re-potting serye: Monstera Adansonii

" Monstera adansonii, the Adanson's monstera, Swiss cheese plant, or five holes plant, is a species of flowering plant from family Araceae which is widespread across much of South America and Central America. " -Wikipedia

This is my second attempt since 2018  to own a monstera adansonii. The first one didn't last because at that time I obviously lack the know-how to care for it. Keeping my fingers crossed to finally have it prosper for a long time!🙂🤞🏻

step by step video here 》Monstera Adansonii

New plant haul precaution

After buying new plants, we plant parents are very excited in re-potting them next. My ritual is to spray them with my homemade partial insecticide first, as a precautionary measure if ever they are harboring any insect or fungi. This way you protect your other house plants also from infection, if there's any. 

watch here: Plant haul video

Lastly, I acclimatize them in my garden for at least three to five days to avoid transplant shock. 🙂

Succulent newbie

I admit, I find them cute but never in my imagination that I would include them in my garden. I bought one or two in the past, but I was never really into it. I'm more of a flowers-topiaries-lush foliage kind of plant enthusiast.

Maybe I want to challenge myself. After months of gardening and have been successful naman even with sowing and germinating seeds and planting my own vegetable patch(although I killed some plants, but its part of the process), I thought of going to the next level. Pero ayoko pa din ng cactus. 😃 I don't want to be pricked whenever I touch them.

I went to Dangwa in Manila from our place on an early Saturday morning to start off with my succulent hunting. It is known for flower arrangements and a wholesale flower market but you can also find lots of succulents and cacti there since they mostly came from one place where they are being grown, Benguet. After thirty minutes, I arrived at this succulent and cacti heaven. 

I spent at least an hour and a half scouring the best possible haul that I could buy. I almost forgot to take a picture because I was so engrossed in shopping. I didn't even get the chance to take a video.

This was part of my first day haul. I got nine varieties and a lush Begonia plant for p250($5). Prices range from P35 each to P150($3) depending on the variety. I enjoyed it so much that I went back the next day!😃

For my first potting session, I chose the Jellybeans or Sedum robrutinctum as my first ever. 

It is known as Jelly beans or Christmas cheer for its red color tipped leaves. They are best exposed to sunlight and should be planted in a fast draining soil made of pumice, perlite, sand and a bit of vermicast. It is advised to water after a week or two from planting. 💚

Pls. visit my Youtube channel to watch how I did it! 🙂

#jellybeans #succulents #potting #gardening #sedum

Quarantine Musings

Aside from prayers and exercise, I do a lot of mind conditioning nowadays to avoid anxiety. You can't help it if your going through this pandemic. It is one way to keep one's sanity and ward off negative thoughts. Blogging(or writing it down) too, surely helps. 

This two month lockdown made me realized a lot of things...

1. I love cooking for my family but hey, I'm just human, I do get tired.  Especially, when you constantly do it twice to three times a day in this hot and humid weather. Kakaluto mo pa lang lunch, iniisip mo na yung preparation sa dinner. Sabi ko minsan sa asawa ko at anak ko, "para akong may canteen ah!" In return naman, we do order and take out food at least once in a week. Pero kapag iniisip ko na it would take a long time before we could dine out again, I feel sad. It is a fave activity of ours- dining out at least twice a week.

2. I miss going to the wet market/grocery twice a week with no restrictions. Before, I do this after my Zumba because our gym is just a few steps from the grocery. Nowadays, going out and doing this is already a major production. You have to wear a mask, goggles or glasses, a hat and gloves, for some. In my belt bag, aside from money, phone and keys, I need to have my quarantine pass and an alcohol spray. Once you get to the grocery or palengke, you have to wait in line for quite a while. Inside, I have this sense of urgency to finish off my errand. I tend to become paranoid. Nagiging germophobic na yata ako. And this is supposed to be a stress busting activity on my part dapat. I love going through the aisles and check even those things that I don't need without thinking that I might pick something na full of germs. Iba pa yung pagdating mo sa bahay, ako rin ang mag-di-disinfect or maghuhugas ng pinamili ko. I got traumatized(or just tired) yata once, I didn't go out talaga for two weeks straight.

