poray's thoughts

a promotion

2012-01-24T04:01:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard that Walgreens is running a promotion called Walgreens Prescription Savings Club for people who lack or have insufficient coverage on their prescription? Yes, they are. For $10 you and your immediate family (that includes spouse, dependents 22 and under, even pets) is covered. That is a lot of discount when it adds up. You also get discounts on some brand name and all generic prescriptions, flu shots, pet supplies and select medical supplies. Also, you will get bonuses (I want to know what these include) when you purchase Walgreens and Nice! brands. I should say that is a lot of benefits for just ten dollars a year. But since this is a promotional run, this means that this will end soon. No good things last too long, sadly. We are using a different store because there was not a Walgreens in our area until a few months ago. I will have to tell the husband about this news. He might be interested enough to switch with these much benefit. Anyway, I have started my campaign by liking Walgreens on Facebook and then I will tell my friends about it. I already have a friend who checks Walgreens for updates on hot deals so I bet she already knows what is going on. If you have a Facebook account you can like Walgreens so you too will know the latest deals. Or better yet, if you have a Twitter account, follow Walgreens on Twitter for current promotions and information. It pays to be informed. No, make it one saves to be informed.

book swap

2012-01-13T23:31:00.002-05:00

I love to read. Anybody who knows me knows that I am crazy over books. The husband supports me on this hobby(?) which is good because I don't know what I would have done if he is against it. I have bought, swapped, threw, even burned books in the years that passed. Only recently did I think about keeping all the books I bought not because I had plans for them (not at the time anyway) but because I just did not want to waste them. Then I have found a resource online to get new (at least something I have not read) books while using my old books as barter. I have read reviews, went online and done research, before I decided to give it a try. It is slow going. Not a lot of people apparently read what I like to read which is fiction. And even if they do, the market is saturated with the same kind of books I have. Clearly a lot of competition there. But I did not lose hope. I persevered and almost a year later, I have swapped and ordered several books that I am happy about. I have not been to the store to buy more books. It does not mean that I don't want to, there is just no need to. Not at the moment anyway. I save money this way and the anticipation of getting a new book in the mail is priceless. I do hope to get more orders for my books though because I have a lot of titles lined up on my to be read file. What can I say, there are so many good books out there :D

true life

2012-01-04T19:51:00.003-05:00

Thanks for the post from Kirk Wood.

When I moved to Toledo and got set up with toledo direct tv the first thing I wanted to do was flip to MTV. I know what you are thinking, “aren’t you a little old to be watching MTV?” The answer to that questions is yes, yes I am a little old to be watching MTV but I don’t really care I can watch what I want and besides I don’t actually feel that old and so, I watch MTV when I want to. The most recent thing I saw on there was the True Life series. I really like to watch this because it follows the lives of about three people per episode who all have at least one thing in common. This particular day there was a True Life marathon on so I decided that watching a couple of hours of other people’s lives was a good idea. The first one I saw was the most disturbing. It followed three teens and their addiction to eating strange and usually inedible objects such as light bulbs and couch cushions. I didn’t even know this was possible. Good thing I watched MTV to keep me up to speed on the weird things that go on in the world.

on lawsuits and settlements

2011-12-28T18:32:00.006-05:00

I have only heard of lawsuits since I got here in the US. It seems like it is something people do anymore for whatever reason. Some have real cases and is given a settlement as the case closes while others do not even have a case to begin with. But that fact does not stop them from trying to bring a lawsuit against either a person or a business. I have read news about big settlements too which made some plaintiff rich. One of the husband's friends' daughter filed a lawsuit against a hospital and won several million dollars which she used part of to build a mansion with an elevator in it. I have seen pictures of the house and it is huge. She filed a lawsuit because of what was (or what was not) done to one of her kids when she gave birth to triplets at the said hospital. The baby lived but with problems and the hospital and its staff was held liable for it hence the settlement. Anyway, it is just an example. There are more lawsuits happening all over with varied reasons. The only question is, will they win the case?

i might try to cook or bake

2011-12-22T13:04:00.005-05:00

I am in the mood to cook but I could not decide what to fix. I have been thinking about empanada for days. It is a particular favorite but I have tried it before and liked it. Since I do have the ingredients I might as well see if I know how to do it. Then I thought about making syakoy/shakoy with pancit bihon filling like I was used to when I was a kid. Now, that was good! Although with my culinary (in)expertise I will not be surprised if mine will turn out yucky, lol. There are still a few options I have been mulling over in my head which at the rate I am doing, the day will probably pass me by with nothing that gets done. Never mind though, there is tomorrow. Seriously, I want to bake or cook. This is what happens when a Filipino who loves to eat yet does not know how to cook is left to her own device. Maybe I will ask the little man's help in the kitchen so he can use up all that energy doing something with me instead of running in the living room screaming like a nut. Anyway, I have to go. I have big decisions to make :)

getting insurance

2011-12-21T18:40:00.006-05:00

My cousin who is working as a nurse in the UK is living with several co-workers. I don't know if it was provided by the company he works for or it is a plan he came up with his co-workers to save money. Now, living with other people not related to you in the same house is not easy. I know that for a fact because I did it when I was single and working. He told me he was doing research if he can get personal possessions insurance for the things he has acquired in his almost one year working and living in the UK. I could not help him because I don't know how insurances work in there but I did tell him to ask around or if not, at least to call insurance providers so he will have first hand information about his inquiries. It is better to talk to an agent than to talk to a friend because then he will have better information of the things he needs to do and paperworks he needs to sign before he can get insurance. I have not heard from him for weeks now. I hope he got what he wanted to keep his valuables safe. I know he is trying hard for his family so he is doing his best to be good and keep his belongings secure.

weekend getaway

2011-12-21T18:13:00.006-05:00

One of my online friends went on a ski trip. I don't know the particular resort she went to but I know it is here in the US. I have read her updates on Facebook and she said she had a good time even if she was tired. She is a beginner yet she enjoyed her skiing lesson. Her pictures more than proved how happy she was with her weekend getaway. There were pictures of her complete with her ski paraphernalia while grinning at the camera. The snow is so pretty as well. I did not know there could be that much snow but then I live in the South so I have only seen very little snow in my life. It will be something to do when the kids are a bit older. I bet the little man will love it. He always says he sees snow when we go outside even if it is just frost. The poor thing wants it to snow so bad he probably thinks it will happen if he wishes hard enough. As for me, I don't like the cold much but I still want to experience skiing if only to tell people that I have tried it. Maybe someday.

i get to choose my own present

2011-12-19T18:26:00.007-05:00

The husband told me to pick what I want for Christmas and get it. He said it is better that way so I know for sure I will like my present. We have had experiences of giving presents that were not really appreciated because the receiver did not like what was given. So to avoid that, he told me to get what I want and consider it his present for me. Not really very romantic but I actually like it because then I get to choose what I want to have without feeling guilty over spending money. The financier has given his approval. The only problem is, I don't really know what to get. I have had things I wanted to buy in the past and they are still in my list but I could not pick one from them. It just doesn't seem right. He told me to decide quick because we are only a few days away from Christmas. I hope to have decided before then. If not, no worries. After all, the day after Christmas is my birthday. I am sure he will not take the offer away :)

what she wants

2011-12-14T18:13:00.006-05:00

One of my friends told me she wants to experience owning an Apple electronics. She said it is one of her wishes, to get an electronic with an Apple logo in it. I don't blame her. I have heard good reviews about the electronics from people who owned them. She said she will work on it and I do hope she will get what she wants. I hope too that there will be an Apple Store promo code available when she decides to buy the electronic she wants. I am not sure if she wants a Mac or an iPad because I did not ask her the specifics. I know I will want to try an iPhone to see if it is well worth the rating that users give it but she might want something different. I will wait for her to tell me she did it, that she did buy what she wants so she can tell me if it is any good. Who knows, I might just have the money to get one myself in the future. Although I am not really particular when it comes to brand names as long as the electronic I have is working. But I might change my mind :)

no presents?

2011-12-14T14:26:00.004-05:00

I don't know if the kids will get any presents from us this Christmas. The husband has not talked about shopping for toys nor do I know what I want to buy for them. We are not into buying toys for the little man even when he was younger. He has plenty of mostly educational toys that we bought on special occasions. The little girl has her little toys that she plays with and throws out of her playpen when she gets bored. I noticed that my kids get bored with their toys real quick, save for a few favorites. That is why I don't know what to buy. I don't want to waste money on a toy that they might not want to play with for more than 5 minutes. I know it is a special occasion but money is hard to come by. I was told though that their sister has presents for them coming in the mail and that was so nice of her. Maybe I will just buy a Wii game for the little man and something cheap that makes sound for the little girl. I am a cheap mom, aren't I? Lol. But then maybe the husband will decide for a last minute Christmas shopping for the kids. We will know in the next few days.

our own tradition

2011-12-13T19:15:00.005-05:00

We are thinking of going on a vacation this Christmas. In recent years, we spent most of our Christmases somewhere else. We normally don't have big feasts on our table yet we enjoy our Christmas as a family, making our own tradition. The times we did not travel, we spent Christmas with other family members mostly visiting then eating. Travel is one thing the husband and I both like. We enjoy the scenery and the experience. We like the feeling of being away from home then of coming home at the end of our trip. The little man loves to travel too. He is basically a good kid while he is strapped in his car seat as long as he gets the food he wants. I never really had to amuse him with any toys or electronics because he is happy just looking out his window. It is different with the little girl. Since she was born we have not been anywhere far without her fussing. I am hoping that it is because she is still a baby. She might just surprise me one day when she starts to be the model baby for long trips. Anyway, we have not decided where to go or if we will really go this year. Money is a bit tight so we will see what happens. I know this though, we will have a merry Christmas because we are together as a family.

