Dreamer's Landscape

Steep Labor Costs

2011-04-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last time we had a leaking faucet in the bathroom and it was kinda hard to hire a guy that is good enough to fix it.

No we do not have licensed plumbers here. Oh yeah, I think we have, but we do not hire them. A lot of people here can tinker with plumbing and you can get good results for less value.

But last time it seems pretty hard to do. We kept on looking for a guy who charged us only P350 for the job, but I was told that it was expensive. Gee. Really? But if we hired like a real professional, that would have been steeper.

My wife wants to have a book cabinet done. The materials can be cheap but the labor can be pretty expensive. Oh well, but if they can do a good job like Chicago remodeling, why not?

Car Tint

2011-03-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

I think we really need a car tint now. It is summer and the glare is too much. And most especially, the heat is too much inside the car, especially if we park outside on a sunny day.

I am thinking would it be okay to just put tint on the windshield only? haha Wouldn't that look funny? LOL

Anyway, I came across an ad in the local daily about windshield replacement cost and my goodness it is a lot! I wonder about car tints?

Glad to Have Him Back

2011-03-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

We are glad to have my brother in law back from a one-year work contract in the United States. He worked there like he was a local, renting a house, leasing a car, and paying taxes. Thankfully, he got a cheap car lease for a year that he shared with his co-workers so at least their expenses are divided.

Now, he is back to working in Manila with local pay rates. But at least, he had the experience and now the savings because of his stint there. Hopefully, he can have another opportunity like that in the near future. That would be really great.

Living Independently

2011-03-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

It is nice to live independently. You make your own decisions, you do what you want, go where you want, without having to answer to anyone.

But living independently has its downsides. That means, you get to spend for everything. At least now, we are sharing in my parents' house and the expense. And I am just thankful that my parents do not meddle so much in our affairs and we can still pretty much do whatever we want.

I have never really considered living away from home. I mean there are good pads for rent, such as those apartments odessa - hotel luxury that can be really nice, but I still like the comforts of home. We do not have really much at home and we can live more comfortably, but I like hanging out here. And well, at least now, with my daughter, she can always go bonding with her grandparents.

I don't know until when we will be staying here. But for now, we are still very happy.

Having Cable

2011-02-21T00:59:00.000-08:00

I now like having cable TV connection inside our bedroom. At least I can get to watch some new shows on TV. In the past we only get to watch the local channels and whatever they offer us. There is not so much choice.

But with cable TV, there is a wealth of offering that sometimes, I no longer want to move but just watch TV. The crime and emergency room dramas really fascinate me. I also like watching sports channels, even those foreign language channels where they show events like Sepak Bola.

I like how dedicated these Indonesians are towards playing ball. It is no wonder that some Azkals team members are thinking of playing for the professional Indonesian team. Well, what do I say, but go for it!

Cheap Land

2011-02-20T01:04:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile that I have been looking for a cheap farm land that is not too far from Bacolod City for my uncle. I have often heard of people who get cheap lands for only a couple hundred thousands pesos for several hectares of land already.

And these are titled lands. My uncle does not want to assume rights of a land because he wants to till it and stay there for his retirement years. He wants to till the soil, feed from it and also earn from it for his daily subsistence.

But so far, I have not found a good place for him.

After securing the land, I did not know that he will have to get an insurance for it, like the State Farm Insurance Seattle. I have not heard about it locally. hehe Oh well, I guess that is one maintenance cost that he has to shoulder.

Big Boy

2011-02-19T01:17:00.000-08:00

My wife thinks I am a big boy. Yeah, because I am big and I am like a boy at heart. But thankfully, she loves me dearly.

I like toys because I like to play. I guess I never really grew up. If given the chance, I would just continue playing and playing with my collection of toys.

Yep, I have collected action figures, board games, and other kinds of toys. I also have a comic book collection. My wife has considered selling them because she thought that they might be pricey by now, but since they are no longer in mint condition, so I don't think we can sell them. And of course, I don't want to sell them either, at the back of the mind, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her. I have work hard for them so that I could save up money to buy comic books and I don't want her to sell them. hehe But I couldn't tell it to her. I hope she doesn't read this.

Anyway, that is why I like buying toys for my daughter. After all, I like playing with her. And the baby that is to come. weee I am excited.

Non-Moving Stocks

2011-02-16T05:17:00.000-08:00

Will anyone be a dear and get me Postcard Fusion so that I can market and also sell every single thing here in the store?

It is just that there are so many old stuff here that needs to be disposed. My parents do not want to set them up on sale. But these are old stocks and money is just sleeping with these old stocks that do no move. I wonder what can really convince them to hold a sale and also advertise it?

They do not believe in advertising because they do not appreciate its value. Sigh... Sometimes I really get frustrated.

What do I do with these non-moving stocks?

February Events

2011-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

So many things happened this month of February.

End of January, we traveled to Manila and came back the first week of February, in time for the Chinese New Year Celebrations back home. My wife had to work on the Chinese New Year weekend because of an event that she handled. I was also there with her because she needed assistance and therefore hired me to do the job.

Then there was Valentine's Day and we had orders for gifts. We also had a Valentine's gathering in church. We are also planning a couple's gathering by the end of the week and then we will be spending the weekend over at my in-law's house. Then we will be attending a kiddie birthday party and it will also be the birthday of my Mama and my sister. We also attended a couple of parties last week.

Imagine that. We are trying to squeeze in all of these with all the orders that we have at the store. Haha To God be the glory.

Right now, I am just thinking of new activities that we can have with our darling daughter, Dindin. I am checking out the art supplies uk from windsor and newton to see if I can find some new products that we could use.

Dindin likes all these activities as long as her mother and I perform them with her. I guess the case is the same with other kids. They need their parents to be always with them doing stuff.

Asking Around

2011-02-14T23:08:00.000-08:00

I don't mind asking around for information that I need. Although I ultimately make decisions for myself, I just think that other people's inputs could be useful especially if they know more about the subject than I do.

Take for example the time when we bought our TV. We read the online HDTV reviews that are just free and we had a good idea of the products available around.

But since there are limited units and brands here in our city, we also asked other people about their opinion on such brands. After all, this is our first TV ever as a family. So we wanted it to be of good quality but that is not very expensive. We really could not afford expensive stuff yet--we just need a good TV for our daughter's videos. And that will also serve as the LCD of my laptop.

I think we got a good buy at SM Supermarket. Yeah, we got our LCDTV at their hypermart.

I am just thankful for this unit. And it is working well. Love the colors, too. Worth the money we spent for it.

My eyes are getting really tired. I better get some shut-eye. hehe

Gold in Scraps

2011-02-09T00:38:00.000-08:00

They say that there is great money wastes. In fact, many people consider garbage as their dirty gold. It is because the waste materials of other people may be sold and recycled and there are people who earn a lot from them.

I can truly attest to this because one time, my mother in law decided to clean up one room in the store so that we can make room for an extra office where a new machine will be installed.

That room mostly contained old electric fans, radios, cassette players, TVs, computers, and other electronics equipment that were either owned by the family or were left there by customers who thought that their things are beyond repair or that they would not want to pay for repairs. Some of these things have been in this room for more than 10 years. My parents in law just kept them because the owners might come back for them. But after all these years, none of them claimed the items and everything just stacked.

And so one day, Mama just thought of calling someone from an electronics recycling company. The guy just sorted out everything and all in all, Mama sold more than P20,000 worth of scraps. Imagine the amount. And to think that the buyer will be able to sell it at a higher amount to the recycling plant. Wow! There is just so much money in garbage!

Coming Home

2011-02-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

We just got home from a 5-day vacation. My family and I had great fun going around as well as in eating different kinds of food. We had a gastronomic adventure to the max.

It was just too bad that on the third day my wife had an indigestion and had to stay home for the whole day. Oh well, at least she got to rest and sleep at home. She does not have a lot it here in Bacolod City because of work. At least during our vacation, she did not think about work.

When we got home, I got several marketing postcards like those sent by Postcard Fusion. They were cool actually. They get my attention because of their colorful designs. I am not about to buy anything that they pitch in but at least I got to learn of new products and services. Cool way to advertise stuff!

I really think that we should also do that for our store's sake. Tsk tsk.

Anyway, I am back to reality now and work is piling up on my desk. I need to get to work now and fast. Well, I am just thankful that I have work to do. hehe

And thank God, we are back safely home.

Blessed Trip

2011-01-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

In 2003, I was so blessed to be sent to the United States on a temporary working capacity. We had an event there. The preparation time took a week and the event took about three days.

But after that, we did not go home yet. We went to several cities and states in the US for the grandest tour of my life! And would you believe, I only had $20 in my pocket when I left. hahaha I was traveling with a friend who had an event there, but I did not have much. In the end, I got to travel to four states and many many cities in between.

One of my most memorable times were spend in Orlando, Florida, where an maternal aunt lives. She is actually the first cousin of my Mama. We had a great time because she was already retired and had the time to take me places. It was cool! She brought me around Disney World, Sea World, and the many parks in Orlando. It was just swell that she is located in a tourist area.

As we were going around, she pointed out to me the different Vacation Homes in Orlando. They are really nice! How I wish to bring my family here and stay in one of those really plush homes! I guess in their standards, these homes are just comfortable but not exactly extravagant. But for us, these are really luxurious already.

Someday, I know we will get there. And Europe, too. :-D

Recipes in the Mail

2011-01-21T17:10:00.001-08:00

I really appreciate my wife's subscription and membership to companies like Del Monte and Nestle.

