A Blessed Life

One Funny, Stinky Morning

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Noah woke me up in bed and whispered, "I love you, Mommy". Awww...that truly melted my heart... Nothing can be sweeter than that! Then I, of course hugged him and kissed him and replied back with my face close to his, "I love you, tooooooo." He looked at me with an innocent face, moved away a little bit, and said, "Mommy, stinky." hahaha! OMG! What stinky morning breath Mommy has! Well, at least I know we're bringing up an honest child here. :)

Sweet Ripe Mangoes

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:27:00 +0000

The doorbell rang, and I was excited to see a box of sweet ripe mangoes by our front door. It came all the way from New Jersey, sent by my ever so thoughtful parents. :) The boys love it when I make mango shakes! Perfect for the scorching hot weather! Oooohh yummeh! :)

Noah Picking Berries

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Berry Patch, here I come! Without a doubt, Noah enjoyed berry picking at the farm. :)

on the go for blueberries!

Noah eating some of the berries he got..sorry couldn't help it :)

Hmmm.. Mommy, I think I ate almost all of it...there's only a few left now...

Noah with Tita Ruby

counting his berries...wow! great job! :)

Red Cherry Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:51:00 +0000

At last they turned red! ( or orange hehe:)). We have been picking a handful of red cherry tomatoes from our garden since two weeks ago. Both from our ground tomato plants and upside down ones. They've already been tried and tested as my hubby made some tacos yesterday with tomatoes, of course. Few days ago, I used them for spaghetti and "pork sinigang". I love eating them raw with salt. Mmmm...yummeh! :)

Cool And Comfortable

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Last Saturday, we went to a berry patch with some friends and their kids. We were supposed to meet as early as 6:30 in the morning, but ended up meeting 2 hours later instead. It could get too hot in the farm when you go there later than 9:00 a.m. To get there, it takes about 25 minutes. I had not been there before. It was my first time as well as the kids so we were all excited. It was raining hard the night before that we thought the plan would be canceled. Oh, I'm glad it stopped that night. There were lightnings and loud thunder that woke me up every now and then. Noah and Kaiden seemed not to have been bothered at all. They slept peacefully and wasn't awakened by the loudness of it. Although, Kaiden still wakes up pretty much every night, but it's more because he's teething. So, I was going over their clothes for them to wear for the berry picking. I wanted something that's cool and comfortable. A white shirt and a pair khaki pants are perfect!

That day, I thought I got everything we needed. I packed some snacks, water bottles, etc. When we were there, a mom reminded me to put sunscreen on the kids. Of course, I forgot! Since we go there a bit late, it did get too hot. Needless to say, I had to cut short our berry picking. But, we enjoyed it especially Noah who was able to pick a half bucket of berries.

The NFL Season

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:41:00 +0000

It has been a great weekend for the family. My husband decided to let his assistant trainer go to Boston this time for the game against New England Revs. Last week, he left for Seattle Monday and arrived home Wednesday. And, our little Noah didn't like that at all. The following morning after he left, he looked through the small glass on our front door and shouted, "Daddy coming home!". He ran to the glass window in the living room and said the same words. I felt so sad for him. He was hoping he would wake up with Daddy around. I'm glad that my husband decided to spend the weekend with us instead. I could see in Noah's face and behavior that he was so happy with Daddy's decision.

During the football season, we would normally watch football while munching on our favorite popcorn. I wish one day we'd get to see the game live. That would be a lot more exciting! I guess I have to check the nfl sunday ticket price over the internet one of these days. As of now, I think I'd be satisfied watching it on DirecTV. They have what is called the NFL Sunday Ticket where you get to see more than 200 games every season. For you not to miss a game, you can check their nfl sunday ticket schedule. Since my hubby is into Fantasy Football, their Player Tracker would surely be helpful. He'd like that definitely.

Unique Lamps

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Eversince Kaiden turned 1, walking and becoming more independent, I can say that I now have time, or more time for myself, and our "semi-neglected" house. I don't have to carry him all the time not like when he was still younger. Him and his older brother Noah can play with each other or by themselves while I clean the house, or try on new make-ups and clothes. With the house, I feel the urge to re-decorate it somehow. I'm thinking of replacing the decorations, the lamps, the table lamps most especially. I've been eyeing this table lamp for quite a while. Very unique and classy looking.

I'm also considering getting torchieres to make the house prettier. A dramatic effect is what I want to achieve.

Oh, I'm in love with this torchiere. It's a Paloma Collection by Quoizel. It's so exquisitely crafted. Very artistically done. I just get mesmerized by its unique beauty. The challenge would be where to place it safely. Since I have two adventurous kids, looking for a place to put it would be challenging. Or, I may have to wait patiently for more years before I can finally re-decorate our house, unfortunately. Oh well...

