Office In New York

I come from a family of business people and they know how important it is to have an office. With today's more discriminating clients, it's not enough to just have an office where you can meet people, your office has to be very presentable, with state of the art facilities and elegant interiors, and with a very professional staff. My parents used to do business in the United States, but since they are from abroad and aren't locals, they don't really have an office setting in any of the major cities. I do not know if they have New York executive suites for short term rentals during those times (late eighties to early nineties).

A successful business person needs to have a business presence in different places around the globe. Having a business presence in major cities like New York is an added advantage, not only for the prestige but also because it is a business hub, thus it keeps you in touch with other business professionals not only in New York itself, but also around the world.

Now it's possible to have an impressive virtual office with a complement of professional staff at your disposal even in such major cities like New York even if you're not always present. This ensures that your business will have constant visibility, even if you are often away. With today's globalization of businesses, such facilities would only make your business even more in keeping with the times. They would receive your calls, your faxes and other communications.

It's also possible to rent meeting rooms. These rooms are equipped with all the things necessary to conduct a successful meeting, at a price more affordable than that of hotels.

Although appearances aren't everything, a good first impression of your office, or in this case, your virtual office, would earn added points for your business.

Moment of Truth Tag

This is a tag by Jeng : )

1. Sojourn. 2. Pinay Mom in Czech Republic. 3. See me for what you will. 4. Lainy's Musing 5. Our journey to forever 6. My paperless writings 7. As the world turns 8. My daily discourse 9. From this side 10. Our Family Adventure! 11. Shopaholic ties the knot 12. FunFierceFabulous 13. My precious 14. My wonderful life 15. Winged words 16. D'Cooking mudra 17. Married and happy about it 18. My one desire 19. We are family 20. Jengspeaks 21. Tsinay 22. Practical Tips and More 23. Joey M.D. 24. The Working Mom 25.You're next.

Are you deeply in love with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend? If you do, let’s try how well you remember the moment of your life with him. But before you put yourself in the hot seat please read the rules of this tag first.
RULES:
1. This tag should be pass on to your friends.
2. Visit the blog of the person you’ve got this tag.
3. Leave a comment on her/his tag post. Be sure to thank her/him for this tag.
4. Highlight and link all the list of people who accepted this tag by visiting their blog site.
5. There are 10 questions that you need to answer but you will be the one to write the 10th question for the next person you want to pass this tag. Here are the questions. Be honest with your answers.
Lets Start:
1. How did you meet your husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend? We were co-residents during our residency training in Ophthalmology.
2. Where did you go on your first date? We watched a movie. I think it was "10 Things I Hate About You"
3. When was your first intimate kiss? Secret :)
4. How many girlfriends/boyfriends he/she had in the past? Do you honestly know? He had 1 girlfriend before he met me.
5. What is his/her ethnicity? Filipino.
6. What is his/her favorite food? Adobo.
7. What is he/she like if he/she is mad? He's very quiet.
8. What are the things he/she did you thought is the most romantic thing he’d/she’d ever done? It's not exactly romantic, but it was definitely memorable and thoughtful. When I was stuck in Manila without a ride home late at night, he drove all the way from Marikina in order to bring me home.
9. Describe how he/you proposed to you. We were watching Lord of the Rings on DVD and he just handed me the ring :). Yun lang.
10. What is he/she doing to calm you when you're mad? He lets me vent. But he later tries to make me laugh.

Passing this tag to Melisse, Scotty's Princess, Texas Sweetie, Norms, Aggie :)

Nouveau Riche

Nouveau riche is a French term which literally means the new rich. There was a time when people from the old rich would look down upon these people who amassed their wealth in their own generation. However, while the old rich received their wealth because they were fortunate enough to be born into a well-to-do family, the more admirable nouveau riche actually did so by their own hard work and enterprise. They also took a lot of risk in order to be where they are now, as most profitable enterprises are also fraught with risk. Sure, there were some who got lucky and won in the lottery, but such are few and far within, and people who got rich that way rarely get to keep their fortune for long.

Being neither born into a royal family nor a tycoon's family is no misfortune, but almost everybody dreams of someday being rich enough not to have to worry about the day-to-day expenses, and, God willing, enjoy a few luxuries, aside from having the means of being generous to others if one wishes so. Being a nouveau rich in this new society is no longer something to be ashamed of, but something to be admired.

US Citzenship For Sale? -- A Survey

What if the United States began charging for the legal right to immigrate? Nobel Laureate Gary Becker (University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business) came up with the idea. Becker's not trying to eject illegal workers; in fact, he said, they could pay to stay. The idea is to upend the existing black market that exacts a high price for illegal immigrants -- some who pay with their lives.

Virtual Zoo

We've been to zoos as children and learned a lot from these field trips. Today, however, we realize there are some issues with keeping wild animals in captivity. Some say it's a form of cruelty to animals. Here in Manila, some zoos are also sadly lacking in the animals' upkeep. I'm thinking of introducing my toddler to zoo animals via a virtual zoo I found online. We can learn about the cutest, the ugliest, the biggest, the smallest, the endangered animals, all online, all without leaving the house. There are also animal books and toys, animal activities and crafts available online which may be used as learning tools for my toddler son.

The advantage of learning about all these animals online is that children get to know these animals without actually getting too "intimate" with them, hence avoiding potential bites, diseases and other dangerous situations. Since there is no space limitations, there are more animals to be seen, including endangered animals. There are a lot of animals even I haven't seen, and my son's gonna learn all about them. And, of course, it is accessible anytime and anywhere there's an internet connection. I believe this will be a great online learning tool for my child.

World Class Profession

Got this from Pat :). Thanks sis! Also got another one from Eds, which I opted to post on another blog :).


1. Copy and paste everything to a new post and Add your name next to your profession (or profession-to-be for undergrads) in the list. Make sure your name is linked to your blog/webbie
2. If your profession is not in the list then simply add it to the correct alphabetical place. For example, if you want to add PLUMBER then it should be placed in between ONCOLOGIST and QUEEN
3. Tag as many people as you can and witness how your technorati will explode!
4. Don’t forget to link back. In your case, link back to http://the-working-mom.blogspot.com

THE WORLD CLASS PROFESSIONS
Blogger - Mary, Vannie
Business - Vanniedosa
Doctor - Joey
Finance - Pat
Nurse - Mckhoii,Aggietha
Teacher -
Stay-At-Home-Mom - Mai, Aggie, Vanessa

Tagging Jeng, Mari, Leah, Abie.

Cheaper Ink Costs

Printing photos use up a lot of ink, as we can attest to. I made my son's guestbook during his first birthday celebration and it was full of his pictures from his birth up to his first birthday. I wish I knew that there are available discounts on Epson color printer inkjet cartridges online, so that I can get better deals for the same quality of ink. We used other compatible inks, but the results just are not the same as those of the original, so we'd rather go for the original if you need better quality, like for example, for photos. But if it's just for general printing, the use of generic, OEM and remanufactured cartridges will do nicely and can also save a lot of money.

