Well, another friend of mine is getting married in August! Wohoo! We had our surprise bridal shower for Rica last Thursday at my place! Yes, it was clean fun. :) No dancers... LOL! But we had so much fun just listening to each other's stories after months of not seeing each other.






One of the Girls...


Surprise!


















To Rica, we wish you more happiness with Jon, lots of kids, and many, many more blessings to you and your family. Congratulations!

I guess Acnes are already part of our lives. And ever since, I've always wanted an easy way to get rid of it. And then came TriClear an acne treatment that is so easy and quick that provides a 3-step acne system that is specially formulated to quickly treat acne while leaving skin hydrated and clear. These 3-step acne system includes: Purifying Cleanser, Repairing Gel and Revitalizing Cream. These patented formulae have been proven to reduce the appearance of acne, blemishes and redness within 7 days or less. How cool is that? And what I really like about it is that TriClear contains no Benzoyl Peroxide and does not cause drying, redness or flaking. I just didn't like those treatment where your skin gets dry and red and everyone would just notice that you're having a treatment! What's also nice is that they have a free trial where you get to test if this treatment would suit your skin.

Well, since we are finally here in our own home, it's so nice to reminisce on how we did our research in our relocation. They are so many information in the internet that discusses real estate and relocation. I guess the most challenging part is the relocation and it's nice to know that there are companies like GMAC who specializes and helps in that aspect.

I've been sort of "MIA" for a week because I've been sooo busy packing and unpacking our stuff. And as I've mentioned here, the day we've been waiting for finally arrived! Our house blessing. It was postponed for a week because of internet connection. But now, (and I still can't believe it) we are finally here!!!

The blessing was just simple, only immediate families invited and of course the Priest. It was also the day that we transferred and spent our first night here. It was so stressful but at the end of the day, we were so proud that we got thru it all.



Starting the Blessing


Let's Start!


Dining Room and Garden


On the way to the bedrooms


Alex's Pink and Purple Room


Master's Bedroom


Family Hall


Smile!


Lets Eat!


Cousins!










Loving the new house...


Hubby and I realized that it's really nice to be on our own. We get to decide what we want, we start our own traditions as a family and it's so good to be FREE! :D

Just like an ordinary car, golf carts need to be taken cared of, to be able to maximize its use. And just like an ordinary car, you would also need to replace some of the golf cart parts. As I've mentioned in my previous posts that I wasn't into golf and golf carts. But probably in time, we will be. If the time permits and budget too!

I wasn't familiar with pulse oximeter until today. I didn't know that getting your pulse rate would also know your blood oxygen levels. Ever since I gave birth and had a high blood pressure, I realized that I should be familiar with these instruments. Omron not only offer pulse oximeter but also offers a portable blood pressure monitor. It's perfect for people going places! And it's not only durable but has a 2 year warranty. Maybe I should ask my relatives from the US to order one for me!

The day that we've been waiting for finally arrived. It was last Sunday that we transferred to our new home.

So, I've been busy with a LOT of stuff (packing and unpacking). And our internet connection was not yet setup.

So, I'm just dropping by to say hello everybody! And of course to fulfill some blog advertising duties. LOL!

Will be back with more stories...Have a great week everyone!

Relocating is one of the challenges that I've encountered in the last couple of weeks. It's just so hard to transfer from the place where you've gotten used to living and then transfer all the things that you've used for one whole year. It's a good thing that there are companies out there that helps in the relocation like the Wilmington NC real estate. They can provide information about your new home or simply ideas of how to get started. I just wish we have this kind of company here.

Well, I just realized that diet pills are all over the market these days. And it's so tempting to try one. Just like hoodia which claims that it is a pill that can really suppress appetite! Sounds interesting. Hubby and I have been eating A LOT lately to relieve stress (which is not a very good reason) and it just made me think what will be the effect if I try it. And they said that hoodia can prevent weight gain too. They have a fourteen day free trial. Hmmm, I wonder if it would affect my weight and appetite if I try it.

Welcome the newest baby in the family! Alex's baby cousin...



Born: July 11, 2007 at 3:15 AM


7 lbs


with Alex (not a baby anymore! :( )


with Big Girl Alex


Alex wanted to touch her eyes!!


I miss the newborn's cry.


She's Long!



I just realized how time flies so fast. It has been a year since Alex was newborn and Hubby and I realized then how much we didn't know anything about taking good care of babies.