3. I don't miss the mall at all- well, initially. But every time I thought of buying something that I need like a simple kitchen utensil(ex. spatula), or a piece of furniture or an appliance that I thought before wasn't an immediate necessity, I do want to head out and proceed to the nearest one. I need to re-paint or do a makeover DIY but all the hardware stores nearby aren't in operation. Sa mall, may Ace hardware, True Value or Handyman.

4. I need to go plant shopping again. Some of the ones I bought last February went to plant heaven na. I also regret that I didn't buy pechay seeds when I had all the time to grab one in my many trips to the supermarket or hardware store.

5. A roadtrip or a plane ride isn't gonna happen soon. I miss the beach and I wanna go back to Japan.

6. 'Nagtatampo' na yung make-up, alahas, sapatos at damit ko. I miss wearing them. Sometimes, I put on perfume kahit nasa bahay lang. When I do my grocery and wet market errands, yung brows lang ang pwedeng ayusin di ba. One time, I put on some lipstick, pero mag-ma-mask pala ako. Face palm moment.

7. This is not the best time to get sick and be hospitalized. Boosting one's immune system and having a healthy diet(the hardest part) should be prioritized now more than ever. Alam mo yung yung feeling na may sore throat ka lang, then Covid-19 comes to mind. If there's an urgent medical attention that I need siguro oral prophylaxis by my dentist. The last time I had was January or February yata. It is due na by June.

8. If there's one big financial advice you need to hear from me and if I could nag you just like how I am to my son- don't forget to save up for the 'rainy days'. It may sound too cliché, but even there's a pandemic or not, CASH IS GOLD all the time. You may all have the fanciest things around you, but if you don't have the liquidity to spend during an emergency, everything else won't matter. Of course, you may sell them but it will buy you time. Iba yung meron ka na agad at your own disposal whenever, wherever. I don't need to elaborate more, but, it is one BIG worry off your mind.

9. Rough times bring out the best and worst in people. Doon mo malalaman HOW a person will face an adversity head on. It is one true test of character and....values, if I may add. Makaka-adapt kaya siya o tatakbuhan niya ang realidad? 

10. I'm beyond thankful that my family isn't experiencing a major trial(health concerns, death, family feuds, etc.) alongside with this pandemic. I pray that it won't come in the nearest future. Have mercy on us and many thanks, Lord. 

coping up with Covid 19

So how is my family coping up during this pandemic? After almost two months, we somehow managed to have a routine, household chores and all. On my end, I still do Zumba with the help of Youtube. The Internet is really a powerful tool during this days. Ang daming videos that we could use for our exercise regimen. Apart from Zumba, I sometimes do Yoga or Hiit exercises, too. 

I regularly chat with my siblings thru messenger, same as my husband with his. My son is working from home and regularly streaming live as a gamer. 

I also joined the bake-your-bread bandwagon weeks ago. At the start of the quarantine period, there was a time the neighborhood groceries ran out of bread. Kaya naisip ko, I can try baking it naman. At first, I want to try making the Hokkaido Milk bread, but it requires a longer period of time, so will try it next.

It was my first and it wasn't bad. Yun lang talaga you have to consume it for two days because wala naman siyang preservative.

Madali lang pala gumawa ng tinapay. Bakit ngayon ko lang ginawa ito? Kung hindi lang talaga mainit sa Pilipinas, mas madami na akong nasubukan.

I cooked Oven Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken Rosemary for the first time, too. Madali lang din siya.Thankfully, it was a hit for my boys. 

Watching Korean dramas is still a part of my routine. I recently finished Black Knight, Pasta, Beauty Inside,and Big. I'm currently watching Lee Min Ho's The King Eternal Monarch and Suits. 

Attending to my plants is another stressbuster for me. When this ECQ is finally lifted, I will buy new ones even in this oven like kind of weather. 

I'm glad I 'salvaged' this plant from dying...

plus this Colosseus, too...

My latest Gumamela bloom after I pruned it a few months ago...

My Pothos plants are thriving. One of the easiest plant there is, just lots of water and tender loving care.

I just wish that my Snake plants to be just as productive...

Even though it's extremely hot during the summer, I would not exchange this view from anybody else's...

