Lovin' life

Surprise Invite

2012-01-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

We actually didn't have anything planned for this weekend, except for the fact that we have to be home on Sunday for the Super Bowl but other than that nothing too exciting until today. We got an invitation for a birthday party. I have yet to tell the husband about it but I am not looking for possible birthday gift ideas for the celebrant. After browsing and reading some snippets of news along the way, I found good wood nyc. I saw a wooden necklace and bracelet that the celebrant will love. I'll have to make sure I show it to the husband when I tell him about the invitation. Whatever the husband's decision is, I can still buy the gift online and send it to them.

Cooking

2012-01-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

I miss my cooking. I miss my mom and dad's cooking. Having a father who's a chef by profession is such a treat growing up and until now. Watching him cook something from scratch is like magic and I dreamed of having his skills one day. Maybe with more practice and with my husband's patience, I'll get to it. I want to be able to chop or cut veggies or anything just like how chefs will do it. My dad knows how to make a pesto sauce from scratch - with the use of a blender and the needed ingredients, while I buy a ready made one at the grocery store. I don't have that kind of skills yet but maybe someday! Who knows! :)

Decisions, Decisions

2012-01-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the post, Arthur Lawrence

There are so many decisions to make when you buy a new house. I have never been a very decisive person, so this is causing a huge problem for me right now. I can’t decide on anything in a timely manner. I had a hard time deciding what house to buy, and then I was a complete disaster at the furniture store. I liked everything and couldn’t decide which living room set I wanted. Then it came to choosing between adt home security and another company for my home alarm system. That took me another few days. Then I couldn’t decide between cable and satellite TV. It’s like I’m a complete disaster! I don’t know why I just can’t make up my mind like other people do. It’s not that complicated. I should just weight the pros and cons, and then go with the option that comes out winning. It’s not like I’m making any life or death decisions here. I can’t imagine what I would be like if I had to decide something really important. Who knows? Maybe I would actually surprise myself.

Monday Blues

2012-01-30T15:23:00.000-08:00

How's your Monday so far? I'm having the so-called "Monday Blues." First off, I couldn't sleep last night. I really don't know why. Stress, maybe? There are so many stress factors in my life lately. Ha ha But seriously speaking, I think I am just stressed out. Thank goodness for a loving and very supportive husband who makes me smile and laugh whenever I'm feeling down or annoyed. But of course, despite all this stress, I am still grateful for everything. I can't really complain much because there are others out there who don't have a house to live in or food to eat.

I hope you all have a Blessed week. I can't believe it's February already. The "leap" month is almost here.

Hangover

2012-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Did you guys enjoy watching The Hangover movies like me? I was such a fan of the first one. I enjoyed it so much that my husband bought me a Blu Ray of the first movie. When the second one came out, we watched it on its opening weekend but we forgot to buy a Blu Ray of it when it first came out. I think I'll wait for the Black Friday sale to buy it - it will be a bit cheaper by then. But a friend of my husband can't get enough of The Hangover. He is looking for funny shirts like this one:

I must say though that this one is quite nice especially if you are a fan of the "wolf pack." This is a wonderful gift idea to a guy friend. I'll keep this in mind too!

Welcome the Dragon: Downtown Celebrates Chinese New Year

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

I think I want to go here this weekend. Now, if only I can drag my husband to go to Chinatown for this. he's not too fond of visiting Chinatown except for eating out at those Chinese restaurants there. Maybe I can trick him to go there by eating at one of the many restaurants. That's a nice idea! Ha ha.

Photo credit: Gary Leonard/ LA DowntownNews

The Chinese New Year is here and the Year of the Dragon will be celebrated Jan. 28-29 in Chinatown. In addition to mythical fire-breathing creatures, the weekend will feature Shaolin Warriors, dancers, a scavenger hunt, a cupcake war and more.

The celebration’s high point may be on Saturday, when the Golden Dragon Parade runs from 1-4 p.m. along Broadway and Hill Street. It will include more than 100 floats, vintage cars, dancers, bands and martial arts performers.

If you want to go, the Chinese New Year Festival is from noon to 8pm on Jan 28 and noon to 5pm on Jan 29th. The 113th Golden Dragon Parade is on Jan 28 from 1-4pm.

Source: LA Downtown News

Oh Grey's

2012-01-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

I have been an avid fan of Grey's Anatomy, in fact, I hardly ever miss an episode. I still love the show and sometimes I get a bit teary eyed with the storyline. Last week's episode was quite heartbreaking. It was about a boy who's been living with a brain tumor but his mother pretended that it was just some headache or backache. All this time the mother thought that she made the child believe that there is nothing wrong with him. But apparently, the child knows what is going on and that he has a brain tumor that is inoperable. It so heartbreaking to see what a mother would and can do to protect her child. I was chatting with a friend yesterday and I told her about last week's episode since she missed it and forgot to record it. She said that she lost track of the time and day because she was busy audio conferencing with her bosses from overseas. She tells me how convenient it was for them to talk to their bosses while they were on a business trip thousand miles from here. Awesome technology!

National Peanut Butter Day!

2012-01-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

Today is the National Peanut Butter Day! I didn't even know that there is such a day like that until today. Did you know that Peanut Butters are considered a healthy snack? You probably think of it as fattening or unhealthy, right?

Keep in mind that all-natural peanut butter without added ingredients is the healthy option -- many brands include added sugar. And, as with all good things, everything in moderation: a spoonful may be healthy, but a whole jar is certainly not. HuffingtonPost

Here are 5 reasons why Peanut Butter is healthy too:

It's Heart Healthy
Yes, peanut butter has saturated fat and some sodium, but that doesn't automatically disqualify it as a good-for-you treat. As nutrition expert Dr. Walter C. Willett wrote in the Havard Heart Letter, one serving of peanut butter (about two tablespoons) contains 3.3 grams of saturated fat, but a whopping 12.3 grams of unsaturated fat. That ratio of about 80 percent unsaturated fat is akin to olive oil, a known heart booster. Explained Willet:

The body's response to saturated fat in food is to increase the amounts of both harmful LDL and protective HDL in circulation. In moderation, some saturated fat is okay. Eating a lot of it, though, promotes artery-clogging atherosclerosis, the process that underlies most cardiovascular disease. In contrast, unsaturated fats, which make up the majority of the fat content in peanut butter, help reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.

It's High In Potassium, The 'Good' Salt
A high-sodium diet is associated with high blood pressure, stroke and a host of other conditions, but a high-potassium diet can actually reduce risk of heart disease and improve health. One 2010 study even found that eating just 4.7 grams of potassium had the same health benefit as cutting out 4 grams of sodium. (Of course eating enough peanut butter to reach 4.7 grams of potassium would be excessive, but try combining it with a banana, for a double punch.)

With about 200 milligrams of potassium, peanut butter is a good source of the salt that also helps stave off arthritis, cancer, digestive disorders, and infertility.

It Keeps You Full To Prevent Weight Gain
Peanut butter is definitely a rich food, but it can help keep you full for longer. In one study, adults who snacked on peanuts and peanut butter reported feeling fuller than those who chose lighter fare like rice cakes and pickles.

And in an unrelated study published in Obesityof nearly 9,000 Spanish men and women, those who incorporated nuts into their diets at least twice a week were 31 percent less likely to gain weight than a control group.

It's A Cheap Source of Good Calories
At about 30 cents per serving, peanut butter is an affordable source of good quality calories -- containing fiber, protein, potassium, unsaturated fat, folate, vitamin E, magnesium and resveratrol. That's a lot better than other affordable calorie sources, like fast food value meals.

It Could Keep You Sharp

Peanut butter has about 4.3 milligrams of niacin per two-tablespoon serving -- an important nutrient that plays a protective role in preventing cognitive decline. A study of 3,000 men over the age of 65 in Chicago found that those who consumed 22 milligrams of niacin per day were 70 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's than their peers who consumed just 13 milligrams.

SOURCE: HUFFINGTONPOST

This is another breakfast option for the husband and myself. :)

Chores. Done.

2012-01-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

It's an unusual Monday for me. I did all my Monday chores yesterday - cleaning and laundry. It feels weird but I'm glad I did it yesterday since it has been raining all morning and it definitely is bed weather today. I just hope that my husband is home right now so we can watch a movie and cuddle in bed during this kind of weather. But despite having my chores done (thanks to the help of my husband yesterday), I got a phone call just now from an uncle asking me to look for filtered cigars online and order him some. He's not much of a techie like me that's why he's relying on me to do this "chore." So much for my chores being done today. :)

Scrap Freebie Alert: Have A Hoppy Birthday from Lilypad

2012-01-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Just in case you guys didn't know about this freebie from The Lilypad, now is the time to head on to their Facebook account and LIKE their page. This is a FB FAN EXCLUSIVE.

LINK

Birthday Gift

2012-01-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

The husband and I attended a children's party over the weekend and we have new invitation for another children's party next weekend. Parties everywhere. Everyone we know already have kids so we are used to attending children parties at our age. My only biggest problem when attending a children's party is finding the right gift. I know you would probably say that kids are the easiest to buy gifts for but what I really want is to give them what they will enjoy and like. Not just give them something they wouldn't even notice after opening the present just for the sake of giving them something. I overheard the celebrant to our next party that he wanted a spinabolo for his birthday next week. I have no clue what he was talking about so as soon as I got home, I went online and search what that is. It made my life a whole lot easier. I don't have to think about what to give him for his birthday. Spinabolo it is!

