Mheldz Bloggie

I moved!!

2008-01-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

Please visit me at my new home!!
See you there!!

It's Back To School

2008-01-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

I am seriously confused on whether I should be glad that the kids are back in school again of to be disappointed because I have to get up early in the morning again.My alarm went off and I felt like I fell from the top of a very tall building and went in turbo speed going down..lols....

Oh well..we're back to normal routine...at least this morning I didn't have to turn the house upside down just searching for the comb ( I bought 4 of them , one for each room )

The weather has been just awful this past days.Just rain and freezing cold. It start to get dark at 4pm and by 6pm you feel like you didn't get enough done for the day and its already time for bed. I wanted to take pictures out door but we could go out so I just made my son as my model again . I couldn't trick my older daughter any more even if I promise her treats if she pose for mommy. Inside our small apartment I practice with my new digi cam and even discovered some tricks with photoshop all by myself.

Photosharing Time!!!

Nature Tripping

The rain stopped for a while so I managed to take snap shots of the views outside of our patio.

A Really Old Tree

Birds On The Tree ~ A VerY Alfred Hitchcock Kind Of Scene..Creepy?

Great Grandpa Called And He Wants His Car Back

Nice Job Stacking Logs

A Lonesome Nut

Okay...that's all for now..

First Post For 2008

2008-01-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

I , actually , have nothing substantial topic to write but just for the sake of the New Year I thought it would be nice to have an entry for the first month of the year and also kinda like bringing good vibe to my blog .

Jan 31....midnight pacific time...I heard 4 maybe 5 pops of fire works from our neighbors.What a pathetic attempt to welcome 2008. Grant stared at my face for a couple of minutes. Perhaps he's waiting to see if I'll burst into tears and storm into the bathroom and luck the door...just like I did last year. No more drama this time.I'm used to it. Its never gonna be like how we celebrate it in the Philippines where you'd feel like your in a middle of a battle field and your nose is black from the fumes..It just the exact opposite. Too quiet...in fact I could here our next door neighbors opening & closing their closet.

Peaceful...I guess is the word I would describe our New Year's celebration and perhaps that would be my wish for our family too and the whole world.

We did watch Harry Potter the Order Of The Phoenix ( yes I am obsessed )As the main stars of this very popular movie has gotten mature so is the plot of the story and it is even more ( to me atleast )because you can kinda relate . The also enjoyed Goblet Of Fire but this latest sequel of Harry Potter made me cry .Ok , I wont reveal the story for those who hasn't seen it yet.
I am just so taken by the character and the whole story that I am planning to get me the entire books collection ! Yey...that would be something that I can look forward to this year.

Speaking of "something to look forward to ".....My husband gave me another surprise for xmas......a new "vacuum cleaner" hahahha :D

It was something I have been wanting to buy but I just could not find the right one ( and right price tag). Imagine not being able to vacuum your home for a few months...well, I used the small handvacuum that my MIL gave to us but it was not powerful enough to get all of the dirt ,crumbs and hair (gross , I know) For the sophisticated taste of the Domestic Diva..( that's moi!! ) this was a perfect gift for me because I have been wanting to get a really good quality vacuum and boy did I put the thing to the test immediately hhahhahaa. With 2 active kids and my long hair , an ordinary vacuum cleaner wasn't enough so even though we spent a little bit more if we had gotten something at walmart or Target , this one will sure to last and it has 4 year warranty . No more kneeling to clean the carpet using the handvac ( coz I broke our upright vac few months ago).I have been vacuuming joyfully since and I just love the feeling of clean floors .

New Year Resolution...??????
If you guessed "to lose weight"..you hit the jock pot ( dingding ding!!)
maybe I should have wished for a one year supply of " motivation" hahahah.. We'll see.. I have to make friend with my scale again and cardio equipment :)

Till here for now....

BTW..I got another cool awards from Tess and Bless ( nice rhyme)...Thank you both for your sweetness.I apprecaite it very much :)

Bitten By The Shutterbug

2007-12-30T16:57:00.000-08:00

Xmas Eve, after the rocus and the almost-ended-up-in-the-ER incident ,we had our dinner ( instant noodle soup....my sister would not believe that we didn't have a feast just like in the Phils) .Kids went to bed quietly.I took a quick shower and got ready to watch tv before we go to bed. DH pointed a box sitting on our ottoman and he told me that "he thinks it's for me". My husband is not very good in giving surprises to this is a big deal for him. The box was not wrapped ,actually it was an old box.....but it was heavy when I lifted it....so I thought " hhmmmmm..must be a brick and he wants to play trick on me ......." Inside the box was another paper bag..a more christmassy looking box and so then I got really excited and I thought " hhhhmmmm maybe a brick wrapped inside this paperbag..."
The "brick" was wrapped with those thin colored tissue papers so I could not really make out what was inside and my brain was going " if this is really a brick I hope he could dodge fast enough coz its surely will land on his face"....
Slowly I unwrapped the thing and voila!!!......a new digital camera!!!!!
At 11:30 pm I was jumping up and down like a kid ...I was really surprised!!!
I didn't asked for anything this xmas because I figured he already spent so much money helping my family in the Philippines but he knew that I wanted a more powerful camera coz I love taking pictures. I think this is one of the best Christmas present I have ever had so far..

So what do you do with your new toy???!!!
You play with it till you learn all the tricks and make the full use of it.

I'd like to share some pictures that I took with my new cam.Pls. click on the images to make it bigger.

The picture quality was so good you can see the details of the xmas tree so clearly

Santa Said She'd Been Really Good So She Got Her Wish

Shinjo Wont Be Left Behind.He Got Some Nice Presents Too

Trigger Happy Mommy Captured Shinjo's Goofiness

He Luvs Modeling For Mommy

Practicing With The Color Effect. Shinjo In Sephia

Soo Busy With Her New Gadget She Wont Even Look At The Cam

Happy New Year Indeed To All!!!

Our Little Xmas Story

2007-12-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

But all of a sudden mommy heard a scream from the kids' room..
It was Princess yelling..."mommy come...help!!"
Mommy dropped the spatula she was using to mix the pumpkin puree for the pie...
She dashed to the room to see what was wrong and to her horror she saw her son's left nostril swelling like a cherry tomato...
Shinjo stuck a piece of candy to his nose!!!!
Mommy yelled for dad who was in the bedroom working on his computer.
Panic just overwhelmed my whole senses and my heart just started pounding ever so hard. Daddy held Shinjo's both hand so he wont shove the candy further inside his nose. I found my twiser and tried to pluck the candy out but it wasn't working.
By then mommy was really scared...she started imagining the worse thing that could happen to her son. Daddy yelled at mom to get the phone and call mother-in-law ( she's a former nurse ) .Mommy couldn't think straight anymore and she knew every minute pass is crucial. She so frightened that her baby might end up in the operating room and have his nose cut open so the doctor can get the candy out. So while dad was holding Shinjo's hands and talking on the phone at the same time...mommy decided to sucked Shinjo's nose...literally....with her mouth....
Mommy pressed on Shinjo's right nostril while she tried to suck on the left side where the candy were and after a couple of tries.....Shinjo's nose was free on any obstruction....even his snot was cleared...

Mommy was so relieved and happy that his son was out of danger that she held him really tight and sobbed uncontrollably.

This Candy Is Now Officially Banned In Our House

His Nose Still Slightly Red The Following Day. Thank God We Didn't Have To Spend Xmas In The Hospital

5 Days Before Christmas

2007-12-19T16:06:00.000-08:00

Shinjo had their xmas party at his school today and he wont see his classmates & teachers till next year, January 4th. Princess have until Friday at school and then she'll have a two-weeks long winter break.

When Do I Get A Break???
....in your dreams Mel...

I talked about ordering toys online and so I did...and guess what??
I returned most of it because I didn't like the toys when they arrived...very disappointing...so no choice but to head out to the store before it gets emptied by the eager shoppers. Whew....thank goodness we found all of the toys on our list.

We got our tree too..but not as big as last year . I think my dear husband was distracted about something because he was obviously wasn't paying enough attention when he bought it.The tree was not perfect ( according to my taste) but I didn't want to say anything. I had to re-do the decoration because the tree was leaning so much it looked like its gonna fall over my head. ...patience....patience......and with a little bit of trick the tree stood perfectly straight & still. I just love real tree...I know that with all this "environmental issues" that it's probably more ideal to mother earth to juts have a fake tree but I thought...come on....I don't pollute ( not too much) and I recycle so its not like I'm not doing anything so I think I can be forgiven for having a real fresh cut tree for xmas.

My MIL came and help put up the ornaments so it was fun. Kinda like our family tradition as well , to be together , helping each other decorate the tree and have the same holiday spirits. We also discussed about what are we gonna have for Christmas dinner and I dunno if it was clear on my face that I was a little disappointed . I explained that I just missed the holiday feast that we have in the Philippines where we have so much food and desserts for the whole family ,friends and neighbors to enjoy.

Mas masaya ang Noche Buena sa atin!!

I hope all of you guys will have a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!!

Here are some latest pics of my little kiddos.

Ang Mga Mahal Ko Sa Buhay

A Wish Come True

2007-12-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

Sunday night , I got a text from my brother Mark. He was scheduled to leave for Abu Dabhi the next day and that his flight had been confirmed. I felt a sudden rush of emotions and couldn't help the tears.Half of me was happy and proud of him.He'd come a long way from being a hard core punk to a grown up man. The other half was sad and I couldn't explain why. I felt like he was leaving me too. What a silly thought I told myself. He's heading to world unknown to him and there'll be no parents or sisters who's gonna tell him what to do...he is on his own. He's 22 but I think of him still as my little baby brother . I couldn't thank my dear husband enough for helping Mark all the way through and even making sure that he's enough money to survive till he gets his first pay check. What a great kind soul my husband is. He'd made such big difference to peoples lives and had given my family a brighter future. If not for him my sister would have not finish college and my brother getting a job in the middle east. His next plan is to help rebuild my parents house.

It is always been my prayer ever since my younger brother started having problems at school and hanging out with some less desirable bunch of teens that he would take life seriously and think about his future....Well, that wish was finally granted and I could have not ask for anything else...now I pray that he continues his journey to a better future and don't look back . I miss him already.

My brother Mark (The guy on the right)

******************************************************************

We still have not gotten a tree because of the rainy weather las t weekend .
This Saturday for sure ,come rain or shine , we will get our tree :)
My xmas shopping is half done. I think I bought enough for the kids. That's the
beauty of shopping here in the states, you can always return stuff so I'm not too worried about the kids presents. This Saturday I have to find presents for the adults and I know I am a little late but I already have an idea of what to get so it shouldn't be a problem.

I think this xmas will top off the previous year . There's a number of great things that happened to our family and I am so Thankful to our good Lord.

I will add more about the rest of our pre-xmas events.
ta-tah for now.

Have a good one everybody!!!

Anticipating,Online Shopping And An Award

2007-11-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Could you believe it??? As I am typing this post there is only less than 22 days left before Christmas!! That fast huh!!
Like always I have it all planned ...find the perfect tree, take the holiday ornaments out of the storage closet, surf the net for the right toys for the kids , plan for the xmas dinner etch etch...but I had to put my plans on hold for a while because of some major events that is going on with my family in the Philippines.

First, our youngest sibling got a job in Saudi Arabia and we've been scrambling every ways to make sure that his first flight out of the country will go smoothly. I must say I am a bit nervous coz he's only 22 and still very immature but come to think of it , I had my maiden voyage when I was 16. I guess I'm worried coz I know that it's not as easy as they think with all the adjustments that he has to go through.I have been texting him so many time giving him advise & tips on what to do , what to bring , what to expect. Part of me was so proud how he came around from being the problem child of the family to being a grown up with all his wonderful plans and hopes....another part of me is sad because he is going away just like me and I know that this will break my parents heart. But , we all have to make our own choices for our future.

Another major event is my sister's board exam (BS RN ) scheduled today and tomorrow. This is her second try and I am praying so hard that she make it this time. I know how much pressure it is on her especially now that our brother is going over seas ahead of her ( napag iiwan na sya). I trust her and I know that she will do everything she can to pass this exam...its for her own future....its for her own good.

I miss my brother and sister so much most of all during this holiday season.
When we were small kids , my father would bring Andok's Fried Chicken and some hot pandesal and call it "noche buena". No matter , the excitement for the coming of xmas and the New Year were not dampened by the meager amount of food on our dinning table , we still celebrated the joyous occasion as if we were chowing down expensive ham and other fancy dishes. We were still happy because we were together.

-----------------------~~~~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~---------------------------

My anxiety and restlessness is off the roof so I thought maybe surfing the net for toys would help me relax......NO...it didn't..it just made me more edgy. I guess I must have forgotten how it is to shop for toys. Last year was stressful because they were no longer infants nor toddlers..they are now "younger kids" or so the toy websites categorize their ages. Within an hour of looking I realize that it even more agonizing this time ( and the next years perhaps) not only because of the kids different interests but also the kind of toys that are out there. Not to mention the prize ( expect to shed a few hundreds if you have more than 1 kid ). Our DD requested a Nintendo DS and I tried to explain to her that if this is what she really likes then that's the only gift she's gonna get because Nintendo is expensive. She graduated from Leapster Learning Center which she loved so much that she accumulated 10 different game cartriges. Seems like she'd made up her mind so Nintendo it is for her. Our DS on the other hand is just starting to learn ABCs and he loves to color and paint and he is so interested with all kinds of animals.He also likes songs, music and books. My Amazon.com wishlist is full of options just for Shinjo .Me and my DH will have to sit together and pick the ones that we think are best for him.

We're doing all of our shopping on line and taking advantge of Free shipping. I don't think I could take the kids to the store and let them pick the toys they want then expect them to wait till xmas. That's just turture to them , I think.I mean , its hard even for grown ups to wait . If we have a babysitter , I would shop by myself or with my husband, but definitely not bringing the kids. And besides,I'm comfortable sitting infront of my laptop, in my flannel jammies and a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Here are some good websites for educational and unique toys.
1.Baby Universe
2.Wokits
3.ELC
4.Kaplan
5.Sensational Beginning
6.One Step Ahead

Happy Shopping!!!!

-----------~~~~~******~~~~~~-------------
My friend Tess and Bless gave me and award. You guys are so sweet. I'd like to give you a big bear hug if I could. Thanks to both of you.

I'd like to share this award to every one on my friends list coz you all deserve it too!!!

Lakbayan Tag From Nova

2007-11-29T09:29:00.000-08:00

Nova..thank you for this tag:)
I got a D!! hahhaha..That goes to show that I need to explore my own country more.
I will...someday!!!

My Lakbayan grade is D!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Hey ladies...wanna see how you score???

Born Under The Sign Of Twins

2007-11-29T09:09:00.000-08:00

This is a Tag from Wena...Thanks for this one :)

Rules are as follows:
1.Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2.Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3.Pick your month of birth /Highlight the month that applies to you.
4.Tag people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
5.Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical

I'm tagging all of my you ladies on my list :)

Post Thanksgiving Update

2007-11-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

I've managed to get my butt up and do something that doesn't require using too much muscles and effort, just my fingers.....blogging. After the Thanksgiving , I was just so tired and satiated that I ( we ) spent the entire Friday doing absolutely NOTHING. We ate the left over ,surf the net ( no fighting over the laptop coz he has his own) and watch tv till 4m of Saturday. It was the laziest day ever.Kids wore their jammies till they took a bath before going to bed. I was so exhausted from prepping , cooking and cleaning that I didn't have any energy left to go shopping on Black Friday. 'Sides, you can shop online too if you are really desperate to buys something and wants to save a few bucks. I guess I wasn't crazy enough to brave the crowd that are waiting outside of the mall before the break of dawn. The turkey must have altered some chemical in my brain coz all of my excitement to go shopping was gone!!! I was so content to just sit in front of our projector screen TV or look online for my favorite store.Me and my husband both just spent the whole Friday cozied up in our sofa with our legs propped up the ottoman with only our eyes and fingers moving and only getting up to go to use the bathroom or get drinks and food in the kitchen.....The Best Friday Ever!!

I just like to add that my Thanksgiving Menu was a success.
All the trouble of brining the turkey over night and making 3 different kind of pies were totally worth it. I would definetly brine my turkey every thanksgiving because it made the meat so tender and juicy .DH commented that if "he can cut the meat with his spoon , then it means that the meat is very tender". You don't even need gravy coz the meat was so tasty ( saves you some extra calories). The veggies was fresh and crisp that you can hear it snap in every bite. My kids surprisingly loved the pumpkin pie. Last year they wouldn't even dare take a tinnie tiny bite. Pecan pie was also turned out perfect and MIL gave it a thumbs up!!!

My Center Piece.The Only Souvenir Shot On Thanksgiving

So how was your Thanksgiving??

**********************************************
Hooked On Heroes

What a great show!!!. Me and my DH watch this together and we just started last week. It was so good we would watch 3-4 episodes in one sitting .If you have a NETFLIX account , you can go to their website and click on Watch Now.They have a huge list of movies,TV shows,Documentary etch etch.
This show is like our current " Alone Time Together" activity coz we want to watch every episodes together and we are almost done with the first season. The writer/creator of this show , Tim Kring also wrote Crossing Jordan , which I'm also a big follower. If you are in to real suspense and sci fi flicks, then you should not miss this.
I'm still loyal to House MD and LawAndOrder SVU/CI but Heroes is special coz my husband loves it too.

In A Festive Mood

2007-11-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

I am partially done with my Thanksgiving dinner shopping.
Saturday morning at your favorite warehouse store ( such as Winco or Costco)on the week before one major holiday is like being in mad house with shoppers all armed with their crumpled shopping lists and a serious look on their faces that I could describe as "Get Out Of My Way Or I'm Gonna Run You Over With My Cart And I'm Not Kidding". Emotions run high as every one has this unified mission : To Find The Perfect Turkey. For a foreigner like me , it is a daunting task .The whole process of planning the meal ,shopping,cooking and clean ups and most of all , the one thing that only worries me is " Are they gonna be impressed with the meal that I make?" That is my ultimate goal : To deliver a satisfying and delicious meal for my family at Thanksgiving. So in order to achieve this goal , I made a game plan and menu for Thursday dinner.

