Yellow Yum

I was never a fan of coffee before. I just didn't like the taste and didn’t like that I couldn’t sleep at night because of the caffeine. Fast forward 2018 when I started keto diet, the diet meals that were being delivered to me always had a drip coffee. So I started having black coffee regularly, especially when I noticed that my energy would usually drop in the afternoon. (I was working out and doing keto this time.) I would usually get sleepy after working out, so I would drink coffee to help me power through the day.

I stopped drinking coffee when I got pregnant with the twins. Although it was okay to have a cup a day, I just decided not to altogether. I was okay because I went back to normal eating and I just napped when my energy was dipping down. Then I gave birth to the twins and they got bigger and more active. Dan-dan-dan. That was when I started feeling like I needed a boost again. What’s my choice? Coffee. :)

I didn’t like the texture and taste of instant coffee as my everyday coffee so I decided to buy a capsule espresso machine. It was just me who drinks coffee in my household. And what do you know, this opened up so many doors to explore different flavors of coffee. I admit I didn’t know what type of coffee I liked. I was a newbie. I just know that I wanted a strong cup that will keep me from being a zombie looking after my twins. So I decided to try out different pods. I guess that’s one of the advantages of capsule machines. There is so many different brands and flavors that will help you become your own barista.

The pandemic has made a lot of us our own home baristas and I found myself stalking different recipes and creating different coffees with my machine. Eventually that love for coffee became my project. We decided to start Beans In A Pod PH. So far, we carry 12 brands and countless of flavors. I personally really like trying different flavors to find my most favorite. I also wanted to carry different brands because as a consumer, I find that having it’s more convenient that way, to have several options in just one shop. And I wanted my customers t have that too.

All of the coffee capsules and pods that Beans In A Pod PH carry is Nespresso compatible. Some customers ask if there are Dolce Gusto capsules available, but as of now we are just focusing on Nespresso compatible pods. It's so difficult to choose which one is my favorite, but I really have a thing for dark roast coffee. I usually take mine black or make a Vietnamese cup. I like intense drinks to keep me alive the rest of the day. Hehe!

Hopefully we can add more brands and flavors to our line up. But so far, I'm very excited and proud with the ones we have now. All of them are really good quality and sure to give you a great boost and will satisfy your "cafe/cofffee shop" thirst. So if you are a coffee fan such as myself, I invite you to visit @beansinapodph and check out our assortment of coffee capsules. :)
And as I say Good Food, Good Mood. Another passion project is Little Yum Cha which I have already shared with you here. In case you're craving for some dim sum, you know where to look. ;)

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I have to admit, when you see me nowadays, you'd barely see a trace of makeup. It's the pandemic effect. but there are days I get to doll myself up, special events, few occasions here and there. And so I got to sort my makeup collection and saw this beautiful liquid lipstick that my sister gifted me.

This is the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in the shade Dash. This is a shade I used to really love. Until now, I still love my berry colors. I find that it really brightens the entire look. Dash is actually not so bright, it's a muted almost mauvey berry shade which I think makes it very flattering for Filipina skin.

Packaging looks nice too. It comes in a hard plastic packaging that looks like frosted glass. It comes with a doe foot applicator for ease of use.

My sister actually gifted me this lippy because it claims that it is long lasting, and my sister knows that I'm all about long wearing makeup. Kiss proof is a big plus because I hate it when lipsticks transfer to my kids' skin.

First thing I noticed is the pigmentation. One swipe and it's really pigmented and buildable. It dries matte and indeed has a velvety finish. It's still comfortable to wear even though it's matte, something I totally hate in matte lippies. As for the longevity of wear, it is indeed kiss proof and transfer proof once it dries. However, once you eat (especially oily food), it starts to settle on the lines of the lips. The inner part usually gets removed first, so retouching is still necessary if you will eat. Drinking doesn't remove the lippy completely, though it tends to flake off a bit but not to the extent that you would need to retouch right away.

I do recommend this lipstick if you are looking for a long wearing lip product that will not transfer. Hello mask season! Just make sure to wait till its dry first before wearing your mask. ;)

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It's 2022, let that sink in for a moment. 2021 has come and gone, but I wanted to do a 2021 round up to commemorate milestones, experiences and changes that have happened last year. (I'm still not used to calling it "last year" Hehe!)

Bonding with the Kids

It has been 2 years since giving birth to my twins, and well, for most of those years, we were just stuck at home. Robyn has also been home due to the pandemic. She's in class in the mornings and joins us in the afternoon after her homework. I feel accomplished every end of the day seeing that my kids are thriving and are doing well, and most importantly, are safe and healthy. Obviously, it's more tiring most days than relaxing. And having twins and being hands on reduces my free time greatly, but I'm so thankful for my support system for helping me out if I need a breather every now and then.

