Lalaine's World

The Inner Life

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:04:00 +0000

These days I'm constantly reminded of the book that I've read a couple years back, Ordering Your Private World by Gordon Macdonald. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing our inner life (spending time with God, getting spiritually refreshed). With the busyness of today's world and with a lot of things clamoring for our attention, we tend to forget to 'take care' of our inner life and take 'pride' of our public 'victories'.

Hmm.. writing about it now, makes me want to reread the book and seek more to cultivate my inner life.

Hourly Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:56:00 +0000

I'm on a constant lookout now for Book Depository's hourly sale. This is only a 24 hour event where they offer a book per hour at great discounts. So, I have to make sure that I'm there every time a new book is offered so, I can avail of the discount. So, far I got an Usborne internet linked book for my kids at 60% off! I wasn't interested on some of the books they offered, while the rest are still outside my budget. You see, my budget is very low per book because I don't want to end up spending so much even if the books are on sale.

Anyways, I find this sale to be fun and exciting especially with the element of surprise of not knowing what's the next book offer is. I'm sure the company is doing very well today with their staff busy processing all the payments through pc america .

Okay, the new book offer has just been unveiled, it's a novel and I'm not interested.. have to get back online after an hour.

Chinese New Year's Eve at the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

I've never experienced Chinese New Year in Malaysia. But last week, we were in Malaysia just in time for Chinese New Year. You can really feel the festivity of the New Year there since majority of the population there is Chinese ( I think). So, when we were going around the island, we decided to hang out near the port where there was a live show. My sis in law bought bubbles and lighted flying toys for the kids and they really had a lot of fun running and playing around the big field. We, the adults were just enjoying looking at the kids and at the same time listening ( and watching from afar) to the music from presentations. We wanted to stay until 12 am for the fireworks but the kids were already so tired and just decided to go back home.

It was nice to take 'part' of the Chinese New Year festivity ..it's a new experience for me and this makes me appreciate Malaysia all the more.

Unpredictable Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

The weather has been quite unpredictable these days that even having an outdoor thermometer won't help. I don't know if that happens in the part of the world you're in but it occasionally happens here. Take for example the other day, I was so happy because the sun was shining and so, I made it my laundry day. But as quick as a wink, dark clouds came and it rained so hard. I had to run and take out the clothes that were drying outside.

The Moody Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:06:00 +0000

From a lazy blogger now I've become a moody blogger. There will be times when I could just be blogging my heart out, but during low times, I even refuse to visit my blogs! :) Gone were the days when I just started blogging and I'd be constantly be on the look out for topics to blog from mundane life to my 'great' reflections. I guess, those days I was like a blog addict .. ;) I need not have a dual diagnosis treatment since every since I gave birth to my second child, my excitement for blogging has wavered since I became busier taking care of my kids.

And now, I have more responsibilities and more mood swings so, I guess blogging will continue to take the back seat... unless, I'll be in the mood to blog again..:)

Sam the Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:49:00 +0000

My kids really enjoyed our stay in the Philippines in spite of what has happened to our family. One thing that we're so thankful of , is my cousin's generosity at letting all of us stay in his house. As for the kids they loved being there especially they befriended his dog named Sam.

Sam is a huge dog and looks very fierce but he's very gentle. He loves to be with the kids and he doesn't seem to mind when the kids disturb him even in his sleep. Because of Sam, our kids have been convincing us to have a pet dog. Personally, I don't want to take care of pets. Having pets means extra expenses and it's like taking care of another 'baby'. Not to mention, we can't just leave the 'baby' by itself whenever we travel for days.

Her Weakness for Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:32:00 +0000

As early as now, I can already tell that my little girl has weakness for shoes when she grows up. Wherever she goes, she would ask me to buy a new pair. I,on the other hand, have to remind her that she doesn't need a new pair since she still has a few pairs that she can wear. I used to buy shoes for her quite too often because her shoes easily gets destroyed. It's either, the shoes I buy are not of good quality or maybe it has something to do with her feet (?). LOL!

