MARYLAND

Sunflower Fields in Maryland

by riannagalvez12 Comments on Sunflower Fields in Maryland

Hello, dolls!! Hello, throwback Thursday 😛 Aaaah it’s finally Thursday!! Just one more day and baby A will be waking up with me again and we can have breakfast together. There are some things I have to sacrifice as a Mom, and as I contemplate my next move (aka when I go on maternity leave) I find myself craving the little things that some probably don’t even pay attention to. As my baby bump gets bigger, my excitement rises whenever I think about the time I am going to spend with baby A before baby # 2 comes.

My plan this weekend is to be productive! Baby A and I had our first baking sesh this past Sunday and he LOVED it! I told him we will do it again this weekend and we even picked out a recipe, every day he would remind me about it and it’s really awesome to see the excitement on his face. I plan to get some things sorted here at home before my due date, cause really, I only have 17 weekends (if that) left to make sure our home is ready for baby # 2! Whew!

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Maryland just had its coldest week to date and here I am blogging about my summer adventure 😛 I feel like I am only making it harder for myself to cope with this cold weather by reminiscing about our first great summer with baby A! lol Continue reading “Sunflower Fields in Maryland” →

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BALTIMORE, Mommy Diaries

Family Picnic

by riannagalvez7 Comments on Family Picnic

Hello, dolls! Hello, weekend <3 I know it’s unlikely that I am going to share a post about our summer picnic when my neighborhood is completely covered in snow. Baby # 2 is due in May, a month before baby A’s birthday. so I know our summer 2019 is going to be eventful! I am trying to line up some family activities that I would like us to do and one of which is to go on a picnic! I love picnic dates!! The food, setting up our mat, and escaping reality for a while. When A and I went on a picnic date for the first time I knew it was something that we should do every year — it’s a great way to disconnect and talk about things because you are in that beautiful moment! 😛

I honestly don’t know how I am going to be during my maternity leave. When A was born, my entire family was here so I was able to cope with postpartum pretty easily. The activities that we did helped me so much and the fact that I had a “team” to support me with anything 24/7 meant so much. Since I will have fewer hands this time, I am not sure how I will fare with a 3-year-old and a newborn, so what is my mantra for this summer? Take my time, live in the moment, and survive!! LOL

IMG_7418A.JPG Continue reading “Family Picnic” →

Mommy Diaries

Road Trips With A Newborn

by riannagalvez11 Comments on Road Trips With A Newborn

Hello, dolls!! Hello, snowy week!! <3 It was another exciting week for us because we found out the gender of baby #2! If you are following me on Instagram you probably know the gender by now. If not, then wait for my next post cause I think it’s just right to write a separate blog for my special one! <3

Anyway, I just came back from Williamsburg, Virginia to spend time with family before my brother went back to Manila. I can’t believe that it has already been a month since he got here and now we have to start counting down the days until our entire family is complete again. We are very positive about our reunion this year though because we know we will have more time to spend together and it’s very exciting.

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Anyway, going on road trips with baby A has been part of our lives since he was less than a month old. It was not a walk in the park but we definitely got the hang of it after a while. I remember Googling “what to do when a baby cries during a long drive” prior to our first out of state trip and asking myself if I can actually handle it. LOL Continue reading “Road Trips With A Newborn” →

Uncategorized

Pregnancy Diaries: Baby # 2

by riannagalvez5 Comments on Pregnancy Diaries: Baby # 2

Hello, dolls! Hello, first weekend of 2019!! <3 How’s your 2019 so far? Mine has been pleasant.  Aside from welcoming 2019 with family and friends, I had a short work week so I was able to give myself time to rejuvenate and plan things for this month (and some things throughout this pregnancy). Needless to say, I feel productive and inspired…until I start to feel and look like an elephant then I’ll be MIA again lol.

Before I announce the winner of my giveaway, let me share with you some things I am dealing with during this pregnancy with baby #2 — so what’s been making me nervous and excited at the same time?

DSC_0442-1A2A.jpg Continue reading “Pregnancy Diaries: Baby # 2” →

Mommy Diaries

How To Have A Positive New Year

by riannagalvez4 Comments on How To Have A Positive New Year

Hello, dolls!! Hello, 2019. Posting my last entry on the last day of 2018 seems surreal! (Well, I tried to post this on NYE!) Another year has passed and some moments have been shared here on this blog. I am happy I was able to commit to blogging regularly for a full year and share some positivity through my growing page.

