To Be, To Be. Tutubi.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:47:00 +0000

Count your blessings, its Wednesday! Happiness is:
1. Great taste white coffee.
2. My Philips Go Gear Aria and egg speaker.
3. The Girl who Played with Fire book. Loving it!
4. The view from our office window.
5. The wonderful massage at De Stress Express spa.
6. The spa date with my friends next month.
7. The great rebond deal. Ahem.
8. The blog earnings!
9. Mom's barbecue!
10. For my kid's good health.

To know how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Its A Tuesday and I Love it!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:24:00 +0000

I normally write my happy thoughts every Wednesday but its only Tuesday and yet I have lots of things to be thankful for! I am happy because I have a job and cool bosses and my workplace is just awesome! The office chairs have wheels (there is a funny story behind it and I will tell you about it sometime) and my computer works great! I have great friends and co-workers whom I like and respect. We have a gym at work where I can run my daily 5k and it has a sauna room too! Now, what else can ask for in a place of work?

At the home front, the kids are doing great and not sick anymore. My eldest son, whose eyes were puffy just the other day and whom I was afraid would have sore eyes is better now. My youngest kid is doing well in school and I think nobody is bullying her anymore. My mom is well and not sickly anymore and my sister does well in school.

They say that when you count your blessings, you end up loving everything around you. While my life is not perfect and I cannot always give what my kids need, I know that we have a better life compared to other people.

So its only Tuesday, but I am loving my life!

Its War!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:51:00 +0000

I know! But my clothes do not fit as nicely as before and I feel so heavy and sluggish. So I am starting a food diary again starting today. And I am doing this for myself, for my health and not just to fit a certain image. I guess I have to step up my exercise and cut back on my intake. If only its easy :(

Happy 5th Birthday, Nuffnang!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:32:00 +0000

Nuffnang is turning 5 years old! And you are invited to the party!

When: February 27, 2012
Time: 8 PM – 12 MN
Where: Borough, The Podium Mall, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Dress code: BLUE!

Thank You, Eslendre!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:30:00 +0000

I write about my personal experiences on this blog or on the other. When I bought an underarm whitening services and I liked it, I wrote about it. When I bought a massage that I loved and or about one that turned out crappy, or worse than crappy, I wrote about it. When I bought play vouchers for my kids and they loved it, I wrote about it too. I bought and paid for those services and I have a right to write about how I felt about it. I have never been to a place, hoping to get preferential treatment, just so I can write good reviews about it. That is not how I do it.

So when I wrote about how I felt about Eslendre's treatment, and how I really think that I did get my money's worth and more, I was just writing about my personal experience. Can you imagine my surprise when during my last visit, my 5th voucher, they were thankful for my review and gave me a free Diamond tome treatment? I was touched, really. First, that they read my blog, and that they were grateful too! Anyway, I just want to shout it out again, to the wonderful people at Eslendre that I love your service and I am going to be one loyal costumer (if my budget should permit it, ha ha)! Thanks Eslendre!

Butterfly Artworks at Burgoo

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Last February 14, we had lunch at Burgoo in Robinsons Galleria. One of the things that captured our attention were these butterfly artworks on the wall beside our table. It looks like guests were given coloring materials and a butterfly table liner and were encouraged to color while waiting for their food.

They were beautiful and I guess these pretty ones are the best because they made it to the wall.
We tried doodling but I only came up with this!
I guess I need a pattern, ha ha ha!