Soldier Fighting in Pink Shorts

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:32:00 +0000

I just wanted to share this story I read last weekend about a soldier who fought in Afghanistan wearing his pink boxer shorts. Very admirable for his shown courage, and cute for the pink color. :)

Soldier who fought in his boxers is back home
from Kansas City Star

The soldier who was photographed fighting the Taliban in his boxer shorts said he’s glad to be back home in Texas after his yearlong deployment to Afghanistan — especially on the Fourth of July.

Spc. Zachary Boyd said he initially thought he’d get in trouble after a May 11 Associated Press photo showed him with other soldiers behind sandbags while he wore pink boxers and flip-flops, along with his helmet and bulletproof vest.

The Fort Worth soldier said he had jumped up from a nap when his unit came under fire and didn’t want to waste time putting on his uniform.

But Boyd has been praised for his courage.

And now that he’s home in Fort Worth, he said his boxers will be displayed in the 1st Infantry Division museum at Fort Riley, Kan.

Watch as Birthday Gift

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:07:00 +0000

About a month from now, it's going to be my dear husband's birthday. As early as now, I've been thinking of what to give him for his special day. Last Father's Day, I gave him a grill tool set and a lighthouse motion picture. Oh, he loved the gifts particularly the lighthouse. It's part of his collection aside from boat decors, globes, etc. When I presented him the gifts, they were not even wrapped. Gee! I thought I'd have time but he arrived from an out of town trip earlier that I expected. For his birthday, I will make sure it's wrapped. lol! :) It has to be extra special. As usual, I went online and I found one that I know he'd love. It's a top seller from BlueDial called Casio Paw1500GB-Men's Limited Edition. The strap is interchangeable and has a triple sensor pathfinder waveceptor. The back is stainless steel. There's a lot of wonderful features for this watch. Since I'm on a budget, this one has been discounted greatly and is in stock or available as of this time. Awesome!

BlueDial offers Citizen Watches, Diesel, Gucci, Bulova, Fossil, etc. for both men and women. If you check their site, you'd also find a number of Closeout Specials that have really good price. You can save even up to 70%! Lovely!

My Cycle Workout

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:30:00 +0000

"100% for 60 secs...80% for 15 secs...half turn up...full turn down...7 out of 10..."

The place that I go to offers a number of different group fitness classes. Aside from Zumba, they also offer Bootcamp, Barbell Body, Bodyshaper, Yoga, Pilates, Low Impact Aerobics, Tai-chi, Strengthen and Stretch, Body Bosu, and Cycle. Yesterday, I tried Cycle. Since I was a beginner, our instructor had to adjust the height of my seat and the resistance of my bike. While we were doing the up and down routine called Position 3, where you stand up and sit down repeatedly, my left foot slipped out of the pedal! I almost fell! Oh my... I honestly thought I'd get injured. I suppose the instructor saw what transpired. She apparently had to adjust the straps on both of my pedals and made sure they're tight enough. "I don't want you to get hurt." So nice of her. That's what she said while doing my straps. After that, everything went well. Music was motivating. You get to pedal along with it. I expected my legs to be sore the following day, and they are right now. But, it's a good sore. It was an intense workout, but I did enjoy it. :)

The next class I would want to try is...Bootcamp! Looks fun and challenging to me! :)

Summer Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Fridays and Saturdays are my favorite days of the week. These are the days that I can do garage sale shopping. :) On Fridays, I usually do it in the morning before I go to work. That's why I'm late most of the time. :) And of course, on Saturdays, I have to tag along my two little boys so my shopping is kind of limited. I have found some real good stuff from garage sales. From toys, books, decors, to clothes, accessories, etc. Last Saturday, I found few blouses that suit my taste and in time for this hot, humid weather.
.
There's also a bag that I thought was cute! i just wished it said, "I love my babies" since I have two little boys. :)

For Noah and Kaiden, I got them shoes such as these pairs. They're durable and lightweight. They're comfortable to their tiny feet as well.

My Zumba Workout

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:11:00 +0000

After Jazzercise, I decided to try ZUMBA! I'm the type who wants to try new things for I easily get bored if I do the same exercise program over and over again. A friend recommended this and I immediately got online to look for a class nearby. Last Wednesday was my first class. And, it was fun! It's not the typical aerobic thing. You dance the Latin moves as you work out your body. We did salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, etc. At first, I was laughing at myself for my body was stiff as a stick. lol! I couldn't get my arms, hips and feet coordinated as well as I wanted to. But, towards the middle, and after doing the steps repeatedly, I was able to get them right. Yohoo! Since I love dancing, I'd say I truly enjoyed this workout.

