Top Earner!

For once, I am featured as one of PPP's top daily earner! I know this is only temporary because as soon as the big posties start coming in, I can instantly say goodbye to that spot.


I managed to save a screenshot of it for posterity. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime thing so might as well take a photo of it for evidence. Little joys! Haha! :)

Flooding Opps

Ever since my pagerank went up, the opportunities just came flooding in! I am beyond myself because I don't know which ones to take or write about. Not to mention that I also have to tend to Erin in between posts.

Did you notice? I think a couple of days ago I was just pointing out that I'd already written 70 articles on this blog. Well, lo and behold, it's now up to 85 or so for just this month alone. It's that frantic and insane, but I'm loving all of it! :)

Thinking of Home

One day, we shall own a house.

That is our goal within the next few years. As I am a full-time mommy with Erin, I cannot join yet the workforce in order for us to be able to get a loan so we can purchase a house of our own. Secured Home Loans is definitely going to be a consideration once we are financially ready to apply for a loan.

With the high prices of houses in the market today, we cannot afford to pay for one in full. Getting a loan is a big help and we can just pay it off in installments that we are more likely to do.

Beyond Excitement

I just checked our vacation ticker and found out that we have just 7 months left before our holiday to the Philippines commences. Wow! The last time I checked it was 9 months still. Has it only been two months? I thought it was more!

I guess I am just too excited about this trip. I reckon J is too. We are so looking forward to that much needed break. Taking care of Erin combined with household chores can be so overwhelming at times. We need to re-energize! Manila here we come! :)

Hopeless Romantic

Not many people know this but I am a self-confessed hopeless romantic by heart. I have always loved getting flowers and love letters ever since I can remember.

If my memory serves me right, I think one of the sweetest thing that J ever did was to read a love poem to me on one of our chats some years ago. It was a poem he had composed several years before we met. He had vowed to only present it to the woman that he was going to marry. I felt so touched and honored by this gesture because it showed just how serious he was about his intentions for me.

Well, I'm glad I took that leap of faith with him. I have had no regrets whatsoever.

Still on Mega-posting

I manage three different sites altogether. And believe me, it's no walk in the park, especially when there are loads of opportunities to grab. You have to be extra creative so you can deliver what is expected in the time allowed. Again, I am not complaining as I am grateful for everything. It's just that I sometimes feel pressured and often end up with nothing. Alright, enough whining. I'm off to work! :P

Manila Ocean Park

Well, what do you know? The Philippines will be opening its own oceanarium this coming December at the Rizal Park in Manila. Officials say it's a Php 1 billion project of Singaporean and Malaysian investors and it is going to be larger than the one in Sentosa Island in Singapore.

I've been to Ocean Park in Hongkong many years ago and recently to the one in Sentosa in 2004 and from what I've seen, it really is breathtaking underneath the water. I'm sure it will just be the same with the one in Manila and it will be scenic attraction for many visitors, especially tourists.

Related link: Finally, world-class marine park in Manila

The World's Creepiest Places

I'm a scaredy cat. Yes, I am. For one, I'm not a fan of horror movies. I don't see the point in calling it a form of entertainment when you scare yourself to death. :P

Anyway, the reason I've brought this up is that Halloween is just right around the corner and you might want some chills to run up and down your spine while reading this article on the creepiest places in the world. I'll do a run down of the list but if you want more, here's the article in full.

1. Bhangarh, India
2. Mütter Museum, Philadelphia
3. Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, Micronesia
4. Sonora Witchcraft Market, Mexico City, Mexico
5. Easter Island, Chile
6. Manchac Swamp, Louisiana
7. Bran Castle, Bran, Romania
8. Paris Catacombs, Paris, France
9. Winchester House, San Jose, California
10. Szoborpark, Budapest, Hungary
11. Abbey of Thelema, Cefalù, Sicily, Italy
12. Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, Scotland
13. Chernobyl, Pripyat, Ukraine

Boo!

Dine Away

I am contemplating on renovating our dining room in the future and I am considering to get contemporary dining room furniture. Formal Dining Room Furniture is out of the question at the moment because of the lack of space. But that is also something worth looking into if we can buy a house with two separate dining areas.

When choosing Dining Room Furniture, it is important to take into account your needs and your lifestyle as well. Dining Furniture should be well picked because it is where the family convenes and it should last through the ages.

DST Season

It's Daylight Savings Time here in the East Coast. We are now 3 hours ahead of Philippine time. And it is just as well because I have been having trouble sleeping in during the early morning hours as the sun rises at around four AM (Eastern Standard Time). Now, that the clock's adjusted, I can get more shut-eye in the darkness.

J is not so keen about it because he thinks it's just like playing tricks on the mind. The clock says it's late but you know that it's really an hour early. I think it's all a matter of adjusting and setting your mind to the new time.

Viva Las Vegas!

I have never been to Las Vegas before. Let alone the United States. I just never had the chance to go there.

But from what I have heard from friends and family, it seems like a wonderful and fun place to visit. The casinos and live shows intrigue me a lot as I have never experienced living in a similar setting as that, having grown up in the suburbs for most of my life.

When we do get the chance to visit the States, we'll make it a point to include Nevada in our itinerary. Maybe we can stay for a few days and book ourselves at the Stratosphere Las Vegas. Yes, I'm quite certain we'll be having a grand time.

