Want a Laptop

My husband and I have been discussing whether it's viable for us to get a new laptop for myself soon. Well actually, we both know that money has been tight these days. With the increasing cost of basic commodities plus the seasonal big expense that come with the start of the school year (yes, we are literally sending 2 boys to school this June), it is really kind of hard to make extraordinary financial cash-outs at this time of the year.

However, we stumbled into a really good deal at the mall last weekend. That is what is really urging us to get this new laptop. It's a great deal because of the big discount. However, the offer is for a limited time only so we need to decide as soon as possible whether to get it or not. My husband knows that this kind of deal won't come around again anytime soon so, we really want to take advantage of it and buy the laptop now. An option for us would be to get instant payday loans to bridge our finances at this time of need (or you can say, want). The loan can pay for the laptop now while we wait for our next payday to pay for it. It's really easy and convenient. At the same time, the terms are not that bad.

I Wish...

I wish I was this thin again...

This was me back in 2005. I was lovingly staring at my husband-to-be, with no inkling that being married and pregnant (for the second time) would be mean having an additional 50 lbs to my then weight. Whaaa!!! Sad as it may seem, I wouldn't exchange this life for anything in the world.

For your Medical Concerns

Lately, I've been hearing so many stories of people getting sick and being confined in the hospital. We have a neighbor who had kidney and other problems and was in the hospital for weeks. Her family had already spent hundreds of thousands (even up to a million, I think) just to keep her alive. But in the end, she still passed away (may God bless her soul). I also have another friend whose father is in the hospital right now undergoing treatment for cancer. My friend has been out of her wits trying to find out how her family will pay for the hospital bills that is becoming bigger by the minute given the fact that her Dad isn't close to being well yet.

Actually, I know from experience how hard it can be to get sick or to have someone in your family get sick. As a consequence, you sometimes have to endure huge hospital bills that are really problematic in the wallet especially when you come unprepared. In our case, we depend a lot on our medical card to assist us in our hospital expenses.

In these kind of times, one is really needs to have a kaiser permanente. Depending on your location, you and your family can be enrolled in an individual or group health plan under kaiser permanente Colorado or kaiser permanente California. I swear, there is nothing like being ready.

Preggy at 25 Weeks

I'm planning to go on leave tomorrow to go to my OB at Cardinal Santos. Lately, I've been feeling the baby move in my tummy and it gives me the most wonderful feeling. I can't wait to see him. I am imagining already how he would look like. However which way, in my eyes, he will be the cutest baby boy in the world.

I am scheduled to take my OGCT to detect my sugar level today. I hope the results will be okay. I'm just a littled scared of the needle prick, hahaha. Plus, I'm also a bit worried because I've been eating a lot of sweets lately. We bought a Choco Almond Sans Rival from Conti's a few days ago and it was so delightfully sinful! (Got pictures but it's with my hubby). You should try it too! :-) Anyway, wish me luck guys!

Working for 12 years

Yes. I just celebrated yesterday my 12 years in the company that I am working for. It only seems like yesterday when I was fresh out of college and was such a newbie in the corporate world. But now, 12 whole years have already passed since my very first day of work. Yeah, it's been that long and I really didn't imagine that I'll last this long.

Anyway, lately, I have been thinking of getting out already from this company and starting anew. I really have been wanting to start my own business or go into some kind of profitable business venture. But I'm thinking that if ever I decide to stay at home to be a full-time mother and housewife, I still want to contribute financially to help my husband support our family's needs.

One of the things that is on my list is the possibility of venturing into Vending Machines. I have read and heard that those who are into the Vending Machine Business are apparently doing very well. With a Vending Machine, there is no need to worry about employing many people or thinking of ultra-creative products. All you got to have is a very strategic location where you can position your machine. With that, you can already ensure yourself of good profits. As long as there is good traffic and a well-maintained unit, there will be no problems in making your investment grow.

Singing a Happy Tune

Just wanted to journal my happy memories of Zoe and myself at Kindermusik. I just love the bonding that we have every time there's school.

Somehow, I just know that these times won't be 'repeatable' since time seems to fly so fast. Before I know it, Zoe will be going to a regular school already and the opportunity to bond like this won't come along that easy.

Looking for a Gift

My husband's birthday is coming soon and I find myself at a loss on what gift to buy for him. We've been together as a couple for almost 12 years already and all those years, I always find it so hard to get the perfect gift to give him. I've given him various things already and I want to make it a point to get him something different each time whether it be his birthday, our wedding anniversary, Christmas or other special occasions.

This year, I have been fortunate enough to have known about this site that offers various mens gifts. It's a very fantastic discovery actually because I really have almost ran out of ideas on what to give my dear husband. Their products ranges from nice personalized and romantic gifts as well as gifts in line with sports or other outdoor activities. And if budget is an issue, they also offer gifts that don't hurt the pocket but still will sure be well-appreciated.. They also have different "guy" items that I never thought can be good ideas too. For example, they also have books, video CDs, and gadgets. Plus, they also have good shipping deals that you can't resist.

I am actually tempted to buy ahead for this coming Father's Day in the month of June. I think there also stuff there that are apt to give to my own Dad on Father's Day. Moreover, I can also try buying online here for some anniversary gifts for men in time for our wedding anniversary this year.

What's more, Christmas shopping will now be a breeze. It won't be so hard to think of holiday gifts to buy for our uncles and male bosses because there so many things to choose from in this site. In fact, I think I'll tell my husband that we can buy that cigar flask for his boss. I'm sure he will appreciate it because he likes to smoke cigar.

Hey, look at this site of men's gift now and see the endless possibilities within your reach.

