Spice Up Your Winter With MagNext Virtual

Winter is the least fun season according to CJ, my friend’s son and I couldn’t agree with him more. With winter we don’t have any choice but to be confined inside the house. Yes, we can go out, play with the snow and make a snowman but you can’t be doing that everyday especially when it is freezing outside. I am a little glad that I don’t have to deal with my son asking me on what to do because he is bored. Yes they can read a book, do their assignments and some household chores but at the end of the day, they still want to do something exciting. Well if that time will come then I am ready. I will let Frankie play at MagNext Virtual online. I signed up and checked the site myself to see if it is safe for children and it is. By the way, this is me in the virtual world with the user name: merydith143. I tried the games and I really had a good time.

I started with the Spheron Speed Challenge where you will get your own speed car that looks like this one and try to drive it over speed bumps for more speed and also to collect Magz which I can use to buy special paint jobs, special skills and more. Just check out what I ended with when I finished playing for the first time.

Among all the games it is the iCoaster which I find very entertaining and challenging. All you have to do is complete the missing coaster track by supplying and finding the correct parts quickly that fits to the missing coaster track before the time runs out. You only have 3 chances and you need to try to connect all 10 coaster track to move on. I also like the very upbeat music.

So if you think there is nothing else to do this winter, then think again. Visit MagNext and see it for yourself. Sign up is free so you have nothing to lose. Tell your friends about it and invite them to join you in this unique virtual universe.

Another Baby Boy

We are all very excited to know on what will be the gender of Frankie's cousin. I kept asking my brother if they have gone to the doctor yet to have the ultrasound and he kept telling me that he will let me know as soon as they know the gender. He said, he thinks it is a boy but boy or girl to me, we will love him/her regardless. I was also excited because I wanted to get the baby something cute especially that some of the clothes now are on sale.

Last Friday (Saturday morning in the Philippines) my brother talked to us through Skype. They were getting ready to leave for the ultrasound. I told them to make sure to let us know right away. My sister in law is due in March. It was my sister Ging-ging who emailed me and told me that we are going to have another baby boy. We are very happy for them especially Papa. I am not trying to be bias with girls but I would also love to have another boy if given a chance to be pregnant again. What is even nice is if we will be able to go home next March for Ging-ging's graduation, we will be able to attend the baby's first birthday too. Who knows since Frankie's birthday and Papa is in the first week and second week of April, we may have to celebrate it there too. So we'll see. If that is the case then we can't be using our vacation from work and just wait until we can go. I wish Cheryl good health and an easy delivery. I can't wait to share the baby's pictures soon.

Miele Callisto vs. Kenmore Canister

I can’t believe that when we bought our first house it came with a lot of surprises. The first major surprise we had was, the previous owner had 8 cats living with her and with that I developed an allergy. Between the cat hair in the air ducts and on the carpets, as well as the smell, it was just too much for me to handle. We bought the house during winter and we were so surprised when spring/summer came. The smell and the cat hair were horrible. We already bought 3 different vacuum cleaners during the three years that we have lived here and all of them don’t work the way I wanted them to be. In fact it made my allergy worst because it sucked the dirt from the carpet but blows it in the other end.

As a consumer myself, I sometimes go for something popular that is out there. That is why when I saw the video below that compared Miele Callisto and the Kenmore Canister; I was really surprised with the outcome. The Kenmore Canister was ranked at the top of Consumer Reports but its performance was far lower than of Miele Callisto. Miele Callisto sucked the dirt away without blowing it out back to the air. That is definitely what we really need in our house. If I hadn’t known better, I would go for the Kenmore Canister but the side by side performance test done by Go Vacuum definitely gave justice to Miele Callisto. Check out the video for yourself below and I am sure you will agree with me. Don't forget to get your Miele Callisto from the Miele Diamond Dealers.

It's Been A Month

I was looking through Papa's pictures when he departed the Philippines and I can't believe that he has been here for a month. It surely does feel like he has been here longer than that. He seems to adopt and fit in very well. Ryan on the other hand feels like he has just been here for a short time. It is because he doesn't spend time with him as much as Frankie and I do. I kept teasing Papa that we need to break the record that my Uncle had when he went to Ohio. He was only here for only a month and 12 days because he kept getting sick and kept going back and forth to the doctor that he left just enough for him to get his green card. My Uncle was a little old (70+) when he came and he arrived here during the peak of winter. He doesn't know how to drive and misses his roosters back home. He was so lonely here and sad that my cousin decided to send him back home. He was so happy to be back in the Philippines again. Papa always smiles whenever I tell him that we haven't beat his record yet but I am sure he will. He is so happy that it snowed last night and we have about 5 inches of snow in the driveway. He will be out there later shoveling again. He can't wait for Frankie and I to take a nap so that he can go outside.

International Student Identity Card

My sister’s friend is in Sweden right now because he wants to take a couple of classes for his course. Going to school in another country can be very expensive. Besides worrying about the tuition fee, you still need to worry about where to stay and your daily expenses such as for food and other things. I know because I used to have international students from different parts of the world before. Some enrolled in the school I was teaching to learn English while others were there momentarily or with their family.

So if you are an international student then you should take advantage of the ISIC which stands for International Student Identity Card. With ISIC alone, you will be able to save on travel, motels, sight seeing tours, top retail stores even online and many more at a very affordable price. In fact when you travel and spend your holiday in New York right now, with your ISIC, you will enjoy the Metropolitan Museum of Art for only $10.00 admission fee. How does 10% off the Herald Square Hotel sounds to you or 10% off on traveler’s medical service? There are a lot of savings waiting for you if you are an International Student Identity Card holder. So take advantage of it because being away from home shouldn’t cost that much.

