a first: 2 of 2

About a month a go, I receive a summon letter from the city Law Courts. They were summoning me for a pre-selection to stand as a juror.

I got nervous. And scared. And then interested. Firstly, I don't know anything about being a juror. We don't have a jury back in the Philippines. I only know about jury based on what I see on films.

Based on the letter that I received, one can serve as a juror even without formal knowledge or experience of the law. But you can be excused from serving jury duties. Here are some valid reasons to be disqualified:
1) not a resident of the province
(2) under the age of 18
(3) member or officer of a body or organization that deals or handles criminal cases (like the Parliament, Legislature, Executive Coucil, Department of Justice, the Public Prosecution Service, Police Force, correctional, penitentiary, prison, Medical practitioners for criminal cases)
(4) have medical or physical infirmity that will interfere with your ability to serve as a juror
(5) have been convicted of an indictable offence and have not been pardoned
(6) do not understand the language

And reasons to be excused:
(1) religious reasons with beliefs or practices that makes serving as a juror incompatible
(2) it may cause serious loss or hardships to you or others. Say you will not be compensated (we are being paid here at work while being away serving as a jury),
(3) member of the Canadian forces
(4) have served as a jury within the previous two years.

In short, I don't have any reason to be disqualified or be excused. Honestly, after I had that accident last week, I thought I might be able to use that as an excuse. But I want to do my civic duties, so yesterday, I went to the law courts and participated in the process of jury selection.

It was an .... experience. I will not tell exactly what happened. For a vague story telling, all of us who were summoned, waited to be randomly called to be sworn in. While it was my time, I was asked a couple of questions by the lawyers and then they (the triars, lawyers, and judge) will determine and decide if one is fit to be an objective juror.

We were there from 8:30 am. I was called about 3:30 pm. I wasn't chosen to serve on an actual case. I didn't know what time they finished choosing the members of the jury or if they have finished at all that day.

I would have wanted to see the process until the end, that is, to serve as a jury during court proceedings. But I got nervous and scared and was just plain honest to say that I am not sure if I can really be that objective in dealing with the case. So now, my name is back in the pool of possible juror. Who knows when will I receive my next summon letter. I'll know better then.

a first: 1 of 2

It was spring like last Friday. And I am running late again for my carpool. I saw her already parked outside so I hurried my way out of the house. I was walking faster than I normally do (can't say I was running because I know I can't run he he he). I've walked way past half the entire walkway when ... babam! I found myself flat on the ground.

I slipped and hit my tailbone hard on the ground. Train of thoughts: (1) Damn, this coat is expensive (2) Tsk, my cashmere scarf, it might get a snarl from this ice.

Immediately I tried to get up but I can't. It was so painful. I wanted to cry but I don't know why I wasn't able to. Train of thoughts: (3) Am I going to die? (4) Oh God, I have kids, they're still young (5) There are still a couple of online shopping stuff that will be delivered and I am already dead..?

My coworker by then had got out of the car and was now trying to help me. I dialed Jason and let my coworker talked to him. Next thing I know, my father in law was helping me get up and later told me that I was so pale. True enough, I really felt dizzy and thought I was going to black out. Good thing I was able to lie down again on the stairs and then on the couch before I did.

I didn't want to move my hips because it was painful. Not sure if I've broken anything, I don't want to take the risk of worsening it. We called 911 so that I can be put on a stretcher on the way to the hospital. But.... when the paramedics came, they checked me out: numbness, tingling, headache -- all No's. Checked my vital signs, all okay. So walk I went, out of the house (assisted, of course), climbed the ambulance, lie on the stretcher and off to the hospital.

Medical is free, yes. But one has to wait. There were lots of patients and they seem to be more of an urgent case than me. Thankfully after 5 hours of waiting, the results are all okay.  The x-ray showed I have not broken any bone and based on physical check up, I don't have any concussion. I don't  really remember hitting my head (not unless I hit my head really bad and I have totally forgot about that).

The doctor just told me to get OTC pain reliever. I even asked if it's okay to take stool softener and he said not a a bad idea.

All weekend I was just resting, didn't even get out of the house. I took the pain reliever and stool softener just for the weekend. Right now, I'm off all medications. It is still painful when I get up, sit down and bend. But otherwise, I'm good. I can walk. I can sleep and I can sit. It's just painful when I use that group of mucles/bones.

Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I didn't do yoga on Monday. Probably wont even after a month. What a bummer.

yogi

Two Mondays ago, I went to Yoga during the office lunch break. Weekend before that, I have this achy neck-right shoulder. But after Yoga, it was all fine now. Not sure if it healed on itself or I'm just linking it to Yoga. Just glad, that it is not bothering me now.

So while my neck-shoulder are all okay, I am now sore on my back and abs (look at that, abs!). I don't know. I'm sure I don't have abs, but maybe it is there after all. Hiding underneath several layers of fats. Do fat cells hurt when you exercise?

It was just a 45 minute yoga, but boy, oh boy, my non-existent abs hurt even when I'm just coughing. But that is the kind of hurt that I brings a smile on my face. Because that means I did something good for myself. He he he.

I think I'm going to do regular Yoga again. Too bad, this week's Monday was a holiday. The instructor said we can practice at home by ourselves. It's just that ... I know I can't do it at home, with the kids and all that. I am not that kind of super mom.

10

Woo hoo!

I did it! Kinda! Ha ha ha!

Last Sunday was my last day for this 4 week diet program better body system that I got myself into. But since Friday, I kind of started to slip away from it. Cheated here and there but not cheat like in a big way. Well, the program is not asking one to be hungry, it's just that, I kind of indulged a wee bit. Like, I wasn't supposed to eat this group of food and I kind of munched a couple of coconut macaroons (Coconut is good, milk is okay. It was the refined sugar that is a no-no).

Anyway, after 4 weeks, I weighed myself today, and I lost 10 lbs.! Hurray for me! Woo hoo!

I'm still 20 lbs. away from my target weight. But to be realistic, if I lost another 10 lbs., I would be very, very glad.

I'm still kind of continuing the program but not strictly. Like I'm having fruits everyday now. Whereas with the program, I am only allowed during Meal Days (Days 3, 5 and 7). I can say that I am now on the trying-to-stay-below-the-1200-calories-per-day diet, hoping to lose some more pounds.

For transparency, the program is Yoli Better Body System. I bought it.The Transformation Kit (T-Kit) will include protein shake, a juice (which I think is equivalent of coffee), alkalizing capsules and digestive capsules (no, it did not alter my regular bowel habit) enough for four weeks. If you search the net you will find amazing testimonies of people who are into this program. But if you search more you will also find studies and comparisons about how effective/ineffective this is. You can also read about acidity/ph level/alkalinity.

Honestly, before I bought this, I did not research that much. Was this a waste of money? I can't tell, I lost weight. Would I lose the same weight even if I just followed the diet plan, without buying the T-Kit? I don't know. But since I'm done with the program, I am only taking now the alkalizing capsules and still trying to follow the recommended diet plan, I will know if I will keep shedding the weight. They are not really trying to pass on as a Diet Program, because diets don't work. It is supposed to be a healthy lifestyle program, and lifestyle change works. But for my sake, let's just call it diet, okay?

I believe, anybody can still use their program without buying the kit. Maybe you can try the Military Diet Plan. It is somewhat similar to this. But below is the weekly diet plan that I did, I just removed their proprietary products (the juice and capsules). The main rule of the diet is to eat protein that is the equivalent of half of your weight and to drink water equivalent of half of that weight.

For example, if you're 160 lbs., you divide it by 2, so that's 80. So everyday, the goal is to eat 80 gm of protein and 80 oz of water. For meals or menus, just search the net and you'll find lots of options. And download the my fitness pal app, it is a helpful tool.

Side note:
Last night, I was having frozen yogurt as my dinner (plain greek yogurt, natural organic almond butter, organic vegan brownie, blueberries, some nuts and seeds, agave nectar) and it looked yummy, But it wasn't (Even I did not like it, I'm not having it again). Kid #1 wanted to try it and he did. I told him it wasn't good. After washing his mouth (inside out!) because it tasted awful for him, he told me this: I feel sorry for you, Mommy, that you have to eat that food.

There you go.

P.S. If you want to try the Yoli  BBS T-Kit, let me know, I can help you get one.

