The Little Light Sleeper

The little girl is such a light sleeper. Ever since she was a small infant, she has always been like that. Now that she's bigger though, her sleeping patterns have improved which is why J and I are also getting more sleep. Just the same, we still need to watch what we are doing so that we don't wake her up. For example, when I really want to watch some telly while she's taking a nap, I just turn on closed captioning so I can follow the dialogue even when the volume is turned down low. Thank God for features like this. :D

Not So Cluttered After All

Your Mind is 47% Cluttered

Your mind is starting to get cluttered, and as a result, it's a little harder for you to keep focused. Try to let go of your pettiest worries and concerns. The worrying is worse than the actual problems!

How Cluttered is Your Mind?

And I thought I was such a worry wart. :P But still the clutter is there so need to de-clutter when the new year kicks in.

Auto Crazy

My brother R is such a car enthusiast, so much so that he has recently asked me to canvass the price of lowering springs here in Oz. He is crazy over auto parts that he is willing to buy them even if they can only be bought overseas, of course, if the price is good. Next time I hear from him, he might ask me to check out the prices of billet grilles for his precious car. Well, that's not impossible to happen. Trust me.

I am green!

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Blogs in Plain English

Have you ever been asked what a blog is in simple terms and you just couldn’t answer them well enough? I stumbled upon this neat video on youtube which you can use to help explain to other people what a blog is all about. Thanks to Lee and Sachi LeFever for making this.

So if you're the person who's into sharing your life on the web, I would suggest you start a blog of your own now. And do make sure to get a site of your own, especially if you're considering of enrolling it in paid posting sites. Get a decent company to host it, whether you're interested in Business Website Hosting or Personal Website Hosting, so you're sure that your site is kept running all the time. Blogging is truly the way to go on the web these days.

Still Sick

Yes, it's become full blown. I know I should be taking lots of rest to get rid of this bug, but that just seems to be an impossible task with all the work that needs to be done around. Just because it's the holidays, it does not mean the chores are on hold. Nope, unfortunately, life goes on and so must we. There's a party we must attend on the first so I am hoping this body of mine will cooperate. It's no fun socializing with friends when you can hardly speak up or are trying hard to hold back those sneezes. *fingers crossed*

Touring Oz

If you're looking for a place to go on vacation, the first thing that comes to mind that I would strongly suggest is of course the land down under, wonderful Australia. There are lots of hotels in Australia to stay at so you shouldn't be concerned much of that because it is a top tourist destination for most travellers.

And as you tour this beautiful country of ours, do make sure to drop by Queensland. You can book yourselves a room at one of the Gold Coast hotels, Noosa hotels, or Cairns hotels as these are the must-see places in the sunshine state. I haven't been to Queensland myself and when we do get the opportunity to visit it someday, we will make it a point to stay as long as we can so that we may see all the tourist spots there. That would be something really nice to look forward to.

Under the Weather

After weeks of rain and cold winds, it looks like summer has finally kicked in in our part of the world. Today alone has been terribly hot and the sudden change in temperatures has resulted in us ending up with a sore throat and the sniffles. Both J and I have not been feeling very well in the past few days. We just hope we don't pass the bug down to the little girl and that we will be feeling better as the year ends.

Back but with a Hangover

I am back. It's already three days past Christmas but I am still lazy to go back to working on the internet.

Christmas here was nothing remarkable. I maintain that nothing still beats being with your immediate family during this season. And inspite of that fact, I am as lazy as ever to get back into the daily grind. But the opportunities are beckoning me, so I do what I can. It would be a waste just to let them pass me by.

How did your holidays go?

Not An Excuse

In almost every corner of the globe, people must be attending parties nonstop, left and right. All the food and booze are overflowing that some ex-alcoholics may be having trouble declining those drinks, all in the spirit of the holidays. Well, they just might end up once again in alcohol rehabs if they are not careful. Just because it's Christmas does not mean it is a legal excuse for them to get back to their old drinking habit. They must have a strong resolve to be able to kick that bad habit of theirs once and for all.

Relieved

My contact in the US recently confirmed to me that all my orders arrived safely and in time and she was able to ship all of them to me last Friday morning, before she went on vacation. I am soooo relieved that the heavens heard my prayers. Now, I am crossing my fingers one more time because I am hoping that I will receive my big parcel before the New Year. That's any day next week. You see, there's a big possibility that it might get delayed in the mail because of the holiday rush. Let's hope not. Alright, time to pray to the heavens once again.