Saturday till Wednesday : 17lb frozen turkey will be thawing in the fridge till ready to be prepared and roasted.
Monday: General Cleaniing.Vacuuming , dusting, putting away clutters , checking all the bathrooms are clean and supplies replenished and make sure that all the dishes , serving platters and silver wares are good to go.I also have to get haircut.
Tuesday: Go to discount store and find good deals with holiday decors such as wreath,candles etch etch.Whatever I could find to make the house looks very festive.
Wednesday : In the morning,get all the fresh ingredients such as veggies,fruits , dairy and must not forget drinks and wine.At night start baking the desserts and the brining of the bird.

I do hope that I could get everything set to go before Thursday so we could all just relax and feast all day Thursday.

My Menu is simple and traditional but I always want to add a little bit of extra touch so I am brining my turkey the night before to guarantee flavor,tenderness and juiciness. I've never tried this process before so I'm nervous but hey, there's always the first time. My MIL is bringing the stuffing and mash potatoes so that's saves me a lot of time to do other meal.

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu:

Appetizers : Cheese platters (Gorgonzola ,brie,swizz and sharp cheddar)
Assorted Olives , pickles , crackers and some fruits
Side Dishes :Broccoli Casserole with Mushrooms and cheese
Asparagus wrapped in bacon and souted with some shallots & sprinkle of
toasted almonds,Creamy Mashed potatoes and corn bread muffin
Main Course : Roasted Turkey with Gravy , stuffing and cranberry sauce
Desserts : we have 3 different pies .Pumpkin ,apple and pecan pie. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

We have movies that we plan on watching after dinner. Movies for us adults and for the kids so I think its gonna be a fun and relaxing day.My alarm clock is set to go off at 4am and you know why?? Black Friday!! yes, in deed. My dear sweet husband agreed to babysit the kids while me and girl pal Sonia go shopping without interruption. That should be lots of fun.

I hope you guys have a fun and exciting Thanksgiving.

--------------------------------------------------------
Got Some Awards

I'd like to thank Bless for giving me these awards. Its really sweet and thoughtful.Don't know if I deserve it but I gladly accept it :)

What Are We Thankful For This Year?

2007-11-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

Can't believe it is already Thanksgiving.Remnant of the previous year's turkey day are still visible around my hips and belly. My first year here in the US I felt like this holiday is more associated with feast and pigging out to almost up to a comatose state and unlike Christmas which is more into gift giving and children having the grandest day of their existence with all the boxes upon boxes of gift that they have to open . But now going into my fourth Thanksgiving , I have learned the true essence of this celebration that goes back 400 years ago . It is indeed a time to be Thankful for everything that we had or was given to us. A time to appreciate and look back at what we were and how we are right now.

What am I Thankful for this year?? Plenty .
And I'm not talking about monetary values...its even more and it has no price tag.First , I am thankful that me and my family have had good health all this year.Maybe a little cold and fever every now and then and some annoying skin rash but generally most importantly our kids have been in good tip top shape.

Secondly , I am grateful for the good lord for giving my husband a career that he really like. Makes me happy to see him go to work everyday with that energetic gait and the satisfaction written across his face. Without telling he is at a place where is skills are valued and appreciated which I think is more important than the amount on your paycheck.

Third , my two siblings who are now both grown ups and showing more maturity and responsibility. Each of them are trying their luck to work overseas. I am most grateful for my younger brother's effort to show that he now knows and understand how life really is all about. Two years ago,all he can talk about are new clothes,new cellphones, barkada etch etch. Now he talks about more serious stuff and starting to realize his dreams. I know that he will get there if he continues his determination and motivation. Same goes with my sister. I am very confident that it is just a matter of time and soon she will accomplish what she has been working on for six long years. A career as an RN. I am thankful that she had this opportunity of getting a degree that many in our family never had.

Fourth,I'd say I am Thankful that our family is more stronger than ever. We have gone through many trials and tribulation and survived. Now we have the long years a head of us to look forward to. We are not rich in money but we are blessed with love for each other and that is all that matters.

So what about you?? What are you thankful for?

The First Thanksgiving Meal That I Made 3 Years Ago.I am Much Better Now.

A Trip To The Clinic & Some Funny Story. : Part 2

2007-11-10T00:35:00.000-08:00

This one is about my son's recent visit to see his new pediatrician and also to get his Flu shot. God knows how I hated to be in the waiting area much more surrounded by sick kids w/c made my misery 10x worse but this was my little peanut's annual check up so I was a little ok with it.

His new pedia , lets call her Dr. H , is a giant . I figured she's tall when I read her resume on the hospital's websites about her being a former member of her collage basketball team .I was wearing a pair of boots w/ heels but I still looked like a midget in front of her towering height which probably over 6 feet tall.

Dr. H is nice and she asked many questions about Shinjo and told me plenty about herself . I like the fact that she didn't look like she's in any rush to be done talking with us and Shinjo kinda liked her and comfortable around her which is very important to me.

Time to do a quick examine of Shinjo's vitals and some other routine check ups.Laying down on the bed ,Shinjo was made to take off his pants so the doctor can look at his genitals . The little bugger was making a fuss so Dr.H gave him a tongue depressor to keep him busy while being examined.
Dr, H :" Hmm...seems everything is ok...2 testicles....no bumps or anything.... OH NO..I think we should take that away!"

I swear I thought I was gonna pass out after hearing what Dr. H said and she caught my gaze and read my pale and scared expression. I was so shocked I couldn't open my mouth. That's when Dr. H said " Oh I meant the tongue depressor because he was chewing it "
I gave out a big sigh of relief and we all had a big laugh even the student doctor who was there accompanying her. Gosh , how would you feel if the doctor tells you that your son might never have any children because there's a problem with his manhood?! Beside, I wanna have some grandchildren too.

Luv Ice Cream!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daughter is now in first grade and her level of curiosity doubled up.
Everyday she looks at the calendar and ask me what date is it or how many more days before Xmas. One day she even asked how many minutes before her birthday which is not till June next year. So my solution was teach her how many minutes in an hour , an hour in one day , a day in a week etch etch and we do this while driving to school or while I'm doing something in the kitchen. She's still confused about it and I think it will take a while to understand but at least she's not gonna ask me how many hours more before my birthday.

Being such a social kid , she's now asking me about "sleepover" and I was like " how about a sleep over in the Philippines FOR GOOD"...No , I didn't tell her that but it just bothers me how a 6 year old kid get this idea? My 1st guess are her classmates and they are all about the same age. I can't believe parents would allow their kids to spend a night at their friends house at that age. NO WAY!!!

Another one of her many inquiries is "Why do girls have pepe and boys have wiener?"
I just couldn't be honest with her so I had to lie and simply said "so we could tell w/c one is a girl or a boy" and quickly change the topic.
An article at Parenting magazine written by Julie Tilsner says that it's okay to lie as long as it wont do any harm to them. Little white lies are justifiable according to the experts because young children can't understand complex or scary situation such as when your child says " Mommy , will you be with me forever?". Would you tell them no??? There are downside of course but I think it out weighs the results of when you try to explain to your kids too serious stuff that are beyond their grasp. Just make sure that your little white lies are age appropriate coz they will soon learn them later on . The experts also advise that when it come to thing that are happening at home or in the family such as divorce,illnesses or death that we should be honest with them about it. They may not care if you lied about why their favorite toy got broken but don't lie about something that they will care about 10 years from now.

Her 1st Permanent Tooth Popped Out

Her Hair Is Now Long Enough To Make French Twist And Made Me Promise To Never Cut Her Hair Again

A Trip To The Clinic & Some Funny Story.

2007-11-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

I'm suffering from what most asian women does during the cold seasons...dryness.
Oopps , don't get ahead of yourself there...I am well lubricated.
I'm talking about dryness of the skin ,scalp , elbows ,heels and knees.
It usually starts on my head with little flakes visible every time I comb and like a domino effect , it goes all the way down to my feet. I've been drinking plenty of liquids and smothering myself with lotion but to little or no effect.
Now I had to wear socks like an old lady coz I had to saturate my feet with loads of gooey vaseline petroleum jelly which seems to help prevent further cracks on my heels. What a turn-off to look at my own feet coz they look like I've been working in the field all day. Sometimes my lips will get so dry to the point of bleeding.Neosporine Lipbalm is my solution to that.I think I might have bought 5 different kind of cream for my skin problem but so far only the two that I've mentioned about seems be effective and they are the cheapest too.

On the other hand , both my knees developed this ugly and super itchy rash that I scratched ( I know I'm not supposed to ..but it felt so good ). I thought it will go away after treating with cortisol but it just gotten worse. 2 weeks later the rash were still there & they'be gotten bigger and redder.It started to freak me out ( watched too much HouseMD and CSI ) coz it looks like it's gonna spread all over me or worse get my kids infected too. Today , I went to an Urgent care clinic to have my rash looked at by a doctor. Thank God there were only 3 of us waiting in line or I would have just walked out if there were more than 5.

I hated the waiting and my mind just starts imagining things like " what's wrong with this old lady..I hope she's not contagious"....or " That kid looks like he has something serious going on there, they should take them to the ER" ..or..." did he showered?"... That's what happens when your stuck in a small waiting room with sick strangers...you starts talking to yourself. After 15 mins of flipping through magazines , my name was finally called and ushered to a small room with no window. Again , my mind starts to wonder. The thought like " where are you gonna go if some psycho comes here?" or..."I wonder if the docs & nurse do something naughty here ".The nurse took my vital stats and probably a good 2 mins of her attention and she was gone leaving me on that tiny room. To keep my mind busy, I grabbed another magazine to relieve my boredom and paranoia. I felt so claustrophobic that it was hard to keep those grim images on my mind.

After waiting for what seemed like forever , there was a knock on the door and the doctor came in. We shook my hands & introduced himself ( later on I bet both of us realized that we should shook our hands because we don't know if my rash was contagious...but then again , he should have read my chart ). He examined my knees and I could see him frowning while looking at my rash and I told myself " this can't be good" .I got a little nervous plus I felt uncomfortable with his face so close to my knees and the tiny room with no windows. You could never guess what was going on in my tiny little brain.

He then proceeded to ask me standard questions and so my mind got distracted trying to recall what I did to cause the rash on both of my knees. It took me a couple of second to reply.....I was still on that same train of thoughts when I was alone in that small room....I asked myself " what did I do that I had to kneel down causing this irritation on my knees?"....."kneeling down?"..."on my knees"..."I hope he's not thinking what he thinks I'm thinking". I don't know if I was blushing when I replied " I had to go down on my knees when I'm cleaning the bathroom floors".
After giving him a few more ideas on what I thought caused this itchy problem , the doctor handed me a cream to apply 3x a day and told me to see a dermatologist if nothing happens .

I left but still couldn't believe what I had pondered during that hour long wait at the clinic.What a dirty little mind I thought!
Strangers...tiny room with no windows, nurses and doctors , dryness on my knees , cream...hahahhahhaha can you put the picture together??

I should lay off the TV for a while :)

Three Things

2007-11-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

A tag from pretty mare , Sarah

THREE NAMES THAT FRIENDS CALL YOU:

1. Odie
2. Mel
3. Lodie

THREE MOST IMPORTANT DATES IN YOUR LIFE:

1. My husband's bday
2. Kids bdays
3. payday lols

THREE THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN THE LAST 33 MINUTES:

1. Check out my fave craft store
2. Pick up my son from school
3. Pick up dirty clothes & put them in the hamper

THREE WAYS TO BE HAPPY:

1. Find a hobby
2. Be possitive
3. Don't sweat on small stuff

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE FOOD:

1. Japanese
2. Filipino
3. Korean

THREE PERSONS YOU MISS THE MOST:
1. My Family back home
2. My late grandpa
3. High school pals

THREE GIFTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE:
1. Nikon D80 SLR camera
2. A new car (2nd hand is ok , preferably a small SUV)
3. Extra money that I can buy gift for my family in the Phils for Xmas.

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Surfing the net blogging
2. Taking photos & Scarpbooking
3. Cooking & experimenting with different dishes & ingredients

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO FOR HOLIDAY:
1. Philippines
2. Disney World (for the kids)
3. Europe ( for me & DH)

THREE MALLS YOU USUALLY GO TO:
1. macy'sc & Nordstrom
2. Woodburn Outlet Mall
3. Pioneer Square

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE FAST FOOD:
1. Carl's Jr
2. Quiznos
3. KFC

THREE FAVORITE SPORTS:(that I like to watch)
1. Baseball
2. NFL
3. Basketball

THREE FAVORITE DRINKS:
1. Diet soda
2. Coffee
3. water

THREE PERFUMES/COLOGNES:
1. Clinique Happy
2. Porfolio by Pier Cardin
3. Armani Auqa Di Gio

THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
1. Red & Navy Blue
2. Black
3. White

THREE EVENTS YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO:
1. Chrismas & New Year
2. Halloween
3. Birthdays

LAST THREE PEOPLE IN YOUR INBOX
1. Dunno
2. dontcare
3. Notsure

THREE THINGS YOU'LL BE DOING AFTER THIS SURVEY
1. fold laundry
2. pay bills on line
3. Maybe do some scarpbboking before I pick DD from school

Now the ladies mentioned below are tagged :)
Sandy,Banot,Lanie,Nova,Darl,Yen,Anna,Auee,and Geri

My Two Little Devils ~ Halloween 2007

2007-11-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

'Twas a perfect night.The sky was so clear with the stars shining bright.Cool wind that was gentle enough to keep the little trick-a-treaters relax and comfortable with their Halloween costumes.Such contrast from previous years when not only it was freezing cold but also drizzling rain all day long.This year the kids flaunted their cutest costumes and never needing to put on any heavy jacket or raincoats.
I had fun taking pictures and the kids were just in h-e-a-v-e-n!
Here's some my two kiddos' Halloween pics:

LakeView Farm Where We Got The Pumpkins

Our Jackolanterns.Mommy Was So Proud Of Her Carving Skills Lols

Princess Dressed As An Evil Witch.2nd Pics With Madisun As TMNT

Shinjo As Count Dracula Coz He Likes To Count Them Treats

Now, mommy gotta hide their stash before this little monsters devour them lols.They got so much sweets & candies to last them till next Halloween.

Not Enough Days In A Week :)

2007-10-28T01:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week yet again.
Sunday we went with our friends to this huge farm for a pumpkin patch trip for the kiddos and boy did they had a blast!!.It was their first time and so was mine . Personally, I still couldn't completely embrace the idea of a "celebration" for this particular event because to me as a filipina ,it's a time to remember our relatives & loveones who passed away and also I was quite sure there were more bigger ,prettier & cleaner pumpkins at Costco or Winco so why in the world we were in the middle of a farm , all muddy and cold I would never understand but who am I to spoil the fun. Kids were just ecstatic to see all the activities in lined for them such as petting zoo,corn maze,haystack maze,train ride, pumpkin patch , boat ride and some delish food kiosks. For less than 15 bucks the four of us gets to do all of these stuff and bring home the best pumpkin that we could find for the Halloween.In the end I thought that it is indeed a fun holiday coz it's about family sharing activities that everyone enjoys. I'll try to remember to wear rain boots next time.

Boat ride,The Pumpkin Patch and Petting Zoo

Monday was spent general cleaning coz the next day is a special day for my MIL and I want to make sure that the house is impeccable in all corners . I was in such a mood for cleaning , I even clean my car that has been begging for some TLC :)
Tuesday , we celebrated my MIL's birthday.
Times like this when I'm not really in the mood to cook especial dishes, we just ordered take out from Red Robin. I am just so glad that we are so easy & predictable.We order same food everytime and everyone is fine and happy with it which makes life so much easier and we still had lots of time left to enjoy a movie.We had Baskin Robbins ice cream cake btw..how easy is that?? No fuss , no huss and MIL was happy with her bday celebration.

Shinjo school had their own little pumpkin patch on Wednesday at school too and they painted their own pumpkins & brought it home. It was so cute what my son did , he turned the pumpkin into something that looks like the globe because of it's bluish green color . I'll post pics of the pumpkins that we got after they've been carved.

Thursday , my daughter had a Parent Literature Night. I'm not actually the most social type and prefers to be on the back stage but I didn't want my kid to be left out and so I went. It wasn't as bad as I thought and many parents came with their kids and I got to meet some of them and they all have one thing to say about my daughter, " Oh my gosh your daughter is such a talker"...lols but I already knew that. There were book reading , family games & activities and the most fun of all is the free pizza and refreshment....oh actually it's the ruffle draw and the free books which I love tremendously coz there were no limit , only your guilt , coz you can take as many as you want!!!

Friday , I wanted to go window shopping for holiday outfit for the kids but I got so much stuff to do at home so I decide to re-sched my mall trip. I couldn't believe I spent 4 and a half hours ironing our clothes that afternoon. Heck I even ironed DH's boxer shorts , I think. I was just on a roll with loading up the dirty laundry & ironing the dried ones. Whew , what a day. While I was swooshing my arm with the hot steaming flat iron back & forth , I was in front of the TV watching new episodes of Law and Order SVU that I recorded , some old episodes of Scrap booking from DIY channel up to the evening local news. I was so glad when I was finally done.I think I've ironed half of our entire wardrobe. Dh felt bad so he ordered Japanese take-out for diner.

