Cooling Down for the Summer Heat

Summer has raised the temperature earlier than expected this year. And experts say it's gonna stay for a longer time compared to recent years. Oh no!

Beach freaks out there, hold your horses. Living it easy this summertime may not be as easy as we all think. This summer heat may actually cause harm if we don't take extra precaution. Remember, the risk of heat strokes go up in summer heat.

One simple way to prevent it: water. And lots of it.

I've been trying to get the kids to drink more water daily. It's a good thing that Kowi naturally loves agua. Not so with Kuya. I'm having a more difficult time to get him to drink the colorless stuff.

He'll drink iced tea, juice and even the (hopefully) occasional soda, but not water.

So I searched around and found an inexpensive (okay, downright cheap) way to hydrate my son.

The solution? I put in fresh slices of cucumber to his water and viola--he loved it. He drank a whole glass in one sitting.

Cucumber water. Who would've thought? Try it. It's the perfect cool down concoction for summer.

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

Feeling the Summer Heat

Yes, it is officially summer in the Philippines. The 34-degree temperaure is always a tell-tale sign that it is time to bring out those short-shorts, flip flops and tank tops!

Okay, I'm not sure about the tank tops. Haha.

I am really feeling the heat. I already see small beads of perspiration a few mintues after I get out of the shower! It is that hot, people.

The weather is making me crave cool summer fruitshakes like watermelon and mango.

And who could forget the sinfully decadent halo-halo with ube ice cream on top. Ah bliss!

All this talk about getting cooler is making me hungry.

Global Financial Crisis, anyone?

I dread turning on the news everyday. All the talks about the global financial crisis leave me somewhat depressed and, frankly, concerned.

Who wouldn't be? Everyday, companies would announce cost-cutting measures to keep themselves afloat through these tough times. These range from withholding bonuses, salary ceilings to decreased work weeks and shutting down operations. The bottom line is that everyone needs to be on a tight budget until the global financial crisis blows over.

Just how do you make your budget work? Yes, it is living within your means, not spending more than what you make. I have lived 32 years with these little conveniences that I cannot just "undo" in a day. Sadly, some of the latte factors have to go. And they have to go -- pronto! But, people, it is easier said than done.

Let's translate this into more concrete terms:

- Forgo that cuppa joe every morning and try making your own coffee. Maybe this is the right time to invest in a sturdy coffee travel mug to take to work.

- Packed lunches are so hip! Did I mention that it can also save you a few bucks daily? As they say, even a penny may help.

- Eat at home more often. Family dinners can be a great bonding experience between parents and kids. It is definitely healthier and lighter on the pocket.

- Maybe forgo that professional mani-pedi and do it yourself for a change. They can cost an arm and a leg. Well, this may be too drastic... Maybe go to the salon once a month and DIY maintenance.

If anything, the global financial crisis is telling all of us to get back to the basics, live within our means and simplify. Who said that the old fashioned way of cooking at home and DIYs cannot be relearned? It is a hard lesson but the important ones are never easy.

Hooked on Soaps

I have not been a big fan of soaps or telenovelas as we fondly call them here in the country. Filipinos have been hooked on soaps since the the Marimar phenomenon occurred in the mid 90s. And somehow primetime TV has never been the same since then.

In my 32 years of life, I have followed probably a handful. My first soap was Mara Clara. When scheduled permitted, I watched it for lack of other shows on TV. But I soon lost interest when that blasted diary apparently took years to surface.

I was coerced by my office mates into watching my second soap. Mula Sa Puso was a hit during those days. And Princess Punzalan was really scary. I had to watch or risk being ostracized during breaks. Yes, I even watched the movie. =P

I started tuning in to Pangako Sa 'Yo after I had given birth to Kuya. My cousins were absolutely hooked on this soap. Of course, I had to know the infamous Amor Powers and Madame Claudia that they were raving about.

Who would forget the sleeper hit, Mulawin? Since I watched the pilot episode, I started following it. Somehow the story of star-crossed lovers, Alwina and Aguiluz was too riveting to pass. No, I didn't watch the movie but I did buy the feathered masks.

Now, I'm starting to get hooked on the soap, Tayong Dalawa and for obvious reasons. Anyone who has seen the trailer would know that the two David Garcia Jrs would enroll themselves somewhere I know by heart. And I should. After all the significant men in my life hurdled its mountains in a manner of speaking.

Am I hooked on soaps?

Pacquiao Did It

He did it. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao won by TKO against Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya who threw in the towel in the ninth round.