Mega-poster

Seventy! Yes, I have written seventy posts on this blog for this month alone. Gosh, I've never written so much stuff in such a short time! Hahaha!

And it is all due to the paid posting work I receive every so often. Don't get me wrong okay. I am definitely not complaining as I am thankful for all the opportunities that have come my way.

So, I guess you won't see me stopping at any point now because I intend to post at this pace for as long as it takes. I just hope I don't run out of things to say! :P

Garage Barrage

Have you seen our garage? Well, it is not exactly a garage. I think a more appropriate term is carport. It is practically just a shed for our old reliable car so it is fully exposed to whatever weather we are having here. Plus, it can also be eye-candy for some potential burglars.

Sectional Garages, for me, are just great because they provide you protection from the elements and security from unwanted robbers. Heck, if this were my house, I would get one built for us as well. Not only are they practical, but they are also aesthetically appealing. They're like cute miniature houses. Yes, I am definitely considering that when we're getting our own house in the future.

Dance Drama

J and I have been a follower of the So You Think You Can Dance series, ever since it began so many weeks ago. In the last episode that we saw, the competition was now down to only six performers. Of the many numbers presented that night, this one stood out the most.

The female dancer here, Lacey, is one of our favorites in the contest. I have a good feeling she's going to make it to the finals because of her versatility.

For the technologically challenged

If you are not a "techie" kind of person, then I could just imagine the amount of confusion you will be in if you had to deal with all these new gadgets and machines out in the market today.

Take for example the 'simple' task of changing the cartridges in your printer. You can't just buy whatever item off the rack. You'd need to match the cartridge to your printer model to get it to work. There are lots of do-it-yourself sites on the web that can help you with this task. I'm pretty sure they can help all those technologically-challenged people out there who's trying to tinker with their printer.

On "Apocalypto"

J and I recently watched Mel Gibson's Apocalypto this morning. And I must say, amid all the blood and gore that the movie showcased, I actually liked the story a lot! :)

Jaguar Paw (played by Rudy Youngblood) running for his life

Here is synopsis of the film from IMDB:

Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life.

Gibson sure has this thing with violent films eh? Remember Braveheart? I loved that one too, by the way.

Total Opposites

I have complete admiration for my brother R. He is the ultimate extrovert in our family, while I am totally the opposite. His strong personality has helped him push his career into a successful one. He has only been in sales for around five years and yet, he has managed to rise up the ranks to be district manager in record time. I am pretty sure they have undergone tons of Sales Training in their company. But I reckon it is his personality that is majorly responsible for all of his success. I wish I sometimes had his confidence. That would have taken me places as well.

Thoughts on Jewelry

Unknownst to many, I am not a "jewelry person." I hardly wear any accessories on myself. On ordinary days, the only piece of jewelry that I wear is my white gold wedding band. If a special occasion arises though, the only pieces that I add, aside from my wedding ring, are a pair of diamond earrings and the engagement ring that J gave me three years ago. It is as simple as that. Sometimes, I can be convinced to wear a necklace or bracelet to add more bling, but those times are few and rare. As they say, "Less is more." I agree a hundred and one percent!

Election Fever

It is campaign season over here in Australia because PM Howard has finally set a date for the election. He has set Saturday, the 24th of November, for the 2007 election of the federal Parliament.

I'm sure all the candidates are very busy now doing all that it takes to get the public's loyalty and vote. Probably they are handing out a few flyers and freebies like promotional pens to make themselves stand out. And, of course, let's not forget the numerous commercials on TV to remind us of their parties.

I'm not voting as I am not yet a citizen. But J is. And I know who he's voting for. What about you? Who's side are you on?

In the Clear

Today saw me back in the pink of health. Well, not a hundred percent yet, but, yes, I am feeling so much better than yesterday. Although there hasn't been any urgent trips to the toilet in the past 48 hours, I was still a bit light-headed yesterday when I was finishing up some chores. None of that can be experienced now.

Also, I was able to go back to eating a decent meal at dinner last night. From Tuesday to Friday noon, all I've been munching on are crackers, fruits, noodles, soup, water and juice for fear that another violent stomach reaction may occur. By Friday night, I had gotten my old appetite back and was very eager to devour the nilagang baka (boiled beef with lots of veggies) which I cooked myself.

Man, you should have seen me wolf down my food! It was gone in minutes and I was still asking for seconds. I can tell you I missed eating so much that I have never felt so hungry in my life!

I ate two servings of food that night. I could have probably gone for a third one but I did not want to push my luck any further. Thankfully, no untoward incident with regards to my gut took place. Yipee! :)

Alright, time to raid the pantry! Haha! ;)

Joyriding Days

I've always fancied big vehicles so pick-up trucks and SUVs are on the top of my list if I had the chance to purchase a new vehicle. When I was younger, pick-up trucks were more my style. The SUVs only became a favorite in recent times when almost everybody I knew seemed to own one.

Anyway, talking about pick-up trucks, I think most people who go for them appreciate the massive storage space at the back that only these trucks can offer. And of course, to protect your stuff from the elements or from potential robbers, installing tonneau cover at the back is definitely a must. And there are so many styles of covers to choose from, depending on one's need. I personally like the QuickHatch because of the ease it provides in opening them. I think they're a good investment especially if you've got important stuff to store at the back.

Out Sick

You may be wondering why I haven't been posting in a while eh? Well, here's the scoop.