Speaking of scrap booking, I have made a few pages but I had to put them away for awhile coz I get to immersed with the whole process and as a result many of my daily chores piled up undone such as the laundry,dusting , bathroom etch etch.It's funny when my husband goes to work with crumpled shirt,his co-workers assumed we had a fight lols. Anyhoo..here are some of the pages that I have done. I will finish the whole album which means I still have maybe 300 more pics to go.

Some Of My Finished Scrapbooking Project

Saturday we went to the newly opened Ikea .About 20 mins drive if we didn't got lost.The navigation couldn't find the entrace to this humongous mall that sits amongst other big stores such as Staples,Marshalls ,Bestbuy etch etch. Ikea was so big and since it only opened in July this year a lot of people are still curious at what they could find in this popular Swedish store. The driving and the immense size of it got me so tired I totally lost my appetite to buy anything. I was contented on just looking around ,scouting and kinda making mental note at what I'm gonna buy next time. We had to stop by at Target on our way home but I was just too exhausted otherwise I would have gone inside Target to check out their dollar only section but instead I just stayed in the car .Hmmmmmm sign of aging :)

Sunday,we just stayed home. I think even the kids have had enough fun for the whole week. We watched old movies and I made toasty Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for lunch and when I'm done with this post , we are gonna watch The Pirate of The Caribbean:At Worlds End and have some nice rum and coke drink...ahhhh...relaxing.

Ta ta for now and have a fun Trick'a treatin' :)

A Tag From Sarah

2007-10-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

Our Better Half

The rules are:

1.First name:
( if he doesn't like his name plastered all over the net a pet name will do.)
2. How and where did you meet?
3. Characteristics
4. Your plans 20 to 30 years from now.

To explain our story better , I gotta post a few pics of him and if you are gonna be talking about the man of your life, then it has to be atleast a good 5 paragraphs long lols....expectedly :)

#1

Younger Grant

We met in HongKong in February 2002.He was sent there by his company to do some work. He said he kinda felt that he's gonna meet someone during his short stay so when him & his colleagues went to a Buddhist Temple & saw a Lucky Pan he touched it & made a wish, for him to meet the ONE!!The next day , after enough cajoling by his friend , they went out late that night to a bar & unbeknownst to him , the ONE that he was waiting for was sitting next to him & introduced herself as "Jenina" ( I lied..I usually do ,esp if it's just the 1st meeting coz it's always the last that I see those guys anyways. I also lied about my job..I told him I was a secretary lols). It was just a casual "hi! how-do-you-do" meeting , just 2 strangers making Innocent conversation....till he asked me to dance ( blushing....I think even if I retold this story when I'm old & wrinkly , I would still be blushing and giggling ).The song was "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You".How fittingly so coz I felt like I was on a daze and suddenly regretting why I gave him a false name .I remember secretly praying that he wont vanish too soon juts like some regular tourist. We danced all night & talked till morning.

February 2002,HongKong

We spent the following day together and I told him the truth , my real name and my profession.He heard me sang for the first time & told me that I shouldn't lie again about my job. Prior to our meeting I just rebounded from a nasty break-up & getting into another relationship was not on my mind .Never was I particularly attracted to Americans neither , just their music. There were a few numbers of men foreign & local who showed interest but only a a handful of them came as close as to sending flowers & gifts.I had to turn them down coz I wasn't ready. I thought about the same when I met Grant that's why I gave a phony name but something happened & changed my mind. All of a sudden ,here's this guy that I couldn't wait to spend the next seconds with. I fell in love & so was he.

It all happened so fast and all we could ever think of was we can never spend our lives apart no matter what. It wasn't smooth sailing when we started my visa process.It was a real test of commitment to each other coz it was really tough.The whole experience that we survived made us realize that if we can pass the immigration hurdle & long distance relationship , then we are strong enough to outlast anything.

#3 Characteristics

If you read about Taureans, then that's almost exactly what he is.He is such a gentle soul that wont hurt a fly but beware if you cross him coz he can be very resentful. He is the kind of guy who will pull over the side of the road to help a stranger in need.He is such a loyal and a trusty friend. very conservative and honest and very respectful. When it comes to his family ,his devotion is without question by far the best I have ever seen.To his wife he is loving,passionate ,understanding,considerate and romantic. He knows how to flatter his wife and make her feel special. His work ethics is truly admirable.always making sure that he gets the job done and more.All in all, he has everything that I wanted in partner although he can't cook ,he can do many other things that always impresses me

#4 Future Plans

Ooohh..I got a long list for that but realistically , our plan is to raise our kids the best possible way we can, make sure they get the best education & always be there for them. Our kids are our number one priority . Comes next is for me to go to college,have a career that I like ,build our dream house, save for retirement, travel the world & grow old & gray together. But that is looking too far ahead.For now we are thankful for everyday that goes by that we have each other.
I'd be forever thankful to God and for that friend of his who forced him to go out that night or we would never have met.I've found my soul mate,my best friend ,the king of my heart.

I'm guessing this tag has been done by most of my friends but who ever wants to do it, feel free. I know how much love to talk about your Knight in shining armor.

Thank you to Mareng Sarah for this tag.

When We Were Young Tag From In-In & Sarah

2007-10-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

So glad I kept these photos. Thanks to the lovely In-In & vavavhoom Sarah :)
I never appreciate the sentimental value of every photos till
I got older. So here it goes.

I was one year old .This pic looks so ancient

3 years old

4 years old.I couldn't wait for them to cut the cake

Elementary Graduation.Puberty kicked in

Teenager..maybe 13-14

When I Was Still Singing..The Good Years lols

I am tagging everyone....PLEASE share to us your pictures when you were young :)

50 Questions ~ Tag from Sarah

2007-10-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much to my very pretty kumareng Sarah for always remembering me :)

1. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP? - My love & hate relationship with my work out machine..we broke off temporarily :)
2. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED? - Macy's gift card from my MIL
3. EVER DROPPED A CELL PHONE? - yeah...I want it to break so I could get a new one but it's too tough
4 . THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON? -right now....my scarpbooking project...gotta have the right tools :0
5. LAST FOOD YOU ATE? -Chiao Mien w/ shrimp & beef from Happy Panda....pwede na!
6. ONE FAVORITE SONG? - Through The Fire by Chaka Khan
7. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? - The Beaver State , Oregon
8 .LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED: -Our friend's wedding. Steve & Venus
9. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND: -A minute ago....he is also my partner in crime & bed mate
10. WHERE 'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS? -At home...more relaxing
11. CAN YOU COOK? -I think I can
15. CAN YOU BAKE? - I bake. our bday cakes
16. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?: - Yesterday.when I slammed my knee against the door ...ouchhhh
17. LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF: - i'm very flexible & adoptable
18. HATE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF?- my eagerness to please and I get easily destracted
19. CAN YOU SING? -can I sing??.....hhmmmnn...I dunno...can I?
20 . DO YOU DRINK? - last time I checked my throught is still ok :) lols...yes I can drink & right now I'd like some stiff margarita.
21. PANCAKES OR FRENCH TOAST? -neither...too carbie
22. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE? -I not only like coffee.....I NEED coffee..it's my fuel in the AM.
23. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST? - my sweetypie , my pooh bear , my honey-bunny ( he's kick me if he hears this)
24. WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECEIVED?: - My friend Lay inviting me for a poker game on Sat..
25. CAN YOU PLAY POOL? -yeah...although pool table are not designed for short people like me.
26. CAN YOU SWIM? -no..I'll be like an empty bottle
27. FAVORITE ICE CREAM? -cookie dough & chocolate chips and Halo-Halo flavor from Selecta
2 8. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING? - 7-ish
29. WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND? - hang out with friends , tackle pile of laundry
30. ARE YOU SMILING? - if there's reason to smile about yeah.
31. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW? -my family
32. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? - The entire Ocean's 11 cast
33. DO YOU HAVE A SISTER? - I WISH!!!!!
34. ARE YOU IN LOVE?: -Every nano second of the day
35. D O YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW? - I wish I could see my brother . He needs help right now.
36. WHO ARE YOU OF THINKING RIGHT NOW? - my kids
37. WHAT WERE YOU DOING 10 MINUTES AGO? -unloading the car with groceries.
38. IF YOU WERE A COLOR, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? - I'd like to be green...
39. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW, WHERE? - Philippines
40. WHAT MOVIE CAN YOU WATCH OVER AND OVER? - Sleepless In Seatle, Ocean's 11 , kids cartoon movies
41. FOOD YOU'RE CRAVING FOR RIGHT THIS MIN UTE? -pot sticker
42. NAME 5 PERSONS WHO'S NAME STARTS WITH THE LETTER "K"? *** Kulit , kuba , kumag, kuring , K_P_L hahahahhaa....
43. WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE TO EAT ICE CREAM? -behind the door where no one can see my big bites
44 . WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? -Brad Pitt , George Clooney , Al Pacino , Robert Deniro , Matt Damon ,Gerard Buttler
45. SONG LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? -nothing...I want total silence
46. WHERE DID YOU HAVE YOUR LAST VACATION? -The Pacific Coast 2 summers ago....tagal na
47. ARE YOU ONLINE? -ah yeah.....hallerrrrr!!!
48. WHO DID YOU CHAT WITH TODAY? -no one..I don't like chatting..I only chat with my sis & my DH
49. ONE THING TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: -breathe...hahaha..I don't think there's nothing much you can do except to pray there's really no hell :)
50. ARE YOU BORED? -- If this question goes on any further then YEs...just kidding

A fun way to get to know a little bit more about your friends so I'm tagging Auee,Geri,Lanie,Rhebs,Anna,Bless,Yen,Phamz,Sandy,Darling,Darlene , and Francesca

Funny Ha Ha

2007-10-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

The busiest time of the day for me is in the morning.
Everybody got to be somewhere....school...work...wherever!
I like having plenty of time to get the kids ready to go for school...I hate rushing esp. when I am half awake coz usually it means I'll be cranky the rest of the day.

My morning ritual would simply be a good steaming cup of coffee ,strong with plenty of cream & 2 packets of spleada. I like to sit for maybe 5 minutes & kinda let the caffeine kick in , maybe check my email in between sips. That would be one of the few highlights of my day.

This morning I had my coffee but I didn't get to sit down & enjoy it like I normally do . I was multitasking & taking sips of the joe and getting whip splash looking at the clock . This is another thing that ticks of off...being late!!! I like to plan things ahead of time coz I'm don't do well under pressure. No matter how hard I try to be organize I still can't find my comb!!
Is there a ghost living with us trying to play with my sanity?? I even got a little caddy where every stuff for grooming hair goes , but not the comb. I swear when I find it , I will put a string on it & tie it in one corner & see if it still disappear.

So the morning didn't start smoothly for me. I had to hot iron my hair coz I look like I have an afro hairdo & the 5 mins of fixing my hair screwed up my A.M. routine.

On our way to school , I always have the AM radio on to listen to news updates , weather & traffic reports. I'd like to be up to date with what's going on so I don't get trap shut whenever somebody asked me " Hey did you know what happened to this & that ?? yadi yadi yada" and I look like a deer on headlight. It's always a good thing to be armed with information as much as you can.

Still in the car with the radio on but this time waiting at the parking lot for DH .It was around 10am & I just had the FM station on the background not really paying attention till I heard the DJ mentioned "Filipina " . I turned the volume up & it was The T-Man Show at Z100 . They were talking about a dating website called FilipinaHeart.com and how many "hot" filipina has profile in there. Dating or penpal website are nothing new...even Dr. Phil made great money with his Match.com . This dj's were reading random profiles & describing how the women looks like in their picture . It was funny at the beginning coz there were girls who says that " I can describe myself as a jolly person " or " I like cleaning the laundry & loving my future husband unconditionally" . They had a good laugh about it while I was sitting there kinda feeling embarrassed coz they are making fun of filipinas and I also feel sad because these girls have no idea that they are topic of a morning radio show with the dj's getting a kick out of some poorly grammared profiles on that website. Out of so many topic that can be discussed , why does it have to be about some girls from the other side of the earth who , to be honest , trying their luck to find the man that will take care of them. They laughed at the word "penpal" or "unconditional love"...why because they don't exist in this country anymore. For 20 minutes I listened to them basically talking about how many filipinas are desperate to come here in the states and make fun of their english skills .It was offensive & demeaning. I don't know if I was just not in a good mood coz of a bad morning & I was just being too sensitive or that my reaction is valid because of the way they laughed at filipino women . I don't know....but I do know that there is nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe some of these pinays don't have computer at home that's why they are looking for penpals and we our domestic skills is one of our best assets that's why many american men seeks asian women to be their wife. It might not be put in proper words at their profile but we know exactly what they mean & it's a legitimate & even fun way to meet someone & it should not be made fun of on national radio show.

FilipinaHeart.Com

I wonder if I would agree with their humor if I'd had a good morning start....nah....I doubt it. I think they suck & they are running out of more interesting things to talk about on their show that's why they are picking on those people who can't defend themselves. Whatever!!!

My New Fall Project

2007-10-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

I love Autumn .It brings a different feeling like the calm that you need after the long riotous summer months. I love the changing of the green leaves into red,yellow & gold and the gentle cold breeze that feels so good upon your face. But Autumn here in the northwest can be too gloomy & melancholy because there comes freezing rain & all day long over cast sky. It's has been like that for days now & the weather man doesn't seems to have a sunny news for us till next week.I have been used to the rain in the Philippines during the wet season. Thunderstorms & typhoon , heavy fat rain & some times rain all month long but it's the same kind of feeling as it is here in Oregon. It can be overly depressing to some that is why our state & nearby Seattle has the most number of suicides especially during this cold rainy days.

I wonder how we survived the last autumn & winter seasons? When we first got here , we didn't have cable only internet & I still didn't know how to drive. That must be hard but somehow we managed to get through. This time it will be better for sure. I can take the kids to the store with out getting cold & damped and we have so much stuff to do.
Lots of movies to watch , thanks to Netflix ,Kids are busier now at school and me...well...that's is what this post is all about. I know I would never ran out of things to do to occupy my time .Our armoire for instance has now turned gray instead of it's rich brown color due to dust that is thickening by the day.You can write your name if you want but that is not what I am looking for. My creative bone was telling me something. I was feeling the urge to construct & be artistic los. My feet seems like a mind of it's own too & seems to be in connivance with my brain and took me to the place where my imagination can be materialized. .

First , I was just looking plainly at the craft section of my favorite thrift store & I found cute gift wraps for a dollar each and I thought ," Hhmmm...I could use this to decorate a shoe box for letter storage" . My daughter helped me with the project & I let her put the design. The next day , I went back & saw some bright red boxes that looked so perfect for paper works & documents that's been piling up over the years . I bought 3 of them coz it's only 3 dollars each.I printed out some labels & was delighted that not only our papers are sorted our but they are also tucked in some very pretty red boxes. Organizing is now so much fun .

My Big Red Storage Box For Only $3.Fits All of Our Docs

360 Pages Of Scrapbook Papers For Only $8 At Costco.What A bargain!

Okay , So now every time I'm at the store , I go straight to the craft isle & excited to see if they have anything on sale or something pretty that I could use.Last week I was at Target & I saw that they have scarp book kits for beginners on sale , for a buck each. I got so thrilled to see all those beautiful papers , ribbons, stickers and artsy embellishments. I ended up spending maybe about 20 bucks that day and this time I didn't show it to my daughter coz I'm sure she will insist on helping . I wanted to do more research coz I know it's not just about cutting papers & pasting pictures. I checked DIYNET.COM and found a ton of information about scrapbooking. I thought I'm gonna be discouraged but it was the opposite. I am even more motivated to make my first scrapbook. We got over 5 gigs of pictures in our computer &; I wanted to preserve them coz anything could happen to a machine plus what if there's no power & you want to show pictures to your friends & family. Oh boy, now I'm totally hooked!!!

I've learned that you have to use an acid free & lignin free papers & glue so it wont affect the pictures . I also discovered that Costco has the best quality photo printing. I selected our pictures in chronological order and reprinted them. Michaels & Joann's has so many selections of materials I feel like a kid at a candy store. I found really cute albums at Ross for a fraction of a cost and even found picture frames , another thing that I like to collect! So far I must have spent quite a bit on my project & I have not even started yet but it's okay. I wanted to do it right & I know it's not gonna be as perfect as what they show on TV but I know I can do something that will be satisfying to me plus , I know that our memories will be kept nicely & hopefully , the next generation will appreciate their past.

PotLuck Party With Pinoy Friends

2007-10-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

Dunno when was the last time I hung out with friends
I got a text Tuesday from Mailene for a get-together potluck party and I couldn't wait for the week to get over coz the party was on Saturday. I have not seen them for a long time & even Princess missed them so much. I made sure DH calendar was clear so he can baby sit for Shinjo. As usual he insisted that I bring the two chikkiting but I protested.!! How in the world am I gonna have any fun if I have to run after my kids instead of making endless chikahan , di ba?

Wednesday, I went shopping for the ingredients ( over excited ba?) and double checked with Mailene if I was bringing the right dish. I decided I'm gonna bring Taco Carne Asada. It was a lot of work !! Lots of chopping,marinating & lots of tupperware to put all the condiments for the taco. I was afraid that no one will like it coz that was the first time I made a mexican dish but it was a hit!!

My First Taco Carne Asada

My friend Mailene has friends who came who were Vietnamese & they brought Spring Rolls which I loved so much. It was so light & delish!! Too bad I wasn't fast enough to take picture.
After eating, we did a little bit of Karaoke ( guess who sang the most :) ) and then they brought out the poker chips sets. They have the whole thing even the table cover to make it look like a real poker table. I'd be scared to play poker with those people coz they sure look like pros but they promise it's all just for fun. Yeah right!! After losing 10 bucks I decided I'd be better off being their nigh club singer..lols. With live music, poker game, good food & drinks & good company we had a great great time & it almost felt like we were in Vegas . Too bad the fun had to end .....at 1am. I never stayed out that late but I was forgiven this time coz I've been a good girl :). The girls already made a plan for another night out coz Lorelia is gonna celebrate her bday!! OOhh I can't wait I can't wait!!! I'm glad that I am better at driving now which makes me more comfortable going out to places without my husband. For sure I wont miss any more get together with the adults:)

Annoying Part Of Me

2007-10-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Got tagged by my sweet friends Tess & Sarah.
They didn't say how many so I'll put in 6 just like they did.