If I Were to Start a Business...

If I were to resign from work and start my own business, I would probably start on a business that concerns food or anything computer-related. Maybe I can get into a small catering business or maybe start a "pandesalan" at our village. Or maybe I can put up a computer shop or a copying center. I guess that wouldn't be so hard. But first, I need to look for options on where I can get Small Business Loans. That would help me a lot in pushing my business.

Any more bright ideas?

How, How The Carabao?

I was with some friends yesterday and we were talking about work and how we wanted to resign and just be a "working" housewife. The topic was about this because the party host, our friend from work, resigned last year to be just that - a housewife and a full-time mom. But the big question is, as many Filipinos would joke - "How, how, the carabao?" Hahaha. I don't know where to get the courage to risk not having a job and not having a stable income. I don't know what is the determining factor that would make me leave the corporate world. Would it be the stress? My boss? Maybe both?

To top it all, Zoe was talking in random to me last night and she was saying something like "I don't want you to go to the office tomorrow. Baby's here and Zoe can't go to office." Oh my. It's been a big dream of mine for years already but it doesn't seem to happen...just yet!

Planning a Painting Job?

Nothing compares to a room with quality painted walls. The color and quality of the wall paint spells the ambience for any room or home. In our case, for example, I just wanted to immediately transfer to our new room right after we got married. The wall paint there was still a mess. It was not done well plus it had bad stains from the vanishing of the cornice and the wooden closets. But even if, we did transfer and I regretted it a lot because after a few weeks, I couldn't take the looks of the ugly walls anymore so we had to move out again, pull out all the furniture again and had somebody who is more professional redo the work. This only shows that even if your furniture are grand or your room decorations are expensive but have badly painted walls, then it's still a disaster. That is the reason why we believe in investing heavily on good paint as well as on the services of a good indoor and outdoor painter.

If you agree with me and are planning of undergoing a painting job for your whole house or even for any of our rooms, then you can get in touch with an Atlanta Painter online who can give you comparatively better quality results compared to those other unknown painters in the area. Their results are also much better than your DIY project and I am sure about that. All you have to do is to go to their website and leave your contact numbers or email and they will get in touch with you immediately.

Tasks for The Weekend

As the workweek ends today, I want to list down the things that I plan to do this weekend and hope it'll be a very productive one. We originally had planned to go with my friend and her family to a trip to Zambales for the weekend but had to beg off.

Saturday:

1. Go to early mass at 6 am to have enough time to prepare Zoe for her class. We are perrenially late for school because of the traffic along P. Tuazon so I'm hoping we can leave earlier than usual tomorrow.

2. Install the hooks for Zoe's picture frames in the attic. I plan to hang 4 new frames on one side of the wall. I've reserved the other side for the new baby's pictures.

3. Be updated in my cultural reading ~~ I haven't done this for ages.

4. Cook something special ~ sort of to celebrate, in our own way, my Dad and sister's birthday.

5. Go visit the nearby ukay-ukay store and see if there's anything worthwhile there (I'm sure there'll be).

Sunday:

1. Attend a baptismal party of my friend Lucy's first-born.

2. Bring Zoe somewhere nice like Fun Ranch or the mall.

3. Take a nap. Hahaha.

4. Clean up our closets.

5. Find more of my pregnancy clothes from my old room.

I guess, that'll be enough. Have a happy weekend everyone!

Get Down to Business

My friend's sister just returned to the corporate world last month. She used to work as a lawyer in a big law firm, specializing in litigation and immigration. As good a lawyer that she is (she's actually a bar topnotch), she worked so very hard at her cases and delivered thoroughly what the company expected from her. I think she worked too hard too that after a few years of doing that, she felt just burnt-out. That is the reason she decided to resign and rest for the while.

After regaining her drive to work again, she gladly accept the offer of a relatively smaller law firm. Good thing that this company is very much interested in getting down to business, that is, focus on the practice of law and then take care of the other secondary things through outsourcing. They discovered the benefits of E-billing which helps them save time and money. They also use Matter Management to manage company issues and legal matters properly. Then there is an automation software Litigation Hold to help them have due compliance to all government and legal requirements and the like.

With the help of all of these software applications, I hope my friend's sister find her new company as a better place to work in where she will be less burnt out, less stressed, be more gratified and more fulfilled.

Gingersnaps Sale

I think I mentioned before that we went to the Gingersnaps Warehouse Sale last Saturday and was able to score several preggy tops, a pair of slacks and a skirt for myself. I badly need preggy clothes that are fit to wear at the office. I find the prices of the stuff in the department stores and the other maternity shops exorbitant so I really made the effort to go to Pasig to see if I can find some decent clothes at discounted prices.

Apart from my own preggy clothes, we also got to buy some t-shirts and pants for Zoe. I only shelved around Php 1,300 for all that. Not bad, huh? The problem lang with this sale is that the place is sooooo hot! As in. I was sweating so much that I had to cut short our "paghahalukay". And well...there are no decent baby boy clothes. If not for those two things, I would still probably return next weekend to buy some more.

Do I Need a Career Change?

Do I need a career change? That's the big question that crossed my mind last night on my way home. I was then walking towards the terminal where I could get a ride home (my husband had a basketball game with his officemates so I had to commute) and I felt so tired and confused. Really, at that point, I just wanted to cry. I actually was supposed to go somewhere important after work. It was my circle and confession day that day but I missed going because I had to stay in the office to assist my boss with a pending project. Tough luck!