Anyways, maybe if I get hold of finish line coupons , then I can buy my girl new pairs of shoes. But wait, she just had 3 new pairs given to her by my sister. So, I will have to wait for these pairs to be worn out and only then we can buy new ones.

Series of Posts on Sendong Flood

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:05:00 +0000

I'm sorry for not being so actively blogging for the past weeks. As some of you may have known, our family in the Philippines has been badly affected by the flash flood brought by the storm Sendong ( Washi) last month. My Mom and 2 sisters' houses were completely wiped out but our hearts are just overflowing with thanksgiving to God since they are all safe.

I will be writing a series of posts in my other blog, Day to Day Miracles so, if you're interested, you can visit me there.

Thank you so much and I will be back in the blogging world real soon!

The Video that Made me Cry

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:59:00 +0000

I've posted this in my Facebook, and I'm posting again here in my blog. This video made me cry a few nights ago. It tells of the hope and wish of over 11 million overseas Filipino workers who are far away from home during the Christmas season. For Filipinos, Christmas is one of the most important occasions in our culture as a Christian nation because this is the time we remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and this is also the time when families get together to celebrate.

Here's the video with English subtitles.

Be Careful with Computer Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:46:00 +0000

When buying laptops or netbooks, one has to be very careful these days. I know someone who bought an HP laptop in one of the biggest computer shops in the city and he only found out a bit later that the hard drive of that laptop was of a different brand. Of course, when feels cheated when that happens right?

So,if you're not a techie person and wants to buy any hi tech gadget, it's best to do a little bit of research first or bring an expert with you when purchasing the latest ipad, galaxy or Asus Eee Pad . It never hurts to be more careful.

Samsung Galaxy Mini

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:21:00 +0000

Hubby and I were looking at some of the android phones early this week. I have to admit, we're a bit outdated on this kind of stuff so, we had to orient ourselves with this 'new' technology along with the latest ipods and ipod chargers. Anyways, the sales assistant of the shop were we went was quite helpful with our queries (a.k.a. ignorance) with the Galaxy tab and stuff.

And honestly, I was quite drawn to the Samsung Mini, it was the 'cheapest' android phone in the line and as the sales assistant said, it also has the other features as the rest of the models but a difference with the memory and Mhz ( whatever that is). But I didn't allow myself to be tempted since I want to save money for something else. I'm quite happy with my LG phone because it has it's own flashlight!! LOL!!

The Make Up Tip That Went Viral

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:11:00 +0000

I just watched this video over Youtube through a link in one of the news sites. This video went viral with over 2million views. I'm sure a lot of people can relate with the vblogger. I can truly relate her too since my skin has also a lot of scars and acne. Maybe, I will have to try out some of her make up tips. But I noticed that she used a lot of different creams and powder for make-up. I'm only using one kind of powder and I'm not sure if I can afford to buy the rest. LOL! Well, that's me, I'm not so much into make up and I'm even amazed of some people who use the best eyelash growth serums .

Anyways, when I feel like making myself pretty through make up, then I can try out her tips.

Klove Online Station

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:37:00 +0000

We're listening to a new online Christian radio station. It's called Klove.com . My friend introduced me to this station and we've been listening here ever since. We still like Praise1065.com but I think their songs are a bit more limited and we've come to a point where we want to listen to a more variety of songs.

Our family loves listening to music. One reason why our computer is on with stereo speakers online all the time is because we're making it also as our 'radio'. Thank God for unlimited internet access, we surely can't do this if we needed to pay our internet by the hour.

If you're looking an online Christian music station, try our Klove.com. They have great selection of alternative Christian music. You might want to try Praise1065.com too. One thing I like in this station is they have regular teachings about family and relationships.

The Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:23:00 +0000

How wonderful it is for family to get together and spend time with one another. We truly had a blessed time with family members in Malaysia last week. It was not just the grown ups who enjoyed being together but as well as the kids! We loved how the kids were so peaceful and so happy playing with each other.

