She Says....

I wonder what my husband would say....

1. When watching television, custody of the remote controls belongs to:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever turned on the TV
d. whoever is stronger
e. whoever can find it underneath the cushions

2. Entertaining friends for dinner should be:
a. a catered affair
b. a sit-down meal lovingly prepared in your own kitchen
c. served buffet style
d. pot-luck
e. food brought home in boxes

3. A new car should be selected based on:
a. its purchase price
b. its performance, repair and insurance costs
c. what your business associates are driving
d. its color
e. the arrangement of the cup holders

4. The toilet seat should be:
a. down, with the lid closed
b. down, with the lid up
c. left up
d. left up or down, it doesn’t matter
e. up in his bathroom, down in her bathroom

5. The proper location for dirty clothes is:
a. the clothes hamper
b. the floor near the clothes hamper
c. the floor in the room where the hamper is located
d. on the furniture in the room where the hamper is located
e. near the bed so you can wear them again the next day

6. In the middle of summer, it’s best if:
a. the air conditioning is in full blast, at all times
b. the air conditioner is on, sometimes
c. no air conditioning, the electric fan will do
d. no air conditioning and no fan, a pamaypay will do
e. the windows are left open for the breeze to come in

7. Any home-cooked food is best if:
a. it is eaten immediately after it’s prepared
b. served with candlelight and soft music
c. it’s made the way mom made it
d. it has catsup on it
e. the fire department didn’t have to be called

8. The best way to travel on vacation is:
a. by plane
b. by train
c. by car
d. on foot hiking through the wilderness
e. separately, to different destinations

9. Trips to the mall should be made when:
a. there is a specific item that is needed
b. there is a big sale
c. it’s raining and there’s nothing else to do
d. you can’t find what you need at a tag sale
e. you have a new credit card

10. The volume on the stereo should be set:
a. low enough to allow normal conversation
b. loud enough to fully appreciate the quality of the recording
c. low enough so the neighbors don’t complain
d. loud enough to feel the vibrations
e. just low enough to avoid significant structural damage

11. Laundry should be done:
a. twice a week
b. weekly
c. every other week
d. monthly
e. when you run out of clean underwear

12. My idea of an exotic vacation destination is:
a. Hawaii
b. Thailand
c. Boracay
d. Tagaytay
e. Luneta Baywalk

13. Repainting the living room should be done by:
a. a licensed professional
b. the two of us working in harmony
c. the college kid down the street
d. whoever’s idea it was to repaint the room
e. the time your mother arrives to visit

14. When buying a new TV, it is important to consider:
a. the size of the room in which it’s located
b. what will fit in the entertainment center
c. your budget
d. how many people you’ll be inviting over for football games
e. whether you can fit it through the door

15. Before having children, you should be together for:
a. at least one year
b. at least two years
c. at least five years
d. at least nine months
e. one last quiet, romantic evening

16. Eating in bed is:
a. inappropriate under any circumstances
b. okay if you’re sick and can’t get up
c. acceptable if served on a proper bed tray
d. good to do while watching late night TV
e. an effective way to avoid having sex

17. The best videos to rent are:
a. the newest releases
b. classic films
c. romantic comedies
d. action dramas
e. found in stores with XXXX on the sign

18. When one of you feels he or she should lose weight, the other should:
a. insist that their partner is perfect just the way they are
b. be supportive
c. join in the weight-loss program
d. buy him or her a membership in a health club
e. move out until the diet is over

19. When the female is upset or angry, the male should:
a. be comforting
b. ask what the problem is
c. try to solve the problem
d. tell her to get over it
e. apologize. She’s already decided it’s his fault anyway

20. Household chores should be done by:
a. the wife
b. the husband
c. both of them working together
d. the maid -- if there is one, that's what you pay them for
e. the kids, that’s why you had them

21. When decorating your first home, the furnishings should be:
a. the latest style
b. an eclectic blend of antique and new
c. the best you can afford
d. purchased at tag sales
e. whatever you can swipe from your parents’ homes

22. You should attend a place of worship:
a. weekly
b. monthly
c. on major holidays
d. when your mother’s in town
e. when you find one that serves 1995 Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet for communion

23. Taking out the garbage is the responsibility of:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever put the last item in
d. whoever is going out anyway
e. the household staff -- again, if there are maids

24. My idea of the ideal birthday party is:
a. a romantic dinner for two
b. cake and coffee with a few friends
c. a small gathering with family members
d. a surprise party with everyone I know
e. a celebration that would rival a Presidential inaugural

25. If we have an argument we should:
a. kiss and make up before we go to bed
b. sit down and discuss it like two rational people
c. go to separate rooms until we cool off
d. contact a marriage counselor
e. make sure all lethal weapons are out of reach

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My answers to this week's :)

Making Ends Meet

In these hard times, it's not unusual to hear of people going into debt just to make ends meet. I am so glad that as of the moment, we still have clean credit and do not need any credit repair yet. We have anticipated that we will be spending a large amount of money at this time this year because of two things: (1) I am giving birth and (2) my son will be going to school for the new school year. We've therefore planned ahead and saved up for these two big expenditures by prudently setting aside some money in another account.

I am still quite jittery though. Our savings are enough for the expected expenses but if we find ourselves with unexpected (and big) expenses, we might need to take out a loan. I'm trying to arm myself with credit repair information so that in case the unthinkable happens, we would know what to do.

Had To Change My Blog's Look

I got a free layout (which really looked great, by the way) which I wasn't really in a hurry to change. However, it seemed that the designer's photobucket account exceeded the bandwidth limits. My blog really didn't look nice with all those reminders from photobucket saying that bandwidth was exceeded and that upgrade to pro was advised. Hence I was forced to change the design -- FAST! It may not be my final one, though. Let's see....

Coins As Investments

My dad used to give us gold coins for our birthdays. He reasoned that it was a more practical gift than gadgets or clothes. I agree with him, and I'm happy that he decided to do that for a few years. Precious metals are good investments. They are finite, they are easily kept, their values usually rise over time and they can be easily passed down as inheritance. But it's difficult for people who are not experts to know which coins are genuine and which are not. That's why it's best that we go to a reputable coin dealer so that we're sure we're getting the real thing at the right value.

Fixing The Room

For the past few days, I've been attempting to straighten out the mess in our room. As I expected, it was not easy. What I didn't expect is that I'd feel a little depressed while doing it. It's not easy to dump things, even if they should already be thrown away long ago. Oh well, we really have to let go of stuff. Especially as we need the space for the new baby. It's less than a week away!

Marrying The In-Laws

When I was still lingering in the w@w yahoogroup even if I've already married and should have moved on (what can I say, I still had wedding preps hangover!), I've seen some brides-to-be ranting about their in-laws, whether it was because of their meddling in the preparations or their personalities. The other brides-to-be would usually advise her to do what SHE wants because it's her wedding and it's their son she's marrying, not the family.

The truth of the matter is that no matter what you say about marrying the man and not his family, you can't separate one from the other. You can't separate him from the people who raised him into the person that you love. The same goes for him too. No matter how much you don't like each other's families, you do have to get used to the fact that after you get married, your family becomes his family and his family also becomes yours.

The problem regarding in-laws is that since they're basically a different family from the family of your origin, you get used to different values and different ways of doing things, hence the big adjustment. Think about this, getting married is already one big adjustment, what more if there are other extraneous factors and people to consider? But that's something you have to put into consideration already from the beginning.

Now, it's probably easier for me because my in-laws are decent people who respect my ideas even if I am not exactly an ideal daughter-in-law. They respect my opinions as much as I respect theirs. I guess, in the end, mutual respect, compromise and love are what you need in order to maintain a smooth relationship with each other.

Oh, and my husband and I already discussed this before we got married. When it comes to sticky situations regarding MY family, I will be the one to represent us. When it comes to HIS family, he will be the one to speak for both of us. That's because we know each other's family better and would know how best to deal with them. This should make for a more harmonious relationship and less friction between us and our families.
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This is my contribution to .

Higher Education

School opening here in the Philippines is right about this time...some schools have opted to delay school opening because of the swine flu scare.

But more the current health scare, there are many problems facing the educational system. More and more parents are finding it hard to make ends meet and to put their kids to private schools and private universities for their education because of the current economic situation. I have to admit that it's difficult for us to come up with the amount required for my son's tuition, especially since I'm also giving birth. And to think that's just pre school!

