Bombay and Filipina

It's funny how some people refer my husband as Bombay, Turko or InJan here in the Philippines. Even if we're already married and with kids, we still get those stares from people in the jeepney or in the malls. Of course, I don't mind that anymore since I'm already used to in and it's part of of parcel and package of cross cultural marriage. But what's funny is that I sometimes forget that my Hubby is of a different nationality and I only remember it when I get those stares. heheh!

I can read on their minds that they must be asking where I've met my husband so on and so forth. I'm sure they must have thought that I've met him online or through a Local Chat Room. ;) Yes, many have found their love life through the internet and as with any relationship, one has to be careful.. seek and ask God for the perfect mate for you!

Birthday in the Philippines

My hubby just turned 33 and he celebrated his birthday here in the Philippines for the very first time. Of course, we all made his birthday very special. His celebration started at 12:30 midnight. We were already asleep ( or I was pretending to be asleep) when family members gathered outside our room bringing cakes with candles and sang a birthday song. My Hubby of course didn't expect it since it's not in our ( Filipino ) family tradition to do that. It was so sweet of everyone to stay up and all our nieces and nephews were the ones who were so excited and stayed up to sing Daddy Jesu's birthday song. My brother-in-law who's a pastor prayed for him and we all had our midnight snacks with giggles and laughter. It was a very nice time of fellowship.

Then, the following morning, we left our kids at home ( Tricia was very reluctant to be left behind but thank God she agreed the last minute) and had a date at SM. We had a special lunch at Yellow cab and proceeded to do our groceries for the dinner which we were giving to friends.

My Hubby and I cooked Indian Chicken Curry and Chicken Kicap for dinner and surprisingly our (Filipino) guests loved it! We didn't expect our indian meal to finish up fast but we're glad that our family is getting indianized.hehehe!

So, that was my Hubby's special day.. a day spent with family and close friends. We also thank our family and friends from Malaysia and Thailand who didn't forget to greet him on his special day.

Thank you Lord for the years of your grace, protection and unfailing love for my Hubby's life. I know that you'll continue to bless him as you make him a blessing for our family, friends, loved ones and other peoples. Amen!

Love at First Sight

After not seeing each other for 68 days, I found myself amazed and awe struck at how handsome my Hubby looks. (LOL!) It was like I was a teenager again that got struck with Cupid's "Love at First sight". The first few minutes of seeing him, I immediately saw something has changed in his appearance. Hmm.. He didn't gain or lose too much of weight, Hmm... he still had his Indian color... but something changed so drastically that made me just stared at him and thanked God for giving me a handsome husband. ( No objections, please..) So, what has changed? he wasn't wearing his eyeglasses but was wearing contact lens!

Yeah, eyeglasses can totally change one's look. So, I guess, it's really best to look for the best eyeglasses or frames that can fit you. So, are you looking for the best frames? Zenni Optical haas a wide selection of Holiday frames. Yes, you'll have so much of varieties to choose from that it would be impossible not to find the perfect pair that'll fit you.

It's the same thing with me, I have a difficult time looking for the perfect glasses for me since my face is round and chubby. So, if I were to choose my own eyeglasses, I'll have to choose the one with big frames like this.

A Blessed New Year to ALL!!

A few more hours to go and we will all meet the year 2009! I just want to wish everyone to have a blessed and fruitful 2009!

I'm excited to meet the year 2009. It is going to be our Sabbath Year or our year of rest and refreshing. We had some big travel plans for 2009, but as my hubby and I reflected , we felt that it's not yet God's perfect time for us to push through with that Big Trip. So, we are now intently praying to what's God's best plan for the year to come. We are sure that God's plans are far much better than our own plans for indeed He has a greater purpose for everything. Amen!

Let us meet the coming year with a thankful heart to our God for the year 2008 and an expectant heart for God's miracles and blessings for the year 2009! We are blessed to be a blessing!

Photos..Photos...

Oh, just a few days ago, I realized that the thumbdrive where all Lyle's new born photos was stored is missing! I guess, this is one of the disadvantages of high technology huh? Would you believe that we have hundreds or maybe thousands of photos stored in thumbdrives, cds and SD cards but then, we haven't printed out a single photo yet? Yeah.. not good huh? I have to make that one of my projects for 2009, creating a scrapbook for Lyle and printing out some of our photos. I did a scrapbook for Tricia when she was still a baby but stopped before her first year. Now, Lyle has passed his one year and I haven't done anything for him yet. I just hope I'll find that missing thumbdrive. huhuh!

It would be also cool to get a digital frame and have all the kids' photos stored in there. I went to a site and tried out downloading my photo. In the video, it showed how the photo looked like inside the CEIVA Digital Frame. It looked so cool! It would be nice to have one. Imagine, all your photos will be stored and kept nicely in a digital frame. Then, I don't have to worry about missing sd cards, thumbrives and cd since all will be safe inside the frame.

Anyways, there's a contest that's open to all US residents where you can get a chance to win 500$ daily. If you got a wish this Christmas, then better check out this site and join the fun!

Yummy Sunday

Finally, my Hubby and I were able to go out on a date last week. We went to Bigby's Cafe in Lim Ket Kai and this is what we had. Yum!