Anyway, if you want to see how Zumba works, here's a video- a kinda funny one. :)

And, if you want to find or join a class near you, here's their website, too. www.zumba.com. Enjoy!

Naked And Innocent

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Hip And Joint Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Oh, I miss my grandma! She's such a sweet, kindhearted woman. My grandmother has survived a couple of falls. She got hospitalized and needed to undergo a hip replacement. I'm glad she's doing alright now although she has a walker that she uses from time to time. So far, she hasn't complained nor felt any discomfort from the surgery. She's one tough woman. My grandfather passed away two years ago, and she felt very lonely after that. We thought it would take a toll on her. But, she moved on and she's as strong and jolly as ever.

In line with the hip and joint replacement surgery, my husband handles young, active players as part of his job as an athletic trainer. On most occasions, he refers his athletes to an orthopedic surgeon for some needed operation. I would have to mention to him several issues on zimmer durom cup. There is a durom lawyer available in case you encounter problems with durom cups. Problems happen when they loosen. Maglio Christopher Toale & Pitts Law Firm handles durom lawsuit efficiently and will help you all the way to get justice done.

Jon & Kate: Separating?

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:40:00 +0000

I haven't really followed the show Jon & Kate Plus 8
on a consistent basis, but I do watch it whenever there's a chance. Kids are so adorable and I love watching their spontaneous actions, and how innocent and funny the way they talk and interact with one another. I knew the parents, Jon & Kate were having marital problems based on rumors I've read, but I didn't know they would finally decide to end this way. Sad. :(

Here's the video of their big announcement Jon & Kate Plus 8

Photo by TLC

Green Beans Galore!

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:10:00 +0000

our green bean plants

green bean harvests

I picked a bunch of green beans from our garden while my boys were busy playing in the yard. I suppose I never have to buy them from the store for this season since it seems there would be a constant harvest. This is one of our favorite veggies. I usually cook them with onion, chicken broth or chicken bouillon, and bacon. Yummeh! :)

Experience New Year In NY

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:28:00 +0000

If I'm going to win this thing, I'd definitely choose the Happy Blu-Year! Not only would I be witnessing the splendid fireworks in Times Square New York, but I'd also be given a chance to celebrate New Year with most of my loved ones who live there. I've only watched the celebration on TV. And watching it alone thrills me as the people do the countdown. What more if I was part of it?! Oh, that would be a truly memorable event!

There is an ongoing contest by BluFrog called "It's a Blu World". BluFrog is a healthy energy drink loaded with real fruit and vitamins that the body needs. It is low in calories and carbs, and has no artificial flavor or color. Great! Now, for the contest, there are five prizes to win namely:
BluGamer Ultimate Gaming Package
BluStreak Orlando
Xtreme Blu Aspen
Blullapalooza Chicago
Happy Blu-Year New York

With Happy Blu-Year, I would get a round trip air fare for two, hotel transportation, 3 night stay at a deluxe hotel, and a... helicopter ride over New York! Wow! I haven't been on a helicopter before. That would definitely be an amazing experience I'd never forget! I can't wait to tell my family and friends about it. Join the contest and have fun! Remember you don't have to buy anything to win.

Kaiden And His Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:00:00 +0000

"Mommy...can you first wipe the snot off my nose, please? :) "

hihi! :)

ooops got sidetracked... Elmo's on TV...

"mmmm... cute dino...looks yummy to me :)"

is that a naughty face?

just sooo happy!!!

oh yes I am! :)

Chic, Affordable Clothes

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:27:00 +0000

I was lucky I got quite a number of maternity clothes when I was pregnant with both of my two sons. My aunt from California supplied me with cute, trendy clothes that I can wear even when I'm not pregnant at all. A few of them though won't fit me anymore because I gained some pounds, unfortunately. My friend and co-worker who's due in August has been looking for fashionable yet inexpensive maternity clothes that she can wear at work or anywhere else. I showed her what I found online. And, as expected, she got excited! They perfectly suit her taste and style. She loves floral dresses and chic tops as shown below.

She's young and petite. Actually, you could hardly tell she was pregnant until she reached 7 months. When I told her about Kiki's Fashions, she spent most of the day browsing the site even during work hours. I can't blame her. They're not only pretty and uniquely designed, but most of all they're affordable. My boss didn't care. She understands, and she's her Mom.

