After a long day on the road with hubby and the 'lil one, we're back in our home sweet home. It sounds odd but I missed the comfort of my own house where I can pretty much do whatever I want without caring for someone's eye brow.
Around eight in the evening, I took care of what's needed to be done today. I cleaned the 'lil one's room, washed dirty dishes in the kitchen, picked up toys in the living room and sanitized bathrooms including two sinks in the master's bathroom that badly needed a TLC especially hubby area. His scattered stuff were so annoying to my eyes that I eventually arranged after brushing the dried toothpaste in his sink.
But anyway, I am glad the day is over with. Bunch were said and done. Blessings that come way are definitely the first to be thanked for before the day ends.
...PAL!
After a two-day-contemplation, the decision was made today. My family is flying to General Santos via PAL (Philippine Airlines) this coming May. Although Cebu Pacific is a lot cheaper than PAL, over a thousand pesos cheaper, still, PAL topped the decision process. I purchased the tickets this afternoon and the itinerary and confirmation are now ready.
So why I chose PAL over CP?
PAL is firm with it's schedule. Snacks or meals are offered free of charge. Employees are well-trained and definitely practice what they've learned in the field. Flight is always comfortable as per experience. And hey, I had an excess baggage when I flew in from GES-MNL in 2007, my last day in Gensan.The ticketing officer did not charge me a 750php fee. How wonderful! Money saved.
Cebu Pacific, in the other hand, used to offer free snacks. I wonder what went wrong why the service is discontinued. I heard it started when gas price went so high. The policy is pretty much reasonable though if that is the cause. The ugly experience I had with a non-accommodating check-in personnel in NAIA 3 in 2006 is the reason why I am not patronizing CP anymore. That was also the last time I flew in via CP. I'd rather pay high priced tickets to get a better service than deal with maltreatment.
Though I heard that PAL is named as "PAlaging Late" (always late), still, the trust I have for the airline remains. Delayed flights never happened to me. It might be in other destinations, but PAL's Manila-Gensan and vice versa flights are perfectly awesome. My parents, especially my father patronizes PAL at all times. He is so used to the comfortable service everytime he flies in to Manila going to Bicol.
One more thing, my facebookter friends suggested PAL, so they won. Thanks to their suggestions/opinions, it helped me a lot with my decision.
In May, I am hopeful for a safe trip to General Santos City, my dearest hometown, from Manila.
The lil one is so dramatic. Sometimes, I can not seem to grasp her behavior. So tonight was one of the many nights when she just wanted me to sit by her while she's watching Caillou on TV. I so wanted to watch my favorite show online but I had to give it up, instead, grant her wish. While the program was on break for commercials, one of the advertisements caught my attention. It was about this group of people who studied IT or Information Technology and work as IT professionals somewhere within the country. They are lucky that they chose the field and thankful for all the blessings they get.
And yes, IT Jobs are one of the most in-demand jobs of today's generation and may be more in the next. Some of my friends in my home country are IT professionals. For them, it is a dream come true, very promising job. I am proud that they are reaping the fruits of their labor. Money is an easy find, according to them. Silly boy friends of mine, they earn a lot but I receive no cards from neither one of them. And now that they know I am visiting home, two of them left a message on my FB account asking for a shirt and iPod. They wish! haha
I can never be an IT Professional. This job requires intelligence on Math and I am not a Math buff. I hate numbers and vice versa.
Before hubby left home for work, he told me that he is really getting older . He sees and feels the signs of aging specifically on his face. I told him that he is still young at 36 and if he dislikes seeing fine lines under his eyes, there are beauty products that he could apply. I had to cheer him up coz it's gonna affect his work if he thinks about it. He is a drama king, too, and I told him that. He just grinned in return. The lines are not that visible but he is affected by it. But I have a little surprise for him. I purchased an eye cream off an auction site and will come in mail next week. Hopefully, the product will help stop the appearance of fine lines.
We really can't stop the time. We'll get old and vanish in time.
Pregnancy is a gift from God and that this stage of a woman's life should be given proper attention and care. Taking supplements before pregnancy is suggested by many professionals. To ensure that the baby and mother are supplied with proper nutrition, it is advised that prenatel vitamins should be taken by the mother religiously.