Frankie's Fascination to Pianos

I wouldn't be surprised if Frankie will grow to love music. When I was pregnant with him, while doing my cross stitch, I used to watch the Phantom of the Opera over and over again. There is something in it that fascinated me so much especially when they start singing. I used to sit there and close my eyes and feel the music. I also liked listening to the CD that Papa and Ging-ging sent me (them singing). I listened to it in the car, while I am getting ready to take a nap and even while surfing the internet. There is something in their voices that is so soothing to me. So no doubt and I can tell that Frankie likes music a lot. Recently, whenever he hears something from the TV he sways his head back and forth and then sometimes he dances. I am not sure if all kids that is in his age does this but he surely does. He likes his guitar a lot and his little piano. The first time he first played with a piano is at Grandma Horner's place in Chicago where we spent our Thanksgiving. In the picture below, Nathaniel was showing him how to play it. Since then he has always been playing with it every time we have our get together up there.

Thanksgiving 2008

Christmas 2008

Belated Christmas party 2008

The picture above is with my co-worker Sharon during our Christmas party. She knows how to play the piano and she was so amazed when she was teaching Frankie. She started with showing him where the highest key is then the lowest and right after she showed him that, he immediately press the low key and the high key. She also said, his fingers are really long and that it should be pursued if he shows interest in playing the piano. I thought in the beginning that he must have just find it amusing because it creates sound but he could be really liking it. When Sharon asked him where the low key and high key again, he slide down his seat and went to the high key and pressed it.

We went to Target last week with Papa to get something. We happened to pass by the electronics department where there is an aisle of organ displays. He immediately pointed at it and started crying. I didn't realize what it was that he wanted when I looked back. He wanted to play the piano/organ. So I pushed the cart towards them and he started playing. He was so happy that I was literally standing there for a good 10 minutes. Every time I wheel the cart away he started crying. I told Ryan we may have to give him piano lessons when he is ready. You'll never know, our neighbor teaches piano lessons. Now I have to see how much it is going to cost us.

For Horse Lovers

Don’t you just wish you will meet someone who has the same interest as you do? I have always dreamed of meeting someone where I can have a good conversation about history. Yes, I have always been fascinated with how everything started and although I love my husband so much but he is just not into history but science instead. I used to think that my classmate in college before will have a problem looking for someone who has the same interest as her. She is an equestrian and she was so worried that she will meet someone who hates horses. Being with horses is something she can never give up. She has been a horse lover since her late grandfather gave her a pony as a birthday gift. Well I can’t wait to email her about equestrian cupid.

What makes Equestrian cupid special? They are a community of horse lovers and equestrian singles who share the same passion and love for horses. You can start by answering a few questions and hit search to find those who have similar interest as you do. You can even read success stories of people who met through Equestriancupid.com. What is even better is, they have a hassle-free, FREE sign-up for those who are interested. You'll never know, you might find your soul mate through Equestriancupid.com.

Dating Again

Yes after less than two years, Ryan and I are dating again. Since Papa got here, we have been out by ourselves more frequently now. There are times when we want to go shopping together but if it is so cold outside, Papa would suggest to stay home with Frankie. It is a lot easier and convenient for us. Usually Papa would take Frankie to his room and they read a book and as soon as we leave they come out in the living room again. Sometimes Frankie cries when he sees us leave that is why Papa has to divert his attention. There were also a couple of times when Ryan and I want to go on a sit down restaurant for dinner but every time we park outside, Ryan and I would look at each other and feel guilty because we are going out and having a good time while they are at home waiting for us. So we usually just drive away. It was only when we had our teeth cleaned with Noelle in Indiana that we didn't feel guilty of dining out.

It was so weird. Ryan and I were seated on a booth and I thought Ryan was feeling uncomfortable. He looked at me and I looked at him. I remember the very first time when we went out before we had Frankie. It was exactly the same feeling. I kept telling him if something was bothering him and he kept telling me that he was ok. We stared at each other's eyes. We had a wonderful conversation but still he looked so uncomfortable to me then I realized something. I was so used to of taking care of Frankie when we go out to eat that I forgot how he looks when we are just alone. As I said it has been almost two year and sitting down for the first time with just my full attention to him, was a little strange. We didn't go home right away after dinner but we decided to drive around and as Ryan said, spend time with each other. There are times when we still feel weird when we don't have Frankie in the backseat when we go somewhere. I guess we just need to get used to it. Yes it is nice to be alone sometimes but Ryan and I still prefer to spend our time with Frankie.

Car Parts Online

One of the things that Ryan and I do not buy over the internet are those heavy products. We don't want to pay that much for shipping and handling but not when you order your car parts from Carpartswarehouse.com. You might be afraid to pay much for shipping but worry no more because shipping is on them in all car parts. Whatever it is that you need for your car or truck they have it all in one place. They also have it in lowest price guaranteed. I am really glad that I came across Carpartswarehouse.com because there were times when my father in law knows what is wrong with our car but we still take our car to a mechanic instead because we don’t know where to get the parts. So the next time you need any parts for your car, don’t forget to check out Carpartswarehouse.com and save even more.

What A Beautiful Surprise

Around 4:00 p.m. earlier I heard the door bell rang followed by a knock on the door. I usually do not open it because most of the time it is Ryan's brochures delivered by UPS or sometimes kids who just want to clean the drive way after we have snow (the driveway was cleaned). The guy rang the doorbell again that is why I decided to see who it was. When I opened the door, the guy asked me if I was Merydith I said yes and handed me something that was beautifully wrapped in the outside. I already had a feeling what it was because it smelled like roses. I came in opened the package and just look at how beautiful the flowers that Ryan got for me. I don't even know what the occasion is but at any rate I am very happy.

It was also accompanied by this beautiful message.

Sweety Love,
Forever Yours
Now and Forever
Love,
Your Baby

When you meet Ryan, you will easily like him. That is what I always hear from my Filipina friends before. My family and friends back home also adore him. He doesn't brag and keep things real and simple. He is very hardworking and very loving to his family and I can't believe he is my husband. I must have done something good to be blessed with a man like him. I didn't see him today because he has a lot to do at work and I left early for work but I can't wait to thank him for the beautiful flowers. He always tell me how grateful he is and how he appreciates all my hardwork both at home and at work and everyday I never fail to tell him how much I love him and thank him for the life we lead. We don't have much but in my heart I am very lucky and so blessed.

