November 2007

Thank you Avril for updating me regarding this. Now I know why I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours. There goes the headstart I wanted at work. I came in 15 minutes late for my 11am meeting. 

I know our country and government is not perfect but can’t we have peace even for just a month?  And when we go on coups, and whine and complain…can we at least have alternative solution ready. Let’s not whine just for the sake of whining…

I know blogging is not in the agenda I posted for today…but since it’s my lunch break I figured I figured I can afford to spend 5 minutes here.

I was fixing my i-google when I came across this qoute from Dr. Phil

Sad noh?

I’ve been relatively inactive. I haven’t replied to comments. I haven’t blog-hopped. I haven’t had a decent post.

I’ve been a lousy blogger and this is the reason:

That’s only around 50% of what I need to do and that’s my full day already. WOW!!!  I promise to blog like a good blogger again as soon as I get my work sorted out….so maybe in 2 years? hehehe

Look who’s enjoying her toy!!! YAY.

I am not into expensive toys because I believe Andrea benefits more from playing with our clothes and boxes and bags and tupperware. It’s just that I really see the benefit of this particular toy. 

She has learned how to press. (Ruy was shocked at the fact that Andrea immediately learned how to press on command) She has yet to learn how to fit the balls into the holes… 

I initially thought it was a waste of money but then this changed my mind

Tis the Season to be Jolly… (falalala lala la la)

Unfortunately for most people, there’s a price tag to being Jolly. Yes, Christmas seems to be that time of the year which people both dread and look forward to at the same time. More and more people are trying to find ways of making ends meet due to their bloated Christmas list.

Some people are even turning to companies who can give them payday loans. I think that might be taking it a bit too far as I always thought payday loans are for emergncies and not for appliance shopping or gift shopping. Oh well, I guess different people have different definition of emergencies. For all I know these people might consider not being able to buy a Justin Timberlake CD for a friend as an emergency.

Nevertheless, emergency or not. It’s nice to know that payday loans are now viable options for people.

IN around 3 months or so Andrea will be turning 1. People have already been giving their ideas and suggestions on Andrea’s birthday party. Everyone’s just assuming that we will be throwing a party for her.  Ruy and I have talked about this before and we agreed that we don’t want to throw a party for her. 

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not that we don’t want to celebrate Andrea’s birthday. We just prefer to celebrate it in such a way that Andrea would really enjoy.  95% of the birthday parties I’ve attended for 1 year olds were attended by a cranky and irritable if not crying and scared celebrant. The parties seem to be more for adults than for the kid. There is of course absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s just that I’d rather make that day 100% for Andrea.

We want to start a tradition wherein every year we would talk about what she wants to do for her birthday, and we’ll do it. A trip to the zoo? Lunch at Jollibee? EK? Toy Shopping? Swimming? Beach? Party? She can do whatever she wants (within reason of course) as long as we get to have a quiet dinner at the end of the day.  The day before or the day after her birthday she can spend that with either of her grandparents. 

Now that Andrea’s too young to tell us what she wants, we can assume the things she’ll want. Here are our options:

1. Swimming

2. Trip to the toy store (where she can pick the toy she wants for her gift)

3. Play Gym or Fun Ranch

4. Running somewhere, maybe in a park or in a playground.

Then at the end of the day, we’ll buy her cake and have a quiet dinner. =) Can’t wait.

I am not a Christmas lover but I am sooo excited about the fact that this is going to be Andrea’s first Christmas. I’ve been looking around for a gift for her and just today I got her one already….woohoo.

I chose this for the following reason.

1. It’s big enough that she won’t put it inside her mouth.

2.  The other toys within this price range are aides for walking. She doesn’t need that as she’s already walking.

3. It shows cause and effect. Andrea already knows how to switch on the light and then she’ll immediately look up to watch the light turn on. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the buttons here.

4. I got it for 50% off

5. It’s not in the list of toys with LEAD.

6.  She can use it for a long long time (by that I mean a year or two)

7. Andrea’s in a spanking mode. She hits objects to see how they sound, the on/off button is that giant red button you can see.  She just needs to hit it and it would activate music and motion.

8. It’s not fully automatic, most of the parts are there for her to explore manually.  I think manual toys are so much better than automatic toys.

9. There are a variety of animals, I can use this to teach her about animals.

Now, my only problem is this. Can I wait until Christmas before I  give it to her?

We are moving into a tiny house. When I say tiny I’m not exaggerating, it’s really tiny with a capital T. This works well for us as we’re a small family. It’s easier to maintain a small house specially when you’re working with a budget.

The drawback is the lack of storage. I can’t imagine how we’ll be able to fit everything inside our house, we’ll have to be very creative in finding storage space. I have a feeling we’ll have to use tv shelves just to add extra storage area.

When I think of engagement rings or wedding rings I think of diamonds. And when I think of diamonds, I think “I WANT MORE!!”. Yes, some people have an LV obsession I have a diamond obsession. I just can’t get over these beauties. The more I see them the more I want them.

I know the bible said thou shalt not covet, or something like that…but when I see diamonds I just turn into a sinner. =)  They do say that diamonds are a girls bestfriend, and I just happen to be a very friendly person.

When I was young, I thought the term juggling work and home was a hyperbole. I didn’t know that the term juggling is actually an understatement. 

Yesterday, I was overwhelmed yet again by how difficult it is maintaining a stressful job, a growing baby and a part time job (maintaining 3 blogs and maintaining opps).

I had to take Andrea to the doctor yesterday for her IPD vaccination. Not only was it extremely expensive (around 5k) it was also scheduled right smack in the middle of my working schedule.  I was just on leave last Monday due to an accident with my car so I couldn’t possibly go on leave again. I then asked my boss if I could work 13 hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday just to offset my Wednesday working hours. He said I’m not allowed to work more than 11 hours…so I had no choice but to work half day on Wednesday.

I then took Andrea with me to work, Andrea decided to use the hour long drive to work for crying. This is strange as she actually enjoys long drives but at that time she was just cranky for some reaason or another. When we got to the office, I left her in the lounge with Mary our trusty helper and then worked for around 4 hours. At that point I was stressing out hoping that Andrea wasn’t disturbing other people.

