Yup...not fair!

Arrrgghhhh....How can he let me see my 10th year anniv. gift and not let me take a quick look? Geeezz…is he doing this on purpose? I know he is laughing his head off watching me check the paper bag like an anxious little kid looking at a precious un-opened gift. Now, I know how my AJ feels. = ( I’m sorry babe, now I feel bad. How about we take a peak on your x-mas gifts and not let Daddy know? Just you and I. What do you say?! hahaha….) Sssshh…

SWEET!!!

Junk Mail!… Boy it’s Annoying! Paper Cut??? Absolutely hate it! COUPONS! Now we’re talking… Just keep it coming will yah!??? =) SWEET! Wait.... How about gift cards? That's even better! Awesome! Yes, money can't buy happiness, but it can sometimes buy stuff that makes you happy and I agree! =) Hubs, if you're reading this, I wouldn't mind getting some. Yes, some not just one. Okey Dokey! *Wink*
Anyways, do you have your own business? Did you know that this is a fast and easy solution for rewards, incentives, and promotions? Boy! Wouldn't that be a treat to any employees or clients? I think so! Just add your company name or a special message and Voila! Who wouldn't want gift cards? It's like the best gift ever!!! Well, at least to me. Hehehe...

Dear Santa

AJ's highlight from last week was finding what she likes from Santa. Yay!
AJ: I've been really a good girl, right Mom?
Mom: Santa if you can read this, I can assure you AJ's been really Nice. =)Promise!


(This is what she want from SANTA =) Pretty Please SC!)

Why do I have to wait for Thanksgiving to set - up my Christmas tree? Nobody is gonna shoot me if I do it now, Right? Anyways, I already set up ours. The Initial theme was my bag collection. (small size bag) It was the Hub's idea. I went ahead and made the tree arrangement and decorations but we both agreed later on that it's a "NO" Hahaha... Maybe, I'll use cut-out paper bags next time. That would be so CUTE! Real Bags are just so TACKY to look at. =) So we placed AJ's Build-A-Bear collection instead. Whew! Much better! Don't you think? Now, I'm thinking of getting electric generators just in case when the power is out I have back-ups. I just like staring at the tree at night. It gives me so much joy, but I have to admit that sometimes it makes me miss my family back home. Oh well! We all have places we’d rather be. *Sigh*


Our Initial X-MAS TREE




FINAL! No more changing! =)

Early Present for my Princess!

AJ got a new playmate from Build-a-Bear. An early present for Christmas. =) A PINK UNICORN she named BLOOM. Such a cutie! Hope BLOOM will make AJ really happy. A few weeks ago, she was crying because she doesn't think it was fair that all of her friends has siblings and some of them even have dogs while she didn't have either. Poor thing! It really broke my heart when I saw her crying. But like I told her, we are not ready yet. So hopefully Bloom will help us distract AJ for wanting a dog or a new baby sister/brother hehehe...
Okay I'm off to check for some music, video, software search. I need it for my project which I can't divulge yet. Anyways, I'm hoping for a nice day tomorrow. Its been raining since yesterday. I don't like rain especially when I need to go out. It's kind of ANNOYING!

My Princess!

Such a busy week for all of us last week. We've been busy attending AJ's school shows. We went there Thursday to watch their orchestra's performance. She's playing the Violin. Oh Boy! I think we have a musician in the making. *Wink* Yup, we're that proud! It's like watching Music Classes For Toddlers. So Cute! Then on Friday, we went to watch her read in front of the class during their writing celebration. She did well! I don't think "shy" is in her dictionary hehehe... I wonder where she got that from? =) After that, we went to her ballet class for a rehearsal of their Christmas show on Dec. 13. She'll be a Star Dust. Looking forward to that. Way to go my darling Doll! I think I should have enrolled her early for Toddler Music Class or the Kindermusik or Music Together. Oh well, I guess I just have to wait for their concert on January 21, 2010. Anyways, if you have toddlers at home, you might want to enroll them. Immerse your child in an atmosphere of playing, singing and dancing. Don't worry they will guide you every step of the way so you know how each activity contributes to your child’s overall growth and development. Go on and have fun. This is also a fun way to bond with your kids. I think!

Fall 2009

This was 2 weeks before we got sick. Hayrides. Pumpkin Patch. Giant Slide with 80 feet of fun. Train Rides. Gem Stone Panning. Farm Animal Corral. Picnic Area. Playland (Kids Zone) ALL in one at HILL RIDGE FARM! Satur-dates with my two kulitz! Boy it was cold that day! Farms are great fun for all ages. =)

AJ said...

she wants to be a Scientist when she grows up just so she could make the cough medicine taste better. =) I felt like I was on house arrest 2 weeks ago. I’m not allowed to go out. We all had the Flu. =( Staying home was fun, but dangerous as well. All we did was eat, eat, and eat!

Thinking of .... a makeover?

Since I want a makeover for our Masters bedroom I think I need to check out some minka lights too. It would be nice if I could incorporate this. I would really like to get one of those beautiful Chandeliers to create a Romantic feel for the room. Hmmm...I bet the hubs would agree.

Something I love....

I think the Masters Bedroom is my most favorite room in our house.I would really like to transform our room into something spectacular. At the moment, I think it's Blah! Meaning Boring and Fugly hahaha.... Anyways, who wouldn't want to transform an ugly bedroom into a thing of beauty? I know I do. Adding up a microfiber sofa is not a bad thing too. The perfect spot to read my books and my magazines I think. I just love anything pretty. Don't you? I've been trying to save up some of the hubs' credit card rewards points when he uses his credit card for groceries, gas or any stuff like that so points are accumulated for gift cards or cash. This will be a great help so we wouldn't have to pull out money from our savings. This time I promised myself to use it wisely. Yeah! I admit, I usually use it to shop for stuff that I don't need. What a waste of money! Arg!!! Anyways, a few more points and soon I'll be reaping my beautiful sofa. Remind me to post pictures when I'm done. This is something I think I would love to brag in the future. Yes! I can dream, right? And when I dream, I dream BIG! If some people can brag just about anything they fancy I guess I have all the right too. Right? Oh well, I know I'm being too shallow but hey it's my dream! A FANCY Masters Bedroom with all the WORKS equals HAPPY JETTY. I'll be the happiest person and I promise not to be grumpy anymore. I just hope the hubs is reading this. (Ohhh NO! I can just see him rolling his eyes and saying "Yeah Right") Hmp!!! Bleh!

Wow!

Time flies really fast! I just can't believe it's the month of November! What??? Already!? Whew! Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Do you guys have plans to travel? If you do, you might want to check this out baby travel bed it might come in handy. We all know that sometimes traveling with kids can be frustrating and challenging. Check out BabySafeTravel.com they make traveling with baby simple and fun!

=(

Please visit Ella's blog for the photos. I don't know how to attach it just yet =( Ellababe's Blog.

Reposting from Ella's Blog

To GMA NEWS.TV and ABS-CBN’s BANDILA

Oct 24th, 2009 by ella
Nasa TV ang byuti ko!

OMG, nasa TV ang face ko ngayon lang! Sa ABS-CBN’s Bandila. It’s awesome, I guess, but I don’t appreciate the SENSATIONALISM attached to the word “NABUBULOK”. Also GMA NEWS.TV’s use of the word “ROTTING”. That’s not my point, pipol, sorry.

Sa urban lingo, aka pangaraw-araw na salita:

Nabubulok (rotting) - nakatambay, matagal na naka-imbak, not showing any progress, loser.

I did NOT literally mean INUUOD, NAAAGNAS, INAAMAG, YUCKY at EEEEW! Understand?

