Today is Saturday and I usually spend my weekends watching Korean Series since 2007. For these past few years I couldn't count how many series I've spend my weekends with, but only few I can totally say my favorites.

1.) My Girl by Lee Da Hae and Lee Dong Wook. (2005-2006)

Synopsis: Hotel heir Gong Chan has been tasked to locate his missing cousin by his ill grandfather. Yoo Rin's appearance was in timed when Gong Chan was in the height of desperation, plus her huge facial similarities of his grandfather's daughter that made him propose to Yoo Rin to pretend as his cousin.

This is the very first taste of Korean series and fell in love with.

Personally the story was effective because the two lead actors' chemistry was undeniable. It was so effective that followers (like me) really hoping that the rumors of them being a couple were true. teehee!





2. Coffee Prince by Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo (2007)

Synopsis: It all started with maling akala. Gong Yoo's character thought all the while that the small-framed boy he hired was a he. Because of Yoon Eun Hye's character's dire need of income that she actually had to go all the way of pretense so she wouldn't get fired.

Gong Yoo was literally a "hunk" on this series. Even though he wasn't as eyecandy as Lee Dong Wook in My Girl (and Wild Romance) damn(!) his sex appeal was totally all over the screen. Yoon Eun Hye was really professional and really able to pull her character off as a tomboyish with strong character. I love, love, love the OST White Love Story, it was on the background when the both leads kissed.

3.) My Name is Kim Sam Soon by Kim Sun Ah and Hyun Bin. (2005)

Synopsis by Dramawiki: Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah) is a baker who has a talent in making pastries and cakes. On Christmas Eve, she caught her boyfriend, Min Hyun Woo (Lee Kyu Han), cheating on her and breaks up on the same night. On that same night, she accidentally went into the men's restroom and met Hyun Jin Hun (Hyun Bin), a somewhat callous fellow but sometimes considerate guy. By sheer coincidence, Jin Hun needs a baker for his restaurant Bon Appetit and Sam Soon is unemployed. Sam Soon is hired as the restaurant's chief baker and the two fights like cat and dog. Nevertheless, they started to have feeling for each other and Sam Soon agreed to post as Jin Hun's girlfriend so his mother would leave him alone. Things got complicated when Jin Hun's ex-girlfriend Yoo Hee Jin came back from the States intending to win him back.

Here in the Philippines, My Girl was shown at the same time as Kim Sam Soon on the other channel. So I obviously didn't watch it until few years later. Anyway, I think the theme about older woman and younger man made this series stand out.



 


 4.) Princess Hours by Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hun (2006)

Synopsis: Grandparents of Chae Kyung (Eun Hye) and Lee Shin (Ji Hoon) vowed to have their grandchild to marry each other.

 This is one of the K-series has quite a number of good songs like "Perhaps Love" by HowL & J. , "You & I Are Fools" by Stay, "Parrot" by HowL.






5.)  Get Karl Oh Soo Jung by Um Jung Hwa and Oh Ji Ho (2007)

Synopsis: Fat guy Man Soo was left on the altar by his girlfriend Soo Jung. 7 years after, Man Soo returned as a well known golf player, good looks, money, and all sexy. When Soo Jung learned that he was her fiance she left, she tried everything to win him back.

I learned from this series the lesson "its not all what it seems." Soo Jung isn't a typical lead who is all goody, instead you get to be pissed by her actions, cringed at how her head works. But as the series progresses, characters unfolding I can't help but to like Soo Jung. She is a human after all.

This was one of the series I never get tired of watching over and over...FYI I watched this like five times. lol

I also love the songs Marry Me by Kan Mi Yeon and Sarang Han Da Myeon - Tree Bicycle





The Part 2 of My Top Korean Series will be continued.

Different people have different things to combat whenever they are down. Some would see themselves splurge with new shoes and bags, others would pig out with chocolates, ice creams, and food. I myself, though head straight to my laptop and go surf...yes, I even see myself either doing some Photoshop.

I was 30 years old and already a mother of 2 boys when I decided to learn how Photoshop works. It took me a month to at actually say I know the basics. Three months after I started to receiving requests to make posters for their stories in our fanfiction community.

Last week I searched in Youtube how to make small box for my bracelets.


I was literally drowning in self-pity when I kept on making the boxes, and as I moved on I was getting better and better and yes, I felt a little better emotionally as well.

Who would expect that my learning how to make small box would be therapeutic for me just a few days after?

Yes, the past two years would mark the "Let's Scare Mama Gremlin" Year led by Cholo (2011) and Derek (2012). Its like they planned this one day while watching  Phineas and Ferb episodes.