Robyn's Surprise Birthday Party

Robyn's 8th birthday party was a complete surprise. I wanted to surprise her with a little decor and with the help of my sister, Dane, we were able to pull it off! She has been doing so well in school and she's such a great big sister, that I wanted her to feel special on her birthday. I invited my side of the family. They skipped work, just to be with us on Ro's birthday. Ro was so happy and said it's the best birthday ever. Thanks Dane for the help!

Finding Support from Fellow CI Parents

Since learning about Nia's hearing loss, I stated researching and finding local resources about her condition. Eventually I was led to the Philippine Cochlear Implant Support Group. I attended their "coffee dates" where CI parents such as myself can just share stories, ask questions etc. This has been such a life saver for me. I learned so much from them and most importantly, I learned that we are not alone.

Deciding to Be Strong

If you have read my posts on #calears, you'd know that I struggled accepting Nia's hearing loss. Coming from a hearing family, it just seemed impossible. But I had to accept the reality and move forward. I decided to be strong for her because she, honestly, taught me to be stronger than I've ever been before. I love all my kids with every inch of me, but Nia definitely opened up that inner strength that I did not know I have.

Celebrating Life
This pandemic has stolen so much from us. I've lost family and friends. And one thing I learned is to celebrate life, to be grateful that everyday we are alive. Be thankful for what we have and the safety God has enveloped us in.

Nothing hurts more than seeing your Child get hurt

For Nia's requirements for her cochlear implant surgery, she had to undergo lab tests. It was a grueling experience to say the least. My daughter also tested positive during this time. And whatever pain I went through before, it's nothing compared to seeing my 1 year old daughter in pain. Every blood extraction, everytime somebody touches her, she cries helplessly, asking for us to protect her. It hurt everytime, it hurt my soul, deep deep down. Remembering it now still hurts me.

Little Bit of Hope

June started to show a little bit of hope. Nia's cochlear implant was finally switched on, which meant that her journey to hearing has officially started. Vaccinations for Covid also started in the Philippines and both my husband and I got our first dose. Our business also finally started to improve. 2020 really really really hit us hard financially. I remember crying because I knew my husband was so low and I couldn't do anything about it. We all had to tighten our belts and hope for the better. Halfway through the year, days got better and I could tell people were starting to adapt to the new normal.

Family Day Out

We also decided to bring the kids out. It was not an easy decision. I was still very OA and skeptic. My husband also very careful. But we knew the kids needed a breath of fresh air and we saw that the pandemic was really starting to affect Robyn too. So we decided to go to a place in Tagaytay. We just had snacks and let the kids walk around, with us making sure we follow all the safety protocols.

Fully Vaccinated and Proud
When we got fully vaccinated, there was a feeling of peace in my heart. I knew it didn't mean that I can't get the virus nor does it mean that I can't be a carrier. But it meant that I was protecting myself from "dying" (yes let's go that extent), and leaving my little kids alone. Both my husband and I felt to elated after getting vaccinated. We were just so happy. I remember not understanding why other people choose not to get vaccinated. Why? But what matters is the people that matters to me most are protected and we look forward to vaccinations being available safely to our kids too.

Welcoming the Family

Mid-year, my parents, grandma and sister also moved houses and they moved to the same village as ours. Talk about dreams becoming a reality. I grew up living next door to my grandma and my aunts and cousin, so we grew really close to each other. When I got married, I lived so far away from them. It was an adjustment, since I'm close to my family. I remember thinking how great it would be if my parents were just next door (just like old times). It was a dream, I didn't think much of it, because I knew we lived far from each other. And then the opportunity came, they could finally move to another place and they decided to move to our village to also be close to us. *ugly cry* I was sooooo happy and was so excited when they started preparing their move. And in August, we had a small celebration at home for my Amma's birthday. It was also a nice welcome home! to my family.

Breastfeeding my Twins
Breastfeeding twins is not easy. I repeat, it is not easy. But it is sooo worth it. It's been 2 years! There were days I wanted to wean them, or I'd silently scheduling weaning them, but all the benefits I see outweigh this chore. Especially with the pandemic, and being vaccinated, I know I'm somehow also giving some antibodies to Niko and Nia. Now that they're toddlers, tandem feeding has just become a circus, sometimes painful too. But seeing them healthy is what gets me going, and what keeps my milk flowing.

Proud of Papa all day everyday
H's new projects also started this year and even though the kids and I are stuck at home, we are always so proud of him. Every feature, every guesting, we try to catch. He's a very hard worker and he always looks for new projects after finishing one. He says he wants to make sure that our children will be okay when both him and I are older or gone. I got lucky, didn't I?

