{cherry} EVERYDAY

Did you hear that? Yes I quit.  I’m quitting even before my challenge begins.  Why?  Because I don’t have a challenge to speak of.  But, if you can’t tell, I’m very proud of myself for finishing one challenge.  Although you only got to see the good side of it,  I was pretty much struggling everyday.  But all in all, it was an awesome experience and if you can believe me, I still haven’t eaten any rice or rice dish for the past two months now.  Amazing how I lasted this long.  It feels like a way of life now.

So after that challenge, I don’t know what else to do.  Should I do the no-shopping challenge.  Well, that’s kinda easy coz I am really not so keen on shopping these days.  No eating out challenge?  Well, that one is gonna be something.  It’d be so hard since we’re a family who takes eating out seriously.  My family loves to eat and not a week goes by that we don’t eat out.  So if that would be the one, I don’t know if I can achieve it.  I don’t only have to consider myself but I have to take into consideration my kids too.  This is my challenge and it wouldn’t be fair for them if I have to drag them into this.

Which takes me to another point…why do I even do this?  Why do I even subject myself to this craziness?  Well, go figure!

I absolutely love perfumes.  Back in high school, I was kinda known for sporting a different perfume everyday.  Those were not mine.  My mom actually had a collection and before I went to school, I would drop by my parents’ room to spritz perfume on my neck, wrist and cleavage.  Sometimes I would even bring the whole bottle to school so I can reapply every so often.  Of course, much to my mom’s disapproval.  My favorites were Escada Summer, Calvin Klein and Poison.

So when I came across One Proud Momma’s 1st Blogoversary Giveaway Contest, I knew I had to join.  Just look at all the sponsors…

My Tot’s Exactly * My Tummy Calls * It’s All About Me * Just Another Pixel *blankPixels.com * Make Money Online *  Certified Foodies * Notepad Corner *Delectable Ideas * Joy’s Flair * Home Buddies * Earning Online * Mike Mamaril *Work At Home Dad * YZ’s Little Steps * E.A.S.Y on Yz * Noob Foodie *LEVYousa * Living Life to the Fullest * Designer’s Depot

Viva Trips & Tips * House of Maria * Corsame Lane * Pinay Mommy Online *Proud Mommy of Three * The Filipina WHAM * Mom Writes * Heart’s Content of a Mama * Love Home Grow Garden * The Jolly Toes * Seasons and Seasonings* Insights of Over 30 Something Creature * My (Second) Hand Philosophy *Really Interesting Projects * Mommy’s Joy Ride * A Woman’s Shell * Multi-Tasker in Action * Everything Nice * The Misis Chronicles * Health and Beauty Geek *

Make Money Online * One Proud Momma * Samut-Sari * Foodies Galore * Earn Dollars Pinoy! * What’s UP?! * Pop Ups of my Mind * Treat your Palate * Cebu News and Events * Travels and Explorations * Everything Alabama * A Woman’s World * Brown Pinay * My Point of View * Jared’s Little Corner * Pink Memoirs *Topics on Earth

Mom’s Ups and Downs * Azumi-Kawaii Princess * Kawaii Princess * Fabbielous Momma * Life of a Filipina Blogger * Mirage * Gracia Fashionista * Travel Sites and Scenes * Momma Helps * Zowanderer * Stylish Voyager * The Journalistic View * Hot Fun Stuffs * Neru Online * Yami Online * My Green Living Ideas

…and the prize I’m really praying for.

I also have my favorite things.  And they’re not even material things.  I love having movie marathon with my kids.  I love to eat out.  I love long-distance travels although that favorite is no longer practical considering the price of gas now.  I love to cook but I hate the prep and the clean up.

Anyway, this the theme of Jared’s Giveaway…his favorite things.  And one of them is a musicgarten GC.  My little girl would absolutely benefit from it.  Again, hoping to win this one too.  In fact, I wanna win them all.

My first challenge is to join as many contests and giveaways as possible.  I know I’m never lucky with anything that relies on luck and randomness.  But I’ll try.  And I hope this challenge would not be for naught.  I hope I win at least one or two is even better.  Don’t wish me luck.  Like I said, luck alone is never on my side.  But since this challenge not only involves luck but sheer hard work and determination, I might be in for a little surprise.  A prize, YES?

I hope so.  So this challenge starts now.  And I’m joining my good friend’s Momma Finally giveaway.  So here goes…

What is your most memorable moment as a mother?

Everyone knows that there are three phases to a woman’s life but no one has clearly identified what they are.  I believe mine is really quite simple.  There is girlhood, mommahood, and old girlhood.  And I’m on the second phase.  Hope I never get to reach the last phase. Well, at least not physical as I hate wrinkles and age spots.

Mommahood is that time when a woman’s life is not entirely her own.  There’s this cute little creature that calls her mommy and that cute little creature can be so needy.  Needy in an adorable way.  Not the clingy type we all tried to get away from during our girlhood.  Men, yes?

As my fortieth birthday looms larger, I realize that I was destined to become a mother.  Of course, I had always written in my little diary back in grade school but I never took it seriously.  I didn’t know that motherhood can be my way of life.  And not only a phase.  Coming from my background as a wild child, my transition to motherhood was surprisingly easy and so natural.  I adored my kids the moment they came out of me.  There was no post-partum depression of any kind, thank God.  They were perfect little creatures.  So tiny and fragile that touching them was that scary for me.  You know the feeling of wanting something so much but you’re equally so scared to take the first step?  That was how I felt with my two babies.  But the moment I took the first step, it was all uphill from there.

I loved everything about my very first encounters with my babies.  Perhaps that is also my most memorable moment.  The smell, the eyes that looked at you but you knew fully well that they can’t see you clearly, the way they sucked your finger when it touched the lips, and just the feeling that you’d be together for a long time.

No doubt about it, I brought this on myself.  Oh sure, I told myself all along that all I care about were making money and meeting men.  But I have never been able to shake a certain little side of me.  That side that was simple enough—to become a mother.