Different printing needs require different types of printer. I always thought that deskjets are more economical than inkjets which in turn are more economical than laser printers, but I've realized that that's not necessarily the case. It still depends on what the printer is used for. I'm trying to study which is the most economical for my needs. I'm also trying to look for tips for saving ink. With the large volume of ink that we are using, both for our general printing needs and for printing our pictures, we do need to find ways to lessen our ink costs.

A Survey On Offshore Drilling

Gas prices are high not only here but also in the US. Here's a survey about offshore drilling. Do you agree that the USA should rely less on foreign sources of fuel?



What about the Philippines? I wonder when the Philippines will rely on its alternative sources of energy. We have plenty -- hydroelectric, geothermal...there are even windmills up north. And of course, there's plenty of sun where we should be able to harness for solar energy.

What's In A Name?

My son's preschool, Innovative Center for Beginning Beginners, encountered some problems just before the start of the school year. For some reason, the business partners of Teacher Mac, the school directress, wanted to dissolve the partnership and close the school. We were all worried because we then had to look for a new school, and frankly speaking, I didn't really want to. I'm already happy with ICBB since I saw how my son bloomed under the tutelage of Teacher Randy and Teacher Bebette when I placed him in summer classes. Timing was bad, too, since it was the month of school opening already. Some parents really did go to the extent of enrolling their kids in other preschools in the area.

Thankfully, Teacher Mac, the school directress, was able to find a source of fresh funds. I was told that some parents helped and gave her a cash advance so that she can continue with her school. Henceforth they shall be known as Excellerated Learning Center (Teacher Mac's School). Frankly, I do not care what the name of the school is. I am glad they are still there and the teachers and manner of teaching are the same. I can see the passion that all the teachers have for their work and their genuine love for the children, so I really believe in them. The fact that its location is safe (it's within a gated subdivision) is a big plus for me too.

Such Things Happen

My mom was a bit annoyed with the girl who does the house cleaning because she just broke a very delicate decorative China bowl while cleaning up. This bowl is quite expensive, not to mention one of my mom's favorites, so she was really angry. Especially since the cleaning girl cannot afford to pay it off since everything she earns goes straight to her family. My mom can only sigh and forgive her (after giving her a mouthful) because she pretty much cannot do anything about it.

I wonder if our cleaning girl could avail of payday loans since if she weren't careful, she might have another of these accidents and my mom won't be as generous if the same thing happened again. Also, since unexpected things may also happen to her or her family members, like getting sick and getting hospitalized, it might be a good channel for her to get extra funds when she has no immediate cash on hand.

Do You Communicate Like a Man or a Woman?

You Communicate Like a Woman

You empathize, talk things out, and express your emotions freely. You're a good listener, and you're non-judgmental with your advice. Communication is how you connect with people. You're always up for a long talk, no matter how difficult the subject matter is.

Do You Communicate Like a Man or a Woman?

Sweet Fifteen -- The Quinceanera

A young girl's introduction to society is marked at different ages. Here in the Philippines, a debutante celebrates her eighteenth birthday with a bang. More affluent families will spend on a hotel ballroom celebration, a designer gown and other fripperies equaled only by a wedding. Families of more modest means usually still mark this auspicious occasion by having a small party at their home.

In Spanish speaking countries of the Americas, the equivalent of what we call a debut is a Quinceanera. This coming of age celebration is held when the girl turns fifteen. The quinceanera (also the term for the celebrant) is honored, although traditions may vary from place to place. As with our own society, the more affluent members of the society rents a dance hall and spends for Quinceanera Dresses and accessories, wanting their baby girl literally turn into a princess for the day. There are also other needs like shoes, tiaras, Quinceanera Invitations, favors, gifts, even music to be played and cookbooks for the traditional food to be served! . With the power of the internet, all of these can now be ordered conveniently online from an easily navigable website, http://www.quinceanera-sweetfifteen.com/. You can also find suggested themes in their website. They even have a party planning tool to help you prepare for it. Truly a one-stop shop for everything related to the Quinceanera!

PPBC 3: Parenting Through The Generations

When we were younger and "under the mercy" of our parents, we used to have instances wherein we defy them, thinking we know better and vowing that we'll do things differently when it's our turn to become parents. So, did we? Lo and behold, now that we are adults and parents ourselves, we find that most of what they have been teaching us are right after all and that those are the same things we'd want to pass on to our own children!

However, we did find some things which we thought needed some changes. So, without further ado, these are what our participants have to say about the matter:

What are the things your parents did that you would definitely still follow?

Mommy Haze will still want to impart respect for elders, regular prayer times, holding celebrations with the whole family, reading books, finishing your food and free rein playtime under the supervision of adults, like what her folks instilled in her.

Mommy Jenny recalled her parent's roots, being the child of second generation immigrants. She thinks that her parents did well and basically wants the same kind of upbringing for her daughter Belle.

Maver Monet believes that the most important and insightful lessons from her own maver that she took to heart are three basic things--independence, foresight and laughter, all learned the hard way giving her sturdy roots to stand on her own. She definitely will give her little Haligilet his own roots too.

Daddy Angel ponders on fixed and changing parenting tips. He believes that the most effective parenting tips can be found in the deepest part of our hearts.

Mommy Mec believes that there a lot of things that her parents did right. Like valuing honest pay for honest work, believing in God, being mindful of elders, valuing education and being observant of traditions.

Mommy Giselle came to the realization that she has "become" her mother! And it wasn't so bad after all!

Mommy Mhay believes that the way her parents raised her is a good pattern for her to raise her daughter and future children. But of course something appropriate to the present and with a little bit of creativity.

Mommy Joy would to teach the value of money, let Sandy join any activity she likes, enforce a strict schedule for her own protection and to prioritize education. These are the things that were instilled in her as a child. She understands her mother's reasons now that she's a mother herself.

Mommy Pat's mom was practicing attachment parenting way before the term "attachment parenting" became in. She's doing the same for her daughter. Thus she believes that she has actually turned into her mother! Her father was stricter, so they balanced themselves out.

Mommy Jigi notes the contrasts between her family background and that of her husband's and notes that their parenting styles have evolved in their situation. But things like manners, values, prioritizing education, respect for family and fear of God are what she learned from her parents and would definitely still want to instill in her children.

Mommy Apols would still want to bring her kids to the manghihilot for fever and cough, as her parents did.

Mommy Jeng noted that "there are things that I realize my parents were right about and sometimes I even do not realize it, but I am raising my child the way my parents raised me."

Mommy Anah believes that the lessons in respect, honor, and love imparted by her own mother will never go away.

I, Mommy Joey, am a product of two cultures and has always been bombarded with parenting advice. I have chosen to follow a lot of them. I believe, as with most parents here, that basically what our parents imparted are good and sound, and worth passing on to our kids.

What are the things your parents did that you would do differently?

Mommy Haze would want to avoid spanking as much as possible.

Mommy Jenny would no longer allow her daughter to play on the streets.

Daddy Angel would let his children have freedom to be what she wants to be. He would also like to have better communication with his children.

