MMFF 2010

So, have you seen any of the movie offerings this year? We have made it a tradition to watch a least one film each year but this year, I am not so into it (heck I missed watching HP7, I don’t mind not catching any MMFF this year). I have been hearing mixed reviews about the movies and now I know which ones to forego versus the ones I could tolerate. If I am given the luxury of time, I’d go watch Rosario. I wonder if they used Rocky Patel cigars in this movie? Anyway, I heard that except for the costume design and a sad first 15-30 minutes, Rosario is a good movie. Metanoia is the next one on my list.

Nine Medicines You Should not Give your Toddler

I am glad to have received this article on my inbox. It lists down the nine medicines to give a toddler:

1. Aspirin
2. OTC Cough and Cold Medicines
3. Anti-nausea Meds
4. Adult medications
5. Any med prescribed for someone else
6. Anything expired
7. Extra Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen
8. Chewables
9. Ephedra/Ephedrine (Chinese herb ma huang)

The first on the list, I already know. Numbers 3-6, common sense will already tell you why. Acetaminophen is okay but it has to be prescribed by the Pedia and must not go overboard. Chewables are choking hazards. Herbal Meds have adverse results even in adults, much more on toddlers.

Number two got my attention. I have been worried about K because of her coughs. After reading this, I am relieved that I did not turn into ‘mommy-doctor’ and go against Pedia’s orders. He does not prescribe cough medicines and we just follow the water therapy and good old “pagpag likod” remedy :) K is getting better now :)

Backseat

This year, the karaoke machine took a back seat. Singing has been a past time for our family and relatives, and our machine was almost always present in gatherings. But that changed this year, as we hosted a small party for my mom's siblings and families at home on Christmas day. We took the new Kinect for a test drive and we all had a blast, with my cousin bringing home the Dance Central King, albeit a prize :)

Our first love has always been singing until our voices are gone (!) so I am sure we’ll all go back to that practice next time around.

Christmas Gift for Me

Christmas is in less than two days and the husband has not sent feelers about his gift to me. So tonight I just had to ask him teehee. My hunch is true, that there is no gift yet. He said he’s still thinking about it. My fault too because I’ve never been vocal about the things I want to receive. I think I need gc’s for pampering (but I cannot leave K for a long time!), hotel stay, shopping money (but I don’t know what I need!) or even a new coffee mug like the ones found in Personalcreations.com. My heart says it would appreciate an iPad because that’s what I really want. But I guess if I insist on this one, I will have to wait for the 2nd gen to be released, eh?

Shangri-la Treat for Fans

Shangri-la Hotels and Resorts just launched an exclusive offer to their Facebook Fans. In celebration of their 40th Anniversary, fans can dine up to 50% off at any of their restaurants (except Fook Lam Moon Chinese restaurant) around the world from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2011. It will be a treat for the fan’s birthday and requires pre-registration. For more information, visit their FB page.

And so We’re Back :)

Just a sneak peak to where we were for the past few days:

We were in the Happiest Place on Earth for ~2 days and the rest of the time, we were just lounging in our rooms and a few hours out in the city. It was a memorable vacation, even if I was sick almost the entire time. I was having allergic rhinitis attacks and that slowed me down a bit. But all is well. The pictures will tell how much fun we had.

Going on a Trip

I will be away this weekend with my family and two brothers. We' have been planning for this one since October and it will be a nice change from the usual Manila Christmas Rush. This is also the first time that the siblings (sans Ate :( ) and I are going on a trip without the parents. So I am looking forward to this weekend which is made special because Ane and K will go with us also :) Ultimate bonding moments, I must say.

He wants to lose weight

Ane sent me an email about slimming coffee this morning. I say he’s never given up on the idea that this fad of a coffee will help him lose weight. I have been apprehensive about this product because unlike best diet pills for women, there are no reviews that convince me enough to try it. He said that this new one that he found has BFAD approval. We are still researching if the number is a valid one, the government site is not too helpful because I can’t find links to check. And if there is a valid approval, I still think Ane should see the doctor and ask about it. I would prefer it actually is he just exercise more and watch his diet rather than resort to these things.

Tired

I am not sure if it’s the Holidays creeping in but I find that have no energy to work -- that or I am plain lazy, LOL! I always wake up feeling restless and tired. I know this is not because of the mattress K and I sleep on since it is relatively new. Perhaps it has something to do with my posture when sleeping? I read somewhere that it does not help to sleep with arms under the head yet that’s a habit for me. Maybe I should be more conscious about that, eh?

Live Curious Shirts by National Geographic Channel and Regatta

For most of you, this is already old news but I didn’t get the chance to blog about it, so pardon me for that. Anyway the husband is into statement shirts so it did not surprise me when National Geographic Channel collaborated with Regatta in November to launch the Live Curious shirts. Live Curious is actually a global program by NGC to promote curiosity and adventure through exploration, pioneering and questioning. The campaign in the country launched with ads featuring local Nat Geo ambassadors.

 

These are really nice eh? I guess I was not paying much attention when the husband expressed his want to have one shirt. He said the statement he wanted was out of stock but he left his number with the Regatta peeps in GB so they could call him. One day, he went home with a shirt like this one on the ad featuring WWF-Philippines CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan:

It’s not what he wanted but he could not wait for new stocks to arrive. Nice choice though.

Looking for a Dermatologist

My Aunt who’s here for a short vacation asked us if we know where she can have a good facial. She’s not after the regular facial procedure but something she calls IPL (?). I told her why not try that famous celebrity doctor but she’s adamant. We were strolling in the mall when this topic came up so I was not able to follow-through. I just remember telling her to try the dermatologist in St. Luke’s who practically healed my breakout in year 2000. I am not sure if Dra. Elsie is still in country because I have not gone back for years. She’s really good, this doctor. I would have undergone acne scar removal but she said my scars are shallow that a laser treatment would be impractical. Anyway, auntie is leaving for the US soon, I hope she finds a good dermatologist before then.

Discounted Buffet at Spiral thru CashCashPinoy

Have you heard of groupons? These are discounted deals (for real!) at establishments. I will have to post about this in detail later when I have more time, hehe. Anyway, CashCashPinoy is one of those sites who first offered groupons in the country.

Today, their deal is a 45% discount at Spiral Buffet at the Sofitel in Manila. This means you only pay P1392 for a P2520 value. Such a steal right? And the voucher comes with bottomless iced tea which makes this deal even sweeter (literally and figuratively, LOL!).

This is the second time that this is offered within a few months so I am thinking really hard if I should grab it this time around. Anyway, I still have a few hours to decide. If you are interested, you may take this offer which will expire at 12midnight later (December 7). You may use the voucher for lunch or dinner from December 20, 2010 to May 31, 2011 (but with block out dates).

Jobs for Health Care

I am not sure if this where I mentioned it (too many blogs!!) but the government through CHED will not allow schools, colleges and universities to offer new nursing programs (as well as other programs like in IT) for the next school year. I think there is more than enough graduates of nursing but no sufficient jobs for health care in the country. It is no secret that some nursing professionals end up in a call center position so they could finally earn a living. So if you are entering tertiary level next year, maybe you should already consider other courses.