Last week, we also celebrated my mother in laws birthday and advance birthday for my brother in law. It was a touching moment as everyone shared their greetings and appreciation to the birthday celebrants.

Here are a few of our photos.

Our Neighbor's New House

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:12:00 +0000

Our neighbor's newly built house has just been completed. It's a beautiful house that doesn't look like any of the houses in the neighborhood. You see, we live in terrace houses but their house is a bungalow house. So, it's the only bungalow house in the neighborhood. I'm sure the owners are happy with their new house. I, myself was excited to see how the house 'unfolded' into a beautiful one as the days went by.

I can't help but wonder when we can have our own house too. But since we are not living permanently anywhere now, we might as well live in motorhomes with motorhome insurance for easy travel. :)

Too Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:27:00 +0000

I love sweet stuff. I love cakes, chocolates, ice cream and 3 layer tea! As we're here in Penang, I can't help but think about Secret Recipe and 3 layer tea. Oh, I wish I could have them everyday but I really have to be careful with my sugar intake. I've been seeing a lot of reminders and warning here from the government since it seems that diabetes is the number 1 'killer' here in Malaysia. I'm not sure what medicine the diabetic patients are taking here but I sure hope it's not the medicine that has gives the risk of bladder cancer. I've heard a lot of people in the US are looking for actos law firms to help them with their cases.

Anyways, 3 layer tea and Secret Recipe, I like you but I have to go slowly on you ok? :)

In Penang

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:26:00 +0000

We are now here in Penang to renew Hubby's passport and our Thai visa. We thought that the process could be fast and we can finish our transactions by today and do other things in the next couple of days but we were wrong. Before Hubby could renew his passport, he has to apply for a new identification card since his current one is broken. Then, the passport that could have taken only an hour or two to process in other offices is now taking him more than a day.

But even with all these delays, we are enjoying the company of family members and also enjoying Penang itself! :)

Sharing a Loft

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Whether you’re a nervous mother fretting over her daughter’s first move to the big city, or a fresh face in a new place with a tight budget, you just want assurances that everything’s going to work out O.K. During these times of tight finances, many people looking for a place to stay long-term are resorting to sharing a loft in urban settings rather than splitting two-room places. Trading additional privacy for rent relief, these renters may have to share one large room with another person that doesn’t only serve as general living space, but also doubles as a shared bedroom. In order to make such a situation work, the two people splitting the space need to be creative about how they use the space.

The last thing many young adults want to resort to is feeling like a kid again, and the words ‘bunk beds’ often evoke such childhood reminiscence. Though twin size bunks certainly won’t do for two full-grown adults, two full size beds on the floor are enormous wastes of already limited amounts of space. By stacking beds, roommates can optimize living space while still getting their bed space as well. By building or buy full size bunk beds, the problems of limited bed space and limited floor space are eliminated simultaneously. A full size bunk bed only requires ladder access for one.

Intelligent furniture use is also going to be essential. Use stackable cabinets when possible versus having large trunks or other oversized storage systems, and keep everything organized by storage space so that there is nothing that doesn’t have a home and ends up lying out on the floor unkempt. Chairs are preferable to couches since they are much easier to move around and stack away, though a futon that doubles as a guest bed may serve many versatile purposes as well. The real key is that ‘doubling’ feature. Anything that serves one primary purpose and doubles as something else (dining room table/office desk, for instance) will help you maximize space and utility, without sacrificing anything in particular that you might need.
And when all else fails, you can always rent a storage unit. It will be cheaper over time than paying for the extra square footage in-house, and there are probably many items you don’t need day-to-day anyway.

Piso Bids

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:53:00 +0000

I've been quite interested with online sites that sells items through bids which starts at 1 peso. it does seem to be a very low price to buy something very expensive. But after realizing that buying this way can take so much of time, I never thought of trying it out at all. It was only then that I read a few blogger's experiences on sites like this that they think is a scam. A few writers wrote about the dealfun.com complaints . I'm not so sure though if it's true or not.