Because of them, she gets free recipes from time to time in the mail. And then what I like is, she cooks them for me! hehehe

Yeah, I really like my wife's cooking. She is quite a good cook. She does not necessarily follow what is on the recipe because most of the time, she just uses what is available in the ref or the cupboard. But she whips up mean dishes and I like them because they are different from what our cook usually prepares. I get sick and tired from the usual dishes that we eat every single day.

Sometimes, my wife gets postcards like that of Postcard Fusion. On one side there is a greeting, on the other is a recipe. I think that is a great idea!

Great Busy Day

2011-01-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

It had been a great busy day for my family. We got cable connection and we are working on the installation with the cable crew.

It is good to have cable TV connection in the house because then we learn a lot of new things, especially in those educational channels, like the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. We can also learn from business channels, especially the trends in mobile marketing. There is just so many things going on in the world today and somehow we get updated if we have cable connection.

Ours is a prepaid scheme offered by Sky Cable. For P500 only, we get 150 feet worth of cable and a converter box and a one-week subscription to all their channels. But the box is only rented. We can reload anytime within one month and the box is still active. More than that, the box will be deactivated.

We can load for three days, 1 week, 15 days, or a full month, but the rate is more expensive. But at least we have the choice not to buy a pre paid load card if we don't want to, if we don't have the budget, or if we are not here at home. Sounds good enough, right?

First Wives Club on TV

2011-01-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

For several months now, my family and I had been following First Wives Club on TV5. We enjoy the storyline--the story of first wives and their struggles when their husbands womanized.

It is a complicated drama but there are comedic parts that always make us laugh. And the characters are really crazy.

Of course, some of the women in the story always tried everything to take back their ex husbands and one of them her ex-boyfriend, but I wonder sometimes if these events really happen in real life? I mean do women really do everything to get their exes back even if the guy is already in love and is engaged or married to somebody else? Is the effort worth it? And if ever he came back, does he stick it out with her or just abuse her?

There are many ways how to win your ex boyfriend back. Magazines and books always offer great advices. But I think the question that one should really ask is, do I want him back? Is he worth all the trouble? The fact that he left me in the first place to go with another woman is proof already that he is not worth my love.

But if he is already married, then that is a different matter.

Frenzy

2011-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

There are just so many things going on in the world today and there is only so much that one could take. The internet has so much information already and it seems that I am about to drown in all of them.

If you are in a game show about trivia questions then you have a lot of things to review. Things like fashion, stock options, mobile marketing news, and real estate are taking different turns already that it is hard to cope with all of them.

Oh well, why do I bother myself? I think I need to just lie down and watch TV even for a moment to relax my mind.

What's That?

2011-01-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

I had my share of traveling in the past and I long to travel some more in the future. We hope to be able to get free trips abroad, like what we had in the past.

Anyway, during our travels, we would send postcards back home to show our family that we are having a good time. I also used to buy postcards when I was younger in order to submit as projects in Social Studies in school.

But what is this Postcard Fusion that I have been hearing? What is this all about? I heard it is some kind of a marketing tool that one can use for your business. I wonder how effective this is in terms of coverage and also of cost. That will mean having to print out postcards and mailing them, right?

Hmmm...it does sound like a good idea. I might check it out for our family business.

Becoming a Forex Trader

2011-01-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

What would it take to become a forex trader?

I really wonder about this. I know that there are many people who had been successful in forex currency trading but among them, many have already bowed out of the race even though they made good money from this endeavor

It seems that having enough money as rolling capital for this business is not enough. It seems that the business of forex currency trading is tougher than any other business.

I mean, there are people who stop their business because they are not earning well or worse, they are losing. But in forex trading, there have been many who made good money but still opted to stop after some time. Why? And there are also those who continue to do so and have become really successful, even making more investments here and there.

Oh well. I dunno, if ever I am going into this, I still have a lot to learn. Would I have time for it? And the bigger questions is, where do I ask for help regarding the matter?

Dreamland

2011-01-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

"Last night I had a dream...A most unusual dream..." So goes the line of the song sung by Kelly Hoggart in the Australian kiddie show, hi5. My daughter likes it very much that is why we have watched the episodes that we have on filed several times already. We can already remember the songs and even the speaking lines! Even my daughter, too.

But we also like it. The show keeps us entertained.

Anyway, I am writing this because I dreamed what every gadget freak (that is how my wife calls me) would call dreamland. haha I am being redundant. But really, I got so excited over this place where there are lots of exhibits about new gadgets and developments. The whole exhibit occupied like thousands of square feet of space and I was salivating at the many new things to see and buy.

Gee...I only even want an iTouch...then I would just buy an iTunes Gift Card online so that I can load my iTouch with new songs.

Oh well, as with every dream, we wake up. And now I am back to reality. haha But that is okay. As the Lord wills, we know that He may give a new gadget to me. When that will be is a question that I cannot answer now. I just hope and believe in Him and His goodness.

No Communication

2011-01-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

I know and I believe that communication is a two-way process. Yep, it is a process, so it is not just for one person or entity to keep on trying to get his message across. The other party has to receive and also understand for total communication to be successful. And oh, the other party has to respond.

Funny it is that my wife wants to get a phone answering service. It is not really because she is not always here. In fact, she is always at home working.

However, there are times when she doesn't want to talk to other people. She just wants to continue working in front of her computer. That is why she wants an answering service or an answering machine in order to take her messages.

Sometimes, I am the one who reads her cellphone messages to her. At least with the answering service, she just gets to listen to them and get to the other party at her convenient time. Well, she is just like that. She can be moody and her "not talking" mode is part of it.

Something that You Would not Wish for Others

2010-12-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

Here is something that you would never wish for yourself or for others, even your enemy (or at least that is for me hehehe).

I believe that none of us would want to be in a place where you are a victim of medical malpractice. I mean, it is bad enough that we are in a doctor's clinic because more often than not, we only go there because there is something wrong with us. So if you are victimized by carelessness, by accident, or because of unscrupulous arrogant doctors, that is really bad.

When that happens, it is best to seek legal counsel from experts such as Medical Malpractice Attorney Seattle. Sometimes, things can be settled out of court, but at least you get compensated for the physical damages and the emotional turmoil that the medical problem has caused you.

A Blessed Christmas

2010-12-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

It is my prayer that my friends and family have, not just a merry or happy one, but a blessed Christmas that is not dependent on financial status.

Although we try to go back to the meaning and essence of Christmas, we cannot deny that our celebrations are affected by our abundance, or for that matter, our lack of finances.

So it is my prayer that in whatever circumstance that we are in this season for this year of 2010, we are still thankful and we can still have a very

BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

Let us continue to hope and pray for a better year in 2011. Stay hopeful and of course, faithful!

Christmas is Near!

2010-12-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

Wow, time seems to be turbo powered. I could not believe that we are just two days away till Christmas when it seems like only a few days ago when the TV talk shows started the 100-day Christmas countdown.

For many people, Christmas is the time parties, of bonuses, and variable pays. But for most of the hardworking class, it is just another event that will mean that consumerism just highlights their poverty.

I will that I can truly say that while we are trying to cheer each other up with Christmas greetings, it is really true for the whole world. I wonder if Magnetic Sponsoring would really work to make people richer and indeed have some extra money to spend not just on Christmas but the rest of the year.

I have read about this magnetic sponsoring review and they say that it is all hype. Well I really could not tell. I have not read the book about it.

For now, it may be too late and people will say that another Christmas will come and gone and they are still hungry. I guess that if this works, then we have a whole year to work on this and maybe next Christmas, more people will have more money not just for themselves but also for their families.

Numbers to Keep

2010-12-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

There are really telephone numbers of contacts that we should really keep handy. Well yeah, most emergency numbers are already on the phone directory and they are listed on the first page and in bold fonts.

But there are also contacts that will prove to be useful. For some, it could be an accountant, a contact in every government agency, a police friend, a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney, a bookkeeper, a gardener and such.

You will not know when you or your friend or your family member will need the services of these professionals.

Working Abroad

2010-12-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

My brother in law is now working abroad and my mother in law is really looking forward to his calls every now and then. It seems that hearing her son's voice is very important to her, even if he also sends her text messages from time to time.

I guess mothers are just like that, having your son in a foreign country like that. You would want to know what is going on. And sometimes, text messages conceal emotions, whereas the voice gives the real feeling away.

My bro keeps some phone cards with him handy so that he can easily make a call whenever he has the opportunity. He says that these are cheap. If my in-laws just know how to use a computer, they can just make a free call. But since they don't, my bro needs to use phone cards. But he says it's okay.

He will be home early next year and we are just all excited to see him again.

A New Watch for Me?

2010-12-15T22:54:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas, I got a new watch.

But this year, I hope I don't get a new one for me. I think I have enough. I am not really a watch person although because I have watches, I wear them when I go out. I don't collect watches. I am the kind who will wear one watch all throughout. And when I need a new one, I will just find one or wait until somebody gives me a new one.

But you know what? Last time, I saw a photo of a Hublot online and I fell in love with it. I forgot the name of the design but it was in a stainless steel case and and had the same material for its bracelet. The dial is white. It did not have jewels but I like the size and shape of it. It is very refined. Manly but with class.

Hmmmm...so I guess if you are going to give me Hublot then I may reconsider. haha

Merry Christmas in advance everyone!

Something for My Son

2010-12-10T23:06:00.000-08:00

My wife and I had been wanting a son. We are not really desperate because we already have a lovely daughter (we were desperate when we could not have a child, but now that we have one already it seems that the second one is already optional).

