tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154663872024-03-08T00:47:15.142+08:00T i m e O u t sMy short stints of freedom from the everyday and the mundane.Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-91031032651709289022021-07-05T12:07:00.005+08:002021-07-05T12:13:14.477+08:00What is the new normal???Since we moved into the new house last year, it's been a whirlwind of chores -- all the stuff that we had to fix while moving in. It took us the better part of three months to get all of the stuff into the house and out of boxes. The last bits stayed in the garage for months before I mustered up enough energy to finally tackle what was left in those boxes (bits and pieces of cloth left over from my grad school project, Christmas decor, more clothes). <div><br /></div><div>I can say with pride that we are now in a place where we have fully moved in. We haven't had any household help for years now and so all the chores are done by us. Kids clean and maintain their own respective rooms plus helping out in mopping the common areas and bussing duty for meals as well as taking out the trash and caring for the puppy. Jun is the master of the robot vacuum, our sanity saver. I do the laundry twice a week and just leave the clean clothes in the laundry cabinet for everyone to pick up and bring to their rooms.
There is a certain rhythm already, with a few tweaks every now and then.</div><div><br /></div><div>The current pandemic makes everyday a bit the same. Work and school on weekdays, with the occasional cooking and cleaning up. Cleaning chores on weekends. Repeat.
I'm sure things will get shaken up when the pandemic lets up and things get back to normal. But what is normal? Isn't our life now our new normal? The pre-pandemic life doesn't seem real anymore. When it's safe to go out, I won't be at work everyday. I can't go back to the commute. The kids will certainly go back to school but Josh and Faith will be in college and might move out for that. That leaves me alone in the house during the day.
There is no going back to the old normal. We'll have to forge a new one in a couple of months, until we all get vaccinated. But in the meantime, I will relish these days when everyone dear to me is with me everyday. This is the normal I love.</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-89997875611096236362021-06-30T09:56:00.001+08:002021-06-30T09:56:08.160+08:00Update 2021<p>So my kids, who are now 19, 17 and 12 years old, have just discovered my blog. We were in our bedroom chatting about random things before our nightly prayer time when my husband just mentioned that I had a blog. </p><p>Right there and then, they started checking it out. I have to admit I felt a little embarrassed that they were reading things I wrote about them a long time ago. But turns out they enjoyed reading about their childhood antics. </p><p>I actually spent the better part of the night reading my blog entries from the very beginning. Finally stopped at 11:03pm because I have work the next day. But had a hard time falling asleep in spite of the melatonin pills I took because I was full of thoughts.</p><p>It's been so long since my last blog post! 2014! Seven years. So many years. The kids have grown quite a lot since then. We've also been through (and still going through) COVID and lock down. But my gosh, am so grateful to my past self for documenting those early years with blog posts. </p><p>Rediscovering those little stories of what they used to say and do brought me so much joy. It was like reliving their childhood all over again. Remembering those hard sleep deprived nights but also immensely grateful at getting to remember. I have been keeping a written journal on and off the past years but it simply does not compare to my old blog posts. They are more poorly written, for one thing. LOL. A lot of stream of consciousness rambling. I guess writing blog posts that other people might read kept me more accountable to at least try to write coherently.</p><p>I have to figure out how to save my posts as well as the photos. I'm still on the fence about continuing to write in this space. Guess we'll see.</p>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-40051786487657592512014-09-07T15:06:00.000+08:002014-09-07T15:06:00.195+08:00Hello Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, it's been that long. This is us now. A lot older. A little wiser. And a lot over Facebook. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was in the middle of cleaning up my email when I thought of visiting my blog. I read my old posts about the kids and was amazed to rediscover details that have slipped my memory. Funny anecdotes about Josh and Faith growing up. Everyday details that made up my life. And I found myself wishing I could do it all over again. So here I am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm doing this again mostly for myself and family. I am reluctant to share a lot of my life over Facebook which is why I don't post often. It amazes me that a lot of people are so into posting every minute detail of their lives for everyone to see. And I suppose that's fine if that's the way they want it. I prefer not to though. So it's nice to visit people on Facebook but I wouldn't worry if it suddenly crashed and nobody would ever be able to post again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So anyway, I will try to post here more often. So I have a place to remember.</span></div>
Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-3653431128054112332012-05-29T16:01:00.001+08:002012-05-29T16:01:47.161+08:00Birthday Post<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By a funny stroke of fate, all my children's birthdays fall during the month of May. Their birthdays fall on the 9th (Lucia), 15th (Faith) and 28th (Joshua). Unfortunately this year, it coincided with an important business trip which meant I had to miss the two girls' birthdays. What a guilt trip! It's so hard to be a working mom. I had to be gone for 10 days so I made sure we had a mini celebration on the weekend before I had to leave. I bought a small cake and their presents and we all sang happy birthday. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good thing that the advent of technology still allowed me to be with them virtually. I was on skype on the actual days of their birthdays while they blew on the candles of their respective cakes. Lucky Joshua who was the only birthday I was actually home for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So birthday number three is over and I can now focus on the coming school year. Only a couple of days left of the summer vacation. It's been rainy and gloomy alternating with intense heat. Not a very ideal time to be outdoors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year, Lucia will be going to nursery school. Where did all the time go? My baby girl is now a preschooler! Lots of luck to whoever is going to be her teacher. Heh heh. I have never met a more strong willed little girl who manipulates adults with her smile and sense of humor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pictures soon!</span></div>
</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-9215922908118707212012-03-20T19:01:00.001+08:002012-03-20T19:01:13.392+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year is turning out to be a travel year for the family. We just came from a trip to Hong Kong with the gremlins and I've booked us a flight to Bohol sometime August. Thank goodness for Cebu Pacific promos! <br />
