AWARDS AND TAGS

NEW AWARDS

My new cyber-friend Francine (La Place de Cherie) gave me 2 awards recently. Thanks a lot my dear. And to spread the cheer, I’m sharing this award to Auee (Kwentong Walang Kwenta), Cookie (SchroochChronicles), Myrna (Ode to Old), Anna (Ana’s Tasa), Ladybug (Of Law and Badminton), Gina (Alone With My Thoughts), Cess (Occupation-Stay At Home Mom), Chats (imomonline), Julie (teacherjulie), Belle (simply belle) and to another very dear friend Rachel (Heart of Rachel). My day wouldn’t be complete without visiting these lovely ladies’ sites.

Rachel tagged me to do the “what’s in my desktop meme”. I just followed her instructions below:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. You can do a screen capture by Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key). Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V). If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants

I am tagging the following:

Gina- alone-with-my-thoughts

Raquel-homeworked

Luiza- beyond normal

Belle- simply belle

Analyse- myhideaway

List of Free Viewers:
iRonnie - I Set No Corner
Thess - Thesserie
Rebecca - Skippy Heart
Knoizki - A Dialogue With K
Beng - Kauderwelch
Tina - My Good Finds
Rachel- Heart of Rachel
Rowena- The Sweet Life

BLAST FROM THE PAST

This is a long overdue tag from Raquel (homeworked). Am so sorry I just found the time to finally do it all in one sitting. Since I am a new blogger, having started only last May, I don’t have enough posts to choose from. I just have here a dozen which I think would be interesting read, some are re-printed from my favorite columnist and the topics are really important for me.

A Burning Warning

Don’t Quit

My Reasons for Homeschooling

The Suite Life

The World Needs Men

21 Memos From Your Child

Happy Father’s Day

When Helpers Come and Go

The Signs of Hard Times

Working in the Senate

About My Mom

My Thoughts…Out Loud

Francine also tag me to do another meme. Here, I’m done my friend.

THINGS I HATE TO HEAR

That I am thin- because I’m not. I weigh 100 lbs.

That I am lazy- of all the household chores I’m doing, that would be absurd. At one time, I even worked in 3 different offices simultaneously (senate, city hall, a computer company).

That I am stingy- though only one person said that, it’s a total lie. Generosity runs in my blood, he he (combination of German, Chinese, Kapampangan and Cebuano).

A Candy Corn For Halloween

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

Candy Corn

What Should You Be For Halloween?

I'm bloghopping from Rachel's (Heart of Rachel), went to Skittle's place, then I saw this quiz. Since it's early in the morning, don't know what to do next (either I bloghop more or read the newspapers), I just answered few questions. Here's in turn, the answer that I got, a candy corn. Wonder why? I want to be a witch...Try the quiz and have some fun.

Kids' Conversations

As a stay at home mom, I am thankful that I get to spend so much time with my kids. Even when they play, we're together. I read a book or blog while they do their thing, usually a make-believe play like what I overheard a few times. Sometimes, they will ask something and I get stump.

Pio: (using his toy car and toy cell) Hello Bea, sunduin na kita ha. Mag ready ka na.

Bea: ok, anu dala mo sasakyan (imitating Mama)?

Pio: race car, walang aircon sira, dala ka pamaypay.....

One time, Pio took out his toy cars and pretended to be choosing what to buy in the showroom.

He asked Bea (the agent),

Pio: Miss ok ba yang Ferrari nyo?

Bea: Ok po Sir. Magustuhan po nyo yan.

Pio: Eh yang Impala (pointing to a remote control car), mas ok yata kaya lang parang high profile yan....(the term his Papa used in describing a new Land Cruiser before)

While we're studying the different parts of the house in Pilipino, we came across the word palikuran (bathroom), here's what Pio said:

Pio: Mama pag pumasok ba sa palikuran, kelangan nakatalikod?

When the lesson is all about the national hero, flower, fish, tree...
Pio suddenly remarked, "Meron pa Mama, National Bookstore....

While on the road, Pio is always on a look-out for nice cars. He is such a car afficionado. He would tell us ahead what's the car's model, make and how many doors it has. One time, he asked,

Pio: Mama meron bang sasakyan na one door lang?

Mama: (not thinking) wala

Pio: meron....yung bus

Hubby and I are chatting about how wonderful it is to have babies in the family. Of course, Pio would say something as always.

Pio: Mama pwede ba ako bumalik sa tummy mo and maging baby uli?

Mama: HA HA HA

Agua de Invierno

For a week now, this music has been blaring in our room. Hubby can't get enough of this guy...Watch it. In fact, am now enjoying listening to Renzo Dali, a Peruvian musician. He is so talented, he plays almost all instruments. Even my son Pio is imitating how he plays the keyboard. He told me he wants to learn how to play the piano soon. There, influenced by this music....

Stretching your Paycheck

“Budgeting within a slim paycheck is like writing a doctoral dissertation all the time,” groans a suburban housewife. She is a mother of three: her first is in third year high school, with one child each in the intermediate and primary levels. Although she works and earns a little more by selling cosmetics and homemade biscuits or candies on the side, budgeting still taxes her creativity and patience.

Nevertheless, with determination and her family’s heartwarming cooperation, she has devised some means of stretching a thinning paycheck. While doing one, she made another discovery: “It brought the family closer, for I felt that the scheme I came up with needed everybody’s opinion.

That meant a lot of communication between parents and children.” She and her husband realized too that when the children are made to participate in the budget discussion, they even volunteer to cut down their expenses.