Going Somewhere Fun

I envy those people who enjoy this time of the year and this kind of weather. To be honest with you, I don’t like this weather that much. Its wet, cold and it can get yucky at times. Growing up in a tropical country didn’t help either. Once I am inside the house, I just want to stay inside not unless if I really need to get something outside. Ryan and I were shopping last Monday when he happened to tell me that we need to go somewhere fun before I start working full time. He suggested going to Indiana again but we have been there so many times. There is this one hotel that we stay in and go swimming. There is also an outlet mall about a few miles away from the hotel that we also frequent when we are around the area. I told Ryan we need to go somewhere different this time and I want to check out Branson, Missouri. A close friend lives around the area and when I asked her what hotel can we possibly stay and without a doubt she suggested to me the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. When I checked out their website, I understand why she suggested it to us. The amenities and the accommodations are superb.

What is even better is, they have the Hilton Branson Escape Package for those like us who wants to escape winter. As long as you book your stay right now for the dates between February 5 and 8, you will enjoy an accommodation that is more than what you paid for. You don’t even have to worry about finding something to do over there because there is the Third Annual Ice Carving, the exciting 2009 Polar Plunge and the 2nd Anniversary of the Hilton Promenade. Hopefully we can go somewhere fun before I can really start working.

I Was Touched

I was talking with Papa in the kitchen when he happened to mentioned to me something that I never knew before. You see, I have a rough time with my pregnancy and it is also one of the reasons why I don't want to get pregnant again. I was so afraid to go through the same thing. I am just happy to have Frankie although I know it would be nice to give him a sibling. When I was 6 weeks pregnant with him, I started spotting. I thought it was just part of being pregnant but I was advised to take a bed rest for 1 week. It was very stressful for me too. The motivation I had then was at the end of the tunnel, I will see a beautiful baby in my arms and Ryan, the baby and I will leave happily ever after.

Well I didn't know that when Papa knew about my situation, he promised to offer Our Lady of Perpetual Help a novena and visits Her church every week until I will give birth to the baby and he followed his promise until the end. Papa didn't have any job and he said looking for money for fare was such a challenge. There was even a few times that he rode his bike to church just to be able to get there which by the way was in the city. I had tears in my eyes when he was telling me this. I never knew that he went to that extent to help me with my situation. No wonder the connection he has with Frankie is just special and also no wonder when he asked me to name Frankie after my Lolo Francisco, Ryan and I couldn't say no. Despite what other people said about his name, I am glad we named him that. I am sure not all of you believed but we did and my pregnancy might be rough but I know that someone up there was and still is watching me.

Box Cutter

I got a call from one of my supervisors from work asking me if I would like to work on February 5 with them. It will be overnight and we are supposed to set the shoe department. Without hesitation I said yes since Papa is here to watch Frankie while I sleep during the day. I like working overnight and most especially getting the shift premium. I am sure there will be a lot of boxes to open. Hopefully we will have our own box cutter too. I always hate borrowing one because it seems to slow me down. I am sure things will be ok and I know they will have lunches ready for us.

Trying To Scare Taytay

Frankie is getting very silly everyday and he always amuse us. This is Frankie below standing by the gate and Papa following him around because he was afraid that Frankie will bump his head. He was trying to scare his Taytay and he started in the living room walking like a drunk kid swaying back and forth trying to touch Papa. He tries to grab him and Papa moves every time with a very loud laugh.

He got tired of looking for him and when he took his cover off he was the one who got scared with the flash of the camera. Just look at how big those eyes are. He had a dirty shirt still on because he was doing this right after lunch.

Then below he pretended to be Mama Mary from the movie The First Noel. He is such a joy and it surely makes me not want to go back to work but mama has to work so that we can put him in a Catholic school in the future.

Spamming Tagboards

I truly understand the need to increase the PR. The more PR you got for your blog the more opportunities you will have. I have been there and done that but I waited to be blessed with a PR. I didn't go to the extreme of "spamming" other bloggers tag board just to build links and to get traffic. Once in a while I see a lot of people leave messages in my tag board saying hi or hello and dropped you which is fine and I also try to do the same but there are also times when you can obviously tell that your tag board has been used for this spamming activity. I have been blogging since 2004 and this is the first time that I have to deal with this. I have already blocked and deleted someone and I am so glad I don't have to see the same name and comment over and over again. There is another one that is doing the same and at the end of the day I will surely block her if she won't stop. Yes, I have a very decent traffic here but that doesn't mean you can now use my tag board. It gets very annoying after a while. If you want traffic entrecard can help but please don't take advantage of other people's property for your own good.

Give The Gift of Cryo-Cell

Ryan and I are going to have a 2009 nephew or niece. My sister in law and my brother still need to wait a little bit longer before they can go and learn about the gender of the baby. Everyone else is very excited and they said this will be it for them. I talked to my brother last weekend and I happened to mention to him about Cryo-Cell. I don’t blame him not knowing anything about it because like him I also didn’t know anything about it when I was pregnant with Frankie. What it is even worst is it is something very important that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

A newborn baby is precious and as a parent, we would do anything to protect her or him and the umbilical cord blood that a newborn has carries potential stem cells that can treat a lot of diseases that might also save the baby’s very own life and the people around him/her in the future. Christmas might be long over but it is not too late to Give the Gift of Cryo-Cell and the gift of hope. Not all expectant mothers out there know about Cryo-Cell and they should be informed before the big day comes. Check out their Current Offers and find out what you can do make the future of the newborn promising.

You Sing, I Play

I bought Frankie a new kinda like an electric guitar last Thursday when the 3 of us were all out and he hasn't let go of it since. He really loves it and when he plays he's head sways back and forth. He is so fascinating to watch actually. Last night during the party, he love staying by the piano and pretending to play. I will post some pictures later. Anyways, most of you know that Papa sings and every once in a while he will pop his karaoke and sings. Frankie likes singing with him. You can actually hear him hum complete with the swaying of his head. Now that he has his own guitar, he now pretends to play it when Papa is singing. Then likes staying in one spot then plays his guitars just like below. I was in the kitchen when Papa called me and told me to check out what Frankie was doing. Every time Papa opens his mouth he starts playing his guitar.