It was a lopsided fight, with Pacquiao winning all of eight rounds. De La Hoya looked old, tired and battered after the match. He was put into a corner several times and could only put up his arms in defense. Manny had peppered him with punches and managed to connect 58% of them.

Poor Golden Boy.

My mom and I were shouting and jumping and screaming while watching the fight live online. Kowi and Kuya had to run into the room to check on us. We really shouted our tonsils out.

Freddie Roach said it in several interviews. He had predicted a ninth-round TKO win for the Mexicutioner. And it happened.

Maybe Roach should also consider a career in fortune telling. Just a suggestion.

De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao

It is called the "Dream Match" although most sports critics would disagree. If you've been living under a rock, I'm talking about De La Hoya and Pacquiao's boxing match tonight at the MGM Grand.

Of course, I'm rooting for the Pacman. He's the best pound-for-pound fighter today. Although clearly smaller than De La Hoya by 4 inches and at least 6 inches in reach, I am really hoping that he'll pull a victory tonight. It'll be great if it's a TKO.

Well, we'll find out soon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Presidential Parenting

I found this article by Sara Kugler very interesting.

It seems that Sasha and Malia Obama are not exempted from doing chores even in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Being the presidential daughters (and having access to all kinds of household help) does not give them the license to neglect fixing their beds or cleaning up. And with the hunt for the new presidential dog, walking the dog and scooping the poop would be on the to-do list soon.

Apparently, First Lady Michelle Obama is trying to work out a plan with the White House staff to get the kids to do their chores.

This is a great day for parents, especially the moms. Hooray! This is what I call presidential parenting.

Now, I can safely say this to Kuya and Kowi: If the leader of the free world can get his daughters to clean up and fix their beds..."

Channeling Martha

I’ve been holding on to quite a few Christmas brooches for three years. My pack rat grandmother finally decided to get rid of her personal storage unit and sent them over in several batches of balikbayan boxes. I kept the brooches for no apparent reason.

While decorating the house for the holidays, I found them in a Tupperware container. The time has arrived to put them to good use. To be honest, I haven’t a clue what to do with them.

I spent several days leafing over my Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and Southern Living magazines. If I could just find some sort of inspiration -- just one picture to copy from. Haha. And I did.

Voila! Introducing my first DIY Christmas wreath. Most of the materials I already had at hand, the straw wreath, green garland, ribbons, twist wire, small disco balls and the Christmas brooches. I just hot glued the garland and disco balls together and stuck the brooches into the straw wreath and pinned a red ribbon on it.

I am officially announcing my Christmas wreath will grace the front door starting December 1st. (And rightfully so, don’t you think?)

Hubby was delighted that I am, at last, channeling my inner Martha Stewart. And he’s expecting a few more DIY projects for the holidays. Oh no!

Recycling Gifts

My Christmas list this year is long. And I haven't started on my Christmas shopping yet. But I've unearthed a few things in the attic that just might be "recycled" and "passed on" for Christmas this year. So, in effect, I have shaved off a few names from The List without spending a dime.

Yes, it maybe tacky to think but I recycle gifts every now and then. There are times when I'm stuck with several variants of something when I only need one or when I got one when I don't need it or I got one when I certainly DO NOT want one. Instead of letting it go to waste (or gather dust in the attic), it maybe a better idea to pass it on for others to enjoy. Or just get it out of the house.

However, there are a few rules I follow on recycling gifts.

1. Never recycle perishable food items. Or at least recycle them quickly. But fruitcakes are another thing, they have a shelf life of a century, give an take a few months.

2. I recycle only brand new, unused, unopened items given as a gift or brand new, unused, unopened items purchased during a temporary moment of weakness (or madness or sale frenzy.)

3. I give away secondhand items to family and friends who need it and not pass it on as a gift. I want a reaction of "Thank you lots" not "Are you nuts?" Or it'll be banished to the attic until the next garage sale.

4. Items with sentimental value are never recycled. Hubby would have my head.

5. I try to keep track of who gave what to avoid giving a gift back to the original giver. Talk about embarassing!

6. Open gift wrappers very carefully to prevent tears or open just enough to see whether you want to keep it. This makes rewrapping so much easier. However, make sure that the giver is not present. Otherwise, open the gift with gusto and then put it in another box and rewrap at an appropirate time.

7. T try to remove all cards, notes, inscription or anything that might reveal my recycling scheme. Be very thorough. Break the seal if you have to.

These tips are valuable after Christmas, when I get that 100th candle, mug, towel and fruitcake.

Themed Christmas Party

Last year, my Dad's class decided to change the annual Christmas party from the traditional (aka BORING) to a themed party. The first theme was western.