Mommy Mec would rather indoctrinate her children by example, not just because they told them to. She intends to have constant dialogues, a more gentle approach to discipline and investing more in family bonding moments.

Mommy Joy won't want Sandy to start dating before 17. She wants to take a more proactive stand on helping her daughter choose the career she wants.

Mommy Pat really won't change anything, even the curfew for her daughter. She might become stricter even, considering the times now.

Mommy Jigi was raised in a strongly matriarchal family but now wants to stand down and give her husband the due respect as head of the family. She'd also want her children to follow her not because of fear but because of love.

Mommy Apols does not want her kids to eat in from of the TV. She also prefers that her kids stay home rather than go to the mall where they may pick up viruses and get sick.

Mommy Jeng prefers to be a stay at home mother rather than the working mom her own mother used to be. She now works from home where she wants to be.

Mommy Anah, even if she understood her mother's need to leave them to work in a different country, vowed to never leave her own daughter. She also vowed to focus more on her husband and child rather than on herself and keep away from alcohol, which ruined trust and communication between her parents.

I chose breastfeeding over bottlefeeding. There are also other things I chose to do differently because I do believe that times have changed and we have to adjust to those changes.

A little bit of humor here...

Mommy Earlinggorgeous recalls the values she learned at home in a very tongue-in-cheek, humorous way. She also recalls how kids were brought up in the 50's, 60's and 70's.


Thank you so much to all the participants. I've learned a lot from hosting this carnival (and from the previous PPBC editions). There are still a lot to learn about parenting, so let's see each other again in the next edition of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival hosted at my other blog, http://tsinay.com.

The theme for the next edition is: My Kid/s Love Me: Let Me Count The Ways. Click here for the call for articles.

Special thanks to Mommy Joy. It was one of her posts which inspired the next theme :)

Learning Something New

As you know, my background is not on computers but I'm now using the internet heavily. The internet is such a great resource for information. If you have a business or an organization, prestige and visibility for you would grow exponentially if you have a web presence. I like reading web hosting tutorials because I learn a lot about what's new, what's cheap and what's relevant regarding having your own site in the web. It would probably be a simpler matter to hire a consultant, but you have to agree that learning on your own is fun anyway, not to mention cheaper. Also, everything is only harder at the start, when you get the hang of it, it becomes easier.

coffee break ver. 1.23

This week's coffee break question: How would you reward yourself after a long day at work?

I guess seeing my son is already a reward. When I call out his name when I'm home, I hear fast, frantic footsteps on the wooden floor upstairs and I smile. Turns out he couldn't get out because of the safety first gate and he was telling his grandma: "Mommy, Mommy" meaning I'm home and and he wants to see me.

And the big big smile on his face complete with dimples on both cheeks...these are enough to just let all the tiredness from work melt away.

...but then I get tired again when I have to run after him when he's playing! LOL

Ah, the joys of being mom.

US Trip With Mom

The last time I was in the United States was almost ten years ago. I went to attend a convention in New Orleans and my mom came along with me. This trip is different from the one we made in 1991, since it was just the two of us. We didn't have a road trip anymore, but instead used the local airlines to tour 5 different cities.

Aside from Los Angeles and Las Vegas which we have already gone to before, we went to Orlando, Florida where we visited Disney World while it was raining. We then flew to New Orleans where the convention was held and got to see a VERY different view of USA. Different food, different types of architecture, different way of speaking. Since my dad was adamant about us calling home, my mom followed a tip to buy a phone card so that we can call home. It worked pretty well even from our hotel's phone and saved us a lot of money. I wish I could have seen more of the New Orleans night life while I was there, but our hotel was pretty far and my mom wanted to take advantage of the free shuttle provided by the convention organizers, which is good only until 7pm. Oh well.

We then proceeded to Dallas, Texas. Our hotel was pretty far from everything, though, so we didn't get to see a lot of places there. Our main objective there was for mom to check out a builder's convention. Since mom was always on the lookout for new business opportunities, we went there. The next stop, Las Vegas, was for R & R. We watched a show for free because I won 2 tickets. Mom tried her hand at the slot machines. While we were there, some lucky guy won the jackpot at the hotel we were staying and it was said to be the biggest jackpot won there! I forgot how much though, something like 20 million? The last stop was Los Angeles, we only stayed a few hours, doing some shopping, while waiting for our plane back to the Philippines.

It was a pretty good bonding moment for mom and I. :)

I don't know when my next US trip would be, but there are still a lot of places I want to go to. When we get the time and the money, I suppose. Or an excuse like attending a convention. :)

Father's Day Q &A :)

Got this from my mailing list and posting this in celebration of Father's Day.

1. What "pet name" did your father call you when you were little?

"Bia". Everybody in my family calls me that. It's from "Baby" and since they're Chinese, it started as "Baby-ah" then evolved to "Bia". That's because I was the first apo on my Dad's side and the first female apo on my Mom's side.

2. What qualities does your husband have in common with your father?
(good & bad)
Good: Thinks of the family first
Bad: Matampuhin :)

3. What was your first impression of your father-in-law the first time
you met him or were introduced to him?
Unfortunately, I never got to meet him. He passed away before I got to know my husband.

4. What 3 words can describe your hubby as a father?
Very loving
Mahaba ang pasensya
Very hands on

5. What do you plan to give or do for hubby for Father's Day?

Rubik's cube! Hehehe. Yun kasi hilig niya ngayon eh.

Another father's day tribute (Q&A) here.

Generations: The 3rd Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival

Times have definitely changed. Has parenting styles changed? When we were young and we were not happy with what our parents do for us, we'd swear to ourselves that we won't do the same things they did.

Now that we are parents ourselves, we come to the realization that sometimes, they are right! But again, there are still some things that you would have done differently.

This edition of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival posts the following questions:

1. What are the things your parents did that you would definitely still follow?
2. What are the things your parents did that you would do differently?

For everybody who would like to join, please post your in the comments section or send me an email with the subject of PPBC 3 submission to ethanmama[at]gmail[dot]com. Deadline is on June 14, 2008.

Previous articles of the PPBC are here. Guidelines are here.

Quaint Old Faithful Inn

On our 1991 US trip, we checked in at a quaint old inn called Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone Park. This inn was built around 1904. It is now considered a national landmark. The rates, however, were surprising reasonable, at least back in 1991. We thought that it would be more expensive than the usual hotels, considering its location and its place in history. Maybe because it was off season? It was snowing when we were there and although Yellowstone Park was beautiful we were told that it was more beautiful in the summer. I don't know if the prices have remained reasonable since we have never gone back there again, so far. I heard that there were renovations done to the place a few years back.

The Old Faithful Inn was just in front of the geyser, Old Faithful, which spews out its hot contents every hour, on the dot. But that was not the only thing that was memorable about that inn. Since the inn was old, it was old fashioned. It has an old fashioned main dining hall with exposed beams. It literally takes you back in time to a different age. You will feel as if you have stepped into a time machine.