The Daily Meal Plan (one can start any day, I mean Day 1 doesn't have to be on Monday, this just what works best with me)
Day 1 - Monday Protein Day	Day 2 - Tuesday Protein Day	Day 3 - Wednesday Meal Day	Day 4 - Thursday Protein Day
Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
1 Protein Shake	1 Protein Shake	1 Protein Shake and fruit	1 Protein Shake
Mid-morning snack	Mid-morning snack	Mid-morning snack	Mid-morning snack
2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein
Lunch	Lunch	Lunch (500-600 calories)	Lunch
2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein	complex carb, 4-6 oz of protein	2-4 oz protein
		and vegetables and fruit
Mid-late afternoon snack	Mid-late afternoon snack	Mid-late afternoon snack	Mid-late afternoon snack
2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein and veggies	2-4 oz protein
Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
1 Protein Shake	1 Protein Shake	1 Protein Shake	1 Protein Shake
Day 5 - Friday Meal Day	Day 6 - Saturday Protein Day	Day 7 - Sunday Meal Day
Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
1 Protein shake and fruit	1 Protein Shake	1 Protein shake and fruit
Mid-morning snack	Mid-morning snack	Mid-morning snack
2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein
Lunch (500-600 calories)	Lunch	Lunch (500-600 calories)
complex carb, 4-6 oz of protein	2-4 oz protein	complex carb, 4-6 oz of protein
and vegetables and fruit		and vegetables and fruit
Mid-late afternoon snack	Mid-late afternoon snack	Mid-late afternoon snack
2-4 oz protein and veggies	2-4 oz protein	2-4 oz protein and veggies
Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
1 Protein shake	1 Protein Shake	1 Protein shake

Sorry, Marie Kondo, I can't

I posted before Kid #2 arrived about the room switcheroo that we were doing (Kid #1 being evicted from our room). I haven't posted any photos. And I will not. I should have posted right after Kid #1 moved to his room so that everything is fresh. And clean. And orderly. But now, it is all a mess. Even our room is.

Kid #1 really took over his room. And I can see a few years from now that is going to be worse. At 8 years old, his clothes and toys are everywhere. Blotches of lotion on the counter, swirls of lotion on the mirror. Tsk. Every weekend, I tell myself that I will fix and clean up his room. But ....

Our room is another story. I need to purge. We need to purge. I will try this spring. Problem is, I don't know what to do, where to put them. Debating whether to send them back to Philippines? Donate them? Give them to somebody else?

Everybody seems to be joyfully decluttering their homes, their lives, or so they say. I don't think I can do that. I am realistic enough that, that is just not for me. Although it is really appealing and joyful to see a clean and organized drawer, a spotless counter top, letting go of things that do not spark joy. I just can't, just not for me.

screen cap from Marie Kondo, official website

While I haven't really read the book, I've read some online reviews and analysis and noted that some of her styles were already used by other 'organizing' techniques. And I have used some of it too. Like instead of stacking up the clothes vertically, they should be folded and stack horizontally, in a way that you can see everything at one glance.

Well, it's like a diet. There are a thousand ways to  lose weight. I guess there's just no one way of tidying up, of decluttering and organizing your life. For now, KonMari is the fad, the juice cleanse of the month. But I didn't say I will not try to declutter, I will. I will find time. One area at a time (Marie Kondo says it should be by Category). Whatever works. And I will start with this:

the days go slow but the years go fast

Don't want to make a big fuss out of it but this year is kind of big because I'm hitting the big 4-0. Yeah, my waist line (Hope not!). Mid life. Where has all the years gone by? I can still remember when I was about to turn 18 and planning for my debut party. Oh well...

So to celebrate me being 4 decades old, I plan to take control of my health, specifically, my weight. I have been into this 4-week program since January 11 and now on my last week. Of course, it is hard. First week is the hardest. But I have seen improvements and so far I am liking it. Still not sure if I would continue until I've reached my target weight but we'll see. I am just so happy being able to wear non-maternity clothes a year after giving birth.

You can read a whole bunch of information and tips and what have you about dieting, exercising and losing weight. But here's what works for me:

1. I like that I am doing it with a buddy (or buddies). I have 2 co-workers who were also trying to lose some weight (they did it a week ahead of me, they're done now!). Sharing this journey with them makes me feel accountable and made me really push for it. Also, it makes it easier when there's 3 of us who are not eating desserts and not snacking come mid-afternoon slack!

2. I have my fitness pal app in my phone. I know some people find it so cumbersome to log your food intake but it really made me careful in choosing what I eat. It made me re-think of that 3rd slice of pizza!

3. Meal Prep works. It takes time, really. I mean planning for your meal for the whole week and then preparing your whole week's meal, there goes my weekend. I guess this is where most people fail. It is just so easy to grab what is available (which often than not, is not a healthy choice) than to choose and prepare what really is good and healthy.