Gifts In Absentia

Would you believe J and I did not get anything for the other on our anniversary? I suppose since it is so close to Christmas Day, we felt there was no need to give anything on our special day. After all, we booked ourselves a room at a hotel in the city so that in a way counts as our gift to ourselves. I would have given J a recliner. But it costs way too much and it would make me exceed our budget for holiday presents. Well, there's always next time. :)

Just Got Back

Yes, it was a lovely overnight stay at Rydges! I loved the king-sized bed most of all. And the pillows, heavenly! :)

We practically spent the entire time at the hotel. We only went out to eat dinner at a nearby branch of Hog's Breath. Their steak was no doubt very juicy and tender, but still too bland for me. I loved our mud cake dessert though, which was topped with a slice of strawberry, lots of whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzles of chocolate hot fudge. Very sinful!

I can't wait for our next anniversary. I wonder where we'll be staying at next year. :)

Frustrated Cook

I have always been interested and a fan of cooking shows ever since I can remember. I think I got the habit from my mom, who is a good cook (at least in our books) by the way. And since I am also willing to try out new things to eat, I always make it a point to have a pen and paper ready so that I can jot the recipe down. I've got tons of recipes already but I have yet to cook them for myself. Cooking can be time-consuming, you see, and time right now for me is very much a precious thing, especially with the little girl around.

Happy 2 years!

Today is the day! Exactly two years ago, J and I exchanged marriage vows at Saint James. :)

I was watching our wedding DVD a couple of days ago, and I realise I still get very emotional about it. It almost brought tears to my eyes! Given the chance to do it all over again, I really would in a heartbeat. No doubt about that!

Happy second year anniversary to us! Here's to more blissful and love-filled years together. :D

Graduation Season

It is graduation season here in our part of the world. In fact, a couple of kids that are the daughters of our friends here graduated earlier this week. One completed grade school while the other finished a degree in university.

Acrylic awards, perpetual plaques, and recognition awards must abound these days. I think the kids I mentioned also got awards for themselves, which is well and good. I hope our little girl does as well (or even better) when it's her time to graduate from school. I am sure we will be the proudest parents ever.

Way to go Charice!

If you're a Filipino, you may have already heard of the name Charice Pempengco. She's been creating quite a stir in the international scene now and has even managed to guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show.


There is no doubt the Filipino race has produced lots of amazing singers, but nobody I think has been able to break into international stardom as fast as Charice has. I reckon this girl will go a long, long way. And she deserves it too!

I can't find her performance on Ellen on youtube yet, but here's the link to the video clip from the Ellen website.

Clean-up Time

Geez, we are doing last minute clean-ups at this moment because the real estate agent is coming over for an inspection of the house. I don't know if I've mentioned it here but we just had our inspection last October. The reason why they wanted another inspection scheduled is that there has been a turn-over as far as the agent is concerned. The owner changed agencies recently so the new agent wanted to have a look-see of the property. We also have a few other issues to discuss with them so it is just as well that they came before the holidays. Hopefully, we will be able to iron things out and have peace of mind in the coming new year.

Parcel Anxiety

In the past two months, I have been ordering online from the US for our stuff and it has become quite all too much. I may have gone overboard because of all they have on sale, which is really not a good thing. :P Anyway, I am a bit anxious because my last few orders have not arrived yet and they may not make it in time, at least before the New Year. I know I never should have done some last-minute shopping but it was totally unavoidable. I am still waiting for 2 more parcels to come and I am crossing my fingers (and toes) that they'll arrive soon. I just hate the waiting game.

Our Wishlists

Speaking of wishlists, we've also drawn up a list at home so we also get to be excited over our gift exchange this Christmas. For my requests, I have come up with the following: a pair of jeans, the Air Styler from VS, a day at the hairdresser's for a makeover. I am not adding fine lingerie to the list because I am more inclined to get something that I can wear when we go out to the mall or to parties. Even with this list around, I am still hoping that J can surprise me with something I'd really like on Christmas day. :)

Useless Wishlist

Our wishlist emails were supposed to be something to look out for. But when J forwrded to me the emails, we just had to laugh at the way things turned out. We were one of the last people to send out our list so we got to see what the others wrote. Would you believe that majority of the people in our family requested for gift cards? If you analyse it, it actually resulted to one cancelling out the other. J and I both agreed it all defeated the entire purpose of exchanging gifts. Plus, the element of surprise is gone because you are sure you are just going to receive a gift voucher. It was something that was unexpected and was not considered in the course of planning. I hope next year it will be different so the gift-giving would be more fun and exciting.

Leaky Problem

Our kitchen sink hasn't been its usual self for some time now. You see, we had the washers replaced last April and just a few months ago the faucet was leaking again. We had to ring up the plumbing company that fixed it and they came to check what the problem really is. It is a good thing they didn't charge us with anything because their fees are quite high ($99 for washer replacement!).

