Book Review: “Praying the Bible for your Children”

It was one of my usual trips to Book Sale, and as always, I was on the look-out for storybooks for my daughter. It was that day that I found out they, the Megamall branch in particular, have quite a nice selection of Christian books. Since I was on a budget, I only bought two, namely; Praying the Bible for your Children,” and “Kids’ Book of Devotion.” The first one costs P150, while the latter was P120.00. Since the day I bought them, I have used those books quite a lot of times. The second one I discuss with Aliya because the chapters are kid-friendly, they have segments for parents, for kids, and short prayers to guide the kids. They discuss topics such as having joy in every situation, trying not to be angry even when you’re tempted, being thankful for blessings no matter how mundane and petty they are. My more favorite of the two is the first book. Insightful, bible-based, and the prayers are obviously written by a parent who’s been there. Each chapter starts with a line or two from the Scriptures, then the prayer follows. What I like most about this book is that the topics and issues tackled are diverse and deep. The author took time to include children’s issues that I have not yet even thought about. I just wish there is a table of contents or a glossary for easier reference and searching. In fact, I think I could write one for this book so when the time comes that Aliya has her own children, she can still use this book and find it convenient to look for the topics that are timely for her. In a nutshell, this is one book I will surely treasure for years and decades and intend to pass on to the next generations. 

And the winner is... Lego!

When I was younger, I've had my share of being a Lego geek. Little did I know that I'd be unconsciously passing on the love of Lego to my now 5 year old daughter. I first bought her a basic set and now her collection of Lego Friends is getting bigger and bigger, or should I say, more and more expensive. Looking back, I regret giving away my Lego toys to a niece who doesn't care about them at all. I was already in Highschool when I finally let go of my collection, but I was still clueless then as how much of an investment they were pala. Anyway, now that my daughter loves Lego and the sets of Lego Friends available (both here in the Philippines and those that we saw when we went to Legoland in Malaysia) weren't as diverse as those sets for boys, I tried buying some Mega Blocs sets. Besides, the pegs are compatible anyway. But both me and my daughter didn't need much time to conclude that Lego's instruction manuals are more organized, easier to understand, and the pegs are smoother and easier to put together. Sure they have the Hello Kitty, Dora and Barbie series, but having to stick decorative stickers are just too time consuming. So there, we love putting together our Legos and Mega Blocs and we enjoy creating our own designs and "communities", but both of us Lego geeks are convinced that if there's a contest on such toys, Lego bags the trophy. :)

My God is Faithful

... thank You Lord for keeping my husband safe and healthy. It's been a long one week trip for him to Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan, to the 12 hour boat rides to and from Cuyo Island, then to Iloilo, and plane ride to Manila. ... thank You again, dear faithful Lord for answering our prayers of protection. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Pigging Out at Yakimix

I've never been intimidated with online groupons as long as the site, the company and the merchants are credible. Since I've become a member two years ago of a couple of groupon sites, I've purchased deals from yoghurts to hotel accommodations to buffets. Recently, we've used up the four Yakimix Eat all You Can buffet deals I've purchased in www.ensogo.com.ph. First it was a date with my husband Romy last Friday. The other two vouchers I used to celebrate with my Mom for her birthday. It was only P399 per pax instead of the regular adult rate of P520. And because my daughter had to come along with us, and because she's 3.8 feet tall right now, we availed of the regular child rate which is at P320. We enjoyed both occassions we ate there. I'm for all the sushis and makis. We enjoyed the shabu-shabu, too but if only for the fresh salmon, I'm solved and happy. :)

Because my husband works in the Department of Education, May is a busy time for them. This is the month that they visit schools in remote areas in time for the Brigada Eskwela, a government project that ensures schools are being cleaned, repaired, prepared for the school opening in June. This year, my husband is assigned to Palawan. Not in the touristy Puerto Prinsesa, but in an island called Cuyo. In my research, this is the location of an award winning Judy Ann Santos movie, Ploning. I liked the photos that I saw and it really looks tranquil and clean there. I just dont like the fact that my husband has been away from us since Monday and the thought that he'd be here over the weekend, that's 3 days from now makes me miss him all the more. God, thank you for keeping them safe, comfortable, healthy and well-provided for. I know that You will be with them every second and that You will not allow any harm to befall upon them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Mothers Day 2013

We celebrated Mothers Day yesterday. But days prior to yesterday, my 5 yr old daughter Aliya has been so excited about the day by preparing gifts, buying a card of her choice and even writing her own dedication. She even helped daddy decorate our living room, even banning me from going downstairs lest I preempt their "surprise." Oh, how I love motherhood! Thank you Lord for this opportunity and privilege! Halleluiah!

Elections 2013

It is May 13, 2013. Today we got up early to practice our right to vote. I am praying for the victory of our senatorial candidate, Bro Eddie Villanueva. May the Lord's will be done.

Surreal

When I was still enrolled as a Film Student in college, the word surreal always comes up in my lessons on movies and scriptwriting. But I never really understand its essence until this week. My uncle Tony's death captures what that word really means. Surreal. That's how everything seems to be about this whole thing.

On Kumon

My daughter took up ballet classes last summer. She enjoyed it and she looks so cute in her tutu and ballet outfits. She liked attending her classes but when it was over, she didn't miss it. She didn't even ask me to re enroll her, so I guess it was just passing fancy. But we're glad she got to experience it. This summer, since she's not interested in the workshops that her school was offering, we tried Kumon. She's on her 1 and a half month as of this writing and she's going grrreat! The teacher said her progression is excellent and she passes her regular assessment tests Lord willing, sana all the time talaga. So what can I say about Kumon? It indeed is effective! She was only into CVC words before she started Kumon classes and now she's into compound words already. She's done with the other more complicated combinations like "sneak", "snake", "bear", "made", "giggle", "wobble" etc. I hope she gets to enjoy it more and that even if her June classes start, we'd still be able to continue her Kumon studies and enjoy it at the same time.

Goodbye Uncle!

An uncle of ours died of lymphoma today, aside from other health issues. It breaks our hearts to see him go. It breaks our hearts to think about the family he's left behind.

Cebu Pacific Seat Sale is On!

The Cebu Pacific seat sale is on again in time for the Labor Day celebrations. I tried booking ourselves for Hong Kong but upon computation, I realized it's not really that inexpensive. There are other charges for the luggage and the meals. We are used to Philippine Airlines' flight prices wherein luggages, meals and the Philippine Travel Tax are already inclusive. We just have to pay for the terminal fee upon departure. Unlike here in Cebu Pacific, there are other add-ons we definitely cannot live (or fly) without. Having a 5 year old child certainly entails us to bring more clothes, milk, snacks and her favorite blanket or stuffed toy. We also like shopping when we're abroad so we of course needs to have check in baggage. For two hours up in the air, we'd like of course to have something warm to eat... even the meals are not included in the base price. Okay, okay... that's why it's called the seat sale... Anyway, I still attempted t0 book, but after trying to get through the 4 or 5 steps of online booking, I gave up. The website's too slow and error keeps on occurring. Maybe I'll try again when a seat sale comes up in the future.

Out on A Spa Date

Because our favorite massage place, Moments closed up a few weeks ago, Romy and I have been on the look out for a spa for our regular couple's massage nights. It's not easy hunting and finding Moments because we wanted a place that's cozy and near our place. We are also very particular with the massage therapists and the music they play. We've tried one based inside a mall and we felt really icky just because the music sounded like they've been copied from sexy movies. Last Friday we tried the newly opened Mont Albo Massage Hut. Though they were pricier than the others that are being offered in our area, we tried them first for the sole reason that they have numerous francise, so for us that kinda relates to their credibility and good customer feedback. So what can we say about the experience? Well, the ambience was ok, I like the white drapes on the ceilings because that kinda reminds me of Asian-inspired movies. I like their music because they transport me to nature, zen gardens and even jungles, though Romy didn't like their selection of pieces. The massage itself? Well, during the massage it was ok. I enjoyed it and i feel relaxed. But we didnt like the fact that the therapists keep asking us if the "pressure was fine." It's like, they ask us every five minutes, so instead of being able to doze off to sleep, we were always alerted by their questions. We intended to tell them after settling the bill but because we were jolted by the fact that they were all (around 6 or more of them) standing at the lobby when we appeared from the cubicle, it slipped our mind to mention. Romy told me we might have to try other spas in the vicinity until we find one that suits our taste.

The nanny has been away for the past week or so for her summer vacation. I know she needs to spend time with her family, and take a break from her work here at home. I wasn't as stressed this year as I was when she left last summer. And it's a nice thing she's coming back 5 days from now. But for now, I'm slowly feeling the exhaustion of being the housekeeper/nanny 24/7. My daughter is already 5 but she still wants me with her in all her activities. I mean, she's a smart kid and wants activities pouring her way round the clock. By the time she wakes up and finishes her morning routine (breakfast, bath, toothbrush), she starts asking for things to do. We usually start with her Kumon worksheets, then we do something physical like a game, then we do colouring, crafts, legos, barbies, pretend play, etc. I love planning these activities with her and I adore being with her, but not having time for myself and the things I need and want to do is somehow draining and frustrating. I know I should be thankful for being a WAHM, and for the opportunity to be able to be with my child every day and every night... I just need to be able AS WELL, to pursue the things I want to do.

One of the perks of being a work at home mom is that I get to plan my daughter's activities for the day, I get to spend quality and quantity time with her, I can monitor everything she does and watches on tv and plays on the tab and eats and drinks and if she washes her hands properly all the time and alot of other things working-outside-the-home moms cannot get to see on a daily basis. I'm just so grateful that I have this job that very seldom keeps me away from my family. I pray that the Lord bless us more with financial and material breakthroughs in the years and decades to come.

What would life be without internet?

From looking up sale alerts to comparing gadget specs to reading reviews of hotels and theme parks, to almost anything I need to know about, the world wide web has always been my go-to guy. Makes me wonder how I could make decisions on certain stuff if I don't have connection? Thank God I live in this day and age.

The Dog is Preggy!