dead links

2011-12-11T09:04:00.005-05:00

I have cleaned up my blogroll again from dead links. I also deleted blog links that did not show my own blog link on their sites. If for some reason I have deleted your link from my blogroll by mistake (I might not have found your blogroll or did not find my name in it even if it was there) please notify me through comments and I will put your links up right away. Happy Sunday!

car shipping

2011-12-08T17:15:00.003-05:00

There are good deals on used cars all over the internet. These can be found on different websites that lists cars to be sold to anybody who is interested and who has money. It is well and good specially if a buyer finds the car he really wants but it could also be a problem if the car being listed is either on another side of the state or maybe yet on a different state. It is a good thing that there is a service such as Car Shipping that does the hard work to get the car you want shipped to wherever you want. It works by the buyer calling a company to ship the car to his house, for a fee, of course. I personally think it is a good idea since it makes it less burdensome to the buyer. Although I must admit, it could cost money too. But then buying and shipping a car does cost money however one looks at it. It is part of the deal of owning a vehicle.

no more purses or shoes

2011-12-06T21:10:00.004-05:00

The husband watched me browsing purses online the other day. He normally is agreeable to most things especially my seemingly addiction to purses and shoes. He lets me buy what I want, even if sometimes it cost a lot of money. He even encouraged me to buy a really expensive purse but I felt guilty so I did not buy it although that does not mean I will not in the future. It will be really far in the future though, if ever, maybe when I have a real job. Anyway, while I was browsing online I did not really plan to buy anything. I just like to do it, it makes me happy. To some it might sound like crazy but it is just the way I am. Anyway, the husband started a conversation with me about how pretty the purses are and all that but then he also told me if I can, to not buy any purse or shoes for the time being. He said we need the money to finish work on our house and I understand. We have been out a lot of money to get the house ready yet we are not even halfway done with the expenses. It is a good thing that I just bought a satchel a few months back. I don't feel bad about what he asked. I will just have to content myself with looking at stuff online so when the time comes that I can buy another purse or shoes, I will have chosen what I want :)

me time

2011-12-05T21:20:00.003-05:00

Thanks for the article from Glenda Hanson.

I recently started working from home, so I’ve had a lot more time to take care of things I’ve been putting off. I used to work about 60 hours a week, so it was tough to keep things in order at home. When I finally did get home from work, I was so tired that I didn’t really feel like getting organized or doing anything that wasn’t urgent. Working from home has been great, because even though I’m busy, I can get my work done on my own time. It’s so nice actually being able to make personal phone calls before business hours are over. One of the things I had been meaning to do was to change from cable to satellite TV. I went online to find which service I should use and immediately found cabletvadvisor.com and I was able to make the switch pretty painlessly. I am so happy that I am finally getting my life in order and have a more flexible schedule. It’s so nice to feel like I’m back on track! I know it sounds like a small thing to get a household chore done, but it’s huge to me.

i went shopping

2011-11-27T16:52:00.005-05:00

I went shopping yesterday. It was more to get out than to buy anything because I have not been out in a while, but I also kept an eye out for good deals for me and my family. I did not need to buy anything but I bought a nice satchel for everyday use. I could not help it, it was just so cute and it was on sale. I also bought the husband a belt which he had been wanting to get since he lost weight. And since I was already at the mall and I remembered my kids need cold weather clothes, I went straight to the kids' section to see if I can find the right sizes for them from all the kids outerwear that were on display. Luckily, I was able to grab a sweater for the little girl, hats for both of them, and a pair of boots for the little man. I would have bought a pair of boots for the little girl but I did not think it practical since she is still little and cannot walk yet. I opted instead for what I know she will need and be able to use.

I went home with a few shopping bags. I almost felt guilty but the husband said he knew I will end up buying something when I headed out the door and so he was not surprised. He said he was actually surprised I did not bring home more stuff. He knows me better than myself then, lol. I enjoyed the outing because there was no pressure. I am a mall rat, ever since I was young. I like the traffic and the smell and the displays at the mall. I don't think I will ever get tired going to the same stores even if I do it everyday. Like I always say here in my blog, I love shopping. A lot!

i am a bag addict!

2011-11-10T18:04:00.005-05:00

And I don't know how to stop. The fact that I bought a satchel and a purse just days apart is a sure sign there is something wrong with me. Thankfully, the husband did not think that odd. I think he is happy I have switched from shoes to bags, lol. He even paid for my satchel and wanted me to buy something more expensive which I declined because that was kinda extravagant and I know I will only feel guilty spending so much money on a satchel. Maybe next time :) The thing with me is that I don't keep the bags that I bought. I use them alright after which I put them in a box to send to my mom so she can either keep them or give them to my cousins or nieces. Right now I have two purses that have not been used. One is a Coach while the other is a store brand that I like so much. Then there were the bags that I have used that are still in the closet. I have to decide whether or not to send them to mom or to keep them just in case I will want to use them again in the future. If nothing else, I can save them for my daughter as long as I keep them in good condition. I so love bags!

holiday stress

2011-10-05T22:29:00.002-04:00

With the holiday’s fast approaching I have had to recently take a couple of deep breaths and remind myself not to start getting stressed out this year. I feel like every time Thanksgiving starts approaching my head starts spinning and my throat gets dry. This is only because I know how many people I’m going to have to entertain in the upcoming months and I just instantly feel overwhelmed. I guess a lot of people feel this way about the holidays but for me it is a thousand times worse because I have an extremely large family and my husband has an extremely large family on both his mom and dad’s side. I should probably start learning some tactics that force me to calm down when I start getting stressed out but it’s the stress that makes me work harder sometimes. The one good thing that will come from this stressful holiday season is the fact that my friend Michelle told me about Direct tv the other day and I instantly knew what I was getting my husband for Christmas.

Thanks for the guest post by Bradly Watkins.

beautiful sky

2011-08-11T19:54:00.004-04:00

I just want to share to you a picture I took while the family went on vacation to the South. We had two weeks of relaxation and fun. We went to the beach, visited a few restaurants (the husband's treat to me on his birthday) and enjoyed our days away from home and routine. It was something we promise to do again should we have the money to afford it. Only, next time, we will go when the temperature is cooler so we can explore amusement parks as well without having sunstroke.

i love reality tv

2011-08-08T17:21:00.005-04:00

You guys, I'm pretty obsessed with reality TV and I think it?s getting worse. For example, I love anything and everything on BRAVO and all the stuff they run on MTV and VH1, too. I like Flipping Out and especially those Real Housewives shows because there?s endless fodder when it comes to those silly women. I pretty much will watch anything as long as I think it?s reality including that new show on Lifetime, Dance Moms. I don?t even dance ? I just really like the drama! Going to Htpp://WWW.DIRECt.TV and getting all the satellite channels wasn't the best move for me because now I spend way more time than I should watching TV but I guess it?s not the worst vice I could have, when it comes down to it. I love my alone time and TV provides a way for me to decompress so I guess if it works I shouldn't beat myself up over it. Maybe I should just try to refine my tastes a little more and ditch all the reality stuff!

Guest post of the week by Val Flores.

i won a bid on ebay!

2011-06-26T08:53:00.004-04:00

For the first time ever (lol), I made bids on eBay using my account I have opened years before. And I won! How is that for a first timer? I bid on a digital camera like the first digital camera I have owned and that the little man tore up. It is a Sony cybershot w55. I still have all the accessories from the old cam so I thought why not find a camera to go with it. I loved my old camera even if it was only a 7.2 megapixel. Well, the camera I bid on had all the accessories to it so all the better. It is used but is supposed to be on good working condition which I will know for sure if true once I get the item. The price I paid is cheap so no worries there. I did try to look up the camera on Amazon but it is still on the $100 and up brand new and as much as I like to have a brand new one I did not want to pay that much so I ended up on eBay. I am happy with the purchase. If nothing else I can let the little man use this camera because he does love to take pictures. At least I don't have to worry about it being scratched or tore up.

so expensive..

2011-06-06T19:17:00.004-04:00

Thanks for the article from Isaiah Gaines.

Why is photography so expensive? I mean, I just don’t get why photographers charge so much just to take and edit pictures of people…I think they mark it up because it’s usually in accordance with a special day or event. When my husband and I got married I was floored at the costs we were quoted by local photographers in town, so I looked into wireless from www.clearwirelessinternet4g.com so I could look online for a better deal. Unfortunately, what I had been quoted was the industry standard! After shelling out those thousands for the wedding I thought it was over, that is, until we had our first child. Having the official baby portraits done was unbelievably expensive but I was stressed as a new mom and in no position to haggle. I’m just waiting for the next time we have to get family shots done as I’ve done my research this time around. I know that the economy’s been hard on decorative photography so I’m going to negotiate with whoever we choose to get the best deal possible.

a new car

2011-05-14T19:54:00.006-04:00

With the gas prices so high, the husband and I have been talking about the need to buy a fuel efficient car. We do not really like cramped space since we have had SUV's since I got pregnant with the little man but if we want to be able to go places without breaking our bank account, we need a gas saver. Hence the plan to buy a smaller car. We have two cars from different manufacturers we are looking at. Both are small cars but are really good on mileage. We might get one brand new so it will be covered with car warranty for tune ups and any problems that might come up. He said he is tired of messing with cars so an auto warranty will come in handy, that way the car is covered. I like it too. We might have to pay more for insurance and stuff being it a new car but we probably will save in the long run.

We still love our SUV. In fact, if not for the unbelievable gas price hike we would not have talked about getting a newer yet smaller car. But we are on tough times and we need to be practical. No, we are not buying an expensive car either. We cannot afford that. We just want something easy on gas and reliable, perhaps even without an extended warranty. We are still weighing the pros and cons between two cars so we have not made the decision on what to buy specifically. All we know is that we need one and soon.

closed for good

2011-05-14T15:06:00.005-04:00

The grocery store I frequent every weekend is closing down. It is sad because I really like that particular store because it may not be too big but it carries the stuff I always buy. It makes for easier and faster shopping and checkout too due to its size. But today when I went there for groceries there was a sign on the door that said today is the last day the store will be open. At six o'clock it will be closing its doors for good. The husband and I have talked about how the store is keeping its doors open when there are not that many people coming in to shop. I guess we had our answer today. This means I will have to go to a different store for our groceries. I hope the workers will be absorbed on their sister store that is still open on the other side of town. And that that store will remain open for a long time.