I had this, it's called something like Bruscetti de Rosa ( not sure of the name )



while my Hubby had beef. Oh, I'm so bad with remembering the names of the dishes , so please forgive me..heheh!

Anyways, the food in Bigby's Cafe is nice. They have other dishes that I want to try out too. Maybe, on our next date with HUbby. But, I have to find someone to take care of our kids first. Any volunteers??? hehehe!

Dream Toys

After the opening of the kids' piggy banks, all of us went to Toy Kingdom last Saturday for them to buy their dream toys. Tricia bought the Mega Sketcher which she truly loves and Lyle has a Winne the Pooh Xylophone. The others got a Barbie, remote controlled cars and etc. Wow! The kids has a great time choosing their own toys with a big budget. The parents also enjoyed, knowing that they won't be spending a single cent in buying those expensive toys. Thank you Lord for the blessings! Thank you Lord for Granny's life too.

It's really great to see the kids' happy faces bringing their dream toys. It's really like they had their wishes granted. What about you? got a wish for this season?

We have been praying and wishing for a laptop this month. Unfortunately, we don't have a laptop anymore since we have to leave it in Thailand. So, that's in my wish list or rather prayer list for this month.

Anyways, there's a site that's hosting a contest. If you win, then your wish might come true. Too bad, I'm not a US resident so I"m not qualified. But anyways, I tried their site for fun. I just uploaded my photo and I was surprise to see my photo framed inside the CEIVA Digital Photo Frame. They've got cool frames!

The Piggy Banks

Granny has been saving all her coins in the piggy banks for a few years now. Inside her room are 4 piggy banks. One piggy bank to be shared for each family. The piggy bank savings are to be used by the kids to buy for their dream toys.



So a few nights ago, the grandchildren gathered together to break all the piggy banks! They were so excited gathering all the 1, 5 and 10 peso coins together. And finally, there was a total of 5,300 Pesos worth of coins gathered. Wow! That means Granny saved up all that! The kids thanked Granny for a very sweet gesture of saving up her coins for the grandchildren. Thank you Granny!(Actually, there's still 1 piggy bank left unopened because my brother's family is still in Vietnam. )

Chocolate Brownies

We have already planned out our Christmas Eve Supper and I'm excited for my sister's special lasagna. Yum!!.. She's also going to bake our family favorite , Chocolate Moist Cake. I'm so tempted to share the chocolate moist recipe here but then, she has told me years back that it's a secret recipe. So, anyways, I'll just post our special brownie recipe. This is also very yummy , you might want to try it out.

Yummy Brownie Recipe

3/4 cups unsweetened chocolate powder
1 cup shortening (butter or oil)
2 cups sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
4 pcs of eggs


Cream butter and add sugar gradually. Then add the eggs one at a time. On a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together ( flour, chocolate powder, salt and baking powder). Then mix all these gradually to the egg and sugar mixture.

Bake for about 30 minutes on medium heat.

There you have a simple, yummy brownie recipe. It's really sweet to give some goodies and chocolate for Christmas. You might want to check out Gertrude Hawk chocolate to give out to your loved ones too.

Below are the Christmas Goodies we gave out to our friends last year.

Have a blessed Christmas and a fruitful New Year to ALL!

Appa's Here!

It has already been five days since Hubby arrived but still our li'l ones still cling to him as ever. Once Lyle is with him, he refuses to come to me and so with Tricia. There were times that both of them wants to be carried by my Hubby at the same time. So, he ends up carrying two kids. :)

Almost everyday our Li'l girl will tell my Hubby , " I'm so glad you're here with us, Appa" or " Don't leave me, Appa". Yes, that's a bit heartbreaking for me to hear. I mean, our kids must have missed their Appa so much for them to react like this. That's why I'm just so glad that finally the waiting is all over and we are all enjoying our time together. Thank you Lord!

All About Bathtubs

I've never really appreciated 'bathtubs' until my friend , Janet taught me how to do body spa. From there on, I would be excited if the hotel we will be staying for holidays or conferences has bathtubs. I would then be bringing all our essential oils and other materials for the baths or spa. For a rose bath for example, I'll only need some rose petals and a few drops of rose essential oil. Put all that inside the warm bath tub and woolahh, you can dream your way to a nice relaxing bath.

There were times that we would go to Home Pro in Thailand and see all there display of whirlpool bathtubs and jacuzzis. I would be so amazed with such beautiful designs and the prices as well. I could just imagine how it would be inside those bathtubs. Heheheh!

Anyways, if ever we get to have our dream house come true, I'm sure there would be a bath tub in it! Hahah! Anyways, if you're also fond of bathtubs or looking for one. You might consider getting clawfoot tubs. It's such a cute tub that would be great for bathrooms that are not too spacious. I even found a great site that offers discount walk-in bathtubs. Anyways, I should not be checking these things out as of this time since, we're still not planning or even thinking of building a house yet. :)

Disconnected?