Best Friends, Forever!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:52:00 +0000

My friends and I have this group called Derte' which stands for our names, Dinah, Ehms, Rona, Tess and Emilie. We have been friends since our first year in college. Over the years, Rona, Ehms and I see each other regularly because we just live and work here. Emilie works on a call center and has an erratic schedule so we only see her a handful over the last 15 years. May, on the other hand worked as a crew in a cruise ship and have gone on to marry her crew mate and now live in India. She was here for the Christmas vacation, which though unfortunately was extended because she and her son got sick, it paved the way for a reunion. And 15 years after this photo was taken in Nayong Filipino, Derte' meet again!
We first meet up at Gateway in Cubao and then went to Eastwood to meet with Emilie later. And as it is with friends, it was as if we just saw each other last weekend! Immediately after a hi and hello, Emilie was whipping out her kikay kit and retouching my makeup, like what she normally does for me in college!
And Ehms and May and Rona where gossiping like crazy, and people watching and catching up with each other! There was no rhyme nor reason to the conversation but in just a while, we have caught up with each others lives! I think that really what being friends mean: being apart, but still together and never being a stranger. I love these guys and they are like sisters to me and I know that distance will never be a problem between us!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:51:00 +0000

Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.

Happiness is:
1. Drexelle is finally home from the hospital.
2. Vangie for all her help.
3. My bosses and office friends, for their continuous support and prayers for my family.
4. For my mom and sister, for taking care of the house and kids while I was in the hospital with Drex.
5. My husband for being a source of strength.
6. Free lunch at Burgoo for Ms Terry's birthday.
7. Pizza treat from Ms Gina
8. Gaining weight but knowing that every calorie was worth it.
9. My lone white rose from my husband. Its the cutest ever!
10. For knowing that I am loved by those whom I love most!

To know how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Happy Valentine's Day! Or Happy Tuesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:15:00 +0000

Today is Valentine's Day or for single, lonely people, its Tuesday. So Happy Valentine's or Happy Tuesday! Either way, have a fine day everyone!
Mine was just okay, almost Valentine's but quite a Tuesday, if you know what I mean. Ha ha ha!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:12:00 +0000

Everyday can be good or bad, depending on your attitude! So I will count my reasons for happiness and make it a great day! Happiness is:
1. Drexelle is still sick but its not Dengue. Hay.
2. Joan for her help with the blood tests.
3. Blanda for her prayers and financial support.
4. Vangie for always being ready to help, kahit di ka pa humihingi ng tulong!
5. My Ate Dianne, for being a veru dependable ate.
6. For my husband for finding ways to make everything work.
7. My bosses, on their concern for the well being of my kids.
8. For my sister and my mom for being always there.
9. For a great reunion with my friends, Ehms, Rona, May and Emilie.
10. For being able to be thankful despite all these trials. Which means I have more reason to be thankful than to be sad.

To see how this started and for credits on the image, see here.

35 and Loving It!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:02:00 +0000

I am 35 years old and loving it! My friends from the office surprised me with a simple feast, knowing that I had no more money for a birthday treat. My daughter was hospitalized for Dengue fever for 6 days and my eldest son had to be rushed to the ER. Funds were really low and at the bottom of my expense list was a feast for my birthday. But my friends are indeed great friends and the pansit, cake and spaghetti really tasted very good, more so because it was such a heartfelt treat! I love how I grow not just in years, but in the love of my friends! I am blessed because they love me and I know it!
The small bunch of people who made my day extra special.
Not in the photo are Weng- my kumare who now works abroad, and Luz and Tinn, and Bunny.
35 is just a number and I know that my life's journey has only just begun. There are old problems but new challenges and some disappointments but more reason to be happy and look forward to more great years to come! Thank you to all my friends who prayed for my kids, and for the love that they showed me all these years!

My Journey Begins: KM 1

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:18:00 +0000

Yesterday was my 35th birthday and I marked it specially by standing here at the KM 1 marker of the Philippines. My goal is to go somewhere farthest away from here and so my journey to this goal begins today!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:47:00 +0000

This is a late post, but nevertheless I just want to count the things that made me happy this week. Happiness is:

1. Ishi is finally out of the hospital after the week-long bout with dengue.
2. Drexelle was not confined after the severe allergy attack.
3. Danniel is fine and going to school.
4. Vangie for all her help. For everything.
5. My sister Dianne and her good friend Mishi for all their support.
6. My friends Blanda, Cathy, Jheff and all of my office mates for their prayers for Ishi's health.
7. My mom, mom in law, sister, sister in law for their calls, visits and well wishes for my daughter.
8. For the doctors and nurses at Lourdes Hospital for their professionalism and empathy.
9. For my husband and my other kids for their presence and love.
10. For everybody who supported my family during this time.

