i hate these chores

Thanks Em for the meme.

~~~START COPY~~~

This meme is pretty simple.
Here are the rules:

1.) List down the household chores you hate and why. Do you think you can survive without helpers and nannies?
2.) Copy the image.
3.) Tag as many girlfriends you want, the daddies and hubbies can also join.
4.) Add your blog's link in the domesticated divas linky love. You can add all your blogs.
5.) Leave ME a comment and I'll add you up in the masterlist.

DOMESTICATED DIVAS: Living the Healthy Life / Sripe&Yellow / Vanity Kit / Mind Bubbles / Something Purple / Em's Detour / Insights from the Grocery Cart / YOUR BLOG HERE

My answer: I absolutely hate doing the dishes. But since I don't have any outside help, no choice, I have to do them. Yup, I have been without help since January 2008. And still alive...

~~~END COPY~~~

Other links

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the case of the take home cupcakes

Since the start of school this June, I've been noticing cheese cupcakes in the breadbox. Every afternoon, one cheese cupcake just suddenly appears. The one day, I saw Kuya's hand in the breadbox. Apparently, he comes home with cheese cupcakes and puts them there for Kowi. He was the culprit all along.

The funny thing was that they weren't Kuya's leftover snacks. He usually brings a sandwich to school. So just who is the supplier of these daily cheese cupcake take home? My interest was certainly piqued!

One day, I finally asked him. His answer? "Oh, they're from my classmate, Aina."

The cupcakes were given by a classmate. A girl classmate. Aina. So, everyday since June he gets cheese cupcakes from Aina. A girl. Why?

"It's because I'm her 7th best friend," he said. Oh, okay. Seventh best friend. Hmmm...

The Perfect Fancy Dress

My grandma's birthday is on November 1st and the family always has a costume party to celebrate it together with Halloween. Everybody is dressed for the occasion and vying for Best in Costume that my grandma chooses. My cousins usually dress up as super heroes and monsters. I plan to dress up differently this year to make sure I win. And I found something at Fancy Dress that might just do the trick.

I browsed through different costumes, the hottest picks, the more fancy ones, the super heroes, on sale items, to the novelty until I found the perfect Fancy Dress for me. I'm sure it'll fit my fuller figure perfectly. What do you think?

rain, rain...don't go away

Hubby came home unexpectedly last night. He was supposed go to Mindanao last Saturday, but their vehicle still under maintenance. It delayed their trip a few days. Yay!

He usually comes home on the weekends when he's not doing weekend overtime, which is like once or twice a month. And he sleeps over one night during weekdays. But this week, he has been sleeping home more often. This is because he'll be gone for at least two months. Haay...

When he was told yesterday that they would be leaving today, he decided to come home to spend dinner with us bringing KFC. The kids were ecstatic, partly because he was here for dinner and partly because of the chicken.

We checked the weather conditions via satellite last night to see if it was possible for their vehicle to brave the rains. To him, it looked like they'd have to delay their trip again until the weather clears. But it isn't his call. Well, hopefully the rain doesn't go away just yet, at least for the weekend, so we can spend more time with him.

Where the Hell is Matt?

If you live in a cave, like I did since the invention of the Internet, you're probably asking, "Matt who?" Well, Matt just happens to be a very famous Internet celebrity in his own right. His claim to fame is a particular dance that he does on several countries across seven continents. In fact his videos have become one of the most popular videos on YouTube, with around 10 million hits.

The first time I saw his video, I laughed, then cried and then laughed again. I went practically nuts from the fact that his simple dance has sent out a message of unity. I don't know if that's what he intended to do when he started the videos. But the end result is truly inspiring. He has probably done something more for humanity than most political leaders.

Do you want to know where the hell is Matt? He's dancing somewhere, I hope.

David Cook in Manila

It's official. David Cook will be holding a concert here in Manila on January 27, 2009. It's definitely great news for AI fans like me.

I wasn't really a Cook fan when AI 7 started. But I was converted when he sang You’ll Always Be My Baby and Billie Jean. He is certainly an original. Along with the millions of AI fans, I watched the epic Cookie versus Archie battle on TV. Not even Kowi's crying pulled me away. My eyes and ears were glued to the set.