Honestly, I don't think I would continue the Meal prep after this final week of the program. What icks me is that I have to prepare food for myself that is different from what the rest of the people in my household are eating. So I am planning to do healthy family menu that all of us can eat. And since I am more aware now of what is healthy and yummy, I will try to incorporate those healthy snacks and dishes into our daily menu. Try. I will try, okay? The problem with this kind of set up is all the cooking will be left on to me!

I will try to be back on yoga too. That is the only form of activity that I did prior to having Kid #2. And after giving birth, I only did one session of hot yoga. I will try to do it again on a weekly basis and maybe, hopefully, do it more than once a week. My diet buddy and car pool buddy is asking me to join her in the gym, to just run or do something. I don't know. I am not really an exercise kind of person. I'll just do yoga and see if I wanted to do more.

baby stuff

I have posted before I gave birth some of the baby stuff that we were planning on investing on: crib and mattress, milk, bath and skin care. Just wanted to finish what I have started (for once?) so here's the rest of it.

Milk/Feeding
We gave the baby whatever kind of milk that were given to us. Yeah. We're cheap. He was breastfed primarily so any other milk sufficed (Nestle Good Start, Enfa and Similac). But we mostly gave him Enfa after all of the freebies were gone and after he has stopped liking Mommy's milk. Now that he's a toddler, we are giving him homo.

For feeding bottles, we used Avent. Did not try any other ones. Avent were also the brand that we used with Kid #1. We used Dapple and Greenworks for the baby bottle dish soap. We also received Babies R Us sterilizer from the Baby Shower and that's what we are using until now. For Kid #1, we used Chicco.

Skin Care
I bought a lot of baby skin care before having the little one. Usually got the sample size if the brand has one. I bought Dr. Bronner's, Mustela, Wedela, Badger and Earth Mama Angel Baby. I've tried all of them. What stuck? I like Dr. Bronner's in washing his baby bums, specially when going out? It smells nice and it rinses easily well. But for total bathing and washing, I like Mustela the best. And that's what we are using still until now. For shampoo, he uses J&J. For moisturizer, we also stick with Mustela.

For diaper rash, I tried Badger and even Lanolin. But still went back to Desitin. Desitin worked with Kid #1 and still what worked with Kid #2.

Clothing/Bedding/Garment 
At first, I only used organic textiles for him. Bought them from Under the Nile, Sckoon, Aden & Anais, Perlimpinpin, Little Bamboo. We got gifts that came elsewhere and we used them also. Now, mostly all of his clothes are from major commercial retailers. But I must say that those initial investments I've bought were all great. They were really, really soft. Even the nurses from the hospital made a comment that, those were the softest swaddling cloth they have ever touched.

Stroller/Car Seat
We got the Graco Click Connect Stroller and Car seat combo. I forgot the actual Model/Type. We are still using both. The car seat is up to 35 lbs. Although Kid #2's legs and feet are now dangling outside the car seat, since he's still within the weight limit, we are still using it. We will get a new car seat once winter is over. We brought the stroller with us when we went back to the Philippines but it is not public commuter friendly, so we bought a slimmer stroller from Chicco and brought it back here, we will not buy umbrella stoller anymore once Kid #2 is too big for his baby stroller.

Diaper
I bought Naty diapers online to try on. It was okay. But  they were expensive. I believe they are also available on our local grocery store. But since J was the one doing the grocery while I was at the house with the baby, and he will not look for it at the store and he will not buy it since, it costs more, we used Pampers swaddlers. That's the best compromise that we can afford.

Toys
I tried to limit our purchase of toys. We have enough clutter at home and I don't want bins and bins and bins of toys overtaking our house. The toys that I bought were Sophie, 2 wooden toy cars and a teething dinosaur from Etsy, wooden Catterpillar from Begin Again, wooden Grasping beads and wooden Fish rattle from Haba, Uncle Goose's wooden alphabet blocks, Janod Animal Alphabet Cards, and Share Sorter and Stacking Cups from Green Toys. I highly recommend these toys because they are safe for babies and kids. I purchased some mainstream toys too, a soft book from Skip Hop and a few soft toys and stroller toys. We have received a couple of battery operated toys too, mostly from Fisher Price.

So far, he enjoyed Sophie, the Grasping beads, wooden blocks, alphabet cards, shape sorted and stacking cups. He still enjoys them except for Sophie. But he likes Sophie Books.

There.