I know what non-perishable goods are, jeez. You see, doon tuloy naka-focus ang denial ng DSWD, hindi sa santambak na goods. Kakaiba.

On to the next point. Marami akong nabasang comments, posts at kung ano-ano pa, doubting the veracity of my “allegations”. I was there in the warehouse. I presented the pictures. I think I’ve done my part as a concerned citizen.

To the DSWD officials and Ms. Cabral:

The burden of proof is on you. The donors expect that everything they sent be distributed immediately to the intended recipients and not be stored in some warehouse. As government officials, it is your social responsibility to the people.
div

My post was featured on GMA.NEWS.TV

“I don’t know where this rumor is coming from,” Cabral told GMANews.TV in a phone interview Friday.”

“She also denied Ella’s allegation that she told a reporter from the Philippine News, a US-based Filipino community paper, that the reason why the relief goods were not moving was because they lacked volunteers. I don’t even remember talking to a reporter from the Philippine News. At least, not personally.”

“GMANews.TV called the Philippine News office in Los Angeles in California but was unable to get a response as of posting time.”

In fairness to Secretary Cabral and the DSWD. I’m posting her comment. It’s amazing that she found the time to write a very long winded comment/explanation. She didn’t have the time to answer one simple question from a journalist two days ago. She was given every opportunity to present their side pero sa totoo lang she ignored each one.

“Statement of Dr. Esperanza Cabral on the issue of relief goods in the DSWD Warehouse
October 23, 2009

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) manages the National Relief Operations Center (NROC) which is the facility for processing and storage of relief goods that are purchased by the Department or donated to us by generous individuals both here and abroad. The relief goods are released to our Regional Offices or directly to evacuation centers or to the local government units as they are needed and requested by these entities. They are delivered in trucks, many of which were lent to us by private companies or by military vehicles. Some of the goods are shipped by air from nearby Villamor Airbase.

When typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country, we received and are continuing to receive donations. Our warehouses are indeed full, inspite of the fact that we have distributed 500,000 food packs and 200,000 clothing packs as well as thousands of sacks of rice, blankets, beddings, and items of personal hygiene in the past almost 4 weeks. That is the reason why when asked if we still have enough goods, my constant reply is yes, so far we do, thanks to the many kind-hearted individuals and organizations as well as countries who responded and are still responding to the plight of the typhoon victims.

There are no rotting relief goods in our warehouses as we do not keep perishables there and the relief goods that are there, save for the donated old clothes are quite new since they have been either recently purchased by us or have been just donated.

Our goods are repacked by volunteers who are there because they want to help. But they are volunteers and report when they have time to help us. Sometimes there are two hundred of them and sometimes there are only a dozen. However many or few they are, we appreciate their presence and their assistance. Weekdays are usually quiet but on Saturdays and Sundays, the students, along with others who work Monday to Friday, including our own employees, are there.
Our staff at the warehouse work round the clock even now, making sure that the requests for relief goods are met in a timely manner. They work hard, they work quietly and they work humbly and I feel bad that they have been subjected to public vilification that they do not deserve.

I do not recall having talked to an Editor of Philippine News. I do remember my secretary telling me that someone was on the phone asking why there were no volunteers working at the warehouse. My reply was we do not own the time of the volunteers.

I wish that I could have prevented the deaths from typhoons but in fact, they have nothing to do with the relief goods that we are in charge of. Most of the deaths were from drowning or injuries sustained during the typhoon. Some died of illnesses. We are not in charge of rescue nor are we in charge of health and to the best of my knowledge, none of the deaths was due to absence of or delay in the delivery of relief goods.

We would like to assure all of you that the relief goods will reach the intended beneficiaries as they become necessary and will be used only to assist them. However, the relief goods don’t all go out at the same time and an empty warehouse is not proof that the goods were used properly just as a full warehouse is not evidence that the goods are being hoarded. If you visit our website http://www.dswd.gov.ph you will find updates on our activities related to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. It includes an updated list of donations received and goods released from the DSWD warehouse.

There are many aspects of disaster response. They include recovery and rehabilitation and in both instances, goods and other resources are still needed. In the initial reaction to a calamity, people will want to help and as we saw recently, they came in droves, offering their time, their talent and their resources. We want them to know how much we appreciate them for what they have done and what they are still doing. But further down the road, when the initial flush of generosity gives way to donor fatigue, there will remain only a few hardy NGOs and volunteers and the workers of the DSWD and other government agencies to continue the job of helping the disaster victims back on their feet. Judicious use of resources at the outset is imperative lest we face the situation of even greater want after a period of relative plenty. We at the DSWD wish to assure you that your trust in us is not misplaced. Thank you.

Before I published my post, I called an editor friend and discussed the issue with him. He saw that there was a valid story and decided to write it which all journalists are supposed to do.

Before submitting his story to Philippine News, he called the office of the Social Welfare Secretary and FOUR times, the request was denied.

In fairness to the editor of Philippine News, I am posting his comment. His story was in the front page of this week’s issue.

From Beting Dolor, columnist and contributing editor of Philippine News:

“My name is Beting Dolor and I am a columnist and contributing editor for US-based Philippine News. I have been with this paper since 2002.

I was the one who called DSWD four times to try and get their side. I was told that Sec. Cabral was 1) at a meeting, 2) interviewing applicants, 3) in the comfort room, and 4) about to leave for Pampanga.

It was her office secretary who relayed to me her message that there are not enough volunteers.

I wrote my piece for Philippine News because I was disturbed by the relative inaction of the department. The Philippines is under a state of calamity. As such, action is needed now, not tomorrow.

The hundreds of thousands of displaced Filipinos need all the help they can get. They cannot wait.

In times like these, I expect the DSWD to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The DSWD says there are not enough volunteers. I disagree. There are tens of thousands of Filipinos willing to help. The DSWD should have gone to the schools to ask for volunteers. There are countless employees in the private sector willing to help. The DSWD could have asked the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to help.

I expect the department to take a more pro-active rather than a reactive stance. I expect the secretary to DEMAND that everyone help out. Lest we forget, human lives are at stake.

The victims are dying by the score everyday. It’s in the news.

As for the rotting of the goods, we all know that it is not only food that can rot. So, too, can clothes, canned goods, biscuits, blankets and everything else that can be found in the DSWD warehouses.

Time is of the essence. The food that the DSWD hands out today will be forgotten tomorrow. Believe it or not, the victims still need to eat every day. Three square meals, if possible.

Finally, the hoarding of the relief goods for future calamities does not make sense. We have just undergone the worst calamity in 40 years. Does the DSWD plan to keep those goods for the next four decades?

Distribute them now, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month.

Agreed, Madame Cabral?

Posted in Pilipinas kong mahal, Sa totoo lang | No Comments »
Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer)

Oct 21st, 2009 by ella

Please bear with me. I’m trying to fix my site. It went all crazy. Siguro dahil sa sobrang dami ng traffic, hindi nakayanan ng powers ng site ko. My apologies to everyone.

Dear friends,

I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos.

Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta, then by all means, let’s do it.

For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let’s see kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.

Please read on and good luck to us.

Ella
div

(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya - “Walang volunteers”.

I don’t want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.

In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral had tried a little harder to do her job.

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Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000

“Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded 80 percent of Manila on September 26, a disaster the government said affected 4.35 million people.

Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 people remain in evacuation centres,

Typhoon Parma hit the northern Philippines on October 3 and lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain communities.

The government agency said Parma affected 4.16 million people, including more than 32,000 who remain at evacuation centres.”