Anyway, the plumber on duty that day said that the problem is actually deep within the pipes. They are old and would need to be replaced with one of those Kohler sinks. This explained why the faucet kept on leaking inspite of having replaced the washers with new ones. Since this entailed a major overhaul, we just left it as it is and reported the problem to the real estate agent so that she can relay it to the owner who should be the one paying for such repairs. In other words, it's not our problem anymore.

Cool Weather

It looks like my wish for cool weather this Christmas is coming true. It has been a bit chilly since Sunday. Yesterday was even colder because it was terribly windy, much like the weather in Autumn. Ah yes, this is more like it. Now I can relate the occasion with the season.

I just heard though from my mom that is humidly hot in Manila, which is pretty unusual at this time of year. We also got a taste of that kind of weather when we went home last year. Methinks it is climate change manifesting and it is all screwed up. Oh boy.

First Gifts

The little girl received her very first Christmas gift from one of her godmothers.

It is quite timely, which is just as well because she is now very much into practicing her standing and walking skills. :)

I, on the other hand, got this from my kumare.

I have been longing to buy a bottle of this for the longest time. I am sooo glad she was able to read my mind! :)

Big Turnaround

My brother R and I recently got in touch with our college friend P. It has been eons since we last saw each other. Thanks to those social networking sites, we were able to re-establish our friendship.

Much has changed in each other's lives. P revealed to me that he once got involved in drugs and it came to a point that everything went really bad, like being arrested by the authorities. Gosh, I never imagined he would end up in such situations. But fortunately he was able to realise his mistakes and made a big turnaround by going into drug rehabilitation. Now, he's become a very religious man and he is taking life seriously. I am glad that he has changed his ways and am also praying that he will continue to be this way for as long as it takes.

GB Galore

Yesterday, we were at the mall for our weekly grocery shopping. But we also came home with something for our reliable old PC. Well, it is not that really old as it has only been 2 years since J bought it. However, a lot has changed in that two years and our once huge 40 GB hard drive is nothing now compared to the standard 120GB in current models. So we thought a good upgrade would be to buy an external HDD. And it's a whopping 500GB! Ha! And we bought it on sale at Harvey Norman so it is very much a pretty good investment. Now, we can edit all those video recordings we have so we can burn it on DVDs and we can send them to our relatives in the Philippines. :)

NZ in a flash

My friend L rang me up the other day asking about Australian tourist visas because her mother-in-law from Sri Lanka was coming over for a visit. She was asking what most tourists do if they want to stay in Oz for more than 3 months of what the Immigration Department has given them. I suggested that they could exit Oz for a week or so and just come back after since their visa is good for multiple entry for a year. They could visit the neighboring countries like Singapore and New Zealand.

If I were her MIL, I'd choose NZ in a flash. I have watched and read so many good things about New Zealand and find it to be a top destination on my list. The country's not so big so probably a week is enough to go around the major cities. And as for a place to stay, I am sure there are lots of New Zealand hotels to choose from. While she's city hopping, she can just hotel hop as well by booking a room at one of the Auckland hotels, Christchurch hotels, and Wellington hotels.

Here's a few must-see places in NZ: Tongariro, Te Wahipounamu, and Subantarctic Islands. They are all world heritage sites so she definitely must put them on her itinerary. I am sure I will!

The Katie Look

Have you seen Katie Holme's newest hairdo? Well, here she is on the cover of In Style magazine and I am loving her new look.

Remember how I was contemplating on getting a makeover for myself in an earlier post? It looks like I have finally found the inspiration to do it. I just hope it would also suit me, much like it did Katie. That is, of course, if I can muster up the guts to go ahead with it. You'll soon find out. :)

Getting Organized

Gosh, I can't believe how much stuff we've accumulated over the months. They are more of the little girl's things so we just can't throw them out just yet. And we are running out of space, I tell you. Sometimes, when we go shopping, I dread coming home because I honestly don't know where to store the new acquisitions.

One of the biggest occupants in the house are our two TVs. Had they been the plasma kinds, I would have used a plasma mount so that I can use that floor area they occupy for something else. But since they're not, I must think of a way to get things organized and it better be soon because there's another house inspection coming up next week.

First Party

We just had our very first Christmas party ever last night. It was a blast because food and drinks were overflowing and there were games and videoke to entertain us the whole night through.

The little girl though wasn't in the very best of moods because she didn't sleep much during the day. The noise too must have gotten to her nerves. That is why she was a bit cranky at the party. Well, I hope she'll do better in future gatherings as I'm sure last night's won't be the last.

