Basketball and Water Gun

We will be having two consecutive pool parties to attend to this weekend. Tomorrow is Dani's (Zach's first cousin on Erwin's side) 3rd birthday. Then on Sunday I consider it a pool party coz there will be food and pool fun for the kids after the Sunday service.

These two events pushed me to find swim attires and paraphernalias for my two kids. We went first to Kumon and then to the barber shop for their haircut, then to the mall. We looked at the mall near our place but all they have is one kind of boat float. So we headed to a bigger mall and I realize it isn't easy to have two kids plus two bags commuting around. What a great blessing it would be if we would be granted Car Title Loans. So there we were at the mall just to realize they have no more swim paraphernalias in stock. While their swim attires doesn't fit my budget. The "back to school" thingies are what's all around the department stores. So we landed on buying a basketball and a water gun.

Going home, there's the midday sun on our heads. The kids were being lulled as the jeepney runs. I thought about Car Title Loans Hayward and how convenient it would really be if I learn how to drive. The car that hubby's driving is being lent to us by FIL. They were asking hubby since then to apply for Car Title Loans Sacramento but he hasn't...yet. In the (near) future I hope.

Mommy Moments - Grandparents Bonding

I've posted photos of the two kids with their grandparents from both sides. This time this is their bonding time with their great grandparent, my mother's father.


This photo was during his 91st brithday. His only problem is his bowel movement and his hearing. He's still strong and got a sound mind considering his age. He still remembers the morse codes from being an American war veteran soldier.

Blogs Can Help Your Business

Before you only see advertisements on print...radio...tv...billboards...special events...electronic billboards...websites...and now the BLOGS.

I was surprised and encouraged to realize that though I don't work for a company anymore, what I do now is still in line with my field of study, which is advertising. Now it's just more into non-traditional advertising, the blog advertising.

Do you notice that marketing has become more on a one-to-one level? Marketers or business heads now believe that marketing to people needs to build customer relationship and eventually create product evangelists. As compared to visibility campaigns provided by event sponsorship or interactive websites, marketers have learned that person to person advertising is important.

According to web-articles, the core needs for any business are as follows:

• Decent ideas

• A great product

• Visibility

• A well-trained team of people who work hard to make the company succeed You also need good marketing, great customer relations, an awesome sales force, decent customer support, and a host of other factors.

Cake Ceremony

We started the day yesterday with some quiet time (?) in Jollibee Pavilion Mall (we don't know of any park to go aside from our village park). We didn't bring the kids along so we can't go as far as Tagaytay though I'd love to. That's on the wait schedule *grin*.

After lunch, hubby let me shop for some clothes. Not that he's on Small Business Loans. I window shopped the other day so I knew where to go this time. There's not much budget but I was able to take home 3 blouses, a shirt/dress, a tube, a tank top and leggings. Bwaha!

After that, hubby let me choose the best cake in the shelf.

I celebrated my birthday as simple as I want it to be.

I feel so blessed with the 30 years of my life. Having my family and in-laws, my kids, hubby, and God. I'm a bit physically limited because of my RHD but to think about those who can't even get up to see the world outside of their window, I'm so so blessed.

Thanks everyone!

30 Today!

Aging is not getting old. It means growth. - Tuesdays with Morrie

Feliz Cuplianos to me!

The Date Photos

I forgot to post this a while ago. We pictured-pictured our date and I post here so you can have a better picture of it.

Kwentow below...

The Date

Hubby and I decided to pursue our date instead of just couch potatoing waiting for my in-laws last Saturday. Remember, we can't go home coz they used the car (which might need avw turbo) going to Pampanga.

We were in the Mall of Asia far from the planned SM Sta. Rosa. We're not sure if there's Sbarro in Glorietta or Greenbelt so we headed on to MOA. At last we're back to Sbarro after maybe a year. I missed the taste of their food. I ordered vegetarian pizza and something new from their menu, the battered fish. While hubby ordered macaroni stuffed pizza and a glass of raspberry iced tea. The taste of the fish coated with egg and flour batter was balanced out by the lemon zest. But near the end of my plate I was feeling overwhelmed by the richness of the egg. You might want to try this if you have someone to share it with. Hubby seldomly eats fish that's why I want to know if he's going to like it. If he does then I have one fish menu to feed him. But I realized I failed coz he didn't get another slice of it. The pizzas were as tasty as before.

After eating at Sbarro, I was a full tummy. I was satisfied to go home but hubby insisted to watch Angels and Demons which was unexpectedly better than The DaVinci Code. Wait for the twist of the story at the later part.

We went to the viewing deck to wait for the sun to go down a little when it's not that hot anymore to go out and head home. While waiting, we're eating Halo-halo from Razon's and hubby was giving me tutorial lessons about using Nikon D40.