Okay, so today my husband brought our dog to the baranggay for the anti-rabies vaccination. He noticed that our askal Lucky has gained weight and the boobs are more noticeable than before. We looked back at Lucky's activity for the past month and we are now convinced she might be pregnant. And if our estimates are correct, she might be giving birth in a month or less! It's time to build a whelping box! Now my 5 yr old daughter is excited to care for the puppies. And I must say I am excited, too! I've been researching on dog pregnancy and dog labor for the past hour and I'm hoping we give Lucky the best care as she brings puppies into the world. :)

Family Fun in Malaysia

September 2012 nang una kong nalaman sa isang kapwa mommy sa school ng anak ko na magbubukas na ang Hello Kitty Town sa Malaysia. Mula noon ay nagsimula na akong mag-reseach tungkol dito. Medyo at a loss ako nuong simula dahil wala pang masyadong tourist information at travellers’ reviews tungkol sa lugar na ito. Sa aking pagre-research, nalaman ko ring malapit lang ito sa Legoland. Kapwa sila nasa Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Para sa isang metikulosang byaherang gaya ko, tuwing may oras ay nagse-surf ako sa internet tungkol sa mga lugar na ito, at kung paano ang pinaka-convenient na pagpunta. Naghanap ako ng sagot sa mga tanong ko, tulad ng mas maigi bang via Singapore muna kami papunta sa Johor Bahru, o dapat via Kuala Lumpur ang kunin naming flight. Sa tulong ng aking yahoogroup, at mga sites tulad ng tripadvisor.com, unti-unting nagliliwanag ang mga plano. Sa madali’t sabi, naging interesting ang pag-usad ng aking research. Tinawagan ko na rin ang aking suking travel agency, ang Scorpio Travel and Tours sa Megaplaza sa Ortigas at nagpagawa ng quotation. Matapos ang email and phone correspondence namin ni Lyn ng nasabing travel agency, at matapos makuha ang opinion ng aking asawang si Romy, nagpa-book na ako at inanunsyo na sa aking 5 year old na chikiting na mamamasyal kami sa Malaysia. Dahil higit siyang nag-eenjoy sa mga previous travels naming pamilya kada taon, sobra siyang natuwa nang malamang aalis kaming muli. Day 1: We took the first flight ng Philippine Airlines papuntang Singapore. Pinili kong via Singapore ang rutang kukunin dahil mas mabilis ang byahe papuntang Johor Bahru mula dito. We arrived at the Changi Airport at half past nine. Travelling to Johor Bahru, Malaysia from Singapore was a breeze. Dalawang immigration o checkpoints ang dadaanan upang magpatatak ng passports. Wala pang alas-onse ng umaga ay nasa hotel na kami sa Malaysia. Dahil oras ng tanghalian, kailangan naming lumabas upang mag-lunch at magpapalit ng Malaysian Ringgit. Mabait naman ang staff sa hotel at itinawag kami ng taxi kahit wala pa kaming pambayad… I specified to her that the cab driver need to bring us first to a money changer para may maibayad kami sa taxi. One Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is equal to P13.00 and a few centavos. Dahil na rin sa limitadong choices sa napuntahan naming lugar, nag-order na lang kami ng Chicken Rice, Fresh Buko at Siopao. Maraming hainanese-style chicken stalls dito. At sa affordable na halaga ay mabubusog ka naman. Dahil free day ang unang araw, naisip naming pumunta na sa Hello Kitty Town. Ito ang information that I intentionally withheld from my daughter. My husband and I saw to it that we don’t mention anything about this place to Aliya until we’re already about to go. Kaya naman nang malaman niyang doon ang punta namin ng araw na iyon, she was super delighted! Ni hindi nga niya alam that there’s such a place… ang kilala lang niya ay Disneyland at Universal Studios, at ang sinabi lang naming papasyalan namin sa Malaysia ay ang Legoland. Kaya’t the thought of going to a place named Hello Kitty Town, hindi siya mapakali sa sobrang tuwa! Sa mga nakakaraang byahe namin abroad, laging may private coach transfer sa package na ina-avail namin going to and from the theme parks. But I realized that maybe this time, we can be more adventurous kung magko-commute lang kami. Malaking halaga rin ang natipid namin sa travel agency nang pinatanggal ko ang private coach inclusion. Subalit nang nag-aabang na kami ng cab pagkatapos naming mag-lunch papunta sa Hello Kitty Town, nakaramdam ako ng kaba… paano kung hindi kami magkaintindihan ng cab driver? Paano kung maligaw kami? Paano kung hindi mabuting driver ang mapili namin? May dumaang isang red cab sa harap namin. Sabi ko sa asawa ko, “Nakakatakot ang mukha. Wag ‘yan.” Pero ang isa pang dumaang taxi ay occupied na. We waited a little more, pero wala nang ibang dumadaang cabs. In short, napilitan kaming kunin ang cab na nakaparada a few meters away from us… yes, yung may “nakakatakot na mukha.” The whole trip, I was so nervous… paano ba naman ay napakalayo pala ng Hello Kitty Town sa hotel namin! Ni hindi nagsasalita ang driver at ni hindi namin alam kung tama ba itong tinatahak naming ruta. May mga nadadaanan kaming paunti-unting bahayan, mangilan-ngilang rows of stores, may dinaaanan pa kaming pagkahaba-haba-habang highway! I remember, sabi ng isa sa mga reviews na nabasa ko, wala daw talagang public transportation na dumadaan sa Hello Kitty Town. Kinabahan ako kung paano kami babalik sa hotel at the end of the day. Pero nang sa wakas ay nakakita na ako ng mga road signs na alam kong nabasa ko na sa aking pagre-research for the trip, mas nakahinga na ako ng maluwag… slight. To cut the long story, or should I say, the long cab drive short, nakarating din kami sa wakas a Puteri Harbour, kung saan naroon ang Hello Kitty Town. Umabot ng RM26.50 ang taxi meter namin. Nagbakasakali kami ng asawa ko at nag-request sa driver na balikan kami at 6PM. He nodded his head while drinking from his mineral water bottle, though at that point, we weren’t even sure if that meant yes. Hello Kitty Town, Little Big Club One thing nice about this place is that it’s indoors. Sa humid weather sa Malaysia, gugustuhin mo talagang magbabad sa isang mall na malakas ang airconditioning. As expected, punung-puno ng Hello Kitty stuff ang buong lugar. The ground floor houses the souvenir shop and the café. Sa first floor or sa upper ground ang Hello Kitty. Pagpasok pa lang namin, saktong may photo op na sina Hello Kitty at Dear Daniel. Dahil weekday ito, kaunti lang ang tao. Hindi tulad sa Disneyland na mauubos ang oras mo sa pila para makapagpa-picture kina Mickey at Minnie Mouse, we only waited less than a minute for our turn. The iconic Hello Kitty House is awesome. Parang bumalik ako sa pagkabata nang pumasok kami dito. Everything inside the house is Hello Kitty. Her dining table is something I’d want for my own home. The kitchen is to die for, the huge bath is so relaxing! Pero pinaka-paborito ko ay ang bedroom. Overload of cuteness talaga, pati ang closet niya! It was an advantage that we were there without the usual weekend crowd dahil nalibot namin ang Hello Kitty House nang hindi nagmamadali, at walang traffic sa picture taking sa bawat room. Pagkalabas sa Hello Kitty house, matatapuan ang Wishful Studio. Dito ay maaring mag-manicure ang little girls (much to my Aliya’s excitement), mag-paint ng Hello Kitty shaped cookies that you can eat after, mag-design ng bracelet that’s yours as a souvenir, mag-dress up in Sanrio costumes and magpa-picture. Ang highlight ng aming bisita dito ay ang Happy Carnival Parade. Maganda ang music at costumes ng mga dancers, pero overwhelming makita ang Sanrio characters! Uulitin ko, bumalik talaga ako sa pagkabata! Nakakatuwang makita nang live sina My Melody, yun nga lang ay wala sina Kiki at Lala ng Little Twin Stars. Sobra kong saya nang kunin nila palapit sa Purrrfect Stage ang mga kids, at makatabi’t makasayaw ni Aliya si My Melody. Sa sobrang saya niya, nahiya siyang ngumiti! Maliit lamang ang Hello Kitty Town, kaya’t my oras pa kaming umakyat sa second floor kung saan naroon ang Little Big Club. Ibang klase ang feeling na mapunta sa mga lugar na napapanood lang namin sa DVD… dahil nandito ang igloo ni Pingu, ang ballet studio ni Angelina Ballerina, ang workshop ni Bob the Builder, ang bahay at play yard ni Barney. Sa studio ni Angelina Ballerina, may mga pink tutus and mouse ears na maaring isuot for picture taking purposes. Sa third floor naman ay matatagpuan ang Thomas and Friends. May mga rides na bagay sa kids 3 yrs old to around 9 yrs old. Talagang nag-enjoy si Aliya dito. Isa pa, sinasanay din kasi namin siyang maging matapang sa mga rides and these basic rides are a good place to start. We bought a few stuff sa souvenir shop and waited, hoped and fervently prayed na sana, balikan kami nung driver na nasakyan namin kanina, kahit malayo ito at posibleng wala siyang pasahero papunta dito. Pero hala, we were outside before six and he wasn’t’ there yet. Medyo kinakabahan na kami dahil kung hindi siya babalik, iisang blue cab na lang ang naka-parada sa vicinity. I prayed to God that if our cab driver will indeed go back for us, let him come before another passenger gets this one and only remaining blue cab. By 6:10, we saw one red cab arriving… tiningnan ko agad ang plate number… siya nga! Binalikan nga niya kami! At ni hindi niya binaba ang metro, ni hindi niya kami kinontrata! Sobra talaga naming tuwa at pasalamat kami nang pasalamat sa kanya. Nagsimula lang ang metro nang makasakay na kami! Nagpahatid kami sa hotel and my husband had this brilliant idea to ask if he can pick us up again tomorrow for our Legoland Tour. Aba, pumayag nga at binigay pa ang pangalan at cellphone number niya! Sobra kaming convinced na provision talaga itong si Mr Rahmat ni God! Day 2: The next day, lolo Rahmat (as we dearly call him), was there at the hotel entrance to pick us up. Sabi ko talaga sa husband ko, blessing talaga itong taong ito. Ni hindi namin akalaing magkakaroon kami ng instant personal driver in a foreign land as this… plus point pa na hindi niya kami kinokontrata, hindi kami sinisingil on top of iyong presyong nasa metro at hindi humihingi ng tip! Legoland We got to Legoland at 10:30, around 20 minutes after leaving the hotel. Now this is another dream come true. Just a few months ago I was browsing the net for pictures and reviews about this themepark, and being here finally is wonderful. We came prepared for the hot weather – extra shirts, towels, umbrellas, sneakers, drinking water, wet wipes, fans. The rides were fun and talagang pambata. Hindi scary at all. Again, dahil we were here on a Friday, there wasn’t any crowd. Pinakamatagal na naming pagpila para sa aming turn sa rides is 5 minutes. Paborito ni Aliya ang Wave Racers, dahil added fun sa ride is that fact that we get wet. She also loved the Beetle Bounce. As Aliya put it while trying to stop laughing, “Parang kinikiliti ang tummy ko!” There are also rides na pwedeng mag-isa lang ang bata tulad ng sa Royal Joust at Junior Driving School. May nagtataasan at complicated na roller coaster rides din tulad ng Project X, but we opted not to try it. I guess pinakamalaking area ang occupied ng Miniland. Mga miniature models ng different parts of Asia na puro gawa sa Lego! Dito makikita ang Petronas Tower ng Kuala Lumpur, ang Merlion ng Singapore, ang Wat Arun ng Thailand, ang Taj Mahal sa India, Hoi An ng Vietnam, Angkor Wat ng Cambodia, at ang Bolinao Pangasinan ng Pilipinas. It’s amazing looking at all these works of art. Nakakamanghang isipin na may mga Lego artists na matyagang kinopya ang tunay na itsura ng mga lugar na ito at ginawan ng mini versions all made of Lego! Dahil sa init ng panahon at laki ng lugar, the big lunch we had was well-deserved. The watermelon fruit cup that came with the combo meal was delicious. All the staff were also very friendly and accommodating. Because we still had time, though we hadn’t tried all the rides yet and entered all the attractions particularly the 4d shows, Aliya wanted to go back for the Wave Racers. All in all, she rode it 4 times. The Legoland experience won’t be enough without buying a few souvenirs. Dahil there’s a bit of walking from Legoland through Mall of Medini para makarating sa loading/unloading area, I was praying the whole time habang ako ay naglalakad na sana, babalik nga si Mr. Rahmat. Though part of me was confident he’d be there. Indeed, he was already there, happily chatting with the other drivers! Again, we profusely thanked him and gave him a tip for being an unexpected blessing. He brought us to City Square Mall. We again thanked him and said we’re happy to have met him. As he drove away, teary-eyed talaga ako habang palayo na ang minamaneho niyang cab. We prayed for him habang palayo na siya, including his family, his job and his health. Actually, up to now I still say short prayers for him. In a nutshell, our Malaysia trip was fun-filled and exciting. Aliya’s smile and laughter were priceless, the bonding we had as a family was precious. The memories linger long after we’ve travelled back to Singapore, and back to the Philippines two days after. ***