I then had to rush and drive to Cardinal Santos where her Pedia was. The Pedia only had 2 clinic hours so I was panicked beyond words when the traffic was jammed.

When we got to Cardinal, Andrea was back to her crying/screaming phase and the rain was pouring like there was no tomorrow. It wasn’t raining cats and dogs, it was raining leopards and wolves I’m telling you.

What does one do in situations like this? I drove to the driveway, asked Mary to take Andrea down so I can look for parking.  I had no choice as our umbrella couldn’t have kept Andrea dry under that rain.  

I was then told by the guard that there’s no more parking. I wanted to cry right there and then. Andrea’s there inside the hospital crying and hungry, while I was inside the car with nowhere to park and Andrea’s bottles were all with me. I wasthisclose to having a breakdown right there and then. 

I realized that I was doing opps and I don’t know when I should be paid or if I’ve already been paid.  So what I’ve been doing is keeping track of all the posts I’ve done in this database.  =) Obsessive much?

My yaya is very special. She has “illnesses” every 3 weeks. Sometimes it’s heatstroke, sometimes it’s headache, sometime’s it’s dysmi (her term for dysmenhorrea). Her timing is also amazing.  It usually happens when we need her the most. Like now for example. I begged my boss to allow me to work 11 hours every day so I can go on half day today as I need to take Andrea to the doctor for her IPV Vaccine. Yaya first left Andrea’s baby book….then after waiting for her for around 30 minutes in my lola’s house where I fed Andrea, gave her a bath and prepared the things for travel…she arrives and tells me she feels dizzy. What am I supposed to do? I can’t leave Andrea alone as her car seat is being fixed so she’s staying in a seat without a belt. Therefore she always needs someone beside her. I cannot drive while carrying Andrea.

What the hell am I supposed to do?  I can’t force  her to go with us as I will kill her if she drops Andrea.

December is considered a peak season for weddings in the Philippines. It’s that time of the year when suppliers are able to jack up their prices as couple after couple are running after them. I remember when I was preparing for my wedding I was overwhelmed by how hard it was to prepare. Imagine I had to book the church 16 months in advance!! It was that difficult.

It seems that this trend hasn’t changed this year as I am getting wedding invites left and right once again. Now,  when there’s a wedding of course there’s a wedding shower!!  It’s always so difficult finding the perfect gift for these showers.  There are just so many things to consider. If you are giving something then it’s best that it can be enjoyed by both the bride and the groom. We wouldn’t want the groom to feel left out would we?

Lingerie would of course be a cute gift but then again there’s the problem of not knowing the correct size. Imagine how offensive it would be if you gave a woman a bra that’s 2 sizes smaller….or what if you gave the man briefs that’s smaller. You could make instant enemies right there and then!

I think adult games or erotic games would be a safe bet. This is something the couple can enjoy together and you wouldn’t have to worry about finding the correct size.  Your only concern would be finding an adult toy store where you can find these games. I know there’s one in Metrowalk and a few in Malate but I always feel uncomfortable  stepping inside. I always feel like people are watching me and judging me…hahaha…am I paranoid or what? It’s true though, I’ve gone to one store in Malate and when I went out I felt like people were staring. I wanted to wear a sign which says “It’s NOT for me, It’s for a friend!”

Remember Andrea’s Diamond Stud Earrings? Well I am still drooling over it up until now. I love the brilliance and the simplicity of it so much that Ruy took pity on me. He said he’s willing to give me a Jewelry Gift for Christmas….yey!!! I have been looking at Jewelry Stored here in the Philippines and I must say most of the things I’ve seen are either too common or too boring.

I want something unique and something which clearly shows my personality. I also want something that would match my wedding ring. Given that my wedding ring is quite unique and difficult to match. I have scoured several shops and I have yet to find one thing I like. I decided to check out an Online jewelry store to see if I can find something I’d like.

I would have to say that I was overwhelmed by the number of beautiful pieces I found. I am currently obsessing over colored diamonds. I don’t like pink or yellow diamonds but I want the chocolate, black and blue diamonds. Here are some pieces I adore.

This is a 3-stone Blue Diamond Ring set in 14k Gold. I’ve never seen blue diamonds before and so I’m loving this.  I find it beautiful and understated. It would go so well with my diamond and sapphire half-eternity wedding ring. To make this ring even more tempting for me, it used to sell for $800 but now only sells for $299! Wow. I’m hyperventilating from too much excitement.

I am also drooling over this chocolate diamond cross.   It’s amazing how sleek and sexy the cross looks, I never imagined I could ever describe a cross as sexy but this piece is just that! The fact that it’s selling for 60% less than it’s actualy price makes it even prettier in my eyes.

Hmmm, I guess we can imagine where some of my blog earnings will go this December.  =) I am loving browsing through this online store cause it’s so convenient. You can narrow down their collection by type, function, stone type, metal type, cost etc.  It’s just so much more convenient than having to drive from one store to another.

I have subscribed to Unionbank’s Eon and I was so excited about it. It’s sad because I’ve been met with one frustration after another with this one.  First is the multiple trips to the bank and processes it requires. There are too many repetitive steps.

Now, my money which I transferred from my paypal account last Monday is still not here. It’s been 8 days.  I called them and they said it would sometimes take 11 working days. Oh really? What happened to the 5 working days you promised me before I got an account? Aaaargh.

So this means for example that I earn let’s say 40 dollars from PPP, I have to wait for a month before I get paid. I then transfer the money to my Eon account where I’ll be charged 5 dollars. Leaving me with 35 dollars. Then, I have to wait 11 working days to get my money? That’s almost 6 weeks just for 35 dollars. WOW!

You guys are not going to believe it…but I think my yaya finally saw the light. This morning while driving Andrea to my lola’s house I asked her what else is missing and that she better make sure she won’t forget anything. She then shows me a list she made. She made a list!!! Wooohoo…

Of course the list contained EVERYTHING we buy so my grocery bill reached almost 4k. But that’s better than worrying if your daughter still has something to drink at night. Right?

I feel like Christmas came early today.