When I conceived my 'lil one, prenatal vitamins were barely taken in. I was so sick all throughout the first and second trimesters. I couldn't stand the smell of everything that surrounded me. All were stinky. Most of what I ate would just come out right quick in just a matter of a second or two. Even the cleanest water made me feel sick, too. I felt like I was dying. My doctor said it would get better. What the heck why it took him 7 months before prescribing the medicine that helped me me a lot? No more disgorging and dizziness. All were gone after a minute or two of taking the first tablet. I had to take one every 4-6 hours or I would feel complicated again.
Pregnancy was tough for me. God must have punished me for disrespecting my mom. Hence, I am not praying and dreaming of having another baby. I can not just bare to be miserable again.
Weight loss programs and weight loss supplements are miracle if it is done religiously. A person can not lose weight if eating habit is unhealthy and foods are not scaled down. There is no myth in losing weight. It's just a matter of perseverance, dedication, discipline and self-respect; common attitudes to be successful in this endeavor. Hubby says these if he's asked how he lose over 60 lbs. in a year and I am just relaying it to you, my readers.
Yes, it is true that 90% of weight loss program do not work but I am certain that there are best weight loss programs for someone who is courageous enough to deal the uncertainty of losing weight. Try hard and don't stop. If first attempt is failure, try again til success is achieved.
Today is St. Patrick's day! Have a happy one!
The sun is hiding. Skies are gray and blackish in color. Cows are laying on their knees according to hubby when he phoned me a minute ago while driving on the way to his shift meeting. Indications that it's going to rain according to old beliefs. This is the kind of the day that I love and hate. Good because it's going to make the grass grow and green. Bad because hubby is working and the road is dangerous when it's raining. At the same time, the planned walk is obviously canceled for now. I am supposed to take the lil one out that she could play in the driveway and run in the yard. And when the road is not that busy, the lil one and I could go walking within the vicinity of the subdivision. It's a plus for me to shred some fats off my body since I am not financially ready to try this famous weight loss supplement called phosphacore. The 'lil one would love to see her friends that are now home from school. It could be a lovely day for us but today is not the day for fun in the sun. Hence, I am updating my blog and do household chores later.
If it ain't raining at 6 PM, sure will the plans will be continued. Time changed and daylight savings are blessings to be thanked for. Kids can play for long hours after school. The 'lil one would do the same under my eyes.
Today was payday yet shopping day again. Hubby, I and the lil one were on the road early this time. Here's our itinerary :
- First stop, the three of us headed to the in-laws' to pay a visit and let them keep the 'lil one while hubby and I went shopping.
- Second stop, Asian store. Bought green crispy mangoes, noodles, tofu, soy sauce, snacks, etc.
- Third stop, Ross and Academy. HUbby dropped me at Ross that I could shop for the 'lil one's shoes and flip flops, some clothes and of course, one new purse for me. He then headed to his favorite sports store for his training equipments. After that short shopping, we drove all the way back to Wally World where we bought a new vacuum cleaner and beauty products such as wrinkle creams, shampoo and moisturizer. Glad we did an early grocery shopping last Friday, we didn't have to buy much today that takes forever to unload.
- Fourth stop, went back to the in-laws' to fetch the lil one.
- Fifth stop, stopped at hubby's friend who recently have a baby.
- Last stop, drove straight back home.
March 11, the lil one's US passport book came in mail, four (4) business days after receiving the approval notice from the Passport Agency in New Orleans. Please read related post here. Her tickets came in, too, on the same date. It's late because it is required for infants to have real tickets with boarding passes from the airline agent. Unfortunately, the agent here had to request the said tickets from New York where the main office is located.
And I noticed that the lil one's passport is thicker than the hubby's. Paper used is 10x thicker than the one's released in 2006 especially the cover which is a great defense for the chip inserted somewhere within the cover. The interior design lay-out, too has changed. More illustrations about America's symbols, qoutations and more number of pages are added. The revision is a lot better, I must say.
Basically, I can say that everything is settled besides packing our stuff in a luggage which will come to happen two weeks before travel date. I can't help myself not to talk about the forthcoming trip though it's not happening this month but the month after April. Various emotions are softly killing me with lots of expectations. So wanna bond with my siblings and parents as well as friends. How I wish I can kick March and April off the calender like the time machine. Fastforward in the other sense.
