Random Thoughts

We celebrated Nanay's 40 days last Tuesday at our place. It was just a simple lunch with a few close friends and relatives. We had prayers before 12NN and then started lunch after that. Since it was a weekday (and a lunch) our cousins and some Titas weren't able to attend, too bad!

The food was ordered from Conti's that's why I was excited to taste it. I looove Conti's so much and in every party, I would order food from them. Not to mention affordable too!

Here is the food that we had last Tuesday :

- Pineapple Macaroni Salad
- Lumpiang Ubod
- Barbeque Spareribs (this one was really tasty!)
- Chicken Pastel
- Pansit Bam-I
- Rice
- Leche Flan (I loved it!)

Barbeque Spareribs


A Sumptious Lunch!

Everyone loved the food including my in-laws. She even borrowed the menu from Conti's and is planning to order there in her next parties. :) I would highly recommend it.

Oh by the way, Nanay's sister brought old photos of their family that I would like to share here. It's funny because in this photo, Nanay looked exactly like my sister. :)


Nanay is at the rightmost part of the photo.

We have been paying for our car insurance for 3 years now. Hubby has been convincing me to go for the cheaper ones but I wouldn't agree. You see, getting an auto insurance is an assurance for me that whatever happens to the car we can always think that it is insured.

And besides, there are lots of readily available companies out there that help individuals get a car insurance and one company that I came across is called AmericanCarQuotes. They will give you lots of information about each car insurance that you might be interested in. All you need is just fill out one form and then let the insurance companies contact you. And if you need more information about a certain company, AmericanCarQuotes will give you that through their website and I can say that they are ready to help you anytime!

Happiness is...

1. Family get-together for Nanay's 40 days
2. Two Hotel appointments yesterday
3. Small umbrella for the little girl from the Lola
4. My Dad going home this week for the 40 days
5. Hubby's get together with his old friends
6. Dinner with my close friends
7. Early baby shower
8. Cute gifts from the baby shower
9. Get together with my Highschool friends
10. Super cleaned house thanks to Sebo vacuums!

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Thanks for this Aggie and Kathy!

{Start Copy}

What’s your shoe size? Are your feet the same size as your mom’s feet? How about your sister’s feet? Can you borrow shoes from each other?

Post a picture of your latest shoe buy. Tag the number of women of your shoe size, i.e. size 5 = tag 5 friends. Don’t forget to drop a line in this blog when you’re done.

- Jenny and Belle
- SAHMdom and Beyond
- The Journey Continues…
- Mommy Talks…
- When Mom Speaks
- Walk on Red
- Mommy Talks…
- Random Thoughts

- your blog here

{End Copy}

My Mom’s Shoe Size: 6.5 to 7
Sisters’ Shoe Sizes: 7.5
My Shoe Size: 8!

Unfortunately, I can't share my shoes with my Mom since she has small feet. Before I gave birth, I could still share mine with my sister but not anymore. :( I really love shoes but the thing is my feet is sensitive that I couldn't find the perfect shoes for my feet (long feet and toes). I would sometimes end up with too loose since my toes are long. Or I would end up wearing sandals.

Now, it's your turn, Jhona, Eds, Joy, HappyMum, Chat, Jean, Jo, and Juliana! Have fun ladies!

It was Saturday when we I finally saw my highschool friends and had our baby shower for the three babies (Joy's baby - Jeli, Norin's Baby - Maharlika, and my baby girl #2). It was simple yet we all had a great time. We had to set it during lunch since Jeli is still 2 months old and Joy doesn't want to go home late for the sake of the baby.

I can't believe we all are having baby girls! Joy just gave birth to a baby girl - Jeli. Norin is having a baby girl - Maharlika next month. We will be having another baby girl in November. Oh, did I mention that Joy's first born is also a girl (her name is Jally and she is already 10 years old).

We've been friends since highschool and I'm happy to say that after all those years (even if we don't see each other often) everything is still the same when it comes to our relationship. They are truly my long time friends. We missed our other friend Terry who is now in the States. We also talked about some San Francisco jobs since we knew that Terry was in California. We hope to see her soon! Oh, it is going to be her birthday tomorrow so I'm thinking of giving her a layout or something. Will think about the layout hopefully later.

Of course, there were photos during the baby shower while we gave away our gifts to the babies (which ended up like an exchange of gifts! LOL!)...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Looking forward to more babies in the future! LOL!

...in my blogging life that is!

I finally had the guts to put up my dream blog - a travel blog! It took me months to think about it but Hubby convinced me that it's indeed worth it. I love to go around places and it would be a waste if I won't share it in my little space in the web.

So here it is, my new blog - Explore Manila!

This is a blog that will take you to places of Manila and it's nearby cities such as Tagaytay, Bicol, Batangas, Baguio, and more. Please visit the site if you have time and share some insights on what you think about the place!