Maybe it was the pressure, the tiredness and the fact that I am pregnant that made me think of really resigning soon. I just couldn't stop thinking that I deserve a better position and better benefits with my experience, education and capabilities. I also thought that I deserve a better boss. Hahaha. Maybe all of that is true, maybe not. So when I woke up this morning, things looked a little bit brighter even if things remain to be the same.

Anyway, I am thinking of developing more skills by taking up Database Development and studying new applications which I can make use of at work like Filemaker Pro. Then maybe if I become more adept and more knowledgeable of it, I can apply in another company that offers
Database Services. What do you think? Is this wishful thinking or what?

Ice Cream Bliss

Here is my current addiction...and it's only for a mere 15 bucks at Ministop. Hehehe.

I love this ice cream flavor and the sugar cone that comes along with it. If only I could eat this every single day...it will be pure ice cream bliss without hurting the wallet.

Secret Plan

My friends and I are planning on a post-summer outing this first week of June. It will be like a post-birthday celebration of the husband of our friend and my husband's birthday celebration as well. You see, our friend's family owns a resort somewhere in the mountains down east and they've offered their place as the venue for our outing.

Incidentally, our other friend's boyfriend is also planning to make use of this occasion to make a formal wedding proposal to our friend. When I heard about it, I got so excited! This guy is asking us for creative ideas on how to surprise our friend with a romantic proposal. So we're thinking, maybe a candlelight dinner beside the pool with a string quartet playing alongside them, a big sign or tarpaulin where the big question is written and a lovely engagement ring.

I still remember the movie "Pretty Woman" wherein Richard Gere went to Julia Robert's apartment in a limousine while holding a beautiful red rose. Maybe that's a good idea too. And oh, if you're the Boston area or in the surrounding areas and are planning to make an unforgettable wedding proposal, I suggest you get a Boston Limousine Service and go ala-Richard Gere. Boston Limousines are readily available for rent. You can also hire a Boston Limousine for your prom or wedding car needs. With it, I'm pretty sure you'll make a big impact!

Peace, Simplicity, Time

I love, love Beth Dargis' weekly simplicity tips this week. There seems to be something in my life right now that doesn't seem to be functioning well. My heart is somewhat feeling all gumbled up and I have been aching to have more time for some peace and quiet to be able to settle my issues with God but can't seem to have the time!!!

Lord, please give me peace, simplicity, time. :-)

Sharing with you the tips here:

1. Don't take over what is someone else's responsibility.
2. Forgive yourself for a recent mistake.
3. Remember - things CAN be different.
4. Cook simpler meals.
5. Watch your reaction to every day obstacles. Are they out of proportion to the problem?
6. Hone your morning routine - what isn't working?
7. Connect with someone today.

Hitting the 6th Month Mark

My pregnancy is officially on its 24th week today. I really look so pregnant now. Hahaha! However, unlike my first pregnancy when my feet and hands were really sore and my tummy was so wide, my extremities I think are not as bloated now and my tummy is more pointy than how it looked like before.

I think I gained a little bit more than expected this month so I resolved to watch my diet more. Besides, I'm due to take the test for gestational diabetes on my next doctor's visit so I am "trying" to discipline myself to keep away from too much sugar (less cakes, chocolates, coke, candy...wow, how come all those start with the letter c?!).

Anyway, I've also been preparing for baby boy's coming by buying, little by little, some newborn clothes and baby boy stuff. I was in Rustan's Makati yesterday and I was just drooling at the nice baby boy bodysuits that they have at Debenhams. I also saw a nice girly bed which we could get for Zoe. You see, part of the preparation for the coming of the baby boy is also to prepare Zoe to be a good big sister. This means that, sooner or later, she has to learn to sleep in her own bed and in her own room.

Talking about Zoe's own room, well, I think we need to decide as soon as possible when to have the remodeling done at home. I still remember when we had a remodeling project when I was pregnant with Zoe. Because of the dust and dirt from the construction, I developed severe skin allergy. It was so very itchy! Maybe it was also the fault of the contractor. They were not very keen in keeping the construction area clean after a day's work. I have a friend from Kansas and she was telling me that the Wichita Remodeling contractor whom she got never gave her any headaches. Everything in their home renovation project went very smoothly and the output was beyond their expectations. They were able to get in touch with that contractor through the internet and they were immediately contacted via telephone and email. I've actually browsed through the website and just wish there was someone here that could offer me the same level of service.

HHWW

I think I'm not ready for this~~

I'M JUST NOT READY!!!

AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL EVER BE READY.

But I must admit, they look so cute! ;-)

*picture taken May 16, 2009 (Zoe and Efjay) during the village Flores de Mayo procession

Post msg: For those who are not familiar what HHWW means, it stands for Holding Hands While Walking. LOL!

All You Need to Know

I have discovered the ultimate buying and shopping guide in the internet and it's called Shopwiki. Whereas other online shops only show you products or companies that have paid for advertisement, giving limited choices to customers, in Shopwiki, you will get to know all you need to know about a certain product before you decide to buy it.

I highly recommend this site especially to all young couples or parents who are just starting out and dreaming of furnishing their homes with the right wares and appliances. As a start, you can do your weighing on the best type of bathroom storage that you would need for your house. Shopwiki will aid you in determining the best type and size of storage you need. And when you are going shopping for humidifiers or maybe for an electric vacuum, this site shows you the brands that are available in the market and points to where you can actually buy them. When you look at Shopwiki's houseware category, you will know the pros and cons on settling for this type of appliance or that, taking into consideration the size, the price, even the voltage and the warranty deals that come along with it. And guess what, they also offer great ideas on cleaning practically almost anything.

Now tell me, is Shopwiki a great discovery or what?