My Dad was so excited that he brought out all his western-inspired accessories a few weeks before the party. He even went on a cowboy shopping spree for a few items like bandannas to make the Old West come to life. Kuya scored jeans, suspenders and a checkered long sleeved shirt in the process.

But all that shopping wasn't in vain. Kuya won the best in costume! My Dad was ecstatic.

This year, I heard from my Dad that the class decided on a 70s theme inspired by "Mama Mia" and the return of ABBA. Apparently, my mom and a few other class moms are doing a not-so-secret song and dance number to ABBA hits. I guess we'll be expecting blondes, glitter spandex and knee-high boots this December. With most of my Dad's classmates and their wives in their 60s--hmm...

I am, however, excited to dress up the kids in retro. I'm thinking a flower power hippie for Kowi and an afro wig for Kuya. Haha. That'll be fun! What will Hubby and I wear? For sure your won't be seeing us in spandex any time soon. Not in a million years.

Tina Fey is Dead On

I've been watching clips of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and their spoofs on the current U.S. Presidential campaign.

Tina Fey's return on SNL this season has everyone raving. Her dead on impersonation of Gov. Sarah Palin is so funny, it's actually disturbing. In fact, there are times when I can't even tell which is which anymore, especially when the TV's on mute.

The VP debate episode in the recent SNL was so hilarious. Queen Latifah was so good as PBS journalist Gwen Iffil. Kudos also to Jason Sudeikis who played Sen. Joe Biden. However, I must say that the spotlight belonged to the two ladies.

I'm sure SNL is on a roll this campaign season. They definitely have a lot of material to work on. I can't wait to see what they come up with this Saturday.

Finding People For The Reunion

Time really flies. By December, my batch mates and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary after college. And we'll be celebrating with a big reunion.

After graduation, I’ve kept in touch with a select group of friends. And they’re all going. However, there are a few classmates and friends that I've lost contact with over the years. Hopefully, they’ll attend. It’ll be fun to see how we've all changed and reminisce with them again.

A few friends already living in the U.S. and Canada are flying in for the holidays. The mastermind behind the reunion got hold of them through a free people locator online service, which is so great. She just typed in the name and state, and viola, an address and phone number was provided. It was that easy.

Now the difficult part is figuring out what to wear. I have a few weeks to find something. Hopefully, that’ll be enough.

Watching The Wanders

We had the opportunity to watch the Wanders at PACGOR Casino last Wednesday night. We didn't expect a lot of people for the show but a long queue had already formed by 8pm. All the seats were occupied and people were already sitting in the middle aisles just to watch. The show started promptly at 8:30.

Kuya and Kowi were excited to see acrobats. And they weren't disappointed. It was really a feast for the senses. Kowi fell asleep halfway through the program. But she got to see La Vie En Rose and loved it. Kuya was rolling with laughter at the Wander's rendition of Stomp. A bunch of guys in black and neon masks beating the drums under black light was his favorite part of the program.

Cameras aren't allowed inside the casino. So we had the official photographer take our picture as a souvenir. This was around 10 pm, after the show. My eyes look a bit puffy. It was almost past my bedtime, too.

You can still catch the Wanders every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the PAGCOR Grand Theater, Airport Casino. Apparently they'll be performing until the end of the year. Tickets are available at Ticket World.

This is not a sponsored post. Too bad. Haha. Hopefully, Hubby can watch this when he returns next month. His sister is an understudy for one of the singers. But she wasn't there last Wednesday.

Driving Me Nuts

There was a time when I loved to drive. I was in college and driving meant freedom to go wherever the gas can take me. Back then I was the only one who had the license to drive. My sister and brothers just had their learner's permit and drivers.

Somehow, when I got married, I designated Hubby as the official family driver. I would happily seat at the back, beside the car seat. When the kids finally gave up using the car seat, I was back in front, at the passenger side, navigating Hubby on which roads to take and spotting empty parking slots at the mall.

When Hubby's not here (which is often), I am the driver by default. And I hate it. I hate going through traffic and the Manila off road streets. But I don't have a choice. I don't have a driver and Kuya still has 10 more years before he can drive.

I hate passing through road repair, especially under the Alabang Viaduct. It seems like every week is a new route. So far it's been a year and the construction has been slowly progressing. I don't think it's reached 50% completion. Arrrgh!

Buses aren't great either. They use their size to cut and pass you. And then once they do, they stop to either let more passengers in or let passengers out -- in the middle of the road! When you try to signal and change lanes, other vehicles won't let you and you're stuck. Someetimes you're better off not making a signal at all. Grrr!