But now, Alex is now walking, trying to talk, and just makes us laugh! She gladly eats with us (even midnight snacks) and hopefully would be a healthy eater like me and not like her Dada. LOL!

I know we still have so many moments to look forward to. But the moments since she was newborn and until now are moments that we will always cherish!

After a loooong planning of my Hubby's birthday we finally end up watching Transformers and eating at Burger king! :) It was a very simple celebration. But I just let him choose what he wanted (after convincing and failing to have that intimate dinner for two in an intimate restaurant). It has been days actually that we wanted to watch Transformers but we were just too busy with work and house furnishing that he finally convinced himself to just buy the DVD.

But, yesterday, I just felt like we NEED to watch it. We need to relax and enjoy Hubby's special day.

And true enough, it was a REALLY nice movie! It was action-packed! Hubby kept on saying before we slept last night, "Ang ganda-ganda ng Transformers!". And he said it I think 5 times. LOL! The biggest fan!

Well, it was simple but fun! And most importantly, Hubby had a great time!







Burger King!?


Yes! Burger King!


I loved their extra long chicken with cheese!

To the best Husband in the whole world:
Happy, happy birthday! Love yah!

One thing Hubby and I didn't get into is the world of golf. I don't know why but, maybe sometime we might check it out. There are a lot of golf clubs out there and it would also be interesting to meet people who are into golf too. It is a sport that not everyone would like but I would see people who would really put time and energy just to be able to play. What's with golf anyway? Better to find out soon.

I know all of us want to lose weight or reach our target weight. But sometimes, exercise is just hard especially with our busy schedules. And worst, after being stressed out with our daily routines, we end up eating more! So, I'm thinking of taking Phentermine. They said that it is a diet pill that actually works. And it was even branded as the diet pill of the stars. Hmmm, sounds interesting. Maybe I should do more research about it and see how it goes.

My overdue post about our food trip a couple of weeks ago. We've been food tripping lately and we tried Tokyo Cafe, Sugarhouse, Don Henricos, Razon's, and Barrio Fiesta. Oh, I love FOOD! LOL!


Corn Soup
Tokyo Cafe


Alex waiting for the food
Tokyo Cafe


Gambas - nothing special, taste too bland for me
Tokyo Cafe


Chicken and Cheese Roll - Yummy!
Tokyo Cafe


Sugarhouse Dining Area


Other Side


Tenderloin Tips - Yummy!
Sugarhouse


Roast Beef - Yummy! A little expensive but worth it!
Sugarhouse


Caesar Salad - nothing special
Don Henrico's


Buffalo Wings - Still Yummy! After all those years...
Don Henrico's



Hubby and I got to try Razon's Halo-halo and pancit luglog. It was sooo yummy that we had to order again the next day. Alex also loved the halo-halo! :)

We also got to try again Barrio Fiesta's Crispy Pata and Kare-kare. Nothing really compares to their crispy pata and kare-kare. They are still the best!

I was working (from home) for almost a year now and during those months, things are hard taking care of Alex at the same time working. So, it made me realized that I badly need a vacation. And there are a lot of options out there. But I think I will have to postpone Europe some other time due to budget constraints. LOL! Maybe I should consider Orlando since they have this Orlando rental home where I could book online, check availabilities, and choose the rooms that I want. I hope this would be the "perfect" vacation that I'm looking forward to.

I'm not into cars. I never cared about what type of car I'm riding or is the mags shiny or matte or whatever. I never cared if the car has euro plate or it has full of auto accessories. As long as it has aircon and it doesn't just stop in the middle of the street because it doesn't have battery is more important to me than anything. But of course Hubby has a different view about cars. And I think almost every guy would just see cars in a different way. Something like we view bags (in different colors) and shoes (in different styles), right?

I know the weather has not been that good since yesterday. But it's just a nice opportunity to rest, enjoy the weather and spend time with our loved ones. It will really be nice to just watch TV, eat, and be a couch potato! Oh, I missed those days. That I don't have to worry about anything! All I do is just sleep all day and wait for the weekend to end.

But of course, things change. There are more errands to do now. I have to think of the menu. I have to feed and bathe Alex. I have to spend time more with Hubby and take care of him more.

But, after seeing both of them happy and contented, I couldn't ask for more. :)

--o0o--

I would like to welcome the new addition to our family! Born July 11, 2007 - Erika Gabrielle A. at 2:00 AM. Our new baby in the family. Alex's new baby cousin!