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After a tiring trip to HK, I promised myself the next family trip will be all about relaxation. I didn't realize how tiring it would be to visit amusement parks with three children in tow. I realized HK is not a very child friendly place to travel to especially with a toddler in a stroller (a 38 pound toddler). We stayed in Sheung Wan which is just one stop away from Central Station but the darn MTR entrances didn't have any elevators. Just stairs and scary fast escalators. Which is a no-no if you're carting along a toddler in a stroller. So it was an endless process of getting the diaper bag off, getting Lucia off (it was doubly hard if she was sleeping), folding the stroller, and...you get the drift. The stroller is MUCH lighter than Lucia, by the way. A fact I realized on our last day when I asked the hubby to carry her when she was sleeping while I lugged the stroller and diaper bag.<br />
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So it was the usual hectic and physically tiring (walking all over and dealing with meltdowns) vacation. The kind where you need a vacation after the vacation. So yeah, am looking forward to three days of sun (crossing my fingers), sand and surf!</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-36130863404925133902012-02-28T14:41:00.000+08:002012-02-28T14:41:32.748+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I totally blame Pinterest for the lack of blog posts. Ever since I got signed up, it's been pinterest every spare minute of time I have. It's a fantastic cornucopia of a lot of things -- design ideas, food, clothes, etc. I get especially hooked on decorating and organizing ideas for when I get a chance to build my dream home. I've repinned some awesome library ideas and kiddie bedrooms. <br />
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Apart from that, weekends have been pretty busy of late. February is when all the Family Day activities in school are held. Then the Father-Son Camping (which I wanted to crash! boohoo!) and then exam period. We were homebound this weekend due to the long tests scheduled this week and then the kids get a break with a family trip. Needless to say, packing for 5 people one of which still needs diapers and formula bottles isn't the easiest thing in the world to do.<br />
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Lots of last minute stuff to take care of for work and then packing the rest of the things needed for the trip. Later!</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-50242187974265456082012-01-27T14:57:00.002+08:002012-01-27T14:57:45.556+08:00New Style Peg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tilda as the White Queen in Narnia</td></tr>
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<br />I first saw Tilda Swinton as the White Queen in Chronicles of Narnia and thought she was so cool in costume. In real life though, she has a very masculine style and can look androgynous even. Then I rented the movie I Am Love on iTunes and fell instantly in love with the look.<br />
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The film is set in Milan where Tilda plays the Russian immigrant wife of a prominent and wealthy Italian family. She later falls for and runs away with the chef. There's a bit more to the movie than that but it's not what I want to focus on on this post. Unfortunately, the movie was never shown in Manila and I have not seen it in any of the DVD stores hence the rental. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What she wore to lunch with the equally chica mother in law. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wore this with a very light white cardigan. Wish there was a shot of the back of the dress available because it has a low square back. Very sexy and feminine but not at all slutita levels.</td></tr>
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She wore the above ensemble while going around the city doing errands -- picked up the dry cleaning, etc. Totally un-Manila like. But super love it! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening gown. Sigh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very cool and classy. Makes me think of Grace Kelly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casual look<br /></td></tr>
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A lot of women can take a lesson in dressing appropriately for your age from this movie. There's nothing worse than a woman in her fifties trying to look like she's in her 20's. It IS possible to be that age and still look classically beautiful and well put together. I think it's great that this classic look epitomized by Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis is making a comeback thanks to series like Mad Men. At last a respite from the Madonna, Lady Gaga, Nicky Minaj styling. No offense meant.<br /><br />
<br /></div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-56217578268526242892012-01-19T10:02:00.001+08:002012-01-19T10:13:51.661+08:00Walking Dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are right smack into the terrible twos. This one, kept me up the whole night. And on a go-to-work day too. I blame the loopy DVD player. </div>
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First I found her drinking her milk from the bottle cap like an 18 year old drinking beer from a mug. She had CHEWED through the bottle nipple (it was raggedly cut in half with a small sliver of silicone attached) and was oh so casually pouring milk from the broken nipple into the bottle cap. All while watching a Barbie Princess Charm School video for the nth time. So I washed her sticky hands and brought her back into the room with a warning not to chew the bottle nipples (she had already chewed through 5 nipples this week). </div>
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I then realized that the movie had been looping over and over again. It would reach a certain part and then go back to the beginning of the video. So I turned it off as it was bedtime. That's when it all started. She cried so hard she threw up. I got her to the bathroom in time, so, okay, no biggie. But the crying brought on a very runny nose and she woke up intermittently every 10 minutes or so to get me to wipe her nose. The.whole.night. She finally stopped at 4:40 am. I know because the hubby got up to go to the bathroom and I asked what time it was. Sleep deprivation is the pits when you have to get up at 6am to go to work. </div>
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So if you see a half dead person with sunken eyes staggering into Starbucks for a cup of coffee, yeah, that would be me.</div>
<br /></div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-89458871380116535252012-01-18T18:39:00.000+08:002012-01-18T18:39:00.936+08:00Score!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdTwv99wiJkq9iTBnAjD86mrjg57UndVbcLSaNXDXIYNDL1VOgqT-1yHy7_CUgHEsej2Ezk_Cf-ryg-nGPSQaaZBg0Ga89EQsZsSzQp1gbO3F4D5HIzIjAKPVTtGmzIY5KNcLdw/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdTwv99wiJkq9iTBnAjD86mrjg57UndVbcLSaNXDXIYNDL1VOgqT-1yHy7_CUgHEsej2Ezk_Cf-ryg-nGPSQaaZBg0Ga89EQsZsSzQp1gbO3F4D5HIzIjAKPVTtGmzIY5KNcLdw/s320/IMG_0760.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yeah, yeah. I know. I just wrote about my New Year's Resolutions. BUT. This one was 85% off. Are you kidding me???? From PhP8850 to 1650. Seriously.<br />