Happy, Happy

My husband's niece got married last last week and we were all there to witness this happy occasion. My husband was a principal sponsor (he's still in denial, I know!) while Zoe was a flower girl.

Here are some of our pictures during the event:



Do you think Zoe looks more like her Dad or me?

Be Safe and Secure

Ever since we had an intruder in our house last Holy Week, we have been more careful in making sure that our gates and doors are locked and secured before we go to sleep at night. We had our gate locks changed and had the duplicate keys all accounted for. Moreover, we assigned one of our trusted household help to be in charge of locking and unlocking the gates. For the rest of the doors in the house, it's my husband who makes sure that all the locks are secured before we end the day.

In these days where burglars and criminals are on the loose, we cannot be too lax when it comes to making sure our family and household members are safe and secure. We have all seen it happen in the news to some unfortunately person or even whole families. Thus, we simply cannot be complacent. If you have to get rid of your old locks and buy new ones, then so be it. Just make sure that you have your keys duplicated by a good and reliable Dallas Locksmith. When you visit their site, you will find that you can actually email them right from their website and they will be the one to contact you.

Floating Down

Floating Down The River
Trad arr © Shan Cowan & Paul Wilson

We’re floating down the river,

We’re floating down below,

We’re floating down the river,

To the O-hi-o!

Here's Zoe and I doing that particular activity at Kindermusik last Saturday.

We enjoyed this song a lot!

Want Direct TV?

Do you want to have direct tv in your very own home? My husband does! Being a TV and sports fanatic, he thinks that he has enough reason to subscribe to directtv. You see, he likes to watch TV as a form of relaxation. He also always wants to be updated in all the MLB games. He tells me that he is missing so much in the major league baseball games because we are limited to the games or shows which are being broadcasted in our local cable programming. On top of that, with direct tv, he can view other great sport shows such as NFL and NASCAR.

Zoe's First Santacruzan

We let Zoe join the village's Santacruzan this year as a 'sagala' or a flowergirl.

To describe the whole thing - EXCITING!

She was excited to be dolled up and dressed in her yellow gown, holding a bunch of pretty flowers in a basket. We were also excited to see our little girl turn into a little princess. I think she looked liked one indeed!

Some snippets here...

Here's Zoe with the escort Efjay. He's my friend's nephew so that's fine with me. Hehehe.

Getting Ready for the Rainy Days

Have you ever experienced leaks from your roof whenever it rains? Have you ever had dripping water from the ceiling that you have to put a water bucket right below it in order to catch the water to prevent messing your floors? Well, you could see me raising my hand on that! Some time back, during a typhoon, we saw our roof leak and it destroyed our newly-painted ceiling as well as my Dad's big corkboard which is installed in their bedroom wall. It left a really bad sight in the room. After that, I swear that I would never let the rainy days come without us checking on the condition of our roof.

Talking about roofs, I highly recommend that you check out the services of Ron Williams, a Sacramento Roofer. Also known as the roof doctor, his company offers various roof services such as inspection, repair and replacement. His family has years of experience in the roofing business so you can be sure of the quality of their output. What is also very important is that you can get in touch with them through online or telephone. So with only a few clicks, your most reliable roofer is already within your reach.

Weekend in Frenzy

Hello everybody!

How is your weekend doing? Our is, as you have read in the title, a bit of a frenzy. Zoe had summer school at Kindermusik and participated in our village's Santacruzan in the afternoon (pictures to follow!). We also sneaked in an hour or so at the Gingersnaps Warehouse Sale in Pasig. After that, we were all tired, tired, tired.

Good thing Sunday is a bit more relaxed. We got to take a short afternoon nap which I thought was a good thing for the baby boy inside me. I needed that extra rest really for the sake of my pregnancy. Sometimes, I think I tend to go overboard, tiring myself too much and forgetting that I'm carrying a baby! I'm just so glad that all is well and the baby isn't complaining (yet!). Hahaha.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Chicago

I had a dream last night that we (my whole family and I) got our US visas approved. The dream seems so real that my first thought when I woke up was when I should book our tickets to fly to Chicago to see my relatives there. It's a bit crazy I know but somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I know that that dream will come true someday and I'm sure we will really enjoy our time there.

I have a cousin there in Chicago is also due to give birth like me. She's giving birth a few months ahead of me, I think in July. Although I have not really been with them as much, I'm so happy for her and her husband. I heard from stories that her husband is a nice guy. Good for her, right? My other cousin says that he is an all-around guy who works for a home depot of sorts (I'd have to find out where). I think he knows a lot about DIY works and something about the wiring and electrical stuff around the home. Talking about electrical services, I think that for more serious electrical needs, they of course need to know where to contact a good and reputable Chicago Electrician. I think I'll suggest to them the website where they can get very reliable electricians for their home needs. If they go to that website, they would know what is the best criteria for availing of the services of an electrician.

Anyway, I think I'll discuss now with my husband my plan to get our US visas soon so we can make that US trip. :-)

8 Tags from Dez

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To ..

1. Quarterly bonus today :-)
2. Zoe's summer class tomorrow
3. Kiddie birthday party to attend tomorrow
4. May Santacruzan tomorrow evening where Zoe will be a 'sagala'
5. Hunny's birthday in June
6. Giving birth to our second baby in September
7. Zoe's 3rd birthday party in September (hopefully I don't give birth on the same day)
8. A new job maybe after my maternity leave?