We have noticed establishments closing down these days. The little restaurant just down the road from us has closed too just last week. There are shops that sits empty. We wonder if the big stores are doing this to the small businesses or the economy is really that bad. We hope it is not going to get worse. The high price of gas is not helping much either. If only there is a fast solution to all these.

i want another pair

2011-04-30T11:41:00.009-04:00

I love Levi's jeans. I like the cut and the fit and the cloth they use. I have always wanted a pair but I did not get to buy one until this year. Would you believe that my first pair of Levis was given to me by my brother? He said he had to buy me one because I will be old before I buy a pair for myself, if I buy at all. He calls me a tightwad, lol. Although he did not buy me levis 501 I am still grateful because it was sweet of him to think of his big sister.

When I told the husband the story, he scolded me. He told me I could buy whatever I want and that includes Levis jeans if I want them. I know that. It is just that I always think about the price and I always end up buying the cheaper, lower quality jeans so I do not have to spend a lot of money. That is how it is with jackets too. I buy heavily discounted jackets when the husband told me I could have bought woolrich jackets if I wanted to. Well, I do like nice jackets and jeans and I told him I will buy me some but only after my clothes right now need replacements. I have to help him save money, not spend it.

up for renewal

2011-04-28T08:25:00.006-04:00

It is almost time to renew my web hosting account. In a couple of months I will have to renew it and then renew the domain names on some of my blogs as well. I have been renewing my web hosting account for six months at a time which does not really save me money since I pay more when I do that but I could not afford to pay a whole year's amount. It will be nice if I can renew my web hosting account for a year the next time I do it. Maybe I will be able to save enough before it is up for renewal. I do like my provider as long as they will not change the terms on my membership :)

When I checked online if I had the best deal, I have found out I don't. There are far more cheaper web hosting companies out there that supposedly received best web hosting awards and sadly my web hosting provider is not on the list. Will I transfer? Not yet. I will have to stay with my web hosting provider until I cannot pay the fees anymore then I will have to ask a friend (on top of technical support) to help me transfer my account. I do hope that my web hosting will not keep on charging me more money because if they do I don't really have a choice but to move. And I hate moving especially when I do not have a clue how to do it.

a good source of information

2011-04-26T21:36:00.007-04:00

We just received a copy of the local yellowpages a few days ago. The husband handed the book to me while I had a blank look on my face. He should have known I do not care much about the yellowpages since if I need to know about a store or a business I always do local search because it is easier that way. The world wide web is a wealth of information and that includes businesses and addresses and even phone numbers if we need it. He does use the book from time to time especially when I don't help him find what he wants.

When I help him find a place of business or, say, local restaurants, we do an online search through Local.com. He was amazed (like a little kid) when I showed him the website. He thought it was cool which it really is. We do not buy maps anymore because when we need to know where the best place to go for seafood near us, all we need to do is get online and we get all the information we need.

fushigi yuugi

2011-04-26T19:32:00.006-04:00

When I was in high school, I was hooked on Fushigi Yuugi. I loved the characters and I liked the story of this anime that I made it a point to watch every episode as much as possible. Sadly, I never did watch all episodes since the series was still on-going when I had to leave for college. The boarding house I lived in had only one television set and the people living in there did not like anime so I did not get to watch the series to its completion. A couple of weeks ago though I have read a post on Facebook talking about Fushigi Yuugi being available on Youtube and that there was not only one but three series although the other two were shorter than the first. I then went ahead and searched online and was lucky enough to find a website with all episodes uploaded. The only downside was that it was subbed in English and reading the dialogue while watching the scenes was kinda distracting. Still, I am thankful that I found the site and was able to watch all available episodes. The husband told me to stop watching several times because every little time I had free I spent watching anime. I explained to him my reason for watching the series and all the memories associated with it and he left me alone. Now that I am finished with Fushigi Yuugi I have two more series I would like to watch but I do not know if he will be as understanding especially since one of the anime has tons of episodes in it that I may have to spend weeks watching them. I would love to watch said animes again though. If only the little man is old enough to watch with me I would have a reason to stay glued to the television all the time. I will find a way though even if it means I have to watch one episode a week so long as I get to do it. I am a self-confessed anime fan :)

i so want one

2011-04-25T19:41:00.009-04:00

One of the things I want when I have my own kitchen is a spice rack. No, I am not a good cook nor am I resourceful when it comes to cooking. I just want a built-in wall spice rack on my kitchen so I can put all kinds of spices in it when I need them. Or when the husband feels adventurous in the kitchen. I don't think only good cooks are allowed to have spice racks, we amateurs can have them too, you know? Who knows we might just feel inspired to cook, then the spices will not just be displays anymore. Besides, spice racks makes a kitchen look uncluttered. I like order around me. I hate it when things are just scattered all over the kitchen counter especially when the husband (who does it all the time) cannot find what he wants. It is easier when every spice is in its place, makes for a harmonious relationship, don't you think? And for somebody who does not know how to cook, I like to collect spices in jars and bottles.

I don't have any idea what my spice rack will look like. The husband's aunt has a really neat spice rack in her kitchen and I think I would like it until I saw her daughter's built-in spice rack. My searches online about kitchen spice racks are of no help either since there are so many to choose from. And I am the kind to not be happy with just one choice. I change my mind constantly which is a problem. Hopefully though, by the time we have our own place (crossing fingers here, lol) I will make my choice so the husband will be able to help me with it. The kitchen will not be my only project when we do have our own place but I can start there :)

working on it

2011-04-12T19:00:00.007-04:00

One of our plans is to get married in the Philippines. The husband and I talk about a wedding where my side of the family can attend and have plans on making it happen in the next few years. So as early as now I am already planning things bit by bit. I know it will take time and money and a lot of work since I am planning a wedding thousands of miles from where it will take place but we hope it will work. As with weddings, wedding invitations are as important as the bridal dress itself. It is hard to choose from different choices available online but choose I must. If I am creative, I should be designing my own wedding invitations but I am not so I will have to let somebody else do it for me. Thankfully I am not picky which I think is a good thing for my sanity :) I am looking at discount wedding invitations because I still have to spend on my dress, the husband's outfit, the kids' outfits, as well as the dresses of the wedding entourage. While I am at it, I also have to remind myself that we need to spend money on food at the reception and for giveaways too.

There is a lot to do and although I still have time to plan and search and compare prices it is starting to overwhelm me. It will be nice to hire a wedding planner but I don't really want to spend more money than we have to. If we can pull a wedding that does not cost a lot we will be happy. We just want to have a church wedding like the husband promised my father when he asked for my hand. If only planning for a wedding is not so complicated and expensive.

dexter

2011-04-09T18:49:00.003-04:00

I have found Dexter by chance while browsing Netflix. I decided to watch it to see what it is all about and I have been hooked since then. The husband does not like it. He wonders why I watch something "dark" and violent. I don't have any answer but that it is entertainment. I read suspense and psychological thrillers anyway so this is not different. I have only watched two seasons on streaming but I already have the seasons 3 and 4 (DVD) on queue. After these, I plan on watching Alias since I did not really get to watch the whole series while it was on television. This is a good way to spend my free time no matter how little I have anymore. As long as I get to enjoy a little entertainment for myself.

up for renewal

2011-04-08T08:32:00.007-04:00

In a couple of months, our auto insurance will be up for renewal. We paid a six month premium so we did not have to make payments every month and now it is almost time to pay for it. I wonder if we will still pay the same amount we did last time since we have our homeowners insurance with the same company as well. I will wait for the renewal letter in the mail before I pay to see if we will get the same premium this year. The husband told me we will probably have to pay the same amount and I hope he is right.

We like to pay our insurance on time because we do not want to have problems in the long run. And auto insurance is up there on the list of things that needs to be paid. If for some reason our insurance provider will raise our premium we will have to start looking around. Anyway, a friend from Florida is asking me about insurance providers and I told her to check PrimeIns to see if they will give her a good deal. I have only read about the company since they do not serve in the state we live in so I cannot vouch for them but she can always do a little research like we did. I hope she will get a good deal like we did with ours.

handy little things

2011-04-05T18:06:00.006-04:00

When we decided to move over a year ago, we did not do it all at once. We had so much junk that we had to do it gradually. It was an out of state move so it required a lot of planning but we pulled it with a relatively low stress level. On my part at least, lol. The husband keeps tarps at home. He buys them when they are on sale and just stores them in the utility room. He told me that we never know when we need it so he keeps a tarp or two in handy for such occasions. I trust his judgment so I never question him anymore after the first time I asked. He proved me he is right anyway since we did need tarps when we moved the first batch of our stuff.

The first batch was loaded on a trailer with the help of his son (who did all the work save for making sure the items were properly covered by a blue tarp). We then moved the trailer out of state while hoping it will hold until we get to our destination. Surprisingly, it did. But we never did that again. We made sure we rented a U-haul truck the next time. We did not want to push our luck in case it will not hold :) The husband saved his precious tarps to be used when we next move which I think will be pretty soon.

foodie's blog

2011-04-05T18:03:00.002-04:00

I really, really like food. Like, I spend most of my waking hours either cooking or reading about food online, so it seemed natural for me to start a food blog last year. I’ve been trying to post at least once a week or so with a new recipe or a picture of a delicious dish I had at a restaurant in town. I really like having ClearWirelessInternet4g so I can update the blog wherever I am – sometimes I even upload pictures on my laptop and write a post or add a photo while I’m still eating a meal in a restaurant! My boyfriend hates it when I do that. Anyway, I’ve got lots of followers from my college and from Facebook, so I like to write witty posts to keep them interested. I’ve tried to make my recipes easy and healthy so more people will try them, but for now the blog’s just for me! I really enjoy being able to get online and just write my thoughts…it’s a great release and really sparks my creativity.