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<br /></div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-867121740397903072012-01-17T17:54:00.000+08:002012-01-17T17:54:09.077+08:002011 Revisited<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Photos! Just some highlights from the past year. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpEy4-c3SKFfgMfcZFs-wYXqd28RM595T19Ojzqjy6verC2IeY1p9ROB-bfKL00iuxZzMie15v4Rq1GOQe_jCdJi1ZqQUFjfZgI9yv7VtV_bvrZgNoOEuMgt_yazZzsT29OuYSw/s1600/pic+co+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpEy4-c3SKFfgMfcZFs-wYXqd28RM595T19Ojzqjy6verC2IeY1p9ROB-bfKL00iuxZzMie15v4Rq1GOQe_jCdJi1ZqQUFjfZgI9yv7VtV_bvrZgNoOEuMgt_yazZzsT29OuYSw/s200/pic+co+2011.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Family Photo shoot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSSzf7dkYovaHbOFPNTO2WVoibyYwra9y7jJEJWcqrROkbLA1JNITDtwcgFEVY6UKDtHsCk4VhyCuOsz8NDvqgVaH4y7xecPRhJCcblytuKPJxWbu5Ji1rLe4Q0yqmunmIlgwfQ/s1600/pic+co+2011_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSSzf7dkYovaHbOFPNTO2WVoibyYwra9y7jJEJWcqrROkbLA1JNITDtwcgFEVY6UKDtHsCk4VhyCuOsz8NDvqgVaH4y7xecPRhJCcblytuKPJxWbu5Ji1rLe4Q0yqmunmIlgwfQ/s200/pic+co+2011_2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wacky shot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hSTkb-EE8LOShmwxxeFb_e05GS-Hb6WCSkiMDPqStWBczW88ptJnNgyeNl29I62WWSa4bUsDL-pXLH6I2w731ZAP_aqQ5mosGKkjT3s7iBVGKfvigqabSrvQSGw10wHmYt9aWw/s1600/pic+co+2011_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hSTkb-EE8LOShmwxxeFb_e05GS-Hb6WCSkiMDPqStWBczW88ptJnNgyeNl29I62WWSa4bUsDL-pXLH6I2w731ZAP_aqQ5mosGKkjT3s7iBVGKfvigqabSrvQSGw10wHmYt9aWw/s200/pic+co+2011_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's playing nice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faith celebrated her 7th birthday</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWdlWVvabI3TM4quf2RZ9QpvKkpkzq2MiFuFNRNTnEVyGs1wT5oc3-z3XRm9wa_kT8GYj5bdCrurEQxn1sg409UcFQGYjaBd43a0r8VgVAncceLK326jF-efFfwJ300h2NMPdaA/s1600/Faith_bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWdlWVvabI3TM4quf2RZ9QpvKkpkzq2MiFuFNRNTnEVyGs1wT5oc3-z3XRm9wa_kT8GYj5bdCrurEQxn1sg409UcFQGYjaBd43a0r8VgVAncceLK326jF-efFfwJ300h2NMPdaA/s320/Faith_bday.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another birthday shot with her cake</td></tr>
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Last year's attempt at Home Organization culminated in the cleaning up of the second floor toy area. It took four full days (long weekend in August) and another extra weekend where I did nothing but sort and clean up. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f5CLfTwEMpIcRHwJ_fcnHiV1UNvdQORaieuTkX_8VWX2jS3f3xYT0EhX18ljSifD29WoZ9MmLTmG1KkzospyKomN5xWl6UEpdEROvwqXFyhnWBpCXCfdyHGoO6OBJHbvovuddQ/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f5CLfTwEMpIcRHwJ_fcnHiV1UNvdQORaieuTkX_8VWX2jS3f3xYT0EhX18ljSifD29WoZ9MmLTmG1KkzospyKomN5xWl6UEpdEROvwqXFyhnWBpCXCfdyHGoO6OBJHbvovuddQ/s200/IMG_0156.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasfa8TK92PWVvVEKp2sNze3Yczh_gj1MSjQ6tSZXiMqA61d9MtUgmmdPGYEkDO05R53bn5U59DYuW021lrdI7OJ_N_-VkY-QBLuZtAsYKz0XG9BnWLfj_LHs9A6ky1xQnfaJwQg/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasfa8TK92PWVvVEKp2sNze3Yczh_gj1MSjQ6tSZXiMqA61d9MtUgmmdPGYEkDO05R53bn5U59DYuW021lrdI7OJ_N_-VkY-QBLuZtAsYKz0XG9BnWLfj_LHs9A6ky1xQnfaJwQg/s200/IMG_0188.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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I also turned the big 4-0 last year. No big celebration (yet! ha ha!), just a simple dinner with the people I love.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQqaJfmMQVRPiphY4tOB5ddJDr7XB9au8K78KAvp_e26InxrY_UgxnfhqjMm2H0On6ZU5mRvH1P4UG9KWpUDmzb3k7dvOYB-RxcOgWu12FXV4z4YLe6aYqNTttQ4qSauTr4X_ow/s1600/bday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQqaJfmMQVRPiphY4tOB5ddJDr7XB9au8K78KAvp_e26InxrY_UgxnfhqjMm2H0On6ZU5mRvH1P4UG9KWpUDmzb3k7dvOYB-RxcOgWu12FXV4z4YLe6aYqNTttQ4qSauTr4X_ow/s320/bday.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posterity shot for my 40th birthday dinner</td></tr>
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The hubby and I managed to travel together for a quick vacation with two of my friends. Turned out to be quite memorable since he got the flu and stayed pretty much in the hotel for the duration of our stay. So here's a shot of myself in Macau, sans hubby.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHby4QEpEvOCso9lxRLhmrmxDwUquG3HJ8yOWXyaW2YcDiEz1sgVahTC48rYaj9pIg7Lkh23U4lXjOorQjvQEhyz_OwRRvw8DJMgtbe3MSmzJs67gc6sitHRDEz7DzY-y9UaY1sA/s1600/Macau_2011_st+paul%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHby4QEpEvOCso9lxRLhmrmxDwUquG3HJ8yOWXyaW2YcDiEz1sgVahTC48rYaj9pIg7Lkh23U4lXjOorQjvQEhyz_OwRRvw8DJMgtbe3MSmzJs67gc6sitHRDEz7DzY-y9UaY1sA/s320/Macau_2011_st+paul%2527s.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note to Self: Bright red bags work really well in pictures!</td></tr>
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Faith participated in a ballet recital of the Sound of Music late in December. I just love this stolen shot of her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvu_80-kSzK_5A8R8pXkCZgz-OuHh0gHG-cLiiHrbVGElurBM7M9qLmp89XXaMRSohW5pM-JN8mxsT54jsEhcT8KYrw07th89HW7A3ibEgizAhB6mX-VPqKUTUsbdFFSZHb6WdA/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvu_80-kSzK_5A8R8pXkCZgz-OuHh0gHG-cLiiHrbVGElurBM7M9qLmp89XXaMRSohW5pM-JN8mxsT54jsEhcT8KYrw07th89HW7A3ibEgizAhB6mX-VPqKUTUsbdFFSZHb6WdA/s320/IMG_0551.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stolen shot of Faith during their recital photo shoot</td></tr>
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I also saw Wicked in Singapore! Love!<br />
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Just a random New Year's Eve picture I thought I'd throw in. Lucia was crying, as I remember and didn't want to go with anyone else. </div>
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I had a really nice holiday season and I'm obviously still in withdrawal. Lots to look forward to this year. We'll be visiting Hong Kong again but this time with the kids. Lucia will be starting pre-school in June. Another year of milestones to look forward to.</div>
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</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-2282212592168719202012-01-16T16:41:00.000+08:002012-01-16T16:41:54.338+08:00On technology and the Tooth Fairy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My kids wholeheartedly believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I actually go to great lengths to perpetuate this belief because I think this is one of the most enjoyable things about being a child. Last year, they got a personal video message from Santa. There were also email exchanges and handwritten notes from the Tooth Fairy. <br />
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Sadly, the advent of technology also translates into more <strike>smartass</strike> sophisticated kids who question everything. Case in point, Joshua had a friend over for a play date a couple of days before Christmas. He very excitedly asked me to show the video from Santa to his friend and so I did. Imagine my dismay when while the video was showing, said friend told my son in a deadpan voice -- "you do realize that people make this up, don't you?". <br />
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To his credit, Joshua stood up to his friend and said no, it's real. Gulp. To end the magic for Joshua would mean ending it for Faith and little Lucia too! <br />
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So my son is a little bit naive for a 9 year old. He doesn't get to surf the net (only for homework and he is supervised). He plays computer games but with limits on time and what kind to play. He doesn't have a PSP or a WII or whatever techy gadget kids are into these days. Most of the grown ups in the family own an iPhone and/or iPad which the kids can borrow for limited periods. But that's it. I suppose, compared to his friends in school, Joshua is still a little bit sheltered. And I like it that way.<br />