8 Things I Did Yesterday ..
1. Go to mass and pray
2. Work, work, work!
3. Lunch with a former officemate
4. Talked to my friend Carla on the phone
5. Did a paid entry
6. Last minute grocery shopping at Hypermart
7. Picked up my lunch bag repaired at Mr. Quickie
8. Super late dinner with hubby

8 Things I Wish I Could Do ..
1. Be a WAHM
2. Go back to Europe, this time with my hubby and kids
3. Have a nice haircut...soon!
4. Buy me a new SUV
5. Have a VBAC (keeping fingers crossed!)
6. Lose weight!
7. See my old friends again
8. Have a facial --- babaw noh?

8 Shows I Watch ..
1. Evening news
2. Barney and Friends
3. Barefoot Contessa
4. Clean House
5. ...
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...

8 Ladies I am Tagging ..
Does anybody want to try this tag out?

Thank you Dez!

A Bigger Car?

My husband lately has been talking me into buying a bigger car for us especially when baby number two arrives. At first, I'm thinking that this is just his excuse to have a new 'baby'. But I think that he's somewhat right. We need to invest on a bigger car for the needs of the family.

But wait! Of course, before we could buy a new car (and because money does not grow on trees), I think we need to sell our other car first. In truth, we haven't really been using that other car. I even think we have to repair some of its parts like its steering rack. I heard that you can actually purchase car steering parts directly online at a very low price. That's not much of a hassle, is it? Maybe if we can fix the car soon, we'll be able to sell it at an even better price and then have enough money to buy a bigger family car.

HBD!

Thank you so much to all my wonderful friends and family who remembered me on my special day (May 13).

I had a super fun time on my birthday, being able to spend it with my Teng and Zoe. Just some years back, I would have been happier spending my birthday alone (i.e. one whole day going around Rustans or somewhere nice with P30,000 shopping money on hand, hehe, or a day of 'beautification': hair treatments, pedicure, manicure, facial, spa). But I guess it's really different when you become a wife and mother. Birthdays are not anymore all about me - it's about me and the people I care about :-) and it's mostly about being very thankful to God for another year of life and blessings.

I hope to post some pictures of our family birthday adventure in Subic very soon. :-)

Quotes

I had just a call from an insurance agent asking me if she can set a meeting so she can discuss with me her new proposals and quotes for a life insurance for me and my up and coming baby. Actually, she is my husband's insurance agent. I still have to decide whether to get a new insurance policy from her. It's because I've mostly put all my investments with one company. However, with the many news about stocks and investments, I became kind of scared of 'putting all my eggs in one basket', as they say. That's the reason why I've agreed to hear her proposal. On top of that, I will also do my own research via online insurance quotes.

I think that insurance is very important. Especially for someone like me who is a wife and mother, I need to feel secure for my family's future. That is why I'm invested my money on educational plans for the kids and term life insurance for me and my husband. But being an employee of a financial institution myself, I know that we have to get the best rates and the best quotes available to make the most out of our money. The data, after all, are very available. There are sites like reliaquote.com where you can find all the term insurance quotes that you need. All you have to do is do a comparison and then make a decision.

Helper on Vacation

I'm just realizing it all the more now ~~~

How difficult it is not to have an all-around helper at home. I swear, I've been more panicky now than ever since our helper left to go on a vacation today. She'll be gone for about a week or so and I'm worried about how I will manage the household without an assistant.

My problem would be our daily meals. It's been such a convenience that someone at home wakes up earlier than everybody else in order to cook breakfast. So now, I think I'll have to do it myself. Next is the preparation of the other meals. Being a working mother, I haven't really been cooking a lot in the house. In fact, I've mostly relied on the helper to do the cooking. What I do is the grocery shopping and that's it. Besides, being pregnant and very busy at work, I almost have a valid excuse not to dab in cooking. I'm really just too tired when I get home. After all, my workplace is a good 1 hour and 1/2 from home. Traffic just drains most of my energy really.

Anyway, I promised myself that I'll be more organized especially this week that the helper's gone. I've already come up with a menu for the week and an updated market list to boot. I just hope my cooking abilities are still intact. :-)

Date with Girlfriends

I am going to meet with my two good friends tomorrow and I'm quite excited. We'll be having lunch together in Serendra to sort of celebrate my birthday in advance. I am so looking forward to their stories about what is happening to them these days. You see, lately, we've been out of touch because of the demands of work and family. Both of them are still single. While one of them is available (and looking!), the other one is already seriously dating this Christian guy who is a friend of one of our friends. I think that the latter is even planning for their wedding soon. I'm very happy for them because at least among the many people that you can meet, they really hit it off very well and are so happy together. I wish the same to happen to my other friend of course.

Anyway, I heard that those single people who are looking for a partner in life and to spend their lives with someone who share the same faith as they do should sign up in the christian singles chat. This is a place for Christian girls and guys to meet. As Christian men and women, they can bravely share their faith with one another.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

I, on my part, am so thank to all those who remembered to send me sweet mother's day messages throughout the day. It kind of makes you feel special (being a mother is indeed very special). I thank God for giving me the gift of motherhood and children whom I see as sweet, sweet blessings from heaven. Thank you God too for giving me a mother who is the most caring and wonderful person that I have ever met. In heaven, she is there to guide me as I tranverse this life and perform my duties as a wife and mother.

Country-styled Home

Lately, since we've been going to cold Tagaytay City, I find myself dreaming of having a our very own country-styled home just like this one below. I just like to style of the walls of this house, the color of the roof and the design of the front porch. I could just imagine me with my husband and kids lounging at our porch, listening to the chirping of the birds around.

I think that we could build something like this in my parent's land in the province. It would be perfect for quick weekend getaways. Other than that, it would a great place to live in during our retirement years. It looks so comfy and laidback.