But my wife is saying that we could have another one because she wants us to have a son in order that I may have a legacy--that my surname will continue to the next generation. We all know that this is because girls get married and take on their husband's name. While this is okay, we also would like to continue our family name for many years.

Anyway, we are still praying for that. We are committing everything to God. If it is His will to bless us with a son then so be it. So for now, we just continue to claim our second child to be a son.

I am thinking of what I will bequeath my son in the future. Of course, aside from our faith, our values, and a good education, I would like my child to have some material possession that I can pass down to him, such as a valuable watch like a Panerai. It would be something that he can treasure and also pass down to his son. This is a good thing about good quality watches like Panerai, you can pass them down to the next generation and still be appreciated because it is fashionable and functional. Eventually, it will be a timeless classic.

For now, we just continue to pray and ask the Lord for our much-awaited son.

Interesting Work

2010-12-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

I think that lawyers have interesting jobs. They get to defend people, especially those who were oppressed.

But on the contrary, they can also defend those who did the wrong thing, because after all, they are sworn to defend their client. Even if their client is on the wrong side, they have to find ways and means to defend their client so that his or her name can be cleared. Imagine that. Well, that is how they earn a living--finding loopholes in the law.

Anyway, I just think that if ever there is injury at stake, people should really hire a Personal Injury lawyer Portland and not leave everything to chance. There are people who get easily oppressed because either they do not have money or because they do not know what to do. So the best thing to do is to hire a lawyer because they can give the best legal advice for the matter.

Care for Health Drink?

2010-12-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

Last time I watched on TV a commercial that talks about a health drink. I am not sure if that was a kind of tea but the liquid is brown. They claim that it is a "cold drink" that will neutralize the "hot foods" we are eating.

By hot, they mean unhealthy foods and by cold they mean something that is good for the body to neutralize the ill effects of these kinds of foods. Before I could remember the name of that drink (because it is still knew), it was taken off the air (or I just couldn't catch the commercial) so up until now, I have not tried it.

Then I recently came across a new drink called MazuGold. I say drink because it is in liquid form. But I am not sure if one takes it like a bottle iced tea or by small amounts. The ingredients are new and interesting.

But Mazu is not yet available where I am. If I can afford it, I am willing to get a trial bottle for my husband and myself. Sometimes it is not a matter of whether the product is effective but rather if we can afford it.

A Great Dream

2010-11-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

I think it is a great dream to become a web developer or a web designer like the web designers in Mombasa. It would be great to learn this new skill and earn from it.

You know why? You can stay at home and work for different clients from all over the world and get backlinks for your own personal site. I think that is a great deal.

From the backlinks, you can build a portfolio and when people come to you, you will have good report. Wow! That would be really nice. I think that will be the time when I can earn a substantial income from online pursuits.

The sad thing is, I am just too busy to study further now. I am just blogging and blogging so that I will earn some more.

Who's Up for Clothes Shopping

2010-11-25T19:59:00.000-08:00

I like to shop for clothes. I only I have a lot of budget, I would not hesitate to buy clothes even just once a month. I say once a month only because I buy wholesale clothing so that I would get great value for my money.

Yeah, I buy at least five to six pieces of blouses at one time, so that means 5-6 tops and a couple of bottoms that could be a pair of pants or shorts or capri pants.

For the coming Christmas season and the New Year 2011, I would like some new stuff. My husband is okay with my shopping except that I know that we have to be on a tight budget. So I will just have to check if I have money to splurge by next week. Oh I keep my fingers crossed and pray to God that I will have money. I would really like some new blouses.

Don't Cry My Love

2010-11-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

We had been watching a Koreanovela on TV 5 during noontime and it is entitled, Don't Cry My Love. We are now patronizing the TV5 noontime drama as opposed to the the gameshows that we always watched on ABS-CBN and GMA7. We are now "Kapatid" hehe

But they continue to change the time slots so that now, by 12 noon, we get the showbiz talk show "Juicy" that is top billed by Cristy Fermin, Shalala, DJ Mo Twister, Icy Mendoza, and Alex Gonzaga. By the way, is Icy Mendoza a dentist by profession?

Anyway, the first drama after Juicy is Don't Cry My Love. Agggh...this show's plot had been twisted many times already and I really hate their antagonist, Monica. She looks like a girly girl but she is actually a spoiled brat who is a pathetic loser. Whenever it is time for their show to air, I go inside the room because I hate that girl! lol I am losing my temper over that girl. That means she is very effective for her role because she has moved me to hare her. haha

But seriously, if your boyfriend has left you, because it was entirely her fault, would you still want to get him back? In the show, this girl is trying so hard to win her boyfriend back. But since he doesn't like her anymore, she tries her very best to destroy her boyfriend's ex-fiance who is now married to another guy. How complicated can the plot get?

Anyway it is just so complicated for me and I find the guy rather pathetic as well that is why I no longer watch the show. haha I mean, I have enough problems already. I no longer have to bear their problems. haha

Loving Trees

2010-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

My baby likes trees. The word "tree" is one of the first signs that she learned because of her watching the Signing Time video. And wherever she does, she would always point out and sign "Trees."

If ever we will have our own place, it is going to be one where we could plant trees all around. I love the shade that the trees provide, not to mention the fresh air. And if ever we have trees, I would like them to healthy and well groomed and taken care of by a professional, like Tree Service Portland.

It takes so long for a tree to grow big and verdant and I would want to keep it that way because I would not want to plant another one and wait for it to grow out.

Someday, we will have our own property, and it will be one with lots of trees around and lining the perimeter of the land area.

Spa Goer

2010-11-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

I am an avid spa goer. I like getting my body relaxed and heated to perspiration in the sauna or in the steam bath. After that, I like taking cold showers.

After all the wet activities are done, then I would undergo a relaxing massage by my favorite masseuse. I like getting massages.

Right now, I need a massage. However, I am a little short on cash. Aside from paying for my massage service, I would also have to give a tip to the therapist. Even if it is not demanded, it would be nice to give a tip for a great service so that the next time you make a visit, the service would be event better. But well, I guess I will just have to work for now and save and enjoy later.

Anyway, I came across the infrared sauna and I wonder what that is. It is not yet available where I am, not even in Manila, so I am pretty curious. But well, if it is still in the US, then I will just have to wait for it to come to our place. I mean, I hope a spa here will include that as one of its amenities.

Messy Job

2010-11-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

I think that cleaning up is a messy job. But I know that it has to be done. I hate waking up with messy surroundings around me. I want a nice clean home that smells good.

But even if my husband, my daughter and myself only occupy one bedroom, it is already a lot to maintain. I guess a lot of it can be attributed to the fact that we have so much stuff in such a small room. So that is why there is always something on top of every surface.

I am thinking, if we have like an estate, there would be a multiplier effect and everything that we have will be multiplied--even the cleaning up. I am glad that there are companies like 888 Junk Van that offer professional estate cleanup. They have a crew of workers who are trained to do cleaning up for large space. I think it is worth hiring them as they do the job and your day is not messed up.

Kid's Teeth

2010-11-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

A lot of parents take their kid's milk teeth for granted because they think that these are temporary and that the new permanent teeth will come out to replace the rotten milk teeth.

While it may be true that that permanent teeth will eventually grow, how one takes care of the milk teeth determines how the perms will come out.

I would like my child to get interested in the health of her teeth that is why this early, we clean her teeth at least once a day and I give her a toothbrush that she can use on her own. But aside from that, I also clean her mouth and teeth because I know that she is still not thorough in cleaning her teeth.

When the time comes, I would bring her to a dentist who specializes in kids, like the Dentists Vancouver WA, so that she will have a good experience with dentists.

When is the Next Travel?

2010-11-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed traveling with my family last month. It was tiring but worth it to be able to get away from the usual daily routine and see the sights and sounds of two different cities with my wife and my daughter.

We will again be traveling in January next year to Manila and it will be another wedding event. I'm sure it is another fun time for all of us. We intend to go to the Avilon Zoo in and the Star City.

One of the things needed for traveling is a medical travel insurance. But since we are on a tight budget, we don't have. Our insurance policy here is God and His Divine Protection upon us. :-D

Car Problems

2010-11-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

It is the third year of our car with us. But since this is second hand, the car is actually already 5 years old and we are experiencing many problems already because of wear and tear.

I think we need shops like auto repair spokane because the shops that we have been to could not identify what we need. Ugh...such as waste of time and money.

This car is supposed to be computerized already but they could not seem to pinpoint what is wrong. I believe that no matter how computerized or automated things may be, it is still up to the person using it in order to get the best results.

No More Occasions

2010-11-02T23:38:00.000-07:00

We no longer have family occasions for this month. Everything will happen next month, December, because it is already the Christmas season.

I will be ready with my recipes and my discount coupons like the sweet tomatoes coupons. Many products will have price increases this holiday season but I am still hoping that I can get great deals.

I do remember that last year there was a Christmas sale at the grocery and I got great bargains on bundled items. Like you get a free one for buying 5 items, that sort of stuff. Hope to have some more this year.

Feeling Good

2010-10-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I like to feel good and I take measures to make myself feel good.

Sometimes I would go to the salon, get a trim and then a hot oil treatment. Sometimes it is hair spa. Or I would get a manicure and pedicure.

But if I am feeling tired, overwhelmed, or getting down with a flu, I go to the spa and get a massage. I would go inside their sauna, get heated up, and then would get a cold shower. Then it is off to a nice energetic combination massage or a relaxing Swedish massage. If I am sick, the Swedish massage could let me take a nap.

Now I am curious about the far infrared saunas and what it can do for the body. Will it be better than our regular saunas where there are heated stones that you just spray water from time to time to create steam? Now, I wan to try this!