Loreland Farm Resort - good and not so good points

My daughter loves the water! She's so elated each time she goes swimming, even if it's just in her inflatable swimming pool, or in hotels. But this year, we made it a point that she experience swimming in a resort. Last Holy Week, we booked in Loreland Farm Resort in Antipolo. We got the aircon room as we intend to stay there for two days. Aliya, my daughter was so excited and I can understand why. I'm so happy we went because her laughter was just priceless. However, since we were there on Holy Thursday, I guess the resort staff got a bit overwhelmed that checking in wasn't organized. Good thing I had us reserved two weeks ahead and so getting a room wasn't difficult. We got the room for three adults since we brought the nanny along. Loreland has improved a lot since we last went there. There are a number of swimming pools though most are quite small. The room was averagely clean, though when we first went inside, there were ants on top of the side table. The walls are also thin that we can hardly sleep... because we can hear the closing and opening of doors, the footsteps and the voices of the other guests every two seconds! However, it was all in all a nice experience for my daughter, and that's what made our stay memorable. Room for triple sharing: Php3,500 Lunch at the Verde Restaurant: Around Php700 (Kare-kare, stuffed squid, rice, bottled water) Dinner: Rice in a bucket, around P60 each. Breakfast: Sotanghon, suman, around Php150 for 4 pax. Snacks: very affordable at less than Php per person depends on what you order at the numerous food stalls inside the resort.

When I was thinking of summer activities for my daughter, I was gearing towards enrolling her in Kumon and in a swimming class. Until close friend Jacque told me about McDonald's Kiddie Crew workshop. I just excited right away since I know it's going to be a fun, new venture for my 5 yr old daughter. She has actually no idea what it is but I signed her up anyway. When I got home, I told her and explained to her what's in store for her. On her first day, she got assigned to make the Coke Floats and to man the condiments section, and was later stationed to the Pick-up area of the Drive Thru. Second day she assisted in the cashier and manned the Coke Float machine. Today she helped in serving the orders and putting fries in paper bags at the take-out counter. She also helped arrange the trays and put the tray liners. It's her third day as a Kiddie Crew today and she's having LOTS of fun! She looks forward to her "job" every day and has lots of stories to tell after every session. I commend McDo for coming up with such an enriching experience for kids such as this. I wonder why Jollibee hasn't come up with something like this, considering this workshop has been going on for years! Glad to be able to enlist her in this summer activity. Kudos to McDonald's!

Today is "Me Day"

Been wanting to have some me-time since last week. I've planned to watch Snow White and the Huntsman but it always gets postponed for 3 times due to meetings and brainstormings. Finally able to get away from work today. In the morning, I went to my husband's office' clinic for my Pneumonia vaccine, then proceeded to Megamall for some retail therapy and yes, watched a movie. This post is not going to be a review though... just want to share that I enjoyed my "day-off" hehe.

Next Level

How fast time flies! My daughter will be entering Kindergarten this June! We're going to the same school, and she's excited to see her classmates from last year. It helps that there are only 11 of them in the afternoon class, she got to bond with each of them well. Although two of them are transferring to the morning class, but her best friend Simone is still with her in the afternoon batch. Romy suggested Aliya skip Prep next year, and go straight to Grade 1... given that the K-12 is now being implemented. Thus, I decided not to buy new sets of uniforms anymore, as they still fit. She gained alot of weight during summer, but they still fit just the same. I attended the Parents Orientation yesterday and saw lots of new faces, clueless faces, hopefull faces, obssesed faces (haha!) of parents of new students. Can't blame them, I was like that last year, and will surely be like that again for the countless other adventures that Aliya will go through in years to come.

Dark Shadows

I am not a fan of horror flicks. Though I once wrote scripts for a total of three TV shows that are horror in genre, but I am not drawn to watching them on the big screen. I however, got intrigued with the latest Johnny Depp starrer, Dark Shadows. So I took time out today, a Monday, to watch the earliest screening in Robinsons Metro East. All in all, it was entertaining. The synopsis was simple, it could've been the seed concept of a show I could write in the future. Watching it was fun... but that was it. It's not like it will boggle your mind, or keep you interested in the storytelling for so long. The visuals are the part that will keep you entertained, and the acting of Johnny, too. Though the script may not be fantastic, I can say I liked it still.

And She Indeed Returned

Late January of this year, our all around maid/yaya of 3 yrs has told me she's leaving for good to be able to continue her studies in the province. We got a replacement, who isn't at par when it comes to nanny-ing, but is hardworking and cooks well. However, our old-time maid/yaya, named Ate Ruby texted me and wanted to come back. Last Thursday, she indeed kept her promise and came back! My daughter was so happy and I am, too. God really works behind the scenes. He knows how we want to keep Ate Ruby and He orchestrated things and situations in our favor. Our household has somehow gone back to its normal routine again. :)

A Relaxing Weekend, Thank You, Lord!

I have been clamoring for a weekend getaway since a couple of months ago. But since I am maid-less, the list of things to do and errands to run seem unending. I know that an out of town trip is close to impossible, since May is a buys month for my hubby and his team at work, so maybe a dip in a hotel's pool would suffice. When I saw the deal in ensogo on Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern, I got interested. Although I haven't heard of the hotel before, the location won me over. It's only barely 40 minutes away from our place, and I haven't shopped in Greenhills for almost half a year now. It would be like hitting two birds, actually three birds with one stone - a weekend getaway, Aliya to be able to swim, and me to be able to shop. The deal was tempting, only Php2699 for a night, with buffet breakfast for two. Kids 12 yrs old and below are free. After thinking about it, I got my credit card and purchased a voucher. We booked last week, and checked in last Saturday. Aliya was so giggly about the idea, since she's such a fan of hotels. Her first New Year's Eve was spent in Astoria Plaza, her third was in Astoria, two. There were times when we just wanted a quick get-away and we checked in at Richmonde Hotel, or Linden, or even Go, and of course, the hotels we've been to in a few countries. If other kids are called "water babies," Aliya might be considered a "hotel baby?" Hehe, I'm not even sure if there's such a word. Anyway, since we're all there to relax and not think of anything, we decided to remain stress-free... and thank God it's been a stress-free stay indeed. Everything was well provided for, the staff are accommodating, the room is spacious, clean and modern, and housekeeping attendants are swift to attend to our requests. Though the kiddie pool was quite small, Aliya enjoyed it just the same. But she loved the jacuzzi more and spent more time there on our second day. Buffet was good enough, the linens are smooth and inviting, the phone lines to the lobby are never busy. The only thing I didn't like was there wasn't any airconditioning system in the hallways. When our keycard didnt work, I had to go downstairs to speak to the receptionist because there were no emergency phone lines atop the hallway console table. Anyway, it was a nice experience all in all. Romy and I got our retail therapy at the Greenhills tiangge, Aliya enjoyed swimming, and we had a good night's sleep. To God be the glory!!!

She Shall Return

Almost a couple of months ago, I ranted about my all around maid's decision to resign and stay for good in her province so she can pursue her secondary education. Yes, she stopped studying after elementary and worked as a maid here in Manila. I was, I think, her 4th employer. Anyway, she was with us for 3 years, being reliable and responsible, and because my daughter loves her, I was terribly hurt when she told me about her decision. Last April, she packed her things and left. We bid her goodbye and sent prayers and wellwishes, and we hired another maid as replacement. However, she texted two weeks ago and told me looks like she's not going to enroll after all. She realized she needed to work, and that she's no longer used to life in the province. To make the long story short, I sent her bus and boat fare yesterday, and now she's purchased the tickets going back to Manila. She's leaving their province on the 23rd, and she'll be here with us again the next day. God works in mysterious ways, and His plans are higher than ours, indeed. :)

Officially a Superwoman

I intentionally woke up a bit late today, at around 8:20am. And instantly, the list of things to do started filling my thought bubble. Barely a few minutes after I stretched my body to wake up my senses, Aliya woke up with full blown energy. Energy to talk, to gigil, to play, to swim, to do all the things I need maximum energy to do! Hmmm, this is going to be another day when I need to be a super hero, again, haha! So even if we havent even washed our faces and brushed our teeth, she insisted we start our drawing lessons (we have different activities everyday). After 30 minutes, I told her we need to go downstairs so we can gargle and I could prepare breakfast. During breakfast, and while my mental list of tasks are lingering over my head, Aliya is making known to me her own things to do list for the day. I have grown a bit used to this, multitasking, sacrificing alot of things I WANTED to do, and prioritizing things I have no choice but to prioritize. I'm just so glad I am a work at home mom, because I cannot imagine leaving Aliya's day to day activities to a nanny. Being a proactive parent, I always see to it that in the midst of laundry and dishes and endless other chores around the house, not to mention the errands outside and my career as a scriptwriter, of course, I still provide Aliya with the proper and enough and age-appropriate stimulation that she needs for a balanced and fulfilled childhood.

