Gold Pouch

Filipino Mom Blog's fabulous finds color theme for this week is gold.

I want to share the gold pouch in the middle which I bought to keep the bracelets I will give to my nieces and nephew for the new year. All pouches come in gold tassels too. They're good buys - cute and reusable (at least for the recipient).

Gym on a Weekend

I needed to check something with my team on a Saturday. Our head office is a bit far so I decided to meet them in one of our branch office. Since I will be going out early, I might as well maximize the time. I coaxed husband to join me. We headed to the gym first afterwhich we went separate ways to attend to our own agenda for the day.

The gym is practically empty. Who wants to get up really early on a weekend?

We have our tuna sandwich and pasta here at the gym's healthy options stall. We both love the garden tuna sandwich here.

More weekend snapshots here. The Mommy Zone shares a holiday get-together with the Filipino Mom Blog Mommies and our kids. Beyond Fried Eggs share a lunch at Taco Bell.

Carpet::Buzzer

I woke up really early this morning. I can't go back to sleep so I decided to start doing some work. I was finished with all of them around two in the afternoon. This included accompanying my daughter to her Sunday church service.

I'm in a relaxed mode now with a bit of upper limb discomfort, maybe I strained my arms too much when I was stretching. They will be fine. On to my weekly mutterings.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Carpet :: Taz (That's the carpet in my daughter's room.)
2. Bottoms :: Up
3. Music :: New Wave
4. Nails :: Polish
5. Watch it! :: Careful!
6. Your life :: Make the best of it.
7. Candies :: Sweet
8. Chafing :: Dish
9. Svelte :: Sleek
10. Ding :: Buzzer

More mutterings here.

Hotdogs

There are three kinds of hotdogs in the supermarket that we buy alternately - there's your regular hotdogs, cheese dog and the latest is corn dog. It tastes and smells like corn with a lot of butter. I don't really like it but my daughter loves it. We have hotdogs for breakfast a few times in a month since I am cutting on processed foods. Hotdogs is a sure winner for a lot of kids though.

Click here for other breakfast hunts. My mamarazzi breakfast photos is at The Mommy Zone. My breakfast and my husband's are posted at Beyond Fried Eggs. Happy weekend!

A Baby and Her Turkey

My sister-in-law posted their pictures from Thanksgiving at her Multiply site. We were really laughing at our niece while she was in various poses devouring their turkey. Poor turkey. Let me share some of my niece's pictures for Wordless Wednesday.

"This turkey seems good."
"Let me taste it, just a pinch."
"Oh what the heck, lemme have a big bite!"
"Now that tastes really good...Burp!"
Belated Happy Thanksgiving to all! :)

Shine

Let the sun shine on us....This was taken in the early morning of April this year during a team building with my core group. We spent two days at La Luz, San Juan, Batangas.


More shine here at HoT.

Planning Session

The company kicked off its planning session for 2009 last September. We spent it at the Eugenio Lopez Center, Antipolo. It was a quiet afternoon and during breaks I managed to take a few pictures. The place is conducive for planning and team buildings. Another good thing is it's very near Mega Manila where most of us live. Home sweet home in a matter of hours after a few days holed up for planning.


Click the logo for other weekend snapshots. You may want to take a peek at The Mommy Zone for my other snapshot. Have a great week! :)

Metal

My husband owns this. He rarely uses them now though and just stays in his cabinet drawer. Now it's put to good use. :)


It's photo hunt time! I have another entry at The Mommy Zone. Happy weekend! :)

Unconcious Mutterings

I just finished reorganizing a part of our kitchen. It was tiring but worth it. I now have a clearer view of our counter top. Trying to relax now before I cook for dinner.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Spit it out :: just say it
2. Shadow :: dark reflection (haha, I just made this up)
3. Database :: record
4. Expression :: emotion
5. Boss :: head
6. Baby :: cute and cuddly
7. Mystic :: enigmatic
8. Kate :: Leopold (Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman movie)
9. Boobies :: delicate (they are)
10. Raid :: attack

Reflection

This was taken during our sunset cruise going to Grande Island in Subic. It's a beautiful sight. I love how the sun burst into a wonderful orange color which reflected on the water. The wonder of nature.