I find it comforting to just gaze on my exclusive every day view, be it sunrise, sunset or anytime of the day during this forced stay at home period. I'm very grateful. 

day 56 Enhanced Community Quarantine

It's been almost a month since I posted an update. I hope you're comfortable and on the pink of health right now. 

This flower bloomed just in time for my Mom's death anniversary. Incidentally, she gave me this plant a couple of years ago. 

Last April 24 was my Mom's first death anniversary. My family could not commemorate it the normal way because of the quarantine. We agreed to pray the Novena for the eternal repose of her soul for nine straight days in the comfort of our own homes na lang muna. We miss her so much even a year has already passed. Parang kahapon lang nangyari, but knowing that she's with our Dad now makes it less painful for us. I know that they are constantly guiding us from heaven.

It's already known that our quarantine here in Manila was extended for another month. Ang dami nang nangyari tulad ng nagupitan ko na ng buhok si Hubby. Another achievement unlock for me. Puwede na pala akong hairdresser. Si Husband ang dami na ring nagawa. He gave our roof a fresh coat of paint. Nalinis na niya Man cave niya at bodega namin. We are also thankful that we were given cash aid by the government thru the Social Amelioration Program. This was a surprise to us since we didn't expect that we would be qualified and it came right on my son's birthday, too. 

Tonight, we are waiting with bated breath if the President will announce our transition from ECQ to GCQ(general community quarantine) after almost two months of quarantine. Of course, once we move on to GCQ, there will still be restrictions and guidelines so that a second wave of infections won't happen. We don't want to overwhelm our hospitals and frontliners, which is also the reason for extending the quarantine period twice. 

The last weekend was eventful. We celebrated my son's 27th birthday last Saturday and Mom's day yesterday. Just like my last birthday, I cooked the pasta dish(Baked Macaroni this time), and the rest of the food, we just bought from Landers care of my husband. Nairaos din, even quarantine style. I feel grateful that we are healthy and Covid-free, there's a roof over our head, food on the table all the time and no one close to us is sick or dying. Our prayer, just like everyone's, is for this disease not to inflict further havoc to the world anymore. Please heal our land, Lord.

Buti na lang two cakes(Chocolate and Vanilla) yung nabili ni husband, bigla akong nagkaroon ng Mom's day cake. He totally forgot daw kinabukasan ang araw ng mga Ina. 

February 2020

Every year the month of February always seem to pass by swiftly. Ang bilis ng panahon. Most especially this first quarter of 2020. But the turn of the decade seemed to be very stressful for a lot of us in terms of disaster. Hindi pa tayo nakakahinga sa Taal Volcano eruption dito sa Pilipinas, heto naman ang Covid 19 disease. Lahat affected worldwide. I just wish everyone to be healthy. 

I refuse to be stressed over things na I don't have total control of. Instead, I try to be proactive. I took advantage of the cool weather temperatures of Feb. I decluttered, did general cleaning in my entire home and re-potted my plants after a year of neglect. 

Bought new ones, too...

Apart from my regular zumba classes for my me time, I still watch my Korean drama series(one series a week for me). I told my husband to end our cable subscription because wala na naman NBA channel and most movies na pinapalabas sa cable we can watch na on Netflix, plus, I don't have to go to Greenhills just to be able to download my Korean series. Honestly, we don't watch local shows anymore. It would be a total waste of money if we still continue with it. Eventually, we downgraded our subscription to basic from p690 to p290 a month and subscribed to Netflix. Now, everybody is happy.

Vertigo hits

My curse decided to visit me again. I woke up last Thursday with a headache and spinning visions. I couldn’t get out of bed like I used to. I stayed in bed the whole day with bathroom breaks in between. Haist, this is in contrast naman of how I was during the past few days; I did zumba last Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Good thing I did my grocery shopping na rin last Wednesday. Plus, my son was with me all night because he’s on a break from work after working over times the past few days. My husband took care of me during the day.

Yesterday, I was feeling much better and did the laundry and cooking for lunch and dinner. I don’t know if my menopausal period has got to do with this also. Luckily, I didn’t experience panic attacks this time. This, too, will pass.

Cafe 80’s

I thought I’m done reconnecting with friends over the holidays. You see, when my Mom died last April 2019, I wasn’t able to see them. After eight months, I came out of my unintentional self-imposed hiatus. I met most of them in different occasions last December.