An option to consider is to get an online degree. This would require a lot of discipline on the part of the student, though. But it's an option for those people who need a flexible time schedule or cannot go to the brick and mortar school.

Too Much Cola Can Cause Muscle Problems

My husband's is a Coke addict. The drink (Coca cola), and not cocaine, in case you're getting the wrong idea. I think that he should be consuming less softdrinks as they are really not good for the body. While I don't believe the forwarded emails regarding the purported evils of softdrinks, specifically Coca Cola, I do realize that there is no nutritional value in such drinks. But like any addict, he finds it hard to quit.

I came across this article though, and I told him that his recent complaints of muscle pains may be related to the amount of Coke he imbibes. I'm glad to note that his consumption seems to be decreasing, although I really hope that it would cease entirely.

Wedding Q and A's

1. Your top 'Moment' during the preparation (for both married and unmarried members)

• Getting my gown and accessories -- "This is it! I'm getting married!"
  

2. Your top 'Moment' during the Wedding Day (for married ones lang)

• My walk. It was short, sweet but meaningful. I met my mother and uncle (who took the place of my father, who had already passed away) a few steps from the entrance, kissed my mom and walked with them until we reached my groom.

3. Nicest thing done to you (wedding preps/wedding related; by anybody either your supplier, entourage, friends, family, fiance or even W@W sis/brod, basta an 'aaawwww' moment)

It's plural -- nicest THINGS done to me...

• my surprise wedding shower at a spa -- organized by w@wies who came to be my friends
• a whole box of wines given by my uncle during the wedding. Because of budget constraints, we decided not to serve wine. I actually asked the waiter who poured red wine where it came from and how much it cost (!) then he told me that someone gave a whole box as a gift and pointed out my Uncle Sev.
• the support of my extended family. You know how much that meant to me :)
• people actually making it to the wedding rites and the reception despite the heavy rains and the awful traffic. The chapel was full! I felt so loved. :)
• The sermon by our priest (the best I've heard in a wedding!) and the speech by the Head Abbess in my mom's temple (she's Buddhist)
  

4. Married life is... (for married members, this will help the brides as they will know what to expect) not limited to one reply

• all about compromise.
• not all romance.
• needs constant communication
  

5. Things that went wrong in my wedding (for married members) doesn't have to be just one answer

• It rained. Heavily.
• Traffic was VERY bad.
• The sound system.
• The cake was not served.

Thankfully, the last 2 were not really noticed by the guests. The first 2 naman, well, we had no control over that!

6. Things I splurged and will splurge on. Max of 3 answers lang pls. (we will tally thing kasi and get the Top answers)

• The food!!!
• The photos and video.

7. Your bridal march song (indicate both what you will actually use and what you wish to use if ever it is different from what you will use)

• The Wedding March from "The Midsummer Night's Dream" -- I know it's no longer uso (in fashion) but I've always felt emotional with this song and felt that this was THE song for weddings.
  

8. Your first dance song

• Inseparable by Natalie Cole
  

Side story: Should have been "The Nearness of You". But for some reason, the sound system people didn't tell me that they don't have it (they burned the CDs used in the reception. Lesson learned: prepare your own CD of songs to be played.

9. Possible DIY's for your wedding (pls indicate which are the ones you did or will do)

• Missalette - my w@w sisters & I actually did this :)

10. What you think are the wrong reason to marry. Name as many we will filter pa naman eh.

• Too "old" to wait
• Baby on the way
• To satisfy other people

11. I learned that a wedding....

• ...and its preparation is actually a practice for married life. You get to learn to budget, to compromise with your fiance, to prioritize things...
  

12. Advice to a bride planning her wedding (my most important tip)

• On the day itself, just relax and let go...there's really nothing else you can do. Just enjoy your big day.
  

13. I wish... (on wedding, wedding preps etc etc whatever)

• ...that my Dad were around and that he and my mom rode with me in the bridal car and walked with me towards my groom...

Too Excited To Be A Doctor!

I bought an ophthalmoscope-otoscope set very early on in my medical career -- in fact, when I was still in medical school. Even bought it brand new, at full price. I probably bought it at about the same time I bought my first stetoscope and an aneroid blood pressure monitor. I was very excited about learning how to use them. You see, being a doctor was my lifelong dream, and buying acquiring these equipment make me feel more like one!

Later though, when I underwent training to become an ophthalmologist, I had to buy another ophthalmoscope set, one which is rechargeable and comes with a retinoscope which I needed in order to do objective refraction, unlike my older set which was purely battery operated. I no longer have use for an otoscope, except maybe for looking into my son's ear when I suspect him of having an ear infection. Looking back, I could have probably just bought a second hand one for my first set, and sold it later on, and bought my brand new ophthalmoscope-retinoscope set when I was already set to be an ophthalmologist. But, my friends who are now in pediatrics, and of course, otorhinolaryngology use their otoscopes regularly and very rarely use their ophthalmoscopes.

The lesson here for medical students and doctors in training: Don't buy everything yet. Borrow first if you haven't decided on which course to take before wasting your parents' money.

Had Another Haircut!

I had long hair after I gave birth to my firstborn. It was often unruly since I didn't realize then that caring for a newborn was so "fulltime" that it hardly left me with any time for myself! And the fact that my mother was watching over me like a hawk means that I couldn't get away with shampooing my hair during the first month after giving birth!

This time, I planned on having a haircut. I wanted a hairstyle that would still look good even if I just woke up, and would need zero maintenance! So I went all the way and had it cut short! (Sorry don't have pictures yet).

My only problem is that my husband prefers me with longer hair. Next time na lang dear...hair will grow back naman. :)

To Do: An Update!

This is an update to my earlier post on what I have to prepare for the big day! In one week's time, our baby girl is gonna make her appearance! So exciting!

Things to look for and clean:

• newborn clothes -- tiesides and frogsuits - ok
  
• stroller - ok
  
• crib - ok
  
• receiving blankets -ok
  
• socks - ok
  
• mittens - ok
  
• feeding bottles - ok
  
• breast pump - ok
  
• sterilizer - ok
  
• nursing clothes - ok.....
  
• breastfeeding pillow - ok
  
• extra baby book - can't find it yet
  
• gauze lampins - ok
  
• bath tub - ok
  

• Launder / clean all clothes and baby stuff!!!
  

Things to do:

• organize Philhealth papers - ok
  
• check benefits with SSS - ok
  
• inform patients about my leave - ok
  
• look for another yaya for new baby -- still looking
  
• decide on maternity leave length -- more or less
  
• decide on date for Cesarean - ok
  
• look for Pedia to catch the baby (my pedia is on leave) - ok
  
• put away Ethan's old clothes - ok
  
• organize room - not finished yet!!!
  

Things to buy:

• newborn diapers - ok
  
• baby toiletries -- baby wash (ok) , baby oil (still have some), petroleum jelly (still have some)
  
• BPA free feeding bottles - bought a few already
  
• another mattress? - deferred
  
• girl clothes for going out - bought a few already
  

Great Looking, Inexpensive Jewelry

Even the most unfashionable lady likes to dress up once in a while. While my tastes run to the simple, I do like a few flashy pieces of clothes and jewelry to wear once in while when the mood strikes. However, while real jewelry are good investments, they are expensive so we can't really have too many pieces, given our limited budget. It's certainly a good idea to have a few pieces of classic, "real" jewelry made of diamonds and other precious stones set in gold or precious metals of your choice, and a few sets of discount jewelry which you can use for dressy affairs, without going over your budget or worrying that your thieves may want to steal your jewels.

Check out these jewels and these prices! Looks great, don't they? Without the expensive price tags!

Meaning of Dreams

I just had a really weird dream last night. I'm not really comfortable sharing it yet, I'm pretty scared about it. But it's still so vivid that I wonder if there's any hidden message or meaning to it. Some people say that dreams actually have meanings. Or maybe it may be a portent of things to come. I've found this interesting site on the net which may give us some insights into the dreams that we have.

7 Cheesecake Recipes

My family is not really fond of cakes. We buy the requisite birthday cake for everytime somebody has a birthday so that my kid can experience the whole simple, basic celebration of singing the birthday song and blowing out the candle/s after making a wish. I am also not a domesticated person, household chores are things that have to be done, but I do not necessarily have to like doing them. But I do cook. I don't bake though, because my family appreciates ulam better than cakes. But we do love cheesecakes. I've found some great recipes for cheesecakes which I might try if I get the urge to. In case you're interested, click on this link.