Staying home full time as a mother and a wife is never a painless job. It is very stressful. I get bored doing the same thing over and over again, as in follow every mess that my daughter leaves which tires me most of the day and makes me miss my job before I got married and have a family. Not easy at all for someone who is used to be a career woman working everyday and late hours.
There are times when I search for jobs online but end up dismayed given the fact that I can not work yet 'til my daughter goes to school. Three more years to wait, ahh...that is a long wait.
Hubby consoles me when I feel bad about my situation. He'd tell me that it won't take long and be patience. Great feeling when he does it. I can not thank him enough for the love and support he gives me despite of the stress I give him lol.
This review is a result of a feedback campaign by PremiumCigarette.com As a recipient, I need to give my honest opinion about the product I received.
Let me cite few reasons why I say NO to Cigarette smoking :
- Tar and other substances in a cigarette affect the human body negatively. I know a lot who suffered cancer and other diseases because of cigarette smoking.
- Smoke, when inhaled causes skin problems, cancer and other diseases. The stink is not tolerable at all. The unpleasant smell sticks on clothes, skin and everywhere where a smoker stays at.
- Cigarette butts are seen everywhere destroying, instead of protecting mother earth. A clean and green America is unattainable if this continues.
Meanwhile, the Premium electronic cigarettes kit that I received for a review is a good start to quit cigarette smoking, rather switch to e-cigarette smoking. The kit comes with the following :
- two (2) premium rechargeable batteries
- six (6) tobacco flavored high strength cartridges with built-in atomizer
- USB charger
- AC wall adaptor
- user's manual
- manufacture replacement warranty. .
The breakthrough of e-cigarette, a very ingenius product, is my hope to help in the elimination of cigarettes. As a Pro-Earth advocate, I dream that cigarette smoking will be banned or replaced by e-cigarette.
Friday, I received an e-mail from New Orleans Passport Agency about the status of the 'lil one's passport book application.
E-mail states...
We have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you.
The 6-week timeline is defeated. USPS lady said that the processing time will take up to six weeks, supposedly due in March 17 which is next week. I am happy that the process didn't take that long, the passport book is on it's way, thus, the lil one is really going to the Philippines with us in May. And since it was sent last Friday, it might be in tomorrow or early this week.
Incoherently, I am still contemplating if I would apply for citizenship next year or so. It's hard to weigh things in. I love my country. I am a proud Filipino. These are some of the reasons that keep pulling my decision down. Meanwhile, I love my family -- husband and daughter, both Americans, and I stay wherever they may be. Tough decision to make but I'll cross the bridge when I get there. For the meantime, I will enjoy being a legal resident of USA. Make used of the $500+ 10-yr-greencard application fee. Decision will fall through in time.
12:35AM CT. I am still awake. Not sleepy but I need to be in bed and compel myself to sleep. I gotta go. Good night, everyone!
Now that Spring season is coming, I bet you shoppers alike are flocking in the stores for this season's wardrobe. I know because I did the same this weekend. The store I went to was so crowded especially the fitting room both for men and women. Argghhh...I won't go shopping on weekends anymore. Caused me headache and pain.
At the store, I saw these teens trying on urban clothes, fashion trend for the youngs. Actually, they annoyed me to death. Who wouldn't when the fitting room queue was long and these people were playing around and took forever in the room. Good thing I didn't have my lil one with me that time, just the hubby who went to the nearby pet shop while I look for some clothes. For so many clothes I brought in the fitting room, guess how many I bought? Just one. A pair of designer distressed jeans. Got so lucky to find a size that fits me well. No alterations needed.
A petite like me always finds nothing or less in the stores. Sometimes, it is best to shop online but I am heck of a picky, I wanna try it on before spending. But you know how it is to be a parent...shopping or malling is somehow a stress-relieving-activity after 24/7 of tending a toddler.
My eldest brother's wedding is forthcoming. Two more months the couple will exchange "I do's" for the second time in front of family and friends. They've had a civil wedding a year ago. This year, the wedding will be solemnized at the Catholic Church.
Sister-in-law is anxious and has been preparing since the plan occured. She started hunting for wedding dress and tuxedo last month. Younger sister and I are still busy with other details. I am no longer in-charge of the wedding invitation and thank you cards. The couple wants abaca fiber to accessorize the invitation which I doubt to be possible since the material is rare to find and the time is getting closer. I offered to make but they are not satisfied with the lay-out. They want a two-page-invitation, unfortunately, I can not give. Shipping and handling to the Philippines cost so much. Hence, I give up and pass the task to my sister. Luckily, she accepted the job. Now she is having a bit problem as the concerned couple are changing minds on so many things. I wonder what would happen in the next few days. Maybe a change here, or another there. Let's see.