25 Ways to Talk So Children Will Listen

I love reading other people's blogs, especially the informative, inspiring and encouraging ones. And this is one of those that struck me big time. Thanks to my fellow n@wie Meng who posted this in our yahoogroup. Here's the link by the way: http://www.askdrsea rs.com/topics/ discipline- behavior/ 25-ways-talk- so-children- will-listen A major part of discipline is learning how to talk with children. The way you talk to your child teaches him how to talk to others. Here are some talking tips we have learned with our children: 1. Connect Before You Direct Before giving your child directions, squat to your child's eye level and engage your child in eye-to-eye contact to get his attention. Teach him how to focus: "Mary, I need your eyes." "Billy, I need your ears." Offer the same body language when listening to the child. Be sure not to make your eye contact so intense that your child perceives it as controlling rather than connecting. 2. Address The Child Open your request with the child's name, "Lauren, will you please..." 3. Stay Brief We use the one-sentence rule: Put the main directive in the opening sentence. The longer you ramble, the more likely your child is to become parent-deaf. Too much talking is a very common mistake when dialoging about an issue. It gives the child the feeling that you're not quite sure what it is you want to say. If she can keep you talking she can get you sidetracked. 4. Stay Simple Use short sentences with one-syllable words. Listen to how kids communicate with each other and take note. When your child shows that glazed, disinterested look, you are no longer being understood. 5. Ask Your Child to Repeat the Request Back to You If he can't, it's too long or too complicated. 6. Make an offer the child can't refuse You can reason with a two or three-year-old, especially to avoid power struggles. "Get dressed so you can go outside and play." Offer a reason for your request that is to the child's advantage, and one that is difficult to refuse. This gives her a reason to move out of her power position and do what you want her to do. 7. Be Positive Instead of "no running," try: "Inside we walk, outside you may run." 8. Begin your Directives With "I want." Instead of "Get down," say "I want you to get down." Instead of "Let Becky have a turn," say "I want you to let Becky have a turn now." This works well with children who want to please but don't like being ordered. By saying "I want," you give a reason for compliance rather than just an order. 9. "When...Then. " "When you get your teeth brushed, then we'll begin the story." "When your work is finished, then you can watch TV." "When," which implies that you expect obedience, works better than "if," which suggests that the child has a choice when you don't mean to give him one. 10. Legs First, Mouth Second Instead of hollering, "Turn off the TV, it's time for dinner!" walk into the room where your child is watching TV, join in with your child's interests for a few minutes, and then, during a commercial break, have your child turn off the TV. Going to your child conveys you're serious about your request; otherwise children interpret this as a mere preference. 11. Give Choices "Do you want to put your pajamas on or brush your teeth first?" "Red shirt or blue one?" 12. Speak Developmentally Correctly The younger the child, the shorter and simpler your directives should be. Consider your child's level of understanding. For example, a common error parents make is asking a three-year- old, "Why did you do that?" Most adults can't always answer that question about their behavior. Try instead, "Let's talk about what you did." 13. Speak Socially Correctly Even a two-year-old can learn "please." Expect your child to be polite. Children shouldn't feel manners are optional. Speak to your children the way you want them to speak to you. 14. Speak Psychologically Correctly Threats and judgmental openers are likely to put the child on the defensive. "You" messages make a child clam up. "I" messages are non-accusing. Instead of "You'd better do this..." or "You must...," try "I would like...." or "I am so pleased when you..." Instead of "You need to clear the table," say "I need you to clear the table." Don't ask a leading question when a negative answer is not an option. "Will you please pick up your coat?" Just say, "Pick up your coat, please." 15. Write It Reminders can evolve into nagging so easily, especially for preteens who feel being told things puts them in the slave category. Without saying a word you can communicate anything you need said. Talk with a pad and pencil. Leave humorous notes for your child. Then sit back and watch it happen. 16. Talk The Child Down The louder your child yells, the softer you respond. Let your child ventilate while you interject timely comments: "I understand" or "Can I help?" Sometimes just having a caring listener available will wind down the tantrum. If you come in at his level, you have two tantrums to deal with. Be the adult for him. 17. Settle The Listener Before giving your directive, restore emotional equilibrium, otherwise you are wasting your time. Nothing sinks in when a child is an emotional wreck. 18. Replay Your Message Toddlers need to be told a thousand times. Children under two have difficulty internalizing your directives. Most three- year-olds begin to internalize directives so that what you ask begins to sink in. Do less and less repeating as your child gets older. Preteens regard repetition as nagging. 19. Let Your Child Complete The Thought Instead of "Don't leave your mess piled up," try: "Matthew, think of where you want to store your soccer stuff." Letting the child fill in the blanks is more likely to create a lasting lesson. 20. Use Rhyme Rules "If you hit, you must sit." Get your child to repeat them. 21. Give Likable Alternatives You can't go by yourself to the park; but you can play in the neighbor's yard. 22. Give Advance Notice "We are leaving soon. Say bye-bye to the toys, bye-bye to the girls…" 23. Open Up a Closed Child Carefully chosen phrases open up closed little minds and mouths. Stick to topics that you know your child gets excited about. Ask questions that require more than a yes or no. Stick to specifics. Instead of "Did you have a good day at school today?" try "What is the most fun thing you did today?" 24. Use "When You…I Feel…Because…" When you run away from mommy in the store I feel worried because you might get lost. 25. Close The Discussion If a matter is really closed to discussion, say so. "I'm not changing my mind about this. Sorry." You'll save wear and tear on both you and your child. Reserve your "I mean business" tone of voice for when you do.

I Miss Baguio

My childhood has lots of wonderful memories of Baguio. That's why when I was choosing a UP campus when I was applying for college, I wrote the Baguio campus of the University of the Philippines as my first choice. I was ecstatic when I passed. Thus, I spent the first one and a half years of my college life in Baguio, but because I got bored with Journalism and realized I wanted to pursue Film Making, I transferred to UP Diliman. But I kept going back to Baguio even after that. I even wrote a show where we had a week's worth of episodes shot in Baguio. My co-writer Andrew and I went up and enjoyed a Baguio vacation for free. Shortly before I got married, my family and then fiance spent a weekend there and that was it. That was the last time I was there. This summer, with all the activities and visitors coming over, I couldn't squeeze in even just two days of Baguio. I long to go there even for a weekend, I hope I get to visit the city of Pines and introduce it to my daughter this summer.

I Miss Me

Summer is halfway through and if I am to summarize what's it been about so far, it's been about juggling my time between household chores and Aliya's ballet lessons. I don't want to think I made the wrong decision of enrolling her in ballet, it's just that the schedule being spread out during the entire week kept me from doing something else. Maybe also because I was the sole guardian who brings her to school (we ride the school bus)and waits for her for almost two hours in a not so conducive waiting area... the waiting and the heat are taking a toll on me. There used to be Ate Ruby who accompanies her to school but now it's solely me. What's happening now is I just tend to squeeze in what other things I need to do on the times and days that I am not attending to the needs and schedule of Aliya and Romy. The past week, too, has been quite of a circus in the house, because Romy's 3 nieces and sister stayed for a few days. Don't get me wrong, I like that Aliya has playmates in the house and that she's always busy entertaining and socializing, but the fact remains that I am not used to having alot of people in the house, so that's another adjustment that I had to make. Romy's weekends had been and is still is packed with appointments, so I end up the one making way, adjusting, and compromising. I long for the normal and quiet weeks again, I long for a reliable helper again, I long for more time for myself again, when I don't have to always be in a rush doing things that I love because I need to wash the dishes, or prepare dinner, or entertain guests, or (gasp!) iron the clothes! Most of all, I want to find myself again, the relaxed, creative me. Not the harassed, pressured and always-in-a-rush me.

A Surprisingly Guiltless Afternoon

I made a self-imposed Me-Time yesterday. Partly it was an act of rebellion because of something stressful happening in my life lately. I dropped everything and didn't give a damn. I tried to focus on what I want to do without thinking of my obligations. Believe me, I haven't done this in years and I am a super responsible adult, but there are times, like yesterday, when I just want to be selfish. And so I left the house, went to the mall, bought stuff I want to buy for myself without thinking of pasalubong for anybody, and spent 2 hours inside the moviehouse watching The Avengers. It was a good choice because the guys entertained me big time. I like the stunts, the dialogue were witty, the action was superb, and Incredible Hulk turned out to be unintentionally and unexpectedly funny. When the movie and my mall time was over, I went back home and went back to my chores and obligations without feeling a bit guilty.

Clumsiness

When I was younger, I knew someone in my class who was always bumping into things, spilling liquids accidentally, tripping all over the place... all the time. I remember how irritated I was being around that classmate of mine. When I was working as a junior copywriter, there was a senior copywriter with receding hairline and was single at 30plus years old and was of the same personality as my classmate years ago. Everyday at the office he'd be tripping and bumping and spilling, much to everybody's dismay. But I knew that there was no one more dismayed as I was. I find clumsiness repulsive and a major turn off. This week, I am, with no choice, around someone who, at a very very early age is displaying bouts of clumsiness. And the sad thing is, her mother does not even mind that her daughter is causing trouble, mess and well, ok, repulse in me. Ugh!

Human Nature Products

Been reading about Human Nature products from my yahoogroup for some time now. It's nice to know that there's a dealer just five minutes away from my place. Thus, I tried looking for their store and spent more than Php1,000.00 solely on their products in just one afternoon. I bought the famous Sunflower Beauty Oil, Kids Shampoo and Body Wash ( Tangering Tarsier), Feminine Wash, their Sanitizer Sprays (Juicy, Candy Cane, Bubble Gum), Deodorant (Aloe Vera) and Moisturizing Conditioner. I have yet to see if the Sunflower Oil is as effective as people say it is. Will update you soon, guys!

Malee Veggie Juice

My husband and I have been trying for months to eat healthy as much as possible. We've stopped buying cases of softdrinks, we've limited our intake of processed and canned goods, we try to minimize pork and innards in our diet, and when I cook, I opt for iodized salt instead of the very convenient powdered instant seasonings. I also bought this Malunggay Powder from the supermarket area of SM Megamall, which you can add on just about everything, and try to always remember to mix a teaspoon of it to our dishes. Two Sundays ago, while doing the groceries in Robinsons Galleria, I came across a booth giving out free samples of this veggie juice with Malee as its brand. I liked the taste of the 100% Veggie variety but I bought a carton of the carrot-papaya variety. Last Sunday we bought the Veggie variety and we liked the taste more than the first purchase. The label says it's 100 percent vegetable juice and that there's no sugar added. Since Robinsons Place Cainta's supermarket does not carry this juice in its shelves, I might as well buy in bulk whenever we're in Galleria... hoping this gives us the vegetable requirement we need for a healthier lifestyle.

I am dead tired of multitasking. Seriously. With the all around maid gone for almost a month now, I am never finished with household chores, baby sitting chores, and work deadlines. I don't mind the deadlines, but I hope someone else is there other than my husband to tend to the house. I hate washing clothes and ironing them, cleaning the loo and tidying the house. Ugh!