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During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang “bayanihan spirit” ng mga Pinoy. “Makatulong lang kahi’t konti,” katwiran nila.

kung walang volunteers, ano ‘to, komiks?

From Stella Arnaldo’s blog:

“At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods.

At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college.

They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!
Photos by Leah Navarro

bayanihan
Even grade school kids pitched in to help!

tulong
Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution

making beds
Making beds from carton boxes

div

GMA asked world for donations

Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko, ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions of dollars.

But these donations must be coursed through DSWD

Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged about it here and the video of her announcement here.

This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here’s the story.

A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!

As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD employee lang at ISANG SECURITY GUARD ang tao!!

Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering

1) UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)

The warehouse can only take as much as 50 volunteers at a time or per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their availability.

What “volunteers”? Nasaan?

Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?

I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped off, laging nirere-schedule kasi “there were too many volunteers” daw. At tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?

Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international

Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura nila.

The relief goods are not going anywhere

We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.

The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta sa mga evacuation centers.

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING

Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I wonder why.

walang tao 2
“Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse.”

walang tao
Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.

pots and pans
Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na kaldero

kaldero pa ulit
At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulit

delata 2
Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon

coleman
Kahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon

camp pads
(Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga “special victims” kaya ito? Ire-repack kaya ang mga “imported” camp pads na ito ever?

banig
Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa “ordinary victims”. Ito ang kasama sa inimpake namin. Sayang ‘yung imported.

kumot
Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing ‘yung mga kumot)

jica
Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.

japan
(close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. “Imported” are not included, we have concluded.

toys
Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa tabi ng sikyo.

pork and beans
PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you’d think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans lang ‘to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,

close up pork and beans
Naaah! “Imported” pork and beans from Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin included

Now let’s take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD

sa loob ng kaldero
Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre.

tuwalya at napkin
Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.

kumot
Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.

sako
Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.

tinatahi
Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas

Do not delay

do not delay

YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!! Do you mean “do not delay ang dati nang delayed”?? Shet.

Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouse ang nasa loob ng compound na ‘yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga nasalanta. Halatang-halata.

Marami pang pabubulukin

shipment
Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.

nutri biscuit

“The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two days ago for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood victims.

Sige, ideretso ‘nyo ulit ‘yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.

Conclusion

Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods. 150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na ‘yon that day. At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and packed as the day they arrived.

Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto sana kaming ihatid ng driver hanggang Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.

Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods na ‘yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.

Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:
# Alam ‘nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran ‘nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan ‘yon sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.
# Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng ipagawa sa kanila ‘yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema ‘nyo
# Bakit hindi ‘nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private charities, TV stations? I’m sure they are more than willing to help. Time is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi ‘nyo naman kaya.

Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima ang mga donasyong ‘yon, nagawa ‘nyo na ‘yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang gusto ‘nyo lang.

You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

AND I LOVE YOU SO.....

The people ask me how, How I've lived till now. I tell them I don't know. Hahahah... Sis, finally I was able to watch this movie. I like it a lot! Ok, I'm off to search for a disaster recovery plan. TATA!

*sigh*

I like the Samsung Dual Camera but I just got the Sony T900. =(

Shore Excursion in OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA

DUNN’S RIVER FALLS &
DOLPINE COVE
$59.00 per attraction ticket (6 years and above)
$20.00 per adult (buffet lunch) AJ got hers for free. Cool!

Dunn’s River Falls is one attraction in Jamaica not to be missed. With assistance from a guide, you will climb 600 feet of cool, refreshing water as it cascades over natural limestone terraces and plunges into the pristine Caribbean Sea. You will be amazed by its natural wonder. Minimum age to climb Dunn’s River Falls is 6 years old, but we decided not to climb. We didn't want to take the risk of AJ falling/slipping! Maybe next time! Even though, we didn’t get to climb we were able to watch the people and enjoy the sound of the water that was coming from the falls. AJ and her dad took advantage of their beautiful Beach. I on the other hand just took photos and soaked up the sun by sitting down because I can’t swim. Red Flag is up! LOL! (Sorry TMI) But that didn’t stop me from enjoying. Dipping your feet in the cold water was fun too you know! Hihi…No kidding I really did enjoy the amazing views! And I’m not just talking about the scenic view but also the beautiful ladies in their beautiful swim suit attires. What a sight to behold! Did I tell you, I love anything beautiful? I just can’t take my eyes off of them. I was just glad nobody told me “Hey Miss, It’s rude to stare”! Hahaha… I can’t help it if there were lots of pretty girls around me. I guess they were having so much fun that nobody notices it. Young Girls, Mean Girls, Bad Ass Girls, Oldies, Mommies, Skinny, Sexy, Voluptuous. Some even on the heavier side, but boy do they all look beautiful just the same! GOD has a VERY UNIQUE way of creating women differently from men and I was able to see and appreciate them a lot. Yup, we were created more beautiful than men whether they agree or not. Teehee.

After the invigorating experience of the falls, we were transported to Dolphin Cove. A beautiful private setting where we met some of the nature’s finest creatures such as: dolphins, sharks, snakes and exotic birds. The place was surrounded by lush tropical jungle and a beautiful beach with all the amenities that will make your visit to Jamaica relaxing and entertaining. Lunch was not included so we had to purchase it separately. Good thing Dolphin Cove offered buffet lunch for $20 per adult. We got AJ’s meal for free. Drinks are included too! (Drink all you can from Rum punch, bottled water to assorted sodas) When you drink the Rum Punch please drink responsibly. Enjoy it with Care! The hub was able to drink 4 cups. To my surprise he didn’t get drunk. Whoa! You see, the alcohol content of rum in Jamaica was over a 100%. It was good. Really good! The hubs and I enjoyed the Jerk Chicken too. I felt like I ate a whole chicken since that’s what I ate the most. What is there to do? Since I couldn’t swim I just ate and gobbled up as much as my tummy can handle bwahahaha... Their mango was unbelievably sweet! Oh my gosh! I can’t remember how many times I went back for this. The $20 meal was worth it! It was such a good deal and I felt like the management was underpaid. (Hindi ba sila nalugi non? Hahaha… They served two different kinds of salad, assorted fruits (I can’t remember how many fruits were served. I can only remember the mangoes and the watermelon), Jerk Chicken, Cheese Burger, Empanada and Hotdogs. Not much of a choice but believe me people were raving about the jerk chicken, empanada and the mangoes. The rum punch when you get from the boat is like $7++ per cup plus a 15% tip so it’s definitely worth it. Don’t you think? Anyways, there’s a lot more to see in Jamaica. One day is not enough to explore the place. This place is definitely worth going back. The only downside to it was the SHOPPING experience. It wasn’t a good one I can tell you that. Vendors here can be very aggressive. They won’t let you go unless you buy from them. So please make sure if you’ll touch it, buy it! I know! What a shame but that’s how it is in Jamaica. You feel like running far away from them. If only these people were trained not to pressure people to buy. I could say the shopping experience could have been better. Don’t let this stop you to visit Jamaica as I have said this place has a lot to offer. I was able to buy an orange TEE Tank Top with Jamaica on it, 2 bangles made of bamboo, Aj’s maracas and a magnet souvenir for only $15 for everything. Not bad!

By the way, is anyone among you guys looking for a new web hosting service? You might want to try web hosting. They have a very low price for web hosting services which is under $10 a month; all web hosting plans include at least one free domain name registration and a 30-day money back guarantee. I would suggest this if you want to promote your business. They have dedicated servers who will provide numerous benefits to your business. I’ve been thinking of getting one actually for my sis, who’s selling stuff like Havs, crocs, nine west bags, coach, bath and body products, Victoria Secret, Old Navy and a lot more. Ever since she started selling stuff to friends and family, she informed me that the orders have been pouring in so I guess it’s about time to get her one. Besides, it will be a lot easier for them to check the item instead of waiting for a balikbayan box to arrive and my sis bringing it to them. Most of them have access to the internet anyway so yeah I think this is a good idea. You can also check their blog for more information.