The bedroom also featured old fashioned furnishings. It has the usual beds, desk, and chair, but all of which were old fashioned furniture even older than my grandparents. Not all the rooms have their own bathroom, but we opted to get one with an ensuite bathroom. Lo and behold, even the bathtubs were old fashioned. I think that's what they call the claw foot tub. It was very old. I believe it could be considered an antique piece. It was also a little larger than the modern standard bathtubs, although not as large as whirlpool tubs. There was no shower. Maybe because showers were not the "in" thing when the inn was constructed. The fixtures are also old fashioned.

I've heard that even after the renovation, they have faithfully reproduced the old fashioned fixtures of the place. This is a good thing. It's difficult to find such a quaint inn nowadays, with a feel quite different from the usual luxurious but modern looking hotels that we usually see nowadays.

Share The Love

I received this very special award Sharing the Love from Mhay. Thank you so much, sis! I am so flattered that you considered my humble blog in your list of blogs you love.

I would also like to share that since I'm an ophthalmologist, I am also trying to raise awareness for organ donation. Corneal transplants have given back sight to numerous patients. It's not difficult at all to be an organ donor. You just need to have a card that states that you are willing to donate your organs at the time of your death. Think of it as giving another the gift of life, or in the case of corneas, the gift of sight.

This award is extra special because Crystal created it in honor of the donor who saved her sons life. Her son Noah had to have a heart transplant when he was just over a month old. This award is supposed to help raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

So, here are the rules Crystal gave:

“The rules of this award are: SHARE THE LOVE!!! Share this award with all those blogs out there that you love. All the people who make you smile. All those that make you laugh. All those that make your day. All those that leave uplifting comments on your blog. **All I ask, is that you include a link to this post with the award and ask your recipient to do the same**

As you may have recently seen on my side bar, I have finally created a custom blog award!! I have wanted to do this for a long time but never came up with something that “fit”. I didn’t want just anything. It had to be something that meant something to me. And what could mean more than Sharing the Love by giving you pieces of my heart??

So I created this award in Honor Of The Donor That Saved Noah’s Life. I share this award with those of you whose love and friendship have enriched my life and made my world a better place.

I hope by passing this award around the blogging world we can all help raise awareness of the need for Organ Donation.”

I am passing this award to Maver Monet, Mec, Megamom, Doc Clairebear, Doc Prudence, Doc Tes, Guardian Angel. :)

No Termites Please!

One disadvantage of having a house partially made of wood is the possibility of termites. Our house was built in the seventies and thus has some wooden parts. Treated wood which control termites were probably not available then. So we need to have our house checked every year so that these small critters would not end up destroying our home.

Coffee Break ver 1.22

Jan asks: What are your top 3 gift suggestions this Father's Day?

Since my father has already passed away, my gift suggestions would be for my husband :) . These are the things that he really, really wants.

1. A house
2. A new car
3. A vacation

Hahaha! Fortunately, these are things I also want! Unfortunately, we cannot afford these just yet. So, the next list is the more realistic list:

1. An Original Rubik's Cube -- He is so much into these nowadays! He actually already has quite a few in this (new) collection, of different sizes, shapes and designs. He also has a jumbo one, one 5x5 and one 2x2. I already bought him one original Rubik's cube from Toys R Us but he still wants another one. So, this would probably be a good gift choice for him.
   
2. A new mattress -- Ours is old and not comfortable anymore. So actually this is for the 3 of us (because the kiddo sleeps with us) to save all our backs!
   
3. New clothes -- I think all of us need a wardrobe change once in a while. He is no exception.
   

I know my choices maybe boring, but then I unfortunately cannot afford to give him more expensive "toys" since I do not have the budget for it. :( My dear, I promise that I'll give you better stuff later, if and when I can afford it already (when I hit the lotto jackpot? hahaha). Happy Father's Day!

Modern Dating

Times have definitely changed. The social landscape has been altered because we now have the internet. To a large extent, that is really a good thing. I've met people and formed strong friendships over the net. I get to know other bloggers from all over the world, with interests and viewpoints that are either similar or opposite to mine, but they are nevertheless all interesting people. It's easier to keep in touch, since emails are much much faster than snail mails. Parents who work overseas can constantly keep in touch with their families and have a chat with their kids via webcam and YM or chat.

Because of all these developments over the net, it is but natural for people to look for deeper relationships online, when conventional methods fail. It is quite common nowadays to find women looking for men and men looking for women as possible future partners online. Think of it as an online blind date. A lot of successful relationships start out online. But as in real life, you have to be careful. Bad elements lurk everywhere, and the internet is no exception. Choose sites that have a good reputation already so that you could lessen your chances of getting fooled.

Hammeruler? What is it? Is it a good idea?

For a better description of the Hammeruler, you can click on their previous survey here. What they want to do now is to do a market research before actually releasing this VERY new product.

I personally think it's a great idea because it does save you a lot of time (putting down the hammer, picking up the ruler/measure, measuring then picking up the hammer again) and space in your handykit. But I am no handywoman. My husband is the guy to go to for such.

Here's a chance for you to contribute to the development of a new product! :)

"Drawing From The Well" -- A Book Worth Looking Into

My father died from cancer a few year back. I know how devastating a disease that is, both to the individual and to the family, so I am always very curious and very inspired by stories of a cancer survivor.

The book, Drawing From The Well, is supposed to a journey of discovery through the power of prayer. The author, Ruth Wilma Shults, is a seventy five year old woman who looks back on her life and sees God's presence in her life's significant moments.

She believes that she was able to survive cancer because of her faith and her willingness to listen to and trust in God.

She also touches on past life therapy. This is a foreign concept for me, so I am going to quote heavily. This is a modality that searches the subconscious mind to retrieve data stored there and not available to the conscious mind without a past life therapy professional's assistance. The purpose being that to help patients dealing with issues stemming from subconscious pain experienced in past life abuse and/or trauma. The focus is to find what is referred to as "first cause." By dealing with the first cause patients will eventually be able to stop the cycle once and for all.

I think this will make an interesting read.

Gas Station Convenience -- A Survey

Do we get our gas at a place where we can get a lot more done? We're on the move but when we stop we like to make the most of it ... or it may be better to find a specialist store rather than opt for convenience.

Interactive Conferences

As a doctor, I often attend conferences to update myself on new trends in my field. I have witnessed the lectures in such conferences to be evolving through the years. It has become less stiff and now emphasizes Audience Response. That is a great thing, because a mark of a good lecture is one in which the audience is very participative and not just passively listening. Whereas before Interactive Audience Response consists mainly on the audience asking questions about the subject matter at the end of the lecture, now technology has given us an Audience Response System which is live. Results are posted as soon as it is done.

That is on top on such innovations like the LCD projector. When I was in training, the best we had then was the slide projector. Problem is that we had to finish our presentations ahead of time so that we can have a picture session, after which we bring the slides out for the "making" of the slides. The newer technique is actually cheaper for the one who will lecture since he does not have to shell out additional money to have the slides made.

Truly, technology makes what was supposed to be a mundane stuff into something really worthwhile.

