My Firsts

Overwhelmed

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:27:00 +0000

I cannot be upset. I cannot be angry. I have to keep my emotions in check the entire time. I cannot get sick. I cannot complain that I am tired.

I struggle on balancing my emotions, as a mother, as a woman and as a person. I feel that I can no longer be anyone else but a mother. I am not entitled to just be a person. All I can hear are the words: No, you cannot do that. You are a mother.

Being a mother to two very beautiful girls, is the best thing that ever happened to me. But sometimes, I just want to let it all out. Sometimes, I want to be angry. Some days, I want to be sad. And sometimes, I want to feel tired. I just want a little room for mistakes, for fears, and for meltdowns.

But somehow, the label of being a mom has held my emotions back. I know that given my history, any sign of weakness from my end would guarantee the label: crazy and unfit mother.

So I guess, this will be me from now on- a very composed mother from the outside. This amazing and super human strength that allowed me to go through everyday, I draw from my two daughters. And yes, I thank Him for the abundance of grace, without Him, I would not be where I am today.

8th!

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 18:53:00 +0000

2010. I set foot in Dubai.

Single.

45 kgs.

Fast forward to today, 2018.

Married with two kids.

72 kgs.

Exhausted: One word to describe this journey

Lessons learned:
People will betray you.
You cannot rely on anyone to get things done.

Will I still be here in 8 years time?
As long as I am employed, I will still probably be here.

What to look forward to this year?
Still married with two kids
At least 60kgs
To be better, not bitter
To forgive easily, and forget
To have a heart at peace

I give back all the glory and honor to Him!

Happy 8th to me!

On being a Wife

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 13:10:00 +0000

If being a wife was a test, I would be a total failure. Hell, I would not even marry myself. I went through so much that I could not bring myself to trust anyone. I only earn a small amount of money. I do not have an inheritance to my name. Over the year, I have put on so much weight. I am at loss at fashion. I cannot even put on a decent makeup to my face. Did I mention I am terrible in the kitchen & household chores too?

I guess some of us are not meant to do the wife-role or maybe whatever I do will never be enough or perfect for this role. This is a test that I only have one shot of, & I failed at this.

But this role has given me two adorable angels. When I look at my two girls - I see hope & strength. Hope for myself, that maybe someday, I will be happy for who I am. And strength, knowing that all the struggles are worth it, because I know I am doing these for them.

From a Very Tired Mommy

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 06:50:00 +0000

If motherhood was a test, I have failed. My children often catch the cold. Unica is underweight. I get criticised & blamed for every wrong deed my children do. At this point, all I can think of is how I miss my mother. It did not fully hit me how hard she worked for the family, until I became a mother myself. Now, I experienced how the things I do are taken for granted.

Yes, they acknowledged the hardships I went through during pregnancy & childbirth. But let me tell them this, the pregnancy was the easiest phase. Raising two rascals, managing a household, & working full-time are very difficult tasks to take on.

So if you see me make a mistake, or miss something, please be kind. A little help from your end will come a long way. I need all the help I can get. I am struggling.

I may not be able to do this the way my mom did, but somehow I know that along this journey, I will figure out all of this. I will take on the motherhood tests, several times as I can, until I get this right. At the end of the day, I have two lovely rascals who I know will hold me close to their hearts, no matter what happens.

When Nothing Fits

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 19:24:00 +0000

Cinderella got her happy ending when she tried on the shoe. To be honest, I only have few pairs of shoes that fit me now. I am 3 months post pregnancy. However, nothing seems to change. It is frustrating & infuriating to rummage through my clothes, try on a few pieces and find nothing that will fit. My body has deteriorated. I am an ugly, fat, old woman.

But you know what fits me now? She does. Her name is Ulyana Maxine. Her fingers fit perfectly into my palm. She snuggles just fine against my body. And when I carry her, she fits just right in my arms. I felt that I was built just for her.