I called Hubby just now to tell him we'll be watching David Cook's concert. Actually it was more of an order than a request. I also told Hubby that my eyes would only be on David when he performs here. LOL.

Now, I only have to wait six more months...

coffee award

Jody, thanks for the award.

Coffeedrinkers: Living the Healthy Life / Vanity Kit / Stripe & Yellow/ Em's Detour / Mind Bubbles / Something Purple / Mommy Talks /Aggie Shoots /Aggie Scraps /All Kinds of Me Stuff /Winding Creek Circle /InkBabyStudios /The Salad Caper /Scribbles of My Life /In This Game of Life /The Shopaholic In Me /Insights from the Grocery Cart /your blog here

Like a strong brew, their passion in blogging is hard to ignore and they love coffee too! Have a cup. Have a nice cup Cee, Nice, Ivan Girl and Vida.

yummy burritos

Yesterday, my friend Monika was asking me what my favorite food was. Off the top of my head I thought of burritos. Well, I woke up this morning dying to eat a one! There’s just something about a lightly grilled flour tortilla wrapped around ground beef, beans, salsa, lettuce and cheese that makes my taste buds go nuts. I want mine with just a hint of hot sauce for that extra kick.

I think I’ll run down to the grocery store when Kuya comes home from school. I’m definitely making them tonight. Of course, the kids’ version will have catsup instead of hot sauce. Whatever version, it’ll be a great dinner. I can’t wait.

my little flower girl

not so terrible twos

I thought Kowi had already outgrown the terrible twos. I was so wrong. It's back, and bigger than ever. The horrible threes! Whoever coined the term 'terrible twos' is defintely a year off.

Kowi is a really good kid, but she does have her days. There are times when I think she was born with no ears. It takes about 50 times before she acknowledges that I'm calling her, she runs off when I come to her and she's starting to talk back. She always has to have what Kuya has and cries loudly when she doesn't get her way.

I tell you, at two, redirecting worked if she was about to throw a tantrum. Piece of cake. Now, she's caught on, refusing to listen.

This too shall pass, this too shall pass...

How do you dial Nanny 911?

four things meme

When you start doing memes, you know you've got writer's block.
I borrowed this from Mary's Madness. Here we go.

Four jobs I've had
-HR Assistant
-Management Trainee
-Product Development Specialist
-Medical Transcriptionist

Four movies I can watch over and over
-My Bestfriend's Wedding
-The Mirror has Two Faces
-So I Married an Axe Murderer
-Much Ado About Nothing

Four places I've lived
-Alabang
-Makati
-Quezon City
-Las Pinas

Four TV shows I love
-House, MD
-Myth Busters
-Psych
-Pushing Daisies

Four places I've vacationed
-Hong Kong
-Davao City
-Baguio City
-Malaysia

Four of my favorite dishes
-California Maki
-Puttanesca
-Sinigang
-Banana with Peanut Butter

Four sites I visit daily
-Yahoo Mail
-PPP
-SS
-Google

Four places I would rather be right now
-cuddling with Hubby in bed
-shopping in Singapore
-sightseeing in Europe
-having a massage

People I tag
- Joy
- Marilyn
- Melisse
- Sheng

an award from a lovely friend

Thanks Sheng for this award.

simple woman's day book meme

Thanks Marnellie for this meme.

Outside My Window… it's getting dark. It's 6:30pm!

I am thinking… of Hubby going away to Zamboanga this week for 3 loooong months.

I am thankful for… Hubby, my kids and for another day.

From the kitchen… I made pasta because it's pasta night.

I am wearing… a gray shirt that says hot stuff and yellow shorts

I am creating… a rewards poster for Kuya's SRA reading list.

I am going… to do the laundry tomorrow.

I am reading… Preschool Play&Learn by Penny Warner to supplement my homeschooling.

I am hoping… that Hubby will not stay in Zamboanga longer than 3 months.

I am hearing… splashing water from the bathroom.

Around the house… Kuya is taking a shower, Kowi is sleeping soundly and I'm doing this meme in the yellow room.

One of my favorite things… is having a nice noisy dinner with the whole family complete.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Dental appointment on Friday, party in Fun Ranch on Saturday, baptism on Sunday.

Here is the thought I am sharing… Your children need your presence more than your presents. ~Jesse Jackson

I'm sharing this with everyone. Just feel free to snag this.