Water Problem

A few days ago, something weird happened to our running water system. The water from the faucet suddenly became much, much slower. Initially, we thought that was due to low water pressure in the area. But our water meter was spinning like crazy! All of these seem to point to a leak -- a large leak at that. We're inadvertently throwing out water! What a waste of resources and money! Unfortunately for us, the plumbing plans were never turned over to us when my parents bought the house. Worse, the pipes seem to be buried, so it would be a difficult thing to look for the problem area.

We've decided that it might be best to just bite the bullet and have the whole plumbing system overhauled, probably cutting off the original water pipes from the main and installing a new set of pipes that would be more visible externally, so that we can see future leaks and can easily repair them. We need an expert, somebody with the skills and expertise (and the affordability) of a good plumber like the Raleigh Plumber so that we will be able to lick this problem once and for all. Do wish us luck!

Safe And Secure Home

We are currently living with my folks right now. While it may not be the most ideal setup, it works for us at the moment. We do dream of someday moving into our own dream house, when we've saved enough. We don't really need a large house, just one big enough for our family, hopefully not too far from our kids' school and our work.

What is non-negotiable for us is the security of our home. That's the reason why we're considering getting ADT home security. ADT is America's leading home security company, so we're trying to see if they have services here. We want an environment wherein we can feel safe leaving our children in the house. That's partly why where still living with my folks. While I have a nanny, I really do not feel safe leaving my kid without someone I trust fully, like my mom. There are so many crimes lately, from burglary, break-ins, kidnapping, that I fear for my family.

If we could afford it, I'd prefer that we live in a gated community with 24 hour security. Even then, it's not a guarantee that break-ins won't occur. Whether or not I get my dream of living in a safe, secure gated village, I'd still put in additional security measures like the ADT home security system that I mentioned earlier. I'd feel safer that way.

Car Shop?

I guess boys will be boys. You know the stereotype of toy cars for boys and Barbie dolls for girls. My husband is into cars. His dream business is a car shop where he can get to fix and enhance cars. He's a fan of sports cars like the Ferrari (he has the whole collection of toy cars from Shell), Lamborghini and the rest, although he knows that such cars are impractical choices here in the Philippines. I do not know if there is a market here in the Philippines for a shop that caters to luxury and sport cars, something like the pontiac supercharger where hard-to-find parts and auto supplies can be available and searchable online. Maybe we do need to do research. If it's feasible and we have the resources to open up such a business, why not? It would be a great business, and he'd be doing something he loves.

More On Hair!

I'm happy with my short 'do. I've been long haired for the longest time so cutting it off was a drastic change for me. So far, it has made me look much younger. Not only that, it is much easier to style. In fact, I will have another trip to the salon next week to trim it since my bangs are growing long. I'm giving birth in less than 2 weeks so I need my hair to be even more fuss-free, especially since I'll be undergoing the dreaded ge-lai.

2 Weeks To Go!

Only 2 more weeks to go, and our little girl is finally going to make her much awaited appearance! I'm now gradually letting go of my clinics -- what I call a "partial leave". On the week of my scheduled CS, I won't be holding clinic at all.

We're cramming though. Am trying to organize our room, throwing away stuff and making room for another member of the family. We even bought a caha de oro (a plastic cabinet brand) so that we can have more space for the children's clothes. Our bags are not packed yet! Well, we still have time, so I'll do it a bit at a time.

The good thing about a second baby and an scheduled Cesarean is that we're not as pressured as our first. I've dugged up my firstborn's old clothes and we're gradually laundering them. Since it's been raining the past few days, we can't dry them under the sun, though. Oh well.

It's a pretty exciting time for us. I hope E will not have too much sibling rivalry and will cherish his baby sister.

TV Time

My husband and I have different preferences on our me times at home. I prefer to read books, while he's more into watching TV and movies on DVD. The advantage of his preference is that we get to watch together, which also counts for our couple time since any parent knows how difficult it is to get away from the demands of both family and work.

I wonder if he would find subscribing to Direct T V practical? Right now, we have cable TV. The signal is sometimes choppy and there are some channels which, for some reason, we cannot access even if we're supposed to. I really do not know why. Also, he spends a lot of time (and money) searching for movies in the DVD stores. Well, he does love collecting movies, so I really cannot begrudge him that. Of course, like all movie fans, he craves for high definition, which Directtv.com promises to deliver. Another thing that looks interesting is the DirectTV DVR, which records up to 100 hours of your favorite shows, and may even record 2 shows at the same time, without using tapes or CDs. Wow, that's certainly something! We hardly get to watch the shows at their show schedules because of our little kid, but we can probably record some shows and watch them when our kid is asleep.

Low Risk Investment

The world of investing is such a complicated one, especially for an investment neophyte like me. I do realize, however, that investment takes risks: You could earn big...or you could also lose it all, especially if you engage in the high-risk-high-return investments. It's a little bit like gambling. If you can't afford to lose much, you can just stick to low-return yet low risk investments like certificates of deposit. Shop around for the Best CD Rates so you can get more for your money, and hopefully earn more with less of the risk.

Money & Marriage

Ahhh, money. It's something that married couples have to deal with in the entire course of their marriage, and even before. Remember wedding planning? It's just the start of the compromising, budgeting, wanting and having, wanting and not having, letting go of what you can't afford, and saving up for what you really, really want.

It was so much easier when we were single. We earn our own money. We pay for things we need, we buy things we want. We save money in our own accounts. We are accountable only to ourselves.

But all that changes when we get married. By law, everything we own at the time of marriage becomes conjugal. Everything we earn during the course of marriage is shared property. Now we can't spend for something just because of impulse, especially if the purchase would involve a lot of money. We have to think of how that one single splurge will affect the whole family budget.

I am aware that families have different setups, and as such, we all have different ways to handle the family money. There's the pooling of both incomes (if both are working) and just have one in charge of managing the finances. There's the I-pay-for-these-bills/purchases-you pay-for-those setup. There's also the option wherein you both contribute to a common fund and keep the rest for yourself. I'm sure there are other options. It's really dependent on the couple. Whichever works the best for you is the right fit for your family. This frequently takes trial and error, unfortunately.

We already had a joint checking account before we got married where we put in the money that we were going to spend for our wedding, and just kept it going when we got married. This is where we get most of our spending money for bills, tuition fee, hospital expenses, rentals (for clinic space), insurance, car expenses, child care expenses, etc.

At the beginning, when we didn't have any children yet, we did not pool our money and just contributed to the common pot.

However, we realized that it gives rise to some conflicts, especially since we don't really earn that much and that regularly (that's the problem with being self-employed and professionals) and it's difficult to decide on who pays for what if the common pot is just not enough. And, we kinda tend to go overboard with our personal, discretionary purchases. So, we decided to pool our incomes, and just give ourselves a small weekly allowance for our own discretionary purchases or personal savings. The family expenses come from the pooled income. So far, this setup has worked for us. We've kept spending for wants at a minimum (and we have to save for those wants from our allowance, just like students) AND we pretty much know where our income goes since we keep a rough record of what we spend on as a couple. There's a lot of transparency and less of the finger-pointing and quarrels (although I can't really recall any) regarding money. I'd admit, though, that this takes a lot of trust. But then, since technically, a married couple is supposed to be sharing in every material thing, shouldn't trust be a part of marriage, to begin with?

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This is my contribution to . Interesting theme this week! Join us!

Team Sports USA

The United States is such a diverse country. The different states I've been to reflect different personality, given its difference in cultures, landscapes, industries, and people. One thing that's common, though, for a lot of Americans, is their love for sports. Unlike here in the Philippines where there is very little interest in spectator sports except for basketball and boxing (especially with Manny Pacquiao's successes), the Americans enjoy watching and cheering their home team in a lot of different team sports. The most popular appear to be baseball, basketball, football and ice hockey, although they are also into other sports. I don't think their present economic crisis changes any of that.

That's why I would like to get Yankee Stadium Tickets when I get the chance to visit New York, Fenway Park Tickets in Boston and Wrigley Field Tickets in Chicago. I'd like to have a feel of the sports spirit that is somehow not here when we watch sports other than basketball here in the Philippines. Of course, these venues do not only feature sports events but also concerts and other shows, so I might just get lucky and get to see my favorite artists live.