With her homemade easy-to-follow budget plan, this housewife knows she is saving up to 25 percent of the paycheck without sacrificing her family’s welfare. To live decently and provide the children with a balanced home life, she has drawn up the following budget tips:

• When you prepare a budget, stick to it. The plan may be divided into two general headings: fixed expenses (rent or home amortizations, school tuition, etc.) and fluctuating expenditures (food, entertainment, etc.).
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• Shopping is fun, but do it with a list in hand, whether in the supermarket or department store. Check the newspaper for bargain buys. It is also wise to look into flea markets, baratillos, and storewide sales from time to time.
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• Don’t get carried away by name brands. Read food labels and ask your family to help you compare prices of the brands you use in various stores. NESTLÉ product labels, you will find information on ingredients, nutrition, claims and other interesting facts under the “Good to Know & “Good to Remember” boxes. These pieces of information help consumers make informed choices.
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• Some food items – fresh, frozen, or canned – may be bought in bulk at wholesale prices. Why not ask friends or relatives to buy these items wholesale and split the bulk with you.
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• Drop by weekend thrift sales, which are getting popular these days, for home or gift items. Always buy gifts ahead of time to give you a chance to compare prices and choose wisely.
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• When using credit cards, be sure you know the cut-off period so you can program your installment payments.
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• If the kids are old enough to help, why not ask them to do the household chores with you, instead of hiring more than one help? Make washing the car or dirty dishes a family affair.
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• Check installment plans carefully. You might end up paying three to five times more than the real price. Check if the company you are working for has an appliance plan. Your credit union, if you have one, may also be able to assist you.
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• Schedule credit card payments, amortizations, taxes, etc. Let your money earn as much interest as it can in the bank. Find out what services are offered in the bank, which can make your savings earn more.
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• Entertaining at home is part of living in a community. If you must entertain, then have one memorable affair within the year with everyone invited, instead of having several dinners or luncheons.

SOURCE: Nestle Club website

How Real Are You?

You Are 96% Real

There's hardly a person on this earth more real than you are. You have no problem showing people who you are, flaws and all. For you, there couldn't be any other way. Because it's way too stressful to live an inauthentic life. You're very comfortable with yourself. And because of this, you're able to live an exciting, interesting, and challenging life.

How Real Are You?

The Right Study Habits for your Child

Mothers, now that your kids are back in school, get them started with the right study habits. Young children especially respond to order, pattern, and regularity. Follow these study tips for a month and see the improvement in your child’s studies.

Power Nap. Let your child “power nap” for 15 minutes after he or she comes home form school. This will provide him a restful break from school.

A Study Corner. Assign a place for him to study. Choose a quite corner in the house where he can concentrate. The bedroom is the worst place for a child to study. Because he associates the bedroom with sleeping, he will tend to fall asleep.

The Review and Read Ahead Method. Reviewing helps your child remember the earlier lesson better. Then assign 5-10 minutes for him to read up on the next day’s lesson. Even if he does not quite understand the topic, when the teacher goes through the lesson, he will be able to catch on easily because he will be quite familiar with it already.

Equal Time. As much as possible each subject should be given equal time to study. Divide his subjects into 20-minute intervals so that all the subjects are covered. Set the alarm clock so that you can alert him to change over to another subject matter. It is important that he studies all his subjects regularly to avoid cramming.

Television as a Reward. As much as possible, no TV during weekdays. Allow TV viewing on Friday and Saturday evenings. Use TV as a reward. Tape his favorite program so that he can watch it during the weekend as a reward. And as an added incentive, reward him with his favorite flavor of mom-approved Nestle Ice Cream.

Try these study suggestions, and help develop your child’s active mind to its fullest!

Source: Nestle Club website

How Lucky Are You?

Your Luck Quotient: 90%

You have an extremely high luck quotient. Not only do you consider yourself lucky, probably everyone you know does too. But you're smart enough to know that you've mostly made your own luck. By being positive, open, and flexible, a lot of luck has come your way!

How Lucky Are You?

I just copied this quiz from Francine's blog. Per my answers, I am 90% lucky. Oh well, let me try again, I'm gonna buy a lotto ticket. Hope I get the jackpot this time....Wish me more luck.

My Personality Color is Dark Blue

What color is your personality? Your Personality is Dark blue! Your a true feeling person. You often spend time just sitting, and trying to understand your over-whelming emotions. You love learning, and dreaming. Quite shy, you enjoy your solitude. You live a life of deep reflection. Secretly, your highly spiritual. Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

My Thoughts.....Out Loud

The past few weeks, I wanted to share my thoughts on a lot of things but I'm dilly-dallying because I couldn't decide if I should post some not so good news/issues in my blog. This is supposed to be a blog on my family, friends, parenthood, child-rearing or my journal of activities. But I really can't help it. I should write here what I really feel on current issues. Oh well, I can't be sweet forever....So bear with my opinion, rants and ramblings....

• toy recall- if Fisher-Price or Mattel (and other toy companies) have checked the quality and safety requirements of all their products before releasing them to the market, Mommies wouldn't be scared what will happen to their kids' health after they have played with such toys. Now they're saying even the Barbie play set are being recalled. My golly, my kids have those, should I worry then that the lead content of these toys can affect their health? What's next? Should we sue these toy companies if we notice that our kids are showing signs/ symptoms of bad exposure to lead?

• formalin (formaldehyde) use- I don't understand why the manufacturers have to use formalin in making shampoos, candies and even baby blankets/ bibs and other consumer goods. Per studies, the use of formalin for human consumption can actually cause cancers. No wonder, ang daming me sakit ngayon, not just the cough-colds-flu thing. I've had a chance to talk to mothers (usually along the clinic's hallways) when I have my kids' monthly check-up, I am terrified to learn that a lot of kids have cancers. The pedia said, maybe from the chemicals they use daily (plus poor eating habits), such as air-freshener sprays, insecticides, etc. Ano ba yan, masama pala sa health, how come nasa market din? Not to mention lahat ng usok sa paligid...Panu na tayo aabot ng 70 years old nyan?
  

