The Story of my Life

Who am I?
Who is Made It Through Mum?
Why Made It Through Mum?  are some of the questions I know some of you are asking.

Where do I begin? Why is it easy for me to write about anything but so hard when it's about me? Perhaps because I'm afraid that I might be judged, pitied (oh no don't! pls?!) and some might feel sorry for me. But hey! I wanted and needed to do this to share my story, what I've been through and the purpose of my life to inspire and encourage other people. I hope so...

 Let me give you some of my pertinent deets :
 - I am a mother of 3
 -I am a partner
 -I am a daughter ( a very clingy daughter)
 - I am a sister
- I am a friend
- I am a villain in somebody else's life (insert laughing witch here)
 - I love to eat (like 5-7cups of rice per meal especially if it's paired with tinapa or seafood! Beat that! )
 - I love veggies and fruits the more
 - I don't have any vices at all! (so, does that make me a good girl?! Nah..hehe)

 How did I come up with MITM? 

All of us have different struggles in life and it all depends on how we face or overcome them. I'll tell you first the meaning of my logo.

 WOman
- dark shaded woman, because I am a woman with a dark past (won't elaborate on this)
 - I've been a victim of domestic violence (not anymore!)
- I used to work for my family for 10 years, but because of Yaya problems, I became a full-time mom. Which is a blessing also coz I was able to be with my kids every day from morning till night w/o worries that they might be beaten or maltreated again by their yayas.

 - After 6 months of staying at home, I was diagnosed with Meningioma (brain tumor), I've undergone craniotomy last December 11, 2013. Thank God the tumor is benign. But MRI and Levetiracetam have been my friends since then. ;)

Even before I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, I planned to donate at least 12inches of my locks to the children and women battling cancer. The last thing I told my doctor before I lost my consciousness because of the anesthesia, was to keep my hair in a clean bag because I will donate it.

Say Hello to my Battle Scar  #headband

 Colorful Heart Puzzle piece 

- I have 3 kids whom I love so dearly that I would do anything and everything for them no matter what. They will always be etched in my heart. The puzzle piece symbolizes persons with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) I got 1 out of 68! Yes. My 2nd child has it. He's different but he is not less. At first, we were in denial ( me and Mr. MITD) - there's a sad and funny story behind this after we learned that our son has mild autism. Just pm me if you wanna know. But as parents, we have to accept. Acceptance is the key to move forward. For me, I'm still fortunate to be a special mom to a special kid. I was tasked by God to help and nurture this precious gift. I am not and will never ever be ashamed of him. Now, can you imagine how colorful my everyday life is? Those everyday tantrums/ meltdowns and with my present condition... Again, I thank the Lord for giving me strength and I'm praying to have more patience and a healthy body to perform my duties well to my family.

 These are the reasons why I named myself Made It Through Mum. 'Coz despite of these all, I still carry on.

 I strongly believe everything happens for a reason. Had Meningioma not happened to me, I would not have been able to inspire my friends and family to appreciate the beauty of life. At first, I thought that life is unfair, me having meningioma, having a son with ASD, from a corporate woman to a Stay-At-Home mom abruptly. I also realized that had I not been through all that I have been through in the past years, I would have never come face to face with death and had to reflect and rethink about my priorities, the purpose of my life, and life in general.

What am I doing here, blogging?!

I really don't know! Lol. Blogging is really far from my course, I finished AB Psychology at Philippine Normal University. My previous jobs were not also interconnected to blogging. From airlines to telco to writing?! I have to admit, I'm really "makuwento" in real life and I love to write. I don't know if this is really my calling, but I'll give it a try. There's no harm in trying. Actually, this is an unexpected blog. As an idle mom(which I am not used to), honestly, my current situation is threatening my sanity. I wanted to divert my attention and make the most out of my second life so I started joining various online contests. I thought of sharing my winning experiences with others who are also 'inip' and are having a feeling of self-worthlessness because of the hardships and trials life is showering upon them. To encourage them to get through all that and be more appreciative of life instead of just sitting in one corner, idle. Stop whining over the little problems. See the beauty of life and know that the world is a wonderful place to live in.

Don't be discouraged if what you are going through...Fight! Death is inevitable. Break the rules! Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and NEVER REGRET anything that made you smile! ;)

 Here are some of the inspirational quotes that help me, hope it will help you as well. If you will read each of my posts, you will notice that there's always a quote at the end...