My (Expanding) Web Presence

My online life is expanding and will likely continue to do so. I now have several blogs, an online store, a facebook account and a friendster account. I get more excited everytime I discover something new. I am aware that I will have to look for a good webhosting service for the various different projects that I have in mind.That's why I'm so glad that there are now websites which feature ratings for the different webhosts available. They rate the different webhosts overall, and according to the best for blog hosting, forum hosting, ecommerce, budget hosting! I'm actually having a difficult time choosing because they all have their pros and cons!

Despite my current inability to decide on which webhosting to get given the mulltitude of choices, I would still recommend that you look through the site webhostinggeeks.com before plunging in, if you're looking for the best webhost for your needs. I realize that choosing a webhost is something of a commitment and it would be difficult to change hosts if you decide later that you're not satisfied with your choice. That's why it's best to choose wisely at the beginning rather than regret it later on and have to shift later on.

E's Costumes

My son is now starting to like dressing up, unlike when he was younger. He looks so cute when he does. On his first Halloween trick or treat, he dressed up in a shark costume but later changed into a basketball jersey because it was too hot in the costume. On his second trick-or-treat, instead of going for the usual store bought costumes, he wore an improvised one with overalls and some toy tools. When asked, we said that he was "Bob the Builder". :)

Costumes when he started toddler school include the following: Filipiniana costume for their "linggo ng wika" celebration -- we simply let him wear his Barong Tagalog (which he wore to my brother's wedding as the ring bearer). An Angel costume for their school trick-or-treat. He used that later at the village trick-or-treat and walked away with a special prize for one of the 10 cutest. He enjoyed being in costume by this time and actually insisted on wearing his halo and wings every chance he got! During his moving up day, he was the blue horse in their presentation. He was asked to wear blue polo and white pants. The school's artist designed headgears for the pupils, and his was, of course, a blue horse!

I wonder what costume we'll come up with this year. Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll have a blast with it!

A Hairy Survey

When I got married, I had long hair which my hairstylist converted into a work of art. But long hair does tend to be a lot more work for me. It was inconvenient with a small child who keeps pulling on it. Late last year, I decided to drastically alter my hair length. I now sport short hair. It suits me, making me look a lot younger and more elegant. It's also more suited to the now very hot temperatures that we're experiencing, especially since I'm pregnant and feeling the heat even more.

Now my bangs are starting to grow too long. I promised myself that I will have another haircut before I give birth, so that I do not really have to maintain it that much.

Carpets

Our old home used to have carpets in almost every room. However, the problem with carpets is that it's so hard to clean on a daily basis. In a tropical country like ours wherein all the windows and doors are kept open most of the time, there is always new dust falling everywhere, especially on the carpets. Unlike the cleaners at Austin Carpet Cleaning, not all cleaners here are well trained enough to remove all the dust from the carpets and, even if they did, there will always be new dust settling in. That's why we opted not to have wall to wall carpeting when we moved, and decided to just use area rugs that can be moved around and laundered. We had a well advertised vacuuming service demonstrate their machine with us, unfortunately, we found their machine too expensive! They did have cleaning services without having to buy the machine, but they're also too pricey for our comfort.

Now, if we had lived in more temperate countries though, carpets would be a better idea as they insulate against the cold floors. Here, cold floors are more of a blessing against the sizzling all-year-summer heat. We preferred to just maintain the wooden parquet floors that our current house originally has, and just bought area mats to put in strategic areas.

Happy Birthday...

...to my grandmother! More on it here.

On Vending Machines

I remember when I was about 7 years old and in grade I, there was this vending machine at the ground floor of our school. It was such a novelty then. My classmates and I would hoard our coins so that we can get a cup of soda (the only thing the things sold at that time). However, it was prone to breakdown, and while the sodas were quite cheap, nobody really had the exact combination of coins at all times. Also, it was a little cheaper in the canteen, and you can pay without having a requisite number and type of coins.

Later when I was already in residency training, I noticed some vending machines being installed in some of the floors in the hospital where I was training. It was a great idea! The canteen was not open 24 hours (but I think it should be) and people inevitable get hungry, or just want some refreshment. It helped too that the more modern vending machines no longer needed a specific number of coins and could even accept bills. They even give you change!

I've always thought that this would be a good business opportunity especially for busy people who want to earn something on the side, but I do not know where to source these machines until I chanced upon 1800Vending.

I am currently reading this article -- 1800Vending Article -- for more information about this machine. What do you think? Here's their sales website by the way: 1800Vending Org.

Memorial Day

I do not know if Araw ng Kagitingan is our version of Memorial Day. It's fitting to remember all people who were involved in fighting for our freedom, even the nameless ones who were not recorded in history for their deeds.

Personally, though, I'd rather NOT have war heroes if that means that we don't have any wars. War is evil. I hope people will simply remember that. So, please do not start any just to feed any narcissitic political and power ambitions.

Waiting Game...

My little girl is getting VERY restless inside my tummy. I keep telling her that it won't be long now before we finally meet face to face. I tell her that all of us -- Daddy, Mommy, Ahia, both her grandmas and her uncles and aunts are excited to meet her -- and we are! Less than a month to go, and we'll have our little princess. :)

Online Furniture Shopping

It's so difficult to find pieces of furniture that are both functional and decorative. In most cases, you have to sacrifice beauty for function, or vice versa. I've found a great selection from furniturefromhome.com. Check out these storage beds, this selection of home office furniture and these Dining furniture. Of course, it's also much easier to browse from home, and this site actually makes it possible for busy people to look for, check out and actually buy furniture online and have them delivered straight to your doorstep. If you're in the USA, they offer free nationwide delivery. I just wonder if they ship here to the Philippines, because there's a few items that I find interesting.

My Favorite Mags

I love reading magazines! But unlike most women, I don't really go for fashion or beauty glossies. I only buy them once in a while. My faves are Entrepreneur and Moneysense. I'd like to educate myself on money matters, like investments, personal finance, Small Business Loans, because nowadays it's getting more and more difficult to make ends meet, especially if you have a growing family. Sigh... I also buy Smart parenting and The Working Mom. I actually have a growing pile of mags here at home and I'm losing storage space! May have to get rid of some of them soon :(

Hot and Humid Once More!

Just when we thought that the rainy season has come early, the weather decides to change and now we're back to the heat of the Philippine summer. What adds to the discomfort is the very humid weather that we're having. We just had a new airconditioner installed in our room in the hope of increasing efficiency and cutting down on some energy costs, but of course we know that it really adds to the electric bill. I'm feeling the heat even more because of my pregnancy!

My mom is now contemplating on having ceiling fans installed. She asked my husband and I to canvass when we were out buying our A/C unit. We saw a simple ceiling fan which is less than a thousand pesos only. It was however, too simple for my mother's tastes, and I agree. She would like a more decorative one that would look good in her living room, like ellington fans, as she wants to utilize the fan fully, both as something useful and as an additional decoration.

As for me, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm for anything that would make me feel this oppressive heat less! I certainly hope that the weather will be much cooler after I give birth, because for sure I won't have the freedom I have right now of getting cold water showers like I'm getting used to having right now.

Viva Las Vegas!

The ultimate nightlife can be found in the desert city of Las Vegas. Unlike most other places, this city actually is more "awake" and alive during the night time rather than during the daytime. I wonder if this city ever sleeps at all! The only thing I've played in the casinos there are the slot machines and the video poker, but I've watched a couple of Las Vegas shows, both of which are glitzy, over-the top and very Las Vegas, but very different from each other. I've watched the illusionist David Copperfield live and I've watched a show in Bally's hotel featuring topless girls (sorry forgot the name of the show). Would you believe I got to watch the Bally show for free because I won a couple of tickets? They cost about 70 dollars each if we had to buy them! Well, I wish I could have been as lucky on the slot machines! :D

Trying To Organize Our Room

Our mission this week is to fix our room. I don't know about other people but we have VERY limited storage space and lots of stuff. It's sometimes amazing how much clutter we accumulated through the years. When I was single, my room seems pretty big, with a lot of room for my stuff. Now that we're a family, our room seems too small. In addition to my stuff, my husband already has his stuff, my son has his stuff and toys (which took over my bookshelf) and now we have another baby on the way. I know we should probably throw or sell some things away, but of course, you can't throw everything away. I'm thinking that there should be a better way of organizing things and I'm wondering if it would help if we put in some display shelving for our stuff. There's a lot of unused wall space and stuff like books, magazines and maybe some toys could be placed there. Maybe what works for stores in organizing and displaying their stuff will also work for us. And maybe we'll get more floor space that way. What do you think?