The last time I've been online was on Monday, a few hours before fetching my Hubby from the airport. From there, we went to the hotel and since we don't have a laptop anymore, I still couldn't get online even if the hotel has wifi. So that means 3 days has passed without me doing my tasks. Then when we went home on Wednesday, I thought that I could go back to my 'writing business' but then I was disappointed that our internet connection doesn't budge. It was only later on that I've learned tha Globe Broadband, our internet provider is having some problems.

It's already Friday today, and here we are.. in one of the internet cafe's in the mall and writing my tasks that are almost due. I just hope and pray that our connection in the house would soon be available because I'm already missing so many opportunities online.

Finally!!

The Countdown has finally come to an end! My Hubby has finally arrived and it was a sweet and memorable reunion as we all met each other at the airport. We were a bit late in going to the airport as our transport has some problems. So, when we arrived there my hubby and our cousin were already waiting outside. Oh..

One of the proofs that our Li'l girl miss her APpa so much was that, she cried when she hugged him and never let go of him anymore. Lyle also clung to his Appa immediately after seeing him. It was such a pity sight. I mean, they all felt the same and missed their Appa terribly. I hope that this will be the last time of being away for each other for so long.

Anyways, right after we fetch Hubby from the airport. We 'kidnapped' him and brought him to a hotel in the city. We thought that our family needed the time together before settling down in the house. I also felt that Hubby needs some time to rest first after traveling from Thailand to Malaysia and then Philippines. We truly had a nice 3 days together at Country Village Hotel. The kids enjoyed the swimming pool and the playground.

The Hotel was good and it was one of the cheaper hotels that I saw. They had free breakfasts in Alfonso's Bar. It was a nice, quiet and cozy bar with nicely designed bar stools. It made me wish we have those kind of kitchen counter stools in the house. It would be a nice touch for the kitchen. I've seen a site that offers discount bar stools.

Anyways, it's just great that Hubby is back home. Thank God for bringing him home safe and sound.

My Little Helper

One afternoon, my Mom and I were just in the room and talking. Tricia was outside 'playing' so we didn't really mind her. Then, suddenly she came inside the room with an armful of clothes! We asked, "What's that?". She proudly told us that she took all our dry clothes from the clothesline. I couldn't believe that she did that by herself because our clothesline is too high for her to reach. Then, she said, " Wait, there are still more clothes there!" and ran back outside. Then, my mom and I looked out from the window to see how she took out the clothes. There she was! She would jump to get the clothes and when it's too high for her already, then she'd climb up from the side. We were just watching her until she successfully finished taking all of our clothes out! Hahaha! Great job Girl! I guess I have a little helper in the making. :)

Of Maternity Benefits and SSS

Yesterday was the due date for my SSS ( Social Security System) payment. Even if I don't have an employer and not permanently residing here, I voluntarily paid for it because of its benefits. When I delivered my baby through Cesarian Section, I was able to get almost 10 thousand pesos benefit. That amount has indeed helped us and blessed us. I also didn't stopped paying my Philhealth Insurance and after the same operation, I also got my benefits even if I delivered my baby in Thailand. After submitting all my documents and forms, I just waited for a few months and I was amazed by the amount that was refunded to me. It was more than half of my total expenses! And what was more amazing was the the money came a few days before our airfare tikets to the Philippines is due. We really praise God for the favor and the blessings.

Speaking of Social Security System, do you know that in the US they have this Social Security Headquarters? With this site, it is easy for you to check on the legitimacy of any social security number. As with me, I don't even memorize my Social Security number. I guess it's not as important here in the Philippines as it is in US.

Leaving Thailand

At this very time, my Hubby is already in the bus and leaving Thailand, his home for 8 years ( mine for 6 years). It's now officially the start of our 1 year break and we're thankful to God for this opportunity. We feel that we really needed this break if not, maybe we ourselves will breakdown..:) kidding.. As what King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, "There is a time for everything under the sun". So, we feel that after several years of being in the 'field', it's the time to rest and be refresh for more years of work ahead.

I thank God for the next year that is before us. Though we're not yet so certain of our activities for the following year, but it is our prayer that wherever we are, wherever we go, God will continue to bless us and use us as a blessing for others.

Happy Sabbatical Leave for us! heheheh!

Of Digital Frames and Fun Contests

I've just browsed through a Christmas site for fun in which I watched a video, made a 'wish' and then uploaded a photo of myself. I chose a photo that was taken with my Hubby. And a little later, I was surprised to see my uploaded photo already inside a CEIVA digital photo frame in the video itself. Cool! The photo inside the digital photo frame looks very nice , crisp and clear. That's how the CEIVA digital photo frames are different from the other. Anyways, I'm really amazed by such digital photo frames which somehow reminds me that we are now truly in the hi tech age. Imagine, your photo frame changing images by itself every few seconds? And not to mention the different designs your frame can have. Anways, if your a resident of the United States and/or Washington D.C. and 18 years old and above, you can try the site not just for fun but you can join the contest too! Well, you got a wish for the holidays? you can join the contest and who knows you might win. The entries are randomly selected everyday and a prize of 500$ can be won. And who knows, your 'wish' might come true. Too bad I can't join the contest since I'm not US based. You might want to try it out!