Yes,No,Maybe???

AJ cracks me up :)

AJ: Mom, if I can spell puppy can you get me one? P-U-P-P-Y

She didn't even give me a chance to answer. Hahaha...

SAD! :(

I hope typhoon Ondoy left already! We got an awful news early this morning from the in-laws that they were affected by the flood. Let's all pray for the safety of all our kababayans. This too shall pass!

It's Raining, it's pouring....

It was raining hard when we left AJ's ballet school today. It was scary driving in the beltline. I couldn't see the lines and couldn't think straight while changing lanes. AJ somehow calmed my nerves when she starts singing... “It's raining, it's pouring, and the old man is snoring. He went to the bed and he bumps his head and he didn't wake up in the morning."
When we reached the subdivision it wasn't raining anymore. What??? Rain here still amazes me...It rains hard on one place, then boom! The next stop, there is none... It feels like you're chasing or running away from it. Does it make sense? Oh well, I'm just glad we're safe home. Whew! That was one hell of a ride. I was actually worried for this guy that was beside us, because he was driving a Motorcycle. I sincerely hope that he was able to go home safe like we did. To all Motorcyclists out there please next time it would rain like that will you just please stop and find someplace to stay for a while until the rain stop for your own good. That guy really makes me nervous and to see him in a situation like that makes me want to say something. But I’m in no position so I will just leave it like that. The funny thing was I couldn’t help myself but notice how beautiful his motorcycle was. I wonder maybe he got kuryakyn. Well maybe…maybe not? Who knows?

Aboard the Carnival Destiny

WESTERN CARIBBEAN
August 15-20, 2009
Miami Port departs at 4Pm

Just a quick round up:
First day/night

*** We were running late and boarded the ship at 3 pm. Good thing we made it on time. Note to self: Choose a closer port of call next time.

*** Ate late lunch at Lido deck before the Guest Assembly Fire Drill. AJ doesn’t like this at all. I can’t blame her it was too hot to be standing soooo close to people you don’t know.

*** After our late lunch we had soft ice cream for dessert. It’s eat all u-can. AJ was tickled pink! 

*** I forgot meals are served non-stop but we had to be on time for our dinner. We had the first seating at 6 pm. Good thing I have a big appetite.

*** AJ ordered from the adult menu. (They have kids Menu too if you want) She prefers to eat grown up meals. From appetizer to entrée… and the best part was the dessert. (It’s funny how she orders chocolate ice cream every night.) Tsk!

*** Signed AJ up for Camp Carnival ages 6-8. They had a lot of wonderful activities planned for the rest of the entire cruise. (I was excited for this… I just couldn’t wait for some peace and quiet and bonding time with the hubs)

*** Snack at Lido Deck before playing BINGO. (Food was overflowing. I tell you, that’s the best part when you’re cruising. Hahaha… Didn’t we just eat dinner? Tsk!)

*** It was our LUCKY NIGHT! We won $250 from the BINGO (AJ was thinking already where to spend and what to get hahaha… She’s so funny!) She said she was our lucky charm and she was right. The hubs and I never won a thing in our life. This is a first! She’s indeed our lucky CHARM! Awesome! I will write about what she got for herself and what I got for her next time. Since she had the lucky card it’s just right that she claims it hehehe… So I let her be. She’s happy and we’re happy! (The hubs and I)

*** We finally settled for the night! I was just too excited for the next day! Why is that? It’s the formal night! Yay! I was looking forward to this. Yah know why. It’s because I get too dress up looking all sassy and all dolled up. Sabi nga ng sister ko “FILINGERA”! HAHAHA… Sabi ko naman “INGIT KA LANG”! Wehehehe… These functions are formal, and give us the chance to enjoy a lovely evening of food, drink and dancing at sea, and are an excellent opportunity to meet new people who you can get to know during the rest of your cruise.

The hub was not too excited about this hehehe… His consolation was the eat-all-u-can LOBSTER MEAL. (You just have to ask your head waiter if you can have some more. This is not a buffet style; they serve it by the plate that is why I said don’t be shy to ask. Don’t worry he won’t say no.) Our Head Waiter and his assistant were so nice that we had to give them credits. Aside from the Gratuities that was already charge in our account for them; we made sure that they will have something to smile about at the end of the cruise. You know, just a small token of appreciation for taking care of us and more. They worked so hard to please us! Gotta do the right thing!

When you are in a cruise make sure you make the most out of it because the days go by really fast. It’s so obvious we didn’t waste a thing and that was just the first night. A Caribbean cruise is hard to beat. You get the best of both worlds, and will have the opportunity to discover a lot of places that you will want to return to again and again in the future, as well as the kind of beach destinations that you would normally expect from a Caribbean cruise. AYLAVLAVLAVIT! Next up would be the shore excursion.


TOP DECK


This is in MIAMI


CARNIVAL DESTINY


PORT OF MIAMI


Enjoying the view from our balcony (Balcony is way much better than an Ocean View Room. I highly recommend this.)

She is SMART!

It’s funny how AJ can understand Ilokano ( one of the dialect in the Philippines) when in fact we don’t speak Ilokano with her. Very smart kid! Because of this, we oughta be careful on what to say next time. There is someone pretending to be “deaf” around here hehehe…
On a different note, a few weeks ago I spoke to my Dad and he mentioned that he wanted to sell our passenger jeep. He wants to replace it with a van. I told him that, it was a good idea. It could have been nice if they have more used cars shop in our province. Shopping for cars will make it a breeze for him. Anyway, are you interested in looking for a New car, Used car, Car Lease, Contract Hire, or Van Lease? BuyYourCar.co.uk has something unique to offer. You might want to give them a try. It’s just one click away!

Awww!!!

We went to the mall today to pick up AJ's book request. It was the pokemon ultimate handbook. She's so into pokemons these days that she talks about it non-stop. While browsing inside the mall, she saw a baby and said “look Mommy, that baby is soooo cute!” Then I said “Yeah, he’s cute but I think I'm cuter!” I can’t help not to tease her. Hihi… Her response was “Mommy, you're not cute, you're Beautiful!” Awww! My heart swoon! I can’t help but blush. I love you, Babe! Muah!!!

ASSUMING PEOPLE!

After I dropped AJ to school I went to go get my caffeine fix at Starbucks. I got the Tall White Chocolate Mocha and a slice of Very Berry Coffee Cake. I really like the combination of these two and oh can I just say I love their drive thru! I was just glad Starbucks offered pairings so it’s easier on the budget. You won’t feel too guilty spending less than $5 for a cup of coffee with a slice of cake. And they also have this promotion that if you made a purchase prior to 2pm. Just bring the receipt after 2pm same day and you could get a Grande Cold drink for $2+tax. This is actually great for people who just love to drink Starbucks all day. Anyways, when I was about to pay for my coffee this guy at the window/counter kept on saying Namaste, Namaste, Namaste! And I was like what is he saying??? Confusion must be all over my face? I guess! Then he asked where I was from. So I told him that I came from the beautiful Island of the Philippines. And he was like oh I'm sorry I thought you we're from India. Yup, I get that a lot! Hahaha… (It’s funny and kind of annoying how people assume they know where you were from just by looking at you, really! I was even wearing a very big sunglasses hahaha…) Helloooo!!! And get this, most of the time Mexicans/Spanish people will just approach me and say Hola! Como Esta and would start a conversation as if we knew each other. (I know what the first two means but I have to tell them I don’t speak Spanish) They would stare and would give me a puzzled look as if I was lying and I was just too ashamed to admit that we speak the same language. Ayayay! Hay! I just don’t like it when people assume. Stop assuming alright! Maybe you need to exercise your mouth a little and start asking. Would you please use your mind a little and start thinking? Alright, Peeps!?