But I had to warn you, I'm still updating it and links will be added soon! So do drop by and let me know if you want to be linked! ;)

Have a nice Friday everyone!

Now this time we spent our Sunday afternoon with the kids (Alex and our nephews). Since Hubby wanted to swim with Alex and his nephews that day, and since the two boys weren't able to join us for dinner on Hubby's birthday itself, he decided to treat the kids for pizza at the in-laws'.

Alex as usual had a grand time and was laughing all throughout. She just loved spending time with her Kuyas. The two boys (aged 10 and 5) were growing up so fast though that sometimes Alex could no longer relate to their games. But come swimming time, I guess kids really think alike.

At around 4:30PM Alex was already shaking (and felt cold) but it seems like she didn't feel it because she still want to swim more. Because of that, she cried a lot. She was a bit sleepy too that's why. But at last after rinsing and reading a book for a couple of minutes she finally fell asleep, while the Kuyas continued to swim.

Hubby ordered pizzas from Pizza Hut and sausage rolls. It was a hit of course! Who wouldn't like pizza!?

 
 

I realized that it was hard to take pictures of kids swimming because they kept on moving and splashing! I got tired easily and finally gave up. LOL!

 
 

Another attempt to take some photos. But unfortunately I wasn't too successful...

 
 

A day like this is really fun. We plan to go there again, this time longer swimming time for Alex but we're not sure when, but hopefully soon!

Now, I'm off to do some research on gps fleet tracking.

Taken at Alex's 2nd Birthday Party in Mindanao

Now this one is funny. It also happened last weekend when Alex was at her Lola's house. While my sister (Tita Trish) was sitting in those comfortable chairs (but not as comfy as home theater chairs!) while watching TV, my Mom asked her to fix the webcam. But since she was engrossed with what she was watching she didn't want to be disturbed. Here's how their conversation happened...

Mom: Yang, can you fix the laptop please?
Yang: <--no answer-->
Mom: Yang!? Yang!? Yang!?
Alex: (In a loud voice) Tita!!! Fix laptop Please, Tito Dandy in the laptop, please fix!

It was hilarious! She actually got mad at my sister for not listening to my Mom. LOL!

Taken when Alex was still 1 year and 4 months old

I left Alex at my Mom's place over the weekend that's why the Lola had a blast! You see, she was away for two weeks and she missed the little girl so much. She kept on texting me on how Alex was doing and how she was amazed at how Alex has grown so much in the past couple of weeks. One occasion was when Alex was trying to play with her Papermate pens and placed everything in the floor, she told Alex that she didn't like what she was doing and that it was not nice. Alex looked at her after she said that, suddenly kept quiet, and then tried to pickup all the stuff from the floor then transferred it to the bed!

I am definitely one proud Mama! It just means that she can now understand and that she can also feel guilty at same time. LOL! I just hope that she would do that EVERYTIME and that she listens to EVERYTHING we say. (I wish!)

Recently, Hubby and I talked about investing in stocks. I know it is very risky so I tried to look for tools that I can use to make it easier. I found out that there is a tool called option screener that helps find, compare, analyze, and make money On stock Option trading. At PowerOptions we can purchase it along with a complete suite of educational materials and premium toll-free customer support. It also provides the essential data that we may need to invest with stock options. I think along with this tool, we would need to a lot of research so that we will know what we are getting into.

From Jane and Chat! Thanks ladies, I feel honored!

~Start Copy Here~

1. Copy from start to finish
2. This letter should be pass on to your closest friends online.
3. Add your name and URL blog HERE!! .
4. Get back to Me [HAZEL] and leave a comment once you’ve passed on the letter. Will then visit your site to make sure your links are complete and proper.
5. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, UPDATE your list regularly!

1. Wheng 2. Hazel 3. Janeth Vicy's Life Journey 4. A Sweet Taste Of Life 5. My Simple Joys 6.Mommyhood and Me 7.My Colorful World 8. YOUR NAME HERE

~End Copy Here~

Actually, I just wanted a phone with a QWERTY keyboard. It can be a Motorola or a Nokia but anything that is QWERTY. But it won't be bad if I'll get this Blackberry phone with wonderful features. Especially now that there is a free drug reference for blackberry. I know I'm not a Doctor myself but knowing that it can be used by our Physicians, it means it really is a nice phone right? It is a great advantage to the Physicians because it saves time, improves patient care and safety, and reduces administrative burden! I wonder when will I ever get my dream phone!?

"This announcement was paid for by Epocrates."

I stayed and worked in the US for seven months and I can say that it was one of the best months of my life. I stayed at several United States Hotels while I was there. Well, I admit I was homesick after 3 months there since I was all alone, but the experience was worth it. While I was there I traveled from one State to another. My first stop was San Francisco. Thanks to my highschool friend Christine, she paid for my airfare! I checked out some San Francisco hotels from the internet and they had really good prices. But I stayed at my friends house for more bonding time.