“New year, new me” — this is what we always hear at the beginning of the year (aside from “I am going on a diet”. I can’t remember why and when I stopped telling this to myself. It seems like my purpose has evolved and I am now focused on the positivity of everything that would come my way. I usually get comments on this blog about my outlook about life and the moments I share with my family and thought it would be a great year-ender entry. So how do I stay positive and happy?

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Continue reading “How To Have A Positive New Year” →

LIFE IN BALTIMORE

NEW YEAR’S GIVEAWAY 2018

by riannagalvez1 Comment on NEW YEAR’S GIVEAWAY 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! <3

Hello, dolls!! Hello, Christmas break!! Aaaah what a week to wake up to. After 11 months, our family is complete again! My brothers arrived from Manila last Sunday and it has been really comforting to know that they are only a couple of feet away from me. Baby A has been enjoying our full house the most. It’s amazing how he acts so warm around them as if he’s been with them every day.

Anyway, before I move on to my first official giveaway *heart pounding fast* I would like to share some of our wonderful moments here in Baltimore during their first trip. It’s not easy to plan activities for a family of 7, we all have different ideas and things we want to accomplish in a month but if there’s anything that we all agree on, it would be what/where to eat! 😛

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Continue reading “NEW YEAR’S GIVEAWAY 2018” →

Uncategorized

Pregnant with Baby # 2

by riannagalvez7 Comments on Pregnant with Baby # 2

Hello, dolls! Hello, Sunday!! <3 Life lately has been different. I started the year with high hopes that I can commit to blogging regularly for a full year. My efforts paid off with new connections and brands that I now love. However, life took a beautiful turn in October when A and I found out that we are expecting baby # 2! What a way to end 2018 and welcome 2019, right? It’s pretty difficult to be in front of my computer without feeling like I’m on a roller coaster. I have to minimize screentime for myself to be able to rest and feel better…unfortunately.

This pregnancy is different from baby A’s. My morning sickness is through the roof and I can hardly eat anything. It hasn’t been easy, not even at 16 weeks. I keep on motivating myself by saying “a couple of months of misery is nothing compared to a lifetime of happiness”. Whatever I am feeling right now is nothing compared to the feeling I will get once I hold my baby! <3

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I’ve been thinking about the changes in our lives next year. How I can prepare baby A with his new sibling and most importantly maximize my time with him before the baby comes. Continue reading “Pregnant with Baby # 2” →

NEW JERSEY

Where To Eat In Atlantic City

by riannagalvezLeave a Comment on Where To Eat In Atlantic City

Hello, dolls!! Hello, Thanksgiving week! Turkey day is extra exciting for A and I because we have more people to share our turkey with this year — I just hope I am 100% better by then. I’ve been sick all week and boy was it brutal! Listen to your body — this is the best thing I can tell you today. I forced myself to work on Friday because, well, once again, I felt like I do not have a choice when it comes to my job. I spent the past 48 hours in bed hoping I won’t get anyone else here at home sick. We were supposed to drive to New Jersey on Friday after work but because of my condition, we had to cancel.

So here’s the last of the 5 states that baby A visited before he turned a month old (PA , VA , DC , NY ). It’s crazy to think that we were able to do that much with him that summer. I guess having my family around made me confident to go out because I know I will get all the help I will need.

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I like to go to Atlantic City because of 2 reasons, and no, it’s not to gamble. There is so much more to Atlantic City than the casinos. The boardwalk, beach, and the fun activities they have year round. Continue reading “Where To Eat In Atlantic City” →

NEW YORK

New York On A Budget

by riannagalvez2 Comments on New York On A Budget

Summer 2016

Hello, dolls!! Hello, birthday month!!!! <3 I am baaaack!! I may have had an extended vacation from blogging but it was all for a very important reason. My 2019 is shaping up to be extra exciting and I can’t wait to unveil the big reason for my 3-week absence.