Web MD Baby

2012-01-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

Mommies! There's a new app by Web MD called Web MD Baby and it's free!

Source: ConsumerReports.org

Detailed information about the app:

WebMD Baby is a medical reference app for your little one that allows you to track your baby's life from the get-go. More important, it contains all of the medical research from the reputable online medical reference WebMD.

With this app, you can add each child in your family and track them separately. You can keep a journal for each child and use your device's camera to capture photo and video memories of milestone moments. You can't print these memories out into a physical baby book, but you can post them to Facebook or send them via e-mail.

There is also a growth chart and a feeding, sleeping, and diaper-changing log to help you keep track of baby's basic functions in the very beginning—which can be helpful when the doctor asks how many times the baby has peed in the first 48 hours. Sleepy new parents can lose track of this easily, but the information is important as an indicator that the baby's organs are functioning properly.

Source.

Work and Play

2012-01-17T13:48:00.000-08:00

The husband took over our work station yesterday editing his mountain bike videos from his Sunday ride at San Juan Capistrano. Since I use our desktop more often now that we switched - he gets the laptop while I get to work on our work station, I found myself tinkering with my cellphone and watch some shows at the same time. Last night, it occurred to me that it would have been nice to have a jeux ps3 so I can play while the husband is busy editing his videos. That way I wouldn't find myself bored to death with my cellphone and some boring TV shows that I normally don't watch.

How to Lose Weight All Day Long

2012-01-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Day of Eating

Drop Around The Clock! Follow this hour-by-hour slim-down schedule to control hunger hormones, banish cravings, and get trim and toned--fast!

6 TO 8 AM: GET MOVING.
Within a half hour of rising and before you eat breakfast, do 20 minutes of cardio. Research has found that exercising before breakfast may help you burn fat more efficiently. If you can get outside, even better. Early morning sunlight helps your body naturally reset itself to a healthier sleep/wake cycle (regular indoor lights don't have the same effect).

6:55 TO 8:55 AM: DRINK UP.
Before every meal, drink two 8-ounce glasses of water. Research shows that people who drank this amount lost 5 pounds more than nonguzzlers.

7 TO 9 AM: EAT BREAKFAST.
The alarm clock also wakes up ghrelin, the "feed me" hormone made in your stomach. Ignore ghrelin and your body will produce even more, eventually making you ravenous. To suppress ghrelin's effect, eat a mix of complex carbs and protein, such as eggs and whole grain toast, within an hour of waking.

10 TO 11 AM: MUNCH MIDMORNING.
Ghrelin begins to rise again a couple of hours before lunch. It turns off when you chow down, particularly on carbs and protein, so have a small combo snack, like blueberries and Greek-style yogurt.

12 TO 1 PM: HAVE YOUR MIDDAY MEAL.

Galanin, another hunger hormone that makes you crave fat, rises around lunchtime. However, dietary fat causes you to produce more galanin, which then tells you to eat more fat. Instead, fill up with complex carbs and protein, such as chicken-vegetable soup or black bean chili.

2 TO 3 PM: TAKE A NAP.
Instead of hitting the vending machines, find a quiet place to grab a few Zzzs. (Hint: Your parked car is the perfect impromptu sleep pod!) Just set an alarm--15 to 20 minutes will energize your body without affecting your ability to sleep at night.

3:30 PM: GET BUZZED.
Need a boost? This is your last chance to have a cup of joe. Drinking coffee after 4 PM disturbs circadian rhythms and can keep you from falling asleep at night.

4 TO 8 PM: TRIM AND TONE.
Now's the time to do your strength training, plus any additional cardio. This is when your body temperature is highest, so you're primed for peak performance. In one study, subjects who worked out in the late afternoon or early evening built 22% more muscle than morning exercisers.

5 TO 7 PM: TIME TO DINE.
To ensure you don't wake up hungry in the middle of the night, add a serving of healthy fats, such as flaxseed or fish oil, to your meal. If you're a wine drinker, pour a glass now. Drinking later can delay dream (REM) sleep, waking you frequently during the night.

9 TO PM: HAVE A PRESLEEP SNACK.
Enjoy a carb-based bedtime snack, such as a serving of low-fat frozen yogurt. Nighttime carbs create tryptophan, which helps your brain produce serotonin. This feel-good chemical triggers your body to make melatonin, the sleep hormone.

9 TO 10:30 PM: POWER DOWN.
Step away from digital devices, including the TV. They emit a blue spectrum of light that's even more disruptive to sleep than regular bulbs. Do something calming--read, take a bath--in dim light so you're ready to nod off when you hit the sheets.

9:30 TO 11 PM: GO TO SLEEP.
Crawl under the covers at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even on weekends. Having a regular sleep-and-wake schedule helps you fall asleep faster over time.

SOURCE.

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-17T13:12:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize that I have not written a post since the new year. 17 days have passed and next monday is Chinese New Year. I apologize for my tardiness. I got caught up with reality. It has been a wonderful but steady 2012 so far. Universe, please surprise me soon. I am waiting for some news since last December and I have yet to receive any word regarding that news. Hopefully this month or maybe early next month, but I hope it would take longer than 2 months. I will share it with all of you once I am guaranteed of that good news.

Yakiniku

2011-12-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely dinner with our friends the other night at Gyu Kaku. We have been there a few times and enjoyed it every single time.

While enjoying our Yakiniku dinner, we talked about the Holidays, babies, and life in general. Our friend - the other couple are expecting their first child in early January. They are both excited on the arrival of their baby boy.

The fire alarm went off in the middle of dinner (not sure if it was in the restaurant or in the mall), so we had to wait for it to be turned off so we can open our grill and start cooking (and eating) again. During that short break, our friend mentioned that his aunt is currently looking for pool fences for their newly renovated swimming pool. He asked us to help him look for a nice pool fence online so he can recommend it to his auntie.

CameraTrace

2011-12-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

I saw this article at LifeHacker. I want to share it with every you guys.

Photo credit: Life Hacker

CameraTrace Finds Your Stolen Camera by Monitoring Photos Shared Online. Source

"CameraTrace can also help you recover your lost or stolen camera, as well as find people using your photos without permission."

"The $10 fee for CameraTrace includes a lost and found tag as well, so in case your camera is just lost rather than stolen, a good samaritan can return the camera to you."

"One final benefit for professional photographers is copyright protection: The image monitoring service shows you where your photos are being used, perhaps without permission."

Read the full article, here.

S'mores

2011-12-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful and happy Christmas with your family!

I had a really nice Christmas despite it being quiet for the most part. It was spent with my dearest husband, though I miss my family a lot during this time of the year.

The husband and I also had a post-Christmas dinner with our friends, Arvin and Jill at Gyu-Kaku. Fun times with the expecting parents.

Here's our dessert for the night. S'mores!

Roasting our marshmallows first!

It felt like we were on a camping trip. Ha ha. Fun times! :)

Cinderella's Castle

2011-12-28T10:55:00.001-08:00

Post contributed by Leonard Phelps

We recently made a trip to Disney World for a few days. Every day we used our wireless intenret Orlando connection in our hotel room to visit discount websites. There are websites that service Disney World and surrounding hotels and parks ( Sea World and Universal Studios) like Groupon does. We found great rates for our park passes. We also got a really good deal and ended up staying three nights at a hotel in the Disney World park. The kids had a great time. They rode all of the rides and we visited all the parks. Their favorite park was definitely the Magic Kingdom. That was always my favorite when I was a kid. There is just so much to do and so much fun to be had. We got some really great family pictures too. My favorite part of the entire visit is when I took the girls to Cinderella’s Castle and they had breakfast with Cinderella and the cast. We got some great pictures and the girls absolutely loved it.

Food Should Taste Good

2011-12-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered a new favorite "healthy" snack (friend's suggestion, thank you!). I love organic and healthy foods - I keep trying new things until I can list down all my favorite ones. I have enjoyed a few healthy snacks especially soy chips but this is my second favorite. I will definitely try out other flavors but will definitely get the multigrain as well.

So if you want a guilt-free snack, you should definitely try this one.

Baby blues

2011-12-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

I found out over Facebook today that our friend's sister gave birth this morning. We attended her baby shower last month. I was a bit surprised because she was scheduled to give birth in January. I guess the baby decided to come out early and spend Christmas with his mom and dad. Such a wonderful blessing and gift for the new parents. (I'll get there soon.) Another friend of ours is due in January. They told me last week when we went out for lunch that I was chosen as one of the god mother. My husband and I knew that it would be either one of us. I am happy and privileged to be one since we know the couple even before they were married and they are our good friends. So now, I have to start looking for the right gift for the Christening. I hope to find 2012 babies r us coupons that I can use to buy my present for their baby boy soon.

LA Kings 5K Run

2011-12-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

Who wants to join?