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I don't know how long I can keep this up but I'm hoping for a few more years. I've already told Joshua that I think Santa stops giving presents to kids when they reach the age of 13. I still don't know how I'm gonna go about it but there's still time. Meanwhile, I'm already bracing myself for a slew of visits from the Tooth Fairy this year. </div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-84645242116280052442012-01-04T20:18:00.000+08:002012-01-04T20:18:26.597+08:00Pretty Baby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXDrnyoMBmZxbN-VTwCpkcsoZWOAOmVm243ke5l0l8rs4BuGTML0Tew9TnF4H7Ury82pINEKjcf59L1S8xKHIFVTyRmxfp3IP74O_24TRagYMxqlSzMycFbKsip-E2PABHCzYkQ/s1600/_MG_3413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXDrnyoMBmZxbN-VTwCpkcsoZWOAOmVm243ke5l0l8rs4BuGTML0Tew9TnF4H7Ury82pINEKjcf59L1S8xKHIFVTyRmxfp3IP74O_24TRagYMxqlSzMycFbKsip-E2PABHCzYkQ/s400/_MG_3413.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">With Daddy at the company outing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Ne7JJMb9Y5kIbW4xIDiZMhgpr9GBNaWoi-aE75uOmMnZ1TQgvQOMWJFbeDIb1rD7bRXDWNdoPlzRC-IW-rpbxxI41X76awcLdc1PmXf39EjBV_KugMtDgpLsDBSPSGJ3HeYhw/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-Ne7JJMb9Y5kIbW4xIDiZMhgpr9GBNaWoi-aE75uOmMnZ1TQgvQOMWJFbeDIb1rD7bRXDWNdoPlzRC-IW-rpbxxI41X76awcLdc1PmXf39EjBV_KugMtDgpLsDBSPSGJ3HeYhw/s400/IMG_0440.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">In one of her Halloween costumes last year</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuf7mXgRup-IAF1CmN14_PSlrooSZRIq8kMzOaCMLyU9nyCl-F1X7qvE1szu9rv-w-0P6H2Vl3cXNOBuPkwj-FfTMwy6GX22A9a4N_XlyBuWfrC5-TwNdkctPiyBaPLvwKAS1qg/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuf7mXgRup-IAF1CmN14_PSlrooSZRIq8kMzOaCMLyU9nyCl-F1X7qvE1szu9rv-w-0P6H2Vl3cXNOBuPkwj-FfTMwy6GX22A9a4N_XlyBuWfrC5-TwNdkctPiyBaPLvwKAS1qg/s400/IMG_0688.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My pretty baby at her cousin Sophia's birthday party</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC4HLeKr4F4VDzOqXxCD-RJdMH9pUEUVQlLZxvzQMEUiBsGkhP6dL4R49RZZ7fj9SazV1nwnzM9zNHovcfI4KcJkK-58bZN156fqgFF0s021WwY_qKTqHt6jZnuQT0Knl6Dek0w/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC4HLeKr4F4VDzOqXxCD-RJdMH9pUEUVQlLZxvzQMEUiBsGkhP6dL4R49RZZ7fj9SazV1nwnzM9zNHovcfI4KcJkK-58bZN156fqgFF0s021WwY_qKTqHt6jZnuQT0Knl6Dek0w/s400/IMG_0693.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Playing with her zhu zhu pet from Tita Lara</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've written a couple of times on this blog about my two older kids but not much about my third. Poor Lucia! Apart from the birth post, I don't think I've written much about this little girl of mine.<br />
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She's growing up to be quite a character, this one. The naughtiest and funniest of my brood. She makes me laugh without even trying and is a joy to watch. When you find yourself bored, just quietly watch her play and be entertained for a good long while. <br />
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A very good eater (16+ kilos and counting!), she eats by herself and chooses her own clothes (most of the time). Loves wearing pretty dresses like her older sister and likes sharing Mommy's lip balm. She's stubborn and very articulate and can understand Tagalog very well. Loves babies and kittens and Goodnight Moon. A chocolate monster after mommy's own heart. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Has all the members of my family wrapped around her little finger, especially her kuya Joshua. She's also half toilet trained by now, which, according to my mom, happened when I was away on business travel. So, fine, maybe another ten days in Singapore and she'll be fully toilet trained mommy?</span></span><br />
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Maybe it's the birth scare, the thought that we almost lost this little one, that makes me want to hug her all the time. I cannot imagine our lives without her. Out little family has grown thanks to her and it's not always easy to manage three kids and a full time job but so totally worth it. <br />
</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-88660298624785327672012-01-04T13:04:00.002+08:002012-01-04T13:31:54.278+08:00Post Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStgGhEtzq9ewqt4NFtxHwAwRWOScKsHeBlafP57XiK66RD84sMgs7EzfQkjfDelIQcTHAryJ2b-6kK_hl2cCsIol7k8dZpHzBN-FvZwNbyDCMIiIRpNXxksDXboepO5R_htd7ng/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStgGhEtzq9ewqt4NFtxHwAwRWOScKsHeBlafP57XiK66RD84sMgs7EzfQkjfDelIQcTHAryJ2b-6kK_hl2cCsIol7k8dZpHzBN-FvZwNbyDCMIiIRpNXxksDXboepO5R_htd7ng/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pardon the bedraggled look in this photo. This was taken after a swimming session at a get together with friends. This was one of my favorite days in December -- it was the day after the last day of work for the year and was mostly concentrated on spending it with the kids. So apart from catching up with good friends while they were swimming and enjoying their presents from their titas and Tito Maroy, it was a completely gremlin inspired day. We had ice cream before I let them play some video games. Then Lucia happily hopped into the carousel. We ended the day with the light show at Ayala Triangle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was still a busy holiday season though, with all the get togethers and ballet recital for Faith. Thankfully, none of the kids were sick this year except for a little sniffle or two. New Year's Eve was a fun filled videoke night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I didn't get to reach my reading goal of 150 books for 2011 but I came pretty close at 130 books. I don't think I will do this again this year -- I much prefer not having any pressure to finish a book. Plus one of my 2012 goals is to take up something creative like knitting or crochet. Other goals -- think of a possible business venture. Get more healthy. Spend less. More quality time with the gremlins. Play outdoors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Seems like I'm being tested on my the strength of my New Year's resolutions as we speak. I just got a confirmation from a friend that the Zara sale is starting tomorrow. Aaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hyperventilate. Deeeeeeeeeeep breath. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I can do this. (I think). <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Help me God!</span></span><br />
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</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-76488468592589397802011-12-20T15:13:00.000+08:002011-12-20T15:13:17.701+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So just learned that you can no longer import your blog posts in Facebook. What a relief! I went into FB today to figure out how to stop that from happening. I can't remember the number of times I've thought about posting only to stop when I realized it would go into Facebook. And yes, I turned on that feature months ago but the thought of bombarding everybody with my musings put the kibosh on possible blog posts for a while. <br />
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Now I realized it's been months since my last post. Think that's the longest I've ever gone without writing anything. It's almost Christmas and I am currently working from home. In a few minutes, I will be cooking tuna pasta for the kids to eat at snack time. Lucia is about to wake up from her nap, Faith just got in from her ballet rehearsal and Joshua has a playdate with his best friend.<br />
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Work isn't as crazy anymore as more and more people are going on leave. I just have a couple more things to take care of and then it's freedom! At least for a couple of days. Christmas presents are more or less completed, get together schedules straightened out, ballet rehearsal skeds marked and I am officially ready for the holidays!</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-22143240552588455282011-07-14T13:23:00.000+08:002011-07-14T13:23:36.390+08:00Am I old or am i old??Age is just a number, right? That's the fashionable adage that women in their late thirties or entering into their forties like to say. You don't hear young people say that. Well, unless you're a 16 year old begging your mom for a tattoo. So yes, it is a number. But nothing that should stop you from having fun, living life to the fullest or from being fabulous. I wouldn't trade myself now for my 23 year old self. Except for the waistline. Sigh. <br />