• the Geraldine Palma rape-slay case- when I heard this news and saw the picture of a very pretty, healthy young girl (she's only 7) and very intelligent too, galit na galit ako. Nakakagigil....The young girl disappeared after school with her yaya. The alleged kidnappers called the parents and asked for ransom. Parents prepared the money and went to the meeting place. But these low-life creatures didn't show up. Days after, a suitcase was found floating in the river, with the young student inside. She was raped. Not content with that, sinakal sya ng kurdon sa leeg until she's lifeless. The parents offered a reward of P1M to those who can give info. on the horrible crime. The suspects are arrested one by one. It turned out, one of them is the boyfriend of the kid's nanny. The nanny, is also put on a wanted list after this development. My thoughts- I suggest the parents give the money instead to some "men" to finish the job. Or dapat i-firing squad ang mga rapist-murderers na yan sa Luneta para di na tularan ng iba. And before dalin sa Luneta, pahirapan muna gaya ng pahirap nila sa bata. Sorry, I am so emotionally affected with this case. Everyday, I watch out for new developments over the tv news. Paranoid na tuloy ako, I keep telling my kids what to do when they're out of the house, I even give security briefing to the household helpers and even to the schoolbus driver. Now, ok lang saken kahit isang helper lang basta mapag katiwalaan ko. Mommies should beware sa pagkuha ng mga maids/helpers. We should ask for NBI clearance, police & barangay clearance (and I also asked for x-ray clearance, before my kid had primary complex which she got from the nanny, eventhough the yaya looked so healthy).
  

• the Cris Mendez' death- sabi nila pag sumali sa fraternity o sorority, mas marami kaibigan na tutulong sa pag-aaral. After school, sila rin daw tutulong sa members nila na umangat sa career. My eldest kid asked me yesterday, "Panu naging brotherhood yun Mama, pinapalo nila sa legs , sa braso o minsan sa likod yung mga gustong sumali sa fraternity?". She also watches the news. I told her, ironic nga mga fraternities na yan. Sasaktan muna nila, bago i-consider na brother nila. Swerte kung di sila mamatay from the hazing/ initiation rites. I have friends who are Sigma Rhoans (one is also a former Archon), they would skip classes in law school everytime me rumble. Some would hide muna, magpa-lamig daw....Di ko talaga maintindihan bakit sila nag-sasakitan? My thoughts- ma-karma sana those involved in the death of this young fellow. Kawawa mga magulang nya. Sayang, pa-graduate pa naman sana sya next year. Malamang papasok sya sa law school kaya sumali sa Sigma Rho. One lawyer-politician said on tv, panu sila (those involved) magiging lawyer, eh mga kriminal na sila...I hope UP officials should act on this case and prevent more senseless deaths among their students.

• the Garci wiretapping case- Ano ba talaga gustong gawin ng mga Senador? Alam na nating lahat ang issue na ito. Ang pandaraya nung 2004 elections. Alam na rin natin na me kakayanan ang ISAFP na makinig sa mga private conversations over the cellular phones. Nagsasayang lang sila ng oras at budget sa mga hearings nila sa Senado. Mas mabuti pang gumawa na sila ng batas o ipasa na nila mga importanteng bills na nakasalang sa Congress at inaalikabok na sa mga opisina nila. My thoughts- baka naman pumupustura lang mga Senador na yan para sa 2010 presidential election. Para nga naman, sila ang bida at popular sa issue na ito. Anu bang batas ang pwede pa nilang gawin para matigil ang mga wire-tapping activities ng ISAFP? At kung meron ng batas, me susunod ba naman? Eh ISAFP nga ginamit para mahuli si Sen. Gringo Honasan noong nagtatago pa sya. ISAFP din tumutulong sa pag tugis ng mga Abu Sayyaf. So di na bago yang usapin ng wire-tapping. Ok lang saken mag wire-tap sila sa mga suspected rebels/terrorists. Wag na nilang pag aksayan panahon, mga tawagan (phone conversations) ng mga mga trapong pulitiko natin. At yang si Doble, naku eh loyalty nyan sa highest bidder. Tahimik na naman yan pag me nagbayad ng mas malaki. Inamin nya before sa Congress na di sya kasama sa nag-wire tap. He just stole the tapes and sold them to the Erap camp. Now sa Senate hearing, sabi nya he was involved mismo sa activity. Liar! I know one person in this "project". He's godfather to my kid. He was sent to the States when the Garci issue was so hot. Way back, we know na, all the personalities they've listened to. All he said was, wala daw tiwala GMA's people ke Garci kaya nag-wire tap sila. Mali nila, tumawag ba naman si GMA eh, he he...Does it mean, di alam GMA the wire-tapping thing? So who ordered it? Anyway, maliwanag talaga me dayaan noong 2004 election. Me magagawa pa ba tayo? Maghihintay ba tayo til 2010? O hayaan na lang natin, tutal, wala namang matinong papalit?

