It's A Mommy and Me Weekend

No, I'm not talking about me and the little girl :)
Well, ok the little girl's also in the picture. But I was actually talking about Mommy --- my mommy and Me! It feels so good that at my age (and with 3 kids myself!) I can still be a daughter and feel excited when going shopping with my mom!

Truth be told, I don't really have much friends here in Doha, I'm not the friendly, outgoing type. It seems there's always a wall built around me that nobody could get through... so guess that's how the fam got stuck with me. But, if I would actually try to get to the bottom of things, I think I find that it's actually hereditary hehe! My mom also is not the outgoing type. Hmmm.... we actually are outgoing it's just that we just go out with each other hehe!
Most weekends my mom and I will go on a shopping trip. But mostly we do grocery shopping. In the last month though, my mom is preparing for her one month vacation to the Philippines so she's been doing a lot of shopping. I could say that we are becoming a common fixture at the Villagio Mall. We're also a victim of habit! We're so used to the Villagio Mall that we seldom try out other malls. I mean what's the point we go check the same shops anyway so why bother going to another mall only to check the same shop, right?!
What I really liked about our shopping trips is that most of the times we're shopping for the kids :)
My mom is a doting lola who spoils her grandchildren to rotten! That's why she needs me on these shopping trips! I am the one who presses the red lights when I feel like she's overspending for the "apos" already. I know I've been spoiled as a kid so on the other hand, am I being unfair to the kiddos? hehe!
This weekend had been particularly busy. We started on a Thursday after work. Although on that Thursday, we've done the shopping separately. I was with Jong and Lauren to buy the little girl her portable DVD player, while my mom was with my sister and cousin ---- again to Villagio, after the Thursday mass.
Then next day, we were at the City Center. We first attended my other cousin's son's birthday at the City Center then went to watch the Sarah Geronimo - Gerald Anderson Pinoy Film shown here in the Middle East. Yes it's embarrassing to say that we have waited for the movie to be shown here in Qatar for a month but even before, during and after the movie, and up to now, I don't know its title! I just knew we all wanted to see that movie, which is a light romance genre. It's a feel good movie and a good way to relax after a week of hard labor. hahaha! No seriously, even on the type of movies, me and my mom are a perfect match. Actually as I age, I don't anymore prefer movies on the heavy side, which I find stressful. I mean I watch a movie to relax not to stress myself :) We were able to get home around 11:30 PM that Friday.
Saturday, we started early. Left the house at 10:30 just after breakfast. I remembered we have a couple of QR30.00 ($8.20) coupons we got from Jamil from our previous shopping trip so made it our first stop. When we got there, there was nothing much in the store. Apparently the shop is closing and re-branding. Will change its name to Red Tag and had moved to the next door shop. But what a strategy! Issuing those coupons just when they were about to close and not honoring the coupon on the re-branded store ! It was a good thing we decided to go last weekend. We were actually not rushing to use the coupon since the validity is up to 25 June. Had we known, we would have come back earlier when there are still products in the store. So we ended up not able to get the things we really liked, since they have already been moved to the new shop, which does not honor the coupons.
After Jamil, we went straight to Villagio --- yes, again, hehe! And as expected we went straightaway to H&M, our favorite shop. I had to go to buy gifts for my godchildren in the Philippines. An of course, my mom bought a few items yet again for the kids. I think it is about Lauren's third birthday dress, hehe! We didn't stay there too long as we don't really intend to buy anymore, well, mom already have 3 "balikbayan" boxes under the staircase, sealed and ready to go.
After that, we went to grab lunch at the food court. My sister, daughter and her nanny preferred to have a McDonald's lunch while me and mom decided on the Mongolian stir-fry. Bad move. I've already set my mind on it so I can't back out, but the line is too long. I think it had taken me about an hour to get the food, and we were already famished! But well, since it's the food court, I would say that the wait would be worth it as I'm not really fond of burgers or pizzas which are the only other things on offer. Mom and I shared my food but even if we were too hungry, we still didn't manage to finish the stir-fried seafood and noodles.
The trip wasn't supposed to end with our villagio visit. We were supposed to meet some relatives at the Islamic Museum but it was 5pm already and Jong would be coming back from work. Plus, the little girls is too tired and sleepy and becoming restless already so we decided to go home.
All in all it had been a fulfilling Mommy and Me weekend, oh by the way I forgot to mention that it was Mommy and Tatay's anniversary weekend. They were celebrating their 37th wedding anniversary on 29 April 2011 :)
I am posting this in honor of my mom on Mother's Day.... my lifesaver, my shopping buddy, my sounding board, my shock absorber, my rock, my best friend for life. I love you Meh! Stay happy and healthy :)