Sigh. It was so much easier when all the stuff were mine. I could simply decide on what stuff to keep and what stuff to discard. With a family, I have to also respect that their stuff are not mine to decide whether to keep or not.

Going to Mall of Asia Today

It seems like it's been a hectic week lately for our family, and weekends are no exception. In fact, it seems that this weekend is even busier than the weekday! So pardon me if I don't get to blog as often as I want to.

This morning, we'll be heading over to join the Vesak Day celebration in Mall of Asia. While there, I might have to check out some plumbing parts and maybe somebody to fix it. I can't find those parts in nearby Greenhills. The knobs in my mother's bathroom has some problem, and since it's pretty old, it's difficult to find replacements. The person who looked at it (he's no Lubbock Plumber, that's for sure...) can't do it so we have to find somebody else who can.

Anyway, if you have the time, do drop by the Mall of Asia. The Buddha Bathing ceremony is open to everybody. I'm not a Buddhist (my mom is, though), but the teachings of Buddhism do closely resemble my own faith. You could say I'm open minded about the topic of religion -- just don't attack mine and we'll live in harmony! If my kids would opt to be Buddhists I really won't object.

Entertainment On Twitter!

Face it, most of us are guilty of being "suckers" for celebrities and entertainment news. One way to get real news from celebs, straight from the horse's mouth, is via twitting. If you're into twitter, you'd know that a lot of celebs are in in it.

Here's a survey on it.

Rustic

I've seen some homes in Tagaytay decorated with mostly rustic furniture. I think it fits the cooler, dryer weather they have there (cooler and less humid than Manila, that is...) I love the simplicity and unpretentiousness of these furniture more than the overly decorated Victorian pieces that I sometimes see in a lot of homes and furniture shops. Somehow they do not seem as heavy and oppressive looking.

On Science Museums

It's like a "whoa" moment for me. I realize that we really do not have many science museums here in the Philippines. We do have a lot of history and art museums, but science museums? Maybe we should have something like that. I did learn a lot from the history and art museums that we have, and from the few science museums that I went to when I was younger, I learned more and faster than I did when I simply read the book. There's just something about "interacting" -- using the senses of touch, smell, sounds aside from sight -- that make the lessons stick better.

Anyway, museums are generally non-profit, and as such, even museums in the more developed (than ours) country are experiencing trouble making ends meet. Do answer this survey, all proceeds from this go to a certain museum -- you get to save at least 1 science museum which will benefit more children.

Better Than Cable TV?

Despite the fact that we don't get to watch a lot of TV lately due to a certain pint-sized boy who keeps turning it off whenever it's not on his favorite cartoon channel, we are still thinking of what the better option is: cable or directtv. We don't really like the options we're presented with on free TV. While admittedly, there are also channels we hardly watch on cable TV, there are also a lot of channels which are far more education and/or entertaining than the choices presented on free TV, with a lot less ads. Somebody mentioned that Direct TV may in fact be a better choice. They offer a lot more summer TV fare like the NASCAR which I'm sure my husband will love and my little boy will grow to love (he's more into CARS at this age :)), at a reasonable price.

Happy E

I don't know if it's just our imagination or is E becoming even more makulit (mischievous)? His favorite bedtime activity nowadays is trying to bury his dad in pillows and then jumping on him, all the while laughing out loud. He also asks questions that he already knows the answers to, then if you give him the wrong answer, he will correct you. He also throws toys down the stairs and under the refrigerator and asks me to get it for him. I do not want to encourage this, so I tell him that mommy can't bend over, you'll have to get it yourself.

The good thing is that he doesn't really have many tantrums at this stage. He's a generally happy child who seldom cries and laughs often -- although sometimes he laughs AT someone after he does some mischief. Well, we'll have to guide him as to what is right and wrong, but for now I'm glad that he's turned out to be be happy AND healthy.

Our Car Needs Some Repairs

Our cars are somewhat old and showing some signs of wear and tear, despite being well maintained. Really, you cannot stop age from showing, not in humans, animals or even machines. Since we still do not have the budget for a brand new car, we have to fix what we have. Fortunately, my husband has a little bit more than the rudimentary knowledge about cars (which I do not have) and also knows a mechanic who does home service repair work at a cheaper price. Now all he needs to find is an inexpensive but reliable source of car parts like a power steering rack so that the needed repairs may be done ASAP.

Twitter and YouTube Together...

BuzzTrendz combines the latest tweets with like-subject matter YouTube videos to give you "what's hot now" ... as I'm writing this the most recent trends are Mewcastle, Miss California, Shuttle Atlantis ... wait a few minutes and there will be others ... and don't ignore the "random trends" ... everytime you refresh, a new set of the hottest keywords used on the internet show you both the tweets and the YouTube videos that are making the keyword hot. Oh yeah, go to buzzTrendz.com.



I'm curious...how do you actually keep track of the tweets that you follow? I'm having quite a hard time since I follow quite a lot of people and I don't stay on Twitter all the time.

Happy Mother's Day!

The Ring!

When planning a wedding, one of the most difficult choices to make is the wedding rings. That's the only detail in the wedding preps that you wear everyday of your life (unlike the wedding dress), so your choice better be good!

What should you consider?

• Comfort - If you'll be wearing it everyday, of course it's a must that the ring should be comfortable enough!
  
• Cost - Of course it's pretty impractical if you buy something beyond your means.
  
• How it looks on you - Does your complexion look better with a yellow or a white metal? With diamonds or not?
  
• Wearability - If you work in a place where thieves and snatchers abound, it's not wise to wear your expensive platinum wedding ring with all the diamonds -- it's too big a temptation for thieves. On the other hand, you can just keep your "true" wedding band and buy a less expensive one to wear and bring around!
  

I love the classic design of my wedding ring. I feel that it reflects my personality. I was not the one who chose the design -- my mother-in-law did (I just said that I wanted one in white gold rather than yellow gold because I felt that it suits me better) but I got what suits me, and is comfortable enough to wear almost everyday!

Dream Garden

I'd love a house with a garden. There's something about nature and green things that really relax a body. However, I do not seem to have a green thumb, and I'm just too busy (and awfully lazy!) to take care of growing things (except my baby!) I just want to enjoy the garden, but taking care of it is not really my cup of tea. If ever I get a house with a garden, I'd have to make sure that the plants chosen would be easy to care for, with minimal maintenance. I'd have to employ the services of a good landscaper (probably someone with the caliber of Washington Landscaper) who could work within my restrictions of an almost maintenance-free garden, but one which is pleasant to look at. There's another requirement -- It has to be within a low budget! Am I asking for too much here? LOL.

Or maybe we could just compromise. Anyway, with the high prices of real estate nowadays, we'd be lucky if we could get a townhouse or condo big enough for our growing family. With such a setup, we don't really need to have our own garden at all, just a common garden (and pool, and function areas...) which is open to all residents and which is taken cared of by a gardener hired by the management (we'll have to pay for it via the CUSA though). Maybe that's we'll end up with.

Business Communication

The reason why unlimited cellphone plans and portable landlines are so popular nowadays in the Philippines is that Filipinos are very keen about keeping in touch. That's why we now have cellphone companies which offer special deals on SMS and phone calls to and from other countries, especially where a large number of Filipinos work. It keeps families connected, through communication if not through physical closeness. And that's "just" for personal and family reasons. Imagine how important constant business communication is.

This is the reason why there is an emerging market for Busines VOIP. It is important to have constant communication with the people you do business with. It is through communication that things get clarified, misunderstandings are avoided and deals are set.

Leap of Faith

I'm always sad when I hear of marriages falling apart. I agree that it's inevitable in some circumstances, but I believe it's mainly because one or both parties have reneged on their vows to love each other.

A wedding is not just about the celebration itself. It's a commitment for life, and the most important decision one makes in his/her life. Imagine, you're actually choosing a next of kin who has the right to everything you are and everything you own. You'll be having children together and raising them in a new family (I know, you don't really need marriage to have children, but that's not my point). But most of all, it's a vow to love each other, support each other through good times and bad, and grow old together. That's why it's not a decision to make lightly. It is, literally, a leap of faith...and love. One that will affect both of you and your children for the rest of your lives.