Papa and Frankie singing right after playing on the floor. Just look at the mess they made.

Derma Filler

Don’t you just wish we can achieve perfection? You know, like not getting old and still maintaining that fresh young look in our face and in our body. Unfortunately we can’t stop time from taking its course. Others try to prolong it by going on a plastic surgery but not everyone has the money for that. Another great alternative is by performing dermal fillers. What is even neat is I found a website that offers dermal filler training video for medical doctors which you can purchase by visiting www.VideoShelf.com or by calling 1-800-414-2434. The DVD is complete with step by step guide that you will find in the filler training DVD. You will soon achieve that youthful look in less time than you think. Just check out the video below.
Dermal Fillers Video

Dermal Filler Injections | Dermal Fillers

It surely is a great alternative from surgery.

Who Says Chicago Weather is Cold?

Nah... not just cold but extremely freezing but that didn't stop Papa from going out and cleaning our driveway. We had a terrible below 0 temperature yesterday and today and it won't be lifted until noon. In fact yesterday all 3 of us had fun going from his doctor's appointment then I treat them out for breakfast at IHOP, then we head to Target to pick up his prescription then we went to Kohls to exchange his hat because I got a smaller size. Mind you they are not close to each other so we drove quiet far all together but it was a lot of fun. Not so much when we have to leave the car to the store and it was funny how we run as fast as we could to the store. Then we laugh as soon as we get inside especially Frankie. Anyways, that will be another entry.

For 3 consecutive days we had snow and every time it ends Papa will immediately go outside and shovel our driveway. You know what he does? He kept checking by the window and as soon as the snow is over he immediately go out. I kept telling him to just wait but he wants to go outside. He also doesn't want to use Ryan's snow blower because he would rather shovel it because it helps him exercise. Just imagine if he didn't shovel the driveway after the first and second set of snow. With the third one, we could have been buried. He was so brave and went out there even if I told him that he could get sick with the cold. So he went out all dressed up and complete with face cover. Amazingly he didn't feel cold at all and he was out there for almost 2 hours all the time. We don't have that long of a driveway but he tries to clean up the ground really good to the extent that we see the color of the ground. Here he is:

Ryan and I couldn't thank him enough for all his help. That night we took him to Menards so that he can get the tools that he will need and I also took all 3 boys out for dinner. Last night while eating (Ryan was not home yet), I stopped and grabbed his arm and I told him, "Pa I may have not said this before but I am so glad and thankful that you came" and he gave me a smile. Right now he is making fried rice and I am sure it will be yummy again.

Collision Repair Experts

One of the things that I am always afraid of when I am driving is getting into an accident. I am sure every driver will always have that fear at the back of their heads. Besides your safety, you also have your car to think of. It gets very expensive to try to have it back to how it used to be before the accident. A co-worker of mine was in a car accident to a guy who doesn’t have any insurance. He had to take the guy to court that later ended up running away from him anyway and he never recovered the money from the other driver who by the way was drunk driving when the accident happened. I can’t imagine how frustrating and costly it could have been for him. Finding an auto body repair could be risky too especially when you don’t know anybody. Besides how will you even know if they will perform a good job to your car, right?

Well I have a solution for you. You can always go to Collisionrepairexperts.com. What I really liked about them is by simply adding your zip code you will be able to find auto body repair shops nearby. They also have body shops california. Yes the collision repair expert that will come up might be new to you but you will find different reviews from satisfied customer to help you decide which body repair shop to go. You may be living in Florida or in Illinois like us or anywhere in the US and you will also find auto body shops at Collisionrepairexperts.com.

Late Company Christmas Party

Yehey and we are all going. Yes we are going to have our company party this coming Sunday. It was hard to close the store so that everyone can go last holiday season so they decided to have it this Sunday. It will be from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and we can bring our family. Dinner will start at 7:00 p.m. and there are a lot of games and goodies I heard. So I am really looking forward for Sunday. Papa, Ryan and Frankie will be coming too. Ryan was a little apprehensive because Frankie might be all over the place and I told him that is how a party is supposed to be and besides there will be a lot of kids there too and he will have fun I am sure. I didn't want to go in the beginning but when my team asked me and when I knew that they are all going so I said yes. I also want Papa to experience it too. It will be fun and I will surely post some pictures in my travel blog.

IT Consulting

I am saddened that our Filipino store nearby will eventually close. He hasn’t found someone to buy the store from him. Ryan said that if only our mama is here, we could have figured out something because this is something that she wants to do. I don’t blame him for putting the store for sale because he got a better job offer somewhere. It’s been 3 years when I knew about that store. It wasn’t from the internet but through word of mouth. I used to work with another Filipino kid and he told me about it. It could have been really nice to buy the store because he is already established.

I have always thought that it is going to be very hard to set up your own business especially when you don’t know much about the latest technology. With the internet maximizing the potential of your business, you need someone that knows more about it. Can you imagine hiring a group of people to work under you for you company. Can you also imagine how costly it will be and the amount of money you will need just to start up? Well worry no more because there is the manhattan it consulting who can help you ease your worries when it comes to the IT consulting and the IT side of your business and by enhancing your business with the right technology, it only means a promising and productive business in the future.

On A Mini Date

Ryan will be coming home early to pick me up from work. We will then head to Valparaiso Indiana to meet up with my mother in law to have both of our teeth cleaned. It has been 6 months for me and a little over 8 months for Ryan. After the clean up, we are going to have lunch just around there but we haven't decided which one. Frankie will be staying home with Papa. I am currently putting together my resume because we saw one job fair in the paper yesterday and I told him that I want to stop to check it out and see what they have. You'll never know. I wish I didn't have to work tonight so that we can catch a movie or something but there is plenty of time.

What's Out There For Me?

I've always wondered what will be out there for me having been home with Frankie for over 2 years. Staying home and taking care of him myself was such a privileged and a great blessing. The experiences that I had with him will always be in my heart. I don't think that I will ever leave Frankie if Papa hasn't join us here. I probably will when he is in school. I haven't put together my resume. It seems like now that Papa is here, I have enjoyed my stay home even more. But Ryan and I have so many plans in the future that we want to accomplish by helping each other. Besides, I couldn't just sit here when I could be out there helping out Ryan. It is just a matter of principle I guess. I have always loved working although it can be tiring sometimes.