It SUCKS to be back hehee...

Anyways, if you’re in Miami make sure you include South Beach in your itinerary. Don't take this beautiful vacation spot for granted, make the most of what South Beach has to offer. Love the Art Deco Buildings and the Dolphin Mall too! We all had a blast in the Caribbean and Miami Beach Florida. Winter will be back again in the blink of an eye, and we just want to soak up all the sun while we still can! For the hubs and the little princess, sand + water = GOOD TIMES! Opppss! Before I go further did you know the importance of a term life insuranceIf not? I suggest, you get one quick before its too late. Why don't you check them out? You might learn a thing or two. Just click on the link.

Let's Celebrate!

Someone very special to me will be celebrating his birthday soon. So I want to make sure that he’s treated very well on that day. Advance Happy Birthday Dear Hubs! Let’s Party! Muah!

Anyway, at this moment I’m packing all of our stuff for a few days' jaunt to the coast of Western Caribbean. I have to keep reminding myself to pack lightly this time. Don’t know if it will work though. We’ll be lying along the beach somewhere in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, sipping frozen margaritas. Partying maybe! Yeah! Summer vacations are fun. (Last hurrah for summer before AJ goes back to school… back to busy mornings…again!) Tata!

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BUKING! :(

Hubs to Me: Labs, kanino yung Relo na nasa bag mo?
Me: Huwat??? Sinong nagsabing pakialaman mo yung bag ko? Grrr!
Hubs: Excuse me! Hindi ko po pinakialaman yung bag mo. Wala ng charge yung phone mo, kaya nirecharge ko.

(Buwiset na cellphone yun ah! Pahamak talaga kahit kailan! Sis, you know about the other incident and then some hahaha…Leche! My phone makes a terrible sound if it needs to be charged. Ack! Nabuking tuloy yung balak ko sana na ibigay na “surprise gift” sa kanya.)

Hubs: Sabi na nga sayong huwag mo na akong bigyan ng regalo, eh! Ang kulit mo talaga!
Me: (Sino kayang makulit sa aming dalawa? ) Sige na nga hindi na kita bibigyan.

Ang galing ko magtago ng gift ano? Haller! Kamusta naman? Asar to the highest level! UGH!

Lav , lab Chili's!

Fri-dates with my two kulitzs! Onion String & Crispy Jalapeno Stack of Chili's was soooo good but it was too darn HOT! Whew! (Lech!) AJ ate most of my Ribs! Grabeeeeh! She's so takaw! (Peace anak!) :D I don't like the Mango Flavored Tea! (Ack!) Greasy food + too much Saturated Dessert = Goodness and will surely make you Fat! Aylavet!

To KG: I’m not really sure if the Chili’s in the Philippines is the same as the one in here. Maybe!? :)

Oh it Stinks!

Oh my Gosh! What is that smell? Then I suddenly remembered, it was the dried fish we cooked last night. Geeezzz! The fish was so good alright. But there is a downside. It left a terrible smell all over the house. Ugh! It will take days for us to get rid of the smell unless we do something. We have this small ionizer in the kitchen to help absorb the smell but I guess we need a stronger one. Like maybe an online perfume to mask the smell. I'm not exaggerating about the smell. That's how bad it is. I just hope nobody comes over and surprise us for a visit. How embarrassing would that be? They might wonder where the smell is coming from? They might think it came from a dead rat or something. Wahhhh!!! Oh, gosh! It stinks! I need to do something quick! I might as well use my favorite Christian Dior Addict and spray around. For sure it will help. I really can't stand the smell anymore. So here goes.... (went to grab my favorite bottle of perfume...after 5 min. or so....) That's much better. Now, we can all breathe better. Hahaha...

We seldom cook dried fish because of the smell. But a cousin of the hubs just came back from the Philippines. They gave us dried fish, corned beef in cans, chocolate mallows, and pulvoron (w/c by the way AJ pronounces as pol-bey-rein). It was so funny I can't help myself but giggle. Hihi... Anyways, they call this fish JEPROX. I'm not sure if I spelled it right. I just sounded it out. Rico, I'm not really sure what kind of fish this is. It looks like it was the one we call Espada (sword/knife fish) from our province, but this one was thinner and it was not salty at all. AJ said it tasted like our Chicharon (Pork Cracklings). And I think, she was right! Does anyone of you guys know this kind of fish?

Busog!

Dinner was served! Fried Jeprox (Fish from the Phil.) with soy sauce and vinegar for dipping sauce. It was soooo darn good! Just can't help myself and had to use my hands. Uh-oh! Had too much rice tonight. BURP! Excuse me hihihi....

Friendship!

What do you think is the most important thing in a friendship for you? Hmmm... Good Question!
* I'd definitely go extra mile for them.
* Honesty
* Having people whom I can trust and count on. Same way, they can trust and count on me.
* Looking out for one another.
* Know when to listen and talk.
* Feeling like you belong with them
* Doing great things without them asking. After all, that's what friendship is all about. Right!?
* I'll definitely tell them about handcuffs and to Shop at CHIEF. Their competitive pricing, personal customer service and fast delivery ensure that you will be satisfied from the moment you begin working with them. CHIEF has had its distribution channels, customer service and sales staff in place since inception – meaning better service, more products and fewer headaches for you. Ain't that great? What are you waiting for? Try them today!

Anyways, if there is one person I can call my Real Friend. (Aside from my 2 BFF's RIZZA and BEVERLYN, of course! :D) She's none other than my one and only Sis! She's the one I could tell anything to. I can even confess my meanest thought without thinking that she would judge me. What I am saying is I could show her all my side of myself and know that she would still love me. Life would not be complete without her. I LOVE YOU, SIS! MUAH!!! I Miss You All Terribly!

Chili's!

Thanks to a wonderful Restaurant like Chili's! Lunch for 2morrow is ready. The hubs' Country Fried Steak was too BIG! He got to take home the other half. Nyahaha... I highly recommend Chili's White Chocolate Molten Lava! Heaven! Hope laziness won't strike me again 2morrow. Ugh!!!

Relax a little!

You won't hear "I'm bored" from your kids when visiting Virginia. I promise you won't pay an arm and a leg for a Fabulous Getaway. So go on gather your family. What we like about driving to Virginia? It is only 2-3 hours away. Aside from being close there is a lot of things to do. We've been there numerous times already. I think we should consider Real Property Management haha... That's how much we love there. I don't think I would ever get tired of going to Virginia. For your info, Real Property Management is a full service management company for those owning a single house, or investors. They have every answer for all of your property management needs.

Birthday Surprises!

The hubs never cease to amaze me! When he hands me his surprise gift the first word that came out of my mouth instead of saying Thank You first was “Does it mean I have to get you a gift for your birthday too?” Opps! Totally Wrong! Ayayay! I said Surprise because we agreed that we are not going to get a gift for each other this year. I guess I must have been nice to deserve such a treat! Yahooo!!! When I opened his gift, it was the bag I’ve been wanting to get for myself. But I brushed off the idea because I wanted to save for the cruise. To this day, I still wonder how he was able to get that bag without me knowing. I asked AJ how come she was so good at keeping a secret with her dad for my gift? She said she didn’t know! (AJ: Aren’t you glad I didn’t know? I must have spilled it again by accident if I knew!) Bwahaha… While checking the bag, he mentioned that there was a gift receipt inside just in case I changed my mind and wanted to return or exchange it. Imagine my surprise when I saw another gift inside the bag. It was another ring. He knows how much I love cocktail rings. I love the MK white bag and the Diamond Cocktail Ring so much, I could cry. OA ba? Hahaha… To you my Lab, Thank You! Muah!!! I LOVE YOU!