I’ve not been feeling well since Tuesday morning. It started with an LBM episode and in a few hours after that, I felt nauseous and started to get the chills. I called J at the office, informing him of my condition. I was slowly feeling weak and was not sure anymore if I had enough strength to take care of Erin. J came home without any delay.

As the day progressed, I developed a slight fever (38+C) and was still weak. I laid in bed to rest but when I got up to supervise Erin’s feeding, within minutes, I felt like throwing up and going to the toilet at the same time. That was what eventually happened.

After that, I felt a lot better but had another episode at 10 in the evening. I told J that I wanted to go to the hospital already because my throat now hurt and I saw a tinge of blood in my vomit. And with that, we prepared our things (including Erin’s) and left at around 11. We dropped Erin at my sister-in-law’s house so she could be taken cared of.

We were hoping that there weren’t as much patients lining up for consultation. But, much to our dismay, when we arrived there, we instantly knew we had to endure once again the hospital’s crappy queuing system. We got there at 12 midnight but was seen at 3 AM already for only 15 minutes. Oh, did I mention that their system was full of crap?

Anyway, the doctor said I had gastroenteritis. Since J did not have it, obviously it was not caused by the food that we ate. The doctor suspected that I most likely may hve gotten it from changing Erin’s nappies, after I confirmed the fact that I am the designated nappy changer in our family. That made sense of it all!

The GP did not prescribe me any medications because he said it was pointless as the meds can only treat the symptoms (not the cause) temporarily. According to him, the body needs to rid itself of all the toxins in order to get well. And the only way of doing that is through regular visits to the toilet and vomiting. He added that it’s going to take me around three days of misery so I should just constantly take in fluids to avoid dehydration.

It’s day 3 already and I’m feeling a bit better. So far, I have not vomited since Tuesday night but I still do take trips to the toilet every now and then, although not as frequent as before. I’m not getting my hopes up just yet because in the past two days, we noticed my symptoms reappeared in the late afternoons towards the evenings. If all goes well tonight, then I may not have to go back to the GP to submit any samples.

In the meantime, J’s taken over most of the house duties, including Erin’s feeding (lest I spread any germs to her). It’s hard watching him do all the chores but we have no choice.

Alright I’m going back to bed for some rest now. All this writing has worn me out. I’ll keep you guys posted.

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Yesterday we witnessed what could have been a sneak preview of what summer days are going to be like in our region. Can you imagine 31C in the middle of spring?

I swear, it was like being baked in an oven! Poor Erin could hardly get some shut-eye because of the sweltering heat. It even moved her bedtime to a later schedule in the night, when it was a bit cooler.

Last year’s temperature was less worse so our old reliable fan was enough for us. This year? Not a chance! We are seriously considering now to shop for more efficient air-conditioning.

I think it’s a vicious cycle. We are currently feeling the effects of climate change and yet, here we are buying appliances (that aggravate it even more) to combat it. Ironic, isn’t it?

So, what’s the weather like in your part of the world?

My Blogging Addiction

Yes, I know, I know... Guilty as charged! :P

80%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?
Free Texas Dating

So, are you also a junkie like me? Take the quiz to find out! :)

Still on organizing

Even if the house is in tip-top shape these days (after our general cleaning last Thursday), I still need a place to put several of our things in to decrease the amount of clutter. Well, they are all arranged well on our tables and shelves but using a utility cart would definitely make it more neat-looking. I really do need to shop around to have more storage space. It's either that or we would have to start throwing out some of our stuff. I'm keener on the former.

Back to the chopping board

With Erin's ever increasing appetite, I am now forced to provide her with enough variety in her daily food intake. After visiting our GP yesterday, we were finally given the go-signal to give Erin solids three times a day. The GP suggested this after being informed that Erin can now finish practically a whole banana in one feeding session. There's no doubt she got her big appetite from her Dad. She isn't picky too as she eats anything I feed her. This makes meal planning for her a whole lot easier. :)

Business talks

J and I are business-minded people. We love to brainstorm occasionally about what types of businesses we might want to engage in the future. Of the two of us, it is J who comes up with most ideas since he does a lot of informal market research online on his own.It makes for some interesting conversation between the two of us because it's something we really do intend to do seriously in the future.

Update on house inspection

Done! It was over in five minutes. Imagine all our hard work for an entire day for just a five-minute look-see!

J and I were so tired because we had to clean the house and garden from top to bottom. As I said, it was J who got the bulk of the work as I had to take care of Erin's needs as well. I think he must have overdone it because today, he's down with a cold. My poor hubby! I hope it does worsen any further. Now, I have 2 persons to take care of. Super mommy to the rescue! :)

Health is wealth!

Time and time again, my mom does not fail to remind us to eat a variety of food to be healthy. If, in cases where we are unable to do so (which is quite frequent, mind you), she advises us to take nutritional supplements so we somehow still get to have a balanced diet. Between J and me, I am the most religious one in taking my vitamins as I am still breastfeeding Erin. Although nothing can ever replace real healthy foods, supplements can be okay in times like these.

Feast 165

Yeesh, I know it's already Saturday here but hey, better late than never right? :)

Appetizer
If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?
I'd like to be a labrador. They are very dependable, gentle and highly intelligent. I'd like to think of myself in the same light. ;)

Soup
What does the color purple make you think of?
Usually, it reminds me of the season of Lent, as I am Catholic.