Christmas is coming up and I can’t wait for our family to be complete again!! This will be the third time that all of us are going to be in Baltimore together and it still feels surreal to know I will kiss 2018 goodbye and welcome 2019 with everyone I love. Speaking of Christmas, I plan to spend my weekend “seriously” shopping for presents!! It’s been a crazy past couple of months and though I’ve already finished 1/4 of our list, I know there will still be so much to do…aka decorate!

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As much as I want to have undivided time with my family, it is challenging to plan a lot of things for us to do because of my job. I am fortunate that I have a pretty normal schedule now so we can always try to squeeze in a weekend trip or two out of state.

For my family’s first trip to the US, I made sure I could take them to New York. It’s everyone’s dream to see New York after all! So what can a family of 7 (and a newborn) do in New York for 12 hours? Continue reading “New York On A Budget” →

WASHINGTON DC

WASHINGTON DC ON A BUDGET

by riannagalvez4 Comments on WASHINGTON DC ON A BUDGET

Hello, dolls!! Hello, Sunday! <3 We are finally graced with crisp weather here in Baltimore. I can’t wait to see the green leaves turn into orange and brown soon! I’ve been busy packing for our trip and getting our house in order before we leave for vacation. As much as I want to say, I can’t wait, there is one thing that is currently bothering me right now…I hope this turns out to nothing SOON!

When my family was here during my maternity leave, I made sure we will spend each day doing something memorable. We missed a lot of special moments together since I live a gazillion miles away so when we had the opportunity to be together for 5 weeks, we felt like it was Christmas every day.

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One of the places on our list was Washington, DC. I live about an hour away from DC so it’s always an easy trip for us. There are so many things you can do in DC! A and I go to DC a lot and each time in awe.

Would you believe me if I told you we spent less than $250 that day? Including lunch, dinner, and sightseeing! See below how my family of 7 (and a half) did it in one of the best places to visit in the US!

Continue reading “WASHINGTON DC ON A BUDGET” →

BALTIMORE, VIRGINIA

WASABI at TYSONS CORNER

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Hello, dolls! Hello, October!!! Vacation month, finally! <3 This felt like the longest week ever!! From a long-awaited answer, two weeks that I can look forward to, and a reminder to make an effort for the people we love every day. A and I went on a date night to celebrate his birthday and I can’t wait to share about our memorable evening soon here!

On an unrelated note, my family is starting to plan their “Christmas break” here. This is the third time that we will all be complete in the United States, it’s definitely one of the biggest things I look forward to every year! I was lucky to be on my maternity leave the first time they all came to visit. We were able to go on adventures every day. It’s not easy to plan a vacation for a family of 7 (and a newborn) because I had to think about baby A. Lucky for me, my siblings are very laid back! They just want to eat and shop 😛

Here are a couple of things you can do when your family is visiting the US. 

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Once upon a time, I joined Wasabi’s online photo contest and won a $100 gift card. I kept it for 4 years because I prayed that one day, I can use it with my family — and so we did. Continue reading “WASABI at TYSONS CORNER” →

BALTIMORE

Blueberry Picking at Shaw Orchards

by riannagalvez3 Comments on Blueberry Picking at Shaw Orchards

Hello, dolls! Hello, Sunday! <3 It’s been a pretty slow week for me. The weather has been so lovely and it makes me want to stay in bed all day. I am ending September feeling so unproductive because of how I chose to “relax” this past week. I should really shake this feeling off and look back to all of the awesome opportunities I was able to be part of this month. I mean really! Going to NYC with my BFF,  3 confirmed collaborations for next month, and I started packing for our trip! Yes — cause I have to pack for us 3 and I don’t want to get super stressed about it the week before our departure so I am starting early! So yeah, I guess this slowness will die down as I fully transition to this new season 😛

It is very uncommon to take your newborn out until h/she is (n) weeks old — I honestly don’t know what’s the “standard age” now because I did not want to stress myself out by being too careful and forget to enjoy the journey of being a new Mom. Anyway, would you Mom shame me if I tell you I took baby A to the mall before he was a week old? We spent merely 2 hours there because I had to feed him — I just need to get out of the house.