For credits on the image and to see how this started, click here.

Lucky Charms for the Chinese New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:36:00 +0000

We were in Quaipo last Saturday to buy new eye glasses for my son and my self and we saw so many lucky charms for the Chinese New Year being sold on the street. The ones below were for sale under the Hidalgo underpass, for P120 each. Since I only had enough budget for the glasses, I restrained myself from buying. I wasnt sure what to buy any way.

But when I saw these lucky charms on display, I just had to buy it! I was boen under the fire dragon sign, and I new these coins were for prosperity so I know I can never go wrong with them. And for only P20, I felt I was already lucky!

So they now hang inside our house, just one step from the door. I hope it will bring us luck, prosperity and financial success this year, coupled with our hard work! Happy Chinese Lunar Year to all of you!

P1 Just for Fun for Every Juan!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:38:00 +0000

Cebu Pacific's Piso Fare is back! And sale started at 0001H last night and available until seats last! Travel period is from June 1-December 15, 2012 so you still have lots of time to save for the trip! So what are you waiting for, book now and enjoy! Remember, its more fun in the Philippines!

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club: A Great Way to Start the Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

I believe that there no is no greater wealth than the good health of my family. I know that making sure that their health is properly taken care of is my responsibility and I take that seriously. Unfortunately, we are not rich and money is sometimes an issue, especially when you are raising three kids and paying mortgage and living expenses.

But a wise mother is always on the look out for great ways to make things work for the best of the ones she love and discovering Walgreens Prescription Savings Club was a great way for me to start the year! Walgreens Prescription Savings Club is offering an annual membership on a special discount at only $10! This covers membership for the whole family, including your spouse, dependents and even pets! And since I have a hypertensive husband and hypertension also runs in my family, I will surely enjoy the benefits of the prescription club. My kids are all young and they need flu shots and other vaccines and I know that I will get lots of savings from the club too! Other benefits are great savings on branded medicines and generic medicines which are actually needed by my husband and even discounts on flu shots or pet prescriptions! If you are single, you can also be a member for only $5!

So check out Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook to know more about this great deal and their other offerings! I am sure it will bring great benefits and savings to you and your family! And that is something to really make the year great!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:47:00 +0000

This is obviously a late post, having to count my Wednesday Happy Thoughts on a Thursday, but hey, saying thanks knows no day, right? So happiness is:

1. Adelle and her music
2. My husband for making good on his promise to be better
3. Living from paycheck to paycheck, ha ha. That is indeed something to be thankful for because other people do not have jobs!
4. Hugs and kisses from the kids!
5. Smell of coffee. Yes, I do not have a sense of smell most of the time but there are moments that I have and I just love the smell of coffee!
6. Leveling up on my daily run, from 5K to 8K! Hope I can sustain it!
7. The Sto. Niño procession
8. 3 writing opps, written and approved!
9. Chippy and cup noodles
10. My happy thoughts notebook. Yep, I started one this month and I am writing down every single happy thought that I have during the day!

To see how this started and for credits on the image, please click here.

LP 185: Malungkot

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:23:00 +0000

Bakit ka malungkot? Dahil ba tapos na ang isang maikling bakasyon sa magandang isla sa Batangas at ikaw ay pauwi na muli sa magulong mundo ng Maynila? At balik trabaho, balik problema at balik sa katotohanan na ang tagal muli bago makanakaw ng bakasyon?
Teka, kelan nga natin uulitin to?