12th Wedding Anniversary
My husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. We always say it feels weird that it's been 12 years! We've known each other half my life and I couldn't imagine life without him. I'm so happy that we found each other and are genuinely happy. We were able to have a lunch date out at H's favorite restaurant, thanks to my folks for looking after the kids.

Just Keep Swimming
My family also went to a resort! After months and months of researching and trying to find a place where we can chill and my kids can swim, I found one in Antipolo. Best of all? We were the only ones swimming when we went there. My side of the family also went us so it was even merrier. The kids have always loved swimming (Niko and Nia's first time was in my MIL's clubhouse early 2021 and Robyn finished her swimming lessons last 2019 before the pandemic), so bringing them to a pool or a resort was a sure hit.

Zoom Parties

Robyn attended her first Zoom party last September. It was my goddaughter's birthday and she was a huge fan of BTS so her party was BTS themed, hence the BTS logo I put on Ro's face. She also wear a tie die shirt to recreate the pastel colors of BTS' Dynamite video.

Another simple Zoom party was my friend's Baby Shower. She lives in Canada with her family so we ordered her baby shower gift through Amazon and good thing it got to her just in time for our little baby shower. She finally has a boy after 2 girls. :)

Have Courage but Be Safe

Last November, kids were finally allowed out of the house! Since it's been so long since we went out, we decided to bring the kids out to a mall. Niko and Nia have never been to a mall before, ever since they were born. And we are a family of mall goers, so it was honestly so nice to finally be able to bring them to a place where we usually hang out. My husband and I both decided that we can go, but we made sure to follow safety protocols. It was a quick stroll and dinner. It was exhausting but it's memorable. First time going to the mall with twins.

First Live Stream
Also got my first live stream gig! Zenutrients invited me to host their live stream on Shopee for the Tita's Holiday Gift Guide series. And as an official tita, I knew I'd be able to share my tips and impart wisdom to the youngsters. Haha! I hope I did well, I had an awesome time and hopefully I get to do it again next time.

Nia's Improvement and Development
We always think about Nia's development. As parents of a child with disability, you always wonder, you always question, you always pray. Last November, we got the result of her hearing test and it showed that her CI side (the one that it's implanted) is already in the "normal range". Her hearing aid side is also in the normal range. Both ears can still improve so we continue therapy. And we continue praying that both her and her brother start talking soon.

Niko's Development

Niko surprised me when he demonstrated that he knows the alphabet already at age 1 1/2. Unlike Nia, I don't really pressure Niko so much. I just read to him, talk to him, just normal. So I was so impressed when he showed me that he actually understands. He talks more now too. He loves playing with Achi and Shobe. And I love it when he starts calling us one by one. Papa, Mama, Achi, A-ia (Nia). Sooo cute!

Play Date with the Kids
After a year, we finally saw our friends again. Last time we saw them, Niko and Nia were just a month We finally decided to meet up in one of my friend's house just so we're staying safe and staying away from strangers. It was also easier to manage because we were in an enclosed environment. And with running toddlers like mine, I just can't. Haha! It was so refreshing seeing them again and chatting away. And for the kids to be playing together. Niko felt right at home and he enjoyed playing with the boys. Nia was shy at first but opened up eventually, just like how Achi was when she was younger.

Beans In A Pod PH
For the love of coffee. Hehe! This year, I started really taking coffee drinking more seriously. It has become my little me time. After lunch, I just try to savor the caffeine because I need it. Haha! I decided to start selling coffee capsules and pods via Beans In A Pod PH. Currently, we carry 11 brands from all over the world. We offer a wide variety of flavors because when I started with my coffee journey, I really enjoyed trying out different flavors to find what my favorites were.

Little Yum Cha and Beans In A Pod PH for Good Food, Good Mood

Don't you agree when you eat good food, it instantly improves your mood? Well that's it does to me. Little Yum Cha celebrated its first year anniversary and we started Beans In A Pod PH. We're open to resellers and distributors too. Rest assured, all of the products pass our standards. Hehe! So cute how Ro helps me pack orders too and how my husband delivers to nearby customers. It sure is team work.

Girls' Day Out with Achi

When I was pregnant with the twins, I've always imagined having a day for each of the children. One would be for Ro only, another for Niko, another for Nia. Just so we get to have a "date day" with each one of them. Then the pandemic happened. :( Ro and I used to have Girls Day or Girls Time so I was so happy to finally be able to do that. We wen out, shopped a little (she needed new clothes), bought Christmas presents and ate at her favorite restaurants. It was a really good day. One I wish we can have again soon.