Last year, Cholo was playing inside the room and tripped. He bit his lower lip and it was swollen and so nasty to look at. As if that's not enough we went to have his back x-rayed after the iron post dropped and slid off his back and foot, while playing with his school mates.

This year, Derek was like, "wait a minute, why can't I have my "Scare Mama Gremlin Year?"

Last year, Derek was like his Teacher Eusie's monster student for being uncontrollable, he would spend more than half of his time in school playing outside the room. He would just behave when I was inside monitoring him. He wanted me inside the room with him, but I have to be firm and left him on his own after four months. 

Yes! Freaking four months! At the end of the school year he graduated Nursery with definitely didn't learn how to write his alphabet and had to learn how to write on summer vacation with me. Sigh!

This year, I was doubly concern of him carrying off his keber-ko-attitude with his pregnant Teacher Len. I was scared that he would be the reason of miscarriage. But then in fairness, Teacher Len seemed to know how to handle him better since this time he likes to go to school compared to last year.

So the scare mama gremlin comes in when he came back with a nasty cut (same reason with his older brother) on his upper lip. Before that students came running to me to inform that Derek was bleeding. I was like GOD! We brought him in WMMC (siguro we can avail SUKI CARD if the hospital has one) and have him checked, fortunately uppat that time no stitching required. But what was scary was after when the nurse asked if his immunization was complete specifically the Anti-Tetanus Vaccination. 

To make the long story short, after he was being injected with anti-tetanus I thought it was the last time. I thought he learned his lesson well, besides after all the screaming, shrieking, freaking out inside the ER was enough.

Until a month after came and this time it was notch higher than the last time. I was in my afternoon nap with Dean when I heard soft knocks and the head of our hired labandera popped in. "Anti, ya kay si Derek na hagdanan."

Seriously, I was awake but my brain was still sleeping coz I didn't freak out like I was used to. Hello?! The stair was steep and its not wood.

I walked out and saw him standing in the middle of the comfort room with the blood dripping like mad. I was angry, brain sleeping, pissed off. How could he forgot that he was strapped down by four guys in the ER the other month just to have him injected? I wiped the blood and covered with a band-aid and before heading to the hospital, again.

As expected when we walked in the OPD of ER the nurse remembered him. Duh?! While cleaning off the blood, which was now a dried streak on the left side of his face, I could see that this was one deep wound. My eyes almost popped out. Remembering that while he was waiting for me he was playing around with Cholo like nothing happened. God, this need stitching! 

"Ma'am, can he sit still while stitching his cut?" The nurse asked. 

I was like screaming in my head, "seryoso ka, neng?!"And I heard myself replied, " Didn't the last time 4 people or nurses including my husband was needed to strap him down?" 

"Amu gane." She replied. "So it leaves us no choice but to have him sleep and instead of being an out patient he would be admitted."

I was pondering and entertaining that thought. I was scared that he would be too uncontrollable and something worst would happen while stitching.But then no room available so we said that we had to try Ciudad.

It was my first time to walk in not as a visitor but as a (parent of the) patient.

Anyway, I was kind of clueless coz I am really a WMMC suki patient (all my three babies were born there, when Derek suffered from amoeba he was confined there, and yes when I was a victim of Dengue I was their patient) and was kind of used to how long I have to wait for the Cocolife office to approve the request. Kaya nga I was kind of surprised, in a very good way of course, how it was so easy Cocolife beneficiaries like me to walk in Ciudad Medical's front desk (I don't know what to call it.) and have all the things done in less than five minutes...definitely far cry different from WMMC. All I did was hand in the id card, signed, and done.

Unexpectedly, there's no room available in Ciudad, too, I guess its because of the high rise of Dengue patients kaya puno ang mga hospitals.

The nurses in the ER told me that there's no need for Derek to be stitched in the OR and it can be done with the help of local anesthesia. I was thinking, "damn, you don't have a clue how my kid can do his karate moves." But I gave in. I kept on texting my husband to hurry coz we need manpower to keep little Gremlin from doing his "parang sinaniban".

In fairness with WMMC, after all the waiting in approval from Cocolife office, the service in OPD was faster compared to Ciudad considering of how busy the prior ER compared to the latter. WMMC ER are always busy with patients swarming in and yet, they were able to tend to out patients with their needs.

That's why when I agreed for him to be stitched using local anesthesia I was expecting wow the prepping would be faster since there was only two patients. But I was wrong, we waited longer. I had no clue why it takes them longer to prep.