The FUN is OVER!!!

We just got back from a 5 day getaway for my birthday celebration. Five days of pure fun—- imagine waking up everyday without having to think of anything but where you’re going to eat or what activity you’ll do. All I can say is we had a blast. We had a great time exploring Virginia (Virginia Beach, Richmond and Williamsburg). We also went to see the Hershey Park and Hershey Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania. We also went on a side trip to Philadelphia's Chinatown. Right now, AJ is into Chinese stuff. Anything Chinese, she likes! She even asked us to visit China hahaha... (One place at a time sweetheart!)
There’s just so much one can do on a pleasure trip, but I noticed there seems to be no end to all the binging. It starts, of course, with the free buffet breakfast in the hotel, then all the seafood buffet in the area. The hubs and I are food trippers. We are usually excited about trying restos and eating in places that aren’t usually found here in NC. With all the food binging that we did, I guess I need to inquire about lap band houston. Yes, we did indulge! Oh my! The only thing I can say for certain is that overloading on foods can make you real fat. Ayayay! I've heard that Dr. Richard Collier is a Lap-Band surgical specialist, who provides the premier, comprehensive Lap-Band® weight loss surgery program in The Woodlands, Conroe, Houston, Kingwood, Huntsville, and Spring, Texas areas. Each patient receives Dr. Collier's personal attention every office visit before and after surgery. Isn't that nice? At least you know that they will take good care of you.

My first ever Diaper Cake!

I said that I was going to make a diaper cake for AJ's Kindergarten teacher Mrs Sxxx. But due to my laziness I wasn't able to make one. (What else is new, right!?) The best I could do was to put everything in a big baby shower gift bag. Hahaha... How boring! We got her a box of diapers (100 pieces) and another box of disposable wipes.



We had another baby shower. But this time I wasn't able to attend because we went out of town for my B-day. So I just sent my gift. Good thing I didn't let my laziness get over me this time. Otherwise, I would have sent another boring gift to the recipients. The first picture was my trial and error. Then the second picture was the final product. For a first timer I think it was not that bad. Don't yah think? hehe...





In a few months I have yet another one to attend. It's for my very good friend Cindy. She's going to have a baby boy in November. I'm planning to give her a diaper cake too but a bit different from the first one. I just hope laziness doesn't strike anytime soon because I have a lot of nice ideas in my head waiting to be unleashed. :D

Road Trip!

OMG! Saturday is fast approaching and yet I’m busy chatting with my sister instead of packing our stuff for our trip this coming Saturday. AJ is too excited for this trip. She actually, can’t wait to wiggle her toes in the sand once again. Yes, we are going to the beach to enjoy the rest of the summer. This reminds me I have to check our car if it’s in good condition. You know what they all say better be safe than sorry and I agree. Well, I don’t think I need to worry since there is Collision Repair Experts. If in any case I will be needing collision repair shop. I know where to find them. Just so you know Collision Repair Experts is a nationwide network of reliable, low cost auto body repair shops.

I didn't know I have magic!

AJ: Daddy, what are you scared of?

DAD: Mommy's Magical Power.

AJ: Mommy doesn't have magic.

DAD: Oh! Yes, she does! Her Magical power to make green things disappear. Do you know what that means?

AJ: Yes! Money!

MOM: Hahaha....

Wondering???

I can’t help but notice that some people in the Philippines hold parties then take their untouched multi-tiered cakes home afterwards. I Wonder WHY? Aren’t they supposed to cut and give it to their guests to eat? Isn’t that the reason why you ordered elaborate and tasty cakes in the first place? I just don’t understand this at all because it doesn’t make any sense. Seriously!

A Bonus Gift From His PRINCESS!

Out of the blue AJ asked me out to go on a date. A shopping date according to her… Hahaha… I said “Really???”. That’s a first… The reason she wanted to go out was to get her Dad a nice gift for father’s day. Since her Dad was making her play room, she said she wanted to get him something really special. Awww! Aren’t she sweet? ( The hubs should always have a project for her so just we could go on a date ahihi...) I asked her how much was her budget? She told me she had 2 dollars. Nyay!!! ( Abono si Mommy!) Meaning I had to take care of the bill hehehe... She already spent her fund money with her clay projects. Anyways, after school we went to the mall and shopped at Build-A-Bear which is one of her favorite stores. After getting all the stuff she needed, she declared that she had a fun day with me. Ang Saya-saya! ( I was very happy)

At dinner….
Dad: You went shopping with Mommy?
AJ: Yes! We went on a date.
Mommy: Ask her what kind of date?
AJ: A shopping date.
Daddy: Where did you shop?
AJ: Ahhh… We shopped at some places. (Answered with hesitation)
Daddy: So what did you get from the mall?
AJ: If I were you Dad I wouldn’t ask anymore questions because I won’t tell.
It’s a secret between me and my Mom. Okay.

Hahaha...

She could have given him a nice Rolex watch which you can find at www.bestoftime.com but that was her choice. So I let her be. Maybe next time, right kiddo? Since they are an independent dealer of new and pre-owned Rolex watches, they are able to avoid manufacturer's pricing controls and forward greater discounts to their customers. Their prices are incredible for the world’s best luxury Rolex watches, due to the fact that they receive their Rolex watches in specific quantities and they have a very low markup. So the savings is passed directly to you. If you have someone that just love Rolex watches, I suggest you should check them out.

Lunch and Movie Date!

TGIF! Had lunch at Romano's Macaroni Grill. I had the Seafood Linguine. Too bad it was spicy and bland for my taste. The hubs liked the Eggplant Parmigiana and AJ loved her Spaghetti. I do like their soup though... Chicken Toscana . After lunch, we went to see Transformers 2. It was funny! Although I cried a tear or two. AYLAVET!



Papparazzi shot by the Hubs, taken after AJ's Swimming Lesson. Ang Init! Syet na malagket! It was 93F outside. Whew!

BIG SHOUT OUT FOR THE BIG DADDY! :)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY! YOU'RE THE BEST! I LOVE YOU! MUAH! MUAH! MUAH!

your Princess,
AJ (kulit)

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


To My Dad, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY! I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU!
PLEASE DO TRY TO ENJOY YOUR VERY SPECIAL DAY! HUWAG KA NANG MAKULIT AT PASAWAY
PARA DI NAIINIS SI MOMMY SA'YO! Hihihi....

one of your princess,
didith (tawag ng daddy at mommy sa akin, ang pangit noh? :) )

isama na rin natin si
Ammit (nagpapapangap na jam, hahaha... juk lang sis, labsu)

at isa pang kulit si
Bhoy (mahilig magdagdag ng letter H sa name nya, hihihi....peace brother;) )

AND TO ALL THE POGI FATHER OUT THERE HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

ITLOG at si HUBS (Note: Read First :D)

Last night we had 10 eggs that was about to expire. What am I going to do with those eggs? The hubs suggested to just boil them. Good idea! He said we can eat it for lunch the next day. (Ang sarap sana kaya lang wala ba naman kaming kamatis) Bummer! He doesn't want to eat it just like that. So I told him to just leave them in the fridge and I'll figure out what to do with it later. We just had microwavable Aunt Jemimah's scrambled egg w/hashbrown and sausage for brunch. Take note: Pagkain ng mga tamad. Lifesaver naman talaga ang microwavable foods. At least di kami nagugutom di ba. Ayayay! Basta may frozen food ayos na!) So ano nga bang gagawin ko sa mga itlog? Then just like that. Ding! Ding! Ding! How about Egg Salad Sandwich for dinner? Ngekkk! May problema? We don't have any Loaf Bread! Unbelievable! We only have Bagel! Ano ba yan? Well, I guess we just have to wait for another day. We're too lazy to go to the grocery and I don't think it was practical just to get the bread alone. (Na miss ko tuloy ang sari-sari store ni Ate Josie hehehe...) Ano pa nga ba, I had to make something else. So I just cooked Fried Chicken with Potatoes and Corn on the side.