My shoes do not fit me, but I still have my happy and perfect ending in Ulyana. She is worth all these struggles. My fears vanish when I look at her. I know that no matter what will happen, I will be loved. Loved by her. And I love her just the same and more.

Merry Christmas my dear Ulyana. You make mommy so happy everyday.

Listen

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 21:39:00 +0000

The norms of today defined us - on how we think, and on how we react. You are the employee, who meets deadlines. You are the daughter, who sends money home. You are the wife, who serves the husband. You are the mother, who nurtures the children.

When something goes wrong, you are still expected to continue with your roles. Amidst all your struggles, you are still the loyal employee, the obedient daughter, the faithful wife, and the loving mother. On your moment of crisis, the world will not hold your hand. The world will not stop for you.

I wish we all have that small window, a small pause, when we can just say what we want, with no judgement or no name-calling from anyone. I wish that even for a fleeting moment, we can just be broken.

But the world demands perfection. Anyone broken is replaced. They move on without you.

We do not allow ourselves to be left behind. No matter how hard it is, we rise up everyday and meet the demands. And maybe, at the end of each day, on our hidden nooks, we cry our hearts out. The world will not see us. They do not need to know.

#Latepost (written last September)

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sat, 09 Dec 2017 20:37:00 +0000

Being strong is relative. I can work extended hours each day, manage to drag myself out of bed, and come to office on time the next day. I can raise a toddler who throws tantrums anytime she feels like it, refuses anyone to feed her, and sleeps so late into the night. I can stay in a marriage, which has its own flaws and struggles. And to top it all, I am growing a small human in my body, carrying this precious gift for months, adjusting to all the changes and bearing the pain.

Like I said, being strong is relative. I may look that I can handle all these things and more. But no, I am exhausted. Tired. Extremely upset. Done. In this area, I am not strong. I never was.

You know where my true strength lies? It is when you see me smile, even though feelings of hurt & sadness are welled up inside me. It is when I try to stay calm in moments of despair. It is when I still have faith amidst the disbelief and doubts.

Then I can always look at the alternate truth, or the other side of the coin. Work, no matter how exhausting, eventually gets me the money at the end of each month. The toddler, no matter how spoiled she has become, will ultimately grow up to be my pride and joy. There will always be the friendship and partnership that binds two people in a marriage, no matter the struggles. And of course, the joy of the upcoming newborn is nothing compared to the pain that I am going thru now.

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 20:23:00 +0000

Confessions of a confused working mom:

Things to do before reporting to work (after my maternity leave):

I will eat sushi. I will go to a salon to get my hair & nails done.

Sadly, I never got to do any of these things. A huge feeling of guilt comes upon me every time I leave the flat & my children behind. This is why I want to spend each possible free time with them: after-work hours, weekends & holidays. Somehow, I told myself that my children will be enough for me. They will fill in all my longings & needs too.

However, this is not the case. I envy ladies with ‘salon-finished’ hair & nails. I envy friends when they go out for dinner & eat their ‘instagram-worthy’ meals. I envy couples who still make time to go on movie dates. I envy people who get to enjoy their weekends, see other people & still get time to chat/talk with others on social media.

So what is stopping me from doing all these? I tell you. There is this 2 year old little girl who calls me Mommy. She wakes up each morning with the brightest smile & say: Hello, Mommy! She never leaves my side and follows me anywhere - from the kitchen, to the bedroom, & to the CR! We are inseparable. It is because of her need for me that drives me guilty each time I leave the flat. Yes, I may go out with friends, and yes, I may take a weekend off, but while away, my thoughts will always be on this little girl who I know is waiting for her Mommy to come home.

Maybe this is just me, or maybe this is just a phase, but all I know right now is I want to try to be always there for my children. They only have one Mommy, I want to stay & be their Mommy for as long as I can.

What is your 'lot' in life?

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 05:02:00 +0000

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Psalm 16:5-6

I look at the life of others and I wonder how they go through life in a breeze; how sufferings and trials rarely touch them, and how they get by without a scratch. I look at my life and ponder, is this the lot the Lord has apportioned me? Am I going to endure these burdens for the rest of my life?