Ryan and I are also happy that we have someone dependable that can watch Frankie. I hope to find something out there despite how bad the economy is. I know how bad the job market is and how many people have been laid off. As long as the job is workable, I am on. Ryan and I have always feel sorry for those who lost their job and will never be happy that someone has to go through it. Who knows you might get lucky today but tomorrow, you might not be so lucky. As they say be nice to the people that you will meet as you go up because you will also meet them as you go down. So I am set to go out there again for a job hunt but I won't pressure myself as much. I have always believed that when you are set to help someone, Him up there will also look after you. It is just a matter of time. So Good Luck to those who are also on a search.

Age Limit

I hope I will never have to seek the help of Leptovox like other people do. You see, my mother’s side always starts skinny and for some strange reasons at a certain age which is 43 they start gaining the weight. When my mother had my brother she was so skinny. I wish I was as skinny as her when I had Frankie but I got to tell yah, after hitting 43 she gained the weight. I have always wondered if the same thing goes for me. Well I guess I will never know until I get there. That is a little scary though because you know how stubborn and hard it will be to get rid of the excess weight at that age. I hope it skips a generation because I really don’t want to gain so much weight if I can only help it.

Could It Be Ulcer?

Hummm... I am asking the same thing. Well, recently every time I eat more my stomach starts hurting. It has been a while since I actually had 3 meals a day. It is not that we don't have anything to eat but because I wake up so late, I usually just have brunch and I actually did this for almost 2 years. Frankie on the other hand wakes up with me but he always have milk early in the morning and he goes back to sleep. When he wakes up I gave him his snacks and while I make lunch then he will have his lunch. It seems like I was doing fine with the 2 years I was doing it until recently. With Papa around I don't have any choice but to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner or he will get mad because it is not healthy. He also makes such yummy meals that it is also hard to pass up. My tummy must have been so used to of eating twice a day that it hurts every time I eat more than that. Who knows? I hope I am just fine because I know it is not easy to have one.

Outer Banks Rentals

Are you planning to take a vacation or visit someone in North Carolina longer than normal and is looking for somewhere to stay? Then why not check out the Outer Banks rentals. They have beautiful beach home for rent. What it is even wonderful is you will actually find not only the vacation rental photos but as well as the floor plans to help you decide on which beach home to go for. You don’t even have to worry because someone will always be there for you in case any problems regarding your rental home arises. So what are you waiting for? You can start by filling in their vacation searcher and search for your next vacation home.

American Idol

Ryan hates American Idol since it begun while I love it. It makes winter pass by so quickly when I am watching American Idol. Ryan and I used to fight on to what channel to watch in the TV in the living room or who gets the TV in the bedroom. Well this year will be a different story. He will be staying in the bedroom TV for good because I have my "kakampi". Papa and Ging-ging followed the entire season last year in the Philippines and he kept asking when will it start here. I think it will be this coming Tuesday (darn it I work) and Papa can't wait. He is very excited. So for our Dada, you can start flipping channels inside our bedroom. :o)

On The Run

Everyday except when Papa has to work in a construction, he jogs every morning back in Cebu. When I stopped teaching and was home working with my papers, I used to go with him and it was a nice feeling jogging side by side as he tells me different stories about his childhood. I felt closer to him. So when he got here, Ryan and I wanted him to keep doing what he’s been doing in the Philippines but on a treadmill. Every morning except weekends, as soon as Ryan leaves for work he pops one of his karaoke VCD and he runs on the treadmill for 45 minutes to an hour. It makes him happy because he is still able to exercise which he needs with his age. I wish I have the motivation and the determination to work out or at least run on the treadmill. I did for a little bit but not as religious as Papa. I wonder what is the best diet pill out there? It is always nice to know. Hey! You’ll never know you might need one.

Intelligent Conversations

One of the things that I enjoy after dinner is the conversations that Ryan and Papa have. You see, we always get the paper and Ryan always leave it at home for Papa to read. Early in the morning Papa also watches the news to see what is going on around us. In fact he watches it 3 times a day. While he is jogging on the treadmill early in the morning, around noon after lunch and also at 9:00 p.m. So there is no doubt he knows more than I do. Sometimes he even tells me what he reads in the newspaper and tells me what happened. Ryan also has the subscription of Newsweek and the Time magazine and they also share that too. So whenever they talk about currents events, I feel embarrass not to be able to share anything because the current event that I have is taking care of Frankie. They are indeed so fascinating to listen exchanging their ideas about what is going on around us.

The Swimsuits Are Out

I called off last Thursday, so I was a little excited to be at work last Saturday. From the main entrance I usually go by the misses clothing and go straight to our break room but before I could reach the break room to punch in, something caught my eye. Would you believe that the swim suits are already out? Yeah I shouldn’t be surprised because I used to put them out when I used to work in a retail store before but it was 3 years ago that I was actually shocked when I saw it. It is still freezing outside. They were all so cute and gorgeous that fitting into a pair would be really nice.

It also got me excited when I saw one design that this lady from the commercial Hydroxycut wore and I remember it so well because the design was so unique. It even got me thinking if what she was endorsing for really works. I actually searched for the different Hydroxycut reviews and I learned pros and cons about it. I thought it work really well because I kept seeing it in the commercial almost everyday and is very popular. I guess we shouldn’t go by what we see on TV all the time.

A Long Sunday

We all had a long Sunday. We left the house at around 10:30 a.m. for church and we didn't get home until 8:10 p.m. After attending Grandpa Calvert's birthday celebration, we decided to have dinner at the Filipino place. We figure, we are all so tired from the drive and for having been all over the place and didn't want to cook. After stopping by Dad's house to drop off the containers that they brought for Papa's welcome party we headed to Bradley to eat. We were going to go shopping also but it was getting too late and we really didn't make the list. You know how that is every time when you go shopping without the list. It is either you forget something or you pick up something that you don't need. Grandpa's birthday went well. He was so happy he said and felt so special that everyone took their time to be with him on his birthday. It was nice to see everybody again. Here I was with the birthday boy. More pictures will be posted soon at my history and travels blog.