1. I am very disorganized.
Every morning I'd be searching the house for the COMB!! but that's just one
example of things I take for granted.

2. I'd buy greeting cards but always forget to MAIL them.
I think this is some kind of a disease coz who buys card , spent time choosing
the right one,and more time writing the messages but just couldn't make it to the
post office, It's been happening now for quite some time now .

3. I act like I'm tough but when I am upset about something ........I CRY .....like
a baby. I just have to let it out coz I can't contain it. But after that , then
I'm back to normal.My husband thinks this is very annoying coz he can't talk to
me until I'm done crying.

4. I'm also not a very good listener....I think most women are...esp when it's our
husband who's talking to us. But we are very good at pretending . I do appreciate
it when my husband talk about work & stuff coz it makes me feel like he
really thinks I'm smart enough to understand computers & techie jargon.

5. I lose trust easily & if I have some kind of a conflict with others, I avoid
confrontation but also avoid talking to that person all together....permanently.

6. I do the very high pitch voice when I'm mad & my husband says I sound like
George Costansa's mom in Seinfield. It drives him nuts.

I think most of you guys have done this tag so those that have not shared thier most annoying parts consider yourself tagged :)

4 Questions

2007-10-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Supernova for this tag. It's been long over-due :)

The rule is to choose three questions among the given that you want to answer and post your own question as fourth for the next ones you'll tag to answer. The ones you tag should answer the question you've posted making his/her post 4 questions again as choices for the next person.

1st question is: Why men don't love shopping as much as women?

I'd rather they remain that way.Just imagine if guys likes to shop as much as women do then who's gonna watch the kids?? :) That is how nature wired us .To be distinct from the opposite sex.

2nd question from Daily Zen a.k.a. Allen: If you had to move to a different country outside of the USA, which country and why?

I'd like to live in the Philippines, assuming we have enough money to live comfortably,build a nice house in a nice area , have car , house helpers , air conditioning in every room, water heater & a heavy duty washing machine..I think there is no better place to live. Just imagine having fresh veggies, fruits & sea food everyday.Now that's life!

3rd question from Nova :
You were been into many fights with your very close friends. And because of that, one of your very close friends would tell you something like “we’re just keeping you because we have the same circle of friends and we can’t avoid you”. How will you feel? What will you do? Would you still stick of that friendship? And Why?

First of all , I hate this sorority type of friendship.Taking sides & "she-said-this-she-said-that" are just too juvenile.If you are in high school maybe that's cute but not if you're over 20. If EVER my friends tells me this , then that's it for me.Time to go looking for a more mature kind of friends . Yun lang!

Here's my question:
How do you define''principle"? Have you ever had your principle compromised and if YES then please share your experience?

I am tagging Sarah,Rhebs.Lanie,Geri,In-in,Banot , Yen ,Darling,Bless , Tess & Francesca.

Maligayang Kaarawan ,Nanay

2007-10-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

I miss you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate with all of you . I am so proud to be your daughter .You taught me so much about life & I hope I could pass it on to my own children. I pray that God keeps you healthy & strong always . I know someday soon we will have the chance to be see each other again. Have a Happy Happy Birthday ,Nanay! I love you very much.

This Song is for you ,Nay.

SA UGOY NG DUYAN

Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan

Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan

Refrain:
Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko’y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan

Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw
Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay
Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal
Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan

Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing
Ang bantay ko’y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin
Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay
Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan
Nais kong matulog sa dating duyan ko, inay
Oh! inay

A Song For Me

2007-10-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't have signed up for a Friendster account if it wasn't for my sis. I have one too many online account sometimes I forget what password I use. I've actually closed a few other accounts & just kept a small numbers that I actually use.Today there's a new comment on my friendster & usually I'd skipt looking till I get around to it but this one was from my sister & I thought , hhhmmmm another flash shockwave thingy that she loves to post so I said fine ,let's see what she has for me and it was this song from Brandy called Missing You. I said "what...why is she posting a luv song , she must have made a mistake, maybe this was ment for her crush or bf".Being a music lover AND a hopeless romantic ,I was intrigued.I wanted to hear what she intended the lucky guy to hear but I was surprised with it's lyrics......it was really ment for me. I was so touched but I didn't tell her. I listened a few times & I felt sad coz I miss her too & happy because I have a sweet loving sister that cares for me .

If you haven't heared the song yet, I am sure you will love it too.

Note: Sorry I posted the wrong link earlier . This the right one. Hope U like it. For everybody who has siblings :)

Missing You
~ Brandy

1-Though I'm missing you
(Although I'm missing you)
I'll find a way to get through
(I'll find a way to get through)
Living without you
'Cause you were my sister, my strength, and my pride
Only God may know why, still I will get by

I would've known, that you had to go
But so suddenly, so bad
How could it be, not a straight memory worthy of
All that we had made
Now that you're gone, every day I go on (I go on)
But life's just not the same (life's just not the same)
I'm so empty inside, and my tears I can't hide
But I'll try, I'll try to face the pain
(repeat 1)

Oh, there was so many things
That we could have shared, uh-huh
And time was on our side (time was on our side)
Ooh, yeah
Now that you're gone, I can still feel you near
So I'll smile, with every tear I cry
(rpt 1)

How sweet, were the losses to spare?
But I'll wait for the day
When I'll see you again, see you again, yeah
(rpt 1)

I'm missing you

Three Things

2007-10-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

A tag from Yen , Thanks girl !

Let’s have another 3 things!

1. Three things I love.
~ Family,Music, Travel
2. Three things I hate.
~Bad hygene,bad manners,Bad liars
3. Three things that scare me.
~strangers , getting lost , and having no money :)
4. Three things I don’t understand.
~people , myself , stock exchange & insurance system
5. Three things on my desk.
~Laptop,scanner,printer
6. Three things I am doing right now.
~watching MLB playoff,blog hopping , watching kids.
7. Three things I can do.
~read Korean,sing foreign songs , sleep all day
8. Three things I can’t do.
~swim ,ride a bike ,roller blades
9. Three things on my to do list.
~ organize papers , print pictures , general house cleaning
10. Three ways to describe my personality.
~ no nonsense , stubborn , patient

Miss Sarah ,Lanie,Tess ,In, Banot , Bless ,Ana ,Rhebs ,Geri,Nova,Phamzy,Francesca,darling ,& Sandy....you are all tagged.

Venting

2007-10-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

I had to write this after I read Geri's post about driving
This is just an accumulation of everyday nuisance that I needed to get out of my chest.

Fellow motorist who I share the road with everyday , you are at the top of my "Reasons-I-Want-To-Strangle-Somebody" List. I call you for whatever kind of car you are driving.

Mrs. Lexus....I know you are driving a fourty something thousand dollar car but please.....can you not drink your Starbucks Frappocino while talking with your red Palm Treo?? I mean, I can't help but wonder if you are a freak with three hands that's why you can drink & drive & talk at the same time....geesh..

Mr. Blond Hair Guy who's driving a porche....Do I looked impressed??? No....not even if you were Brad Pitt driving a Ferrari , I still wont make a LEFT TURN if I feel like it's not safe yet!! So you can honk for as much as you want I still wont go esp. if the on coming car is at a speed of light. You'll just have to wait like the rest of us human beings.

To another race-car driver who was speeding so fast I didn't even catch a glimpse of what car he was driving. If you have a death pact with satan well go for it...but please don't take us to the grave with yah... I still plan on living my full life expectancy and beyond. Slow down....life is too short....

To the bus driver who might need a new pair of specs...Didn't you see me coming?? I'm the little red car who was next to you ? I thought you aren't gonna go yet because your break light was ON!!! I know you're big & you probably makes minimum wages & you're in a hurry to get to your second job but can you please take a second to look at your side mirror before you step on the gas??

To the septuagenarian who's driving that big ass Cadillac ....I respect senior citizens but if their ability to drive on a busy high way is being impede by their age then maybe they shouldn't be out on the road driving . They are a lot more dangerous than the guy w/ the race car. They couldn't see the speed limit , they couldn't see your turn signal , they couldn't see where they're going !!! Fredies has an online store & they deliver ;

To the latina woman who drive a huge white econovan who gave me the stern look as I made a left turn at a stop in front of my daughter's school. Lady....the speed limit is 20 miles per hour on a school zone not 40......beinte milias per hora!!! Intiendes??? You shouldn't be that close to me if you were following the speed limit!!! Don't worry..they wont ran out of burritos at Taco Bell.

To the inconsiderate driver at the freeway.....you should allow others to MERGE!!! You don't own the road!!! You can either speed up or slow down but don't drive so close to me that I could hear you listening to Tom Jones....it's the freeway....FREE-WAY!! got it?

To parents at school who drive those freakin' big ass SUVs. Park on the right spot!! That means that the car next to you wont have to squeeze their asses so they could get out of their car and if you think the spot is just a bit narrow for your space craft then park somewhere else. Don't be scared to walk 50 steps from the school..it's cardio work out..it's good for you.

To the Ford Focus teenage driver who was almost sniffing my butt!!! Distancia amigo!! If you are behind me , I want to at least be able to see your plate numbers and not your hairy nose as you were picking on it , yukk!!

Okay ..I feel better now.

Drive safely :)

More Award ..blush * blush*

2007-10-01T21:41:00.001-07:00

This one is from Merydith .
Thank you dear for this award.
I would like to pass it on to all of my friends that are also In-in's friends
so they probably have this award too :)

A Recognition From Tess

2007-10-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you Miss Lovely Tess for this sweet award. It surely warmth the heart when friends are being so thoughtful.

All of the girls on my list deserves this award too coz that's the MAIN reason why you guys are on my list.....coz I LOVE YOU ALL ....

Tag From Mareng Sarah

2007-10-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

TY for the tag sis.

Instruction : I will tag you a question and post your answer on your website/blog.After that make another question and tag the other blogger.

Question : Who is the greatest influence in your life or the person you look up to & why ?

I might have a few...maybe 2-3 lets see...hhmmmmm..

When my grandpa was still alive he thought me everything I needed to know when I was in grade school. Science,Math , History & English. He is a very smart old man & up to now it amazes me how he could capture a young playful minds attention & redirect it to something more intellect. He challenges me & made me realize that I can do more than just play all day under the sun. Who reads Reader's Digest when they are 8 or do Manila Times crossword puzzle before they were even in high school. I wasn't really smart or a nerd but he gave me the foundation on how to learn & to value knowledge .

Number 2 is Lea Salonga....it's true...I know it may sound cheesy but right about the same time as Miss Saigon was getting popular (1990 ) was when I was starting to practice singing . What I like about her is her perfectionism , every single song she sang was perfect....the tune,diction , emotion , her pitch and most esp. her properly placed vibrato. She was my model then & up till now.

Number 3 is my mother-in-law. I hope she's not reading this coz I don't think she'd be comfortable with her life being read on the internet. I wont go into every detail...just the quality of her that I admire the most. It's her strength as a woman who never let anything keep her down. You can talk about anything with her such as politics , medicine ( she's a former nurse) , American history, world history, movies , psychology, sociology etch etch.. plus she is very generous *wink*.. I admire how she handles adversities and still came on top . Such a strong ,smart and lovely woman.

Now here is my Question ( and I hope it hasn't been asked yet).

If you were given a chance to choose the kind of life to live , what would it be???

and the choose people to answer this Question are : EVERYONE ON MY FRIENDS LIST :)

if you have done this meme before then you can just igie it but if you would like to share your thoughts then feel free to do so .

TY

When Kids Get Sick

2007-09-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

It hasn't been a great week for our family lately.Since the start of the school season my kids been sick too. I am sure teachers tries their best to keep classroom clean but no one is really immune to common illnesses. Shinjo started to have runny nose last week then his appetite decreased .He didn't want to eat anything except for sugary treats such as gummy bears & fruit juices . Then he started to have diarrhea.
We had the same problem before but it never fails to catch me off guard & gets panicky.The next day I got him Pedialite & gave to him through syringe coz he wont drink it on his own.His diarrhea seems to have disappeared but now he is vomiting!Everytime he tries to eat something it would come back out . He threw up in the car , the living room, on his bed everywhere!! Thank God for the washing machine coz I can't imagine washing bed linens by hands just like in the Philippines. My brand new Fabrees bottle is now almost half empty but it's okay coz it did a great job getting rid of the smell ( w/ some serious scrubbing as well ).

Wednesday when I picked up Princess at school I knew there was something wrong. She immediately cried when she saw me & I was like " Pls don't tell me you pulled some girls hair ". She was complaining about tummy ache & I asked some parents who child also goes to lunch at the cafeteria if their kids have the same problem but they didn't. Now while driving , I thought about how am I gonna get medicine w/out having to take 2 sickly kids inside the store? Solution?? Ah...Walgreens drive-thru pharmacy.Pulled over next to the window & this 20 something girl greeted me & already , I felt some negative vibes. Sure enough , this girl wouldn't give me a freakin' Peptobismal. Even after explaining to her that both kids are sick , she refused & told me she can't give me any medication because she's not a pharmacist & that I would have to go inside the store!! I almost yelled at her & screamed "if you're not a pharmacist then what the hell are you doing here wearing that white stupid robe?? Either she's lazy or stupid , I mean how hard is it to grab that pink bottle , no measuring, no typing involve....grrrrrrr!!!! While inside the store I kept praying that none of my kids would throw up or have a nasty accident coz I would really make sure that that girl gets fired!!

Today ,we took Shinjo to the doctor because his vomiting scared us but when the doctor saw him eating Cheerios , he just told us to go home & just let the tummy bug go away on it's own.

Their faces brightens our home with their happy smiles.

8 Random's Facts of My Past

2007-09-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Geri for this tag

1. When I was 5, my grandpa convinced everybody that I could read , in English .Of course no one would believe that a kid who have not yet gone to school ( there weren't any preschool yet during my time ) & can't even spell her name could read a book so my grandpa would show them very proudly that I really could read & my he would make me sit in the middle of the table so everybody could hear while I read to them my favorite book "The Caterpillar" . Everybody would clap w/ amazement about my great talent until one jealous cousin couldn't stand the attention that was being bestowed upon me & blurted out " SHE CAN'T READ , SHE MEMORIZED THE BOOK" . I didn't believe her because I was so sure that I know every words of that book so I argued & cried & told my cousin she was a liar & jealous . My grandpa didn't want me & my cousin's feelings hurt so he explained that I just knew the entire book by heart because he had read it to me over over & that everybody knows it but they went along to boost my confidence . It was my first taste of heartbreak & up until now I could still vividly remember the pain lols.

2. At around 7-8 years of age , every summer vacation ,I would help my grandma sell her very famous isaw bbq ( pig intestine bbq) & I would scour the whole neighborhood knocking at every door. Then I would go to every gambling houses ( majong,41,tong-it's ,pusoy) till my whole basket of bbq's are all sold. As my reward my grandma would give me 1 peso to put on my tin can piggy bank . By the time school starts I would have enough money to buy me new school stuff :)

3. When I was in 5th grade , I had a huge crush with a guy from 6th grade. One day while I was standing in line at the Buko juice stand , someone tap me in the back as I was getting my favorite drink . It was my crush & he asid "Hi". I got so nervous I didn't know what to do & I could feel my face burning. I tried to smile & say Hi back but instead something went shooting out of my nose & dropped into my Buko juice cup( uhugin pa kasi kereng-keng na !) . I wasn't sure if he saw it but I thought I was gonna die at that moment so I ran away as fast as I could . Talk about a total turn-off!!

4. In 6th grade, I joined a beauty contest at our local church. I made it into the final round but when it was time for the evening gown parade , I had a wardrobe malfunction. The zipper was jammed & I couldn't force it to slide up .It was a long all the way dwon to my butt!! My mother was frantic trying to find safety pins. She manage to get some at a near by tiange. She saved me from another colossal humiliation.

5. Another funny story when I was a kid was when me & this boy neighbor of ours were about to jump across a big muddy puddle. We were teasing each other & I laughed so hard when he didn't make the jump . I made sure I jumped as far as I could but totally forgot that I was holding 3 eggs that my grandma asked me to get from the store. So guess what happened after that...lols... Grandma was so mad but I thought it was totally worth it though coz I wouldn't let that boy beat me on a dare :)

6. In high school , I joined the drama club & given the lead role to the annual stage presentation. No experience what-so-ever , I managed to pull it through even though so many things went wrong during the opening night (props wont function, lights wont turn on , other cast forgetting their lines etch etch ). They gave me the "Best Actress" award lols.....I've learned the true meaning of "the show must go on".

7. 3rd year high school I joined a contest at school. Whoever could raise the most money would win the crown of Miss Capitol High. I worked so hard raising cash & giving out envelops BUT I didn't surrender all of the money to the school ,just some lols..... I didn't care about the crown or the title but I did enjoyed a few trips at the mall & got myself really fancy stuff :)

8. And last but not the least...
I crashed at an exclusive CAT party at school. It was supposed to be just for all the officers of the Civilian Army Training corpse or whatever they call it. Geesh, I was called in front of all the officers & told that I can't stay blah blah blah......and all I could think about was..."you are so full of S*^%!!!!! . It's just a party. They're acting like they are in a middle of some highly classified military operations. It was just a bunch of high school kids trying to have some fun. At ease man!!!

That's all I could think of Right now. There's many more unforgettable & funny events of my childhood.

