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.