Please click here for other photos on "reflection". My other entry on my reflection and my daughter's at The Mommy Zone. Happy weekend! :)

Mutterings on a Monday

I normally post my mutterings on a Sunday but because I was a little indisposed yesterday let me post this today, a Monday. I woke up really early maybe because I had a good rest yesterday. Everyone's still sleeping at this time whereas I've prepared everything to start the day. While waiting for everyone to wake up, here are my mutterings.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Please stop :: Hold it!
2. Move over :: Excuse me
3. Sweet as :: a cake :D
4. Bet :: a stake
5. Mad about :: Paul and Jamie (a 90s sitcom, Mad About You0
6. It’s over :: the US elections
7. Intend to :: was about to do
8. Blame :: pass the bucket
9. Jefferson :: Starship (an 80s rock band)
10. Heartless :: evil

Cagsawa Ruins

I have shared my trip about Bicol already in one of my posts. I lifted some texts from that post which are appropriate for today's Photo Hunt theme, ruin(ed). In this case, it's ruins. I'm sharing Cagsawa Ruins.

The structure that you see with two windows was the Cagsawa Church. Based on history books, when the volcano erupted in 1814, more than a thousand people run towards the church to escape the lava flow. Unfortunately, the fiery flow buried and engulfed the church. Only the bell tower remained which is shown in the picture below (the structure with two windows). To this day, it stands as one of the main tourist attractions of the Bicol region.

Had there been a clear sky when I took this picture, the perfect cone that is Mayon Volcano can be seen. Unfortunately the clouds covered it.


A closer look at Cagsawa Ruins.


Closer.


Please visit other photo hunters here. I have another take on 'ruin(ed)' at my other blog, The Mommy Zone. Hope you'll stop by there too. Thanks. :)

Dessert

Do you know what this is?


This was what we had yesterday as our dessert after lunch. Pichi-pichi! I love it with loads of cheese on top!



Have a look at other photos at Weekend Snapshot. I have other entries at The Mommy Zone.

Hamburger Steak

They go together. It will be bland without the perennial partner. Husband and I had lunch at French Baker a few weeks ago and we ordered the same food. It's quite rare that we have the same food but due to limited choices at this particular branch, we opted for a hamburger steak. I must say it did not fail us. It was good and filling. The gravy that go with the hamburger is actually creamy.


You may check other 'together' pictures at Photo Hunt site. My other entry is at The Mommy Zone. Happy weekend! :)

Blue Water

The boat we were on is nearing Dos Palmas Beach Resort. It's as if we could not wait to land there. The sun shining bright, the sand so pure, the water so blue. Bliss. I need a vacation like this again. :)


For other blue pictures, please visit Photo Hunt. And for my other blue waters, please see them here at The Mommy Zone. :)

Hello Kitty

I chanced upon a merchandise exhibit of Hello Kitty at The Block two weeks or so ago. It's really cute. Even the entrance set-up looks so dainty with all its balloons and red ribbon.



Hope you also visit my Pizza Time weekend snapshot. :) Other weekenders are here.

Sunday Mutterings

I just finished helping my daughter review for her first day mastery exam tomorrow. It was exhausting - for one, the temperature's really humid. Answering these mutterings is a welcome break.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Contemplate :: Think hard
2. In the house :: Present
3. Classical :: Ballet
4. Quest :: Search
5. Best friend :: Most trusted friend
6. 1991 :: Strongest earthquake in the Philippines
7. Never will :: neglect my daughter
8. Fool :: Lacks good judgment
9. Unhappy :: Scrooge
10. Best man :: Father and Husband

EQ

I took a quiz about emotional intelligence at Blogthings. Through the years my EQ had shown great improvement and I'm glad about that.

Your EQ is 147

You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. You are warm and open. Even when life gets you down, you're unafraid of the world and its challenges. You are comfortable with who you are. And you accept your weaknesses - as well as the weaknesses of others. While you are quite stable, you don't respond perfectly to every bad situation that comes up. But you have enough emotional intelligence to know when you need a course correction.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

I laughed out loud at the second line. Let me do it again...hahahahaha! A very annoying being is going the rounds at the office. But I am ready to forget all about what happened. I won't see him anymore I guess. Anyway, this quizzes prove to be true a lot of times. I wonder if there really is a psychologist who screens these quizzes before publishing them. :

Skyline

This was taken by my husband when we were at a hotel last August during a long weekend. It's the break of dawn - clear skies, peace and quiet, the day just starting. Wonderful! :)


Visit weekend snapshots for more great pictures.