Are You A High Maintenance Woman?

You Are Low Maintenance

Otherwise known as "too good to be true" You're one laid back chica - and men love that! Just remember that no good guy likes a doormat. So if you find your self going along to get along... Stop yourself and put up a little bit of a fight.

Are You A High Maintenance Woman?

The Frugal Shopper in Me

With the very fast depreciation that we're experiencing right now and the looming economic crisis, it is imperative that we get the best value out of our money. I'm pretty weird in that I'm not really that much of a shopaholic compared to other women. Which is a good thing considering the present economic situation.

That's because I feel that some purchases are better spent elsewhere, especially if the item is more of a want than a need. I don't really go for brand name items, you see. But I do try to stock up on the things I NEED and the things I WANT whenever I find sales or special deals.

For me, SALE is a four lettered word. I try to avoid it as much as I can since it can be so tempting to buy things that you do not need if you see that it's been marked down -- which defeats the purpose, really. I only go to sales when I have something in mind that I need or want to buy for the longest time but held off because I was looking for a better deal. Coupons are also a great idea for me. With $15 off coupon code discounts, my money goes a longer way than if I pay at full price! I could buy more stuff for my son, also at a discount of course. Or indulge my book addiction! Or just simply book a vacation for the whole family.

I'm On A Roll...

I now have another blog. For those who do not know me, I'm Chinese Filipino. Born in the Philippines to Chinese immigrant parents. Thus I found it fitting that my new blog's title should be Tsinay.

I hope that you would enjoy it.

My other (active) blogs so far:
Joey M.D.
Practical Tips and More

I still have other blogs but they're a bit inactive right now.

Mold and Other Air Impurities

My mom suffers from coughs, but only when she's here in Manila and she stays in a non-air conditioned room. My guess is that she reacts to the impurities that are in the air. The funny thing is that her problems disappear when she leaves the country. Fresher air, perhaps? We're thinking that air purifiers may help against mold and other impurities so she can cough less.

What's Normal About Me...And What's Not?

You Are Fairly Normal

You scored 50% normal on this quiz Like most people you are normal in some ways... But you aren't a completely normal person. You're a little weird too! Why You Are Normal: You rather be screwed over than screw someone else over If you had to, you rather live without music and still have laughter You would rather be pale than tan You prefer fiction to non fiction You prefer a good meal to a good nap Why You Aren't Normal: You prefer your family to your friends You eat the cupcake first If given the choice, you would choose to have more time over more money You know a little about many subjects When you're in a car, you prefer to be the passenger

What's Normal About You... And What's Not?

House Details!

Whenever I go into a well decorated house, I am always in awe of how they put everything together. I am also amazed at the amount of attention given to details like their Kitchen Sinks. I mean, for such a place that is usually considered very utilitarian and not a place where visitors linger--you'd think they won't put too much decorating attention there.

I am generally quite easy to please regarding bathrooms, my only requirement is clean, but some houses really outdo themselves in terms of their Bathtubs and even their Bathroom Sinks! I am actually so envious that they could afford to buy more than just the ordinary sink. I mean, look at the Vessel Sinks! They are so unique and so elegant looking!

My dream house is certainly a long way off at the moment, but while waiting for it, I can afford the luxury of dreaming about it (since dreaming is free anyway!). I would love a house that's simple but definitely one that I could be proud of. One where I can entertain guests. One which will be a haven, where I can kick off my shoes and relax after a hard day at work. One with a great kitchen. One with a great bathroom.

One which is definitely home.

PPBC 3

I will be (again) hosting the PPBC 3 instead of Mommy Leah. She has begged off for this month's 2 editions because she has found herself unexpectedly busier than usual. :) But she will be still be hosting a future edition of the PPBC.

If anybody is interested in hosting future editions of PPBC, do leave me a message. Daddy Angel has kindly agreed to be a host.

I will post the call for articles later :).

Any Pinoy parent can join!

Quality Furniture Online

Ordering quality furniture online and having it shipped is such a novelty for me! I have to confess that I love looking at furniture even if I do not have my own place yet. I like imagining what my future home with look with great bedroom furniture and of course home office furniture where I can do my work. I've found this site which is easy to use, accepts paypal, and ships for free within the USA. It's a pity they do not ship outside the US. But they've got an easily navigable site with features like sale items and featured products. Their products look very nice and not run of the mill.

Lying -- a Survey

Liars signal that they're lying. Some folks have suggested these clues:
- Liars change the subject quickly.
- Liars look up and to their right when they speak.
- Liars use fewer contractions.
- Liars will sometimes stare straight at you and employ a dead face.
- Liars never touch their chest or heart except self-consciously.
- Liars place objects between themselves and you during a conversation.

Web Design...The First Look

I must admit that I'm not very creative with the look of my blogs. My background was never in computers and most of what I learned I did by just doing it. I always thought that content is more important than aesthetics. I think I'm right for the most part, however, I've noticed that I'm drawn more to blogs or websites with an eye-catching, unique custom web design.

I guess it's the same with people. You notice first the attractiveness before you delve deeper and see the inner beauty, which is not as obvious. The thing is, I'm actually a very simple person at heart and unless I have some dressy function to go to, I would usually walk around with no to minimal makeup. I guess the simplicity of my blogs is a reflection of how I am as a person.

I'm a dummy when it comes to design though, so even if I want to make my site more attractive, I do not know where to start. So I tend to look at a web design blog I've found on the net. This design blog aims to give tips to bloggers and website owners on how to make their sites more attractive. Whether people will stay to read and visit later now depends on the contents.

PC vs Mac -- A Survey

For the most part, PC and Mac systems are both very good. For the most part, both systems are infuriatingly bad. It really depends on what you are trying to do at a given moment.



At the moment, I am using a PC rather than a Mac, mainly because the PC is more budget friendly. You can get a PC for much less than a Mac especially if you get the lesser known brands. Mac is Mac, there is only one Mac, it's from Apple, and it's quite pricey. However, if you consider the Mac vs the branded PCs, the difference is really not that huge anymore.

My brother uses the Mac and frankly, I do envy him. Sure, it's an old model, probably 2 years old, but not only does it look sleek and nice, it's also very good with functions. My own PC laptop, however, is good enough for my needs at the moment.

Old vs New Retailers

Sometimes, I wonder if we're becoming too dependent on computers. However, we cannot deny that computerization has made a lot of things much easier. Well, some retail outlets still use the traditional way of retailing stuff, which is ok for such a small setting. In a palengke (wet market), the tinderas (salesladies) simply tell the customer how much the item is, they haggle and reach a price acceptable to both, then money is turned over and the change given. Sometimes the tindera just writes down the sale in her notebook. But this would not work with high volume retailers like supermarkets. In such setups a good point of sale device which includes an epson tm-t88iv printer to print out the receipts would make the whole process smoother and easier for everybody concerned.

Coffee Break ver. 1.21: My Memories of Grade School

How were you like as a grade school student?

This is so long ago already!