I cannot even count the number of times I’ve received offers for Viagra. I am so tempted to write to these people and tell them that I’m  a young WOMAN and I don’t need Viagra and I am not interested in enlarging my….ahm…my manhood. =)

I don’t understand why these businessmen would waste their time, energy and resources sending these mails to people who don’t fall within their target market. Wouldn’t it be more economical and wiser if they would have a list of people who actually would be prospective buyers and then send email to people on this list?

There are actually companies that act as list brokers and produce a compilation of accurate and focused list which accounts for a higher response rate.

If only everyone subscribed to these lists then I would not be getting offers for Viagra but I would get a lot of offers for Jewelry. Hehehe

It will not matter what car I drove

What kind of house I lived in

How much money I had in my bank account

Nor what my clothes looked like

But the world may be a little better

because I was important in the life of a child.

-Author Unknown-

This put things in a whole new perspective for me. I really really really should do everything I can to be a better example for Andrea. This is not easy…but I’ll try.

Last Saturday, I had 5 people tell me how Andrea doesn’t look like me at all.  They sounded so surprised and looked genuinely shocked. I seriously don’t get it. Why are they surprised, I didn’t have an immaculate conception and suddenly produced an offspring on my own.  So why is the fact that my daughter looks like my husband surprising to anyone?

I’m amused at this phenomenon.

Jen and I are trying to motivate each other into losing weight.  I’m not really sure how well we’re doing but at least I’m now able to get my ass off the chair and walk a little bit. I’m not sure it’s helping but I’m sure it’s something.

I swear if I get really desperate I’m going to try one of these houston lapbands. It’s the safest form of bariatric surgery and it’s the least invasive. I’m not sure if I would qualify for one just yet it just feels good knowing there’s something like this available.

I will keep this in mind for future reference, meanwhile I will continue trying to walk. Today I walk, tomorrow I run!! =)

I was looking at the TokiDoki purses from LeSportsac. I loved the look and the colors, then I put it down. Ruy asked why I chose not to buy it…I said I felt too old for it. Ruy then replied “Okay, that’s a good reason”

Was it a good reason?

I’m 25 for goodness sakes. I should be prancing around in Tokidoki’s and aimlessly bumming.

Yet I’m not.

I’m scared of my mistakes as Andrea could mimic them. I’m scared that I might not be the best role model for Andrea. I’m scared of being lazy…

I can’t be reckless, I have Andrea. 

I’m in a job where I panic at the thought of being absent. I’m absent now yet I’m working from home.

I don’t understand…when did I grow old that way? Have you seen my childhood?

Andrea is hard to please, just like me.

She’s stubborn, just like me.

She’s mataray, just like me.

I think I’ve been given what I deserve. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get her to smile? Seriously, I can be doing cartwheels and all I would get is a half-smile. Check this out:

I was lifting her, tickling her…and all I get is that bored look. Exactly the same look I give Ruy which he hates.  It’s funny cause she can communicate, she can show her emotions but everytime we’re outside or we’re with other people she keep quiet and emotionless. SO MUCH LIKE ME!!

I love Gold in every shape or form. I love Gold the color, I love Gold the metal. Why I even have the Ralph Lauren Gold perfume.

I don’t know exactly what it is about Gold that I like. It’s probably the fact that it’s so unique you can tell Gold apart from Titanium, Silver and Platinum so easily. It could also be the fact that Gold stands for oppulence and indulgence.

People have often told me that gold is a better investment than real estate. I always thought that meant stocking up on jewelry. I didn’t know people can actually buy gold coins and gold bullion. Not only that, you can buy it online!! Hassle free gold shopping is actually possible. Of course you have to make sure that you’re buying from reputable sites as there are a lot of fake sites out there.  So far I’ve only heard of Monex Deposit Company as being an authentic seller…do you guys know of any others?

I cannot understand why Andrea is still bald. I don’t get it. I have a full head of hair, and Ruy does as well when he’s not shaving it all off. It’s really so frustrating cause I’ve had several people call Andrea handsome as she looks like a guy, not having hair is not helping her case at all.

Impatient and crazy mother (that’s me) with the prodding of a crazy grandmother (that’s my mother) decided to buy hair for Andrea. Ruy and I were practically rolling on the floor laughing when we saw the effects.

Here’s Hairy Andrea:

Isn’t that hilarious? I was bugging Ruy to try the wig on but he refuses.

Here’s Andrea without the wig:

I’m having this sinking feeling she’ll only grow hair when she turns 12

So, the yaya strikes again. Yesterday morning she tells me “Ate, dalawa na lang ang diaper.” I take a deep breath count to three and say “Ok”

I didn’t want to argue with her anymore. I feel like it’s futile. Try talking to a wall…that’s how it feels with this yaya.  The problem with her is that she doesn’t learn. One time I asked her to commute to the grocery herself in the middle of the night (okay I’m exagerating here, it was at 8:30 pm) just so she would realize what she’s making me do.  It had no effect though. I have also tried explaining the repercussions of these actions…no effect as well.

So, Ruy and I went to the grocery to buy diaper. 2 hours after she tells me that we only have enough milk for a day.  The morning after, she tells me we have no wipes.

Can I cry now?

It seems that my simple joys are not so simple after all. You see, I adore freshly made beds with clean and crisp linen. Nothing feels better than stepping out of the shower…putting on lotion…dressing up then plopping down on fresh linen.

Reality however makes it very expensive to have this scenario every day.  I was surprised at how expensive beddings are. 3,000-5,000 for bed sheets and 2 pillow cases seems pretty steep to me. Specially since most of the beddings in the Philippines are very generic.  I want unique and one-of-a-kind beddings which don’t cost an arm and a leg.

I came across this site which offers Personalized Photo Gifts and guess what? They make Photo Blankets!! Check this out:

I can just imagine Andrea going crazy trying to figure out who the baby in the blanket is.  Hahaha

I have a soft spot for old people. I don’t know why but just seeing the beggars on the street drive me to tears.  It’s probably my close relationship with my grandmother whom I love so much despite the fact that all our bitchiness comes from her. Yup it’s true. =)  

When I was in gradeschool we were brought to this Home for the Aged somewhere in Marikina and it scared me. The condition of the  grandparents there were pathetic to say the least. They were in such miserable conditions that it affected them emotionally. They became grumpy, irritable and sometimes spiteful. I went home and told my grandmother that she should never stay in one of those homes. 