In this regard, I've started to look up on several samples and designs of log cabin homes. I found out that you can actually commission an online supplier to provide you with beautiful log home floor plans that will fit your taste. They can even take care of both the exterior and interior finishing of your home. You will have no qualms in finishing your home construction since they can also provide you with good Log home products that are durable and affordable.

Don't you think that this stress-free home building is so compatible with your dream of a relaxing and laidback life? I tend to think so.

Friendships

I don't know what's with me. I seem to be so out of the loop when it comes to friends. Maybe it's because we're all growing old and growing apart. Or do you think the financial crisis has something to do with this too? I mean, people, like myself, are feeling less inclined to go out, make phone calls, eat out, watch movies or travel out of town. Why? Because things are getting more and more expensive by the day, people just tend to stay home to avoid making unnecessary expenses or at the extreme, they tend to work even harder, do more overtime work to get that extra buck that they need. This may be the sad reality now but it doesn't have to be the case right?

The only light I'm seeing to maintain my friends and also to make more friends is to make use of the available technology without having to spend much money. There is free text, the internet and email now so there's no reason not to keep in touch. Plus, there are so many social networks and chat rooms like jewish chatrooms that are available now where you can talk to friends whenever you want to. So I guess it's really up to the person to exert that effort to be a friend. Probably what I can do is to sign up, together with my friends, in a certain chatroom so we can be in touch always and at the same time, we can expand our circle of friends amongst people of the same interest as ours.

Zoe the Flower Girl

Yes, Zoe will officially be a flower girl for the very first time tomorrow. Her cousin will be getting married in their historical church in the countryside and we will be flocking over there right after her Kindermusik summer class.

I wonder how we will be able to manage going to school, traveling, dressing up and going to the wedding when the time gap is so slim.

Hmmm...we'd better sleep early tonight so we'll have enough energy to be in a frenzy tomorrow.

Will post pictures of the wedding after. :-)

Going Home to Chicago

My aunt and cousin are leaving tomorrow to go back to their home in Chicago. To celebrate their last few days here, we actually had dinner in their place last night. My husband and I arrived in their house at around ten o'clock already and we were both starving. Good thing there was bountiful food served for dinner. I definitely enjoyed every bite of my dinner.

After dinner, while the boys started drinking in the garage, the girls were gathered around the table talking about anything under the sun. My aunt even mentioned on how she is managing their home in Chicago. She told us that ever since she went to live there, she has not been ironing clothes anymore. I think it's because the wash and dryer that they use is heavy-duty and the clothes do not get so crumpled from all that washing. She never had problems with the plumbing either since there is always a good Chicago Plumbing company which she can call anytime to fix their plumbing problems. Without a man in their house, I think they are quite lucky that they can call a reliable plumber in the area. It's not the same case here where you have to plead for a plumber to come to your house or if they do come, you'll have to pay so much to get a drainage unclogged or a faucet repaired.

Anyway, we bade goodbye to them at around past 12 midnight. It's hard to see them go back to the US because I know that I'll miss them so much.

Home Management Issues

Being a working mother, I am sometimes guilty of not being in touch with my pantry and food stocks in the refrigerator. I do try to stock up really well that's why I go to the supermarket weekly. Problem is, someone else cooks for the family (our helper) and I don't really get to monitor which food ingridient or condiment or food aid is running out. What I find more irritating is that even if I buy in bulk, the supplies almost always fall short before the next grocery trip.

Here's what I'd like to change in my household:

1. Buying food that later on goes to the trash because it wasn't consumed on time.
2. Being the one reminded by the helper to buy this and this only to find out that there is still enough of it till the following week (she always tends to exaggerate that we are out of this and that).
3. Letting the helper buy in 'tingi' from the sari-sari store and paying double the price when it could all be avoided.
4. Being asked for money for some simple ingredients like salt and some cooking oil when you just about to hop in the car rushing to go to work.
5. Being told that the necessary things like rice or LPG has run out when it's already too late to go the grocery or to order from the supplier (read: at almost midnight).

Oh my, there are still so many things to do to train our helper. That's is why during times like these, I really wish that I'm just a stay at home housewife who is top of her household.

Hauling and Junk Removal Services

As my husband and I were passing by the corner street going to my office today, we caught sight of the new building that was recently built for a call center company. That portion used to look like a moat where the public transportation would illegally park. I actually never imagined having a very nice building standing there. Well, at least not as fast as that. I swear, it now looks so far from how it looked like before. It's now a better sight than the old piece of junk land that it used to be. It thought that they did a good job in Junk Hauling and in rehabilitating that old place.

Nowadays, with the many construction and rehabilitation projects on a roll, people cannot afford to waste time and money in delays in the project. This is because delays mean that you go behind schedule and you are at risk of losing your valuable investment. Thus, for any project, whether big or small, we always need quick service of Demolition Companies when we need it. For Junk Removal in San Diego, for example, you need the fast and reliable work of a good junk hauling company. For this, you need to do a bit of research. If you do that, I promise that you will be saving your company or your family a whole lot of money.

My Birthday Wisdom

With my birthday coming, I thought of looking for some kind of birthday resolution to make sure my life is moving in the right direction. I know that I need to focus better on the important things: my plan of life, my family, my apostolate. :-) I'm sure God will give me the grace to be better.

Your Birthday's Wisdom is Individuality

Life has required you to go your own way and do your own thing. You've been taught to rely on yourself. You don't feel comfortable relying on others. You are highly motivated and aggressive. You have no problem getting things done and getting what you want. You feel like you have to look out for yourself, because no one else is.

What's Your Birthday's Wisdom?

Can I just go back to bed?

...That's what I was asking myself this morning while we were caught in the middle of the worse EDSA traffic ever this month.