AJ: Wow, Mom! This is so good! It's been a while since you last cooked this. I already forgot what it tastes like. Good thing you cooked this tonight.
Mom: It's been that long, huh?
AJ: U-huh.
Then she shouted "Daddy come on down. You don't know what you're missing." (I don't think the hubs heard her though, since he was busy hammering something. The hubs asked us to go ahead and eat. He was too engrossed with what he was doing that hunger didn't strike him yet. I guess, he wanted to finish as much as he can because he can only work during the weekends.)

Bonus Room/Play Room Update:
{/} Installation of Air Duct- we had to hire a contractor for this for $150 for the labor. The hubs actually asked me to pay for this and not worry for Father's Day gift (since I've been bugging him on what he wanted for Father's day) I got my answer. My ever unselfish hubs would do anything for her Princess even if he doesn't get anything for himself. If you think my husband was unselfish. Wait till I blogged what AJ got him for Father's Day. Didn't you know I also have a very thoughtful daughter. She was so appreciative of him, that she asked me out to go on a shopping date to get her Dad something she thought was special. If you know AJ, she hates shopping. So, I was like... Wow! That's a first hehehe....
{/) Electrical done by the hubs
(/) he also added studs

The Best!

Along the way after dinner last night at Fat Daddys, AJ asked us something about weddings. ( Blah! blah!) I mentioned that we had 2 weddings in the Philippines. Her reaction was "Wow! You guys are lucky. You had two weddings" I wish I get to have two weddings too when I get married. (We all laughed) then all of a sudden...

AJ: You know what? I'm lucky to have you Mom and Dad.
Mom: Why do you think you're lucky?
AJ: Because Mommy makes the best OREO BLASTER. (Oreo shake)
Daddy: How about Daddy?
AJ: Daddy makes the best dipping sauce. hahaha...

The hubs and I couldn't stop laughing. Of all the things the hubs can do or cook. He's good at making dipping sauce??? True! But the hubs was like what the heck! How about my egg drop soup or some of my desserts? I was teasing the hubs na-demote ka... nyahaha... Peace my Lab!

Busy!

We're busy fixing the bonus room right now. Its not that easy. Aj's been bugging us to get her, her own TV. I would love to put rustic furniture but the hubs doesn't like the idea. He's not a big fan of rustic furniture. He's into modern. Oh well, I'm not even sure if the furniture will fit since the bonus room is not that big. *Sigh*

GREEN BEANS ANYONE?

I was not a fan of green beans before, but it totally changed when I discovered the best way to prepare it. Even my sweet Aj likes it. The hubs?... well, its his favorite. I love pairing this with T-Bone Steak as a side dish. Sometimes I put a whole package of bacon. (Yan pa lang pwede ng pang ulam he.he.he.) My secret? I used a lot of GINGER. Ang sarap! (yap! pati ginger kinakain ko)



T-Bone
Green beans
Regular Mushroom
Ginger
Butter



Bacon
Green Beans
Portabella Mushroom
Ginger
Butter ( I just love butter. The more the better haha...) You can use canola oil.

Heat the pan. (when it's heated)
Put the butter and then saute ginger. (After 1 minute)
Put the green beans (put the lids on then cook it for 2 minutes)
Put the mushroom (put the lids back then cook for 3 minutes)
Stir. Season to taste. (Salt and Pepper) If you like your green beans crisp don't cook it too long. Ganon kasimple ganon kadali!

Are you a big fan of green beans?

Never Too Late!

Hay! Life is indeed short! It really broke my heart when I heard the passing of my dear Aunt M, but what can I do? Life sucks sometimes! We'll all definitely will go there. We just don't know when and how? UGH!!! This terrifies me! I'm sorry for being soooo morbid!
Anyways, this reminds me that we should always enjoy life to the fullest! Go out there and have fun like there is no tomorrow. You want to be wild? Be adventurous and go get yourself a Maxpedition and start packing. If it's been your long dream to go backpacking somewhere lets say in New Zealand. Go! Its never too late.

May You Rest In Peace Auntie M!

I received a message last night from my dear sistah, that one of my favorite Uncle's wife passed away. How is that possible? Cause of her death? She accidentally shot herself. I was shocked! MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AUNTIE M! We will surely miss you! To my Dearest Uncle R, I know this is hard but hang in there! I know you're one tough guy. I really really wanted to comfort and give you a BIG, BIG HUG! (but I can't) Life indeed is short. This is just sad!

Perks of Blogging!

One of the perks of having your own blog/domain is that you can document any event worth remembering that happens in your life. This I think is also worth sharing to family and friends who are workaholic. Giving them some nice and brilliant ideas sure would start them to relax a little. Well life is too short. So I think everyone should enjoy. But reality bites. We have to do what we are supposed to do in order to survive. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't have fun. Otherwise that's just boring! Besides we're all entitled to have annual vacations. So why not use it. That's when I thought web hosting awards comes in handy. Why? Who knows if these workaholic people might want to start blogging too. Maybe about their favorite food, destinations, books, shopping places or anything that would tickle their fancy. Looking for a new web host is very important. Bloggers know that blogging can be so addicting. Once you start you can't stop. LOL! Or to all the bloggers out there that have been wanting to have their own domain but don't know where to start. Well, it's about time to check them out. They have cheap professional web hosting services under $10 a month; all webhosting plans include at least one free domain name registration and 30 day money back guarantee. There is no harm in trying. Besides that you got nothing to loose. You might want to read their blog too for some ideas at http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/. I might consider getting one in the future. How cool is that?

Long Weekend!

I wanted to go out of town this weekend since it's a Memorial day weekend but the hubs had a better idea. He's in the mood to start finishing the bonus room so why would I disagree, right?

Worry no more!

We all know that August can be too darn hot here since it's the summer. The reason why I want to check if our auto ac compressor is working fine in time for our Road Trip this coming August. It's never too early to check y'know. Well, we don't want a whining child riding along with us because it was too darn hot and no AC at all. Even I would throw a fit if this happens. How could you concentrate driving if you were sweating profusely? Safety is always our Priority. I'm just glad with all the road trips we had in the past we never encountered any air conditioning problem. That would be a nightmare specially with a kid in tow. But if ever, I know where to look. Discount compressor will be my source for automotive ac compressor and much more. They offer the lowest price on a/c compressor, condenser, drier, air conditioning compressor and more.

Disney Moment!

My favorite pix!


You know how much my princess love the Disney Princesses. Imagine her surprise when we told her that we were going to have dinner with all her favorites. FUN TIMES! Fun! Fun! Fun!

Summer Plans!!!