The Ministry of Giving

2010-10-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have heard of the mp3 preaching of Pastor Rick Warren about the Ministry of Giving. In their church, Saddleback Church, they encourage their people to give because it is God's command to give to the purpose of the church. And in the process, disciples are made because the giving is made in faith.

Yeah, I believe in giving that is exercising one's faith. Sometimes we are down to our last penny and then God would ask us to give it away. That is the faith part that even though we have so little somehow God will fill that need.

But I never ever thought that we could "earn" such as in the cash gifting programs. I am not sure if this is a legit way to earn or a moral thing to do but it is there and people are earning. I am not sure if I want to try it though. But for those who earned good money from this, then maybe good for you.

Fairly New Car

2010-10-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

We are glad that we got a fairly new car for a second hand purchase. It is a Hyundai Getz 1.1. I think that it was a pretty good buy. That was three years ago though so the car is now five years old.

Because of its wear and tear and age, we needed to have some parts replaced, especially the electronic parts. Thankfully, we have not yet needed a major part to replace, as it can get expensive. We don't have auto wrecking parts here where I live, not unlike Auto Wrecking Seattle where it is easy to find parts especially of Japanese brands.

I think that our car would be our family car for a very long time. It is serving us well. The only time for us to buy another car is if we will have a bigger family. For now, we are fine with our Getz.

You Know of One?

2010-10-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Do you know of any carpet cleaner here in Bacolod City like that of fort worth carpet cleaners? I would want to get a new carpet but my problem is getting it cleaned. No, I don't want to hang it on a clothesline and hit it until all the sand, dust, and debris have fallen out. No. That's too much. But I don't there are services like that around here.

Training a Puppy

2010-10-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

Have you head of Crate Training Puppy? Well, honestly I haven't. I don't have time or the resources to have a puppy. I don't have problems with any form of training as long as my dog will become obedient. I need a dog that can be with me, not be my master. So I think it is okay.

Getting a Carpet

2010-10-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

When I went to Gaisano City last time, they have their bargain on persian rugs and carpets. Oh how I love the designs! I really like their subdued colors and intricate designs.

As of the moment, I don't need a carpet as we long live in a one-bedroom place. But if I have my own house, I will sure to have a carpet in the living room. I love the feel of a carpeted floor on my feet.

I just don't like the cleaning part though. I have read that in the past, they would hang their carpets on a clothesline outside beat the dust out of their carpets. I think that is too much trouble. And since I am allergic to dust, that would really give me allergic rhinitis.

I have not heard about any carpet cleaners in our city but I would really appreciate a best home carpet cleaner when the time comes for us to have our own carpet.

My Beloved Casio

2010-10-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have three watches already. But my treasured one is the Casio dress watch that my wife gave to me during our wedding day. Although she admits that it is not an expensive watch like a Tag Heuer or a Rolex, but hey I am just glad that she gave me a gift as I did not even expect it. I appreciate it so much because it came from her heart and well, she has good taste. I like the shape and the design of the dial. hehe

Anyway, after more than 3 years my Casio is still good. I just had to change the battery once because the longest life span of a battery is usually 2 years. I like the fact that its a quartz watch because at least I don't have to wind it everyday.

My wife, however, dreams of getting me a Rolex watch someday because she likes the brand. Well, if we can afford it then why not. If not, I am already happy with my beloved Casio.

Buy Blog Reviews

2010-09-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

My friend referred me to Link from Blog. She says she is thankful to them because they have a lot of opportunities and it augments her online income. I think this is a good thing so I signed up too. They offer buy blog links and you can also advertise your site. Hope to do well here.

Costumed Baby

2010-09-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

We like role playing games for our baby. That is because she loves them, too! We know that she is learning so much from them.

We do have some costumes for her that we have bought on sale. These are really cheap costumes, like simply $2. Or sometimes, we would just buy costume headbands and the like and pretend that she is the animal there.

And my wife has also some some homemade costumes. She would just use whatever materials there are in the house and would let our baby wear them. And our baby already enjoyed them, as long as we play with her. Yup! That is the pre-requisite--that we play with her.

Now that Halloween is coming, everywhere we go in the malls, we see Simple HalloweenCostumes like hats and accessories, but there are also grand costumes of fairies, princesses, witches and warlocks, the devil, clowns, and the like. Oh my goodness! And they are really expensive. We were able to buy a pair of butterfly wings for Dindin, complete with a bug's antenna headband and a wand. It is perfect for her baby butterfly princess motif that we are planning to have for her birthday next year.

This may be advanced preparations, but then after the Halloween is over, we will not be able to have lots of choices for the butterfly wings because the stores keep their stocks again until the next Halloween. So it was just swell that we went to the mall last time. And the butterfly wings were really cheap. For that set of three, we got it for a little less than a dollar only. And it is in orange! Perfect for her dress. It is not usual that we can find orange wings, because most of the wings come in either pink (mostly), white, or rainbow. Orange is not a very common color but we found one!

But no, no Halloween costumes for us!

Playing with My Daughter

2010-09-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

We love to play as a family. My wife is a playful person because she is young at heart, or so she says. haha But really, as individuals we love to play any game. And with anything. So now that we have our own child, we really play with her. We spend time with her and play any game with her. It could be an educational game or just a game for fun. Our daughter really loves those times. And we do, too.

Whenever we have the chance to go out as a family, we would go to the mall and check out the newest toys and games on display. But we do not really buy the branded ones, we just look for those kids games on sale. Even if the game just costs 10 pesos, Dindin already loves them as long as we share in the wonder of discovering how this new thing works.

Today, we went out and got her a foam puzzle about numbers and objects. It is a really nice puzzle, not too complicated but it teaches new concepts. It costs around 50 pesos but when the cashier at Toy Kingdom swiped it on the scanner, we learned that it was discounted and only costs 20 pesos. Cool!

Tonight we played with it. Dindin doesn't yet to count how many objects in a picture but she got the idea that there are objects and the number refers to how many objects are in the picture. Hopefully next time, she will really learn to count the objects and give the correct answer.

Meeting New People

2010-09-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

I think that the concept of meeting new people has exciting possibilities. You can gain new friends, new contacts for business, new people to invite to church, new resources for information, and the like.

Some people do meet their specials halves, or their soul mates, when meeting people. I found my soul mate, and now my wife, in church. She was one of the new worshippers. I got to know her over time, we became friends, until finally, we were a couple. It took awhile for us to get married, but now, here we are--happily married. :-D

There are other people though who meet new people through dating services, like the motorcycle dating service. Sometimes this can get thrilling and suspenseful, because you do not know the person you are meeting and unlike blind dates, you don't have mutual friends. hihihi But I guess there are perks to it, such as the mystery and the conquering feeling.

I personally have not tried any of this dating service, nor do I plan to do so. Even back then when I did not have a girlfriend, I never really entertained these things. I don't know, I guess I am not that comfortable with the idea. If ever, I would rather meet the right person for me in church because I would want her to be able to go to church with me. It is very difficult if a couple does not share the same faith. So I just thankful that my wife and I and our baby go as a family to the same church. :-D

Love for the...

2010-09-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

I can't quite describe this.

You see, I have a couple of relatives who found love the second time around in their 60s and 70s. Who would think, huh? I mean all their lives they have spent with their spouses, 30 to 40 years. Then suddenly, the other half is gone. Just like that. And the partner that is left finds himself or herself alone.

Most of the time, the couple in their golden years live alone. The children are all settled in their own homes and the couple live by themselves and living off their pensions. But when the other half passes away, the other one is left alone. Sometimes the person will want to go to a retirement home where there are other senior citizens who can keep him or her company. Or he can stay with a child's family.

But sometimes, the lonely survivor would find love--the second or probably the third time around. In many instances, the new love is introduced by a mutual friend or a relative. Or sometimes, they would meet an acquaintance in a coffee shop. Or there are online matchmaking services, such as that of the senior match canada dating. Whatever the way, love can still find its way in an older person's heart. Shall I call this geriatric love? Naaa...whatever the age and the circumstance, love can just hit any person. Or it may not be love but companionship. Whatever it is, I cannot really describe it, so I will leave it at that...love for the...

hehe You decide.

Dating With My Wife

2010-09-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that I miss, that is going on a date with my wife. Of course, we love our time with our darling baby princess, but of course, there are times when we look forward to some quiet time as a couple. And it had been a couple of months now since we had been dating.

Two weeks ago and the other day, we went out with other couples and their kids, and we really had a good time. But next time, my wife and I are really going to have to schedule a time off. Maybe two whole hours would be good enough for us already. Or make it three. So that we can have dinner and catch a movie afterwards. That would already be a rewarding time for us. Ahhh...we need to make a schedule soon!

I remember those times when we were still single and dating. I did not meet my wife in a dating service, such as the toronto dating directory. But we had such great times then. Of course, we had been dating several years before we settled down, so we were really able to spend a lot of time as a couple.

I am looking forward for some "couple" time in the following weeks so that we can just unwind and relax.

Broken Glass

2010-08-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Glass replacement can be tricky. It needs precision and of course, the surrounding area should be sealed properly so that the car will not leak.

In our car, Aguila Auto Glass did a pretty fine job. And their service fee is affordable. We did not buy the glass from them, we just had it installed there.

They are like those companies in Glass Replacement Portland that are good in handling this job. Now I know a good glass replacement company here in our city. But I still do wish that I would never have to go there again for broken glass problems.

Living a Clean Life

2010-07-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Living a clean life. That would be nice. It could mean clean living that is free from vices like smoking, drinking, and other harmful habits. Or it could also mean a clean life eating only "clean" foods like what the bible had said.

