A glimpse of our Christmas family reunion 2008

My mind is still on Christmas and gift-giving. I like to make my loved ones happy, that’s why I’m already thinking of gifts for her - my mom - and of course also for my dad, and the rest of the family.

The family picture below could speak more than words could do, so I share this with you: (For some unavoidable circumstance, one family member was missing though, but he was with us in spirit!)

You can imagine with such number, when we were not posing for a take, how riotous and topsy-turvy we could be! It was surely fun!

On gift-giving

With Christmas in the offing, aside from the early-dawn Masses, what comes to mind are the gifts to be given to loved ones, and the affordability of the items with respect to my budget! For my techie niece and nephew, some gadgets and electronic stuff would surely make them happy. I bet they’ll give me big grins with presents such as a new mp3 player, camphone or USB flash drive.

Hmmm…I’ll make a list first of all possible gifts I have in mind, and of course, I have to check my budget as well! For me, what’s important in gift-giving is not so much the gift, but the heart of the giver. If we convey our thoughtfulness and love to the recipient with even a humble gift, the purpose is served, don’t you think so?

Christmas is almost here

How times flies! We continue with our busy lives, not much aware we’re now in November, the month before Christmas, and preparations for the holidays are already in place. Some though, including us here, have not taken measures yet to deck their places with the trappings of the season.

There are many options for decoration though, and one can choose an artificial Christmas tree which looks so much like nature being brought to the living room. We might even try it. Hmmm… we should not forget though the real reason for the season – Jesus!

Upgrade to SM Prestige… yay!

I got some good news in my mailbox today! Here it is…

——————————————

Congratulations!

Thank you and we hope to see you at SM soon!

———————–

Well, I didn’t know all that shopping for setting up the condo (with all those furniture and appliances) did something good for my SM Advantage membership. ;-)

Me and my oily face

Have you ever had a “facial” or a “derma”? I did few months ago and it was soooo painful. Tsk…that’s what you get when you want your face to be cleaned up from dirt. The staff did a lot of pricking on my facial skin, I think I shed few tears during the whole process. So, do I still want to have a facial treatment after such uncomfortable procedure? Sure I do. It’s actually advisable to have a regular facial to close the pores especially if your skin is the oily type.

For instance, my face belongs to the oily type, I think I can harvest lots of oil to cook eggs! LOL. But even so, I’m thankful my face is not plagued with pimples and I don’t have to resort to acne treatment or get professional help. A friend even told me that having an oily face is a sign of being healthy! LOL.

Missing my friend M

Finally, my good friend M in the US has just given birth. I am so happy for her since she and her hubby had been praying for a baby for many years already. I bet these days they’re devoting most of their time taking care of the little one. But maybe after few months, M will be out scouting again for jobs in south jersey or any nearby state. At least her hubby has a decent paying job which I’m sure is more than enough to take care of their needs.

Six-week exercise program

My low carb diet has been helpful in keeping me in shape, although I do cheat sometimes and still have some bread, pasta or sweet dessert. What I really need though is some exercise to keep me physically up. Following a regular exercise routine surely keeps me healthy and fit. I noticed that during my monthly period, I didn’t feel the usual stomach cramps when I engage in regular exercise a week before.

Recently though, my life has been so hectic, I just can’t include a regular 45-minute exercise into my schedule. Thus, it’s interesting to know about the “Six Week Body Transformation” program of KettleWorx Ultra which one can do at the comforts of his home. The package includes a free 5-lb Kettlebell, 4 DVDs, an eating guide and more. What makes this program attractive to busy people are the relatively shorter sessions of 20 minutes 3 times a week, designed to transform one’s body within 6 weeks of personal training.

Happily married

I’m thankful to my best friend G for letting us stay in their newly renovated house during our recent trip to Cebu. For the three days that we stayed at her place, we had a chance to bond more and catch up on the things that happened since we live far from each other. Our topics of conversation were not only about reminiscing the good old days, but also about family, parenting, relationships, and even those TV shows.

I’m glad G is happily married with two responsible and loving kids. Thus even if her body weight has become heavier than during our college days, she has not considered taking one of those best diet pills. I think she’s happy and contented with herself, her family and life as a whole. And that’s all that really matters.

Business realizations

Whew! Just came from a business trip in Cebu and thank God it was worth it. We have new associates for our group and it is just so inspiring. We didn’t expect it to be that fruitful and now it is very encouraging for me to go on with our business plans.

What I’ve learned from our business trip was priceless. I’ve realized that in order to succeed, one has to give time and take risks, pray hard and cultivate meaningful relationships with others.

Advanced degrees for busy professionals

For busy professionals, going back to university and taking up some master’s degree can be difficult especially with a work schedule that’s not flexible. Thus, it’s best to consider the option of getting an online masters degree to address this need, as long as you’ve carefully chosen a reputable university since most top ranked universities don’t offer online programs.

Education doesn’t stop when you graduate from college. One learns more from his work experience as a professional in his chosen field. But aside from the knowledge and skills learned from work, it’s still important to consider taking up advanced degrees to keep up with career demands especially with industries that are constantly evolving.

