Another Award

Published on by Grace4 Comments

At the same time, Crazy Train to Tinky Town, also nominated me for the Versatile blogger award.  I am equally thankful!

The rules of receiving this award are:
1. Add the award to your blog
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself.
4. List the rules.
5. Give the award to 15 or more bloggers.

Now for my nominees….in no particular order.

http://vanessa-chapman.com/

http://www.rainydazeee.com/

http://sierralei.com/

http://alternateeconomy.wordpress.com/

http://allthatmakesyou.wordpress.com/

http://running4martinandmymind.wordpress.com/

http://patinaandcompany.wordpress.com/

http://teaandbiscotti.com/

http://mollymadonna.com/

http://momentmatters.wordpress.com/

http://revolutionarybeauty.wordpress.com/

http://appleboatexpress.wordpress.com/

http://jennifercrites.wordpress.com/

http://gusgus64.wordpress.com/

http://jennysserendipity.wordpress.com/

Check out these blogs too.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

This Made My Day

Published on by Grace8 Comments

I had been offline this past weekend, but what greeted me when I got back online was this award.

I had the honor of being nominated by Afternoon Popcorn Snack and The Blazing Trail for  the One Lovely Blog Award.  My sincerest appreciation to you both!

The Rules:

  • Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
  • Paste the award image on your blog, anywhere.
  • Tell them 7 facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 15 other blogs you like for this award.
  • Contact the bloggers that you have chosen to let them know that they have been nominated.
  • Resume blogging your regular posts.

Here are 7 facts about me:

1.  I made 18 significant moves so far.

2.  I can play the bandurria, a plectrum chordophone from Spain, primarily used to play folk music.  When I was 14, my mom enrolled me in a bandurria class to give me something to do during the summer.

3.  I  like putting hotdog as a main ingredient in my spaghetti.  Sliced, of course.

4.  When I was a child, I used to walk 1km to school every single weekday.

5.  On my first year at the university, I,  together with almost 300 other students,  was a victim of a food poisoning outbreak at the dormitory cafeteria.

6.  I used to have a cat named “Tiger,” because he looked like one.

7.  When I was pregnant with my son, I ate 2kgs of dill pickles in one week.

Now for my nominees….in no particular order.

http://czechthatout.wordpress.com/

http://debutdad.wordpress.com/

http://sierralei.com/

http://alternateeconomy.wordpress.com/

http://allthatmakesyou.wordpress.com/

http://running4martinandmymind.wordpress.com/

http://patinaandcompany.wordpress.com/

http://teaandbiscotti.com/

http://mollymadonna.com/

http://momentmatters.wordpress.com/

http://rantingchef.com/

http://revolutionarybeauty.wordpress.com/

http://appleboatexpress.wordpress.com/

http://jennifercrites.wordpress.com/

http://gusgus64.wordpress.com/

Please do check out these blogs.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

When the “Baby” Looks After the Sitter

Published on by Grace12 Comments
This past weekend, we visited my husband’s brother in Brno, the second biggest city next to Prague.  It was the birthday celebration of my nephews, so we decided to spend the whole weekend there.  However, the weather was not cooperating.   So we were limited to doing activities indoors.
Saturday morning, we awoke to a beautiful sunrise.  Unfortunately, that was the best part of the day because it rained to whole day.  We were supposed to bring the kids to a steam engine exhibit but it got cancelled due to the rain.  So we proceeded to Plan B — go to an indoor play area.

We went to Bongo, a family amusement park.  There were a lot of attractions for both young and old, and I can tell the boys had a lot of fun.  While their fathers took the little ones in the bump cars, my 4 year old nephew begged me to come with him to the big slide.

I have a fear of heights. This fear started way back in my early twenties when I rode a roller coaster in South Korea.  As I grew older, the fear intensified. Now that I am a mother, it seems like I will be forced to conquer this fear.

Off we go!

I didn’t want to disappoint my little nephew so I went with him on the slide.  But when I got to the top, the nerves got me.   I almost didn’t go but it was too late.  My poor nephew was a little but surprised on why I was too slow.  Truth is, I was hanging on to the side rail.

Finally

Until finally, I found the courage to just let go and was able to catch up with him.  It was very ironic.   Instead of me keeping an eye on him, he kept an eye on me.  Oh well, I know this will not be the first time.    When Jakub will be old enough to go on great heights, I wonder what else I will get myself into.


Afternoon Coffee

Published on by Grace5 Comments

I like flavored coffee. Now that my son is at a stage where he tries to imitate everything I do, it is quite difficult to keep coffee away from him.  I always try to trick him by giving him milk, but he is starting to get smarter and cannot be easily fooled.  But I found a solution.  I found Caro.

Caro is a drink composed of barley, barley malt, chicory and rye.  The origin of this drink can be traced back to the Napoleon era.  During the war between France and England, there was a scarcity of goods from overseas, one of them being coffee.  To compensate for this, people experimented on ground cereals and grains as a replacement for coffee and thus came up with Caro.  Due to its popularity, with a taste closely resembling that of coffee, it stayed as a regular product.

In the beginning, we bought this drink so Jakub can have his “coffee” with us.  But recently, I have found myself drinking caro as well.  The same is true with Kinder chocolate.  I bought it for Jakub so he can have his own chocolate when I’m eating mine.  But recently, I am also finding myself craving for this chocolate too.

Having a kid awakened the kid in me.  So don’t be surprised if I offer you baby juice instead of beer when you are a guest in my house.

How about you.  Do you ever consume stuff for kids?