Salad
Approximately how long does it take you to get ready each morning?
Oh dear, maybe at least an hour; two at most! J says I am soooo slow. I think it irritates the hell out of him because he can finish in 15 minutes. That's why whenever we go out, he gives me a deadline as to what time I should be ready.

Main Course
How many cousins do you have, and are you close to them?
I have only 5 first cousins, all from my father's side. Mom is an only child but she has hordes of first cousins. So, I got lots of second cousins from her side. As to their number, I think there are at least 60 of us SCs from my mom's side alone. :)

Dessert
Take your initials (first, middle, last) and come up with something else those letters could stand for. (Example: SFO = Sweet Funny Otter)
LME = Lovely Mystical Enchantress. How's that? :)

Plastic or cash?

In this day and age, credit cards, for me, provide a great convenience especially to the general consumer. Using rewards credit cards in particular can gain you points while you shop. These points can be redeemed for other items that their company offer in exchange for your loyalty to them, which I think is cool.

However, people should not be totally reliant on these plastic cards. Maximising its use to your advantage should always be the way to go. For example, choose a credit card that has low interest rates. If your current card charges you a high interest rate, you can apply for one that has a lower rate and just do balance transfers. Some companies even offer zero interest for the first six months when you transfer your account to them. This really saves you a lot because you'll know you're only paying for items you bought and not the interest charges. It definitely helps to be smart in these things. Otherwise, you won't be finding yourself debt-free for some time, unless of course you are able to pay off everything.

Makati Bomb Blast

Tsk, tsk... The recent bomb blast in Makati City yesterday must have rocked the Philippines once again. So far, there have been 8 people confirmed dead and around 119 others wounded from the blast. So, who's behind it this time?

Somebody was able to take several photos of the aftermath and while we were browsing through them, chills ran down my spine. The damage to Glorietta 2 was massive!

It is sad that this had to happen, whether it was just due to an accident or a possible extremist group. The fact still remains though -- innocent lives have been taken and nothing can ever bring these people back. I hope the results of the investigation can enlighten us, especially the families left behind by these victims.

Into Sports

I remember my dad being a sports fanatic even when I was just a young child back in the eighties. He would be constantly glued to the television whenever something was on, be it basketball, baseball, golf, football, etc. You name it, he'd watch it. I reckon if I had the money then to buy him a couple of world series tickets, he would have been over the moon. But hey, that's just as far as it goes. He's an avid spectator alright but he was never a sportsman. :)

Serious Clean-up Time

Oh boy, the real estate agents are dropping by this Friday for another round of house inspection. They informed us through mail last week about the routine check-up.

I am soooo not looking forward to it because it just means we would need to do a general cleaning of the house. Poor J will be taking most of the work as I have to tend to Erin. I'd really love to help out but somebody has got to take care of the baby too.

Argh! There is so much to clean! I wish I could just snap my fingers and our fairy godmother can do all the tidying up for us. I am really hoping we can do everything in time for the visit on Friday. *keeping our fingers crossed*

Rock Chick No More

I love music. Wait, let me rephrase that. I do not love all forms of music. :)

Over time, I have noticed how much my taste for music has changed. In my younger, teeny bopper years, I would have gone for Madonna and all those songs by other Pop Rock artists. There was a time too that I dug heavy metal and rock because my younger brother was so into it. I would have gotten him Van Halen tickets had there been a chance. But that was only short-lived. During my days in college, the bands were so alive and we'd even attend concerts regularly just to hear them play. These days? Well, I am just content with listening to CDs upon CDs of soothing timeless classics from the 70's, 80's and 90's. I think it's what you call as "getting old." Haha!

Visa update

Yesterday, I received a letter from Immigration informing me that I should now apply for permanent residency. Yay! :)

I have only been here since March 2006, which means that I have been residing in Australia for less than two years as of today. I thought it was too soon for them to be notifying me. But, I suppose they want to give me enough lead time to process my application.

I've already downloaded all the forms from their site and all I need to do now is fill them up and gather enough evidence (bills, photos, tickets, etc) to support my application. It's back to digging up old stuff again for me. It's a good thing they don't require huge amounts of pictures unlike last time. The challenge this time is to be able to fit everything in an A4-sized envelope. As to its thickness, maybe i'll come up with another wedding album sort of thing. Ha!

I've got two months to get it organized. I hope the whole thing gets processed before our trip to Manila in May next year. Otherwise, it will only complicate the matter further. Wish me luck!

Saving heaps

I have been talking about coupons incessantly, if you've noticed. That is because I am a frequent user of them as I firmly believe that they are an awesome way to get massive discounts while you shop.

Take my case for example. I am currently on the look-out for a cheap but good notebook because of the oodles of work I have now that are web-based. Dell coupons is one way where I can save on such a purchase. Getting a big discount from Dell will definitely make my day!

Getting HIS groove back

I am talking about J. Yes, he has gone back to a past love of his -- writing! Yay! :)

When I met J a few years back, he shared to me a couple of articles that he wrote in his spare time. Since then, he has not written a single piece. When asked why he has gone back to it, he replied that he feels compelled to do it. I'm glad his creative juices are flowing once again. I can't wait to read his recent works! :)

Investing in the Future

In this day and age, you do not really know where fate takes you. In other words, we are not really certain what the future holds for us. Emergencies and other unexpected events come to you every now and then so it pays to be prepared just in case these things happen.