The husband told me about this over the phone and showed me the website later that evening. One of his mountain bike buddy posted this on Facebook and is inviting everyone to join. My husband asked me if I want to join. I, of course, said yes. I have yet to register though. I'll think about it for a few days but will let you all know if I'll be joining or not. It is for a good cause (even though it is $40 if you join). We are also planning on running at the Pasadena Marathon next year, that is a definite yes for us. My husband who is an avid mountain biker will be joining me to run. We are hoping for a more healthier 2012! :)

House Hunting

2011-12-09T15:56:00.001-08:00

No, we are not house hunting yet, but it's definitely in our future. It will come in the right time, I suppose. Right now, we are happily settled but of course, we would love to have a place of our own. Something we can call "ours" and we can walk around in our boxer shorts and lounge in the couch and watch blu ray movies all day long. That would be such a perfect lazy Saturday for us. My husband would like to have his own garage/storage where he can put all his tools and knick knacks of bike parts, car parts, etc. He wants a space where he can work on his mountain bike during his spare time. By the way, this reminds me that I have to look for some abrasives for my dad's metal project. He called me up yesterday to tell me about this and asked me to look for it online so we can order it before the holidays. Time to look for some now.

Chris Paul off to Hollywood... but WAIT!

2011-12-09T12:07:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, NBA fans were amused and shocked to see the supposedly "big trade deal" which includes Chris Paul and Lakers' Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. My husband told me about this after seeing it on Yahoo Sports. I was a bit skeptical at first - I didn't want to see Odom or Gasol leave the Lakers. There are other players, in my opinion, that I think should be traded off and not those two. But of course, who am I to tell them that. LOL Although right now, the deal is off. NBA didn't approve of it since many of the other owners are against it and protesting.

All I care about now is that the Lakers get Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum. Hehe! FYI: this is my own opinion only. :P

Christmas Songs

2011-12-08T11:24:00.001-08:00

I'm feeling the Christmas spirit already. It's officially 17 days to go until Christmas. I can't believe it's almost here. Time flies so fast. I have been hearing a lot of Christmas songs in the radio and even inside Starbucks Coffeeshops. I also enjoy and miss hearing Christmas carols. When I was growing up, I participated in Christmas plays and caroling. Now, I'm actually wishing I have the talent so I can play a Gibson Les Paul. I really wish my parents enrolled me in guitar lessons when I was younger.

TOMS is giving in the Philippines

2011-12-06T11:31:00.001-08:00

I got an email from TOMS yesterday about "giving in the Philippines." They are extending their "one for one" campaign there. Such a nice gesture and idea. Here's a video from the email which you can also watch in their Youtube channel and Toms website.

Thank You Mommy Santa

2011-12-01T12:07:00.001-08:00

I joined the annual Twitter/Instragram secret santa for the first time. I was a bit hesitant at first because I probably only know half of them and have yet to interact with the others (via Instagram or Twitter). I'm so glad I joined. It was a great opportunity to meet new friends and at the same time receive surprise gifts. I mean, we have our own little wish lists but it's up to our mommy to decide.

I was out all day yesterday for some errands and an annual eye appointment. When the husband and I got home, I saw a box by our bedroom. My husband checked to see who it was and said "it's for you." I honestly couldn't remember that I bought something for that particular store. My husband then said "maybe you bought something but forgot about it." So when I opened it, I was so excited to see that it was from my secret mommy.

Thank you so much, mommy santa! :)

Speaking of gifts, my husband reminded me that we need to buy a gift for their annual exchange gift at work. They also wrote their wishes on a piece of paper and told me that his secret santa would like to get the new Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 video game. I have the task to browse online for deals on this particular game so we can buy it before their Christmas party on December 15th.

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

2011-12-01T11:52:00.001-08:00

Christmas!

I saw these Poinsettia and it reminded me of how my mom loves buying these around Christmas time. It really does sets the mood for the most wonderful time of the year. I love them! I got so excited when I saw these and I had to take a picture of how lovely they are.

Christmas tradition

In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuitlaxochitl (from cuitlatl, residue, and xochitl, flower) meaning "flower that grows in residues or soil." The Aztecs used the plant to produce red dye and as an antipyretic medication.^[5] Today it is known in Mexico and Guatemala as "Noche Buena", meaning Christmas Eve. In Spain it is known as "Flor de Pascua", meaning "Easter flower". In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes".

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.^[6] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.^[7] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.^[8]

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations^[1] in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day. SOURCE,

Studying Forever

2011-11-22T10:48:00.001-08:00

It seems like I have been studying forever. I just recently passed a very important exam, in which I couldn't be more happier and prouder. I really didn't expect much from that exam but I went in and tried my best anyway. Thanks for my husband's constant encouragement, I conquered my fears and took the exam with confidence. Although waiting for the result was the longest wait in my life. The results came out after 5 weeks. It almost seemed like forever to me. But that chapter is now closed although I still cherish the excitement I felt when I found out I passed. Now, I am studying yet again for another exam. I am grateful for friends who let me borrow their books and reviewers, but the OCD in me wants to have my own set of notes too. I'm not too comfortable studying off someone else's notes since I can't scribble or write my own notes on them. That's why, I have been using quite a lot of Ink Cartridges for my notes - I am photocopying and printing the important notes I think I need for my upcoming exam. Wish me luck, guys!

Out With the Old

2011-11-22T10:19:00.001-08:00

A friend who lives in Houston got engaged on 11-11-11. It was quite memorable how she described it and I guess she will never ever forget about that date. What a way to choose a really special day. I am beyond happy for her. I know she has been waiting for this day to come. She now tells me that her real problem is that how she'll get rid of all her stuff, unwanted belongings now that they will be sharing a place after they get married. She is thinking of this as early as now because she has quite a lot of "junk" to get rid off, she'll definitely need a service from Sugar Land junk removal that can help her clean up and keep only those she thinks are essential for her upcoming status change. I could relate with her situation since I, too, needed to decide which things to keep and which to dispose off since I traveled a few hundred miles to be with my husband permanently. This is such a difficult time but with the help of junk removal services, she won't have much of a problem with everything else.

His and Her

2011-11-18T10:36:00.001-08:00

While I was out running my 10k event at the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot last Sunday, my husband and his mountain bike buddies are attended the CORBA Fat Tire Fest in Malibu. We were doing the things we enjoy the most - running for me, and mountain biking for the husband. My event finished earlier than his so I was able to rest a bit while waiting for him to come home. He texted me saying that he won on the raffle - a t-shirt, baseball cap and some nice looking sunglasses for mountain biking. He also said that he has lots of stories for me and that he needs a video editing software for the videos he took with his GoPro while riding. In fact, my husband has a point. We really do need a nice video editing software not just for his mountain biking videos but also for our travel videos, hiking or later on, baby videos. I think we ought to invest in this since we both love taking videos and pictures. We love to document everything. I have to tell him about the software I saw while browsing online. It looks very promising, as it has high speed and HD editing capabilities. I like the sound of that.

High School

2011-11-17T11:00:00.001-08:00

Thank goodness for social websites like Facebook that I am still in contact with my high school friends even though we all lived in different countries now. It's nice to see their whereabouts and what is going on with their lives. I think most of them are successful professionals now. Some are married while others are still finding that special someone. While I was chatting with one of my closest friend in high school, we talked about our class rings and I suddenly wondered what happened to mine. It must be at my parent's house. I have to remember to look for it when I visit them. Although I can still recall what my ring looks like, the new rings these days are far better looking that the ones 10 or so years ago.

37 days before Christmas

2011-11-17T10:55:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here! Only 37 days to go before my favorite time of the year. Sad to say though that I won't be able to spend Christmas with my parents, sister and nieces. Although I have my husband and in-laws with me here to spend Christmas with. It would be nice if we can all celebrate it together in one place. Ahh.. the pain of living away from your family. Nonetheless, I am excited for Christmas. I guess my parents really made Christmas a very special time for my sister and I when we were growing up - the excitement, the food and the laughter and joyous time together as a family. I've loved every minute of it.

Universal City Walk's Christmas Tree

Looking forward to this wonderful time of the year. :)

Sprucing up an old bedside table as a dog bed

2011-11-15T12:58:00.001-08:00

Guest post written by Alexa Sommers

There's nothing that I love more than a good old DIY project. It's just been so much fun working on projects over the years for my home. Then I think that I enjoy them even more in my home because I made them.

That's what I thought about when I spotted this old bedside table at a yard sale one Saturday morning. It was in decent shape. It just was missing a drawer, so I talked the seller down to five bucks! I used my wireless internet Honolulu to look up some sprucing up ideas for it and I decided on making it into a little cubby hole as a dog bed for my puppy. He always wants to snuggle up by the foot of my bed, so I thought it was perfect for him.

He really loves his DIY dog bed! Plus, his little bed also serves as a little night stand for me. It's the perfect place for my lamp and current read to rest while I'm resting. I think that itÕs quite the hit with him!

Cold Nights

2011-11-11T14:42:00.001-08:00

It has been evident now that winter is coming soon. For the past week, we have been experiencing the cold weather due to rain or storm. That will be the case this weekend. We are expected to have a good amount of rain this weekend. It's not something I am too fond of, although rainy days are sometimes fun because you can just stay in bed all day and stay warm. In preparation for the cooler days and nights, a friend of mine asked me to go shopping tomorrow, Saturday for plus size coats that she can comfortably wear for winter. I told her she should look online first and maybe she'll find a much cheaper one but looks fashionable and has good quality. While browsing online, I found a nice one that I like and I will definitely show this to my friend. Maybe we can both buy it online. I love how stylish this jacket is.

I've never own a military jacket so this is something new for me. This jacket reminds me of Michael Jackson on his Thriller video.

