Why I Hate Watching the News

Primetime news these days (at least on this side of the globe) is so toxic. Toxic, toxic, toxic...I rarely watch the news myself but some members of my family always do. And sometimes, I couldn't shield my son from these toxic information.

A couple of days ago, when I came home from work, my son declared:

Mama, *pointing at himself* I am Hayden Kho and you *pointing at me* are Katrina.

Jeezus!

He was in my arms while he said this and I swear I'd have dropped him then, if I were not sitting.

*the names mentioned are two people involved in a sex scandal in my country*

Advance Happy Mother's Day

The country is still celebrating Pacquiao’s big win last Sunday. The print and broadcast media (and the blogging community too) are all talking about him. But why not. Pacman is one big newsmaker indeed and he always makes the Filipinos happy with his conquests in the boxing arena. I can just imagine how jubilant his family must be with this recent victory. I bet Aling Dionisia must be the proudest and happiest mother in Las Vegas these days. The victory must have been an advance Mother’s Day gift to her. *grin*

Now speaking of Mother’s Day, I’m so stumped as to what I’m going to give my mother this weekend. I surely am no Pacquiao in terms of wealth (and strength) but I’d also like to give “something” to my mother on Mother’s Day. The only thing is, I still don’t know what that “something” would be. *smile* I’m actually deciding whether to buy her a gift myself or to give her the resources to buy herself a gift. But I'm leaning on the latter.

Now how about you, what are you giving your mother (or the mother of your kids) on Mother’s Day? Are you picking up a book for her? Or a new car perhaps? Jewelry?

For those of you who are looking into jewelry gift items, Gemz N Gold, a designer and manufacturer of high quality jewelry in California USA has a wide collection of eye-catching designs that will surely capture every woman's heart. So why not say Happy Mother's Day with these diamond-studded pieces?

I'd have given my mother one of these too if only she's fond of jewelry (but she's not). BTW, as Mother's Day offer, Gemz N Gold is including a red jewelry box for your every purchase of jewelry on or before May 11, 2009.

(To all moms out there: Happy Mother's Day!)

Wish You Were Here

So I was asked, “How do you avoid spending energy on cleaning?”

Turning my head left to right, I say “Pardon? Are you talking to me?”

But what I really wanted to say is, “Did I hear the word cleaning? What’s that? It’s not in my vocabulary.” Ha! *eyes rolling heavenwards*

You bet you can trust me to say that. To save energy, I will not move any muscle just to clean come what may. *hallelujiah playing in the background*

Isn’t it practical to just let thing be? Let the dirt gather on the floor, the dust on the furniture and the earth on the doorstep. Let them all be. And I’ll still live and breathe comfortably.

But all that really is wishful thinking. Cleaning really is an integral part of me –especially since I have a very allergic son. *snapping back to reality on full force now*

I vacuum our house regularly, disinfect toys and just clean, clean, clean whenever I have time. I’m actually a little OC about cleaning and our vacuum is my bestfriend, thus our high electric bills (oh, how I complain!).

While I don’t think there is a way to avoid vacuuming, there is a better way to save on energy and minimize on power consumption. Introducing the Dirt Devil ® AccuCharge™.

I so wished this is available here since it is a wonderful that there is a vacuum available in the market that uses 70% less energy. And so, the AccuCharge Stick Vac and Hand Vac are the first cordless cleaning technology to earn Energy Star approval.

Next to hearing that I don’t need to clean anymore, I just think this is just music to my ears.

Project ToyBox

Every end of the year (for the past 4 years), I'd receive supplies in a box like the one below. Last year was no different.

And every year, rather than leaving it to rot or discarding it, I'd be thinking of ways to re-use it.

But this time, I decided to glam it up a bit and utilized it as my son's toy box to help me cope with the headache of seeing broken toys, old toys all around the house. Last year's box was made into a toy box also, sans the trimmings.

Materials used: Sandpaper, cupboard liners and double-sided tape. Tools: scissors, ruler, pencil.

So after the sanding and cleaning of the box, then measuring and tracing of the liners (to fit the sides), here's the work-in-progress.

And finally, after more than an hour (or maybe more because dear son was bugging me to let him do some cutting), here's the finish product.

Plain Nonsense And A Late Greeting

After 300 plus boring nonsense posts. Uh-oh. Don't say I'm really boring hardworking. I know it already and I do not need to work hard on being boring.

So okay after 300plus posts, I feel obligated to write another boring post that will never make sense. Please bear with me. But this is for my husband, my only reader ? - to him who should be blamed why I'm addicted blogging now.