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He was about 2 weeks old when we took him on his first real adventure. My brothers just arrived from the Philippines, I was on my maternity leave, and A was off. I couldn’t let a good day get wasted!  Our first blueberry experience was so fun that my sister and I agreed to take our family to Shaw Orchards when they visit.  Continue reading “Blueberry Picking at Shaw Orchards” →

Uncategorized

Farmers Market Baltimore

by riannagalvez5 Comments on Farmers Market Baltimore

Hello, dolls! Hello, hump day!! <3 Fall is upon us meaning we only have a couple of weeks to enjoy the Farmer’s Market here in Baltimore. I always feel like a kid in a candy store whenever we go to the Farmer’s Market. There are so many delicious foods for me to try. Between the delicious comfort food surrounding me and the mouthwatering desserts, I can say that my eyes are always full and my heart feels like I should try everything.

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For those who plan to visit the Farmer’s Market here in Baltimore, here’s what to expect 🙂 Continue reading “Farmers Market Baltimore” →

Mommy Diaries

“It’s A Boy!” Baby Shower

by riannagalvez6 Comments on “It’s A Boy!” Baby Shower

Hello, dolls!!! Hello, Fall <3 Anyone else super happy that fall is here? My closet has been ready for months now and I can’t wait to dress up every weekend! Oh, the crisp weather and pumpkin everything! How can I not love fall? What makes this season even better is our vacation! I can’t believe that in less than a month we will be on a great adventure again!

Anyway, I am so excited to share another piece from my Motherhood journey. I know my blog has been a little slow when it comes to keeping up with my current adventures so yeah…I sure am too happy to finally move on to another chapter! 😛

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I had my shower 2 weeks before my due date. I know, crazy right? My friends were telling me I am cutting it too close. I waited that long because I wanted my parents to be part of my shower…also let’s the be honest, I couldn’t take time off work!  Continue reading ““It’s A Boy!” Baby Shower” →

CHICAGO

Best Food To Eat In Chicago

by riannagalvez6 Comments on Best Food To Eat In Chicago

Hello, dolls!! Hello, Monday! This Monday doesn’t suck too much because my best friend Alyza is here. Last time I saw her was when we visited Nashville 10 months ago. We decided to go to New York for a “girl’s weekend” so I wasn’t able to post this entry! We did A LOT and I can’t wait to share them here soon…hopefully. 

Anyway, here is the last installment of my Chicago series (yay!). A part of me feels like I am still in Chicago whenever I read my posts about it. Now that I am sharing my last guide on that trip, I feel like my “vacation” is now over. Needless to say, I saved the best for last!

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Chicago is a very diverse city, so how do you come up with a list of food to eat with so many things to choose from? Continue reading “Best Food To Eat In Chicago” →

CHICAGO

CHICAGO EATS: PURPLE PIG

by riannagalvez7 Comments on CHICAGO EATS: PURPLE PIG

Hello, dolls!! Hello, fall…almost! 😛 This week was pretty “dark” for my tiny tribe. Our entire household is sick and it was really challenging to get things done… or should I say do anything at all. Hubby and I are both sick and I am starting to feel really guilty because we are not 100% for baby A. Now that I am a Mom, the worst part about being sick is not having the energy to keep up with him. I am just glad that I am finally at the tail end of this misery and I can hopefully enjoy the rest of my weekend.

Anyway, I swear I am almost done with my Chicago posts! 😛 Can you imagine if we were there for more than 3 days?? I would probably have at least 10 posts! One of the few restaurants on our list was The Purple Pig. We decided to go there on our last night which fell on the exact date of our anniversary.

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The purple pig is known for their creative and bold dishes. The menu is straight to the point, nothing too intricate that would make you second guess why you decided to go there for dinner. I know I’ve mentioned the influence of Greeks in Chicago but I think it’s really cool that the Chef/Owner (Jimmy Bannos Jr.) is Greek! This made my husband and I more interested to go to The Purple Pig. Continue reading “CHICAGO EATS: PURPLE PIG” →

Fashion, Uncategorized

GAP in ANNAPOLIS HARBOUR CENTER

by riannagalvez7 Comments on GAP in ANNAPOLIS HARBOUR CENTER

Hello, dolls!! Hello, labor day, USA!! <3 How was everyone’s long weekend?? Ironically enough mine was pretty short. I had to start my weekend at work to cover a co-workers shift. Not an ideal way to start my busy weekend definitely. Anyway, I had the best reward though — shopping! 