I'm tagging Lanie( kahit super busy sya) , Gilda( kahit na sya ay MIA lols ) , Anna , Sandy,In-in, Vanessa ,Sarah ,Tess (na tag na kayo ni Ger but I'm tagging u ulit, wla lang ) ,Rhebs,Pham,Bless and anybody who wants to. :)

I Won Something!!!

2007-09-24T16:43:00.001-07:00

It's nice to know that I bring some positive flow to others.
Thank you Tess for this award. I appreciate it truly.

7 Things That Makes Me Happy

2007-09-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sarah & In-in for the tag.
I am passing this to Geri , Sandy ,Vanessa & Anna.

1. My family , most definitely on top of my list coz they are my life & soul.

2. Each & everyday when I wake up.....it makes me happy knowing that
I'm gonna spend it w/ my kids & husband.

3. Beautiful songs...esp. those tunes that touches my heart.

4. Good tasting food that I make.Satisfaction comes when I see the plates empty

5. Friends & relatives from my country.Reminds me of who I am & where I started.

6. To see new places & learn new culture. It's like broadening your horizon &
give you better understanding of other people , their way of living,values
& character.

7. Peace & quiet.....when you're a busy mom ,serenity & tranquility is a rare
commodity. I believe you need to have these once in a while to balance your
life & to keep your sanity.

Feel The Burn!

2007-09-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

I've been ranting & raving about my weight gain issues and now finally I had some positive result. After 1 week of regular exercise & controlled diet , I lost 2 lbs!!! Ok , I know some will raise their eye-brows & say " Big Deal...2lbs is nothing!". Not for me coz this is the 1st time in a long while that I saw the scale actually went down. It was frustrating when you know you bust your ass everyday for 2 hours or so at a time & nothing happens. Clothes were still getting tighter,energy was so depleted ,and the scale is going the opposite way .I am happy even with the slightest hint that my effort & discipline is paying off. The hardest part is the first 5 minutes of it .Doing cardio felt like climbing the top of Mt. Everest.I started w/ moderate speed & the most amount of time I could manage (10mins..lols )then I gradually increases it the next day. I discovered too that if I listen to some up beat songs ,that I felt more energized & into the groove. So I made a play list of dance & hip hop songs to listen to while I am working out & its as if I just drunk a can of Red Bull , I mean , who wouldn't feel the urge to shake thier booty when you hear Beyonce, Shakira ,Rihanna,Lauren Hill & Sean Paul ?.I have more energy & endurance. I have increased my time to 30 mins and then I slowly incorporate streangth training. Hubby showed me how to do leg work out last night & because those muscles of mine aren't used to being subject to weight machine , it was hard. I kept telling myself " Feel The Burn , Feel The Burn!!"

Losing 2lbs is a good start. I'm not starving myself , not taking any crazy diet pills, not feeling depressed about my figure and if I continue & be consitent w/ my work out routine I would lose over 20lbs by December w/ is my goal.Hopefully I'll have enough confidence to post my whole body picture here.

Poor Britney

2007-09-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

I know this is kinda late but I just had the urge to post about her.

Being a singer ,I can relate to her stage fright when she performed at the VMA's.It was her 1st major appearance after a few years & it is nerve wracking to be up on stage while millions of people watching plus many other very famous artists as an audience . The most number of people that I had as an audience would not even fill up a small basketball court but just imagine the whole world watching you & every little detail of your being is magnified.

The press have nothing but harsh comments about her...just soo mean!!!
I know that she tried to give 100% that night but it was a disaster.
I wish that she's be given another shot .

Some may think this video is funny but there is a sincerity from this guy.

A Tag From Caleb's Mom,Sarah

2007-09-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

1. Are you Male or Female?
babaeng babae day....kahit silipin mo pa under may saya.

2. How old are you?
Old enough

3. When was the last time you watch TV?
3pm ,Yankees lost :(

4. Do you enjoy kissing in public?
I have that kind of mood sometimes ;-)

5. What do you dream about at night?
I usually forget what I dreamed about.

6.What do you do on a Friday night?
Get anxious for the weekends

7.Do you sleep with a fan in your room?
Yeah,to help cold air from the AC circulate.

8.Do you shower before you go to bed?
Yeah,w/ really hot water.

9.What kind of drinks do you prefer?
alcoholic-white wine or Margarita ,non-alcoholic diet green tea or diet coke and coffeeeeeeeeeee

10. Do you have a crush on someone?
I am an admirer of all beautiful people

11. Are you taken?
yup w/ no return-no exchange tag

12.Have u ever been inlove?
Yes,everyday

13.How long have you been together?
Over 5 glorious years

14.How did you meet?
by chance ,somewhere in Hongkong,one beautiful starry night

15.What do you like the most abouthim/her?
His spirit,his heart,his soul , his laughter,his emotions , his thoughts ,his sensitivity , his eyes, his voice and of course his looks :)

15.What do you like the least abouthim/her?
he cares too much about everything w/c makes him susceptible to getting hurt & being disappointed.

16. What is the best thing he have ever done for you?
He never gave up on me even though at the beginning our fate seem pulling us apart.

17.Have they met your parents yet?
Yes, my MIL is one of the bravest,strongest & most caring person I've ever met.

18.What would your kids look like if you had kids?
They look like any other kids.....special & unique

19.What is the worst argument you have had?
Hhmmmm....we had a few really but it just even made us stronger.

20.Do you still kiss a lot?
Every single chance I get....I've warned him first hand that I am very "touchy"

21.Who asked who out?
I guess it was me because I wanted to show him around HongKOng.

22.Do you think you will get married?
Not at the beginning coz I knew it's not gonna be easy....

23.Can you see yourself growing old with them?
Yes, most definitely....we want to travel around the world when we get old & gray.

24.What is the one thing you would like to change about him?
Nothing...absolutely nothing

25.What do you think they would like to change about you?
I can't speak for him....but maybe my insecurities..

26.What is the first gift he ever bought you?
A framed photo of him & me and a diamond ring....

27.Do you have a favorite song together?
It had to be you & Never Felt This Way by Brian McKnight

28.Which famous person do you think he look like the most?
I always thought he kinda look like Russel Crowe or maybe Ray Liotta

29.Would you say the two of you are agood match?
Yes, we compliment each other.

30. When you are away from your partner do you wish you were with them?
Yeah, I can't seem to enjoy anything I'm doing if he's not around.

31. Are you able to argue with your partner and then make up afterwards?
Yeah....we'll have make up sex after a big fight lols

31. When shopping do you see things you would like to buy for your partner?
All the time

32. Would you rather go out for the night with your partner than your friends?
No..he's always fun to go out w/....plus he's a generous date

33.If your partner asks you to do something for them do you do it without grumbling?
I might throw a hissy fit,just because I was tired....but then I'd end up doing it anyway

34. Would you change something about yourself if your partner asked you to?
If he wants me to have a boob job...why not...if he's gonna pay for it :)

35. Have you and your partner talked about what you would do when you are both retired?
Yeah...travel...vacation...learn new hobbies

36.Do you worry about how your partner would cope if you weren’t there for them anymore?
Yes..because I baby them too much

37. Where is he right now?
Right next to me...sleeping

38. What is the last word you say to your partner before you die.
That I love him till eternity & beyond and I'd tell him to keep living..keep loving..keep enjoying life...but don't forget about me.I'd thank him for all the wonderful times we've spent together & that I'd live my life all over again if I would be w/ him again.

I'd like to tag Sandy ,Pham , Anna , Vanessa

Friday Night Sports

2007-09-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

"We lucked out. That eighth inning was incredible. The only thing predictable in this ballpark is the unpredictable." -- Yankees manager Joe Torre

One of the best quotes ever!!

What an exciting game.For all the Yankees fan it was an awesome game when the yanks rallied on the 8th inning to win the game 8-7 against their number 1 opponent ,the Boston Red Sox.

I had such mixed emotions because I watched the first 3 inning & reds were just hammering them & I couldn't take it anymore...it was just too painful to watch your favorite team getting beat so I recorded the rest of the game & proceeded to do my normal daily routine.

3 hours later I checked the DVR and the recording was incomplete!!!!! Grrrrrrr!!! It stop the recording after the 6th innings because the game lasted 4hours . Arrrggggg...anyways..the most important thing is that my favorite team WON!! whoohooooo...oh yeah.

Another favorite of mine....the fabulous Tiger Woods was just doing amazingly at the Tour Championship making birdies here & there.Second round & he has already a big commanding lead . I just got to see the highlights of his shots & they were just unbelievable!! Go Tiger !

This weekend should be so much fun for all sports fan. Yankees battle against the Reds , Tiger completing his win and the Colts going against the Titans. I hope there's enough chips & salsa in the pantry.

Meldz Perfect Roasted Chicken

2007-09-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1 small whole Chicken (3-4 lbs)
2 medium onions quartered
5 cloves of garlic crushed
2 medium carrots in big chunks
2 potatoes big cubes
Sprig of rosemary (fresh or dry )
Olive oil
Dry Oregano
Salt & pepper to taste
1 ½ cups of low sodium low fat chicken stock

Procedure:
Pre heat oven at 350°F
Rinse chicken under cold running water.
Remove giblets & set aside ( I boil them & reserve the stock to make gravy)
Pat the chicken dry w/ paper towels then cover w/ olive oil.

On a roasting pan season chicken w/ salt & pepper.
Insert some of the crushed garlic under the skin of the chicken
Put some veggies inside the chicken cavity including rosemary.
Put the remaining garlic & veggies around the chicken.
Pour chicken stock around the chicken ( this is the secret to juicy & tasty chicken meat)
Cover the top of the chicken w/ aluminum foil ( to avoid burning too fast )
Roast for about 30 mins then baste w/ stock.
When the chicken is half way done , remove the foil & let roast again
For another 30 mins ,basting from time to time.
The last 20 mins , crank up the heat to 400°f to make skin brown & crisp.

When chicken is cooked , transfer to a serving platter & let rest before carving.

Gravy:
Pass the roasting liquid to a strainer.
On a small sauce pan , heat some olive oil & a little bit of butter.
Add 2-3 teaspoon of flour & cook for about 2-3 mins mixing constantly to
avoid lumps. Pour the reserve stock & whisk till creamy .
Adjust the seasoning .Just add some more chicken stock or warm water if gravy gets too sticky or creamy

Serve chicken w/ the roasted veggies , steamed rice or mashed potatoes & gravy.

I like making this on the weekends.Yumm!

Pinoy Humor

2007-09-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

You might have read this somewhere but still want to to share :D
Sooo funny !!
English movies you should never translate in tagalog...

-----Courtesy of Slimz:

1. black hawk down - ibong maitim sa ibaba
2. dead man's chest - dodo ng patay
3. i know what you did last summer - uyy... aminin!
4. love, actually - sa totoo lang, pag-ibig
5. million dollar baby - 50 million pisong sanggol (it depends on the
exchange rate of the country)
6. the blair witch project - ang proyekto ng bruhang si blair
7. mary poppins - si mariang may putok
8. snakes on a plane - nag-ahasan sa ere
9. the postman always rings twice - ang kartero kapag dumutdot laging
dalawang beses
10. sum of all fears - takot mo, takot ko, takot nating lahat
11. swordfish - talakitok
12. pretty woman - ganda ng lola mo
13. robin hood, men in tights - si robin hood at ang mga felix bakat
14. four weddings and a funeral - kahit 4 na beses ka pang magpakasal, mamamatay ka rin
15. the good, the bad and the ugly - ako, ikaw, kayong lahat
16. harry potter and the sorcerer's stone - adik si harry, tumira ng shabu
17. click - isang pindot ka lang
18. brokeback mountain - may nawasak sa likod ng bundok ng tralala /bumigay sa bundok
19. the day of the dead - ayaw tumayo (ng mga patay)
20. waterworld - basang-basa
21. there's something about mary - may kwan sa ano ni maria
22. employee of the month - ang sipsip
23. resident evil - ang biyenan -- hahaha!!!
24. kill bill - kilitiin sa bilbil
25. the grudge - lintik lang ang walang ganti
26. nightmare before christmas - binangungot sa noche buena
27. never been kissed - pangit kasi
28. gone in 60 seconds - 1 round, tulog
29. the fast and the furious - ang bitin, galit
30. too fast, too furious - kapag sobrang bitin, sobrang galit
31. dude, where's my car - dong, anong level ulit tayo nag-park?
32. beauty and the beast - ang asawa ko at ang nanay nya
33. the lord of the rings - ang alahero

---------------------------------------------------------------
Names of newly-born Chinese

* Born secretly: Tina Go
* Born swindled: Lino Co
* Born alternately: Sally Tan
* Born accused: Macy Sy
* Born honest: Uma Ming
* Born dark: Andy Lim
* Born fat: Lucky Chan
* Born fatter: Bob Uy
* Born evil: Daemon Yu
* Born flirt: Alan Dy
* Born smelling: Kelly Kay Lee
* Born different: Eva Yan
* Born incomplete: Cole Ang
* Born sick: Hatch Ching
* Born cute: Cao Yun!
----------------------------------------------------------

Paano kung nagsasalita ang mga bagay-bagay?

"Alam kong may gusto ka sa akin. Pasimple ka. Bakit di mo pa ako seryosohin? Pero, bago ang lahat, gusto ko alam mo na hindi ako easy-to-get." -'1.0' classcard

"Nag-iinit na ako! Hahaplusin ko na ang iyong damit!" - plantsa

"Pinapaikot mo na lang ako palagi. Nagsasawa na ako. Mabuti't patayin mo na
ako!" - electric fan

"Ayoko na! Bakit kapag nagmamahal ako, nagagalit lagi sila?" - gasolina

"Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat para sumaya ka... Mahirap ba talagang makuntento sa isa? Bakit palipat-lipat ka?!" - TV

"Tuwing kasama mo ako, ni minsan hindi kita nakitang masaya o ngumiti man lang..." - manggang hilaw

"Ayoko na ng takbo ng relasyon natin. Di ko na nararamdaman yung dati. Nanlalamig na ako..." - freezer

"Nakakalungkot isipin na may mga taong talagang nang-iiwan sa ere..." - saranggola

kahit hindi ka mabango at kanais nais, parating kasama mo ako, pero bakit ayaw mo sa akin? - balakubak

nahirapan kang kunin ako para lamang bola bolahin mo, tapos ay itatapon mo sa kung saan saan lamang - Kulangot

Alam ko maramin akong tanong sayo, pero nagtatanong lang naman ako, Sana wag mo ako murahin patalikod pag di mo masagot mga tanong ko... -test paper

"hindi imo ako kayang lunurin!!! bwahahaha!" -palitaw

A Day In A Life Of A Full Time Mom

2007-09-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

Whew...really whew...
It's 5pm while I'm typing this.
It's 90 degrees outside & I feel like I'm fighting for my breath.
Need to sit & relax a little bit.

I got up at 7am start coffee machine..took me 15 mins to wake up.
Prepare kids lunch bag & their clothes.
Wake up kids ,showered, got dress , ate some breakfast.
Put dishes away , comb hair,put shoes on, grab bags
8:10am....drive the girl to school. Little boy have to come along coz daddy's off to work really early today .
8:15am...arrive at school, circled around a couple of times to find a spot to park
8:45...back home w/ son. Pick up dirty clothes , make the bed , put toys away..

9:15 while little boy is playing in his room , mommy put on work out clothes , starts her work out playlist & hit the machine.

9:45..mommy showered get dressed
10:30am Little boy showered , get dressed
10:45 drive to little boy's school
11:00 drive to the store pick up some items for the house
1:00pm, pick up little boy from school
1:30pm ate some light lunch w/ son.
2:00pm rinse dishes, run dishwasher , mop kitchen floor , take garbage out.
2:30 drive to daughter's school .Mommy wants to get there ahead of everybody to get the shaded parking spot. Only a filipino would do that :)
3:00 back home , wash up kids, check school bags, dump un-eaten school lunch & left over drinks.
3:30 run dryer , set out toys ,art & crafts stuff for the kids.
4:00 start dinner , clean chicken, cut veggies. put chicken in the oven
4:30 clean up kids' mess
5:00pm...chicken still in the oven, kids in their room watching tv
and mommy is blogging.....she needs some decompressing :)

...later on...
6pm dinner
7pm tidying up the house while the kids play/read books
7:30 fold laundry,iron clothes
8:30 give kids bath , put them to bed
9:00pm if there is no more chores to do , mommy & daddy sit & watch tv or a movie ( my favorite time of the day )

10pm or 11...bedtime....need to recharge & get ready again for the next day round.

So that's my day so far....How was yours?

Mom Gave Me A Haircut Before I Go To School

Got My Back Pack & Lunch Bag Ready

And I'm Off To School

That's Teacher Kathie .She's Very Pretty .

I Love School!!!

I have not had the chance to take my daughter's picture from school but I will sure post once I got them.

First Week Of School

2007-09-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

Nemo's voice is ringing in my ear yelling " First day of school , first day of school" to his dad.

Tuesday morning was torture. I felt like I was hung over. Getting up earlier than 10am is an absolute punishment for me but I had to get my lazy butt up . I can't remember when was the last time I had black coffee . I like my coffee creamy but that morning , I had extra strong black coffee ..whew it was awful but surely shook my brain off & I was up & ready to take on the world!.

Princess school was still under construction for the new classrooms & bigger parking lot....hence chaos everywhere....gosh what a terrible morning!! I bet everybody who took that road was late to wherever their destination was. There was no where to go & the usual 5 mins drive to school took about an hour including the time spent looking for a spot to park. Princess was getting hysterical coz she didn't want to be late but there's nothing we could do but all the aggravation was gone when she saw her former classmates. I was so touched when they hugged each other , so happy to meet again after a seemingly long summer vacation.

Shinjo went to preschool & in a new building. I like his teacher a lot & she's very pretty. Teacher Katie is young & energetic w/c I think is best to handle super active toddlers like my son.

