Leaving on a Jet Plane

  I said “Goodbye” to Saipan in 2003.  But as you read this, our plane will probably be flying over the pacific ocean headed back to that tiny island. It was almost a decade ago when I first landed on US soil. I arrived dreamy-eyed yet determined to seek a good Bible college education. I was full of dreams...

Posted by Chelo on Feb 7, 2012 | 1 comments

The Blessing of Grandparents

“Grandparents Day” is not until September. But I am thinking of my baby’s grandparents. And my own.  Thinking about how they have impacted my life.  And the blessing of my daughter’s own grandparents love and care for her. Thinking of their delight at seeing her and being with her. Remembering their...

Posted by Chelo on Feb 6, 2012 | 0 comments

Filipina by Birth, American by Marriage…

I Became an American Citizen? It was a Tuesday in January. I became a “Filipina by birth and American by Marriage…”. Sort of.  Technically, I became American by Permanent Residence. The day I said “I DO”,  I chose to become the people of my husband and his home become my home… But...

Posted by Chelo on Feb 3, 2012 | 0 comments

First Snow Photography & A Reflection

Baby MJ experienced her first snow (along with another special first ) while visiting her grandparents up in Rocky Mount, VA. It was a very special treat for 3 reasons. 1. This was our baby girl’s first snow 2. This was our “last” snow before moving to the Tropics. 3. Snow always reminds me of a special...

Posted by Chelo on Feb 1, 2012 | 3 comments

4 Books I Read While in the Mountains

One of the things I was able to do while visiting in Rocky, Mt. VA was to read.  While my baby nap, while her grandparents played with her, while I went on walks.It was a bliss to have the free time to read (of course having neat tools also help). Here are the books  in the same order I read them:   Blogger...

Posted by Chelo on Jan 30, 2012 | 0 comments

Baby MJ Walks

Jan 28, 12

Posted by Chelo in Baby, Baby Thoughts, Featured Articles, People, Videos

One of the many memorable things that have happened while my baby girl and I were visiting here grandparents was that she began to walk on her own! What a special time that even though, Daddy was not able to be there, her Grandparents were.     Featured Image Source –...

From Virginia with Lots of Love.

Jan 25, 12

Posted by Chelo in Baby, Baby Thoughts, Family, Featured Articles, People, Photography

Well hello there dear people! You may have noticed it has been quiet here at Home & Bahay…at least on my part. I scheduled over two weeks worth of postings, packed our bags, headed to VA and went unplugged (from the internet world) for 3 whole weeks! No Blog. No Email. No Facebook.  I tell ya! It was a refreshing,...

Cabin Fever Teehee!

Jan 20, 12

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, People

There was a certain time before Seth and I were married, when he was sick and not able to go out for a long period of time. We texted a lot then. And one conversation went something like this:   Chelo: How are you feeling? Seth:  I’ m very thankful to be feeling much better… . Chelo: Oh that’s...

Jump Rope Interval Video

Jan 18, 12

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, Fitness, Tools

Just want to share with you a Youtube video I found of what my Jump Rope routine looks like. Somewhat. She is really good. I can only do about 2-3 burpees/push ups in 30 seconds Note she doesn’t use a timer.  Counting works just fine as...

10 Things About Saipan

Jan 16, 12

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, Places, Saipan

Since I often have Saipan, Northen Marianas Island in the forefront of my thinking lately, I wanted to share with you a quick list. If you didn’t know…. Saipan is 3/4 of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines The locals are called Chamorro not “Saipanese” Length? If you run from one side to the...

5 Restaurants I Will Miss

Jan 13, 12

Posted by Chelo in Family Favorites, Featured Articles, Food

Okay, as you are in the process of reading this, my baby MJ and I would be currently enjoying the winter-y mountains of VA with her Nana and Pop-pops.  We are spending some quality time with my in-laws before we fly away in February to a place over yonder side of the world. Anyway. I have been searching the web recently for...

Jump Rope & Timer

Jan 11, 12

Posted by Chelo in Fitness, Tools

Part of my fitness goals for this New Year was to do some form of exercise daily. Jump rope has been “it” for me.  It can be such a high-intensity cardiovascular workout that can be done in no time (I have used mine everyday so far this year )  I do this right when I get up in the morning.  It is certainly a more...