The Spa Philosophy Review: It Sucks!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:20:00 +0000

I bought 2 vouchers at Metrodeal for the 60-minutes full body massage at The Spa Philosophy in D. Tuazon at only P110 instead of the regular price of P220 and I consider it the worst deal of my life! As required, I made a reservation for myself and my husband at 8pm last night and was there promptly 15 minutes before. And I even called at 6pm to re-confirm my reservation. And then we waited for an hour before finally it was our turn. I was bothered that they offered everybody else hot tea, while they just made us wait there! I didn't call their attention to it, as I can see that those other walk-in clients were not Metrodeal voucher holders so I just assumed that we were second-class citizens or something. But they can clearly see that we were waiting so even if Metrodeal voucher-holders were not supposed to get tea, it was common decency to offer us water or something. When I handed my metrodeal voucher, the girl at the reception said 'metrodeal na naman' but I didn't think much about it initially. Only when everybody else was getting hot drinks, even those who waited for 5 minutes and then left were given tea did I made that realization. After 45 minutes of waiting, I asked the guy at the reception if it will take long and he said 'sandali na lang po.' One client who came after us was whisked away upstairs even before us and by the way he was talking to the therapist, he looks like a regular. A therapist doing foot spa on a client said, 'oo nga, kanina pa sila.' By this time, I would have walked out, if not for my husband who really wanted a massage since December. And I was telling him I was already pissed off and he was busy on his phone because of the free wifi (the only saving grace in this whole fiasco) so I just lie down on the couch! Finally, at 9m, we were asked to go up. We were led to this dark room and the therapist just left us there. She didn't even turn on a light or told us to change already. So I went out and ask if we should change already or something. So we changed in the dark and then WAITED AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES! We were almost naked, save for undies and the shorts they provided and some towels and we again waited! And you know why? 'NAUBUSAN PO KASI NG OIL KAYA BUMILI PA!' It was really a test case for my patience that when the therapist came in and started the massage, I just resigned myself to the fact that NEVER AGAIN WILL I VISIT NOR RECOMMEND THE SPA PHILOSOPHY! And how was the massage? The massage at Xquizite Spa was wayyyyyy better! As I write this post, my shoulders are still aching, as if I just finished doing a huge mountain of laundry! A good massage must make you feel good after, and not come out of it feeling as though you have been on a fight! Oh, and they did offer us hot tea after the massage but I was already hungry and pissed off at this time and so I declined. My husband was complaining that 'kulang ang oil' and 'super bitin yung massage.' And if you think that I am saying just it because I was made to wait that long, then go ahead and go to The Spa Philosophy. Don't tell me you haven't been warned! Oh, and this is not my first time to avail of the service at The Spa Philosophy. I also bought vouchers from Ensogo for their underarm treatment and I was also made to wait for 30 minutes on both occasions, even when I had reservations too, but I didn't mind it then because the staff apologized for the delay and the service was good. I know that I probably get what I paid for but I didn't expect that you get half the service for paying half the price! Some might say that nobody made us wait and it was our decision to wait but the vouchers have been paid for and non-refundable and we were there already and I don't think I would come back again anyway after that 30 minutes and so we decided to just stick around. And what for? A crappy massage! If they were expecting a number of clients and then walk in clients take priority, then why sell more than a thousand of those massage and make people who made paid in advance and made prior reservations wait?

So again, the service at The Spa Philosophy sucks and I will not go there again even if they pay me! You have been warned! And yes, I did not leave any tip because you only tip for good service and service at the The Spa Philosophy sucks!

Feast Day of the Sto. Niño

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:54:00 +0000

We bought this Sto. Niño when we went to Cebu last August and seeing that it was the Feast Day of the Sto. Niño last Sunday, out family opted to attend the 3pm mass and join the procession.The procession in our parish was joined by 3 adjoining barangays: Santol, Sto. Niño and Imelda. We were not aware that it was supposed to be color-coded but we joined the procession anyway. People in yellow were from barangay Santol, those in red were from Sto. Niño, and those in green were from Imelda.
The procession was fun, lively and disorganized and we loved it! There were Ati-Atihan dancers from Barangay Santol and despite a map of the procession, and the marshals, we went the wrong way! Good thing we were able to join the procession after one street :)
The Ati-Atihan dancers made the procession more fun and we were all dancing with our Sto. Niño's to the beat of the drums. There were also a lot of Sto. Niño on the procession but these two caught my attention:The Sto. Niño dressed as a native and this Barbie below. I am not sure if this a Sto. Niño or what, but a little girl was waving it around.
And this is my family with our Sto. Niño de Cebu. I hope that we can make this into a yearly devotion. My kids enjoyed the procession and were asking me questions about the feast day.
The procession took more than two hours but we left feeling happy and satisfied for having join in the celebration of the Feast Day of the Sto. Niño!