Thanks for the article from Isaiah Gaines.

we need warm weather

2011-03-28T13:47:00.005-04:00

I have an ocean front room which means I am looking at the beach right now. This should be enough to make me happy even if I cannot go out to walk because of the cold weather. Not! The little man wants so much to get out. He is bored and all he wants is to go outside and play. He put on his jacket and shoes earlier telling me he is ready. I told him we can't because of the cold temperature and I thought that was enough. The next time I look he was trying to open the door. Sigh! So much for trying to enjoy nature. I might as well bring him to the pool so he will settle down. If only the weather will cooperate and get warm so we can go outside.

lifesaver

2011-02-10T14:04:00.006-05:00

For some reason, I felt so cold last night that I asked the husband to fire up the kerosene heater on top of the central heat on full blast. He knew I get cold real bad that I did not have to ask him twice. He started the kerosene heater while I got in bed under the covers to get warm. I know it must have been awful for him and the kids to be so warm in the house but I could not help it, I had to build my body heat back and quick. I did feel better just minutes after and was able to take a nap as well. I so love our kerosene heater which the husband and I bought at Lowes using one of the lowes coupons I found online. It made the house smell good too which reminds me of nights when there was no electricity at my parents' house and we had to use kerosene lamps.

I stayed in bed for a pretty good while until the little one asked for milk and then it was back to reality for me, lol. At least I was warm anymore so I did not mind getting up and around. I hope Spring comes quick enough so I do not have to get too cold. It gets pretty crazy when I get what I call cold spells but since we know what to do it does not bother us much anymore.

mini-garden

2011-02-08T17:02:00.006-05:00

We used to live in an apartment complex when the husband and I first got married. It was a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a little kitchen and ample space for a living room. We lived in it for two years. Like any apartment complex there was no room for a garden so the husband who likes to grow plants and vegetables decided to put matters in his own hands, so to speak. He bought window plant boxes which he used to plant tomatoes, sweet potato, turnips, and my lemon grass. We had to buy dirt and put in some organic fertilizer (from our own kitchen) to make the plants healthy. The neighbors went crazy over our plants. When fruits started coming in, they would stop by and admire our little "garden" which earned them a few tomatoes in return. I think that was why they stopped in the first place, to ask :)

Our porch looked so good from all the green plants that some of the neighbors actually did what we did. They started their own mini-garden too. On our building, you could see window box planters on almost all the unit. We were proud of what we did and happy that we actually were able to raise produce even if in a small scale. All because I have a creative husband who wanted his fresh vegetables. Thankfully, the management did not see anything wrong with having a few window boxes in some of the units. It made it a lot easier for us to grow our own plants.

preference

2011-02-06T20:04:00.006-05:00

When we drive around town (something we normally do when we are bored) the husband and I enjoy looking at people's houses. There are really nice, big houses in the country. Ones that make you wonder because a person has to drive a long time to get anywhere. The husband supposed that these houses are owned by retirees who want to live a quiet life away from the city. They do have nice digs with elaborate designs for their address numbers. Some even have house plaques with their names in it which I think is a little bit over the top but then to each his own.

I thought the address signs are cool though. I won't mind having one of those at home so people will know where we are at. I think houses should have address signs so it will be easier to find them when the need arise. Of course some people might not be comfortable with it, it is just my opinion. Anyway, whether you believe it or not, there are a lot of things one can see in the country. I am starting to love it even if I still miss the city every once in a while.

romantic comedy

2011-02-06T19:59:00.005-05:00

I am in the mood for watching romantic comedies lately. I like watching this type of movie because it usually is light and funny and uncomplicated. A person does not have to think when watching which is a good thing. It is pure entertainment for me. The husband sometimes watches these cheesy movies with me but if he has his way he would rather watch documentaries and movies that keep a viewer guessing. I love those too but there are times I don't want to think and just enjoy a good movie. I already have movies lined up on my computer that I like to watch and as soon as the little man finishes watching Enchanted I will take over the television for a while :)

we make the rounds during the holidays

2011-02-02T13:25:00.004-05:00

In my family the holidays fly by in a swirl of wrapping paper, traveling and sweet treats. Christmas Eve we set the home security alarm from Securitychoice.com and pack up in the van. The five of us make the journey to my grandmother's house, where we spend the day with approximately fifty of our closest relatives. The kids get gifts from the aunts and uncles, and the adults participate in a group gift exchange. Santa comes and brings each child a stocking full of candies and crayons. Around midnight we break up the party, and my family of five heads to my mother's house for the night. We get a few hours of sleep, and at six a.m. or so the kids wake everyone up to open the presents under the tree. Wrapping paper, tape, and bows all go flying as the kids rush to receive what they got. The grownups take their time and enjoy watching the children. We play games, have lunch, and visit with my brothers and parents until the afternoon. Around three or four p.m. we load up the kids and our gifts and make the drive back home. I do love the holidays, but they go by so fast! I wish they lasted a few weeks instead of a few days.

Thanks to Erasmo Cortez.

niche

2011-01-31T21:37:00.005-05:00

A friend works at an advertising agency and I somehow envy her because I think it is a glamorous job. She gets to work with a lot of people and if she is lucky, works with celebrities as well. I have always dreamed of working at an advertising agency but I think I am not up to the challenge. I am not creative nor do I work well under pressure. She is. She is good at her job and she loves the challenges that comes with it. She is very creative and she can come up with original ideas. She often told me that she loves her job and she cannot think of doing anything else. I am happy for her, she found her niche in life. Hers is in being a career woman. I, on the other hand, is being a mother and wife.

I would love to be a career woman too but I will not trade my family for anything else. The husband told me I can have both, career and family, when the kids are grown which I may be looking forward to but is not really something I want to happen soon. I am enjoying my life right now and my family is more important than a career at the moment. I will probably have my own career one day in the future (not in an advertising agency) but we will know when it happens. Let me enjoy my family for now and worry about the future later.

need to print some pictures

2011-01-31T21:12:00.005-05:00

The husband took a lot of pictures of our daughter. It seemed like he is finding one excuse after another to snap pictures and then asks me to transfer them in his laptop. He said I need to print a lot of these pictures to send to my relatives in PI. I know I have to but between taking care of a baby and a toddler and recuperating, printing pictures is not really high on my list right now. I will eventually have to do it before my parents disown me but I am going to take my time doing it. I told the husband he needs to start looking for cheap ink cartridges because I will be draining the printer dry of ink with all the pictures he wants me to print. He might not complain so much this time though because we bought a printer that does not use too much ink. Supposedly. And it requires cheap printer ink (unlike our old printer) which is the reason why we bought it.

It took us a while to find a printer that has the specs we want but which uses less ink than most. We just got lucky we chanced upon the printer we have now on one of the stores we went to. It was on sale so we bought it cheap and we also had a good deal since the store sells cheap ink for printers. We will see how efficient the printer is and how good the pictures come out when I start printing pictures of the kids. I have to make the husband happy so he will stop nagging me and the parents need to be sent pictures of their grandchildren whom they have not seen in person.

the heist

2011-01-30T21:40:00.004-05:00

I have picked to watch the movie The Heist tonight while waiting for the little girl to sleep. The husband sat with us and asked me if we were watching a movie about old people so we will know what to expect when we get old. Lol. I like the movie although it is a bit sad. Odd really, considering the movie is supposed to be a comedy. Anyway, I am halfway through the movie and although the little girl is fast asleep I decided to finish the movie to see what happens with the "plan". You just have to watch the movie to know what it is about because I am too lazy to even copy the synopsis :)

craving for sweets

2011-01-29T21:09:00.006-05:00

Last night I was craving for something sweet and cold. I thought about ice cream right away. The little man had the same idea since right after I thought about asking the husband to get us ice cream from the store he came up to me and asked for ice cream. The poor man did not have a choice but to give in to his wife and kid's demand. He went to the store to get us two flavors of ice cream. One is neapolitan while the other is dark chocolate which we all like. I had a bowl full of the two flavors combined. Probably not good for my hips but I had to satisfy the craving. It was so good. I am not really very fond of ice cream but whenever the craving hit that is when I eat like I need to pack more pounds on my already chubby figure. The little man had his bowl too and ate whatever he could. We have not touched nor thought about the ice cream since then. Thank goodness for freezers to keep the goodies in so we have ice cream when we want it.

The husband did not even eat the ice cream that he bought. He said he will pass and will eat when he feels like it. He is actually trying to cut back on calories and sweets so he will lose weight. I need to do it too but I am breastfeeding so I have an excuse although I might regret it when I get on a scale and notice weight gain. Anyway, I am happy my craving for sweets is satisfied. I just hope that I will not crave for it everyday or I will really be in trouble.

web hosting choice

2011-01-27T21:45:00.006-05:00

Today, I decided to renew my web hosting account. I have had this account for two years now and I am happy with the service provided to me. I know I have not used every features that come with the package I bought but as long as I am given good service then I don't really feel deprived or anything like that. The most important thing is that I have my own web hosting account for some of my blogs. Like I said, I have renewed it for another year and I hope that the company will still provide me with the same service so I will continue to be happy.