• the ZTE broadband deal- sobrang kakapalan mukha ni Comelec Chairman Abalos sa project (aims to inter-connect all gov't agencies in the country in a single broadband) na ito. Per DZMM (Ted Failon & Korina Sanchez' show) interview with him, he said he went to China lots of times to play golf with ZTE officials. And that, they paid for his trips. He even volunteered that his daughter Girlie is actually the friend of the ZTE President. I know Girlie from way back, She's a nice person. Magaling na negosyante at madiskarte talaga. Met her when I was doing consultancy work in the govt. So, totoo pala lahat ng nasa column ng respetadong si Mr. Jarius Bondoc (Phil. Star). Si Mr. Abalos pala nag broker ng deal na ito na hindi dumaan sa public bidding. According to Mr. Bondoc's source, $168M was paid to some gov't officials to approve this deal a month before the 2007 elections. I hope officials like former NEDA Dir. Neri and Finance Sec. Gary Teves would come out clean and tell the truth bec. according to reports, they were offered millions to support this project, but they didn't accept. This anomalous contract (which DOTC people said remains missing right after the signing by GMA and ZTE officials in China) should be cancelled immediately. Or this could be another reason for an impeachment offense for both GMA and Abalos...
  

• the ERAP verdict- I think he will get the guilty verdict. That's what he will get with this plunder case....Ok lang sana to get his share from jueteng but to get the excise tax that's supposed to be for the farmers' benefit, that's another matter. Oh well, hirap talaga maraming mistresses and families to lavish their lives with so much luxuries. Bad thing though for sure, traffic na naman sa Wednesday here in Commonwealth and dami na namang rallies after. Anyway, I don't think they can stage another EDSA 3. My thoughts- he deserves it, bwahaha....Sana kasunod na yung nakaupo ngayon na sobra ding kurakot....That's all for now, folks. There, I let out my true feelings....Comments are very welcome....
  

Another Tag: Questions and Answers

I was tagged again by Girlie (HipnCoolMomma) to answer 10 questions, here are my answers:

Q1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was working as Executive Secretary to a former Senate President and taking care of my first-born after office work.

Q2. What were you doing 1 Year ago?

Doing business (construction/seafoods/jewelries/garments)

Q3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

Potato chips
Fries
Fish balls
siomai
burgers

Q4. What are 5 songs you know the lyrics to?

Cherish
Strangers in the Night
Girl from Ipanema (Frank Sinatra’s)
Just Once
I Finally Found Someone

Q5. 5 things you would do if you are a Millionaire?

give tithes to the church
travel around the world with my family, parents, siblings
help all my relatives, friends, fellow Pinoys start their own businesses
build a hospital for the poor, sick patients
buy hectares of land, build houses for the homeless

Q6. 5 Bad habits?

not so good on budgeting
Short-tempered
Blog addict
Staying up late
Nagging my kids & hubby

Q7. 5 things you like to do?

go shopping
Read more books
Watch lots of movies
Clean the whole house
Bond with my kids more

Q8. 5 Favourite Toys?

my cell
pc
(only have 2)

Q9. 5 things you would never wear?

micro mini skirt
Bikinis
(can’t think of anything else)

Q10. 5 things you hate to do?

ironing clothes
wait in long queue
wait for call center agents to answer my call
wait, wait endlessly for someone
and wait more…….

There, I'm done....I'm not tagging anyone. Feel free to do it. Have fun....

The Face Behind the Blog

I was tagged by Tina (My Good Finds) to do the face behind the blog meme. Since my pics are now seen after the Bloggers' Meet, I'm doing the tag just the same. I have said so much about myself and family in this blog so I'm just posting my before and recent pics. Here are some of my photos:

me at two years old



me & my mom



my college grad pic for the yearbook



recent photo with my kid



pic posted in my blog's sidebar

More Laughs

I received this email from a friend....I really had a good laugh. In fact, I even cried while laughing hard. Read the letter.

Dear Anak,

Naipadala ko na 50 thousand pesos na tuition fee mo, pinagbili na namin ang mga kalabaw natin. Ang mahal pala ng subject na COUNTER STRIKE, wala na din pala tayong baboy naibenta na din para dun sa sinasabi mo na project nyo na NOKIA N95, ang mahal naman ng project nayun. kasama din ang 7 thousand dun para sa field trip nyo sa MALL OF ASIA, anak malayo ba yun mag ingat ka sa pagbibiyahe mo, isasanla palan namin ang palayan natin para mabili mo na yung instrumentong I-POD na kinakailangan mo sa laboratory nyo. Anak komportable kaba jan sa boarding house mo san ba kamu yan sa VICTORIA COURT - maganda ba dyan, di ba mainit jan. Anak kamusta na pala yung group project nyo na SANMIG LIGHT napailaw nyo na ba? mataas ba nakuha nyo na grado dun?

Anak sana bago pa maubos ang lahat lahat ng arian natin ay maka gradweyt kana, walong taon ba talaga ang kurso mo sa SECRETARIAL, sana pag graweyt mo makakuha ka ng trabaho kaagad kagaya ng manager ng kumpanya para mabawi natin ang mga ari arian nating sa sanglaan. ay cya nga pala anak diba sabi mo sa JOLLIBEE / MAK DONALD ka palagi kumakain ok ba naman sayo ang mga ulam dyan baka hindi masarap kawawa ka naman. Eh yung school bus nyo na TAXI, sabihin mo sa driver mag ingat cya sa pag dri-drive.

Anak hanggang dito nalang at sa susunod ay ipapadala ko sayo ang pera na pambili mo ng INOVA na gagamitin mo sa VACANT SUBJECT mo.

Ang nagmamahal

Itang at Inang

P.S. Anak mag aral ka ng mabuti.

