January 2007 Roundup - edited

So these are my answers for this month's round-up. Next task is to actually scrap! Uh-oh! :)

**Ideas and prompts taken from Katie the Scrapbook Lady courtesy of Aggie:

Round Up Questions:
What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
Started on Illustrator CS2 for Dummies (learning to draw digitally!), also browsing on Color Harmony Workbook I bought myself and the two books hubby gave me for Christmas (The Scrapbooker’s Color Palette and Digital Scrapbooking in Easy Steps). Reader’s Digest November 2006 and January 2007 issues that arrived late! Am never gonna renew my subscription again, because out of 12 issues, I only received about 6!

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
Little Manhattan, Pingu (animated, gave me so much to laugh at, so shallow!), 3 episodes of Hustle Season 3 all on DVD. I also got addicted to watching Amazing Race Asia over at AXN and Ane & I tried to catch all Star Wars episodes on Star Movies.

What special days did I celebrate and how?
Mom’s 52nd Birthday. Visited her in Laguna, a surprise visit. Full kwento in the blog entry. Two days later, went to Mom’s office for her staff’s surprise program. No family dinner this year, can’t seem to fit in the schedule. A week before her birthday, we went on a Farm day with my Mommy Aunt's family to celebrate. Also, there was Robie and Rissa's beautiful Wedding :)

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
We were supposed to give Mom High Havaianas, but stocks have been scarce. Haven’t had the chance to go back to the mall to look again. Gave Rissa and Robie an enveloped gift for their wedding, to be added to their US fund, hehehe. I received GC’s from Powerbooks from Ane, am still deciding which book to buy (novel/s or a scrapping related book, hhmmmmm)

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
Allergic Rhinitis that turned into full blown colds, upset stomach for about a week, and headaches that come and go.

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
Rissa’s Bridal Shower at Astoria, teeehhheeee! Dibide shopping at Metrowalk with the brothers. Dinner and Coffee at MoA with College friends (Rissa and Robie’s Despedida). Organized a reunion. Watched PBA live at the Araneta.

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
Cafe Adriatico at MoA, and Bitoy’s in Greenhills. Nothing much to rave about the two reataurants. I tried the new cold/blended coffee flavors at Ysidro’s Café (new offering: Iced Choco Float, Iced Mocha Float and Cereal Lovers). Tried cooking Sotanghon soup, wasn’t perfect but still delicious!

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
The Color Harmony Workbook, I guess.

What were this month's disappointments?
Our wedding video. We got it already, and I’m not gonna say anything more. I wasn’t able to go back to the gym (last time I went for my PT was two weeks before Christmas!!), and play badminton on Saturdays. I also didn’t get pregnant.

What were my accomplishments this month?
Finished at least three digiscrap layouts! Organized my files in the PC. Finished filing papers and bills and receipts at the office.

Anything else noteworthy to record?
On New Year’s day, heard Mass at the Shrine of Jesus officiated by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales with Ane and my in-laws, and then had Lunch at the MoA (first time to go there). Later we met with my family, in the same mall. I can’t believe that the mall, boasting to be the biggest in Manila (probably in Asia, too), can be filled with so many people! We didn’t stay longer coz I was beginning to be nauseous and hating the crowd, hehehe.

Went to UP Manila Registrar to request for Ate’s Transcript and sent it to her to the States thru her friend. Only to be requested to do it all-over again, the week after, because the document should have been sent directly to CGFNS/ICHP in Philadelphia (nope, my Sister isn’t a Nurse but an SP). Funny how they do business there, typical Philippine government atmosphere. It could get really annoying, so I really had to keep my patience.

Mom also spent overnight at our house, her reason? Just because. Hubby slept on the sofa and we girls shared the bed. She wanted to spend some bonding time with us. But had to ask if we use the aircon and if we have a shower heater. Heheh. Demanding! :)

Round Up Task List:

Pictures & layouts:

Back up all digital pictures and layouts to a cd – Check! But only backed-up to two other PC’s aside from my laptop and external hard drive. Does this count?

Print out any digital layouts created during the month and put them in albums. – Pass!

Uploaded all digital pictures to 2 different sites. ( I use Multiply and Yahoophotos) – Didn’t get around to doing so. Mom is already nagging me!!

Send email links to online photo albums to your family or friends who might enjoy them or send a picture cd, or picture attachments. Share your memories! – Ugh!

Get your pictures printed out and put into simple photo sleeve albums. – Uh-oh.

If you use film, be sure you get all your pictures developed and file your negatives in a safe place. If possible, I would suggest you get a picture cd along with your developing. – My Film SLR is sadly sitting in a corner, sigh.

Put finished paper scrapbook layouts in sheet protectors and albums to enjoy. -- NA

For bloggers - print out my blog entries to keep in a binder. My blog(s) really are like a journal and I was thinking that it would be nice to have hard copy to keep. I know some people back up their blog files which is probably a good idea. I copy and paste each entry into a word document, label the document with the month and year and then print it all at once. – My entries are automatically sent to my emailbox. I should remember to print and file them the way I used to (not that my entries are so many).

Scrapbooking Supplies:

For digital scrappers:
download, unzip, and file all kits & fonts purchased. Save a preview image of each kit and keep it in a separate file for easy browsing. Back up all new purchases to cd or dvd in case of computer crash or to maximize your hard drive space. – No new purchases or freebie downloads but I was able to organize all old files and are already backed-up.