I am lucky enough to be living in the Philippines where the culture of extended families guarantees that my grandmother would never have to look for a nursing home for herself. I do know that a lot of people living in North America and Europe aren’t as lucky. Having information about the homes our relatives are being taken into is really important and thank goodness for the power of the internet, we now have access to these info.

A few posts back I was telling you guys about an idea of mine that could generate extra income. I was thinking of reselling things I will buy in sales which would help me be able to sell the products at a lower price but with income.

One drawback I can see is the fact that I have limited contacts.  I only know a handful of people and I think only 20% would even consider buying from myself. So imagine my delight when Jen posted about this site which basically serves as an online shopping cart.

So here’s how it works. You sign-up, then you setup your online store. Then you choose the products you have to sell. That’s it! You’re an entrepreneur already. Tell me that’s not easy.

It’s practically hassle free for the seller plus you have their technical support to assist you when you have any problems. It’s a complete solution for sellers and you know what this is sounding more and more like an excellent plan for myself. =)

When Jen went on a cruise she did say that she enjoyed it although her review wasn’t as glowing as I expected it to be. I would have thought she’d be head over heels in love with the experience. I always imagined that it would be wonderful for people who don’t suffer from motion sickness.

I want to get other people’s feedback. Have any of you tried any of the carnival cruises? What’s your feedback?

I know Aggie already knows what to give Edil for Christmas, but what about the rest of you? I am utterly clueless right now and I don’t know what I can give Ruy. It’s not like we’re living in the US and I can just get him Superbowl tickets or NBA tickets then he’d be happy. Buying him a superbowl ticket would mean I’d have to buy him plane tickets to go and watch them. Trust me, I do not have the budget for that.

I just realized that the only luggages I have are those underneath my eyes and those freaking fat lard chunks hanging around my body. The last time I left the country I had to borrow luggages from my dad. He lent me his Samsonite luggages which were really awesome…but they still weren’t mine.

I think it’s time to have my own set don’t you think? The only problem is finding the money for it.Hahahha

16. What are you wearing right now? ~ high school PE Uniform…seriously
17. What is your favorite christmas song? ~ Santa Make her my Bride for Christmas
18. Where is your favorite place to be?  work, and our room
19. Where is your least favorite place to be? ~ dirty and smelly places

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? ~ Greece
21. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years? ~ anywhere where we can see where our taxes go
22. Do you tan or burn? ~ tan too well.
23. What do you fear the most? ~ mediocrity
24. What’s the last food you ate? ~ lemon pie
25. Who was the last person to send you a message? ~ sponsored reviews hehehe
26. How big is your bed? ~ Queen Size
27. Do you sleep with or without clothes on? ~ With
28. What’s the colour of your bedsheets? ~ beige

tag yourself!

grabbed this from Che.

1. How old would you be in 5 years? 30
2. With whom did you spend at least 2 hours today? ~ Andrea
3. What do you look forward the most in the next 6 weeks? ~ Playing with Andrea
4 . What’s the last movie you watched? ~ Blades of Glory, but this is my second time to watch it. I caught it on the plane before and now I watched it with Ruy

5. Who was the last person you called? - BPI, to report the atm machine which didn’t dispense cash but debited the amount from our account
6. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? ~ BPI call center agent
7. What was the last text message you received? ~ from my aunt asking me how Andrea is
8. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? ~ nada

9. Do you prefer to call or text? ~ call. i barely text
10. What were you doing at 12am last night? ~ playing with a very cranky Andrea

11. Are your parents married/d ivorced/separated? ~ no comment
12. When is the last time you saw your mom? ~ last week i believe
14. What’s the color of your eyes? ~ black coffee brown
15. What time did you wake up today? ~ 4:30am

A lot of people subscribe to credit cards without knowing anything about it.  I was just sent my credit card without even knowing if it wes a Visa or Mastercard. What is the difference between the two anyway?

I think this kind of mentality should stop. I think people should be fully aware of what they’re getting themselves into. Whether you are looking for Credit Cards For College Students, Credit Cards for professionals, or for housewives etc. you need to be aware. Why is this credit card better than the other? WHat makes this one different from the rest? Luckily there are websites which offers online comparisons of the existing credit cards from reputable banks.

Remember that in choosing which credit card to buy for yourself, knowledge is power!

1. First name: if he doesn’t like his name plastered all over the internet, a pet name will do.
2. How and where did you meet?
3. Characteristics
4. Your plans 20 to 30 years from now.

1. His Name: Ruy, sometimes to annoy him I call him Ru-ru. We call each other hon sometimes but we get confused. We’re not sure if the other person’s talking to Andrea or us.

2. How we met? Common friends…

3. Characteristics of Ruy?

• Focused - when he wants something he gets cranky when he doesn’t get it. Think PMS-ing.
• He’s a movie; tv-show junkie. He can watch movies all day long.
• Hard-core child of the 80s. He listens to eighties songs all the time.  He actually likes some songs of David Pomeranz. He can tell you about Voltron, Transformers, GI Joes, Perfect Strangers, A-team and That’s Entertainment…hehehe 
• He cooks sooooo well. I’m in love with around 95% of what he cooks.
• He moves slowly. I’m quick, hasty and careless while he’s slow and deliberate. 
• He gets excited over the littlest thing. This makes it so much fun to do things with him
• He’s smart. It’s weird cause he’s smart in ways I’m not…He can look at things so logically that you begin to doubt if you’re right.

4. Our 20-30 year plan

• Maybe a baby sister or brother for Andrea? 
• Living somewhere where we can see where our taxes our going 
• Be secure enough with each other so much so that we don’t need the feeling of being in love in order to be sure we love each other.
• Still be working. I love working
• Handle our finances, our relationships, our families better.
• Be able to help our families even if they don’t need help

 I’m now tagging my husband, Jen and Litzie. =)

It’s that time of the year again. Yup, the time to collect those precious stamps from Starbucks in order to get your very own Starbucks Planner. I would have to admit that I barely used my 2007 planner. In fact, I used it for a grand total of 2 months then I had no idea where it was.

