a house of our own

Ramil and I initially planned on getting our own house before getting married. Well, some circumstances prevented us from doing just that. Doing some computations, we figured it would take a long time before we get married if we do that. So we opted to just save for it while married. Some of our relatives have just recently bought their own house. They know someone who knows a lot about real estate and he helped them find a good property. Ramil and I have been talking about it and we are seriously thinking of following suit. We just need to save a bit more. I just hope it's soon, I can't wait for a house of our own.

insuring our future

I used to work in the insurance industry so no one needs to convince me of its benefits. Sure enough, I got a life insurance policy a little over a year into my career as an actuarial specialist. However, certain circumstances has made me lapse in my payments. I am planning to reinstate my policy though.

Now that we are a family, it would be to our advantage to look into such things. I have talked to Ramil into getting himself insured also. Maybe not right now since we still have to find a way to fit it into our budget. We have another person dependent on us and it will be good to think of Mateo just in case something bad happens. It pays to be realistic sometimes. We are starting to look into different insurance plans, comparing what would be best for our needs and budget. It sure wouldn't hurt to look into the future and be prepared.

car frustrations

Ramil and I almost bought ourselves a new car last 2006. Unfortunately, we found out that we were pregnant so our dreams of a brand new car was shelved. Until now, we'd often think about our almost-car, especially during times that our old, red car would give us problems. Right now, we can't afford any kind of car unless we get a car donation. We're actually a bit worried already because our red car is fast becoming very unsafe. Hopefully, we find a way to replace or at least make big improvements on it before it becomes totally road-unworthy. Otherwise, we might be the ones making a car donation to Car Angel, a non-profit company that uses car and other donations to make videos for kids and teens. We just might be able to help someone even with our old car.

jobs with risks

Job matching can be very tricky. Not just for the job searcher but for the employer as well. There's a right match for every employer and every job searcher. The key is to find and be able to make the perfect mix. A lot of companies use a headhunter or a headhunting firm. A.E. Feldman Associates, Inc is one of the top names in the recruiting field. They are known to make successful placements both to the job searcher and the employer. They are an executive search firm with experience in middle to executive to top management. Some of the fields they are in are financial and risk management services, legal and legal support services, communications and technology, human resources consulting, and luxury products. Some of my former officemates are looking for risk management jobs, they just might be able to help them.

my dad, the athlete

My dad didn't use to be such an athletic person. However, these past few years he's been more conscious of his health. His age is making him feel out of shape more than ever. So he's been jogging, playing tennis, and other physical activities. He's been a regular at sporting goods stores and a prowler for Sports Authority coupons. Everyone in the family don't mind it though. If it will keep him healthy, then we're all for it!

my sister wants to blog

My sister has been asking me to help her start a blog. She has one already but it's a friendster blog that she doesn't really update. She told me she'd also like to have a blog on her own domain. I've been trying to teach her a few stuff. It's good that she seems to have an idea already on how she'd want her site to look like. She has templates she likes already and has specifically told me she's planning to earn from it too but don't want ads popping up in her guests' computers. She too has installed a popup blocker on her laptop because she finds those popup ads really irritating. I hope she gets the hang of it fast so that she can also start earning from her blog!

doctor friends

My sister is pretty excited that some of her friends who have been going to med school will hopefully be doctors next year once they take and pass their medical board exams. As early as now, she's thinking of a fitting gift for her soon-to-be-doctor friends. She recently saw a medical id jewelry on a doctor she went to and she's thinking of getting some for her friends once they are full-fledged doctors. She's asking me to look into it and order for her if ever. Well, for as long as they'll be giving us free check-ups why not? :)