I Thee Wed

2011-11-11T12:33:00.001-08:00

Today is 11-11-11. Two classmates from Pharmacy school are tying the knot today. They decided to do it on this historic 11-11-11 day. I guess, people consider today a lucky day and it's definitely a date when you have no excuse to forget about your anniversary or wedding date. Kind of a clever idea, if you ask me. Guys wouldn't have an excuse that they have too many numbers or dates to memorize. Anyway, the bride told me about their celtic jewelry when she sent me the invitation. I told her I was not familiar with it so she showed me this website that has all the most gorgeous celtic jewelries. I personally like their Celtic Knot Collection. I now know what to recommend to friends who are in search of wedding rings. This is included in the collection I mentioned earlier. Perfect for those who can't decide whether to get a white or yellow gold ring and for those who love both!

Picking out a wedding ring is one of the decisions where you have to really think about it because you'll be wearing it everyday for a lifetime.

Stand Up

2011-11-11T12:03:00.001-08:00

I spoke to my dearest mom yesterday. She told me that my cousin is getting married that day and my twin nieces are flower girls. I can't wait to see their pictures. I asked her how everyone, including my grandmother is doing. She said everyone was great and happy to be attending my 32-year-old cousin's wedding. It's about time he tied the knot. My mom then mentioned that my aunt from Germany was there with her husband and she was telling my mom that she has been having problems with the veins in her legs. My mom knows that I am aware of treatments regarding my aunt's issue and that I, too, have been avoiding this to happen to me since my work includes standing all day - roughly 8 hours. I told her about sclerotherapy as the treatment that my aunt should really consider. I emailed her this website I saw that explains the treatment options and what the different procedures are about. This will be very good for my aunt, at least she will have an idea of what she can do to resolve her problem.

To be a Nurse

2011-11-09T17:57:00.001-08:00

None of my immediate family members are nurses' or in the medical field except me, the husband and my sister-in-law. The husband and I are in the Pharmacy field. To become a nurse is my sister-in-law's goal this year. She's already a registered nurse in the Philippines but she is on her way to becoming one here in the United States. All she needs to do is pass her NCLEX exam. I'm sure those of you familiar with all the nursing examinations know about it. After passing, she can then apply for her license here in the state of California. Unlike in Pharmacy, it is quite difficult. There are lots of requirements and examinations that needed to be done before legally becoming a licensed Pharmacist, but that is a different story there and deserves a different post.

My sister-in-law is studying very hard for her upcoming exam so she can proudly wear those nursing pins that I see being worn by nurses' on duty.

After all, becoming a nurse is already quite an achievement that you should be proud of.

Fresh Air

2011-11-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

It's mid week. Wednesday.

I needed some fresh air today. I have been stressed out lately because of some personal things that I can't share with everyone. On a lighter note, I am just working so hard to finish the other exam I need to pass and I have such a wonderful, loving husband. Can I just say that my husband rocks? :) He's the best! We, the husband and I have been showered with some answered prayers the last week or so. I passed an exam which I had been anticipating and nervously waiting for the result for almost 5 or 6 weeks. Thank you Lord. Deo Gratias!

Hope your week is going great. :) TFL.

Answer This

2011-11-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has been bugging me about her recent job assignment. She knows that I have been online lately for some other personal tasks for an upcoming exam. I told her to email me about the task or message me when we are both online so she can tell me what the task is about. It took her a few days to do so. She said that she was swamped with too many paper works that needed to be done before the end of the month. She just emailed me this morning regarding the favor she has been asking me about. Apparently, her task is to create an online questionnaire for product marketing or product research. She said she doesn't know where to start. She has been looking online for tips and help but couldn't decide on how to do it. She wants to impress her boss so she really wants to make this as presentable as possible.

While browsing for a gift for my secret santa, I came across a tool for online surveys that even has templates for various specific survey topics. I think this is what my friend is looking for. It will save her all the time and energy to make a really nice online questionnaire that will make her boss happy and pleased.

Listen

2011-11-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

I have been telling my uncle to quit smoking for the longest time. But he seem to not get my message or he just pretends that he is listening to my endless warning about smoking. I really don't know what else to tell him now. I just don't want him to regret this when he gets sick from it. We all know the health hazards of smoking especially if you have been a chain smoker for years, like my uncle. He said he has tried quitting before but couldn't do it. His body is looking for the cigarette if he doesn't smoke. Well, I really don't know if it was really his body looking for it. It probably is a mind thing. I actually want to suggest an electronic cigarette company to him and maybe instead of the regular cigarettes, he can try the newest option available - the e-cigarettes. He can still enjoy smoking without tar, ashes and it doesn't have the smell that regular cigarettes have. At least, that's a big difference. He can probably give that a try for now.

On Aging

2011-11-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of few facial products but I just tend to use one brand at a time. I have found the 2 perfect brands for my skin. I love how they make my skin soft and clear. I learned to moisturize in the mid 20's. I know I should have started in my early 20's but I guess I was too busy with other personal stuff like buying designer purses, shoes and clothes. That's quite typical with young adults who just started earning their own money - you buy all the things you want. But now that I'm in my late 20's, I am more concerned on taking care of my skin and my looks. I hardly ever wear make up so I guess that's a plus for me. The only problem I have is sleeping early. I have my days when I would sleep easily before 11pm and there are days when I am awake at 2 am. I really have to establish a strict sleeping pattern sooner or later. I do all the necessary things to help you look younger. I religiously wash my face and moisturize twice a day. A friend suggested I try Red Light Therapy for facial rejuvenation. I kind of like the idea of that. I told her to tell me more about it over coffee this weekend. I'm excited!

Pacman

2011-11-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

I just saw a picture of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on the internet. He is scheduled to appear at Jimmy Kimmel Live today. While telling my husband about it, he immediately jumped and he said that I reminded him of something. When I mentioned "Pacman," all that registered to him was the old school Pacman arcade machine that we all used to love - the husband and I did! The Pacman video game was such a hit when we were growing up. I remember seeing it at the arcade place in the mall and everyone patiently took turns to use the machine. Back then, I wished and begged my parents if we can have our own arcade machine at home. They never really answered me, but I knew the answer was no. Just imagine how exciting it would be to have an arcade machine at the comforts of your home. There's no need to go to the mall or even wait for your turn. But it never happened. Now that my husband and I are adults, we still dream of owning an arcade machine at home. You're never too old for arcade games!

The Ellen DeGeneres Show's Amy and her mom's hair-raising haunted house tour

2011-11-03T14:49:00.001-07:00

Are you having a bad day? Take a minute to watch this video. It sure will make you laugh. I guarantee you!

Saints and Work

2011-11-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today is All Saint's Day. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I attended mass this afternoon to celebrate All Saint's Day as it is a holy day of obligation. Today is also my daddy's birthday so it is quite fitting for me to whisper a prayer for him and for all our loved ones who have gone before us because tomorrow is All Soul's Day.

When I woke up this morning, I saw my mother-in-law already doing some work on her computer. She is helping out with some accounting matters. She is an excellent accountant and has been for the past 20-30 years, I believe. All I know is that she uses excel and she asked my husband to check her computer because there was a file attached to an email sent to her but couldn't open it. She then mentioned that she is looking for Microsoft Excel Training programs that she can do online, or at home. She wants to sharpen her skills with microsoft excel since this is one of the computer program she uses most with accounting. She probably knows better than I am. I know basic excel and that's about it. Maybe I ought to look for a class that can teach me more about this program too.

Shower and Scrubs

2011-11-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

My husband and I attended a baby shower last weekend and we are again invited to another one this November. Babies everywhere, I tell you. I am so happy for our friends though. Hopefully, my husband and I will have our little bundle of joy soon, maybe sometime next year?

So, when we arrived at the baby shower they were already finished with the games. I think they were on the last game already. We were late because we had to do few errands before going to the party. The party still turned out to be fun despite the fact that we didn't get to see much of the games. I'm sure it would have been fun and hilarious. I love baby shower games since most of the guys are included in the party games too. Since the games were already over by the time we finished eating. My friend who is a nurse and I talked about different things such as the website http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/ she saw about nursing scrubs. She wanted me to look at the website to see the scrubs. Since I have my smartphone with me, I was able to see the website right there and then. I personally think that they have nice design and good quality scrubs. From the picture itself, the scrubs especially the all cotton scrubs looked like they are comfortable to wear and will last awhile.

Baby Shower

2011-10-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

My husband and I attended a baby shower yesterday. I got this really cute 'baby' bookmark souvenir from the party.

Isn't it cute? Apart from it being cute, I actually would get to use it since I enjoy reading books. One friend who's baby shower is coming up soon texted me this morning asking me for help about their party souvenirs. She mentioned that her husband suggested challenge coins which I think would be a great idea. It will be quite unique and one of a kind than those usual baby shower souvenirs. Their main concern now is how much it would cost. They're actually doing the budget for the party since we all know that throwing a party can really hurt one's pocket.

Advice for Myself

2011-10-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

I have been running for quite awhile now as a hobby, outlet to stress, relaxing and fun. I used to run with my dad, then my husband before he got into mountain biking. So now, it's just me, myself and I. It would be so nice to have a training coach or something that can guide me to improve my pace and PR. I read this at Competitor.com and I want to share it with you all. Maybe this is what I should do next time.