A friend helped me set up the said web hosting account when I told her I was ready to pay for my own. She used to host my blogs until she had to transfer her own account to another company. I am happy she helped me and that she introduced me to the company she was using. She said the company we are using right now is still one of the best blog hosting provider. We are happy with our choice and we hope to continue to use the company for our web hosting as long as we can afford it.

headache

2011-01-27T07:05:00.004-05:00

For two days now, I have experienced headache that starts at bed time until I get up in the morning. I don't know what is causing it because I have never had headache like this. Normally when I get headache it is because I did not eat on time or I have a cold. I have been eating on time and I do not have a cold so this is confusing. I am trying to research it online and so far what I have learned is that there is a thing known as lactation headache. I am breastfeeding so I guess it could be the culprit. I will keep an eye on this one though and make sure it is not something serious. I do hope the headache will just go away and leave me alone. It is hard enough waking up several times during the night as it is. I could do without the headache or any other pains as well.

we are lucky

2011-01-26T18:26:00.007-05:00

A week ago, I gave birth to baby number two, a lovely little girl. We never had to buy anything for her because we got everything we needed for her arrival from relatives and friends. We have plenty of girl's clothing of different sizes and we were given diapers and wipes and blankets and anything we need for the new baby. We are lucky in more ways because of all these blessings thrown our way. We not only have a healthy baby to spoil, we also have relatives and friends who are kind enough to think of what we need.

We will eventually have to buy her clothes and other things one of these days but not right now. And I know her aunts and cousins will continue to buy her stuff as she grows. They are like that and I appreciate it a lot. Although we do have to buy her something so she will not feel like we have been completely relying on donations, lol. I am just kidding. I know once I am recovered from my operation I will be heading to the mall to get her outfits for the summer. I cannot wait for that day. I enjoy shopping and I love to buy stuff for my kids.

anything local

2011-01-25T11:18:00.004-05:00

A few months ago, we moved from the south to our new place in the country. It was a plan we have thought about for over a year before we were able to do it. It was not easy leaving the beach and the warmer weather but we did not have much a choice so we had to go. We ended up in the county where the husband's parents were originally from. He knows a few people having lived here before and he has relatives to help out too. It is a far cry from the lifestyle we were used to in the south but it is not so bad either. In fact, I am starting to like it here. On our first month in the new place we went driving around familiarizing ourselves with the new surrounding. It was pretty since we moved in the Spring and everything was green and the fields were lush. We had a good time visiting small towns and big cities until we got lost several times, lol. Even if the husband basically grew up in the area it has been so long since he was here and a lot of things has changed. For some reason we could not find a comprehensive map of the state so we opted to do our own search online. We used Local.com which he stumbled online. It is a local search engine which is cool because we were able to use it to look for local businesses and search for local restaurants (the husband loves country food) and it serves its purpose for us. We appreciate it more after asking for directions from his relatives about certain places which most of the time lead us to merry chases.

It is nice to have a place in the web to look up when a person needs information or driving directions. I should say this local yellowpages is good for people like us who like to try new things and go to different places in the community. As long as we know where we want to go, all we need to do is punch in a few keys and we should have the information we need.

she is gone

2011-01-12T22:46:00.006-05:00

I posted here a few weeks ago about my Lola (grandmother) being sick. It is sad to say that she finally died on New Year's eve. The whole family was sad but at the same time happy that she is finally at rest. She was after all 92 years old when she died. She had lived a full life and she will be missed. I did not get to see her because of distance but she was (and still is) in my heart. We have decided before she died that we will use her name for our little girl's middle name so her name and legacy will live on. I know it will be different when we visit the relatives in Leyte because the family matriarch is gone but we will make sure it will be a happy event because it will be what she would want us to do. Rest in peace, Lola.

a very long wait

2011-01-03T17:41:00.005-05:00

Went for my OB appointment today. I waited two hours to be seen by my OB who told me since she was on vacation last week she had to see a lot of patients today to make up for it. The wait wouldn't have bothered me if only I went ahead and brought the book I started reading today. The thing was, I did not bring it thinking I will be in and out of the doctor's office in a flash. Lesson well learned. Anyway, I will be going back to the OB next week since I was told it will be a weekly thing now that I am nearing my due date. Hopefully next time the wait will not be too long. Thank goodness the little man was being good as per the husband's report. And I was told that the last series of tests they did on me came up negative. At least there are a few things to be grateful for :)

after christmas sale

2010-12-28T10:19:00.004-05:00

I have received all kinds of emails and coupons on the mail for the after Christmas sales. In fact I am still getting them as of today. It is enticing to see all kinds of clearance and sales going on but I am trying hard not to succumb for my own financial good. The husband said I can go but I know that if I do it will mean spending money and then where will I be after that? Broke? I don't want that to happen. I would rather be miserable thinking about all the clothes and items I could buy than be out of money I don't really need to be spending. It is awful when I think about it but there are things a girl has to do. There will be more sales anyway, maybe then I will have extra money to spare.

my Lola is sick

2010-12-18T20:45:00.004-05:00

My grandmother is sick. She has been in the hospital for about a week now and I don't know when she will be able to check out. When I talked to my parents a few days ago they said that she was a lot better because she has been talking. When they brought her to the hospital she could not say a single word because she had a stroke. I hope she gets to feeling better. I could not help much about her condition because I am far from her. I could not even visit her. She is old. We are all afraid she won't be around for long. Although I do hope that she can wait for us. She has not seen her great grandchild from me and we would really like her to. If only we have the money to spend we will surely be by her side by now. Get well soon, Lola. We love you and we miss you.

stuck

2010-12-17T18:12:00.008-05:00

In the last few days, the roads have been icy that I am afraid to go out. The only time we went out was when we had important appointments because I am afraid of the conditions of the road and I would rather we stay home instead of be out and get into an accident. We have a car with four-wheel drive but I still don't think it is safe to drive it anywhere. Now if our cars have tire chains then I will feel safer to go out. But we did not think weather will get this bad so we did not prepare that far. Tire Chains would have made a lot of difference to our cars and our desire to go out. Right now we are stuck at home where we all are bored doing the same things we do every single day while the weather is bad.

If we decide to stay longer where we are at now, I am sure the husband will buy tire chains for every vehicle we own so we will have more ways to get out even on wintry days. It is for when we need to get out for supplies and run errands. For now all we can hope is that the weather will not get worse than it is so we will still be able to go out should we need to. Sometimes we do need to go out even for a few minutes and brave the cold just for a change of scenery. It helps a lot for our peace of mind.

we need a break

2010-12-07T18:04:00.004-05:00

I want so much to go shopping. Not to buy a lot of things mind you, just pick what I want and then walk around the mall aimlessly just to pass time then linger on the food court to eat whatever I fancy to eat at the time while people watching. I used to be able to do it when I was single but things changed since I got married and have a kid. Priorities changed, it is not about me anymore. It is about my son and my husband. Me has taken a backseat. I complain sometimes but I love my family and I will not trade them for anything. Besides I do get to roam around the mall sometimes. It is not as often as I would like but I am happy with every little opportunity. I wish to roam the mall one of these days again. Maybe bring the little man with me this time to entertain him since he has been coped up inside the house for a while and he needs a break.

one more item on my Christmas list

2010-11-24T09:49:00.008-05:00

Every time I go to the mall to buy something, I always end up in the women section. No, it is not to look at, or buy, cosmetics. It is because of purses. I don't know what it is with purses that I am drawn to them. I love them. I love to have a variety I can use any time I want. I am not the kind to match my purse with my outfit, I just want different purses for different moods. Just like shoes. It is funny really since before I got married I will never even look at purses, much less use one. But now I think that having a purse is a must. I want to have a couple of adjustable handle purses for convenience, on different design and color at that. I also want a few clutches for when I don't feel like putting a load on my shoulder. Oh, there are so many styles I want to have even if the husband asked me why I would want a lot of purses when I only use one at a time anyway. Is he kidding? A woman needs variety, you know?

Perhaps I should put purses on my Christmas list this year. Maybe Santa will be nice enough to give me everything on my list. I don't want him to think that he missed one of the things I really want to have. And to make it easier for him, I will settle for whatever design purse he will give me. After all, I have to be good to be given what I want, right?

i want...

2010-11-22T14:26:00.004-05:00

I want a new netbook this Christmas. I also want my credit cards paid off before then. And I want cash to spend shopping for myself and for my family. Wonder if Santa Claus will give me what I want all wrapped up (and paid for) come Christmas morning? I have been good lately :)

pumpkins are everywhere!

2010-10-18T19:27:00.003-04:00

Every fall the church by our house has a pumpkin patch. They have one night during the pumpkin patch season in October that they have hay on a trailer hitched to a tiny tractor and give rides around the property. We all enjoy this activity as a family. It feels like fall.

So we wait for this one night to go the pumpkin patch and we all wait in line to get on that tractor. It is so funny seeing my kids in the hay and tossing some at each other. We all love that bumpy ride. It is full of laughter from everyone. After the hayride we go and talk to friends we know from the neighborhood and they have a little set up with pumpkins and a scarecrow where you can take your kids photos. We line the kids up for their photo. They always have apple cider you can enjoy with cookies.

Then it is the big time. The time they have been waiting for. We let the kids pick out their own pumpkins. They can take them home and can design how they will be cut out.

When we are all done for the night after cutting and cleaning out the pumpkins we all settle around and get cozy to watch our favorite shows on our direct tv dealsas a family.

by Don Gregory

getting ready for winter

2010-10-16T19:20:00.000-04:00

We went shopping the other day for the little man. He needed a thick jacket for the winter and a pair of boots. We were able to find a nice jacket for him at a very reasonable price but not the boots. We could not agree on a pair, there was always something one of us has to say on boots we found so we decided to wait a little more. He also needs more socks and a few pairs of jeans but we will get those some other time. While roaming around the store I found a nice cardigan which was on sale. You bet I snatched it right away :D It was nice and it was cheap and I need it. The husband urged me to buy a new pair of boots but I did not find anything I like at the price I want so I did not get any. He should be happy since it saved him money but he said he wanted me to get a pair. I wonder why? Lol. I do have a nice pair at home that I like and as long as I can use that old pair of boots I will not buy any more pairs. Unless I like the new pair very much and the price is right. Anyway, we went home with stuff mostly for the little man but it was alright since it is almost his birthday anyway. Maybe next time I will feel like buying things for myself.