Why am I trying to get the 2008 planner then?

Well because it’s PRETTY!!! Plus I can always say it’s for charity. hehehe

You are not going to believe the number of sales there are in the Philippines today. Let me enumerate:

1. Citibank Eastwood Sale - half price for perfumes and other signature stuff
2. Cornelle, Visio, Corningware Sale - Still in Eastwood with around 70-80% discount. These are great buys I’m telling you.
3. Pigeon, Chicco, Richwell Sale - around 50-70% off
4. Krups, Dowell, Thermos, Omron - they also have a sale in their factory in Manggahan but I failed to catch the amount.

Can you just imagine how tempting all these sales are? These are real sales, not those phony 10% off sales you get at malls just so they can announce that they’re having a sale.  These are hard core sales with good and functional products.  Problem is we still don’t have our 13th month pay. It’s becoming very tempting to get a cash advance, payday loans, or short term loans.

I’m thinking buying from these sales then reselling them would be a great way of generating extra income. What do you guys think?

A guy…who shall remain nameless….once gave me a cowboy doll complete with a toothpick sticking out of it’s mouth for Christmas. When I opened this gift I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t understand the gift at all. What did it mean? What was it? Was it a joke? A few months after, I found out that it was 1. Wrapped by the guys mother, 2. Won in an arcade. This is a true story but I am withholding information in order to protect the dignity of this man. =)

Why are men so clueless when it comes to women? A single rose with a lovely letter would have been worth 10x more than that gift. Yet somehow, men don’t get this.  Most men I know (Ruy of the present excluded) need a lot of help and need tips for attracting women .  They are that clueless!!

Another example I have of how clueless men are? A suitor once gave me a poem entitled “Warfreak”…tell me, is there anything romantic about that?  I am telling you that right there and then I wanted to give him a get girl book and force him to read it from cover to cover.

These were of course in the past when men don’t have a lot of places to look for for help. Luckily right now there are websites which give help to men for everything from body language to tips on how to pick up a beautiful woman.

I’m feeling quite lucky because Ruy doesn’t seem to need these tips (most of the time anyway).  He actually gave me the most memorable Christmas gift ever a year or so ago. He surprised me with a room overlooking the Fire Olympics. So while everyone was stuck in traffic along Roxas Boulevard. We were happily sipping wine on the Balcony of a hotel with our feet up watching the beautiful fireworks.  It was wonderful. Ruy of course didn’t start out that way, he was also hopeless at the start of our relationship and it took around 4 months before he started becoming extremely sweet.

Ruy had the liberty of time as we were already a couple. Some men unfortunately don’t have much time and are therefore turning to websites which offers short courses. I was really shocked when I saw this. Wow…there’s really a whole industry revolving around this problem. I wonder if there are such courses for clueless women? Wait…is there such a thing as a clueless woman? Of course not!!

P.S. Hey guys, I’m really really curious about your stories on Clueless men…I bet they’d be very funny. Please write about it on  your blog then leave a message her so I can jump to your blogs. =)

My yaya is driving me insane. She always waits up until the last minute before she tells us that something’s missing which results in multiple trips to the grocery within the week. For someone like me who barely has time to pee, this is not fun at all.

Monday. I drive home at around 9 pm but I had to stop by the grocery at 9:30 so I can buy diapers and Cerelac for Andrea.

Tuesday. Morning. She tells me that Andrea doesn’t have food anymore. I tell her I already bought food.

Tuesday. Lunch Time. She tells me we don’t have Milk and Water for Andrea. I go to the grocery before work…I’m already pissed. To make matters worse I dropped an entire display  of cds when I accidentally hit the audio racks. Good thing I didn’t have to pay for anything.

Wednesday. She now tells me that we don’t have soap for Andrea’s clothes. WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS WOMAN? I want to strangle her already.

I know several people who are taking paid posts quite seriously (Hello to the hungry wolves out there) and I can’t help but admire them. The patience, organization, talent and persistence it takes to write opps cannot to be dismissed.

I am wondering though why I don’t seem to be drowning in opps unlike the other people.  I have my own domain, my site has a decent PR and I’m subscribed to most of the sites offering this service. I wonder what I’m doing wrong.

I’m currently enrolled in the following:

1. Blogsvertise - the opps are seriously trickle down and sometimes they demand so much for one opps
2. Sponsored Review - I’ve only received 4 assignments from this site in the last 7 weeks.
3. Blogitive - okay so far but I’m finding it hard to catch offers. I’ve only had one post from them but then again i’ve only been enrolled there for a week.
4. PayU2Blog - this is a favorite and I’ve done around 14 opps for them
5. Smorty - I like this one a lot as they pay weekly, I just don’t understand their scoring method and I have a feeling my opps will run out very very soon.

I’m currently processing my PPP application so I hope I’ll be accepted there.

I was tagged by Litzie:

1. What food did you crave when you were pregnant?

NOTHING. I did eat a lot of the following: Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, Chips Ahoy, Melon Milk and Tempura 

2. Did you gain a lot of weight when you were pregnant?

Sad to say but I gained weight AFTER giving birth. Tell me if that’s not annoying.

3. Did you drink milk when you were pregnant?  

I drank nonfat milk as one of my OBs said drinking milk for pregnant people is BS. It’s just filled with sugar plus you only benefit from the folate…the thing is folate is needed before you conceive not while your are pregnant.

4. How long did you stay in the labor room before your delivery?

Around an hour. They tried to induce my delivery but Andrea’s heartbeat went down after just two rounds of contractions.

5. Did you have epidural during labor?

I think so. You can’t have CS without an epidural right? 

6. How did you give birth?  

CS.  An emergency CS but I somehow managed to go shopping before admitting myself to the hospital.

7. What was your first reaction when you heard your baby’s cry and saw him/her for the first time?  

Relief. I just wanted the baby to be alive and okay.

8. Prior to that moment when you first held your baby, did you know how to carry a newborn?  

Very well! My sister’s 16 years younger than myself so I had a lot of practice.