Introduce track workouts into your training schedule only after strides have become part of your regular routine and you’ve had some fun with a few fartlek workouts. When setting out to do a track workout, warm up with a mile or two of easy jogging and then perform a set of four to six strides in order to get your fast-twitch muscle fibers ready to do some work. As for the workout itself, aim for two to three miles’ worth of intervals ranging from 200 meters (1/2 a lap of the track) to one mile (four laps) and run them at your goal 5K race pace or even a few seconds per mile faster. For recovery, jog or walk for half the duration of the faster interval before starting the next one.

So, for example, if your goal race pace for 5K is 8:00 per mile, a sample track workout would be to run one mile at your goal pace of 8:00 and follow that that with 4:00 of slow jogging or walking for recovery. Then run 2 x 800 meters at 3:55, or 10 seconds per mile faster than your goal race pace, and follow each of those intervals with about 2:00 of walking or jogging. Finish fast with 2 x 400 meters in 1:55 with about a minute recovery in between and cool down with a mile or two of jogging afterward. You should finish the workout feeling pleasantly tired and not absolutely annihilated.

Track workouts are very demanding on the body, so be sure to treat them with the respect they deserve – performing them once a week or even every other week is plenty, especially if you’re racing regularly. And as with any other type of hard session, recovery is key, so be sure to run easy or rest in the days following a track workout.

Source.

Folks' New Venture

2011-10-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

It's nice talking to my parents now that I am an adult. We had our share of differences when I was growing up but I've always been obedient, ~~at times~~ and respectful of them. They made sure to instill in us the good values and manners that we'll appreciate later on in life. Our conversations now are just random thoughts of what is going on in their neck of the woods. I hate being away from them but that's a whole different story. Right now, my folks' are keeping themselves busy with their different business ventures. My dad who is an awesome chef would like to have a restaurant of his own someday. They are doing the baby steps for now. I'm really happy for them. I told them that if they have their own restaurant, they'll need to some kind of Restaurant System like the one I saw online. I must email them this picture later.

Whatever business venture they choose, I'll always support them 100%. Love you guys!

History of Rap 3

2011-10-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of the History of Rap by Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. Well, they did it again. Have fun! :)

Keeping Up With My Mountain Biker

2011-10-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sundays are the best time of the week for me and my husband. We usually have our little "me" time on Sunday morning. I go for a run while the husband goes mountain biking with his fellow mountain bikers. I try to keep up with his active lifestyle - he mountain bikes 2-3 times a week. He'll be so happy if he can do three rides in a week. I, on the other hand, workout on most days of the week. Last week, I was able to workout for 5 days. I used to go jogging or running three times a week but I went on some sort of hiatus during the summer months. I just couldn't bear the summer heat even at 5 or 6 in the evening and when I try to do it the morning, I failed at waking up before 7 or just before the sun comes out. It was eventually too hot even in the early hours of the morning. But now that the cooler weather is here, I've been slowly but surely going back to running a few times a week as possible.

While doing this post, my husband is still out in Mt. Pinos and I'm almost sure that he is having the grandest time. Yesterday, I was unable to go for a run because I had an appointment somewhere but my husband went for a ride after dropping me off. He then picked me up after 4 hours. He was telling me all sorts of stories in the car. He mentioned that there was a guy who had a flat tire while riding his mountain bike. He offered to lend the guy his tools but I guess he didn't know how to change the tire on his mountain bike. Maybe he needed the Haynes Repair Manuals, particularly the Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Service Manual Haynes, in case these unexpected events happen again.

Chi Town

2011-10-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

A friend iMessaged me this morning while she was waiting for her flight at Los Angeles Airport. She is bound for Chi town or Chicago for a business trip. I was telling her that she should have told me about her trip so I could tag along and we can do some side trips here and there after "work" hours. I don't think she'll be working for 24 hours anyway. We can always do sight seeings or food trips after her work and then maybe stay a couple days later so we can explore the windy city. I have heard so many things to see and places to eat here so I really want to visit this city someday. But it's too late to do all of that now since she is already at the airport waiting for boarding. Maybe my husband and I can take a short trip there one of these days. Chicago has been on our travel list ever since I first made that list on my moleskine. We'll get there... one of these days.

My friends last iMessage before take off, "Girl, can you send me the number for a Chicago Airport Shuttle Service so I can call them once I land? You can look it up online for me. Thanks. See you in a few days." Thank goodness for the internet. I was able to find her a decent airport shuttle service. Better yet, I've placed a reservation for her via their website. Good stuff.

Beyonce’s 2,200 square foot nursery

2011-10-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

As reported by Baby Center and US Magazine,

Expecting their first child – rumored to be a girl! – in February, Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z are busy planning the perfect nursery for the day they bring their little one home to their luxury apartment in New York’s trendy Tribeca neighborhood. And while it’s sure to be gorgeous, “cozy” isn’t quite the word that comes to mind for the space, which US magazine reports is a whopping 2,200 square feet.

One lucky baby indeed! :)

Source.

Patient Care

2011-10-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with a friend about baby news last night. They were over-the-moon to share the good news with me (and to all their relatives and other friends) about their newest blessing from God. They had just moved into their new house so the timing is just about right for them. They were actually planning this but didn't quite expect it to come sooner than they had anticipated. Nonetheless, they embraced it with joy and excitement. Our conversation the shifted to electronic medical records software that her co-workers are suggesting they use at work. She asked me if I have heard of it before. I told her "no" but will research about it now as we chatted. I found out it was a physical therapy billing software that can make their lives a little easier. I mean in terms of rejected claims or claims they had to alter or re-bill their patients corresponding insurance companies. I guess her co-workers are encouraging their management to lighten their workloads in terms of billing and paper work tasks. It makes sense. These licensed physical therapist would like to concentrate more on patient care which is most important.

Fight for what is right

2011-10-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

I recall the story my friend told me a few months ago. They received some compensation from his work regarding the issue about his co-worker suing the company for fair over time pay. I didn't know that there were laws on overtime until his co-worker's story. I had to search for these laws on the internet so I can educate myself just in case - for work purposes. Now I know that there are fair labor standards act that employers and companies need to follow. I know that there are people out there who experience unfair overtime pays or hours claims in which their companies are denying or decide not to do anything about their wrong doing. My suggestion to those people is that they should fight for what is right for them. They shouldn't just tolerate these behaviors. They should also know that there are agencies or companies who can help them fight for their rights, which is to receive fair pay for the hours they worked hard for. I hope that with the help of these companies, people will have the courage to stand up for themselves.

Remove Tough, Greasy Stains from Clothing with Coca Cola

2011-10-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting article at Lifehacker.com.

Here it goes...

If you've got some greasy, difficult stains on your clothing, it turns out Coca Cola might be able to solve the problem. Clever list site Listverse suggests that adding a little to your wash will make the difference:

Grease stains are famously difficult to remove from clothing and stain removers can be very expensive. Here is a cheap solution: empty a can of coke into your wash along with the usual detergent and run it through a normal cycle. This is also quite effective for removing blood and it helps to deodorize smelly clothes.

The reason it can break up stains is thanks to the carbonic and phosphoric acid inside. Most people hear about this ingredient and wonder how Coca Cola is safe to drink, but as Snopes details the amounts inside are too small to have any impact on your tough stomach—just your dirty laundry. While you might not want to drink a ton of Coca Cola thanks to the (real or artificial) sugar and sodium content, you and your soon-to-be clean clothes will be just fine.

I have yet to try this. Maybe I'll try it one day. But can anyone attest that this indeed works?

Giving and Sharing

2011-10-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

It has been four years since my loving father-in-law passed away but until now we still receive mails from the organizations where he was constantly giving donations. There were a few of them - churches, children needing assistance in education, food for the homeless, etc. He was such a generous man. I think another reason for it was with taxes. I know for a fact that the wealthiest or the richest people usually build their own charitable foundations so that they don't get taxed for their big earnings. Now, you wonder why there are so many foundations funded by celebrities. It goes both ways - they are giving our or sharing their earning and at the same time they are benefiting from it. Just recently, I've heard of timeshare relief which is good for those who own timeshares. There were times when I wished we had those. I envy those who can just go and stay at a country club or some vacation spots without any hassle of finding a really nice hotel which some could be so expensive. But if you own a timeshare and don't really get to use to that often, there are ways where you can donate it so some people in need can benefit from it. Giving and sharing the blessings God has given us will indeed result in more and more blessings along the way.

Chrome is back

2011-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

I've been using Safari for quite sometime. Actually, I have been switching between Firefox, Safari and Chrome for the longest time but settled for Safari after the Mac OSx Lion update. But lately, I noticed that it was a bit slow or unresponsive at times. I don't know if it was due to Safari or my computer all together. So now I am trying Chrome again and so far I'm liking it. I hope it will continue to be fast. What web browser are you guys using?

Oh Greek

2011-10-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

I love to eat yogurts - frozen or not. I usually have a few on our fridge for snacking and just when I feel like eating one. I was quite happy with the regular fat free yogurts but now I'm loving the Greek yogurts out in the market now. They have 2x a much protein and of course, they are also fat free so that's another plus. I told my good friend about it. I even recommended that she try one. She said she would but right now she is looking for carhartt coveralls at dungarees.net for her beloved brother. She asked me to help her find the right one since she knows that I am online a lot.

As seen on Ellen: Sophia Grace and Rosie Go Shopping!