And though we both are in the Engineering field, I will not pretend I understand what he does - a little, yes. But it's just the tiniest bit.

So, this will not make sense but I feel this will have effect on our life -maybe not directly. This is coming from Rich Tehrani.

(So Pops, hope this goes to show that you'll always -okay, not really always, but I can make a place for you anytime on this blog. And this is either tooooo late or tooooo advance but Happy Birthday!)

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful...

...that my hub is getting enough rest. I couldn't say that when he was working in his previous employer (when even in his sleep, his project would haunt him).

...for Matt's creativity. He always bring pleasant surprises for us all.

...for the music. They are the perfect drug to take on a hectic day.

...for friends who keep in touch. And who share their lives.

...for the sleep I get even when I am working on night shift (Aha! Working while sleeping is not really a good idea but we are allowed to do that when there's no activity in the network).

...that I am able to open my lids this morning. It's good to be alive! And it's the best to come to a kid who jumps when he sees you, hugs and tells you "I love you."

Thanks be to God!

Click the picture for more Thankful Thursday participants

Young Engineer

Coming home from work one afternoon, my son - after our initial display of affection- said “Mama, remote” and proudly showed me something he had been holding in his hand.


“Oh.” I was surprised. No, that is not a remote. I was almost tempted to say but held my tongue in check.


“What is this remote control for?” I playfully asked instead.

“Remote for [the] yo-yo.”


And I pulled all my reserved acting skills to keep a straight face.

***

So presenting Matt's self-made remote control.



Made out of sticking a cottonbud (arrow) on a hole of wrist toy (that makes sound by pressing the red triangle). He said the cottonbud is the antenna!




And this is my son's entry for this week's MakeIt FromScratch! Eugene Polley- step aside.

Thankful Thursday

It was a stormy evening. The rain poured relentlessly from the skies and the sound of rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning gave a terrifying finish to an already gloomy surrounding.

The Nipa thatch roof offered a weak resistance against the violent rain and small puddles of water were slowly forming on the floor. Nowhere else to go for cover except the wooden kama (bed), where she eventually hid the kids to protect them from the harsh weather.

And she scurried to finish her cooking in a detached dirty kitchen, connected but outside of the house. She braved the cruel storm to provide everyone something hot to put in their tummy. And she did more than that.

She may have thought I have forgotten that scene from the distant past but I have not. Maybe not ever.

My mother. She –with my father- brought us where we are now.


And we are still far from being glimmering rich now, but through all the comfortable trapping we have, I will not forget everything she did for us. Through all the love. The sacrifices. The lessons. I'm so blessed to have her as my mother.

Click the picture for more Thankful Thursday participants

Of course, there are times we do not see eye to eye, but I love her. She’s our anchor. Our light. Our strength.

Wordless Wednesday: Lovin' and Playin'

Taken during our family reunion last December 2007. Hub and Matt had a great time in the pool. They were in there 80% of the time!

For more of Wordless Wednesday participants, visit here or here.

Happy New Year!

Happy New year, everyone! Stay safe and be happy all throughout the year.

I'm going home after the last period of this post and I'm excited of the fireworks we're going to set up tonight. My son would love it. I bought some few days ago - just little fireworks, and definitely no firecrackers.

I'm also hoping for some mad singing tonight -plus some munchies. I have some CDs and our mike prepared already (and tested it last night ...hehe). Now, I'm not sure if the mike loves me (doesn't have a choice!), but I sure do love it - with or without Dutch courage. Shshsh.

Christmas Hoopla

I know this is late but I promised myself to do this Christmas meme hoopla from Melanie, so here goes.

Rules:

1. List 12 random things about yourself that has to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
5. If you want to -- please give me, Andrea, some link-love as the 'Hoopla-Creator'. I love new blog-traffic.

******

1. When I was younger, I -along with my friends- had tried going around our neighborhood singing Christmas carols. It was then that I inadvertently introduced myself to this running-for-your-life game. Kids vs. askals (stray and seemingly-stray dogs).

2. We always have fake trees at home.

3. I prefer to be the one take the tree down- and put away the rest of our decorations rather than be the one to set them up. By then (the former), I will not have to worry about "presentation."

4. I like shopping gifts in December - despite the traffic, despite the long queues by the counters, despite the fact that I have to squeeze myself in between warm bodies just to get to another section.

5. I like to wrap gifts. I always volunteer to do the gift wrapping because I could make that as my excuse to not do the dishes, miss my date with the iron board, skip the laundry...