Scared Shrekless - My Favorite Children's Halloween Program

2010-10-13T19:32:00.003-04:00

The world of Shrek is replete with fun. The characters are affable and not bound to the stereotype of fairy tale aesthetics. There are no beautiful people with charming lives and interminable charisma. The fantasy world of Shrek feels real; the characters as familiar as the human monsters I meet every day on the subway. It was only a matter of time before this diverse world of laconic ogres and verbose donkeys received its own Halloween special.

The special episode reveals to us that Halloween is Shrek's favorite holiday, which makes sense due to his enormously bulbous face. This gives him a chance to go out in public amongst the normal people and normal things. This is why the show is my favorite Halloween program, because it flies in the face of everything we've been told to expect. In the original Shrek movies we were told that looks did not matter, that Shrek and Fiona were willing to be married as ogres and live their lives in the swamp. However, the Halloween show is an interesting analysis of Shrek's psyche, because it demonstrates his secret desire to live amongst the humans.

The show takes place in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle as the characters spin scary stories, and is by far my favorite. It is available for viewing on basic packages with satellite TV from www.Direc4U.com.

by Valentine Pratt

will not do it

2010-10-05T23:52:00.004-04:00

It is late and this should be the time for me to pick up the little man's clutter but I am too lazy to do it. Looking at his toys scattered every where is making my head ache but I am not doing anything to clean up either. Perhaps I will get used to this. I know it will be like this until I make him understand that he has to clean up his own mess somehow. This is not the proper time though, I will give him a few years and then he will really have to do it by himself. He does help me now but it seems like he hates order. He wants every thing in chaos, he loves it that way. I will let him enjoy now because soon mommy will really be serious in implementing rules and he has to follow or else. Anyway, I have to get off here. Like I said, it is late. I do need my beauty rest too :)

i shopped online

2010-08-20T12:38:00.007-04:00

I have not been to the mall for months and I have been itching to shop for a while so the other night I decided to do online shopping. I ordered intimates from Victoria's Secret and the items should be delivered in the next week. Before I ordered anything, I had to inform the husband so he will not be shocked when the order gets here. He was fine with it. I opted for standard shipping which is cheaper than if we had to go to the mall considering how expensive gas is at the moment. I did not order much, only what I would normally buy when I am at the store. If my orders come the way I want then I might just keep on doing online shopping instead of running to the mall. Living in the country has its disadvantages but sometimes it does have its perks so I am not complaining. As long as I get what I want I am happy.

Dr House my all time favorite TV doctor on a drama show

2010-08-17T09:53:00.003-04:00

One of my all time Favorite Prime Time Drama shows would have to be House. I totally love Hugh Laurie, who plays the character Dr. Gregory House. You would never know he was born in England and speak the British language fluently. He hides his accent very well on his TV show.

The only reason I know of his accent is because I have seen him on talk shows and the first time I saw him speak in the British language I was like in awe. He is a wonderful actor in my eyes in many ways bringing tears of laughter to my eyes with each and every episode.

His boss, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, plays the hospital administrator is another one of my favorite characters. Dr. Cuddy is played by Lisa Edelstein. Their views differ on many different things, making the show very interesting. House's only real friend on the show is Dr. James Wilson, played by Robert Shawn Leonard. Dr. Wilson is the head of Oncology on the show. In 2008, House was the most watched television program on direct tv, which would help explain why its one of my favorites.

Author: Jonathan Suarez

goodies!

2010-08-14T09:50:00.004-04:00

I was informed I will be receiving a package from PI in a few days. And another package will be mailed to me and if things go smoothly I should have it in two to three weeks. The contents of the packages are goodies that I requested from my parents and brother. I have been craving for said goodies and they are kind enough to help. I hope the packages will arrive without any problems. I sure would love to try food I have not had in a while.

creating a plan for school supply shopping

2010-08-11T09:26:00.004-04:00

Whenever August comes, I know I need to start watching ads for school supplies. The list of what my daughter needs seems to get longer every year, and requires stops at multiple stores. My goal for this year was to get everything done within three stops, which would be a record for me. I spent my Sunday afternoon creating a spreadsheet listing everything I needed, where the best deals where, and mapping out the best route. This year my daughter needed a special calculator in addition to the usual notebooks, binders, pencils and crayons. I knew Target would be my main resource for most of the supplies, but I saw that the office supply stores had great deals this time around as well. I did not even tell my daughter where I was going. Instead, I distracted her by sending her to the waterpark with my husband for the afternoon. Once they were gone, I grabbed my spreadsheet printout and ads, set our wireless burglar alarm, and headed out the door. I was determined to get this project done without a lot of stress and frustration, and felt I had an excellent plan in place. Once I got home and showed everything to my daughter she was thrilled with my choices and I was glad to have accomplished everything so smoothly.

Post contributed by Alfredo Gaines.

banana split

2010-08-06T21:28:00.004-04:00

Is what I have been craving to eat today. I almost got the husband to buy me banana split but I realized I am really full and it will be awful if I eat some more after feeling this way. True I want to taste the dessert so bad it almost hurt but gluttony is a sin. Perhaps tomorrow I will still crave for the sweets and the husband is still willing to humor me with my whims.

chocolate and pretzels

2010-07-27T10:19:00.003-04:00

I must say that I have a rather intimate love affair with chocolate, so it is only natural that one of my favorite snacks is chocolate covered pretzels. I first discovered the wonderful world of this salty and sweet confection at a local movie rental store, so I suppose it's only appropriate now that I enjoy munching on them the most when watching my favorite sitcoms on satellite television.

Unfortunately, I sometimes find it hard to find my beloved snack, but it can usually be purchased at grocery stores and supermarkets in the candy or snack department. But if they are unavailable and cannot be found in stores, it's quite simple to make them at home. All one needs is chocolate and pretzels of any shape or size. Melting the chocolate and dipping the pretzels is very easy, and it doesn't take very long for the chocolate to set if left in the refrigerator.

As a chocolate lover, I really enjoy the contrast between the sweet smoothness of the chocolate and the salty crunch of the pretzel. It's like a perfect combination of savory and sugary comfort food. And with a glass of milk to compliment them, they certainly make for a satisfying, non-messy treat for a relaxing period of lounging and watching the tv I got as a result of best satellite tv deals in Kansas.

Guest post from Errol Chang.

lazy day

2010-07-26T12:39:00.004-04:00

It is a cloudy, gloomy day today. I want to go back to bed and sleep the day away. I wonder what the chances are of my being able to do that? Probably none, lol. Perhaps I can sneak back in bed in a little while if I get somebody to settle down. Wish me luck.

cruising Alaska for our honeymoon

2010-07-20T23:42:00.004-04:00

After meeting the woman of my dreams last year on a singles cruise, we were now planning our honeymoon. What could be more appropriate than going on a cruise? I got in touch with my best friend, the former travel agent. She said she would be glad to go online with her hughes net satellite internet and find a great deal for our honeymoon cruise.

She ended up booking an Alaskan cruise for us. I was somewhat skeptical at first. I thought it would be cold in Alaska and we would not have any fun. She assured me that we would have a great time. As usual, she was right. We ended up on a two-week cruise and we were never bored. There was always something to do. We were even able to see the whales out in the water. They were right next to the cruise ship. It was a bit scary but beautiful at the same time. I was really dreading the end of the cruise. We were having such a great time that I did not want it to end. I kept telling myself that this was our honeymoon and it was a new beginning. We can always go on another cruise. Who knows where my best friend will send us next time.

Guest post by Jonathan Suarez.

my head feels lighter

2010-07-17T22:35:00.005-04:00

I had my hair cut yesterday after almost a day of running around looking for hair salons which accepts walk-ins. Of all the salons I went to, none accept walk ins even if there was basically nobody inside. I had to have an appointment they said which I did not really like. So I ended up at Wal-mart which the husband did not want me to go in the first place. What can I do there was nowhere else to go and I refuse to wait another day for a haircut. So I went in and a pregnant woman started cutting my hair but halfway through she cut her hands with the scissor. How she did that beats me. She had to turn me over to another hairstylist who actually did a better job after she was told what I wanted done with my hair. She even praised my hair which earned her a tip (in my mind anyway) from me. In case you do not know, I am a good tipper but I normally tip according to the service rendered to me. Why would I pay somebody who butchers my hair right? Well this woman did a pretty good job and I am happy with the result. The problem came when I had to pay since the pregnant woman served as the cashier and was the one I handed the tip. I did not know what to do then so I left her the bulk of my tip hoping that she will share it with the other hairstylist. I asked the husband if I did the right thing but he did not know and said to stop talking about it since it was already done. Ay, I hope she shared the tip. I did see the second hairstylist approach the counter when I was leaving. What do you think? Did I do the right thing? Or was I supposed to have split the tip between the two? I still am worried about that incident.

best animated movie

2010-07-12T17:16:00.002-04:00

Guest post brought to you by Taylor Rausey.

Probably the best animated movie that I have seen recently is Aladdin. This rich, moving tale of a street urchin who magically finds an old lamp and a genie, was remade by the Disney corporation. Watching it on direc tv in California with the kids is quite an experience, even if they have seen the movie before.

The star of the film is the genie, voice remarkably by Robin Williams, whose manic personality and comic timing helps to steal many of the scenes. He carefully guides young Aladdin along to woo the beautiful young princess Jasmine. In spite of the evil Jafar and his sidekick parrot (done magnificently by Gilbert Gottfried), "Al" is able to meet the princess and get an audience with her father the sultan.

With the help of his genie, pal Abbu, and a magic carpet, Aladdin, is betrothed to Jasmine and all appears well until the lamp is stolen. Jafar now wields all of the power and tries to steal the princess for himself, only to be outwitted in the end by his own greed.

