A Baby!

I gave birth last Saturday, Oct. 22, to my second baby girl.  It was a very fast delivery (and I mean fast!) as I got to the hospital fully dilated.  I didn't even know I was going to give birth until my water bag broke in the middle of the night and good thing I even made it to the hospital.  I never felt any contractions so I didn't even have anesthesia! I gave birth normally.

I got the baby out in less than an hour with a bit of drama in the delivery room.  There were some complications which I won't narrate here but the important thing is my baby and I went home last Monday together.  Actually, I was allowed to go home a day after delivery but I opted to wait for my baby.

What a journey....

It's been a loooong time. Six months to be exact.  I am 9 days away from full term and my pregnancy had its ups and downs.  

I was put on bed rest and medication somewhere in my 2nd trimester for pre-term contractions.  I had on & off bouts with asymptomatic UTI and yeast infection (which I never had before, blame it on pregnancy hormones) for which I was put under 2 cycles of antibiotics and 2 cycles of yeast medication at different times.  Good thing my last urine test (yesterday) was negative or else there would be a high risk of my baby being left in the nursery after giving birth.

In the 8th month my OB stopped my vitamins and milk (Anmum) because my weight was going up a bit fast.  I needed to go on a diet so I wouldn't have to undergo a Caesarian Section in case my baby got too big.  Now that is such a difficult thing to do once pregnant- to go on a diet as you're hungry all the time! To think I don't eat or drink too much junk at this time.  

Skin Care Products I'm Using Now

Summer vacation started 2 weeks ago for me (or rather my DD but that includes me!) so I'm left with much more free time than I can handle.  Yeah, I'm bored.  I prefer the days with school because I can walk outside with a purpose, he he.

Anyway, I know I'm purposely neglecting this blog and much everything else but you would too if you are nauseated the whole day, everyday! That's what's going on with me now - all day nausea.  I am wishing for my 1st trimester to end in a few more weeks so the nausea would end too.  Compared with my first pregnancy wherein I was vomiting the whole day (yes, morning, noon and night for 3 months!!!) but felt so much better after each bout, this nauseated feeling is worse.  It really is different for every pregnant woman and every pregnancy.  

So far my skin is still looking like s**t but at least my skin texture is better.  I've rediscovered my Emu Oil when I ran out of my night cream a week ago (Avalon Organics Rejuvenating Vitamin C Oil-Free Moisturizer).  This is working for me at the moment because it keeps my face oil-free the next day.

Remember that those wanting to get pregnant or are pregnant should avoid use of skin care products with Retinoids (Accutane- the oral form, Vit. A derivatives in creams, lotions like Retin-A, Differin, Retinoic Acid) as they are proven teratogens especially the oral form of the drug.  Meaning, these cause birth defects in fetuses.  Also Beta Hydroxy Acids like Salicylic Acid should be avoided as they can also cause birth defects and pregnancy complications.  

Sweet Blog Award

See? Every time I say I'll stop writing or shut this down, that's when I have posts to write, ha ha! Anyway, this is long overdue.

1. Thank and link back the person that gave this award :

   

  Thanks to CherWriter: The Curvy Blogger who passed this on to me. Her blog is deep and thought-provoking.  Keep writing, Cherry! Pakita ka naman sa reunion *wink*.

2. Share four guilty pleasures that you have:

Guilty Pleasure #1: baked goodies!

     Be it mine (meaning I made them myself) or store-bought...I will gobble them up.  Enough said.

On the Homefront

As you may have noticed, there's a new widget on my blog.  

Yes, I'm expecting baby #2! Weeee! I am very excited and so is everyone in my family.  That's one of the reasons I haven't done much in the form of product reviews and stuff bec. I have been preparing myself since middle of last year for the possibility.  