Wonderland

I found a new hang out for my toddler now. It's Wonderland in Lim Ket Kai Center or SM City, Cagayan de Oro. At first I thought that he was too young to play inside but then I was proven wrong when I saw him so happily playing, touching and tinkering with all the toys. Indeed it's a place where he is very free to explore without all the "no no's" and limitations. Of course I still have to closely supervise him as there are toys meant for 3 years above but then, being freely to move around and play is already more than enough to make my toddler happy. Hmm.. I wonder when's our next trip to Wonderland again.

Of Insurances and God's Provision

Before, I was not a very big fan of life or medical insurances. I saw it as an added expense and couldn't see the real importance of it. Not until our oragnization got a Company that Offers Life Insurance for us as well as medical insurance and the rates were good. And then, my Hubby got admitted in the hospital and the insurance paid for that expense that could have totaled up to 2T Ringgit. I saw that as one of God's way of providing our needs.

Too bad, our insurance plan didn't cover my Cesearian operations that cost a huge amount of money too. But even without insurance coverage God still provided in amazing ways. I could still remember the time when we received an envelope from a friend that contained a gift that could cover more than half of my operation. Oh, how we drove back crying and thanking God for such an unexpected blessing.

Yummy Sunday - Mango Float

I made this last week, and it was already halfway finished, before I took a picture of it. The photo doesn't look so appealing I know, but who can ever go wrong in making Mango Float? .Even the novice and first timer can make a very delicious mango float as it is indeed very easy to make. :) For those who haven't tried making one yet. You might want to try it out for your Chrismas dessert.

You need: Graham crackers, 1 Can of condensed milk, 4-5 pieces mango, 2 boxes ( 250 ml) of All purpose cream.

1) Mix the condensed milk and all purpose cream in a bowl. ( If you don't want it too sweet, you can lessen the condensed milk)

2) Layer the Graham crackers in a pan.

3) Pour the cream you mixed

4) Arrange the thinly sliced mangoes

5) Repeat steps 2-4 until you reach the desired thickness.

And woolaahh! you got your yummy dessert.

The New Healthy Me ?

For the past days, I haven't been feeling very well. I see some differences and changes with my health and I'm thinking that maybe this must be the result of my unhealthy diet of sweets, fatty and oily food. I went back to my 'normal' eating habits 2 weeks after I arrived here in the Philippines. Before I left, I was a bit conscious of my food intake especially after my test that showed that my cholesterol level is quite high.

Anyways, I've resolved once again to be mindful of what I put in my mouth and not to simply gobble all the sweets and fatty food available inside the fridge. Aside from that, I'm taking some dietary supplements which are said to help lower down cholesterol like the Psyllium seeds and doing a bit of exercise too. I've also read that Green Tea is also a good antioxidant and is helpful to lower cholesterol. The latest one that I've heard is Acai Berry. I don't know if that's readily available anywhere but even this diet called Acai berry diet. But anyways, my research continues on how to lower down my cholesterol level. It's my aim now to really take care of my health- the life that God has given me. Thank God for good health and I must continue to strive to be healthier so that my life will continue to be more useful for HIs glory! :)

Lyle's First Haircut

Oh, the joy and blessing that children give can neither be measure by gold nor silver! Thank you Lord for adding sweetness in our lives by giving us these precious gifts - our children.

It's just amazing how kids bring joy to a mother's heart that even a simple hair cut can be a cause of celebration. Yes, Lyle had his first hair cut in the barber shop last week. I was already prepared for whatever his reaction may be : cranky or active. But he surprised me indeed as he sat still in the barber's chair, giggled when he felt the shaver on his head and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Please forgive me but as a stage mom I can't help but say, "He looked so cutee!" Hehehe!

His haircut just went like a breeze. I even didn't realize that it was already done. Thanks to the barber who I think is an expert in handling kids. He also did his part to distract Lyle from chewing on the clip from 'robe' and entertained him when he was becoming uneasy. Thanks Salon de France at Limket Kai Mall.. :)

Home Improvement 2

Our home improvement project is halfway done! Thank God for the provision and the blessings! We can now imagine how it'll look like once it's done. But my Mom and I haven't decided yet on what type of flooring to put : ceramic tiles, vinyl tiles or red cement. We are considering the budget and at the same time easy maintenance for the floor. Ceramic tiles would really be so easy to clean but then, of all the 3 options it's the most pricey of all. While the red cement is the cheapest but it requires scrubbing and thorough cleaning for it to be shiny. But anyways, before we decide we have to check out one shop here in the city because my bro in law said they sell very cheap tiles.

I do hope we can get very cheap tiles so we can have a floor that will be easy to clean and maintain. With just a sweep of the broom and a mop, then we'll have a clean floor! :) Speaking of floors and cleaning, I've heard that EZ Vacuum is offering 10% Off Coupon EZVAC10 on vacuum cleaners bags belts filters brushrolls machines Coupon code is EZVAC10 and is applicable on all orders over $20. I've heard they very low shipping charges compared to other merchants and have deep discounts on vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaning supplies. Too bad, we can't use vacuum cleaners since we don't have carpets in our home. :)

13 Days!!

Wohooo!! The countdown continues.. another 13 days to go and Hubby will be coming to the Philippines. Wow..as the days come nearer, it's also coming faster. It's my prayer that everything will be in order as Hubby leaves the work behind. We are assured that even as he leaves and be away for a year, God will indeed be control of everything. We thank God for the faithful people who'll take care of the work in behalf of us. Thank you Lord!