Laffs, Wits and Humors

It's been raining the past few days, I feel a little gloomy. And the news are not good either. Until I've read some quotes from the Cavalier Magazine (a journal for PMA alumni). Here, have a good laugh;

"I recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry. That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste." David Bissonette

"When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her." Sacha Guitry

"After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but they stay together." Hermant Joshi

"By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. " Socrates

"Woman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them." Dumas

The great question...which I have not been able to answer...is, "What does a woman want?" Sigmund Freud

"I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me." Anonymous

"Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays."
Henry Youngman

"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years." Sam Kinison

"There's a way of transferring funds that is faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage."
James Holt McGavran

"I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me, and the second one didn't."
Patrick Murray

Two secrets to keep your marriage brimming
1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it.
2. Whenever you're right, shut up. Nash

"The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once..." Anonymous

"You know what I did before I married? Anything I wanted to." Henry Youngman

"My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met." Rodney Dangerfield

"A good wife always forgives her husband when he's wrong." Milton Berle

"Marriage is the only war where one sleeps with the enemy." Anonymous

A man inserted an ad in the classifieds: "Wife wanted". Next day, he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine." Anonymous

Fabulous

This is my first video post. Just want to play my kid's latest favorite song, Fabulous. From the High School Musical 2 Disney movie. Here, watch it....

Meet the Bloggers

Last Thursday, August 23, the 2nd Bloggers' Meet happened at the Taste Asia (Mall of Asia, Pasay City) sponsored by the SM Hypermarket with the help of Google (represented by its Country Consultant, Aileen Apolo). Two weeks before the event, I received an email from the energetic and charming Dine Racoma (The D Spot) and invited me to the event and even told me I can bring friends who are also bloggers or have Friendster/Yahoo accounts. Immediately, I signed up with my two blogger-sisters (one is using multiply and the other one just started with blogspot). So came Thursday, we all trooped to the place. There I met my online blogger-friends namely Chats (imomonline), Cookie (schroochchronicles), Annamanila (ode2old), Dine (The D Spot), Noemi (aboutmyrecovery) and Julie (teacherjulie). About 400 bloggers attended the party. The food and drinks are overflowing (all for free). They served tempura, baked mussels, pork barbecue, chicken wrapped in banana leaves, some cold veggie sticks. I've heard they also served coffee by midnight. The organizers had a raffle to keep the party alive. A lot of bloggers took home nice prizes. My name was called, but since I left at around 10 p.m., the prize (6 packs of Knorr powdered soup) is forfeited. Nevertheless, I really had a great time, I had a blast! See the pics below. By the way, I saw something nice on this affair. After the awarding for the Best Photo Blog and Best Hypermarket Blog, the four flat screen tv monitors around the place suddenly aired the latest SM Hypermarket ads. And who did I see on the tvc's, my only son Pio Miguel riding the car-shaped grocery cart. I just remembered we went to MOA's Hypermarket thrice to buy some groceries (to think we live in a very far area of Quezon City). I didn't notice they were filming something. Just the same, I am so happy to see my son on tv....Next time, me talent fee na, he he.

Here are the pics from my camera phone:

Rowena with Dine Racoma



with Teacher Julie and Annamanila
(partly hidden is Trixie, Julie's kid)


with Noemi Dado



Noemi, Myrna, Cookie and Chats



Chats, Cookie, moi and Myrna



my drink and some pica-pica



this is my dinner plate



baked mussels



pork barbecue



shrimp tempura

A NEW LOOK

My kids needed a new look. They've been sporting long hair with natural curls for quite some time now. So I decided it's time for a haircut. I brought the girls to the nearby salon. While Pio had his haircut at home. Here's the before & after pics (but the posting got mixed up).

Nicole's new look

Nicole's long hair

Gabbie's new hairstyle

Gabbie's old hairdo

Pio's new haircut

home service by Pio's fave barber

Pio's former cut

Birthday Meme

Julie of Teacher Julie tagged me to do a BIRTHDAY MEME.

What do I need to do?

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (month and day).
2. Write down three events, 2 births, 1 holiday and tag 5 friends.
3. There are five slots in the Birthday Meme. As you are tagged, you have to remove the name in the first slot and bump everyone up so that your name can be added to the bottom.

I have to look for something on this particular day: March 18

Here’s what I found:

EVENTS:

3952 BC - According to the Venerable Bede, the world was created.

731 - Saint Gregory III begins his reign as Pope.

1974 - Oil embargo crisis: Most OPEC nations end a five-month oil embargo against the United States, Europe and Japan.

BIRTHS:

1828 - William Randal Cremer, English politician and pacifist, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (d. 1908)

1928 - Fidel V. Ramos, President of the Philippines

1970 - Queen Latifah, American singer and actress (this is an additional since we’re on the same year also)

HOLIDAY

United States - National Biodiesel Day

There I’m done. I’m not tagging anyone. Feel free to do the same and see some important events that happened on your special day and famous people you share birthdays with.

Spice Up Your Family Get-togethers

This is another helpful tips on family get-togethers from the Nestle Club website. Have your family reunions become ‘more-of-the-same’? Filled with awkward silences? Relatives not having fun? Here are some ways to avoid all that and make your family reunion the most awaited event of the year!

Set up a planning committee. Keep things organized to avoid frantic calls, hassles, etc… Get several families involved by having them form committees to help you out for the invitations, food, entertainment, transportation, and don’t forget the cleanup after.

Make sure that the details are addressed — can Lola make it and who will drive her to and fro? Is anyone allergic to certain types of food? What fun games can we play this year? Involve everyone. Don’t be a dictator! Ask your relatives what they want to do, or where they want to go. You can even make your own Email Group where the young ones can design, log on to anytime, anywhere and keep the older adults (not comfortable with the internet) informed. Give your Email Group a fun name, like “Barangay Caparas”. When they have all agreed, only then can you start planning all the nitty-gritty details. For relatives who don’t surf the Internet, you can call, text, and even send them letters for a more personal touch!