9. Did you take a bath after your delivery?  

The first two days, the nursing aides just cleaned me up. I couldn’t bathe as I had an IV…once the IV was removed I took a bath right away. I WAS IN HEAVEN.

10. How was your first night with your baby like?

Challenging. I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to carry the baby yet as I had a C-Section…so I forced myself to carry the baby…PAIN!!!

11. Did you breastfeed your baby?  

I didn’t want to right from the beginning, I’ve been very vocal about that. When Andrea was born she was tiny and she was born earlier than when she was supposed to. I kinda had no choice but to breastfeed her as I wanted her to be okay. Andrea didn’t want to…she would suck for 3-5 minutes then stop. Then she’d cry and cry and cry.  So I breastfed for a grand total of around 20 times….

12. If you were to pick just one moment from the time you gave birth until the moment you were discharged from the hospital, which do you think is the most special moment for you?

I’m sorry to say this but I had none of those Johnson Commercial Moments. It was all business…I only started feeling like I was Andrea’s mother when I took her home and she started socializing a bit.

Now, I’m tagging all the other moms who haven’t answered this.

I am currently searching for appliances and I hate how when I look at stuff online I get extremely excited then when I go to the appliance store I find out that they don’t have the model I’m looking for. Next thing you know, you end up buying a product you don’t know anything about as it’s the only model they have in the store. 

There’s this new site which addresses this issue. They have a search localization system which helps you find the relevant data to your particular site. God knows I don’t need to know what refrigerator models can be found in Kota Kinabalu…I want to know what I can find here in Manila!! Say for example I search for Kenmore Dryers , Krillion will help me find this ASAP. Krillion has access to National and Regional retailers to give the consumers the most accurate information real time.

Now, if only we have something like this here in the Philippines I’d be one happy camper.

I don’t know what it is about Photoshop which is getting me addicted. I think seeing pictures transform seems so magical. It also allows me so much control over the photos and for a control freak such as myself, that’s priceless. I am definitely not an expert…hell I’m far from being an expert and that’s what I love about it. I love learning something new every time I try it.

You know what I learned to do yesterday? BATCH EDITING!! Pure genius I’m telling you. If there are people there who are willing to share a tip or two re: Photoshop….I’m a willing student. =)

Yesterday, Ruy wanted to go to a bookstore. I told him I couldn’t as I needed to work. I told him I’d go with him right after I finish the files I was listening to. He said it’s okay, he didn’t want to interrupt my work and that he’d go on his own.

I let him.

I am now eaten up by guilt. It’s the weekend, I shouldn’t be working. I should be hanging out with my family and relaxing. Yet the majority of the weekend was spent working on paid opps and working on my laptop for my real work. =( I feel like a bad wife.

I hate hate hate it when sales people are able to coerce you into getting something you don’t really need or sometimes you don’t even like. Sometimes you get things from them just because you want them to stop already. There was this one time I wanted to look at something and this snotty sales lady looked at me as if I couldn’t afford what I was looking at. I ended up buying something there just to prove her wrong…I ended up with my wallet empty but my pride intact.

One thing I like about this website which offers Payday Loans online. There’s no need to deal with annoying sales people. The site offers everything you need online. My favorite part is the option to choose your loan amount, then the number of days you are going to loan it…and voila it computes exactly how much the interest will be. Very simple and straightforward yet very useful.

Tagged by Jen:

Here’s how it goes: When this is passed on to you, copy the whole thing, skim the list and put a * star beside those that you like. Write your own blogging tip for other bloggers. Try to make your tip general.

Tag as many people as you want.

1. Don’t let money change ya! http://www.therandomforest.info/

2. Look, read, and learn.http://www.neonscent.com/

3. Be, EXCELLENT to each other. http://www.bushmackel.com

4. Always reply to your comments. http://chattiekat.com/

5. Blog about what you know & love. http://sugar-queens-dream.blogspot.com/

6. Don’t use filthy language-buy a dictionary. http://shinade.blogspot.com/

7. Blog about something educational. http://climateofourfuture.org/

*8. Be yourself; others will follow. http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/

9. Don’t have too many blogs that will become a chore to maintain.
http://cubicledenizen.blogspot.com/

10. Keep it simple, user-friendly, interesting and organized! http://erishaling.blogspot.com/

11. Keep the blog simple and sweet!! http://www.leslieho.com/

*12. Share with others your thoughts and don’t be shy! http://groovy-olives.com/blog

13. Never ask for link exchange. Blog hop to increase traffic. http://www.jessieling.com/

*14. Don’t clutter your blog with ads all over the place. IT’S IRRITATING. http://oliviasy.blogspot.com/

*15. Don’t comment for the sake of commenting. Some looked too fake and its a big turn off! http://sashablablabla.blogspot.com/

16. Share something interesting and you will gain more readers. http://judychow.blogspot.com/

17. Show that we care to all bloggers, treat each other as friends. http://mummyinvain.com/

*18. Pictures say a million words. Keep them coming! http://familyfriendsnfood.blogspot.com/

*19. Blogging should be fun or you’ll get tired of it pretty soon. http://justmyrambling.com/

*20. Don’t think people will come to your blog if you’re not willing to pay a visit to them. http://joshualai.blogspot.com/

21. Everyone loves read short posting and best, illustrated with a picture. http://www.demoments.net/blog

22. Try not to publish more than 5 posts in one blog a day. Even if it’s from feed reader, it’s quite hard to digest and catch up reading everything. http://montessorimum.com/

23. Blog, the other window to peek into people’s life, minus the trouble. keep a certain level of privacy to yourself. http://www.babyshern.blogspot.com/

*24. Use simple words, not like the ones that require your readers to consult the dictionary. Girlie of http://www.hipncoolmomma.com/

*25. Take time to visit your friendly links WITH OR WITHOUT SPONSORED POSTS, probloggers are required to update their blogs so expect they always have something new. Marie the Vanidosa http://mariegvergara.com/

*26. Be kind and appreciate your readers by taking time to really know them. Take time to read their blogs and comment with your heart. Even if you’re into problogging, don’t forget to blog with your heart not just for the sake of the money.
Emmyrose http://www.emmyrose.com