What Is Rightfully Theirs

I mentioned before that Frankie hasn’t been feeling well. I don’t know if it is the winter bug or he is teething (he has 1 of is molar coming out). I read somewhere that the teeth that will be growing from this time on (he is 21 months) unto his second birthday will be notorious and will make him really sick. I called his Pediatrician but all they said was to observe him and take him in on Monday if nothing changes. About 2 days ago, I was lying right next to Frankie and was staring at his face. I couldn’t sleep and I was so worried of him. All of the sudden, I started getting emotional. I couldn’t bare the sight of losing my son. Who does anyway? That is the last thing a mother wants to go through.

Just like those mothers who have kids that has cerebral palsy. It must be rough and hard to see their kids struggle to get by everyday. I hope that with proper help, the parents will receive the compensation that is fairly theirs. I know it won’t undo what has happened but at least there is an assurance that the child will always have the money for medical expenses that he/she will need in the future.

Cooking, Putting Up The Molding and More...

I have to admit I never knew that my Papa can cook. All my life and growing up it has always been mama preparing every meal. She was always home taking care of our needs and Papa has always been out providing all of us with our needs. Since he got here, I tried to cook as much as I can. Ryan was even impressed because this is the longest time that I have been cooking. Sometimes I cook and I ask him to seasoned it for me and it always turned out well. Now that he knows where everything is and is able to mobilize himself around the kitchen, he has been cooking. It is such a weight off my shoulders as I know that I can depend on him all the time.

Recently, it also seems like we don't fight as much anymore. Well we fight on little things and every time I raise my voice he always tell me, "Sweety whenever we fight, it makes Papa very sad". So instead I just smile. Saon nalang. He even said that Papa is starting to get bored so tomorrow we will go get him his tools so that he can start putting up the molding. That should keep him busy but the question is for how long?

Diet Supplements Will Help

It was when I didn’t care about my weight when I started losing the weight. I used to check how much I weigh every other day. Was I obsessed? Nah, I don’t think so. I was more concern about living healthy and being able to regain my pre-pregnancy weight back after giving birth to Frankie. I envy those mothers who can easily bounce back after they gave birth. When I started working it was when I was shedding the pounds here and there. What is even ironic is I haven’t check how much I weight. I was just so busy attending to my family and going to work. The lack of sleep surely did got to me and before I knew it, I was only 8 lbs. away from my pre-pregnancy weight.

It is a major accomplishment for me after having to deal with it for almost 2 years. I thought it will be for long but not anymore. I have been eating more lately and with that, 3 times a day since Papa got here. I am not too concern anymore because if things gets worst, there are a lot of diet supplements that are out on the market today. I am just glad that once I was so close from my goal but I don’t regret it. It is a lot of fun sharing a meal with your loved ones.

We Ditch The High Chair

Frankie hasn't been eating lately and no matter what we do or what we give him, he still doesn't want to eat. Thankfully, he is still drinking his milk so that makes a huge difference. Earlier before dinner I baked a couple of pork chops for Papa and Ryan. I also sliced different veggies that we have here for the salad and boiled 3 potatoes, peeled the skin off and put some sour cream and bacon bits on it. It was a yummy dinner but still Frankie didn't want to have any. Since we are all in the kitchen eating, I thought of getting one dining table chair so he can sit with us comfortable. He doesn't like to sit in his high chair anymore. He kept tossing whenever Ryan or I put him there. I really thought he won't be able to reach the table but to my surprise he actually did even without a booster. This is also our problem when we dine out because it is so hard to put Frankie in the high chair. He's legs are too long and usually gets stuck in it but he is still not stable enough to be on a booster seat. For now I like him on the chair. I always hate cleaning his high chair anyway and the stuff that falls in between. At least now, it is either the table or the floor to clean up.

Take The Personality Test

Is it true that first impression is lasting? Nah I wouldn’t go for the first impression to know someone’s personality. A person can look so mean on the outside but could be the sweetest person you’ve ever met or it could be the other way around. I remember when my students told me the same thing. They said I looked so mean and they were scared of me the first time but later realized that I was not. Don’t judge the book by its cover as they say. I have always been interested to know how people think of me. I wonder if they think of me as an outgoing person or maybe emotional. Well I will never figure it out unless I take the Personality Quizzes. By just being truthful with your answers, they can help asses you learn your personality as well as how others might think of you. It is a very interesting test that you can choose between start quick that will only take 3-6 minutes or start advance that takes 6-12 minutes. I tried the start quick and the result is pretty interesting.


My Personality

Neuroticism	75
Extraversion	72
Openness to Experience	32
Agreeableness	93
Conscientiousness	56

Mostly your emotions are on an even keel and you do not get depressed easily, however you experience panic, confusion, and helplessness when under pressure or stress. You tend to feel overwhelmed by, and therefore actively avoid, large crowds. You often need privacy and time for yourself. You prefer dealing with either people or things rather than ideas. You regard intellectual exercises as a waste of your time. You do not like to claim that you are better than other people, and generally shy from talking yourself up, however you are mostly a compassionate person, however you prefer to make objective judgments when possible. You strive hard to achieve excellence. Your drive to be recognized as successful keeps you on track toward your lofty goals. You often have a strong sense of direction in life, but may sometimes be too single-minded and obsessed with your work.

Take a personality tests now or view the full Personality Report. Ugg Boots

So if you want to learn more about your personality then give them a try. I was a little surprise with my result.