Have a budget. Have all your relatives pitch in a little something. This makes them involved and consequently, more eager to attend! If this year’s reunion is going to be all out bongga, then see if a bank account will help you manage all the expenses involved. Keep in mind what you may need to rent — the venue, equipment, transportation, and even party favors! If it is a simple get together, then there is still a need to budget your expenses because everyone should naturally chip in for the cost of the celebration.

Set the date. Be sure that everyone will be available on the date of your family reunion. The earlier you decide on a date, the more relatives will be able to come! Also, this gives everyone a chance to calendar the event and plan ahead—whether to lose just a bit more weight for the annual family photograph, or to get all work and projects done so they can relax and enjoy without having to rush off somewhere.

Form a clean-up crew. To keep things tidy at all times, a clean up crew is needed. The games, the gifts, the paper plates — these are things that will need much cleaning even during the party, not to mention after. Make sure there are garbage bins close by. Your cleanup crew should empty these bins regularly to make the job easier later on.

What's Your Sign?

I received a forwarded email on zodiac signs with the personality descriptions. I thought of posting it here. Mine is Pisces, so what's yours?

VIRGO - The Perfectionist. Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.

SCORPIO - The Intense One. Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.

LIBRA - The Harmonizer. Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.

ARIES - The Daredevil Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.

AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart. Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.

GEMINI - The Chatterbox Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Likes change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent, But is only changeable. Beautiful physically and mentally.

LEO - The Boss. Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

CANCER - The Protector. Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.

PISCES - The Dreamer. Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.

CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimists. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be unfriendly at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.

TAURUS - The Enduring One Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.

SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

25 Ways To Lose Weight

I came across this article from the Philippine Star, to my friends who are having weight problems, hope this helps.

MIND YOUR BODY
By Willie T. Ong, M.D.

Q. I don’t know why I am gaining weight. I don’t eat as much as I used to but still, I am getting bigger. What’s the best way to lose weight?

A. How to lose weight? How to live longer? How to stay beautiful? Never-ending questions with no clear answers. But we don’t give up easily, right? So here are 25 tips to help you lose a little weight:


• Take cocoa instead of chocolate. Cocoa powder is really chocolate with most of the fat removed. When you crave chocolate, try the unsweetened cocoa powder as a substitute.

• Don’t eat croissant. A small flaky croissant may have as many as four teaspoonfuls of butter. The rolled dough can have up to nine grams of fat. Take a pandesal or a bagel instead with only one gram of fat.

• Check the nutritional label. Look at the calorie count per serving and see how large one serving is. To lose weight, an average meal should only be 400 calories or less.

• Choose tuna packed in water. Avoid tuna soaked in oil. This will save you two grams of fat per tuna sandwich.

• Avoid organ meats like bopis or sizzling sisig. These foods are loaded with cholesterol and uric acid. Very unhealthy.

• Buy healthy bread. There are healthy breads around like Walter Bread’s Sugar-Free Wheat Bread. It has zero sugar, no cholesterol, and each slice of bread only contains 65 calories.

• Increase fiber intake. Vegetables like patola, okra, kangkong, and cabbage are high in fiber and good stomach fillers to lessen hunger.

• Use light spreads. There are low-fat spreads available like jams and margarine. Make sure to spread it thinly. Every little bit you scrape off and every pat less count in your favor.

• Go lite. Choose low-calorie food items. Goldilocks Bakeshop’s popular ensaymada, brownies, and cakes are now available in lite and low-calorie versions. They’re good for diabetics and overweight persons.

• Look for fat-free and reduced-fat products. Fat-free means that the product contains less than 1/2 gram of fat per serving. Reduced fat means it has 25 percent less fat than the regular version. Fat-free is better.

• Don’t stock foods at home. Your home is your last line of defense. If it’s not within your reach, then you can’t eat it. Don’t hoard food items, especially junk food, just because you think guests might come. Can you guess who will end up eating them all?

• Say no to buffets. This all-you-can-eat strategy is simply against common diet sense. Add to your dilemma the “no leftovers policy or you pay double.” Just order a la carte and look the other way.

• Split your meals. Most restaurants offer servings fit for two persons. Don’t be ashamed to split your meals. Share your food and instantly cut your calorie intake in half.

• Go for less pizza toppings. I am surprised at how much fat they can add to a flat pizza. It’s supremely unbelievable to put cheesy-cheese and hidden hotdogs inside the pizza’s crust. Talk about feeding the unsuspecting buyer! For your sake, just order Hawaiian pizza or just plain cheese.

• Go vegetarian. One of our favorite food chains is Bodhi which offers low-fat and tasty recipes. They’re healthy. But just don’t eat vege-meat every day as they’re high in uric acid and can make you develop kidney stones.

• Go easy on the gravy. The gravy is free, but the calories will cost you. I’ve seen people make their fried chicken disappear in a pool of gravy sauce. That’s real fatty, my friend.

• Minimize mayonnaise dressings. They call it Thousand Island Dressing for a reason. It’ll cost you a thousand calories. Caesar’s dressing is undesirable, too, especially with the fried bacon bits. Try vinaigrette or vinegar-based dressings, although it takes a while to get used to the taste.

• Order plain rice. As your filler food, a big temptation is to go for the garlic rice, the bagoong rice or the Fookien fried rice. Order plain rice and save 30 percent of the calories with the same filler effect.

• Eat bread instead of rice. Low-fat sandwiches, like Subway, are good diet options. They’re packed with vegetables and healthier meat like turkey or tuna. Just skip the mayonnaise or spread just a little for taste. My wife Liza even avoids the cheese.