Cake Pops

I was watching Rachel Ray (or was is Martha?) some time ago when making cake pops was one of the segments. I instantly knew I wanted to try them. But you know me, I am one who delays doing things until I forget them altogether, LOL! Cakes pops were out of my mind until this afternoon when I was reading my feeds. Someone said she tried it and even said these are perfect to give-away this Christmas. I googled and saw these creations by Bakerella:

I also googled how they are done and I certain I can make them. The question is, will I be able to make some just in time for Christmas?! LOL!  

Dream Bedroom

I found my dream bedroom this afternoon! Love at first sight, I tell you! Look!

I love that the space is not too cluttered; the open space is very much welcome. The elements just work perfectly together. I love the colors too! I showed this to Ane and I think he agrees that this could be the bedroom of our dreams! I am keeping this photo for when we build our home, surely.

Driving while Intoxicated

I was never a fan of drinking then driving. I am lucky to have married a man who’s only a social drinker, does not drink more than two bottles of beer at any time. And we do not leave the venue until I am sure that he is sober enough to drive us home, otherwise I would drive (I am not a drinker). There are cases in the some states though that even if the blood alcohol concentration is less than the illegal percentage, drivers are still charged for DWI. These are the instances that an individual would need legal help like those offered by Houston DWI lawyers. It is difficult to be in a situation when you know that you are not guilty so legal assistance would really matter.

Life’s a Beach.

Summer is still a long while from today. Even if there are trips to look forward to, I am equally excited about our beach trip in March. I am now looking at bathing suits and cover-alls that will fit my body type (on top of looking for outfits for the other trips!). I can’t wait to bask under the sun; been a while since I got sun-burnt, haha!

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If I only wait for a trip to the beach to get a tan, others choose to use tanning beds instead because of lack of time to make that trip perhaps? I sure hope they apply tanning bed lotions to protect their skin! If you want to try these beds, click here for more information on suitable lotions.

Raw Talents in Eat Bulaga

A friend shared this link and I was mesmerized by the voices of Adrian and EJ:

 

 

No wonder the Dabarkads judges had a hard time deciding who between the two will take home the gift prize. I was awed by the raw talents that I realized I was gaping and almost teary-eyed while watching. I shared this to Ane and my brothers, and they too were amazed. Just goes to show that there are a bunch of Filipinos talented enough and are just waiting to be discovered. I heard they were invited to sing live in EB last Saturday but we were out for lunch and I missed it. Please share if you already have a link!

Increase Site Traffic

I am not (yet) an SEO expert. I feel I have so much to learn about it. It is not that simple you see. It takes a lot of effort to be able to increase a site’s traffic. It’s a combination of link building, directory submission, and knowing the right keywords to place (and when to place them) among other things. I am relatively new in this field and I am glad I have friends who are generous with their tips and tricks. I hope by next year, my sites will become fully optimized because that would mean more cachings! :)

Cute and Fun KamKam Furniture

Found this really cute furniture collection by Korean designers and creators at kamkam.org:

This is called The Dressed Up Furniture Series designed as a delightful combination of everyday actions. The pieces can be buttoned up since the main theme is to combine clothes and furniture. Each piece can also stand as storage space for toys and magazines, among others. See that buttons, belts and pockets were applied to suggest clothing connection. I love these stools! And I dig that the colors outside and inside are different but coordinating.

Facial Care and Work-outs

I read somewhere that you must wash your face prior to working out at the gym or simply exercising at home. This idea actually makes sense especially if you have been out on the streets the whole day (pollution, smog, ack!) or wore make-up. When you sweat during work-out, your pores open up and when you wipe the perspiration off your dirty face, the dirt will get pushed into and clog your pores which may cause pimples and blackheads. Would you rather go for the best acne treatments later than spend a few extra minutes in washing your face when you can actually avoid the former? Anyway, washing the face after a work out is also advised to avoid further clogging of the pores.

Serenitea’s Something Big

I just recently discovered Serenitea. It was kind of an accident that I was able to try it the first time. It was dinner time and we were looking for food. We parked right in front of the San Juan branch and I am glad I tried it (I used to look for the store along Wilson when it is located along Abad Santos).

Serenitea will soon celebrate their second year anniversary next month. In that light, they posted this announcement in their Facebook page:

I wonder what will happen on December 19. I am excited about it and I really want to know what they plan to do for their anniversary. A few goodies for the clients wouldn’t hurt, huh? LOL!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shout out to family and friends in the States, Happy Thanksgiving! I am sure most of you are busy getting ready and preparing for the special dinner (with your zero tolerance knives, perhaps?). Just this morning I’ve read tweets about Thanksgiving dinner recipes and I can only imagine how the dinner table will look like! Someday, I would like to try roasted Turkey!

More than the feast, I guess you already have contemplated about things to be thankful for. I think that is really what this holiday is all about. Enjoy peeps! 

Are You Ready for Black Friday?

Are one of those who plans the November budget around Black Friday Sale offers? For a lot of people this day has got to be the biggest sale event each year. Since it is comes a few weeks before Christmas, this is also a perfect time to buy gifts!

I am not buying anything because I need to save up for something. Yes, there are items that I am eyeing but I need to practice self-restraint and sticking to my goal. If you are going shopping, show me what you bought so I can drool over your loots! :)

Early Christmas Party

Christmas came early for us on November 7. We attended our first party for the year and it was with my online-turned-real-life friends. I was too excited to attend even if a zit grew on my chin the day before. The husband says I am lucky it just a pimple and I did not need acne treatment for my face yet. Anyway, I was glad the husband changed his day-off so he was able to go with us.

I will try to blog more about the party in the next few days. I just have too much on my plate right now. :)

Pacquiao vs. Margarito at the Araneta

I forgot to share that we watched the fight at the Araneta Coliseum via Solar Entertainment. We have tried watching in the cinemas and restaurants but my family chose to watch at the Big Dome because it is more awesome. It was a first time for me because I was left at home (K still a baby) when they first tried watching there. The screens were huge and we got good seats! The crowd was also amazing all through out the main event.

Here’s one side of the huge screen. I am not sure if you can imagine its size but just look at the people behind and how minute they seem compared to the screens.

Houston Asbestos Lawyer

It is never easy having to deal with cancer. I can only imagine how a family feels when one of the members get stricken with the disease. I have heard of numerous stories about the battles, some are won while a lot also succumb, so this is where I base my initial statement. I think it is more emotional for everyone when the type of cancer is very rare, like that of mesothelioma. Studies have shown that this possibly occurs after being exposed to asbestos for a long period of time. Some patients have consulted a Houston asbestos lawyer to check whether they will be qualified for settlement. Yes, this is not an easy situation but I must agree that someone will have to pay for the damages caused to the victims and their families.

Eva Longoria filed for Divorce from Tony Parker

And I thought, theirs is a fairy-tale marriage with a happily-ever after ending.

Eva Longoria cites irreconcilable differences in her petition to divorce from NBA star Tony Parker. The divorce documents were file don Wednesday morning in the LS Superior Court. The two celebrities were married on July 7, 2007 and they have no children. Eva is also requesting for the restoration of her name to Eva Jacqueline Longoria since she took on the husband’s surname after their wedding.