Cebu Itinerary, Day 3, Lapu-Lapu Shrine

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:04:00 +0000

This is a continuation of my Cebu post when we visited last August. Arrival was day 1, spent at Robinsons Cebu, Fuente Osmeña Circle and Larsian, while day 2 was spent touring the city sites. For day 3 of our trip, we went to Mactan Island and went swimming at EGI Resort in the morning. On the way back to Cebu city, we passed by Lapu-Lapu shrine.
The shrine is a 20-meter bronze statue erected to honor Lapu-lapu for his defeat of Magellan during the Battle of Mactan in 1521. A shrine was also erected here to mark the place where Ferdinand Magellan died. There was also this marker by the National Historical Institute that reads:

Lapu Lapu
"Here on 27 April 1521, Lapu Lapu and his men repulsed the Spanish invaders, killing their leader Ferdinand Magellan thus Lapu Lapu became the first Filipino to have repelled European aggression."

At the back is the marker for Ferdinand Magellan's death and it reads:

Ferdinand Magellan's Death
"On this spot Ferdinand Magellan died on April 27, 1521 wounded in an encounter with the soldiers of Lapu Lapu, Chief of Mactan Islands. One of Magellan's ships, The Victoria, under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, sailed from Cebu on May 1, 1521 and anchored at San Lucar de Barrameda on September 6, 1522 thus completing the first circumnavigation of the earth."

This place below is said to be actual place where the fighting happened. The water is low during our visit so we can very clearly see the formation of the boat as a re-enactment.
There are also various backdrops great for picture taking. I dont know the relevance of this to Lapu-Lapu though.
The Mactan shrine is also a great place for souvenir shopping!

Sand Castles. Its More Fun In The Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Jumpshots. Its More Fun In The Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:34:00 +0000

Jumpshots. Its More Fun In The Philippines!Made from morefunmaker.com
http://www.morefunmaker.com/entry/3193/#

I'd Rather Be Happy Than Rich!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:55:00 +0000

This is what makes me the richest person in the whole world: my family. While we may not have much, we have enough and we have each other. I just wish that my husband and I can continue to provide for the needs of our family, especially their education, without having to make the ultimate sacrifice of working abroad and being away from each other. For now, we continue to be thankful that we, as a family, is blessed with the gift of being together! And we treasure these moments every time! Just see how much we have :)

Pinaputok na Tilapia

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:54:00 +0000

One of my goals for this coming year is to try my hand at cooking again. My mother reigns in our kitchen and she really cooks great so I do not have to lift a finger to make the meal for the family. But from time to time, I ask my husband what he would like to eat and he would ask for a dish that I wish I can cook. For New Year's media noche, he requested steamed fish but I was too lazy to set up a steamer so I made this Pinaputok na Tilapia instead. (click for larger image)

The ingredients are in the picture above. Not in the picture are oil or butter and kalamansi. The ingredients are same with any grilled bangus, plus onion leaves and tanglad. Brush the fish lightly with oil or butter on both sides and a little kalamansi or lemon. Then put the filling inside. Lay it on foil wrapper and sprinkle with onion leaves and some sliced ginger. You can choose to put some tanglad beside the fish or inside(if you wont be putting tomatoes and onions). Then make sure to seal the foil completely and grill over medium fire.
The heat inside the foil must not escape and it will cook and steam the fish inside. No need to turn the fish to the other side as it will cook already from the steam. Cook for 15-20 minutes an serve hot. You can choose to have a dipping sauce of soy sauce and kalamansi. Enjoy!