• Avoid loaded and killer drinks. These are no-no’s, please, that you must avoid like the plague. No whip cream floating on your coffee drink. No vanilla ice cream sinking in your Coke float. Less syrup for the fruit shake. No to go-large drinks in fast-foods. No to bottomless iced tea.

• When they ask you what drink you like, say cold bottled water. Water has zero calories. Zip calories, too, for Chinese tea. If you can’t help it, diet soft drinks are allowed in moderation.

• Give your calories away. Be nice to your friends (or enemies). Give your chocolates, cakes, sweets to them.

• Leave something on your plate. I know there are people starving in Africa, but you can’t send those grains of rice there, can you? Leave a little food and prevent a few calories from entering your body.

• Walk after eating. Once you’ve eaten, don’t get sucked by the sofa, watching your favorite soap. Take a short walk and burn a few calories. It will help in the digestion.

• By all means, avoid temptation. Far from sight, far from mind. Avoid people that make you hungry. Avoid gatherings that tempt you to eat. Remember, we eat to live and not live to eat.

Finding a Sideline that's Right for You

Eversince I gave birth to my fourth child, I stopped working full-time. Of course I have to take care of four growing kids but I sometimes missed my previous work so I dabble on short-stint job like joining a senatorial (2004 with Senatorial Candidate Mar Roxas/2007 senatorial and local elections) campaign or consultancy work (for some of our legislators and some private companies). After the elections, I get offers for full-time work and sadly I have to turn down some of them (like the job at the city hall) because I can't leave my kids for about 10 hours a day and I'm also homeschooling my only son. So I decided to venture into business. I remembered I've been doing business since my grade school days. I would sell my stationeries and stickers to my classmates. During high school, I sold key chains from my collections. And in college, I market Avon products, most of the products I bought for myself though, he he. After college, went into government work. When I got tired of working for our "honorable" leaders, I resigned. My friend, Queenie and I rented a tiangge stall at the Greenhills Shopping Center. We actually manned the store. We were the tinderas (store-seller). Oh what a sight! We would do all things (making bola, or making pa-cute) so we can sell our goodies. It's a very tiring job. After that experience, we ventured into movie premiers. We had so much fun and for a month of field work and a little of public relations work, we earned what we usually get in a year's salary. When Queenie entered law school, we parted on our business ventures. I tried to enter the big scene- produce concerts. I was able to get some help from people from show business. Even the former QC Mayor Mel Mathay wrote a letter to the Araneta management to accommodate me on my scheduled concert date. And some marketing group helped me also. Had business meetings with band managers to discuss the project. Met with the Introvoys, True Faith, Alamid, Yano bands and prepared contracts with them. But when they're about to sign it, guys from this band don't want to perform with this other band (just because of personal differences) so the supposed to be big concert at that time, was cancelled. While I have paid some managers the downpayment, getting the money back is another problem. I have to plead with this certain manager to get it back. Good thing my uncle's men called him, just the mere mention of my uncle's name (former AFP Vice Chief of Staff) scared the guy and his father went to our home to return the downpayment. After that sour experience with those bands, I dare not try that venture again. As I was saying, I am still going into another business but we are on a planning stage. And for mothers who are also thinking of ways to augment the family income, read this article from the Nestle website which I have copy/paste and posted in my site.

“Times are hard.” It is particularly common to hear this line from homemakers responsible for taking care of the household budget. With bills and the prices of common commodities constantly on the rise, most homemakers, even those with regular jobs, find it hard to make ends meet.

With a desire to augment the family income, most homemakers resort to looking for sidelines. But finding the right one is not as easy as it seems. While all business ventures have its risks, you can avoid taking chances by heeding these three simple rules.

• Rule No. 1: Woman, know thyself. The first thing to do is to make an honest assessment of your talents and skills. Ask yourself questions like: “What am I good at?” “What do I do well?” or “In what endeavor am I at least above average in?”
  

It also pays to constantly learn new useful skills. Nestlé’s Julius Maggi Kitchen conducts FREE cooking and lifestyle seminars on a variety of topics at the Nestlé Center in Rockwell, Makati City. After assessing your strengths, ask yourself “What are the limitations of my talents and capabilities?” Are you skilled enough in sewing to go into dressmaking or should you just stick to patching up your children’s pajamas? Finally, ask yourself “How much time do I have?” If you have a baby at home, or even a child under three, the time you can spend outside will be severely limited. If your children get home from school at noon you can count on four to maybe five hours of free time for your sideline. If your husband is the type who wants to find you at home when he arrives, then you’ll have to rule out work that requires staying out late.

• Rule No. 2: Woman, know thy market. Before you venture into any business, it makes sense to acquaint yourself first with your market. Do you live in a subdivision? Then your neighborhood is your market. Do you work? Then your co-employees could be your market. Analyze your market well. Ask questions like: “What do my prospective customers need?” What do they want? What will they buy?” Once you’ve put your finger on the particular needs (food, clothes, insurance) and wants (chocolates, make-up, CDs, books) of your market, you may start choosing the products or services to peddle.
  

• Rule No. 3: Woman, know thy product. It’s not just a matter of liking and using what you’re selling. You must also know what makes this product different from all the others in the market. Marketing people call this the unique selling position (USP), a quality you can highlight so that buyers will purchase your product and choose it over other similar merchandise.

If you’re lucky to find a perfect fit between your market and your product and between your business and your own skills, interests and time, you will discover that a sideline does not simply provide extra money, it can also give you fulfillment and a sense of achievement.

Feeding the Finicky Eater

I am having a problem with my child Gabbie. She eats so little and too long. I have to bribe her just so she will eat the food we prepare for them. I don't know what's wrong, I've given her appetite stimulant and even a de-wormer meds (as prescribed by her pedia). We also cook her favorite dishes but she would just take a bite then leave them on her plate again. I surf the net and here's what I found in the ever-reliable Nestle Club site.