I've thought of shutting down my blog before but thought twice. I'll just leave it here for now.  I do read other blogs daily to keep up with what's going on in the beauty and fashion world although I don't go out and buy.  I haven't really bought any beauty product since maybe middle of 2010 (just a NYX concealer in Beige and maybe a few polishes).  Just concentrating on skincare with my dermatologist and basic things.  I've been breaking out in a major way due to hormones and it doesn't look pretty.  Concealer (Monave foundation-concealer to be more specific) has been a daily friend to me.  I've also been wearing my mineral foundation every single day since last quarter of 2010 to hide/conceal all the blemishes.  

I've never broken out in severe cystic acne ever.  Even when I used Accutane more than 10 years ago, what is happening now is worse and it's all a rebound from stopping my OCP use to be able to conceive.  Even my derma is trying her very best to control it but we couldn't apply the best acne meds. because they're contraindicated for possible pregnancy and pregnant women.  So I'll just grin and bear it for the next 8 months or so.  All in the name of sacrifice even if I look horrible.

Maybe I'll just be posting some overdue product reviews from products I bought a long time ago.  I said maybe, if I'm in the mood.  Or I'll try to post the new stuff I'm using which are apt for pregnant women plus a few clothing necessities used in this period.  Whatever.  We'll see. 

My Notjustminerals / beauty blog will probably turn out to be a "day in the life of a pregnant woman" ha ha!

A Wedding!

I attended my cousin's wedding last weekend in Tagaytay.  The church was San Antonio de Padua which was quaint yet picturesque and breezy inside.  Since my uncle (the bride's father) is one of our country's Master Portraitists in photography and my cousin as well is a photographer (she also teaches and is a writer for I-Mag Photography Magazine), at least a third of the guests were photographers both pros and amateurs.  The youngest as young as 8 or 9 y/o even!   

Yes, I definitely felt insecure in whipping out my trusty ole' cellphone camera to take these photos in the midst of DSLR's with zoom lenses, ha ha!

My DD the wedding angel.

Family Woes

Totally not beauty or fashion related post. Just need to get this off my chest.

This isn't about my immediate family but more on my extended family.  I love my family.  We're a big one on my mother's side and are scattered all over the globe.  Recently my Australian relatives came to visit and I met them for the first time and we (my Mom) more or less became their host here. Doesn't it feel so good to take the time and visit and attend a special occasion with cousins, aunts/uncles?  

I feel bad that my uncle's family wouldn't be attending my cousin's wedding this weekend.  There were only a few close relatives invited and so are expected to attend.  It would be out of town but we are all excited to go and bond with one another.  But not them.  Reason is that it's too far, they're busy, etc.  My mom even offered them a ride on the way there.  That uncle is my mom's brother.

What ticks me off, and I'm guessing I'm the only one bothered by it, is that the invites were given months ago so everyone would be prepared.  And my " sama ng loob" didn't start here.  They have an only daughter a few years my junior and it's too bad that they live far away but within the same city as ours so they couldn't be easily accessible as my other cousins/ relatives.

Shoe Shopping

I had a difficult time looking for a pair of shoes yesterday.  I was only able to go to Shangrila Mall yesterday because hubby had an interview there so DD and I tagged along.  I tried looking for a pair of either purple, yellow even red shoes but they were either sky high stilettos, too expensive (meaning not on sale- I'm a cheapskate, ha ha) or were too ugly looking. 

I settled for this pair seen in the photo below:

I got it on sale at Payless for only P699!  It's a bronze, bejeweled, 3-inch mid-wedge heel sandal from Fioni.  Good thing it feels very comfortable on the feet.  At least I can still use this with other kinds of clothes. And I do prefer wedges because I am not used to wearing heels.

I still wanted those purple ones I saw, like this:

It does seem a bit too high for me and looks uncomfortable.  Maybe when they put it on sale.

How to?

Got this gray silk dress (Petal Trim Dress) from Warehouse at 50% off last weekend!  I know it was meant for me because it was the last piece in my size and I never go in any Warehouse store ever.  I even thought it won't fit me because it looked small. But it did, so hurray!  This is a 2 piece dress, by the way, since it comes with a detachable full-length gray slip underneath as the dress is a bit sheer.