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Why the thoughts about aging you say? I've been through a couple of grade school and high school reunions in the last couple of weeks. Our 30th homecoming for our high school batch is coming up in 2013 so there's been a spate of planning and meetings for that event. Yeah, 30 years. Kind of freaks me out a bit. A lot of my colleagues at work were toddlers while I was in high school. I am still in touch with a lot of my high school friends so the shock value of seeing most of them again wasn't that big. But grade school?? That's another story. The two get togethers so far have been so much fun. I'd forgotten how nice it is to be surrounded by people who have known you since kindergarden. It gave me so much insight of how much we have grown since we last played patintero in the school basketball court. And yet it was comforting to see the little bits and pieces of the kids we once were and to realize that hey, I know you. You're not a stranger.Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-39727214364430819292011-05-24T16:41:00.000+08:002011-05-24T16:41:32.058+08:00Date a girl who reads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A friend of mine sent me this link today and I was so glad I read it. Something I wish I had written because it felt like the writer was referring to me. Uhm, except for the closet full of books (mine has clothes....aaaand more clothes...and shoes). But still, my books are scattered all over the house instead, and the car. Anyway. Click on the link and read. NOW! I'll wait..<br />
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<a href="http://themonicabird.com/post/3273155431/date-a-girl-who-reads-date-a-girl-who-spends-her">http://themonicabird.com/post/3273155431/date-a-girl-who-reads-date-a-girl-who-spends-her</a><br />
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All done??? Now then, wasn't that nice? <br />
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Jun will so be able to relate to this. He married one, after all. I can't remember all the times he has caught me crying over something in a book I was reading. And he never once laughed at me or called it silly or stupid. But he does give me funny looks when I suddenly laugh out loud while reading. He's also used to being ignored over long periods of time when I am engrossed in something. Like the Stieg Larsson trilogy or when Mockingjay came out. Now the kids are zoning out on me and I completely deserve it. I think I also read while breastfeeding. ha ha ha!<br />
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</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-25204478562965545312011-05-20T10:20:00.000+08:002011-05-20T10:20:33.540+08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Last night was game night -- Josh and Faith have been bugging us to play Monopoly Deal since Tuesday. We each had our game face on as we played on the floor of our bedroom while Lucia flitted around, alternately hugging me and Jun and trying to swipe the cards we put on the floor. We only had time for two games though as we started at 9pm. First round was mine while Jun took game two with a deal breaker card that stole MY set, the rat! (Thanks Irish for the xmas gift! We are really enjoying it!) We all love that freaking card game. Josh is now asking, so when can you teach me to play poker mommy?? Ha! Then I remember that mommy taught us to play pekwa when we were little kids. And Blackjack (no money involved though, just bragging rights). I have very fond memories of those fun times. Maybe next summer then. Note to self: teach Jun how to play Pekwa.<br />
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On summer reading updates, Joshua is on his 15th book. Faith is on her 6th which is ok since she's only 7. I promised them some Timezone time if they read at least 10 books this summer. Television's not too much of a priority nowadays in the household. The kids actually BEG me to get a bit more reading done before bedtime. Can you imagine??!! <br />
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For the rest of the summer, we've still got Faith's birthday party and Joshua's birthday to celebrate. May is a huge birthday month with all the gremlins' birthdays. Lucia looooves birthdays. She made us sing three times just so she can keep blowing her candle. There are also four huge water guns with our names on them that we ABSOLUTELY have to try before the summer ends. </div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-26966289939349652262011-04-26T13:32:00.000+08:002011-04-26T13:32:38.395+08:00Random Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday I wandered into my favorite store and realized that there was nothing I was even remotely interested in buying. Either I've gotten the stuff that I really want or am just bored. Maybe both.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been meaning to get Faith a "hip" outfit for her Club Princess bday party next month (she's turning 7!) when I walked into Gap and saw this gorgeous confection of a dress. It's peach, it's floaty, and oh so soft! Goodbye hip, helloooo princess!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Do you ever feel relieved to be alone with your hubby and get a short break from the noise and the fighting only to miss your gremlins so much it aches??? You don't??!!! Me too!!! ha ha! Joke!!!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I am at a stage in my life where I literally could not ask for more. Except for carbs. I waaaaaannnt rice dammit!!!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">The lack of sugar is making me CRANKY!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">I've read a total of 40 books so far this year. Was doing 12-13 books a month in Jan-Feb but slowed down a bit since March. So I am eating my words. I love ebooks na! </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Getting a free lunch is always nice. But a surprise free lunch is even better!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">What if I stop buying clothes until I lose 20 pounds?? Who wants to bet I can do this???</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Gremlins, come home na!!! Promise I won't sing the Big Bad Wolf song! Cross my heart!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Am in the mood to play a trick on someone but the hubby isn't home. Rats!</div></div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-49778609474526493392011-03-25T19:23:00.000+08:002011-03-25T19:23:28.210+08:00Been busy with...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN0zOqDj6eK3fbVB9SFon1W4fFntlh1404U3Ye5emmVbtpedcbKMYZDthH1Y5VuC08NW5TNQ4np5qxEwNLdFnueNfMN_x1e-Qm2gw_8V1Ae3z6vg7oSDmG6oNR0r88OAWFNAPkw/s1600/office+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN0zOqDj6eK3fbVB9SFon1W4fFntlh1404U3Ye5emmVbtpedcbKMYZDthH1Y5VuC08NW5TNQ4np5qxEwNLdFnueNfMN_x1e-Qm2gw_8V1Ae3z6vg7oSDmG6oNR0r88OAWFNAPkw/s200/office+1.JPG" width="150" /></a>Home Organization. My small home office is done and I am loving working from home around twice a week. The inner OC in me is filled with glee. Am loving the fact that there is a place for everything -- school supplies, important documents and files as well as pictures, board games and yes, even scratch paper! You know how when you have kids and you find crayons everywhere BUT the box? Well now I've collected all the loose crayons, put them all in a big box and whip it out whenever Lucia feels like drawing. I am finally getting the most out of the iHome that the hubby so thoughtfully got for me. I figured out that I can link it to my iPhone via bluetooth and voila! Instant speaker phone! I can take my phone meetings at home in a very quiet place. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU89YhMoZLh-sLgzHRWhrpzT064QhkfsaaI00LOdaYZiliiJZweDeIBQYzsuoOU6Z0Z6HzYtCEOrOPQZPDMGvy7eN6gEQTQ81t8qSbiXIcLogMahvrBqw5KJHUrn4SRw8UWstag/s1600/ofc+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU89YhMoZLh-sLgzHRWhrpzT064QhkfsaaI00LOdaYZiliiJZweDeIBQYzsuoOU6Z0Z6HzYtCEOrOPQZPDMGvy7eN6gEQTQ81t8qSbiXIcLogMahvrBqw5KJHUrn4SRw8UWstag/s200/ofc+3.JPG" width="150" /></a>The other half of the room (it's a really small room) has a place for the printer. I have one big window which provides a lot of natural light in the daytime. And because the room's small, just one stand fan makes it comfortable enough to work in. The window seat doubles up as a place to put files in -- I saw this in a magazine and decided I didn't need to buy a mobile drawer which looks too "industrial". This has a LOT of space inside where I put half used school notebooks for scratch paper and other school supplies like folders/brown envelopes/etc. And, oh yeah, that window seat is also good for naps! Ha ha ha! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsMvrjwDbQd6_EUo2u6wnfM37DD0tH2dwLdYEcfPiuSeHjdrogSOx-_ylHT8OIabIy15uDPAvRcodVhVBrqhR-MNhuHSLSHCGBRZoyIQ0HbADICkhrvlMG1GI5Sb2dftpAEOPNw/s1600/ofc+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsMvrjwDbQd6_EUo2u6wnfM37DD0tH2dwLdYEcfPiuSeHjdrogSOx-_ylHT8OIabIy15uDPAvRcodVhVBrqhR-MNhuHSLSHCGBRZoyIQ0HbADICkhrvlMG1GI5Sb2dftpAEOPNw/s200/ofc+4.JPG" width="113" /></a>On the right, I had a narrow shelf made to put other heavy business books (Jun has lots!) interspersed with decorative boxes which holds loose photographs which I have yet to put in albums and other important keepsakes (Joshua's first communion kit, etc). And, of course, the board games I am currently collecting. They used to be everywhere and we could never find one when we wanted to play. It figures I have two Taboo! games -- I bought a new one in desperation for an out of town trip because I couldn't find the previous one I got. I just got Jenga today to replace the one the kids messed up when they were little. I know I have Word Factory somewhere but I haven't seen it lately. I'd like to add a really nice Backgammon game to the collection soon. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It took me and the hubby two weekends to get this small room in shape when the carpenter and painter were done but it was worth it! The whole first floor of the house is fixed. Used up four XXL trash bags for all the useless stuff. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintB8gm0Fj0RRlWP2kFFs1mzzkfwDJinLU2nrYQ8rPA0kGalQPliQ1bW5NpGMVuRg6Y3cPjL53ymnzXNPhhFt02cBvu4oKdiTLtK-7POGCktNZlJraTbGj8kaYP3P4itQzEUWbAQ/s1600/Iphone+pics+743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintB8gm0Fj0RRlWP2kFFs1mzzkfwDJinLU2nrYQ8rPA0kGalQPliQ1bW5NpGMVuRg6Y3cPjL53ymnzXNPhhFt02cBvu4oKdiTLtK-7POGCktNZlJraTbGj8kaYP3P4itQzEUWbAQ/s200/Iphone+pics+743.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Lastly, this is my new shoe and bag closet. Not quite Carrie Bradshaw standards but I love it just the same. My bathroom's all organized after about two trips to Muji. Now it takes about one third the time to get the bathroom all cleaned up. This exercise also forced me to edit a lot of things. Am thinking of holding a garage sale or something. But only after I've tackled the nightmare of the kids' toys which are all in the second floor of the house. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After all this activity, I got sick for a couple of days. Still don't know when I can get to doing the second floor and the bedroom but maybe next weekend since the kids are on summer vacation and there's no need for homework supervision next weekend! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-31409575778158314482011-02-05T00:54:00.000+08:002011-02-05T00:54:39.871+08:00Faith moment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Joshua was at a classmate's birthday party and I was preparing to go to the concert when Faith decides she has had enough of being by herself.<br />
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I was in the bathroom putting on makeup when she starts making kulit -- endless questions about what time I was gonna be home (she's worse than my mom!), who I was going to be with, what's the concert about, who is Janet Jackson. Then she asks if it was the same music like the concert in church (Bukas Palad) and I said no and did she want to listen to the music I was going to listen to at the concert? Yes daw. <br />
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I made her listen to parts of Together Again and she goes, "I want to come with you Mommy!"....uh oh.<br />
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So I said, you know what? Come over here and play with mommy's make up. That kept her quiet for a while. <br />
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Then the tears started when I was about to leave. She calls me twice on my cell phone while I was on the way to the concert just to tell me she wanted to be with me. This despite being with her the whole day today. <br />
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Then I thought, I am going to remember this moment when she's sixteen and I'm the one begging her to spend time with me. </div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-16541958520088357452011-02-04T12:18:00.000+08:002011-02-04T12:18:30.475+08:00It figures...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I spoke too soon. Lucia is sick too. She was the one who started it all when she got sick on New Year's Day. It's gone full circle. Back to her. I love my pediatrician but last night I told him I hoped I never see him again for the next six months. Then I remembered the kids have their flu shots scheduled this February. Faith has been dreading it. And I also have to bring Lucia back Saturday morning if she still has fever. Last night the doctor couldn't find a focus for the fever so he couldn't prescribe any antibiotics. He'll have to check her again on Sat and if still no focus, then we'll do a blood test. Suki kami for the month of January. Even his assistant commented, "wow, na kumpleto sila a."<br />
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Meanwhile, the little gremlin has had her fever off and on. She's so active when the fever's down that I'm not TOO worried. YET. We'll see. I really hate it when the kids are sick. I woke up at 5am to take her temperature and gave her Calpol. Then I couldn't go back to sleep till about 6am. <br />
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The hubby was in Ilocos for a short trip last night. I missed him. Especially when Lucia threw up all over the blankets at around 11pm. Wished you were there Jun. You missed cleanup. Which I am sure you will be happy about. Since she threw up all over the blankets, Rose and I just wrapped her in it and brought her to the bathroom. No cleanup necessary except for changing Lucia. Di bale, next time ulit. he he. Her hair smelled like vomit -- she had her head under my nose the whole time she was sleeping. <br />
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Listening to Janet Jackson while working today. Preparing for her concert tonight. :D</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-11656689278033016862011-02-01T10:55:00.000+08:002011-02-01T10:55:43.943+08:002011 Updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It's a disgrace, I know. What's the point of starting a blog when you don't even write? So what's my excuse? Um, let's see.....I've been traveling for work, Lucia is such a handful, kids have been sick on and off, Christmas was crazy, I got conjunctivitis, resigned from my job, got a new job, and I've been reading a lot. Oh, and it's also Facebook's fault. It's much, much more convenient to post a quick status update here and there on facebook. The hubby and I were discussing how revenues for the telecom companies went down as a result of facebook updates rather than the usual practice of text to all Christmas and New Year's messages. That's technology for you. <br />