6. I love to re-use Christmas gift wrappers - or any gift wrappers, for that matter.

7. Every year, I always wait for December to come. Mmm, very much like a kid. No kidding.


8. I've spent a handful of Christmases working in the office. Yes, Christmas Eve.

9. I have spent more than a handful of Christmases away from home.

10. When I was kid, my father would sing Christmas songs to make me sleep. I just love listening to my father sing Christmas songs - until now.



11. Fireworks, I definitely love but firecrackers give me a nightmare. I am terribly scared of firecrackers - ask my parents.

12. I am sporting a scar on my knees as proof to #12. I will never forget one Christmas Eve, on the way to my cousin's house after hearing mass, when the crash-boom-bang rat-tat-tat-tat-tat got me too scared surprised I literally jumped out of my skin. I fell hard on my knees and in our mad rush, I got dragged (by my cousin) while on my knees.

Now because it's late, I just have to break Rule #3 and not tag anyone. Why do I hear sighs of relief? :-)

Christmas Meme

Found this in Regina's place :

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real or artificial Tree? Fake

3. When do you put Christmas tree up? First week of December

4. When do you take the tree down? Mid or last week of January or when not too tired

5. Like egg nog? Sometimes

6. Do you have a nativity scene? This year, none; in the past, yes

7. Favorite gift received as a child? A doll

8. Hardest person to buy for? My father

9. Easiest person to buy for? My son

10. Worst Christmas gift? I have none that I can remember

11. Mail or email a Christmas Card? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone

13. Favorite food to eat at Christmas? Everything because I have a voracious appetite Okay if it's just one food then it has to be the ham.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? How's that?

16. Favorite lights? White

17. Favorite Christmas Song? Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer -that's the first thing that came to my mind

18. Travel during Christmas or Stay Home? Stay Home

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph (I know you knew I cheated!)

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? This year, we have a star.

21. Least favorite thing about this time of year? Traffic

22. Which one person do you really want to see blessed this Christmas and why. Why limit to one? Everyone -all around the globe (especially those reading this. Hehe).

***

Andrea is giving away a copy of the Booples DVD's. If you're interested, check it out.

And Redhotfranchises.com is giving away an Ipod Nano. Just comment in here and you'll have one entry already. Contest ends on New Year's Eve, so go visit them now.

This week's the Carnival of Family Life has long been up and running at AdventuresInJuggling. Thanks Laura!

Also Make It From Scratch is up over at Mrs. Micah's.

Parenting Issue

I was tagged by The New Parent to spill the beans on an important parenting issue - it's whether or not I spare the rod.


I believe in tenderness - tender words and tender touches. I believe in gentle but firm guidance of a parent to a child. I've seen how effective that is to my child.

I try to do that all the time BUT I also have to admit of the times when I mess up. I really am struggling to be a gentle and understanding parent (because I want my kid -or coming kids- to be gentle and understanding parents to their kids, too). I am working on that everyday and everyday, I also find areas for improvement.

I'm tagging no one in particular but if you want to play go ahead, copy and fire away.

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Instructions :

**Start Copying Here**
Tag 5 bloggers
1st - You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.
2nd - Let the blogger know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment in their blog.

1. Miche does not spare the rod.
2. Jo-N wants to be her children's best friend.
3. The New Parent spares the rod.
4. ZAM struggles very hard to spare the rod.

The Other Wacko

I was tagged by Cheh to do this Meme.

Here are the guidelines :

1. First name
2. How and where did you meet?
3. Characteristics
4. Your plans 20 to 30 years from now.

***

1. Let's just call him "Cris" - but I have never used this or his birthname when I speak with him. I used to call him Tiyoy (a term referring to someone old or has similar characteristics; and yes, he calls me Tiyay, too) and alternately, Honey. Now, it's Pops (short for Papa).

2. We were classmates in College, but we had a one-or-two-sentences-to-each-other relationship. When I moved out of our town to work elsewhere and he moved to the same location where I was working (after his short teaching stint), we both remained reserved. Ummm, despite seeing each other regularly during group gatherings. It was only when I returned home (and he remained in that other town) that the calls and text messages started to come. ;D

3. He is the exact opposite of me. I'm more of a chatterbox, he is not. He is calm and patient, I am not. He has the slow-and-easy attitude on everything that almost always drives me nuts!

Here's the ONLY pic I have with hub when we were in College.

(And I only became "aware" that he was in the pic when I scanned old pics for our wedding!)

4) Lots. But at 50 or so, I would like to see us still holding hands. We'd be real Tiyoy and Tiyay by then but I pray the love would still be smoldering.

Busier and Happier

After being away for almost two years, my younger brother's back home.