I found this vow for a renewal of marriage and I believe that this is what marriage should be all about:

On our wedding day, I made a choice. It was the most important and significant choice of my life and I made it only after a great deal of consideration. On that day, I chose you to be my husband/wife. I thought then that such a decision, once made, as final and irrevocable. Now I know that the selection of a life partner is not a one-time decision but an on-going process. Many times in the years since then, I have chosen you again. Faced with changes and alternatives, I have become keenly aware that a marriage lasts only so long as both partners desire each other above all others. As our lives have been affected by the ebb and flow of other lives and events, there have been many times when I could have chosen to go in a different direction. I did not. The reason is simple: no other person has ever aroused in me the feelings of tenderness, joy and caring which you elicit. I elect to stay with you not because I feel obligated to meet your needs but because you continue to meet mine. I live with you not because a legal document says that I am your wife/husband but because, in my heart of hearts, I still want to be by your side more than I want to be anywhere else.

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My entry to . This week's topic is commitment. Do join us!

Locked Out!

My husband carries around a spare key for his car. He learned his lesson after being locked out of his own car. The worse thing is that the engine was running, the A/C was on, thus consuming both gasoline and battery power. Fortunately, it's not too far from our house, where he keeps a spare, therefore we didn't need the services of locksmith. He just needed to take a jeepney home to get the key. That's good because we don't know if we can get one with the skill and track record of Portland Locksmith or otherwise. Also, locksmiths take time to arrive AND they cost a lot here in Manila if they find you in that situation. Which means a lot of money lost, both for their services, the extra key and the waste of gasoline and battery.

Anyway, after that incident, hubby made sure that he carries around his spare key, which he keeps in his pocket. After all, he may not be as lucky to encounter the same situation near the house. Imagine if that happened while we're out of town! Or even in the extreme side of the metropolis with all the traffic! That would certainly be a big hassle!

Honeymoon!

I wonder whether we'll ever be able to experience having exotic Jamaica vacations when we haven't even been to Palawan and its wondrous natural beauty and beautiful beaches. We initially considered going to Palawan for a honeymoon but we couldn't get a good deal on all-inclusive vacations (unlike inclusive Jamaica). We did calculations and we concluded that it's so much cheaper if we just go to Hong Kong! We also wanted Bohol but we couldn't book a hotel, just the flight! And so we off to Hong Kong we went! We only had a 3 day honeymoon, but it was an enjoyable 3 days. I hope that I would be able to take my kids back to see Mickey at Disneyland :). We still hope that we could go and enjoy Palawan and Bohol someday.

Now, if my husband and I can get away from our kids and enjoy our second honeymoon, I'd like it to be somewhere that mixes natural beauty and modern conveniences (I'm not really a rough-it-up sort of person like the Ocho Rios hotels in Jamaica. Someday, we'll be able to travel more and further!

To Do....

Time sure flies! My date with the stork is next month already! Sometimes I really feel that this pregnancy seems to be quicker than my first one -- maybe because I'm busier this time around? I just realized that there are so many things I have to do that have to be done before my little one makes her appearance. I've decided to make lists to remind and prompt me...

Things to look for and clean:

• newborn clothes -- tiesides and frogsuits - ok
  
• stroller - ok
  
• crib - ok
  
• receiving blankets -ok
  
• socks - ok
  
• mittens - ok
  
• feeding bottles
• breast pump
• sterilizer
• nursing clothes
• breastfeeding pillow
  
• extra baby book
• gauze lampins
• bath tub - ok
  

• Launder / clean all clothes and baby stuff!!!
  

Things to do:

• organize Philhealth papers
• check benefits with SSS
• inform patients about my leave
• look for another yaya for new baby
  
• decide on maternity leave length
• decide on date for Cesarean
• look for Pedia to catch the baby (my pedia is on leave)
• put away Ethan's old clothes
• organize room
  

Things to buy:

• newborn diapers
• baby toiletries -- baby wash, baby oil, petroleum jelly
• BPA free feeding bottles - bought a few already
  
• another mattress?
• girl clothes for going out - bought a few already
  

Whew! There's still so much to do! Better start soon! Well, at least some of the stuff I already have--especially the big ticket items like the stroller and crib and sterilizer -- so I get to save some money :).

Falling Apart

Sometimes it's so disillusioning -- marriages falling apart, whether they're just a few HOURS old or thirty years old. You see them with high profile couples, but they are present even with ordinary people we meet everyday.

Why does it seem that long, happy and forever-type of marriages seem to be more of an exception than the rule? It's a pity when the husband and wife no longer feel that they could stay together, but sometimes there is really no other way. The more tragic thing is that the separation is usually painful for both parties. You have children to consider. And how about the separation of properties and fortune? Unfortunately, you need lawyers who specialize in family law, like the San Antonio Family-Law-Attorneys, who know more about such family cases.

While there is no way to get around the pain and the mess of a broken family, an amicable settlement would go a long way in lessening the hurt and devastation.

But, personally, I wish people would still take their wedding vows of "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till DEATH do us part" seriously. I do admit that sometimes it's no longer feasible, but marriage is something both the husband and the wife should work on everyday of their lives.

Choosing the Right Web Host for your Needs

If you're decided to have your own website, whether for your personal use or for your business, it's important to research for the best web hosting plan for your needs. You should consider things like budget, support, up times and down times and disk space. It's quite a big decision to make because you would not want to change hosts all the time and possibly lose valuable data. If you have friends who have their own sites, it's best to ask them for feedbacks, good and bad, about their webhost. Try to see what type of website they have. Would your website be similar to theirs, and would their webhosts be suitable for your needs?

Deciding on Our Family Car

Our cars are already old. At the back of our mind, we are thinking that one of these days, we might have to buy another car, especially that we're soon going to be a family of four and our current cars are getting to be a tight squeeze. But buying a car is a big investment, so leaping into it is foolish. We've been browsing Car Reviews so that we can determine which one would best suit our needs.

We're thinking that a minivan would probably suit our needs best. It has a lot of space for people to ride in. Which is what we need when the whole family needs to go out. You see, with 2 kids (with carseats) and their nannies plus the two of us, a regular car just won't fit us. Add the baby stuff that we have to lug along. We really need the space. So we're mainly looking at a minivan. Hopefully one that's fuel efficient too.

I've come across a Cars Blog which could also help us in arriving at our decision. While we're at it, we're also enjoying looking at the Sports Car Gallery. Well, sports cars are the last thing on our minds right now since they are not really good family cars, but they sure look good! And it never hurts to dream of having that wildly impractical purchase!

Celebs on Twitter!

Twitter is all the rage these days. Do you have a twitter profile? I do — you can follow me at http://twitter.com/ethanmama — if you’re interested in what I have to say, although I express myself more in my blogs like this one, Joey M.D., Tsinay and Practical Tips and More.

What is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Some call it microblogging. What’s interesting about twitter is that there are celebs and big time people there.

WhoCelebsTweet.com allows you to see what celebs are saying and who they’re saying it about.

Missed a Call...

A few days ago, I got a call on my cellular phone which I failed to answer because I was otherwise occupied. Unfortunately, I do not know the number, as my caller ID failed to identify the caller. I THINK it may have been a patient, but I'm really not sure. I really do not like to call numbers I don't recognize. I wish we had a unknown phone number trace service so that I will know the caller's identity before I call him up. I also wish that patients do understand that we cannot reply to phone calls immediately, so if we don't reply, please do try to leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

House Maintenance

Before my parents finally bought our own house, we never knew how much effort and expense was needed to maintain a house. We used to live in an apartment, and things like pest control were never an issue with our old dwellings. After we moved, we realized how important it is to get a good company like Fort Worth Pest Control to do a periodic check for termites. It's important to get rid of termites before they start to destroy your home, otherwise you would spend a lot, lot more of home repairs later on. Pest control is also important to keep unwanted "guests" like rats and mice from invading your home, stealing your food and spreading undesirable diseases to your family.

For your own safety, you should also check that the electrical wiring in your home is correctly done. Of course, you need to hire experts to do this. Also check that the plumbing is sound so you do not lose precious water. The structure of the house itself also needs to be checked periodically and necessary repairs done.

Whew! It seems like a lot of work to maintain a house, but I'm sure it's all worth it. At least when we buy our own later on, we'll know what to expect and what to do.

"Runaway" Wedding!

The big showbiz news the past few days is the surprise pulled by Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, who got married in a now-showbizzy way. How they were able to pull off such a hush hush wedding (and tell the world at large about it when they were already hitched) was one for the books. They chose to tie the know in a church outside Metro Manila (in Batangas, to be exact), and limited their guests to 80 close family members and friends. They later had a reception at the beach where more people joined them (200 people) but still small for a showbiz wedding. Well done! Congratulations, Juday and Ryan! I loved the fact that they used "Runaway" as the wedding march. "I will runaway with you..."....so appropriate!