One thing you can do is to invest your money in something that does not depreciate over time. An excellent example would be to purchase gold or other precious metals. It is a good way to preserve your finances. Should an unfortunate event happen, you can always exchange this at a good rate. Nothing beats the good feeling of being secured money-wise.

Baby Hannah's Site

Remember Baby Hannah, the little girl I wrote about who has Ondine's Curse? Well, her parents have finally managed to set up an account in Multiply recently. You can view her site here.

She is a beautiful baby! But when I started seeing her pictures in the hospital, with all those tubes connected to her, I just had to look away and close my browser. It broke my heart all over again. *sigh* I really do hope she gets well soon.

Surprise foiled!

I was planning to get J something for Christmas. I figured the only way I could do that was to buy his gift online. A couple of weeks back he has been reporting to his office much earlier than the usual so I reckon I could receive the package myself and manage to hide it away from him until the holidays in December.

Unfortunately, this week, he's been going to the office at a later time. And my worst fear of him receiving the package himself came true this morning! I thought he was going to leave it alone as it was addressed to me. But I heard him start to rip open the box and when I got there, it was too late. He thought it was still from our relatives from the States so he decided to open it, even though he saw that it came from a different address. I guess he somehow knew it was for him, which was why he just had to see it for himself. Argh!

So, what was in the box, you ask? I got him a MaxScratch. You see, he is a constant back-scratcher and sometimes, especially if he can't reach it, he asks me to do it for him. When I'm not there, he grabs anything (from steel rulers to rolled-up catalogues) to reach that itchy spot that he is just dying to scratch. I couldn't see any decent ones in the shops so eBay was the only way to go.

Oh well... there goes my surprise. I may have to think of another one soon, even if J insists that there is no need for it anymore. The problem still remains though -- how to secretly get it into the house without him knowing it.

Memories of Home

I have always wanted to have a bar in our home. It actually reminds me of our old home in Manila where parties revolved around the bar area because it was where all the food was placed. We are not a family of drinkers so the function of the bar eventually was to be a buffet table instead. In the event that there weren't any parties scheduled, we would just hang out by the bar, sitting on those high bar stools while we enjoyed each others' company.

Erin's progress

We let the little girl eat twice a day now. It started upon the suggestion of the maternal and child health nurse at the health centre when we dropped by last Tuesday for a routine check-up. We are now feeding her mashed vegetables and fruits, in addition to her daily rice cereal and fruit juice intake. Since then, Erin has been sleeping better on most nights, which means everyone else is too. The chain reaction is just amazing in this household! :)

Missing Grandpa

I miss my maternal grandfather. The last time we were together was during the holidays when we were all in Manila. That is almost a year ago.

Lolo N, as we call him, is as busy as ever with his life in the province, even at the age of 87. He regularly tends to our farm, raising goats and growing mango trees, and for leisure, he makes it a point to go to the driving range to hit some balls. The only thing that is slowing him down is his arthritic knees.

We are definitely going home to the province to see him when we go back to visit the Philippines next year. I better include a pair of golf shoes in our shopping list as a present for our dear grandfather.

New Home

In the world wide web, that is.

Yes, J and I finally took the plunge! We now have our own domain. It sure beats the crap out of maintaining too many blogs at once. I found it too time-consuming so I convinced J to get a site that we can truly call our own.

It's still a work in progress so I'm not too keen yet about announcing it's formal launch. Keep your eyes peeled in the meantime for any future announcements.

Birthday Preps

Erin is more than half a year old now and in no time, it's going to be her first birthday already. We are already trying to come up with a shortlist of venues where we can hold just a private little party for close friends and relatives. Also, I plan to make the invitations myself, probably using digital scrapbooking techniques to come up with a unique design. We are very much looking forward to that big day!

Tooth Woes

Erin has been very irritable since yesterday. She did not want to be left alone in her cot and she cried for most of the afternoon. She wanted to be carried and did not allow me to even sit down. She wasn't hungry either. I was baffled! I did not know anymore what to do to pacify her and I was getting tired already.

So I took a peek at her gums to see if that was the source of her discomfort. And there it was!

There was a tiny white dot on her gums, which I originally thought was just a food particle. But when I tried to remove it, it would not budge an inch. Now I could conclude that, as of yesterday, she was finally teething! :)

The one erupting at the moment is actually her left lateral incisor of her lower jaw, which is unusual as it's the central ones that usually come out first. I'll take a picture of it when it's more prominent.

Now I need to shop around for her own toothbrush and toothpaste. Erin is definitely growing up fast. :)

Still on Shopping

Shopping for the holidays can leave you sometimes broke especially if you have got a terribly long list of people to give to. Now, that would be an absolute nightmare indeed!

So what do you do in situations like these? Collect coupons to get massive discounts on your favorite items. That way, you'll save heaps of dollars and then, you'll be able to buy more stuff for other people on your list. You can cut or print out these coupons or just enter coupon codes online to redeem the discount.

Speaking of the holidays, I have not yet drawn up my list! I am still thinking if getting J programming books using Amazon coupons is a good idea. Or how about getting a great Nike deal with a cool pair of rubber shoes? Help me out, will you?

Surprises

I love surprises. But, only the pleasant ones, of course! :)

This morning, the mailman handed over to me three parcels which came from our relatives in the States (J's uncle, to be exact).