Pregnant-looking Tummy

I kind of gave up already fussing about my weight. I am going to work on that again but what I’m saying is that I am not pressuring myself anymore to lose all that pregnancy weight. Maybe I’ll panic when our beach trip is already near? LOL! My tummy, though, has always been a concern. It looks like I am five months pregnant even if I am not. Is there a routine specifically for stomach weight loss? I badly need to start doing crunches again!

Tower of Terror

Speaking of TARA4, last night’s episode brought back memories from 2007 after seeing the drop ride. Ane and I rode the Tower of Terror, a free fall ride, in California Adventure.

We didn’t know it was a drop ride, we just decided to try it out because no one was in line yet (we were early!). Imagine our surprise when we realized what we got ourselves into! Both Ane and I fear heights so you can start laughing now.

The staff will make you sit in groups in an elevator-like room. When the door closes, your coach is pulled back and would slowly ascend. You will not realize how high it is until they drop you a few feet below then the door opens and you will see the sky!! Then it will ascend once again until they drop the elevator to the ground floor. You bet my heart was left up there! I was screaming my lungs out!

But because it was a closed ride, we were able to bear it. We even rode it again a couple times more. Now if you ask me if I will ride something like what the TARA teams rode in last night’s episode,  I think I will have to pass. I will die even before we reach the peak, LOL!

Amazing Race Asia 4 Update

The episode last night was exciting. It was a continuation of last week’s leg and you can tell that the teams were already tired, exhausted. The episode brought them to Brisbane, Australia and the Pinoy Girl’s Team still had the edge (both ladies grew up in the land down under!).  They had to do some target shooting, ride the tallest drop thrill ride, race a car, look for a clue in the sand, throw a boomerang and eat a grub.

I am so glad that both PHL teams checked in first and second at the pit stop, a sign that we have really strong teams this season. Only five teams remain and I really hope one of the PHL teams wins the top prize!

Planning to Invest in Gold?

Do you have plans to Invest in gold but do not know how to go about it? First of all, I think you are in the right track since analysts agree that gold is the investment of choice these days. The value appreciates through time and it is as liquid as the normal currency, only more valued. The professionals at the United States Gold Bureau are willing to help you make the right decisions. The company even offers this free investor’s kit to get you started. You will be able to uncover the trade secrets of gold investment and they will give latest recommendations so you can make a sound decision.

Victoria’s Secret Sale

Shopping is one of the favorite topics (along with kids, husbands, and work!) among my mommy-friends. The latest talk in our circle is the super cute undies sale over at Victoria’s Secret! Imagine the virtual riot over at Twitter yesterday morning! After “debating” on sizes I finally placed my order :) I am hoping this is the last of my online shopping sprees for the year. Need to save!! 

Stay Organized

I found this image from a friend’s blog:

I am kind of obsessive-compulsive about a lot of things (think bordering on annoying) but I will have to admit that I cannot manage clutter all the time. Needless to say, I am not the most organized person you will ever meet. I also tend to forget and misplace a lot of things.

This image is a reminder that I can do much better if I am not too lazy to follow through on things, LOL.

Injury from Hip Implants

In August of this year, Johnson and Johnson the manufacturer of DePuy Hip Implants voluntarily recalled the product. This happened after about 400 complaints were received from patients. Up to 93,000 defective units are said to be recalled. The patients who complained were said to have experienced swelling and pain, even difficulty in walking. The systems affected are the ones sold between 2005 and 2009. Some patients, about 11,000 might need to undergo another surgery by 2014 due to the defective system. You may not experience the symptoms today but I guess it will not harm to consult a depuy hip recall attorney soon. At least you will know your options.

 

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

So Near Yet So Far

Each day I would check the tracking. I was waiting for a package and all the excitement was killed when I saw that my package was held for clearance. The notice was in bold and in red – that was when I realized that I need to load up on more patience. Turned out that someone added a one and a zero (beginning and end) to the value and Customs is charging us $400 on duties. The tax became more than twice the actual value! This makes me really disappointed in our government. The burden of proving that the content is not more than one thousand bucks is on us. Everything is nearly settled and I am hoping that my bag will be here next week.

Brothers Burger Thanksgiving Gift

Just the other night, I was craving burgers because a friend shared they’ll be having some at home. And then I saw this announcement! Brothers Burger is having 50% off on burgers on November 15, 2010 in some stores only. They do this offer from time to time but we never get the chance to fall in line and buy. We would retreat when we hear that people wait for hours to be served. I am not sure if we will be lucky this time, or if we would even try. Maybe I’ll wait if the craving is still there come Monday? 

Gold Rush is Here

 

If you have been planning to invest in gold bullion, then now is the perfect time to join the rush. Analysts are predicting that this precious metal is now ready for another run-up, as indicated in the image above. People here and there are thinking of ways to upgrade financial status and experts agree that buying gold is the way to go these days. For generations, people have looked at gold differently than paper currency. They appreciate its beauty and value. Up to now, these metals are regarded as something that can protect wealth and preserve purchasing power. Try calling your financial adviser today and ask for recommendations.

Laptop Table

This is a long overdue post! I bought, rather Ane bought me a laptop table:

Since there are three of us who share one electric fan, I have to strategically position myself where Santino and I can still be hit by the air from the fan while the  two loves are already sleeping. So I was working with Santino by Ane’s feet while I sit on the mattress on the floor by K’s feet. I don’t know if you can imagine that but the set-up was not helping us. Ane agreed to buy me the table and it was a blessing in disguise because Santino also stopped heating up too much. The table in action:

Love it!

Facebook Font Change

Did you notice?

It happened when everyone was asleep (at least on this side of the world) so I had no one to verify with. I thought, since I was starting to get sleepy, I was accidentally changing the screen settings. But upon waking up yesterday, I realized that my eyes and fingers were not fooling me. Facebook actually changed the font to a smaller one. Worse, the letters were (*grasping for the correct term here*) kerned (?)too near from each other or the kerning value of the characters were too small.

Love it or hate it? The new font is definitely not helping the eyes so I hope they just put the old font back.

Sudden Thought

I just read a note on Houston lice treatment and I suddenly remembered someone close to me who was a happy camper killing lice on someone else’s head. Of course I will not reveal the identity, and in fairness to that person, she only does that if the “victim” is someone close to the family, not some random person on the streets (yuck?!). Quite funny if you ask me. But since no one we know is still infested by the parasite these days, she has long been rehabilitated, LOL!

Anyway, it seems like in the US this is still taboo, because stoplicenow.com needs to be discreet in helping families with the infestation. They help families get rid of the pests using safe alternative chemicals.

The Social Network

This is another movie I plan to watch soon. Ane and Ry were discussing some points about the movie and that conversation made me want to watch it soon. I know I can just Google for details but they say that the movie is quite interesting.

Oh well, come to think of it, I’ve missed one too many movies already, they’re all piled up in my files! Must make time soon!

The Sound of Music

A friend mentioned in a tweet earlier about how she longed to watch The Sound of Music and landed on a video of an Oprah episode. That was enough cue for me to think about the movie and the songs too. I wish I have more time to watch it again. Plus I think I would like to also watch that Oprah episode. I hope to be done with work before lunch today so I can relax this afternoon. :)

Tried our Luck

I actually asked the husband to fall in line and place our bets for last night’s mega-lotto. The jackpot prize already reached P300M (about US$7M) and who would not be tempted to try their luck? Imagine what we can buy and invest on in case we won? We can finally buy our dream house, travel more, and invest in gold bullion, probably? After all, gold is said to be a sound investment at this time according to the United States Gold Bureau.The US Gold Bureau being a leading dealer of precious metals is a trustworthy organization, I believe.

