My Life in Soft Copy

Valentine's Day gifts

2012-02-15T18:32:00.000+08:00

We do not normally celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th...ayaw namin makipagsiksikan. This year, we do not have plans yet...basta sabi ko lang sa husband ko manonood kami ng Unofficially Yours...maybe we will watch it on Saturday! Hehe!

I decided to buy my husband a cake (Frozen Braso de Mercedes from CaraMia) last Monday and I gave it to him na rin that night...because I knew he will have a busy schedule yesterday, February 14.

Yesterday morning, I was surfing the net while my son was playing. He formed this thingy into a heart and greeted me - "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy!". He is such a sweet boy!

We made this heart card naman, which was Antonio's gift for his daddy. I cut the heart and wrote the dedication at the back. Antonio drew the face =)

Since busy nga si hubby yesterday, I did not expect him to give me flowers or a gift...pero naghahanda na ako ng 'tampong' script in case wala nga syang gift. Haha! When he arrived, he surprised me with a bouquet. =)

We capped off the day with us watching 50 First Dates. Hay, kinilig na naman ako! =)

A Short Conversation between God and Man

2012-02-13T17:01:00.000+08:00

This is a nice read. Got this from here.

Timing na timing because I have been questioning God about the recent events in my life. Nagtatampo ako minsan kay Lord. But I know God knows I try very hard to trust in Him...to believe that He has plans and those are for our own good. Kaya after ko magtampo at maglabas ng sama ng loob sa Kanya, I feel positive...I cannot wait for His plans =)

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Me: God, can I ask You a question?

God: Sure

Me: Promise You won't get mad...

God: I promise

Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do u mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late

God: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start

God: Okay

Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait

God: Huummm

Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call

God: All right

Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?

God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that

Me (humbled): OH

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed):Okay

God: Your phone went dead bcuz the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): I see God

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm Sorry God

God: Don't be sorry, just learn to Trust Me.... in All things , the Good & the bad.

Me: I will trust You.

God: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.

God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children...

Source: Shaine Songco

Stolen Water Meter and Incompetent Barangay Officials

2012-01-31T14:26:00.000+08:00

Our water meter was stolen yesterday early morning. Oh diba, pati water meter pinatos. Sabi ng husband ko ghetto na daw yung community nila. Dati side mirrors lang ang kinukuha, now pati metro...naman. Now, nagmamadali na lumipat ang asawa ko ng house.

Anyway, sabi ko naman water meter lang yan at least di kotse ang ninakaw. Pero hassle pa rin kasi we are taking a bath sa ground floor CR dahil nakiki-igib lang kami sa house ng tito ni Arch.

So our yaya went to the Barangay Hall to file a Barangay Report, which is needed to get a new meter from Manila Water. Naka 3 beses na nakapunta yung yaya ko sa hall, wala daw pwedeng pumirma. Alam niyo kung ano sabi? Tulog daw si Barangay Captain kasi fiesta last Sunday. Sana daw maintindihan namin. Oh diba ang bongga!!!! San ka naman nakakita ng ganong sagot? Buti pa ang chicharon may laman, yung ulo ata ng kausap ng yaya ko e hangin lang!

Binalikan ng yaya ko yung Barangay Hall ng mga 6pm. Yung kausap daw nya sabi, sya na lang daw pipirma. Hay, pinagod lang nya yung tao.

Nakakapang init ng ulo!

NBI Clearance Application - Las Pinas City Hall

2012-01-31T13:22:00.004+08:00

I have read horror stories about the looooooong lines and horrible system in getting NBI clearance. Since NBI has changed providers and now have biometric system, all applications will be deemed as new applications.

I was thinking of getting the clearance in Mandaluyong because it is nearer our house, or Robinsons Otis because I have read that the processing there is faster and the lines are not that long or Las Pinas because I can ask a staff of my dad to fall in line early. I decided to try in Las Pinas yesterday - January 30.

The messenger arrived around 6am I think. He queued in the line for women. When I arrived around 7, the line is sooooo long already. We were thinking maybe only 50 women were in front of me. They started distributing the application forms by 730am. I was so nervous because I still did not have my cedula, the messenger was still getting it from the other building. A lot of women before me were not given an application form because they, too did not have cedula yet. When it was my turn, I did not show the front page of my cedula, I just told the person somebody is still getting the new one for me. Thank God, I was given an application form...oh by the way, I was already the 108th. If the women before me who did not have the cedula were given application forms, I will need to go back next time. The cut-off for application for women is 120 and for men 180 per day.