1 John 2:15 
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 John 9:2-3 (for the less fortunate, PWDs)
 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

God will not look over for your medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars - Elbert Hubbard 

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. - Maya Angelou

 I will always be thankful to God for giving me a second life. For giving me such wonderful parents and especially my SUPERMOM, for raising me to be a fighter (a sweet fighter), to inculcate in me to have a strong faith in God.

The SUPERMOM and the clingy daughter ♥♥♥

I am also forever grateful to my sibling, my Mr. MITD, my kids, and my friends for keeping my sanity. And to my NFF(newfound friends) in social media Danica, May, and Annie for pushing me to blog away..and for the people who chose me and will choose me in their events to write about them.

I will now stop blabbing about my life. More or less you know me. Just continue life and embrace everything about it. I hope my story somehow inspired you not to lose hope and keep going...

You Only Live Once make the most out of it!

Don't dwell on the past's regrets and mistakes... Move forward and just simply learn from them.

WE WILL ALL GET BY, JUST TRUST IN THE LORD!

                           God bless us all! ♥♥♥




Thank you for visiting my blog! I would love to hear your thoughts. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!

Review: PANTENE 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner - Hair Fall Control

What causes hair fall? 

Stress can make your hair fall out.

" A common myth of hair loss is that it can be caused by stress. We naturally shed between 50 to 80 strands of hair a day. But stressful circumstances such as bereavement, divorce, job loss, or surgery have been known to cause stress-induced hair loss. If you are experiencing what seems like excessive stress and hair loss, be sure to consult your doctor. This is a myth of hair loss that can come true."

Lately, I've been seeing ads everywhere and beauty bloggers are raving about Pantene 3 minute miracle conditioner for damaged hair. But damaged hair is not my concern because as what the people/ staff in the salon would say my hair is a "virgin hair" (wow!- because it is not treated yet and no chemicals were used on my hair since after the doctors need to shave off my long hair prior my operation) But even before my cranial operation , severe hair fall is really a challenge to me ( my ex-colleagues knew about this! Hair all over the office. Hehe)

At first, I was a bit skeptical about this hair product, because of my previous experiences with different conditioners claiming they are suitable for falling hair, but failed me. But because of the respectable reviews I've read about this product, I became inquisitive and swooned of this one. Why not give it a shot? 

I got this 180ml tube in Zalora @ P159 

Let me tell you first my hair's condition. Thick, curly, frizzy and unruly, as if it has a life of its own. Lol.

Shampoo alone (roar!)

With Pantene 3 minute miracle conditioner (tamer hair..hehe)

What I love about Pantene 3 minute miracle :

- the packaging looks stately

- it smells so good (fruity but not too sweet)

- it's easy to rinse (really! I was surprised at how easy for it to rinse)

- without sticky-after-feel (unlike other conditioners that I need to lather soap/ body wash again to remove the grease.

- makes my hair smoother
- The moment I put the conditioner on my hair, I can feel the difference. I don't need to wait for 3 minutes

- AND noticeably less hair fall

          When I use shampoo alone. Approx 16 strands in the bathroom's strainer

After a week of continuous use..only 5 strands on the strainer. Yay! That's why it took me forever to make this review. I need to try and test the product thoroughly.

Directions:  After shampoo, apply onto damp hair. Rinse off thoroughly. Recommended for daily use.

Ingredients:  Water, Bis- Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimoniun Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Silk Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazone, CI 19140, CI 17200, CI 42090

Will I re-purchase? Definitely Y-E-S!!! Will not go back to my old conditioner.

Ratings:        ★★★★★
5/5 because it's true to its claims based on my experience.

From being SKEPTIC, I am now a BELIEVER! Pantene lives up to my expectations!

Finally, my crowning glory has found her "PERFECT MATCH" ♥

Mmmwah! 

Sure, my life isn't perfect but my hair is! ♥♥♥

You may purchase this product at Zalora and use this code upon check out for 15% off  ZBAPQZNG .. Happy shopping!