The animation was top notch, while the casting and voice overs for all of the characters was a perfect blend for this movie. Children of all ages will enjoy the simply storyline, and the triumph of good over evil. It makes a great family film to enjoy together.

on the hunt

2010-07-10T17:10:00.004-04:00

For more Korean or Taiwanese dramas online. I am finished watching Personal Preference and I enjoyed it hence I am looking for another series to watch. I like it when a series is not too long and is fast paced because it makes it more interesting. And I prefer romantic comedy more than the heavy drama type. I hope I will get lucky on my search. And while looking, I will continue watching the Filipino series I am hooked on like Diva and Impostor.

movies on demand presents Grown Ups

2010-07-08T13:00:00.003-04:00

Posting by Taylor Rankin.

There are a ton of movies to choose from on Movies on Demand. I watch movies on demand on direct tv packages all the time. The access to the newly released movies is a fit for any movie viewer.

Grown Ups is the most recent movies I have watched on Movies on Demand. It consists of a star studded cast including Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Kevin James. This movie is a typical Sandler film, but it is hilarious none the less. This movie is full of great one liners and constant comic release. The story line is ordinary in the way that it is a reunion between old friends because their high school coach passed away, coming together after many aspects of their lives have changed. The main idea of the story is although they are “grown-ups” they still have the spark of their younger years still inside of them. I overall enjoyed the cast and the story line. It isn’t anything that has not been told before, but it is still good for a laugh.

Movies on Demand have endless comedic performances such as this one. It is easy to access this movie genre by simply clicking the “comedy” section of the movie list. Easy to find and thoroughly enjoyable to watch, Grown Ups is deemed a favorite of mine.

personal preference

2010-07-08T12:55:00.005-04:00

I am getting ready to watch another Korean drama. Once I get my chores done, I will start sitting in the computer for hours to watch Personal Preference with lead actor Lee Min Ho from Boys Over Flowers fame. I only read about this drama from another blog and since I like the actor I will watch it and see if it is any good. I want some comedy in my life right now and I hope this is a good watch. Will let you all know later :)

using the internet to purchase fish

2010-07-07T09:44:00.003-04:00

Guest post written by Wesley Kole.

I love keeping fish. There isn't anything more exciting to me than setting up a new fish tank. Well, maybe actually picking out the fish is slightly better- they're both pretty close in my opinion though. Let's just say I'm very passionate about the hobby as a whole. I have multiple very large fish tanks and quite a few smaller ones strewn around the house. Honestly, I was even considering giving up my master bedroom the other day to make more room for a few more tanks. I really enjoy being able to get online using my internet satellite so I can purchase exotic fish species from dealers I wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to work with. I am able to browse to many different species that it gets overwhelming sometimes. I'm constantly reminding myself not to order too many since I don't want to over stock any of my fish tanks. When I used to purchase my fish from local pet stores I found that many of them did not make it past a couple weeks. At first I thought it was a fault of my own, but I later figured out that it was a quality issue. Now, after a lot of trial and error, I have a few dealers that I work almost exclusively with when I decide to add new tank mates.

i am...

2010-07-05T00:28:00.004-04:00

getting ready to go to bed. I just have to leave a few words here to let you all know I am still around and that I will be back for more updates soon :)

kids summer reading program

2010-06-29T21:45:00.002-04:00

Guest post written by Margaret Smith.

Although I retired from my career as a librarian a few years ago, I still like to be involved in our public library branch’s special activities.

Some of the activities I most enjoy helping out with is the kids’ summer reading program. My kids, of course, participated in it when they grew up and now my grandkids do. I still read during story time every Thursday during lunch time as part of the program. Some of the smaller children will interrupt me and ask questions, which I try to answer so I can interact with them and make it a better experience for them. After all, for all I know I could be reading out loud to the next great novelist!

Last summer I noticed that I was having a hard time hearing the kids ask questions. So I resigned to the fact that I probably needed a hearing aid. I searched for more information about them on the internet and found the website www.hearingaidsbymiracleear.com. On there I read about Miracle Ear and found one of their hearing aids that I thought was right for me.

The summer reading program has gone great so far this summer and I see some faces I recognize from last summer!

noddy

2010-06-21T00:13:00.002-04:00

This post is from a guest blogger named Verna Breault.

As a parent, I am always concerned about what kind of TV programs my four-year old son is watching, and at the same time, sometimes I really hope that good children's shows can distract my son for a while so I can have my free time. We have a ton of channels with the cheap satellite tv I bought, so that gives us a lot of options which isn’t always a good thing.

One of my favorite children's program is Noddy. My son and I came across this show on satellite TV one summer afternoon, when I was too tired to take him to the park. He was immediately drawn to the colorful computer graphics of the cartoon and began singing along with the characters. The computer made images of Noddy and his hometown, Toyland, are extremely engaging to children. Characters like Noddy, Mr. Plod, Bumpy Dog, and Tessie Bear grabbed my son's attention because of their funny movements. One problem I have with other children's TV programs is that sometimes my son has difficulty understanding the voice-over. But in the Noddy's show, everything is spoken so clearly that my son has no trouble listening to it. I would highly recommend Noddy to other parents.

i am back!

2010-06-20T00:04:00.005-04:00

I am back! Lol. I know I cannot stay away from this blog long enough. This is my first blog, after all. And I will never leave this blog unless I have to. Which means if something happens that I don't have control over. But as long as I can access this baby I will update it with posts even if you might think it is nonsense sometimes. And this is one of those nonsense posts, lol. Pardon me, I have been rambling but that is what happens when I am hungry. No, make that starving. And just mere minutes after I had a meal. I guess I should better get up and fix me something to eat. Maybe I will be coherent on my next post. Ciao!

an update

2010-06-07T13:11:00.005-04:00

Has it really been that long since I last made a post in this blog? It looks like I have really been neglecting this baby. Well, nothing much is going on with life which is the reason why I have not posted anything. There is nothing to tell, actually. I have been doing the same things so far except reading. I have not had a book in two weeks and that is rare. But I have not had the money to order books online nor can I go anywhere near to buy a book. We moved, you see. So we are now far from the stores and the flea market I normally went to to look for used books. And I am almost broke, lol. Almost because I do still have a little money I could spend but only for important things like my own bills and such. I could ask the husband for money but I hate to spend money when I know I could help him save by letting go of my (sometimes) expensive pastime. The only thing that keeps me sane is the internet. Thankfully, even in the middle of nowhere we have fast internet which is a big plus. One thing is sure though, I will not be able to run to the mall any time I want anymore. Just planning about it makes me tired especially when I think about how far we have to drive to get there. No wonder the husband moved us here, it must have been on his agenda, lol.

i want a new purse

2010-04-02T21:34:00.003-04:00

The last few days I have been itching to shop to buy a new purse. I purchased two about a month ago and I love both but I want something different. The problem is I don't want to spend cash on it. I don't want to use my credit cards either. I think I need a sponsor, lol. I know the husband will ask what do I need a new purse for if I already have a few in the closet. He never understands. I don't blame him because I don't understand either. It is almost like a craving to have a new purse. It used to be shoes but now I am into purses. I hope this will pass without me having to spend money I don't have in the first place.

new CD player

2010-02-03T16:18:00.005-05:00

We bought a CD player today for the husband. We also bought a little radio with a CD player in it we can use to listen to songs and play the little man's nursery rhymes. We bought the really cheap ones this time and I actually had to return the first CD player because of all the things that was wrong it was that the CD player did not work. Talk about ironies. But the customer service person was nice so it was not a big enough deal. Now I can listen to FM stations when I like. We used to have a stereo system but we throw it away three years ago when it kept acting up. Now we have a little thing to replace it and I am happy about it.

hi, my sweetheart

2010-01-23T23:54:00.004-05:00

I have started watching a new series (I think it is from Taiwan) that I found online. It is really nice and funny. The husband caught me laughing like crazy and asked what was wrong with me, lol. I told him the reason and he wondered if I understood anything that was said. Of course I did because there is a translation at the bottom of the screen. Hi, My Sweetheart is a feel good series and I am starting to get hooked. I still have to check whether this is an ongoing series because I did not really read much on the synopsis. I just started watching, liked what I saw and so I am on the second episode. Now I will have more reason to stay up late at night- so I can watch the series without interruption. Although I don't know if I can do it every night since the husband urged me to go to bed a few hours ago. I am sure he will not be happy to know I am still up. Well, I should better sneak to bed after this. I will watch more tomorrow.

Update: This series is very good! It made me laugh like a nut and then cry myself senseless. It had been a long time since I watch a television series which evoked a lot of emotion all at once. It is almost exhilarating. Okay, I better get back to watching before the boss wakes up and tells me to go to bed. It is already midnight after all :)

waiting for my books

2010-01-16T15:42:00.004-05:00

I am waiting for books I ordered online. It had been days yet I have not received it yet. I have ordered from the same seller before and they were always on time, I just don't know why it is a bit late coming this time. The husband said the mailman seemed to be digging for something in his truck but he presumed he did not find what he was looking for and drove off. He said the latter must have been looking for my books, lol. I don't know. I hope it did not get lost in the mail. I hate to file complaints and it will go against the seller's credibility. I will wait until next week and see what happens. For all I know it might be in the mail today. Hopefully.

*Update: the books were in the mailbox when we checked it this evening. Yay!

a certain glow

2010-01-06T20:15:00.003-05:00

I have noticed something different in me. It seemed like I am glowing. When I asked the husband if he noticed something he said yes and then said perhaps I am pregnant. Waaaa! Why can't he just say I look beautiful without having to have some reason behind it? Lol. In case you are curious, no, I am not pregnant. Not that he does not wish I am though. He has been bugging me to have another baby before we get any older. I am waiting for a little financial stability and then we will go ahead and have another baby. Hopefully it will be this year. Anyway, I still have to figure out what is causing this glow. Perhaps the holidays? Lol. I am crazy.

what are your plans?