I was praying that the processing will take half a day. Unfortunately, I was there until 4pm. Yes, it took that long. I did not take lunch anymore since I do not want to lose my place in the line - though we, the people who were left, honored the numbering still. Bigayan na lang diba =) Ang bagal kasi ng encoding. There are only 2 computer terminals. One terminal is dedicated for those who were asked to go back kasi di na-process yung application nila last year - during the transitioning to the new system...though konti lang yung mga taong yun. The other terminal is for the new applicants. Tapos, yung mga nagtatype e ang bagal bagal. Naturingang students of an IT school pa sila.

Good thing, the applicants were nice and jolly persons. Wala na lang nagsusungit kasi kung may magsungit dun malamang lahat kami bad trip na. Pinagtatawanan na lang namin yung case namin. Then one applicant, kasama nya mom nya. The mom was directing people like ayusin ang line, walang pinapasingit, etc. It was favorable for us. Pero kung nanay ko yun, siguro mapapacringe na lang ako. Hehe!

I was able to get my clearance yesterday. Last year, when I applied in Mandaluyong, I was asked to go back after a week. Syempre the praning in me, I was thinking na baka may kaso ako na di ko alam. Haha!

Tips:
1. If possible, ask somebody to fall in line for you early like around 4 or 5 am. (Yung isang applicant galing syang Alabang that day, 4am pa lang ubos na yung slot. Buti naka abot pa sya sa Las Pinas)
2. If applying in a city hall (like in Las Pinas or Mandaluyong), make sure you have cedula from that city BEFORE falling in line. Feeling ko pinagkakakitaan lang ng city hall yan e. Kasi wala naman sa NBI website yung requirement na yan.
3. Wear light or comfortable clothes.
4. Bring fan, candy, snacks, books or magazines, water jug.
5. Be friendly to your 'seatmates'.
6. Pray
7. Smile at wag uminit ang ulo....matatapos din ang processing. Hehe!

Year of the Water Dragon

2012-01-25T17:54:00.000+08:00

How did you spend your Chinese New Year Long weekend?

Last Saturday, my husband and I went to Ahavia Spa. Finally, nakapag massage na ulit kami.

Last Sunday, after hearing mass, we went to Greenhills. Antonio had a haircut and played at Timezone. Nakakatuwa si Antonio kasi after 3 years, umupo na rin sya sa car chair ng barbershop. Then, we ate at Papa John's. Grabe ang sarap ng pizza! =)

For dinner naman, we ate at Zhu at the Fort. Okay lang naman yung food. Mas gusto ko pa rin sa Kanzhu. =)

After dinner, we walked towards Boni High. We tried Jamba Juice and stayed near the water fountain. At first, nagbububbles lang yung mga kids...then, di na nila napigilan, naglaro na sila sa fountain. Buti na lang si Antonio medyo takot so di sya nabasa...hands lang =)

playing with bubbles

Nieces of Archie, running around

Then, last Monday, we just went to Megamall to look at some sofa sets and appliances needed for the house.

What a way to start the Year of the Water Dragon =)

T, U, V

2012-01-19T18:26:00.000+08:00

T for Truck

U for Umbrella

V for Volcano

Happy 38th Month!

2012-01-19T18:20:00.001+08:00

Antonio's milestones:

Super super daldal. Matutulog na lang ang dami pang sinasabi
He is in the ‘questioning ‘ stage now

Who’s that?
Where is the sound coming from?
Why? – Why is he sneezing? Why does he have colds? Why are they shouting? Why are you laughing?
Where is daddy? Where are my cousins?

He can now say “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” and say our short morning prayer

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*Antonio getting ready to have his afternoon nap*

Antonio: (whispering) Ate Rose, carry.

Ate Rose: Bakit carry? E ang bigat mo na?

Antonio: Thalap e

Ayos naman sa hirit! Haha!

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Grabe naman sa memory. Recently, he was gathering his puzzle pieces so he can assemble them. When he saw the Mickey Mouse puzzle pieces, he stood up and went to his cabinet, looking for something.

Mommy: What are you looking for?

Antonio: Puzzle piece. Kulang e.