Video Games Geek

Not a lot of people know this but I love playing video games. I especially like the Sims and other puzzle games which keep me hooked on to the computer for hours. J says it's the most unproductive thing that I could do. But since he is not a game-player like me, he does not realise how much enjoyment it brings to me.

Anyway, we have yet to get a console for us to play with and maybe a cool playstation 3 would be a neat thing to purchase for the holidays. Well, that all depends now on my paycheck for the month and if J will permit me to buy one. :)

Weekend Away

Yipee! It is confirmed! We were able to book ourselves a room at a hotel in the city and we will be spending our second year church wedding anniversary there, with Erin of course! :)

Yes, we are all excited at the thought and we cannot wait for that day to come. The room will have a beautiful view of the Lake so that is one of the good things to look forward to on our weekend away from home. And the countdown begins now. :)

Role Model (not!)

Speaking of TV shows, aren't you surprised at the rate that these very young actors and actresses are being admitted into alcohol and drug treatment centers in the US? And inspite of their 'wild' behavior, they still are being looked up to by their also very young fans. I hope these kids (not the stars) realize that their idols may not necessarily be good role models. The parents should also make it a point to talk to their kids about it so they know what the real deal is. Otherwise, they might just end up like them, God forbid.

Makeover wanted!

I just watched Oprah's Great American Haircut episode earlier today and my, oh, my... I was so envious of all those women who got those amazing makeovers from top American stylists.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror after watching the show, I realise I am also one of those women who is in dire need of a makeover. Although I get my regular trim at the salon every quarter, I've always settled for the same style since I was in high school. I have never had the guts to try something different because I wasn't sure if I was going to like the new look.

I have been contemplating on getting a change of 'do for quite some time now and I may just make it a reality one of these days. To cut or not to cut. That is the question!

Bedroom Talk

I have always dreamed of owning a sleigh bed one day. I think it started when I saw this beautiful bed displayed in one of the malls and it just simply took my breath away. Although a captains bed could also make me change my mind. All that storage can be really handy!

And between queen beds and king beds, I realize I prefer a king sized bed with our present situation. Right now, we have a queen but it just isn't enough, especially with the little girl around.

More Goodies

This came in early today. I told you there were more! And there’s even more coming probably in the next two weeks. But they are not all ours, mind you. Quite a number of them are to be given to our godchildren, relatives and friends as gifts for this Christmas.

All this online shopping can be soooo addicting, I tell you. Someone pry me away from the computer please!

Investing Tips

The Christmas season is not only a time of shopping and expenses. I am sure for those of you working, you have somehow received a bonus or an increase in your payslip this month. Better stash away that extra cash for a rainy day. Or better yet, invest your money in gold bullions.

Buying gold is a new option for those who want to protect their finances from possible bank panics. They can be stored in secure areas and you know that your finances are well preserved in this type of investment. Check out the gold price chart so you know how much gold is worth in the present time.

Retail High

Someone went shopping yesterday and ended up with these! ;)

Of course, they were all on sale. And there are still more to come! Christmas is definitely early in this part of the world. :D

Feast 171

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?
The last video game we purchased was The Sims 2. The last board game we bought was Monopoly. They were all purchased last year.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.
I don't believe that men are superior to women. One complements the other. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?
Maybe Oprah Winfrey. I think she is very generous and has a very big heart.

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
I've had not so good relationships before with the opposite sex. I got my heart broken several times. I had to learn to love myself first before expecting others to love me back.

Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.
It could be in a house on the hills or in a beach house with a balcony and a view to die for, large windows that you can open to let the cool breeze in, and of course, there would be lots of furniture to lounge on -- a large comfy bed with high thread count bedsheets and huge, soft pillows. Living room furniture is also important beacause it is also nice to sit on a comfy couch from time to time when you're reading a book or just watching the telly. Oh, and please don't forget the food! :)

Countdown to Christmas

I just received an email today informing me that we are now only 18 days away from Christmas. The first week of December is almost over. But the not so good part of it is that we have not done much of our Christmas shopping yet. J suggested that we start on it tomorrow so we can avoid the Christmas rush and spare us from the headache and hassle. I'm not objecting of course. You know how much I love shopping. :)

Thinking of Florida

We all deserve a break from the daily grind every now and then. For us, the perfect break would be to travel abroad. It's a no-brainer that Manila's on the top of our list. But we wouldn't mind visiting family and friends in the States.

Of course, part of our itinerary is Florida because we have a handful of friends and relatives residing there. Getting the services of a car rental in florida is a must because we would also want to explore the tourist spots on our own. We'll make sure to check out Discount Florida Car Rentals because they don't require payment until you arrive in Florida and at the same time, they'll give you a confirmation number for no deposit in return. Plus, we can cancel our booking anytime should we have a change of mind.