Thank you for visiting my blog! I would love to hear your thoughts . Your comments are always welcome and appreciated! ♥

The Bowery - NYC Comfort Food by Chef Cuit Kaufman

Who would like to go to the Big Apple? Raise your hands! (Me raising both hands and feet! Lol)

Now, you can go and feel New York even without VISA here in the metro. Yes, no US VISA needed. Yay!

Last Mother's day, my family and I got a chance to experience New York, even for a few hours and we were delighted. We love to eat (really!) But we are accustomed to Filipino food because that's whats available everywhere. We are afraid to try different dishes.

But The Bowery presented the food in a way that you will be eager to try the cuisine. We had a taste of the state side! (",)

First, let me give you the history of The Bowery. The name of the restaurant is derived from the street/ neighborhood known as "The Bowery" in lower Manhattan of New York City. It is considered to be the oldest thoroughfare in New York. The word bowery comes from an old Dutch word for "farm" as the road connected farms to the main part of what was then the city (downtown) in the 17th century. From the 1850's to the 1970s and 80s the bowery has been known as 'Skid Row', filled with bars, brothels, homeless, alcoholics, and gangs. More recently the neighborhood has had a revival and is now the sight of trendy restaurants, bars and residences. Overall, The Bowery has had great historical significance in New York City as being an epicenter of Commerce and Culture.


The Bowery is located at F151 Forbeswood Heights, Rizal Drive cor. Burgos Circle, BGC.

I love the sightly diner's floor to ceiling glass windows, it makes the place spacious and had a view of Mind Museum.

On the second floor...

The 2nd floor is also a pleasant spot for family gatherings, meet-ups and buddy bondings.

The bar at the 2nd floor turns to a busy bar at night.

The Veranda - smoking area from 10PM onwards.

THE BRUNCH MENU

BRUNCH MENU (10AM-4PM SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, AND HOLIDAYS)

ON REGULAR DAYS..

THE LATE NIGHT MENU (10PM - ONWARDS)

BREAKFAST MENU (7AM- 11AM)

DESSERT

What's on the bar??? 

What we had is really hearty and delicious ♥ (Since it's a Sunday, around 1pm =BRUNCH! ♥)

Toasted L.E.S. Bagel

(with cream cheese, lox, tomato, red onions, capers) P460

Eggs Benedict
(smoked ham, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, on a homemade English muffin, served with Herbed Home Fries) P360

Steak and Eggs

(sliced hangar steak, 2 organic eggs any style, and whole wheat sourdough toast) P350

Herbed Home Fries

Double Chocolate Chip Waffles

(Mascarpone cream, macerated blackberries) P420

The Bowery's House Iced Tea

The lady behind our Free Brunch at The Bowery,

  DJ Janice of 103.5KLite 

 (I won in their Mother's Day contest) Yay!  Finally got to meet her. Isn't she the prettiest DJ?

Will be forever grateful for DJ Janice, because of her,
 I made my family, especially my Mom, the happiest on Mother's day!

One happy Mama here! ♥

                   

                     I was privileged to meet the "hottest" hunk chef of The Bowery,  

                                                                  Chef Cuit Kaufman. 

Chef Cuit Kaufman (if you wish to see this ravishing chef, better dine at The Bowery)  He is also the Chef of (Borough, Nolita, LES Bagels, Skull and Bones)

People who love to eat are always the best people - Julia Child
My family. And yes! We are the best ! ♥♥♥

THE BOWERY is OPEN 24HRS

I will definitely go back here because of the mouthwatering, appetizing and enticing cuisine. I also love the cozy and elegant ambience of the place. New York is really a nice place to visit, soon, maybe. But for now.. we have THE BOWERY! ;) 

THE BOWERY- NYC COMFORT FOOD
For reservations call : +63 936 929 6073
FACEBOOK : THE BOWERY NYC COMFORT FOOD
INSTAGRAM : @thebowery_ph
EMAIL: thebowery.ph@gmail.com

                  - Takes reservations               - Walk- Ins Welcome

                  - Good for groups                     - Waiter Service

                  - Outdoor Seating 

* I would like to thank Mr. Allen Santos, Bar Manager of The Bowery for letting me know the restaurant's history. Mr. JR Peñaranda, one of the staff for being so accomodating and patiently answering all my queries about the restaurant, menu, history, etc... Thanks so much. Very much appreciated.

                                                   ♥♥♥

Thank you for visiting my blog! I would love to hear your thoughts . Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!