It was crazy because we supposedly left the house to get to work even a bit earlier than usual. But my oh my, we came across dark skies and a whole lot of traffic. Apparently, there was a bus collision that occured a kilometer away from my office and the traffic that resulted to is like 10 kilometers long (up to the tail). So weird!

I really wish that I could just go back home, be with Zoe (she wasn't feeling well last night), go to the Gingersnaps sale, visit my cousin who is leaving for the US soon, check out this black bbw dating site for my friend, cook my favorite comfort food and sleep!

For My Birthday

I'll be turning ___ next week!

For my birthday, we are planning to go on a short trip to Subic.

Maybe go to Zoobic Safari in the morning...

And then head for some adventure at Ocean Adventure!

Of course, I hope to eat, eat and eat along the way! Hahaha!

I hope it doesn't rain!

Preparing for Baby Boy

Learning that we are having a baby boy this time around sort of changed our lives 'drastically'. Before, it was so simple as looking for a good-sounding boy name. But now, there are so many other things to consider!

First off, I started thinking of our preparations for the clothes and toys of our baby boy. Our closet doesn't have anything at all for a baby boy. All the clothes and shoes are in pinks, reds, yellows and all those other girly colors. Oh, I remember, I do have a couple of blue mittens and socks which were given by my mother-in-law when I was still pregnant with Zoe. And just recently, I received a wonderful present from my online friend Pat (thank Pat!) which consisted of a cutie bodysuit and a blue bib.

Secondly, I also started thinking of how the room set-up will be. Currently, Zoe sleeps with us the room. Even at almost 3 years old, she still sleeps in her good ol' dependable crib. Occasionally, she co-sleeps with us in the bed. Now I'm thinking, how are all going to fit in the bed with a toddler and a little baby? And moving forward, when they both grow up already, I guess it's a must that they both have their own separate rooms. In that case, then we'll have no choice but to have a house renovation to create a new room for the little boy. Maybe we also need to convert our little garden at the back into a small cemented basketball court for the boys. I could imagine copying my uncle's lawn in Chicago where they have a part-garden and part-basketball court. Their Chicago Landscaper decided that they have good compromise when it came to their garden landscape. It made way for their green thumb as well as their need to do sports. I vow to do the same for my kids. I think I'll ask my uncle about their landscaper sometime.

Anyway, just thinking about it makes me giddy with excitement! We are having a baby boy!

Small Things

I received this tip/message from the email today...

Take a little extra effort to work on doing
little things that keep things moving forward.
Fill up the ice tray immediately, change the
toilet paper roll as soon as it is empty, wash
or put pots and pans in dishwasher as you cook.

Solomon says it is the little foxes that spoil
the vine. Keep up with the small things.


...so, so TRUE!

Big, Beautiful and Happy

I just stumbled into this picture of my cousins and I taken last Christmas. In the picture are (L-R) Reneebeth, Jojie, Ria, Aila (who just turned 18) and myself. Except for me, all of them are single and available (ahem!).

I look at it and (proudly?) think to myself how thin I was back then. Well, it looks like that, at least compared to them. Hahaha! But you know, this picture was a good 5 months ago and my appearance and weight now is far different compared to this. The present reality is that I am nowhere near to being thin now. Especially when I look at myself, I feel so big (being five months pregnant and all). But I'm very, very happy. I give myself a rest this time because I know that in exchange for all those additional pounds is a baby boy waiting to be born this September.

And if you ask me if my cousins are happy too, I'd say that they are. With their positive outlook in life and good sense of humor, I feel that even if my cousins here in the picture are looking big, they are contented with their life and they all feel good about themselves. They can actually share some great insights in bbw chat rooms that is sure to bring a happy glow in the place. I heard that these chatrooms can be a great adventure for BBWs.

Zoe's Favorite

"Ac-Do!" ~ that's how Zoe says Mcdo.

But what's kind weird is that she says 'FRENCH FRIES' even clearer than the way she says 'MCDO'. To top that, she can say already 'COKE' even before she learned to really talk.

Oh no!!!

Flying Back

My uncle and aunt from Germany flew back to Frankfurt just this morning and I didn't get the chance to say good bye or at least send my cousins something, like a local delicacy or a souvenir. I actually have 4 first cousins who live there. Two of them are already married, both to local German citizens. My other cousin's children look so cute actually, because they are a mix of Filipino and German blood. Imagine their complexion being not so fair (white) but their eyes are blue! So cute!

I'm now thinking that if people enter those interracial dating sites, find their true love with someone of a total different race and culture, get married and have children, how cute the combination their children would turn out to be! :-)

This Week's Craving - 1st week of May

Seattle's Best's Strawberry Shake....

Don't know if Hubby will give in to it tonight because I think my uric acid level is over the top already. I've been eating monggo for lunch and dinner and I could already feel my knee and leg joints aching. Huhuhu.

Security Issues

We arrived kind of late last Sunday from an out-of-town trip and were all surprised to find several banners hanging in our village gate and in the gates of our neighbors. It more or less states that the village homeowners are concerned about the security in our area. In line with this, it pushes that everyone support the ban for the mass housing project that is supposedly to be built at the back of our village, with our village having the right of way. I think this mass housing project is for the lower class. For the officers of the homeowner's association, this project poses a big threat to our village security because it might open the gates for various types of people, good and bad, subjecting us to possible house intruders and carnappers. I tend to agree, basing it on our personal experience last Holy Week when an unknown man tried to steal our car / car stereo in the middle of the night. Good thing, he failed in doing so.

