Dade’s First Storytelling Experience

(Not that I don’t make an effort to sit with Dade and have our storytelling sessions before going to bed!  This one was his first with other kids around.) 

I cannot believe I actually forgot to blog about this!  I was looking at my P&S camera photos when I suddenly saw these pictures taken last September.  Expect to see a lot of super delayed posts from hereon, lol. 

My friend H handed me over an invitation from Ralph Lauren to come and attend their storytelling session at Dubai Mall last September (sounds like ages ago!).  The storytelling was done in time for the opening of classes. We went after Dade’s Kindermusik class (which I have to blog about, too!), and boy, was it so much fun!  My little munchkin was the youngest who came and he did charm everyone in the store. Here he is being carried by the Marketing Manager of Ralph Lauren who was so enamored by him:

watching the short RL clip 

Apart from the storytelling session, there was also some sort of a treasure hunt game where the kids would need to find stickers shaped of an apple, a baseball glove and a dog paw. Once completed, each kid would get a goody bag with a storybook inside.

map for the treasure hunt

freebie!  a Ralph Lauren story book 

My little boy enjoyed his time immensely.  He walked around the cozy store with a happy smile, waving hello to everyone who was passing by. He particularly liked this chair and kept coming back to sit on it for like every 5 minutes. 

sitting comfortably like a boss

Because I was so busy, I didn’t get a chance to sample the canapés and mocktail drinks served for the parents. Daddy Ryan didn't join us inside because he was guarding the stroller with our stuff outside. Oh well, my toddler, like any other, is truly a handful so that was expected already. what’s important is that he had loads of fun.  I bet this picture will prove that:

My Stress Buster

Friends, let me share with you one of the things that help me unleash my creative side and relieve my stress from the juggling act that i do on a daily basis.

I humbly present my nappy cakes -- given as baby shower and just-given-birth gifts:

the Sarah Jane cake

the Amara diaper cake

the Zoe diaper cake

the Reese diaper cake

I've long wanted to take a stab at creating nappy cakes but never got the chance to finally try it until i came here to Dubai.  For one, diapers are way cheaper here than from back home so buying a huge pack is not as heavy on the pocket. It's a good thing baby items are also abound and a lot more affordable, too.  The downside though is that there are very limited ribbons and decors to find here.  That's my challenge.

Here is the first ever nappy cake I've ever sold to a colleague who asked me to make one for her when her friend had her first baby.

I hope to be able to make more and play with more colors.  I want to make a rubber duckie-themed nappy cake one of these days and I hope someone gets preggy so I'd have an excuse to assemble one, hihi! 

Level Up

God is so good indeed! After surviving 3 waves of redundancies the past year, I was promoted to a much more challenging post.

So last Saturday, we went for a little celebration at Outback Steakhouse in Festival City.




The first month of the year has just finished, and so far, so good.  I am officially claiming 2011 as my year!

5 Blissful Years

Our marriage is 5 years old today...and we couldn't be happier!

Will share more photos soon of how we celebrated our milestone. for now, let me entertain you with our favorite souvenir photo of our first day as husband and wife.

first day as Mr. & Mrs. de Gracia

5 years and still crazy in love as ever! :)

Welcome 2011!

Let's raise and clink our glasses as we welcome the new year with hopes that it will be better than last year.  May we be doubly blessed this 2011!  God bless us all.  Cheers!