I was in a Catholic Chinese Filipino school so we had a lot of subjects and assignments, although I didn't realize it then. It was now when I compare our schedules and assignments with those who finished grade school in other schools that I realize that we had a lot more requirements. What do you expect, since Religion and 2 subjects in Chinese were required subjects? :)

I remember that I was a pretty well behaved kid. Too quiet at times. But then teachers of a big class (there are around 40-55 of us in one classroon) appreciate quiet students more than the noisy ones, so I guess they do think positively of me.

I was a slow eater so I used up all my lunch hour just for lunch. My mother insisted on hot food so she didn't think of just packing the baon in the morning and letting me bring it to school. My yaya had to bring it to me during lunchtime and wait for me to finish so she can bring back the lunchbox. Which was such a hassle for all involved, since my school and home were not exactly beside each other. There were a lot of times when my lunch was late so I only had a limited time to eat it. Later mom just paid for my being a "lunch boarder", which means the school serves lunch everyday and she pays for it every month.

I was always a dark horse but never a top contender. Meaning that although I was never in any race for the gold, silver or bronze medalists, the teachers oftentimes find my grade in the quizzes and exams among the top. Sometimes I do top the exam. But my average grades were good enough for 10 ten, but never in the striking distance of the top three. So my parents never had the distinction of going onstage to pin a medal on me.

I remember being teased a lot. And I was so pikon. :)

Games? I sometimes get asked to join, sometimes not. (A lot of times not). Children do get their own cliques already, and sometimes they are brutally frank if they do not like you to be a part of that. I was more of a loner. Good thing I loved books more than running around. Later on, when I grew up, I realized that, yes, children can be cruel in saying you do not belong to their group, but in the real world, you do encounter people who do not accept you at all. It's really a preview of the real world.

Thanks, Jan for this question. I realized how much I learned from school, not only about academics, but also about the real life.

Rap!

Rap music has been around for sometime. I've actually caught a part of it, being much younger when artists like MC Hammer burst into the scene. Vanilla Ice had a one song hit which we converted into a cheer back in med school. I don't believe anybody knows Vanilla Ice by now. Now there are so many! I do not recognize any of the names -- must be getting older. :)

It's a pretty catchy genre. My biggest problem with rap music, though, is that I sometimes do no understand what the artist is saying! I do like knowing the Rap Lyrics because I'd like to know what my impressionable kid is picking up when exposed to such music.

PPBC2: On Schools...Where, When and Why

Here in the Philippines, the government has declared that June 10 will be the start of classes for public schools. Private schools will probably open at around the same time.

The child's education is something that is a matter of greatest concern for most parents. There is so much to ponder over when choosing something important like this. The child's education prepares him or her for the future, when he/she will need all the knowledge and all the skills that he/she learned during her formative years to forge his/her own place in the world.

I guess our parents also had some difficulty in deciding where to send us to school. Now that we are parents ourselves, there seems to be too many considerations in choosing for a school to send our kids. Questions like WHEN to send them, WHERE to send them, WHAT kind of education will they be getting, HOW MUCH is it going to cost...These are questions that parents try to answer when they choose a school.

Maver Monet, in her own words, is not really an advocate of early childhood education, since she believes that her son has a lot of learning already from the home. However, she and her husband decided to let their son Nino start school this coming school year. Her reasons here.

Mommy Pat is currently enjoying bonding moments with her 15 month old daughter Tina via Kindermusik. She's already scouting for play schools around her community, as she plans to enroll Tina when she is a little bit older. She still prefers the more traditional schools, preferably exclusive, as she believes that these are already "tried and tested" rather than the newer progressive schools. More on her thoughts here.

Mommy Jenny, on the other hand, prefers a more progressive set-up once her 20 month old Belle. She plans to enroll Belle in a school nearer her community when she's about 2-2.5 years of age. She also prefers a co-ed type of education, and one that offers Chinese. Her thoughts on her school choices and the points for and against each of them are here.

Mommy Jeng muses on her experiences, beliefs and memories about school. She believes that no matter what the teaching philosophy and style the school chooses to focus on, there are advantages and disadvantages to each one. She also believes that the readiness to start school should come from the child. Her Joaqui is currently in toddler school. Her entry here.

Mommy Joey (that's me!) has decided to send Ethan to toddler school in an effort to jumpstart his learning, especially his speech, which has been found to be slightly delayed. My entry here.

Daddy Angel, a proud dad of two and a relative veteran of schooling kids (compared to the other participants), shares his view on how to prepare your child for his first day of school. For parents like me who are just starting to send their kids to school, this is required reading!

All parents want the best education for their kids. For Mommy Tricia, the best education occurs at home. Hence, she has decided to homeschool her child, Zoe. Her reasons are all stated here. I wish I could have her confidence and willpower that she has! Hats off to you!

Every parent desires the best education for their kids. For this round of the PPBC, I have learned that in choosing for the best school for your kid, there is really no one solution that is the right one for everybody. The choice of education really depends on a lot of different factors. And education does not start and end with school. The primary source of education, whether or not the child is homeschooled, is still the home. Everything the child sees or hears at home is what he build unto himself. A child of God fearing parents will most likely be God fearing himself. A child of parents who continually says cuss words in front of the kids cannot be expected not to behave the same way.

To all the participants of PPBC2, I thank you all for your participation and I'd like to apologize for the late roundup. It's been super busy for me the past 2 weeks. I hope you will still join us in the 3rd edition of The Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival. For the month of June, the PPBC will be hosted by Mommy Leah :). Hope to see you there!

He Sings!

Even before he could talk, my son could already carry a tune. It was quite a surprise for us, when one day he suddenly sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". The lyrics were not quite right, but the melody was. He literally first learned to sing before he learned to talk.

The songs that he usually sings are the ones we sing to him...we just didn't know that he already knew it. We don't have mp3 players for kids yet (we don't even have one ourselves because we just use our car radios whenever we're out and our old CD players when we're home). We are wondering if mp3 players for kids would be useful for distracting him with music whenever we need to divert his attention. Or if these could help him learn new songs. I'm also wondering if these mp3 players for kids could help hasten his speech development. If that is the case, maybe I really should seriously consider buying one.

Pregnancy Thoughts

I actually felt most beautiful when I was pregnant. Maybe because I was very happy then and very excited to become a mother. I was probably reflecting that "glow" that people talked about because people also commented that I looked great during that time. It helped that I still looked slim everywhere else except my tummy, which was a large one leading the way for me wherever I go! It was so big that at 6 months, I looked like moms in their 9th month! So you could imaging how I looked like during my 9th month. But all through this time, I didn't look pregnant when you see me from the back :).

During my first pregnancy, most of the maternity clothes I used were borrowed from my aunt. My mother and mother-in-law also bought me some pieces. I also bought a couple of maternity pants. Most of the maternity wear I used then were practical pieces which I can use everyday when I go to work. I didn't have too many maternity dresses then so when my husband and I were invited to a friend's wedding, I begged off because I literally have nothing to wear and it's quite difficult to find formal clothes for pregnant women. Next time I get pregnant, I'll buy 1 or 2 dressier pieces for such occasions.