While such destination weddings like what Juday and Ryan had is something that most folks dream of, it's not something most people actually do. Apart from some Hollywood personalities, how may caribbean weddings have you actually heard of? (I'm not even talking about getting invited to!) That's because they are difficult to prepare and expensive! But do you know that there are actually all inclusive travel deals for couples wanting to get married in such exotic locations like Jamaica? All-inclusive means that the wedding is included! All you have to do is show up! With such discount vacation packages, a simple getaway for the wedding (then straight to the honeymoon!) is possible even if you have a shoestring budget!

Hmmmm....maybe hubby would agree to a renewal of vows in Jamaica someday....

Single Mom Dating

I don't like the situation that they are in, but I really admire the fact that single moms are handling their parenting responsibilities singlehandedly. Their problem is that some single parents, especially the moms, have difficulties in looking for people to date and for a possible long term relationship. Everybody deserves to be happy and there's nothing wrong with single mom dating, as long as they've fulfilled their mommy duties.

Meg Ryan

One of my favorite actresses is Meg Ryan and I'd like to nominate her for the BoB Awards!

I'm a sucker for lighthearted, romantic movie fare, and she appears in many of my favorite romantic comedies with different leading men. Those that immediately come to mind are "When Harry Met Sally", "Sleepless in Seattle", "You've Got Mail" and many others. "Sleepless in Seattle" is a particular favorite. :)

Although she is often cast as a cutie, girl-next-door type in such romantic comedies, she has also proved her acting mettle in more dramatic vehicles like "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Courage Under Fire". Although she had one movie where she decided to appear nude (I haven't watched it), her image is mostly a wholesome one and the movies she made are quite appropriate for most ages. I'm looking for DVDs of her movies to add to our collection of "must-watch-again-movies".

Please nominate me in the Best of the Best Awards!

We Want A Vacation!

My husband and I have always talked about having a break from work and the daily humdrum. Imagine, the last time we really had a vacation was our 3-day honeymoon in Hong Kong! But after that it was pretty difficult to get away, especially as I got pregnant soon after the wedding. Later, there was a small child to consider. While others may say that it's fun to bring the child along, we didn't really like the hassle. We did bring him to Tagaytay when we had a convention, after which we thought of exploring on our own. We brought along so much baby stuff then! His portable crib, his stroller, a cooler of expressed breastmilk, sterilizer, bottles, breast pump...We decided then that we'll just wait till he's older and probably have some memories of the trip.

This year, our convention is in Cebu and we had thought of going and extending a few more days for a vacation, maybe go over to Bohol too! There are all inclusive beach resorts in both Cebu and Bohol, so getting reservations would most likely be easier for all of us. Since our little boy is no longer a baby, it would be easier to bring him along. I was actually starting to look at all inclusive vacation packages so that we would be able to enjoy the trip without too much hassle. But before we could make any definite plans, we found out that I was pregnant! By the time the convention rolls around, I would already be in my 8th month of pregnancy. Although it's still safe enough to travel, we decide to postpone it again this time, since it is difficult for me, and also because we know we needed to save money for my Ceasarean delivery.

Still, we're trying to dream up and save for a vacation, with or without the kids. A "second honeymoon" at an all inclusive resort vacation, especially in places like the Bahamas would be very ideal. Or maybe Brazil. Then explore some interesting and historical places in South America. Ah, it's really fun to dream about exotic vacations with the love of my life (my husband, of course)! Just what a tired, working mom needs!

What To Invest In?

We all want to invest and eventually EARN from our investments. We (that means you and I) have to invest during this time that we are actively earning from our jobs and professions, so that we will have more passive income for the time that our retirement looms.

But investments are risky -- the stock market is low right now, which means that if you put in your money at the time that stocks were performing very well, you are now experiencing a "paper loss". That is not too much of an issue if you put in the money for long term gain, but what if you need money right now and convert it into cash? You would be selling at a loss. Also it's pretty hard to predict what companies are stable and would survive this economic downturn and which of them would eventually fold up -- together with your investment. But, this seems to be the right time to make investments (if you don't need the money right now, that is) because you will be getting them at bargain prices. You can also invest in mutual funds, which is easier than trading in stocks on your own.

Real estate is also a good investment right now, since land is a limited resource. There will be less and less habitable and commercial land to be had in the future. You know what drives prices -- supply and demand. So if demand later overtakes supply -- prices go up -- and you earn. But real estate investment has its drawbacks -- annual real estate taxes, possibility of attracting illegal dwellers ("squatters"), and difficulty in liquidating it in case you need the money.

At the moment, it seems like a good option to buy gold bullion. Gold is a finite, precious metal, and there is always a demand for it. Also, its easily transportable especially if it's in the form of gold coins. It's possible to buy gold coins in different weight sizes, from as small as 1/10 ounce to 1 ounce. And, if you're in the United States, you can do a gold ira transfer in place of the usual IRA, 401k, 403b, and Pension Plans, so you can have funds for the time that you will retire.

My Car...

My car is now up for renewal of LTO registration. It's a 10 year old Camry that my mother gave me as a wedding gift but was my father's car. Although it's quite old, it still is a smooth drive. We always get a comprehensive car insurance for it because, well, accidents do happen and it's so much easier if we're covered for any damages. I'm not exactly the best driver in the world and although I haven't endangered anybody's life yet (knock on wood) with my driving, I've had my share of minor collisions. Sure, there's the mandatory TPL (third party liability) which is required by the LTO, but it doesn't cover for property damage, either to my own car or to another car, so we still have to shell out a lot of money when the unforeseen happens. I know it would be more expensive, with a lot more hassle, if I'm not covered, so I'd rather spend a bit more each year to cover for such incidents.

Security

In my previous post, I mentioned my dream house, but I forgot to add one thing that I'd want for it: security. I'd prefer my dream home to be in a secure, possibly gated community. I know crimes still happen even in the most exclusive communities, but not as much as those located those without security measures. I'm also reading a Home Security Blog I found so that I can get more tips for making my (future) house "resistant to crimes". Our home should be our haven, where our children grow up safe and sound, and where we retreat to at the end of the day without worrying that it will be invaded by the less savory elements of society.

Dream House

I am entertaining fantasies of having my own hearth and home, where we get to set our own rules and do things our way, not somebody else's way (even if that somebody happens to be mom). But, our current budget only allows monthly amortizations on a very small space which is not enough for a growing family. So why get it at all? That's because it's a good investment. Selling or renting it means income for us. Now if we can only get a good agent like the San Antonio Realtors to help us in offering our tiny condo unit for sale or for rent, and also to help us look for a more suitable (and affordable place) for our family to eventually live in.

Although I am aware that I may be too idealistic, it never hurts to dream of the ideal house for us right? Yes, you read it right, would love a house, even a townhouse, rather than a condo. Would love something with at least 2 bedrooms (but 3 or 4 bedrooms would be better), with at least 2 bathrooms, a kitchen that's separate from the rest of the house and a garage that can house 3 vehicles. Large windows with lots of natural light and ventilation and high ceilings would be ideal, as well as an outdoor patio where I could laze around in. A small, easy to maintain garden (I don't have a green thumb) for my children to play in and for that nature's touch. And, of course, not too far from our clinics and our children's school. Having a grocery, a market, drugstore, hospitals would be great too!

I guess if I wish and pray hard enough I'll get it. I really hope so.

Hawaii The Beautiful

I've only been to Hawaii once in my life. It is really a beautiful place. It has beautiful weather and clean beaches. It actually reminds me of the Philippines, only it's cleaner, maybe because the people strive to keep it that way despite some modernizations. The sands on their beaches are not as fine as the ones in Boracay, but they are clean and the water is crystal clear. I wonder if a foreigner like me could invest in some Honolulu Real Estate if I had the extra dough? I believe that properly values on this beautiful place would increase over time, and investing in such would be a wise move at the present time. And, if I decide to keep it for myself, it would make a great retirement place for me and my husband.

Our Grandparents' Old House

I've always loved my grandmother's old house. Last I looked though, it was in great danger of being a victim of age. It's not surprising since it's been quite neglected when my grandparents moved. When my grandparents still lived there, my grandmother has been very vigilant about house repainting, periodic house repairs, termite control...things like that.