A Year Wiser

Published on by Grace9 Comments

I celebrated a significant milestone yesterday.  I turned a year older.

This year I got an orchid.

The powers-that-be knows it because the sun was shining brightly and everyone was out and about.

As we were walking through the town square, we saw a marching band.

I can’t remember the last time I saw one of this.  It only brings me back memories of my highschool years in the Philippines.

I’m not sure if it was a rehearsal for a bigger event, but these girls did pretty well with their performance.

It looked like there were other groups too.

This little darling looks so cute in her majorette outfit.  Too bad we missed her performance.

Meanwhile, as we walked through the other side of town, this is what we saw.

I remember the last time I saw a stunt like this was 5 years ago on Venice beach.  Gee, I’m old.

But I love my little town.  It has a its small old town feel that brings me back pleasant memories of years past.

I really did turn a year wiser!

Let’s drink to that.  Na Zdravi!

First Year Musings

Published on by Grace4 Comments

Today we mark our first year in the Czech Republic.  What a move it had been!  Here are a few realizations I’ve had from the length of time I am here.

1.  When it comes to environmental initiatives, I applaud the Czech Republic, or maybe Europe in general for the steps it has taken to save mother earth.  From small appliances, to small cars, to bagging your own groceries to building eco-friendly homes, it is the best I’ve ever seen.  Details on a previous post can be found here.

2.  When it comes to alcoholic drinks, Czechs are not to be outdone.  They really DO know how to drink.  The variety of alcoholic drinks are the most interesting I’ve ever seen.

3.  When it comes to safety, the safety measures around here are not as sophisticated as the US.  I guess this is one area that needs to be improved.

4.  When it comes to hobbies, Czechs are so into the outdoors.  Most of the Czechs that I know like to spend their weekends in a cottage by the woods.

5.  When it comes to making friends, Czech people are not the friendliest kind at first meeting.  But once you become their friend, you are friends for life!

I know there’s still a lot more to come.  But with all the things we’ve seen and experienced, I think we have finally “Czeched In.”

The Party That Was

Published on by Grace4 Comments

This past weekend, the Filipino Czech Association (FCA) had a successful launching party at the Na Marjance Dance Hall in Prague 6. The party was indeed a fusion of Filipino and Czech culture.  Guests from all over CZ came to celebrate with us.

Photo courtesy of Maj Capuchino

From my experience attending a Czech party, it is normally more subdued, with soft music, and relatively orderly.  This one on the otherhand, is more jovial involving a lot of singing, dancing, and loud music.

As an officer in the organization, I had to make rounds making sure that everyone is ok and no one is left at a corner.  I was talking to one non-filipino guest who was at the party and asked him if he likes it.  His comment was:  “Yes!  it is typical Filipino.  It’s a little bit chaotic,  BUT everybody’s happy.”  My thoughts exactly.  I couldn’t agree more.

Chleba: A Gauge for “Czechness”

Published on by Grace11 Comments

There are Czechs and there are “Czechs”.  If you want to distinguish a true blue Czech, you have to be in the lookout for their bread preferences.  A true Czech will always look for Chleba.   Chleba is a sour dough rye bread, dark in color and moist.  It has a distinct unique taste to it that is very different from any other bread.

Photo courtesy of  ireceptar.cz

Through all those years that we have spent in the US, my husband never got satisfied with the kind of bread that was sold in the stores there.  He was always saying that it is nothing like Chleba.   Apparently, the same is true for some of the other Czechs that I know.  My brother and sister in law, both Czechs, had to bake their own chleba from scratch when they lived in North Carolina.  They missed it THAT much.

Well, I guess I know how it feels because in the many years that I lived outside of the Philippines, I still crave for rice.  That is also our gauge for “Pinoy-ness.”

Three Years and Counting

Published on by Grace5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s only been 3 years.  It seems like forever.

As I look at the photos of the time that we spent together prior to tying the knot, it always gives me a warm, happy feeling.

Arches National Park, Utah

Hiking up to the delicate arch at Arches National Park in Utah.

Enjoying the beauty of the Monument Valley in Utah.

Big Bear Mountains, California

Skiing at Big Bear Mountains, California.

Venice, California

Enjoying a fun night out with friends in Venice, California.

Best of all, I cannot forget how you wrote my name on top of the highest mountain you’ve ever climbed – Mt. Whitney.

That day you won my heart.  That day solidified my decision to move to the Czech Republic with you.

On top of Mt. Whitney

Thank you for being there.  Thank you for giving me Jakub.  Thank you for loving me.

I look forward to growing old with you.

Happy Anniversary, Muj Milacku!

When The Cat Is Away

Published on by Grace3 Comments

He was supposed to attend a children’s birthday party last Saturday, but Jakub didn’t look very well Friday afternoon so we were not able to make it.  Saturday night, his dad wasn’t feeling that well either, so I was worried I wasn’t going to make it to my meeting and badminton game on Sunday.  However, come Sunday morning, my husband said he felt a little better and allowed me to go to Prague for the meeting and badminton.  I was a little worried leaving them both sick, but at the same time, I was also confident that my husband was serious when he said they’d be fine.  So off I went.

I was gone the whole day.  When I came home that night, things were surprisingly calm and in order.  Jakub was just falling asleep so I know everything went well.

This morning, I was going to write a different post and started downloading photos from my camera, but then I saw this picture.

Put your pants up where I can see them.

Not sure if it was him or his daddy who placed those pants over his head, but I think it’s pretty hilarious.  I don’t know what else went on that day, but one thing is for sure.  Boys will be boys!