Because I had H. mole last year, our plans to have a second baby was postponed. We finally got our clearance from my gynecologist to have a second baby! Now, hoping for baby#2 :D.

coffee break ver. 1.20

What characteristics of a school are you looking for?

Thanks, Jan, for this very timely question. My husband and I decided to send our little son to toddler school this school year. My reasons are stated in another post.

My main criteria for choosing ICBB (Innovative Center for Beginning Beginners) as my son's first school:

Their track record - Like most other moms, I asked around for good preschools within the area. There are actually a lot near us and sometimes I got a little confused when asking people, since different people will give different recommendations. I decided to try ICBB out when I was told that ICBB kids didn't have problems shifting to a more traditional system when they go to big school and actually thrive and perform very well when they do.

Their teachers - I had the pleasure to observe the teachers with the children, including my son (since I enrolled him for summer school). I love the way teachers relate to the students. They were very patient with the small children and they actually were able to make the kids listen to them. My son learned to line up for his turn at washing up, learned to get his own snack bag, learned to sit still at the table for his snacks. All without raising their voices a bit. These may be small things but I think they matter in the long run.

As for the more academic stuff, they teach children via storytelling, singing, art, playing. Even rest time, and snack time is an opportunity for learning. And the kids all seem to be having fun, but at the same time they are already learning.

My son's class is going to be consisting of only 8 students to 1 teacher. There is also 1 teacher aide to assist the teacher. The school assures me though, that if there is a particularly hard to handle student, they sometimes add another teacher.

My son -- He's happy! He learns! He now has friends :). More about that on this post.

Tuition fee - Let me first state that the tuition fee here is quite hefty. But when I compared them with other small schools in the area (and some other areas as well), it seems to be within the range and even seems to be at the lower end.
Although I am very willing to spend for a good quality education for my kid, I want something I can sustain. I do not want to send him to a school wherein I the tuition fee will be higher than what I can afford and which will have me going into debt.

Distance - Very near. This is always an advantage. My son does not have to have a big lead time when going to school so he does not have to wake up VERY early. It will be easier for me or my husband to drop him off at school and pick him up later. There is less fuel usage, which in turn translates to a lot of savings, especially in these times of high fuel prices. In times when school is suddenly called off, especially with weather changes, it would be easy for someone to go and pick him up.

Chinese lessons - This is really a bonus for other parents, but for me, I really want my son to have Chinese lessons since I'm of Chinese ancestry. I am planning to send my son to Chinese-Filipino big school later on so I do want him to have a head start already by then.

Location - It is inside an exclusive subdivision. It seems to be safer since not just anybody can go inside the village. I'm a bit paranoid about kidnapping incidents especially since my son really looks Chinese (you know kidnappers have a predilection for Chinese). Also, the road outside the school, since it's a village road, is not as busy as other streets, hence there are less incidences of accidents.

My criteria for his big school (later) is slightly different. I will probably tackle it at a later time, since big school is about 2 years away.

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Additional plugging: Watch out for the 2nd edition of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival, which tackles on the issues of school. I'm still working on the roundup.

Trying To Lose Those Excess Flabs

A lot of mommies complain about not getting back their slim figures after giving birth. Truly, pregnancy may be a time in a woman's life when it's difficult NOT to pack on the pounds. However, in the quest for weight loss, one should not go for fad diets or unrealistic claims but instead go for healthy diet plans and weight loss tips from the experts.

A current favorite weight loss program is the South Beach Diet. A lot of people swear by its effectivity, although I would think that there is really no one diet that fits everybody, that's why we have to do our research. Also, we should complement a good diet program with the right exercise. We need to get rid of the excuses for not doing exercises and as a popular shoe ad states, "Just Do It". We should also know about the common weight loss myths so that we do not fall victim to them.

For myself, I believe that what I need is a good exercise for toning my abs. You see, I have approximately the same weight as the time before I gave birth, but my tummy has never been the same. People keep asking me if I'm pregnant with my second child! Looks like I really need to work on that!

First And Last On The Last Day Of The Workweek

Participants: 1. Me and Mine 2.Creative In Me 3.Little Peanut 4. Pea in a Pod 5. Sugar Magnolias 6. All Things Me 7. Because Life Is Fun 8. Mind Bubbles 9. Something Purple 10. Stripe at Yellow 11. Vanity Kit 12. Em's Detour 13. Big Eyed Gal 14. The Chronic Shopper 15. Vital Sighs 16. Maver 17. Joey M.D. 18. The Working Mom 19. Practical Tips and more

FIRSTS

First real job: Doctor (only job actually, others are just sidelines)
First screen name: eyedoc (at Pinoyexchange, I'm now inactive though)
First funeral: An uncle's
First pet: My own? A pair of lovebirds yata
First piercing: Ears -- Baby pa ako noon,
First tattoo: Nada! Unless yung sticker type
First credit card: Fareastcard (defunct na!)
First kiss: I assume yung romantic -- hubby! He's my only BF kasi.
First enemy: Lack of confidence

LASTS

Last car ride: Dinner last night.
Last kiss: My son :D


Anybody can grab!!! Late na kasi ako eh :)

Let's Shop for Christmas...this June

My family is very much into techie stuff, but unlike other people, we do not really go out to buy the latest electronic "toys" since these tend to be expensive. We are trying not to spend too much because of the current economic situation. But with the current promo code deals for digital cameras, camcorders, desktops, audio receivers, surround sound systems, TV projectors and DVD movies, it may be a good idea for us to look at what's available since there's a discount for all the stores that are affiliated with them. And with the current rate of the dollar, it's actually cheaper to buy abroad rather than buy the same items locally.

Although Christmas is still half a year away, it might be a good time to stock up on gifts, like an educational toy for my son, a laptop for my husband, an Ipod for my brother. Still have to think of what best to give my mom and other members of the family. I still have to ask them what they want because I cannot think of any suitable gift yet. At least, I started getting ideas early before getting caught in the rush which makes me buy useless things that they would not even appreciate.

PPBC 2nd edition is delayed....

...because I got busy. I'm currently finishing a report for my Master's.

I'll work on it as soon as I finish with my current work.

Sorry for the delay.

2008 Presidential Election and Celebrities

Do celebrities campaigning for candidates make a difference at the polling booth? Hmmm ... it does help the candidate grab headlines ... we have seen more in the news about Oprah campaigning for Obama, than his health care plan. And there seems to be a resounding lack of celebrity supporters for McCain.





Well, here in the Philippines, we do get plenty of showbiz people who don't just support politicians, but ARE actually the politicians. The most famous personality of which is Joseph Estrada, who became a president on account of his popularity as an actor.

Garden Tools for Hubby's Mom

My mother-in-law loves to putter around in her garden. She says that it's what makes her happy. She loves it when her chicos and macopas begin to bear fruit, and her orchids start to bloom. I never had a green thumb myself. I told my husband that it's ok if our future house does not have a garden, because I do not really know how to take care of plants.