*27. Share your blog awards to blogger friends whose blog inspires you and open your mind to another perspective in life and even to less-visited blog which you think their blog and thoughts are unique. Arlene of http://sunshineforlife.wordpress.com

28. Be factual and do not rely 100% on gossips/hearsays especially if you are writing about sensitive topics. Back up your facts with links from reliable sources, if needed. Julie of http://www.teacherjulie.com/

*29. When you blog hop, leave sincere or witty remarks, the author would check you out for sure. Try to post useful tips for mommies, career women and students as well so you’ll have varied readers. And make lots of friends thru your blog. Rowena of http://www.thesweetlife-rowena.blogspot.com

*30. When you write posts, write something that is interesting, funny or educational, and share stories that will let your readers know who you are. Share some pictures. Blogging is a way to gain friends, when they leave comment be sure to reply to those comments. Get in touch with your readers. Visit those who visit you. When you leave comments in their blogs, be sincere and true. Leave comment as a friend, not just for the sake of commenting. Show them that you’re really interested with what they write and that you want them to be your friends too. Ann of http://annksantos.blogspot.com

*31. Interesting or not, just let your blog reflect the real you. It is always best for people to like you and befriend you for who you really are. But of course it is also better to leave the more personal things, personal. You don’t need to blog about them if you don’t want to. Remember, anyone and everyone can access your blog. ~ http://alphadf.11penguin.net/ ~

32. Update often — people are a lot more nosy and interested in your life than you might think! http://celluliticbliss.com/

33.  It can’t be all about the money. Other people will get tired of your blog and then you will too soon after.  http://ruyandolivia.com

Now I’m tagging: Leah, Apol, Thet, Jane and Litzie

I feel so tired. I have so much to do and I don’t know when I can get around to doing them. It’s really not easy trying to balance everything I have on my plate and there are some instances when I ask myself if it’s really possible to do so.

I’m fantasizing that today I have nothing to do but relax in hot tubs with a mimosa on my hand and a plate of cheese.

My boss is currently in negotiations with people regarding an office we’re looking into. He asked me in jest if I’d want to oversee the construction. I warned him that if he assigned me to do this the following would happen.

1. An entire wall (at least) would have a mural of myself.

2. We’d have pink walls.

3.  I’d have the most insane conversations with the contractor. I’d probably say something like “Why are you insisting on using that thing you call cement, it’s ugly. Do something about it…what do you mean that’s the normal color of cement? I don’t care! Here’s some water color…color it!”

Nope, it just wouldn’t work. =) God knows I don’t know much about Cat5E patch panels or about the differences between the different cables…the only thing I’d care about is how cute the cables look.

I am so excited! I found another way of earning online through SMORTY. It’s a company which matches potential advertisers to bloggers with blogs that match what they are looking for. Smorty then gives the bloggers a list of possible opportunities for his blog and the blogger can choose which opportunities to take. This is of course brilliant as it allows people like me who are living in Asia, access to opportunities from companies miles away.  It’s also a win-win situation for the bloggers and advertisers. The advertisers get to advertise on blogs while the bloggers do what they do best while earning money. SWEET!

Smorty is practically hassle free, all I did was sign up –2 days later–an email saying I’m approved together with instant opps. Everything is so easy and convenient. I am also thrilled about the fact that I still have a say as to what I will put in my blog. I wouldn’t be forced to write about weird topics I don’t know anything about like the genetic manipulation of Canola Oil for example. I must say I’m quite impressed and I’m looking forward to a loooong partnership between myself and Smorty.

I always get these pop-ups asking me to join an online lottery or an online casino. I’ve always rejected them as I don’t really have money to spare but I’ve always been curious about them. Have any of you tried going into these online casino sites? I can imagine that it would be very addicting but is it as fun? To be honest I’ve never even gambled except for the time when Ruy, Carmi, Cyril and I played poker and the loser had to pay for dessert. I guess you can’t really call me a high roller. Hahaha.

I am not a very lucky person so God help me if I ever do get into these things. I have friend who went to Vegas and actually ended up getting back everything she spent on the trip through gambling. If I were half as lucky as she was, you’d have a hard time getting me to stop going into these sites which offers online casinoes.

The best part about this sites? No one knows your gambling so they wouldn’t ask you for a tip when you win. Hehehe

Look what I made? I don’t know what it is about Rachel’s designs which makes me want to scrap but they just do. I’m so glad I stumbled upon her blog.

All elements are from Rachel’s Tough Fluff kit.

(Andrea’s headband is from SM while her outfit was bought by her Ninang Jen)

Myself!

I survived my self-deprecating thoughts, my damaging habits.

I survived feeling inadequate.

I survived thinking that I deserve people’s awful treatment.

I survived thinking I’m not good enough…for anything.

I survived thinking I deserved less than the best.

This post was inspired by Rachel who shared her story of survival. She was also generous enough to share her wonderful scrap designs.  Please drop by her blog to look at her work and her story.

Remember, we teach people how to treat ourselves. You have to know your value so that other people can see it too.

(Everything used in the LO is by Rachel)

I am feeling insecure despite not having any self-esteem issues. It’s not about my hair, face, weight, height, or color…it’s about money and the future. I’m always worrying about what kind of future Andrea will have or what kind of future Ruy and I can provide for her.

The most logical thing to do would of course be to get some sort of Coverage For Insurance or do you call that Insurance Coverage? I get confused…

These are really major decisions and for people who are not as adept in insurance terminologies it’s not always easy.  I hope I can get reasonable Insurance Quote for Family Insurance Plans. I know how important this is and I don’t want to make mistakes.

Nope, I’m not talking about myself. I’m actually talking about my own mother.

 A lot of people don’t know this, but I was actually supposed to go to Med School. Can you believe that? Can you just imagine me in that white uniform? Oh god, I’m just thinking about how big my ass would look when I wear that….wahahah.

I really, honestly thought that I’d go to medschool…my mom thought that as well. Imagine her frustration when after taking and passing the NMAT I suddenly announced that I don’t want to go to medschool. Yup on the final semester of my pre-med years.