2009-12-29T21:55:00.004-05:00

In a few days it will be another year. New beginning. New aspirations. New goals. Supposedly. My goals hasn't changed though. Although I do have new aspirations. Do I have a resolution for the New Year? Not really. I will go with the flow. I will change things I deem need changed but I will not stress over it. I realized I want to enjoy life without the restrictions. Without anything binding me to do something I don't really have to. Do I make sense to you? Perhaps not. I don't make sense to myself either, lol. I just want to welcome the new year and hope for something better in-store for my family and the people that I love.

not so merry

2009-12-22T20:09:00.006-05:00

The husband is being negative today and I have been trying to shake it out of him. I don't want him to be a pessimist especially when it is just a few days before Christmas. It does not help that this special holiday here is very commercialized that thinking about gifts makes a person cringe instead of being hopeful. I sure miss the holidays in the Philippines. There were no extravagant gifts or an assortment of food (other than what people can afford) but Christmas is always a merry event. Loud with all the merry-making and well-wishing, the fireworks, and people celebrating the holiday. I hope I can rub some of my Christmas spirit (whatever is there left, lol) to him so he will lighten up.

too early?

2009-12-16T07:29:00.003-05:00

Is it ever possible to feel bored when a person just got out of bed early in the morning? If it is then that is what I feel right now. I can't find anything to do and my body does not want to do anything yet anyway. I want to go back to bed but I don't think it is a good idea especially with a toddler running around, inspiration could hit him and I will have to clean a big mess when I get up. Perhaps I will cajole the husband to bring me to the mall so I can window shop or maybe we could go to the beach if it is not too cold. I just want something to do other than what we normally do on a daily basis. I know I am a grouch when I am not in the mood and I don't want to be bad so Santa will give me my wishes :)

diet plan

2009-12-08T11:26:00.004-05:00

This morning I woke up with an idea on my head. Since I complain so much about my weight and how I have fat rolls, I am going on a diet. Not the kind that includes rigorous exercise and major revamp on the kind of food I eat. I am taking it one step at a time and I will start with not eating too much. This may be a hard feat considering I love to eat but if I want to look half as decent as I did three years ago, I need to do something. I will need to control myself and to stick to my plan. I hope this will work because it is for my own good. I will not let the husband know yet because he might smirk on my plan. He witnessed a lot of failed diets so I don't blame him. Anyway, wish me luck.

confused

2009-12-03T14:40:00.003-05:00

I am confused. We already mapped out the activities of the next 12 months and then a not-so-good news popped up. It was not really bad, only it will make us do our plan over and straighten our priorities again. The wait is killing me and as always I want to escape. I want to bury myself in a book only I don't have any here I would like to read. I don't know what else to do. I want to be surrounded by books at this moment. It is my therapy because I can't afford shopping, lol. I hope we will hear good news on other aspects to make up for this flaw.

shorted

2009-11-25T20:09:00.001-05:00

We went to the Family Dollar the other day for lack of anything better to do. We bought things we need and we don't need which always happen when we go to any store with dollar in its name. I thought I scored on three pairs of socks for less than two dollars but realized when I was about to wash it that one sock is missing. I looked everywhere and could not find the missing sock and when I told the husband about it he laughed because he said it happens. It is normal? I almost flipped out. I mean, I was expecting three pairs of socks and although I did not pay a lot for it I still have the right to a complete set right? Wrong! He said at least I now have a spare if I lost another sock. Isn't he fair? Lol. Well, who could argue with such logic? I guess I will have to charge it to experience. Next time though I will be counting so this never happens again. And I will go back to the same store to shop again :)

advanced thanksgiving gift

2009-11-20T12:48:00.009-05:00

The mailman delivered a green package yesterday. The husband who accepted the box wondered who it was from especially when he saw my name on it. He said he will open it for me which he did without waiting for my answer, lol. He did not know what to think when he saw these:

When he recovered, he took the hat, put it on then called the little man. He was so tickled with the turkey hat for some reason. The husband I mean, not the little man, lol. He kept on wearing it but when I was about to take pictures his son took it from his head and throw it on the floor, lol. I don't know what was with the little man. Either he did not want his father to look goofy or he did not like the hat. The husband and I love it. He said it is warm and hilarious and that we should take pictures of each other and post it online. I wonder what our friends will think, lol. After we got over the hat, we checked the bottle of Jones Tofurky and Gravy soda that was also in the box. I read the label and I don't know if I will drink it but my friends said I should at least taste it so I will know what it is like. The husband said he will drink it on the condition that I put the soda in the fridge first. We will see what he thinks about it in a little while. I know he will make me drink anyway so I have to prepare myself.

Thanks

for my advanced Thanksgiving gift.

itchy scalp

2009-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

On dry months I always have problems with my scalp. It gets so dry it is itchy and flaky. I have tried using Listerine because the husband swears it works which it did but the problem does not go away. The Listerine only gets rid of the symptoms for a day and then I am back to scratching again which is awfully embarrassing in public. I could not take it anymore so I searched online and found out on my readings that apple cider vinegar supossedly works and that is what I am going to try next and see what happens. I am into home remedy. I will not go to the doctor for this until we get to Leyte where I have a cousin who is married to a dermatologist. If nothing else I will have my head shaved, lol. Or just cut really short so it will be easier to manage and easier to reach the scalp for treatment too. I hope the vinegar works so I will be rid of this problem. I will keep you posted :)

good news

2009-11-07T08:12:00.000-05:00

We received good news last night. The husband and I are happy because it concerned about money, lol. It is not much and I know I still can't go shopping when it comes but it will help pay the bills. I hope we hear good news like this often :)

gloomy

2009-11-02T16:41:00.000-05:00

It is a cold and stormy day today yet I want to go and roam the malls. I don't have anything in mind to buy nor do I have the money to buy anything. I just want to be mobile and be around a lot of people. All these are just plans though. In a half hour the stepson will start supervised visitation with his infant son and we are named supervisors so the husband and I have to stay put. It is a b**** but life is sometimes. I hope the kids will behave today because I am afraid I am gonna lose it with them and let them hear my unsolicited advice. Not that they would care anyway. I have never met such selfish brats in my life. Anyway, I will go for now. I hope next time I make a post it will be something positive.

love my new earrings!

2009-10-21T18:31:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I went to the store to buy several pairs of earrings. Before you react to the word used, I must tell you nothing was expensive. The jewelries were tiny (which was what I was looking for) and of yellow and white gold. Why gold? Because for some reason my ears do not do well with sterling silver and any other kind of metal. I have allergic reaction to anything but gold. Sosyal! Lol. I hate having to deal with itchy and smelly part of my body especially if it could be prevented. So I bought a set of 10K earrings made of yellow gold and one pair of 15K white gold earrings. I love them all! Even the husband who thought I was going to blow up all my hard earned money said that the choices were pretty and what I have on looks good on me. See? I do have some fashion sense no matter how obsolete, lol. And I did not break myself. It was within my budget which was great. I now think about buying my mother a pair she could use everyday because she needs it. She will be thrilled if she knows I already picked out one to send on the next balikbayan box. And the best thing, which I already know, my ears did not itch the first hour I had a pair on so I did not take off the pair in my ears and it has been over 24 hours since then. Gotta love cheap but real stuff!

crab legs feast

2009-10-15T17:32:00.004-04:00

Snow crab legs were on sale at the Food Lion starting yesterday. The husband and I decided to check if it was worth anything, bought two bags and some meat while they're cheap. We steamed a bag of crab legs and we have had two platefuls each. It was almost as good as the buffet.

new dress

2009-10-10T17:23:00.003-04:00

I am a very happy girl. Why? Because I now own a very gorgeous dress that's why. A friend gave it to me without even any questions or complaints. I commented on her Facebook account about how I like the dress and joked if she could give it to me. The wonder that she is, she said yes. Just like that. I know I should feel ashamed but I also feel blessed. I am not really into dresses but this particular one I like. I love the design and the color. And I now own it. Yipee for good hearted people like my friend Becca. She even gave me three hand-made bags from her mom's business. I will post pictures when I get the dress and the bag ready.

shopping woes

2009-10-01T17:36:00.005-04:00

I am itching to go shopping. I have to buy new shoes for the little man since he has almost outgrown his sneakers from last year. And a few pairs of socks for him and me. But I can't tell the husband about it because he is trying to make us cut back on spending. I think he knows what I am planning to do that is why he imposed this new regulation, lol. I may have to wait until it gets cooler and we cannot wear our flip flops anymore. Maybe then we will have enough saved up and he will let me run wild in the stores again.

new purse

2009-09-25T14:29:00.003-04:00

We went to the store today because the husband's son asked if we could buy him colored shirts he can use for work. He does not want white shirts anymore due to the fact that his work gets messy most of the time. So off we went and since we were there I decided to look for a purse. There were nice ones on sale but I had to choose something that was not only nice but cheap as well. As a rule I do not buy purses over twenty dollars. The reason behind that is I may end up not liking the thing and when I do we will be out a lot of money. We cannot do that. That is highly impractical. Anyway, I found what I was looking for, it is yellow gold which is my favorite color and just the right size for me. I am sure the husband will not call it the luggage anymore. I want to go back to that particular store though because I saw gorgeous tops on clearance. Hopefully some will still be there when I get the husband to approve about my plan. I am happy right now with my purchase and I already transferred my things in the new purse. Yes, I am using it right away.

like father like son

2009-09-19T21:25:00.004-04:00

My son never fails to aggravate me. He knows what button to push and what to do to make my temper flare. And believe me I do have a very nasty temper. When he sees that I am about to burst he runs straight to his father. He knows to stay away from me when I turn red. And he knows that as long as daddy is around he is safe. I don't know why he does that though. He probably thinks I am somebody to play with. The reason I am posting about it is because he is here doing something to aggravate me again. It won't be long and he will be running to his father for support, lol. Sometimes I think he does this just to get a reaction from me. Just like his father.