I'm always at a loss to what to give her during Christmas and her birthday. She's one practical lady who can live without what people think are essentials. I think something that will help her in gardening would be something she would appreciate, and I found the perfect online website where I can browse and see if there's anything she might like.

I am an Afternoon Person

You Are an Afternoon Person

You can find energy any time of the day ... or night! You prefer to be out and about when most other people are. Very early mornings or very late nights aren't really your thing. You're practically solar powered, and the afternoon is when do best.

Are You a Morning Person or Night Person?

I was kinda surprised by the result since I always thought that I was more of a night person. But come to think of it, it was right. I have difficulty waking up in the morning, and I do not really like going out at night. I do surf the net and do some work at around midnight, but that's because my son's sleeping and I could do what I want uninterrupted. So, I guess, I AM an afternoon person.

Black Friday

Christmas is still a long way off, but savvy shoppers plan ahead. The Christmas season is the time when a lot of people spend lots of money on gifts. While we would want to give nice gifts that would make the recipient happy, there is no denying that we are oftentimes limited by the time that we have for shopping and the budget that we can set aside.

Traditionally Black Friday, or the Friday after Thanksgiving, usually kicks off the Christmas gift buying season, at least in the USA. Lots of stores give deep discounts. A lot of people start their Christmas shopping during this time, especially since they get better deals. For black friday 2008, savvy shoppers search online and sign up for email alerts so that they get good deals ahead of everybody else, and even buy them online. This makes shopping so much easier!

It also makes searching for the right gift easier since I believe it's easier to just sit in front of the mouse and search for good gifts for one person on one site rather than go through a lot of different stores with the whole crowd looking for gifts for your whole Christmas list.

Ethan's Going to School

Ethan's now 30 months. Next month he will be going to toddler school. It was one of the most crucial decisions that we made this year.

I was not a fan of early childhood education. I thought that kids should be taught first by their parents at home and sent to school at age of around 3 or 4. And we tried to do the things that other parents do. Unfortunately, the results are not the same.

The downside of comparing your kid with other kids of the same age is that if your kid lags behind in some aspects, you become worried. It may be a good thing, though, because sometimes you catch some problems you otherwise would not have. That's what happened to me. When my forum mates with kids around the same age as Ethan started to say that their kids are already speaking in straight phrases or sentences, I became worried. My Ethan was still at the single word stage, and it was not even a lot of words. We had him evaluated, and true enough, he does have a slight expressive speech delay. Because of this, we did a 2 pronged approach and brought him to a speech therapist AND sent him to a toddler school within the vicinity for 6 weeks of the summer, just to see how things work out.

It worked! His learning accelerated! He learned a lot more words and is already starting to use phrases. He learned to follow instructions. He learned to deal with other children his age. He learned to wait his turn. He is still continuing speech therapy once a week but even his therapist noted that he has improved greatly! More importantly, he LOVED school. He actually looked forward to it. When we have to wake him up, I just have to say, "Ethan, you have to get up or you'll be late for school" and he won't linger in bed. He is a very slow eater but just tell him that he will be late for school and he will eat faster!

Separation anxiety? After maybe 2 weeks, he has ceased to cling to us. WE are the ones having separation anxiety as his dad and/or I hover around his classroom trying to peer in and see what he's doing.

It is because of all of these that made us decide to send him to school this June. He'll be going to the same school he went to during the summer. He'll be having the same classmates and the same teacher. And he's learning that learning is fun!

As to what school I'm sending him and why I chose that school, I've detailed them here.
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This is my own entry to PPBC 2nd edition.

Circus Camp

I cannot remember the last time I saw a circus, but it never ceases to amaze me. Although it was never my dream to become a circus performer, I always it would be awesome if I could do some of the things they do. Unfortunately, I have not heard anything about a cirus school until recently, when I heard about Circus Summer Camp New York. I probably would have enjoyed it. It may not have made me a career circus performer, but it dould probably build up my confidence, it may have improved my flexibility and my sense of coordination. I have always been a shy girl, up to now I have this fear of speaking and performing before a crowd. This might just have been the answer for me.

I haven't brought my son to the circus yet but I might if one comes to town. I wonder if he will have the same appreciation for circus arts. If he does, I might consider bringing him to the Circus Arts Camp New York, if I can afford it. It's a pity they don't have something like Circus Camp New York over here, though. It would definitely be something I'd strongly consider aside from the usual swimming, art and other summer class offerings.

Describe Yourself Today

got this tag from Pheng. :) thanks for the tag sis. I need the break

rule:
1. list 6 things that describe yourself today.
2. add your blog to the list. feel free to add all your other blogs.
3. tag other online friends you know.

today, this is me.
1. Busy! In the midst of my 5-day summer classes for my Masters.
2. I'm supposed to be doing my report right now, instead here I am on the net. After I'm done with this tag, I'll be working on my assignment :)
3. I miss playing with my son. Oh well, it's only until Friday anyway.
4. I'm on leave from my clinics because of these classes. Kinda miss work and also miss the chance to earn (no work, no pay)
5. I'm back to being a commuter, at least temporarily. I don't like driving the car to UP Manila, so I'm taking the LRT.
6. I didn't bring my regular cellular phone today. I just left it with my husband and just brought a VERY old model phone with a prepaid SIM. Baka masnatch if I'm not careful eh. :)

inks: creative in me little peanut me and mine pea in a pod sugar magnolias bloggerhappy berry scrappy changing lanes pit stop kapturd and so i am princess bela our journey to life my planet purple women xplore life. love. family. work. travel., http://www.practicaltipsandmore.com, http://www.joeymd.com, http://the-working-mom.blogspot.com

I'm tagging Lissa, Sheng and Lorie

It's Daddy's Turn Next Month

This month, we have mother's day. Next month would be Father's Day. We used to give small gifts to my Dad when he was still alive. Since my son is still very young, I guess it's up to me to choose a gift for his dad on his behalf. I always think that buying gifts for men is harder than buying gifts for women. Let's see, there are promotional discounts for online diet programs. But since he has already lost a lot of weight I do not think that he needs it right now! I think I'm the one who needs that! Anyway, back to the gifts. I can pick something for him to wear like a sports shirt. He'd appreciate that. Or a toy train that he's been wanting to have since he was a child. That would make great daddy-son bonding moments with Ethan. Or maybe a family trip? He's been wanting to have some time off for quite a while already. There is still about a month for me to decide what to give him. If you have any suggestions, do tell me. I do not want to splurge a lot as we are spending quite a bundle on tuition fees this June, so I would prefer buying something quality but not too expensive. But whatever we (my son and I) pick out, I'm sure Daddy will be more than happy to receive.

Coffee Break ver. 1.10

How would you spend a rainy day on a lazy afternoon?

What I would like to do:
Laze around with a cup of hot drink, watching DVDs with my husband
Play with my son
Surf the net
Sleep :)

What I would most likely do:
Work in the clinic
Work on my sideline

What I should do:
Tidy up my room, my closets and my desk!

Thanks, Jan!