They were all addressed to J and me, but we knew they were all for the little girl. :)


Thank you, Tita A and Tito E for all the wonderful pressies! :)

And just when I thought that that was the end of our excitement for the day, I heard another knock on the door. It was the mailman once again. He forgot to drop off a bigger package that was still addressed to us.


And yes, it was again for Erin. This bub sure is getting spoilt! :D

Gift Ideas

Now that Christmas is just a couple of months away, it is wise to start drawing up your shopping list for your loved ones as early as you can to save yourself from the hassle of the holiday rush. I say this because in the long run, you won't be buying impulsively, thus, saving you heaps of dollars.

As for ideas on what to give, I think Personalized Gifts are a great way to go. I've done this over the years, and I noticed that people who received such presents from me seem to appreciate it more because it was specially made for them. So, you really cannot go wrong with them, if you ask me.

ENB Award

Era just handed me the Egel Nest Award this weekend. (Thanks Era for choosing me to be a recipient of this award!)



Brad Egel originally created this award and started the egg rolling to pass the love around.

I'm passing this award to:
Glenda
Sheryl
Iris
Ruth
Becky

Online Shopping

I have been talking about shopping online quite a lot. I think it is just one of the best things that the world wide web has to offer -- shopping in the comforts of your own home.

So what makes it more convenient for both customer and merchant? It is none other than the installation of a shopping cart software on your favorite online store. It is an ecommerce software which enables you to pick your preferred items on the internet and load them all into your shopping cart for checkout and payment at the end of your transaction.

If you want to have a business on the web, creating an online store using a shopping cart software (like the one by ashop) is so easy because they do all the hard work for you as it is web-based. What is best about it is that it is fully customizable so it will cater to your every need.

Book Heaven

Ayayay... I am just a weakling when it comes to books, especially when they are on my most wanted list!

Yesterday, we went to Big W to do a little shopping. I had already one book in mind, which I had decided to purchase a week ago after losing it in an auction on eBay. But, lo and behold, we discovered that they were putting up a lot of their books on sale. And I'm not talking itty-bitty discounts here. It was a huge 35% off! I was desperately trying to keep true to my one-book-limit. That is until I saw Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants in the bottom shelf. You see, I have been searching for this book for some time now.

J must have seen the sheer desperation in my eyes, as I kept looking back at the shelves while we were walking away. I was also mumbling that I probably wouldn't be able to get any sleep at all that night. Finally, he uttered, "Kunin mo na! (Get it already!)"

I was delighted, of course, to hear these words. But I was also ashamed that I had given in, once again, to my addiction. In return, I promised J I'll stay clear of all those book shops in the coming weeks. Well, I'll try. Easier said than done! :P

Portable DVD player

Yes, can it get any clearer than that? I am definitely jotting that down on our wishlist -- a portable 10 inch DVD player. I tell you, this list is getting longer and longer as the days pass by!

Why, you ask, are we including this gadget? Well, it is for the simple reason that Erin seems to be easily entertained by what she sees on the screen of late, especially if her favorite shows are on. The time will come when she will be a bit older and she will be able to show more appreciation for movies. So a portable DVD player will definitely come in handy especially when we are on the road. With a massive high resolution and high quality ten-inch screen, it will surely keep her entertained for hours on end anywhere and anytime she wants it. If she is happy, then we are happy too.

Scattergories meme

Got this from Kat. I thought it was going to be easy. But it turns out, I had to google a few to help me out on some of the questions. :P

Instructions:
Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things ... nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person who nominated you has the same first initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name? Leah
4-letter word: Love!
Vehicle: Lexus
City: London
Boy Name: Leo
Girl Name: Lauren
Alcoholic drink: love potion # 9
Occupation: librarian, locksmith
Something you wear: locket, lip gloss
Celebrity: Lindsay Lohan
Food: lemon, lettuce, leche flan, lollies
Something found in a bathroom: lotion, lavender soap
Reason for Being Late: late in waking up
Cartoon Character: Linus and Lucy (from Peanuts)
Something You Shout: "Let's eat!"

Alright, your turn! :)

Changing Times

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that J was not wearing the watch I gave him. You see, he wears his watch even if he is asleep in bed. So to see him "watch-less" meant that something must have gone wrong with his timepiece.

I was right. He told me that a screw in the bracelet had gone missing which naturally did made it impossible for him to wear the watch on his wrist. We might take it to mall to have it fixed. But if it is found to be beyond repair, then maybe we'd just have to start shopping around for a new one, like the piece by Patek Philippe.

Feast One Hundred & Sixty Three

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?
Hmmm... I'd give it a 5. I am indifferent to it because I'll be turning 32 then. Pretty much 'not in the calendar,' as they say! I am looking forward more to Erin's first birthday, which, occurs, by the way, on the same month.

Soup
What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of?
There are so many words out there so I sought Google's help to give me a shortlist of possible words. Ok, here is my random pick: furuncle. It sounds weird to me. Its definition? Well, it's also known as a boil. In Filipino, pigsa! Yuck! :P

Salad
Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like?
I used to wear a pair before. But now with a little girl who's keen on grabbing everything in sight, not anymore.

Main Course
If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it?
Definitely, J and Erin. They are the most important people in my life. My world revolves around them.

Dessert
Name a beverage that you enjoy.
I love iced coffee drinks, especially topped with whipped cream! I refrain from drinking them these days because I am still breastfeeding Erin. So whenever we got to a cafe, I just order a cup of hot choco instead.

Health is wealth.