Every family seems to have one; the finicky eater who must be coaxed to eat; who dawdles over meals, pushing food around in the plate; who is always the last to leave the table; who makes mealtime a contest of wills.

How do you get such a child to eat?

• First of all, there is no magic formula. Doctors may prescribe appetite stimulants and vitamins, but there is no guarantee that they will work. A few guidelines may help you cope with your finicky eater, though, and help you survive the daily battle at the dining table.

• Build up his appetite. Avoid in–between meals and snacks. Cut down your child’s intake of junk food and softdrinks, which may make him feel too full for meals. Make sure he rests a few minutes before each meal because fatigue sometimes interferes with appetite. Don’t let him drink too much water before eating.
  

• Make mealtimes relaxed and stress-free. Don’t jump on her case as soon as she sits. Avoid warnings like: “This time, I want you to finish everything on your plate.” Once she tenses up, her appetite goes. Try to ignore her antics for the first few days. It may be difficult at first, but the changed atmosphere at the table will help.
  

• Serve food he likes. Take note of the dishes that he finishes each time you serve them, as well as those he won’t touch. As a general rule, children don’t go for highly spiced food and dishes with sauces. Serve food warm and cut up in bite-size pieces. An attractive table setting also helps. Ask him what he’d like for lunch, and if he says hotdogs, having hotdogs for lunch for a few days will not hurt.
  

• Establish a regular routine for meals. Meals should be taken at the table, over conversation and company. The finicky eater won’t build up an appetite if, at mealtimes, she feels free to run around the house while the yaya chases after her with her food. Even if she won’t eat, make her sit at the table along with the rest of the family.
  

• Avoid any emotional attachments to food. Mothers feel affronted when their children refuse to eat the meals they prepare with so much caring, telling themselves: “If they don’t like my food, they don’t like me.” That isn’t really the case, and much of the tension at mealtimes can be avoided if you could be more philosophical about the child who refuses to eat.
  

If, after a trip to the doctor, your child is pronounced fit and not suffering from any appetite-draining disease or nutritional deficiency, or is not dangerously underweight, then perhaps it’s time to relax and not feel your credentials for parenting threatened by your finicky eater.

Destination - Serendra

visited the five storey-Fully Booked bookstore
(the biggest in the country)

Pio can't decide yet which book to read

the second floor



my dad, mom (in blue) and sisters



nice view



my kids played on this lawn



Nicole & Pio striking another pose

view from the second floor

Last Saturday, my whole family went to Serendra at the Fort. This is our first visit. Since we haven't seen each other for a month already (Dad just arrived from Canada and sis Yae from her L.A. trip), we decided to go malling, our favorite bonding time. As I have posted here, first stop is the Fully Booked bookstore (sleek and stylish interiors with the widest collection of books, music and videos) where we stayed for 2 hours reading books while my kids listen to a story-telling session and did some art activity. Nicole and Gabbie made nice wands ala Harry Potter's. After reading/browsing some books and listening to our favorite music, we headed to the Krispy Kreme outlet (again..). The staff are so friendly, they even gave us about eight free glazed donuts aside from the ones we ordered. To burn the extra calories we got from the donuts, we strolled around the well-manicured lawns and even played around the fountains and man-made falls. My kids had a great time with their grandparents and aunts. It's a tiring day, we're all very happy though.

Tagging Three's

Rachel (Heart of Rachel) tag me to do this, here are my answers.

Three things that scare me
1. losing people I love
2. wayward bus drivers
3. cockroaches

Three people who make me laugh
1. my hubby
2. my kids
3. my dad

Three things I love
1. our home
2. my books
3. family pics

Three things I hate
1. trapos (traditional politicians)
2. hypocrites
3. liars

Three things I don’t understand
1. wars
2. barbaric ways of bandits/rebels
3. game of mahjong

Three things on my desk
1. books
2. cellphone
3. pc

Three things I am doing right now
1. doing this tag
2. listening to Dos Por Dos radio show
3. sipping a hot capuccino

Three things I want to do before I die
1. travel around the world
2. see my grandchildren
3. help eliminate corruption in government (impossible???)

Three things I can do
1. drive while fixing milk (not advisable though)
2. multi-task at home
3. work on different jobs simultaneously (yeah that's right)

Three things I can’t do
1. swim
2. play golf
3. iron clothes

Three things I think you should listen to
1. smart, kind-hearted men
2. your parents
3. well-meaning friends

Three things you should never listen to
1. envious people
2. gossips
3. sweet-talker scam artist

Three shows I watched as a kid
1. Sesame Street
2. Charlie's Angels
3. Knight Rider

Three people I am tagging
1. Tina of My Good Finds
2. Girlie of HipNCool Momma
3. Analyse of My Hideaway

MY FIRST BLOGGER AWARD

For the first time, I got my Rockin' Girl Blogger Award from Rachel (Heart of Rachel). Yipee! I am very happy. Got this award last week and I'm posting it now. Thanks a lot Rachel. Here's what she said about me.


Rewards of the Heart

Rowena of The Sweet Life - A nurturing person who devotes her time and energy to her family. She has a big and sympathetic heart, easily moved by events happening around her. Thanks Rowena for always taking time to greet me a wonderful day.

And I am spreading the cheer by sharing my award to the following bloggers who really ROCK:

AnnaManila of Ode2Old

Lady Cess of One-Twenty One

Julie of Teacher Julie

Kim of Soloops

Analyse of My Hideaway

I don't have to explain why (guys, just read their blogs please and their profiles), in my dictionary este, in my book they all rock....