In any case, this incident had made me think about changing our front garage gate into something like Austin Garage Doors which I found online. For me, garage doors, provide so much better security than our current garage gate. If only we can cut a deal a good garage door contractor so that we can go ahead with this project. With it, we don't even have to bother if the mass housing project pushes through or not because in my mind, I know that my family and our properties will be safe.

Boy, Oh Boy!

I still haven't gotten over the fact that we are having a baby boy this time. We're so, so excited! Even Zoe is excited. She hasn't stopped calling our baby as 'BABY BOY'. She would often kiss my growing tummy too and say "I love you baby boy!". How sweet is that? :-) I'm sure she's going to be good Ate.

***

Now, about the name...

It's actually more or less final. No other person knows about it yet except me, Hun and my sister. I just had to tell it to my sister because I wanted her opinion on how it sounds and about what it means for us. So far, she's loving it! :-) Whew! Can't wait to see this beautiful boy come out! :-)

Great Business Opportunity

Being in a time of global recession, many folks are trying to look for ways to earn an extra from a business which can be a valuable source of income for the family. Honestly, I also feel that we also need to start looking for a great business opportunity for me and my husband. With our family growing, sometimes, having a 8 to 5 job is not enough to pay for all our financial needs.

So as I was looking for ideas, I found a great business opportunity that we can easily explore through the 1800Vending Blog which I read about recently. Being an avid customer of vending machines, I viewed the 1800Vending LinkedIn Profile to find out more about 1800Vending. I learned that vending machines are still very successful even though the economy is getting harder and harder by the day. It's because consumers do not mind spending a dollar or two for a snack or a soda, any time, any day. We actually experienced this last Saturday when we were waiting in line for our turn at the doctor's clinic. Just imagine, we waiting for almost 4 hours for the OB to see us. Good thing that there was a TV there and a very conveniently-located vending machine. Without leaving the clinic, we were able to entertain ourselves and satisfy our hunger. So I realized how good a vending machine business is since it made instant profits from hungry customers like us.

Study Online

Let me just share a piece of good news which I stumbled upon on the web. I was chatting with my friend in the US and she was telling me of her plans on studying again to be able to start another career. She is planning to study to be Medical Assistant. She is thinking that with all the hospitals and clinics near their place, she can very work there a part of the team of Medical Assistants. Actually, what made her decide to take this path is because she has a sister who enrolled herself at St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants and is now working as a Medical Assistant in the hospital close to their home.

I got interested in this field of study too so I looked it up some more online. I found out that as a Medical Assistant, your job can range from working from the administrative side to working as a laboratory assistant. It's pretty much like assisting all those health workers, i.e. doctors, nurses and other medical specialists in the fulfillment of their jobs. I think Medical Assistants provide a great help, actually. I can say this because I really appreciate the work or service that I receive from them myself, me being pregnant at this moment and often find myself having all these encounters with doctors, undergoing laboratory test and asking for doctor's appointments. It's actually something I find interesting.

Pregnant at 21 weeks

A picture of me at 21 weeks (with Hun and Zoe):



Got this again from Baby Center-

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.You're also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

Spotted

We were in Starbucks in Tagaytay last weekend and spotted a couple of guys who obviously are into punk rock dating. They were both glued to their individual laptops, looking so punk! Actually, I'm blogging about it because seeing them reminded me of the punk match chat room which I read about it from the internet. It also makes me conclude that punk still rules in this day and age.

Perfect Fit

As I blogged here last week, Zoe received a new pair of Crocs Scutes from my tita and cousin from the States. Obviously she likes them so much that she managed to take a picture of it yesterday. I found this picture by accident as I was browsing through the pictures from my digital camera today.

Looking closer, I really wish all those bites and scars in her legs would disappear really soon. It's so hard for me to see her with these scars which are so, so itchy! I hope the Mederma for Kids work on her skin soon!

This Weekend

I'm one excited mom. This weekend, particularly this Saturday, May 9, one of Zoe's cousins is getting married and Zoe is going to be one of the flower girls. Their wedding motif is canary yellow and I can't wait to see Zoe in her gown! Incidentally, my husband will also be one of the principal sponsors. And although I think my husband is too young to be a principal sponsor for a wedding just yet, I guess it's okay since it reflects that they think of my husband as someone they can ask for advice from or someone they can turn to regarding their adventures and misadventures in married life.

This actually will be the first big church wedding among the cousins of Zoe. The bride's older sister, the mother of Robbie, is a single parent. I don't know if she plans on marrying too or if she still plans to meet other men through single parent chatrooms that are now in fashion these days. Anyway, whatever her plans are, I think what's good is that her parents are very support of her even though she's decided to remain to be single mother. I'd like to think that parents are born with such big hearts that although their kids did not end up the way they dream them to be, still, they continue to love them unconditionally.

Electrical Needs

I saw one of my friends in Virginia online one time and she was talking about how she and her husband decided to buy a new house and move to a bigger and better place for the two of them. She was raving about the help that she got from Virginia Beach Electricians who assisted them install all their electric home appliances: the heater, air-conditioner, electric fans, and their electric stove. They also fixed their electric sockets and their lightning fixtures. Knowing my friend, she wants to make sure that all things are in order and the house is really safe for them to live in. As you know, there are many, many house fires that are caused by faulty electrical wiring these days. We have to be very careful not to overload our electric sockets with too much voltage. We also don't want to have open electric circuits lying around or laid in our house ceilings, don't we?

I agree with my friend. Ever since we were young, we've been told by our Dad to always make sure that all our electrical needs are done by professional and licensed electrical engineers and not be some cannot-be-trusted, fly-by-night electric man. Because when it comes to our electric needs, we simply have to be extra sure.