In less than 3 weeks school will be over. Yipeee!!! I can't wait for the summer time. Since I booked a cruise this August, the hubs and I were thinking of staying in Orlando Florida for 3 days after the cruise. The hubs and I agreed to see Disney World once again. Since the little princess had grown a little, we were pretty sure that she'll love it even more and would appreciate the stuff she wasn't able to enjoy before like some of the rides and shows due to age and height restriction. This would be our third time to visit. We just love it there. I just wish it was closer. 10 hours of driving is not easy especially if you have a kid. And lets not forget the "Are we there yet line?" Tsk! AJ just know how to push the wrong button sometimes. But this time it will be different because I'm going to make sure that she will enjoy the ride and would not pester us along the way. With all the toys and fun activities I have in mind, she will actually will love and enjoy it. So I guess, it's about time to check Disney Tickets. Who knows? I might score a good deal. That would be nice.

We love all their THEME PARKS. Each park has it's own CHARM so its hard for me to choose. Here are some of the reasons why we keep on coming back to DISNEY WORLD:

1. I just love being a KID again. Disney World sure knows how to do it.
2. I just love MICKEY just as much how AJ loves CINDERELLA. The hubs, well he just want to tag along! Hahaha...
3. We all love Mickey's PhilarMagic 3-D Spectacular. I don't know how many times we've seen this.
4. You guys know how much we love roller coaster. We all love The Barnstormer at GOOFY's Wiseacre Farm (Magic Kingdom) We were so happy that AJ was allowed to ride.
5. Good food at EPCOT. Discover the Worlds of Wonder and use your imagination. (I'm telling you, you should visit for sure you'll know what I'm talking about)
6. The fireworks at night! It's AMAZING! (Magic Kingdom and Epcot)
7. AJ gets to wear her favorite costume and pretend she's one of the princesses. (Magic Kingdom)
8. They have a lot of good shows. I Love CRUSH!(EPCOT) He's the best! You can talk to him face to face. He's so funny! Make sure to visit him twice or thrice for every show is different.
9. I just love the show Dream Along with Mickey! Just melt my heart. (Magic Kingdom)
10. LOVE SOARIN' (EPCOT) with its breathtaking view and an awe inspiring flight. A must try!
11. Dine in with the Royal Princess at AKERSHUS Banquet Hall (EPCOT) You'll get to take your photo with the princesses up close and enjoy a festive dinner. You have to at least save $100 for this. Reservation is a must.
12. Disney's Memorabilia! Very tempting! If you don't watch out for your little kiddo you might go home BROKE... she/he'll be like ...I WANT THIS/THAT...haha...
Best way to do it GIVE THEM THEIR OWN MONEY. They could spend it however they want but once the money's gone that's it.
13. Sailing through the THE LAND. You can sail through the marvels of nature into working greenhouse and a real fishery. (EPCOT)
14. The DISNEY PARADE. (Magic Kingdom)

There is a lot more to see and I suggest you should at least get a 7 day pass to enjoy all the attractions. That's what we did the first time we visit DISNEY WORLD. I haven't even mentioned Animal Kingdom. (next post promise) If you guys are planning to visit Orlando soon be sure to check orlandofuntickets.com they have the best deals to get you into all of the Disney Parks in Orlando, FL!

Mother's Day Special!

As per AJ's request we ate lunch, where else, but at good ol' Grand Asia Buffet as usual. Ayayay! (Walang kamatayang Chinese food!) I was just glad they offered "SEAFOOD BUFFET" for that very special day meaning LOBSTER FEST for me and the hubs for $16.99. I was one happy Mommy. It's not the usual LOBSTER where you cracked from its shell. Grand Asia served chopped LOBSTER with a very tasty sauce. It was really good! I can't blame this other woman who kept on coming back for the LOBSTER but man, she can be very selfish. No Kidding! We had to wait for the next batch again and again. Why? She was always first in line and she always had an extra plate of LOBSTER in their table. LOL! (The hubs and I can see it from across our table) I almost wanted to tell her " Whoa! HEY GIRL, take it easy! You're not the only one who's eating here!" Ahaha...

For dinner I wanted to eat at APPLE BEES because of the "Triple Chocolate Meltdown" for $5.49. I can't get enough of this dessert. This is a must try I highly recommend it. So there, that sums up my day even though I was coughing (more on like barking like a dog) I had a memorable Mother's day. FUN. FUN. FUN. Thank you my LAB and my SWEET CAKE for making it possible. Love you both to pieces. Muah!!!

OH! The hubs took care of my closet so MISSION ORGANIZATION ACCOMPLISHED! One of his many surprises. Again love you my LABS! Hihi...
I'm wearing my DIY earrings as well as AJ. The hubs thought the earrings was too big for me but I thought it was alright.

Sick Mode!!!

Ughhhh!!! Why oh why? Despite all the medicine (Mucinex--- over the counter) I've been taking am still sick. It got me worried I had to go to the Urgent Care Clinic ASAP for a prescription for Antibiotic. The Doc told me that I have an Acute Bronchitis and was advised to drink plenty of fluids and prescribed me a more effective cough medicine to stop my cough. She even took a chest x-ray to make sure that I don't have pneumonia or a lung problem. Oh man! It sucks! I hope to get better in the next few days. AJ's been wondering when can I play with her. I just don't have the strength and I can't even enjoy my meal. Anyways, Ive been searching for credit card reform on how it will benefit me? With the economy we are dealing right now we have to be wise and careful. I don't think everyone can afford to be sick.

Polymer Clay!

Ever since my sweet AJ introduces me to play with CLAY. I fell in love with it. For starter I made her some cupcake accessories. Idea I got from You tube (Thanks a lot YT!) To her delight she asked me if she could eat one ha.ha.ha. Silly girl!


These are made of Polymer Clay! Way better than the first one we used refer photo below.



Air Dry Clay! You don't need to bake them but it breaks easily.

Hey! Why not?

Just because your day is crazy doesn't mean your love life has to be. Right? Life's full of choices. Learn more about punk singles. Maybe you can find meaning all around you - if you know where to look for it. Go on make your heart soar. You might get the best surprise of your life. Wouldn't that be great?

Early Present for Mother's DaY!

I got this yesterday (Friday) from my ever sweet baby doll AJ.

AJ: Mommy, I have a surprise for you for Mother's day.

Mommy: Babe, Mother's day will be on Sunday.

AJ: That's OK! Its an early present for you, Mom. Here look! I made you a POEM! (she read the poem out loud)It's a fill in the blank question from school.

My MOM

My Mom always say--- SHE WANTS TO GO SHOPPING.
My Mom cooks the best--- PIZZA
My Mom really loves---- TO PLAY WITH HER LAPTOP
My Mom and I like to---- WATCH
My Mom's favorite clothes to wear are----- ANYTHING
My Mom is beautiful because ----- SHE IS MYSTERIOUS!


Love,
AJ

Mommy: That was so SWEET Babe! (I gave her a big hug and shower her with lots of kisses)
That was so nice of you. I like it a lot! Thank you!

AJ: You're Welcome! I have some more. Here...

My MOM and I...

My Mom and I eat CHIPS
My Mom and I read LANDS (I don't know what she meant by Lands...she said she just made this up. Silly Girl!)
My Mom and I like to play EYE SPY (I Spy game)
My Mom and I play HIDE n SEEK
My MOM and I go to the PARK
My Mom and I watch PRINCESS MOVIE

A PICTURE OF ME AND MY MOM


Because there's no one like MOM.
Make this MOTHER'S Day Special
and TREAT your MOM.

Happy Mother's day to all the BEAUTIFUL MOMMIES out there like moi hehe... (pagbigyan na kasi Mother's day naman eh! Wink!)Muah!!!

WE LOVE YOU, MOMMY ZENNY!!!

from JRJ kids (hihi)