2011-10-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

After watching my previous post, here, this is the second part where the girls went on a shopping spree to ToysRus courtesy of Ellen and Nicki Minaj :)

Dreaming of Hawaii

2011-10-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night that my husband and I went on a vacation to Hawaii. It was such a good dream until I was awaken by a loud noise outside. I wish it wasn't just a dream. I've always been vocal about my interest in vacationing in Hawaii someday. My husband and I have been to Bahamas, Bermuda, Palawan, etc. but not Hawaii. It is definitely on our list. My husband was telling me that Hawaii is not too far from California so we'll definitely go there someday. I guess we just have to list our travel priorities before we start having children. We want to enjoy traveling and experiencing different things before we have a baby tagging along on our trips. It would probably be a different itinerary as opposed to our "happy-go-lucky, anywhere and do everything" itinerary. Apart from going to Hawaii for vacation, I bet it would be so nice to actually live there. I have been looking at Oahu real estate and found the perfect houses for my husband and I. Living on an island is probably more laid back than living in the city like Los Angeles or New York City. I think my husband would agree with me on this.

Fall is here

2011-10-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

Technically, the weather should be a little cooler now but we are having some heat wave spells here in Southern California for the past two weeks now. I'm actually looking forward to having cooler weather soon. I've had enough of summer already. I already cleaned our closet and took out our winter clothes. Aside from a few cardigans that I always have on my closet, I now have easy access to my jackets and sweaters. I'm ready for the cold weather. A friend on the other hand is dreading the colder weather. She said she is not that ready for it. This will be her first winter experience. You now understand why she isn't excited for winter to come. She said she still needs to go shopping for her and for her teenage daughter. I think she is waiting for the Thanksgiving sale so she can splurge on some winter essentials. She sais she needs to look for junior plus size clothing for her daughter. I told her I'll help her find a website online so she can show it to her daughter and she can start picking out what she wants so her mother would know what her preference are. I know there are websites that sells affordable yet stylish thermals, sweaters, jackets or shirts for layering.

Nicki Minaj Sings 'Super Bass' with Sophia Grace on Ellen

2011-10-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law showed me this video and these girls made me laugh. They made my day - the pretty much sums up how I felt after watching this video. They are so darn cute! Now, it's your turn to watch. Have fun!

Job Hunting

2011-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through jobs this afternoon. I was just checking to see what's available out there, just in case. I came across Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Jobs which I found quite interesting. It sounds like a really cool job. I'm almost sure that you have to go through rigorous curriculum to study and become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. From what I gathered, you have to be a dentist or a medical doctor to be this kind of surgeon since it's a specialist surgeon. I dreamed of becoming a doctor one day but I'm not so sure now if that would still happen. I did however pursue a career in the medical field. I guess that's how close I'll be to becoming a doctor.

Everything You Need to Know About iOS 5 in Seven Minutes

2011-10-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

For those who are skeptical or those who would like to know more about Apple's newest iOS5, here's a quick video posted on Lifehacker.com. Watch it here. It pretty much have everything you'll need to know about iOS5.

P.S. You'll have to watch the video directly form the link I posted.

iPhone 4S Launch, Oct. 14

2011-10-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's the day for Apple's iPhone 4S launch. Will you be lining up at Apple Retail Stores or at AT&T, Verizon or Sprint? I certainly would not be lining up. I don't think I would ever do that. With the iPad2, we (the husband and I) didn't line up for it. We opted to buy it online and wait for a few weeks since they were shipping it after 14 days or something like that. With the iPhone 4S, I pre-ordered online. Which right now, I think was the smartest thing to do although I have been reading at a forum that there are people who are having a stressful time with their pre-orders and then there are those ones who didn't experience any problems at all.

But as early as now, people in Japan are already camping outside Apple retail stores (as early as 9pm, the day before the launch).

I wouldn't be surprised to see people lining up outside Apple retail stores here in the US tonight. They would probably have that in the evening news or in the internet. Regardless if you pre-ordered or line up, I hope everyone will be happy tomorrow.

FYI: I heard Radio Shack is doing pre-orders now, along with Sams Club. You can also try Best Buy or Walmart.

Good luck!

Love Yourself

2011-10-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

I came across an article this morning that talks about shopping and in particular, plus size fashion. I'm quite pleased to know that they have a wonderful choices to choose from. It's actually not much of a difference with the regular size fashion. That is the exact same reason why people shouldn't be ashamed of their body regardless of their weight and size. I know it's sometimes easier said than done but we all should embrace and love what God has given us. Although if you want to be healthy and lose some weight especially if it affects your health negatively, you can do exercise and eat healthy. Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to starve yourself but rather it means that you have to eat in proportions and discipline yourself. But still, kudos to those who make an effort to bring the best and newest plus size fashion. It nice to see a company or designer who caters to everyone's needs and not just those skinny model sizes. I hope they keep it up and still serve as an inspiration to aspiring designers and clothing companies.

Thinking of Christmas

2011-10-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

My dad messaged me last night asking how I was and he sends his regards to my husband. It was nice hearing from my dad since he has been very busy the past few weeks with their new business venture. He reminded me that Christmas is almost here and that he wishes my husband and I can celebrate it in Manila with them. I was there last year and spending Christmas in Manila is a whole different story. Nothing beats spending Christmas and New Year's in Manila. After briefly talking about Christmas, I was reminded that I should really start making my Christmas list. I have to scout for nice gifts for my husband, family, godchildren. I have to start looking out for sales especially around Thanksgiving. But right now, I think I should take advantage of boys clothes clearance I saw online. This will be a nice opportunity to buy my godsons their Christmas gifts. It's never too early to shop for presents. I have quite a long list to fill. I'm thinking of buying the kids a shirt or two and then give them a book as their Christmas gifts. I'm all about educational stuff. They should all have enough toys already.

Text And Alert Tones Arrive In iOS 5

2011-10-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

This is first reported by AppAdvice.

Users with iOS 5 can now purchase text and alert tones directly from the iTunes store. While Apple has sold ringtones for a while now, this is the first time alert tones have become available.

Located on both the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad under Settings > Sounds > Buy More Tones, tones are available from within three main categories. These include Dialogue, Music and Sound Effects.

Once purchased, these tones are automatically installed within iOS. The new alert tones are $.99 vs. $1.29 for ringtones.

I have yet to try this new feature although I have been waiting for this to come. I am still waiting for my update to finish. Come on now, let's go!

Roses and Strawberries

2011-10-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

While waiting for my iOS5 to finish updating, I was asked by my husband's co-worker for some advice. He said "if you were in my place, what would you give for your wife's birthday?" I told him he should have asked my husband that, not me. He can probably give a better answer on a guys perspective. But I told him I'd still be happy to help him look for something so he can surprise his wife for her birthday. I suggested giving her flowers one day before her birthday and then surprising her with a dozen of hand-dipped strawberries. She'll definitely like that - I know I would!

Mountain Biker gets taken out by BUCK - CRAZY Footage

2011-10-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

My husband showed me this video last night and my jaw dropped after seeing what happened to the mountain biker. Poor guy. It must have been super scary.

Original Link.

4th Christmas

2011-10-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

This year will be my nieces' 4th Christmas. It's now exciting because they pretty much have a good idea of what Christmas day is all about. They now appreciate all the gifts and the excitement this day brings. I just realized that this year being their 4th Christmas, they really don't have their own Personalized Christmas stockings. How could we all forget? That's quite sad. I'll have to remind my mom about it and make sure I order one for them online before Christmas.

Excited for iCloud

2011-10-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

I'm just as excited to try iCloud along with the new iOS5 features but I guess I would have to wait for a few more minutes until my update has finished. I think I'll have to set up iCloud first before I can actually use it. I'll find out in a few minutes. I have so many updates today - a few on the desktop and gadgets. Happy Wednesday! :)

Off Limits

2011-10-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

The husband and I were watching one of our favorite show, Off Limits, on Travel Channel when I realized I had to tell him that our friend texted me earlier about them moving to a new house soon. He wanted my husband to know that they have finally settled everything and is scheduled to move in at the end of this month. I told them that my husband and I are willing to help if they ever need an extra hand in packing and unpacking their stuff. We all know that moving to a different place requires a lot of hardwork, patience and help. Our friend then mentioned that they were also looking for steel buildings so they can use it as an extra car garage since they own 5 cars. I'll have to leave all of that to my husband since he knows what they were talking about.

iOS5 is here!

2011-10-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

You can now download Apple's newest iOS5 on iTunes. I am currently waiting for my update to finish. I guess it's taking awhile since I am downloading this at the same time with the rest of the world. LOL

Cape Cod Vacation

2011-10-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've heard of Cape Cod before. I associate Cape Cod with the Kennedys. I reckoned that the Kennedy Compound or Hyannis Port Historict District is the name given to six acres of waterfront property on Cape Cod along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port. For those unfamiliar with it, this place is located in the easternmost portion of Massachusetts. I also heard that Cape Cod is literally a land at sea with more than 500 miles of coast and beaches. This is my kind of place. It actually reminds of Monterey, CA and Bermuda. I want to visit Cape Cod someday. I think my husband will like it there too. I went ahead and searched for Cape Cod vacation rentals so I can show my husband what the place is like and encourage him to go there someday. We can write it down on our travel list. Upon searching for rentals, I immediately fell in love with the houses available for rentals that would be perfect for our family. They all seem cozy and just perfect for a romantic and family getaway. I think my dad is perfect for this place. This is the place where he wants to retire with my mom. We have to take them there with my in-laws too.

iPhone 4S

2011-10-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

Did you guys pre-order your iPhone 4S?

