vintage buttons - a new fashion statement!

I’m a huge fan of button embellishment. Buttons are often small works of art, examples and reflections of the styles and times. Something about buttons is so cheerful. And I think there is nothing more exciting than vintage buttons. It’s classic. Traditional. Antique. A bit of nostalgia. A bit of drama. A bit of the past and the best of the new!

Even when I was young, I’ve already loved buttons. I don’t know about you but buttons simply draws my heart and attention. My mother, who was a seamstress then used to pull up an old-rusted rectangular tin from her “tokador”, inside were array of colorful vintage buttons, ribbons, and beads. My sisters and I would go through each piece, ooohing and ahhing. We were not allowed to take or keep one from her collections because it supposed to be one of my mother’s personal possessions. It wasn't the monetary worth of the piece that we got excited, but the bright or muted colors, the textures, the designs and the stories the pieces told that captivated us.

I want to share with you these photos of my latest find --my little treasures: F.A.R.M. vintage button bracelets. F.A.R.M. stands for Fabulously Absolutely Rural Made. F.A.R.M. button bracelets are innovative and have very inspiring designs. It is unique, cute and chic. It ranges from simple to the sublime ones. Do you know what I like most about F.A.R.M. buttons bracelets? Each piece adorns a woman’s wrist so stunningly and beautifully without giving away any show-offs nor any flamboyant impression and whatsoever. Possibly because F.A.R.M. has a natural appeal of exquisiteness, there is a presence of organic element in it and it has an effortless style and sophistication. Its assortment of colors does not make you feel overdressed or flashy at all. But it simply gives any woman an utter flattery, lifts her mood, brings color, and definitely enhances her fashion sense.

F.A.R.M. has a look of vintage fashion, not to mention it commemorates history. I thought others would enjoy wearing a small piece of history as much as I do. I’m probably a hard critic to please. But the moment I saw them, I was instantly drawn to this beautiful creation and fell in love with it. The color combination is superb. They are just so pretty and attractive in a very dainty way. Each piece is truly unique and each is one-of-a-kind. Each bracelet includes a distinctive variety of old, used, discarded, collected, sorted, retrieved, and even rummaged ones!

F.A.R.M. buttons bracelets are exclusively designed and elaborately created by a lady named Bidibidi. Every piece is artistically handcrafted by Bidibidi. Her choices of patterns, colors, contrasts and combinations reflects her impeccable tastes in arts and they absolutely show a fabulous and inspired craftsmanship.

Bidibidi is a multi-talented woman who has a deep sense of purpose. An artist who has a huge passion for vintage (particularly buttons), watercolor painting, prose and poetry…who is into organic farming and currently runs her own farm “La Huerta”, providing local employment to the Baaoneous. She advocates, encourages, educates, and promotes sustainable agro-tourism that leads to the preservation of eco-system in rural areas, as far as regional provinces. Her diverse interests caught the attention of Agricultural Department and an article was written to cover her success story. Recently she was awarded as an “Outstanding Rural Woman”. Bernadette known as Bidibidi amongst family and friends. She is a woman who’s not only have a big heart, but speaks from a heart as well, a woman who describes claims that “her life is her art and her art is her life” and who’s work is not limited to arts and crafts. I am so happy and proud of her. And she happens to be my friend’s older sister you know.

I love the fact that F.A.R.M. originates from a hometown Baao, a small-rural town in Bicol where I grew up. I also love the fact that F.A.R.M. has a story to tell. It is about women who live a modest and simple lives, yet with big hearts and big dreams. That each bracelet is made by great women with dedications. Women who are dignified, resilient, diligent, and hardworking. Who believes, shares and supports for a common cause. F.A.R.M. signifies women empowerment. It rekindles friendship. It brings joy. It links connections, interactions and relations between family, friends, old-friends, classmates, colleagues, acquaintances, even neighbors. It blossoms women and bonds them into a genuine sisterhood-relationships. I am totally touched by the impact of it. I felt that I am connected to some women whom I have never even met. Each piece reminds me of my inner feminine side, my fashion sense, my childhood, my alma mater, my humble beginnings, of where I came from and my ancestral roots.

And remember, a bracelet is an equal opportunity adornment for all types of women; mother, daughter, grannny, aunt, sister, niece or BFF...no matter how short or tall, BIG or small, young or old... a bracelet is just the right accessory, and the perfect choice for a gift!

Obviously, F.A.R.M. has an extensive button collection to choose from. F.A.R.M. bracelets are abundant with interesting buttons. And every time I look at one of the F.A.R.M. new photos I discover a new button! A new look, new feel, new mood and a new excitement! Ladies! Let's Go! Let's accessorize!

the mom i am meant to be

There is no greater privilege in living than bringing a tiny new human being into the world and then trying to raise him or her properly during the next 18 years or so. Doing that job right requires all the intelligence, wisdom and determination you will be able to muster from day to day.

Everyone has an image of and some basic assumptions about what a mother is. We have all experienced of being mothered in some form or another and we have complex feelings about that experience. What becomes clear now is the extent to which a mother and a daughter/son relationship is focal from the day the baby is conceived in her mother’s womb to the early days of mothering. Mothering is such a joy to almost all women, but what is also missing in the understanding of mothering is there is also an extent of how painful sometimes it can be and how exhausting, and often a thankless, occupation. In the world of media, art or literature, and other fantasy world, we are exposed as “happy mothers” or sometimes "super moms". We reared with the idea of children fulfilling our dreams and yet with little idea of how that should come about.