I am going to wear it to my cousin's wedding this February.  My DD will be a flower angel (no flower girls) for this event which is her 4th time in a row.  She was asked to be a flower girl for the 5th time this coming September for another cousin's wedding.  She'll be a seasoned "red carpet walker" by then, ha ha.  She even surpassed my 3-time flower girl stint when I was her age.    

Now back to the dress.  This picture shows the model with black tights on underneath the dress.  I kinda like the way it looks but the wedding is in the afternoon and black tights don't seem appropriate.  What color shoes should I buy? Since the color is gray, it needs a pop of color to dress it up.  No gold shoes please. Maybe bronze? Or red? Or even purple? I really have no idea.  I couldn't find a nice pair yesterday and the ones I found didn't have my size.  Any suggestions?  Accessories too, please.

Havaianas 2011 Collection

From Havaianas comes their 2011 collection seen in the video below:

A few years back I was one of the Havaianas fanatics having more than a dozen flip flops of the brand.  Every time a new style would come out I was one of the few who got a pair even as far as Australia and Dubai.  

Now, I still love Havaianas but I can only wear it at home or at the beach.  Since my right ankle had a previous injury I can not walk in ANY kind of flip flop or shoe that doesn't have support (even a little bit).  From almost a dozen or 2, I now have only 1 pair.  I plan on getting another one though when I wear my pair out.

Still, I can't help but drool over the new collection. I'm sure my little girl would love the new kid's designs.  She has gone through 3 pairs of her own. 

Any new designs that caught your fancy?

Barielle Shell Shock

with flash

by the window with sunlight, no flash

A nice dainty sheer pink from Barielle.  I think I used 3 coats here, with base and top coat.  This photo is a few months old as I saw it in my drafts.

On My Wish List

This is the new Olay Advanced Cleansing System very much like the Clarisonic which I've been lemming for but is too expensive for me.  The Olay one is only $29.99, is battery operated, has 2 speeds and replaceable brush heads plus it comes with a free Olay Cleanser. 

This will be mine definitely for this year.  In fact I already have it in my cart including a box of 2 extra brush heads but they're still on pre-order.  Since I didn't get anything much for Christmas (except for those I bought myself), this will be numero uno on my list.  When the timing is right (and with enough moolah), I'll be clicking on the "buy" button.  

Pretzel M&Ms

One of the reasons for weight gain - Pretzel M&Ms.  Need I say how yummy they are?  

I saw them end of December at a friend's facebook photo and she said she got it from Amazon.com.  Good thing my cousin was going home for the new year and I hurriedly asked her to get some before she went to the Phils.  And I got it last weekend.  Not just 1 bag but 2! And they're the party size bags of 30 oz. HUGE!!!

Salty, crunchy goodness of pretzels.  The best way for me to eat it which I saw my little girl do is to remove the candy chocolate coating first then you are left with a ball of pretzel.  Saving the best (in this case the pretzel) for last.   We only have 1 bag left, uh-oh.  In Amazon it's around $15 for this size.  My cousin says she got it at Target for the same price.  I heard somewhere that it's available at Clark or Subic Duty Free.   It's as good as the Peanut Butter M&Ms. 

New Year Greetings!

I would like to greet everyone a Happy New Year (and a belated Merry Christmas, Ho Ho Ho!)!!!  May the coming year bring all of us happiness, good health and prosperity!

I know I was MIA for a long time because I just didn't feel like blogging.  I've had my ups and downs but I got over them.  The holidays have been busy too mostly because I started baking again.  And yeah, I gained back all the weight I lost the whole year because of all those baked goodies ha ha.  I am trying to lose all the weight starting this week because I have a wedding to attend this weekend.  

I can't promise to start blogging beauty stuff because I haven't bought any cosmetic since the 2nd quarter of 2010 except for nail polishes.  I still have some Etude House and other items I got from the US unopened until now.  My acne flared up big time 4th Q of 2010 because I had to stop some medications.  Other stressors in my life came up too. 

I really need to purge a ton of cosmetics I haven't used or rarely used.  I think I posted about a blog sale ages ago which I still haven't gotten around to doing. Will do so once I get to posting this week (hopefully).