Now, we can rest, take a break and enjoy God's provision, protection, refreshing and rest for the whole year!

Disneyland in SM

We went to SM last Sunday and we had a 'taste' of Disneyland when we found a small section where kids can take pictures with their favorite cartoon character. It's not a mascot actually but just like a cartoon character on a stand which looked like banner stands . The little Disneyland was set up like trade show booths and the kids enjoyed looking at all the characters in different settings. They didn't have Pipe and Drape style of setting or display products on table skirts though but the Disney exhibit was really a hit with the kids.

Look at their smiles , they look so happy and it seems like their posing with the real Disney Princesses. I wonder how the kids will react when they see Mickey Mouse and the Disney Princesses for real!

Cake Business: CLOSED

Oh, we even haven't started our cake business yet and now we're closing it down already. hehehe!! After our househelper left, my sis and I decided not to go on with it anymore as we won't have an extra hand to help us. You see, both us has has 2 kids (1 toddler and 1preschooler each) so, it'll be a bit difficult if we get too busy with baking and stuff.

We also realized that it'll be my Hubby's first Christmas, birthday and New Year here in the Philippines, so we be not so busy or else we will end up baking all the way through Christmas and New Year. I remember the time I also had this bake business about 7 years ago,and I literally slept on Christmas Eve. I was too tired baking 5 days before Christmas eve that I wasn't even able to wait for our family Christmas eve meal ( at 12mn) anymore but dozed off at 10pm. So, I'll never let that happen again and make ourselves free and relaxed this Christmas Season. Never mind if we won't have extra income for the month, there's nothing more important and special than quality time spent with the whole family.

* Image taken from google

High School Years

One of the memorable years in life is the High School years. I surely had fun during those years and was able to create long lasting friendship. It was a time of fun and knowledge in a safe and healthy environment.

But what's sad these days in some parts of the world especially in the US is that the schools are not that safe anymore as more and more acts of violence, discrimination and abuse and taking place. I remember the chat I had with my friend who is in US. She opted to homeschool all her kids because the schools near their house were not safe and she would end up getting worried about her kids.

That's why homeschool system and online education are quite common in the US and other parts of the world. I've heard of an Online Education site that's great for High School students. It's called Brightstorm and as I've toured through the site, I found it a fun and a hip way to be educated. you might want to check it out and sign up for Sign up for a free brightstorm acocunt. Just click this partners.brightstorm.com/sheridan for a free account and a chance to explore the site.

Day Out

Yes, I'm excitedly waiting for my brother in law to fetch us. All of us are going out for "suruy-suruy" or jalan jalan. I'm planning to have Lyle's 1st hair cut in the shop and maybe let him play in Wonderland with Tricia. It'll be his first time to play there too! While my Mom and my sis' Mother in law are going for beauty beauty in the Saloon.

Then, in the evening we're going for our prayer meeting and after that be celebrating Nanay Mercy's 69th birthday! Nanay Mercy is my sister's mother in law and she's here in Cagayan de Oro for a holiday! I'm sure it'll be a blessed and fun filled Friday.

Happy Weekend to ALL!

Of Tactical Gears and Childhood Memories

I'm browsing through the site now about tactical gear. I'm not planning to buy any since I'm not into the military but then looking at it reminds me of my Tatay.

My Tatay is the outdoor type of person, he loved hunting, camping and all the different kinds of adventures. He had almost all the 'military' gadgets and gear. When I was younger, I used to go with him with his friends every Sunday to hunt some birds and he also taught me to use the air rifle. I really had fun during my elementary and pre-teenage years. I remember, we climbed up Mt Kitanglad. We never reached the peak though but it was really memorable, sleeping in the tent and looking at the stars that seemed so near and reachable. What made it more fun was that our family friends' kids also went up with us. We would laugh at how the fog comes out of our mouths every time we talked. Oh, how I miss those times.. I wonder if my children will also have the opportunity to camp out in the mountains and experience the those things that I've experienced as a child.

Anyways, if you're interested about 5.11 Tactical gears, you can check out their site and see a variety of great products.

The 1st Goal Reached

A few months ago, while I was just starting this so called paid blogging career, my Hubby and I were discussing if we could reach X amount of dollars by December. I thought long and hard and said, maybe it's possible but it all depends if God willl allow to let me get PR then I'll have more opportunities to write. Then, at the end of September, I did get my PR and more opportunities to write paid posts were quite regular. Little did I realize that I already reached our first goal last week! Praise the Lord for this extra blessings! A portion of that blessings were used to pay off our flight tickets which we bought in coming here to the Philippines and a portion of it is being saved up for our Big Trip. Now, the question is, will the 2nd goal be reached enough to save up for the Big trip?? Well, with God anything is possible!!