‘Lot in my life’ - the saying comes from the story in Genesis on Abraham and Lot. Lot seeks his own future and is tortured for it. Therefore, in his life he finds trouble throughout.

Today, the Bible tells me that I can find joy in the ‘lot of my life’. How can I find joy on something so heavy and so difficult to deal with everyday? The joy is found in the Giver. I have to acknowledge that God is the giver of my lot. He intends for me to enjoy my life. He is the Great Orchestrator of my life. He will arrange everything for His glory, for my good and for my joy. He will grant me the grace to find the beauty on my sufferings, to wait on Him and to find joy in my toil.

¹⁸This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

I am looking forward to His redemption. I am looking forward to His deliverance. In the meantime, I will exalt His name, give thanks to Him amidst all the sorrows, look up to Him as the Giver of all of these, and find joy in what the Lord has provided.

On Being Lonely

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:43:00 +0000

I feel that most of us are lonely. I must be lonely too. Sometimes when I am overwhelmed with so much emotion, I want to scream and attack my Facebook page. This is because maybe I need validation and comfort from my ‘friends’ in my Facebook account. I fail to understand that 60% of the people who will come across my posted status do not really care and will choose to gossip about me. The remaining 40% will actually drop me a private message and will require the entire story from me.

Today I am reminded to turn to the Lord whenever I feel a sudden attack of anger - to lay out everything to Him, and to tell Him my story. He may not give me the answers to my questions immediately but He will grant me the comfort and peace I seek. He will calm my heart. I know this. He just did now.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

A wife or a mother first?

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 08:15:00 +0000

Should I be a wife first or a mother first? How does the split go? Should I be 51% wife and 49% mother?

I am a working mother. I have a 9-6 job. I cook dinner when I reach home.; wake up in the morning the following day and pack for the day’s lunch; insert {playing with baby}, insert {taking care of the hubby}, insert {taking care of household stuff}.

My role as a wife means taking care of my husband’s needs. The household should be in order when he comes home from work. Food should be in the table. My 3-month old daughter has not taken so much of my time yet. But I can see ahead now how she can be a handful at home. As a mother, I should pay attention to her needs. Train and nurture her as she develops her senses. I am not the perfect wife or the perfect mother. I treasure my family, I want to give both of them my love.

This is one of the beauties of the life He gave us: the experiences I encounter along the way will teach and reveal to me the answers to these questions. I do not want to get ahead of myself. I know that as the days go by, the Lord will show to us how to manage the home. He will grant the strength, and He will give the grace to sustain us. Until then, I am taking each day at a time, learning from the lessons of today and looking forward to make things better tomorrow.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

My mother

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 12:16:00 +0000

They say that when daughters become mothers, and mothers become grandmothers, the mother-daughter relationship is forever changed.

I am a first-time mom. It was very convenient to let my “older and wiser” mother take control and care of my newborn daughter for the first two months. My mother enjoyed every bit of moment with Unica (my 7week old daughter). My little one sleeps with her. My mother sang to her, talked to her and played with her. I rushed home from work to see my daughter safely cradled in my mother’s arms.

Gradually, I am learning the basics on motherhood101. My mother has been a good teacher. We may not agree on certain methods. But we listen to each other and compromise on the best approach for Unica. We are reminded that we are stewards of this precious gift God has entrusted to us. We both love Unica, because we want to glorify Him, the Giver of this gift. Now, I am fully aware of the sacrifices my mother made for us. The journey on raising a child is challenging but the rewards make all of these absolutely worth it and more!

My mother will leave for the Philippines tonight. She will leave behind two beings:

Her 7week old granddaughter – the joy in our hearts, and the love of our lives
Her 33 year old daughter – anxiously treading the realms of motherhood; and struggling to survive life in general

Mommy, I will not miss your fussing over the cleanliness of the flat or your constant washing of our laundry. What I will miss the most is the comfort of your presence - to know that no matter what happens, you are just inches away from me. I know that the distance will never be a hindrance of our love. Knowing that we are in each other’s prayers every day, will bring us the comfort and peace we both seek.