But personally, I think the best way to buy online are in the sites that have reputable names with all TOS and rules in black and white.

Carrot Sticks

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:17:00 +0000

I've registered my daugther in the site called Carrot Sticks. It's a site where children can practice their maths online. It's quite exciting since they earn points for every correct answer they give and they also get a chance to challenge another player who's online. One thing I also like with the site is that they can't chat with their opponent which I think makes the it safer for the kids and avoid unnecessary chatting.

I like how the internet has a lot of useful tools for education like they have online maths online accounting, online spelling and etc . But I also try to be more careful with the kids use with the internet.

Christmas Program

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000

My mom and I just had a chat last night. She was telling me of my sister's idea for our Christmas program. Oh, talking about their plans and program have made me more excited for Christmas. I'm sure it's going to be fun and the kids are going to have a blast.

Christmas is just a few weeks away and this also reminds me to start doing our Christmas gift shopping. We haven't done any yet and I guess it's a good idea to do it here in Thailand itself. We can always opt to Link To Copy: send holiday gift baskets but let me see what I can find here first.

So, how many more days before Christmas? Let me check....

The Sun is Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:18:00 +0000

The sun has been out for a couple of days now. Thank God! I think this city is now free from any threats of flood since we've already passed the period in which there's supposed to be a storm. I just hope there won't be upcoming storms in the future.

Since Mr. Sun is out, it's time to take out our Spy Sunglasses (or is that spyder sunglasses ?). And of course, it's time to wash our laundry and it'll be great since they will be dry in no time. Thank you God for the shining sun!

My Little Girl's Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:34:00 +0000

The blog that I made for my daughter has become officially hers now. For years, I've been writing on her 'diary' and her experiences when she was still younger. Now, since she can write and compose her thoughts in writing her blog has finally became hers. But since it still taking her a long time to type in the computer,I have become her official 'typist'.

She has already written quite a few journal entries now, and I have to keep up with her writing and update her blog. A few things though that I've noticed since she began writing her journal is that her handwriting and her spelling has improved a lot.

So, re-introducing my daughter's blog ' My Li'l Princess Diary'...oh, I think this blog title will have to change too..

Saving for our Christmas Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:24:00 +0000

A few more days before Christmas and that means we don't have to wait for a long time before we can go back home to the Philippines. I just have one more flight to domestic flight to book and I could say that we are all set for our homecoming. I haven't book this domestic flight yet,because I'm waiting for the cut off date for the credit card that I'm using. I've already booked our international flights and one way domestic flight last month and I don't want to cram all these payments this month. I'm really very careful with my CC use since I don't want to need credit repair in the future.

After booking our last domestic flight, I will start saving up for our trip expenses. You know, Christmas season is one of the fun-filled seasons but can also turn out to be an expensive season with all the food, gifts and celebration. But it'll be worth it especially as we are celebrating it with our loved ones in the Philippines this year.

If the Shoe Fits

noreply@blogger.com (Lalaine) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:12:00 +0000

We were in Tesco the other day and I saw that a lot of shoes and sandals were on sale up to 50% off. I thought it would be the best time to buy a new pair since the one I have is getting worn out. I'm not a shoe fanatic and I can wear the same pair until it wears out. I guess I've been used to this kind of setting because this has been my mom's rule when we were younger, 'we can only buy a new pair of shoes if our present one is worn out'. Oh, how I remember getting 'bored' with my Bandolino school shoes which I've worn for years. If you're from the Philippines and at almost the same age as I am, you would know that Bandolino shoes are of very good quality and they don't easily get worn out! LOL!

But anyways, with the quality of shoes now, mine doesn't always last long maybe unless I buy the expensive enzo angiolini shoes . But I guess that's one 'advantage' for me of getting a cheaper pair, I can buy almost quite regularly since they get worn out easily and thus keeping me from getting 'bored' of wearing the same pair for years! :)