The Popular Eyeglasses

I was browsing through a site that sells prescription glasses and my Mom commented that she has been seeing those eyeglasses in other blogs too. Yes, I'm talking about one of The popular online eyeglasses shop. It's no other than Zenni Optical that sells glasses as low as $ 8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses. With the Christmas season right around the corner there is also variety of Holiday Glass Frames From Zenni Optical. Check out this site!

Under Renovation..

Yes we're doing a bit of improvement for our house here in Balulang. We used to have living room, but since we don't have an extra room for us or when my brother's family comes back home, our living room then became a guest room. Now, we thought of improving the house a bit and vreating a receiving area for the guests. We thought of turning the 'walkway' to the former living room as the receiving area now. It's not really a major renovation though but just a little bit of improvement here and there to make the house a bit more presentable. I'll keep you updated with the developments .. hopefully, the end result will turn out well. As for now, our house is still quite messy as it's undergoing renovation.

The "Before" Picture

Things to Consider When Building your Website

I know this is a bit of techy.. but it's a nice thing to share especially for the newbies in website building. I got the following from Heritage Web Solutions. It's a very helpful guide on Some Things to Consider When Building your Website : Words in italics are my own comments.

* Your Website Should be Custom, Unique and Original, Something that Stands out from your Competitors.
- I agree, there's nothing like a website that stands out from the others. It makes you want to stay on the site and visit it more often. It would be great to have your own unique design and not just follow a template that has the same design with hundreds or thousand other sites.

* Don't be Too Wordy with too much Text and Content. Get to the Point.
- Hmmm.. need I say more?

* Customers should Immediately Find what they are looking for. Use Bullets or Outlines to Make your Points. They are Easier to Read and Follow.
- Yes or else they might immediately leave your site when they can't immediately find what they're looking for.

* Your site should have a lot of "Call to Actions" (reasons for customer to Buy, Call or give you their Name and Phone Number).
- This is very important for sites which are selling a product or offering a service.

* Once your Website is live, consider how you will Drive Customers to it. (Search Engines, Articles, Advertising, yellow page listing, etc.)
- Once there's traffic, then for sure there will be sales.

This information is indeed helpful for those who wants to build a website to sell a product or offer a service or simply for ordinary bloggers like us. But if you're really serious in building a website for online business then better consult the professional at Heritage Web Solutions to give you only the best for your business. Heritage Web Solutions is an innovative website design company in provo utah.

How Thankful Are You?

Since it's the Thanksgiving Season.. I took the test from blogthings called How Thankful are you? and check my Thankful Scale. :) I'm quite pleased with my result and that somehow shows I'm contented with all the blessings that God has given me. God has indeed blessed me with so much..even more than I deserve. Thank you Lord! So, here's my result: You might want to take the test too.

You Are 79% Thankful

You are a very thankful person - for both the big and little things in life. Your optimism is powerful. Getting through hard times is fairly easy for you.

How Thankful Are You?

Holiday Gifts Ideas

With almost everyone on a budget, it's a bit difficult looking for some brilliant gift ideas. Our family for example, go to the budget stores and look for 'treasures' there to give for family and friends. There are shops here in Cagayan de Oro especially in the Cogon area where there are rows and rows of cheap Taiwanese products. For sure, we will be going there this Christmas season to buy our Christmas presents for our loved ones. There are also a lot of shops in the malls which are having some Christmas sale and if you're there at the right time, you can find some great bargains. The only disadvantage though in shopping in these places is that it's very crowded and a bit of a hassle too.

But then, now with the convenience of online shopping you can shop without the crowd and the hassles of going in and out the shops looking for the perfect gift. You might then want to try out giving personalized holiday gifts . Pexagon is now offering 20% off on 4 awesome personalized holiday gifts ideas! You can either choose to give Personalized Thumb Drives, Personalized Pens, Business Card Flash Drive or Wooden USB Flash Drives. Such cute items!

Help for the Home

I was like a Princess for 2 weeks. Whenever I needed to do something, there was someone I could ask to take care of my kids. Whenever I wanted something to be done, I had someone I could ask to do. I was a bit free.. free to go out and send my daughter to school without bringing Lyle around because, someone can take care of him in the house. I had more time to do my writing tasks, more time to read, and more time for myself. That's because , we had a househelper.

Our lives were easier with her. She could do her work fast and efficiently. Even if she's not so fond of children but at least I could leave my Li'l boy with her for awhile . It was indeed a great 2 weeks for me.

Last Sunday, our househelper asked permission to go back to her hometown to attend their town fiesta. We already suspected that she might not come back and so we asked her to tell us the honestly, if she's still coming back. She said, YEs because she liked it here. We believed her word.

But were disappointed to learn today that she's not coming back, it seems her parents did not let her come back. There's a long story behind it but the conclusion is, we don't have a househelper anymore. Anyways, at least I was able to take a short rest and enjoyed my 2 weeks break. Thank God for those weeks with someone to help us at home. Now, it's back to reality with me taking care of the kids. I can't wait for Hubby to come and things will ease up back again. :)

Currently Reading: The No Time to Lose Diet

With my cravings and appetite for food still on the go, I need something to keep me on track and motivated. That's why I bought this book, The No Time to Lose Diet ( By Melina B. Jampolis, MD) as a guide. It would have been good if my cravings are for healthy food and stuff but it's more on the opposite side.