Mommy: Pano mo naman nalaman na kulang e di pa nga buo.

Antonio: I am looking for the puzzle piece. Kulang (still looking for the piece)

Mommy: Hay, halika gawin muna natin *I started completing the puzzle*

I was shocked, kulang nga. Shockers! Then, I suddenly remembered na the day before nga, he saw one piece of that puzzle in one of his toy bags

Crossroads

2012-01-06T14:44:00.000+08:00

I am pretty sure lahat tayo dumadaan or dumaan sa crossroads...that our heads (sometimes hearts) are aching kakaisip kung ano ang dapat gawin.

Deciding and discerning are so difficult to do. Ipagsolve mo na lang ako ng puzzle or math problem wag lang mag decide kung ano gagawin ahaha OA.

Before I wrote this entry, I was in a crossroad. Di ko alam kung ano ang tamang gawin. Yung isa, alam kong hiningi ko talaga kay Lord yun pero may major isang problem lang talaga (minsan napapaisip ako na di talaga binibigay ni Lord lahat ano? =p Siguro dapat we will earn it.). Yung isa naman, I will not do anything, ganito pa rin ako...pero sayang yung opportunity ng isa. Ahaha palabo na ng palabo. Basta my decision was to go forward. Sayang ang opportunity. Bibihira yung ganong opportunity, ang hirap palampasin. Bahala na si Lord sa akin. Ipinagdasal ko naman yun thus, I know I am on the right road. =D

First Surprise in 2012!

2012-01-04T17:58:00.001+08:00

When I learned that there will be Disney on Ice again, I told my husband na we should watch. I was planning to buy the Php900++ tickets for the 3 of us, kaso sabi ni husband ko parang ang mahal daw (kahit ako magbabayad haha). So I kept on delaying the purchase. Tapos when we went naman to Megamall, 2 weekends before Christmas sabi sarado na daw yung ticketnet, so sabi ko sign na talaga yun na di na kami magwatch.

January 1 lunch time, somebody called my husband. It was my husband's cousin. She has 3 tickets daw (Php675 each) for the 8pm show that day. It was supposedly for the apo of the maid of the cousin's boyfriend (ang haba ahaha) kaso the apo is sick. So they are selling it for Php1500 na lang daw sayang naman e. Since good deal and sayang nga, my husband bought it na. Then, the cousin said na Php1000 na lang daw bayaran namin kasi ilibre na lang daw nya si Antonio. Oh diba ang bongga!!!!

We left our house around 6pm, got the tickets at the cousin's condo, then arrived Gateway around 7pm. Since may time pa naman, we had a quick dinner/merienda at TacoBell. 730pm nasa loob na kami ng Araneta. Maaga pa pala kami! Haha! Our seat was Upper A, at the side of the 'stage'. Okay naman pala ang Upper A =)

Here are some of the pictures I have taken that night.

I was nervous na baka di lumabas sila Buzz and Woody, kasi gustong gusto talaga ni Antonio yun. Buti na lang they were there =)

We are so happy kasi I know Antonio enjoyed the show. Kahit pagod na pagod kami (puros party and dinner the whole week), okay na rin. Once in a lifetime naman to and super discounted pa! =D

Grabe talaga si Lord. Unang araw pa lang may surprise na! =) Kaya naman I know 2012 will be a very good year for all of us!

New Year's Eve

2012-01-04T17:40:00.000+08:00

Since we celebrated Christmas Eve with Arch's family, we celebrated New Year's Eve naman with my side.

I thought of preparing games for my siblings plus in-laws and parents. Para naman di lang kwentuhan ang activity namin...Haha! We played Q&A and charades. Dapat may bingo pa, di na namin natuloy at tuwang tuwa sila sa charades, nagisip pa sila ng mga movies na pwedeng i-act. Haha!

I was the one who thought of the movie titles. Di naman masyadong mahirap at di rin naman ganon kadali. Kasi baka pag mahirap, magreklamo ang mga kapatid ko. Reklamador kasi yung mga yun! Haha! I underestimated my siblings....grabe yung mga mahahabang movie titles, less than a minute lang kuha na. So sa birthday ng papa namin, we will play charades again...at hihirapan ko na talaga! =p

Home Along The Riles

Jaws

Walang Matigas na Tinapay sa Mainit na Kape

Looking forward to 2012

2011-12-30T18:39:00.000+08:00

In 2012, I look forward to …

Transferring to our new house
Buying appliance, furniture and fixtures
‘Decorating’ the house
Cooking
our PRIVACY! =)
School Hunting
Antonio's school
God’s plan regarding my work =)
Our 5^th wedding anniversary
Long weekends!!!
Going to Boracay in December
Simbang Gabi

Happy Happy New Year!