I will be the best mother for Unica and I will make you proud.

We love you! See you soon!

“It’s such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother — that’s why the world calls her GRANDmother.” – Author Unknown

Musings from a First Time Mom

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 12:39:00 +0000

“Motherhood becomes you, Brinee” said a friend of mine a few days back. This made me muse on the small changes that took place in my life since I gave birth.

· I hum nursery rhymes while taking a bath. Our baby girl listens to nursery rhymes and lullabies all day long. It is no wonder that the music sticks to my head.

· I rush home from work. No more overtimes. As soon as we enter the flat, my husband and I blast to the room and eagerly take the baby in our arms. Yes, the stories are true. The little angel in our arms takes away all the weariness and tiredness our desk jobs bring.

· I smile when I see my daughter’s poop. I could not believe how a small poop can make me so happy. It relieves me to know that our little one is healthy and she is excreting her waste regularly.

· I visit the baby’s section in the shops first. No more shopping for mommy’s new clothes now. She comes first in my heart. She comes first in my wallet too. (Disclaimer: All purchases subject to daddy’s approval.)

· I take hundreds and hundreds of baby pictures in my mobile. I have over 1300 pictures now. 90 percent of these are her photos. There is no stopping me from clicking and capturing every moment of her.

I am a first time mother to a 6-week-old baby girl. Her name is Unica Elyse. She is God’s gift to our lives. I know that there will be more first-time experiences to come. There will be more challenges along the way. I am not going to be the picture-perfect, textbook mother. But I know that I will be the perfect mom for my baby.

“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:13

Be uplifted! Read this.

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 08:31:00 +0000

Hello there. Yes, you! I know things are difficult now. Some days just feel impossible and unbearable. Your emotions are erratic. You go through the day confused and lost. You feel alone and isolated from everyone. This is me, reminding you of the following:

Ø You are not in this alone. The Lord who redeemed the Israelites out of bondage, the Lord who delivered you from all your past troubles is the same God who will bring you out of this darkness. You are secure in His unfailing love. He will get you through this. Place your trust in Him. He never fails on His promises.

Ø Nothing lasts forever. The pain will recede in time. The fog will be lifted, and everything will be in order soon. Cry, and scream if you want to. Soon, you will not be crying every day. The bitterness in your heart will be replaced with love and understanding. The turmoil in your mind will be replaced with peace. Joy will overflow in your life. Do not rush. You will be healed.

Ø You are strong. You have been through a lot. You weathered all of them and they have made you stronger now. Seek His strength and His guidance. Wake up with a stronger heart. Go through the day and claim victory. Release forgiveness and love.

Ø Every day is a blessing. Look around you. You are surrounded with friends and family who treasure and love you. Seek support from them. Receive encouragement from them. Feel their love, never feel lost. You belong to their hearts.

I bet you never realized how strong you are until today. Cheer up, and take each day at a time. This too shall pass.

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”

Postpartum Blues

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:28:00 +0000

Postpartum sucks. Big time. The nine months of pregnancy and the excruciating hours of labor were the two difficult phases I had to endure. However, I prepared myself for these - I read a lot and absorbed all information I could get on pregnancy, labor and delivery. But no one prepared me for the crisis that comes after childbirth. I got a crash course in Postpartum 101. It is rough.

I am humbled. I had no idea how to carry a newborn, how to change a diaper, how to bathe a baby, or how to soothe her cries. Thanking Him for sending my ever-patient mom to take care of the baby, for taking care of my CS wound, and for teaching me the basics on baby-handling/baby-caring.

I still look pregnant. I know I will not lose weight in an instant. But I also did not really expect to look six months pregnant! The doctor said to blame it on my uterus. They say it will take a little while for me to lose weight. I am taking it easy now - no rigorous exercises. I am taking my time until I can hit the gym or I can start to jog.