I went home and it was so QUIET!!! lols....it felt weird but it's good for all of us to have time just for ourselves. Finally , I'll have an alone time w/ my exercise machine . I was so excited to don my work out clothes.. The first 5 mins was excruciating...who am I kidding , I have not touched it for so long and my body obviously is not use to physical activities. I tried really hard & I finished 20 mins ...whew.....that's a good start.. There's no more excuse...no more reason to procrastinate .

Our Bowflex Machine & Elliptical .Gathering Dust No More

A Tag From Tess ~ 6 Weird Things About Me

2007-09-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks Tess for the tag. I'm glad it only asked for 6 coz I have a long list lols.

Instructions:
Write 6 weird things about you and post it in your blog. Make sure to state the rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Let them know that were tagged by leaving a comment in their blogs.
OK, here is my list:

1. I like pickin' black heads ( gross !! ). Yeah , my sister hates me whenever I use my big sister pass to pick on her nose till it's red as a tomato. Now it's my DH turn to get assulted by my finger nails. He would even use it to bribe me ( he'll say " I'll let you pick on my nose if you give me 15 mins back rub "). I not only pick them, I collect them & count them ...now that's weird.

2.I like everything spicy. I'd put chilli powder, chilli oil or what ever chili I could find to put on any food. Food taste bland to me if there's no spice.

3. I sleep w/ my eyes half open. DH saids it looks creepy he even took pictures of me while sleeping like a log.

4. I have a phobia w/ static shock. I once got zapped on my ear & it hurts so bad . Since then everytime I would touch something , anything esp. metal , I would kinda test it w/ the tip of my finger to see if I'll get shocked. It's kinds funny coz you'd think I'm touching something hot w/ my finger ( ouch! )

5. I easily ge startled. Maybe it's from drinking too much coffee ( nerbyosa) . I'd scream like hell if you try to scare me. My daughter thinks it's hilarious ,she will try to scare me at any chance she gets & laughs when I scream. My DH waits till I'm all alone watching my favorite crime show on TV coz he knows I would even jump from my seat if he scares me.

and last but not the least....

6. I cry so easily......like a flowing river. Even if it's just a simple sad story I'd cry...I'm like a cookie......tough & crunchy on the outside but soft in the inside .

There you go. I would love to read the weirness of my fellow bloggers Anna , Lanie , Sandy, Sarah, Vanessa , Geri & Rhebs

Labor Day Weekend ~ It's the end of a long vacation

2007-09-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

50% of me says " yey,at last vacation is over...I'll be busy again " but the other 50% says " Oh man, this means I can't stay in bed till 10am anymore!" But I guess I'll go w/ the first coz I think I've had enough of idle time. I'm so excited for the start of the school season. It means we'll gonna meet new people , gonna go to new places , kids have brand new clothes & school stuff , meeting new friends.....it's just so thrilling for me!!

Saturday we stormed the Woodburn Company Store Outlet and went elbow-to-elbow amongst the crowd of anxious shoppers. I made sure that I wore my most comfortable pair of shoes coz the last time was pretty painful , my feet was sore for a few days from my very fashionable 3" clogs (duh). This time I came all set & prepared( studied the map,list of stores, shopping list) & I came victorious. This is a shopping heaven for penny pincher's.
My kids have enough clothes till the next change of season w/o breaking the bank.

Labor Day Dinner: Sweet & Sour Chicken W/ Garlic Rice

After whining about the quality of Chinese food here , I decided to make one myself.
The batter is light but still crispy & the sauce has just the right sweetness .

Tired the whole day so I guess I deserve
a glass of good chilled chardonnay & enjoyed the rest of the evening with my honey.

I hope you all had a Great Labor Day weekend :)

One Of My Favorite Video Performance Of Lea Salonga

2007-09-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

I can't resist not to post this coz I think it's so sweet & special.
Lea singing the song Two Words as her marriage vow while her brother Gerard & SIL playing piano & violin .

Sandy, di ako makatulog , hinanap ko talaga sya kasi it is such a lovely song.

Playground Politics

2007-08-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

There's this wonderful play area that we go to regularly. I love it coz it's very safe, far away from the road,well kept, has a clean bathroom, lots of tress, benches & picnic table ,it has a big tent that covers the whole play area to keep dry from the rain & a big parking lot.

Since the beginning of summer vacation we go there almost everyday. I observed that everyday there are different groups of parents & kids that gather around on the picnic table. For instance I noticed that every Thursday afternoon , a group of Indian moms are there, on Wednesday Japanese & maybe Hispanic groups on Tuesday. So everyday we see different nationalities & I've yet to see any Filipino group. For what reason I don't know .I started to wonder because I've feeling left out more & more whenever my kids had to share the play area w/ these kids & since we don't belong to their group we are outsiders , or at least that's how I see my daughter gets treated . It hurts for a parent to see their child struggles to fit in .Instead of just going there & have fun , she has to assess first if she can play w/ whatever group of kids who's there at that day of the week.

Being an outsider to the group is just one of the problem that I see. Another one is those moms or parents who go there to chit-chat or read or talk on their cellphones. In other words, they stop paying attention to their kids ones they sit their butts on the benches , enjoying the sun & whatever that occupies their thoughts. On the other hands, their kids are bullying my kids & I had to stand there & make sure my kids don't get hurt or get into an accident because some kids can't behave in a public play area.

Maybe one day I'm gonna get into a fight with some parent but I'm ready for that coz I wont let my kids get pushed around. I don't judge people & I believe we all care deeply about our kids but we should also never forget to be considerate of others & as a parents our number one role is to guide them & if our kids are doing something bad, we can't just ignore it because we are too busy chatting up w/ our friends etch etch..

I think we will still keep going to that park no matter what coz it's for everyone & anyone. I just have to be more vigilant in watching my own kids and maybe someday there'll be a Filipino group in that park that will welcome us.

Her Favorite Tree

Down The Slide

House Is Coming Back!!

2007-08-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

I've been so anxious to know when is the next season gonna start. September 25th is Season 4 of my favorite t.v. drama show House MD. It's gonna be so exciting coz there'll be new casts ( I wonder I wonder who they gonna be ?)

Congratulation for the 4th Emmy Award nomination. You totally deserves it.

My Favorite House-isms:

"Go up his rear and get a smear. Which reminds me, kinda feel like a bagel."
- Lines in the Sand

Foreman: "I had a date last night. She screamed too. You think we should spend a hundred thousand dollars testing her?"
House: "Of course not. This isn't a veterinary hospital. Zing!"
- Lines in the Sand

"You get married at twenty, you're going to be shocked who you're living with at thirty."
- Fools For Love

"It's probably her mom. I bet she's huge. She is from the Midwest. Since when do you eat beets?"
- Que Sera Sera

"Quick, what's the status? I gotta get back to our sleeper before he goes looking for the orgasmatron."
- Son of Coma Guy

"Okay, fine. I'll father your child. But first you gotta write me a Vicodin prescription. Just so I can get through the foreplay."
- Whac-A-Mole

"Good thing you failed to become a mom because you suck at it!"
- Finding Judas

"Arrogance has to be earned. Tell me what you've done to earn yours."
- The Jerk

"Happens often in high anxiety situation, especially to women. Now it sounds sexist, but science says you're weak and soft. What can I do?"
- Airborne

"No, Cameron had concerns. Chase just agreed with her because he didn't want to lose his all access pass to her love rug."
- Fetal Position

"If you're considering grabbing my ass, don't start anything you can't finish."
- Half Wit

"Could have left the scarf at home and just told him you'd be wearing a look of desperation."
- Insensitive

House MD : Fox.com

Mommy Love To Watch Sports Too

2007-08-30T13:34:00.000-07:00

Yankees sweeps the Boston Red Sox & it just made my day. Such contrast to the game against the Detroit Tigers on Monday where they lost 16-0 .What a heartbreak that was.It's like everything that could go wrong went wrong such as late schedule ,rain delay etch etch. The game didn't end till 3:30 am ( e.t.) wow , now that's unheard of.

My favorite team bounced back & defeated their arch rival Boston Red Sox in three straight game and now tied with the Mariners for the wild card.I pray that the yanks will continue to play great so they could reach the play off!!

Jeter & A-Rod

** Can't wait for the NFL season to start. I'm just beginning to understand this game coz it's a bit confusing but DH is very patient explaining to me everything I need to know about this game Go COLTS!!

**I think every filipino is a big fan of Basketball. I am excited for our home team the Portland Trail Blazers. I think they will have a better chance this season after acquiring the number 1 draft pick Greg Oden. Good Luck Blazers!!!

** Of course I also keep track of Golf & I'm always & forever be a fan of Tiger woods. Congrats on winning The PGA Championship. I think he will be the sportsman of the year.

**I've missed the tennis world coz after Sampras retired I felt like there's no more excitement for this game but how wrong was I. I got a chance to watch Federrer play the other day & I think I'll be watching more of him now.

Girly Stuff

2007-08-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Some girls likes clothes.
Some girls like purses or wallets.
Some girls like shoes.
Some likes cellphones or any latest gadgets.
But girls like me.....we like skin care products & make ups.

I don't use them all but I just like looking at them coz I love the colors & the smell.I love eye shadows & mascara. If you do it right , it really brightens your face & makes you look so much younger. I love lipsticks & lip gloss too. Mac lip gloss & Estee Lauder lipstick are the ones you will always find in my purse. When going out at night , I have to have foundation on coz the reflection of lights makes my face so smooth of flawless but if we are just going out to the park
during the day , I like to dub a little bit of lose powder & some blush to make me look refreshed.

My holy grail of skin care

Women over 30 should use moisturizers more often. Too kick it up another notch I use facial serum before moisturizer & it just make so much difference & you can see & feel the result almost instantly.

Don't forget to clean your face. In the morning I use Neutrogena Pore Refining® Cleanser . Be careful when rinsing coz it stings in the eye but it really does feels so clean & my pores became a lot smaller . When I have make up on I use Olay Facial Cleanser. I love this product coz it's like 4-in-1 . Make up remover,toner,cleanser & moisturizer.

Next time , we'll talk about hair products.

Ciao!!

Not Much Of A Bitch After All

2007-08-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

...And all along I thought I was......

You are 83% Bittch!

I can't believe it! Your almost a full bittch! I know you just sit there and think of ways to be a bittch! How Pathetic is that! You must be awful lonely! Cruelty hurts! Bittch!

How much of a B*tch Are you?
Create MySpace Quizzes

Remembering My Childhood Idol

2007-08-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Only a Filipino would know who she was. She was a superstar & a darling to everybody.
I was only a child myself when she became famous . At 6pm everyday we would gather in front of our old black & white t.v. to watch her drama show " Anna Liza". Her face was so angelic that even w/ the old TV set w/ no color you could feel her emotions & I'd cry when she cry . People say that I look like her & I'd get embarrassed when they tease me that I was imitating her but deep inside I was secretly smiling whenever I get compared to my favorite movie star .

Everything was going well w/ her career & even starting a new album when she pass away. It was a really sad day. I think the whole country mourned for her. I cried so much because I was only 10 & I don't understand how she died & I could go to see her funeral.
Yesterday I saw her face on the news & my childhood memory came rushing back to me.
I swear I'd still have goose-bumps even just talking about her. She is really special & up until now I am still a big fan . God Bless your soul Julie .

Julie Vega

Food Critique ~ Chinese Food In America

2007-08-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to write about this topic a long time ago but it kept slippin' off of my mind but last Sunday was the last straw . I was just sick & tired of getting the same nasty crap they so called Chinese food here. I been to many Chinese restaurant & none of them serves authentic dish. Even the most expensive one didn't even came close. My DH knows the look on my face when I see the food in front of me & I just could just tell without even taking a tiny bite that it's gonna taste awful . I guess he kinda have a respect for my expertise *wink* in this world renowned food coz you get that when you've lived in China for over 5 years . Okay 'nough about me .So here are some pics of the food that I'm talking about.

Chinese Pork bbq ( Cha Su ). Looks OK but it's so dry you'd think you're chewing on styrofoam.

This is how it should look like & I bet this one's are tender,juicy & tasty like it should be .

DH ordered his favorite general Tao's chicken . I didn't want to spoil his appetite but I sure felt like I'm gonna go into a cardiac arrest just by looking at it.It has so much breading & oil. I wanna make sure that my guess was right so I tasted it & sure enough it was loaded w/ sugar & batter & the fried rice , gees, lord only knows how long that rice have been kept in the fridge before it ended up in the wok.

1.5 star for this one Gen Tao's Doesn't Have Too Much Batter

Chinese food , the real one , are not only tasty & delicious but also healthy & nutritional.
I'm not giving up just yet. I'm sure somewhere out there I'll find a restaurant that serves
good ( maybe even close to original) Chinese food.

Happy Eating !!!

Ito Ang English

2007-08-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same almamother.
Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only nowthat I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast.
Cute pala siya. And then, hecame over with me.He said, "I hope you don't mine.
Can I get your number?"Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, "Connect me if i'm wrong but are youasking me ouch?""The!?!!??". .. ang sarcastic na sagot nya.Aba! The verb! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.Na-guilty yata siya.
Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing inthe sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we should go ouch na rin.Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past.
Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time.
After 2weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in a state ofshocked.
Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaenghumirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we have here." What the fuss! Thenerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whateveris that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. As is!!! Idon't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to themarines! I told her, "please, mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rinsiya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even myboyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burnthe bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake,we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

The Favorites, Have-You-Evers.. and Last Times! Oh, the variety!

2007-08-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

*The Favorites, Have-You-Evers.. and Last Times! Oh, the variety!*
What is your favorite..
gum:	Trident
restaurant:	Tokyo Tokyo
drink:	Diet green tea
season:	winter
type of weather:	not too hot
emotion:	when I'm excited
thing to do on a half day:	chores
late-night activity:	blogging ..lols
sport:	baseball & basketball
city:	Portland & New York
store:	Nordstrom
When was the last time you..
cried:	monday
played a sport:	centuries ago
laughed:	a few minutes ago
hugged someone:	this morning
kissed someone:	this morning
felt depressed:	a while ago.
felt elated:	can't remember
felt overworked:	all the time
faked sick:	never
lied:	secret
What was the last..
word you said:	stop playing w/ the water
thing you ate:	PB&J
song you listened to:	A Beautiful Mind Soundtract
thing you drank:	coffee , strong
place you went to:	the park
movie you saw:	Superbad
movie you rented:	can't remember
concert you attended:	Side A concert
Who was the last person you..
hugged:	My kids
cried over:	my sister
kissed:	my kids
danced with:	my kids
shared a secret with:	my husband
had a sleepover with:	not in a while
called:	my husband
went to a movie with:	my husband
saw:	my kids
were angry with:	my kids
couldn't take your eyes off of:	my husband
obsessed over:	my husband
Have you ever..
danced in the rain:	yeah when I was 5
kissed someone:	oh yeah
done drugs:	never
drank alcohol:	yeah
slept around:	no no no
partied 'til the sun came up:	yeah
had a movie marathon:	oh yeah
gone too far on a dare:	nope not yet
spun until you were immensely dizzy:	not since I was 7
taken a survey quite like this before:	a few weeks ago
Take this survey Find more surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

I am tagging Tess, Lanie, Sarah, In-in,Geri,Bless,Kim,Pham,Anna,Sandy,Rhebs,Gilda & Vanessa

Clutter Solution

2007-08-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Space is always a problem when you live in an apartment & your stuff just keeps piling up & no where to go So here is my solution to one of our clutter problem in the house. We found this metal shelves at Target & I was so pleased that w/ such cheap cost a problem was solved. I was amaze at how much space we've saved & now there's more floor area for my kids to play .I wish we have thought about this long time ago.The plastic bins are also inexpensive & you can label them & organize so you don't have to look for missing parts & pieces.

For moms like me who gets attached to their kids toys & stuf , this is a great solution or you can always stop by Salvation Army or Goodwill. I have a few more boxes like this around the house & on closets & storage room .Another great thing about this is it teaches kids how to be more organized.

This Was Before . Got Tired Of Looking For A Toy

Chicken Pamesan

2007-08-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Chicken Pamesan

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1/2 bunch fresh basil leaves
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, drained and hand-crushed
Pinch sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 11/2 pounds)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1 (8-ounce) ball fresh buffalo mozzarella, water drained
Freshly grated Parmesan
1 pound spaghetti pasta, cooked al dente

Coat a saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. When the oil gets hazy, add the onions, garlic, and bay leaves; cook and stir for 5 minutes until fragrant and soft. Add the olives and some hand-torn basil. Carefully add the tomatoes (nothing splashes like tomatoes), cook and stir until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes; season with sugar, salt and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and keep warm.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Get the ingredients together for the chicken so you have a little assembly line. Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them. Pound the chicken breasts with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/2-inch thick. Put the flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly. In a wide bowl, combine the eggs and water, beat until frothy. Put the bread crumbs on a plate, season with salt and pepper.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high flame in a large oven-proof skillet. Lightly dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, and then dip them in the egg wash to coat completely, letting the excess drip off, then dredge in the bread crumbs. When the oil is nice and hot, add the cutlets and fry for 4 minutes on each side until golden and crusty, turning once.

Ladle the tomato-olive sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil. Bake the Chicken Parmesan for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. Serve hot with spaghetti.

My first time & it turned A-OK!!

Crunchy & Chewy Cheese Topping,Tender & Juicy Chicken

Courtesy Of : Food Network.om

Crab Mentality

2007-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a long couple of months of waiting for the result of the nursing board exam & it finally came Sunday morning. Of the 64,909 takers, who included first-timers, repeaters and voluntary "re takers," 31,275 — or 48% — passed the exam .

My sister didn't make it . I was sad for her & I could only imagine how she felt.We were talking at yahoo messenger that same night & I was trying to be strong & encouraging for her & although I was in tears while typing on the keyboard, I know that I have to make sure that she understand that it is not over for her , that there is another chance. She can take the exam in December again & that is only like 4 months away . Her spirits were so low & I could sense only a hint of hope from her. She's ready to throw the towel & walk away. How I wish I could be there so I could hold her & assure her that everything is gonna be alright.

