March PICS

Ms. Jasmin, este Beatrice (American Idol wannabe)


Gabbie joining in some games (b-day of friend's kid), March 14


Bea bumming around, doesn't want to join the games


the infinity-like pool (Ayala Hillside Estate's clubhouse)


another view of the pool


kids playing, enjoying the cold water on a hot day


I took this pic of my cousin Althea last March 15 an hour before getting married in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (got hitched at the age of 27, another late-bloomer, same as moi).


kids getting lootbags from the clown, Kalvin's (cousin's kid)1st b-day party celebration at the Red Barn, Fun Ranch-March 16


at the Fun Ranch


Pio took this pic on my b-day (March 18)

Happy Easter!

Awesome Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

Awesome Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

Celebrating my 38th Birthday

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Photos*]
Nicole edited my post and inserted this greeting

When I woke up yesterday morning, I was greeted by hubby and kids. They gave me their birthday cards. I received three wonderfully created cards, while my youngest child gave me a long kiss because she can't make one. A day before my big day, my two girls, Nicole and Gabbie gave me their advanced gifts, a notice from the school that they will be receiving the academic for excellence awards on Recognition Day. I am so happy and texted hubby, my parents and siblings upon reading the good news.

Yesterday, like a typical day, I surfed the net for news, had my breakfast and watered the plants in the garden and dropped by in our shop. Went back to the computer, checked my mails, mostly birthday greetings from friends. A week ago I also received a nice card from Nestle Club, though am expecting freebies, he he. After reading quite a number of greetings, I blog hopped. I was surprised to see that my dear friend Rachel even posted a greeting for me on her blog, and asked her readers to visit my site and leave a message or greetings. I am so touched by her gestures. She's so thoughtful (helped me so much on my blog a lot of times), a very kind-hearted person and I'm really thankful I've discovered the blogosphere and met so many wonderful blogger-friends. To those who greeted me thru emails, texts and calls, thanks so much for remembering...

This is what Rachel posted on her blog yesterday. Thanks again Rach.



For the update, we went to SM Megamall at around 5 p.m. (have to drop by at the camp first). My sister Budeck (havin' her 2 week vacation, got back from Kobe, Japan) is supposed to treat us to Dad's eat-all-you-can merienda but since we arrived late, they're (my parents and siblings) done eating. So we just transferred to Pizza Hut beside Krispy Kreme. We ordered shrimp and mango salad, pizza and another seafood pasta. And of course, bought some donuts before we left mega. My kid Pio wouldn't want to miss the egg-shaped donuts. Hubby had someone fetch us by 9 p.m., the kids are hungry again after running around Toy Kingdom, Powerbooks and strolling at St. Francis Square. Hubby would like to eat chicken inasal, since we can't find one in Pasong Tamo area, we went at Macapagal Avenue and ate dinner at Jayjay's Inasal. We had molo soup, kare-kare and sisig (the best I've tasted). After dinner, we went to the wake of my uncle who passed away last Monday, a day before my birthday. He's one of my favorite uncles (so thoughtful, kind, generous, pious and live a very simple yet happy life). That's why as I've texted my blogger-friends, I don't feel like celebrating on my birthday. So I forego having a party at home. We just had a simple family get together to cheer me up on my 38th b-day. At the end of the day, my hubby, kids, my parents and sisters and friends made me happy on this special day...


with my kid Bea and sis, Yae


kids with my sis,Chic


Pio Miguel clowning around

Keys To Defense Driving

If you've been out on the roads, you know that not everyone drives well. Some people speed aggressively. Others wander into another lane because they aren't paying attention. Drivers may follow too closely, make sudden turns without signaling, or weave in and out of traffic.

Aggressive drivers are known road hazards, causing one third of all traffic crashes. But inattentive driving is becoming more of a problem as people "multitask" by talking on the phone, eating, or even watching TV as they drive. We can't control the actions of other drivers. But learning defensive driving skills can help us avoid the dangers caused by other people's bad driving

KEYS TO DEFENSE DRIVING

Skills That Put You in Control

Before you get behind the wheel of all that glass and steel, here are some tips to help you stay in control:

Stay focused. There are a lot of things to think about when driving: road conditions, your speed, observing traffic laws and signals, following directions, being aware of the cars around you, checking your mirrors — the list goes on. Staying focused on driving — and only driving — is key.

Distractions, like talking on the phone or eating, make a driver less able to see potential problems and react to them. It's not just teen drivers who are at fault: People who have been driving for a while can get overconfident in their driving abilities and let their driving skills get sloppy. All drivers need to remind themselves to stay focused.

Stay alert. Being alert (not sleepy or under the influence) allows you to react quickly to potential problems — like when the driver in the car ahead slams on the brakes at the last minute. Obviously, alcohol or drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs) affect a driver's reaction time and judgment. Driving while tired has the same effect and is one of the leading causes of crashes. So rest up before your road trip.

Watch out for the other guy. Part of staying in control is being aware of the drivers around you and what they may suddenly do so you're less likely to be caught off guard. For example, if a car speeds past you on the highway but there's not much space between the car and a slow-moving truck in the same lane, it's a pretty sure bet the driver will try to pull into your lane directly in front of you. Anticipating what another driver may do prepares you to react.

Eight Secrets of Super Driving

When you drive defensively, you're aware and ready for whatever happens. You are cautious, yet ready to take action and not put your fate in the hands of other drivers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 90% of all crashes are attributed to driver error.

Following these defensive driving tips can help reduce your risk on the road:

1. Think safety first. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies yourself will put you in a stronger position to deal with other people's bad driving. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front. Always lock your doors and wear your seatbelt to protect you from being thrown from the car in a crash.

2. Be aware of your surroundings — pay attention. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions 20 to 30 seconds ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it. If the driver is driving so dangerously that you're worried, try to get off the roadway by turning right or taking the next exit if it's safe to do so. Also, keep an eye on pedestrians, bicyclists, and pets along the road.

3. Do not depend on other drivers. Be considerate of others but look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver is going to move out of the way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario.

4. Have an escape route. In all driving situations, the best way to avoid potential dangers is to position your vehicle where you have the best chance of seeing and being seen. Having an alternate path of travel is essential, so take the position of other vehicles into consideration when determining an alternate path of travel.

5. Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. Since the greatest chance of a collision is in front of you, using the 3- to 4-second rule will help you establish and maintain a safe following distance and provide adequate time for you to brake to a stop if necessary in normal traffic under good weather conditions.

6. Keep your speed down. Posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions. It's your responsibility to ensure that your speed matches conditions.

7. Separate risks. When faced with multiple risks, it's necessary to address them by separating risks. Your goal is to avoid having to deal with too many risk factors at the same time.

8. Cut out distractions. A distraction is any activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving. Driving deserves your full attention — so stay focused on the driving task.

Happy (defensive) driving!



Source: Health and Safety