I cry. A lot. I was emotionally strong during pregnancy. I never expected to be an emotional wreck after childbirth. There are just so many things that come to my mind and somehow I get affected with these. There is no other remedy but to pray endlessly to Him to grant me His peace- the peace that surpasses all understanding.

I am socially destroyed. Relationships somehow get ruined. Well, to some extent I have to minimize the time with friends – no more weekend-outs, or spur-of-the-moment weekday dates with them, or endless hours of facebook, whatsapp and viber chats. And there is the husband, he will not look at you the same way he did when you first got married. Duh, you gained over 20kgs!

It gets better. I read that sometime soon, the haze will lift and I will eventually figure out most of these troubles. The ordeals I go through now will somehow prepare me for the greater things to come. The lessons I learn will equip me to become a better mother, wife and friend. My happy pill amidst all the grief, is my newborn daughter. One look at her, and all my sadness and despair just melt away. One smile from her, gets me through each day. And if I have to go through another postpartum crisis, I would say yes in a heartbeat. She is worth all these struggles. She is worth the pain.

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

My First Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 17:59:00 +0000

This blog is dedicated to the most exciting phase in my life – my pregnancy! I am recording the marvelous and the not-so-glamorous moments that happened throughout this period:

The positive pregnancy test

The minute the two red lines appear in the pregnancy test, I immediately rushed to the hospital and had my blood checked. I had to pay twice the amount to get the results after one hour. I could not contain the excitement when I revealed the news to my husband. It was the happiest news we received ever.

The proof of life

On my first ultrasound at 3 months, we heard the heartbeat and we saw a very tiny being growing inside the womb. We shared the great news to our parents and the rest of our friends. Everyone was so thrilled.

The gender reveal

“The baby is a girl!” The doctor revealed the news to us. I was ecstatic! My husband was silent. It took him a couple of days to finally accept that we are having a girl. He grew up as the only boy in their family. He wanted to have a boy. But gradually, he came to love this precious little girl the Lord gave us.

The name reveal

My husband did not have difficulty picking up our baby’s first name – Unica. It means “unique”. The second name was quite a challenge. My husband turned down almost all of my name suggestions. Finally, after an exhaustive research, he finally accepted – Elyse. It means “pledged to God”. Our firstborn’s name will be Unica Elyse M. Don.

The physical changes

I had acne all over my face. I gained almost 20kgs during this period. Swollen. I am swollen all over – my fingers, my face, my breasts and my feet. I was not really happy with my physical self. I had to buy an entire new set of wardrobe, including shoes. I cannot move around easily. I get cramps. I could not sleep at all during the evenings. I felt so dull and so unattractive. But my husband always reminds me that I may look like an elephant now, but he still does love me with all his heart.

The shopping spree

My mother told me to start buying stuff for the baby on my 7^th month. When I hit the 7^th month mark, we started looking out for baby things. As first time parents, we have no idea what to get. The advises we received from our friends helped and guided us a lot. Eventually, we got the basics: the crib, carseat, stroller, the closet, onesies, blankets and feeding bottles. And of course, we received lots and lots of gifts from our very generous friends.

The big day

I am on my 36^th week now. I will reach my full term very soon. Yes, I am very anxious. I wake up at night and tell my husband how scared I am to give birth. The stories I read and hear do not help alleviate my fears. I pray and I surrender everything to Him. I know that the Lord will see us through that day and that He will deliver me and the baby safely. I trust in His undying goodness and His unfailing love.

On a side note, I checked my first entry for 2014. I achieved three out of four of my 2014 goals. Yes, the three items happened in 2015 but this does not matter. The Lord got me to where He wanted me to be, in His own perfect time.

My life through my Facebook posts

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 18:29:00 +0000

I looked back and tried to see my life through the Facebook entries I made through the years. Going through the old posts made me smile. I had so many silly and nonsense entries. Some of my entries were so insane; I could not believe I posted these.