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Anyway, I am sitting here in my unpainted but newly renovated home "office" and thought, I have a blog! So I am giving in to the urge to write. Not that I expect a lot of people to read all my bs. I suppose a couple of my friends still do but well, never mind. I just need the practice of putting thoughts to paper while I wait for my internet connection to kick in once more.<br />
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So, yeah, am having some minor renovation work done at the house. I'm having a small room fixed to be a home office as I my new job is flexible enough to allow me to work from home occasionally. Rather than my usual practice of using my bed for a desk (hurts my back), I'm going to have my very own office! (yippeee!) It's all done now, just needs painting so it will probably be done by next week. It'll also give the kids a place to do their homework and reduce the school clutter in the dining room which was where they usually do their homework.<br />
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I'm also taking the opportunity have my own shoe cabinet and I am soooo excited to have it finished. Apart from that, we're gettting some much needed bookshelves. I'm in organizing mode folks! I can't wait till everything's finished. Then it's a matter of putting up our sleeves and being tough on all the junk and clutter at the house. <br />
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On other fronts, kids are sick again. Will be bringing Faith to the pediatrician at lunchtime today. Joshua just went back to school today after being out for a week. I am crossing my fingers and praying hard that Lucia gets spared this round. <br />
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I've just finished 13 books for January. Using the Kindle for Iphone application makes a huge dent on my reading list as I can read literally anywhere. I think it's loads better than a kindle cause the phone has backlight that allows me to read in the car or in the shuttle going home. <br />
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Ok, I gotta go send some emails then am off to the pediatrician at lunchtime. Janet Jackson concert this Friday!!! Can't wait! :D<br />
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</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-53482980664590611702010-09-20T18:06:00.000+08:002010-09-20T18:06:52.381+08:00On Angry Birds and other things<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just spent the better part of last night playing Angry Birds on my phone. Till two in the morning. Couldn't let go until I got past 6-12, which I had been on for the past week. When the hubby told me he had gotten past me and was already on 7, I couldn't stand it. I finally got past the darn level at around midnight....and kept on playing. I've had three cups of coffee already since this morning, so you can guess at my current state of mind.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now...<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mockingjay-Final-Book-Hunger-Games/dp/0545310601?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)</a>. Finished the book the same day I got it. Of course, the minute I got my hands on it, I peeked at the ending. Disgusting habit, I know. But I couldn't wait to find out who Katniss ended up with. I can't write it down because the hubby is currently listening to the audio book and he will kill me if he accidentally reads it on my blog. So, because I would like to continue to be in his good graces, I will remain silent on that account. Needless to say, I loved the book. It wasn't what I (and probably the rest of the fans) was expecting. It wasn't romantic and no, it didn't totally focus on the love triangle. I'm happy to say that it didn't go the breaking dawn road, which I hated. It was real, and gritty, and ugly, and will totally capture your attention until the last page. I also thought the epilogue was done quite well. I was reading the reviews at Amazon and was surprised at some of the comments expressing disappointment over the way the book turned out. I guess some were expecting a more "Twilight" approach where everything turned out perfectly and the pages were filled with drool worthy moments between Edward and Bella. Oh well. Am still trying to find people to convert to being Suzanne Collins fans. My mom is now one of them.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a copy of Emma Donaghue's book titled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Room-Novel-Emma-Donoghue/dp/0316098337?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Room: A Novel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0316098337" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> burning a hole on my desk. The reviews are excellent and it's a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. It's told from the point of view of a five year old little boy whose whole world is the room where he and his mother stay. Check out the description in Amazon and you'll want to read the book yourself.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent books I just finished reading:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Gunn's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gunns-Golden-Rules-Little-Lessons/dp/1439176566?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1439176566" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is a great light read (finished it in one day) full of Tim's little witticisms as well as juicy tidbits about the fashion world. Believe me, he doesn't pull his punches when it come to identifying which fashion personas are divas. Super fun read!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sh-t-My-Dad-Says/dp/0061992704?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sh*t My Dad Says</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0061992704" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Justin Halpern is an even quicker read (like in an hour) but worth it. I found myself chuckling aloud while reading the book. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am also re-reading Erich Segal's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Erich-Segal/dp/0553278118?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Doctors</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0553278118" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> which is one of my all time favorite books. I had to buy a new copy as my old one was so dog eared from being passed around to friends. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got tons of videos of Lucia and the other kids which I have not had time to upload to Facebook -- am blaming it all on Angry Birds. If I'm not playing it, then either the hubby is or one of the kids. Jun still holds the record for longest time spent playing Angry Birds in one sitting. He once stayed up till two thirty in the morning just playing the darn game. So I'm not the only crazy one. </span>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-45125197732017789822010-07-16T11:56:00.000+08:002010-07-16T11:56:59.314+08:00Panic time!I've got so many things on my mind at the moment, it's a wonder I haven't gone off the bend yet. I wish time would go by more slowly, just so I could fit in what I need to do.<br />
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Lucia still has a cold and cough so we're managing that and praying it doesn't spread to the other two kids. It's exam week plus we have a parent-teachers conference scheduled tomorrow. I have to pack for 5 people for an upcoming family trip, do the groceries, fix the closets and make sure all the documentary requirements are in order for the trip. And I've got an appointment on Sunday for a check up.<br />
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I've managed to squeeze in a mani-pedi while waiting for the hubby to finish work yesterday. Yay, me! LOL! So I just look at my pretty red painted toes whenever I get stressed. <br />
