Ever since I gave birth, I can’t recall any occasion where I had to showcase my still “blooming” post-partum belly with stretch marks and all. Sigh, yes, it is a harsh reality that I have to live with the moment my son came into being. Of course, I wouldn’t trade having a son for a perfectly smooth and taut belly that will leave my hubby salivating and other women grudgingly jealous but…well, sometimes I do miss that.

Me with the Polecats. Yes, i learned poledancing!

Looking at myself at the mirror, I wonder if there is still hope that I can go back to my fighting form. with my stretch marks still making its presence felt, I have since abandoned all hopes of donning my tube top without the risk of looking like a blowfish, and instead, I am focused on the things that I can do, i.e., to camouflage it!

During the baby shower

Ahh, this has become so especially pressing these days as I look forward to my reunion with college friends in Laguna this coming May. Oh good heavens! There will be a pool! Now, no need to panic, dear domestic goddess, I have since gathered some “tools” that will prepare me for this eventual pool parade and pageantry.

Swimsuit

Of course I have to have at least one killer pair of swimsuit! I got this from a friend who got this from Thailand. I know it’s quite revealing but we all need to feel sexy, right? This two-piece number in pink and brown is a combination of daintiness and hotness! But, since the goal is to camouflage, it’s not enough.

Cover-up

How appropriately named! Yes, I will use this over my two-piece swimsuit. And all other swimsuits that I intend to bring. Yep, I do have an extensive collection of bikinis during my waif-thin days. I can’t donate them to charity so I’d rather grin and bear it.

Earrings

The objective of wearing accessories when you’re wearing your swimwear is to hopefully distract the people from staring at your tummy and instead be totally mesmerized at your glittering and humongous hoops!

Scarf or Shawl

Same intention! Redirect attention to your neck. It should be long enough to extend to your tummy area enough to cover it.

Pretty sandals and feet

You need to have colorful nail polish to adorn your toenails and it should be couched in pretty sandals that would appeal even to those without foot fetishes. I’m thinking neon and my new Indian sandals with lots of bling!

Glitzy bag

Thank God for my friend who stayed a long time in Bali, Indonesia – the same friend where I got the swimsuit from – because she’s so in-the-know when it comes to beach fashion! She gave me this glittery fishnet bag that looks so fabulous I could probably be naked and no one will notice me. Err, maybe?

Book

And when all else fails, bring a hardbound book that will serve a dual purpose – (1) a good read will get you busy that you ignore the bemused look on the faces of passersby and (2) hug it tight…and it will be wide enough to cover what you don’t want others to see.

Well, here goes nothing! I’m diving in! Wait…do you think it’s tacky to wear a girdle at the beach? Kidding!

i am so excited to have my first-ever guest-blogger here! i intended this blog page of mine to enjoy its anonymity for a long time but i surmised that no blog is an island so...i'm now sharing it with the world!

thank you to little miss honey, dr. honeylette cainday (yes, she is a physician!), for granting me this privilege to feature her post. she is beauty and brains personified and i'm so glad she has kindly graced me with her presence here. here goes!

DREAMING OF SUMMER

 

Summer is definitely here and heating up the place. Unfortunately for me, summer will be postponed this year due to wedding preparations and work stuff. So for consolation, I will just be content in dreaming of summer: beaches, tanning under the sun and cool blue water. One of my best summer escapades was during our family trip in Bohol last 2010. Allow me to relive those memories with you…

After a fun city tour of Bohol, the whole family headed to Panglao Beach. We checked-in a cozy inn and rested for the night. Panglao reminds me of a mini-version of Boracay: the white sands, massages on the beaches and lots of foreigners vacationing. We didn’t have enough time to explore Panglao the next bright and sunny day because we were headed to Balicasag Island. We hired a motorboat to bring us to island. Renting a motorboat cost around P1,500, good for eight to ten people. Balicasag Island is an island a few minutes away from Panglao. It is a marine sanctuary, perfect for diving and snorkeling.

 

 

We spent the whole morning in the island snorkeling. It was such a delight to swim with colorful fishes and seeing live corals. I would advise you to bring an underwater camera if you have, to capture the beauty underwater. After working up an appetite of playing ‘finding nemo’ in Balicasag waters, we had a sumptuous lunch there in one of their cottages. There is a nipa-store there that sells fresh fishes and crustaceans. We can ask them to cook it for us. But of course my baby brother has to have his porkchop so we did order for that one too.

After the hearty lunch, our next stop was to the Virgin Island a few kilometers boat ride from Balicasag. The Virgin Island is more like a sandbar. The sands are whiter and finer. The water is blue and inviting. The boatman said this is where the movie “Muro Ami” starring Cesar Montano was shot. When we arrived on the island, a group of men approached our boat selling what looks like sea urchins. It looks a like a very spiny rambutan. They would crack it in half for you and offer you some vinegar and salt to eat with it. Since I am always up for any gastronomic adventure, I took one. It tasted gooey and salty but overall, not bad. I wouldn’t mind eating a few more. We also had some coconuts juice cracked opened for us as we basked under the sun. It is my mother’s favorite drink and she loved it! There were a lot of people in that tiny sandbar and it looks like we are all one big family reunion having a fun summer outing reunion. Our family did a lot of jumping shots from the boat to the water. It was hilarious! We saw some family having water volleyball game. Some are just swimming silently and enjoying the beautiful view of nature.

We spent a longer time in the Virgin Island. Its water is more conducive to swimming there than in Balicasag Island. The white sands of the sandbar is a lovely sensation for the feet to linger into. I have started to love sandbars after visiting my first ever sand bar in Bais near Dumaguete. After that beach day adventure in Balicasag and Virgin Islands, we went back to the inn, sun-toasted, tired but very happy. Because the summer’s best ingredient is being with your favorite people in the world. To me, that is my family and loved-ones.

Here is to you, summer. I will see you, soon.

For more of my travel adventures as well as food, movie, make up reviews and inspirational tidbits, visit my blog: Little Miss Honey

Thank you, The Geisha Incarnate for allowing me to share my summer memories with you….

 

Last February 14, more popularly known as Valentine’s Day, I posted on my Facebook page that Iloilo City should be made the official city of this love-filled occasion because it is after all known as the City of Love. Some found it exciting and others found it too much for an already activity-filled February - Jaro Fiesta, Chinese New Year, and Paraw Regatta. Well, whether or not it eventually earns its moniker as the official city for Valentine’s Day, it’s now finding its way into another category as one of the seven wonder cities. I am an Ilonggo through and through so this is my wee bit in making this a reality.

New 7 Wonders - Cities

“Iloilo ang banwa ko, ginahingadlan

Matam-is nga pulong ang akon nga ginmat-an

Dili ko ikaw bulagan

Banwa kong nalulutan

Ikaw ang gintunaan sang kalipayan!”

Little Miss Honey was kind enough to grant me some space on her blog page as guest blogger for the month of March!

We go a long way (we're both sopranos in the Santa Maria Parish Choir, Iloilo City) and I'm glad that despite our physical distance now (she's in Singapore and I'm still here in the City of Love), keeping in touch through blogging has reunited us once again.

Thank you, Honeylette, and looking forward to your guest blogpost here, too!

My first guest blogpost