I spent the rest of my day in Annapolis. We hardly go there unless we have to OR I want to go shopping. I have never been to Annapolis Harbour Center so when I got the invitation for Gap’s Grand Opening I said yes with a million exclamation points!

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My new denim pants are definitely the highlight of my weekend. For a person who refuses to wear pants during summer, that’s a lot to say. Continue reading “GAP in ANNAPOLIS HARBOUR CENTER” →

CHICAGO

Where To Go In Chicago

by riannagalvez4 Comments on Where To Go In Chicago

Hello, dolls! Hello, weekend!! Soooo I thought August was going to be crazy, but it seems like September is shaping up to be crazier. I will be spending each day planning our big trip in October, I am starting the month by going to an awesome blogging opportunity here in Maryland, and I will be hugging two of my favorite girls that I haven’t seen in almost a year! So yeah, it is a very exciting and eventful month.

Anyway, here’s the continuation of my Chicago series. A and I decided to go to Chicago for our 4 year anniversary. Truthfully, it was an out-of-the-blue decision. I was at work doing computer tasks and I saw an e-mail from Southwest so I started looking at flights. We were in Chicago for 3 nights and 3 days — we left Baltimore at 7pm and got there around 9ish. It was a very spontaneous trip because we just listed down a couple of restaurants and food we must try   As for the places to go to, I just knew we have to take a picture with “the bean” so that was the only thing I remember putting on our list. The rest of the spots we went to were unplanned but definitely made our Chicago trip a really memorable one.

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So where do you go when on a long weekend in Chicago? Continue reading “Where To Go In Chicago” →

BALTIMORE, Uncategorized

Urban Plates, Columbia MD

by riannagalvez3 Comments on Urban Plates, Columbia MD

Hello, dolls!! Hello, weekend!! <3 I am going to take a little break from Chicago posts and share with you something that filled my heart and tummy with so much joy this past Friday. I mostly share my food adventures here on my blog. Though I really intend for this to be a lifestyle blog it’s really hard to separate myself from food because it’s the core of my being. So if you can notice, whenever I post an entry, there’s always food involved. I’ve been going through my previous posts (like from 7 years ago) and it makes me laugh how brutally honest I was. I was a single girl who will not take anything less than what I paid for. Then A came along, we went to the best restaurants so my food posts became more positive. — still honest, but much lighter since I was writing about better restaurants 😛 Just like Urban Plates

A and I are always on the hunt for restaurants that we can take our family to when visiting us. The downside of taking my entire family to a restaurant is having to deal with 7 people trying to figure out what they want. I get stressed out whenever it’s time for us to order because I feel like half of us are always struggling to decide what to eat. When I learned about the concept of  Urban Plates  I knew it was going to be perfect not only for my tiny tribe but also to the rest of our family when we are complete in December.

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I am so excited to share an experience that only happened 2 days ago! I am still trying to keep up with my adventures from 2 years ago so taking a break and sharing something current is like a dream to me! lol
Continue reading “Urban Plates, Columbia MD” →

CHICAGO

Chicago Eats: PUBLICAN

by riannagalvez7 Comments on Chicago Eats: PUBLICAN

Hello, dolls! Hello, Wednesday!!! <3 I’ve been on cloud nine since Friday because, after weeks of talking about our big vacation, we finally settled on a date and booked our trip!! It’s official now…after 16 months of working tirelessly, we can finally go on a looong break. I know I’ve implied that I am starting to feel burned out lately. Honestly, it’s not something I am proud of. I am only 27, how can I be burned out?? So I am letting this big motivation keep me inspired for the rest of the year and then I am going to reexamine my next move, and all I know is…it’s too soon to stop working hard for a great future — especially now that I have a 2-year-old to think about.

Anyway, I still have more things to share about our Chicago trip so I hope you are not sick of it yet 😛 Read my recent Chicago posts here.  

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Going to little neighborhoods has got to be one of my favorite things to do when traveling. I tend to ask myself “what if I move here?” every time. It must be the simplicity of walking and immersing myself in a new place, someplace I’ve never been before that makes me wonder what life would be like somewhere other than Manila and Baltimore. Continue reading “Chicago Eats: PUBLICAN” →