This is 36.

This year I turn 36. I gotta say, I feel different. I'm not my usual giddy excited self on my birthday. I was still happy and grateful but perhaps, the year, changed me. I didn't feel as special as before and all I really wished for was to keep my loved ones safe and healthy, and for this pandemic to be over. Does it mean I'm getting older? Forgetting the magic of birthdays? I don't know. All I know is this year, I didn't see it as the glitzy special day I'm used to.

Just Us Five

It's different when it's just us 5. We enjoy going out just us, even though we know it will be sooo exhausting. I'd see my husband looking exasperated and so drained at the end of the day. I'd also be tired out of my mind, and Robyn too. But there's something about being just us 5 going out, seeing stuff and exploring. I miss it. I miss the old normal but I also understand that we have to look forward to what's to come and adapt to how things are now.

Christmas Photos

I told my husband that all I want for Christmas is new family photos. We have this tradition where we put a photo of the family every year as a Christmas ornament. And last 2020, we were photographed professionally for the twins' 1st birthday and family photo. I want to continue that. And since I didn't want to enter a studio just yet, and I didn't want to spend especially because Niko and Nia are still on their active toddler kulit phase, I asked my sister, Lianne, to take our photos. I wanted it outdoors, just simple layouts we can use as our Christmas ornament photo. I'm really happy with the photos. Thanks Li!

Niko and Nia are 2

We survived two years of twinhood! Niko and Nia turned 2 last December 27 and I am just so proud of them. I love seeing them play together, interact with each other, babble with one another. It makes me sooo happy. I'm excited to see what the next year brings. Praying that they continue their development and for Nia to hit each milestone. Robyn has also been so responsible, she actually looks after the babies when H and I need to go on a grocery run or have an errand to do. She looks after the babies very well.

To a Better 2022

I've always been optimistic and it hasn't changed. So what do I look forward to this 2022? For things to be better. For everything to better. If it doesn't? Then we continue striving and praying for a better future. Let's hold on to that hope, hold on to that goal. And have faith that God listens.

Happy 2022 Everyone!

It has been almost 2 years since the pandemic started. Is it safe to say we now know and observe safety protocols better? My husband and I are already vaccinated and I couldn't be any happier. My side of the family is also fully vaccinated, even my sisters who are based abroad. I'm honestly just waiting for vaccinations to roll out for my children. Here in the Philippines, they have already started vaccinating minors 12 and up. my eldest is 8 yrs old so she's not yet allowed to get the vaccine. And so, we do the next best thing. Get my kids' their yearly flu vaccinations and boost their immunity.

One thing I added to their daily vitamins is taking VCO orally. And my brand of choice is Naturali Virgin Coconut Oil. My entire family takes this and even my kids are already accustomed to its taste.

Naturali Premium Cold-Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil is a premium grade virgin coconut oil extracted from fresh coconuts without using any heat treatment.

The oil is cold pressed to retain the fresh scent and mild taste of coconut. It contains no trans fats, chemicals or other additives. It is an all-natural, edible oil, made without artificial flavors, that can be used for cooking or used as moisturizer for the skin.

It also helps one lose weight by providing essential energy without being stored as fat, and it reduces heart disease. Naturali VCO also contains Anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

I chose Naturali because it's cold pressed which preserves more of the nutrients of the oil. I also find that it tastes "less coconut-y" which makes it easier to take. Haha! I personally don't like the taste of coconut oil. Perhaps that's also why my family doesn't mind taking this at all- because it doesn't taste bad? Hehe!

I've read good reviews on vco, that's why I decided to add it to our diet. There's so many benefits of vco and its so multi-purpose too. I use it on the body, it's not greasy and gets absorbed by the skin quickly. You can also use it as hair treatment, cuticle softener, and so much more. It's also a great way to boost one's immunity by taking it orally. You may use it for daily cooking but we just take it as is, I give the twins 1/2 tspn, Robyn 1/2 tbsp and my husband and I take 1 tbsp a day. I have yet to try using it for cooking, but because the flavor is mild, I don't think it will alter the taste of the dish.

It's good to have VCO at home. If you want to try Naturali, you can purchase them at https://vpharma.ph/ and use my code YELLOWYUMLOVESVPHARMA for 10% discount. While you're at it, add to cart other supplements too. We all need a little help to boost and improve our health especially during these times of pandemic.

I made an update video for Nia, just to share where we're at after her cochlear implant surgery and therapy. It's been a few months since Nia's Cochlear Implant surgery, so I wanted to make an update video on her recovery and progress. We are blessed that we now have options and technology is on our side. With time, therapy, guidance and prayers, Nia will be able to hear and speak normally.