I hate jeeps especially at night. They get by without turning on their headlights and if you're lucky, you're folowing one without a brakelight either.

And scooters are the worst. Swarms of scooters just pop out of nowhere and pass you left and right. If you're not alert or careful, you're really going to hit one.

Don't get me wrong, I use public transportation. But given the choice, I'd rather be driving. It's easier on me and the kids.

Sometimes I wish I could just teleport. Where is Scotty when you need him?

Proud To Be A SAHM

I met up with a few ex-co workers recently. It has been a few months since we last saw each other. As usual, everyone updated each other on what has been happening these past months. When it was my turn to tell them that I'm still staying at home and starting to homeschool Kowi, well, let's say there were a few nods and odd responses. And none of them were enthusiastic.

Most of them asked when I plan on going back to work. One even said I was so lucky to "do nothing all day." As I was explaining my reasons for staying home, I could see it in their eyes, pity, sadness, disbelief. Oh, I see this reaction from a few family members as well.

It's shocking to learn that most people don't know how tough it is to stay at home. Managing a household, homeschooling Kowi, afterschooling Kuya and working at home is a lot on the plate. The dishes do not clean themselves while I watch Oprah and drink iced tea. It takes a certain amount of effort, ability and love to juggle all these and still find a reason to smile at the end of the day.

While some may think that I am unsuccessful in landing a job or wasting my education by staying home, I beg to disagree. I do have a double degree from one of the top three schools in the country, have been a consistent dean's lister and have been given a national award for academic achievement. I stay home because my children will benefit the most from my skills. Isn't that a better use for it?

Although my "career" is put on the backburner, my children are only young once. I figure I can always be CEO in a few years.

Now, if somebody asks me again when I plan to get work...arrrrgh!!!

Needle In A Haystack

I've been wanting to buy James Patterson's Double Cross since it was released last year. Somehow all the bookstores in the country were out of stock--for 9 months.

My Dad has been a James Patterson fan for about a few years. He loves the Alex Cross and the Women's Murder Club plus the few stand alone books that are out. So far, he's missing Double Cross in his collection.

I had planned to surprise him for his birthday with a copy of the book last September 9. But I was pleasantly surprised when Power Books told me they were all out of copies and were taking orders.

By some stroke of luck, as my sister and I were in National Bookstore, I saw it. It was a paperback copy of Double Cross and the last one. Wedged between Cross and Mary, Mary, Double Cross screamed at me. I just bought it immediately. And now my Dad's reading it.

First Term Finals Week

Today is the start of Kuya's first term finals week. We have been in review mode since last week, but there are still a few things we have to cover.

Kuya has ELA today, then Math and Computer tomorrow. I'm making additional worksheets for him.

Good thing, I don't have a problem with his Science exam. He has been consistently perfect in almost all worksheets, quizzes and mastery tests.

But all this work in preparing reviewers and worksheets plus managing the house and an independent-minded preschooler and sneaking in to do my articles...

All work and no blog, makes Carol go pffff!

Too Busy - Grr!

I've been too busy this weekend. I barely had time to visit my blog.

Yesterday, I went online at 4pm. I saw that I had missed an opportunity from SS! Grrr!

To date, SS has only given me three (3) opportunities. And I missed one!!!

Lesson: Check e-mail in the morning.

Saturday Binge

Last night, I gave in to a tempting Saturday binge. It had been a while since I've had some. I had almost forgotten how good Flaming Wings' chicken with mild and sweet sauce tasted.

The kids, my sister and I met up with my long-time friend, Che, at Flaming Wings. We ordered the works--wings, mashed potatoes, pomme frites. Too bad that we didn't have chicken tenders. We got there a little too late. They were all out.

We ordered the chicken wings cooked in both the original sauce and the sweet and mild. We also got both the blue cheese and the honey mustard dips. Yummy.

To cap off the night, we ordered two servings of wicked oreos. And they're really, really, really wicked. Imagine three oreos coated with pancake batter, topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and colorful candy sprinkles.

There's nothing like good conversation and good food with the people you love to create the perfect Saturday binge.

Two Days Unplugged

For the past two days I have been unplugged. Grrr! My Internet connection was on the fritz, maybe due to the weather, I don't know. Grrr again!

I'm here in my mom's house for the long weekend. Hopefully, their Internet is better than mine. Only problem is that I have to wait in line after they (meaning my siblings and mom) finish their online games before I can surf.

Well, one good thing came out of being unplugged -- I had more time to clean the house. Haha. As in general cleaning. I even mopped the ceiling. =)

Withdrawal symptoms anyone?