Called Off

I didn't have any choice but called off today. It was my first time and I hope be the last. My supervisor knew that I will never call off unless I am sick or if the baby is sick. There was even one time I came in not in a perfect shape and he told me that if I am sick, I am sick and I should rest. I made sure and called off a few hours before my schedule so that they will have enough time to call someone in for me. I know how hard it is to miss at least one person because of the kind of work we do. I was so happy that I only had 2 days this week compared with 4 days every week but now I have one day left. I should feel better by Saturday and I am starting to feel better now. Frankie still didn't want to eat but we figure he will ask for food if he is hungry. We also went to the clinic today for Papa's skin test but we didn't stay long. We will see the doctor on Wednesday and hopefully it won't be snowing bad. I was a little drowsy while driving today even if I didn't take anything and thankfully we managed to get home safely.

Safeguard Your Belongings With A Safe

I knew a lot of people when I started working in a retail store. Most of them are elderly who came in the store just to chat. I used to work in the jewelry and cosmetics department and sometimes they would ask me for the best shade that would complement their skin or the perfect jewelry to give out. One day, one of the ladies that come in the store regularly was a little distraught. She said her jewelries were stolen in broad daylight from her home. She didn’t know how they got in but when she came home from picking up something from the store, her jewelry box was on the floor and all the content were missing. What is even worst is we live in the same city.

When you have such highly expensive belongings in your home, it is not safe to just put it out of sight but put it away safely with a safe. Maximumsecurity.com offers you the convenience and efficiency when you buy your safe with them. They also have Gun Safes, just the perfect home for your guns. Safes are not only for your home but also for businesses. If you don’t know where to start, then learn more about safes through Maximumsecurity.com’s Safe Expert Blog. I am sure you will be glad you did.

Can't Do It

After Frankie, then Ryan and now it's me. Yes the three of us have been throwing up and have been having diarrhea at the same time. The last surviving member that is still standing tall is Papa. He is has his diet controlled and been running every morning so that is probably the reason why he is not affected. I reserve 4 from ss and that too I don't think I will be able to write them. My head is hurting right now and my entire body is extremely soar. I don't like to eat, Frankie and Ryan hasn't eaten either. So don't go near us when you see us, ok? I can't think so there is no point of staying up when the ones I reserved will inspire anyway. We needed to go back to the clinic again tomorrow for Papa's skin test result and I also work tomorrow night. I don't want to call off so hopefully I will feel better tomorrow morning. I will definitely take Tylenol PM and when Frankie gets up early then Papa can just take care of him.

Victim Of A Scam

Does this look familiar to you? I am sure you are one of the many who find these emails so annoying. I never thought that I will see the day that one of my relatives will fall for this email and actually gave all everything they had. How sad.

From the desk of Mr. Patrick Joel
Senior staff in file department, African Development Bank (A.D.B),
Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Dear friend,

I am Mr Patrick Joel, a senior staff in file department in african development bank (a.d.b) burkina faso. During my investigation and auditting in this bank, i came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died on plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with this bank without any claim, either from his family or relations. The said amount was U.S $15.500.000 (Fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars).

Meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claims over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place. The transfer of this fund will require a second party or fellow who will forward claim as the next of kin to the bank and also present a foreign account where the fund will be re-transferred after payment approval is granted. The request of a foreigner as next of kin in this business is occassioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner.

Moreover, i will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. You will be entiltled to 30% of the total sum as gratification, while 10% will
be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, 60% will be for me. I will be monitoring the whole transaction here in this bank until you confirm the total fund in your account.

Contact me immediately if you are intrested and capable to handle the
transaction.

I am urgently waiting for your mail.
Best regards,
Mr. Patrick Joel.

I am not new to emails like this. One of my co-worker and best friend before fell for this email too. Luckily his gut feeling was right and didn't bother to go through the process. Actually he already talked to someone from Nigeria over the phone and he asked him about his bank account because they were going to transfer the money in his account BUT he has to pay for the transfer fee before he can have the money in his name. Ernie kept asking me if he was doing the right thing and I have always been skeptical about it. He finally listened to himself and cut all the contact that he has with the Nigerian guy.

Papa's cousin is a different story. My aunt got married to an Australian nurse who decided to settle in Cebu to retire. In fact Ryan and I have spend time in their lovely home in Talisay. My aunt knows nothing about computers while my uncle does all his business online without sharing it to my aunt. Unfortunately, he got an email about a way of tripling their money without a sweat and he fell for it. Would you believe that he sold all their properties and my aunt not knowing what is going on. She was just told that this is a way to make money and to triple their money that is. After opening an account and all ready for the transfer, the Nigerian told him that they need to deposit P700,000 in this account for the transfer fee and they sold some property that my aunt owned in the province. After depositing the money, they never heard from him again. So where are they now? They are living in the one and only property that my aunt has left. So poor and broke that they have to borrow money just to get by or buy rice. That was the biggest they ever did in their entire life.

Branson, Missouri Winter Getaway

Don’t you just wish you can get up and leave everything behind and go on a vacation away from home? Away from the stress, responsibilities and just be able to unwind and relax. That would really be lovely, don’t you think? It was really crazy for us the past holiday. I started working in a retail store and although I don’t have to deal with the customers, it was still a little stressful at times. Besides Papa’s coming from the Philippines was a little overwhelming for us and we needed to prepare a lot of things for his arrival and now that it is over I want to just be able to relax or go on a quick vacation perhaps.



If you ask me, I would rather visit Branson, Missouri. What makes them special? I want to see their Third Annual Ice Carving and the 2009 Polar Plunge and also to get away from the brutal cold here in Chicago. What is even great about Branson is they have 49 live entertainment theaters, museums and more. You will enjoy it even more when you stay in Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel because they are located just a driving distance from the entertainment center. You can even take advantage of their winter escape package. I can’t wait to check out their river walk and also their water fountain. So if you are thinking of a quick vacation better check out Branson, Missouri.

So Nice To Have Taytay Around

I used to freak out every time Frankie is not feeling well. Since I am home all the time, I try to do it all because I didn't want Ryan to worry about Frankie. The last time Frankie was throwing up and had diarrhea at the same time, Ryan had to stay home because I didn't have any rest overnight because Frankie did it 4 times. It hasn't been a month yet and he is sick again. About two days ago he was throwing up and now that he is eating,he has diarrhea but I feel a lot better this time because Papa helps me with him and tells me suggestions. He is so all over him that when he is not felling well, Papa would prefer to stay home and watch him rather then taking him outside to go places or pick up something from the store. The picture below is taken before Ryan and I left to pick up last minute stuff for his welcome party. I told him that he doesn't need to sit by him on the floor because Frankie is sleeping anyway but he insisted. He wants to make sure that he will not fall off the couch.

