I'm Back....

After a week of absence in the blogosphere, I'm back. Been busy with my kids' schooling, have to go back and forth to their school, attend parents orientation (again), buy books and school supplies at National Bookstore, shop for Pio's new polo shirts and shorts plus additional undershirts and socks. Yes, Pio is going back to the traditional/regular school. After a year of home school, hubby thinks our only son should go back to a big school with lots of classmates. They're now 30 in his class. Besides, I couldn't handle home schooling two kids, my youngest Bea is now home schooling too.

I also attended another business opportunity conference with Reliv Company (dealing with health products) at the Hotel Intercon last weekend with my kids and my sisters. Will post about it next time.

So I would be juggling my time with 3 kids in school, home schooling, our business and house chores. I hope I'll still have time for blogging.

Here are some random pics I took, planning to use them for Photo-Hunt or Weekend Snapshot but never got the time to post in time.


Pio getting ready for the flag ceremony


Pio's 1st day in school, the youngest in Grade 1, he's only 5 yrs. old






Nicole on her last day of ice skating lessons at MOA




Gabbie with idol, Hannah Montana at SM


Architect Rachy Cuna's floral art work at the hotel lobby


Gabbie's Mickey on a hanger


the long queue at National Bookstore



Bea the Mannequin


my sisters Chic and Yae with Hotel Intercon's trusted guard-dog

Weekend Snapshot

For WS, see the random pics I've taken last weekend.


the goose and the ducks...our farm pets


our ducks have grown so fast...who wants one?


see how the mother hen protects her chicks...


rainbow on the sky


1st day


2nd day


3rd day- full bloom

Photo Hunt: Bad Hair

To join the photo hunt and see other hunters, click here.

I took this pic at the pet shop in the nearby mall. My kids would like to buy him but told them he's not good for their health for they have asthma.

the pet on his bad hair day

Look of the Year

To be young and beautiful has its perks, one can join as many beauty pageant or beauty contest as they want until they get the most sought after prize, the crown. Or better yet, gorgeous ladies can try their lucks on the runway. Good thing there's the Look of the Year contest, open for smashing, lovely young women who has the x-factor. The prize is a whooping $10,000 plus a chance to do the catwalk in places like Paris, New York and Milan. Simply send your best pictures at http://www.lookoftheyear.com and you're on your way to being famous.

Blueberry Muffins (Baked In A Microwave)

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

4 eggs

500g/ 2 cups white sugar

250ml/ 1 cup vegetable oil

5ml/ 1 tsp vanilla extract

900g/4 cups all purpose flour

5ml/ 1 tsp baking soda

500ml/ 2 cups sour cream

2 cups blueberries

Procedure:

1. Prepare baking cups with paper muffin liners.

2. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Gradually add sugar while beating. Continue beating while slowly pouring in oil. Stir vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda.

3. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with sour cream. Gently fold in blueberries. Scoop batter into prepared microwavable cups. Place the cups inside a tray, cover. Set the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

4. Let cool.

I Just Joined Bloggerwave

When I discovered the blogging world, I was so amazed by the blogs or sites I have visited, pictures I have seen and life stories I have read. Then I found out that it is so easy to make or set up a blog. I just followed about three steps, then minutes later I have my site.

I would write down in my small notebook topics that I should write about aside from my daily activities or memorable experiences in the past and of course my kids' milestone on their growing up years. Now that I have my online journal, I am overwhelmed with so many benefits I get from blogging. I get to meet new friends, see wonderful places online, learn new things and make money so easily. Yes, blogging also meant extra moolah for bloggers like me. That's when I discovered Bloggerwave, one of Europe's biggest advertising media. It gives bloggers opportunities to earn while enjoying the thing they so love to do which is writing or simply put, blogging. Signing up is as easy as setting up a blog. Check it out.

La Mesa Ecopark...Picnic with Mommy-Bloggers

Last May 23, we, mommy-bloggers and our kids trooped to the La Mesa Ecopark (Fairview, Quezon City) to have our first picnic together. We were thankful it didn't rain that morning. Actually, we were all hoping and praying for a good weather. At the park, mommies feasted on pancit malabon, fried chicken, lechon manok, grilled daing na bangus, pichi-pichi, fish fillet, hotdogs, fruits and lots of chips. Our kids also went biking around the park. After we have eaten so much, we decided to go up to the Shell Flower Terraces. Up there we saw the La Mesa Dam reservoir. It's truly a wonderful sight. Here are some of the pics, the first three I took a week before the picnic, all the rest courtesy of Julie (Teacher Julie), Cookie (Scrooch Chronicles), Cess (Occupation: SAHM) and Chats (Imomonline). Mommy-bloggers Lynn (Everything and Then Some) and Feng (From Dusk Till Dawn) were also there.

paintball field



wanna go wall-climbing?


the boating lagoon...


the view, who would think it's in the city...



come on mommies, you can all make it to the top....
boy in yellow going downstairs is my son who went up again for the 2nd time


see, that's Cookie with her kid Gaby....and the view from upstairs
(Shell Flower Terraces)


resting and posing after climbing 130 steps....



kids on the log....


mommies with kids, all smiles (busog na eh, burp...)