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I've finished reading Justin Cronin's The Passage <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=timout-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0345504968&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>and I'm desperately wishing the hubby would go on and finish the audio version ASAP! I'm dying to discuss the book with somebody! Lots of loose ends when I finished it but I found out it's a trilogy so of course there will be cliffhangers. It was an engrossing read, especially the first third of the book. Very interesting premise though -- what if, in mankind's search for the ultimate biological weapon, he triggers the end of the world as we know it, instead? Said weapon comes in the form of a virus which stimulates a certain gland in humans that trigger increased human strength and invincibility to diseases, etc. Unfortunately, it also turns said human guinea pigs into vampire like creatures that can influence the minds of other humans. When these specimens escape from the US facility where they were being kept, everything goes to hell. I was only partially listening to the audio book while the hubby was listening to it in the car and decided, what the heck, I'll read it. I have ADD when it comes to audio books so I had to get the heavy, doorstop version of the book. <br />
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Right now, I'm halfway done with The Red Pyramid<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=timout-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1423113381&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>, book one of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan. He's the author of the extremely successful Percy Jackson series. The book has many parallels with the Nicholas Flamel series (which I love, love, love!) which is not to say it's not an enjoyable book. While Percy Jackson is about Greek mythology, in this new series, Riordan focuses on Egyptian mythology. It's not a popular as the Greek or Roman mythology but it's fascinating just the same. Am enjoying reading it and am sure many fans of Percy will love it too. Joshua cannot wait to read it but I'm making him finish the Percy Jackson series first before he starts in on Red Pyramid. He also wants to start the Nicholas Flamel series -- what an impatient boy! But am glad he likes to read and is excited as I am about books. I'm also starting to get him interested in Children's reference books, which I also enjoy reading. At the Powerbooks sale, I was able to get a books about the recovery of the remains of the woolly mammoth, which I have wanted to watch in National Geographic, but missed out on. There's also one about the ruins in ancient Peru and the recovery of an ancient Greek shipwreck. <br />
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And since I'm preparing for a family trip, I decided to get activity books for the older kids to keep them occupied on the plane. I got Faith the Everything Kids Princess activity book and Joshua the Everything Kid's Mazes book. Oh, and the Time for Kids Almanac 2011. Now if I could only decide what book to bring for the trip......Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15466387.post-57349323561628621272010-07-01T11:20:00.000+08:002010-07-01T11:20:36.573+08:00Back in school<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">It's been a very busy two months. We celebrated 3 birthdays in May and got through preparations for school opening. The two older kiddies are in school for most of the day which my mom is very thankful for. LOL! More quiet time for her and the baby. Lucia's been so naughty --- all part of being a toddler, I guess. It's rather fun, actually. She makes us laugh and she knows it, the little ham!</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I love the way she tries to join in on her siblings. When the two kids are in bed, she immediately gets down from my lap and toddles over to the bed to cuddle with her sibs. And generally mess up their bedclothes. And play peek-a-boo and can't-catch-me with me and the hubby when we try to pick her up from the beds. It's tiring especially on weekdays when all I want to do is lie down with a book after work, but totally worth it when she squeals with laughter.</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">As usual, I'm swamped with books! You're looking at a very happy camper here. I'm currently reading Justin Cronin's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Passage-Justin-Cronin/dp/0345504968?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Passage</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0345504968" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> which the hubby has been listening to on audio. It's weird when he's the one asking which part I'm already in since that's my usual line. It's rare for the two of us to actually be "reading" the same book at the same time. If you're into sci-fic/horror, then this is the book for you. The author tells a compelling story and gets the reader absorbed from the first chapter. It's got vampires, but not your usual run of the mill Twilight hot vampires. </div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Other books I got recently were Rick Riordan's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Pyramid-Kane-Chronicles-Book/dp/1423113381?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423113381" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> -- another series from the author of the very successful Percy Jackson series. I just got Joshua the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diary-Wimpy-Kid-Dog-Days/dp/1440788235?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Diary of a Wimpy kid series</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1440788235" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Odyssey-One-Eyed-Giant/dp/0786809280?ie=UTF8&tag=timout-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tales from the Odyssey</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=timout-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0786809280" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Mary Pope Osbourne, author of The Magic Tree House series. I read the two books of Tales from the Odyssey and finished it in an hour. It's a great introduction for kids to the classic The Odyssey and covers the most important parts of the tale. It's perfect for kids aged 7 - 10 years. </div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Some other titles I finished recently:</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The Ark<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=timout-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1439181799&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> by Boyd Morrison -- fantastic action packed book with a very cool hero. If you miss Indiana Jones, then try this one. It's about the search for Noah's Ark set in an age where technology and engineering will make you fascinated with tidbits about the legend of Noah's Ark. The author provides engineering insight to the construction of the ark and the context of the biblical flood.</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Blood Oath<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=timout-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0399156356&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> by Christopher Farnsworth -- Vampires again but no romance this time. The lead character is a vampire tasked to protect the President of the United States from all forms of threat. He's been protecting US presidents since Andrew Jackson. Lots of action and links to paranormal activities/research done during World War 2. I couldn't put this book down.</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">So run, don't walk, to the bookstore now!</div>Menchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07474186474395126654noreply@blogger.com1