I heard news that those who ordered from Apple.com already received their tracking information but those who ordered from AT&T are still awaiting email that their iPhone 4S has been shipped. There are lots of anxious iPhone fanatics out there who can't wait to have their hands on the newest iGadget. Jst 3 more days guys. Who knows, you might even get it a day earlier.

But in the meantime, you can update your iTunes 10.5 now. This is in preparation for the iOS 5 update tomorrow. I'm excited! :)

Children's Party

2011-10-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

I've always loved children's parties. At my not-so-young age, I'm still so fond of children parties and I enjoy seeing the kids have the grandest time ever. They are all just too cute and giddy with everything that's happening inside a children's party. My husband and I are constantly invited to children's parties since all our friends have their own kids already. If fact, I received an invitation in the mail last Friday. Another children's party to go to. Hooray! As soon as I opened the invitation, I immediately texted our friend who invited us to let her know we got the invite already. She then told me that she is now feeling the pressure into organizing her daughter's 7th birthday party early next month. She said that she is looking for kids birthday party supplies for a princess' party. I told her that I'll be glad to help her look for tiaras, tablewares, drinkables and even pinatas. She was so relieved that I offered my help. She said she is about to go crazy making sure that everything is perfect for her one and only daughter. I guess every mother wants everything but the best for their children.

Halloween Soon!

2011-10-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Halloween for me is so-so. I mean, I think I'm too old enough to dress up for Halloween. Although I know there are lots of people who still dress up and go to clubs while the little ones are trick or treating. My brother-in-law and his co-workers usually dress up for work then they go clubbing afterwards. I, on the other hand, just stay home and wait for trick or treaters to knock on our door. Although sometimes, I use our door's peep hole first to see who's knocking. If it were those people who are wearing Halloween Masks to scare you before asking for goodies, I let my husband open the front door. I'm not really good at scary stuff what more if someone jumps in front of me wearing something like this:

I might just have a heart attack. I don't even go to those Halloween nights where there were so many people trying to scare you. I bet they will probably have a blast scaring me and probably won't leave me alone. That's something I'm not fond of and I think I'll ever enjoy. I can manage a few horror movies but I rarely even watch them. I guess there are people out there who are just like me. I don't enjoy Halloween as much as those little kids who dress up like their favorite characters. They are just too cute. So what ever you guys do this Halloween, stay safe!

Who doesn't like to shop?

2011-10-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't like to shop? I can probably speak on behalf of most girls or ladies out there. Right, ladies? By the way, I speak for the majority here so please don't get me wrong. Nevertheless, I enjoy shopping and sometimes I even consider some retail therapy when I'm so stressed out. Since today is Columbus Day, I went online this morning looking for good deals. I know it's not anything like Black Friday which is next month. I was actually looking for real organized shelving parts for our closet. I'm in my organizing mood and I really want to have some sort of system in our closet since my husband and I share a whole closet. It would be nice to have my own walk in closet just like those celebrities but that will have to wait for a few more year. I really don't mind sharing the closet space with my husband but I just want it very organized.

And speaking of bedroom, I have been convincing my husband to get me a cheap vanity for all my "girl stuff." He said yes, but I have to look for it online myself and show him. I told him "no problem." Thank goodness for an online site which shows a bunch of vanity sets at a reasonable price. My husband will definitely buy me one now. He can't say no to those prices.

While at it, my mother-in-law asked me to look for stool cushions for our breakfast nook since our stools are in dire need of love and care. So, instead of buying a new one, my mother-in-law thought of buying cushions instead of replacing it since the stools are still very much sturdy.

Win Some, Lose Some

2011-10-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who lives in Vegas. In fact, she recently moved there from Manila where she studied for a few years (college) while her parents stay in Las Vegas. When I spoke to her this morning, she said she is on the verge of getting used to the so-called Vegas life. She loves all the events, buffet restaurants, hotels, lights, night life and casinos. I told her that I too love Vegas but I really could not picture myself living there. I might just go on the strip every weekend to gamble. I mean, I'm not one of those hard gamblers. But whenever when we're in Vegas, I usually try my luck on the slot machines. I've win some but there were a few losses too. Sad to say. My friend agreed 100%. She said she has tried her luck too - there were days when she was very lucky but there were days when she went home with nothing. I guess that's how it goes. She did mention about MegaPlay.com and said she would like to try it out one day. It's like going to Vegas but you definitely don't have to leave the house. I guess that's another option if you can't really go to Vegas.

Dream Big

2011-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, you can say that my husband and I are just starting to build our future. We are not quite there yet but we are certainly getting there. As every couple out there, we would also like to have our own house someday. I guess everyone would agree with me that having their own house is every family's dream. It certainly our dream along with other things. Although I know for a fact that it's not as easy to buy a house now especially during these rough economic times compare to 5 years ago when the home realty business was booming. I'm thankful for free credit score services so we can gauge our whereabouts in terms of credits and mortgages. We all know that we all live by our credit scores here in the United States that's why we all have to take care of our identity. Now that there are cases of identity theft, we all have to be very careful in giving out our personal information. Honestly, I am quite paranoid into doing that. I always have to think about it twice or thrice just to make sure because I have seen and heard of people who's lives where turned upside down because their identity was stolen from them.

Thank you, Steve Jobs. Rest in Peace, Sir.

2011-10-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

My husband first read about it online. He was shocked and immediately told me about the news. This comes a day after the unveiling of the iPhone 4S. I was over the moon yesterday about the new iPhone. Today, I was floored when I heard about it. So sad. My husband and I live by Apple. Everything Apple - computers, iPhones, iPods, iPads. We have been a loyal Apple couple for years now. We are happy to be one. But today, the world mourns the loss of a genius. Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Thank you for changing our lives.

I would like to post this picture from Apple's website.

Photo credit/Source: Apple.com

Moving In

2011-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to chat with my friend who has been a Canadian resident for the last 5 years. She is enjoying her stay in Calgary, Canada and is a proud resident of the city already. In fact, she took her parents to visit the place a year ago. She mentioned that she really couldn't think of any other place to live in besides Calgary. She has become to love the place. She said she would love to raise a family there someday and also, plans to petition her parents in the future. I, on the other hand, would like to visit her in Calgary someday. I've never been to Canada. My husband and I would love to go to Vancouver, Niagara Falls and of course, visit our friend in Calgary. I 've heard so many good things about Canada and we ought to pay the place a visit. We should really plan and include it in our 'travel list." When I mentioned that to my friend, she immediately said that she should really look for Calgary rentals soon. She said she might need a bigger place since she is expecting her parents to live with her once she petitioned them and also because we are planning on visiting her soon.

Travels

2011-09-30T13:39:00.001-07:00

I don't consider myself an expert traveler but rather just a typical traveler who enjoys nature, sight seeing, food and company of my husband. We are travel junkies, if there is such a word, but you somehow get the picture - we love to travel. It all started during my highschool days when my parents took us to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We made side trips to Tampa and Miami to see where my dad used to work. My parents also let my sister and I to travel by ourselves. I was 13 then and my sister was just 7 years old. We visited our aunt and uncle in Germany. Our parents let us experience traveling at a young age and I thank them for that. They gave us the taste of independence when we traveled to Germany for one whole month. We were supervised by a flight attendant but still just the mere fact that we were by ourselves made us feel like we were so grown-ups at that time. That's what I would love to do to our future children, let them experience life and what it has to offer. Let them explore it by themselves without any hindrance from us but of course we will still be there for guidance. Anyway, whenever my husband and I would travel, I always make it a point to do an itinerary of the things we want to do and places we want to see. Sometimes we couldn't follow the itinerary but still able to see and do the things written there. One day, my husband joked that I should work at an Online Tour Booking company since I enjoy making up itineraries or organizing tours. Maybe I should. But for now, I would recommend a website I discovered today to a friend who is going to Europe next month!

Self Care

2011-09-28T15:43:00.001-07:00

The Author of this post is Cheryl Martinez

When I started my new job at the beginning of the summer, I remember my sister asking me what job I would choose if I could do anything in the world. My response was that I’d be doing exactly what I was doing, managing cases for a government agency. She was in awe. I was pleased that I was actually telling the truth. After a few months of managing cases, I know that my love for the work that I do does not make my job any easier. I spend my days running between court, home visits, doctor visits and meetings, and when I come home I am completely worn out. Most of the time I come home and spread out on the couch, watching whatever reality television show my roommate has selected on our Satellite tv for Richmond residents. I’ve begun to seriously consider some alternative strategies to maintain my self-care. First on my list was to start running three times a week. Next, I joined a yoga studio. And lastly, I began adding wine to my daily television time. I like to think I’m really working hard to combat burnout.

Cable Knit

2011-09-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to buy one. Everytime I get that chance, I always back out - it was either Summer or Spring and I would always tell myself that Winter is a far stretch and I wouldn't get to wear it right away. Ha! Bad idea. I always seem to regret not buying one. This year, I told myself and I even hinted my husband that I want to own one, maybe something like this (not the same color, though).