When my husband arrived after more than thirty minutes of waiting (or was it almost an hour?) they handed me the form to fill up and started to prepare the things needed...then off we went to the battle. lol

One male nurse were holding his head/face, the other was his shoulders, then my husband his arms, while I on the feet (my husband and I swapped midway coz kasi yan cramps el mano).

Yes, we endured Derek's screaming of , "OH MY GOOOODDD!!!!" to, "I wanna go home na!!!!" and, even, "Sorry na, mama! Please, sorry na! Last ya ste. Ende na. Ende na!!!!"

I guess we're too hungry that day that we three went to Greenfield and had our dinner there. We were laughing about Derek's pleads and all. 

 A month has passed and nothing happened to Derek, but I know for sure it wouldn't be that last time.

Two years ago, I would have passed out with the sight of the blood...but now I am a little stronger. My insides doesn't do somersaults or my nose doesn't pick up the "ironish" smell of the blood...and yes, thanks to Dean, I can actually suck it in everytime needles are needed to be pricked--coz he can take the pain, why can't I?

That's for another post. :)

I am introducing the Gemstones I am using in my bracelets. To start off, in every bracelet Gemstone(s) used are all authentic and genuine that my supplier has ordered straight from other countries.  

Rose Quartz are known to be a Stone of Universal Love. 

Amethyst to be a Sobriety Stone or Cleansing Stone.

Citrine is a Merchant's Stone

Aventurine a Gambler's Stone or Stone of Luck.

Garnet a Stone of Abundance

Jade is Abundance, Love...

Malachite a best Protection Stone for Children.

and others...

Currently, all my bracelets are named after Goddesses all over the World. Like ISIS is a Goddess of Motherhood and Fertility. The gemstones I used are Rose Quartz, Amethyst, and Moonstone, and accented with a Butterfly charm which symbolizes of welcoming a new life. 

Other bracelets like for Love, Abundance, Self-Confidence, Protection are available and can be ordered at 09278227618.

Personally, I have always been drawn about things like these...even I was in college. I remembered I was walking inside the mall in Manila when I stumbled about Crystals and its so-called powers--yes, I was hooked. I bought some and brought here in Zamboanga, some I had for myself while others I sold to my friends.

Like when I was still single and dating my boyfriend (now my husband), I bought a Rose Quartz. Then I even bought a Jade cellphone charm right after I didn't get the job, a few days after I aced the interview and ended up in a better job with higher pay. As for my friends who helped me sell the gemstones? They ended up marrying their boyfriends then.

The effects wasn't instant as what others might thought, but after thinking we realized that in some ways it did serve its purpose. 

Was it coincidence or not? It depends on you.

It was  ordinary morning while we were doing our stuffs before going to school, I saw Cholo standing on the chair while his 76 year old Lola Chichi (my husband's aunt) putting on his brief for him, instead of him doing it on his own.

"No." His nonchalant reply, munching on his Koko Krunch.

"Don't tell me your lola will still be putting undies on you when you reach high school?" I was half-joking, half hoping that it would make him think. But I was surprised of his reply.

"Of course not, mama, it would not happen." Obviously. "Because she would be dead by the time I reach high school."

OMG.

Why do we always attached the word "Losyang" to us, married women?

Was it because we are still sporting this "pregnant" body shape? Or was it because we prefer to show off the dark puffy circle around the bottom of our eyes?

Its understandable naman dahil we put on pounds when we are pregnant. After delivering, it is expected na tayo rin ang mag-aalaga sa kanila, except to those women who hired yaya. But still, even women with yayas do take care of the baby themselves. Unlike husbands who not only have to carry the baby inside their belly, they don't have to spend more than three ours per day to bond with the baby.

But why do they still end up losyang and still get away with it, right?

So anyway, I have two kids who are in school and a 10 month old baby, not to mention a business to tend to, and other things, it is quite understandable but not acceptable if I end up losing myself...in short Losyang.

I just celebrated my 34th birthday this month and I realized that I am putting so much work this year than I had last year because my drive to not look losyang was stronger now because of I have a baby...and yes, older.

1.) BODY IS A WONDERLAND

a.) A Combo of Vaseline, Block and White lotion.

I used to hate putting on lotions because of the slimy effect left on my skin after, but now I never can get out from the house without it (I still hate it) because if I don't my skin gets dry easily and itchy.

b.) one capsule of MYRA- E a day.

at my age I do need to gulp down a bottle of vitamin E.

c.) LOSE WEIGHT

2.) WEEKLY PAMPERING

I like to be pampered, period. So I usually see myself taking off once a week and leave my baby with my aunt while I head off to salon (Jec-Jec) and have my nails done. The whole process even if it only takes an hour is enough to make me feel good. 