Whew! Just got home from grocery shopping. Had a rough shopping because of the sick 'lil one. Ain't no telling how cruel the day is when someone has flu especially a toddler. Everybody who got sick this season blames the sudden change of temperature. Regardless of the condition, hubby and I had to get some groceries or we'll starve lol. So anyway, instead of filling the shopping cart with needed stuff, we were compelled to speed things out as in went straight to the register after grabbing our basic needs, waited for the cashier while she scanned the items using the Symbol LS2208, a handheld laser barcode scanner, which probably lasted around two or three minutes. Didn't grab meats and dairy but definitely would resume shopping tomorrow or the next day once the 'lil one gets better.
Even the planned park visit is canceled with the same reason as above. Oh well, there is always time for that. The main concern for now is the 'lil one's health. Once she gets better, we'll eventually make a trip back to the park where she loves playing at and mingling with other kids.
Finding time for my online endeavor is rare, too, these days. The 'lil one is full of drama when sick and holding her all day is part of that. She cries and screams at every single situation she dislikes. Not to mention her loss of appetite that is freaking me out. I am afraid of giving her medicine with no food intake. Oh boy! She is definitely not my typical toddler. Hope she feels better soon.
Whatta rough Saturday though I am thankful for the everyday blessings from Him.
Hopefully, the weather is fine tomorrow. Hubby and I are planning on going to the park that he could run while the 'lil one and I stay at the play area. The park is loaded with amenities for all ages. It has two play areas with slides and other tools that kids can enjoy. There is a long sidewalk that can be utilized for either walking or running. Old people can do minor exercise using dip station, badminton and tennis courts are also accessible to the public. There are restrooms for necessities and sheds in case of rain or too much sun. Over all, the park is great for family picnics, birthday parties and for good cause gatherings.
Living in a town with a residence close to parks, medical clinics, grocery stores, food stations, shops etc. is such a blessing. We don't have to drive for hours and waste money for gas just to get what we want and need. Even the Mall of Louisiana is fifteen minutes drive from here. Ain't that tempting? If not because of the forthcoming trip to the Philippines this May, my face is always visible every week in the mall. I have to compel myself to slow down that I could save more...for the meantime (wink).
Speaking of malls, hubby brought me to shopping shop today. He bought a lot for me and for the 'lil one. Before I end this post being that it's already 12AM here, I wanna say...Thank you, babe!
Pinoyforums said adieu but the entertainment never ends. The fall of the website opens a new door to another rising online place for Filipinos abroad to watch Philippine TV shows online.
Sorry but I can not link in the site here. I don't want the website to leave this early (yet). Just please google it with a keyword PinoyTVLinks (hosted by blogger) if you want to watch online Philippine TV shows.
Websites that offer free videos of Philippine television shows are basically one of the reasons why Filipinos living abroad are able to deal with homesickness. People who can not afford the subscription fee of PinoyTV or TFC channel. I am one of them. Pinoyforum was the only website that I kept on visiting. It is probably the best among the rest because of the organization of videos. The daily updates relieve me from the stress of being a homemaker and homesickness above all. Unfortunately, it has to go because of copyright infringement which won't probably be noticed by two huge TV networks in the Philippines if hidden reports were not submitted . Sad to say that there are jealous people around who can not be happy for others. They got to do whatever makes them happy to the point of slaying one's happiness. Report illegal videos! Tsk tsk tsk! So cruel!
At first I thought that Pinoyforums admin ain't have time to update the website. Hadn't read the important notice that is highlighted on the top of the page. I kept on visiting many times everyday but ignored the link "read this". Dang! I should have clicked it a long time ago that it didn't take this long before I get to watch the continuation of my favorite teleserye. Since the site is fairly new, contributors are still few, thus, limited videos are offered. Maybe in just a matter of three months or so, the website will be able to accommodate most viewers' request...more videos please!
I am thankful that Filipinos abroad have a new place to hang out in. Thank you PinoyTVLinks admin and contributors for the everyday entertainment. More power to all of you!