Photo Hunt: SELF

Join the hunt here.


For this hunt, theme is self. This is a photo of an irregular photo hunter, ha ha ha.



my recent pic

My First Blog Anniversary

Yesterday, May 25 was my first blog anniversary but I was nursing a terrible headache (migraine), I wasn't able to post about it. Anyway, I'm so thankful I've discovered the blogosphere and met new friends. Blogging adds more color to my sweet life....Cheers!

Awesome Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

Things I Want My Kids To Live By....

Cookie tagged me to do this meme, things I want my kids to know and to remember before they grow up and see the real world.

-----If you don't have something nice to say, zip your mouth.

-----Don't ever let anyone put you down, wag magpapa-api.

-----Don't ever start a fight but don't run from one.

-----Respect begets respect.

-----Learn to save for the rainy season.

-----Do not be friends with liars and don't tell lies.

-----Learn to differentiate real friends from bad influences.

-----Don't do things just because everyone's doing it.

-----Share your blessings.

-----Try to do something good to a stranger.

-----Always thank the Lord for all the blessings you have.

I really like this meme, it really kept me thinking. To my mommy-blogger friends, please share your thoughts on this tag.

Beauty Secrets

Yen tagged me to do this beauty secret meme. Here's my so called-secret (not anymore)...

Beauty Secrets

My Foundation: Shiseido Elixir

My Mascara: Estee Lauder's More Than Mascara (only use it when I go to parties)

My Blush: it's either Clinique or Estee Lauder but I hardly use it

My Day Cream: I don't use one

My Lipstick: alternating Christian Dior, Avon & Maybelline's

My Essential Beauty Product: lipstick and a pressed powder plus a perfume

My favorite Make-up: am using Clinique or Estee Lauder's eye-shadow/ make up (uses them very seldom)

My Perfume: right now am using Incanto Dream Ferragamo

My Nails: pedicure every two weeks at David's

My Feet: footspa once a month at David's Salon

My cologne: Zen Zest Martini or Baby's Breath

My hands: any lotion will do or my kid's Johnson's

My hair: I use Pantene Glossy Shine shampoo & Cream Silk conditioner

Facial Treatment: once a month at Forever Flawless

Soaps I use: Belo soap and Belo facial soap alternately with Pond's

Three Products to bring on a deserted island: Evian water, lots of it

Women I admire for their beauty: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dawn Zulueta, Nathalie Portman

Women with the best Sense of Style: Jackie O., Princess Diana, Nicole Kidman, Cameron Diaz

My ultimate dream: to travel around the world with my family, segue, be in public office ;-)

My favorite fashion publication: before I read Vogue, Cosmopolitan mags (now, not anymore)

There, am done, am not tagging anyone. Feel free to do it. Have fun.

Allergies- -13 Ways to Feel Better

My kids have developed allergies mostly due to dairy products, fur or the unseen dusts mites around. Worse, these allergies trigger asthma attacks also. The worried mommy always makes sure there's always an antihistamine in our home. Though there are simple things to avoid the occurence of allergies. The following tips are designed to help reduce the discomfort caused by the most common allergies.

Avoid the culprit. The best way to reduce the discomfort of an allergy is to avoid exposure to the allergen as much as possible. Take all practical measures. If you are allergic to cats, avoid visiting homes of friends who own them or make the visit as short as possible. Avoid eating food (that you know you're allergic to) that would cause all those itch and hives in your body.

Rinse your eyes. If your eyes are itchy and irritated and you have no access to allergy medicine, rinsing your eyes with cool, clean water may help soothe them.

Try a warm washcloth. If sinus passage feels congested and painful, a washcloth soaked in warm water may make things flow a little easier. Place the washcloth over the nose and upper cheek area and relax for a few minutes.

Use saline solution. Irrigating the nose with saline solution may help soothe upper-respiratory allergies by removing irritants that become lodged in the nose, causing inflammation.

Wash your hair. If you've spent long hours outdoors during pollen season (abroad), wash your hair after you come inside to remove the pollen.

Take a shower. If you wake up in the middle of the night with a coughing, sneezing allergy attack, a hot shower may wash off any pollen residues or dusts you've collected in your body the whole day that you're out.