For paper scrappers:
put away any new purchases. Do you still have stuff in sacks sitting around? I know some of you do! Put it away in an organized system. -- NA

For all scrappers:

Look through what you have purchased recently and decide what you want to use. At the first of the month set some goals for scrapping (hint – use this same list of ideas as a goal sheet for the next month)

Sort through old supplies that no longer appeal to you. Donate them to a friend who can use them or a charity. My older supplies go to my daughter who happily uses them to create many fun projects. I have also donated some to charity.

Look through what supplies you did use during the month and think about what it is about them that appealed to you. This will help you make smarter purchases in the future.
Clean up your area! Whether that is getting your computer in tip top shape, or clearing off the piles on a table where you can sit and work.

Conversations

{Bothersome}

Woman1: Salamat naman at napagtapos ko na ang apat kong anak. Pahinga na ako.
Woman2: Ang swerte mo naman, wala ka na aalalahanin. Ako isa pa lang sa apat ang tapos eh.
Woman1: Ano naman ang natapos niya?
Woman2: Dentistry, practicing na ngayon. E yung apat mong anak?
Woman1: Ah, high school.
Woman2: ?!?!?!?!


Someone has got to set her priorities straight.

{Funny but frustrating}

Me: I lost weight but I still look fat. Hay.
Him: Maybe you’re losing on the wrong areas.
Me: You think so?
Him: Oo, baka nababawasan ka na ng utak!!! (referring to the fact that I’ve been complaining about not being able to read or write anymore…)
Me: **sapoks him** (just kidding!) I am so gonna write that in my blog!!!!

So there.

Hooray!

Just dropping by to announce that...officially,


I AM NOW BACK TO MY PRE-WEDDING WEIGHT!!!


I haven't been able to go to the gym and I've been too lazy to play Badminton for the last couple of weeks...and yet I lost weight! Got sick and didn't have a good appetite, geesh! Yun lang pala solusyon, hahahah!


:)

Where did time go?

I can't believe the first month of the year is about to end. Time sure flies so fast! And I haven't even written about December and the first few weeks of January. There is just so much to share and journal about, a lot to be thankful for. The year 2006 was truly eventful, both happy and sad. I always tell myself that I can never trust my memory. I should start writing again. It's been a while since I've written anything.

Enough of that nonsense blabber.

One of the reasons I temporarily stopped writing is that I have been in an emotional pit I can't seem to go out of. I've been sad and feeling so lost, without knowing why or how it happened. Or maybe I am in denial. Everybody close to me knows or at least has an idea. But I cannot let this feeling eat me up. And I have my Ane to thank for giving me the balance that I need. Sometimes he doesn't get it but even so, he puts up with me and just shuts up. And it helps that he demands we pray together before we sleep. At least I get to ask Him to take away all my worries and pains.

{On trying}

to get pregnant, I realized it's not as easy as it seemed. We've been married for six months now and I just had my period. The morning it arrived, I was cramping. I was too weak to stand up because I didn't want to face the truth. I cried. The same way I would cry for the last five months. My family and friends have advised me to stop pressuring myself and just relax. Oh well, maybe I am just obsessed with the idea of having my own kids. The waiting game is on again.

{Mommy}

turned 52 yesterday. We planned nothing special because she requested that we not make a big fuss about it. I went to the mall the other day to get the gift but the thing we wanted to give her was out of stock. No luck. Brothers, Ane and I decided to just surprise visit her. We didn't tell Dad because we were quite sure he will spill. Around lunch time, we still didn't know where to go. You see, Mommy has a terrible schedule everyday that even if you set an appointment, it could still change anytime. I texted her and she said she's in Makati with Dad, so great, it's near and we could get there fast. But LBB and Ane were still in school and office respectively so we couldn't just go. Around 4pm, Mom's assistant texted that Mom and Dad arrived in Sta. Rosa already. So we hurriedly left and fetched Ane in Makati. While traversing SLEX, the assistant texted again, saying that the couple left for Tagaytay. Geesh. So we got there before six and waited ‘til 8pm when they returned. She was surprised alright, but we couldn't stay any longer. LBB's got homework to do. I think she appreciated the gesture, though.

Anyway, my Mom is a woman of courage and strength. She's also intelligent and beautiful, looking young for her age. She could get demanding and annoying at times, but that's what she is, eh. I don't think we would all grow up responsible and independent if she's not what she is. It's a package I would lovingly accept over and over again. I should remember to digiscrap about her.

{Reunions}

make me wonder. No, I'm not talking about family reunions (though, the ones with mom's side are always fun!)...but school reunions. I haven't been to one of my own but we recently witnessed a bunch of fifty-something folks get together after 40 years from graduating grade school. Some were so successful, others just weren't lucky enough. While one is now a very rich man looking so young and living in a posh village in Libis, another fends for the family by cleaning and taking trash from a baranggay talipapa, has grey hair & no teeth. Sometimes, life can be so cruel. But I believe that each of us creates our destiny and that we always have a choice. When the time comes, I simply cannot be the seemingly sad individual who looks so old and unaccomplished.




Now this post has become too long, uh? I have lots of catching up to do, but this is all for now. I really wish I could do this regularly from now on. Til next!