A career in Nursing?

While staying for few days at my best friend’s house during a business trip, I’ve observed how her two kids (both of them are my godson and goddaughter) have grown up to be responsible and respectful persons. I asked D, the youngest who will be in high school soon, what course he plans to take up, and I was surprised he’s interested in a Nursing career. I really thought he’d follow his Dad’s footsteps as a mechanical engineer, but not D, he’s more interested on caring for sick persons than tinkering with engines or ring terminals. I guess he’s influenced by his Mom who just got a BS degree in Nursing while his big sis is currently taking up the same course in college. I think another reason could be the allure of Nursing as a course that is in high demand for work abroad. Their family is planning to migrate to another country in the future, so I’m sure the course will be a good choice though.

On business improvement and strategies

Business owners are finding ways to improve their company’s image to the public and especially to their clients. Thus, improvement is always an essential part of one’s business goals. From the tiniest details such as the quality of office supplies used for business presentations, to major purchases such as providing photocopy machine or receipt printers for a more convenient office process, or deciding on a marketing and advertising strategy.

Recently I have noticed some local banks changing their company logos and even their office building exterior and interior designs. When it comes to implementing business strategies, change is an essential part of the process.  

Just having a break

Whew! Finally I’m here at home again after setting up the two condos in Paranaque. But that doesn’t mean my job’s done. I’m just here at home for few weeks rest. So, next month, we’ll be back on site, setting up some modern furniture and décors for the condo including the wall paintings and the Roman shades. Yes, I’m just having a break for now. I will be uploading some pics of big sis’ condo next time. Ciao!

What’s up with big sis

When I learned from my big sis that she has been ‘back to school’ since August at the same time when her kids’ schools opened, I wondered how busy she could get then. No wonder she’s rarely seen online. Sometimes she would tell me that she had been sleeping late coz she had a lot of work to do in the house after school. I bet she’s worried that she might get one of those dark eye circles if she continues sleeping late. Well, those with the same concerns should not really worry coz there are creams available to treat that problem. Anyway, as long as she enjoys learning in class most epecially the finnish language and cooking, then there’s really nothing to be worried about.

A netbook for Mom?

I’ve been scouting the computer shops in the mall since few months ago, trying to find a good netbook for Mom. Her purpose is to have a small and portable computer that she can bring with her and use for her business presentations. I still am hesitant about netbooks though. For one thing, they are very much limited when it comes to advanced features. But Mom says she just needs to surf the net, do some word processing and other basic computer applications. One thing that’s good about netbooks though is that they don’t cost that much as compared to slim-type laptops. 

Condo 2 updates as of September 28

Just got back from Condo 2 and here are some updates.

The laminates in the living room are already installed, only the dark paint is lacking for the groove in between the panels. In the bedroom, a worker was busy putting wood filler for the cornice. The bedroom closets are not yet painted according to our specified color. The kitchen cabinets and covers are already painted, so tomorrow I expect the cabinet covers to be installed already. Now we just need to buy the handles for them. The full-length mirror in between the dining room laminated panels is not yet installed. I hope it will be within this week. The bathroom is still the same. No progress yet and the floor tiles in the shower area are still not installed. Tsk. Why oh why… it seems like the contractor is sleeping on it! Sigh.

Anyway, we already ordered the movable furniture for the unit – the dining set, sofa set and the center table. We were so blessed to have bought them during the 3-day sale from Our Home where they had big discounts up to 20% off their displayed items such as beds, dining, living and office furniture. I’m glad our order will be delivered within this week.

Looking good inside and out

I’ve read some self-motivational authors saying that it’s best to have a mind-lift than a face-lift, that caring for one’s attitude and having a more positive outlook in life would eventually make a person more attractive. Simply put, the basis for a person’s confidence is a healthy attitude which eventually radiates in her being, giving her an aura of attractiveness to others.

On the other hand, some beauty articles advise the readers on taking extra care of the physical side, i.e. making oneself physically attractive as this adds up to one’s confidence and appeal. One beauty expert recommends that looking good outside, i.e. dressing up smartly or putting on makeup, would eventually make one feel more confident and secure about herself. Thus we see overweight people browsing over diet pill reviews and acne-troubled teens buying the best facial cream available in the market.   

Looking and feeling good really depends on the person. Some may look plain and simple, with no makeup and frills, and yet remain smart and confident. I know some who are not physically attractive, i.e. being overweight or suffering from acne, but they value themselves and are still confident about themselves. This doesn’t mean though that one should neglect the outside appearance and dress up sloppily. One should also care about how she looks, make the most of her physical and mental assets and be confident about them.

For me, feeling good about yourself should not really depend so much on the amount of makeup you put on or the price tag on your shirt. These are just the externals. The best is to maintain a balance between having a healthy and positive attitude and looking good without overdoing it.

I want an ipod!