I just can’t imagine myself doing that year after year after year. Although I would admit that the idea of talking to people while saying all those big words sounds enticing. I imagine myself talking to my patients and saying stuff like “I’m sorry to say that you have malignant mesothelioma” or “Don’t worry you just have striated corpus myelinum” (striated corpus myelinum is nothing but a made up word by the way). Other than these Medicine doesn’t interest me. I realized that I can’t go into such an important profession for the rest of my life when I was not at all passionate about it.

My mom, was not very happy.

Looking back, I realize the benefits of going into med school. Had I known then, what I see now maybe I would have reconsidered my choice. That being said, I still believe that I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now had I gone into med school. It’s just not for me.

I’m still having a hard time dealing with the fact that Andrea’s a big baby now. Even if all signs tell me that she’s not a tiny baby I still want to believe that she is. I insist on looking at baby clothes at Babycenter Store only to be frustrated cause none would fit her anymore. 

The fact that she’s standing and walking just seems wrong to me. How would you feel when you see a bald and toothless baby walking on the floor. Tell me  you wouldn’t be shocked?

She also threatens to give me hypertension every 10 minutes or so just by how daring she is. She lets go, climbs up things and people, dives…yes I said dives. She climbs on top of you while you are lying down. Smiles at you…so there you are complacent that she’s just being affectionate then you notice that her eyes are actually looking at the floor where your very attractive slippers are. She attempts to swan dive to your slipper. You almost have a stroke.

She also lets go when she’s on the crib and it takes every ounce of what’s left of your willpower not to scream.  She lets go, wobbles while looking at you(she doesn’t just wobble, she shakes! she’s 7 months old for goodness sake) and then you finally scream out of fear that she’ll hit her head somewhere. You then tell her “Andrea, please remember you’re still a baby”

Then she looks at you this way

And you forget what you were upset about in the first place.

I decided that since my boss reads this blog (Hi Bobby). I’m going to write down reasons why I should be sent to Paris, France again. (Although Marseille, Normandy, Tolousse would also be acceptable)

1. I don’t think I need words to explain this. (flagship store baby)

2. You can’t get foie gras like this in the Philippines. You just can’t.

3. What you see there is actually a shopping center. Can you believe it? It’s called Gallery Lafayette and it’s HUGE! Gallerie Lafayette is right across our office. You literally walk around 5 metres.

4. I have free france accomodations from relatives and friends living there. Although that being said, if the company’s sholdering the accomodations…even better!

5. Because in France their Shrimp Pomelo Salad actually has more Shrimp than Pomelo.

6. Because I can say “Pardon”, “Ca va?” and “Merci” very well!!

7. Because their streetfood looks like this.

8. Because I miss partying so hard even the camera gets drunk.

After going through my reasons. I realized I’m not presenting such a strong argument.  I guess the reason why I’m trying to come up with France travel reasons is simply because I want to go back!!

I have been a very very negligent blogger and I have put-off posting this. I don’t even know why it took me so long, but as they say “Better late than pregnant never”.

Thank you for the people who cited me as:

and

and

I don’t even remember who gave me which awards. I only remember Jen, Gracita and Litzie. Sorry to the others I didn’t mention. Meanwhile, it’s my turn to give back. Here are the people whom I feel are deserving of these.

1. Ruy. =) Love your own what can I say?

2. Jen = unabashed honesty…AHLAVEET

3. Litzie = she is soo nice. I look evil when compared to her. I think I can learn a thing or 2 about being nice from her

4. Gracita = her jet-setting life style is to die for.

5. Marj = another woman who is unafraid to say what she thinks. AHLAVEET

6. Jean = she’s a league of her own this woman!

I was looking at my old old posts….well not that old actually, I meant my posts from Oct. 2006 and Nov. 2006. I found my posts either interesting or funny. And now I’m looking at my posts and they’re so BLAH! What happened to me? Has my life become so boring that I have nothing left to blog about? I guess this is not the case because I was never really blogging about my life before but more of my thoughts. I guess the problem is my thoughts have become boring.

How the hell do you remedy that?

After giving birth, you’re supposed to lose weight right? Well I lost brain cells.

(And no, this is not a sympathy post. I’m not asking for people to tell me that I’m wonderful. I just need to whine. =))

So now that I’ve whined, I feel better already. (I’m a weirdo)

When you’re driving down major roads in Manila you’d be overwhelmed by the amount of billboards there are. Granted that a certain amount of them has been taken down due to security issues, the number is still quite considerable. I am not complaining though, I am a fan of these billboards (Yes, even Ellen’s atrocious billboard or Jestoni Alarcon’s Mendez Ad). They actually cheer me up as they provide entertainment when I’m stuck in traffic. They also serve as stimuli for interesting conversations with Ruy such as the time when we saw an ad for Bench Clothing:

Ruy: Sino yung matandang kasama ni Richard Gutierez?

Liv: I don’t know

Ruy: Is that Anabelle Rama?

Liv: I don’t think so I think it’s the wife of de Venezia

(SILENCE)

Ruy: I wonder what made them get her?

Liv: What do you mean?

Ruy: Why did they think she’d make a great image model for Bench. Were they thinking that people would see this billboard and say “Oh wow de Venezia’s wife is wearing Bench, I should get one too”

The rest of the trip was then spent debating on what this ad was trying to say and why they chose that woman as an image model.

Now, as I look at the current billboards there is a change that is interesting. Billboards featuring teenagers or pre-pubescent girls have been replaced by former actresses turned socialites who are 30 and above.  The most interesting thing is that they are image models for clothing lines catering to a market much younger than they are.

I ask myself what message this is sending out to the teenagers and young adults who look up to these actresses. I have several guesses:

1. You can age gracefully (not that 30 is already considered aging, but then again these actresses look better now than when they were 14)

2. If you’re beautiful you can marry rich men and you don’t have to work ever.

3. If you have enough money you can fix yourself up and never age.

4. You don’t need talent whatsoever if you’re beautiful. (This is unfair, one of the people I’m talking about can actually act well)

Don’t pay attention to me, I’m just bitching cause I feel ugly today.