Mateo's first out-of-town trip

We will be going on an out-of-town trip this Saturday. Aside from our long trips to my parents' house every weekend, this will be Mateo's first out-of-town trip. We will be having an overnight stay in Canyon Woods. We can't wait to do a lot of activities there. They have an outdoor pool, an indoor temperature-controlled pool, a basketball court, a tennis court, bowling lanes, a miniature golf course, and a 9-hole golf course. My dad is even thinking of bringing some Nike golf clubs along so he can play some golf. I know we will all love our trip and I hope Mateo does too, it's part of his long birthday celebration :)

starting a home office

Ramil and I have been talking about changing the extra bedroom in our house into our very own office here at home. Now that Mateo loves walking around the house, we're finding it hard to work in the living room. We're planning on getting some contemporary office furniture to start it off. We're both pretty excited with the thought of having a separate room to place all our work-related stuff and to be able to work without disturbance. Hopefully, we'd be able to arrange everything this summer.

silver love

I used to have a lot of silver jewelries. Silver rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. Ramil and I even had these matching rings. When you'd want to have some jewelry and gold is too expensive for you, silver is usually the more practical alternative. Some people buy these precious metals not just for vanity's sake. Others buy silver and other precious metals, along with gold, as a form of currency. With the volatile exchange rates, it might actually be a wiser investment. Monex companies have been America's silver and precious metals investment leader. People investing in silver can buy them as coins or ingot form (reminds me of Harry Potter, eh?). Since 1990, world demand for silver now exceeds annual production so buying them now wouldn't be such a bad idea. Maybe I should looking for my old silver jewelries, they just might come in handy.

out-of-town birthday

I've mentioned in my previous post that we didn't have grand birthday celebration yesterday. Apart from the intimate dinner we hosted, we will treat Mateo to his first out-of-town trip. We will be going to Tagaytay this weekend! We will be staying in Canyon Woods and we are all excited to let Mateo have his first swimming in their indoor temperature-controlled pool. I'm hope Mateo will love swimming too! :)

Mateo's first

It's Mateo's first birthday yesterday!!! We hosted a simple dinner at our house last night. Most of our co-teachers and co-workers were able to celebrate with us and Ramil and I were happy with how it turned out. We chose not to give Mateo a grand birthday celebration because of a lot of reasons. Aside from budget constraints, we also think that he'd enjoy intimate celebrations more than a party with a lot of people. We took some pictures which I'll post later ;)

studying online

It is fairly easy to get an education nowadays. Ramil and I have been thinking of pursuing an additional education degree, or at least get the necessary 18 units. Most probably, we would be taking up an online course that wouldn't hinder us from maintaining our current jobs. Right now, there are numerous online education opportunities. One university, capella university, is a fully online university that offers graduate programs in business, psychology, information technology, human services, and education. Pursuing additional degrees have never been this easy. All you need is an internet connection and you're good to go. Some even offer scholarships so financial status need not be a problem.

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my visual diary

I've recently started my own photo blog, which actually looks more like a blog for Mateo's photos. LOL! I'm having fun taking pictures and I realized that they actually serve as a good diary. What I do is take pictures everyday and then I choose a few pictures to post for a certain day. Looking back at what I've posted so far, it really does tell me what each day is all about. Please free to visit my photo blog here.

reminiscing my corporate life

Summer time is fast approaching. This means planning for teachers for the next school year. Every time there's planning, I am reminded of my previous work in the corporate world. We used to have a lot of planning, budget planning, succession planning, apart from our usual weekly planning. Most of the time, we'd do the planning at a nice restaurant or a function room. Of course, there's food and drinks for everyone. Just one of the things I miss from my corporate life :)

trucking needs

A lot of trucks have been constantly passing by our area these past few days. There's a construction going on in a nearby area and a lot of trucks would travel to and fro the place to bring different materials. I remember meeting a guy before who has a trucking business. I never thought that such a business could be lucrative if you have the right connections. Although maintenance can be a headache, like getting some truck accessories or just simply regular check-ups. Well, of course there's the rising cost of gas too. Nevertheless, it can be a good business as long as you have a feel for it.

my sister's eyes

My sister haven't always had good eyesight and lately, her eyes are bothering her again. She actually has prescription glasses already but she'd stubbornly refuse to wear them often. Then lately, she noticed that she's prone to headaches and dizziness once again. She went to her opthalmologist and she learned that her vision has gotten worse. She's has to get newer glasses and she's been visiting a Great Discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com to look at some frames. Also, she saw that they offer lower prices compared to the usual optical shop that she goes to. I hope she gets her new glasses soon.