All is pretty planned out already, eh? There's only one problem -- where to get the money to buy plane tickets for that wonderful holiday. Now, that's a different story.

Cool First Dance

Do you guys still remember your first dance as a married couple during your wedding reception? I vaguely do because it was nothing out of the ordinary. J and I did not have enough time to practice so we just settled for the safe waltz. I wish we had done something more memorable like this couple from the States. I first saw the video clip on Ellen and thought I'd post it here.

So did your first dance turn out to be as fun as theirs? Do share! :)

Playing Online

I like playing games on the internet, but most of them are the arcade and puzzle types. I am not into gambling but for those who like to play online poker, then make it a point to check out Bet365poker.com.

I am sure my stepdad (who likes playing poker on his PC) will be interested in it because of its great online betting services and efficient wallet system. Plus, they offer a very secure online environment so you know you will be in safe hands.

Slow Day

I don't know what it is but opportunities sure are quite difficult to get by these days. Fortunately though, I still manage to grab a few ones here and there but nothing really major has come up or there are not really many to speak of right now. Well, at least my hand are not empty each day. But this is definitely going to have some effect on my goal of reaching the quota that I have set myself last month. We never know though how things will work out in the end so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed the whole time.

Gift Ideas for the Newlyweds

It is December and not only is it shopping season. But it is wedding season as well. Most couples get married in the merry month of December and J and I are no exception.

If you are attending a wedding any time soon, I suggest you get the couple Personalized Wedding Gifts. You can take their favorite wedding photos and have it immortalized on pillows and blankets. Make sure to get those panoramic shots as these I think are more appropriate in this types of printing. Now, that is a cool way to remember their big day by, don't you agree? I wish they were offering these when we got married.

Food Hunt

We were invited to a Christmas lunch with other members of our extended family here in the ACT. It's potluck as it is always the practice here and we were assigned to bring dessert.

I am thinking of bringing my ever reliable blueberry cheesecake. But I also want to bring something that the group have never tried before so I am contemplating on baking a carrot cake as well. My mom suggested to just bring rice cakes (or biko in Filipino) because it is very easy to make. She even sent me the recipe for it.

I am still undecided. I better make a decision soon so I can test cook it first here at home.

Up, Up and Away

Our little girl is getting to be very mobile now, after she learned how to stand up on her own a couple of days ago. It is important for us parents to slowly keep all those house decors and appliances away from her reach. Otherwise, we run the risk of of our kids getting injured or our things all broken up at the end of the day.

It's a good thing someone invented a TV Bracket. You can place your TV in a place where your kids won't reach it. Plus, you can also free the area it occupies, if you're a little short on space in your home. I think it is a pretty nifty invention, if I say so myself.

TV Meme

1. What was your favourite TV show as a child/teen?
Of course, they were mainly cartoons. I loved Disney cartoons the most!

2. Do you watch any specialty TV networks?
Yes I do. When I was in Manila, I liked to watch the Lifestyle Network all the time. We don't have cable TV anymore but I still watch cooking and make-over shows regularly.

3. If you think about the percentages of TV you watch currently, what ranks at the highest? Why?
Mostly it's between Oprah, Ellen and the cooking shows. Cartoons are not yet a regular for Erin. She enjoys commercials more so I don't have to put up a fight (yet) for the remote control.

4. Is there a television personality that you cannot stand, and why?
There's this host on BHG who cooks. I just get irritated with her lisp. :P

5. What is your guilty TV pleasure?
Maybe Heroes, because I always stay up to watch it no matter what.

6. HDTV: Do you have it? why or why not?
Nope. Well, not yet. Our TVs are still doing fine.

7. Cable: Yes or no? “how much” cable do you subscribe to, and why?
Nope. Have hardly any time to watch it. Erin is such a handful, plus there are chores to do.

8. Which TV series would you love to last your lifetime?
Heroes, ER, Gray's Anatomy.

It's in the cards

Ever since the holiday spirit kicked in our household, I have been contemplating on sending Christmas cards to our friends and relatives overseas. To make it even more unique, I am planning on sending out custom holiday cards with our family picture printed on it.

I thought it would be a nice keepsake for them since it is just not J and I anymore but we are now a family of three. The little girl makes everything more special when it comes to occasion like this. I hope I have enough time to create a good design and have it printed as soon as possible. You know how it is during the holidays. We are all so busy, busy, busy.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Yes, our tree is finally up. I am basically done with the decors so that's that. I might add a few more baubles here and there if I find something nice that catches my eye. Otherwise, that's about it. :)