The entries revealed one thing about me: I bounce back. This is the story of my life. I have been through some of the lowest times. I have experienced wonderful moments. But no matter what life threw at me, and no matter where life took me, I made my Facebook entry on this, slept on it and faced the next day with renewed strength and hope.

The old posts reminded me on how faithful the Lord has been with my life. He has sustained me through the years. I am humbled on how wonderful the Lord has been. He is not done with me yet, and while I wait for Him to reveal His plans on my life, I will continue to serve and worship Him.

So, what does your Facebook posts say about you?

An Overseas Filipino Worker's reflections at 2:00 AM

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 06:32:00 +0000

Kabayan. This is how we address our fellow Filipinos here in Dubai - a word that literally means: my fellow countryman. How do the other nationalities perceive us Kabayans? A conversation with a non-Filipino revealed this point: The Filipinos tend to stay together. Go to any pantry or breakroom in any office and you would see Filipinos sitting together during lunch – sharing their sinigang, adobo or spaghetti. Most of the Filipinos eat at the same place too. Check out Taza, or Ponderosa, and you would see more Filipinos dining here. It would seem like, one Filipino will discover this awesome restaurant, tell his friends, and the next thing you know this place will become a Filipino favorite. The Filipinos come together even in worship. The church which I attend is comprised of 99% Filipino in the congregation.

There is nothing wrong with all of these. In fact, this trait magnifies how united the kabayans are. Being away from our country has somehow instilled in us a sense of patriotism. We tend to look after each other. Looking at my fellow kabayans at the next table and hearing Tagalog and some other dialect buzzing through the air, gives me a sense of comfort. But we are missing something. We spend so much time with each other that we have limited our ability to grow. They say that travel is the best form of education. Well, we do not need to go that far. Dubai is a melting pot of cultures. This is a place of extravagance, of superlatives, of opportunities for everyone. We should try to get out of our comfort zones and interact with non-Filipinos. We can try to reach out to other nationalities and learn their cultures. Life is a constant cycle of trying to improve ourselves – to be better than who we are yesterday. Explore. Discover. Cultivate the yearning of always wanting to learn something new every day.

So I am widening my circles and extending my network to include non-Filipinos. They will see the Filipino values infused in me. I will share with them the colorful Filipino culture. In return, I will experience their country through them and I will gain a friend. And perhaps, no, definitely a yes, with prayer and faith, I can bring this new friend to the Lord.

This is me just saying and rambling and writing at 2:00 AM J

Disconnect to Connect

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:11:00 +0000

For 6 hours and on a weekend, my flatmates and I decided to turn off our Wifi connection, set aside our mobiles, Ipads, laptops and turned off the TV. What we accomplished? Played the guitar, sang songs, danced to some music, cooked a delicious meal, cleaned the flat, read a book, doodled in a notebook, and placed hotoil in our hair. I know, there is nothing extraordinary about these activities. But the best thing was we were actually outside our rooms, sitting across one another and talking face to face. There were no interruptions of FB’s newsfeeds or IG posts. There was music and laughter. It was fun.

Now, we turned on the Wifi, and retrieved our gadgets. We are back in our rooms, back to our social media life. Do not get me wrong, the social media sites are an OFW’s lifeline back home. However, today’s exercise reminded me that sometimes I need to actually get off my mobile, stand up, leave the room and talk to people. Today I am reminded that I am surrounded with people who have kind hearts and gentle spirits. I learned about their struggles and I am amazed on their strengths in coping with these. Today was a different kind of bonding. I look forward to more offline times with these ladies.

Another gentle reminder is that the Lord is always online with us. He never disconnects. We can always come to Him in prayer: Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Wherever we are, whatever connection we have, we can always come to the Lord and in all His goodness, He will always answer our prayers.

2014: The year to start it all

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 11:28:00 +0000

So I am back after a long period away from this blog.

I will start with the very obvious first-year-of-the month post: My 2014 goals.

Here they are:

1. To travel to at least one country outside the UAE (aside from the Philippines)

2. To get pregnant

3. To get a salary-raise (blimey, i hope my manager reads this)

4. To go back to blogging again

I will leave this short for now.