Yes, I really want to have an ipod, specifically the one with huge capacity, no less than 160GB. My reason is simply to store lots of music and videos to motivate and feed my ears (and mind) with positive uplifting talks from mentors and leaders. Yes, ipods are not just for entertainment, they can serve as motivational gadgets as well, yeah? You can turn on your ipod and listen to positive talks while driving or doing the laundry. It’s a great way of multitasking.

Anyway, I checked out the Apple Store in the mall and my dream ipod costs about Php15,000. Oh well, it really doesn’t cost that much, but truth is, it’s just not within my budget these days. I still got so many things to prioritize financially though, such as getting a new pair of contact lens which would surely cause a big dent on my savings as well. But yeah, I still want an iPod and I’ll surely get one someday.

What’s your weight loss strategy?

Have you ever entertained the thought of taking diet pills? For those who don’t feel good about their weight, I bet the idea of looking for the best weight loss pill crosses their minds. On the other hand, I know some friends who prefer the natural way of losing weight such as going to the gym or walking few miles daily to burn unwanted fats. How about you, what is your strategy for losing weight?

Still awake…

It’s early dawn and I just woke up… well, actually what was supposed to be a nap turned out to be a long one. I decided to rest for just few minutes past midnight but woke up four hours later in the wee hours of dawn. So what to do? The pending tasks are still there… but really, do I need to continue them or just return to bed again? Sigh. The stormy weather outside just gave me my answer.

On family reunions

With my relatives staying here for few days before my aunt’s flight today, we’re enjoying each other’s company. Our conversations can be anything from the nonsense and funny anecdotes to the serious and heartrending tales. From my aunt’s stories, I learned more about my cousins and their quirks. I miss my cousins especially when I remember how we had a great time singing together as they took turns playing the guitar while leafing over the music magazine.

My siblings and I used to hang around at their house and I even remember we had yummy butter cake for snacks. Oh well, those were the good old days. I bet we would have interesting conversation with my cousins should we meet again. Maybe we would even talk about more sensible topics like health and wellness or about relationships. We might even discuss such important issues such as how to lose belly fat or the right way to prepare rice coffee. What makes family reunions memorable and fun are the conversations… and the exchange of ideas about various topics make it a great way for learning and building relationships.

The battle of the brands

I don’t mind promo people at the malls, but I usually don’t like the system of selling being employed by most department stores. It’s like this, when you go to Ace Hardware or SM Department store and want to buy a preferred brand, a staff will assist you but would suggest another brand. For instance, whenever I go to Ace Hardware to buy a Philips energy saver bulb, a staff would usually hand me a Firefly brand and tell me why it’s a good brand, blah blah blah, and he would even convince me to buy it instead of what I preferred. Of course, I would politely tell him I was looking for Philips and not Firefly.
(more…)

Condo 2 updates as of September 23

We visited condo 2 this morning and were disappointed to see no worker in the unit. Tsk. So that explains why the progress has been so slow. The only improvement I’ve noticed was the installed cornice in the bedroom and living room. Also, the kitchen cabinet doors have already been prepared for painting. Thank God, the project manager introduced us to another contractor who will handle the concreting works and the carpentry as the owner wants to have a concrete structure for the kitchen countertop instead of using marine plywood. We’re praying that this contractor will not delay the project and would be fast and efficient in delivering the goods as compared to the present contractor whose ongoing works in the condo is just sooo slow. It’s not easy to find a good contractor these days. It’s just like choosing the best weight loss pills or scouring the grocery for your favorite low-carb food. Sigh.

Beauty tips from my aunt

You wouldn’t even think she’s already 70 if you were to guess her age simply by looking at her. My aunt is really young-looking and when I asked her beauty secret or if she uses any facial cream, she just laughs and tells me she doesn’t put anything on her face. Really! She doesn’t use any soap, facial wash or cream on her face. “Just wash with warm water,” she advises if your face is oily. She doesn’t even put on face powder but just a light lipstick. Her face and skin doesn’t look dry and you can see few wrinkles on her face. For those who want to get rid of acne or want to have youthful face, my aunt’s tip could help. Knowing about her beauty secret made me think twice about my facial wash since my skin is the oily type so I tend to wash my face a lot. Hmmm…maybe I’ll try to use warm water for my next facial wash.

My cool aunt

Just this evening, my 70-something aunt and I went to the nearby mall to buy some personal stuff and some grocery items. It was raining so I told her, she can just stay at home and I’ll go to the mall by myself. But she just laughed and told me I’m not tagging along a kid, so it’s not a problem. I’d say, my aunt is still strong and healthy for her age. She also has her own fashion, with her comfy shirts and her signature cargo pants and crocs sandals. I bet she’d look great with a pair of Dansko shoes as well. Her beauty secret? I’ll post about it next time.

Keeping things organized

How do you keep things in the right place and how do you manage the clutter at home? My cousin is such an organized guy that he would color-code the hangers in his closets for his different clothes. Hmmm…actually I am fond of organizing things in my bedroom as well. I try to keep my stuff as well-arranged as possible for easy access and space-saving reasons. But I haven’t thought about color-coding the hangers and I think it’s a pretty cool idea.
(more…)