Not much 3d in Titanic in 3d

My husband and I watched the Titanic in 3d last Saturday, out of curiosity, actually. I was the one who's really interested because the film, and everything about it interests me alot, even when I was younger, even the first time I saw the movie. We left Aliya with my mom and sister while we went on this "date."

Sta Lucia Grand Mall was the nearest to our place that has it on its screening list. And with less traffic, I chose it over Robinson's Metro East. We caught the 2:40PM screening. It costs P275 each and each ticket comes with either free popcorn and drinks. Being mababaw that I am, I was happy.

Hmm, of course the film elicited the same moving effect on us, maybe more. It made me realize how perfect both Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet are for the roles, how charming and engaging they both were, and how proud James Cameron must be about his masterpiece.

However, it only took a few minutes into the movie for me to conclude that there's not much difference with the 2d and this 3d version. Sure, the intention was well meaning, the Titanic's sinking being exactly 100 years ago, but its being 3d isn't fantastic.

But just the same, I'm still fan and will always be.

Unlimited Soup and Salad

Some deals can be really good. I like groupon sites, ensogo especially, since I have purchased some really sulit deals from them and never had a problem. But one of the nice deals we always avail of is the unlimited soup and salad buffet of Cravings Restaurant. When you buy any of their main dishes, you can go back and consume of their soups and salads nonstop. In this age of unhealthy fastfood eating, what Cravings offers is not only sulit, but healthy, too.

Mr Choi and Delicious Kitchen by Eat Well

I'll never pass by Mr Choi and Delicious Kitchen without remembering Papa. Actually, I'll never be able to look at a Chinese restaurant without thinking of my father, the late Ka Ming Po Lam. He's a good judge whether a dish is prepared the authentic Chinese way or not.

On second thought, I'll never be able to eat without remembering him, because he's the one who gave me the love of really good food.

Sigh, I miss papa so much.

Mommy, I Want to Watch Mama Mia!

So I've been blogging about Aliya's penchant for watching the same movies over and over again. Today she woke up and just suddenly wanted to watch my DVD of Mama Mia (starring Meryll Streep). Since I need her to stop following me while I do household chores, I said yes.

Oh my, it's so aliw to see her so into the musical numbers! She'd rewind them over and over and dance with the music! Most times she'd even choreograph dance steps by herself! It took me a long time though to get her to go to the bath and prepare for church. The whole day she was humming Mama Mia and Dancing Queen!

Hmmm, looks like my daughter's into musicals!

Easter Monday, Oops!

I've stuffed the plastic easter eggs with treats already last Friday because I know I won't be able to do it on Saturday, but because it's been a hectic weekend, I haven't had the time to hide them for Aliya to hunt down. Hmmm, looks like it's gonna be an Easter Egg hunting activity on a Monday this year.

She gotta go to bed now so I can place the eggs in strategic places around the house. Ho-hum, and I'm the one who's already sooo sleepy!

The new baby dillema

Before this blog's title gets misinterpreted, let me tell you right off that I AM NOT PREGNANT. But it's been bugging me for months, for almost a year, if we should try for another baby or not. I am in my late 30's and is not as energetic as I was in my earlier years. I've posted about this and asked my n@wie sisters for their opinion, but of course, the final decision lies on me and Romy.

You see, there are alot of factors to be considered. Finances, physical ability, health, work, conditions at work among some. We live a very comfortable life now, but I'm afraid that if I get pregnant, I can't spend late night working and writing scripts. And I know myself, I write better at night, or early in the morning. But how can I do that if I'm not allowed to be puyat, plus the fact that I don't have a maid now.

Aliya, though has been asking for a baby sister for months now, on and off. I keep buying her na lang baby dolls (from the expensive ones like Baby Alive, to the not so-dear ones), basta baby doll. She loves taking care of them, but also tells me that when we have na a real baby in the house, she'll be in charge of baby-sitting.

Oh, I don't know! I know myself kasi, I'm not the energetic type, and I don't know if I can still pull off the late nights, breastfeeding, burping, nappy changes, and of course, yung pregnancy mismo.

God, please send us your wisdom in the next few weeks.

Over and Over

I know for a fact that kids thrive on routine, and that when they're fond of something, they tend to do it over and over again, like watching a specific cartoon and/or movie.

A couple of months back she watches The Sound of Music almost everyday, all 3 discs of the VCD set. Then she moved onto watching The Little Rascals. In between she'd watch our copy of Sineskwela and Epol, Apol.

I observed though that she's not much into Lion King, E.T, and Angelina Ballerina. I wonder what she'll spend time on in the next weeks.

May I also mention that there was a time when she was hooked on Tom and Jerry, because it's playing almost the whole day on Cartoon Network! Ugh! It indeed affected her mood swings and her temper! True that when a kid stays glued on TV, and on something violent, he/she tends to be more short tempered and moody. Thank God she obeyed (with much effort, though), when I told her she can't watch Tom and Jerry anymore.

It's Sinking In...

Tomorrow, our yaya of 3 years is leaving. And it's finally sinking in. Not that I didn't see it coming, but now that she's leaving in less than 18 hours, it's making me realize how much adjustments we have to go through in the house. You see, she's not just a nanny, but also a bit of an all-around. She doesn't do everything at home, though because I am a WAHM (work-at-home-mom) and I also do some chores, but it's still different and more convenient if there's someone else I can ask to do the chores I don't like doing. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

Holy Week 2012

For this year, we just intend to stay home, visit some relatives perhaps, and go to Tagaytay on Black Saturday. I look forward to spending time with my family, watch a movie with a bucket of popcorn, do a little "spring" cleaning (though I've started some major cleaning and organizing since last week), and just lounge around.

The fact that the all around maid is leaving tomorrow is sinking in. :(

Undecided

Because of all the positive reviews I've been hearing about Kumon, we decided to attend the orientation and had Aliya take the diagnostic test. We were enlightened today during the orientation, but are still undecided if we should go for it. I don't want to cramp Aliya's schedule with so much activities lest she gets stressed so early in life.

Not closing our doors yet, we have a few more days to decide.

Easter Egg Hunting Activities 2012 (from Smart Parenting website)

Where to Go Easter Egg Hunting this 2012 (Metro Manila)
from Smart Parenting website

Where to Go Easter Egg Hunting this 2012
We round up where you can have some egg hunting fun as we celebrate Easter.

PASIG

Egg-Citing Easter Weekend at Fun Ranch

Date: April 8
Address: Frontera Verde, Ortigas Avenue corner C-5, Pasig City and Alabang
Time: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Ortigas) and 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. (Alabang)
Price: P250 for adults and P500 for the children two to 10 years old (inclusive
of snacks, loot bags, games, etc.)

For more information, visit www.kidsrulehere.com or Fun Ranch's Facebook page,
or call (02)706-3029 or (02)706-3031.

Easter Break Escape at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas

Date: April 8
Address: 17 Orchard Road, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Price: Enjoy the Easter Sunday Lunch & Dinner Buffet for only P1,580 nett per
person. Children 5 years old and below get to eat for free.

At Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, enjoy the Barbecue Lunch Buffet starting at P1,200
nett for adults, P600 nett for children six to 12 years old and P300 nett for
toddlers five years old and below. Rates inclusive of tickets to the Easter
Kiddie Party after lunch.

For more information, call (02) 570-7777 (Eastwood) or 638-7777 (Ortigas), or
visit www.richmondehotel.com.

MANDALUYONG

Easter Wonderland at Edsa Shangri-La Manila

Date: April 8
Address: 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City
Venue: Isla Ballroom
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Price: P1,350 (inclusive of service charge and taxes)
Activities: Face painting, egg-shaped cookie decorating, Easter egg hunt, arts
and crafts, egg relay, special performances, games, etc.

For more information, visit Edsa Shangri-La's Facebook page , call (02)633-8888
local 2895 or e-mail events.esl@....

MAKATI

Underwater Egg Hunt at the Peninsula

Date: April 8
Address: Corner of Ayala and Makati Avenue, Makati City
Venue: Rigodon Ballroom
Price: Enjoy the Easter Bruch Buffet at the Lobby for P1,200 per child,
inclusive of a ticket to the Easter activities
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Activities: Egg painting, face painting, balloon twisting, photo booth, ice
cream station
Egg hunt schedule:
12:30 to 1 p.m. - 4-6 years old
1:30 to 2 p.m. - 1-3 years old
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. - 7 to 12 years old

For more information, call (02)887-2888 local 6630 or e-mail pmn@....

Enchanted Fantasy Land at Makati Shangri-La

Date: April 8
Address: Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
Activities: Children's buffet, hair braiding, glitter tattoo, balloon twisting,
magic show, glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt
Price: P1,000 nett for adults and P700 nett for children (inclusive of
children's buffet)

For more information, call (02)840-0884 or e-mail rric.slm@....

PASAY

Easter Eggcitement at Marriott Hotel Manila

Date: April 4
Address: No. 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, 1309 Pasay City
Venue: Grand Ballroom
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Price: P500 nett (inclusive of activities, souvenirs, loot bag, etc.)
Activities: Egg hunting, egg painting, magic show, face painting, etc.

For more information, visit Marriott Hotel Manila's Facebook page or call
(02)988-9999.

MANILA

Easter Egg Hunt Adventure at the Manila Hotel

Date: April 8
Address: One Rizal Park, Manila
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (buffet and activities)
Price: P1,000 per person (inclusive of Easter Sunday kiddie buffet, face
painting, magic and clown bubble show)

For more information, visit www.manila-hotel.com.ph or call (02)527-0011 local
1260 to 62.

ALABANG

Lost in Wonderland at Acacia Hotel

Date: April 8
Address: 5400 East Asia Drive corner Commerce Avenue, Filinvest Corporate City,
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Price: P950 nett per adult and free for children below two years old
Activities: Face painting, arts and crafts, mini golf, inflatable castle, parlor
games, surprise show, mascot appearance, Easter egg hunting, loot bag, souvenirs

For more information, visit www.acaciahotelsmanila.com, call (02)720-2000 or
(02)588-5888 or e-mail enquiry@....

Egg-Citing Easter Weekend at Fun Ranch

Date: April 8
Address: Li'l Fun Ranch, Westgate, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Price: P250 for adults and P500 for the children two to 10 years old (inclusive
of snacks, loot bags, games, etc.)

For more information, visit www.kidsrulehere.com, visit Fun Ranch's Facebook
page or call (02)706-3029 or (02)706-3031.

Hikin' and Campin' Easter at the Bellevue

Date: April 8
Address: The Bellevue Manila, North Bridgeway, Filinvest Corporate City,
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Venue: Tower Ballroom
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Price: P700 nett (inclusive of activities, games, snacks buffet, souvenirs and
loot bag)

For more information, visit www.thebellevue.com, call (02)771-8181 or text
0917-8718181 or 0918-8718181.