Will post pictures soon! :)

--o0o--

I would also like to share my June, 2007 LO (I need more practice again! It seems like I can't make a unique and creative LO anymore! I need my creative juices back!aaaargggghhh!):


Credits here.

Thanks for looking! ;)

Looking at my parents' pictures when they were in Las Vegas made me regret of not going there when I was in the US. But maybe I could convince Hubby to go there before his visa expires. We could probably check out Las Vegas Real Estate as well. My parents were raving about seafoods and wine. I know the casinos are just all over and very huge hotels. I can just imagine the food and drinks and the sleepless nights. Well, I better convince Hubby now!

As I've posted a couple of days ago, Hubby's birthday is less than a week from now. I have a couple of plans for him (thanks to the girls who suggested here), but I'm also thinking of giving him a gift. He's into gadgets but I've given him something like that already last Christmas. So, I'm thinking of giving him a watch like the hamilton watches. The designs are really nice and they have a lot of classic designs to choose from. What I like about their watches is that he can wear it for as long as the watch is working since the design don't go out of style. I just hope that when I get to buy him one, he'd like it and wear it too.

Hubby and I finally ordered a dining set and a sofa for our new home. We chose something that suits our personality and of course our house. While we were shopping for furnitures, we realized that there were a lot of Century furniture available now. From the malls to home depots, they were just everywhere! And not to mention some businesses that customize according to your requirements. I'm just glad that we didn't have a hard time choosing what we like.

I was tagged by Joy here.

Two names you go by: Mich, Michelle
Two things you are wearing right now: Shorts and spaghetti-strap-blouse
Two things you want in a relationship: Love and Commitment
Two of your favorite things to do: Travel and shopping
Two things you want very badly at this moment: Reliable yaya and cook
Two pets you have had: none! (i don't like pets)
Two people who will fill this out: pacs and selle
Two things you did last night: watched tv with Hubby and played with Alex
Two people who live at your house: Hubby and Alex
Two things you ate today: Ampalaya and Adobo (just discovered that it was a good combination! yum!)
Two people you talked to last: my Mom and my Lola
Two things you are going to do tomorrow: Blog and make calls
Two longest car rides: Bicol (12 hrs) and Baguio/Malaybalay - Davao (6 hrs)
Two favorite holidays: Christmas and New Year!
Two favorite drink: coffee and hot chocolate

Oh, I love travelling! I just love to go out of the country and explore the food and sites, and of course shopping too! But with every travel there is always a risk of getting sick. Just like my brother who got sick during our last travel in Macau. With that I realized that we need a travel insurance. And with our parents in tow, they would also need an elderly travel insurance. My Mom has a lot of plans of going out of the country this year so I would suggest that she should get a travel insurance. Since she's having some arthritis pains lately, this is not a bad idea. I would suggest that my Dad gets one too. He will be travelling with us in a couple of months and we are not very familiar with the country we're going. But of course, getting a travel insurance is just an assurance and I'm always positive that they will always be strong and in good health.

I've always been interested with cash advance but haven't really tried it myself. QuickCashAdvance.com offers a really good deal and application is easy too. One thing that caught my attention is what they call the payday loan. It is actually a loan between paychecks. And with this, you can easily make your way out of urgent financial needs without stress or worry. As QuickCashAdvance.com says, "Fill out the easy-to-use application, let us complete the quick approval procedure".

Everyone has a dream house. And I would call it a luxury home. Even Hubby wants a big lot with a big house where Alex can just play anywhere she wants to. GMAC Real Estate has a nice way of selling because they sell and market properties through the internet. And it's easy because all you have to do is search for the requirements that you need. So, in short, your dream house is just a click away!

Hubby and I went out on a food trip for a couple of days last week. I can't just imagine the weight that we've gained!

I was hoping I could share some pictures but unfortunately I couldn't find the USB cable so I couldn't upload the pictures. I'll just blog about it in some other time.

--o00o--

On House Update: Our transfer was postponed! Unfortunately our current DSL won't be able to provide the same line in the house that we'll be transferring so, we are applying for a new line! Grrrr!

--o00o--

On Alex's update: She has 6 teeth already! :D And loves to dance and sing more. She loves to go out too and sometimes, Hubby and I are now having a hard time going out since she always wants to be with us.

Her words: Dada, Dede, Maaamamamaa, Kaka (for duck), Roooor (for lion), agerger (water), and some other blahs blahs that only she can understand LOL!