2011 Recap

2011-12-30T18:34:00.001+08:00

If somebody asked me last November how my 2011 fared, my answer would be "below average". I was so depressed last November (ayaw ko ng sabihin ang reason para makalimutan ko rin eventually hehe), I blogged it here. Buti na lang at nandyan si Arch, Antonio and my family =) Now, I feel positive na. Alam ko, God is cooking up something. And feel na feel ko na malapit ng maluto yun =)

We received lots of gifts in 2011 kaya naman nung may kinuha si Lord nung November, di rin naman ako talaga makareklamo (medyong reklamo lang hehe!)

Major Highlights:
February - Additional Income
April - Tagaytay with my family
June - Subic with Archie's family
September - Bali Trip
October - Started paying the downpayment for our future house

Giftssssss

2011-12-30T18:06:00.000+08:00

When Antonio started receiving gifts days before Christmas, I told him that we need to wait for Christmas. Reason? I want him to learn how to wait...which I am successful naman. He did not open naman until December 24 lunch...I allowed him to open one gift. Then before dinner, he opened another gift. We planned na sabay sabay para fun, kaso feeling ko na-overwhelm sya e. Hehe!

So next year, I think I will let him open his gifts siguro mga December 24 morning pa lang. By night time naman madami pa rin syang ioopen =) Kahit December 25, meron pa rin!

Santa's Love Letter

2011 Christmas Celebration

2011-12-30T17:50:00.000+08:00

Last year, we spent Christmas eve with my family then New Year's eve with Archie's family. So this year, we spent the Christmas Eve with Archie's mother's side. Here are the pictures during the celebrations =)

December 24 Lunch - with Archie's dad

December 24 Dinner and Noche Buena - Archie's mother side

The delish Turkey made by dear Husband =)

green family =D

Antonio with his ates

December 25 Lunch - with my family

mga walang magawa hehe!

Antonio and his cousins

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T06:45:00.003+08:00

2011 Christmas Wrapper Part 2

2011-12-24T06:42:00.000+08:00

Since I have used up all the 'painted' wrappers and Antonio is not interested in painting anymore, we just made footprint and handprints reindeers and Christmas trees.

Presenting the new Christmas Wrappers for 2011.

2011 Christmas Wrappers

2011-12-21T18:34:00.000+08:00

Antonio and I made homemade Christmas wrappers last year. But we only used the wrappers to wrap the gifts for my family kasi busy busyhan. Since Archie loved the idea, we decided to do this activity again this year.

Happy 37th Month!

2011-12-19T07:09:00.000+08:00

Antonio's milestones:

Says presents instead of gifts
Compliments people
Loves to copy other people
Ang daming alam! Haha! When he asks a question and my answer is "maybe it is ___", he will say "could be".
If we did not hear what he said and it is not important naman, he will say "nothing". Parang matanda?

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Mommy: Look Antonio, there is the moon.
Antonio: Moon. Crescent.
Daddy: What? (Did not understand what Antonio said)
Antonio: Crescent.
Daddy: (Talking to me) Ano daw?
Mommy: What did you say?
Antonio: Moon, crescent.
Mommy: (Laughing). Crescent daw. Haha!
Daddy:*Tameme*
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Antonio's 3rd Birthday Celebration

2011-12-19T06:54:00.000+08:00

We had 2 mini-parties for the little boy. 1 for the south people (my family and Arch's dad) and 1 for the north people (for Archie's siblings).

Antonio loves Angry birds. So it is but fitting that his cake is Angry Birds. I got matching shirts for the 3 of us as well =)

Supplier: I got the cake and cupcakes from Hannah Enrile.
Rating - Cake: Design - 5 out of 5. Taste - 3 out of 5.

