing sa pagtulog.

Lumipas ang mga taon, lumaki na siya, tumangkad, humaba ang buhok, natuto ng maraming salita, natutong mangatwiran, natutong sumagot. Maraming nangyari, maganda, malungkot, nakakatawa, nakakatakot, minsang nakakapagpagalit din. Natural yata sa isang ina ang maging mahigpit sa mga anak na babae nila. Ngayon ko nga naiintindihan ang madalas na sinasabi ng nanay ko 'Maiintindihan mo din ako pag nagkaanak ka na...' Hindi nga madali magpalaki ng anak, lalo na sa panahong ito na talaga namang iba sa kinalakihan ko (or natin).

Gayunpaman, sa kabila ng mga di magagandang pangyayari, patuloy kong maalala kung paano sa aking anak, ako ay isang ina.

(ang kanyang ngiti na hindi nababago - her signature smile)

How fast does time fly? Ah, it seems just like yesterday she was 16-months-old. In those months, she learned how to walk, talk, smile, clap and sing.

It is still very clear in my mind, the beginnings of me being a mom. Though I didn't learn it from school, I know what to do...when she cries, after she drinks milk, how to bathe her, how to make her laugh, how to put her deep into sleep.

Years passed, she grew, hair got long, learned lots of words, learned how to reason, to answer back. A lot of things happened. Good, sad, funny, horrible, some that could make me angry. Maybe its natural for moms to be a little strict with their dughters. It is only now that I understand what mom used to tell me 'you will understand me as soon as you have daughters of your own...' It really isn't easy to raise a child these days, one very different and difficult from what I had (or yours).

However, despite the not so fond things that happened, I will always remember how, to my child, I am a mother.



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Happy LP to all. For more, please visit LitratongPinoy.

Stagemamarazzi on Today's Flowers

9 Sept 2004

Sometime ago I posted my daughter's photo holding a blue gerbera for this meme, Today's Flowers. Today, I am posting photos of my two boys when they were younger and when in their age, holding a flower is not branded as 'for girls only.'

First photo was of my older son, he's 5 years plus now. I took this shot after the photosession of his sister, when she threw the yellow gerbera, then little boy picked it up and curiously looked into it. That's how I got this shot...

Below is a photo of my youngest when he was about 6 months old. This was the time when he was teething, naturally whatever he gets ahold of is considered 'food,' the blue gerbera was no exception.

13 Aug 06

Kids are definitely my favorite photo subject. Not only are their photos worth putting in their albums as snaps, but kids playful as they are, would show real emotion and character. This is a good opportunity to practice portrait photography. As a stagemamarazzi, I follow (or sometimes not) a few guidelines on how to make the most of child photography. Here's a few:

Take Candid shots

Kids are kids, they will play and be foolish, serious and thinking the next. Capture these moments without them realizing that you are clicking the camera for as soon as they notice...they either become conscious, giving you a frowning face or extreme foolery expression. Make it natural.

Level with them

Bodyaches should not stop you from bending down and clicking your camera from the children's eye level. You've read it before and here you'll read it again. Get down on your knees or flat on your stomach if need be to get a shot their eye level...this rule could be broken though! =D

Don't be cheap

Take as many clicks as possible, after all you have a big space to save on ;-) If not, buy lots of memory sticks, sd cards, flash cards so you don't miss 1001 expressions of your precious subject. Surely, when you review your shot, one would always stand out from a series...its easy to pick and then discard what you don't need...