Hello 2014! :)

Chicken Curry

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:01:00 +0000

What you need:

400g chicken

onion

garlic

salt
ginger

potatoes

red bell pepper

green bell pepper

2 tbsp curry powder

fish sauce (patis)

cooking oil

water

coconut milk

What to do:

I normally boil the chicken before cooking, just to be sure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Previous dishes taught me to do this. Before boiling the chicken, season it with salt. Place the pieces in a pot, cover with enough water then boil. After making certain that the chicken is cooked and soft, remove the chicken from the water and set aside.
In a cooking pot, heat the oil. Then fry the potatoes. I was taught that vegetables should be separately fried to maintain the "crispiness" in the outside but soft in the inside. Set aside.
Saute the garlic, onion and ginger.
Fry the chicken pieces. When the chicken turns light brown, sprinkle the 2 tbsp of curry powder. Spread evenly.
Pour enough water into the pot and allow to simmer.
After a few minutes, put the potatoes, and the red and green bell peppers in the pot.
Season the dish with fish sauce. Then simmer for another 5 minutes.
Pour in one cup of coconut milk.
Simmer for another 5 minutes, then serve.

My own version of Penne Alla Arrabiata (Angry Penne Recipe)

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Arrabbiata (the Italian word for angry) is a Roman sauce of garlic, tomatoes, and red chili cooked in olive oil. Basil is sometimes used, although the majority of chefs in Italy do not use basil for this recipe. The dish is usually served with pasta and chopped fresh parsleysprinkled on top. (Wikipedia)

I first tried this dish from my landlady. I was curious because this was a different approach to cooking pasta. She told me this is a version of penne alla arrabiata. It was very delicious! The pasta, cooked to perfection, mixed with the tuna and all other spices, was mouth-watering. The kick- the green chilis, added flavor to the whole dish. The following day, I was very excited to cook the same meal.. and viola, I achieved the perfect taste for the recipe!

Here is the no-sweat, very easy recipe:
What you need:
1 can of tuna (flakes in oil)
cooking oil
tomatoes
onions
garlic
3 pcs long green chilis
salt
400g penne pasta (cooked per package instructions)

What to do:

Cook the pasta per package instructions. Set aside.
Saute the garlic, onions, and tomatoes (the more spices, the merrier, the tastier!) and green chilis.
Put the tuna (with the oil).
Season with salt to taste. Although in my case, I also used Ginisa Mix, just to be sure :)
Add the pasta.
Mix all the ingredients to coat the pasta.
When all the ingredients have been combined, turn off the heat and serve.

I heart cooking! :)

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:31:00 +0000

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” Harriet van Horne

I do not know how to cook. Don't get me wrong. I know how to do the basic and staple meals- rice, egg, hotdog.. or anything that would only require a frying pan, cooking oil and the meat. When I graduated from highschool, I mastered the corned-beef frying and instant-noodles cooking. There was a phase in college when I get to learn the basics of baking. I tried making three to four cakes and I remembered my brother making fun of all of these cakes.

I told myself that when I get married, I would hire a househelp to cook for my family, since I lack these skills in the kitchen. But alas, lately, I found myself staying in the kitchen longer. My work ends early at 330pm. At around, 3pm, I would browse through the web on recipes for dinner. This is how I spend my last official 30mins at work - googling the web for recipes: nilagang baboy, chicken teriyaki filipino style, binagoongang baboy, and other beef, pork, chicken, fish and vegetables menu.

I would write down the ingredients. Drop off to the nearest grocery store before heading home and start preparing the dish. Everyday, I found myself looking forward to going home and cooking. This even surprised me. I might just be terribly bored here.. or this comes with the age and maturity... whatever the reason is, this desire to cook is here to stay for awhile.

So, my next few entries would be on some of the meals I cooked. And if you have any suggestions on other recipes, I would really love to try them! (note: no oven in the flat, so please send recipes that does not require this).