After her switch on, her AVT or auditory verbal therapy resumed. For now, she has therapy twice a month. Let's be honest, online classes and toddlers don't always match. There are times she babbles nonstop, which is my favorite because we get to listen to her vocabulary. Her therapist gets to tick which ones Nia can already say and do. There are times she just sits there, without a peep. Sometimes she doesn't cooperate. Sometimes she keeps moving that we can't do a single activity because she just won't stop. Those times stress me out so much. It makes me feel like I'm spending thousand of pesos for nothing. Her therapist says it's okay and that we just follow Nia's lead because well, what else can we do right? But still, it makes me feel like I'm throwing money away. :/

She's gone to several mapping sessions as well, which basically means reprogramming her hearing device, giving us different volume that we can adjust every few days. Do we see changes? I don't know, it's difficult to tell.

She doesn't remove her processor as much as before. I've always hated it when she throws it just like it's nothing. All I think of is that's millions of pesos you're pulling and throwing on the ground! Geez. So I'm thankful when her processor starts getting loose and she comes to me to have it fixed.

I want to say that everything's smooth sailing. Perhaps it is. She used to hate book reading, compared to Niko who loves to be read to. Now I can read to her too, few chosen books with about 4 pages, but I'll take it over nothing. Another improvement is now she listens to narrations in videos. She still loves her song and dance numbers but now, I see her actually sitting and watching narrations too, such as Blues Clues. It means she's listening to the stories, even if there's no melody.

She is still more observant than her brother. When I teach new dances or new songs, she would listen intently and watch very closely. And she gets it real fast.
These are good, it's progress. Her therapist is happy to see her respond and engaged and attend more. But as usual, the control freak in me still gets anxious from time to time. I now see her delay. Before it wasn't that evident, but now, it's more obvious. I know, I know. It's not right to compare, but it's difficult not to right? Especially since she has a twin just 3 minutes her senior.

I mentioned this to her therapist and she told me that Nia will catch up eventually. I told her about my fear of her not being able to go to the same school as her siblings. She said she's confident Nia can, when she's in primary school. But how about preschool? I still would want her to be in the same preschool as her brother. I haven't thought about putting her in a special school because I thought that was the point of early intervention right? These thoughts wash over me. However I know that I'm getting way ahead of myself. She's not even 2 yet.

My twins are turning 2 this December, and so many of my friends say that I'm putting too much pressure on ourselves. Toddlers still don't talk at this point, and I should know this, I already have Robyn! But honestly, with Ro, we just went with it. We didn't time when she first talked, her first word, and the timeline of her speech. I try to recall and watch her past videos, but I just can't pinpoint the exact time. But that's because we know Robyn didn't have any problems. Given that we know Nia has a disability, I have become more observant. Not just to her but even to Niko. When they do something new and different, right away, I think, is this normal? If they become too active too rowdy, I'd think is there something wrong? If they don't understand that I'm asking for the blue ball and not the red one, I'd think do they have sight problems too? Yes perhaps I'm OA. But I can't help it, there's trauma. I am no longer just a regular mom. I'm a mom who experienced hearing her doctor say that there's something wrong with the baby. I'm a mom who was asked by the doctor so many many many times if I did something or ate something when I was pregnant to cause this. I'm a mom who had to watch my baby be hurt so many times and tests to be done to her. I'm a mom who waited in a covid waiting room waiting for her 1 year old daughter to be out of surgery. I'm traumatized. So I give myself grace when I start thinking of negativity right away. I give myself grace when I start questioning the welfare and development of my babies. I give myself grace because I need to.

But that's the reality of this journey. The unknowns and the never ending questions you perhaps already know the answers to but just don't accept it. It's taking things one day at a time. I cannot think way ahead because there are still so many hurdles along the way We still need to tackle. This is definitely something I have to deal with day in day out. My husband and I talk about it, and we agreed that we will only feel "safe" and at peace when we finally hear her speak. We are still on our toes and are still hoping and praying for the day we can finally breathe.

I talk to other CI moms who have older kids, who have also experienced the same things, who have gone through similar challenges. They always say be patient, trust the process and everything will work out okay. They are the only ones who truly fully understand what we're going through now. That gives me hope, it makes me feel better, it calms me somehow. But I'm very stubborn and as I said, a control freak. So it's still very hard for me to imagine. There are good days, there are bad days. I won't see huge progress every single day. Nonetheless I look forward to seeing Nia as one of the senior CI implantees that have a good story to tell, a positive outcome. Trust the process, believe in all the positive stories I hear And surrender everything to the Lord.

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