For different people, clean living could mean different things. But for those who have addition, a clean life means living a life that is free from substance abuse.

I am thankful when I see people have really been delivered from drug abuse. But there are many people who don't. They continue to use then withdraw then use again to the detriment of their physical and most especially their mental health. Or worse, they die of overdose. I have known some people who died in their young age because their bodies could no longer handle the drugs. It is really very sad.

People can be addicted to anything--marijuana, opiate, shabu (crystal meth), or even just cigarettes. There are many methods to correct the habits. There are therapies and drugs that can be bought for this purpose. In opiate addiction, one such pharmaceutical drug is Suboxone. But what I did not know is that there is such a thing as suboxone withdrawal treatment. Oh well, I guess when you are used to something, there is really a withdrawal when you are no longer on it. Heck, I also get withdrawal symptoms for carb and sugar! haha

New Gadgets

2010-07-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am not into gadgets. But my husband is. For me, my only gadget probably is my laptop, which is not very advanced. As long as it is usable and it is still responding to my layouts, I am already happy. Hopefully, this will take me another four to five years to replace so that by that time, I will already pass it on to my daughter and then I can buy a new one. That would really make it my money's worthy.

But my husband is really into Gadgets. He is a licensed electronics and communications engineer, for crying out loud, so it is no wonder that he is interested in them. (And probably, I think it is a guy thing.) Anyway, but since we cannot really afford to splurge on gadgets, he just contents himself browsing through websites and reading the latest updates on the newest gadgets. He also looks up what other people have through Facebook. When we go to the mall, he would pass by a computer shop or a gadgets store and just look around, just to window shop and fulfill a certain desire. He is already happy (or so I think) even just to look at them.

Well, for now, we cannot afford these, but hopefully someday, my husband can also splurge from time to time on his favorite gadget. For now, he has a nice laptop and seems pretty happy about it.

My Baby is Growing Fast

2010-07-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

I have often heard my wife say that we no longer have a baby--we already have a toddler. Yes indeed, our baby is growing up soooo fast. At 15 months, she can already run. She is very independent and goes around the house on her own. She would go to her grandparents' room, though it is located at the end of a very long hallway, passing through three bedrooms. And the hallway is dimly lit. She is very brave.

She would pretend play and do it on her own. She would choose her clothes if we let her. She sings, dances, acts, etc.

Aw...I could only imagine. Just several months ago, she seemed like a tiny, fragile little thing that we could barely manage her. As new parents we were awkward and clumsy but my wife just seemed to cope. All of a sudden, she became a mom in her mid-30s.

We are very happy that Dindin came into our lives. It had been challenging, but she has brought so much joy, especially when I go inside the bedroom and then she would smile and squeal, "Papa!"

Bridal Registry

2010-07-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hehehe Another joke from my uncle.

Lolo Carding and Lola Caring met each other in their old age, fell in love, and decided to get married.

Their age? Lolo Carding was 81 and Lola Caring was 79.

One day, while walking in a mall, they passed by a big drugstore.

Lolo Carding told his fiancé, “Let’s go in.”

They met the woman behind the counter. Lolo Carding asked, “Do you sell heart medication?”

The woman said, “Yes, Lolo.”

“Medicine for arthritis?” Lolo Carding asked.

The woman nodded her head, “Plenty, Lolo.”

“How about medicine for memory problems, back pains, osteoporosis, constipation, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes?”

The woman smiled, “Yes, we have all those medicines, Lolo.”

“Do you also sell wheelchairs and walkers?”

“We have many brands, Lolo.”

Lolo Carding and Lola Caring smiled at each other, turned to the woman behind the counter and said, “We will be getting married in one month. Can we use this drugstore as our bridal registry.”

Insect Bites

2010-06-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

Dindin is suffering from a lot of insect bites. My wife is really irritated and frustrated that we cannot completely protect our daughter.

I mean we use mosquito repellent against mosquitoes, but what about bed bugs, fleas, ticks, and even dust mites? We try to keep our room clean but we live in a rather old three-storey commercial building and there are just too many rooms around and so many stuff that have accumulated throughout the years. My wife is so paranoid that she could not stop cleaning, but she could not really clean everything. After all she is working and has our baby to take care of of.

Sometimes I wonder, aren't there any bed bug traps, flea traps, tick traps, and dust mite traps that we can use so that they all get attracted and die? I mean if there is an easy way out, not just those sprays because they are also harmful to us?

Anyway, if there is something like that, something that would attract these pesky insects and kill them all, I would really get one--or get them all just so our baby will stay protected and safe. Her legs already look awful with all those scars because no matter how much we put anti-itch lotion, they remain itchy and she would scratch them. And since she is only one-year-old, there is really no stopping her. Poor baby!

So I do hope I can find a good insect trap very very soon!

Dindin is Sick again!

2010-06-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

Dindin just woke up around 4 am today. She lifted her said and coughed and sneezed at the same time. Then her nose started dripping already with clear white mucus.

Sigh. It has only been what? 10 days? Since her last bout with cough and colds? And now, we have to give her medicines all over again.

And since this is her 6th time to get sick since she turned a year old last March, she is due for a tuberculin test or a PPD test. My wife does not think that she has PPD but to be on the safe side and to rule it out, we are going to have one.

Thank God that we have a doctor friend who will not charge professional fee. We only have to pay for the thing that will be insert on her skin.

We can only trust God that there will be no side effects of the medication on her. We try to keep her healthy, fortifying what what she eats and drinks. But still she gets sick. So we believe everything is all up to God--for His purposes.

A Europe Vacation

2010-06-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

I have always liked Europe--the whole continent of it. There are so many countries there, many of which have histories dating back in the Old World. That is why Europe is so rich in culture and the arts, and somehow, the different countries are beckoning to me.

Foremost of the places that I want to visit is of course, London, the seat of power of the world's most powerful monarch. Oh how I would love to go around this old city! I wonder how much a night in a Hotel in London would cost on the average? That should be a budget hotel, nothing fancy. I am not into extravagant accommodations, anyway, I just like traveling.

I remember traveling on a shoestring budget to Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen in China. We brought some food with us, just snack items and even purified bottled water, just so we would save some meals there. We brought just a few pieces of clothes so that we will not pay excess baggage at the airport. Although there were some city tours that were part of the tour package that we go, we went around the different areas on foot. And most of all, we stayed in a decent but really cheap hotel that does not have a lot of amenities. That is fine with me, as long as it was air conditioned and had a hot shower.

So anyway, going back to Europe. We live in a quaint and rather laid back city here in Southern Philippines and Europe is quite far. And I believe that there are not too many people from where I am who have been to Europe, except perhaps the young couple that I know who had their honeymoon vacation there. Lovely.

Someday, it is my ardent dream that my family and I can travel to Europe, and hopefully by that time, not on a shoestring anymore.

To do or not to do?

2010-06-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

I have had this blog for some time now. I believe it has been two years now since I have started posting pieces of encouragement, bible verses, photos, or just simply morsels of my life in this blog.

I am a dreamer and as such, I put her the good things that can inspire and bring hope. This blog is hosted by Blogger and although I am very happy with them, I also sometimes wonder about getting my own web hosting and buying my own domain name for this blog. It will entail some maintenance cost, but then it will be my own.

My problem however is that I am not an administrative type of person and I wonder if I can get through with due dates and stuff. There is really no problem about payments, however, I just don't know if I can keep track of them.

Anyway, if I will, maybe I will check out webhostingfan.com. I read that they publish the latest trends in web hosting markets as well as provide reviews about web hosting providers. That is really good because considering that I am a newbie, I would need a lot of input regarding other users' opinion. I would not want to spend my precious bucks on a web hosting that will bring my blog down.

Hmmm...but anyway, all these things will happen in the future. For now, I will just continue to publish snippets of my life here.

Church Day

2010-06-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

It's Father's Day today and church day for us. We woke up really late because Dindin got us awake most of the early morning hours. She was bitten by some insect that is causing the bite mark to swell, harden, and eventually burst with water. Ack!

It is really itchy probably because she would toss and turn and cry while scratching her legs. I feel really bad for her. We have done everything to make the itchiness go away. We put hot compress, apply anti-itch cream but to no avail.

Well at least last night, Dindin made me feel like a father taking care of sick child. hehe Greetings to all fathers!

Tonight, we shall have a special dinner in a nearby restaurant.

Father's Day

2010-06-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

It will be Father's Day in a couple of days. This is already my second year as a true blue father to my 1-year-old daughter Dindin. She is already a toddler and quite a handful.

She started walking way before she turned 1 so by this time, her mama and I are already running after her wherever we go. This is a very trying stage and also a very dangerous one. Thank God for His grace and protection wherever we go. Indeed, Dindin's real name, Shawna, means that "the Lord is Gracious." It is a reminder to us whenever we see her that God is indeed gracious and His grace is enough.

I thank God for the opportunity to become a father to our child. If He gives us another one in the future, we thank Him, too. We are praying, if not begging for a son this time. We are thankful for Dindin and would like to have a boy. My wife trusts that the Lord will give us a boy because it occurred to her in one of her prayer times when we were not yet married--that indeed she will have a son. When it will come to pass is in God's hands. For now, we enjoy our little Dindin, who I am sure, in the next couple of months, will no longer be little.