Wear sunglasses. It may help shield your eyes from airborne allergens.

Beware of the air. Air pollution may augment allergies and may actually induce people to have allergies. As much as possible, stay indoors.

Make your house a no-smoking zone. Don't allow smoking in your home. Tobacco smoke is a notorious irritant causing respiratory allergies.


Keep the windows shut. Closed windows keep unclean air and dusts from going inside the room.

Dust with a damp cloth. Avoid using feather dusters, instead use a damp cloth in cleaning.

Dehumidify. Dust mites grow very well in humid areas. Try investing in dehumidifier, air conditioner or an exhaust fan will do.

Bust the dust. Wash your beddings, clean your bedrooms at least every other day, avoid overstuffed furniture. Choose washable curtains. Don't use the bedroom as storage space and clean out your air-conditioners and heating ducts.


Source: The Home Remedies Handbook

Kids Doing Office Work

the cranky boss and the busy secretary

Photo Hunt: Candy

Join the hunt here.


Gabbie with her cotton candy


cotton candies, a common sight in kiddie parties

Saving For The Rainy Season

Early on, we taught our kids the value of saving. They first started collecting loose change and putting them inside their coin banks or the piggy bank. Soon they have the bills, given on special occasions by their aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers and godparents. They also put it inside their toy cash box. We also gave them money for their baon on school days, whatever change or extra they have, goes to their savings. One of my kids don't spend much in school because she brings sandwiches/cookies and juice in tetra pack for her snacks. She's really bent on saving. A month ago, we decided to introduce to them the idea of banking. So we opened a savings account on their names in the nearby Banco de Oro branch. Here's her first transaction...

Gabbie's turn to make a deposit...



waiting for her passbook....

Summer Fun At Home

we need rain


is this ok?


can't wait for the rain


now it's the bike's turn


washing her car

Skin-Clearing Tips

The past few days I’ve been catching up on more readings. I was actually cleaning our book shelves and saw some books (gathering dusts) which I need to read especially the ones on health care. I would like to share some helpful tips I’ve read. This post is all about acne simple home treatments and helpful tips. I remembered my sister who had the same problem when she was in college. She also has oily skin and therefore more prone to acne, tried going to several dermatologists and spent quite a fortune. As she finished her pre-med course, she already knew a lot of stuff especially how to treat her stubborn pimples just by reading health books. All we need is to read, do research so we don’t have to pay so much or lessen visits to a dermatologist for our facial problems. Hope this post helps.

SKIN-CLEARING SOLUTIONS ON ACNE

Do No harm – don’t pick, press, rub or manipulate those pimples. You risk spreading the bacteria and increasing the chances for scarring.

Use Benzoyl Peroxide – this helps break up the plug of dead skin cells, bacteria and oil in pores and cuts down on the bacteria as well. Start with the lowest concentration, and work your way up, especially if you have sensitive skin, because the higher concentration, the more irritating it may be. Use it once or twice a day. If it dries the skin too much, apply a moisturizer.

Go easy on your face. – Kids with oily skin use hot water, a washcloth, and a drying soap and think they can wash their acne away. Washing removes oils from the surface of the skin, not from within the plugged ducts. Wash properly, use a mild soap (Dove unscented, Tone or Neutrogena). Or use a soap with benzoyl peroxide for its drying properties. Rub lightly with your fingertips and warm water. Do not use a washcloth. Just pat it dry with clean face towel.

Don’t expoliate – that refers to removing the top layer of dead skin cells. Don’t use brushes, rough sponges, cleansers with granules or walnut hulls or anything else that would damage the delicate facial skin.

Watch out for oily products – that also goes for oily pomades on your hair, heavy oil-based moisturizers and even oily cleansers.

Use water-based makeup – opt for powder blushes and loose powders

Forego the facial – most people giving facials aren’t trained to treat acne-prone skin properly and may end up doing more harm than good.

Don’t rest your chin on your hands – try not to constantly touch your face.

Soak up the oil – some cosmetic companies make a paper product that can be pressed onto the skin to soak up oil.

Screen out the sun – too much sun can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. Protect the skin with sunscreen that has high protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Look for one that’s oil free.

Watch out what you eat – if you notice a correlation between something you eat and your face breaking out, avoid the offending food.

My Son Pio Is Waiting For This...

Our Special Day

Comment Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

Another Contest

Blogger friend Yen has a contest in her blog. Visit her to know more about it at Me and Mine. This is my first time to join a contest from a fellow blogger. I'm sure this would be fun. I have joined countless raffles/contests/promo and luckily I won in some. Let me try my luck further here...

You can also visit her at Creative in Me, Pea in a Pod, My Solitude and Little Peanut.