I understand why she's feeling that it's the end of the road for her.I blame those people that surrounds her ( not my parents but related to us) who were telling her even before the test result came out that she should just find a job as a care giver in other countries. I was so mad at these people that I wanted to pick up the phone & just scream at their faces. How dare them crush my sister's dream!!! How could you possibly tell a young lady that she will never become what she'd hope for!!! How can these people act like they know what's best for my sister!!! They were feeding her w/ falls information telling her that she will have a better chance if she in the middle east ( were there is WAR!! ) or in Japan. I had to show her this article to convince her that it's not true .
This is a classic example of Crab Mentality : describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot
They are jealous because they know that my sister have a bright future ahead of her & that she will have all the things that others will never in their life time.

I'd like to think that I have persuaded her enough & that she will continue her bout & that she will this failure as a lesson that will make her stronger & smarter the next time around.

I Am But A Small World

2007-08-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

School season is coming soon .
I made a list of supplies that they need to bring
and put away some old books,papers,art works to make room for the new ones.
I am actually quiet excited for them just like I was when I was their age.
The smell of new crisp note book,crayons of different colors , erasers , pens, new school bags...ahhh I still remember.
Princess must have asked a million times when we are going to go shopping for their school stuff but we decided that we wont buy till the last minute coz I know how kids are having very little control of themselves when they see brand new boxes of crayons & colored papers .So shopping is scheduled not until before Labor Day. We will do clothes shopping as well coz I'm sure there will be plenty of sales during that holiday.

While putting away boxes of old kids stuff from school , I thought I'd share some of my favorite creation of my daughter.

I guess by then a pill would have been invented to make people live over hundreds of years

She made lots of pics like this. I just don't know what's w/ the glasses?

She did this a week ago.I guess we need to work more on spelling :)

Some More Pics Of My Two Chikitings

The Face Behind The Blog

2007-08-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

I was reading Geri's blog (coz I was awol for so long :) ) about herself & I saw my name at the bottom of the post. I've been tagged!!! Turns out Sarah tagged me too...(thanks guys , it's nice to have special mention in your pages ) so here I go.

The Face Behind The Blog
That's me 31 years ago ( you do the math ).The first of 3 kids. My sister Madel who just graduated from nursing school (big applause for her coz she's the 1st in the fam to get a degree ) & my baby brother Mark , still at school hoping to find his way too. My mother says she wanted to name me " Evangeline" coz it sounded religious but my lolo ( my father's dad ) wanted to call me "Melody" . I thank him for that , god bless his soul , because I love my name & it even became more fitting coz later on I became a professional singer. On my cousin's 18th birthday , I sang the song " I Will Always Love You" & I danced w/ my lolo....that was the first & the last time he heard me sing.
My personality can be very conflicting .It's a mix of how I was brought up & the lifestyle & culture that I am living now.Still the big part of me remains a true filipina , mahiyain,mayumi (daw)& respectful to others and experiencing many other culture & traditions made me more open minded & appreciative of other people.Maybe being a Gemini has something to do w/ who & what I am. I can be very adventurous & do some outrageous stuff but then I'm the first one to cry at any sad silly story , books , movie or even a strangers tale OR the first to scream while watching a horror movie.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a flight stewardess ( now we say flight attendant) coz I dreamed about travelling the whole world . Unknowingly , fate was leading me to a different direction & slowly I am discovering that I have a knack for singing . It was that time when karaoke machine was getting popular & everybody knows that when I get a hold of the mic , they'll just have to listen & wait in line . I also realized that I enjoy cooking a lot & how much I love to hear people's raving about how delicious the meals that I made for them so I told myself that if I don't become a singer then I'm gonna be a chef.

Life was hard , my parents both worked at a shoe factory & barely made enough money.Yet , they didn't fail to teach me how to be a good person, they taught me respect , honesty, hard work , & discipline. At an early age, I understood that I would have to work twice as hard as the next person if I wanted to achieve success in life. I became more serious with school & my studies ..even got some award at school and dreamed of becoming a doctor. Some people weren't as optomistic as me. Someone told me that I cannot be a flight attendant coz I will fail the minimum height requirements . I accepted that & focus my head on becoming a doctor, then somebody told me that we were too poor to be able to afford even just the registration fee . They were right again. I only made to graduate high school . I was so heart broken. Reality bites & the truth sucked!!! There's nothing like the feeling of your dreams being crushed. I let myself morned my heartaches for a while then I decided that I can't surrender!!
So I kicked myself up & got back in the race.

At 16,most young girls are busy with school, friends or whatever teenagers supposed to be doing. Not me, I was out there looking for my place in the world. I rediscovered my first love , singing . I signed up for every auditioned I could find & practiced every song that I was assigned to me. I had nothing , not even a microphone of my own . I had this old notebook where I wrote all the lyrics & all the melody recorded in my brain. All I had was my talent & determination & after 6 months , I had my first paid gig & not only that , it was at a five star hotel in Singapore. Not bad for a neophyte . I joined several bands after that & I travelled in some of the best cities in Asia . My dream of seeing the whole world was slowly coming true & what's best was that I was getting paid to do it.

2002 , in Hongkong , one fated night , I met my future partner in life.That feeling when you met somebody & you just knew it "like magic" & even though I knew then that it's going to be a tough decision for both of us being of different origin & nationalities, I felt the magic & it was all it took. It was hard , really hard .The paper work,visa applications, the waiting , long distance romance , long distance call , yahoo messenger, chikka ..you name it , anything to make the waiting bareable. It took over 2 years before me & Grant finally got together. Totally worth the wait.

So far life has been good. I am blessed w/ a wonderful & loving husband that understands me more than anybody in the world. He makes me laugh & gives me support & always there whenever I need him.Then there's our two precious little ones. Princess, like her name says , is the most smartest girl ,sweet & caring & very strong willed ( just like her mom).She likes drawing,painting & singing & facinated about insects & dinosaurs & likes climbing trees. Shinjo is our little man. The most curious one of all.His eyers brightens up at every little things that he sees.It's like the whole world is full of magic for him.
They are now my life , my world & I devote my whole time to them.

Someday I'm gonna sing again or perhaps enrol at a culinary school & finally get a diploma.Myabe open up my own restaurant or travel & see the rest of the world. These are my future plans & who knows? Anything can happen but now I know that everything is possible if you try & never give up.

That's the gist of my so called life. It's very colorful & lively just like meh :)
I am tagging In-In, Vanessa , Lanie & Gilda.

I'm Baaaackk!!!

2007-08-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

Holy guacamole!!! I am begging blogger.com to phu-lease not mess up my page anymore.

I don't know how many times I had to revise my blog & it really takes a serious amount of time to get everything right , of course number 1 it has to be pretty :) & number 2 , that I could put all my nick-knacks & pics on the side bar. I had a few interesting topics that I wanted to post but I couldn't because my blog was all F-ed up!!!! (end rant!))

UPDATE:
My Weight : Still the same ( boo-hoooo) . Can't blame nothing but myself...and my bad genes.I didn't do enough. I know the right nutrition, the right work outs even have the equipments that I need. What's missing???? m o t i v a t i o n. It's even harder now that the kids are on vacation & I have no reason to get out of the house except maybe every other day to take the kids to the park or on the weekends to do grocery shopping. I know that diet alone wont do the trick.....my body needs to be physically active coz that's how it was programmed since I was a kid . I was used to walking a couple of miles to get to the palengke & buy fresh fish & vegetables for dinner or washing 2 big loads of laundry by hands or washing the wooden floor while kneeling . Now everything is so easy , so convenient , everything is automated & hardly needs any efforts. That's why I'm gaining weight ..coz I am eating more nutritious food & not exerting enough sweat.

September is the month that I'm waiting for . Both kids will be at school & I will be a lot busier plus the I will finally have the time "just for me" . I can do my work out w/out constant interruptions ( ahhh...I can't hardly wait ).

My Kids : I can't believe I now have a 1st grader!!!! I am partly excited & partly scared.It means she will be on her own longer...w/out mom & dad to watch over her. She told me she was scared ...she doesn't know why she's afraid but I don't want to make her feeling worse so I assured her that every thing's gonna be ok & that it's should be a lot of fun. I hope she didn't sense the fear in my voice. I want her to be brave & to know that mommy & daddy will always be there for her.

Shinjo is also starting preschool & he will go 4X's a week . His teacher says that he will be joining the Lunch Bunch & she promised that it's gonna be a lot of fun because the kids are older & bigger & they would be a better model for our son . We are expecting him to improve his social skills & to develop his level of play. It should be very interesting & lots of fun for Shinjo.

Entertainment: Me & my husband are both movie buffs but we can't always go to the cinema to watch the latest movies so our solution is to bring the cinema to our house . DH assembled our home entertainment system & it's just awesome esp w/ the surround sound & HD quality picture. All we have to do is wait till the kids are in bed & we could watch all kinds of movies that we want & thanks to Netflix huge lists of movie titles our weekends is never boring .

Here are a few of great movies that we've seen recently that I highly recommend:

1. Hot Fuzz - you'll pee your pants laughing
2.The Last King Of Scotland - a bit gory but it's also a real story about Idi Amin
3.The Good Shepherd - we luv Matt Damon & yeah the movie is ofcouse great.
4.Deja Vu - never seen a movie of Denzel that I didn't like
5.Blood Diamond - great performance from Leo..i wonder why he hasn't won any awards yet.
6. Breach - another true story
7.The Pursuit of Happyness - I cried on this one. Will & his son is so good in this movie.
8.Children Of Men - very interesting...makes you wonder "what if?"
9.Stranger Than Fiction - Will Ferrel is so good in this one. He even made me cry.
10. The Departed - Matt & Leo plus Martin Scorsese.....you gotta see this one.
11. 300 - Great effects..great story...one of my top ten all time favorite.
12.Casino Royale - jam packed action...

I'm sure there's more but these are all I can remember for now. When I can sneak some time to watch a romance movie I would choose The Phantom Of the Opera & Sleepless In Seattle .
Still on the topic of entertainment...I got hooked on watching Law & Order SVU and I have seen all the episodes ( yup..all of them ) from Season 1 till 7 & I'm just waiting for the Season 8 dvd to come out. Right now & finishing the Law & Order :Criminal Intent. I think the psychological aspects of the show is what fascinates me esp Det. Goren & his understanding of human behavior .

What else did we do ??
We went to the beach & boy did I looked like the most obvious foreigner & not because of my color but my lack of knowledge about Oregon water......damn it was cold!!!! I'm like " so are supposed to just stare at the water coz I ain't going in that freezing ice cold water!!" I was so disappointed & acted like a 6 year old girl pouting coz I couldn't swim in the nice beach. It was 98 degrees for christ sake but unless you wanted to get hypothermia then go a head & dive . Inspite of the water being unbearably cold, Cannon Beach on the top ten of the best family friendly beaches in the nation.

The Oregon International Airshow was held at the Hillsboro Airport & we had the chance to witness the great performances from the Blue Angels & some other planes . DH is a great fan of fighter planes & once dreamed of becoming a pilot himself. It was a fun weekend events for us & the kids really enjoyed watching the planes do their acrobatic skills up in the sky.

Okay....that's all for now. I'll leave you w/ some pics of my sweet little angles .

Such a brave boy. He didn't mind the bone-chilling cold water.

She's was getting ready to build her sand castle

Enjoying a nice sunny day at the park

Mommy finally agreed to have her pic taken.

My angels

The Work Out That Works For Me

2007-06-23T00:38:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I started getting serious w/ my fitness goal. I've tried pills, low-Atkins , Juice Diet..etch etch...none of them worked. Instead of losing weight , I gained more.

The problem is not only my weight but my mind set. I was trying to solve my weight issue the easy & the fast way but I should have known that it's not gonna work. I might lose a couple of pounds but it always comes back & w/ a vengeance. My mind set & my will power is what needed boosts. After looking at my clothes that wont fit any more & looking at the mirror & facing reality , I told myself ...." I can't let this happen to me, this is not what I want myself to be & I'm gonna do whatever it takes but this time I'm doing it the right way".

I kept looking for something that will motivate me like the GYM but I'm too cheap to pay for the monthly dues .How about swimming??? Yeah ,but then I would have to hire somebody to teach me coz I don't know how to swim( what a shame for a girl who was born in a country surrounded by oceans & seas and I wont be caught dead wearing swim suit w/ my gutt hanging out ).

I thought about getting an exercise bike after seeing it on FitTV & heard that you can burn enough calorie if you do it 30 mins to an hour. I thought "that's great , I can get on the bike & pedal away while watching my favorite show". Anything that can help me get in shape w/o having to drag my 2 kids or pay for a babysitter. The bike isn't cheap either but I figure it's a great investment . I made a deal w/ my husband that I will start using my work out DVD again everyday if he gets me the bike . I kept my end of the bargain & so tomorrow I'm getting my new exercise bike .

I am spending my money on this baby instead of new clothes & shoes so I'd better stick w/ it.

I highly recommend this work out dvd if you wanna tone your abs & thighs. The Accelerated Body Sculpting work out & the Pilates Fat Burning for cardio are what I use & it's guaranteed result if you do it regularly & w/ healthy diet.

~~Beauty Tips~~

I have discovered an amazing product that gave my skin great result.It's a little pricey but hey, it's totally worth it. After using this stuff , I didn't even need to wear foundation any more. Just a light press powder & I'm good to go. Skin is soft,supple,evenly toned & it almost feels like your skin was literally renewed. Once you tried them you will never go back to your old cream.

These 2 I use in the morning

And these 2 at night. Just make sure that you wash your face before applying this cream.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Little Angels

Buckle Up!!
He's Belting Out A Song.
Have a great weekend to everyone.

A Survey

2007-06-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

*Tell Everyone About Yourself*
Time started::	5:00 pm
Basic About you:
Name::	Just Mel
Gender::	female
Height::	tall enough
Eye color::	Dark Brown
Hair Color::	Dark brown
Age::	Old enough
Birthday::	Sometime in May
Lefty/righty/ambidextrous::	righty
Piercings::	ears
Tatoos::	thinkin about it
Zodiac Sign::	gemini
Ring Size::	the size of my husband's thumb
Grade::	highly lols
More about you:
Are you named after anyone?:	No , but my gradpa gave me my name
Do you live in the moment?:	definitely
Do you consider yourself tolerent to others?:	yeah I guess so
Do you have any secrets?:	hhmmm,.....some
Do you hate yourself?:	when I get too nervous & acting like a kid
Do you like your handwriting?:	yeah, I try to write nice
Do you have any bad habits?:	not sure
If you were another person, would you be friends with you?:	hahhaaa....no
Any regrets?:	none that I could think of right now but I'm sure there's some.
Do you think life has been good so far?:	yes
Are you confident?:	not 100%
How long does it take you to shower?:	5 min minimum
What color is your room?:	beige
Where do you want to attend college?:	Western Culinary Institure or OHSU
Do you...?
Smoke?:	5 years ago
Do drugs?:	NEVER
Drink?:	yeah, on occasion
Go to church?:	not in a while :(
Sleep with stuffed animals?:	my honey is my big teddy bear
Take walks in the rain?:	In Oregon yeah.
Talk to people even if you hate them?:	Yeah but I can't hide my true feelings
Drive?:	yes
Believe in premarital sex?:	Nope
Want to get married?:	already did
Want to go to college?:	yes
Want to have children?:	already have kids & I'm so done
Sing in the shower?:	yupp
Get along with you parents?:	yupp
Get along with your sibling/s?:	yupp
Color/highlight your hair?:	yes,
Like coffee?:	a lot
Wear makeup everytime you go out?:	yes, ven when I'm not going out. I like looking nice
Love roller coasters?:	yes
Like to cook?:	very much
Have you ever...?
Hurt yourself? :	many times
Been out of the country?:	a few times
Been in love?:	everyday
Done drugs?:	never ever
Gone skinny dipping?:	I wish!!!
Had surgery?:	2x , C section
Played strip poker?:	not yet
Been on stage?:	many times
Pulled an all nighter?:	not yet
Gone one day without food?:	are you talking about suicide :)
Slept all day?:	I wish
Kissed a stranger?:	hhmmm does kiss on the cheek counts?
Had a dream that came true?:	yeah, a few
Broken the law?:	caught shop lifting when I was 13 :)
Stolen anything?:	nope
Been on radio/tv?:	yeah
Been in a mosh-pit?:	nope
Bungee jumped?:	not yet but I will definitely try someday
Had a dream that kept coming back?:	yeah
Gone out of state?:	yeah , love road trips
Live in other states?:	yeah , NY
Eaten an entire box of oreos?:	nope
Had a movie marathon?:	yup . That' what we like to do on a weekend
Spun until you were immensely dizzy?:	when I was a kid I did that
Been on a plane?:	a lot of times
Ran into a wall?:	nope
Been rejected by a crush?:	yeah, but only because I was only 10 that time
Cried in public?:	yes, I'm such a cry baby :)
Cried over a movie?:	you bet
Pranked called someone?:	nope, my husband tricked me one time coz he's very good in copying foreign accent.
Gotten a cavity?:	yeah ( blush)
Shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch?:	nope, but I did went there just to look around
Broken a bone?:	no
Fallen from a tree?:	no, but I did fell off a moving car
Passed out?:	yeah , the millenium party
Been to a theme park?:	yeah
Eaten sushi?:	I devour them
This or That
Pepsi or Coke::	Coke diet
McDonalds or BUrger King::	BK
Chocolate or Vanilla::	Chocolate
Black or White::	Both
Burgers or Hot dogs::	Burgers
Boxers or breifs::	boxers
Book or magazine::	both
TV or radio::	TV. Oregon has shitty FM radio
is the glass half empty or half full::	half full...always
sun or moon::	both
hot or cold::	cold
romantic comedy or thriller::	Both
waffles or pancakes::	Both
Florida or california::	Never been to either one
Black and white or color photos::	both
The city, the beach, OR the country::	all of them
Tennis shoes or sandals::	Sandals
Sweet or sour::	sweet
Private or publie school::	Private
Cappuccino or coffee::	coffee
English or history::	history
Science or math::	math
Do you believe ...?
in miracles?:	Yes
in magic?:	yes
in God?:	of course
in Satan?:	yeah
in ghosts?:	yeah
in luck?:	yes
in love at first sight?:	yes
in Santa?:	yes
in the Easter Bunny?:	not sure
in witches?:	yes, there are some in my family
that it's possible to remain faithful forever?:	yes most definitely
in wishing on shooting stars?:	yup
that cussing is a necessity in life?:	yes, it spice it up a bit
yourself?:	yes I do
Love and all that -
Do you consider love a mistake?:	No
If someone you had no interest in had interest in dating you how would you:	I wont give him falls hope
Do you prefer knowing someone before dating them?:	yes
What is worst about the opposite sex?:	It's hard for them to understand us female
Who and when was your first crush?:	Ralph Machio "the karate Kid"
First thing you notice about the opposite sex?:	eyes, the windows to their soul
Right this moment...
What are you wearing?:	my wrinkle free black buttton up shirt
What are you worried about?:	life in general....and my wieght
What book are you reading?:	none for now
What time is it?:	It's 5:45pm
Are you bored?:	yeah sometimes
Are you tired?:	most of the time
Are you talking to anyone online or on the phone?:	my husband. we talk all the time on YM or email or phone
Are you lonely or content?:	I'm content
Are you listening to music, if so then what?:	I'm listening to my kids screaming in the next room
The Last...
Dream you had::	can't remember my dream usually
Nightmare::	can't remember too
Time you cried::	The other day.
Movie you watched::	I saw Ocean's 11 for the umph x the other day
Movie you rented::	never rent
Book you read::	Kids book for my daughter
Word you said::	a lot...
Time you laughed::	last second ago.
Person to call you::	My husband , mother-in-law
CD you played::	The Frays
Song you listened to::	Listen by Beyonce
annoyance::	kids hihiiii but I love them to death
IM sent or recieved::	from my husband
Time you yelled::	10 mins ago
Person you yelled at::	my kids
time you were a skirt::	centuries ago. I never wear skirt
time you fought with your parents::	when I was 12-14
Time you wished on a shooting star::	just recently
Thing you ate::	rice & chicken teriyaki
Time you showered::	3 hours ago
Nail polish color worn::	Red by Revlon
Your favorite:
Type of gum::	trident
Restaurant::	Charter Restaurant, Portland
Season::	all four
Type of weather::	early summer
Emotion::	I am very emotional
Color::	Black,Red,Navy Blue
Perfume::	Happy Clinique
Candy::	Almond Roca
Pizza topping::	Pineapple pepperoni
Fruit::	mango
Veggie::	all of them
Type of cake::	Black Forest cake
Magazine::	Any fashion & fitness mag
TV Show::	House MD,Law & Order SVU & CI
Day of the week::	Saturday
Month::	May & December
Holiday::	Christmas
Number::	5
Sport to watch::	Baseball,Basketball
Flower::	Rose & white lily
Finally...
Time Finished::	5:58pm
Take this survey Find more surveys MySpace Surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