Overload of Cuteness with Lorax

And so last Monday, Aliya and I went to watch Lorax at Robinson's Galleria. I kinda know already what to expect, but I still was wary if she'd sit through the whole film since it's mostly environmental. it helped that one of their lessons in Science in school was how to take care of the environment... she was able to grasp the message of the story alright.

But what I think really grabbed her attention, being a child, was the overload of cute creatures and cinematography. Nobody really looked scary, even the villains O'Hare and his two men in black don't look scary at all. Once-ler was fine looking even if they tried to hide his appearance during the first part of the movie.

All in all, it was a nice experience, a fun Monday morning for the two of us. We went to eat baked mac after and she had a dose of her favorite dessert, frozen yoghurt.

It's always nice to share special moments with my kid. I know she'll one day look back to these times that we just lounge around and bond like best friends do.

The First Ballerina In the Family

When I was younger, it never occurred to me to take ballet lessons. Though I was relatively mahinhin when I was a child, but ballet never interests me. I remember watching a ballet recital as part of a writing gig, but even if I enjoyed the show, I know it wasn't for me.

Thus, it is somehow a bit of a surprise when early on, Aliya kept saying she wants to study ballet. She's interested in books about ballerinas and enjoys watching the ballet troupe in her school during their presentations.

And so for this summer, we decided to enroll her in ballet class. I paid the tuition today in KILA and went straight to the mall to buy her a set of ballet outfit, complete with ballet shoes. I was tempted to buy another set, but wanted to make sure of the size first.

She put on her outfit as soon as I got home this afternoon from the mall, and boy, she indeed looks sooo cute! Can't wait for her actual lessons to start!

Will a 4 yr old Appreciate The Lorax Movie?

Planning to bring Aliya to a movie this week... will the Lorax be a good choice? Or should we go watch The Muppets?

... thinking thinking...

Kopiko's Kopiccino

I like the taste of Kopiko Brown Sugar Coffee. Since I discovered it a few years ago, I always make sure we have enough stock at home. The Black coffee variety which, if I'm not mistaken, they labeled "Astig", is too strong for me.

Then last month I found they have a new variety, which is the Kopiccino. It's quite a witty name, and a brilliant idea. Plus the fact that each sachet comes with Choco Granules makes it all the more interesting. I like the froth it creates.

Since then, it's always been my coffee every morning, as well as by late afternoon whenever I need a little perk-me-up.

My Little Playroom in Sta Lucia Mall

We've only been there a couple of times. So far. I intend to bring Aliya there more often since first, I know she enjoys playing with the stuff there, second, because I myself like the ambience. I like huge spaces, and the size of the playroom is big enough for lots of kids. The toys are new and not of low quality. The toys talaga ang pinaka-reason why I like Aliya playing there.

We've been to a few play areas in different malls, and what SOME of them offer are low quality toys. Mga sira na, luma, kadiri na ang itsura. My Little Playroom's selection of toys are clean, too. They have areas for fine motor skills-play, as well as areas for big movements like running, shooting balls, riding and slides.

Weekday rate for an hour is P140, for 30 minutes is P90. Weekend/Holiday rate is P160, and half an hour on weekends is P100.

Mama's In Hongkong!

Happy for my mom. It's her first time abroad. Today, she and my younger sister left for Hongkong for a short vacation with my aunt, my cousins and nephews.

I'm happy that Mama is able to enjoy her life and be relaxed now. I know she's happy taking care of and loving Papa all throughout their marriage, and even when he was already sick... I know that even if it was difficult, Mama still finds it an honor to be of service to him.

But now that Papa is gone, we're trying to make Mama's life easier and stress-free. Glad that she's finally able to make this vacation a reality. Plus the fact that I promised Papa that I'll have Mama go to Hongkong for some rest and recreation. I know Pa's happy for her, too.

Summer Ballet Lessons

Aliya has been exposed to ballets and the concept of ballerinas through books and school events. So this summer, it's been decided, that amidst the many choices of workshops her school, Kids International Learning Academy is offering, we'd go for ballet.

I went to Sta Lucia with her a few weeks back and checked their schedule of classes and fee. Lumalabas it's still cheaper in Kila, plus Aliya's familiar with the environment na. Come Monday, I'm gonna enroll her na for ballet class. Yay!

Yahoo! Aliya Gets Lots of Awards!

It's Aliya's first year in school, and already, she bagged FIVE awards!

It was their Moving Up Day last Saturday and I was so excited I couldn't sleep the night before. I was more excited than her, partly because I'm so looking forward to watching them in their 1950's production number, and also I was stressing myself because I am in charge of her hair and make up. Yup, I decided against hiring someone professional to fix her hair do (50's style), and put on her make up.

We had a Hair and Make up trial last thursday, not really to prep her up, but to put me in gear. hehe. I wanted to see if I can make it. Aliya was all giggly when I put on rollers, especially when I started putting on make up on her. Lipsticks always intrigued her, and so when she found out my lip gloss actually tastes like watermelon, all the more she started giggling. So cute!

And so the day came, a Saturday and I was up very early. I made sure everything is ready. By 8am, we're ready to fix her up. Well, congrats to me because I was the one who designed her dress, and her hair and make up blended so well! Yiheee!

But the highlight of the day was during the awarding! She got 5 awards, all of them I wasn't expecting!

Here are her awards: Best in Math, First Placer in Coloring Contest, Second Placer in Penmanship Contest, Science Smart, and Most Thoughtful!

Woot! Woot! Congrats, dear Aliya! We are so very proud of you!!!

Magnum, Anyone?

So after so much raves from friends and acquaintances about this newest product from Selecta called Magnum, I finally gave it a try. I like chocolates and ice cream, i like Pinipig Crunch even as a little girl. But maybe it was just me, but I find Magnum too rich for me!

I tried the Almond flavor since I am a fan of almonds in all its forms. Too rich and huge that halfway through the bar, I couldn't finish it!

It might take me another month before I'll try another bar.

A Trip to Manila Zoo and Luneta Park

Because my husband and I are committed to being pro-active parents who provide healthy, educational and fun experiences for Aliya, we brought her to see the animals at the Manila Zoo yesterday. She had fun watching the animals, observing their behavior, especially how they play. She particularly liked to linger at the monkeys' area to watch the playful creatures tinker with a pvc pipe, and waddle at their (dirty) pool. How the tigers fought over a piece of bone amazed her, as well.

She used to be afraid of riding the swing. But yesterday, she rode it and didnt want to leave unless we told her we'll go boat riding. She's been insisting on riding the boat even before we had lunch, and kept on nagging us about it until after we ate. This, in itself is proof that she's overcome her fears, as she used to be wary of moving things like the swing and the boat. Taking charge of the paddling gave her a sense of fulfillment and pride, even if it was actually the bankero who kept our boat mobile.

We had our pictures taken with birds all over us, three of them perched on our shoulders, and three of them on our fingers, and even if I know Aliya was a bit wary, she overcome her fear and posed for the photos just the same. Same thing with the giant snake. If this was three months ago, she'd probably not want to even look at the snake, but yesterday, she was so game about the pictorial as long as daddy takes charge of the head's neck and head. The snake rested on Aliya's lap, and its tail was on my lap.

After 3 and a half hours in Manila Zoo, we went impromptu to Luneta Park. She's been familiar with Jose Rizal as early as last year. We had a book on Rizal lying in the house, and both Romy and I have Rizal shirts. We thought it would interest her to see the diorama of the national hero, and she indeed was. She had fun looking, touching, learning about Rizal's life and death, as we taught her what the diorama was depicting. It makes us feel fulfilled to be able to expose her to these things as early as now. I know we are investing in her development, character building and intellect. Going to the mall every week is fun, but it gets routinary, boring and predictable after some time. Places such as the zoo and Rizal park are places where learning can be fun for her.

I am thankful for giving me a husband who shares my desire to be proactive in rearing Aliya. And I'm grateful for having a child who's curious, interested and healthy like her. But most of all, we praise God for giving us the health, the ability and the resources to be able to provide these things to our daughter.

New Cabinets and Drawers

In September 2010, we had hanging cabinets installed all over the house. After we've filled up those cabinets with our ever-increasing stuff, we realized we havent installed enough! so i thought we might have to get this project over and done with while the helper is still around, so I won't be too overwhelmed with all the things I need to attend to, especially the cleaning part.

We contacted a carpenter and he made the measurements yesterday. Waiting for the quote which should be arriving either tonight or tomorrow. Can't wait to have the new developments installed in our house!

So glad to be able to afford these renovations and improvements. Thank you Lord for the provision, as well as the foresight, that we need to do this before we're left with no helper.

Fair-Happy

Aside from being someone who's shutter happy, I, too, am fair-happy. I mean, I like visiting fairs or bazaars. Just last Friday, I went to the Shoes and Bags Fair at the Megatrade Hall. I was able to purchase 5 pairs for Aliya. Sandals, sneakers, school shoes, slip-ons, and dress shoes. Brands like Chicco, Pitter Pat, Barbie, Disney, Myspace, among others have really good deals and selections.

Even if I intended to buy a pair or two for me, I came out of the fair not being able to buy anything for myself. Haha! Naubusan na ng gana after being hyper from my purchases for my daughter. I also wanted to buy bags, and at some point, almost bought one luggage. But I wasnt sure of the brand, and since I'd just be commuting, I was intimidated by the fact that I'd have to haul it all the way to where the FXs to Cainta are.

But all in all, I was happy with my purchases. :)

Pinoy Wedding Checklist

Planning for my wedding in 2005 was one of the most exciting, challenging and meticulous tasks I’ve ever accomplished. I didn’t realize just how much needs to be done until I started reading on “wedding preps” two days after my then fiancé proposed to me. It was a roller-coaster ride – today happy, stressed the next. But the “high” I experienced each moment was incomparable. Pride and joy filled me all throughout the ride. I felt happy each time I get to cross out an item from my long list. And this list I am glad to share in the hope that I could now be of help to someone as clueless as I was then.

1. Date and Time. In the Philippines, being a June bride is not that big a deal as it is in other countries. Due to the very unpredictable weather, quite a number of couples I know try to wed on the colder months, e.i. September, October, November, December, January and February.

2. Venue. Again, the weather being a huge factor in decision-making, most opt for indoor weddings. A couple I know booked a garden wedding with an understanding with the venue administration that in case the weather does not cooperate, they can move the set-up to one of the air conditioned halls within the compound.

Popular Wedding Venues: Oasis http://www.oasismanila.com/contact.html,
The Mango Farm http://www.themangofarm.com,
Manila Cathedral, Christ The King Church, and the various choices within Intramuros

3. Motif. I have yet to meet a bride whose mind is set on a motif from day one. I personally changed my motif 5 times before coming up with Fuschia and Green.