my sleeping boys

I love watching my boys sleep. Most of the time, thw two of them would snuggle up on the bed and I couldn't resist taking pictures of them. They look so relaxed and peaceful during these times. It makes everything worth while and definitely completes my day. I hope Mateo grows up to be this comfortable and close with his Dada.

effect of holiday eating

Before the holidays, I was jumping for joy when I stepped on the scales and found out that I was a pound lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight. Hurray! Of course, it doesn't mean I'm back to my pre-pregnancy form, I only have the weight. My middle section still carries most of the extra inches left over from my pregnancy. It's going to take more than diet to remove them, I know I'm going to need an exercise equipment to help me get rid of them.

Since I was happy I lost some weight, I admit that I did a bit of uncontrolled eating over the holidays, LOL. So after all the holiday eating, I tipped the scales two pounds heavier than before. Darn! Now, I'm back to trying to lose the gained pounds while trying to do some running at the same time. The whole family will have a beach outing this March and I plan to look good in my two-piece swimsuit by then. I have less than two months! Wish me luck.

controlling your appetite

Before I got pregnant, I had a hearty appetite. I'm not a heavy eater but I'm not a picky eater also. I am one of those who go for small servings but eats several times throughout the day. I usually don't have just three meals a day. I'd have snacks in between. When I got pregnant, my appetite got close to my husband's. I'd eat more times and bigger servings too! I would often use my pregnancy as an excuse. After giving birth however, the appetite I got used to for nine months stayed with me. I had trouble containing my voracious appetite. Thank goodness I was breastfeeding, I was losing pounds despite all my eating. For some people, their appetite cannot be controlled that easily. Some cannot be controlled by a diet but might even need lapband surgery. The procedure is the least invasive weight-loss surgery available and has helped a lot of people lose weight. What happens is surgeons position a band around the upper portion of your stomach, making you eat less. For those who have weight-loss problems, this just might be one of your better options.

online addiction

My brother's friends are currently getting addicted into something online. It's not online gaming but a more expensive kind of addiction, sport betting. With the many online betting facilities, it's no wonder they've wandered into that arena. I've been telling him to be careful if he decides to try it too. I know some people who've lost a considerable amount of money to online betting. It's a nice way to entertain oneself but the key is moderation. I also know a lot of people who play poker at bet365.com and they haven't found themselves with a big financial loss. Mainly because they only play to pass the time and to entertain themselves.

I've also often been tempted to play poker online and it's good to know that a site like bet365.com provides a secure online environment and has different betting facilities. One of these days, I just might try it. I only have to heed my own advice to do it in moderation.

my brother's growing up

My brother has always been a bit spoiled, in my opinion. I think he was never exposed to financial difficulties when we were growing up. It doesn't mean we didn't have any. It's just that he was protected/sheltered from them. Now that he's grown up, I'd often tell him to be more responsible with how he handles money. Lately, I've noticed that he'd frequently save up to buy something. I hope it's finally a sign of maturity that I've been waiting for. The other day, he was asking me about some Sports Credit Card Offers he saw in the internet. I was about to tell him not to bother with it but then I changed my mind and explained the responsibilities that come with it. I really hope my little brother is finally learning to handle money better.

my happy days are over

Our holiday break is officially over today. Ramil and I went back to school/work after two weeks of break. It wasn't such a good break in for both of us. We both enjoyed the holiday break tremendously. It's funny because all we did during the long break is to stay at home and spend quality family time. It's still several months away but it makes me excited for the summer break. LOL.

learning to work it for the camera

Our baby is learning to work it for the camera! Gone are the days when he would stare blankly at the camera or worse, go for the camera once he sees it aimed at him. Nowadays, Mateo loves making faces at the camera - his version of a smile. Haha! His face would automatically wrinkle up now whenever I bring out the camera. Makes for great photos :)

We still have an unused gift certificate to a kids photo studio, a gift from one of our friends. Now just might be the best time to use it ;)

a blue wedding

Two friends/co-workers got married last January 2, Wednesday. It was a really beautiful wedding. The wedding had a beach theme and their colors were blue and green, which were really great for pictures. The church ceremony was short and sweet. They ended it with the usual shower of fresh rose petals and bubbles. The reception was held at this great place by the bay. The place even has a big pool in the middle which went really well with their blue and green theme. The food and music was great. Ramil and I went home very happy for the couple. We wish them all the best! :)

Alphabet for Parents

This one is a good read for all parents.