2019 Personal expenses

Saving up is always on top of of my major goals every year. And it is where I also miserably fail. I would list all the necessary budget for the week(food mostly), and health, travel plus miscellaneous expenses. Yung personal ko nakalista din. Medyo nag-overboard ako sa paggasta considering I have additional funds last year from May to December because I paid up my SSS personal loan after two years, pero ayun nga I still failed.

2020 Goals

This is an excerpt from my post last year. I specifically crossed out the ones that I was obviously able to accomplish.

For 2019, I want to accomplish the following with flying colors...
* save, save, save!
* travel to a dream destination on my 50th. locally, to a beach destination I've never been  to
* post regularly here on my blog(weekenders, not daily para mas achievable)
* buy a dining table or a lazy boy
* follow religiously a healthy diet
* more bonding with my Mom
* to be more tolerant with my husband and son
* be kind to myself(ok lang hindi perfect at times)
* attend a formal cooking/baking class
* minimize shopping for teacups, tableware :D

2019 goals

Last year, my prime goal was to save up. Medyo nag-fail ako doon. I intend to outdo it this year. I was able to save up but unfortunately, I didn't reach my expectations. My goal to continue with my fit lifestyle was reached but not as good as my statistics last 2017.

For 2019, I want to accomplish the following with flying colors...

* save, save, save!

* travel to a dream destination on my 50th. locally, to a beach destination I've never been to

* post regularly here on my blog(weekenders, not daily para mas achievable)

* buy a dining table or a lazy boy

* follow religiously a healthy diet

* more bonding with my Mom

* to be more tolerant with my husband and son
* be kind to myself(ok lang hindi perfect at times)

* attend a formal cooking/baking class

* minimize shopping for teacups, tableware :D

back to biking

I mean, on stationary bike. Last week, I asked my husband to put back our stationary bike in the bedroom. The last time I used it was last year pa. That time, it was no longer challenging to me. My fitness level last year was very high from March to I guess, October. When Christmas time came, I indulged myself in overeating and lack of exercise. Everyone asked me to gain some weight because I was 115 lbs. then, my ideal weight. Ayun nagtuloy tuloy na. Haha.

kindness matters

I confess I lack the effort in this department when it comes to connecting to others. Lalo na pag nasa hibernation period ako. Haha. Yes, I have a seasonal tendency to be scarce in terms of socialization. Lumalabas din talaga minsan my introvert side.

fitness journey 2018

Starting today, I’ll be posting updates on how I will try to go back to being fit and healthy after six months of indulgence. I confess, I indulged by choice with regards to my eating habits and inconsistent physical well-being unlike last year.

be happy NOW

Woah, the first quarter of the year is almost done!

Yesterday, I felt the need to blog and pour into writing what I've been thinking as of late. This could be what you may call 'birthday blues'(April is my birth month), but I'm not feeling blue at all.

midweek blessings

I feel blessed today. First on the list was this bloom, been awaiting for it since it's not that often that I get to see flowers in my garden. I only use blooming fertilizer once in a while. 

First Sunday 2018

Like what I’ve said, one my goals this year is to go to mass regularly. Today, I woke up by around 8:30 and was up by 9:00 am. I hurriedly prepared and was there just on time for the 9:30 mass. It’s a good thing that the church is just a five minute walk from our house. 

2018 goals

I always say I'm not into resolutions but more on setting goals for the new year. We all have 12 new chapters and 365 chances to look forward to. So why not put it into good use, right?

Here are mine...

new 2018 hair color

I was torn if I'll have a haircut or a new hair color at first. March this year I had my below shoulder length hair cut changed to a pixie cut. My favorite hair stylist Mr. D of David's salon was stunned when I asked him what I wanted for my hair, "Sigurado ka?! Although, bagay sa iyo kasi maliit mukha mo." Those were the exact words that he stated. Hindi naman ako depressed but I was unhappy with a few hair loss plus I'm just bored with it. And I have a good excuse, summer or hot days were coming na. Haha. Yup, I'm really experimental when it comes to my hair ever since. I'm not afraid to have it cut short or grow it long. Siguro nga kasi maliit mukha ko. Kahit ano daw bagay.

Pixie hair  March, 2017 Canyon Cove