Goodbye Bailey. {Day 16: 365}

Today is a bittersweet day in our little home.

We are saying goodbye to our champ Bailey, our 2 year old cute & utterly insistent Labrador Retriever. With bittersweet wishes, we shall be sending him off to a hopefully better home where he can freely run around, be a shining star once again to a family who will hopefully play fetch with him and never get tired tossing his favorite ball just the way we used to.

At one happy point in this household, we had more dogs than kids. And it was blissful chaos -- picking up poop after poop, cheering on when they finally got toilet trained, running along while the kids biked in the streets, holding on & patiently putting up with them when they delivered puppies.

But the kids have grown & gone to elementary, hubby & I have never been busier tending to our businesses and our big dogs have grown remarkably, needing more extensive exercise other than just welcoming us home.  

And so we decided to look for a happier place for him. There were many interested takers, but none of them seemed like the perfect one for him. Until a call at 1: 00 am surprised us  – he was calm yet insistent, inquisitive yet very enthusiastic. He asked if Bailey behaved in car rides. HE WANTED TO HAVE A COMPANION DOG. That, sounded to us like a real happy option for Bailey. Someone who will need him!J

Our hearts bleed at the fact of seeing him go and leaving Jada ( such a brilliant & intelligent black Labrador) alone in their once shared crates. But we know for a fact that he shall be walking into a new home where he will be a star once againJ just like the first day we had him in April of 2009.

always our Champ:)

2 month old Bailey -- when he used to have  the luxury of sleeping in our bedroom!!!

a grown Bailey

happier, less busier days 

So today, with bittersweet wishes we bid goodbye to this once tiny puppy who not only left pawprints on our duvet covers but into our hearts as well – a Philippine Champ not only in the dog ring but in our household and in our hearts, always & forever.  

{Our two smaller dogs, Tiff & Shaq, who we still see pretty much see every Friday are now giving childlike spirits to my mom & aunt’s new home. They welcome us like crazy every week! This family is yet to face how Jada, the only one left in this household, will be coping with the sadness of being alone in their once shared crates)

bliss♥, pinkmother
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When You're 18 {Day 15: 365}

Yllana...I paused a few minutes more while tucking you in bed last night 

and I could not believe how my 

once-tiny-little-princess-now-8-year-old Yllana is now occupying so much bedspace!

You now wear size 36 ballet flats. 

I've bought you your first training bras.  

(ok, I'm sorry I know I should'nt be saying that here)

We've come to share tank tops and some pairs of gympants too.

Apart from that,  its the stories we share.

The secret smiles & laughter we have. 

The tiny giggles only the two of us understand when we stare at each other. 

That, and simply this relationship we share as a mother and daughter, 

as best friends and even as enemies (at times!). 

Sometimes I do not know if I should get excited about you growing so fast, 

or if I should just let time stand still and let you be my little princess forever. 

In this most recent favorite photo of you above,

your look tells me of a certain confidence that 

even at 8, 10 or 18, 

you shall be fine. 

And yes, pretty little darling, you certainly will. 

But...will I be? 

That's a question I will be asking myself for quite an extended time. 

So this was how an 8 year old Yllana looked at us in 2011, 

will you still look at us this way in 2021?

And forever?

bliss♥, pinkmother

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Love Much. { Day 14: 365 }

Life's little reminders -- heartwarming how they come in so many unexpected ways.

This weekend, it came knocking through a bottle of fine wine -- and some Dove dark chocolates, such a cute & random find from the local supermarket!

I tossed 'em in my cart for a sugar fix, not knowing how these bite-sized goodies could bring such gigantic smiles to my heart, one little piece after another.

♥a lovely quote awaits each unwrapping moment♥

"Live well, laugh often and love much. Love, Dove."

Unwrapping each one was a real treat, indulging in its silky-smooth goodness was another. The cute quotes made me want to open every single one!

I could have indulged and finished them all up in one sitting. But I remained sane. Instead, I took a few snapshots of this blissful moment, sat beside hubby and pulled my feet up on our couch. It was a time to just let the bliss of the moment stand still.