Mommy and baby letters

Kowi and I are currently doing the alphabet. She already knows the capital letters by sight, she calls them "mommy" letters. I am now introducing her to the small "baby" letters.

I started her with LeapFrog Fridge Phonics that I used with Kuya when he was 3 years old. It shows the 26 magnetic upper case letters that talk and sing. It even has the alphabet song. Good thing I coerced my brother to buy the expansion pack. Now I have both mommy and baby letters in the set.

Our activity the other day was to pair up the upper case with the lower case. Of course, she's still having trouble with letters B, D, P, Q and L. But the rest she did well. More practice, practice, practice.

add value through cisco

As a stay-at-home mom, I'm concerned about getting stuck in a routine. Taking care of the family is top priority but I used to have a career before deciding to stay home. I don't want to give up work entirely and I want to get back into the workforce once the kids are older. The way I see it, one way to keep my competitive advantage is to change career paths. I want to get a job in an industry that provides for better long-term career expansion. And with the way things are going, the IT industry is my best option.

IT trends continue to indicate upward worldwide demand for IT-based products and services on a daily basis. The need for skilled and certified IT professionals is on the rise to keep up with the unrelenting need for new technology and innovation. While employment demand is solid in virtually all sectors of the IT industry, it is also highly competitive. It is not only a matter of skills, but also a matter of being certified.

I recently browsed through the Cisco Learning Network and found that they provide several network certification programs for four levels. There is an entry, affiliate, professional or specialist Cisco certification that will match and tailor-fit individual needs in routing and switching, network design, security or voice specialist area. So a beginner like me wanting to jumpstart a career in the IT field or a specialist looking to fine-tune his IT skills has much to gain from a Cisco certification.

Although getting work experience is still a major hurdle for newcomers, I am betting that a Cisco certification will level the playing field. In the competitive world of information technology, technical expertise is not the issue. It really is a matter of value. And the power comes with enhancing that value to always keep ahead of the pack.

sleep? game on

Last night was my first night to sleep 30 mintues earlier. As part of my break bad habits campaign, I did.

Now here are a few ground rules that I laid out to make sure I sleep 30 minutes earlier (I hope) for the next 21 days or until it becomes a habit, whichever comes first:

1. Go to bed the same time every night.
2. Lights and TV off at least 30 mins before bedtime.
3. No tea one hour before I go to sleep. Not really sure if the caffeine from the tea would affect my sleep habits, but I'm making sure.
4. Experts say lavender induces sleep. Maybe I'll try a little aromatherapy.

Hopefully, these will help me sleep earlier in the next 21 days. Do you have any other suggestions to a peaceful and earlier slumber?

i'm breaking bad habits

It's a few weeks past the middle of the year and I realize I haven't gotten far with my 2008 New Year's resolutions. Again, as in previous New Year's resolutions, they have been forgotten and will probably be recycled for next year. Arrgh!

This recycling of resolutions has definitely become a habit, a bad one, and it has got to stop. And I'm starting today, Monday. I don't want to wait until New Year's. Frankly, the breaking of bad habits should start this second.

I'm thinking of several good things that I want to turn into habits. Off the top of my head, they are:

1. Sleep 30 minutes earlier than usual. No more late night entertainment shows. Bye-bye.

2. Drink more water. It should be 2 liters a day, excluding juice and my daily 2 cups of tea.

3. Stick to grocery list and budget (Hubby would love this one).

4. Have at least one serving of oatmeal a day.

5. Stop buying stuff during sales. My logic: I will need this because it's on sale.

I'm starting with number 1. Will it be easier to do than the rest? We'll see in about 21 days. Experts say it takes that long to develop a habit. Good luck to me.

mom's real life spa treatments

If going to the spa is beyond your budget, try at-home treatments ...

eyebrow threading

mircodermabrasion

aromatherapy

body wrap

blowout

I snagged this from Jarvil. Thanks a lot.

And I'm passing this on to other moms who have been brave enough to undergo these treatments. Ann, Chat, Cee, Eds, Em, Jane, Juliet, Liza, Marnellie, Elvz, Vida, Wheng, Shimumsy, and Nice.

Insights from the Grocery Cart / your blog here