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Jan 09, 12

Posted by Chelo in Book Reviews, Books, Featured Articles, Quotes, Reflections

I don’t read a lot of fiction (aside form children’s books ) so I decided my first book of the year should be one. A classic (somewhat historical) fiction at that “The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Baroness Emmuska Orczy.  This is a first and most popular of her adventure series.  The setting is 1972 during...

Pacific Islander Food: Chicken Kilaguen

Jan 06, 12

Posted by Chelo in Family Favorites, Featured Articles, Food, Main Dish

As the day of our departure for the Marianas draw near,  I have been mentally preparing for our trip.  This is a first time traveling for more than 24 hours with  my little babe. Kind of nerve wracking but I’m so excited at the thought of finally reuniting with my beloved. During my mental preparations, I came across a very...

Holidays in Saipan

Jan 03, 12

Posted by Chelo in Family, People, Places, Saipan

From Daddy: (A blog post for family far away from the tiny island of Saipan) This is how we celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Holiday! After church on Christmas Sunday, I had Noche Buena with your  Tita’s house. I had a great time with them.  We had quite a bit of food to celebrate Christmas time...

Fitness Goals

Jan 03, 12

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, Fitness, Mama Runs

As I have mentioned in this post, I would like simplify and transfer over my old fitness/running blog into Home & Bahay. My original thought with that was to keep myself accountable with my weight loss and running goals. Let me tell you now that neither the blog nor the weight loss goal go far.  Big fail? Somewhat. 2011 was not...

Reading Goals & Tools

Jan 02, 12

Posted by Chelo in Books, Featured Articles, Things

If you have scrolled by my 2012 Boolist page, you’re probably wondering how on earth I plan to accomplish getting ready to move to the other side of the earth, care for a baby, write a blog, and read a whole bunch of books? I usually read while I feed my baby girl, while doing chores, and other “spare” time I may...

2011 New Year’s Eve Reflection

Dec 31, 11

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, On Carrots, on Faith, Quotes, Reflections

Tsh (Simple Mom) shared this post over at (In)Courage.  These are great questions to ponder as we close another year and start the year 2012.  These questions are copied directly from her post. And these are the questions I ponder as I sit here in the warm and cozy Panera Bread. . . .   20 Questions for a New Year’s Eve...

Sopas: Filipino Chicken Noodle Soup

Dec 30, 11

Posted by Chelo in Family Favorites, Featured Articles, Filipino Food, Food, Ulam

It got all the way down to 43 degrees cold this past week.  That kinda chill only calls for a childhood ultimate comfort food (not to be mistaken with my favorite comfort food): Sopas (literally, Soup) I remember eating sopas on New Year’s Eve as my siblings and about 50 of our cousins wait around for the  booms and the...

Connecting While 8,000 Miles Apart

Dec 29, 11

Posted by Chelo in Family, Featured Articles, Marriage, People, Places, Saipan

It has been 4 months to be exact since my husband left for his teaching job in the Marianas.  I gotta tell ya! The longer it is taking for us to be together again…the harder it gets.  I feel for military wives whose husband’s are away except they probably have it worse.  I don’t have to fear for my husband being...

A Personal New Year’s Summit?

Dec 28, 11

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, On Carrots, on Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized

I first read this idea from Daniel Threlfall’s blog where he wrote about the Five Benefits of a Personal New Year’s Summit. A Personal New Year’s Summit. Doesn’t it sound so intriguing?  So official?  So diplomatic?  It really is quite simple.  Just a time set aside from the normal schedule....

Merry Christmas (2010)

Dec 25, 11

Posted by Chelo in Baby Thoughts, Featured Articles, People, Uncategorized

“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel...

Book Review: Feminine Appeal

Dec 23, 11

Posted by Chelo in Book Reviews, Books, Featured Articles, Things

I started reading this book at the end of 2010 and picked it back up the beginning of this year.  By the time my daughter was born, I restarted reading and finally completed it around April.  Am I the only one guilty of reading too many books at once and having to restart from the beginning? Feminine Appeal Seven Virtues of a...

Caldereta: A Filipino Kin to Beef Stew

Dec 23, 11

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles, Filipino Food, Food, Ulam

If there is one meal I could eat for an entire week,  it would be beef stew (My husband’s is pizza or cheeseburger ). But today’s recipe is one that I remember eating around Christmas holidays/fiestas back in the Philippines and it is a kin to beef stew: Caldereta/Kaldereta. It is a spanish influenced dish according...

Dear Guro (ng Ingles)

Dec 21, 11

Posted by Chelo in Featured Articles,