Zoo:Standard

We just had dinner. I feel so full. I am a bit tired because I was the one who cooked and prepared. And I helped my daughter finish her scrapbook on the different types of houses. It's still a week before its submission date but if we can do it now, why procrastinate? :)

Anyway, she's on her computer now browsing on the Jonas Brothers. I am in front of my laptop recharging and doing some blogging, blog-hopping and reading some mails from my personal email. Hubby is watching television while browsing on his newly purchased dictionary. How nerdy can a hubby get? :D

Here are my mutterings for this week.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Zoo :: Animals
2. Neighborhood :: Nice people
3. Salute :: Too stiff
4. Immortality :: Twilight
5. Dominion :: Star Trek
6. Rhonda :: A song?
7. Parties :: Celebration
8. Prince of Darkness :: Dracula
9. Garbage :: Trash
10. Standard :: Norm

Lazy Frog

Today's theme for photo hunt is lazy. I was browsing in my files of pictures when I chanced upon Kerokeropi. It used to be my daughter's stuffed toy. Look at its eyes and the way it sat on the computer chair. Sure looks really lazy to me. :)


You may click here for other photo hunters.

Luma Na (Something Old)

Ito ay kuha sa Philippine Air Force noong field trip ng aking anak nitong nakaraang Pebrero. Natuwa ako sa mga lumang eroplanong naroroon. Isa na rito ang lumang eroplano para sa presidente ng bansa. Maaaring pumasok sa loob at kumuha ng souvenir photo na akin namang ginawa. Bihira lamang ang pagkakataong ito kayat akin ng sinamantala.

(This was taken at the Philippine Air Force during my daughter's field trip last February. I had fun taking pictures of all the old planes exhibited in the area. One of them is the old presidential plane. It's a good thing we can have a look inside and even take pictures. I gladly took several shots since this is a rare opportunity.)


For other entries, you may visit Litratong Pinoy. And for my other 'old theme', please visit my daughter's ten year old toy at The Mommy Zone. See you there. Thanks! :)

Mutterings

I just finished helping my daughter with her scrapbook project...the different parts of the house. I actually enjoyed browsing on old magazines to look for a dining room, a kitchen, bedroom and everything else. :)

Time now for my blogging. Here's my unconscious mutterings for this week.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Insight :: Point of view
2. Irksome :: Annoying
3. Maybe :: Probably
4. Confirmation :: Validation
5. Bib :: Small towel for babies
6. Stop! :: Hold it!
7. Lobster :: Steamed, with olive oil and garlic...yummmy!
8. Boys :: Men
9. Fire away :: Bring it on.
10. Give up :: Throw it away.

A New Girl

I have already posted about enrolling in a gym about two months ago. My husband and I have to be responsible for our well being. Getting fit and trim are one of the ways we can take care of ourselves.

Being fit not only has wonderful physical rewards but it also has its psychological advantages. You feel good inside and out. You feel good looking at yourself in front of the mirror looking fresh and with so much energy. A very good example of a renewed soul because of an enhanced and a physically fit body is the cousin of my husband.

I was browsing the newspaper when I saw a familiar face but I can not seem to remember who she is. She gave a testimony about how she had gone from 250 pounds to 145 pounds. She was even wearing a body hugging blouse and a pair of skinny jeans. I can only say wow! Tummy tuck surely improved the contour of her body and flatten her abdomen as if she has this body all her life. Looking at the "before" picture, I recognized her!

I think my husband got curious what I could be reading intently so he joined in. Looking closely at what I am reading, he recognized the girl in the picture with the testimonial on tummy tuck and liposuction, it is his cousin! I just have to call her. And so I did.

She kept on laughing about her testimony. Laughing in a good way. She was asking me if I read about her breast augmentation testimony. We were having a good time talking about this great experience of hers. I asked how she has managed to go under the knife when we have known her to be somewhat on the less adventurous side. She said she needs the extra boost in confidence. She needed to improve physically since this is what is causing her inferiority complex. I may not agree with her but that is her life. She lived with her obesity for so long I have no right to lecture her or argue with her about what she feels. In fact, I feel proud of her because she has manage to fight her anxiety. She is ready to face the world with so much confidence. :)

My Sister's Car

My father, together with my sister, and I had been discussing acquiring another car intended for the family. Yes, it's a discussion because my father is one meticulous person. Meticulous in just about everything, even in taking care of the appliances at home, the pots and pans collection in his (and my mother's) kitchen, the growing weeds in their backyard, the painting of their window sills - name it, my father's on it. Everything has to be taken cared of.