Bon appetit everyone!

Back to back with the majestic Burj Al-Arab

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:15:00 +0000

I was in hibernation.

I was too lazy to update my blog. Then I realized that it would be better to consistently update my activities, than to regret not remembering all the things I did. I know my memory will fail me later.

While I was away, I went visit the majestic Burj Al-Arab.

At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure whose shape mimics the sail of a ship (Wikipedia).

Nope, we didn’t get to see the inside of the hotel. We heard that it is very expensive to book a hotel tour for non-guests. Rates would not come cheap for this seven-star hotel. The room rates start from AED 6000- AED 14000 (USD1600- USD 3800).

We were content to take our photos outside the Burj, along the Jumeirah shoreline. We went to the Burj on two separate times- one in the evening and one in the early morning. The Teflon- coated hotel is brilliant white during a sunny day, but takes on an entirely different look at night. Computer programmed spotlights create a changing tableau of colors on the white façade. We could not miss these two sides of the Burj.

I was amazed at this architectural marvel towering Dubai. But did you know that there is a Cross story about this hotel. It seems that if you see the hotel from the seaward side, you would see the world’s largest Christian cross. Urban legend says that the designer Mr. Tom Wright, intentionally designed the cross after he had a dream about Christianity influencing a Muslim country. On 2001, Dubai introduced a vehicle plate with the Burj Al-arab symbol. But later on, the symbol was removed from the plates without any explanations. Conspiracy theory huh? This remained to be unanswered. However, notice that 99% of the images of the Burj are from the mainland looking toward the sea. I'm so much fascinated with these schemes.

The Burj Al-Arab is certainly one of the symbols of Dubai. This masterpiece monument is just one of the things why Dubai is often referred to as the land of superlatives.

For more info of the Burj Al-Arab:

https://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Destinations/Dubai/Burj-Al-Arab/

My first desert safari

noreply@blogger.com (brinee) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:43:00 +0000

Definition: Dune bashing, also known as desert safari, is a form of off-roading, using an off-road vehicle to explore sand dunes.

I promised myself that even if I could not find a suitable job for me here in Dubai, I would definitely try the famous desert safari. And yes, the desert safari came first before any other activities. A couple of weeks after I arrived, we scheduled one Friday afternoon for this.

Earl was very kind to make the arrangements. He got us a superb deal - just AED150 (group of 8), inclusive of all the desert safari activities. But the biggest bonus of it all: our off-road vehicle is a red, shiny HUMMER. How cool is that!

Along the way to the desert, we stopped by a camel farm. We pet a camel and rode an ATV. Before the dune bashing began, the driver deflated all four wheels of the vehicle. And did I mention that our vehicle was a red HUMMER?

Desert safari = rollercoaster ride in the dunes! The experience was absolutely mind-blowing. We were screaming the whole time. The vehicle would suddenly take a very steep dip, or crazily swerve to different sides. Our Lebanese driver was a master. He easily maneuvered the Hummer while treating us to a wild ride of unexpected twists, turns and tilts against the soft sands.

We were able to experience the desert in all its glory. Upon stepping down from the Hummer, I ran, rolled and hugged the sands. It was surreal. I used to read about this desert in the Bible. Now, I am actually standing on the path the Israelites took in their Egypt to Canaan journey. A shower of manna from heaven would complete the almost perfect moment.

The fun did not stop here. At the camp, together with all other desert safari groups, we ate a sumptuous buffet of barbeque. We were entertained by dances from various cultures in the Middle East. We tried the henna tattoo and took pictures of us in Arabic costumes.

It was a crazy and happy evening. In the coolness of the night, I was in a company of great friends in the middle of the desert. We were laughing, running around the camp and eating to our hearts' and stomachs' content. Hep, hep, hooray!!!

You want this desert safari experience,too?.... plus the red, shiny Hummer? Below are the contact details of the tour agency:

Sandy Ligan

info@ohtraveldubai.com

042896700

0506541134