Needless to say, everyone is just too happy to see him - ecstatic may even be the right word. Matt is really thrilled to see him and they instantly hit it off like a house on fire. ;D

His is just a short vacation before he goes back to SoKor. But that's better than none at all. And it's also a blessing because he'll be able to celebrate his birthday with us next month.

My mother's really busy preparing meals - isn't she always? ;D - and I guess in the coming days, I'll be busier, too. But happier.

It just feels good to hear his baritone voice again. It's been awhile.

Free Books are fun!

"Books are fun, books are fun." Matt repeatedly said while jumping on our bed. I know my son loves to read but I was surprised when I heard him say that. I reckon that he must have parrot-ed (not really in the dictionary, huh?!) this line from Barney. Matt is in this "parroting" stage that I am walking in a tight rope trying hard to filter my speech these days.

Anyway, I almost didn't get to work. Reason: son was unusually cling-y. And I didn't know why. We were in our room and he'd go "Waaaa. Beside Mama." That's his way of telling me to lie down beside him on the bed.

I gave him my generic spiel that I have to got to work to be able to buy food, etc... (and that I'll be back later in the evening). He always accepts that but yesterday, he did not. So I told him I needed to take a bath because "I'm collecting germs already" but again, that didn't work. Like the "buy food" story, it always works in the past but not yesterday. He really was being such a baby and was wailing the moment I lift my head off the bed. Just raising my head few degrees and he would go "Waaaa...Beside Mama" and would make a sign for my head to resume its position on the bed.

After come coaxing, thanks to my mother, he finally relented that I had to go to take my bath. But it was quite a time before he relented. Thankfully, after my bath, "his moment" had already passed and so I was able to go to work.

Anyway, when I came in the office, the guard handed me this package. I was just too thrilled and couldn't wait to read the book. Thanks Nicole Baart!


Wednesday, Nov 28

I Love You, Honey

Honey. Awwwww. What a sweet endearment! So sweet, I am imagining ants crawling on the screen now. But really, I can very well understand why we use “honey” to refer to our loved ones; I use it, too. When I’m not mad, that is.

I love you, honey. (No, Honey, it’s not you this time.) I’m actually paying homage to something Winnie the Pooh cannot live without. And something I definitely love, too. Honey. That nourishing honey. The one we add in our tea. The one we drip on our pancakes. The one that’s rich in nutrients –vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

It wouldn’t be called the nectar of god for nothing. But other than its usual uses – as natural sweetener or oomph-and-zing multiplier, honey has other uses –for me, for us. And next to baking soda, honey is something I do not want to run out of supply of (and that’s why I’m trying to make the 2 700L bottles of all-natural honey last until my brother’s visit; he gets it cheap from where he is assigned).

Ø Diarrhea treatment. I am not really a big fan of medicines. If I can find a cheap, economical and natural alternative, I use that. Even for diarrhea, I rarely pop a pill because I don’t want to keep the toxin from coming out of me. Unless if I need to, like when I’m traveling or when attending an event that makes running to the bathroom every minute or so impossible or difficult. But when I’m home, it’s nothing or honey. Or ginger tea with honey. Really. And because honey is natural, I will not worry about side-effects. The last time I pooped liquid, all I took was a spoonful of honey and some water. And that’s that. I must be lucky because I didn’t make any trip to the CR after that.

(Word of caution: Not to be given to babies below 1yo, as their digestive system may not be able to tolerate it.)

Ø Scrub. For a homemade foot scrub, an ample amount of honey plus a spoonful of sugar is good enough. For the face, I make a paste out of an ample amount of honey and a dash of baking soda.

Ø Moisturizer. Plain honey can be used to moisturize the lips and skin, including the face. When I’m home, I use it as an alternative to commercial lip balms. It’s just lick-ably purr-fect for my cracked, dry lips. BTW, I’ve tried it with my son, countless of times, and he’s just so uncomplaining when it hit his lips.

Ø Bed sore treatment. Apart from its nutritional benefits, honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components and is known to hasten healing of wounds. When my cousin’s grandmother (whom I also call Mama) got sick and got those nasty bed sores, honey was the only thing we applied on her until the sores were all gone.

Ø Facial treatment. I used to have facial sessions (before Matt, when I was still the master of my time :D) and one product given to me was honey mixed with some unknown medicines. And in my recent all-expense-paid (by the company) spa trip, the all-natural facial treatment I was given was composed of other ingredients and honey.

We -my hub, my sister and I- is using a honey-based soap. And my sister also applies pure honey to help contain her occasional breakouts.