*Alphabet for Parents*
By: Sister M. Benedict, O.S.U.

St. Claire School, Cleveland Ohio



*A* sk your child daily about his day at school – activities, play, problems

*B* elieve that corrections made are in the best interests of your child

*C* onsult with the teacher about your child's progress, character,
attitudes

*D* emand respect and obedience at home and your child's success is
guaranteed

*E* ncourage your child to prompt acts of generosity, self-sacrifice,
self-forgetfulness. "What else may I do" should be your child's motto

*F* amiliarize your child with the best in literature, television,
recreation

*G *ather your child's associates together and get to know them well

*H* ave high, but realistic ideals for your child; respect and develop his
talent

*I* nspire your child by your own example and through heart-to-heart talks

*J* udge a situation only after listening to both sides of the story

*K* now where your child is after school and on weekends

*L *earn with your child through your selective reading and personal study

*M *anage your home schedule – chores, television, etc. – for your
child. Don't'
let these activities do the managing

*N* otice changes in your child's attitudes, emotions, interests, appearance

*O* pen new doors of experience for your child by encouraging lessons in
art, music, athletics, foreign language, typing, domestic and mechanical
arts

*P* ray with your child. The family that prays together, stays together.

*Q* uiz your child before tests or other competitive events

*R* efrain from open criticism of any type of authority in the presence of
your child

*S* eek for yourself the kingdom of God, and your child will follow you

*T* each your child the art of self-control, the beauty of inner virtues,
the honor of patriotic service, and the social graces of refined people

*U *se all the available opportunities your city and nation offer to develop
and perfect the talents of your child

*V *enerate your religion: the sacred liturgy, the sacraments, the things
of God. Your child is "another you": he will do the same

*W* elcome suggestions, both laudatory and critical, with an open mind

*X* Examine your child's work with interest, encouragement, and
recommendations

*Y* ield to your child's requests for exceptions or favors only when the
best interests of your child will be served.

*Z* ip into this privileged task of rearing your child in the image of God
with hope, zeal, confidence, and with gratitude in the One whose creative
power you share.

I think I'm going to need to consult this every once in a while. Hehe!

my techie dad

My dad will finally arrive in a few days! We've been expecting him since the last few days of December and we were even hoping that he'd get to celebrate new year with us just like last year. However, there were a lot of delays with the person who will replace him and until now, his exact arrival is still not definite. Good thing he will be coming from Japan which is only a few hours away. He has a lot of techie goodies with him since he went shopping in Japan. He bought a new cellphone, a PSP for my brother, a digital camera, some HDMI switches, and other stuff for his laptop. I can't wait to see what he bought for Mateo. With a techie grandpa and a techie dad, Mateo just might grow up to be a techie too! :)

shopping for baby

A friend is currently six months pregnant and she was asking me about any baby checklist I used when we shopped for Mateo. I still remember when Ramil and I were still waiting for Mateo to come out, we had a pretty confusing time with all the options for different baby things. We didn't realize that having a baby would require so much equipments. Hehe! Of course, safety is a prerequisite. For some items like thermometers and the like, we wanted to make sure we would be getting them from qualified distributors of medical supplies. With the arrival of a baby, we became more concerned with safety and first aid items we really need. We didn't have any first aid kit before and now, we have almost all the essential items already. We want to be prepared for medical emergencies especially now that we have a little one with us. Good thing we haven't had a situation that would require that kit. I gave my friend the best list I can come up with and hopefully, they don't go overboard with shopping!