My second stop was New York. Again, thanks to my Aunt who shouldered my fare. How cool is that? My Mom checked out New York Hotels for cheap accommodations. We checked out Statue of Liberty, 42nd Street, and we even watched two musical broadway plays which I loved so much!



My third stop was Los Angeles. One of my favorite state in the US. Los Angeles Hotels are a must to checked out for especially now that you can book over the internet and get really good prices. When I was there, I checked out Universal Studios and some malls for shopping. It was a trip that I'll never forget and I hope that one day I will be able to go back, this time with my family. :)

After our dinner at Highlands Steakhouse, we watched The Dark Knight at SM Mall of Asia. We were able to get good seats because we purchased the tickets early. We needed to line up though but it was not long. Anyway, we loved the movie so much. Well, for me, I liked it, but Hubby loooved it! The movie was dark, violent, and disturbing actually and I won't recommend it for kids. But would you believe that there were LOTS of kids in the movie house?! I just can't imagine what effect would it be for them after watching the movie.

Anyway, at first I didn't like Christian Bale as Batman (especially with his weird voice when he's transformed into Batman) but after seeing more scenes I find him really fit for the role. I also realized that he is cute too! :D His built was actually just right, he was not too big nor too small too. But his face a bit thin that's why I've mistaken him to be really thin.

Joker who was portrayed by the late Heath Ledger really did a great job. I just hated him all throughout but loved the way he acted too. I bet he'll get an award for his performance.

I also loved the twist of having two-faced in the movie. Hubby and I thought that the next sequel would be two-faced fighting Batman but we were wrong since he died in the movie. So now, we are really curious if there is another sequel coming soon and what would happen next. After all, Joker is still alive!

*Movie Poster Photo from Movies Online.

This is cool. There's a new dollar coin that has been released and it is available at Cable Shopping Network (Hubby's favorite channel!). You can also buy more products over their website and what they want is to provide easy access to a wide array of collectibles, have fun, and build relationships with their customers along the way. It is indeed fun to shop online and would definitely try it one of these days. And since my Mom and Dad are going to the US probably early next year, what I can do is shop online and then have it delivered to their future address! Oh, I can't wait for that!

Well, I couldn't help myself and be worried about Alex's tantrums so I just did more research on 2 year olds throwing tantrums and what to do about it. According to BabyCenter.com, here are the things that I can do when Alex's pitches a fit!

- Don't lose your cool
- Remember that you're the adult (well this one I have to practice more! LOL!)
- Talk it over afterward
- Try to head off tantrum-triggering situations
- Watch for signs of overstress

I can't believe that I'm dealing with tantrums nowadays. I used to think that Alex won't do it but I was totally wrong. I guess every child would pass through this stage. I just hope that Alex would pass with flying colors!

For more about the article, click here

I had another sort of a fight with the little girl today. She again didn't take a nap. And not only that, she also did the tantrums by whining and lying down the floor. Sigh. That's the only thing that I can do - SIGH.

So I did a little research on why 2-yr-olds throw tantrums from BabyCenter.com.

A temper tantrum is the emotional equivalent of a summer storm — sudden and sometimes fierce, but often over as quickly as it starts. One minute you and your child are enjoying your dinner in a restaurant, the next she's whimpering, whining, and then screaming to go home. Two-year-olds are especially prone to such episodes.

Though you may worry that you're raising a tyrant, take heart — at this age, it's unlikely that your child is throwing a fit to be manipulative. More likely, she's having a meltdown in response to frustration. Often, your 2-year-old's language skills — or lack thereof — are to blame. "Two-year-olds are beginning to understand more and more of the words they hear, yet their ability to articulate their feelings and needs is limited," says Claire B. Kopp, professor of applied developmental psychology at California's Claremont Graduate University. As a result, frustration builds when your child can't express how she feels.

Well, reading this assures me that everything is ok, but when I see her already doing those tantrums, I just can't help but feel disappointed and worried at the same time.

My in-laws are selling their chevrolet van for a couple of months now. It has automatic doors and windows. And I'm pretty sure that Chevrolet Radiators are still in good condition. They are just selling it because they want to upgrade to a new van. I read somewhere that there is already a store online that sells good quality radiators. It is called Radiators.com and it is the largest radiator distributor in the country. They offer radiators for every make and model, from BMW to Toyota radiators, each engineered to OE specifications for the perfect fit, the first time. Since chevrolet parts are kinda hard to find here in Manila, I guess it's nice to check this out and see if they could work out the delivery too.

Thanks Peachy!

The rules are simple. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

~ I'm busy doing my thesis in College

2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list today?