(Word of caution: Make sure to wash thoroughly afterwards or you might find yourself in the company of tiny crawlers also known as ants. :D)

Oh, by the way, I read before that honey is also used as aphrodisiac. C'mon now, don’t look at me like that! I can just imagine what you’re thinking now. “She loves it because…” Do I sound guilty of that? Wink. But really, I am the last person who can validate that and I have not honestly used it like that. I have heard though that other people use it as an aphrodisiac.

For more of honey, visit the ff: MotherEarthNews; Life Positive; Billy Bee; and Food Reference.

***

Compelled to write this after a-blink-of-an-eye moment with my dear son, who accidentally broke one half-full bottle of all-natural honey just few days ago. Now, we're down to the last bottle (in the picture).

Thankful Thursday on a Friday

If you look at this unedited picture taken last Saturday, you would have deduced we had all the sun I was praying for on Matt's party.


But this is a misleading picture because Mr. Golden Sun actually went on leave that day. And in his place was Mrs Relentless Rain.


Looking at the first picture, you wouldn't have thought that the other side looked like this, would you?


The past few days, the weather was dreary. That's due to tropical storm Lando that swept the Visayas area, but which also affected some parts of Mindanao. There are reported damages and casualties but I am grateful that it's down at minimum. And I hope there’d be no more addition to that, especially since another typhoon is on its way round here.

But I thank God for bringing all sorts of weather- good and bad. Because we all need a little of everything --like in our lives, sometimes, we need storms to keep us on the right track.

Anyway, despite the rain, Matt had a good time on his party. And I'm glad because that's what really matters to me. I'm also thankful that our friends and relatives were able to bring their kids and join Matt on his party. I’m also glad that despite the bad weather, my husband arrived home safe and that he was able to attend Matt's party. And more importantly, I am thankful of my son's life. He is a precious gift God blessed us with and everyday, I am learning to be a better person because of him.

Last Monday, because of the dreary weather, some flights were canceled in our area, including one that should have brought my husband back to his workbase. But I am grateful. No, I was not too happy that my hubby’s flight was canceled; in fact, I was disappointed because I didn’t want him to miss a day of work because he has just transferred in this company. But I couldn’t allow myself to be eaten up whole with negativity brought about by something I do not have control of. So when something unexpected and disappointing happens, like a canceled flight, I’ve got to look at it in a different perspective. And certainly, a canceled flight can only mean a little extension to the time we can be with my husband. And yes, it did allow Matt (and me) few hours of his company. For that, I am grateful.

Going To Be A Daddy Soon

Few days ago, I was on the phone with my brother and he excitedly informed me that they are expecting a healthy baby boy early next year. Boy, I really am thrilled but it’s such a pity that we have to wait for a little longer before we can see the baby because they are living away from us. Matt would surely love the baby.

I also learned that he and his wife are already in the process of finalizing a birthing plan and finding the right medical care. Actually, they plan on having the baby delivered in a hospital up north, and near where most of our relatives - from my mother’s side- live. That’s really practical because, being a first time mom, my SIL will surely need all the help she can get when the baby arrives and my brother, being in the military, may not be able to stay with her for long.

But it was while we were seriously discussing money issues i.e. healthcare insurance, family insurance policies, hospitalization rates, expenses and more possible expenses that I was suddenly struck with the realization of how much we have changed. We used to be two teenagers who love to squabble over anything petty under the sun. Oh, how we loved to annoy each other. And last year, he was still this carefree officer who kept us amused with tales about his life in the military. But listening to him few days ago, he sounded so different; he sounded like a Big Daddy already and I could only smile.

Oh Mister Sun, Mister Golden Sun

...these little children are asking you, to please come out so they can be with you...

Mr. Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, I am asking you, too. Pretty please.

Matt will be having his kiddie party tomorrow, so however selfish this may sound, I really am praying for a perfect weather. We're doing it outdoors this time and I just want him, and the kids who will be joining him, to have the perfect weather for some outdoor fun.

After he came down with bronchitis, I have kept his outdoor activities at minimum and he has been playing inside the house most of the time. But prior to that, he used to be my morning-walk buddy and he would be given some time to indulge in "getting dirty." But we haven't done it in a while. In due time, we might resume the morning walks/runs. For the meantime, I am giving him his free pass to get dirty and wet tomorrow because he must be missing the "our dirty days" already.

So I am hoping and praying that the weather will cooperate. Please, Mr Golden Sun.

***

On a different note, there's a Write-Away Contest over at Scribbit. The topic is, "My life is different because of . . ." If you're interested, email her your entry on or before Wednesday, November 21.

Also, The Carnival of Family Life is up and running at All Rileyed Up.