Tagged: Gratitude Meme

My dear friend Rachel tag me to do this gratitude meme. Sorry it took so long...

What Am I Grateful For?

I am grateful for my wonderful family (hubby and kids), my parents and siblings.

I am thankful for my good education, good health, true friends, warm relationships with relatives
and for all the memorable experiences in this life's journey...

Thankful for all the blessings we receive daily....

*Start Copy*

In order to be able to achieve and maintain happiness we need to, actively, be able to do two things: Complain and then let go (Dump the baggage, the roadblocks to happiness.) Express Gratitude (The open expression of gratitude promotes happiness.) After all everyone has something to be grateful for and/or something to complain about. If you would like to share, please follow the appropriate link and do so: “Are You Grateful?”, “Complain Complain Complain.”

Add your name to the current List of Contributors: 1-Attitude, the Ultimate Power 2-Max 3-DianaCA’s Metamorphoses 4-Mental Poo 5-My Thoughts 6-Baba Doodlius 7-Wake Up America 8-Life is a Roller Coaster 9-Life is beautiful 10-Pinay Mommy Online 11-Nelle-LucidCreativity 12- Juliana of PinayWahm 13. Hailey of Hailey’s Beats and Bits 14. Soulful Thoughts 15. The Sweet Life 16. You're here

*End Copy*

I'm tagging Cookie, Cess, Chats and Lynn....

Love Links

Cookie tag me to do this linky love meme.

Links around the world tag (update as of Mar. 5, 2008) 1 - Momhood Moments 2 - Business Mars 3 - Pinay Mommy Online 4 - OnlineBiz and Resources 5 - A Simple life 6 - moms….. check nyo 7 - Mommy’s Little Corner 8- Princezz 9 - Princess 10 - Random Thoughts 11 - Paradigm 12 - See Me For What You Will 13 - Pamp’s Blog Corner 14 - Pampered 15 - HappyHeart 16 - Qtcotzkie and Baby 17 - A Sorta Fairytale 18 -tragicseven 19 - Listen to the Beat! 20 Just Saying 21 Tipsy Tips 22 Different Angles 23 Delicious Corner 24 I Care 25 Blog Blag Blog 26 Daily List 27 Life’s Journey 28- D’ Cooking Mudra 29 Clark & Butchay’s Blog 30 Sweetbites by Bang 31 ScroochChronicles 32 The Sweet Life - add your blog here!

I'm tagging Gina, Luiza, Mary and Yen. Have fun.

I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love

Check Sitti's version, nice one...

Hello...Line Disconnected due to Bad Service

For a long time now, I've been using the Bayantel landline service. Last year when I opened our new business, I need a fast way to get a phone. I availed of the Bayantel wireless phone offer, paid the unit and instantly I have a phone in my shop. That was December.

Come April, the unit has no signal anymore inside the shop, even when I brought it at home. Automatically, I called the Bayantel customer service hotline, talked with a call center agent. Was asked to bring the unit to their center. I send a staff there, they just change the antenna. Still no signal. Called them again, was told that a service crew would arrive and inspect the area. Waited in vain, no service screw showed up. Called them again, was told no one's coming, that it's not the standard procedure when it comes to the wireless service. I exclaimed-What??? I really blew my top, been calling them thrice daily, waited for them, cancelled business meetings, lose some customers at the shop, only to be told I was waiting for nothing. The agent has the gall to ask me if I get the name of his colleague who said that a service crew is coming. I told him, how the **** will I know when I've talked to dozen of call center agents already. GRRRR...Stormed the Bayantel office with hubby, we were advised to buy the outdoor antenna instead. Hubby asked if that antenna didn't work out, what should we do? The customer representative cannot give us a coherent answer. A call center agent told us a day before that the outdoor antenna won't work because they're currently upgrading the system in our area. Hubby began scolding her, we demanded we should not be billed for those weeks. To my consternation, she said it's still subject for approval. Hubby would like to cancel our subscription but the customer representative said we can't return the unit and there's no refund for its cost. What the **** will I use it for? Will I just let my money get wasted for the very bad service of the company? Oh boy, I won't take this sitting down. Am preparing my complaint and bring it to DTI by Monday. And I got favorable action from them before (Sec. Mar Roxas' term) when I filed a complaint against a cellphone distributor (that's another story).

It's been one month now, we don't have a phone line service in my shop. All printed flyers and tarps have that contact number, we offer pick-up and delivery in our line of business. I'm losing customers daily because I don't have a phone line. We are using cellphones instead but not all customers would like to send text or call our cellphone. I'm now looking into PLDT, Globe and Smart offers. The sooner I get a line the better.

For now, my line is disconnected due to BAD BAYANTEL SERVICE!