I loved its timelessness (even though it was built in the 1950s), its airiness (which is sometimes lacking in some houses being built later), its lawn and garden, its patio. I love that it's something that children can actually grow up in...with adequate space for them to play. I wish that it could be renovated again so that it could be lived in again (although I would prefer experts like those in Houston Remodeling to bring it back to its former glory).

The negative thing about the house, though, is its location. There are nearby squatters. Unfortunately, when my grandparents moved, looters came in immediately to cart away anything and everything of value! It's also located in a low lying area, hence the place is prone to flooding when the rainy season comes. Still it's a nice house, and I'd love to build something like that when I get the chance to have a house of my own.

Pregnant or Plus Sized?

While I've been quite slim for most of my life, I noticed that my dress size has increased throughout the years. I used to be an XS in my teens, then S in my early twenties, M in my late twenties, and now I'm hovering between M and L! The years and childbearing have certainly taken their toll. Good thing it's not too obvious yet! Now I'm pregnant again. I've found that it's easier (and cheaper) for me to just buy or borrow Plus Size Women’s Clothing instead of buying strictly maternity clothes which I will only use for a few months' time at the most. I don't know why, but things marked "maternity" seems to be more expensive too. My tummy is so big that I have to use the larger maternity sizes anyway. And from my experience from my firstborn, it does take a while for me to look like I did before pregnancy.

Would you believe that the following are plus size clothing?

Looks fab, right? :D Unlike the unstylish clothes that plus size women were forced to wear before, just because there were not enough choices!

We are certainly blessed with a lot more choices for nice clothing, even if we are not blessed with model thin figures.

Studies On Hold

I'm currently on leave from my studies at the UP Open University. I figured since I'll be giving birth in June and that's when school starts, it would be a trifle difficult for me to struggle with new mom duties AND schoolwork. I'll also be on leave from work -- my priorities are clear, and my responsibilities as mom take precedence over everything else at this time.

Anyway, one of the subjects I will have to reenroll in is about research. It's really not an easy subject, since we have to first think of a topic that will (1) fit our course and (2) be approved by our professor and (3) be simple enough for us to do on our free time -- which most of us do not have, as we are all working. This is the time that I wish that I could make use of such resources like MSU ME 201 Homework Solution which are available for MSU Michigan State University ME 201 students. Well, there's nothing like doing it yourself, so, I guess I'll have to be doing that sooner or later

Susan Boyle & A Survey

People are going gaga over Susan Boyle. Here's the video if you haven't watched it yet.

The ordinary, rather frumpy woman didn't LOOK like a star, but when she started singing "I Dreamed a Dream", she made such an impact that transformed the faces of the judges and got the audience on its feet. She's now a youtube sensation.

Mailboxes Etc.

It's pretty weird how people treat mailboxes here in the Philippines. The household help do not inspect them, and the kartero (postman) does not put the letters inside and would rather just insert it between the recesses of the door or the gate. I always thought that mailboxes are a better idea, since your mail gets protected from the weather elements like sun and rain. With the current technique by our local postmen, the mail may get wet due to rains or even lost when a strong wind blows. Also, you only have to look in one place for the mail.

Maybe we just have a culture where not having mailboxes is just the norm, especially in the provinces, where the housewife usually stays at home and the postman just hands the day's mail to her. I do believe that in the busy city where sometimes people are not always home when the mail arrives. My mother agrees, so she had a mailbox installed when we moved into our current house. It actually complements the look of our house and I love the idea that I just need to look in one place for our mail (which didn't happen -- sigh!) I love the look and the function of a mailbox, and even though they do get ignored, I'd still have one installed when I get to have my own house.

Solo Parenting

Parenting is one of the most difficult (but rewarding!) jobs in the world. Imagine being responsible for somebody who's totally dependent on you for everything -- basic needs, education, major decisions, etc. This is a "burden" I gladly share with my husband, my life partner and who's a great daddy. We now have one 3 year old son and a daughter due to be born in less than three months, and we feel blessed to be chosen to be parents to our angels. Of course, we have our ups and downs in parenting but everything is so worth it!

Parenting is doubly difficult when one does not have a partner to share the major parenting responsibilities with. It's great that single parents are no longer maligned and their efforts are appreciated. There's even a single parents chat where they can meet online and chat about everything. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it is for single moms and dads. I have a great dad for a husband and there are still times that I wonder if we have being doing things right. Kudos to single parents who have taken on the parenting burden willingly, all for the love of their children!

Who Wants to Date a Millionaire?

I don't believe it! It's common knowledge that some people try to hook rich people, exchanging love for money and hopefully a life of comfort, but such hookups have generally been hush-hush. Of course, you can't help tongues wagging when something like an older richer man-younger beautiful woman (or an older rich man-young handsome man) occurs. But do you know there's an actual site for so-called sugar daddy dating? Well, as long as they know what they want and what they're getting into, I guess flirting and dating is harmless enough.

House Repairs

My mom, since she is semi-confined to the home because of her limited mobility nowadays, has decided to have some house repairs. It's a perfect time for roofing since summer is here and we don't really expect any rains. I wonder if the people mom got are as good as the Albuquerque Roofer says they are. We don't want any leaks when the rainy season comes but it's pretty hard to tell how good is the work done unless there are already rains, but by then, it would be too late to do further repairs. That's what happened to us a few years back when we had our roofing replaced. The leaks worsened! The few leaks we had before the repairs were even less than what we had after the repairs. Arrrggghhh!

Another drawback to having house repairs is the need to have stuff moved around from room to room. It's such a hassle, but necessary since you don't want your precious stuff to be "in the line of fire", so to speak. That's what I'm doing in between blogging -- moving stuff around -- and before going to work.

I just hope that the repairs would be fast -- and good.

Preggy Shoes

The last trimester of my pregnancy has made me quite awkward in my movements. My tummy is definitely bigger than the average almost 7-monther, and my center of gravity has shifted forward, which results in sort of a waddling gait and awkward movements. The added weight has also put a lot of work on my poor feet. I need comfy shoes! But since I go to work, I need shoes that are comfortable enough to make walking with my added weight a breeze BUT stylish enough to pair with my office clothes. Definitely something that would match most of my maternity wardrobe please!

I'm currently coveting a pair of tory burch reva which seems to fit the bill. They look so comfortable! And they look more stylish than the current rubber clogs that I'm wearing and which I chose for its comfort rather than its style. The colors are so nice too, just right for the summer weather!

Unfortunately, I do not know any store here in the Philippines which carry this brand and type of shoe (or maybe I just don't go out too much!) It's fortunate that I could actually buy this pair online via Jildor Shoes, which is an online shop for designer shoes for women.

Talking About Religion

Being raised in a predominantly Buddhist family but educated in a Catholic school has somehow made me more tolerant about other people's beliefs. I have realized that most religions are actually similar. All of the major religions teach us to be morally upright and to do the right thing. My grandfather used to say that he'd rather that we believe in some religion so that we have a guide to follow in life.

However, religion is really a topic that's subject to a lot of argument. While I'm interested in what other people have to say about their own beliefs, it's pretty difficult to talk about the differences when people become passionate about their own and would sometimes go through the (implied) "My faith is better than yours". That's why I generally don't discuss about different beliefs with other people (same is true with political beliefs, although that's another topic entirely.)

It's a great thing that nowadays there are already online communities which discuss and chat about different topics, even "taboo" ones like religion and politics. I came across a site promoting Free LDS Chat and I think it's a great idea! I wonder if only LDS are allowed to join, or other people who are simply curious can join and probably get a little more insight into their lifestyle and beliefs, without arguing about them, of course.

When Moving

We still live with our parents even though we are already married and have a kid. Other people may not understand this, but it's a common practice with Asians, especially since I'm Chinese. It's the most economically viable option at present. Not only that, we have instant babysitters for our kid/s whenever we have to work. The grandmothers are more than willing to watch over their precious grandchild/grandchildren. We're staying with my mom during the weekdays since her house is nearer our work and Ethan's school, as well the hospitals and groceries. Hence it is much more convenient for us. We stay with my mother-in-law during the weekends.

We do plan to move out eventually, especially when the kids go to big school. We just haven't decided where. It sometimes is difficult to believe how much stuff we've accumulated through our 4 years of marriage. We have a lot of stuff in both our mothers' home -- baby stuff, wedding gifts (both used and unused), electronic gadgets like the TV and computer, and of course our personal stuff. We're gonna have to hire a good mover like Fort Worth Movers who can transport our stuff without damaging anything when the time comes for us to move.