Kaiden's Birthday Cake

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:16:00 +0000

It's not perfect, but I tried my best. :) I thought of making my lil one a cake for his 1st birthday to make it more special. I'm not a baker by profession, nor do I bake often. I got this idea from a site called easy birthday cakes. I made my own version by using a light blue color, and by frosting it with whipped cream mixture. As you can see, I put a collage of Kaiden's photos at the center, laminated it first before placing it on top of the cake, shaped as number 1. Since it was my first time to make a cake as big as this, and for this special occasion, I admit, I was worried it won't look or taste as I wanted it to be. The whipped cream frosting was kind of a challenge. It tends to get too soft and melts up quick if it's left outside for a long time. Despite that, I still used it as frosting because it's easy to make and because it tastes good. The sea animal decors were from Betty Crocker which I bought from Price Chopper. It suited the blue color frosting which looked like a body of water. Like I said, it wasn't perfect, but I tried my best. And, it was edible. lol! :)

Making Your Garden Pretty

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Luckily, my plants have been doing well except for some holes on the leaves of my green beans. I have been spraying them with a mixture of hot sauce and water since they say it can effectively kill bugs or pests. Well, so far it's been doing its job. I see myself as a newbie in gardening still. When I started my new hobby, I used a planter. That's what was suggested to me by my dear hubby. When we went to the store, we were introduced to different kinds of planters. Examples would be indoor planters, outdoor planters, garden planters, window box planters, high-end planters and decorative planters. Oh, there were a lot! I felt overwhelmed. I didn't know what to get initially. But, among all of them, there's this decorative planter that truly captured my attention. I thought it was attractive. It's called Pole Planter. It's made from copper and it was artistically done- hand made. Isn't it pretty?

I've also been thinking of getting a window box planter for our front. I'm not sure if it's possible to put it though since that part of our yard is a little bit bushy. I guess I have to ask my husband about it. He's like McGyver. Very resourceful and creative. It would make our front look more attractive. As of now, we have roses, azaleas and a type of bush which I don't have an idea what it's called. Hmmm...

Mailbox To Suit Your Taste

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:54:00 +0000

My husband and I have been crossing our fingers that our stocks would continue to do good because only then we can decide to finally move out to our dream house. Whenever there's a chance, we would drive by the house we wanted to buy and move to some day. It has a beautiful, wide open layout. It is more spacious and has a pleasant ambience. As much as possible, we would want it to be in a cul-de-sac for a bigger back yard. Last weekend, we came to visit the model house and we continue to get amazed by its design.

I noticed the mailboxes as we were walking around the area. They were designed beautifully as well. I like this Mayne & Salsbury Signature mailbox.

What attracted me most with this mail box was the container where you could put plants or flowers at the back for a pretty look. As of now, they offer FREE shipping if you order such kind. Mailboxixchange has been noted for its elegant looking, trendy and durable mail boxes. No wonder they were featured in our local newspaper The Kansas City Star.

Improved Upside Down Tomato Buckets

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:24:00 +0000

I would like to think so. hehe :)

yellow snapdragon on top; tomato at the bottom

white petunia

I was finally able to put some plants on top of my upside down tomato buckets. I ended up planting White Petunia and Yellow Snapdragon. On one of the buckets, I put herbs like basil and cilantro. One of these days, I may need to repaint them for the burgundy color has chipped off a bit, and made them look hideous. :)

Blog Web Hosting

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Today I had to drop of Noah to the daycare while I take care of sick Kaiden at home. I was supposed to report to work, but I'd rather make sure that Kaiden is fine and well taken cared of. Besides, I can do some work at the comfort of our own home. Noah had been missing his buddies and wanted to have some playtime with them. He loves their company a lot that when it's about time to pick them up, he wrestles being buckled up in his car seat. Oh, it's a struggle! When I was about to leave the daycare provider's house today, she mentioned about her issues with her web hosting service. Both her daughters are in school and uses the computer as much as her husband does. I told her about the Web Hosting Geeks. Issues about the rate going up high this month and the unreliable technical support are what she was ranting about.

Since her daughter has a blog, Just Host could be a good choice since it's been recognized as the Best Blog Host according to Web Hosting Geeks. For 36 months, you only get to pay $3.95 a month, with FREE set-up and FREE domain. It has unlimited GB of storage, multiple domain hosting, unlimited data transfer, etc. If you're not satisfied, there's a money back guarantee that you can always hold on to. There is quite a number of web hosting services to choose from. Web Hosting Geeks can help you make the right choice.

Not Really a Happy One

noreply@blogger.com (blessedmom) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:34:00 +0000

Today is Kaiden's actual birthday - June 16th. And, he is sick. :( Yesterday, we had to see his doctor for a check-up. He had been running a fever and is suffering from stuffy nose and cough. We didn't do the tradition of having him eat or mess up with his birthday cake today. My baby was a bit gloomy and fussy at the same time although there were times that he'd play with his brother Noah. He won't eat as much as he used to. I had to change his diaper more often today for he had been having diarrhea. I guess that's from the antibiotic he's taking. Oh, my poor birthday boy... Surely not a fun way to celebrate your birthday. :(