Let's face it. J and I are not getting any younger and we really do need to take care of our health, at least for Erin's (and her future sibling's) sake.

We are not exactly overweight but we are not getting enough exercise either. We try to eat healthy. But, hey, we are only human! It's so hard to refuse all the yummy (and bad) food, especially when it is abundant in most parties that we attend.

Yes, I know they are all excuses. But seriously now, we really should consider buying some fitness equipment to help us work out a sweat and eventually get us both back into shape before it's too late.

Update: ABC Network says sorry for 'racial' slur

The producers of the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives" on Thursday issued an apology for an insulting line that belittled the practitioners of the medical profession in the Philippines.

"The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offence caused [by the insulting remark] in the season premier," ABC Network said in a short statement of apology obtained by ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.

ABC Network added: "There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines."

Read more »

Well, for me, apology accepted. But I agree to also the suggestion of some that ABC should edit the infamous line from the episode and change it in a way that is less prejudiced.

I've seen the comments on YouTube and I tell you, there are lots of people out there who are outraged by this matter. What's more, I think it's not only the Filipinos who are making these remarks. It seems like this has sparked other racial issues that other people have with the Americans. Head on over to YT and you'll see what I mean.

The Tide Is In

My happy and carefree days are now over. Aunt Flo is back! And just when I was having the time of my life, not having to care about leaks or pads or whatever. But more than anything else, it is my endometriosis that I am more concerned about, having been able to keep it at bay with pregnancy and breastfeeding for fifteen long months.

I honestly thought it will not come back until I have totally stopped breastfeeding Erin. I stand corrected then. Now I am worried as well if this is a sign that my milk supply will soon be depleted. *sigh* I guess only one thing is for sure. It's time to go back to my doctor and maybe see a specialist here as well to ask about how we can manage my endometriosis until the time I am ready to fall pregnant again. I just hope it's not as drastic as surgery.

In The Dark

I have this thing about our house being well lit. We have several bushes surrounding the house and this sort of "hides" our dwelling from everybody else. I would give anything to trim them to a decent size. I would also want some garage lighting especially if we go home at night. It certainly gets really dark in that part of the lot. Alright, that's another thing to jot down on my wishlist! :)

Our Little Postie

Every day, little Erin and I go out in the mid-afternoon to get our mail. It has been sunny (and quite windy) the past few days so I always make it point for her to wear a hat. Today, I let her wear a bright pink brimmed hat, which was a gift from one of our friends here. She looked so adorable in it that I just had to call for an impromptu photo session with her.

Glued on the Tube

Spring seems to be the season not only for blooms but also the return of our favorite shows on TV. Well, it is high time that these shows did a comeback on the screen. J and I were starting to get antsy by the time dinner ended.

Alright, you might be wondering what shows we are talking about. There's Dancing with the Stars (which started last week), House (which went back on last night) and Heroes (which airs tonight), just to name a few. Of the three, J and I are most excited to see Heroes, which left us really hanging for more when they ended their first season. And yes, watching it on a hitachi 50 LCD TV would be even better. But, that is whole different story for me to tell.

In The Mail

Guess what came in the mail for me yesterday? Yes, the two precious books I ordered online on eBay! I was so giddy with excitement upon seeing the package that my hands were actually trembling while I was opening the satchel. :)

If you guys can only see our bookshelf right now, well, it is brimming with to-be-read books, mostly acquired by, no less, than me! I better get a move on it and start digging in. Otherwise, J might not let me buy another one if I don't finish reading them. Yikes!

Time flies

Can you believe it is already Thursday? It is almost the weekend and I am soooo looking forward to it. There is no party that we must attend so we might just be able to go and see the Floriade with Erin. It is getting warmer now -- just right for strolling in Commonwealth Park. This is Erin's first Floriade so it is going to be pretty special! :)

Getting Organized

These days, I wish I had the luxury of time to clean our house. It bothers me a lot to see things in disarray. But with all the important things to be done, prioritization is now the key.

Speaking of disarray, some garage storage cabinets would be really nice to put things in proper order. Maybe I'll include that in my wishlist for the coming holidays. :)

Filipinos Denigrated on ABC's Desperate Housewives

I received this appeal in my inbox yesterday. Maybe you guys also have. This is clearly another case of discrimination against us Filipinos (especially those in the healthcare industry). Read on to find out more.

Dear Kababayan and Allies:

I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of "Desperate Housewives" last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher's character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines. " If you go to abc.com, you watch the full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50 minutes into the episode.

This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in healthcare is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.

As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past. In recent years, we've heard one too many "dogeater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.

Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition here or you can reach them directly at abc7@abc.com.

And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/Filipino Americans/Asian Americans and other allies.

Sincerely,
Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/Activist
knadal@gmail. com

And here's a clip of that infamous scene on YouTube...

Tsk, tsk! What were these scriptwriters thinking when they included such a comment in the said episode? And why pick on Filipinos? Some people are just so prejudiced and ignorant! Alright, enough said. Time for us to start signing that petition!

Related link: Pinoys seek apology from 'Desperate Housewives'

My head!

Don't you just hate it when you have a million and one things to do and a migraine keeps getting in the way? I have been a sufferer of migraine headaches ever since I was in grade school so I know how it feels. By the way, I am not just talking about the tolerable ones. It is more of the I-want-to-bang-my-head-on-the-wall type. It can be that serious, as far as I am concerned.