Anyway, after last night’s draw, there were no winners which means we have another chance at the pot come Saturday. I wonder if Ane will place our bets again.

Trick or Treat Loots

Here is a picture of K’s loots from Trick or Treating last week:

This is just from the first event. She got another bagful when we joined the other kids in Ane’s office. Needless to say, we have a box full of treats and the adults at home are becoming high from sugar, LOL! I am just glad K is not looking for her loots! :D

Gmail Buzz Buzz

I received an email from Gmail and I found it unusual. The content, I did not really understand because in the first place I never knew how Buzz, the subject of the email, really worked. The gist, as I take it is that some users felt that they were compromised when the Buzz feature was activated. These people then filed a class suit and Google have already set aside a budget to settle claims.

I will try to read more about it and hopefully I can explain better.

Gold Coins for Halloween

I have not had the chance to blog about the Halloween party and Trick or Treat here. I got extremely busy IRL. Anyway, the kids had a blast during the program. Tori, aka as Hit Girl won the Cutest Award while K endured at least 5 hours wearing her pink pirate costume. We had the inventory of K’s loots and she got lots of candies and gold coins, chocolate coins that is! She’s not allowed to eat sweets yet (we let her taste sometimes but she does not have a sweet tooth like me, at least not yet!).

Speaking of gold, and I am talking about the real ones here, receiving it in coin form would be nice, noh? I heard this is currently the investment of choice because the precious metal appreciates through time not to mention the supply is already dwindling. I guess I will need expert financial advice before I jump in?

Eat Bulaga’s Shembot

Since K’s nap time coincides with my favorite noon time show, Eat Bulaga, I’ve missed a lot of shows already. I can’t afford to wake the kiddo up, and besides, I would usually nap with her too. I would just read my friend’s tweets about some updates about the show. Yesterday was one of the rare times that I was able to watch a portion and I am glad that I got to catch a glimpse of Shembot, a new pauso. I think the song is quite catchy that one could easily dance to the tune. Here’s a YouTube vid where Bossing showed how he does it. So hilarious!

Pop Star Demi Lovato Seeks Rehab for Abuse Issues

Pop Star Demi Lovato apparently pulled out of her current Latin American tour with the Jonas Brothers to check-in a rehabilitation facility. The Disney star, 18 years old. have always had abuse issues and would manifest in eating disorders and self-mutilation. According to a spokesperson, she is getting “medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time.” Lovato got her big break when she was given the chance to star in Camp Rock opposite the Jonases.

Personal Injury Assistance

We all know that no matter how careful we are in living our daily lives, there are things we cannot control. Sadly there are less responsible people that can affect you once you leave your home (and we are not also always safe from fire at home, right?). Yes I sound paranoid but it helps that I know there will be legal help, like a lawyer for personal injury Tucson, available when I need it.

Going to Watch Pacquiao – Margarito Fight

Manny’s fights have become a family tradition for us. I’ve missed a couple of fights when I gave birth (I had to just watch the live streaming or listen to the radio at home). The last fight, we watched it in a restaurant so we could tag K along. This time, we are going to try another venue and I hope K will not get too overwhelmed by the experience. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait it out in the coffee shop and just listen through the speakers! Wish us luck!

I am Not Going to be Sick

I am too blessed to complain. I know I lack sleep but I need to work on my assignments. Yesterday, I was sneezing. I am not sure if it was because we were out in the afternoon and it was a bit crowded in GH or the sleepless nights are getting back at me. Whatever it is, I really hope I do not get sick at this time. I am loading up on ascorbic acid and I just might ask Ane to buy me the best multivitamin later to fight what is coming. A couple more days (I hope!) and I am settled.

New Glee Episode

Today there will be a new Glee episode :) Last week, it was a re-run from season 1 so it was fine that I was not home to wait for the afternoon show. Today, we’ll probably be in the grocery to replenish our stocks so I’ll miss Glee. I was thinking of posting images/teasers here but I lost track of time (and now its 6am!) I was not able to search anything.

Can’t wait to watch it!

Sleepless

My body is running on just about 2-3 hours of sleep. I’ve been working since 3am and in a few minutes I need to get ready for our short trip to Bulacan. I am not sure if I can stay up until the afternoon (for the Halloween party) but I will try. I am a zombie today. I’m afraid migraine will attack me once again, the attacks are getting frequent. It’s either I need to have my eyes checked again or seek migraine treatment. Or maybe I should sleep? :D

Barangay Elections

I was thinking of missing the Barangay Elections this time around, just because. But I changed my mind and will vote today. We need to support one candidate in our barangay, is why. I also got encouraged when I read tweets last week. Something like: Remember Ondoy?! It was the barangay officials who worked to save the people. Do your share in choosing the right people again.

So there. We are leaving around 7am and we will choose the right officials.

Working to Save! :)

I have been working hard the past few days. Aside from setting up a new site, opportunities just poured in for the other one. For that I am really thankful. Aside from the two new sites, there are other blogs that I author, and each one needs attention too. I need to find a good directory submission list to add all of them because it is about time I get busy in building an online reputation for each site. I still have a long way to go but I am trying my best to be persistent if I want to achieve my monetary goals.

Is Robin Dead?

Before you panic, let me just say that Robin is my point and shoot camera (if you forgot!). The two of us, we have a love-hate relationship. I actually kept him in the closet for a while because I am not too happy with his output. These days, I content myself with the phone’s camera which works fine to me (except the built-in flash is blinding; now I sound whiny about everything, LOL!). Anyway, we were out for dinner the other day and I decided to bring Robin out. I charged his battery for a couple of hours before leaving the house. But I realized that he won’t turn on anymore :( Is he already dead? Did he die without even giving me signs? The husband will look at him tomorrow (later today?). We might need to bring him to the service center and I really hope it is just corroded battery. I hope he recovers!

Gold Coins

The Halloween Party in our neighborhood is happening on Monday. It is early this year as we usually have it every last day of October. I guess the officers are taking advantage of the holiday (Elections). Trick or Treat happens after the party. We have purchased the candies, and later we will put them in paper bags already. I have also printed the tags. I think the loot bag contents are already sufficient. There are lollies, cookies, jelly sticks and chocolate gold coins.

(Speaking of gold coins, did you know that investing in this precious metal is apparently the “in” thing these days? I have yet to review the information sent to me. I am sure we cannot afford it at this time but it is nice to have the information handy)

Anyway, I am preparing 60 loot bags but since I was not given the exact count of the kids, we need to buy some more candies just in case :) I am the party’s going to be a blast!

Cate

My friend Diane and her hubby welcomed their little bundle of joy this week. We now have another Bebot princess! Cate arrived a few weeks early but I am so glad and thankful that she was delivered safely. Her arrival is pretty exciting because we’ve all been there, albeit remotely, since D announced her pregnancy. We were there from hearing her heartbeat for the first time, to D’s baby clothes shopping, to the morning when D's water bag broke. And we will probably be still here to witness her growing up years! :)

To Cate, we are so happy to see you. To Jun and D, congratulations! Little Cate is so adorable!