He still has his very first car when he migrated to the U.S. more than a decade ago. He never fails when it comes to its maintenance. They are always on schedule. True to his character, what needs to be done gets done. That includes reviewing car insurance quotes. As my sister is about to buy her first car, tips on availing a good car insurance is in our discussion. She was able to get a free insurance quote fast. I understand car insurance varies from state to state. A preview of the different car insurance is helpful especially for a first time car owner like my sister. I really hope my sister will get to purchase her new car. She's pretty excited about it. Her driving lessons was a breeze. Once she gets the car, she'll have more time to do things all by herself without asking my father to drive for her. :)

House:Pickles

I have not participated in Unconscious Mutterings for several weeks now. Been quite busy. I am now back with my usual blogging. Here's my mutterings for the week.

1. House :: Comfort
2. Think :: Mind
3. Clot :: Blood
4. Believe me :: Follow me
5. Fumigation :: Misting
6. Bore :: Yawn
7. Luck :: Smile!
8. Patient :: Waiting
9. Tremors :: After shock
10. Pickles :: Sour

Files and Pictures

I have some free time today so I thought to declutter my files both online and off line. I have several email accounts for different purposes - for my blogging, for my personal mails and for my online transactions. They all come with the unlimited email storage feature but old emails like those from my several e-groups are still there. They just crowd my inbox and my folders.

It's like my files want to breathe. And so I will give them some breathing space. It is the same scenario with the files in my computers. I save pictures in a DVD but I still have a lot of photoshopped pictures stored in one folder. I believe it is time to back them up too even if I have the original, untouched versions of them. One way to make the computer faster is to declutter them too. That's a no-brainer I know. :)

I will have to buy some DVDs later when I go out to back up all my files and safely keep them in my drawer. I also checked three boxes of pictures stored in one of my cabinets. I will put them all in a photo album for better safe keeping. For one thing, it is relaxing for me to just browse on old pictures - pictures when I was still a child and playing with my cousins, my classmates, pictures when we were all still young.

As I was checking each pictures I came to the box where pictures of my grandparents living in the US are neatly stored. I marveled at how my grandmother have kept her house so spic and span clean. She does it alone, mind you. She is one active woman and a great tennis coach and player. Even at age 65, she still does her tennis perfectly well back then.

What I have always loved looking at in their house is their gas fire. As a child growing up in a tropical country where gas fires or electric fires are not a common site in households, I have always wondered how it is to have one in the house. While growing up, my fascination with fireplaces have never ceased. I have seen a lot during our visits to Baguio City. It's kind of romantic I think. A lot of romantic scenes in movies use fireplaces as a back drop. But I digress.

The kind of fireplace one decides to keep contributes a great deal to the character of the house. It can be modern, traditional or avantgarde. For those without chimneys, there are flueless gas fires you can enjoy at even lower prices. Now that my parents are living in the U.S., they have their own gas fire with a pebble bed which blends well with their newly renovated house. My mother is a very talented woman too especially in decorating, arranging or doing some relayouts in her house. I can't wait to help her out in another relayout she'd been mulling about.

Budget Talk

Like most mothers (and fathers) do, I have a monthly budget that I follow. I need to monitor them on a weekly basis just to be sure I am aligned with the budget I am working on. It has to be that way. I am not perfect, a few times I go over the budget. But for the past months I am able to stick to what me and my husband was able to agree on. We do not falter in paying our bills ever since we became husband and wife and we intend to keep it that way. We manage to save a certain percentage from both our incomes too.

However, there are times that a certain expense not on our list comes up. Like our washing machine acting up. The dryer does not want to function. It's raining hard the past days and we can't afford not to have a dryer. There was a time too our television in our room conked out on us without any warning. It is a form of relaxation for us at the end of the day. We watch our favorite movie or television show before going to sleep. I just cannot live without it so to speak. Unforeseen situations like the ones I have stated are not what you may call a matter of life and death but they are important parts of our daily lives. Unfortunately though they are not on our budget. This is where a fast payday loan comes in handy. We can cover the expenses right away, we can continue enjoying the benefits of these helpful household appliances I have mentioned and we can pay the loan easily. But then again, I hope none of our appliances goes malfunctioning again. :)

Dozen:Crankiness

I wasn't able to participate last week. Been quite busy that there were some things I was not able to attend to. Here's my dose of unconscious mutterings for the week.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Crankiness :: Moodiness
2. Backpack :: Heavy
3. Clone :: Copy cat
4. High ground :: Hill
5. Dreams :: Amazing
6. Lovingly :: Sweetly
7. Mistake :: Error
8. Carson :: Johnny
9. Errand :: Chore
10. Dozen :: Twelve

Have a great Sunday! :)