--o00o--

Hubby's birthday is less than a week from now. He doesn't want to celebrate it. :( But, I can just probably think of something for that special day.

Any suggestions!? :D

I've been tagged by Jane to write on the following:

1. Food you hate --> sardines, i don't know, I just don't like the "malangsa" part
2. Fruits that you hate --> none, i love fruits!
3. Veggies that you hate --> none, i love veggies too (i even eat okra and ampalaya)
4. Celebrities or people that you hate --> i hate people who are PLASTIC/BACKSTABBERS. I just hate it when they say good things in front of you then backstab you.
5. Event/Incident/Situation that you hate --> I hate it when there's no internet or if the internet is slow that I can't work. LOL!
6. TV Shows or Movies that you hate --> UFC! Hubby loves it but I just don't see the point! LOL!
7. Type of Music that you hate --> I hate those songs with lyrics that were garbled (just like heavy metals etc).
8. Household chore that you hate --> I hate ironing clothes
9. Things you hate about the world --> discrimination (and sometimes, even to your own country)
10. Things that you hate about yourself --> I have a short temper and I hate it!

I'm tagging Era, Dangkin, IdealPinkRose, Cess and Jo. :)

Oh wow, this is my very long overdue tag by era.

What Were You Thinking when you first met your current main squeeze? (husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, sex partner, WHATEVER!)

That was four years ago. It was our first day of classes in my Masters Degree and I was talking to my new found friends when Marlon entered the classroom with his friends and asked something to the teacher. I thought he was cute and I also thought he was from Saudi. :) Anyway, I just asked my friends, "who is this guy from Saudi?". Suddenly I realized that they knew Marlon pala from their other subject and they were groupmates.

Anyway, they suddenly had the idea to pair us up and started to act as our "bridge". But Marlon was too shy then (and I was shy too! promise!), so we never really talked. Until I send a forwarded email to the yahoogroups of our batch and then he replied. We exchanged several emails, got each other's numbers, and then the rest is history.

Go tag yourself if you like. It's nice to reminisce about fun memories with people we love. :)

Thanks, era for tagging me! ;)

Have you ever wondered what I've been posting here in my blog for the couple of weeks now? Ok, what I was actually doing is I blog and then I earn. Sounds too good to be true? Nope! Bloggers, you can actually earn while doing what you love. And it is what you call blog advertising. What PayU2Blog do is give out some tasks every week and then what you will do is blog or advertise about it. Then, they will pay you every week. And the good part here is that they will send you a variety of interesting assignments that you will love to blog about. So, join now!

It's been a month already since Hubby and I were looking for the perfect lights for our dining and living room. There were so many choices out there, but we just couldn't find the one that would fit our house and of course our personality. So, I tried to browse over the net just to check if there are any available out there where I could buy and then just ship it here. And true enough, there's LightingDirect that offers modern chandeliers, indoor and lighting, fans and home decors. And oh, what I personally like about their website is that I can shop in different ways, by type of light, by brand, by room (either dining or living room or bedrooms), and the best part is, by theme! I better start shopping now!

Aaaaawwww, the month of June just flew by so quickly that I still couldn't believe that it has been a month since I did the roundup. Anyways, here's my June monthly round-up:

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
- Regrets Only by Sally Quinn (haven't finished reading it though, but I'm getting there)

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
- Nanny McPhee (loved it!)
- Pocoyo for Alex

What special days did I celebrate and how?
- Father's Day at my in-laws' house and then at Northpark, Market, Market!

What gifts did I give and/or receive?
- I gave Hubby crocs last Father's day

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
- none (thank God!)
- But Alex had fever and rashes with diarrhea in the middle part of the month

What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
- Met up with Janice and Norin for coffee
- Met up with Farrah for dinner
- Hubby and I just spent our weekends at Home Depot and other furniture shops!

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
- Som's Noodle House (Authentic Thai Food), it was Yum, yum
- Everything at Steak (San Juan), food was not that special but really cheap
- Mary Grace Serendra, they had the best ensaymada I've ever tasted in my whole life! (sorry, exag but it was really good, hehe!)

What special or unusual purchases did I make?
- We bought stuff for the house

What were this month's disappointments?
- Alex's yaya left. :(

What were my accomplishments this month?
- I've had a few realizations this month about my life, my job, my family, my God and things were better after that. And for me, it was definitely an accomplishment.

--o0o--

Oh, I had a lot of time last Friday so I decided to scrap on our May, 2007, and here it is...


Credits here