Oh No, Not Another Juan

A lot of families (about 63k households were affected) have not recovered yet from typhoon Juan that struck the country last week. Yet, PAG-ASA reported a potential super typhoon. The LPA is expected to enter Philippine area of responsibility this weekend and just might take a similar path as Juan’s. It will be named Katring. The good news it that Katring just may not make a landfall anymore. Let us all pray for the safety of the Filipinos!

Diet Pill Reviews over Coffee

I went to have coffee with some friends one afternoon. It was nice seeing them because it’s been a while since we last saw each other. Everyone seems busy these days especially that the holidays are approaching. We all could not spare longer than two hours so we settled for a coffee date. Those couple of hours is too short to catch up! We talked about our families, the kids, work, and even health concerns. We are all struggling with our weight, so yes, we also shared diet pill reviews with each other. However, everyone is too chicken to go that path. We all agreed that proper eating and exercise is the better way to take.

New Ride at Enchanted Kingdom

There’s a new ride at Enchanted Kingdom (it’s about time!):

The thrill ride just opened on October 17 and I am sure a lot of people went to the park to try this out. It’s a free fall kind of ride and I am not sure if my heart can take it! See I am too afraid of heights (but I can ride roller coasters because they’re fast and you won’t feel the height that much) and just imagining myself seated on the Ekstreme is already giving me the goosebumps! I guess I can manage the fall but not the slow ascent. I’d be dead before we reach the peak, LOL!

Lucky Girlfriend

Like a true geek, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg’s girlfriend is Asian. Meet Priscilla Chan, and she’s Chinese:

Who would ever thought a college dude will become a billionaire before he is 30? And who would have thought that the geek actually has a girlfriend? The two met while they were studying in Harvard (great minds stick together, eh?) 2004. Priscilla was within Mark’s close circle, a group of friends who packed their bags and moved to Palo Alto to draft their Facebook project (and never returned to college!). The rest they say is history. Priscilla and Mark fell in love while in California and the lady love currently plays an active role in the office. Romantic :)

Who’s lucky now?

Regency Beauty Institute

I have been hearing about a certain beauty school founded in Minneapolis about 50 years ago. The name is Regency Beauty Institute, and it is one of the fastest growing beauty schools in America. Their growth is amazing having expanded from just two campuses to 80 (and they are not done yet) since 2002. Campuses are now not only found in Minneapolis but also in 19 states around the country like the cosmetology school in Phoenix. Regency Beauty Institute boasts the different approach they use in instructing their students. The campuses actually simulate high-end salons to train world-class beauty experts. It is no wonder a lot of students wish to enroll in their curriculum.

 

**This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com or contact Regency Beauty Institute – 10217 North Metro Parkway West – Phoenix, AZ 85051

Lessons on Travelling

I have been busy doing some research for trips. I spent a couple of sleepless nights trying to figure out a feasible itinerary while also considering the budget. I finished one plan, now I am kind of stumped with the next one. I realized that it is never practical to travel in odd numbers (ie. 3 pax) because rooms are always charged for two people (need to hit my head because this is common sense!!). I think I realized this too late when the flights are already booked. I may sound vague but this is not yet the right time to divulge details as nothing is final until I am there, KWIM? I’ll be more specific next time! ;)

Circles Long Table Promo

You only have today and next week to avail this promo!

 

Enjoy buffet lunch or dinner at Circle’s Shangri-la Makati 50% off! The promo is valid for all Tuesdays of October so that means you only have today and next week to reserve your slot. Your group must be composed of ten people and you must make reservations beforehand. It could be lunch or dinner. We were supposed to take advantage of the promo since my brother is celebrating his birthday soon but plans changed late last week ;)

Investing in Gold Coins

 

Collecting gold coins is an interesting hobby. I have read posts from friends about how these precious metals have become the investment of choice for the last few years. The demand for gold has increased while the supplies have started to dwindle. This simple economic scenario makes investing in gold and adding it to one’s portfolio a sound decision. The United States Gold Bureau is a good resource company for people who would like to start collecting gold and silver coins. They are very authoritative when it comes to precious metals having had years of experience on the business and having served a vast clientele from all over the world. Check them out!

Justice System

I just finished watching some parts of the documentary shown on television the other night (the last two parts were not yet uploaded). It was about a controversial case of the Vizconde massacre. The show was hosted by CheChe Lazaro, one of  my idols, and it showed two sides of the story. But I got to watch the most part and it makes me sad that our justice system is poor. I am not saying that the convicted were not guilty but if there were no loopholes in our laws, would things have ended differently? I do not know if this case will ever be re-opened but when that happens I will definitely follow the proceedings.

Typhoon Juan

Everything looks and sounds calm already. I think Typhoon Juan left the country before midnight? I am glad that NCR was spared a bit, it was not as bad as the forecast. But we have seen in the news how the northern part of Luzon felt the typhoon’s wrath. State of calamity was even declared. I hope and pray that the people from up north will recover what they have lost.

Work Those Abs

If there is one part of my body that seriously needs to be worked on, that would be my tummy! I think I already mentioned I look like five months pregnant for eating too much and not exercising at all! I think I found the perfect product for someone like me who sits all day. I stumbled upon Abtronic x2 while browsing the internet! I think I saw this once in home tv shopping too. Has anyone tried using this before? Share your thoughts!

Major Slacking

I have been doing major slacking in  my blogging duties. Blame the internet. My brother said our provider is doing some migration which causes the slow down. And it might take about two months for things to get back to normal. :( I am adjusting to the slowness but its tiring to watch the  loading literally crawl. I am not totally unproductive, though since I was able to finish one of the plans (projections, budget allocation, itinerary) that I need to prepare. So really I should fret less and be more patient for I just might be able to do a few more stuff while the connection is conking out! :)

Reward Credit Cards

I gave up my credit cards a short while after I got married. I don’t exactly miss them (especially that I know I suck in handling my finances!) but I wish I own a reward card which can reap, well, rewards. I hear my friends talk about redeeming gift certificates and freebies (movies, KK doughnuts, Starbucks coffee, etc) just by using their cards. Maybe when we have achieved total financial freedom, I can consider using another CC.

Dream that Crossed over Reality

Yesterday, we visited my MIL. We decided to have lunch there and we napped after we ate so K could rest some more.

I woke up from that nap angry at the husband. Of course Ane was clueless as his “sin” happened in my dream. LOL! He was laughing when I told him why I was mad. I would love to share the dream but it was both silly and naughty ;) I know it will never happen in real life but it felt so real I could even feel my hand that slapped and scratched the husband in the dream!

I think this is the second time something like this happened. Have you experienced the same before?

Ready for Trick or Treat (?)

As early as August, my friends and I were already looking at halloween costumes in an online store. We knew it was still early, but by standards of overseas online shoppers, it was just the perfect time to shop. It takes weeks in transit and by the time the shipment arrives, Trick or Treat events would be starting in a few days. There was one costume that caught my attention but there was no size yet available for little K. So I asked a seamstress to make one for her instead, similar to the one I saw in the online store.