Popular Wedding Motifs: Pink and Chocolate Brown, Citrus, Red and Gold

4. Theme. Having a themed wedding isn’t very popular to the more traditional Pinoy couples. But the more daring ones can be very creative. Mine was Precious Moments. A good friend of mine’s reception was Lord of the Rings-inspired. She and her husband wore Arwen and Aragorn costumes, and souvenirs were inspired by the leaf on Aragorn’s outfit.

Some suggestions: Movies-inspired, Fairyland, Cinderella; or a mix of cultures e.g. Pinoy-Jewish, Pinoy-Japanese. Or to make it true-blue Pinoy, include a money dance.

5. Prayer List. This, for me is non-negotiable. I wrote down all the concerns my then-groom and I had regarding the preparation, including prayers for finances and emailed copies to our prayer warriors. Just make sure you inform them once an item has been answered and unless you have a very tight budget and can only accommodate a small guest list, make sure they’re invited!

6. Officiating Minister/Priest/Pastor. Opt for someone who knows you and your partner well. Someone who will do it wholeheartedly and not just out of duty. Pastor Julius Fabregas took the time to meet with me and my then husband-to-be weeks before even though he already knows me for years and has worked with me on countless projects. My personal tip aside from those already mentioned, choose someone who can deliver a timely, appropriate message without alienating the guests.

7. Ceremony Script. Discuss with your priest/pastor if the script will be coming from him or if he expects you to come up with one. If you have suggestions or requests, make sure you make it clear to him days, even weeks before the wedding.

8. Coordinator. A wedding coordinator is not a must-have, though I must admit I am all-yes when a bride asks me if she should hire one. Weddings can be very stressful and to have someone you trust to take over the goings-on on THE day can be very comforting, if not liberating.

Personal recommendation: http://www.facebook.com/l/;aneventtorememberonline.com

9. NSO-Certified Birth Certificate

10. Marriage License. Check out this link as to how to secure a marriage license:
http://www.pinoy-everything.com/debuts-weddings/requirements-for-application-of-marriage-license-in-the-philippines.html

11. Marriage Certificate. I strongly suggest you assign a relative or a friend who’ll be in charge of having your principal sponsors sign the certificates after the ceremony. Believe me, you’d be so busy and high-strung to even remember to sit them down to sign. It’s going to be a hassle to have to go to their house/office after the wedding for their signature when you should already be honeymooning by then. For the same reason, my husband had the foresight and wisdom and saw to it that his Best Man took charge in bringing the copies to the City Hall (of the town/province where you got married).

12. Engagement Seminar. Call, visit your municipal hall for their schedules. The seminar usually lasts one day. Although ours started at around 8am and we were done by lunch time.

13. Family Planning Seminar. Being one of the segments discussed in the Engagement Seminar, you do not need to attend a separate one. But since we also attended the SEC-registered Discovery Weekend seminar http://www.discoveryweekend.org/contact.html, we were able to get a more insightful, practical and Christian approach to planning a family.

14. Invites. The number of guests does not have to coincide with the number of invites you should be ordering. Also, there a lot of new and exciting designs out there so I suggest you browse the internet or the printer’s folio first for ideas. Invites nowadays need not be on stock paper. Others print them on fans, CDs, frames, etc.

Sure winner: Pop-up Invites!

And unless your guest will be coming from another country, please please try not to invite via text or email. Set aside a week or two in delivering the invites personally or by snail-mailing them.

15. Thank You Tags. For the souvenirs you’d be giving away towards the end of the reception. Nice if they’re design-coordinated with your invites.

16. Hotel/House for on-the-day preparation. The bigger the room, the better. Think of all the people who’d be coming in - Make Up Artist, Hair Stylist, Photographer, Videographer, On-the-day Coordinators, your mom! Cramped space = Stress = Harassed Bride.

17. Caterer. Research! Ask around. Insist on a food-tasting session. Ask questions. Jot down notes. Jot down deals. Jot down requirements. Jot down agreements. Make them sign. Confirm. The caterer is one of the most important, if not the most expensive suppliers in a wedding so make sure you get what you want and what you pay for.

18. Cake Supplier. If the caterer does not supply the cake, or if their cakes do not pass your standards, you have to scout for a cake supplier. I was lucky to find a cake maker who not only make yummy cakes, but is also talented in designing them. She can follow instructions even if I just describe them over the phone!

19. Cake Topper. Since I wanted a Precious Moments wedding, I bought a Precious Moments Cake Topper.

20. Photographer. Never be hasty in booking a particular photographer. Take time to browse his portfolio/website. Know his artistic style, his work attitude, his rapport with previous clients. Go not only for the talent, but also for the personality. A photographer with no rapport with the subject is a no-no. Who would want to smile at the camera of a photographer who’s masungit and mataray, anyway?

Highly Recommended: Paul Vincent Delos Reyes - 410.5126; 0928.5006912 www.paulvincentphoto.com

21. Videographer. Same guidelines as those mentioned above. Check if your chosen photographer has a partner videographer. Sometimes, it’s cheaper if you book them together.

22. Florist. Look at their portfolio. Ask where they get their flowers. Ask previous clients about their punctuality and creativity. One plus factor of my florist was that she was willing to scout for cheaper alternatives for the expensive breeds I’ve been coveting.

23. Bride’s Gown. Whether you go for store-bought gowns or something that’s especially sewn for you, make sure you get something that fits well and flatters your figure.

My personal shouldn’t have: shouldn’t have decided on an expensive gown. Now it’s tucked away in our stock room and the huge box is eating up space!

24. Bride’s Shoes. Most Pinays have small feet. My personal experience was that those being sold at the malls were either too huge or not too formal. Try Marikina Shoe Expo or if you have enough time, go to Marikina City and check out all the little shoe boutiques there.

25. Bride’s Hair and Make-up. Ask for a THMU or a trial hair and make-up session. This isn’t free, though. If I remember it correctly, I paid P500 for the session because my dear HMU Artists who were from Bulacan had to go all the way to Cainta.

26. Wedding Accessories (veil, second veil, tiara/clip/headband, pillows, cord, pouch). These usually come as a package from the gown couturier.

27. Bride’s Jewelries. A pair of simple earrings would do, and your engagement ring if you have one.

28. Groom’s Barong/Suit. And don’t forget the undershirt!

29. Groom’s Shoes. Easier to find. The malls have them!

30. Groom’s Trousers. Again, hit the malls. Or have them made by your local sastre.

31. Entourage Gowns. Depends upon your agreement with your groom/bride, but nowadays, the engaged couple is no longer expected to shoulder the expenses of the ento gowns. In our case, we only paid for the gowns of the mother of the bride and of the groom.

32. Entourage’s Hair and Make-up. Same suggestion as mentioned above.

33. Holy Bible. For a more personal touch, why not use your own Bible and not one that’s been recently purchased in the bookstore.

34. Wedding Rings. Jewelry shops in malls, your suking alahera, the jewelry havens in Manila are good sources.

35. Arrhae

36. Unity Candles and matches

37. Bridal Car

38. Emcee. Choose one who has a track record of being punctual, lively, has rapport with the guests, can adjust to the guests’ mood, age and background, someone who respects the client’s wishes and won’t insist on his/her own programme.

39. Reception Script/Programme. Keep it short, sweet and personal. Sample scripts abound in the net and it’s convenient to download and use them, but if they do not fit your and your partner’s personality, or if it’s something that will most likely bore the guests, better to just come up with your own.

40. Musicians, Singers/Band. Better if you meet with them weeks before the wedding and discuss your choice of songs and music to be played. If you have a list of “must-nots”, make sure you tell them ahead of time. Like maybe a particular song reminds you of an ex, or is associated with a misunderstanding you and your groom had in the past, or is from a soundtrack of a tragic movie, tell them so.

41. Sound system. Request for more than 3 microphones and an excellent system. What’s the use of a wonderful program if only those in front can hear what’s going on.

42. Playlist –for Ceremony and Reception. My playlist was divided into the following categories: 1.) While guests are arriving 2.) Entourage March 3.) Bridal March 4.) Ceremony Proper 5.) Picture Taking Music After Ceremony 6.) Before Reception 7.) During Reception 8.) After Reception

43. Doves and Cage. This is usually included in the package with the caterer, though in my wedding, we decided we won’t have this portion any more.

44. Safety Pins. If you’re having a money dance.

45. Gift Table. Situate this far from the entrance/exit points and assign a trusted friend/relative to take charge so as to avoid missing gifts and envelopes.

46. Cake Table
47. Signature Frame
48. Guest Book/Wish Sheets
49. Principal Sponsors Gift
50. Entourage Souvenirs
51. Guests Souvenirs

52. Bridal Registry. Most popular choices are Rustan’s and Play and Display.

53. Guest Seat Plan

54. Floor Plan

55. Place to stay on night after the wedding

56. Honeymoon

Miscellaneous:

Mannequin. To “wear” your bridal gown while your hair and make-up are being done.

Misalettes

Save-the-date cards

Fans. To avoid oily-faced guests.

Party poppers.

Envelopes for full payment for suppliers.

Baskets for souvenirs

Easels. To display your pre-wedding photos.

Luminaries. To light the path going to the ceremony venue, if you’re having a late afternoon-evening wedding.

Lanterns. For a more dramatic effect.

LCD. For audio-visual presentations.

… and the list goes on and on...

To D-Link or not to D-Link

Whenever I have something in mind that I want to buy, I can't help but think about it many times a day. Not to mention research, surf, ask around, post in forums before making the purchase, especially if it's a gadget or a trip.

Right now, I'm thinking of buying that D-Link wireless surveillance camera. Will be useful especially once i become yaya-less and have to multitask while Aliya is still sleeping, or if she prefers to stay upstairs in the playroom. Will also be useful once i get a new nanny, have to make sure she's treating my daughter well.

Hmmm, so the question remains, do I buy, or not?

Still Not Over

Sorry if I'm obsessing, but just when I thought I am okay with my yaya leaving next month, I realize I'm still not over it. It hurts, angers and upsets me that inspite of everything we've done for her and given her and her family, she still decided to leave us. The fact that when I enrolled her in computer school, she promised she'd come back after her 2 week vacation in the province... that really pisses me off! She does not know how to keep her promise!

This morning, I am especially super inis with her. She's in a silent and bad mood, and I feel that she doesn't have the right to be nag-iinarte. Her workload here are home is so easy, she can eat anything she wants, and she's well paid. Super kainis that she's parang impatient while she was giving Aliya a bath and helping my daughter dress up for school. I also found out that she's washing her clothes, as in her new and old clothes para pag uwi niya sa province, malinis na lahat. Hello! She's consuming our water and our laundry soap!

Maybe I'm being petty, but I know my feelings are well grounded. I have been a really kind and considerate employer. I keep my promises and give her benefits, both financial and material. She has 1 and a half days off a week, and we renovated one of our rooms so she can have her own bedroom, bed and closet! Argh! I. AM. REALLY. UPSET!

Shoes and Bags Sale!