When I try to examine this ancient biblical ideal of a motherhood, we do not find the stereotyped mother or a housewife occupied with dirty dishes and laundry, her daily life dictated by the demands of her husband and her children. Nor do we find a hardened, overly ambitious career woman who leaves her family to fend for itself.

What I find is a strong, dignified, multitalented, caring woman who is an individual in her own right. She is her children’s mother, her husband’s partner, and she is completely trusted with the responsibilities to nurture, protect, care and to bathe her children with the greatest love and attention.

I believe that a mother is special human being, a very pure and deserving entity who disciplines a child by her virtues, values and emotions. But in the eyes and level of understanding of youngsters, a mother is just a mom, guilty of doing mom things – setting out restrictions and house rules, and making demands, and sometimes preventing children from making certain turns, life turns.

Mothers are also classified as “good mothers’ “bad mothers” or “good enough” mothers. Universally, all mothers are determined to assert to be “the best mother” of all times. We mothers try to explore in every fantasy and reality of it all. And at times, we fail. But you know, it is in the failing that we succeed and in the badness that we “transcend” into “good enough” and make “great mothers”.

As a mother, I have learned a lot of things. I have learned to deal with temporary frustrations and abundant joys of motherhood. I can recount how I am transformed from having second thoughts of motherhood to embracing it, and I’ve learned how to love my children more than ever by accepting God’s unconditional love for me.

My son Andrew is 11 years old and my daughter Ashley is 9 years old, pretty much, they are now in their pre-teens and sooner or later I will be facing much bigger challenges in raising teenagers. Don’t get me wrong, Andrew and Ashley are both very delightful and lovable. They are both equally competitive hardworking and exceptionally good and made me a proud mother. But as they are growing and developing in sizes, heights and all, their level of thinking and behavior changes and matures too. This transition is what worries me a bit. I am having trouble giving away a dash of freedom to them even in choosing what kind of hair cut or hair style they want to have. I am used to the idea that I run the show most of the time and they are just the actors who always have to follow orders from the director, to act out the script and expected to give their best performance. But it seems that this is not the case anymore. And so I have to consider to make some changes as well accordingly.

Being a mother has plenty of challenges and thousands and thousands of chores!!!! Pretty much you have to flip your hat from time to time from one role to another, one moment you are a director, next you are a chef and then you become a symphony orchestra conductor. And why is that so? Because it is a conductor’s role to synchronize the various instruments to produce a dynamic rhythm and a pleasant sounding music.

Here’s an overview of mothers’ functions: organizer, supervisor, adviser, counselor, teacher, overseer, nurse, tutor, cook, nanny, janitor, seamstress, caretaker, a ‘cool’ or perhaps a-not-so-cool-mom’, a friend, but here’s my favoriteone: a guardian angel. Here’s also the list of a mother’s specialized areas: homeworks, projects, researches, piano lessons, swimming lessons, drama club, spelling bee, sports fest, play day, birthday parties, dentist appointments, parent-teachers-conference, and a lot more, the list goes on and on… Couple of times I had moments and almost “losing it”. Most of the time I had given and given until I had nothing left to give. There are times I find myself frustrated, angry spirit was quickly replacing my "good mommy" attitude.

All moms experience moments when they feel unequal to the responsibility of motherhood and think: "I just can't do this"! "I don't have the strength and wisdom for raising this child". But you know what? In spite of it all, I am going to face all these mothering challenges for the next couple of decades, I am so determined to continue my role. It is a significant, and most rewarding role of a lifetime. It’s not easy but I don’t know what I would do without them either. They give me so much joy and meaning.

I think moms need to have the confidence and support they need to connect with their kids. I try to understand my kids’ temperaments and learn to value them more. I also learn to discover their learning style. I believe too that teaching them to pray plays a significant role. When they realize that talking to God is as natural as talking to their friends, they begin to enjoy prayer. I think listening to them and investing in the relationship is very much needed. To me, discovering and capturing my children’s amazing God’s given gifts and imagination is such a wonderful experience. It is almost like taking advantage of beauty’s nature in my own backyard.

And of course, the ultimate goal for mothers of faith is to give each child an understanding of Scripture and a lifelong passion for Jesus Christ. This is, I believe, the most important responsibility for those of us who have been entrusted with the care and nurturance of children. Every mother has dreams for their children. We know what is the best for them,but it is not for us to decide. It is God's plan. We are there to mold them as how God wants them to be. All we need to do is to trust God fully, give Him all our fears and worries. And never forget to pray and ask for His wisdom, guidance and protection.

That's what moms are meant to be. To all moms out there: Hats off to you! and Happy mother's day!

each new day

It’s quiet. It’s early. Outside it’s still dark. Morning hasn’t broken yet. All around me are still in their slumber sleep. In a little while, a new day is coming. New every morning. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of a new day…..The solitude of a morning will be replaced and invaded by the decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours, I will all over again be exposed to the day’s demands and again, I have to make a choice. And I am free to choose…between right and wrong decisions…

But I’d rather choose goodness.
And if I succeed, I will give Him thanks
And if I fail, I will seek His grace
And then when this day is done,
I will rest my head on my pillow and rest

So that I can draw physical and spiritual strength from Him again...

Ready to face another new day.