The costume was delivered on Sunday. It is not a perfect replica but it will do. :)

My problem now is that K would not even try it on (except the headband)! Oh no! I sure hope it is just a phase and that she will agree to wear it for her October 25 and 29 parties (we are still looking for an event on October 31). The stage-mother in me is starting to worry. I really wish the little girl will change her mind and find the outfit appealing.

GAP Logo Brouhaha

 

Disclaimer: While I love Gap products, I am not a usual shopper unless the items are on Sale and are for the little one ;)

 

The clothing company Gap suddenly changed its brand logo from the well-known blue and white one to a white-background-black-text-and-small-blue-square-on-the-side logo. The change happened in the website, and there was no notice about it. A lot of fans and designers had a good laugh because of the simplistic approach that the majority deemed to be a major fail. Someone even joked that maybe a grade-schooler designed it and the boy received millions for it. I also do not understand why they had to change it. I also think the new logo won’t work.

Barely a week later, the Gap management decided to revert to the old logo because of the complaints they received online. It was a good decision and I think the old logo that we learned to love is going to stay for good.

Maybe Gap learned a valuable lesson, don’t fix if it’s not broken!

Pretty Slow

My week started pretty slow. It is always like this when I get a little downtime from my usual schedule. I always have a hard time getting back on track. But my weekend was spent with family which makes everything worthwhile. On Saturday, we drove down south beyond the steel buildings of the busy city, for a little R&R. It is a rare opportunity for all of us to be available that we took advantage of the time. We were out for about 12hours (longer for the parents) and we spent that eating, doing a site visit somewhere, visiting an adoration chapel, eating, a little pampering, and did I say eating?! I was relaxed and tired at the same time, yes I think that’s possible ;)

It is already Tuesday, I need to get moving!

Maria Ressa Quits ABS-CBN

For the last six years, Maria Ressa heads the News and Current Affairs of this network. On Monday night, she released a statement saying that she is no longer renewing her contract which expires in early January. And on top of that, since she has remaining leave credits, she is going on terminal leave effective November 15. A lot of people are surprised about this decision but as Ressa puts it.”

There are speculations about this sudden resignation but Ressa’s official statement was vague about the reasons. I still believe her contribution to the network was notable, especially with Probe Team and CNN background, so I wish her well as she starts another era in her career.

I want to be more adventurous…

I am probably one of the most boring persons you’ll ever know. Maybe because I consider myself a germophobe and a hypochondriac (not a good combination, I tell you, so sick in the head LOL) which makes me stick to certain rules and processes when I do things. I am afraid of heights too plus because of a condition I acquired in my childhood, I am also not allowed to swim. Take all of that into consideration and you will realize that my physical activities are pretty much limited. But I am not getting any younger and there are still lots of stuff in my bucket list. Yes I do entertain adventurous thoughts. I wish to be able to skydive, parasail, drive a Polaris ATV or even just a go-kart, ride a zipline, dive in open water. Some of my wishes, I may not be able to do in this lifetime. But the others? Maybe I should learn to conquer my fears first. For now, I can experience these things vicariously by watching my favorite reality shows.

Sometimes You just have to Rest

I guess I have not recovered from the busy weekend that I was still too tired last night. I had tasks to do which include finishing the layouts of the IDs of CLH students (I know, we’re so behind in doing this, it’s already the second semester!). But my body was not too cooperative. Just before 2am, I decided to sleep first and set the alarm for an hour later. The next thing I knew K was asking for her bottle and it was already around 530am! My sleep was not exactly restful because I woke up still feeling lethargic. I need to regain my energy so I think I will still take it slow for the rest of the day. TTYL!

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

This is a place that I would like to visit soon, a place in Bataan that could bring us back in time.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a a compound privately owned by a house collector who is also a known real estate developer and builder. At first, he was just charmed by the old houses so he started buying and transporting them to Bataan for the restoration. Sort of a hobby, an expensive one at that. And then we should all be thankful that he decided to open it to the public. There is a hotel, a museum and a pool (built like a batis). I would really love to experience the natural charm a site like this offers. I checked the rates. The cheapest overnight stay is around P3800. I heard the amenities of the hotel are new and clean, which is essential for a comfortable stay. Day tour rates include lunch for P1000 (set) or P1200 (buffet). These rates are based on their website.  This is a nice destination for a short get-away.

Photo Credit

Current Addiction: Angry Birds

Forgive me, Apple lovers, for I have just “discovered” this game. Of course I’ve heard about Angry Birds (it is the most bought game app in the store) but I never got the chance to play it until last week when my brother got Angry Birds for his iPhone. I was able to play it with a screaming K beside me. It is a pretty challenging game and I was instantly hooked. Needless to say, when Ane's  iPod Touch arrived the other day, we bought and installed Angry Birds right away. We are now in World 3 and it is getting difficult. The OC in me is unleashed (read: I started to google for tips!) and I’m finding it hard to move-on when a level is not finished. I’ll be needing rehab soon, I guess! LOL!

Investing in Gold Coins

The United States Gold Bureau offers precious metals such as gold and silver. They also sell silver and gold coins. For the longest time, this company has been considered a trusted provider of precious metals by financial experts, making it one of the industry leaders of today. If I were given the chance, I would be buying from them too. Anyway, investing in gold bars has been considered not only as unique but also as the best way to uplift the investor’s wealth as well as purchasing power. On the other hand, there is no better time to invest in precious metals like gold and silver than now. It has been noted that annual production is less than the demand so why wait until everything is gone? My financial analyst friend agrees that buying gold and silver is a sound investment.

House Repairs and Then Some

We had a home 911 a few weeks ago. Mommy called it so because like a true emergency where there are police, paramedics and firemen, we had to call the electrician/technician, carpenter and the plumber to fix what needed fixing in this house. We’re all good with the plumbing part and I hope the water damage will not happen again. The A/C units have been replaced and the broken ref needs more than just refrigerator filters to be functional again. Carpentry work is put on hold because we’re waiting out on something before the ceiling downstairs is put back to place, although the rest of the problems were already solved. I hope the fixes will last long, having to spend for repairs is not a joke.

Better Do Something

This is a nice reminder. Never let other people second guess what you have in mind, unless they’re mind-readers of course. Anyway, it is more likely that they aren’t so it is so much better to speak up, ask questions, and relay your wishes. Otherwise, never expect others to do stuff for you or even understand what you want and how you feel.

Image Source

Farm House

It’s been a while since I went to visit the farm, must have been in 2006 (?). My parents would go there often to check. We haven’t gotten the chance to bring little K there but I am sure one day, she will see the fruits of her grandparent’s hard work. I just wish we’d have a more comfortable place to stay in. I wouldn’t mind a room like this with pine beds:

 

It would be nice to spend the night there and breathe in fresh air. We can always use a break from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Survivor Philippines | Buwi is Voted Out!

We were out for dinner last night and missed Survivor’s Tribal Council. Ane forgot to watch for us so I texted Abie for the result. I was surprised to find out that the Magan Tribe voted their team leader Buwi out of the island. I guess Solenn, Mico and Elma never forgot the failed decision making of Buwi when he voted Doc Ferdz in the first council?

Back in June, my brother watched a concert where Buwi performed with his band. We still did not know that he was playing the game. When we found out that Buwi was one of the cast-aways, we also figured out that he did not last to finish it (the show was still taping in late June). Now we know why and how it happened.

