Shainne Hostalero

2017 gave me so much mixed emotions. No median just the extremes. I've lost some and gain some.  In March, I got engaged. Before the end of the month, I found out I was pregnant. It was a good start for 2017 and March was killing it. I cannot contain my happiness and everyone was just happy for me, for us. It was a blessing and I wouldn't want it any other way. In April, I celebrated my birthday. Passing on being an adult and waving to late 20s, it was simple and memorable not knowing that it was my last birthday with Kuya Denz - last cake from him, last greeting from him, and everything was just last. Nothing further, your honor. May was the saddest. Amidst all the safe pregnancy, it happened. We lost our dear Kuya Denz. It was heart-wrenching. It was unbelievable. Up until now, it was still a blank space. I couldn't imagine that I would be so sad to the point that anything else doesn't seem to matter anymore. I've been sad and spent fair percentage of my life in c...

Do you remember? We were all bunch of college kids roaming around the campus trying to get ourselves together. Busy. Always rattling. Always crashing around - literally and figuratively. Condescending. Fake it 'til you make it. I was one of those busy students who has everything to do with literally anything. Paper works, rakets , org stuff, council whatever, etc. Name it. I was one of those running to make it to the next class at the same time having lunch. I've gotta squeeze my schedule and eat so I don't die. I was that kid. Now, I'm not a kid. In fact, I already have a child. I'm thinking, probably he'd be like me when he grows up. Isn't it amazing to think our lives can change in just 24 hours? Parang kailan lang tulog lang ako sa apartment ko. Mag-isa. Solo. Independent. Ngayon, wala na akong tulog. Hindi ako mag-isa. Hindi ako solo. What did I do with sleep for it to leave my entire life (for good)? I think, despite of everything that chan...

In these challenging times, it is thrice as hard to find time to accept writing projects especially from new clients. Challenging as it may seem, I still find the time and I can still put my glorious multi-tasking talents to good use. (Taking care of a baby eats more than 70% of my time. 3 hours of sleep is considered a luxury. A 30-minute nap makes me feel my soul has been renewed for another lifetime). I'm thankful for clients, projects, and new opportunities. And it is always pleasant to read them thoroughly in my email. Nakakakilig. Ganern . But in the light of this undertaking are also projects needed to be turned down SPECIFICALLY the ones for school. THESIS as a perfect example. I'm a professional writer (apart from my marketing and communication career). As a professional, I sure know my ethics. In the angle, accepting commissioned THESIS is a BIG NO for me. I'm also a graduate student on top of everything I am right now and I also work on my term papers, re...

Bosses can make or break us... and more often than not, they break us. Haha! Lucky are those who found comfort and friendship with their bosses. But for others who are struggling, have struggled, and will struggle, patience is indeed a virtue. I've been in various industries as a marketing and communication professional and as a writer. I've been blessed with different good friends I gained along the way. In fact, some of them are my former bosses/supervisors. But it wasn't always rainbows and butterflies. There were also some experiences that I don't wish to go back to even if given the chance. Like some of you, there were also times I cried at work because of too much stress and pressure. I know when we all are in our glorious self, we say that crying at work is a big NO. But hey, it can get a little rowdy sometimes. Stress, of course, is how we approach it, but most of the time it is unbeatable. Stress seems to have its own life and your boss appears to b...

Photo from web It's been quite sometime since I shared a good read. I've been busy with a lot lately - family, motherhood, pregnancy, work, cooking, and studies. I'm currently finishing Crazy Rich Asians though which I'd like to share to you very very soon. Or perhaps share a new read that will benefit all of us. Talking Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life (2015) by Mark Goulston is a very timely read today. We experience a lot of encounters towards irrational and impossible people that sometimes we cannot seem to quit because... 1.) they are our workmates/classmates/colleagues, 2.) they are family and/or acquaintance, and 3.) they simply exist for all valid reasons even though they are a bit off sometimes (or most of the time?) Sometimes, we are the ones who are irrational and impossible. I think we all have our 'days.' We are not always okay to be with. Yet, we (personally, I) strive to be okay which makes a lot of...

In a previous post, I've listed down few of the things to remember when doing your grocery shopping. After which, it will all boils down to... making your meal. I've become conscious about preparing food, storing them, products to choose, and the like. Since I've found my way to the kitchen, I started liking the 'cooking' experience and tweaking bit and pieces of different recipes in my own and my family's preferences, making it more personal and custom. I first thought cooking is hard and there's no way I would ever craft something from scratch aside from pre-heated and/or processed food - which I believe isn't healthy at all.  Reading is the answer. I think, I like reading more than watching, but if you prefer a quicker grasp of recipes from the internet, you can always resort to YouTube videos available. If you are a busy person like me (naks!), it pays to list down your menu before the week ends so you know what to buy. If amenabl...

Doing the grocery can be tasking yet relaxing for anyone most especially for mothers. If you are the head chef of the family (like me hahaha), you opt to buy ingredients you favor and you spend so much time picking the best and freshest ones. Going to the grocery is therapeutic. You can pacify your urge to shop, thus, you can also create such excitement of preparing a meal from scratch. Sometimes, when we get too excited (yes, it's true) to shop, we often forget what and why we are in the grocery for. Hehe. So for us to be more guided, here are some (obvious) things to remember when doing grocery shopping: Create a list To save time (and money), it pays to create a grocery shopping list. In this manner, you can only select what you really need for your home and kitchen. You can also save loads of money just by purchasing the most important and needed stuff only.  This is doable especially if you are working on a tight budget or trying to save more. Allot time ...