Save Big on Your Next Vacation

2010-06-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

Are you going on a trip? Is it last minute? Are you staying in a hotel? Are you flying? If you answered yes to any of those questions then you'll want Expedia to help you with your entire trip. You do not just need Expedia you need Expedia coupons if you want to save a lot of money. Expedia is a great website that is dedicated to helping you with all your travel needs. With some coupons to help you save on your vacation, you will be able to have extra spending money at your choice destination. To find some of these awesome Expedia coupons, use Google to your advantage. Many coupons have expiration dates so keep that in mind while searching.

Some amazing Expedia coupon deals you might be able to find are 25 percent to 40 percent off hotels, package deals, 75 percent off cruises, or 50 percent off car rentals. Remember all the coupon deals are subject to change as seasons change and popularity of destinations change. Expedia is great to find last-minute travel deals of flights and hotels. You will be able to find deals for cruises, hotels, flights, car rentals, and even adventures at your destination. The key is to find a deal that suits your needs in order to get the best savings.

With all the savings you could spend an extra day on your vacation or buy the whole family some souvenirs. When you get these great savings from Expedia all your friends are going to be jealous. You don't have to keep the way you save a secret. Tell all your friends and neighbors just how you saved with Expedia, and you just might get a souvenir from one on the vacations that they go on.

New Toys for Dindin

2010-06-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

Dindin has some new toys. We bought a couple for P150 only. One is a kitchen set and one is a basketball ring.

But since we attended a birthday party with lots of giveaways, we got some new toys, too.

For Dindin, it need not be expensive. She just wants something new everyday. We don't really buy her stuff, we just rotate what she has. But if she has something, even if it is just an alcohol container, it really gets her excited and engrossed studying the new thing.

Well these are her new toys for the month. We will be buying new toys again, but it is going to be next month again.

Credit Cards

2010-06-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Many people have fallen to the traps of endless credit problems because of the credit card. It seems that the plastic money promises endless spending (or at least within one's credit limit) that people are tempted to use it. If you don't have money, swipe it. And it seems to be the mantra or motto or reckless spenders.

And if they rehabilitate, they will totally shut out the use of credit cards.

But like any other thing, credit cards are neutral--they can be good or bad depending on your motives on how to use it. Our family has not been slaves to the credit card. Rather we are using the credit card for better value to our money.

Instead of paying for our purchases now, we pay for them later. And we don't buy stuff if we don't have money in the bank to pay for them. Additionally, we like the use of credit cards because the best credit cards in the market today are those that have a lot of freebies. And that is what we enjoy.

The freebies to credit cards give extra value to our money. Where else can you get free movie passes, family size pizzas and frappucinos from a reputed coffee shop if not for credit card points?! We have gotten so many free stuff, thanks to our use of the credit card. Now, that is real value for money.

For Better Health

2010-06-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

Before we were married my wife regularly had an acupuncture session with an alternative doctor. She said he was pretty good. Despite the sensitive areas where the needles were needed to be placed, she did not feel pain.

The target of her healing sessions were her migraines, irregular menstruation and her kidneys, as she did not know that she had kidney problems then.

But eventually, she has stopped the visits. Not because she wanted to but because her acupuncturist was gone. She was told by the building administrator where the doctor had once been that he did not pay his rent for a long time that is why he was ejected. Too bad. A real good acupuncturist ejected for not paying his rest. So my wife stopped as she has not found another good acupuncturist int he vicinity. She is really into anything alternative, as she has already taken a lot of pharmaceutical drugs for her migraine and allergic rhinitis. So if she can just find alternative medication or therapies, she would really much buy or undergo them.

I read about Riverside Acupuncture and thought they were good. Unfortunately, they are not located anywhere near us. My wife would greatly benefit from their service.

Our Marriage Bed

2010-06-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

We bought our marriage bed about a year into our marriage. At first we could not afford to buy a big bed so we just used the two single beds that were already in the house. Thankfully, my wife was just okay with the idea. She did not complain.

When we were able to afford it, we bought a queen size bed with springs. It had good quality foam. But with my weight and the baby's, the mattress is already giving way. I am not sure, but it seems we will have to buy a new mattress, if not an entire bed in the near future. We really hope not because we are saving money.

Anyway, one thing that my wife and I have been checking out lately is the queen air bed . It would not really be for us to sleep on, but I think it would be nice for us to play in with our daughter. The surface would be bouncy and soft and of course safe. I hope it is affordable, so that we can add it to our play place. If not, then it will probably remain a dream.

It is really wise to choose a good quality bed that fits the body's contour. At first we had firm foam for our mattress. But my wife experienced back pains and headaches and neck strain everyday. So it is best to invest in a good quality bed for a good night's rest.

Exercise for People Over 50

2010-06-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

My uncle in Saudi Arabia would always send me some stuff in the email. Most are useful information about health and living. Sometimes he would send me jokes and I really appreciate them.

Then he sent me an e-mail entitled "Exercise for People Over 50". I did not open it immediately as I was busy and I thought this email was really for my parents. Eventually, I did read it before forgetting about it. Here it is. Hope it will not affect you as it did me. hehe

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

Internet Research

2010-06-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

I had done a newsletter layout recently and I was asked to save it in PDF format. What? I asked. I am not familiar with PDF files as I don't use them.

But I was given instructions on how to do it and I found out I could do it in several clicks. The function is under the File command, so it was pretty easy and that was what the printing press required. Cool.

Anyway, and I more surprised to know more recently that I can surf the net for pdf files of graphics and text. Really? I was told that graphics in PDF format have higher resolution. Cool, I thought. And so I tried the pdf search and download and voila! Indeed, I was able to get great files of images that I could use. Of course, these were free to use images that I downloaded and I really appreciated them for our daughter's photo album.

My discovery of this downloadable PDF files has done me great good. My graphics for personal use look very nice now. Even if it is just my daughter's album, of course, I will really appreciate nice looking graphics. I don't like pixelized images for my layouts. I absolutely abhor them. They deteriorate beautiful designs.

It's All RELATIVE!

2010-06-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

This is a joke that I got from my uncle who works in Saudi Arabi. He sent this to me through e-mail. I know this is not original but it gave me a good laugh and I am sure it will do the same thing to you.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD.

WELL . . . YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE.

My name is Alice, and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist.

I noticed his DDS diploma on the wall, which bore his full name. Suddenly I remembered TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME had been in my high school some 30-odd years ago.

COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding gray haired man with the deeply line face was way too old to have been my classmate.

After he examined y teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School. 'YES. YES, I DID. I'M A MUSTANG,' he gleamed with pride.

'When did you graduate?' I asked. He answered, 'In 1975. Why do you ask?'

'You were in my class!', I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely.

THEN, THAT UGLY,

OLD,

BALD,

WRINKLED FACED,

FAT-ASSED,

GRAY-HAIRED,

DECREPIT

S-O-B

ASKED,

"WHAT DID YOU TEACH?"

School Opening Sale

2010-06-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

Ha!

Just the other day I wrote about our sticker label business getting lots of orders. That is because it is back to school time here in the Philippines.

Then when we went downtown, we realized that the stores are also holding their school opening sale. At SM City Bacolod, they have the zero installment plan for 3 months for those who will purchase school supplies at SM. But this should be at least P5,000 in a single receipt in order to avail of the installment plan.

This is nice, considering if you are really shopping at SM. But of course we all know that you can also buy cheaper stuff elsewhere. You just have to pay in cash though.

Back to School

2010-06-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

My wife Posh, did a template for sticker name labels which she had laminated and displayed in the store. Cool, I thought. Then the orders started pouring in from students.

It was then that I realized that it was back to school time! Yeah, it is the first week of June now and mothers are preparing for their children's school needs. It will be a long time for us for Dindin to get to school, as in the early stages we will home school her. For now, a large part of her learning comes from the Signing Time video series. She has learned so much from it.

Anyway, Dindin also has her sticker name labels but these are for her toys and books and not really for her school supplies. That shall come. But not now.

What a Happy Couple!

2010-06-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well again, here is another funny story. My wife showed this to me and I asked her, "Is that true?" And then she just smiled. hahaha

HOW TO HANDLE A HUSBAND

A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on the beaches in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. People would say, 'What a peaceful & loving couple.'

The local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.

The Husband replied: 'Well, it dates back to our honeymoon in America,' explained the man. 'We visited the Grand Canyon, in Arizona, and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon, by horse. We hadn't gone too far when my wife's horse stumbled and she almost fell off.

My wife looked down at the horse and quietly said, 'That's once.'

We proceeded a little further and her horse stumbled again. Again my wife quietly said, 'That's twice.'

We hadn't gone a half-mile when the horse stumbled for the third time. My wife quietly removed a revolver from her purse and shot the horse dead.

I SHOUTED at her, 'What's wrong with you, Woman! Why did you shoot the poor animal like that, are you***** crazy!?'

She looked at ME, and quietly said, 'That's once.'

And from that moment..... we have lived happily ever after.'

Kinda brings a tear to your eye , doesn't it ?

Pilipinas Got Talent

2010-05-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

We never got to liking Pilipinas Got Talent. I mean, it is okay probably if there was no Talentadong Pinoy around. But then TP of Shake TV5 has been around longer, much much longer and we have enjoyed their performances so far. So we like them better.

Anyway, I have seen a semi finals episode of Pilipinas Got Talent and I saw some really good talents getting discovered. Among my top picks would be the Velasco Brothers, Jovit Baldivino, Markki Stroem, and Ezra Band.

Well, I do hope these candidates will make it to the top slot of PGT Grand Finals. They are really good.

Mommy is Giving Away Money!

2010-05-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

Hahahaha Yeah, our good blogger friend, Mommy Rubz, is giving away lots of prizes--including Paypal cash, hostings, and ad spaces. It is very nice of her to hold such contests. We have fun and we have chances of earning some cash. Oh I do wish I have her patience to do such.