Okay kausap si Hannah! Madali din mag reply. I loved how the cake turned out. Nanginginig si Antonio sa excitement when he was opening the cake box =) I just did not like the taste so much. Ang taste niya e pwede na. It was a chocolate cake. It was not sweet parang may kulang. Siguro dahil matamis yung fondant kaya di na matamis yung cake. Pero still, I highly recommend Hannah.

Nothing compares pa rin talaga Antonio's 1st birthday cake. That cake was made by Le Sucreries. Hay sana sa 5th birthday ni Antonio, we get to order from her again =) Siguro next year, I will not order fondant cake anymore. Mas gusto talaga yung taste ng cake pag di.

Rating - Cupcake: Design - 5 out of 5. Taste - 4 out of 5.

Mas nagustuhan ko yung cupcakes ni Hannah. Kasi mas may lasa na sya =) Kasi siguro yung topping nya is not fondant but buttercream ata. Sayang lang medyo nagulo na yung cupcakes. Kasi dala na namin yan from Alabang to Las Pinas to San Juan. Haha!

Magic Santa

2011-12-06T12:34:00.001+08:00

Does your kid love Santa? Mine is addicted to Santa! Haha! I have learned this program from one of the mommies in N@W last year...where you can customize Santa's message. You may also include picture of your kid and yourselves. Inabangan ko talaga yan this year. Here is what I have made for Antonio. The link below will take you to the website.

Magic Santa

Dali, gawa na kayo for your kiddos! =)

St. Andrew Christmas Novena Prayer to Obtain Favors

2011-11-29T09:18:00.001+08:00

I have blogged about this prayer last year. I am posting this again as this Novena should be prayed 15 times everyday starting tomorrow, November 30 until Christmas.

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Hail and blessed be the hour and moment

in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,

at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God!

to hear my prayer and grant my desires,

through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Antonio's 3rd Birthday

2011-11-25T05:03:00.000+08:00

We just had a simple dinner on Antonio's birthday. Red Ribbon Pancit Palabok and lumpia from DEC.

Syempre, we also had a cake (from Chocolat) with 3 candles, which Antonio blew twice that day. Hehe!

Here is the obligatory family picture. =)

Happy 3rd Birthday Baby!

2011-11-23T12:14:00.000+08:00

Happy 3rd birthday, Antonio! We have passed the terrible 2 stage with flying colors. I was expecting I will be blogging my rants all throughout the year, but no. You have been a very good boy.

We are really blessed to have you in our lives. I have never imagined that I can love a person as much as I love you. Your I love yous, smiles, hugs, and kisses complete our day.

We pray that you will grow up to be a good Christian, loving and respectful to others. We love you so much baby! Mwah!

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Antonio's milestones:

When we massage him, he says "Ahhh thalap" with matching facial expression.
He remembers a lot. He can still remember that a balloon popped when my brother-in-law closed the trunk of the car. This happened October 1 before they left for the surprise party of my mother-in-law
If he does not know the next thing to say, he will ask - what's next?
He loves to say - "maybe" (when I asked him for his car, he will say "maybe under the sofa")
He loves to play hide and seek
He is such an OC kid. If he sees trash on the floor, he will pick it up and throw it inside the trash can. If the floor rug is not properly laid out, he will fix it. If the door is open, he should close it and say - close the door pasok lamok.

Not that techy

2011-11-18T09:46:00.002+08:00

*While Antonio and I were looking at the Toy Kingdom Catalogue*

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Antonio: Oh look, Super Mario.

Mommy: Yes, correct that is Super Mario

Antonio: Just like what Ate Alexa's (cousin) playing.

Grabe ang memory ng anak ko! E bibihira lang nya makita yung DS ng ate nya kasi di naman palaging dinadala dito. And di nga nya nalalaro yun because ayaw namin....dahil a year ago nasira nya yung DS na yun. Haha!

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Antonio: (pointing at the Nintendo 3DS) where is Super Mario here?

Mommy: Oh, we have to put a 'chip' first

Antonio: No, card

I was speechless! We do not own a Nintendo 3DS here or kahit anong game console (yun ba tawag dun? haha). So gusto ko sana sabihin na anak, chip ang tawag dun, kaso tama naman talaga sya e...hehe!

Ako na ang low tech, old school! Buti na lang di ko sinabi - anak, we need to put a cartridge first. haha!

Q, R, S

2011-11-15T11:12:00.000+08:00

Q for Queen

R for Rainbow

S for Snake