I agree on what he said that it's also a breather for him. Hubby said that we should be doing our dates at least every other week. A big date and not-so-big-dates shall happen in a month. Of course the big dates go in time after the 15th to compensate our budget. We'll still see if it's going to work.

Best part: The sending-shivers-to-the-spine-talks...and The eye to eye contacts like we were just bf and gf.
The holding hands like it's the first time we did.
His attention as if we have no kids to think about.
We prayed together. wasn't able to hold back my tears coz I felt so blessed to have him as my husband.

I told hubby that I felt so loved and he was laughing as he sees the look on my face. He always does this when I'm as mushy as a kitty.

Curious About Direct TV and More

Haven't done much blogging lately. The past week i've been a sleepyhead and going over Zach's worksheets. Before it only takes us 10-15 minutes a day to do his homework. Now with tracing letters included in the worksheets, it takes us 1 1/2 hours to finish.

Still pushing daisies (and Tuesdays with Morrie) occupies my time when I have the time and I managed to finish nine episodes of season 2. The last episode is waiting for me. Will I be able to watch more episodes if we acquire a direct tv? I bet it's a more send-shivers-down-the-spine-experience to see Ned and Chuck's eye to eye contacts on a clearer digital quality signal. I should ask Kaptain Satellite later for evaluations on the best satellite tv packages being offered. Speaking of send-shivers-down-the-spine-experience, I should tell you about my own moments in my next post.

We were in my in-laws over the weekend and the Saturday visit turned into an unplanned overnight stay. Zach was bitten by Storm which sent us again yesterday to RITM for anti-rabies vaccine. I hate that Zach will undergo a series of vaccinations which traumatized him before but SADLY we are back to 0 because of the booster we missed to go back to last year when he also had shots due to catbite. This time it's for a dogbite. Gladly, the other two meds given to him before are still effective so they crossed those out. One down, three more one shot per arm session to go. The next one is on Thursday May 21, 2009. I have no choice but be the one to take him for the shots this time. He was laughing at first at the crying boy and then tells me he's brave but when it's his turn I was holding him down while he squirms like a worm and his feet on my knees. His intradermal shots and case level III tell me its not that serious but still I hope he wasn't exposed to such danger.

Mommy Moments - Silly Moments

Better late than never! I hate to miss this week's theme.


As my kids grow into toddlers as they are now, I learned a way to connect with them. Humor! from making silly faces or sounds, imitating animals or any thing, to reenacting tv commercials, etc. Isn't it a great tool to cheer them up when they're having an emotional storm?

Did I have moments like these with my mama?...childhood's catching up on me. The child in me finally found its way out when I became a mom.

More sillyness at the mommy moments.

Encouraged

The past week til today here's the scripture I've been putting in my mind and heart to lift up my spirit:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:8-9

God encouraged me today...

- that Zach is a step higher to the next level in his reading program. From level 7A to 6A after 3 weeks, and now 5A after 2 weeks. His teacher said last Friday "Magaling po siya kasi nakukuha niya kaagad. Yung iba po kasi paulit-ulit bago sila matuto." (He's good coz he easily catches up. The others (kids) need the readings to be repeated to themselves before they learn.) His teacher said a while ago that he's a fast-learner.

- a childhood bestfriend left a comment on my post My Birth Month. She was even able to count back the years and cited a brief history of our friendship, hehe. Thank you so much for the sweet message my dear friend. I suddenly missed "pink 5 and yellow 4." I share the same sentiments. I also wish our kids could play together soon. And when are you going to visit the country with the kids?! I miss you too!

- hubby asked me for a date this Saturday. Skyped him, "Huwat! Am I dreaming?" trying to hide my kilig, which I was unable to. Just the thought of your asking me out and the fact that you even restructured our budget to come up with our date so you can be with me makes me elated, giddy and feel loved. Of course you need to make it happen, hehe. Well, just a talk with some fruit shakes will do fine with me. Sabi pa nya, "What's important is we have time together...without the kids." wow ang haba ng hair ko!

I believe that you have also been touched by God today. Please share me how.

As Sweet As Candy

My son was content just watching the kids from the children's ministry with their song presentation for Mother's Day yesterday. And I'm quite frustrated that we even brought his cape (just what remained from his batman costume), was useless on my arms after he wore it for just a time.


But I was just as happy to see his sweet and shy smile as he gave me a rose and greeted me a happy mother's day with a kiss.

Hope my folks also had a happy mother's day. Poor me, I didn't get to greet my mom and MIL.I was just glad that I was able to send an e-card to my ate who's working in Kuwait. Maybe I could tell her to join the single parents chat room.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my fellow mommies out there! Kikamz is one of the mommies who remembered me today. I send my greetings to you as well dear.

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests…or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Send this to someone whom you think is a special Mom…

And remember that behind every successful woman……
is a basket of dirty laundry.

-Unknown

I pass this on to all the mommy bloggers! You deserve to be honored today.