Live well, LOVE much.

With a glass of wine on my right, and the hand of the one I ♥ on the other, I took another bite into my little piece of Dove. Live Well & Love Much, I did. 

 In such a busy world, how many among us would even remember 

that life's little reminders could come in 

such sweet tiny packages? 

bliss♥, pinkmother 

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Dream Big {Day 13 : 365}

Dream big, little people.

That was Sunday dinner's main course along with the heartwarming Spinach soup, French Beans, Lemongrass Chicken and Avocado Fried Rice.

3 pairs of ears listened to what their Dad had to say about life, their dreams and getting there.

The 8 year old bookworm was quick to answer 'fashion designer', the 7 year old stage performer to our glad surprise aspires to be a doctor (!) while our young man, with 2 years more before entering the gates of college and to whom this topic was really directed -- has a mental shortlist of either being an architect, a chef or...as his dad wishes him to be, a doctor.

Soon, our little people would not be so little anymore -- they'd be out there and setting careers of their own, chasing their dreams, with some painful falls, tearful heartaches and challenges in between.

When faced with life's challenging crossroads someday, will they think of Me and their Dad? Will they ever remember the tears that swelled up in my eyes when their dear father spoke from the heart?

When that time comes, would they remember this Sunday night's dinner? And how truthfully we meant these two words --
DREAM BIG.

Mark them on your hearts, my dear little ones...DREAM BIG and never get tired of the chase. The journey is just as blissful as the prize at the end.

Love. Love. Love.


bliss♥, pinkmother
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BTS {Denim & Tulle Rockstar Series from SOUL} 9.2.2011

Along with the name was an instant vibe. And when we met this lady, she did not prove us otherwise. The edgy vibe indeed she had. And with that funk was a beautiful en pointe, countless 360s & matchless energy.

The Denim & Tulle Rockstar Series from SOUL seemed as if it were couture-fitted just for this rockin' ballerina. And while edgy beats from Lykke Li inspired the creative minds behind this concept shoot, it was simply impossible to walk away the set not getting infected by the funk that this team -- LA Subido, Aidx Paredes, James Bautista,Jun Tupas & Mimi Vergara-Tupas brought together.

Have a sneak peek of how the shoot came along in this BTS vid!

Music credits: Lykke Li -- I'm Good, I'm Gone

bliss♥,pinkmother

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Daughters & Apple Pies { Day 12: 365}

"Mom, can you make us some of your apple pies?"

The words were uttered complete with doggy eyes.

Perhaps tonight's takeout must have fallen short of your standards. Or you must have recalled those unlimited servings you usually get when we used to bake our own.

That, or the beautiful moments we used to spend together in the kitchen making your favorite goodies.

my girls and I about to savor & serve our homebaked apple pie . photo from 2010.

When the sugar was poured in, so was your sweetness. And as the slices of butter melted along with those sweet apple slices, so did mommy's heart as we shared little girls secrets and sweet stories in between.

Good ol' mister oven had to go but the happy memories remain, till we get another mister oven again.

Meanwhile, I just thought of making myself a brilliant new entry on my Holiday Wishlist --- you guessed it right, girls.....a brand new oven so we can relive our sweet mom-daughter moments once again!



bliss♥, pinkmother

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How fragrant life could be. {Day 11: 365}

I stumbled upon this photo of my youngest daughter -- 

just as I was about to 

start my schedule-packed Friday. 

How could we not smell flowers & the fragrance of life 

the way little girls so eagerly do?

How could I resist these little girl's youth?

Their innocence?

Their quench for life and its beauty?

In the midst of everything, I thank Him for these little reminders. 

In the midst of this busy life, 

I am grounded once again. 

Meanwhile, 

off I still go on my schedule-packed Friday --  

but now with a newly injected dose of youth, innocence and a quench for life. 

Oh, how fragrant life could be. 

bliss♥, pinkmother

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