Facebook was Down

I never felt it. I rarely log in my account during the day time and I think that was when the system went crazy for a few hours on Thursday (Friday in Manila). Not everyone was affected but the number of the ones who actually could not log in was significant. In the news feeds that I read, they said that this was the biggest system error that the social networking site has ever experienced in the last 4.5 years. A lot of users flocked to Twitter (which had a system error also this week) to send updates in their Facebook accounts. The problem has been resolved and you bet addicted users just had to celebrate!  

Gold Bars

If you are planning to buy gold bars, maybe the US Gold Bureau is the perfect company you need. They sell gold, silver and other precious metals, and they can arrange all the logistics for you like the delivery or storage in a bank. It has been said that gold is a sound investment because of the demand versus supply levels. The value continues to appreciate which makes it a good option to place in a portfolio. The people at the United States Gold Bureau will help you decide and give you expert advice on your purchases. Their offers are competitive and convenient for the market.

Glee Season 2 Premier

The highlight of my day is probably episode 1 of Glee Season 2.

I was able to catch the 4pm first telecast over at ETC before we ran out to buy dinner. Well, I also got a glimpse of the show before then ;p This season introduces Charice, the Filipina singer, as one of the cast members. That is one reason that proves Glee is something to look forward to in the next 22 weeks. I wish I could say more about it but some of my friends have not seen it yet and they just might stumble upon this post. And besides, I need to catch some sleep because our day will start pretty early tomorrow. I’ll try to be back with my fave scenes :)

Cabas in Garance

It was a rare opportunity for me to stroll in the mall during the weekend. But we were there just before lunch on Saturday to claim Ane’s new eyeglasses. The husband changed his days off because he will have to train next week. Anyway, we were walking and a baby “walked” by with her mommy. This is what I’m talking about:

Isn’t she a beauty? I realized that pictures do not give justice to the actual bag. I never knew that I will like a Cabas in Garance upon seeing it IRL! This will probably be my next target, but that will happen next year for I just got my Great Wall of China.

Charlie’s Fish and Chips

This was my midnight snack one time. I “forced” Ane to buy me some so he had no choice but to drive to Charlie’s :D First thing I noticed was that the fish is huge! It was my first time to order this and I didn’t have an idea how big their serving is. Let’s just say this is too much for one person considering that it was meant to be a snack, LOL! But I finished it :| I am not sure if the batter used had beer but I got disoriented after eating. The fries were yummy, no wonder people are really raving about it. I would love to eat this again but I will probably share the next time around! :D

Accutane Lawsuit

I did not realize that Accutane was taken off the market in 2009. This is a form of Vitamin A that proved to be effective in treating severe acne and probably had its glory days in the early 2000s. I should know because I was prescribed it when I was suffering from acne. I took this for only about three cycles and I remember how strict the measures were before I could purchase one box. I also don’t remember experiencing any side effects. Long after I stopped using it, a study was published in 2006 linking the use of this prescription to inflammatory bowel disease which led to its ban. Quite naturally, user would file complaints to collect damages. One Accutane Lawsuit awarded someone a big sum of money for compensatory damages. I can just imagine how other users will contact their lawyers after this development.

The Amazing Race Asia 4

One of our favorite reality shows will start airing on September 23 over at AXN. We are beyond excited! We have been waiting for The Amazing Race Asia to start showing ever since we heard of the auditions in March; I know, I know, they needed to tape after the auditions of course, but we thought it was going to be in July ;)

There are two teams again to represent the Philippines:

The girls’ team is composed of Jacinta James, a tattoo artist, and Lani Pillinger who is a model. Richard Hardin and Richard Herrera make the guys’ team.

Thursday nights at 9pm will keep us glued on the television!

US Open 2010 Champions

This is a bit late (again) but let me just share with you the results of this year’s US Open, a Grand Slam Tennis event.

Kim Clijsters defended her title when she won against Vera Zvonareva in the Women’s Singles . It was a sweet and convincing win, sweeping the game in just two sets. Clijsters also set a record for being the second player to have won the most number of consecutive wins in the US Open.

For the Men, Rafael Nadal finally won his first ever US Open title. This completes his trophies for all Grand Slam Events. He faced Djokovic who put up a brave fight. The question now is whether Nadal will be able to surpass Roger Federer. Personally, I think he will not but there are different opinions from experts and fans.

Sound Investment in Gold Coins

A friend’s brother is an investment banker. I would usually see him during my friend’s parties and if there is time, I would ask him for advice on financial matters. Like last weekend when our families were early at the party venue. He’s currently busy building portfolios for his clients and he mentioned that a lot of them are open to investing on nontraditional (as opposed to stocks and funds) items such as bullion and gold coin. He also said that the demand for gold and silver have increased because people see these metals as sustainable investments. We were not able to wrap up our conversation because the party started already. Maybe one of these days, the husband and I will set an appointment with him to discuss our options.

Michael Jackson The Experience | Trailer

This will probably excite MJ fans and DS & Wii players all over the world. Be prepared to dance and groove with the Michael Jackson in The Experience.

The release date will be on November 23, a perfect addition to the Christmas wish list ;) You just might find yourself moving and grooving all night long with the tracks including: Bad, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black or White, Earth Song, Smooth Criminal, The Girl Is Mine, They Don’t Care About Us, Who Is It, and Workin' Day And Night.

Here is the official trailer:

Christmas Gift Idea

A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing my reader for updates and inspirations. One of the newsletters/blog entries of a designer caught my attention. She gave out a discount coupon code and one of the products in the same post caught my attention. And I thought, what a nifty idea to give out for Christmas! But I had to think hard if I wanted to buy it or create something similar from scratch. I couldn’t decide right away, until yesterday when I finally hit the pay button. I am not going to give out details because the recipients might read this entry, so that is a secret for now! ;)

Best Acne Medicine

If you will ask me about the best acne medicine, I can tell you privately what my dermatologist prescribed to me when I had break-outs in early 2000’s. I say it is the best because can you believe that after all these years, I’ve never had acne again except for a pimple on the forehead or nose once in a while (which heals on its own and right away anyway)? I am just not too keen on announcing it here in my blog because last I heard, the medicine was already pulled out from the market. I don’t know why. Maybe because there are side effects for some? Anyway, I will never forget its name because it gave me back my confidence. :D

Mommy Mundo Clearance Sale

Why not shop early for Christmas?! How about this weekend? The first Mommy Mundo Warehouse Sale is happening from September 17 to 19 at the Big Red Barn in Fun Ranch, Pasig.

Participating brands include Big & Small, Spin, Mamaway, Grolie/Scholastic, Orange Juice and  Dwell Studios among others.

This is very timely because Ane will take this weekend off but sadly, my funds aren’t available yet. I’m there will be other sales events I can go to for my Christmas shopping!

Taisan Bread and my Diet

To keep me energized on working nights, I feed myself. Last night my brother brought home a box of Taisan Bread and I knew that would be my midnight snack. I asked one of the angels to bring me a slice together with my cup of coffee. Guess what? She brought me a slice big enough for three people, hehe. Of course I did not finish all of it because I am trying to cut down on my carbohydrates intake already. Then slowly, I just might give up on midnight snacks altogether. Otherwise I might need fat burners that work if I keep on this eating habit.

