the red-haired doll

yesterday, we have sent off daughter to her first field trip.  this wasn't really her first time, but it was her first time to go without us as her chaperone.

my daughter though she's already seven is still a baby.  she still has to figure out how to zip her skirt, tie her shoe lace and a lot of other stuff.  admittedly we're a bit behind in setting her leash loose.  so i have been anxious for days now knowing that she will be out the whole day on her own.  she will need to clean up after herself, find her way through her bag of food, towels, wipes, shirt, juice and must manage to find everything she needs without any help.  i was most worried about her wee-wee breaks.  public toilets scare me and i was scared for her.  so last night i talked her through our public toilet routine.  wipe the seat clean... lay over sheets of toilet paper on the seat... etc. i must have said the word yucky so many times that moment just to prove my point.  then there's the issue about pocket money.  my child doesn't handle money.  it would have been easy if we don't give her money at all.  but we gave her money anyway just in case she finds something she likes.  it would be heartbreaking to find out she was the only child in class not holding a lollipop which everybody bought in the kiosk.

as i picked her up from school after her trip, i was expecting to see her hair messed up, shoes and shirt dirty.  i was ready to hear sob stories from my little girl on how she found it hard to eat in the bus without a table, or how she tried so hard looking for her spoon and fork in her bag but couldn't find it, how she got lost in the museum and somehow found her way back.  i was ready to give her my hugs for that.

but when i saw her in her classroom waiting, she was still beaming.  hair was slightly messy but she's ok.  i asked her how her day was.  she said she lost her wallet.  oh dear, here we go... i noticed she was holding a teddy bear.  she said she bought it from the doll factory.  she also told me that one of her classmates had given her money so she can buy it. i quickly told her she must not borrow money again and that we would return the money her classmate gave her. then she told me she has a surprise for me.  from her small bag, she excitedly brought out a small doll with red hair.  she said she bought it for me because she knew that i would love it.  and i do!  how can i not love it?  i fought back a tear or two thanking her and told her it was very thoughtful.

can a baby do that? can a baby think of getting her mommy a present?  certainly not.  alas, certainly, our little 7 year old is no longer a baby.  she may still have her childish ways most days but she does things that surprise me. just like this red haired doll from the factory.  that doll could still be sitting quietly in that factory shop had my little girl not thought of buying it for me.  my little big girl gave her a home. a home where a baby is starting to outgrow her baby ways and whose mom and a dad just realized that.

freebies - holidays gift tags set

i have been spending a lot of quality time with mac, ai and ps. and we have been having great times together.

am eager to share with you some of the work that i have done with them.

for starters, here's a set of christmas tags set which i have painstakingly put together after going through tons of tutorials and screencasts.

please feel free to download. 

they are yours for free!


hope you enjoy them!

1:25:20

pitter. patter. pitter. patter. pant. pant. splish. splash. pitter. patter.

past the 2km mark, it seemed i have already covered 4km.  that wasn't a good sign.  inside my mind, i was asking what form and what mindset would i be in by the time i reach 5km?  then thoughts kept playing... if i go on this way, how could i go past 6km... it's still far from the finish... oh dear... could i make it to 10km? maybe i won't.  i was panicking so early in the race and it worried me but the rain showering us that night did me well.  it somehow helped me calm me.

pitter. patter. pitter. patter. pant. pant. splish. splash. pitter. patter

puddles and potholes were added obstacles to conquer.  in the darker areas of the route, floodlights were set up to help the runners navigate. i am sensitive to the glare and this proved to be another challenge for me. i was squinting, head bowed down to avoid the glare, careful not to bump into a runner in front of me and careful not to trip on one of the many potholes on my way.  i was running almost breathless and my muscles were tired and i couldn't be in a more uncomfortable situation at that point. but i came there with a purpose.  i have to finish the race. and by all means, i don't want to finish last.  so i moved on and pushed through. immediately my mind took over!  must run. must run!

pitter. patter. pant. pant. pant. splish. splash. pant. pant.

i have pushed through the pain. run. push. there still was breathlessness. push. run. i also pushed through numbing soles.  i kept thinking everyone running that night is feeling pain just like me.  i am pretty sure that the best runners do feel pain too.  the difference lies in how well each of us push through.

and just like that,

pant. pant. pant. pant. pant. pant. whoa!

1:25:20

under a starless rainy night, this was how long it took me to finish my very first 10km run.  

i've finally done it!  that's a checkmark for one of the items in my wish list this year.

it was still drizzling when we finished.  and i thank the rain for cooling my nerves.  i also have my running buddy hubby to thank. as always, he helped me go on.  he did not run his pace that night to be with me in my maiden 10.  and i am so glad he was there otherwise, i would have quit at the halfway mark.

and by the way, hubby and i did not finish last :)

pat. pat. pat... on the back

cheers, everyone!

of soles and heels

just over a year ago, my shoe closet was a busy one.  each pair of heels gets their own dose of sunshine as i strut my way to the office five times a week.  i hardly wear flats.  i only own two or so but i've always thought flat shoes make me look tad wider.  i prefer high heels.  i walk better with them.  they may not be the most comfortable especially when you are up on your feet for more than 2 hours during lectures or presentations.  but comfort takes a backseat as far as looking good is concerned. the prettier the shoes, more likely it hurts.  who's complaining? 

but shoes can make or break an outfit.  i wore jeans to work every single day.  but my high heels have always saved me from looking too casual.  no, i don't wear the outrageously expensive kind.  i don't own any louboutin nor any jimmy choo.  but i would be the first one to dive into sale racks, if there ever is one for these brands.  if there is one kind of splurging i have not done, its on shoes.i guess i just refuse to pay so much money to punish my feet.  with shoes, i am the mid-range type of girl. while i don't pay big bucks, i do not sacrifice craftsmanship. they're shoes! they should look fab and expensive! 

but now that i have given up my corporate hat, my high heels have been in the dark.  just like puff the magic dragon, they now rest quietly inside their boxes, untouched except during dusting time. will i be wearing them again soon?  i guess my pumps would be way too dressy for picking up my girls from school.  doing groceries with my stilettos is certainly out of the question.  and most certainly, i would rather be barefoot running than run for miles wearing my wedges.

my heels have done me good.  while they would not be part of my daily fare anymore but they have turned into special glam treats for my feet.  

my daily grind calls for a different kind of shoes.  the kind that does not scream. the kind that's kind to the soles. the kind i can safely drive with.

there are shoes for each one of us.  whether we need it climb corporate ladders or real ones... run errands or run miles for a marathon... eat caviar or catch fish so people can enjoy eating caviar... watch ballet or dance it...  

we all wear different kinds.  

they help keep us grounded, keep our balance, guard our feet and uplift our spirits.

so, what kind of shoes are you wearing today?