What I like about this book is that it gives me easy-to -implement strategies for weight lost and it can also be customized according to each one's lifestyle and condition. I've just started the book and I could say it's fitted for me since it also caters to those with this condition.

Anyways, I still have too finish the book and slowly implement those principles I've read. It's good to know that there are natural ways to lose weight. I know of some who opt for Diet Pills and have found it quite effective for them too.

Yummy Sunday err... Tueday

This must be the latest Yummy Sunday entry.. but I only remembered to post mine after I've eaten the yummy pizza brought by my bro in law. He just came from Manila and brought a HUGE Sbarro pizza for the family. Their pizza was really huge, heavy and heavenly .. hahaha! It really tasted to good that I was already halfway through my pizza and only then I remembered about my Yummy Sunday's entry. And then I have to rush and get my camera to take a photo before everyone finish it. :) We are all pizza lovers in our family, so we don't count on pizza leftovers for breakfast.

It's my first time to eat Sbarro and I immediately love it! Too bad we don't have Sbarro here in Cagayan de Oro City. I thank God for surprising us with great food even in times of a tight budget. :)

Protected by God

We live far away from the city and our compound is quite isolated from the other houses. Sometimes our house is left empty without anyone to watch over it. And sometimes, we also feel that people are watching us. There were a few instances when it seemed someone tried to break in our house but somehow it never pushed through. Once our friend who was staying at our house that time, heard the dogs barking and when she went out of the room she saw the kitchen door was already widely open and so were the cabinets. The doors where closed earlier and it's a mystery how it opened. And when we checked, nothing was lost or taken. It seemed someone tried to break in.

We believe that even if our house has no Video Surveillance Systems but God watches over us and our house and keep us protected and safe. Thank God for his protection not just over our lives but on our belongings too.

Faith and Feelings

" Is there anything too hard for Me too do?" That was God's question for Abraham when He told them that Sarah was to conceive.

This was actually last Sunday's message in the church and it has been ringing in my ears after I've chatted with my Hubby this evening. You see, we've been planning, desiring and asking God for something. But if we humanly look at our present situation, it's like it's truly impossible for that plan to push through. My Hubby and I were at the verge of deciding whether to Let Go of that plan or desire and move on OR continue to push and pray about it. I was so much tempted to 'let go' so that I won't have to think about anything anymore. But then, I was reminded of God's word last Sunday that says " I am the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for me to do?" Then, I realize that God must be asking us to push through and continue to trust HIM. That is faith. Faith is in action when all the surroundings and situation around cries out "it's impossible!" or "it can't be done!". Faith is when we just hold on to our Lord and say, " Okay, Lord. I will trust you. I know that You can do anything. Show us Lord. Show us your hand moving in our lives." AMen!

Be the Asean XML Superstar!

XQuery, XML and DB2…

Are you familiar with these terms or do they look like foreign words to you? Well, as for me I’m only familiar with the term XML. Thanks to 'blogging' because through it, my ‘knowledge’ on some internet or computer terms has widened. My Hubby is sometimes amazed that I could easily change my blog template with all the HTML codes and stuff. What he doesn't know is that the templates I use are all ready made. All I have to do is just to copy and paste the code and Blogger does all the extra work. Though, sometimes there are some code problems that I still needed to fix myself.

Anyways, speaking about all these techie and computer stuff, are you one of the gifted techie people in IT? There is a contest that can show your skills on XML and database management. If you're like me who's a newbie or don't have prior knowledge about XML at all, this contest is also open for us to learn more about these new technologies that will help increase our marketability in the IT industry. Then I suggest that you join the IDUG Contest. You want to learn more about the IDUG contest and win awesome prizes? Then, check it out! Who knows you might be the next Asean XML Superstar!

The Field Trip

Last Friday was my Li'l Girl's first field trip from school. They went to different places to meet some 'community helpers' like the firefighters , policemen and etc.

So, the first stop was at the Fire Station where they met a real Fireman and saw the Fire Truck up close.
The students lining up to go inside the fire station

Then they went to the Police Station where they saw a re enactment of how a 'bad man' is being arrested and put into jail. :)

TNext stop was at the Park, where they just played and had 'exchanging of gifts'

This is Gaston Park, Cagayan de Oro Cityy!!!

Then the Post Office where they mailed the Christmas cards which they especially made for their loved ones.

And last but not the least, they went to Pizza Hut to make their own pizza. Yes, they made their own pizza and I'll write a separate post for that.

Future Chef??

Thank God that it was indeed a fun filled day for our Li'l girl ( and the mom too!). She truly enjoyed her time and experienced a lot of things that she wouldn't have experienced if she's not in school.

The White Goat

Introducing the white goat that we pass by every time we go to and from school. This is the goat that our Li'l girl never fail to watch and touch. She would always ask me if she could touch it even if we were already late for school.

So, one afternoon when we got back from school, the goat was inside our compound and happily chewing some grasses when Tricia asked if she could feed him some grasses. So, here is our Li'l girl happily feeding him but at the same time she's also quite scared of it. :) It's like a day in the farm. hehehe!