Anti-Littering Law in Effect

Watching the news last night, I saw a lot of people complaining about being apprehended for littering. Sometimes I wonder if all Filipinos were born yesterday. The Anti-littering law was passed in 1996 and was amended by the MMDA in 1999. And even if it was not strictly enforced until yesterday, I really think people should self-police and never throw anything just anywhere. It is actually one of my pet-peeves, seeing people litter. Come on, I don’t think a piece of candy wrapper or a paper receipt will be too much of a burden in the bag or pocket, eh? And please don’t get me started on people who throw trash outside the window of a moving vehicle!

Anyway according to the MMDA website here are the prohibitions of the law:

And here are the penalties for violations:

I hope no one will plead ignorance in the next few days. And I hope this is not just ningas-cogon on the part of the MMDA. We all need a little disciplining!

Water Damage

While I was preparing to do some turbo blogging last night, I noticed that our bedroom floor was wet. We knew right away why we had to experience some water damage: a plumber came by last Saturday to fix our bathroom woes and somehow, he probably hit something or the old pipes were not able to take the water pressure. Yes you guessed it, while our initial concern was rectified, another problem arose :( The stress got to me and I could not work any more. I decided to sleep it off. Worries like this are certified natural sleeping aids since I forced myself to sleep and just hoped that things get better in the morning. In the meantime, we had to collect water in pails and turned off the central water switch to stop the leak. Now we have a carpenter in the house to check the problem and he’ll say if we need to call the plumber again.

Would You Buy a Chanel iPad Case?

Chanel just joined the wagon and released their version of an iPad case. If I were an iPad owner, I would really love to have something to protect my gadget. But this Chanel baby cost $1555USD, about twice as much as the iPad! I just don’t find it logical to buy something more expensive than the one it’s supposed to protect! Or maybe if I have millions to spare, I’d consider it, LOL!

Losing Weight Effectively

Barbara, a friend’s cousin, is already worried about her weight that has become uncontrollable. She does regular exercise and goes to the gym at least three times a week. She watches what she eats. She even tried safe diet pills that work based on reviews, but those helped a little. Her worry is that she just might have developed a condition that makes her fat. We told her to see an internist soon so the doctor can tell her what to do. I hope she’ll find the answers soon!

July Photos Sorted and Uploaded

I got extremely busy that I realized I have not edited nor uploaded our photos. I am paying for a Flickr Pro account and yet I am too lazy to maximize it, tsk. Yes folks, I am not just backlogged, scrapping-wise, but also in organizing the photos. I also have print credits that are going to expire so maybe I should start ordering prints again.

Anyway, post-processing and uploading them are done now, well at least the July photos. That’s a start. Next, August pictures! :)

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

This is an idiom that I don’t use simply because I didn’t know what it means. I would hear and read it but never tried to ask or research about it.

Well, that was until the other day when I finally decided to look it up. I got curious when a local celebrity tweeted something like “Confirmed! And your guess is as good as mine!” And then someone replied that the statement is kind of contradictory. I found out why:

Your guess is as good as mine = I DO NOT KNOW.

Oh well, that figures. :)

John’s Inheritance | Dear John

I just finished reading the book by Nicholas Sparks, Dear John. I am not so sure if I totally liked it because the ending was so sad. I am a sucker for happy endings! I was more interested in John’s father’s condition and how John found out about it. At first I thought he was just suffering from OCD but it turned out to be something else, Asperger’s. The father would collect mint and gold coins and would follow a super regular schedule. The coins later turned out to be equivalent to a fortune enough to save a life.

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The setting was in early 2000’s when the value of gold has increased due to dwindling supplies. John never imagined at first how the coins would play an important part in his relationship with his father. All of the coins were included in a will that listed John as the sole heir. The coins not only saved the father-son relationship but also proved to be a wise collection and investment made by the father. Not everyone is able to grasp the importance of investing in something with appreciating value.

 

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Anyway, the story is not just about love in a romantic kind of way but of relationships in general. The book is already adapted into a movie and the reviews are not exactly exciting, so I am apprehensive about that too.

Satisfied Craving

For the longest time, my taste buds were searching for the native delicacy, Pichi Pichi, specifically the ones from Arny & Dadings. Their stores are a long way from here which explains why the husband would not oblige, hehe. I even bought some from Amber’s but the ones from A&D is really different.

About a couple of weeks ago, I was going over my Google reader and saw a post from a favorite foodie. He took a shot of the outside premises of the store he was reviewing, and what do you know? Beside the tacos store is an A&D branch! And the area is just the next block from where we live!

So finally, Ane bought us some :) Look at all those cheese! You bet I was a happy camper!

The Wedding Singer in Manila

 

Iya Villania will once again lead in a musical play. This time she play the role of Drew Barrymore in this musical version of the film The Wedding Singer. Her alternate will be Shiela Valderrama-Martinez who was once cast in the Festival of the Lion King at the Hong Kong Disneyland (she played Nala, the first Asian to play the role). Gian Magdangal will the the role of Adam Sandler on the other hand.

Robbie Guevara will direct. The Wedding Singer is being produced by 9 Works Theatrical and will run at the MERALCO Theater from October 23 to November 17, 2010. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketworld (891-9999).

Davinci Watch

When we were in the Bay Area, we visited the Los Altos area several times. It was because my BIL had a client living there and he commissioned me and the husband to be his assistants. The event was in that area too. I am not going to say that I am familiar with the area because there was no leisure in our visits, except for a last minute stop at the mall. So I didn’t have an idea that there is actually a showroom for IWC Watches in the downtown. It would have been nice to see the lovely watch in the image here.

Lussori is the company that carries this watch and all other fine, rare and unique timepieces. It would have been a feast on the eyes to see the actual pieces rather than just seeing the pictures online.

Aquino Center

I forgot to share that we went on a quick trip to Tarlac in July to visit Mom. It was just a day trip but I was able to convince everyone that we can fit in a visit to the Aquino Center. So we did. We paid P100 per person, K entered for free. Taking photos inside was not allowed except for the lobby area.

Shot of the lobby by Ane. The items inside the museum are quite interesting. Each section highlighted the lives of Ninoy and Cory, as individuals, politicians, Filipinos and parents. History was laid out so visitors will understand it. Too bad our time was pretty limited. I could have read every caption made available. I am sure we will return. And when that happens, I hope we’ll have more time in our hands.

New Nurses

If you haven’t heard yet, the Professional Regulatory Board has released the results of the July 2010 Nursing Licensure Examinations on Friday afternoon. There are about 37,000 new nurses in this country who will take their oath soon.

Find out the topnotchers and a link to the results page posted by my friend Zanne.

And here’s a big shout-out to JABA for making it! We’re happy for and proud of you dear!

Her Collection, Her Investment

Lainey showed me a gold coin from her coins collections. It was her latest acquisition after having collected all coins from all the US States and some major cities around the world. She told me that she is upgrading her rare coins collection by starting to invest in gold and silver coins. Her financial adviser told her that this is the perfect time to invest in the precious metals since these does not depreciate, by the way the market is moving. The demand is really high while the supplies are slowly depleting. I am sure there will come a time that Lainey’s coins will multiply in value in the near future.