Fingers crossed. Maybe I should look out for the Thanksgiving sale. :)

Weekender

2011-09-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

My family and I went to San Francisco over the weekend. The husband and I took my in-laws to see the "bay area" and they enjoyed it. Unlike our previous visit, we were not able to get a good shot of the Golden Gate Bridge because of the fog. It was densely foggy even in the afternoon - around 2 o'clock. This is as good as it gets.

That's unedited. See how heavy the fog was that day. Despite it all, the view was still magnificent. I'll never get tired of it, and I love road trips!

And speaking of road trips, my husband's cousin in Dallas wants to visit Southern California for Thanksgiving weekend. He is currently looking for car title loans dallas for his upcoming road trip and I guess for everyday travel since his old car is about to give up any time now. I told him that there are better deals online so he definitely should check it out.

Instagram Updates to Version 2.0

2011-09-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

To all you instagram-ers out there (that includes me!), there's a new update today!

Popular social photography application Instragram has updated to version 2.0, bringing some compelling new features. Most notably is the ability to see filters live, while you're taking the photo, so you know exactly how it is going to look when you press the (virtual) shutter.

Live filters not only mean you can see the frames and color effects live, as you take the photo, but that you can even preview and adjust tilt shift live as well. This is very compelling from a composition standpoint, as the live effects may affect the way you create your image. Better yet, they're non-destructive, meaning you can change to a different preset look after you've captured your photo.

Additionally, version 2.0 is faster, comes with four new filters, provides the ability to save high-resolution filtered photos to your camera roll, and lets you turn the borders on your photos on and off. This is a very compelling update to the already great and already free social photography application.

Source: Lifehacker

DWTS' J.R. Martinez

2011-09-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

The new season of DWTS (Dancing with the Stars) started last night. One of my favorites this season is J.R. Martinez. I'm sure most of you don't even know who he is. I didn't. I actually had to google him only to find out about his heroic story.

Photo credit: Yahoo

Military veteran and "All My Children" star J.R. Martinez got off to a stellar "Dancing with the Stars" start on Monday night -- scoring 22 points on his first dance -- but his road to the ballroom might be unlike any other star before him.

"I'm proud of these scars, I'm proud of my journey, and I'm proud of it because it led me to be right here with you," J.R. told his professional partner Karina Smirnoff on the season premiere of the hit ABC series.

J.R. joined the military at 19 and while deployed in Iraq in 2003 as United States Army infantryman, he ran over a land mine while driving a truck. He suffered burns to 40 percent of his body, lost most of the hair on his head and one of his ears.

"J.R. is a real-life hero. He's such an inspiration and his outlook on life is so positive," partner Karina said of J.R. on Monday's show.

Following his harrowing accident in Iraq, he underwent 33 surgeries, including numerous painful skin grafts and tissue expansion to repair the damage to his body.

The 28-year-old, who originally hails from Shreveport, Louisiana, went on to become a motivational speaker and an actor on ABC's "All My Children" -- and through it all, never lost his sense of humor.

"I only have one ear, so I only catch one half of the sentence," he said, joking with partner Karina in footage of a rehearsal shown during the premiere. Source.

Such a beautiful story.

Santa Claus is coming to town

2011-09-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

It's already mid-September. Can you believe how time flies so fast? It will be Christmas before we know it and then New Year's. I can just remember vividly my last Christmas and New Year's with my family and my twin nieces. I will be with my in-laws this year sans my brother-in-law who will be on vacation in Manila. This reminds me that I should really start thinking about gifts for Christmas especially the ones for my husband, parents, sister, twin nieces, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law plus my godchildren. My husband and I are actually thinking of giving my mother-in-law a tablet pc for Christmas since she uses my brother-in-law's tablet quite often to play games. It would be nice to give her one for herself.

Endless Shrimp x Birthday

2011-09-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today is my SIL's birthday.

Dinner tonight was at Red Lobster. I had a the Parmesan Tilapia with salad and mashed potatoes as my side dishes. It was quite good but I was already full from my salad (a whole plate) before my entree came. My husband had a combination of shrimp, lobster and scallops with their specialty rice and mashed potatoes. My in-laws (brother, mother and sister) had the endless shrimp. And boy, I've never seen so many shrimp in one table. Haha It was indeed a wonderful night. We all had fun! Happy happy birthday my dearest sister! May all your dreams come true! xo

Shopping Spree

2011-09-13T23:35:00.000-07:00

My husband and I went to H&M this afternoon because I've been wanting to buy this new scarf since last week. How could I not? It was only priced at $12.95. That's a bargain I couldn't resist. Although I managed to walk away with just a scarf purchase. I'm quite proud of myself. I saw a few dresses and blouses I like upon entering the store. I wanted to try a couple of dresses but my husband reminded me that I already did some online purchases last week and they all came in today so he was quite overwhelmed when he saw the boxes. I was actually wishing for cash advances this afternoon so I can buy a few things without my husband reminding me of my other recent purchases. It would also be nice if I can avail a payday cash advance loan since it has only been a few days since my last paycheck. I bet I can probably persuade my husband into letting me buy a few things from the store or I can always bargain with him that I will buy him something at J.Crew, an offer he wouldn't resist or just go with the ultimate mountain bike parts bargain. That will surely make him say yes and do whatever I want with the payday cash advance.

NEW Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Trailer - The Wedding

2011-09-13T23:06:00.000-07:00

I have to blog about this. I love this new trailer they released for the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 movie scheduled for November 18. I'm now more excited to watch this movie!

Source.

Patagonia, one day!

2011-09-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

My husband and I loves to travel. Our conversation in the car one day was about travel and I told him I would give up owning any luxury cars - those BMW, Mercedes or Lexus cars, just to travel to our dream places. I told him that I wouldn't mind owning a Toyota or a Honda just as long as I could cross out a few places on my travel list. It is like travel over luxury cars for us. I would rather have those lifetime memories and experiences to cherish and tell our future children or grandchildren. We still have lots to explore on our list. Chile travel is one of them. I have heard of the places to visit in Chile from the driest desert in the world to massive glacial fields. Filling up the in-between are volcanoes, geysers, beaches, lakes, rivers, steppe and countless islands. I want to visit Patagonia, the most famous region of Chile. I heard that Chilean Patagonia offers all the dramatic landscape one would expect from the world's ultimate land's end. I wish we can do this one day. I would love to visit that part of the world and admire Earth's beauty and God's wonderful creation. I now want to look for Patagonia vacation packages after seeing pictures of what to expect when traveling to Chile.

Kidrobot x Swatch

2011-09-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

How cute are these?!

Kidrobot collaborated with Swatch and came up with these insanely cute watches. I have yet to show them to my husband today but I think I want one! I'm now have my eyes on 4!!

Fossil For Me

2011-09-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are alike and different in so many ways. Our similarities ranges from being the outdoor type (with moutain biking, and hiking), loves to travel to different places (either travel abroad or roadtrips) but most importantly we are both lovers of shoes and watches. We both have our own little stacks of shoe boxes. We will probably need a whole closet just for shoes. That's a dream of mine. Aside from shoes, we also have our little collection of watches - his and hers. But sometimes I borrow his watch. I love that so-called "boyfriend" watch style. So when my husband asked me for my Christmas wishlist, he said he knew instantly what will be on my list. He said it will only be 3 kinds - either shoes, watches or bags. He really is my husband. He knows me so well. I told him I saw a few Womens Watches online that I can show him and see what he thinks of them. I also mentioned that those watches are one sale. That's my little strategy.

I really like this one:

I just realized that I still don't have a watch with this specific style - oversized, vintage-inspired dial mixed with a skinny leather strap. I'm really into oversize watches! I love it!

Jersey Girl

2011-09-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

I've been to New Jersey twice - recently with my husband when we visited the New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC - our hotel was in New Jersey, then my first visit was with my parents and sister to visit my mom's aunt and her family after our trip to Manila. I was 16 or 17 at the time and a mere highschool student. My mom's aunt and her two children migrated here in the US a long long time ago. They are now settled and have their own houses since the children are now grown up and with their own families. I remembered them because my mom mentioned new jersey elder care last time we spoke on the phone. I asked her what it was all about. She said that her aunt from New Jersey called her telling her stories about nj senior care. Apparently, her daughter-in-law works there and she had nothing but praises for senior homecare. She even mentioned that if none of her children would be patient enough to take care of her and her husband, she really wouldn't mind staying there. She knows that they will be well-taken care of and would be given assistance 24/7 which is what most elderly needs when they get to that age. It's nice to know that there are nursing homes or retirement care facilities as such.

NY Fashion Week

2011-09-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hey you fashionistas out there. It's NY Fashion Week. A lot of things going on with the fashion world. Here's one:

Yes, Tory Burch is giving away that gorgeous tote with every $100 purchase. I wish they have my size on the Reva flats I was looking for. They only have it in size 5. Ugh.

Let's Get Mats

2011-09-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

My husband has been looking for car floor mats rubber for the longest time. He wants a specific one that he has yet to find in stores that we've looked at. Since we are going on a family road trip in 2 weeks time, he wants to find that rubber floor mats for his car to keep it tidy and clean until he get to the car wash after our trip. Of course, I can't just sit around and do nothing. I have to help him. Thank goodness for the world of internet. I found the right one for him.

That's exactly what he was looking for. Something that is easy to clean and is good for any type of weather. I'm sure my husband will be happy and will love me even more for this. Maybe I can tell him about the new Zara online shopping in return. Sounds like a good deal, eh?