Anyway, MommyRubz.com is now her main blog. It is an honest to goodness weblog about her life, family, friends, and blogging career. Her journey is chronicled there, including the pains and struggles that she had to go through or is still going through in life right now. Nevertheless, she does not let her circumstances get the best of her. She continues to fight not only for herself but for her three lovely kids.

So if you want to join her very nice blog giveaway, do visit her blog. Mommy’s Merry Month of May Blog Giveaway!

Character Toys

2010-05-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Character toys can be very expensive. But they are soooo nice!

That is why my wife and I are always on the lookout for branded character toys that are on sale. We have already bought so many toys that are half the price, such as the Sesame Street Elmo Jack in the Box, the Fisher Price Dora Garden Adventure, the Diego Water Rescue Adventure, and a Fisher Price Push and Pull Wagon Stroller. And we got them all for half the price!

We like to play with our child and we like buying toys for her from time to time. For us, more than clothes, the toys are learning experiences for her. She is growing up to be a smart kid and we need constant stimulation for her.

Aside from videos, we have books and toys to keep her continually learning. We also use everyday items to teach her.

The Vote is Cast

2010-05-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

I think the vote is already cast. There is no doubt who our next president is. Though I am saddened by the results, I can only respect the will of the people. I am just wondering though how easily every other candidate has conceded to the results. Maybe because it was landslide victory. Or maybe there is an underlying motive?

Anyway, I had closely monitored the most popular political blogs in our country. I am fan of a Christian political blogger whose views I really admire and whose principles are sound and truthful. Prior to the election, he profile presentations of the different presidential candidates. He made really good points.

However, a couple of days before the election, he finally announced his choice. And I was sorely disappointed at his choice. I know, everyone is entitled to vote for his candidate and to make his choice--but his choice does not follow the principles that he stand on. Although he backed his choice with facts, a lot of people really lambasted his announcement. His blog was visited by many and just too many people left undesirable comments.

But I guess, that is the life of a political blogger. You just cannot please everyone because you have to take sides.

Protein Shakes for my Sister

2010-05-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, my wife's weight loss story continues. Her weight continues to go up and down, especially that her hormonal season (her pre-menstrual syndrome) has gone longer for this cycle due to stress and the medication she has been taking for pain and allergy. She is trying so much to lose weight but she could not seem to stop eating. If it is possible, I think she would want to put a zipper on her mouth figuratively just so she would not stuff food in her mouth.

The PMS is really a bad thing for her. And it is usually prolonged that whatever pounds she lost in let's say 2 weeks, they are quickly replaced in the 2-4 weeks of PMS. Yeah, she has an irregular and she constantly complains about it. During her PMS, she eats and eats doesn't seem to get full and she likes junk food. With that also comes water retention so she feels bad and bloated. Sigh...I really want to help her but what could I really do?

Anyway, as for my sister, she has lost some weight already but it is due to the fact that she has been taking diet food. Like lite crackers, milk, and drinks green tea. Additionally, she has replaced one meal with protein shake. Protein Shakes are pretty expensive though, that is why my wife has not really gone to trying those. They really make a big dent in our budget.

So for now, my wife keeps trying to be active and tries controlling her intake. So far she is doing well and we are hoping that she could keep it up.

Do We Have a New President

2010-05-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

It has been several days since the first automated elections was held here in the Philippines. It seems that the tide is favoring the son of a former president. While I am saddened at the results, I guess I cannot help but to submit to the new government when it happens.

I cannot really do anything much. I have already exercised my right of suffrage. I have prayed. I have campaigned for my candidate. I have encouraged many people to sway their vote. But in the end, the voice of the majority spoke.

I can only pray and trust the Lord for the future of this country. To God be the glory. He remains King, no matter who the president of the Philippines is.

Moving to Another Country

2010-04-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Somehow, I have a deep feeling inside of me that we are not where we are supposed to live in the next several years from now. I am not sure either as to when and where we are supposed to move, but I have this deep desire inside of me to bring the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ some place else.

It could be in our beloved country, the Philippines, or it could be in another far away country. We don't know yet. As far as I know, it is part of our future.

But my wife seems to be having trouble about having to emigrate. She likes to travel and sometimes she gets a craving to ride an airplane or live in a hotel, but she likes it on a temporary basis. The thought of having to leave home scares her, or at least gives her stomach some flips.

I cannot blame her. Living in our country is hard enough. But having to pack and move and adjust into a new place, new home, new surrounding, and worse, new culture with a new language, are an entirely new experience. It could be hard but also exciting.

Oh well, I guess we will just cross the bridge when we get there. For now, there is still so much praying to do.

Our Baby is Talking in a Sentence?

2010-04-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

At 13 months, it seems rather strange and extraordinary how our daughter can form sentences already. Or at least 1 that we can already understand.

It is just so amazing at her and listening to her talk. So anyway, my wife is trying to keep tabs of her development by blogging them at LovinglyMama.info. She tries to keep it updated so that she won't forget the things that our baby does. But I am not sure if she can really keep up with Dindin's pace as well as the demands of taking care of a baby full time.

How we thank God for Dindin's development. For us, we believe that we are just her caretakers. We allow her to grow in the pace that God has designed her to. NO pressure. But no hindrances either.

Dedicated Web Hostings

2010-04-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

Well, you know this because it is obvious, my blog is free hosted with Blogger. I honestly do not have a problem with them. Blogger is a reliable blogging platform and they are stable. Of course, they are backed by Google so they are stable. It is easy to use and navigate--it is for people like me who are not web techies.

But sometimes, I also think of getting my own domain name, like dreamerscape.com or something, if it is still available. I just like the word dream--I have long associated myself with dreams. No, I don't read or interpret dreams. I don't dream dreams. But what I mean of dreams is my dreams for a future that I would like to achieve.

Anyway, going back to the domain. Along with that, of course, I would need web hosting. I am still considering my options. I may just sub-lease a domain under a friend's account and whose business is really managing web hostings, or I can get my own dedicated server. But well, I will have to have knowledge on web management for that matter. And I don't think I have the patience for that.

For now, my dreamerscape.com may just remain a dream. I am not sure when I will make the move to make it into reality. Oh well, if not, I still have Blogger. hehe

The School Issue

2010-04-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

My wife really likes anything European. We are not really sure why but there is something about the countries in Europe that seem to beckon to her.

Last time, she was just looking at a list of countries in Europe and she told me that suddenly, her stomach churned and her heart longed to go to them. It is just anything, but it seems Europe is beckoning to her. She likes the culture, the charm of the Old World reflected in contrast with the modernity of the new society. If given the chance, I just think that she would want to send our Dindin to a Residential Summer School London. haha We intend to send Dindin every Summer to the School for Creative Beginners when she reaches Age 4. But probably, just probably, she would prefer to go to Europe and be there herself.

For now, we are exposing Dindin to a variety of sensory experiences at home and outside. We let her explore the world, exposing her to things big and small. She is having so much fun being a toddler that we are giving her enough space to grow while protecting her from things that can cause her harm. She is growing up beautifully. We are thanking God for the blessing that she is.

Getting in the way

2010-04-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

My cough is getting in the way already. It is dry and hard! It is really painful on my chest when I cough. Plus, I try to control my coughing because sometimes our baby is asleep when I am in the room and I don't want to wake her up.

And the saddest part is how I got this cough. One afternoon, my wife Posh and I were having snacks inside our bedroom. We could not go out and take our snacks outside because our baby was asleep on the bed. I was eating Skyflakes when all of a sudden I choked on a very small piece. I tried to cough it out on reflex but then I remembered that Dindin was asleep so I tried to muffle the sound of my cough by controlling it.

The sad thing was, the muffling constricted the movement of my muscles and so the particle was left somewhere in my throat area for quite some time. It irritated the surrounding areas and even if it was dislodged somehow, my throat got swollen. And so I caught an infection and now I am suffering from dry cough.

The Bed Bug Problem

2010-04-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Our Dindin's skin is quite sensitive. One mosquito bite and the mark would last for months. We do put skin creams and lotions but the marks are still there. And the worst thing is that she seems to be prone to be bitten by insects. The three of us, my wife, daughter and I, share the same bed, and Dindin stays in the middle, but it seems that Dindin sends attraction signals to the mosquitoes so that she gets bitten instead of us. And in one night, she could get multiple bites.

But sometimes, I don't there are mosquitoes because there are no small things flying around or hovering near our ears, so insect bites for us, but Dindin still get bite marks the next day. So who are responsible for these bites? Ants? They could be responsible. Bed bugs? That we do not know. Because we could not see them.

I am sure that there are many good bed bugs infestation treatment in the market today, but I am not sure which ones to try or choose. And we don't know how to use them. We have a foam mattress with springs inside with a height of 6 inches. Then our bed has a wooden frame. We change sheets every week. So we wonder where could the bed bugs stay? ARgggh...but the bites persist.

DVBS for Dindin

2010-04-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last time, we sent Dindin to trial play school at Creative Beginners. We learned that she is ready to go to school. But she is only 13 months old. So we think that for now, we will not yet spend money on sending her to school but instead we will just provide an interactive learning environment for her.

Instead, my wife Posh and I have decided to send Dindin to our church's Vacation Bible School, or DVBS. We started today. And Dindin loved it!

She was kinda sleepy when we were on our way to Trinity Christian School. But when we got there and she saw all the kinds in the auditorium, she just woke up and wanted to get on her feet immediately. She hopped from one class to the other, seemingly inspecting and in some joining the groups. She was such a joy to look at.