~ finish all assignments
~ upload more photos for Hubby's birthday treat
~ fix my new blog
~ prepare dinner for Hubby's friends who are coming over later
~ read for Alex

3. Snacks I enjoy:

~ nuts, fruits, crackers, burger, fries, nuggets

4. Place where I lived:

~ Bukidnon and Manila

5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire:

~ Save half of my money, give out to charity, give some to my family, shop all I want and travel all I want

6. People I want to know more about:

~ my blogging friends..

Tagged by Jody and Peachy. Thanks ladies!

A) Four places I go over and over:
:: mall
:: coffee shop
:: toy kingdom
:: beach

B) Four people who e-mail me regularly:
:: boss
:: supervisor
:: Hubby
:: my sister

C) Four of my favorite places to eat?
:: Conti's
:: Italiannis
:: Amici (Don Bosco)
:: Yoshinoya

D) Four places you’d rather be?
:: beach
:: any air-conditioned room
:: mall
:: coffee shop drinking coffee

E) Four people I think will respond:
:: Jhona
:: HappyMum
:: Juliana
:: Nice

F) Four TV shows I could watch over and over:
:: Sex and the City
:: Top Chef
:: Grey's Anatomy
:: One Tree Hill

I have always blogged about this. I really need a vacation. A real one, that is. Not a trip that would entail us to get stressed out because we want to shop all we want. Or a trip that would only take us a few days so we had to cram everyday and check out the places as much as we can.

I imagine a vacation in an all inclusive resort. With massage everyday, gourmet food, nice and relaxing DVDs to watch, no cellphone, no internet, only a pure heaven-like vacation. Probably at the beach or on top of the mountain. Either of the two would do for me. A perfect time to reflect and be thankful for all the blessings in my life.

Happiness is...

1. Dinner and Movie Date with Hubby
2. Alex spending time with Lola over the weekend
3. Dinner and catching up with SFC friends
4. Upcoming CLP for CFC
5. A new blog (*wink*)
6. Alex's yaya changing her mind and won't go home anymore
7. Santol and other fruits from my Mom
8. 10 oz. rib-eye steak
9. A not-so-hot weather
10. Upcoming baby shower for friends on Saturday!

To know how this started and credits of the header, click here.

Thanks Chat!





The rules:
A. List these rules on your blog.
B. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.
C. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
D. You’ll have to read on for my 7 facts and see who I tagged.

{F.A.C.T.S on Mich}

1. I'm 22 weeks pregnant.
2. I have a 2 year and 4 months old toddler
3. I'm married for 3 years now!
4. I work from home.
5. I love to eat but not to cook.
6. I love to travel and explore new places/countries.
7. I easily get bored so I would read books, surf the net, or scrap during my free time.

Snag this if you like!

I used to have a boss who loves paintball so much. After too much stress in the office, he would go to that place in the South and enjoy the game as much as he can. I just couldn't relate though because I haven't touched airsoft guns ever since. I have tried using a real gun during our hunting days in the province but they said that airsoft guns are different, much lighter. We can also purchase it over the internet now. ZephyrPaintball.com has Paintball and Airsoft Gear with low Prices and free shipping on Paintball guns, Paintball goggles, Airsoft equipment and gear.

It's been a while since Hubby and I went out on a date so since it was his birthday last Wednesday, I decided to treat him for dinner and movie last Saturday! We both had a blast, being away from work, tasks, mommy duties, household duties, and all other stuff, it was nice to be alone with Hubby once again.

We dropped Alex and yaya at my Mom's place before we headed to Mall of Asia. We had dinner at Highlands Steakhouse. I've been wanting to eat here actually for a year already ever since I read about the review at Dessert Comes First blog. And now that we had time and budget, we jumped at the opportunity. We didn't have a hard time looking for the place. It was at 2/F Entertainment Hall and the restaurant was at the corner. Yes, the place was quite big and cozy too.

  

The restaurant was owned by Tagaytay Highlands so I expected really good food. A bit expensive but it was all worth it. I ordered Full Baby Back Ribs (Pork) for Hubby and I had 10oz. Rib eye steak. Would you believe that I finished all the steak by myself!? I couldn't believe it either! We ordered the set menu package so aside from the ribs and steak, we had bread, salad, (yummy) soup, and dessert (which we couldn't finish so we had to bring it home instead!)

  
No photos of salad and soup because we were too hungry to take photos...LOL!

At exactly 7PM there were fireworks shown at the bay. It was nice. Hubby was able to take some photos.

  

  

After the fireworks, some country/folk singer started to sing for us. I'm not too familiar with the songs though but the thought was nice and kind of romantic too. :)

After our very heavy meal, we were too full to go to the cinema so we decided to walk first. As soon as we got tired and since it was time for our movie, we headed to the movie house!

But will get back to you on how we liked "The Dark Knight" so much!