I normally ignore group emails for SM Advantage Card holders. But two days ago, I tried taking time to read what their announcement is this time, and I was thrilled to know there's going to be a shoes and bags fare at the Megatrade Hall on Friday till Sunday! Megamall is very accessible to our place, it's one of our go-to places since it has everything we need.

The fact that I need to buy shoes for Aliya made me more excited at the prospect of discounts. I might buy a pair or two for me, too, and maybe a couple of bags.

I intend to buy a heavy-duty and really colorful luggage for our travel needs, since the one I have now has been with me for more than 7 years, and has gone to quite a lot of places around the Philippines. It's also been to Hongkong 3x, Bangkok 2 times, Australia 1x, and Singapore 1x. To think it's not even a known brand--- it's called President. But it's been very trusted, spacious and reliable. Until our last trip... when we went to Singapore... we found out the wheels have been damaged upon arrival here in Manila. In fairness to Philippine Airlines, they picked up the luggage and took care of the repair. In less than 24 hours, my luggage is back and working again.

But this coming month, Mama and my sister are going to Hongkong and will be using my President luggage. So maybe after that, I'll let it retire.

So that's one of my must check out/to-buy items at the Megatrade sale. And a good pair of black shoes for Aliya, and of course, Maryjanes and Sneakers for us both.

Yay! I'm getting excited!

Could've Planned it Sooner

Today marks my parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary. I've been wanting to give them a renewal of vows ceremony, but when Papa got sick, and finally joined his Creator last year, I wasnt able to pursue the plan. Sayang. Super sayang.

I know Mama was somehow hoping they'd have something like that. I could've acted sooner, I could've made it a reality years ago. :(

Projects in my Mind

It's almost March and I'm planning new things for the family, and for the house. Off the top of my head, I have to contact a mananahi to make covers for the couches in the living room, then have to contact Mang Caloy, our trusted carpenter for additional cabinets in the bedroom and stock room. Since our nanny is leaving in April, I plan to make some changes in the maid's room to make it more functional. And since there are adjustments to be made, my cabinets need to have more padlocks, so that's another of my projects. Also, I have yet to buy the printer in Office Warehouse, as well as the cctv camera I saw in Cyberzone in Megamall.

For the longest time, I've been planning to have new photos printed so that I'll be finally able to change the pictures on our frames downstairs and in the playroom. Speaking of photos, I have to choose which of our Singapore trip photos need to be printed.

Mama is celebrating her birthday (first year without Papa ever since they got married) in May and I want sana to give her a nice party. So that's another one.

All these I have to finish or at least be halfway through before Ruby leaves in April. Whew!

Multitasking Queen, Me

packing for our trip... writing a script... checking emails... updating my blog... giving instructions to the househelp... helping Aliya with her homework... making sandwiches for the trip... convincing Aliya there's still time to sleep before we head for the road... while I'm not even sure if I can still crash even for just an hour...

Cramming... Again

We're leaving for Pangasinan for the weekend and here I am again trying to beat a script deadline which is due on Sunday. Since I do not want to bring my laptop, I have no choice but to finish the whole thing tonight! To think I'm not done packing yet!

Happy With Our Lampshade

Last Sunday, after church, Romy and I saw a lampshade in Robinsons Galleria which is simple but so nakakaaliw. We're both into the drama of lighting fixtures and we plan to have our lighting system at home re-designed once our budget allows it. We also like lamps and dim lights in hotels.

That's why when we saw this touch-sensitive lampshade in Galleria, I fell in love with it. But because we were pressed for time then, (have to go to Resorts World for the Sound of Music stage play), we didnt get to buy it.

But I can't get it off my mind, that's why I went back for it last Tuesday, before my Pidol's Wonderland meeting. It only costs P1499 and has 4 settings - dim, moderate, bright, and off. All settings can be changed and adjusted just by touching it's body. Plus it's slim and is silver and white makes it simple, decorative and functional at the same time.

Hope to be able to figure out how to post pictures in this blog soon. Once I do, I can foresee this blog's gonna be photos-heavy, hehe.

My Generous 4 year old

Me, my husband and Aliya are going to Pangasinan this weekend. When I asked Aliya if she wants to give some of her used toys to her cousins there, she readily agreed, got a plastic bag and started filling it up with her old toys. I like the way she'd mull over a piece of toy, discern if she still needs it, then decides from there. She was able to fill up the whole bag with toys and stickers from her playroom. I know activities like this train her in her generosity, decision making, and not being attached to material things.

On Monitors and CCTV

Since I'm going to be nanny-less in April, I'm now on the look out for, not just a replacement, but for a good baby monitor. You know, something I can install in the upstairs bedroom and/or playroom so that I can work downstairs while Aliya is sleeping or playing upstairs.

I've heard of sound monitors, and hope to be able to find video and audio monitors. But in my research, these systems work one-way only. Meaning, I can hear my daughter from where she is, but I wont be able to speak to her via the system. Hmmm, I need to research more. I know this will also be helpful when I get a new nanny, so I can spy on how she's treating my daughter.

Print, Scan, Copy, Fax, Photo Print

Woah! Amazing what one machine can do! Was at the Office Warehouse today to buy a micro SD for my Samsung Galaxy Tab (btw, a Transcend 32gb costs Php2200 there), when I saw their stock of HP, Brother and Epson printers. Buying one has been on my list since last month when the need for a printer becomes more frequent thanks to the ensogo vouchers I regularly purchase. Plus the fact that I intend to print worksheets for Aliya more, and of course, to photocopy stuff.

I'm eyeing already a model that I like, and whose ink does not cost alot. The challenge now is where in our now crowded room am I going to place it?!

Magazine Love

As far as I can remember, I've always felt happy each time I buy a magazine of my interest. The feel of crisp paper, whether it be of a magazine, or a book, lights up my mood. It's been a while since I last purchased a copy of Smart Parenting.

I've been very busy with work lately that I can no longer find time to browse a magazine. Nanghihinayang ako na bibili ako pero hindi ko naman mababasa. The last time I bought one was maybe around 5 months ago. Even the DVDS and VCDs I buy, nakatambak lang. It is only now that we're done writing all the episodes of my upcoming soap opera, Felina, that I am able to find time to relax, watch movies and catch up on my reading.

So far, I've read about 3-4 articles from my latest purchase. It always enthralls me to read about mommies who are experiencing almost the same (sometimes totally different) things as I do. I like their Show and Tell portion, the tips and advice I get from practical moms, among other segments.

I intend to enjoy these free times to the hilt while I'm in between soaps. Glad for the other two weekly shows I write for. Keeps me busy but not so.

My "Prudential" Errand

Since I've been nursing a cough and cold combo the past few days, I wasnt able to go to the Travel Expo as planned. After learning about the problem Prudential Life Plans is undergoing, I made the trip to their office today at the Robinsons Corporate Tower to terminate my MIB (Millionaires in Business) account. I was in for a possible spat just in case they ignore me. You see, I've been having a really hard time claiming my check 3 years ago due to a discrepancy in the Certificate of Full Payment they issued me. It's been causing me a lot of stress just speaking to this certain J___ who consistently claims she just receives documents and has no control over when my check will be released. Calling up the main office in Makati wasn't easy either. I keep being transferred from one department to another, from one officer to another. Until I just felt so sick following up about my check and so I stopped calling up, until today.

I'm glad to be able to speak to Ms Beth Ramos at the 6th floor who accommodated me well. She was very nice to talk to and understands how I feel. She even gave me her direct line so that I could call her up for follow up on March 15, once decisions about claims have been made.

Dreaming of Alfalfa and Darla

Aliya's been watching The Little Rascals for the past 2 days, over and over again. Yesterday morning, she woke up dreaming of Alfalfa and Darla. In fact, she dreams alot in her sleep, and talks about her dreams every morning. Sobrang nakakaaliw because umagang umaga pa lang, andaldal na niya sobra!

As of this writing, she's downstairs watching Mama Mia and dancing to the tune of Dancing Queen.

And she chose The Sound of Music

The other day, I went shopping and one of the pasalubongs I have for Aliya are three vcds of Angelina Ballerina. I also bought The Sound of Music, Mama Mia, and Little Rascals. Lo and behold, just when I thought she'd spend the next few days with the mouse who dances ballet, she insisted on watching The Sound of Music! And she sat through the whole three hours of the movie! After dinner, she asked me for it to be played all over again! The second time, she was with her nanny, and she was narrating, or should I say preempting the events by telling her nanny what's gonna happen next!

My little girl's such a talker! And what good memory she has, not to mention unpredictable at times. Hahah!

Semi-Greece

I've been seeing a lot of banners of Thunderbird Resorts lately and I'm quite intrigued. The one in Rizal is quite near our place, but judging from their website, www.thunderbirdresorts.com, the one in Poro Point, La Union looks grander. I've always been swept away by photos of Greece, and to come close to it even by just being in a resort with Greece as its theme can make me very happy. Will update in case we finally decide to reserve a room in one of their resorts.

Ignoring the Nanny

I know it's wrong. But I can't help it. I've been ignoring the nanny for a week now after learning that she's leaving in April for good. I know I've been a good employer, trying my best to be a friend and a semi-mother to her. We've helped her in so many ways, aside from regularly increasing her salary and giving her bonuses and gifts during special occassions. Whenever I go to the mall, i have something for her when I get back, like a cute pen, or a nice notebook, or a textbook on English, or a Filipino devotional. I could go on and on about the things we give and do for her because we like her and my daughter adores her. But then, I guess them nannies, and helpers do learn to move on easier than employers like me do. She seems unhurt, unfazed, unaffected at all. She in fact seems to be so looking forward to leaving and continuing her high school studies in her province. Despite the fact that I enrolled her in computer classes last month and paid for her full tuition in cash, she still opted to accept her older sister's offer to send her to public school in Leyte.

I'm trying to be nicer the past couple of days, trying to understand that it's her life and I can't control her. I just hope I get over this feeling of disappointment and betrayal. And most of all, that we'd be able to cope with or without a replacement. And that the replacement be far better, more reliable, more caring than this one. And that my daughter will be able to move on and be good friends with the new helper.

Travel Expo 2012

I am sooo looking forward to this year's travel expo. Obviously, the travel bug in me (which is also true for my husband and 4 yr old daughter) can't get enough of exploring different places. We just came from Singapore barely a month ago, and now I'm researching on Batanes, Marinduque and the Thunderbird Resorts in La Union and Rizal. I hope to get to drop by the Philippine Travel Expo which is happening this month from the 17th-19th at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

I will also be on the look-out for good deals on hotels since this is also one of our cheap thrills as a family. I am lucky that I married someone who feels the same way when it comes to enjoying life and exploring the world. Even my daughter, who enjoys our travels very much, beamed when she saw me this afternoon browsing and surfing the website of Bellaroca Resorts in Marinduque. :)