Mommy Moments - Happy Mommy Moments

I want to make up for the MMs that I missed so now I'm posting a bit earlier.

I'm a happy mommy especially when there's something to celebrate. The first frame is during our eldest's first birthday. I wasn't the only one happy there but everyone because the celebrant so loved Chickie boy that seemed he want to bring the mascot home.

The last frame was Gabe's first birthday and I was so excited for him that day. Do you notice that I dressed like it's my birthday too?

This Christmas tree is our first one and I was so thrilled to decorate it during our first christmas in our own home.

Lastly, the one with the fireworks was when we celebrated our first New Year at home.

I bet you also have happy mommy moments out there. Share it with us at >>>

The Suspects

From what our electricity bills tell us lately, we need to cut back on our consumption. It's not that big but compared with our neighbor who has bigger fridge (ours is just 4cubic ft.) and use aircon at times, our electricity consumption is a bit higher. We suspect it's the laundry dryer, the water heater and the bigger than usual rice cooker uses up lots of energy. The use of an additional appliance called the tv is also a suspect. We do use the lcd tv just sometimes when we have a good movie to watch. And though this laptop is at work around 12 hours everyday, hubby says 16watts won't be that big at the end of the day. Today, I guess we saved energy for not using the electric fan not often coz it's been raining and the weather is cool the whole day. Plus, starting today, I have limited the use of the boob tube. Instead, I continued reading "Tuesdays With Morrie", a book that SIL lends me. I suddenly noticed earlier that the helper uses the tv like a radio. She turns it on then gets back to washing the dishes while listening to the anime program. I don't know if she noticed the sourness when I turned it off.

The fact is the electrical sockets in our living room and dining area are not working since we moved here. We make do with the ones in the kitchen. We have already reported this to the engineer but no action. Consulting to people like the Atlanta Electrician would be the next big thing if situations get worse. I hope they'll fix it before we reach our first year of moving in here.

My Birth Month

One more year and the calendar won't be enough to count my age. Soon the bingo card will be the one to get marked for my years. Bingo!

I'm still glad it's not yet soon before I join the handicap chat. Though not only the aged but also the young enter through this wheelchair chat city. Sitting on a wheelchair doesn't mean you can never have fun and enjoy.

Now I'm wondering just how the 23rd would be this time. I don't expect anything grand. A time off alone to just sit and have my time with God, then my day would be a promising one.

God bless everyone! Good night!

photo from kisluvkis' photostream

Heat In The City

Everytime we go to the city, I notice that the climate is really different there. If the temperature in our area now is 26 degree centigrade, in the city it's a bit higher. The air could be dry here at times but boy, don't expect any breeze when you're in the city. My parents as well as my in-laws who both live in the city, use their aircon everyday especially at noon time and at night. Their electricity bill surely surges up during summer when the temperature sores to 37 degrees centigrade. It's like having fever all throughout the day. The aircon unit should surely be at it's top shape during these times. I could probably recommend them Birmingham HVAC if they want a more suitable cooling equipment. They specialize in HVAC heating, airconditioning, installation, repair and even placement.

I'm glad we do not need an airconditioning in our home even during summer. This was one of the reasons why we chose this place. It's cool compared to living in the city with all the noise and smoke and other pollution. I just don't know in the years to come if global warming really becomes intolerable. I might consult Birmingham HVAC in the future.

Dr. Brian West

Brian West is no Dr. House MD, alright. Plastic surgery has been known in our generation. I would be contemplating if I would have the chance to go under the knife of Dr. House. But would possibly take a quicker go for Dr. Brian West. He's a plastic surgeon trained in every area of this field and reconstructive surgery, plastic surgery for delicate kids' skin and when you need reconstruction after a serious burn. His works were published in journals like the Annals of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Microsurgery, and Pediatric Surgery International. And as well his works are honored to receive a top research award through the California Society of Plastic Surgeons during his time in surgical training for his research in the use of ultra sound in medicine. Dr. Brian West Plastic Surgeon works tirelessly to obtain the results each patient desires with minimally invasive surgery, along with the quickest healing time possible. His approach is what every patient could wish for.

Back Home

Home at last! We were away from home since Thursday. And it feels good to just be back home.

It was a long weekend 33rd anniversary celebration for my in-laws on May 1. We did nothing but just feasted and had fun sometimes made fun of the three kids and one pomeranian dog. Oh yes! last night we sang with the videoke until 1AM. We sang almost all the songs from the songbook. Til I noticed that most of the songs repeated already. Apart from the constant bickering of the two, Zach surely had fun bonding with his cousin Dani. Then today we headed to SIL's home in Greenwoods for a swim. We were so busy that I didn't get the chance to visit black bbw singles.

I'm glad that my ILs are obviously happy that the family is complete to celebrate their anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Was able to finish Pushing Daisies Season2 Ep4.

Will check out what's that 24/7 Pacquiao/Hatton that hubby's watching on tv now.

Good night!