Frankie started feeling not too good last Sunday. Luckily Ryan was not able to give him milk last Saturday because he fell asleep. He was throwing up some water 2 times overnight but that was it. If he could have had milk it could have been worst and so smelly. I worked last Saturday so Ryan let me sleep Sunday morning after I had something to drink outside. He took Frankie out and immediately Papa scope him up. We can tell that he wasn't feeling well because he didn't even move and doesn't want to eat. He wrapped him with his blanket all day until he felt a little better. I can't thank God enough for bringing them both together. Papa is truly a big and great help.

Fun Games To Play

I haven’t been that active with blogging lately. Although I have paid posts lined up for a couple of my blogs but I want to take my time writing them. As long as they are not expiring on me then I am good. I tried to write them down on my notebook complete with their deadlines so that I won’t miss them. So what is keeping me busy? Well two things. It is because Papa is here with us and I always enjoy our conversation and I sometimes join him and Frankie play outside and second, I have been playing fun games online at ChocoSnow.com. I am sure you are going to love this website.

ChocoSnow.com games are not your regular games but it includes mind boggling puzzles, mysteries and more. You can download it for free or buy its full version. My favorite game is the DQ Tycoon Game. I find the game very unique for it allows you to use your creative thinking and talent to build the ultimate Dairy Queen Franchise chain. You will need to budget, manage, weigh and expand your business. You surely will need your thinking cap on this game. You can also check out their top 10 games as well as their latest additions. So if you want to keep yourself from getting bored this winter then you need to check them out. They have a lot of games to choose from that will surely keep you busy till spring.

Staying Connected

One of the things I really liked is when I see Papa, Mama and Frankie talking over the internet. They usually have voice chat and cam to cam and it always makes me happy when they can see each other. Staying connected is what it is. I still need to teach Papa how to open the computer, how to connect to the internet, open his email and also open yahoo messenger so that he can leave messages to mama and to my siblings at anytime that he wants to. Although there are times when my built in web cam doesn't work and it frustrates mama. I have been trying to fix it and it help sometimes and sometimes it just doesn't work. I hope it won't be the case all the time.

JFK Car Service at Your Service

People travel for many reasons. Some for leisure while others for business. Every time Ryan, Frankie and I are new to a place and on vacation, I try to make connections. I usually check if we know someone that can pick us up at the airport although Ryan always resent the idea. He never liked us to be a hassle to anyone but not all places has the efficient service of JFK Car Service.

Can you imagine getting into a new place where you don’t know anyone and your car service is late or won’t be able to pick you up? I am sure it wouldn’t be a good idea especially when you are coming in a group or as a family and have to deal with being stuck at the airport. What I like about the JFK Car Service is they have private vans that can pick you up at the airport for groups of 4-11. They also have hassle free booking where you can just book online. With their courteous and safe drivers, you know that you are in good hands. So the next time you want to visit New York City for leisure or business don’t forget to check out www.goairlinkshuttle.com and never have to deal with late pick up ever again.

New Year's Eve There

Even with the family getting smaller, they still managed to have a Happy New Year. The picture above is all of them with mama's new adopted son Aron and of course my siblings that are still living at home. Manoy Gayfred has his own family now so all they did was call and greet each other a Happy New Year. Manoy Gayfred texted last night and he told me what they did. I told him that I wish and hope for a Christmas and New Year that we will spend it with the entire family. I know it would be hard for Ryan to leave for 2 weeks from work but it would be nice to spend the holiday in the Philippines away from the cold and close to our family.

Homesickness Remedy

As most of you know, Papa arrived here in the US safely from the Philippines. We were so lucky to be blessed with a nice weather when he came in. So far he is doing great. Besides the 2 layers of clothing that he has on to keep him warm, I have to say he is doing really well health-wise. He left the Philippines with a slight cough and amazingly after a few days of getting here, the cough disappeared. He has been helping us with the house and he is so nice to have around especially with Frankie. Ryan and I tried so hard to keep him busy so that he won’t feel home sick and miss the Philippines as much. In fact, we just moved the treadmill out again in the living room so that he can run early in the morning. I am sure he misses playing his favorite games too that he usually play every time he went to the casino with his childhood friends from Lahug but I have an alternative for that though. Since he can’t be out anyways because of the cold weather then he can just play at home, in our living room by simply downloading the software from the number one online casino, Golden Palace Casino.

Golden Place Casino has the games that you will find in a real casino. You can start by downloading their casino software and with your first deposit you will enjoy a $300.00 sign up bonus. How does 70 action packed casino games sound to you? Sounds like fun, right? With a lot of surprises at Golden Palace Casino weekly, I am sure you will be coming back for more. It is exciting and most of all; it will keep Papa busy and no more homesickness.

New Year's Eve Here

We went out to the mall for New Year's Eve to take a walk and take Papa to places that we usually visit. We also wanted to let Frankie play in the play area but he wasn't too interested because there were a lot of big kids running around. Every time I put him on the ground he starts running away or go outside. One of our intentions were to dine in there for lunch and we did. The food court was so crowded but we were able to get a spot for us. Papa, Frankie and I got Panda Express foodies while Ryan got Pizza. After lunch we decided to go get ice cream from Culvers. We went shopping for a little bit for dinner while Papa stayed in the car to watch Frankie while he was sleeping. I was so exhausted that I was knocked down when we got home. I had a very nice sleep because Papa watched Frankie in the living room.

watching Barney together

Unfortunately around 5:30 p.m. I had to leave for work but I was glad that we didn't have to stay there long and we finished what we are supposed to finish. We watched TV and had a nice dinner at midnight. We just had tacos, some desserts and champagne. It wasn't much but that were all we ever need. Although we are very far from each other but in our hearts we will always be together.

Happy New Year everyone!