Northwest Summer

2007-06-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

“It is the month of June,The month of leaves and roses,When pleasant sights salute the eyes,And pleasant scents the noses.” ~Nathaniel Parker Willis

.......actually we are half-way thru June . Kids are on vacation now & I'm left w/ the wonder of how am I gonna keep them busy. I thought of taking them to the district recreational pool center & let them waddle in the water till they turn like prune. It's indoor ,water is warm enough so you don't have to worry about catching cold,it's open till late so you can avoid the rush of people ( too many people=too many germs) & most of all it's cheap!!! Only 2$ per person if you belong w/ the district. How cool is that!!! Tualatin Recreational Center has everything from leisure,sports,educational ,social or even if yo just want to take a walk in the trail area.

Shopping.........who doesn't love to shop??!!! Even if I don't have the dough , I'm perfectly happy just to window shop & spot something nice & tell myself " I'm gonna get you later!" lols
Well, this month is my lucky month coz I made full use of the gift cards that I got from my birthday to the max. Macy's had a huge discount blowout sale on June 12-13 . I was one of the earliest shoppers & I thought I was early enough till I saw one lady already had both her arms full of clothes to take to the fitting room. I took my sweet time coz I know dear husband is watching the kids & I gotta make sure that I wont go home empty handed & teary eyed again.
Two hours later I got myself enough outfits to last me till next summer plus a nice little purse from DKNY for a fraction of a cost. I couldn't believe my eyes (& the cashier) , a nice paor of dress pants for $11.99 & a beautiful scooped neck red blouse for $9.99 hahahhaaa..I was smiling from ear to ear. That was a very rare moment & I guess it's because I finally accepted the fact that I am no longer size 2 anymore . It made it easier for me to pick the right size of clothes & the right style. But don't get me wrong...accepting doesn't mean I am surrendering.
The battle of the bulge isn't over yet. But in the mean time , I'll try to enjoy my new sets of outfit :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their Recent Pictures

Time To Get Serious

2007-05-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have been too comfortable lately. All those motivation that I had last summer to keep in shape just vanished .Winter came & along with it brought me extreme laziness and a total lost of focus with my fitness goals. It's hard for me to believe that just last October I was so into working out & eating healthy. I was working out everyday sometime for 2 hours or more. I was watching my calorie intake & making sure that I didn't go over my limit of 1200 cal/day.

I know I wasn't eating like crazy but the absence of physical activities & being cooped at home all winter are the reasons why I can't fit into my petite size4 jeans anymore. August of last year I could even squeezed in size 2 . It may not seems that much if you look at the numbers , 1-2 size bigger...but for my height , it is VERY BIG of a difference.

Memorial Day weekend & those ubiquitous ads about sales & discounts at the malls lured me into braving the flood of shoppers trying to get good finds & bargains. Husband being supportive (or maybe he's also thinking of the discounts ) he went w/ me & watched Shinjo while Princess & me went elbow-to-elbow w/ hundreds of women's at two of my favorite store White House Black Market and Calvin Klein . I really thought it's gonna be a fun shopping experience but turned out the exact opposite. I was trying on a nice shirt & pants but I was so out of shape I nearly cried because it felt like I was looking at a different person in the mirror. That wasn't me.....I used to look good w/ this kind of outfit :( Frustrated ,disappointed & devastated...I stormed out of the store empty handed. Grant couldn't believe his eyes . He wasn't quite sure whether to feel bad thinking he didn't give me enough time or to be glad knowing I didn't spend a single penny that day. I was heart broken...."What did I do to myself?" " Why did I let myself go?".....but of course I already know the answers to that .

So today , I begin. I want my old self back & 'Dagnammit I'm getting it.I begin w/ a more realistic goal & a better open mind.No more diet pills or crash diets. Just good old fashioned healthy & balanced mind & body.I don't want to be super skinny like Lindsey Lohan.. I just want to see myself in the mirror & feel good again. To look good again wearing my favorite clothes.

May 29,2007 I weigh in at 130 ( gosh I've never gone this heavy before ...not when I am not pregnant)Back to counting calories but not to the point of starving myself. I need the energy to play w/ my kids. Back to working out even at least 45 mins a day and since summer is here maybe I will add a little bit of outdoor activities.

Every week I will post my progress. Hopefully this will help me get more motivated to continue & not procrastinate.

To be fit & feel good again ...that's my goal & my gift to myself.

True Joy & Happiness

2007-05-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little blue ……It must be that time of the month….but no…not till next week…maybe just a little tired. It’s Wednesday and I’m already longing for the weekend. I guess I’ve been pretty much productive this week so I gave myself a little treat….2 scoops of ice cream ..ahhh…..that does the trick. Then watched my recorded episode of HOUSE MD ( thanks to DVR…such a life saver. Now I don’t have to miss any episode of my favorite shows)…Kids were watching cartoon show in their room so I had the living room all to myself . Didn’t have to worry if there are obscene dialogue that the kids might hear…you know how they are now….so quick to pick up new vocabulary esp Shinjo. He is at the stage were he is starting to discover the vast universe of language . One day while his teacher was saying goodbye to him , he was so distracted w/ something else so I prompted him so say goodbye back & I swear I almost fell to the floor when I though I heard him say “ What the f^*@!!! “ We all thought we heard the same thing & I was so embarrassed but I didn’t realize that the teacher & I share the same feeling & he immediately said “ Oh I’m sure he didn’t hear that from us”. But I know my son & we never curse in front of them so I look around the room trying to find if he is referring to something else & not really cussing & sure enough , he was in fact looking at a toy frog. I gave up a big sigh & gave him a tight hug. I know my sweet little angle cannot be uttering those awful words!!

My daughter is also broadening her language & vocabulary ( I thought about writing this after reading Geri’s new posting about teaching kids tagalog). Princess is very proud to tell everyone that she can speak Spanish that you’d think she can be a translator for me whenever I am mistaken as Hispanic ( gracias) . The truth is , she only knows a few words in Spanish but I don’t have the heart to embarrassed her ( worrying that one Hispanic kid might take her up for it ) so I would just gingerly tell her “ yes sweetie , you know quite a few Spanish words BUT you still have to learn more so you must study even harder”.

Recently she is also getting interested in learning tagalog. To my surprise she asked me how to say “ Thank You” in tagalog. I smiled secretly in my heart. What a smart kid. I thought that I would have to bribe her one day to learn my language . I didn’t think she’d be interested this early . It’s funny coz she would even ask me to sing a Filipino song so with much gusto I sang to her the very first song that my mother taught me when I was her age “ Bato sa Buhangin” I would have sang to her another tagalog song till she asked me to translate it in English ( sigh!! I don’t think I have enough patience for that. Maybe someday).

Shinjo is now 3 & he goes to pre-school 3x a week. He loves it I can tell & it’s been so beneficial to him esp. the interactions w/ kids of his age level. Being a new immigrant to this country , it’s been always & almost very rare for my kids to have an opportunity to play & be around other kids. Now he is so much sociable & just blossoming into toddler hood.

When I was 6 I remember that my favorite toys are dolls or tea sets, but not my little girl.
Her fascinations are dinosaurs & portable game ( Leapfrog game computer but she just found out that Nintendo is so much cooler..) . We go to the community library & she would get nothing but books about dinosaur & I have to deal w/ reading to her & struggling w/ the difficult pronunciations of these prehistoric animals. One time, I didn’t notice that one of the books we got was about Dino Dung (a book about all kinds of dino poop) .

Kids, sometimes I can’t wait for them to have their own drivers license but then again , who would mommy read dino poops book to or would Shinjo still gives me hugs infront of other people. I don’t think so….so for now I’ll just enjoy their youth & dependency. They are mommy’s true joy & happiness. They are all I need to cure my blues away.

Went Nuts W/ The color Pen

He Loves Books Too

With her classmate Maxine.She's half Japanese half Pinoy.

New Hair Cut. Mommy is getting better w/ the clippers

It's May

2007-05-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Time to celebrate Mother's Day .

The things that mother's do...we deserve not only a celebration once a year but every day.
I got 2 kids but it's feels like one football team.
I have nothing but admiration to those women who were able to raise more than 2 kids...coz frankly , it's more than I could handle. I can't remember when's the last time I finished a book , a novel or even the Sunday newspaper. But ask me how many children's book I've read coz I got a long list for yah.

Motherhood.....exhausting .....but even so....it's the most rewarding. Just wait till you hear your little kiddo call you in their most sweetest voice ( even though at most times, they did something bad & they are tryin to get your symphaty) . Waking up in ungodly hour to just a slight cry or weird noise in the kids' room. Heck , when I was a teenager my mom would almost spalsh cold water on me just to wake me up hahhahaa..and she said to me " there will be earthquake, fire, war..& you still wont wake up". Kinda miss those days sometimes. Hmmm.... children.....they are a full time job...but also your most valuable & life changing experience.

To all the mothers , Salute!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May is also our Wedding Anniversary.

It's been 5 years and it's been good, can't complain really.
Lots of things happened , some good , some bad , but mostly good
and the bads only made our marriage stronger & deeper.
Along w/ the kids...our relationship has s also grown into maturity & more understanding.
Like we don't have to explain to each other anymore why the dinner isn't ready yet, or if we forgot certain appoinments.....just w/ one look & we know why....mutual understanding...I think it's very important. Saves you time arguing & who should sleep in the couch..lols.
All I wish for our wedding anniversary is........more....more of our love , more of our trust , more of our understanding........just a little bit more & every year.....and I think we will last....for a lifetime.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
and May is the month I was born.

At 30 something...I'm thankful how my life turned out.
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.
I don't have anything to wish for ...'cept for a brand new BMW suv, a nice house in Skyline next to those.hhhmmmm...what do they cll them now???? ahh,....luxury homes...hhaaahaaa...,maybe a vacation , on a caribbean cruise or Europe in autum wont be too bad.....nothing too glamourous.....just that....hahahhahaha...hey I was told that if you dream, aim high.

Seriously , my birthday wish is to always be healthy & strong for my kids , in good shape & good mood for my husband *wink* and just peace to all man kind ...,that's all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

If I Had My Life To Live Over

2007-05-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

If I Had My Life To Live Over
by Erma Bombeck

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,

I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back

Here I Go Again

2007-04-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

I don't know what happened to blogger.com but for some reason I couldn't access my blog & I was forced to make a new one. It's so much work & I have changed blog too many times now that I hate to switch to a new blog host again...'sides....I have put so much effort on my previous blog & it made me sad that I can't use it anymore.
Luckily, I saved most of my links so you'll still see the same stuff on the side board .

********************************************************************************

A-Z Tag From Lanie

A - Available/Single? ---------------Unavailable :)
B - Best Friend?--------------------My mahal
C- Cake or Pie?---------------------Both(Black Forest cake/Pumpkin Pie)
D - Drink Of Choice?---------------Coffee/Diet Coke
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday?---Skin care products
F - Favorite Color?------------------Navy Blue/Olive Green/Gold/Red
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms?------Sour gummy worms
H - Hometown?---------------------QC
I - Indulgence?---------------------Hair & Beauty products
J - January Or February-----------Feb.....Vday & my son's bday
K - Kids & Their Names-------------Princess (we call her PR) and Shinjo
L - Life Is Incomplete Without?-----hmmmm...your love ones
M - Marriage Date? ------------Sometime in May of 02
N- Number Of Siblings?---------2
O - Oranges Or Apples---------neither...santol/mango/lansones
P - Phobias/Fears?------------the unknown

Q - Favorite Quote?---------When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me". Erma Bombeck

R - Reason to Smile-------When I think about the blessings that God has given me

S - Season? ---------------Spring
T - Tag Five People?------Everybody on my friends list
U - Unknown Fact About Me?-----I sleep w/ my eyes half open ( hahahhaaa)
V - Vegetable you don’t like?-------I've never met a vegetable that I don't like
W - Worst Habit? --------- ---singing loudly ( & shaking my head ) while driving
X - X-rays You’ve Had?--------Not in a while ( thank god!!)
Y - Your Favorite Food?---Filipino/Jap/Korean/Thai..anything spicy
Z - Zodiac Sign? -----------I'm a Gemini

It's been really busy lately but I hope I could find time to update my blog.

See yah around!! :)

test

2007-04-18T14:29:00.001-07:00

test

Mheldz Bloggie

I moved!!

It's Back To School

First Post For 2008

Bitten By The Shutterbug

Our Little Xmas Story

5 Days Before Christmas

A Wish Come True

Anticipating,Online Shopping And An Award

Lakbayan Tag From Nova

Born Under The Sign Of Twins

Post Thanksgiving Update

In A Festive Mood

What Are We Thankful For This Year?

A Trip To The Clinic & Some Funny Story. : Part 2

A Trip To The Clinic & Some Funny Story.

Three Things

My Two Little Devils ~ Halloween 2007

Not Enough Days In A Week :)

A Tag From Sarah

When We Were Young Tag From In-In & Sarah

50 Questions ~ Tag from Sarah

Funny Ha Ha

My New Fall Project

PotLuck Party With Pinoy Friends

Annoying Part Of Me

4 Questions

Maligayang Kaarawan ,Nanay

A Song For Me

Three Things

Venting

More Award ..*blush* * blush*

A Recognition From Tess

Tag From Mareng Sarah

When Kids Get Sick

8 Random's Facts of My Past

I Won Something!!!

7 Things That Makes Me Happy

Feel The Burn!

Poor Britney

A Tag From Caleb's Mom,Sarah

Friday Night Sports

Meldz Perfect Roasted Chicken

Pinoy Humor

A Day In A Life Of A Full Time Mom

First Week Of School

A Tag From Tess ~ 6 Weird Things About Me

Labor Day Weekend ~ It's the end of a long vacation

One Of My Favorite Video Performance Of Lea Salonga

Playground Politics

House Is Coming Back!!

Mommy Love To Watch Sports Too

Girly Stuff

Not Much Of A Bitch After All

Remembering My Childhood Idol

Food Critique ~ Chinese Food In America

Ito Ang English

The Favorites, Have-You-Evers.. and Last Times! Oh, the variety!

Clutter Solution

Chicken Pamesan

Crab Mentality

I Am But A Small World

The Face Behind The Blog

I'm Baaaackk!!!

The Work Out That Works For Me

A Survey

Northwest Summer

Time To Get Serious

True Joy & Happiness

It's May

If I Had My Life To Live Over

Here I Go Again

test

More Award ..blush * blush*