Just two days ago I found myself after deposited the day's sales in the bank, I went to have a massage. Yes, it was unplanned. So this week I didn't have my nails done because of the massage. 

3.)  WEAR CLOTHES and FEEL SEXY

My pretty clothes consists of a blouse and a dark jeans. No, I am not a person who cares so much about what I wear. As long as its comfortable I am fine with it. Its the attitude that matters though. I miss my 115 pound pre-preggy body, but it doesn't mean I would feel so fat and huge in my body weight, right? 

Yes, I always remind (and lie) to myself that I am sexy. Yes, blatant lie that I am one Hot Mama does help in ones ego. Trust me, if you constantly say that you are sexy, you are exuding that aura as well.

4.) BEAUTY PRODUCTS

I am not a fan of beauty products. My routine at night would be hit the showers and straight to bed. No time to put on anti-wrinkle-supple-skin-whitening products on face....until now.

Yes, I am a lazy and forgetful, but whenever I can I do put on products on face like;
> Tony Moly Tomatox Magic Whitening Cream for whitening.
>Tony Moly Floria Youth Energy Eye Cream for wrinkle and whitening.



5.) DO CRAZY THINGS

It doesn't mean that we do crazy stuff ends the moment our first baby was born. Simple singing out loud like a crying banshee, dance like a crazy patient, or do boring stuff like gardening, sewing, and cleaning the house...

My crazy stuff is to watch hours and hours and hours of dvd during weekends while wolfing down junk foods or spend hours and hours and hours of making bracelets, cellphone charms...and yes, hours and hours and hours of trying to finish a chapter of the story I am writing.
 

6.) COMMUNICATION WITH FRIENDS

The presence of internet and cellphones does make the communication between friends easier.

7.) SLEEPING BEAUTY

I have to thank and kiss myself for getting used to sleep at 8:30, and that's the reason I think why compared to my younger siblings I have visible free fine lines and wrinkles at my age.


Yes, its hard for women who have kids to lose themselves especially if we are drown with all the things we have to accomplish and do in each day.

Being "Losyang" doesn't stop in how haggard we look, it seeps in right in. We not only look haggard, but we can't help but to feel ugly, worthless, and dead tired in the inside.

We all have our own idea and things we do for us not to walk down to that road. Just remember that we owe it to ourselves to feel good and pretty.

My gremlins even though they aren't feeling well I don't see them tie down on the beds, yup, they are still up and running trying to keep the house as chaotic as possible, para bang sumasakit ang ulo nila na makitang maayos ang bahay. Anyway, its hard to see them coughing while they do their karate kick while watching Kung Fu Panda,  and its worst when I had to grit my teeth and had to go through hearing them bark at night, parang may stand in puppies kami dahil nga patay na ang pet dog na golden retriever na si Golda. 

Of course, rounds of prescribed medicines (Loviscol and Dimetapp) were given and bottles of water had to forced them to gulped down ay hindi enough to combat cough and colds.

Kaya nga I found myself seeking the help of a manghihilot.

What is a manghihilot?

My very first experience of hilot was senior year in high school, kasi parang gusto ng mag-stay forever si ubo. I went to the doctors, had my chest x-ray, siyempre mawawala ba ang bugbog ng antibiotics? That's why my mom said to try Mang Roger's touch therapy who said to be a good one. So, anyway, to make a long story short, gumaling nga ako.

It was the first and definitely not the last for me, kasi nagustuhan ko na ang pagmamasahe...iyun nga lang, mas kumportable kung babae ang hahawak di ba?

So, anyway, my aunt who lives in a place where she has five manghihilots as neighbors is the one who usually introduces us when we need one. She always brings the one who specializes with children which is I think to be the oldest of their whole neighborhood. Yes, I do think because of her age at deteriorating strength ay nababagay nga siya to handle kids, but what I don't like ay may sarili siyang oil which has its "yucky" scent and not to mention her "praying over" to her patient. And those two reasons are pretty enough for me to tell my aunt to look for another manghihilot please...or better yet, I look for a good manghihilot without the oil yucky scent and doesn't do praying over na hindi ko naiintindihan.

At doon pumasok si Kuya Boy.

I just found out last year that the school's janitor is doing a part-time manghihilot, he is also a Christian like me. As expected, may pilay ang tatlo kong gremlins. As kuya Boy was running his hands on Cholo's back I could see him grimaced with pain, iyun pala he didn't tell me that he fell on his back while he was skateboarding, as for Derek may pilay din siya but it was normal kasi nga malikot, then lastly si baby Dean meron din dahil daw sa kakakarga.

Nakaktuwa lang because that night they were able to sleep soundly...and so was I.