Christmas for the Payatas Children

A few more days before the 1st of December and we haven't started buying for our decorations yet. I remember my sis telling us that she's buying a Christmas tree as per request by her kids. Christmas season is really an exciting time especially for the kids. I could imagine the sparkle in their eyes when they receive their presents and when they see all the Christmas decorations.

But I can't help but wonder. What about those children who are not as privileged as our kids? Will Christmas have a special meaning in the lives as they go hungry and literally scavenge for their food?

I'm blessed to see a lot of people who are also sharing their blessings and showing their love in this special season. Take for example the press release below where people are blessing the Children by celebrating Christmas For Payatas.

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The landfill in Payatas, The Philippines, is notoriously known the world over as Smokey Mountain. For over 35 years, the smoking dump site has grown to become a stark and heart-tugging reminder of the desperate onditions of humanity.

On a daily basis, children pick through newly arrived garbage to collect material to sell. The earnings made by one child are not enough to even buy food for the day. Hence, entire families are forced to climb the mountain each day, hoping to earn enough to feed everyone. Children as young as four years old are forced to work in this daily struggle for survival.

In response to the plight of these children, Totedaddy.com is working with Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation to bring a little cheer to the children this Christmas.

Totedaddy.com has kicked off with a cash sponsorship of USD 10,000 to enable the children to celebrate Christmas. FusionExcel International has also pitched in a USD 5,000 in cash sponsorship. The money raised
will help fund the projects already in place, and help fund additional projects aimed at providing better housing, and a means of livelihood for the Payatas community.

It is hoped that by creating better awareness to the plight of these children, more support can be garnered towards their betterment. Together we can bury poverty!

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Let it be that we could indeed show God's love for the people through giving. After all this is what Christmas is all about.. God gave His SON .. that whoever believe should not perish but have everlasting life.

24 Days to Go!

I'm sure people must be tired of my countdown before my Hubby arrives. I can't help but be excited to see, hold and talk to my HUbby without limits. Lone distance relationship is quite a challenge especially in terms of communication. Even though we chat, send sms and talk on the phone everyday but then it seems not to be enough. There were time both of us got frustrated because it's either my internet connection or his connection is slow and therefore difficult to chat. Phone calls are also quite expensive so our calls are quite limited. My Hubby calls me from his hand phone and I guess it's more expensive than using phone cards. But I'm sure he could get some Philippine phone cards from there.

Anyways, another 24 days to go.. that's exactly 3 weeks and 3 days! I can't wait to talk and be with my Hubby.. :)

My Pre- Christmas TO-DO List

11 more days to go and it'll be the 1st of December. December is on of the busiest time of the year and I think the costliest too. But as with every Christmas season, it's always a great blessing to remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ and along with this is the time spent with family, friends and love ones. So, here are my Pre- Christmas list.

• Start planning for our Christmas Decoration. Decorating our house here is quite a challenge, since there's not much space inside. So, i guess I have to think of decorating more of the exterior ' garden area' than the interior.
  
• Search for the cheapest and nicest Christmas Decors. I've seen the Christmas trees of all sizes from the malls and it's quite expensive. The other day, we saw a bunch of painted twigs for only 100 pesos. So, i guess I'll have to settle with that and have to go to Cogon/Taiwanese area and Bohol trading to search for more cheap decors.
• Plan and start marketing our planned Cake Business for December. Anyone wants to order some Chocolate moist cake?
  
• Plan something for the kids. Last year I made an Advent Calendar for Tricia. She really loved it and through it understood for the real meaning of Christmas. I plan to do with for her and her cousins this year. But I still have to think of my budget and time. Imagine, I'll be making for 5 kids! But I'm sure they'll love it.

Ok..I guess that's all for now. As you can see it's more on planning and not the 'doing' yet. That means, I just need some time to sit down, think and plan all these things and then I'll be set. :) What abou you? What are you Pre Christmas List of things to do?

Of Cartoons and Kids

My Mom has a cable tv and as with any cable TVs, cartoons are available 24/7. There are only two cartoon channels available in our cable TV, Cartoon Network and Nickelodean. I would have personally preferred Disney Playhouse for my preschooler but unfortunately, Disney Channel is not available with our cable provider.

As for "cartoon watching" for my preschooler, it was quite a struggle controlling her with it but now, I've set a 45 minutes to an one hour a day for her to watch. I find Nick Jr. best suited for her while the other shows in the afternoon and evening will be more suited for the older children. There was one evening that I watched one cartoon show with her and I was shocked to hear a word uttered by one of the characters that’s not suited for children at all. So, I explained to my girl that the word she just heard is not good and she must not use it at all. From there on, I realized the importance of monitoring the shows she is watching.

Anyways, for those who has older kids and like to watch Nat & Alex Wolff of the Naked Brothers Band at Nick. There will be a live chat this Saturday, Nov. 22, chat with them as part of their new premiere, Operation Mojo. I’m not so familiar with these brothers but I think they’re quite famous with the primary kids. But as with other shows, we parents must be there to monitor what our kids are watching and guide them properly.