Tomorrow, we will go back again. But we can't finish the 5-day DVBS because we will be attending a friend's birthday party.

House Lights

2010-04-16T23:38:00.000-07:00

For me, house lights are very important. I cannot work properly if the room is not well lighted. It is because of my eyes. It seems that my vision becomes out of focus if there is not ample lighting in a room. Even if I go to entertainment areas or party halls and the areas are not well lighted, my eyes get sore and get tired easily. That is why for me, proper lighting is very important.

However, lights do not cost a dime a dozen. Good quality house lights can be pretty expensive. That is why a sale for house lights is definitely a good idea. If we can't save on electricity as we turn on the lights, at least we can save some bucks in buying them.

We should really take advantage of lighting sales, especially the winter lighting sale. We can just stock up on the most common bulbs that we use so that we have spare in the house in case one conks out. We don't have to wait to go to the store. After all, these products do not expire like food. Sometimes, lights are not just for comfort. Most of them are for safety, so let us make sure that we have ample lighting at home.

Follow Me Philippines Giveaway!

2010-04-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

Our good blogger and real time friend, Mommy Ruby of Pinay Mommy Online is holding a blog contest. This woman is really amazing at how she is very diligent in doing all these blogs and making blogging a career.

Anyway, to help boost her blog and also to give us a chance to win some money online, I am blogging about this contest to let you all know. By the way, this contest is open only to bloggers who are residents of the Philippines. But she says that eventually she will also be holding a contest for international bloggers. For now, this is only for us. hehehe

Aside from cash prizes, she will be awarding a book entitled Blogging from Home by Jannette Toral--Philippines' blogging guru.

So if you want to win valuable prizes, do join this contest called Follow Me Philippines Giveaway.

I also would just like to mention that our baby is really developing so fast. My wife has recorded her milestones at Dindin's Blog.

Logos and Graphics

2010-04-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

My wife Posh and I are very excited with our new business. It is our first week of operations after the one-week training period last week. But orders are already pouring, thanks to my wife's marketing efforts. We are very thankful for all the blessings that are coming our way.

We are both creative people and the printing business is really our business. We like designing and creating stuff, both for corporate and party uses. One of the things that we like creating are Eco Green logo designs.

Anyway, we still have a lot to learn in this business, especially the operations side. I am thinking that my wife is a better manager and I, but she is taking care of our baby as well. We don't have a baby sitter so she can only work part time in our business. But she is very supportive. And she is doing most of the layouts while working on tons of other things. Our baby has also been very supportive of our endeavors. It seems she is also trying to adjust so that we don't have to spend so much time and effort on her. She is becoming more and more low maintenance--at 13 months old at that!

May the good Lord bless our business--the works of our hands. For His glory!

Accidents Can Happen Anytime

2010-04-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

We feel bad every time our baby experiences a fall. No matter how hard we try, we cannot perfectly keep her away from every bad thing that can happen.

Only today, she fell face down on the floor, hit the back of her head in her crib, and also rubbed her forehead on the crib thereby causing red bruises. Our baby is rather active so she is really prone to these accidents.

We always keep praying for her because we cannot control her actions anymore. She is 13 months and head strong and also has plans of her own. No matter how we try to protect her, we have failed many times. We can only trust the Lord to keep her safe.

Munk Mayhem!!!

2010-04-13T00:36:00.000-07:00

My entire family has always liked Alvin and the Chipmunks. When I was a child, I had a cassette tape of Christmas carols sang by the cute trio and I have memorized all the songs, even the speaking parts.

And now I have married into a family who has not only liked these furry little characters, but they even have one brother named, Alvin! It was just about a month ago when I re-watched a Christmas DVD.

Anyway, I just learned that "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. And the best news is, it can be downloaded!!! The Double DVD Pack pictured below comes with a bonus disc, mayhem, and music with sing-alongs! Ain't that cool??? Two editions in one! Hoorray!
I will definitely ask my husband about this so that we can have access to these Chipmunks movies anytime we want to have a fun family movie time at home. And we are not the only ones who love their films but also my in-laws. So we can just share this.

So if you too would like to add this double Chipmunk treat to your DVD collection, I suggest that you buy it now. And for More Munk Mayhem, just visit http://www.foxfamilyflicks.com.

Our Baby is Growing Fast

2010-04-08T00:37:00.000-07:00

Yep! Our Baby Dindin is growing really fast. Sometimes my wife and I think that we cannot keep up with her. As in.

It is not that she is growing big. Her weight has been maintained for several months now. She has grown a bit taller though.

But what I mean is that, her development is pretty rapid. We teach her new things and she catches up pretty quickly. Her comprehension is pretty deep. Her motor skills, too. She can walk unaided and she walks and walks and walks. My wife is always hungry trying to keep up with her. lol

Anyway, we are just trying to enjoy every moment with her because we know that we can't bring it back.

My Wife's Weight Loss Saga

2010-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

My wife, Posh, has always had a long standing problem with weight. Actually, she is not really fat. She is a little overweight after giving birth to our first baby. But she wants to go back to her pre-pregnancy weight because she is quite short on height, and she thinks that she does not look nice anymore in her clothes. I don't really have a problem with her gaining weight and all, but I really want to support her because it will make her happy.

Anyway, she has tried protein shakes and they worked pretty good on her. Protein seems to be good on her because she has noticed that it is the carbs that make her gain weight. When she loads on protein, she tends to be leaner and lighter. But they can cost pretty hefty and she could not really maintain it.

Additionally, she wants to lose weight because she wants to be pregnant again soon and she does not want to start as a heavy weight. She said it will be more difficult to manage her weight once she is already pregnant. But right now, she eats quite a lot because she gets hungry often trying to keep up with our toddler.

Nevertheless, I continue to support her in whatever way I can so that she is happy. She tries to control her diet, but sometimes, being lovers of food, we can really eat a lot.

Investments for the Future

2010-04-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

We don't really earn a lot but my wife makes sure that we don't spend everything. She tries to save up money here and there. Additionally, she just doesn't put our money on savings accounts in the bank.

Bank account interests are really very meager nowadays. Imagine only getting .75% per annum as interest rate? It is really not wise to put money for the future in bank accounts. So my wife, she puts some in investment portfolios. Some of them come with life insurance, some don't. We also have a time deposit. She scatters our money in different companies, following the advice not to put all your eggs in one basket.

It is really nice to listen to financial advice from experts. They have been there and done that so we can really learn a lot from them. One of the things that I want to study would be option trading strategies. Information like that could be derived from sites such as the Wicked Profits, because they are an investment advisory service. I learned that from this, we could get consistent returns. Sounds interesting huh?

I will let you know in the coming days about what I can gather about this. Maybe we can earn more from here.

Keeping Tabs on Spending

2010-04-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

She works hard for the money. So goes a popular song in the 80s about a hard working woman.

I feel the same way. I work hard for my money. Money for me doesn't just grow on trees. So I keep tabs on where I spend my money. A lot of them goes to giving (church as tithes and in support to ministries, and also people who are in need).

I am no longer working in an office so my earning is rather unstable. But thankfully, God has provided our needs ever since I started working freelance. Whenever I need something or to pay something, I would pray and somehow, somewhere, I get what I need. Of course, through legal means only.

Anyway, I do remember that when I was working in our office, my paycheck would be different every payday. It is because there are different deductions every 15 days. On the first half of the month, Social Security and taxes are deducted. For the second half, the Pag-Ibig Fund and other payables are deducted. Our finance officer had to manually compute everything. We did not have Free Online Payroll Calculator yet at that time. That is why at the end of the year, we get tax refunds because most of the time, the computations are not exact.

But now, that is a thing of the past. I am no longer working in the office so payroll is no longer my concern. However, I still keep tabs on whatever comes in and how I spend it. I don't squander what I earn.

Back to Work

2010-04-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today, we came back from our short holiday at my in-law's house. My wife Posh, my daughter Dindin and I were refreshed emotionally, but physically, it was exhausting packing bags and unpacking them when we left and packing and unpacking them when we went back.

My wife is wondering how do other people manage to travel at a moment's notice, even with kids in tow. Sometimes they even have babies. We have a toddler. We have to pack her bags first because she has so many needs--milk, diapers, vitamins, medicines, bottles, clothes, cloth diapers, toys, books, etc. She is very active so she needs a lot of activities. That is why we try to keep her busy. We have to bring our laptop so that she can watch her video.

So you can just imagine how much we brought along with us. But I am just thankful that she enjoyed her time so much with her grandparents. They got to spend some alone time just driving while my wife and I were also able to spend a few hours just watching a video. It was truly a blessed time for all of us, including our elders.

Holy Week

2010-03-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

Holy Week is coming.

My family and I are intending to go to my in-laws' house for a short vacation. My wife Posh has already prepared a lot of stuff and activities for my daughter. They will be staying there for five days. I on the other hand will just follow. So in all, my stay there would be four days. But that is fine.

But aside from vacation, let us remember why there is a Holy Week. That is because we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior. Because of this event, our faith is grounded. Otherwise our belief in His Diety is non-existent. We believe because Jesus is alive!

Let us all remember that.

Getting Busy

2010-03-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

I am getting busy preparing because we have a new machine and we are starting a new business. It is a creative business related to printing and design that is why I like it. We are really praying for the success of this business so we are working hard.

My wife Posh will handle the marketing while I handle production. We will be producing vinyl stickers through printing and we can die cut. We can also print on tarpaulin, however the pricing now is really low so I am not sure if we can compete. Maybe we will just get a small share of the pie. But we would rather market the sticker thing.

So much for now. I will update you soon.