Fortunately, in recent years, I have not had any serious headaches like the ones I've experienced before. I think the key to preventing a migraine attack is to avoid the situations that could trigger it. For me, it has always been not being able to eat my meals on time. If that happens, you can be assured that the rest of my day is considered ruined. Now, I've learned to manage that so those headaches seem to be a thing of the past already.

Stumped

Oh yeah, when you have got tons of work to do like me, there will come a point in time when you just run out if topics to blab about. And I can sense that moment anytime soon. I am grappling for words now and it's not looking pretty at all. Alright, time to get a break and refresh myself with new ideas.

Dress-up Time

Yesterday, our family was invited to a party by friends. We saw this as another opportunity for Erin to play dress-up once again. :)

And since spring is in full swing now in our part of the world, we thought this cute flower-y outfit was just perfect. This was given to her by her Ninang A who is known to love the color yellow so much (hence the clothes).

The outfit was supposed to fit a one-year-old child but the top fit Erin well around the shoulders so we went along with it. It came with matching bloomers which revealed her chubby thighs for all the world to see. :)

Negligence is not an excuse!

Did you know our personal computer almost crashed last weekend because a virus was found in our system? I think for the most part, it was due to our laziness of not keeping our anti-virus software up-to-date. In other words, it was plain old negligence on our part.

It really pays to equip your computer with the most recent anti-virus software like NOD32, especially if you are online most of the time (like I am). You never know when these viruses enter your system and wreak havoc on all your precious files. The cost of repairing such damage will always be more than the cost of keeping your anti-virus softwares current.

In the Books

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I am currently into buying books once again. And just last night, I purchased two novels to add to my ever-growing to-be-read pile. They were Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. There are a few more on my list that I’m on the look-out for. But I have not yet had the luck of finding them online. Do you have any favorite books that you’d like to suggest to me?

Shopping Madness

Gosh, shopping online can be oh-so addicting! I am beginning to feel a certain attachment now to eBay because of the variety of stuff you can purchase there. What's even cooler is now you can also demand for items that you want in their 'Want it now' section. The response(s) to your request can be very immediate, which makes shopping such a delight!

Blast from the Past

My colleague K is finally tying the knot with her long time boyfriend A. In two weeks' time, the two lovebirds will be exchanging vows in the same church that J and I were married in almost two years ago.

A few months back, K was consulting me for advice on unique personalized wedding favors. During our time, I remembered how hard it was to come up with ideas because we wanted them inexpensive but at the same time useful to the people receiving them. Ah yes, the stress of a bride-to-be! But having said that, I would definitely (and gladly) do all the preparations all over again. I was having that much fun inspite of all the pressures.

Update on Mr. Copycat

It looks like MC has finally gotten our drift that he is not allowed anymore to copy and paste our articles without acknowledging us as his source. How do I know this? Well, he has not been posting as much in the egroup as he was before. I am glad that all our hard work has paid off. But then again, I'm not keeping my hopes up because you never know when he might strike again.

It's raining, it's pouring!

No, I am not talking about the weather here in Oz. It's the numerous paid posting opportunities that I was able to reserve just this morning. Although I am giddy with happiness and excitement, I am also starting to feel a bit panicky over the huge amount of work I must turn in within the next 48 hours. Argh! So much to do but so little time! :P

Un-crowned Glory

Being a mother is definitely a life-changing experience. There are so many adjustments to make in your personal life that it can be very overwhelming at times. Not only has it been an emotional rollercoaster ride (blame it on the hormones), but the physical changes that have occurred in my body can be challenging as well.

Take my case for example. I have noticed in the previous months how weak my hair has become. It has become dull and so brittle that everyday I shed a huge amount of it. This has been making me anxious because I have always taken cared of my hair for as long as I can remember. I reckon all the stress of being a new parent may be the culprit.

I am not quite sure what to do about it at the moment. I suppose consulting Hair Loss Specialists would help. Getting enough rest could also prevent further damage. Right now, I am willing to take whatever steps I need to fix this problem. I don't want to go bald at this stage of my life! God forbid!

Back to the daily grind

The long weekend seemed to just fly by so fast, I don't believe we were able to get the most out if it. Even if J didn't have any work yesterday as it was Labor Day here, we still don't get a break from the chores and obligations that we have at home. Wouldn't it be just awesome if we really had nothing to do on another long weekend? *sigh* Don't mind me. I'm just thinking out loud. :P

Stuff it!

I can't believe how much stuff we have accumulated as a family in over just a year's time. With a growing family such as ours, I think it is inevitable that things just can't just seem to stop from pouring in, especially with a young baby in tow. We really need to seriously consider purchasing some garage storage to get our belongings organized. Otherwise, it's going to be mayhem at our place.

Getting Back Into the Groove

Things are starting to look up at home now. I think Erin is starting to sleep well once again at night time. I suppose it helped that we brought her to the mall twice this weekend. But I'm not getting my hopes up just yet. :P

I also think things are more manageable of late because I was able to pick up David Sedaris' Dress Your Family in Curdoroy and Denim yesterday after six long months. Can you imagine six months?! Anyway, good thing it was the anecdotal type so I did not have to read from the start.

This has somehow sparked my former obsession once again of hoarding books! These past two weekends, I've already bought two books from Beakys. Currently, I am watching a few more on eBay. Oh dear, I think I know now where all those paid-post earnings will go to. Haha! :P